Ace Sanchez (email: jsa@fl.net.au | www: http://jsa.users.fl.net.au/)

(Standard disclaimer: Ranma 1/2 and its associated characters created 
by Rumiko Takahashi. I did not create them, so there! .............)

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Blonde 1/2
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Part 2 "School Is No Place For Loving."


It was the beginning of a new day in Nerima, Tokyo. The sun peeked
between grey clouds above a certain house and dojo. A girl with long 
dark hair with a yellow ribbon tied at the back was jogging along the 
footpath, making kicking and punching motions as she ran home. 

Akane ran inside, sighing after her morning run. A moment later she ran
back outside, startled, as she heard shouts and the sounds of fighting
coming from the backyard. "What is it with this family?" She walked back
in and out into the backyard to see Ranma, in boy form, and his father
fighting along the sides of the koi pond. They were both dressed in white 
sparring clothes.

Nabiki stretched in her pink nightie as she walked past her father, who 
was reading a newspaper. She sleepily scratched her head through her 
short haphazard hair as she looked outside at the two people fighting. 
"Gee, aren't they preppy this morning," she groaned.

"I guess they are pretty good," Akane observed, as she watched them 
fight.

Ranma and his father both jumped simultaneously and met above the pond 
in midair. They grunted as they exchanged several quick blows still 
hovering above the water. Then Genma got in a punch, which knocked 
Ranma's balance off, causing him to fall in the middle of the pond with 
a loud splash.

Genma landed back safely on one of the rocks surrounding the water.
"You're getting sloppy Ranma! Ha ha ha- eep!" His body froze up and he
couldn't move.

Ranma leaped out of the pond in girl form, her long blond hair wet and 
dripping water with the pigtail coming slightly undone. "What's the 
matter Pop?" She looked down at herself to find that her breasts were 
visible, hanging out of the now-loose gi. "Why you dirty ol' man!" Her 
attractive face grew red in anger, blue eyes flashing. She leaped 
forward and smashed him into the pond with a metal bucket she found 
handy.

She growled at the panda, floating belly up in the pond. "I'm your son!
You're disgusting, you know that-" She was cut off by someone hugging 
her from behind. "Arrrghhhh! Pervert!" She reflexively grabbed the arm 
of whomever was behind her and also threw him into the pond.

The surface of the water bubbled for a moment, then Soun gasped up for 
air. "Sorry about that boy!" He began to cry. "But I couldn't help 
myself - Waaaaaaaaaah!"

"Geez! Sorry Mr. Tendo!" Ranma backed away in panic, closing the opening 
at the front of her gi as quickly as she could.

Akane and Nabiki managed to close their open mouths on the second try.

Kasumi walked into the room from the kitchen unfazed. In her hands she
carried breakfast. "Breakfast's ready!" She looked at the floating and
unconscious panda. "Oh I imagine Mr. Saotome would want something 
different." She lifted up a plate with thick hunks of bamboo on it. 


~*~*~*~


Sounds of arguing leaked out of the windows of the Tendo household. 

"Oh, do I have to?" Ranma groaned, now changed back into boy form.

His father, also back to normal, folded his arms trying to make himself 
look forceful. "Boy, we are going to stay here a while, so you got no 
excuse for skipping school ... besides, you wanna grow up being dumb?"

"Hey, just coz you probably didn't go to school doesn't mean you have to
force your old boyhood desires on me!"

Genma reddened. "Now listen here-"

"Oh, shut up!" Ranma kicked him outside and into the pond with a loud 
splash.

"Now, now Ranma ... " Nabiki passed by the open door. "You'll be seeing
us at school anyway, since Akane and I go to the one you are enrolled 
at." Inwardly, Nabiki was making plans on how to market Ranma in girl
form at school. She rubbed her hands in anticipation over how much money
she was going to make today. In fact she knew of one guy she was sure
would pay her a lot of money for information on her new money maker.
"Anyway, I'm off!"

Akane walked in, carrying her books and dressed in her school uniform.
"Wait! Nabiki, can I go with you?"

"Hmmmm? Shouldn't you be going with Ranma? He's your fiance, you should
walk him there and show him around. And he is in your grade." She didn't
want to be slowed down. She had a lot of work to do.

"So what? You think I want him to be my fiance?"

