Goku 1/2

Chapter 8

Disclaimer:  None of the characters in this fic are mine.  If they were, I'd probably have a lot more money than I do now.

Cologne stared at the two figures standing in the doorway.  She spoke Japanese as she had been training Shampoo in the language and her to keep in practice.  "So Shampoo, I see you've finally returned to us.  I trust you disposed of the girl who defeated you?"

Shampoo shook her head.  "No, great-grandmother.  Is problem with killing her.  Shampoo not sure if Ranma boy or girl."

"What?  It seemed pretty clear to me that she was female when she came to her village."  

"There problem.  Ranma been to Jusenkyo."

Cologne cocked an eyebrow.  "Jusenkyo, eh?  I still don't see how that would be a problem.  You either kill her if she's female or marry him if he's male.  Either way, you should not have returned emptyhanded.  Unless this young man with you is your future husband."

"Me?"  Yamcha asked.  He had not been able to follow most of the conversation and so had remained silent.  He had followed Shampoo after she had fled from the Tendo Dojo a few days ago.  He tried to enforce the deal they had made to kill Ranma, but she had said that she needed to go home first.  They took one of his capsule planes and flew to China.  However, planes were not allowed near the amazon village, so they had to land and walk the rest of the way.

"Yes, you.  Did you defeat Shampoo in combat?"

"No, but I never fought her."

"Shampoo beat him.  He try to run away so Shampoo beat and catch him."

"This means that Ranma could be your future husband.  You should not have come back here with his hand in marriage or her head.  Finding out someone's true form if they have a Jusenkyo curse is quite simple and should not have been a problem.  You have failed me."

"No.  It not like that!"  Shampoo protested.

"But it is.  You must be punished.  Come with me."   Cologne left the hut and headed down the road leaving the village.  Shampoo followed.  Yamcha did as well, as he was unsure of what he was supposed to do or say.

They travelled in silence, and soon they arrived at the fabled springs of Jusenkyo.  Cologne jumped on top of one of the bamboo poles and motioned for Shampoo to do the same.  The purple-haired amazon did so, and the two faced each other.  Yamcha remained on the ground and continued to watch.

"These are the springs of Jusenkyo.  They possess the power to transform whomever falls into them into another creature.  To understand Jusenkyo and also as your punishment, you will receive a curse here."  Cologne smirked.  "Unless, of course, you can defeat me.  Prepare yourself."

"I ready, great-grandmother."  Shampo replied.  "Hyaaaaahh!"  She leapt off the pole at the older amazon.  Cologne batted her out of the air when she got close.  Shampoo fell into one of the pools below and a large splash resulted.  A small, purple and white cat emerged from the spring. 

Yamcha's mouth gaped.  "What did you do to her?"  He shouted.  "You witch!  I'll make you pay!"  Yamcha sprung from the ground towards Cologne.  The amazon jumped backwards and landed on another pole, letting Yamcha occupy the pole she was just on.

"You think you can beat me?  You're a bit too young to be able to do that."

"We'll see about that.  POWER OF THE WOLF!"  The two combatants leapt towards each other.  Yamcha kicked at the amazon, but she just rose above the blow and knocked him on the head with her stick.  This sent the desert bandit plunging into the pool below them.  A wolf crawled out of the spring and shook itself off.

Cologne laughed.  "Now you have a little bit more than the technique of a wolf, boy."  She turned her attention towards the cat.  "You see, Shampoo?  This is the power of Jusenkyo.  Hot water will return you to your original form, but cold water will turn you back.  Now go and find out if Ranma is male or female and then carry out the appropriate action.  Only then will I allow you to be cured.  I will come to Japan to check on how you're doing shortly after you get there.  Now go!  You too, boy.  There's nothing for you here."

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"Akane!"  Ranma shouted.  "Damnit!  Talk to me!  It's been a week!"

Akane continued to eat.  She hadn't said a word to Ranma since Shampoo and Yamcha had arrived.  She also ignored all of Ranma's explanations, which weren't very good in the first place since Ranma knew nothing about why Shampoo acted the way she did towards him.  The rest of the family looked back and forth from Ranma to Akane.  Kasumi had recovered from her injuries quickly and had resumed her role as homemaker.  

"Akane, dear.  Don't you think it's time to forgive Ranma?"  Soun asked.

"FORGIVE HIM?!?"  Akane exploded.  "He was making out with some amazon bimbo who beat up Kasumi and you want me to FORGIVE HIM!  As far as I'm concerned, our engagement never happened!"

"You yelled at me."  Soun whimpered as tears began to stream down his cheeks.

"Excuse me?"  Ranma shouted back.  "I wasn't making out with nobody.  She jumped me and kissed me out of the blue.  I don't know why, but it's not my fault!"

"I sure didn't see you trying to stop her."  Akane retorted.

"I didn't have time!  I was too shocked.  It's not like I wanted to kiss her or anything like that."

"But once it happened you decided to go with it?"

"NO!  That's not what I said at all!  I didn't do nothing."

"Ranma, you are such a pig.  I hate you."

"Now listen..."  Ranma's sentence was cut short as Akane pulled Puar out.  "AAAAHHHHHH!  CAT!"  He bolted out of the room.  "That's not fair!"  He called back.

"So what?"  Akane shot back. "Was it fair that you betrayed me?"

"That's not what happened."  

"Hah!"  Akane chucked Puar into the room where Ranma was hiding.  There was a large crash as Ranma tore through the wall of the house to get away.  

Puar was really unsure of what to do.  She had woken up wrapped in bandages in Akane's room a few days ago.  Unsure as to where Yamcha had gone, she had remained silent and pretended to be an ordinary cat.  Not talking or flying had proven to be difficult as she sometimes wanted to scream at all of these people and tell them what idiots they were.  She carefully observed everyone in the household and had discovered a number of things.  The redheaded girl that had frightened Yamcha was actually Ranma, and he changed whenever he got hit by water of a certain temperature.  His father turned into a panda, and his brother into a strange creature.  Kasumi acted like the mother of the household and Nabiki as the fiancial manager.  Ranma and Akane were engaged to each other, and he would one day inheirit the Tendo dojo.  Puar wasn't happy as a pet, even though she was well fed and looked after.  She wanted to leave, but she had no idea where Yamcha was, and she rather enjoyed how much Ranma was afraid of her.  Besides, no one knew she could shapeshift.  This could be a lot of fun.

The Tendos finished their dinner in silence.  As soon as Akane was finished, she stomped up to her room and threw herself onto her bed.  She cradled her head in her hands and began to cry.  She kept muttering, "Ranma, you jerk."

