Ryouga's Fiancee Wears A Hat!
a fanfic based on the characters from Ranma 1/2 by Rumiko Takahashi
by Mark Williams - mpw2@ra.msstate.edu
Ami Kyotomi is an original character created by the author.

************************************
Part 1: "This is a matter of honor."
************************************

The sun climbs lazily above the treetops in Nerima, its light pouring into
the room through the window.  P-Chan blinks his eyes , trying to shut out
the irritating light. Where am I? An arm closes around him - soft, gentle
fingers. P-Chan looks up to see Akane Tendo fast asleep, dreaming of
wonderful things, no doubt. P-Chan relaxes, gazing into Akanes angelic
face. You are so beautiful, Akane. Only heaven knows how I feel about you.
I would...suddenly Akane starts to roll over, her warm breast pushing into
him.  P-Chans nose turns a deep shade of red as he blushes fiercely. Oh,
Akane, I love you so much. Akane continues to roll over, crushing P-Chan.
Guhh!  Akane, I cant breath! Get off me. P-Chan starts suffocating as
Akane rolls completely over him. P-Chan, gasping for breath, tries to
escape, but the fingers grab tightly around him. Aaackk! Akane pushes him
into the wall next to her bed, then starts leaning towards him. P-Chan
scrambles up, fighting for his life - too late. Akane falls over, knocking
the wind out of him. Huhh! Wedged against the wall, P-Chan starts to black
out, his eyes looking suspiciously like little stars. Damn you, Ranma
Saotome! Someday, Ill make you pay for all the suffering that you have
caused me...Akane stretches, her arms rising above her head. She squints
her eyes against the warm, morning sun and yawns a deep, fitful yawn,
"Aaaaaa...Yaaaa." She looks down at P-Chan. "Oh, P-Chan! Its so good to
see you this morning." She picks up the comatose piglet in her arms,
shaking him wildly. "Wake up P-Chan. Its a wonderful morning. How can you
be sleeping on such a beautiful day?" P-Chan, barely alive, opens his eyes
just quick enough to see Akane giving him another great big bear hug.
Akane chastises him, "Well, if youre going to sleep all day, P-Chan, why
dont you rest right here?" She sets him down on the bed and stands up,
getting one more good stretch before pulling off her nightshirt. P-Chan
drools, Oh, Akane! You are even more lovely than ever today. How could I
live without seeing your face? Akane, lost in thought, throws the
nightshirt on top of P-Chan, and says, "Hmm...what should I wear today?"
She rummages through her drawers and picks out a nice pink short-sleeved
shirt and a blue denim jumper. She smiles in approval, "Perfect."

-------------------------

Mr. Tendo is taking a bath. The steam from the hot water is pouring out
over the edges of the tub. A small black object jumps into the tub with
him, making a small splash. Mr. Tendo finds himself staring at a boy with
an orange and black-spotted headband. Ryouga Hibiki breathes a sigh of
relief as the hot water warms his body.

Mr. Tendo:  "Good morning, Ryouga."
Ryouga: "Good morning, Mr. Tendo. Ill just be on my way, now."
Mr. Tendo: "Ha ha ha."

Ryouga crawls out of the bathtub, grabbing a towel to dry himself off.

-------------------------

Downstairs, Kasumi Tendo is in the kitchen cooking something that smells
wonderful. Ryouga walks in, his hair still wet. Kasumi looks up at Ryouga
and says, "Oh, good morning, Ryouga. Akane and the others are already
having breakfast." Kasumi points him in the right direction.

Ryouga smiles and says, "Thanks, Kasumi."

Genma Saotome and Ranma are at the table gorging themselves as Ryouga
walks into the little dining room.  Nabiki, reading a magazine, looks up
momentarily. Akane is sitting with her knees under her, politely munching
on a piece of bread. Ranma, still stuffing his face, eyes Ryouga
suspiciously and says, "So, did ya have a good nights sleep P-Chan?"

Ryouga, slightly irritated, shows his fangs and retorts, "I dont see
P-Chan anywhere, Ranma."

Ranma starts getting jealous.  "Yeah, Ill bet hes still sleeping with
Akanes underwear."

Akane, highly upset, glares at Ranma and says, "How dare you say that,
Ranma. P-Chan is sweet."

Ranma gets up, really into it now. "What! How can you sleep with
that...that...PIG every night?"

