Spoilers abound in this document. Do /not/ read it unless you don't care. What has gone before: Soun's first wife died during childbirth with Kasumi. Soon after, Soun met Nodoka, and eventually married Soun. They had a daughter Nabiki some years later. Genma met Nodoka, who fell for his charms (such as they are) and had an affair with him. She had twins, Ranma & Akane. To keep the secret, Nodoka asked Genma to raise the second child. (Genma named him, and Nodoka never learned the name. Likewise, Genma left before learning the name of his daughter.) Soun never learned of the twin. As a single father, Genma met a woman who could not have children, and she married him to provide a mother to young Ranma. She couldn't bear to see him raised by Genma, who was still quite a lout at the time. Five years after Ranma and Akane were born, Genma and Soun had met when they trained under a perverted master named Happosai. They eventually sealed him in a cave. Shortly after, Genma and Soun decided to engage their young son and daughter. Again, in a quirk, Soun neglects to mention the name of his wife. One year later, Genma's wife would die, prompting the mourning Genma to go on a ten year training trip. This Genma would be a little different, not quite as stupid, and would not engage Ranma to Ukyo, nor would he use the Neko-ken. Unfortunately, he was stupid enough to go to Jusenkyo. Thus when Ranma arrives, a panicked Nodoka switches the engagement to Kasumi, who is three years his elder, with no adequate explanation. Genma agrees enthusiastically when Nodoka mentions that Kasumi is the daughter of Soun's first wife. However, Kasumi is a ronin. She failed to get into college, and is thus studying to try and get in next year. Nodoka would prefer she become a traditional wife, but would never stand in her way if a career is what she truly desires. Ranma and Akane are twins, the children of Genma and Nodoka. Nabiki is their half-sister, the child of Nodoka and Soun. Kasumi is Nabiki's half-sister, the child of Soun and his first wife. Akane and Kasumi are not actually related, and thus Ranma and Kasumi are not either, making her the only safe fiance. Soun notes: Soun should be as much like canon as possible. The difference is that he's not quite so emotional as before, though it won't be apparent in the first chapter. Genma notes: Genma is always a bit different. His trip was started while he was still mourning, and without any threat of seppuku hanging over his head. He's still an idiot, though. Nodoka notes: Nodoka wants to raise her three daughters (the fact that she only gave birth to two of them doesn't mean anything to her) to be traditional wives. She's mostly given up on her younger two, neither one having the temperment or skills. She hasn't given up hope for Kasumi yet, especially since Kasumi failed to get into college. Kasumi note: She's not very much like canon. She's a party girl, going out and drinking every night, and sleeping most of the day. Her father believes that she's studying. Nodoka suspects otherwise, but has decided to allow her freedom. After all, she'll never get into college if she never studies, and then mother can find a nice husband for her. She's constantly yelling at Ranma to be quiet so she can study, though in truth it's because of her latest hangover. She doesn't actually dislike him, but he's just an aggravation she could do without right now. Also, she's not really well suited to college, she's just doing it to rebel against her traditional mother. Nabiki note: Nabiki takes Akane's place, in a way. She's frequently angry, most often because of Kuno's declaration. However, when Ranma helps her, she shows genuine gratitude, taking to calling him little-brother after that. Nodoka nearly passes out the first time Nabiki calls him that in her hearing. Akane note: She's much more understanding, and hardly violent at all. She feels connected to Ranma, like it was meant to be. Having had a mother all her life, and an older sister who studies the art (and Nabiki is slightly better, too), Akane is sweet and kind, and rather charming to boys without much experience with girls. Ranma note: He's not as obsessed with being a man, his father having had no reason to push him as hard about it. He's still rude and uncultured, but has no bias against women. Mostly ignorance. He tries not to annoy Kasumi so much, but can't help it. Plot: Genma and Nodoka work together, trying to drive Ranma and Akane apart, who resist very strongly. Ranma and Kasumi have nothing in common, and Ranma and Akane seem to be perfect for each other. Chapter Two -- School: Intro Kuno. Again, try not to repeat past events too much. [title: Pattern ] Chapter Three -- Ryoga/Shampoo: Possibly I'll make this part of chapter 2, so I can skip over repeated material and just do new material that highlights differences. Shampoo may be the only other fiancée, but since she is, and claims Ranma is her husband, Ranma may never be accused of having multiple fiancées. Instead, he'll be accused of having a chinese wife on the side. Chapter Four -- Dating and the Gay Bar: Ranma is forced to go out with Kasumi. She drags him to a gay bar, hoping that he'll get hit on, get terribly upset and leave, allowing her to go to where she wants. Ranma does get hit on, and then gets hit with cold water, which results in Ranma dancing with Kasumi in the end. She decides that he's not that bad to spend time with after all. [title: ] Final Chapter: End goal is to have all the secrets revealed, and Ranma and Kasumi decide whether or not to be engaged. Hopefully, it'll be to be engaged for real, but I'll allow the characters to show me which makes more sense. [title: Tying Off] -- End Notes Started: 8/19/2001 Last Revised: 8/22/2001