Puar ran up to her door and put her ear to it.  She smiled.  'Perfect.  I can make Ranma's life a living hell.  Yamcha will be so proud.  When he gets here that is.'

With a boom sound and a puff of smoke, Puar shapeshifted into Ranma.  She knocked on Akane's door.  "Uh...Akane?"  She said.

"Go away, you jerk!"  Akane muttered.

"Akane, look.  I'll admit what I did may seem wrong, but there's a perfectly good reason for it."

"Yeah, right.  You've already tried that, Ranma.  I'm not listening."

"I'm serious this time. The reason I did what I did is because...I hate you, Akane.  I've always hated you since the day I met you and the only reason why I kept this stupid engagement was because my father wouldn't let me cancel it.  Just thought I'd let you know.  Bye."  Puar smirked as she walked off.

Akane lay on her bed, absolutely still.  She was too shocked to even cry.  Ranma sometimes did stupid things that made her mad, but that was only at the beginning.  He got better as she got to know him until the incident with Shampoo.  But she never suspected that he had hated her all this time.  Tears streamed down her cheeks faster than they ever had done before.  

'He hates me?  He hates me?  But...I...he...we...Ranma...you...you...'

"JERK!"  She screamed.

Puar shifted back to her normal form and went to find Ranma.  She quickly found that he hadn't come back in the house.  Going outside, she levitated up to the roof and looked around.  She spotted him sulking on top of a fence by the canal.  She landed and headed his way.

'Dumb tomboy.'  Ranma thought.  'It's not my fault.  Well, at least she's talking to me now.  A fat lot of good it does me though.'

Puar transformed into Akane and stepped out from behind the building she was hiding behind.  "Ranma?"

"Huh?"  Ranma spun around.  "A-Akane?  What are you doing here?"

"I want to talk to you."

"About time."  He hopped down from the fence.  "Here I was trying to explain and you weren't even listening to me.  I'm glad you've come to your senses.  You..."

"Will you shut up and let me talk?  I came here to tell you something."

"If you came to apologize for how angry you've been acting, then don't worry about.  These misunderstandings sometimes happen."

Puar sweatdropped.  'Geez!  What is wrong with him?  No wonder he can't make up with Akane.'  "I-It's not that."

"What then?  You want me to start training you again?  No problem."

"It's not that either."

"Well, what is it?"

"Um...we've know each other for a long time now, and..."

"What do you mean 'Known each other for a long time?'  It's only been about two months."

"Oh..."

"..."

"Well, it's sure seemed like a long time."  Puar said and chuckled a bit.

"Ya got that right."  Ranma said while joining her in chuckling.  "I feel like I've been getting pounded by an uncute tomboy for as long as I can remember."

Puar eyebrow twitched momentarily before subsiding.  "I've gotten very close to you during this time."

"Huh?  What do you mean?"  Ranma was taken aback.  This conversation wasn't going where he had expected it to go.

"What I'm trying to say is..."  Puar breathed in to aid the suspense.

"Is?"  Ranma urged her to continue.

"I love you, Ranma Saotome."  'Heh.  That oughta do it.'

Ranma blinked.  "A-Akane?  Uh...Are you feeling all right?  Y-You just s-said you l-l-lov-ved m-me?"

"Yes, that's right."  Puar smiled and did her best to look cute.

The two of them just stood there staring at each other.  

Ranma's mind was running in circles.  He had no idea what to do.  His martial arts skills were useless in a situation like this.  

Puar's mind on the other hand was gloating at how very clever she was.  With Akane thinking that Ranma hates her and Ranma thinking that Akane loves him, there was bound to be some serious reprecussions.

"I-I don't what to say.  I mean you're not perfect or anything like that.  I mean you've got the strength of a gorilla, the manners of a horse, the looks of a mule, the cooking ability of a frog, but...well..uh...I mean...um..."

"Yes?"  Puar said, smiling even more.  'What is his problem?'

"You see...ah...it's like this...uh..."

'Damn!  My five mintues are almost up.'  "Ranma?"

"Yes, Akane?"

"I have to go now.  Bye."  Puar said as she turned away and began to run.

"Hey!  Wait!"  Ranma sprang after her and grabbed her hand.  "I wasn't finished, Akane.  What I'm trying to say is...that I..."

BOOM! 

Puar's transformation time expired and she reverted back to her normal state.  Ranma found himself holding a flying blue cat's paw.

"Well, it looks like the gig's up."  Puar said innocently.

"C-CAAATTTTT!"  Ranma let go of the paw and ran straight through the fence.  He fell into the water and was swept away by the stream.  He managed to climb out of the canal a kilometre later, soaking wet and female.  "What just happened there?  That was Akane, but it was actually her pet!  What's going on here?"  She shook her head and went in search of some hot water.

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The next day both Ranma and Akane were very sullen at breakfast and the way to school.  Akane looked rather depressed, while Ranma looked more confused than anything else.  Neither one knew what to say to the other.  Goku couldn't figure out what was going on, and Nabiki had left ahead of them, so there was complete silence until they reached the gates of the school.  Kuno was there as usual, waiting for them.  However, this time Mursaki had joined him at the gates.

"Saotomes, prepare yourselves!"  Kuno bellowed and waved his bokken threateningly.  "You will face the wrath of the Kuno brothers for your crimes against the fair Akane Tendo and the pigtailed girl."

"Take this!"  Murasaki shouted and threw several skuriken at the trio.

The three jumped upwards to avoid them, allowing the stars to impact harmlessly against the ground.

"What do you think you are doing, brother?"  Kuno demanded.  "You risk hitting the beauteous Akane Tendo.  I will not stand for that!"  

"I fight the way I please, dear brother."  Mursaki snarled.  "And you have never been able to defeat either of the Saotomes, while the younger one has fallen against my power time and time."

"You lie!  I have heard tales of you losing every time and only claiming victory."

"You dare trust the word of the common rabble over your own brother's?  No one has yet to defeat me."

"I doubt that very much, dear brother, since I have defeated you many times before."

"I am having difficulty remembering that, brother.  You always fled before my prowess.  Your cowardice is why you cannot win against the Saotomes."

"First you attack Akane Tendo and then you insult me.  My prowess is greater than yours ever will be, and I shall prove it.  I challenge you, Murasaki Kuno!"

"Challenge accepted, dear brother.  Now I'll show you how to really use a sword."  Murasaki drew his blade and charged his older brother.  Kuno swung at him when Murasaki got close, but the ninja jumped over the attack.  In mid-air, he threw some ninja stars, which were casually deflected by Kuno.  He landed right on top of his brother, and a cloud of smoked formed around them in the ensuing struggle.