"Hey!" Ranma objected. "I didn't have a choice either you know."

Akane and Ranma looked at each other for a moment. Then Akane turned 
around to leave. "Well? Let's go already!" she said, resigned.

Ranma fumed as he looked at her departing back. "And what if I'm not 
ready yet?"

The large panda hitting him on the head with a school bag answered that
question.


~*~*~*~


Akane looked at Ranma out of the corner of her eye. Show off, she 
thought. Walking on the fence like that.

Ranma looked down at her from atop the wire fence. "Hey! Stop with the
dirty looks already. You think I wanted to walk to school with you?"

"I don't care, it's still your fault Ranma," Akane stated stubbornly.

Ranma lifted his arms in exasperation. "Geez, Akane..."

"And don't think we are 'really' going to get married either," Akane 
added.

"Will you stop treating me as if this engagement was all my idea? Go
blame our parents if you have to blame ... Hey!" He shouted as he was 
hit on the head from behind. He discovered his father behind him, also
on the fence.

"You listen here boy, you 'will' uphold the Saotome honor by marrying
Akane," Genma imperiously stated. He was about to say more but Ranma's 
roundhouse propelled him off the fence and into the canal.

"What was that Pop?" Ranma taunted as the panda resurfaced. The panda
spat out some water and growled. "Huh? Speak up! I can't understand 
you."

Hissing in rage, the panda gave a gigantic leap, bringing him over the
fence and onto Akane's side. Seeing his father's temper over the edge, 
Ranma wisely decided to leave. Breaking into a sprint on top of the 
fence, he shouted, "C'mon Akane! Let's go!"

Akane looked back at the snarling panda beginning to give chase and 
agreed that the idea had merit. They sprinted off, the panda in hot 
pursuit.

A while later, they stopped running when they couldn't see the panda 
anymore. Ranma looked at Akane and laughed. "Ha ha. We lost him. He's 
too fat to run for long. 

His laugh, however, was cut short by a stream of water landing on his 
head. The new 'girl' looked up angrily to find the back of an old woman 
going back in from the upper balcony with an empty bucket in her hands. 
Then she panicked as she realised that some boys were across the road 
and were going to notice her any second.


~*~*~*~


Nabiki chuckled as she took off her grey wig and wrinkled facemask 
within the safety of her friend's house. The first step after all was to 
advertise a new product. And those male students across the road have 
probably already gotten a good eyeful of it. She peeked from between the 
curtains to survey her handiwork. Drat, she thought. Ranma and Akane had 
somehow avoided letting the boys spot them and were getting away! She
wondered how they did it.


~*~*~*~


Akane looked at Ranma. "Okay, you can take that paper bag off your
head now."

Ranma peeked uneasily from underneath her makeshift disguise to find
that they were indeed in front of the medical clinic. Akane had said 
earlier that they could get hot water from here. "You sure it's okay 
Akane? No guys around here to freak out over me? It's disgusting."

"You're girlish ego is all that's disgusting Ranma. As if hordes of men
will just assault you on the street like that," Akane said as she opened
the door and went in. Ranma followed, peeking right and left under the 
bag.

It's not the men I'm afraid of ... " Ranma said with a shudder as she
pulled the bag off completely and shook her blond pigtail off her 
shoulder. Well, mostly, Ranma added silently. Nervously she hid behind
one of the walls as Akane asked the woman behind the counter for a 
bucket of hot water.

"Hot water Akane? Sure, just wait here a moment." The woman gave Akane a
puzzled glance wondering 'why' she needed a bucket of hot water before
leaving to go into one of the rooms.

Ranma leaned against the wall she was hiding behind and groaned. The 
start of the day was 'not' promising she reflected. Just as she added a 
couple more mental complaints to her list, she felt a bony hand touching
her on the shoulder. Startled, she spun quickly and jumped back into a 
defensive position. She blinked, confused when it turned out to be a 
tall man with dark hair, wearing glasses and black clothes. He had what 
looked like a medical skeleton at his side.

"Sorry to startle you like that but ... " All of a sudden the man's 
glasses seemed to have fogged up and a silly grin replaced the small 
smile he had earlier. "Oh e-excuse me Miss, heh heh heh. That was
just Betty-chan, my skeleton." He knocked over the skeleton as he 
pointed to himself. "J-just my skeleton, heh heh heh..."

