Ranma 1/2 and all of its' characters are the property of Rumiko Takahashi
and all of the companies who have licensed it. I don't own any of it. I do
not have permission to use her characters or ideas. I am writing solely for
pleasure. Don't sue.

All comments, flames, MST�s or any other response is welcome.  Let me know
what you think.

Alternatives - Chapter 6

***********************************************************************

The next morning, Nodoka woke both Ranma and Akane up early. "Come on
sleepy-heads, we have a busy day ahead of us!"

As they walked toward the breakfast area, Ranma asked Akane, "Do you have
any idea what's up?"

"Hai," Akane giggled in the affirmative.

Uh-oh, Ranma thought. If mom is excited and Akane is giggling, this has got
to be bad.  However, all thoughts were banished by the sights and smells of
the breakfast that Nodoka had made for them.

After his fifth helping, Ranma ventured, "Mom, why did you wake us up so
early?"

Nodoka looked at Akane and they both started smiling. "We're going to have a
fun day today! We're going shopping. I've noticed that you don't have very
much clothing appropriate for a girl. You also don't have any school
uniforms. When you are a girl, you will need to start wearing proper
clothing. It's just not right for a girl to wear boxer shorts instead of
panties, for example."

Ranma looked at the excitement he saw in both his mother's and Akane's eyes.
Oh, no!  He big-sweated. "Mom, can't this wait until we get back?"

"No, dear, it can't. I absolutely refuse to have my soon to be daughter
running around the Chinese countryside in improper clothing. What if
something happened to you? How would I show my face in the hospital? I'd be
so embarrassed for you." Nodoka steamrolled his objection.  "I'm sure you'll
enjoy it."

Famous last words, he thought to himself. "Why now, I've done OK up till
now?"

Nodoka sighed. "Ranma, I know that you are very manly and don't like doing
things that are girlish. However, in two weeks, you will be split into a
permanently male and female versions of yourself. I think you need some
training in being a girl, before part of you is one full-time," Nodoka then
looked at Ranma and smiled, "And, yes, you have done well up till now. You
have been able to act as a girl when you needed to. Could you talk and act
like one all of the time? Ranma, I started seeing through your Ranko
impersonation, once I got to know you better. You acted too much like a man
would."

Akane started laughing, "Yeah, YOU don't want to be a sexless tomboy, do
you?"

"Hey! That's not what she said!" Ranma protested, "Anyway, anyone looking at
me would never call ME sexless."

"So you agree that you're a tomboy when you're a girl?" Akane teased him.

Ranma started to answer, but stopped with his mouth open. Sheepishly, he
said, "I guess you're right. A few girl lessons wouldn't hurt me. It's not
like I haven't ever done this stuff before. Mom, let me change and then we
can go."

"No, we can't. You aren't dressed for shopping. The clothes you're wearing
are much too difficult to get into and out of." Nodoka stated firmly,
"Akane, did Nabiki pack you a jumper that Ranma could borrow?"

"Yes, she did." Akane said.

"What's a jumper?" Ranma whined.

"You'll know soon enough. Once you get dressed, I want you and Akane to come
to my room. It's time you learned how to apply make-up."

"Mom, please! Can't this wait until we come back?" Ranma began begging.

Nodoka just looked at Ranma.

"OK, I'm going. Akane, will you bring the jumper to my room?" Ranma knew
when he was defeated.

Forty minutes later, all three were ready to go shopping. Ranma hated to
admit it, but the little makeup that Nodoka had instructed her to put on did
make her look better.

**************************************************************************

Ranma was not going to enjoy the shopping trip. She knew she wasn't.  When
she saw the first store Nodoka had picked out to shop at, she almost bolted.

"NO WAY! Mom, I can't go in there! What if someone sees me in there?" Ranma
said in a panic.

"Ranma, really, what would be seen? Three women in a lingerie store.  What's
so bad about that?" Nodoka asked calmly.

"Everybody knows that I turn into a guy when splashed with hot water.
They'll think I'm a pervert or something,"

"That would be big news at Furinkan, all right," Akane teased him. She then
pretended to be Nabiki, "Hey everyone, Ranma likes to wear lingerie when
he's a girl! Want to buy some pictures?"

"See, mom, Akane's right! I'd become a laughingstock." Ranma thought Akane
had been serious.

