"Well OK. I didn't expect that." Akane said as the film ended. "But you have to admit, that was one of the easy ones."

    "Easy ? It didn't look that easy to me." Belldandy stated.

    "Yea, easy. She loved Ranma so half the battle was won. I'd like to see Ranma with somebody tougher, like my sister."

    Belldandy finished munching a fist full of popcorn and asked "You mean Kasumi ?"

    Akane actually laughed. "Kasumi. Heavens no !  Kasumi has got to be an easy one. In fact. I'll give you Kasumi, she's gotta be THE easiest one out there.  She's as sweet as can be and everybody loves her. Kasumi could be married to anybody and make him happy, even Ranma."

    Belldandy ate some candy fish. "Then I suppose that you'd like to see Ranma and Nabiki."

    Akane laughed again. "Nabiki and Ranma is impossible ! It would take a miracle, an actual miracle to get those two to work."

    Belldandy smiled. "Fine, then that's the next show.  Nabiki Tendo and Ranma Soatome starring in Nabiki's Price."

    "Fine." said Akane. "Could I have some popcorn and

candy too ?"

    "Sure." said the goddess. She created snacks for Akane.

    The theater lights went down again and the screen lit up. Sound poured from the speakers.

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

Theme music from "A Fist Full Of Dollars"

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

    Akane recognized the scene instantly. It was Ranma's first day at Furinken High. She saw herself plow through the mob of wannabe boyfriends and Kuno waiting at the end of the mob.  And Ranma stepped in, like he always did.

    "Why are you with Akane ? And who are YOU to be speaking with such FAMILIARITY to the lovely Akane Tendo ?"

    Akane answered the question "He's staying at our house. He's Ranma Soatome, Nabiki's fiancee."

    It was almost as if you could hear gears grinding in Kuno's head as he digested this piece of information. Amazingly, Kuno had an actual bright idea. :: If I can get in good with Nabiki's fiancee then I have a foot in the door with the family. :: He thought. :: I might even get a discount on some Akane pictures. ::

    Kuno smiled hugely and said "Soatome-san. It is a great pleasure to meet the man that will make a blushing bride of the notori... of Nabiki Tendo." and he extended his hand to shake Ranma's.

    Ranma certainly wasn't going to fight somebody that had extended the hand of friendship, so he shook Kuno's hand. "Nice to meet you... um, what IS your name ?"

    He smiled broadly and struck a proud pose. "I am upper classmanTatewaki Kuno, The Blue Thunder Of Furinken high !"

    "Kuno baby, cut the dramatics."   Kuno, Ranma and Akane spun and all saw Nabiki standing there. She smiled at the group in her patented 'I know something that you don't know' smile and said "We have to be getting to class. Ranma-baby, you're in a lot of Akane's classes, you'd better get a move on."

    Nabiki surprised everybody. She leaned forward and gave Ranma a playful kiss on the cheek, then she rushed off into the building.

    Kuno gave Ranma a friendly smack on the back and said "Good work Soatome ! Most of us believed that the ice-queen was beyond the grasp of mere men, but you seem to have thawed her out."

    Ranma seemed almost as surprised as Kuno. "Yeah."

    Then they noticed Akane's scowl. "Let's go RANMA." she said coldly

    As they headed towards the school Kuno called out to Ranma. "Soatome ! Would you dine with me at lunch?"

    "Yea, sure." Ranma said. :: New friends already. ::  Ranma thought. :: This could be good for me. ::

    When they were alone in the hall Akane pushed Ranma up against the wall and said in VERY hushed and THREATENING tones. "OK Soatome, what exactly happened in the bathroom last night when you and Nabiki were naked ?"

    Ranma blushed.. "Ah, nothing. She walked in on me while I was in the bath. She looked startled, I said I'm Ranma Saotome. She was... " Ranma blushed more "she just looked and, smiled."

    "Don't lie to me Ranma." Akane threatened.

    "Akane, that was when you walked in and chased me around the house with the table." Ranma answered.

    Nabiki walked by and saw the two. She looped her arm through Ranma's and said "Akane, if you want a fiance then get one of your own. Ranma's mine.. I'm the daughter that daddy and Soatome-san picked for the marriage, not you."

    Akane glared at Nabiki. "That's fine with me. I don't like boys."

    Nabiki smiled at Akane "Kasumi was already engaged to Tofu-sama and you're Lesbian. That only left me."  Nabiki said with a smile. She pulled Ranma's arm.  "Come on. I gotta get you to class."

    "I am not lesbian." Akane growled.

    "Then stop telling everybody that you don't like boys and go on a date. Then they might believe that you don't like the girls." Nabiki replied.