Ranma's face reddened as she covered her face in her hands. Akane said
she would be safe here!

"N-no need to be shy... I-I'm so sorry for scaring you like that." He
punched himself in the head. "See? I p-punished myself," he said, 
wobbling a bit.

"Ranma, I have the hot wat-er?" Akane looked at the man's funny
expression shocked. An absolutely horrified expression appeared on her
face as she looked at Ranma, her face covered in her hands, then at the
man with his red face and fogged up spectacles.

Ranma peeked out at her from in between her fingers. "Gimme that!" she 
shouted desperately, as she grabbed the bucket of hot water and leaped 
out the open window.

Akane looked at the man miserably.

"W-who was your cute friend, Kasumi? I-is she single?"


~*~*~*~


Later on with Ranma changed back into a guy, he and Akane were running
to school. Except Ranma was running on the fence as if he were running
on normal ground. Akane looked at the ground depressed as she ran after
him.

"I thought I would be safe in there Akane! You said so!" Ranma accused.

Akane still had her head lowered. "I thought so too. I thought he was in
love with someone else?"

Ranma slowed down a bit as he looked down at her. "Huh? Fat lot you know
Akane. A guy's only in love until a more beautiful girl comes along."

Akane lifted her head, her eyes blazing dark fire. "Yeah, you should 
know, Ranma! After all you are a guy! Or supposed to be one."

"Hey! This is from my experience as a girl here!" He looked at Akane 
again afraid that she would escalate into violence.

However, Akane's steam seemed to have evaporated into a depressed air.
She looked at the ground again. "Anyway, that was Doctor Tofu, the 
chiropractor. He takes care of our family's injuries."

Ranma was puzzled by Akane's behavior. Trying to look at Akane's down
turned face was hard to do from atop the fence. Suddenly he came to the
only fitting conclusion, aghast. "Don't tell me ... "

"Look Ranma, that's Furinkan High School ahead so don't talk to me now. 
I don't want them to know that you're with me." She ran off towards the 
front gates leaving Ranma behind.

Forgetting what he was thinking earlier, he looked at the dust cloud 
Akane created. "Gee, thanks for the word of confidence Akane."

Ranma continued to walk on the fence wondering why Akane was running off
when suddenly the school's front doors slammed open, and hordes upon 
hordes of boys poured out. They all seemed to be wearing either fighting
clothes or sporting equipment. Shouts of "Akane Tendo!" rang out.

"Akane look out! They all want to beat you!" one boy's voice proclaimed.

"I'm late, out of the way!" Akane shouted back, just before she jumped 
right in the middle of the crowd.

The mob of boys seemed to engulf Akane in a cloud of dust and fighting.
Just as Ranma was about to jump from the fence and intercede thinking 
that the men in Nerima were all psychotics, the cloud appeared to break 
up with male students flying every which way, accompanied by screams of 
pain.

Looking closely into the heat of the action, Ranma was surprised to see
Akane was actually beating up all of her attackers. He winced as one guy
was actually hit so hard he flipped in the air three times before he 
landed somewhere on the roof of the school.

After several more knockouts like this, Akane looked around to see the
last boy trying to tip-toe his way out. She hit him in the head with her 
book bag sending him into and through a brick wall.

"There!" Akane huffed with a satisfied smile on her face, breathing
hard after her work out. She glanced disdainfully at the male students 
littered haphazardly about the area. Those that weren't unconscious yet
were quietly groaning in agony as they writhed about the floor before
succumbing to concussions.

"Umm, Akane what was that all about?" Ranma asked curiously. Inwardly
he was storing away Akane's technique for avoiding unwanted men. The
maximum violence approach seemed to work splendidly.


~*~*~*~


Behind a nearby wall, Nabiki waited for the perfect moment. In her hands
she clutched another bucket of cold water. This time I'll get it right,
she thought evilly.


~*~*~*~


A red blur came streaking out of nowhere. Akane caught it between her 
fingers reflexively. She looked at it and groaned in annoyance. It was
a rose.

Thunder boomed and lightning flashed overhead within ominous looking 
grey clouds as a dark figure uncurled itself from behind a tree.

"A churlish and ill-mannered lot to treat such a fair maiden, truly."