"Ranma, one of the things you need more than anything else are proper
undergarments.  This store sells them.  A girl wearing proper clothing will
never be thought perverted.  A girl wearing boys under-shorts, would be
thought the pervert."  Nodoka coaxed him.

"No way!  I'm not going in there,"  Ranma stood and shook her head no.

Twenty minutes later, Ranma was in a changing room in the store.  She was
red as a beet
from her face to her belly button.  Under Nodoka's watchful eye, she tried
on several styles of lingerie. At one point when Akane brought another style
of bra to try, Akane looked at Ranma and started giggling.

Ranma was thinking to herself, I can't believe that I'm trying on panties,
bras and other stuff.  My mother is even watching!  She noticed Akane
looking at her and giggling.  "What are you laughing at?" Ranma asked
angrily.

"I was just thinking about all of the times Happosai has tried to get you
into a bra. I was wondering how much he would be enjoying this." Akane
started laughing out loud.

"Funny. Ha Ha," Ranma grumbled. "Why don't you take some pictures and sell
them to him?"

After being sized and finding a relatively comfortable fitting bra, Nodoka
purchased several bras and panties.  She also purchased several other items
of lingerie. She then asked Ranma to wear one of the bras and a pair of
panties. "Dear, when you are out in public, you must wear them," she
explained.

"Why?" Ranma asked.

"Well, dear, ... Other women will notice and think badly of you. Men will
notice and think that you are a loose woman." Nodoka whispered to her.

The thought of men hitting on her stopped Ranma's objections. She wore them.

**************************************************************************

As they began going from store to store, she whined every time Akane or
Nodoka brought her something to try on.  The cuter or more feminine the
outfit, the more she complained about it.

Fed up with the incessant complaints, Akane finally said, "Ranma, this is
just like at the carnival. Remember?"

"Yeah, so what?" Ranma answered.

"You had a good time despite yourself then, too. Just loosen up and enjoy
this." Akane said firmly. Continuing a little sadly, she said, "I envy you
this. I wish my mother could take me shopping."

Ranma was surprised. She hadn't considered how Akane might be feeling.
Akane had lost her mother a long time ago.  Truth to tell, it wasn't so bad
having two people picking clothes out for you.  She could stay in the
changing room while they found outfits for her to try on.  Ranma thought
about what it would have been like if she had tried to shop on her own.  It
would have been much worse.  She would have had to select clothes to try on
and then go into a changing room.  A lot more people could spot you that
way.  Shopping
for clothes was a lot easier and less embarrassing this way.  She could hide
in the dressing rooms and nobody would ever see her.

"Geez, you win. I'll try to have a good time." Ranma smiled at Akane.

It's very hard to be grouchy when two people are busy pampering you.  Nodoka
and Akane enjoyed themselves immensely. One always stayed with Ranma as the
other would go and find new clothes for her to try. Their happiness was
infectious.  Slowly, as Ranma realized just how much fun they were having,
she began taking a more active interest.  In several different stores, Ranma
noticed that they had her try on the same outfits.

"Didn't I try this on earlier?" Ranma asked.

"No, dear, you tried on one very similar a little while ago," Nodoka
answered.

"How come we didn't buy it there?" Ranma whined.

"Dear, you have a lot to learn about shopping. Shopping is like a contest.
You want to get the best items at the best prices. First, you go through all
of the stores and look at what they have and what their prices are. You also
look for any sales that might be going on.  As you shop, you must remember
where all of the items are that you want and how much they'll cost. After
you've looked everywhere, you then know what you want and where to buy it.
Men just don't have a clue. They just go to any store and buy what they
think they need. How would they know they got a good price?" Nodoka
instructed Ranma.

Looking at Akane, Ranma said, "This is supposed to be fun?"

"Yes, baka. It's even more fun when you're shopping for a friend," Akane
said with a smile.

Having another thought, Ranma asked, "How come we didn't shop for lingerie?"

Nodoka explained, "Lingerie is something that must be very comfortable on
you or must help flatter your figure.  You try to find a brand that does
that for you.  I took you to the store that sells the brand that I use."

They shopped until all of the stores closed. When they arrived home that
night, Ranma had a full wardrobe. They had bought everything a Ranma would
need as a girl. Nodoka had overheard Akane earlier and had purchased her a
new outfit. Ranma enjoyed that part of the shopping trip the most. She got
to pick out what Akane would try on and didn't have to get stuck in a
changing booth.  The best part of it was that she got some revenge on Akane
by picking out some truly awful outfits for her to try on.