"Morons."  Ranma and Goku said in unison.  They walked by the melee and into the school grounds.  Just as they got inside, an object came flying at Ranma, who caught it reflexively.  

Ranma looked at the object in question.  "Okonomiyaki?"  He asked puzzled.

"I finally found you, Ranma."  A voice said.  The crowd parted to reveal a boy dressed in a non-Furnikan school uniform with a bandolier going across his chest.  He had long brown hair tied back in a pony tail.  He was also carrying a giant spatula.

"And you are?"  Ranma asked.  The crowd formed a circle around them. 

"My name is Ukyo Kuonji, and I've hunted you for eight long years, Ranma."  

"Huh?  Ukyo?"  Ranma frowned.  He didn't remember knowing any Ukyos.  He looked at the okonomiyaki.  There was writing on it.

'Meet after school behind the gym.'

"You're challenging me?"  Ranma asked.  "I have no problems accepting, but do you mind telling me who you are?"

Ukyo facefaulted.  "Man, are you dense!  Doncha get it?  Okonomiyaki?  Messages on them?  Ukyo?  Eight years ago?"

"Hmmmm..."  Ranma considered what Ukyo was saying.  "Okonomiyaki, huh?  I used to eat it a lot when I was younger on my training trip.  I remember I used to get it for free from this guy called...man!  What was his name?  Do you remember, Goku?"

"Me?"  Goku paused.  "I don't remember any okonomiyaki, but I don't remember a lot of things from when I was younger."

"Ukyo...Ukyo...Ukyo..."  Ranma kept repeating the name over and over again.  Then his eyes lit up.  "I got it!  Ucchan!  You're Ucchan from the okonomiyaki cart!"

Ukyo smirked.  "That's right, and I'm going to make you pay for what you did to me."

"But...I thought we were friends, Ucchan?"  Ranma asked, still puzzled.

"Don't call me that!"  Ukyo screamed.  "You have no right to call me that after what you did."

"What did I do?  I don't remember.  We just fought everyday and then you gave me okonomiyaki."

"And that's what you call friendship?"  Hiroshi asked, the first person from the crowd to speak. 

"It wasn't like that!  He drew pictures and jokes on the okonomiyaki for me with the sauce.  We were good friends."

"Yeah, until you stole my father's okonomiyaki cart and ran off."  Ukyo spat.  

"I didn't steal nothing."  Ranma protested.  "Say, why did Pop take it anyway?"

"Because you were supposed to take me too!"

"Why?  Why would we take you instead of you staying with your old man?  If that's what happened, then you should thank me for doing you a big favour.  You wouldn't have liked being with my pop."

Ukyo expression softened.  "You mean he never told you?"

"Told me what?  Come on, Ukyo.  Be a man and spit it out."

"What did you just call me?"  Ukyo shouted, angrier than before.

Ranma was taken aback.  "W-What?  I didn't call you nothing.  I just said..."  He was interrupted by Murasaki's body being propeled into him.

"Hah!  No one challenges the prowess of the Blue Thunder of Furnikan high, even if he be of my own blood."  Kuno decleared triumphantly.  "Now face me, Saotome!"

Everyone there minus Murasaki and Akane sweatdropped.  "Kuno?  Uh...I don't know how to put this, but I'm kinda busy here."  Ranma replied.

"Coward!  You just seek to avoid the defeat that surely awaits you!"

BRRRRRIIIIIIIIINNNNNNNGGGGGG!

"There's the bell!"  Hiroshi shouted.

"We'll be late if we don't hurry."  Daisuke said.

The tension that had been built up instantly dissipated as everyone scrambled to get to class on time.

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A crowd had already formed at the back of the school by the time Ranma got there.  He had left Akane behind since she didn't seem to want to have anything to do with him.  Ranma didn't think it was safe to ask her what was wrong until he figured out whether she was actually a cat or not.  Ukyo had been in a couple of Ranma's classes and had shot daggers from his eyes at him, but hadn't said a word to him since the morning.  Ukyo stood in the centre of the circle that the crowd had formed.

Goku was waiting for him there.  "Ok, Ranma.  It's time."  He placed his hand behind his back.

"What do you mean?  He challenged me specifically."

"You agreed that EVERY fight would be dealt with like this.  It doesn't matter which one of us gets challenged."

"Aw.  No fair."  

"What do you mean 'no fair?'  The title of this fic has my name in it, not yours, and I was barely in the last chapter."

Ranma thought for a second.  "Oh.  I guess you're right.  You still have to beat me though, and you just can't seem to do it."  

"We'll see about that."  Goku said with a gleam in his eyes.  'I've seen through your technique, Ranma.  I will win this time.  All my intensive rock, paper, scissors training with Akane and Nabiki will pay off now.'

"Ready?  1...2...3!"  Ranma thrust his hand forward; his palm was flat and faced downwards.

Goku stuck out his own hand; his index and middle finder were extended.  He smiled widely.  "Scissors beats paper.  I win.  This is my fight."

"Damn!"  Ranma swore.  'How did he do that?'

"Ok, Ukyo."  Goku said as he stepped into the circle.  "I'm ready."

Ukyo sweatdropped.  "What?  What do you mean 'you're ready?'"

"I'm fighting you."

Ukyo sweatdropped again.  "Uh...no, you're not."

"Wrong!  I won the Rock, Paper, Scissors match."

"So?"

"So you're fighting me."

"What kind of stupid logic is that?  I'm fighting Ranma!"

"Uh-uh.  It's my turn.  Hyaah!"  Goku leapt forward and attacked Ukyo, but he managed to dodge the blow.

"Wait a minute.  I'm not supposed to fight you."

"You are now."  He swung and missed again.

"All right, fine!  I'll deal with you once I've taken care of your brother, Ranma."  Ukyo shot at the pigtailed martial artist.  "Take this."  Ukyo threw three spatulas at Goku.

"Too easy.  Yahh!"  Goku ducked underneath Ukyo's outstreched arm and punched him in the chest.  Ukyo was flung back by the blow and landed on his back.  "That's strange.  Hey, Ranma.  Do you know why Ukyo's chest is really soft?"

The crowd sweatdropped.  Ukyo clutched his chest, but more out of modesty than as if the spot was badly injured.

"It's cause your fist is real hard, not cause his chest is soft."

"Well if you say so."  Goku leapt into the air for a flying punch.  Ukyo managed to roll away before Goku landed.  The ground exploded around Goku's fist.  Ukyo rolled up onto his feet and brandished his combat spatula.  He swung several times at Goku but didn't hit.