Akane and Ranma turned to the new speaker. Ranma looked at the male 
student curiously. He was a tall boy with brown hair in a dark blue 
Kendo outfit. Outstretched in one of his hands was a wooden sword.

"Should one of these louts beat you, my tender Akane, it seems that the
victor would be allowed to date with you," the tall boy continued.

Akane gave him a disgusted look. "Oh it's you, Kuno-sempai. And I 
wonder who actually gave them that perverted idea?" She tried to run 
past, hefting her book bag, but the tall boy blocked her.

"Oh, though she is but small, she is fierce! Fair maiden, Akane Tendo, 
such a prize is not worthy unless one is better than the prize. Whilst 
thou spar with me?"

"Kuno-sempai, I..."

Ranma jumped down from the wall that he was watching from. "That lot of
boys suggests you do have 'some' appeal. Still the numbers involved is
nothing compared ... "

"Ranma, stay out of this. You wanna get hurt?"

Ranma looked at her, then at Kuno. "What's happening here Akane?"

"Just watch from that corner over there."

Kuno looked at them, swinging his bokken down threateningly. "Hey you! 
One should not act so familiarly to the fair Akane Tendo. Only 'I' have 
that honour."

Ranma looked at Akane helplessly.

"Lout! I was speaking to you! Who are you to hound the fair Akane?"

"Uhhh ..." Ranma turned to face him. "I'm Ran-"

"Yes, when one speaks to one's betters it is the custom to look at the
one who addresses him. Ahh, but is it not also the custom to provide 
one's own name initially? Very well then, Tatewaki Kuno is my name, aged 
seventeen and captain of this school's Kendo organisation. However, to 
my fellow peers, I am known as 'The Blue Thunder' of Furinkan High!"

The lightning overhead flashed again, simultaneous with a boom of 
thunder. Ranma looked up for a second wondering how he did that.


~*~*~*~


Behind the wall, Nabiki smirked. Blue blunder? It did sound fitting.
Although that 'shooting fart' he was calling himself last week was right
on the dot also. Then, inwardly she tensed as she realised that the 
perfect moment was coming. The boys on the floor looked about to regain 
consciousness.


~*~*~*~


Ranma looked at Kuno a little confused. "Huh? Well anyway, its not like 
I can avoid speaking to Akane since I ... uh ... I'm staying at the 
Tendo martial arts training hall."

Kuno stiffened. "What? Lecherous dog! I will teach you to live in sin
with my one and only Akane Tendo!" He took a step forward as he swung
his bokken aiming at Ranma's head.

However the blow failed to connect as Ranma leapt backward in a 
somersault leap easily avoiding the kendo sword. Still in midair he 
introduced himself. "I am Ranma Saotome, heir to the School of Anything 
Goes Martial Arts!" Before landing softly in front of the bewildered 
Kuno, he smoothly removed his backpack and tossed it to Akane.

"That means challenge accepted!"


~*~*~*~


Nabiki jumped out of her hiding place. Now! she thought as she tossed 
the bucket of water at Ranma's back.


~*~*~*~


Ranma shivered as the cold water hit him, er her. Where did that come 
from ... she thought. Then sensing movement in front of her, she leapt
upwards.

Kuno, using the water's distraction rushed forward quickly. Flying 
forward in an extemely quick leap, he swung his bokken in a horizontal
strike intending to severe Ranma through the stomach. However when Kuno
next looked, his target was not there. Only rubble from a destroyed 
concrete wall. Ha! I have disintegrated him! But then sensing that 
something was wrong with that scenario, he looked straight up to find 
... someone ... standing tilted upwards along the vertical bough of a 
tree. Then he promptly stopped thinking coherently, for Kuno that is, as 
he got a good look.

Ranma jumped back down, landing a few feet away. "Look, Kuno ... " she 
stopped as she heard her soft feminine voice. Oh no. Kuno's sudden 
attack made her forget she got hit with water. She looked around for any 
other boys who might have seen her. Drat. All of Akane's admirer's were 
sitting up and staring at her. When did they regain consciousness? She 
looked down at her wet red shirt and found her breasts sticking to it, 
very visible. She blushed as she covered them with her hands. She looked 
up to see that all the boys and Kuno were still looking at her in quiet 
awe.