"I didn't know shopping could be so tiring," Ranma said surprised.  She
couldn't wait to take a bath and be a guy again.

"That's one of the things you have to learn, dear," Nodoka answered, "Now we
get to have some more fun. It's show and tell time! We get to look at
everything we bought and try it all on again!"

"You mean I can't take this bra off yet?"

**************************************************************************

Ranma was glad it was Monday. He wouldn't have to go shopping again.
Though, truth to tell, it was hard staying grumpy when your mother and best
friend are making a huge fuss over you, even when it's only to play
dress-up.

As he and Akane were leaving, Nodoka said, "Ranma, we will be continuing
your lessons until we leave for China. Tonight, we will work some more on
makeup and on how to take care of your hair."

Akane couldn't help but tease him, "We'll play with your hair and find a
style that's just right for you. I know!  How about letting it hang down in
a long pony tail. You could flip it over your shoulder like Kasumi does.
Don't you think that would just be too cute?" She laughed.

"Argh," Ranma moaned. Turning to Akane with a gleam in his eye, he said, "We
are going to spar on the way to school today."  Posing as if he was
preening, he continued with a smile, "Be careful, if I knock you off, I
won't catch you today. I don't want to mess up my clothes or hair."

Ranma reached over to Akane and tagged her with a finger. He then jumped
onto the fence and ran off, "One point for me, catch me slowpoke!"

"Ranma, that wasn't fair. I wasn't ready," Akane ran after him.

Running backwards on the fence, he turned and stuck his tongue out at her.

Akane waited until Ranma faced forwards again. She threw her book bag at his
legs and knocked him off of the fence. Running by him, she laughed, "One
point all! Oh, don't forget to bring my book bag with you!"

They continued trading places on the fence until they got to school.  The
score was 21 - 20 in Ranma's favor.

**************************************************************************

Arriving at school, they found Kuno awaiting them in the courtyard as usual.

"I hope he hasn't forgotten about Saturday night," Ranma said to Akane as
they walked up to him.

"Ah, it is Ranma Saotome and his beauteous fiancee Akane Tendo.  Greetings!
I wish to let you know that I am awaiting Cologne's instructions. My sister
and I have already packed for the journey to China. I cannot wait for the
pig-tailed girl to be freed from the curse that afflicts both of you." Kuno
said in his usual overly dramatic fashion.  "Akane, I pray your forgiveness.
In my love for you, I have caused you embarrassments and pain.  My zeal for
you overwhelmed me," Kuno said as he handed her a bouquet of pink
carnations.  "Roses of love are what I wish to give you; carnations of
friendship are what I offer.   Will you accept these as an initial apology?"

Akane was stunned.  Kuno apologize?  Kuno offer friendship and not an
obsessive love?  "Sure, Kuno, I accept them," she stammered out in surprise.

Kuno bowed to her as she accepted his flowers.  Turning to Ranma, he said,
"I wish to apologize to you also.  I have called you a sorcerer and worse.
I thought that you had enslaved the pig-tailed girl.  I didn't know that you
were blessed to be her.  Will you accept these roses as a token of my
affection for her, your soon to be sister?"

Ranma was caught in a dilemma.  If he didn't accept the flowers, he'd look
like a real jerk.  On the other hand, if he accepted the flowers, Kuno would
continue to chase his girl side.  He looked at Akane, she nodded that he
should take the flowers.  With a sigh, he did.

"ER, thanks, Kuno.  I want you to know, this doesn't mean that you'll get to
date her or nothing,"  Ranma accepted the flowers with his usual grace.

"We've got to get to class.  Come on, Akane!"  Ranma left with Akane.

Nabiki walked up to Kuno as Ranma and Akane entered the school.  "I told you
that they would accept your apologies.  Now if you continue to do what I
tell you to, you'll get that date,"  Nabiki encouraged Kuno.

"Thank you, Nabiki Tendo.  I would not have thought of offering flowers to
Saotome.  He seemed quite ... discomfited by it."  Kuno answered her.

"He did, didn't he,"  Nabiki smiled.

****************************************************************

By lunch period, most of the school had heard about Kuno's apologies and the
mention of a trip to China.  Nabiki made a killing explaining what was going
to happen.  At the thought of a fully male and unattached Ranma at school,
most of the girls at Furinkan started making secret plans to woo him.  The
boys were far less subtle.  Ranma had been approached for dates with "Ranko"
by every boy in his class by the end of the day.  A few of the more
persistent ones visited the nurse.