Ranma and Akane are both about to start a fight, but Ryouga steps in,
fuming with anger. He says, "Ranma! How dare you? First you insult P-Chan,
and then you insult Akane. I wont stand for this." Ryougas fangs seem to
magically grow even longer as he drops into a fighting stance. Ranma,
sensing Ryougas seriousness, also drops into a fighting stance. Akane,
still mad, contemplates knocking them both out with a frying pan. Genma
continues to eat, oblivious to the impending fight taking place.

Nabiki Tendo, having watched all of this with some delight, chooses this
time to interrupt. She clears her throat, "A-HEM!" Everybody looks at
Nabiki as she speaks, "Hey, Ryouga. This letter just came in the mail for
you. It looked pretty important, so I took the liberty of opening it for
you. I think you should see it. It looks like its from your family."

"Wh...what?" Ryouga, forgetting about the fight, takes the letter from
Nabiki. "I cant believe this. I havent heard from home in forever." He
stares at the letter ominously before opening it.

Mr. Tendo walks in and, along with everyone else in the room, looks over
Ryougas shoulder and says, "Well? Whats it say?"

Ryouga gingerly unrolls the parchment and reads it:

"Ryouga, Come home immediately. Family honor at stake. Hibiki"

"What?" Ryouga crumples the letter in his hands and clenches his fist. "I
have to go. This is a matter of honor." He says as he grabs his backpack
and umbrella and places them on his back. Leaving, he turns towards Ranma
and says, "This isnt over Ranma."

Ranma nods, "You can bet on it."

**************************************
Part 2: "Didnt your father tell you?"
**************************************

Three weeks later, Ryouga stumbles up to his house, breathing heavily.
*Huff* *huff* "I made it...I finally made it." Sand falls from his shirt
and backpack. Dust is on his face. He thinks to himself, I dont remember
that desert being in Tokyo. He obviously hasnt eaten in days. Ryouga
reaches for the door, pushing it open with little effort. He steps inside
and shouts, "Im home!"

"Ryouga! Youre finally here. Ive been waiting for so long." A high pitched
voice rings out. Ryouga finds himself staring at a young woman who he has
never seen before.

"Who...who are you?" Ryouga asks with a startle in his voice.

"Why, Im your fiancee!" she cries with great enthusiasm.

Ryougas eyes get really huge. "But I...I cant get married..." Exhausted
from hunger and overwhelmed with shock, Ryouga faints, falling to the
floor with a resounding thud.

-------------------------

Later that evening, Ryouga lies asleep in his bed. A warm hand rests
lightly on his chest, massaging him. Ryouga stirs, awaking from some
dream. "Hmm...Akane? Is that you?" Ryouga keeps his eyes closed, enjoying
the moment.

"Whos Akane, dear?" a girls voice whispers into Ryougas ear.

Ryouga jumps a little, coming awake. He looks next to him and sees a
bright-eyed girl staring back. "How...who are you!?" Ryouga says as he
sits up. He looks down and realizes all of his clothes are gone. "Gaaa!
What happened to my clothes?" Ryouga pulls the sheet around him and stands
up, rather embarrassed.

"Your clothes had sand all in them, I decided to wash them for you. I
thought youd be happy." she says rather proudly, standing up also.

"Who are you?" asks Ryouga, still confused.

"Didn't your father tell you?" she looks disappointed, "Im your fiancee.
We were promised to each other before birth. I thought he told you in that
letter he sent." Ryouga gives a blank stare. She smiles at him anyway and
says, "Well, then. Let me introduce myself. I am Ami Kyotomi of the
Mysterious Hat School of Martial Arts." She brandishes an amazingly
mysterious hat, places it perfectly on her head, and strikes a very cute
pose.

"What the...I thought I was going to fight to protect the family honor. I
didnt know anything about you, I promise." Ryouga starts to show a little
bit of his fangs. "Besides, I..I..I cant get married."

"Why? Whats wrong? Dont you like me?" she moves close to Ryouga, pressing
her body into his, "I have to honor my family too." She pouts her lip at
Ryouga and gives him a doe-eyed look, pressing further into him.

Ryouga almost goes into a nosebleed. His head starts to cloud. He tries
desperately not to shame himself and says the only thing he can think of,
"No, its not that at all. You look really good. Its just that, well..."
Ryouga blurts it out, "I love Akane Tendo."

Ami backs away, her face a muddle of mixed emotions. "This cant be! I wont
let some Tendo-girl ruin my honor. I wont let it happen."

Ryouga stammers, "Oh...wait. I didnt mean it like that."