Kuno kneeled down, looking at her in reverence. "Oh thank you Gods! That 
you should bestow upon me what beauty could only be that of a heavenly 
angel! My Golden Goddess!"

All of Akane's ex-admirers stared at Kuno in hatred. They silently vowed
that Kuno wouldn't get this one.

"But I, I thought you liked Akane!?"

Kuno looked at her dazedly, still in awe of her beauty. "Akane? Who is 
Akane? What is more of the utmost importance is your name my fair sweet 
rose of sunlight."

"But I'm Ranma Saotome!"

Kuno stood up shocked. "That vile despoiler of femininity? Ah, but I see 
now, he has got to you too! You have been spelled to love that sorcerer 
Saotome so much you want to be him!" He swung his bokken angrily. "I 
will not allow it! Where is that toad? No doubt he feared my prowess 
with a sword. Nonetheless, since he is not here, you may date with me
my Golden Goddess!"

Ranma looked around wildly, her blond pigtail whipping side to side. 
Escape! Must escape, she thought in panic. She looked at Akane. Akane's
mouth was open and didn't show any sign of closing in the near future.
No help there ... wait! She spotted Nabiki approaching. "Nabiki! Nabiki! 
Help me!" Ranma cried out desperately.

Nabiki gave her a cool glance. "I can help diffuse the situation. But it 
will cost you."

"What? You can't be serious!" Ranma shouted angrily.

"Very well then." She began to walk off.

Ranma looked back at the salivating Kuno and male students who were 
still checking her out. "Okay, okay! How much?"

Nabiki stopped and turned around. "Five thousand."

"Here!" Ranma slapped the notes into her hand.

Nabiki walked towards the group of love struck boys. "Information about
our new student, blond, beautiful, the female Ranma Saotome! Only ten
thousand yen per tip!"

Kuno and the male students snatched their eyes away from Ranma. 
"Information about the Golden Goddess?! Me first! Me!" They all crowded
around Nabiki.

Ranma looked at them disgustedly. "Geez, I knew I should've just run 
away. Akane?" Akane closed her open mouth and looked at her, still a 
little overwhelmed. "Do you know where I can get some hot water?"
Ranma asked her.

Akane nodded. "The girl's bathrooms are right this way."

"The girl's bathrooms? This is 'not' my day."

To top it all off, the clouds above them finally began to pour down rain.


~*~*~*~


Later in classroom F, first year, Ranma was sitting with Akane in the 
front desk. However, she was 'still' female. 

"I can't believe it," she groaned. "ALL the hot water taps at this 
god-forsaken school aren't working!" She looked around and found that 
all the male students in the classroom were still staring at her 
dreamily. She also noted all the glares the female students were giving 
her.

Akane looked at her, also puzzled. "I don't understand it either. They 
were all working last time I was at school. They couldn't have just all
broken like that."

"I just hope that the teacher is a female."

"Don't worry, Ranma, you don't have to worry about that," Akane 
reassured her.

Just then, the teacher walked in. Ranma sighed in relief when she found 
that her fears were unfounded. It was indeed a female teacher.

"Now people, we have a new student in our class. His name is Ranma 
Saotome. I'd like you all to make him feel welcome," the teacher said, 
glancing around to find him. "Now Ranma, why don't you stand up so we 
can all get a good look at you."

Ranma hesitantly stood up. The teacher looked at her curiously. What a
beautiful young woman, she thought. Even all the boys are staring at 
her. And judging from all the killing looks the female students are 
giving her, they're all jealous.

"Err, Miss, I haven't seen you before. Are you new too?" she asked.

"Um, no, I'm Ranma Saotome."

"Huh? But it says here on this card that you are male. See this 'M'?" 
She turned the card she was reading around to show the class. "It's 
right next to your name. Means your a male. I guess it must be a typo. 
Heh heh, there's no way you could be male."

"But, but, I really am a guy!" Ranma spluttered.

Akane stood up as well. "Yes Sensei, we know it doesn't look like it at 
the moment but she, I mean he, really is a guy. We just need some hot 
water but we couldn't find any before classes started."

The teacher studied Ranma closely. "Miss, if this is a joke, it's not 
funny. A boy indeed! On your first day here no less. Well I'll just 
correct this on the roster." She lifted up some papers and wrote 
on them with a pen. "Ranma Saotome, female."