    Akane stood there and did a slow burn.

*********** Brief Intermission ***********

"I am NOT and will NEVER BE lesbian." Akane said to Belldandy.

    Belldandy shrugged "It was just one of the possible outcomes of you ALWAYS telling EVERYBODY that you don't like boys. That's why Soun and Genma engaged Ranma and Nabiki, they both wanted children from the marriage and didn't think that the lesbian girl marrying Ranma would have any kids."

    "I AM NOT lesbian." Akane answered,

    "Neither is that Akane. It's just that everybody thinks that she is." Belldandy stated very matter-of-factly. "Now watch the film."

************** Back To Film ****************

    Nabiki walked through the halls and noticed that people looked at her differently. She saw envy in the eyes of the many girls that drooled over the handsome Ranma. She was pleased by it because it wasn't often the the mercenary miss of Furenkin high was envied by others.  She had a small army of henchmen and employees, but few friends, or perhaps no real friends. It was fun to see people looking at her and being envious of her and her man, and to hear what the rumors were saying.

    The rumor mill was quickly weaving intricate tales of the engagement of Ranma and Nabiki, and Nabiki's informants kept her well in the know. She was amused by several rumors but quickly put her henchmen to work to kill the rumor that she had to marry Ranma because she was in a family way.  Between classes Nabiki managed to find Ranma and made a rather big show of asking him out for dinner, her treat. Since he wanted to get to know Nabiki and he had a HUGE appetite, he accepted.

    Ranma heard the rumors and he helped put a stop to the 'pregnant Nabiki' rumor himself. He informed a large and loud mouthed student that the student wasn't permitted to lie about Nabiki like that. The student, being rather large and strong, made the mistake of trying to shut Ranma's mouth. Ranma ended up standing on the boy's chest and announcing that "Nobody at this school is allowed to lie about Nabiki." That stopped a lot of Rumors about Nabiki and started some about Ranma's martial arts prowess.

    Nabiki laughed when she heard about it. She was very pleased for several reasons. She loved that Ranma would defend her like that. NOBODY had ever really stood up for her before. It made her fell good to have her very own 'knight in shining armor' standing up for her. Some people thought that romance would be making her soft, but with Ranma's martial arts becoming well know, Nabiki could claim that he is also her new enforcer and everybody had better pay up.

    And Ranma's martial arts were perfect for her other plans too. Ranma could be the next Jackie Chan or Jett Li, he was strong and handsome and had amazing moves. Nabiki saw herself as the wife and agent of Japan's newest and greatest martial arts/ action film star. Movies, commercials, action figures etc, would all make the Soatome's VERY rich. And hob nobbing with the elite would be fun too. Nabiki was VERY happy about the arrangement.

    Before the last class of the day Ranma was stopped in the hall by Tatewaki Kuno. "Greetings, Soatome." the boy said amiably.

    "Hi Kuno. How ya doin'?" Ranma replied in equally friendly tones.

    "I am well, thank you. But I must speak with you."

    "What's up ?"

    "I heard of your martial arts prowess. It was relayed to me how you put that scoundrel in his place."

    "Well, I couldn't let somebody go spreadin lies about my fiance, right ?"

    "Well said, Ranma, you couldn't permit some one to spread lies. But what if someone had an unfortunate truth to tell you ?"

    "An unfortunate truth ?" Ranma said with a raised eyebrow.

    "I must tell you things because I respect what you are doing and I like you." Kuno said. :: And I really want you're help with Akane :: he thought. "I also tell you because my Kendo skills can defend me from your martial arts."

    Ranma doubted that, but he was curious now. "OK, tell me."

    Kuno and Ranma missed the next class as Kuno spent the whole time telling Ranma about "Nabiki Tendo" enterprises.

    Classes ended and Ranma was waiting for Nabiki when Akane came storming out of the school. Ranma was about to ask her what was wrong when she snapped "So what do you want ?!"

    "I, um, was just gonna ask what's wrong."

    "Atsuka Mihoshi, that's what's wrong." Akane growled.

    "I met her, she seemed like a nice enough girl.  Friendly and all."

    "Yea, REAL friendly. After class she wanted to talk to me and I said OK. She said that it was very brave of me to be 'out in the open' about my sexual preferences and that she was very impressed. I tried to tell her that she was wrong about it but she misunderstood and said 'Akane, you are VERY brave'. Then she said that she would be brave too and said that she thought that I was beautiful and that we would make a great couple." Akane blushed. "I was so surprised that I couldn't move out of the way fast enough when she kissed me." She turned bright red but continued to grumble. "And I was too in shock to push her away. Atsuka whispered something about 'being so happy now that we could be together' before she ran off."

