Note: We also own nothing of Fruits Basket to our dismay�

Chapter Three

Of

Beauty and the Beast:

Ranma � Style!

By: T & I

Two hours later after Nabiki�s fall, she finally comes to.

Nabiki: >Looks around frantically< PLEASE say that what I just lived through about hearing that we�re b-b-br-BROKE ISN�T true! >Sobs a little<

Kasumi: >Pats Nabiki on a back and tries to soothe her firmly< There, there Nabiki, it�s going to be just fine. Please get a hold of yourself! This isn�t the Miss Nabiki Tendo I know! >Smiles gently at her<

Nabiki: >Wipes her eyes and blows her nose, then regains her composure< Ok. Thank you very much Kasumi. >Turns to Akane who took over caring for Soun< Akane. Is it true that we�re� you know� b� temporarily out of money?

Akane: >Looks a tad bit sad< I�m afraid so Nabiki�

Nabiki: >Nods and stares intently at Soun< Daddy, do you think that my savings will cover the debt?

Soun: >Looks up thoughtfully< I don�t think it will cover all the cost but it�ll help� I really all depends on how much you have saved up�

Nabiki: >Takes a deep breath< I have� Well I think I have about 25,000 yen left, more or less� (A/n: Um� 10 yen equals about 1.2 US dollars� so 25,000 yen would be about� 3000 US dollars� That is unless my math is wrong�)

Soun: That�d cover some of the expenses, but I think we should bring your left over money to settle ourselves there. Make us stable and moved in.

Nabiki: >Looking uncomfortable< So� we�re still moving?

Soun: I�m afraid so. Please don�t be so glum�

Nabiki: I won�t father. >Grabs sisters, one in each arm< We definitely won�t. >Smiles and asks sisters: < Right?

Akane and Kasumi: Hai!

            So as the Tendo family packs to move to an unknown place to lead a new life, the sky became dark. There in that exact town that they were to move to, in behind that exact cottage that was to house the Tendo family was the exact castle that hosted the legend of the Jusenkyo Cursed Forest that an argument occurred that night in the castle�s kitchen.

Prince: >Pacing< Argh! How am I EVER going to get rid of this curse?!

Some girl: >Speaking firmly< Prince Ranma, I told you to stop pacing and also to stop worrying! You WILL get rid of this curse! You�re the only one who will and can! We all believe in you and trust that you�ll do your best to restore our forms.

Ranma: Thanks Ucchan� and I TOLD you to stop calling me that� call me Ranma. Besides we�ve known each other for so long, it doesn�t really matter now. And plus, I think by now I�ve lost the title of �Prince�. >Give Ucchan a sidelong glance<

�Ucchan�: I�ll only stop calling you Prince Ranma only when you start calling me Ukyo! >Smirks and flips an okonomiyaki<

Ranma: Humph!

[A man with a yellow bandanna enters]

Man with bandanna: Are you at it again man? Just wait! I mean EVENTUALLY a young maiden will come� Sheesh� Just make sure you don�t lose her again�

Ranma: >Says with a tight- ridged voice< WHAT did you JUST say Ryoga?

Ryoga: Uh� Nothing� And anyways� We�ll all help this time� More than last time at least. It�s not like we wanna stay the way we are or nothing�

Ranma: All your guys helping DROVE the girl away! And plus� she wasn�t my type� >Shudders at the thought of the last girl<

Ryoga: IT DOESN�T MATTER IF SHE WAS YOUR TYPE OR NOT!!!

[Insert big verbal fight with some pinching here]

Ukyo: Guys� Please� Stop it� STOP IT. I SAID � AAACHOOO!!!

Ranma and Ryoga: >Still pinching each other�s cheeks� while turning their heads ever so slowly to Ukyo�s direction< Uh oh�

Ukyo: >An aura surrounds her< I TOLD YOU ALL TO STOP FIGHTING AND SHUT UP!!!!!!!!!!!!!! ALL OF YOU! JUST SHUT THE HELL UP!!! >Starts throwing kitchen items�including all her handmade okonomiyaki� O_o<

[Later� Still in the kitchen]

Ukyo: Anyway, you don�t have to worry� I�m sure a girl will turn up soon�

            As the Tendo family neared their house, the youngest daughter Akane realized that the cottage wasn�t that small. It had looked tiny from afar, but it really wasn�t so bad. As closed the gap some more, the cottage looked almost like a normal house's size would be, not that small at all. Akane thought, �Okay� I was kind of small, but who says I can�t be optimistic?�

            When they got out of the carriage, they saw a picture-perfect, cozy, little stone cottage. The walkway that led up to it was make from the same stone that the whole house was made of, except for the brick chimney that rose from what they would later find as the �living room�. Out in the front yard, there was a well at which they were to get their everyday water from. Around the back there was a little stable for their horse, Rin (A/n: Okay� Sorry! We couldn�t help adding a touch of Fruits Basket to this story! =D), and a shed for storage. The yard itself was actually quite big and it bucked up to a forest, which we�ll learn about later.

           In the mean time, the Tendos had entered the house to find that there was on main floor with two rooms, the kitchen and the living room (with a cozy fireplace). Then there was sort of a loft/ attic above with a space just big enough to be a bedroom for all three girls. Their father would sleep in the living room until the cellar-like basement was fixed into their father�s bedroom and workshop. All in all, it wasn�t that bad. Of course, it was much smaller than what they were accustomed to, but it was inhabitable� right? Let�s see what they have to say�

Akane: It�s um� cozy�

Kasumi: >Stating brightly< Yes! It is very cozy! And so very cute!

Nabiki: >Scoffs< Yeah right! It�s tiny! How are we going to live here?!?!

            Akane and Kasumi then gave each other worried glances, knowing that Nabiki was right � in her own way of course. How were they going to live here?

 ----------------- End Chapter Three ------------------

A/N: The long awaited (?) chapter three! Iee's SOOOOO sorry for the delay! But she's afraid that she's banned from the computer so the story won't be on for awhile longer.... She can only do this during her homework-computer time. =[

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