When Ranma complained to Akane about it, she laughed and replied, "At least
you're not going to have to fight all of the boys every morning."

Ranma responded, "Don't you think they should wait for me to be a girl
before asking me out?"

"Face it, Ranma, you're just a popular girl!"  Akane laughed at his
discomfort.

*****************************************************************

That night at dinner, Nodoka had Ranma serve dinner to Akane and herself.
Nodoka sat in the seat of honor.  Akane sat to her right, with P-Chan in her
lap.

"Presentation is everything, Ranma.  Not only must the food be delicious,
the way you bring it in and the way it is placed in front of the guests must
serve to enhance its reception.  A meal, properly served and presented, can
often make a guest overlook minor flaws in their hostess or their dinner,"
Nodoka was sternly lecturing with Ranma.

"Mother, how often will I ever have to do this?"  Ranma asked.

"Akane, you should know the answer to this."  Nodoka looked at Akane.

"It is the duty of the wife to always serve as hostess to any your husband
invites into your home."  Akane answered.

"Quite correct."  Nodoka smiled at her.

"Mom, I may end up with a me that's permanently a girl, but there's NO WAY
I'd ever marry a man."  Ranma shuddered at the thought.

"You still will need to know how to be a proper woman."  Nodoka calmly
answered.  "More tea, Akane?"

"No, thank you."

"Can I eat yet?"  Ranma looked at the food hungrily.

Ranma decided to accept her training.  She looked at Akane and asked,
"Akane, may I take P-Chan with me into the bath tonight?  I'd like to give
him a bath."

P-Chan looked at her suspiciously.  Akane glanced down at her pet, "Ranma,
he's never seemed to like you much in the past.  Don't pick on him, okay?"

"I promise that I won't pick on him, Akane."  Ranma leant over and put her
hand on P-Chan's head.  "P-Chan and I will have a nice time being boys
together, won't we P-Chan."

"Bwee?"  P-Chan snorted in confusion.

Later in the bath, Ranma held P-Chan.  She looked at him and said, "Ryoga, I
want to talk with you.  I don't want to fight.  You heard what the Jusenkyo
Guide wrote my mother.  I am going to use the Drowned Twins water.  I would
like to know what you are planning.  Will you let me put you into the tub,
after a good scrub?"

P-Chan looked up at the Ranma and shook his head yes.

Ranma quickly scrubbed herself and P-Chan down.  She then picked him up and
moved to the tub.  Settling into it, Ranma placed P-Chan across from him.

"Hello, Ryoga."  Ranma began.

"Hello, Ranma."  Ryoga answered.

"Uh, Ryoga, you've been with Akane as P-Chan for the last week.  You've
heard all of our plans.  I want to know what you're thinking."  Ranma asked.

"I don't know, Ranma.  I really don't.  I can't believe that the Spring of
Drowned Boy won't cure us.  You don't know how much I hate being a pig.  The
Spring of Drowned Twins would split me so that one of me would be human and
the other a pig.  That's not a solution I can use.  I'm not happy about the
idea of having the curse for the length of an average pig's life either."
Ryoga thought out loud. "I was hurt when I found out that you and Akane
finally admitted your love for each other.  I still don't think you're good
enough for her.  She loves you and not me.  I've listened to enough to know
this now."

Ryoga paused and some fire came into his eyes, "Ranma, if you ever do
anything to hurt Akane, I swear that I will hunt you down and beat you."

"You won't have to beat me, Ryoga.  If I do anything to hurt her, I'll stand
and take the punishment," Ranma then shifted the subject, "What about
Akari?"

"I love her.   I was undecided between Akane and Akari.  I was never able to
tell Akane my feelings.  Akane has made her choice.  I will abide by it."

"I'm surprised, Ryoga.  I thought you'd take it harder than this."

"Well, I've had a week as P-Chan to think it through," Ryoga then began
smiling, "At least, I'm not having to take girl lessons."

Ranma looked at Ryoga.  He looked like he was going to say something.
Suddenly, he got up out of the tub and walked to the shower.  With a huge
grin, he turned it on and became a girl.  Grabbing a towel and wrapping it
around herself, she then said, "You know, Ryoga, you might want to consider
splitting yourself.  You're pretty cute and I might let you take me out."