She gets a really determined look on her face and says, "In order to
restore the honor of the Kyotomi name, I vow that I will not rest until
Akane Tendo is destroyed." She reaches into her shirt and magically pulls
out another mysterious hat. This one looks even cuter than the one she has
on. She throws it on the ground, creating a puff of smoke, and disappears.

Ryouga, standing in smoke, cries out, "Ami, wait!" Suddenly, Ryouga
realizes that Ami doesnt know about his curse. Then he realizes Akane
might discover him. He thinks, Oh no! I have to stop her. He grabs his
clothes and backpack and umbrella as he runs out of the door.

************************************
Part 3: "Why isnt the hat working?"
************************************

Amazingly, Ryouga finds himself standing outside the Tendo dojo. "I found
it! I cant believe..." Suddenly a person drives by and splashes cold water
on Ryouga. "Bwee." P-Chan sits on the side-walk with a very angry look.

P-Chan walks into the Tendo home and sees Akane and Ranma. Ami must not
have found them yet, he thinks. But now what do I do?

Akane sees P-Chan, "P-Chan! Your back!" Akane runs and grabs P-Chan.

All of a sudden, *Poof*, Ami Kyotomi is standing in the doorway. She
laughs and says, "So there you are! How dare you think you that you can
steal my future husband, Akane Tendo." Ami stands, garbed in full ninja
outfit, with her very mysterious hat on.

P-Chan panics, bweeing rather cutely. "Bwee!!!"

Akane looks at Ami and says, "Dont tell me that pervert has another
fiancee. Look lady, I dont even like Ranma. You can have him." Akane
places her hands on her hips.

Ranma stands up. "Not again. Who the heck are you?"

Ami looks at Ranma and says, "I am Ami Kyotomi, and this is none of your
business. My fight is with Akane Tendo."

Akane gets a little mad, "What? I dont know what your talking about, but
you have no right to come into our home."

Ami looks at Akane and snarls, "You dare to tell me my rights after you
steal my fiancee." Ami pulls an exceptionally mysterious hat out of her
shirt and shouts, "Special Attack - Kyotomi Hat Strike!" Ami rushes at
Akane, her movements too quick to see. She seemingly runs past Akane
without hitting her at all. Akane flinches, still waiting for an attack.
Ami finishes her strike and turns around, speaking, "There! That will see
to it that you never interfere with my fiancee again."

Akane, still confused, isnt aware that she is wearing a cute little hat on
her head. Ranma steps forward and says, "What did you do? Take that off
her right now!"

Ami laughs. "I dont think so. That hat will make anyones feelings of love
turn to hate. We shall see who is the better woman now!"

"Stop, Ami!" Ryouga appears, "This is crazy. What are you doing?"

Ami smiles at Ryouga. "Youll see soon enough. Why dont you ask your
darling Akane what she thinks of you now?"

Ryouga turns to Akanea and says, "Akane. Are you all right."

Akane seems to be perfectly fine. "I feel fine, Ryouga. What is this all
about?"

Ami is shocked. "What? Why isnt the hat working?"

Ranma steps in and brags, "Well that was a stupid attack. You better leave
before you embarrass yourself. Akane, take that stupid hat off your head."

All of a sudden Akanes face contorts. "Who asked you Ranma? Why dont you
just leave? I hate you Ranma." Akane folds her arms in total disgust.

Ranma's face falls, "Wh...what? What are you talking about? Akane, whats
wrong with you?"

*********************************
Part 4: "Prepare to be defeated."
*********************************

Ranma, confused and furious with anger, lashes out at the nearest person,
*Ryouga! This is all your fault. You planned all this because your
jealous.*

"Thats crazy, Ranma!" Ryouga shows his teeth, "Youre the one whos
jealous."

Akane breaks in, "Ryougas right, Ranma. The engagement is OFF. You can
find yourself a new fiancee."

"A...Akane...no." Ranma looks as if he lost his will to live. Then he gets
absolutely infuriated. "So thats how its gonna be, Ryouga? Well you cant
have her. I wont let you. Ill see you dead first." Ranma gets ready to
launch an attack.

Ami butts in, "You idiot, Akane doesnt like Ryouga in case you didnt
notice, or the hat would be working for him instead of you. Besides, hes
engaged to ME!"

Ryouga realizes that what Ami says is right. Akane really doesnt love him.
But this seems like the only chance hell ever get to show Akane that he is
better than Ranma. "Ami, this is between Ranma and me." Ryouga looks at
Ranma with contempt in his eyes. "Prepare to die, Ranma!"