"Stay still damnit!"  Ukyo shouted, getting very frustrated with the nimble Saotome brother.  'Why am I doing this?  I never wanted to fight Goku.  He was too young to even remember me at all.'

"Time to finsh this."  Goku said as he landed after dodging one of Ukyo's attacks.  He sprinted forward and smashed his fist into Ukyo's face.  Ukyo dropped his spatula and went sailing above the crowd and into the wall of the gym.  Ukyo's body fell from the impression it had made in the wall and crashed into the ground.

Everyone crowded around him.  Ranma knelt down beside his and lightly slapped his cheeks.  "Hey, Ucchan.  You okay?"

Ukyo cracked open an eye.  "D-Don't c-call me that a-anymore."  He said in a weak voice.

"Man, you don't look in too good a shape.  I know a good doctor.  He'll fix you up in no time, ol' buddy."

"No doctors."  Ukyo made an effort to push Ranma away, but failed miserably.

"What?"

"Uh...never mind.  I don't care.  Do what you like.  It's never stopped you before."

Ranma shrugged.  "All right.  Goku, let's get him to Dr. Tofu's."

"Maybe I hit him a little too hard?"  Goku said, unsure if he seriously hurt his brother's friend.

"Nah.  Ucchan's a pretty tough guy.  He'll be fine in no time.  Ucchan?  What's wrong?  You look upset.  Don't worry about Goku beating you.  He's a really good fighter."

"It's not that."

"Then what, Ucchan?  Oops!  I'm still calling you Ucchan.  I'll stop now if it means that much to you.  Geez, some guys are so sensitive."

"It's not that either."  Ukyo said through clenched teeth.

"Then...never mind.  We'd better get you to Dr. Tofu's."  Ranma said, remembering what happened last time he had a conversation like this.  He didn't want Ukyo turning into a cat like Akane had done.  Ranma reached down and picked up the okonomiyaki chief.  "You're pretty light.  NIMBUS!"

The Flying Nimbus arrived and whisked Ukyo, Ranma and Goku away to Dr. Tofu's office.  Once there, Dr. Tofu began to examine Ukyo's injuries.

"Hmmm...so you guys were fighting with each other, were you?"  Dr. Tofu said while he looked at the bump on Ukyo's head.

Ranma gulped.  "H-How did you know?"

"Come now, Ranma.  I know how you young boys are."  Dr. Tofu said.  "However, you two really shouldn't pick on girls."

"Huh?  What does picking on girls have to do with it?  Don't tell me that stupid Akane came here and complained to you about that incident with Shampoo.  She's such a crybaby."

"Uh...I don't know what you're talking about, Ranma.  Akane doesn't have anything to do with this situation here right now, does she?"

"Um...no.  Ukyo here came and challenged me.  We're ol' childhood friends.  Goku won the contest to see who fought him, and he hit him pretty hard in the fight.  He seemed pretty dazed, so I thought I'd bring him here to make sure he was okay."

"Ranma, why are you saying 'he?'"  Dr. Tofu asked.

"Why'd think?  Cause Ukyo's a guy."

"Really?  I beg to differ."

"Huh?"  Goku and Ranma said.

"Ukyo is a girl.  Can't you boys tell that?"

Dead silence.

"Actually, I like to think I diguise myself pretty well."  Ukyo said.  "I'm not surprised they thought I was a guy.  I can fool most people."  Goku and Ranma were still frozen in shock, their mouths wide open.  "Well?  Say something."

"W-When d-did that h-happen?"  Ranma stuttered, recovering somewhat from his shock.  

"What the hell are talking about?  I've always been a girl, you moron!"  Ukyo shouted.

"I could've swore you were a guy when you were younger."

"Well, obviously not!"

"Let me try something."  Ranma went to the kitchen and grabbed a kettle of hot water.

"Ranma, that won't work."  Dr. Tofu said.  

"Why's that?"  Ranma said challengingly.

"Because Ukyo doesn't have a Jusenkyo curse."

"How do you know?  Is there a sign or something on him, I mean her?"

"Now that...is a secret."  Dr Tofu said while cocking his index finger at Ranma.

"I still don't understand."  Goku said.  "If Ukyo's a girl, that means that I beat a girl.  But does that mean that I have to marry her?  Cause that's what happened when Shampoo came and..."

"No, you don't!"  Ranma and Ukyo shouted.  

"That's only cause of that stupid amazon law.  It doesn't apply to Japanese."  Ranma continued.

"Besides, I'm already engaged to someone."  Ukyo said.

"Who's that?"  Ranma asked.  "I don't see how you can get engaged no matter how cute you are if you're posing as a guy."

"Cute?  You think I'm cute?"  Ukyo blushed slightly.

Ranma scratched the back of his head uncomfortably.  "Well, yeah.  I guess.  I didn't think Ucchan would've grown up to be so cute."

Ukyo blushed even more.  "Well, if you really mean it, then I'll tell you who my fiancee is."

"Okay.  I do mean it."  

"My fiancee is...you, Ranma Saotome."  Ukyo pointed squarely at the older Saotome brother.

"M-Me?"  Ranma gasped.  His, Dr. Tofu's, and Goku's eyes bugged out.  "When did this happen?"

"When you last met me of course."  Ukyo smiled.  "Our fathers arranged for us to be married.  The okonomiyaki cart was meant to be the dowdry, but your father got greedy and stole the cart and left me behind."

Ranma slammed his fist into his hand.  "That's it. That's why you were running after us when we left with the okonomiyaki cart.  You were supposed to come with us."

Ukyo smiled even brighter now that Ranma finally understood.  "Yes, that's right.  At last you understand the torment I went through.  After you rejected me, I abandoned my femininity and pretended to be a guy."

"But why did you challenge me?  It was Pop's fault, not mine."

"I just thought I'd punish you first.  He was going to be next."

"You know what?  I think I'll help you."  Goku said.

"Yeah.  Pops has really got to learn not to try and get us engaged to every girl that comes along."  Ranma added.

"What's that supposed to mean?"  Ukyo demanded, her smile fading.

"Just that pops has tried to get Goku and me in a lot of engagement situations before, but this time, he really hurt someone I care about."

Ukyo's expression softened again.  "Oh, Ranchan.  You're so kind."

"All right!"  Goku exclaimed.  "Let's go and teach him a lesson he'll never forget."

"Yeah!"  Ranma and Ukyo shouted.  The three of them ran out of the office and towards the Tendo dojo.

"Ordinarily I'd stop you, but Mr. Saotome seems to have it coming though. Try not to hurt him too much."  Dr. Tofu called after them.  "He's got work here tomorrow.  And tell him to be on time!"