    Akane swirled at the sound of her sister's voice.  "I warned you about running around the school yelling 'I Hate boys'. Refusing to date boys also helps the misunderstanding."

    Akane glared and began to glow.

    Ranma stepped between her and Nabiki and, in a very serious tone said. "I won't let you fight somebody like Nabiki, she isn't a martial artist. You could seriously hurt her."

    "FINE !" Akane snapped. She turned away and headed home.

    Ranma called out after her "You could always go out with some guy to stop the rumors !"

*************** Brief Intermission **********

    "I AM NOT LESBIAN !" Akane growled at the screen.

    "Neither is she." Belldandy replied. "She just kept supplying the wrong kind of data for the rumor mill." Akane grumbled.

************** Back To The Story ****************

    Nabiki surprised herself by wrapping her arms around Ranma and saying "My hero." She kissed his cheek. He blushed and held her hand.

    :: Kuno has GOT to be wrong about her. :: Ranma thought. :: Nabiki is just too sweet to be miss mercenary. ::

    "We have a dinner date, right ?" He asked her.

    Nabiki smiled and nodded. "It's not far from here, let's walk." she squeezed his hand without realizing it. He squeezed hers also.  The two lonely souls, both having spent a life in seclusion of one kind or another, were managing to find a sort of empathy.  They got to the rester aunt and ordered. "I was thinking that we could go to a movie."  Nabiki said. "There's a new Jackie Chan movie, if you're interested."

    Ranma laughed a little. "I love Jackie Chan movies.  I'm a little surprised that you do, but I'm happy about it." Then he frowned. "But.. I don't have any money."

    "Don't worry cutie-pie, I do."

    Ranma blushed.  Nabiki decided that it would be better to play it cool and not try to rush her plans of making a star of Ranma, so they ate and talked and had a very nice time.  They talked of their lives and the things that they had done and they each gave comfort to the other lonely heart. During a moment of silence while they ate, Nabiki blushed and turned from Ranma.

    "What's wrong ?" Ranma asked.

    Nabiki had been wondering whether or not she would some day have a bisexual relationship with her husband, but didn't feel brave enough to say that, so she whispered "I was just remembering that I was naked when I walked in on you naked."

    Ranma blushed a little too.  Nabiki felt a little bolder and asked "Did you like what you saw ?" Ranma turned bright red and nodded. Nabiki liked that Ranma was a little shy. "Me too." she whispered.

    The dinner anded and Nabiki paid for it and left a generous tip.  Ranma saw absolutely no evidence that could support anything that Kuno had said. They began walking to the Tendo dojo. Part way there Nabiki was getting worn out and suggested a cab.  Ranma lifted her into his arms and carried her the rest of the way.

    Soun and Genma were sitting in the bushes spying.  They had become VERY excited when they heard that Nabiki asked Ranma for a date. Soun had been afraid that Nabiki's greed would ruin everything. They giggled like schoolgirls when they saw Nabiki in Ranma's arms.  Ranma and Nabiki got to the front door.

    "Our father's are spying on us." Nabiki said as Ranma set her down.

    "Yea, I noticed."

    Nabiki smiled at him and said "Well, let's give them a show." And she moved to Ranma and embraced him and her lips were the tiniest distance from his. ::Kami, don't let me be making a fool of myself. :: she thought.

    Ranma pressed his lips against hers. She pressed back and they kissed passionately. A limo pulled up and Akane and Kuno got out.   He walked her to the front door. He tried to kiss her but she stopped him.   Kuno looked at Nabiki and Ranma, still in a lip lock. "They're kissing." he said.

    "They're engaged." Akane said. Then she looked at him and kissed him lightly on the cheek. "Thanks for taking me out." she said.

    "It was my pleasure and my honor to do so."

    She looked at Ranma and Nabiki and said "Leave something for the honeymoon."

    Kuno said. "They are engaged, allow them to enjoy each other."  Akane shrugged and went inside.  Kuno smiled at Ranma and knew that Ranma didn't notice him. "Thank you Ranma." he said and returned to the waiting limo.  The kiss ended. The couple went in.

    Soun and Genma jumped out of the bushes and began to dance in the sidewalk.

    The entire week went relatively uneventfully.  Ranma and Kuno were becoming rather good friends and had taken to sparring before classes. Ranma's martial arts prowess was very well known around the school by end of day Friday. Ranma managed to never be in the right place to see Nabiki at her money hungry worst.  Ranma spent a lot of time with Nabiki. They talked a lot and necked A LOT. She was very glad that her father had selected her to be Ranma's spouse. She was beginning to entertain fantasies of her torrid bisexual relationship with her husband/wife to be.

