I apologize for the delay in getting this out. Not a lot of change in
chapter 1 but it's been awhile since. it's first posting and I've fixed
somethings.

Doug
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Chapter 1 - Blossoms

The late July air was hot and muggy. The day's oppressive heat
seemed to seep into everything. Even the most reliable of air
conditioners were losing the battle. Simply put it was just TOO
hot to do anything. That being said most of the Tendo household
was doing something.

The two fathers were off trying to mooch drinks, Akane was with
her freinds and Nabiki was no where to be found but that suited
Ranma. he was spralled hapazardly in front of the TV. He could
hear Kasumi doing something in the kitchen but his mind refused
to work up enough energy to investigate.

Hearing a knock at the door Ranma remained where he was. That is
he until Kasumi asked him to answer the door. Grumbling about the
sanity of the person who was out in this heat he walked towards
the door. Upon opening it he found a petite young woman standing
before him. She had mousey brown hair that framed her face, light
grey eyes were seated behind a set of glasses.

<Well she can't be that crazy.> Ranma thought as he noticed that
she was wearing a pair of tight shorts and a remarkably short t-
shirt. "Konnichiwa," he said after giving himself a shake.

"Konnichiwa," She replied sweetly, "Is this the Tendo residence?"

Ranma started to get slightly edgy, "Hai, may I help you?"

"Hai," She said and gave him a winning smile, "I'm her for..."

Ranma relied upon his insticts. Raising a hand he waited until
the relatively attractive young woman trailed off. "Let me guess
your a fiancee?" Her eyes widened and she nodded. <Pop your gonna
pay!> It was bad enough he already had three, "I'm Saotome
Ranam."

"Oh, I've heard so much about you!" She gushed, "I'm Kazama
Setsuko." A light blush then appeared on her cheecks.

"Please come in." Ranma said and then was blinked. He was
actually polite! <Boy wouldn't Akane have a fit... she likely
will.>

"Arigato." Setsuko said and once Ranma stepped out of the way she
entered the Tendo home.

                                   * * *

Ranma sat at the low table, trying to figure out how to break it
to her that he was already enaged to three other women. <None
that I particularly want anytime soon.> "Where'd you meet pop?"
He finally asked.

A puzzled expression came across Setsuko's face, "I don't believe
I've met your father Satome-san."

Both Kasumi and Ranma blinked, this was a new twist, "Are you a
martial artists then?" Kasumi asked. <Maybe she met him at a
ternament and fell in love.>

"No, I have no intersts in martial arts." Although Ranma frowned
he was certainly relieved that she wouldn't constantly be
fighting for him. "Papa wants me to learn something to protect
myself." A cute little pout formed on her face, "Except he wants
me to get into that icky hitting stuff."

"'Icky hitting stuff'???" Ranma questioned with some annoyance
but it also raised a very serious question, where did he meet
her?

"Uh, how did you come to meet Ranma then?" Kasumi questioned with
typical politeness.

"I've never met Saotome-san before," Setsuko admitted looking
uneasy.

"Then how did you find out about me?!" Ranma questioned, the heat
was likely giving him lathargic emtions or he was becoming used
to a new fiancee showing up every now and then. One thing was for
certain his father was going to pay.

"Tendo-san wrote me about you."

"NANI?!?" Ranama exclaimed.

"Oh my..." Kasumi said lifting her hand to her mouth, "How did
you meet my father."

Starting to look really unsure of herself Setsuko looked towards
Kasumi before saying, "I don't believe I've met your father
either."

Ranma took several deep breathes. First he'd get answers, THEN
he'd get upset. "Let's take this from the top, I'm Saotome Ranma,
you are Kazama Setsuko and my newest fiancee..." He trailed off
as Setsuko started to giggle.

"No Saotome-san, I'm not your newest fiancee." She tried
desperately to gain her composure back, "I'm Tendo Nabiki's
Fiancee."

"OH MY!" Kasumi exclaimed before promptly fainting.

                                  * * * 

"How's that?!?" Ranma questioned, "Your Nabiki's faincee?!?"
Setsuko nodded, "Do you know she's a girl?!?"


"No," Setsuko admitted her voice showed surprise but her face was
clearly communicating displeasure. "Are you sure Saotome-san?"

"Hai, Nabiki's a girl." Ranma said, "But 'Nabiki' isn't a common
name and I think it's certainly a girls name." He turned to
Kasumi for comfirmation. Kasumi, who was resisting the urge to
wring her hands, nodded a few seconds pause.