Ryoga big-sweated.  Ranma started walking towards him.  Ryoga got out of the
tub and backed up against the wall.  As he looked at Ranma, he thought she
was actually going to kiss him.  His nose started to bleed.

Ranma stopped a short distance away from him.  She looked him up and down,
then said, "I guess the lessons are paying off, huh?"

*****************************************************************

The next two weeks went by in a blur.  Nodoka had taken her duties
seriously.  She and Ranma spent all of their free time in girlhood training.
By the end of the two weeks, Ranma was unable to apply makeup by herself,
but was able to pick out an outfit that matched and explain why.  Akane had
fun watching Ranma squirm.  Nodoka finally tired of that and drafted Akane
into the training school, too.  Ranma didn't feel quite so bad after that.

Not much was heard from Shampoo, Ukyo and Kodachi.  They had each decided,
or been persuaded to leave Ranma and Akane alone.  Kuno gave Ranma and Akane
daily updates on the status of the upcoming trip.  He also gave Ranma either
a bouquet of roses or a large box of chocolates every morning.  When Ranma
asked Akane what he should do with the candy, she told him to share them
with the girls in their class.

The two biggest betting pools in the history of Furinkan had been started by
Nabiki.  One was for who would date the free male Ranma first.  The second
was for who would date the female Ranma first.  Nabiki made sure that
neither Ranma nor any of his fiancees were aware of the pool.

Finally, the entire group was assembled in the Narita Airport.  Tatewaki,
Kodachi,
Nabiki, Cologne, Nodoka, Ranma and Akane all had been given first class
tickets.
Everyone else had been given tourist class tickets.  P-Chan flew in a pet
carrier.

*****************************************************************

It took two more days before the travelers reached the Joketsuzuku Village.
Everyone was sent to a different home.  They were told that it was Amazon
law that outsiders must be separated at night.  Ranma found that he and his
mother were staying in Cologne and Shampoo's home.  Akane was not pleased.

"What do you mean that you've been assigned to sleep at Shampoo's home?"
Akane ranted.

"Akane,  if you're going to get mad at anyone get mad at Cologne.  It's not
like I said I wanted to sleep with Shampoo."  Ranma inserted his foot into
his mouth.

"Ranma, you JERK.  You are MY fiance and you will sleep with no one but me
got it?"  Akane asked as she malleted him for emphasis.

"..."

Several of the Amazons of the village had watched the scene.  They were
impressed with the spirit of the girl and how she had already put her
husband into his place.  Many argued that she must have Amazon blood in her.

**************************************************************************

That night, Cologne approached Ranma and Nodoka.  "Ranma, have you
considered all of the ramifications of being split and having a permanently
female version of you?"

"Yeah, I think so, Why?"  Ranma asked.

"According to Amazon laws, when an outsider woman defeats an Amazon girl.
The outsider woman must be hunted down and killed.  By law, Shampoo could be
required to hunt down the female Ranma,"  Cologne stopped and watched Ranma.

As the import of her words sunk in, Ranma's eyes got bigger and bigger,
"What do you mean, you old hag?  I'm going to marry Shampoo!  She's still
going to try and kill me?"

"Son-in-Law, I said could.  This is a unique situation.  One that the
council will have to make a decision on.  I will support releasing Shampoo
and you from her Kiss of Death.  However, I am not the only one on the
council.  Remember Shampoo has already been punished for her failure once."
She paused.  Ranma shivered at the thought of Shampoo-neko.  Cologne then
continued, "There is a way to bypass all of this.  Would you allow your
female self to be adopted into the tribe?  If I adopted you, the law would
be moot.  You wouldn't have to run and Shampoo wouldn't have to track you."

Nodoka said coldly, "Ranma has a mother.  There is no need for another."

"I'm not looking to replace you, Nodoka.  I'm trying to save two lives."

"What's the catch? Would I have to stay here forever?"  Ranma looked at her.

"No catch.  The only things required of you would be to continue training
wherever you are, learn Chinese and to come to the yearly tournament for
testing,"  Cologne continued.  "As an Amazon, you would be able to learn all
of our techniques."

"What about Mom?  I finally got her back.  I don't want to lose her again."

"Ranma, you wouldn't be losing your old family.  You would be gaining a new
family with a three thousand year old tradition."

"Why, Cologne?"

"I'm tired, Son-in-Law.  I want to see Shampoo safe at home.  Whether that's
here or back in Nerima.  I also think that it would be a waste to see both
of you killed.  Shampoo would eventually kill you, you know.  Once that
happened, one of your male sides would kill her.  I know that, too." Cologne
finished.  Also, your children will be Amazon children.  They will greatly
strengthen the tribe.

