On Mon, 13 May 1996, White Wolf wrote:

	"But I don't have any money."
	*We could play strip poker...*  "Oh, well, we'll think of
something."

   Tee hee...(A bit OOC, though; Ukyo comes off, from what I've seen of 
her in the comic and elsewhere, as being incredibly innocent....)

Didn't know that.  The episodes with Ukyo aren't out yet.  I've had to go
by the OAV's and fanfics.

Oh, but the episodes are out! (_Ukyo Can Cook_ [Nettohen 23 and 24] was 
released last month.) Actually I'm not sure how reliable the OAVs and fanfics 
are; the OAVs I've seen portray Ukyo in a very bad light, in her degraded 
"Shampoo number two" late stage. (The cursed tunnel story in particular 
makes her out to be a real "hussy" [Trish was here]). Fanfics, for their 
part, draw her more sympathetically but in a much darker fashion than in 
the original comic; the fanfic Ukyo is a much less happy creature than 
Takahashi's (often to the point of extreme depression--I'm thinking of 
all the "sadfics" we've had of late.) That interpretation of her character 
has much to commend it, to be sure (for reasons I won't go into here); but 
it's an interpretation, and as such shouldn't be taken as gospel. 

	Skuld smiled at her pupil.  "The way to a man's heart is through
his stomach.  And with the way he eats..." 

   Trust me: if that were true he'd be engaged to Kasumi. *duck*

Skuld was making a joke at Ranma's expense.  Also, she wants Akane to
equate cooking well with winning him.  (Even though she'll deny wanting
him.)

I was joking. :)

*...That game 'Hearts' was fun too.  Even though I lost.*

Someone needs to buy Ranma a clue. A girl has her needs, ya know...:) 

Hearts.  A subtle clue indeed.  ^_-

Didn't catch that...

	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."

Why what? I'm lost.

All will be explained.  (Look at the next chapter's title)

I'll have to wait, I guess...

	"Nabiki, I found this in Ranma's room.  Do you think I should show
it to Akane?"

Do we even want to know?

I'll give you a hint.  Remember the flyer?

   Well, _that's_ all right then. (Been reading too much of Caroline 
Seawright's stuff...H_H)

	"Just keeping in shape."  *Looking for you.* "Different kinds of
exercise for different muscles."  *Looking for you.* "You know what I
mean."

   Ohhhh...:(
   I can't read that last passage without thinking I'm going to cry.

Thanks.  I'm trying to paint her as fixated, but not dangerously so.

   Not dangerously so. Hm. Ask Caroline about the wedding scene in the 
final story where Ukyo attacks Akane alongside Shampoo. (Of course most 
fanfic writers prefer to forget about that last scene; I really can't say 
I blame them. Truly a disappointing ending.)
   No need to change it though--I prefer the "old," more pleasant Ukyo 
myself. It's easier to feel sympathy towards her.
   (That may be part of the secret of her popularity--it's impossible not 
to pity her.)

	"Oh Akane, are you en... MRMPH!!"  Ukyo stared at Ranma as he
jumped to cover her mouth.

...A few more letters in "en..." are called for.

No problem.

	"Oh Akane, are you enter... MRMPH!!"

Better?

That works.

Paul Corrigan
budgie@insomnia3.dorms.utoledo.edu