Ranma and Ryouga face each other, their faces stern with anger, their
bodies poised for the fight, and their eyes staring at each other with
burning rage. Ryouga feels like he has been waiting for this moment for
his entire life. Ryouga projects his bad thoughts towards Ranms, Im tired
of you always winning, Ranma. Somehow, you are going to lose today. I cant
live another day until you learn some humility.

Ami and Akane back off, giving them some room to fight. Akane says, "I
hope you lose, Ranma."

Ryouga initiates the attack, using his breaking point technique on the
wall behind Ranma, knowing that Ranma would just dodge his punch anyway.
He hits the wall and continues out into the back yard, pulling free some
bandannas as he goes.

Ranma is not far behind him, already screaming and going into his lighting
punch. His hands blur as he closes in on Ryouga, but Ryouga already has
his bandannas spinning. He brings the whirling weapons up to block Ranmas
fists. Ranma is shocked that his attack doesnt connect, and Ryouga sees an
opening. He thrusts a side kick into Ranmas stomach. Ranma fades back, but
his quick reflexes catch Ryougas foot and twists it clockwise. Ryouga
falls off-balance and crashes to the ground, but not before he releases
his bandannas in Ranmas direction. The two bandannas whip towards Ranma.
Their length make it impossible for him to side step, so he leaps into the
air, going into a flying kick aimed at Ryouga. He shouts out, "Ive got you
now, Ryouga!" Ryouga is still on the ground and is about to get hit.

All of a sudden, from out of nowhere Ranma, gets knocked out of the air by
a flying object - a spinning hat. Both Ryouga and Ranma shout out, "What
the..." Ranma falls to the ground, holding his side. Ami stands over him,
threatening, "I cant allow you to hurt Ryouga. Hes my fiancee, and I love
him!" Ami, glares at Ranma, and puts her hands on her hips.

Ryouga gets up. His face a muddle of confusion. "Ami.....do you really
mean that? Youre not just saying it?"

Ami looks at Ryouga. "Do you want to beat him or not? You were losing. I
couldnt let that happen."

Ranma gets up, wondering what he should do. He realizes that he is
out-matched two to one. He starts to formulate a plan. Ive only got one
shot at this, he thinks. Its risky, but if it works, It might be enough to
win. Ranma starts building up power for a fireball shot. He talks to buy
some time, "All right, Ryouga! I didnt want to have to do this to you, but
youve left me no choice." Ranma unleashes his power, shouting the ancient
words that release it. The shot arcs towards Ryouga but misses by almost
three feet, and it continues past him.

Ryouga looks at Ranma and laughs. "Ha ha ha! Is that the best you can do
Ranma. You didnt even come close."

At that instant the shot hits the pond behind Ryouga. causing a giant,
misty explosion. Ranma explains to Ryouga, "I wasnt aiming for you Ryouga.
I just figured I would even up the odds a little bit. A giant mist falls
over the yard as the water appears, falling from the sky. Ryouga tries to
reach his umbrella, but he's too late. For a minute Ranmas and Ryougas
forms blur.

As the mist clears, Ami is standing before a red-haired girl and a black
piglet. She shouts out, "What kind of trick is this? Where did Ryouga go?"
She fixes on Ranma, "Who are you, red-haired girl? And what did you do
with Ranma and Ryouga?'

Ranma smiles. "Im Ranma, you witch! Prepare to be defeated." Ranma engages
Ami in a fight.

Ami leaps towards Ranma and says, "I dont know who you are, but if its a
fight you want, youre going to get one. You face a master of the
Mysterious Hat School of Martial Arts!" Ami pulls the hat off her head and
begins spinning it with her hands.

Ranma laughs at Ami, "Mysterious hat? What kind of stupid martial art is
that? looks like I'm gonna have to go easy on you."

Ami gets highly perturbed, "So now you mock me? I say you have no honor
whatsoever." Amis spinning hat starts to grow. She shouts at Ranma, "Ill
show you the true power of Kyotomi." A strange glow starts to emanate from
the hat. Ami lunges at Ranma punching with the enormous hat. "Take this."

Ranma puts his hands out to block the attack. But the hat pushes into
Ranma, engulfing him, trapping him within its fabric. Ranmas hands are
completely trapped, so he starts hopping around, trying to avoid Amis
punches and kicks. Ami shouts at him, "Stand still so I can hit you!"
Ranma hops some more.