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The trio burst into the Tendo's house, where Soun and Genma were enjoying a nice, peaceful game of shogi.  They descended upon Genma and began giving him the worst beating he had received in his life.  The ruckus attracted all of the Tendo's.  Even Akane found enough motivation to see what was going on.  Soun began crying.  Kasumi and Nabiki just sat there and watched, wondering what was going on.  Akane tried to make sense of what was happening, but she didn't have the energy to put any effort into it.  When the trio were finished, Genma just lay there, unmoving.

Goku and Ukyo gave each other high fives.  "That oughta do it."  She said.

"Ranma, Goku, please."  Soun sobbed.  "Why must you attack your father so brutally?  What did he ever do to you?"

"We'll make a list!"  The trio chorused.  

"Waaaaaahhh!  Don't yell at me."  Soun renewed his crying.

"And who is the third guy?"  Nabiki asked.  "He looks remarkably like the new student who fought Goku after school." 

"I am."  Ukyo said.  "I'm also Ranma's fiancee."

"Fiancee?"  Nabiki cocked an eyebrow at Ukyo.

"Oh my."  Kasumi said.

"Fiancee!"  Soun sobbed in a new round of crying.  "Ranma, how could you?  How could you do this to my poor, sweet Akane?"

All eyes focused on Akane.  She hadn't changed her expression despite the shocking news presented to her.  The same sullen face she had been wearing since last night was still there.  "I-I'm not surprised."  She finally spoke.  Her voice was choked.  "After all, he does hate me.  So it makes sense for him to get engaged to another girl.  Excuse me."  Akane burst into tears and she fled from the room.

"Akane!"  Ranma shouted.  "Wait!"  He started to go after her, but Nabiki stopped him.

"Let her go, Ranma.  She needs some time to herself before you talk to her.  Besides, you have some things to explain to us first.  For starters, who is he?  Or rather who is she?  And how is she your fiancee?"

"Well, you see Ukyo here is an old childhood friend, who I thought was a guy, but is actually a girl who pops engaged to me in exchange for an okonomiyaki cart..."  Ranma continued his explanation of the situation to the Tendos.  

Meanwhile, Puar listened from the other room.  'So Ranma has a new girl, huh?  I'll put an interesting spin on things.  Ranma shall not be happy!  Heh!  Heh!  Heh!'  Puar transformed into Akane and stepped into the room.

"Ranma?"  She said while smilingly sweetly.

"Uh...Akane?"  Ranma asked, surprised by her reappearance.

"I just want to say that no matter what you do or say or get engaged to...I'll always love you."  Puar ran forward and threw herself into Ranma's chest.  She grabbed his arms and wrapped them around her.  

"A-Akane?"  Ranma sputtered, frantically looking for a sensible reason for Akane's actions.  "Are you okay?  You were just really mad at me."

"That doesn't matter to me.  I don't want to be separated from you ever again."  She looked up into Ranma's eyes and leaned forward until their lips were almost touching.

Ukyo whipped out her combat spatula and brought it down hard on Ranma's head.  "What are you doing?"  She screamed at Ranma.

"No, what are YOU doing?"  Puar screamed at Ukyo.  "You're in MY house in front of MY family with MY fiancee!  You have no right to do anything here!  Now, get out!"  Puar pointed at the door.  'Heh!  This is working perfectly.  She reacted just like I expected.  Now both girls will hate Ranma.'

"I was engaged to Ranma long before you ever met him!  He's mine!"

"Umm...excuse me?"  Ranma said from his position on the floor.  

"That has nothing to do with it.  He's going to marry me, and we're going to take over the Tendo dojo."

"Oh Akane, I'm so proud of you."  Soun cried.

"If it's a dojo that Ranma's inheiriting, then it should go to whomever is better at martial arts, right?"

"Well, yeah.  I suppose."  Puar agreed, unsure of what Ukyo was getting at.

"So I challenge you, Akane Tendo."  Ukyo declared.  "The winner gets Ranma."

"Uh..."  Puar realized she was in rouble now.  She couldn't fight, especially since she didn't have too much time left in her transformed state.  'This wasn't according to the plan.'

"Well?  Fight me!"

"Now?"

"Yes, now!  When did you think I meant?"

"Well, I thought maybe you meant tomorrow."

Ukyo facefaulted.  "Why would you think that?"  She snarled.

"Because...uh...um...because...um..."  Puar stalled for time as she desperately tried to think of an answer.  Her eyes nervously darted around the room until they flickered across Goku.  "Because you already fought today, and so it would be unfair if you had to fight twice in the same day, especially considering how badly you were beaten by Goku."

Ukyo paused.  "I guess you're right.  I could use the rest before the fight.  Very well, meet me behind the gym after school tomorrow."

Puar sweatdropped.  "Uh...tomorrow's Saturday."

"Oh."

"..."

"Well then meet me in front of my okonomiyaki shop after closing time tomorrow.  Here's the address"  Ukyo flipped Puar an okonomiyaki with some writing on it.

"I'll be there."  Puar grinned.

"Don't I get a say in this?"  Ranma protested.

"NO!"  Puar and Ukyo shouted.

"See you then.  Oh, and don't expect me to go easy on you either."  Ukyo said as she walked to the door.

"Of course not.  I won't go easy on you either."  Puar replied.  'Whew!  I'm glad that worked.'

Ukyo left the house, slamming the door behind her.  Again, all eyes turned on Akane.  Rather than try to explain things, Puar ran upstairs and turned back into herself.  She scratched on Akane's door, until Akane opened it.

"Oh.  There you are C-chan."  Akane said as she picked up her pet and took it into her room.  "I'm sorry that I locked you out, but I'm going through a really hard time now.  Oh, if only you could understand what I'm saying.  Life must be so much better as a cat."

'That it is.'  Puar thought.  'And so much funner too.  Heh! Heh! Heh!'

Back downstairs, a serious discussion was taking place.

"Okay, Ranma.  Could please explain what exactly has happened between you and Akane?  Last night she stormed off hating you, but now she's saying she loves you.  That doesn't make sense, and that's not like Akane."

"I don't know!"  Ranma cried, almost ripping his hair out in frustration.  "She's been acting like she hates me ever since Shampoo arrived, although last night she came up to me and said she loved me.  But then she turned into a blue cat.  And so I fell in the river and..."

"Ranma?"  Kasumi interrupted.  "Are you feeling okay?   You're not making any sense."

"I think he had a bad dream."  Nabiki concluded.  "But we all saw what just happened here, so it can't be a dream.  And why was Akane so eager to postpone the fight?"