"I did ask that," Setsuko said after some thought, "Nabiki said
that his-her parents had been hoping for a girl and named the
baby in advance... I suppose in hopes of increasing the chances
of the baby being a girl. Nabiki, who I thought at the time was a
guy, couldn't understand why 'his' parents didn't change the
name." Flushing brightly and looking towards the table top
Setsuko said softly, "I was too trusting really; I assumed that
Nabiki wouldn't lie to me." This last admission drew a snort from
Ranma.

Ranma sighed, he had been invovled in some of Nabiki's hair-
brained, and sometimes malicious, schemes but this was a new low
for her. He glanced towards Kasumi who's typical composure was
badly cracked. <She looks like she wants to run away and hid
someplace.> Ranma observed. Ranma just wasn't sure whether it was
the prospects of Nabiki marrying a girl or mortification at her
sisters actions that was causing Kasumi's problems.

Setsuko appeared deep in thought for a few moments; after a bit
she scowled while standing up so she could reach a hand into
her tight shorts. Ranma quickly averted his eyes and blushed
deeply, although he was trying to be polite it was rather obvious
that Setsuko was not wearing a bra. "Saotome-san, could you tell
me who this is then?" Setsuko asked while handing a picture to
Ranma.

After doing a double take Ranma started chuckle, it was a picture
of Kuno. He clutched his sides and started to chuckle harder.
<What the hell was Nabiki up to?!?> He thought, his face turning
red. <How could this poor girl think that Kuno was Nabiki?!?>
Looking up he noticed Setsuko's worried and angry glare. "Gomen,"
Ranma chortled out, "It's just... oh..." Giving a snort Ranma
shook his head, "Could you explain this to me please?"

Sitting down again Setsuko glared at Ranma for several seconds
before saying, "Tendo Nabiki was a pen-pal. I had no idea Tendo-
san was a girl." She flushed in embarressment, "As we wrote I got
very attached, I thought we were in love." Setsuko sniffled
slightly but kept up her stern visage, "I asked Tendo-san to send
me a picture I wanted to see what he... she looked like. That's
what she sent me." She then indicated the picture of Kuno sitting
in front of Ranma.

"Uh... please don't take this the wrong way but, is your family
well off?" Ranma asked, suspicions stating to nag him.


"Hai," Setsuko said, "My father put aside a dowery for me. It's
worth about twenty million yen."

"THAT'S IT!" Ranme declared, "Why that sneaky little..."

"Nani?!?" Setsuko quesitoned.

"What makes you think that Nabiki would marry you?" Ranma asked

"Well I have a contract. It's a prenuptual agreement, if either
of us backs out of the wedding them we loose pretty much
everything. If I didn't appear by the wedding date then I would
have to forfiet my dowery plus any inheritance I'd recieve."

Now it was all starting to come together. Ranma was about to
continue when he heard Nabiki's voice from behind him.
"Setsuko?!?" She demanded but Nabiki definitely sounded
terrified.

Getting up Ranma sauntered over to Nabiki and said, "Nabs, I
just got one question? How are you two going to have children?
You know your dad'll want grandchildren." Giving a shierk Nabiki
bolted for her room. Turning back to a wide eyed Setsukio Ranma
said, "You know, I think I'm gonna like this."


Chapter 2 - Akane

As Tendo Akane walked down the street towards home she hummed a
tuneless melody. It had been a wonderful day; out with her
friends, away from the dojo and Ranma. The thought of Ranma made
Akane blush slightly. Not that she would ever admit it to anyone
but Ranma wasn't so bad. She still didn't like having to marry
Ranma but they had seemed to avoid the issue for the past little
bit and that was a relief.

She came to the entrance of the Tendo yard and looked around
cautiously; the day had gone very well. Too well now that Akane
seriously considered it. Preparing to ward off any weirdness that
decided she was enjoying the day too much Akane entered the yard
and approached the house.

She was half-way up the path when Ranma bounded out of the house.
A huge grin on his face. "Am I ever glad to see you!" he called
happily. This very unexpected greet caused Akane to come to a
halt. When Ranma was closer Akane could see that her was
definitely worked up over something. "I thought you'd never get
here." Ranma was being careful, he had no desire to spoil the
surprise by sticking his foot in his mouth.

"What are you up to?" Akane questioned. She narrowed her eyes and
looked past Ranma towards the house. Ranma just smile innocently
at her, "Okay Ranma, what are you hiding?!" She demanded.  There
was no way Ranma would be this happy and glad to see her. It was
an inconceivable thing.

"I want you to meet someone." Ranma replied, "Come on." Turning
he jogged towards the house and paused at the entrance, "Your
gonna like this surprise!"