"Mom, what do you think?" Ranma asked his mother.

"Cologne, I don't want to see Shampoo or Ranma killed.  I also don't want to
lose him as my son or daughter.  If you adopt me, will that fulfill the
law's requirements?"  Nodoka asked.

"Yes, it would Nodoka."  Cologne smiled.  This is all that I hoped.  Now all
of them will be members of the tribe.  They will greatly strengthen the
tribe.

**************************************************************************

The next morning, they all trekked to Jusenkyo.  Cologne talked to the Guide
and asked him to show them the Spring of Drowned Twins.  The day was turning
into a beautiful one.  There were white cumulous clouds floating lazily in
the sky.  There was no wind to speak of.  The water in the pools was
motionless.

Ranma wore his red silk shirt and black silk pants.  He looked at all of
those around him.

His mother stood in her most formal kimono.  Looking at her son proudly, she
had never seen anyone look so manly.  To put honor and the needs of others
above his own, he was truly a man amongst men.

Standing tall in his gi, his father returned Ranma's gaze.  Genma knew that
if he were in the same position as his son, he would not be able to do this.
He silently wished his son the best of luck.

His glance then fell upon Soun, Kasumi and Nabiki. Suited in his impressive
samurai armor, Soun threatened to wash away Jusenkyo with his tears. How
Ranma could sacrifice so much of himself for the happiness of Akane, he
would never know. He knew that he would never be able to repay him.

Kasumi and Nabiki also stood wearing formal kimonos. Kasumi seemed a little
nervous, but she smiled at him encouragingly. Hoping with all of her heart
that this turned out okay, she knew being calm would help Ranma.  Nabiki
wasn't smiling.  She thought to herself, Ranma, you have no head for money,
but you have a big heart.

Akane was standing just a little apart from her family.  She wore her formal
attire, also.  She looked at him with love in her eyes.  She mouthed at him,
"It's still not too late, I can jump into the Spring of Drowned Man!"  He
shook his head no and smiled at her.

Ranma's gaze next fell upon Ukyo, Shampoo and Kodachi.  They each had chosen
to wear their fighting outfits.  Ukyo looked at Ranma with a mixture of
sadness and love.  She knew that she wasn't his first choice.  She took
comfort from the thought that he loved her enough to do this for her.
Shampoo stood tall and proud, her eyes never wavering from Ranma.  Her honor
and place were about to be restored.  She would have Ranma for a husband.
She knew that she would be the best wife of all of them.  As Kodachi's and
Ranma's gaze crossed, the loneliness and longing for love that were in her
soul could be seen.  Ranma looked more deeply into her eyes and saw a small
spark of hope begin to come to life.

Kuno stood stoically and watched Ranma.  As Ranma looked his way, he said,
"Ranma Saotome, you do something today that I would not be able to do.  I
salute you."  With that, he pulled his bokken out of its scabbard.  Bowing
forward, he held the bokken in both hands in front of himself.

The last person there was Cologne.  She stood there on her stick with an
unreadable expression.  She looked back wishing her Son-in-Law all the luck
that he could possibly muster. He would need every shred of it.

Ranma was surprised not to see P-Chan there.  He must have wandered off
again.

He turned and gazed at the pool.  Its' surface was unruffled by any waves.
He saw his reflection looking back at him.  Realizing that for a part of
him, this would be the last time he would see a male reflection, he paused.
Taking a big breath, Ranma yelled, "Banzai!", and jumped in.

It had begun.

**************************************************************************

Hi guys,  This chapter was the toughest to write so far.  I had several
things that had to be done before they got to China, yet I wanted  to end on
his jumping in.

As always, let me know what you think.  I look forward to your comments.
Oh, I'll be leaving on a holiday trip Thursday.  I won�t be back until next
Tuesday.

I would like to thank my pre-readers for their quick responses.  An especial
thanks to Ryan Erik for his help in the final scene.  This allowed me to
send this out to the FFML this week.

Also, a request to any readers who also happen to be female.  I would like
to knwo what you think of the shopping trip and "training" that Nodoka is
giving Ranma.  Being a guy, I didn't receive this type of training as a
youngster.  I did have four sisters.  Did the situation and conversation
ring true?

Ja ne,

Mike Allen