Ranma and Goku just stood there dumbfounded.

"I'm going to go talk to that girl."  Nabiki said.  "Kasumi, come with me."  The two Tendo sisters went upstairs to Akane's room.  

Kasumi knocked gently on the door.  "Akane, may we come in?"

"What do you want?"  Akane demanded in a muffled voice.

"Just to talk to you."

Akane finally accepted the fact that she needed someone to talk to right now.  "All right."  She got up off her bed and opened the door.  Kasumi and Nabiki walked in and closed the door behind them.  Akane sat on her bed.  Her cheeks were stained with tears, and her eyes were red.  She was sniffling a little bit as well.  Akane picked up C-chan and began to pet her.

"Okay, Akane."  Nabiki stated.  "I want an explanation.  You're not acting like yourself."

"That's because of Ranma."  Akane pouted.

"We can see that, but what about Ranma?"

"He's an insensitive jerk who's getting engaged to every girl on this planet.  I hate him!"

"Yet moments ago you claimed you loved him."

"What?  When did I do that?"

Nabiki looked at Akane curiously.  "Right before you came up here."

"What's wrong with you Nabiki?  I didn't say anything like that!"

"Kasumi?"  Nabiki glanced at her older sister.

"She's right, Akane."  Kasumi said softly.  "You said you loved Ranma, and then you accepted Ukyo's challenge after you tried to kiss Ranma."  

"K-K-Kis-ss h-him?"  Akane began to blush.  "I-I d-didn't say anything like that.  And what challenge?  Ukyo didn't challenge me."

"Akane, you can tell us what's wrong."  Nabiki said.  "We're your sisters.  I know you love Ranma, but why are you having these incredible mood swings?"

Puar purred.  All was going according to plan.

"B-But...h-he hates me!  And no, I-I d-don't l-l-lo-ve-ve h-him."  Akane sobbed.

"Let's start again."  Nabiki said, her patience starting wear thin on her sister. "Ukyo came over and said she was Ranma's fiancee.  You say he hates you and then you storm off.  Ranma explains the situation with Ukyo, and then you come back in the room and say you love him.  Then you try to kiss him, but Ukyo stops you and challenges you.  You accept, but say the fight will take place tomorrow.  Then Ukyo agrees then leaves, and you came back up here. Am I right?"

"No."  Akane stated flatly.

Nabiki stomped her foot.  "Don't lie to me, Akane.  Or to yourself for that matter.  Everyone saw you do it, and Ranma also said that you said you loved him last night, but then you turned into a blue cat, but that's Ranma for you..."  Nabiki trailed off as her eyes rested upon C-chan.

"Uh-oh."  Puar said, forgetting to keep quiet.  Everyone jumped backwards out of shock.  Puar was knocked off Akane's lap and landed in the middle of the room.

"D-Did that cat just talk?"  Nabiki said while pointing at Puar.

Puar shook her head energectically.

"Oh, that's a relief...Hey, wait a minute!  That cat understood what I said."

Puar shook her head even more energectically.

"Yes, you did, C-chan.  You can understand me, can't you?"  Nabiki said, a gleam in her eyes.  "This makes things very interesting."

"A talking cat, how cute."  Kasumi said.

"C-chan, you c-can talk?"  Akane asked.

Puar was in trouble now.  Her cover had been blown.  Ranma hadn't had the sense to remember that she had impersonated Akane last night since his brain got fried when he saw her as a cat.  However, she couldn't fool Nabiki and Akane.

"All right, C-chan.  Who are you?"  Nabiki demanded.

Puar said nothing.

"We have ways of making you talk."  Nabiki brought out a feather.  

Puar still said nothing.  She prepared herself for an onslaught of tickling.  Fortunately, she wasn't very ticklish so could hold out for a long time before giving in and laughing.  Hopefully, she could outlast Nabiki's interest.

Nabiki shifted her weight and thrust the feather beneath Kasumi's nose.  Kasumi instinctively sneezed, turning herself into her blond form.

"Well, now little cat."  Kasumi said while grinning evilly.  "I've had enough of you."  Puar cringed as Kasumi leveled an uzi at her and snapped the safety off.  "You either tell us what we want to know now, or I blast you to smithereens!"

"All right!  All right!"  Puar cried.  "I'll talk!  I'll talk!  Just don't shoot me!"

Kasumi grinned triumphantly and rehosltered her gun.  "Let's start with who the hell you are."  

"My name is Puar."

"Oh!  That's right!"  Akane exclaimed.  "That was the name that guy who came here to kill Ranma called her.  I don't think I got his name though."

"Couldn't you have mentioned this before?"  Nabiki asked.

"I didn't think it was important."  

Nabiki sweatdropped.

"His name's Yamcha."  Puar supplied.  "He's my master.  I don't know what happened to him after I got knocked out by that boy."

"Well, why didn't you ask?"   Nabiki demanded.

"I didn't want to reveal my identity."

"And why not?"

"Because I didn't know what to do, so I just pretended to be Akane's pet."

"And?"

"And nothing.  That's all there is."

"Kasumi?"

The eldest Tendo sister pulled out her uzi again.

"Wait!  Wait!"  Puar pleaded.  "I'm a shapeshifter!  I transformed into Akane and told Ranma that she loved him."

"What?"  Akane screamed.  "How dare you?"

"Okay, so that explains what just happened downstairs, and why you didn't want to fight Ukyo today.  However, I can still tell you're hiding something."

Puar looked at her feet.  "I also transformed into Ranma and told Akane that he hated her."

The tension that Akane had been feeling was wiped clean at that moment.  'Ranma doesn't hate me after all.  He knew nothing about what happened last night and so that's why he was acting so weird.  Oh Ranma, I'm sorry.'

"You've cause quite the mess here, haven't you?"  Nabiki said.

"I was only trying to help Yamcha."  Puar retorted.

"By trying to tear apart Ranma and Akane?"

"Would you have suggested something else?"

Nabiki considered that.  "Well, actually I would have done the same thing in your shoes.  I guess I can forgive you though...and at the cost of only 6000 yen."

Puar grumbled and took out a capsule.  She activated it and a purse came out.  After a minute of rummaging through it, she came up with the money and handed it to Nabiki.

"Thank you.  You're forgiven now."

"So where do you go now?"  Akane asked.  "I won't let you stay here after what you did to Ranma and me."

"I guess I'll return to the desert and try and find Yamcha.  I don't know where he went though."

"At the low cost of only 3000 yen, we can tell him where you are if he shows up here again."

"You would?  Really?  Even after all I've done?  Sure.  Here you go."  Puar handed Nabiki the money.