    Akane spent time with Kuno too. He walked her to classes and held her hand as they walked. The new rumors were that Akane was bi, that Kuno was 'man enough' to show Akane the joys of heterosexuality, and that Akane had simply been very shy and hid her desires behind a facade of anger. Nabiki could tell that Akane hated dating Kuno. When she confronted Akane with it Akane admitted that she hated it, but it was better than being straight and called lesbian.

    Friday night was 'the big date'. Ranma felt like an idiot wearing a suit to the movies, untilhe saw how astonishingly beautiful Nabiki looked in her dress. They went to the movie and the beautiful couple was the envy of all.

    Nabiki found the movie dreadfully dull. She was having her fun watching Ranma and the rest of the audience. She could see the money rolling in as every new Ranma movie would hit the screen.

    They went out to eat afterwards. Ranma and most of the other people in the theater came out talking about how great the movie was. Nabiki saw the long line waiting to get into the theater. It was a beautiful sight.

    Nabiki had decided that tonight was the night to tell Ranma about their future.  Nabiki smiled at Ranma. "I think that you're better than Jackie  Chan."

    Ranma blushed. "Jackie's the best."

    "I've watched you and Kuno. You could do everything that Jackie did in that movie."

    Ranma shrugged and sat up a little bit straighter.

    "Thanks, Nabs."

    "And you're a LOT handsomer than him."

    "You're gonna give me a swelled head." Ranma said.

    "You should make movies." she said.

    "Naw, I'm goonna teach anything-goes martial arts."

    Nabiki shook her head. "Ranma, don't underestimate yourself. Your martial arts are incredible. You could, and I mean you REALLY COULD make movies more thrilling and exciting than Jackie Chan's."

    Ranma shook his head again. "I'll be teaching anything goes."

    Nabiki sight. "Ranma, you ARE that good."

    "But it's not what I want to do."

    "What ?"

    "I want to be dedicated to the art and I want to teach."

    "You can't make any money teaching ! We can be RICH if you make movies ! Maybe not right away, but we can do it."

    "No." Ranma said stubbornly. "I do what I wanna do?"

    "What about me ? What about our marriage ? Kids ?  We can't live like my father and yours !"

    Ranma looked rather disheartened. "You mean Kuno was right ?"

    "If Kuno told you that I had to be hard and work hard then he was right. Our dojo doesn't have any students and I am the reason that we're all eating and still have a roof over our head !" she said loudly and proudly. "And if you're too selfish to give me... the ..." Nabiki began to cry "To give me a... decent life.." she ran out of the resteraunt crying.

    Ranma got up to follow but the head waiter stopped him and handed him the bill. Since he had no money he spent the rest of the night in the back doing dishes.  He had time to think.

    When he got to the Tendo Dojo he found that Nabiki was siiting on the front porch crying. As he walked towards her he said "Nabiki I" She flew at him and locked her lips onto his. She pushed him onto the ground and kissed him.

    "Ranma" she said through her tears "Ranma .." She kissed him and spoke. "I was wrong, money can't by happiness. Akane is with Kuno and she's miserable" she kissed him again. "And I'm miserable without you. I was always alone and never knew what love was like. Now that I know I'd give  everything to live in love. I'd live in a cardboard box and beg, but I have to be with you." she cried in his arms and looked into his eyes.

    The morning came and Akane found Nabiki and Ranma cuddled naked on the dojo floor, asleep in each others arms.

    The scene changed. Ranma, looking about ten years older, held a beautiful gaijin woman in his arms as she cried. "I was wrong" he said "money can't by happiness. I'm miserable without you. I was always alone and never knew what love was like. Now that I know I'd give everything to live in love. I'd live in a cardboard box and beg, but I have to be with you."   The woman cried in his arms and looked into his eyes.

    He smiled and said "I love you." and kissed her passionately.

    "And CUT ! That's a wrap people !" yelled the director.  A cheer went up.

    Ranma helped the woman to her feet.

    A small voice asked. "Mommy, why is daddy kissing that girl ?"

    Nabiki picked up her youngest daughter and said.  "Remember what mommy told you about daddy's job. He makes movies and they film him. He's playing pretend."

    Ranma walked up and wrapped his arms around Nabiki's waist. "That's right, Kasumi. Daddy's only real kisses are for your mommy and sister and little brother."

    "Can we visit aunt Kasumi ?" asked the little girl.

    Ranma laughed. "We have to, she and Tofu-sama are watching Soun and Nadoko."

    The family piled into a limo and drove off.

    The credits played. Akane grumbled.