P-Chan, obviously unnoticed during all the commotion, heads back to the
house to search for some hot water. He spies Akane watching from the
gaping hole in the wall. Akane sees him too. P-Chan expects Akane to pick
him up, but instead Akane says. "Dont come near me, you PIG. I dont want
to ever see you again." Akane, still wearing the hat, backs away from
P-Chan.

P-Chan is obviously hurt. Ryouga thinks to himself, NO! I can't bear the
thought of you hating me. He starts to get really depressed. I cant even
beat Ranma. What good am I? A dark orb starts to form around P-Chan. This
is all Ranmas fault. Its been his fault ever since the beginning. I would
have never been like this if it wasnt for him. By now, Ryougas entire
piglet body is surrounded in a dark shadow-like field. P-Chan's aura
emenates from his body. P-Chan shouts inside his mind, Damn you Ranma! You
wont live to see the sun set!

P-Chan runs out into the back yard where Ranma is still hopping around,
trapped inside the hat. See if you can get out of this, Ranma! "BWEEE!"
P-Chan unleashes all of his dark energy upon Ranma. Ranma is too trapped
to get out of the way. The full force of the blast blows Ranma through the
fence and out of the yard. Ranma is blown three blocks away. He is
completely knocked out, but still breathing. The cushion of the giant hat
saves his life.

Ami looks down at the little black piglet, which is unconscious on the
ground. Its eyes look like little stars. She talks to him "How did you do
that, little one?" She spots P-Chans bandanna and recognizes that it is
the same as Ryougas. "Oh! Ryouga is that you?" Ami grabs P-Chan and bounds
off.

******************************
Part 5: "Did you say FIANCEE?"
******************************

Moments later, Ami stops in a familiar looking Okonomiaki restaurant,
cradling a small little piglet in her arms. There is nobody in the shop
save a blue-haired Chinese girl and a long-haired Japanese girl. Shampoo
and Ukyo are both at a table arguing with each other about who would make
the better bride for Ranma. Ukyo spots Ami, thinking shes a potential
customer, and says, "Excuse me, can I help you...OH!...is that P-Chan?"
Shampoo gets up too, wondering what is going on.

Ami looks up. "Do you know this piglet? I think hes my fiancee, but that
guy Ranma changed him somehow."

Ukyo and Shampoo both say at the same time, "Did you say FIANCEE?"

"Why yes. Is this Ryouga then?" Ami smiles with enthusiasm. Ukyo and
Shampoo smile too.

Ukyo says, "You mean youve never heard of the cursed Josenkio springs in
China?" Ami shakes her head.

Shampoo says in her Chinese accent, "I go get some hot water." Shampoo
bounds into the kitchen. She comes back a moment later with some hot water
and a blanket.

Ryouga opens his eyes to find three very good looking girls staring at
him. He whispers, "Am...am I in heaven?"

Ami speaks up, "Ryouga, youre awake! I thought you might be hurt."

Ryouga realizes that hes not dead. "Where...wheres Ranma? Did I beat him?"

Ukyo and Shampoo chime in, "What about Ranma?"

Ami fills them in, "Ryouga beat Ranma. Hes lying in the street next to the
Tendo house."

Ukyo says, "What!? Ive got to go help him." She grabs her spatula and runs
out the door.

Shampoo gets worried, "No you dont! Ranma is my fiancee. You come back
here." Shampoo bounds out of the door, chasing Ukyo.

Ami looks after them and says, "Geez, what a bunch of weirdoes. Why would
anybody marry them." Ami turns back to Ryouga.

Ryouga looks at Ami, and realizes for the first time that she is really
beautiful. "Ami. Did you really mean what you said back there? I mean,
about loving me and everything?" Ryougas eyes look hopefully up at Ami.

Ami looks at Ryouga, admiring his handsome features in the light. She
smiles back at him. "Well, I think we could give it a try. Dont you?" She
leans forward and gives Ryouga a kiss. Ryouga melts, his face turning a
dark red.

Ryouga hugs Ami. Ami feels so soft and warm next to him. He holds her
close, and looks into her eyes. "I think we SHOULD give it a try, Ami."
Ryouga presses his lips to Amis, and they kiss for a long while.

-------------------------

Back at the Tendo house, Ranma is pulling at Akanes hat, Shampoo and Ukyo
are both pulling at him, and Akane is shouting "Get away form me, you
pervert."

*******
The End
*******