"I don't think this is a good idea."  Kasumi snarled.  "How can we just let her go after she's done what she has.  I say we blast her here and now."

Nabiki rubbed the feather underneath Kasumi's nose, causing another sneeze and transformation.  "There.  Now you're free to go unless Akane has any objections."  Nabiki said and cocked an eyebrow at her younger sister.

"I just don't want to see her ever again."  Akane cried.  "That's all."

"All right, now get out of here, Puar, before I change my mind and turn Kasumi back."

"Oh my.  But I really don't won't to hurt this cute little kitty."  

"Okay, I'm going.  Bye."  Puar said as she flew out the window.

"Nice doing business with you."  Nabiki called after her.

"Nabiki, you're shameless."  Akane said.

"Ain't I?"  Nabiki replied and winked.  "Let's go explain this whole mess to Daddy and the Saotomes."  The Tendo sisters headed downstairs, where they found Genma trying to explain why he got Ranma engaged to Ukyo.

"I couldn't just give up the okonomiyaki cart!"  He shouted.  "It was too valuable to me.  But I also couldn't break my promise to Soun, so I just took the cart."

"Saotome, you're such a good friend."  Soun sobbed and embraced Genma.

"I know, Tendo.  I could never betray you."

Ranma and Goku just looked at them with their arms crossed.

"Ahem!"  Nabiki cleared her throat.  Everyone turned their attention towards her.  "Now, I have found an explanation for the weird events between Ranma and Akane."

"Huh?"  Ranma said.

"C-chan's real name is Puar, and she's Yamcha's friend.  She can also shapeshift and talk, and she used those abilities to mess with your minds.  For example, the Akane that said accepted Ukyo's challenge was actually Puar."

"Ah so that's it."  Goku said.  "That's why Akane didn't smell right."

"You could tell it wasn't me just by the smell?"  Akane asked.  "What are you implying?"

"My boy has always had a good sense of smell, Akane."  Genma replied.  "He can tell who someone is just by smelling them."

"Why didn't you say something earlier?"  Ranma shouted at his brother.

"I didn't think it was important."  Goku said.

Everyone sweatdropped.

"So we've confirmed that the Akane from before was fake.  So now what?"  Ranma said.

"Uh...I'm not sure."  Nabiki said.  She shrugged her shoulders.  "I guess we go back to life as normal."

"What about Ukyo?"  Ranma asked.  "She thinks she's fighting Akane tomorrow."

"So I'll fight her then."  Akane said.  "I've got no problems doing that."

"I guess everything is settled then."  Ranma said.   "Ukyo's pretty good though.  I hope you're ready."

"I am."  Akane said.  'It'll be good to vent my frustrations.'

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

"Now where am I?"  Ryouga looked around him.  He was on a stage somewhere.  People were all around him dressed like cats and singing songs in some language he didn't understand.  There was a large audience in front of him, seemingly captivated by the display.  He wandered around the stage before finally getting lost again behind a giant box of Cornflakes.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

"Almost there."  Goku said to Ranma and Akane.

They were on the Flying Nimbus heading towards Ukyo's restaurant for the challenge that 'Akane' accepted.  Akane didn't want Ranma and Goku to come, but they insisted on watching her fight for the sake of her training.  She was quite glad that they had come.  Ukyo had trained hard for the past eight years to beat Ranma, and Akane didn't know how tough an opponent she'd be.  Akane knew that Goku had beaten her without a problem, but she wasn't anywhere close to the level that he was.  

As Goku had said, they soon arrived at the okonomiyaki shop.  It was a fairly ordinary restaurant, boasting the sign "Ucchan's Okonomiyaki."  The trio hopped off Nimbus just as Ukyo stepped out the front door.  She was dressed in black pants and shirt with her hair tied back like always and her combat spatula slung on her back.

"So, you've come, Akane."  She said.

"Of course, I came."  Akane replied.

Ukyo's eyes gleamed.  She got into a battle stance, her spatula in an offensive posture.  "You ready?"

Akane did likewise.  "Anytime you are."

The moment grew tense.  Ranma and Goku looked from Akane to Ukyo and back again, waiting for the inevitable.  

Akane balled her hands into fists.  'I can't let her beat me.'

Ukyo gripped her spatula tighter.  'I won't lose.  Ranma must be mine.'

The tension was broken by a shadow coming over the combattants.  The roar of an engine became audible.  Everyone looked up to see a jet plane coming down from above.  It landed in the middle of the street.  The cockpit hatched popped open, and two figures emerged.

"Ha!  Ha!  I can't believe how easy it was to find you, Ranma."  A somewhat familiar voice said.

"That right.  Flying cloud so easy to follow."  Another, more familiar, voice said.

"S-Shampoo?"  Ranma said, while making the sign of warding.  "Yamcha?  What are you two doing here?"

"Same as usual.  Trying to kill you!"  Yamcha smirked.  

"Actually slighty different.  Aiiyaah!"  Shampoo brought out an object and threw it at Ranma.  Ranma reflexively dodged it, allowing it to crash into the ground.  It was a kettle full of boiling water.

Ranma sweatdropped.  "Uh...what are trying to do?"

"Shampoo just want to hit you with this!"  Shampoo pulled out another kettle and threw it.  Ranma avoided it again.

"Why?"

"To see if you really man or woman."  Shampoo threw another kettle.

"I'm a guy!"  Ranma screamed.  "And I'll prove it."  He intercepted the kettle with a fist, smashing it into pieces.  The water inside splashed everywhere, drenching him thoroughly.  "There.  You see?  I'm guessing you know all about Jusenkyo."

"You man!  Shampoo so happy!"  Shampoo jumped away from the plane and glomped Ranma.

"Hey!"  Ukyo shouted.  "What do you think you're doing my Ranchan?"

"RANMA!"  Akane bellowed.

"SHAMPOO!"  Yamcha shouted.  "What are doing?  We're supposed to kill him!  And...uh..."  Yamcha trailed off as he spotted Akane.  'It's her again.  Akane Tendo.  She's even prettier than last last night.  Curses!  If only I wasn't so shy...'

Ukyo brought down her spatula on top of Ranma's head.  The impact drove him into the ground and left a large lump on his head.  Shampoo released him and turned to face Ukyo.  "You attack airen.  You pay for that."

"Now listen."  Ukyo spat.  "I don't know who you are or where you're from, but Ranma is MY fiancee, get it?  So just go back underneath whatever rock you crawled out from."

"Excuse me?"  Akane said.