Ranma ran her fingers through her hair angrily. "Hey! Don't do that! I
AM a boy! And call me Mister!"

The teacher looked at her sternly. "Ranma! This joke has gone far 
enough! I don't know what they taught you in whatever schools you've 
been to before, but here at Furinkan, we take education seriously. Stand 
outside! And Akane, I don't see why you supported her. You can join 
her."

Ranma walked out angrily, Akane following, glaring at her back.

One of the male students lifted up his hand.

"What is it Hiroshi?"

"Can we all go make Ranma feel welcome now, Sensei?"


~*~*~*~


In Nabiki and Kuno's classroom, the class was in an uproar. Crowds of 
boys poured into the room to try to score some information about the hot
new female student, Ranma Saotome. The teacher was hiding beneath the 
desk afraid he would get trampled.

Nabiki was gloating. It was a good idea of hers to sabotage all the hot 
water taps at school before Ranma got here. Bribing the janitor was 
simple but brilliant. Now Ranma wouldn't be able to get changed back and 
he would have to be registered as a girl. And that meant more money for 
her. Heavens, if profits like this keep up, we'll all be living in the 
lap of luxury soon, she thought. Ranma I love you, or to be more 
specific, I love your hot little body which will sell like hotcakes.

"So, Nabiki Tendo, tell me all that you know of the Golden-haired One."
Kuno handed her another ten thousand yen. He knocked a boy on the head 
who had gotten too close, with his bokken. "You there! Keep your 
distance. This is my information. Get your own spy."

"Now, now, boys, wait in line," Nabiki admonished. She turned back to 
Kuno. "Now then, Kuno-baby, I have got 'lot's' of juicy tidbits to share
with you, all for a fee of course. After all she is living with us."

"What! My Golden Goddess is living under the same roof as that sorcerer,
Saotome? Never! It is forbidden, so say I, Tatewaki Kuno!" He got up and
trampling some unfortunate boys, crashed out into the hallway.

Nabiki looked at her departing meal ticket. "Damnit! I had to say that."
Then she shrugged. "Oh well, next!"


~*~*~*~


Outside their classroom in the hallway, Akane shifted her grip on the 
bucket of water she was carrying. "This is all your fault Ranma."

Ranma blew some strands of blond hair out of her eyes. "What? Why do you 
blame me for everything?" She grumbled as she looked down at the bucket 
of water she was carrying also. "Too bad it's just cold water in here." 

"Well everything that's happened lately was usually a direct result
because of you. So of course it's going to be your fault. If you never
showed up I wouldn't be in this engagement farce, I wouldn't suddenly
become the second best martial artist, the boys would still like me and 
D-doctor T-of -" Akane cut herself off. 

Hearing this, Ranma began to feel guilty. She looked down at the floor. 
It wasn't her fault she looked this way as a girl. If she had been born 
as a girl, this is what she would've turned out like, so her appearance 
was just an accident of birth. Except in this case it was an accident 
caused by a goof ball parent. And Akane 'was' kind of cute, she didn't 
really deserve to get suddenly thrust out of the limelight like that. 
"Well at least you haven't got Kuno after you anymore - speak of the 
devil."

"Golden One! It is you! I would date thee!" Kuno charged down the 
hallway at her.

Ranma tossed the bucket at him as he closed in on her, then ran off.
"Arrghhh! Get away!"

Kuno dodged the flying liquid and followed in hot pursuit. "Is it that 
foul Saotome? I will cleanse you of his vile memory!"

Akane dropped her bucket and followed after them. "Why am I not 
surprised?" she groaned.

One of the monitors appeared in the hall. "Hey, no running in the hall!"
Ranma ran past, ignoring him. The monitor turned his head to look at 
her, then kept on looking. Saliva began to leak on to his chin. Kuno 
bopped him on the head with his fist as he ran past, knocking him out.

"You dare to lay your lecherous eyes on the girl I would date?" he 
called out, not looking back.

Akane also stepped on the monitor's head as she ran past, following the
two. "Sorry!"

Ranma huffed in exasperation and fear. "Kuno! I do NOT want to date 
you!" she shouted back at her unwanted admirer.

