"So it was the fanfic you wanted? My friends, you need but have
asked, you know."

    The Story So Far: In the Beginning, the Universe was
created...Whoops! Wrong story! Sumimasen!
     The REAL Story So Far: Worldwide Anti-Criminal Espionage
Organization (WACEO) agent Ukyou Kuonji, after stealing a mysterious
silver cube and mailing it to fellow agent Ranma Saotome, is captured by
Ryoga Hibiki and Mousse, two thugs in the employ of Tatewaki Kuno,
CEO of Blue Thunder Industries (BTI) and criminal mastermind
extraordinaire.
     Ranma Saotome, having persuaded WACEO Japan Station Director
Nabiki Tendo,  is given the assignment of tracking down Ukyou. Nabiki
however, sticks Ranma with a partner; rookie agent Akane Tendo. After
Ranma leaves Nabiki's office, it is revealed that it isn't Nabiki at all but
BTI's master of covert ops. Tsubasa Kurenai (Thanks for the spell check
Kun-chan ^_^).
     After an embarrassing moment at the Narita International Airport,
Ranma and Akane take off for Paris, Ukyou's last known whereabouts,
unaware that a security camera is patched into Kuno's
telecommunications network. Kuno is behind the forced partnership and
is loving the fact that Ranma and Akane cannot stand each other.
    As we continue, Ranma and Akane have just checked into their hotel...

    "Excuse me?" Akane asked.
    "We have no reservation for an Akane Tendo, madame," said the desk
clerk in the snobbish way that only Parisian desk clerks can.
    "Could you check it again?"
    "Madame, I have checked it for you five times already. You have no
reservation at this hotel."
    A distinct blue aura began to form around the rookie. Ranma, oblivious
of this, spoke to the desk clerk.
    "Do you have a reservation for Saotome?" he asked. 
    The desk clerk glanced over the computer screen, scrolled down a
few lines, and looked up.
    "Ah, yes. Here you are, sir. And may I say congratulations!"
    Ranma and Akane looked at the clerk.
   "Congratulations?"
   "Oui, monsuier. On your recent marrage to your wife." the clerk
answered, looking at Akane.
    "WIFE?!" 

    "This is just perfect! Stuck in the same room with my hentai chauvanist
partner!" Akane complained, throwing her suitcase on the bed.
    "I'm not exactly in love with this arrangement either, you know!" Ranma
retorted, unzipping his suitcase.
    "It's obviously some sort of mistake! How could anyone think that we'd
possibly get married? It's unthinkable!"
     "Not really," Ranma replied, hanging up his shirts. "Standard cover for
most male-female espionage teams."
     "What are you doing?! Stop that!"
     "Stop what?" Ranma asked, puzzled. "I'm just hanging up my clothes."
     "In MY room!"
    "It's the only bedroom in the suite!"
    Akane gave him a look and pointed out into the living room of the suite.
 Ranma groaned and stuffed his clothes back into his suitcase. On his
way out, he muttered "Macho rookie..."
     He was struck instantly by a sledgehammer which had somehow
appeared in Akane's hands.

     The sounds of violence from the honeymoon suite were still going on
an hour later when a bellboy knocked on the door. A huge slamming
sound came from behind the door. The door opened by itself and the
bellboy saw Akane pounding Ranma's face repeatedly into the marble
fireplace.
    "BAKABAKABAKABAKABAKABAKABAKA!!!!" she screamed.
    "Pardon?" the bellboy asked timidly. Akane looked up and immediately
dropped Ranma, who sprawled out on the floor with his knees bent, his
feet pressed against each other, arms outstretched, with the second
and third fingers of his hands folded downwards.
     "Yes?" Akane asked nonchalantly. 
     "M-m-message for Monsueir Saotome, madame." the bellboy gulped.
Akane thanked him and gave him a two-franc tip. As she closed the door
Ranma recovered and took the message from her.
     He tore open the envelope and read the note inside. Then he groaned.
     "What is it?" asked Akane, her anger forgotten in curiosity. Ranma
handed the message over to her, then stepped onto the balcony and
began to pound his head against the rail.
      Ignoring this, Akane rolled her eyes and read the message:

            Ranma darling!
               It's so nice to see that you are in Paris again! I hope that 
               you will come see me while you are here. And just in case        
               seeing me is not enough incentive, I'm sure information about 
               a certain silver cube and the current status of it's owner 
               will be. Meet me in our usual place at Midnight.
                                                                     Waiting anxiously,
                                                                     The Black Rose

      The letter was signed with a drawing of a black rose. Akane
frowned and went out to Ranma, who had since stopped pummeling
himself and was now looking at the sunset.
       "Who's the Black Rose?" Akane asked.
       "She is the second most black hearted, cutthroat, despicable criminal
ever to come out of Japan. She has her fingers in every illegal activity in
Europe. From blackmail to drug smuggling, there is no criminal activity that
she doesn't at least know about. Which is why WACEO's never done
anything about her, she's an excellent informant. She is also hot to trot
for me."
        "You just can't seem to keep your hands to yourself, can you
Ranma?"
         "THAT'S NOT WHAT I MEANT!!! Believe me, spending an hour with
her is likely to get more info than fifteen hours listening to her brother's
long winded explanations of his latest scheme."
         "What?" 
         Ranma turned to look at her. "The Black Rose's real name is
Kodachi...Kodachi KUNO."

====

Sorry about the length, but the comp. lab is getting ready to close up and
I have to go. Look for more of Part 3 tommorrow. Till then, Jya ne! ^_^

                                                                                  ---Erin 2.5