"Ranma?"  Shampoo asked, stunned.  "You have three fiancee?"  She frowned, getting even more puzzled.  "Ranma, you know that this fiancee is man?"

"Grrrrrrr!"  Ukyo growled.  "You're not going to get away with that."

"Ranma, I challenge you!"  Yamcha declared.  "Now fight me like a man, or is that too difficult for you to do seeing as how you're part GIRL?"

"Why you..."  Ranma snarled.  He struggled out of the hole in the ground that he had made when Ukyo hit him. 

"I don't know what's going on here..."  Goku mumbled then raised his voice.  "...but if Ranma just got challenged, then I might be able to fight!"

"You stay out of this!"  Yamcha shouted at Goku.  "Now, Ranma, it's time to..."

Ranma got into a battle stance.  "Time to what?"

"Time...to...uh..."  Yamcha just stared in Ranma's direction.

"Time to die?  That's the usual line.  You sure aren't original."

"Uh...yeah...die...that was it...die...yes..."  Yamcha continued to stare.

"What the heck are you looking at?  Are we going to fight or not?"

"Hold it!"  Goku said sternly.

"What now?"  Ranma asked, annoyed at the interruption.

"Aren't you forgetting something?"  

"Like what?"

"Like Rock, Paper, Scissors?"

"We already did that with him.  Remember?  You lost, so I fight him."

"But that was last time he challenged you!  This is a new fight, so we should do another round."

"I'm going to marry Ranma!"  Ukyo shouted, continuing her argument with Shampoo.

"Why would Ranma want marry man?"  Shampoo countered.

"I'm a GIRL!"  

"Aiyaaah!  You no look like girl."

"Well, take a closer look!"  Ukyo opened the front of her shirt revealing her taped up breasts. 

Shampoo reached forward and poked them, just to be sure that they were real.  

"What do you think you're doing?"  Ukyo slapped Shampoo's hand away and closed her shirt.

"Okay.  So you girl after all."  Shampoo said, ignoring Ukyo's question.

"You didn't have to touch me to find out, you know!"

"It no matter whether you boy or girl.  Shampoo still marry Ranma."

"Over my dead body."

Shampoo smiled.  "You get point.  Shampoo kill you and marry Ranma."

"Just try it."

"Um...A-Akane?"  Yamcha mumbled.  He had been staring past Ranma and at Akane for awhile now.  Akane had been observing the arguments going on around her. 

"Oh."  Akane said.  "It's you.  Yamcha, was it?"

Yamcha nodded his head.  "So, fancy meeting you here."  He started scratching the back of his head and chuckling.

Akane gestured at the okonomiyaki shop.  "Yeah, I've never been here before, but this where Ukyo said to meet for her challenged.  Unfortunately, you had to show up with Shampoo.  Now everything's gone to hell."

"Oh...I-I'm sorry."

Akane sighed.  "It's not really your fault.  It's Shampoo's.  And Ranma's.  I hate them both."

Yamcha nodded.  "I definitely hate Ranma, and I'm not too fond of Shampoo now that's she's broken our deal.  We have a lot in common, don't we?"

"Yeah, I guess."

"Damn!"  Ranma cursed.  'How is he doing this?  I've never had this much trouble beating him before.'

Goku turned his scissors into a victory sign, which wasn't particularly difficult.  "I win again.  I get to fight Yamcha this time."  He walked up to the desert bandit and bopped him on the head.  "Pay attention.  We're fighting now."

"Ow!"  Yamcha rubbed the lump forming on his head.  "What are you talking about?"

Goku got into a battle stance.  "We're fighting now.  I'm accepting Ranma's challenge, since I won our contest."

"All right.  It doesn't matter to me.  I can avenge Puar by killing you.  Hyaaah!"

"Wait!"  Akane shouted.  Yamcha and Goku paused in mid-punch.  "I forgot to tell.  Nabiki said that we had to tell you where C-chan, I mean Puar, went.  She said she'd go back to the desert and wait for you there."

Yamcha's face brightened.  "Really?  That's great!  Thank you, Akane.  You're such a nice person."  

Akane sweatdropped.  "Uh, I'm just doing what Nabiki told me to do.  I really don't like Puar considering what she did to me and Ranma."

"Oh, well she's really a nice person once you get to know her.  I've been friends with her for years."

"Hey, could we please actually start fighting?"  Goku asked.

"Huh?  Oh, sorry.  Where were we?  Oh yes.  That's right.  Hyaah!"  Yamcha and continued their swings, their fists colliding.  They exchanged blows in a series of attacks, neither one getting a decisive hit.

Meanwhile, Shampoo and Ukyo were also exchanging blows with neither one getting the upper hand.  Ranma was pouting at not being able to fight, and Akane was bored.  "I'm out of here."  She said after awhile and began to leave.

Ranma spotted her going.  "Hey, wait up!"  He called.  He ran and caught up with her.  "I'll come to."

"Why?  Don't you want to see which one of your fiancees wins?"

"You gotta be kidding me?  Do you think I care about all this fiancee stuff?   It's all Pop's fault, so I'm gonna let him sort it out, not me."

"So you'll pick whoever he does?"

"Well, no.  I don't wanna get married right now.  That's stuff for when I'm older.  All I want is to train hard and become the strongest martial artist on the planet."

"You really have a one track mind, Ranma."

"You think so?  Thanks."

Akane sweatdropped.

Ukyo and Shampoo stopped fighting and looked around.

"Hey!"  Ukyo said.  "Where did Ranma-honey go?"

"Shampoo no know but is getting late.  Shampoo have to prepare for great-grandmother's arrival.  No time for spatula-girl,"  Shampoo said as she sprung onto the nearest rooftop and headed off.

Ukyo looked at her watch.  "Well, there's no point in trying to find him right now.  I'll see him at school on Monday."  Ukyo went back into her shop.

Goku and Yamcha jumped away from from each other to take a quick breather.  Yamcha looked around and failed to see Ranma.  "Curses!"  He swore, "Ranma's got away again."

"Huh?"  Goku said and looked for his brother.  "Yeah.  You're right.  I don't see him, but that doesn't have anything to do with..."  Goku was cut off by the roar of engines.  Yamcha had hopped into his jet plane and had taken off.

'Better retreat for now,'  Yamcha thought, 'Goku's a lot better than I thought.  I'm going to have to prepare better if I'm going to beat him.'

"Hey!  Come back here!"  Goku shouted but to no use.  Yamcha flew off.  "You're not going to get away!  NIMB..."  Another loud roar interrupted Goku.  This one was from his stomach.  "I'm hungry.  I'm going to go to Penny's and get something to eat."

And so the combat ended.

End of chapter