"No I'm not," Akane grumbled out as she head the rest of the way
up the path. Entering the house she slipped off her shoes and
leaned her book bag against the well. When she turned to see
where Ranma was she spotted a girl. "Ranma... who is that?!"
Akane hissed out dangerously, "If that's another fiancee..." She
trailed off and glared towards the stranger.

Setsuko gave a whimper and shrunk back from the strange girls
glare. "Konnichiwa," she stuttered out, "I'm Kazama Setsuko."

"Are you a fiancee?" Akane demanded while taking a step towards
the intruder. She set her jaw into a grimace as Setsuko slide
behind Ranma and peeked from over his shoulder, "What is this,
the fourth one now?!?" She turned her burning gaze upon Ranma,
"Where is THAT father of yours?" She was going to put a stop to
this nonsense once and for all. Two rivals were bad enough but a
third one was the limit.

"Akane," Ranma said while holding up his hands defensively,
"Listen to me." Her nervously licked his lips, "Setsuko-san is a
fiancee..." he never got a chance to finish. Akane gave a growl
and launching herself towards Ranma made a grab for Setsuko. The
petite girl gave a screech of terror and tried to back away.

"No Akane!" Ranma pleaded.

"Out of my way!" Akane thundered as she tried to push past Ranma.
"It's bad enough having those other maniacs after you, now this
one."

"But she isn't after me!" Ranma pleaded, "I promise Akane, she is
NOT my fiancee!" Akane abruptly stopped her efforts and took a
step back. She looked quizzically towards Ranma before crossing
her arms and scowling. "She is a fiancee, just NOT mine."

"You give me your word?" Akane said sourly.

"Ask Kasumi, she was hear all day and heard the story." Ranma
said.

Akane cocked and eyebrow and turned to Kasumi, the older girl was
looking very uncomfortable. "Is what Ranma saying true?" Akane
asked. Kasumi nodded and flicked her eyes towards the stairs
before returning them to look at Akane. "Are you alright?" Akane
asked.

"Hai," Kasumi said softly, "I think I'll go check on supper."
with that Kasumi gave Setsuko and Ranma one more look before
vanishing into the kitchen.

"So she's a fiancee but nor yours..." Akane said more to herself.
She looked at Setsuko who had taken refugee across the room from
Akane. The girl was visibly frightened, her body trembled and she
was looking at Akane as if she had grown a second head. "She
can't be mine?" Akane suddenly said while glaring now.

"Nope," Ranma said as a large grin spread across his face.'

"Who's then?" Akane demanded growing tired of the game.

"Promise not to hit me?" Ranma asked.

"No, now tell me or I will." Akane replied smoothly.

"Kazama Setsuko is going to be your sister in law." Ranma
explained in a matter of fact voice, "It looks like Nabiki stuck
her foot into it this time."

"Nani?!?" Akane demanded, her eyes growing wide, "Your kidding,
ne?" Ranma just gave her a goof grin and shook his head, "My
sister, Nabiki and ... her?" There was something repulsive about
that. It was a foreign concept for two women to love each other
but Akane always figured that Nabiki wanted Kuno. Then again it
might just have been Kuno's money.

"Hai," Ranma said while walking over to Setsuko. He quickly
adverted his eyes and turned back to look at Akane. It was safer
that way. "Setsuko-san came to Tokyo to fulfil a contract that
Nabiki had made up with her."

"I don't believe it." Akane said, "Nabiki and her?!?"

                                   * * *

Several minutes later Akane sat at the table. Setsuko had told
her story once again, with Ranma filling in details. By the end
Akane was feeling very strange. 

"I'm really sorry Akane." Ranma said, "I guess I didn't handle it
as well as I could have."

Akane blinked, opened her mouth to make some retort and then
clamped it shut. Ranma was actually apologizing to her, and he
was sounding civilized. "That's alright Ranma.": Akane said, she
looked sheepishly towards Setsuko who was watching her nervously.
"I'm very sorry for what I did." Akane said, "It's just that...
Ranma and I have had problems with fiancees."

"That's all right Tendo-san," Setsuko said meekly. She was really
starting to wonder if saving her inheritance was worth it. One
sister kept going around saying, "Oh my" and acting like she was
on something. And the other sister was a maniac. To top it all
off the person she thought she was going to marry wasn't a guy
but a girl. Then she noticed Akane's eyes enlarged. Something was
behind her. Turning she saw a giant panda enter the room. She sat
stiffly, watching it warily. "Hi," she squeaked out as the bear
came lumber over to her. It gave her a sniff and growled.

"Setsuko-san," Ranma said, "This is my father."

That did it, giving a shriek of protest Setsuko sprung open and
ran out of the house. Disappearing into the night.

Turning the panda held up the sign that said, "Does anybody have
an extra strong breath mint?"

End of Chapter 2