"But have I not told you, that it is a misbegotten spell that the 
accursed Saotome has cast on you, my lovely?"

"For the last time, I am Ranma Saotome!" She looked over her shoulder 
and found that Kuno had somehow gained on her, his lips inches away and 
puckered up for a wet kiss. "Arrrghhhh!" She jumped out the next open 
window she came to.

"What was that Golden One?" Kuno asked as he also jumped outside, 
following her. Then his eyes widened in fear as he realised how high up 
they were.

Akane came to a stop before the open window. "Ranma! Watch out!" she 
called out. "This is the third floor and there's nothing down there but
concrete!"

"Don't worry Akane!" Ranma shouted, knowing she could jump down from 
heights like this easily. Then looking down, she saw a black and white 
figure slowly getting bigger and bigger as she descended. Oh lordy, she 
thought, I'm gonna land on someone! She desperately tried to alter her 
line of descent, flapping her arms, anything! But it wasn't working!


~*~*~*~


Genma, in panda form, tried to look in through the school windows, but 
he couldn't see anything. He had been too late with the kettle to catch 
Ranma before she went in. He was hoping to somehow spot Ranma and then 
turn her back into normal form. No son of his was going to masquerade as 
a girl in school!

Pain exploded in his head as something fell on top of him. He growfed in 
confusion before falling unconscious. Lucky for him since another, even 
heavier object crashed down on him again. The kettle smashed open 
drenching everyone with hot water.

Ranma looked up and found that he was in male form. "What?" he said in 
confusion before realising that he had landed on top of his father, who 
was now, also in human form. The kettle in his hand must have splashed 
them when he landed. "Yes! Now I can tell everyone I'm really a guy!" He 
pushed himself up with his arms and threw Kuno off in annoyance. The 
tall boy bounced off the concrete brokenly and landed on his back.

Kuno groaned in pain as he shakily stood up. "Saotome, it is you! But 
where is my beloved Golden Goddess?" His eyes narrowed as he unsheathed 
the bokken from it's sheath attached to his back. "No doubt your demonic 
presence has frightened her off before she could declare her true love 
for me! For that I will annihilate you, wizard!"

Ranma wearily arose also. "Look Kuno, I don't really got nothing against
you, except maybe your blind stupidity, but I'm telling you, man to man
that 'I' am your Golden Goddess."

Kuno's eyes widened. Finally, Ranma thought. I'm getting through to him!

Kuno stepped back in disgust. "Pervert! I am not that kind of man! for
the insult of coming on to me, I will teach you a lesson such that you 
will never forget! Such a cruel person to enspell the Golden-haired One 
into loving you when it is boys that you like!"

Ranma growled. "That's it! I am not gay, you hear that? Me and the 
Goldened-haired One, are one and the same! I am her and she is me! 
Listen! We are one!"

Kuno narrowed his eyes. "Deceitful trickster! You pretended that it is
boys that you like to cover your trail when you are really after my one
true love! I won't have it! Hah!" He thrust his bokken at Ranma's chest.

"Somehow I get the feeling you didn't get it yet," Ranma said dodging to 
the side. A hole was punched in the brick wall behind him.

"Silence cur, while I disembowel you!" Kuno shouted back as he drew his
kendo sword back and stabbed forward again.

Ranma, easily avoided it, then grabbed the end of the outstretched 
wooden sword and drew it in. Then within Kuno's guard he spun around and 
punched him in the chest. Kuno's breath was knocked out as he fell 
backwards.

"You just don't get it Kuno!"

Kuno staggered back, then again rushed forward. "Fool! It is you that is 
the one that is going to get it!"

This time, Ranma dodged side to side avoiding his wild offence, then 
jumped, somersaulting over his attacker by using his index finger on 
Kuno's head to pivot himself.

"Saotome! Where are you - urrk!!" He was cut off by Ranma's foot solidly
connecting with the back of his head. "I go to sleep now," he mumbled as 
he fell forward unconscious.

Ranma sighed. "Finally!" Suddenly cold water splashed him from behind, 
turning him back into his cursed form. "What the hell?" She turned 
around angrily.

Nabiki grinned at her, swinging her empty bucket. "Just in time." Akane
was also there staring daggers at her as usual.

"What are you talking about?"

Suddenly crowds and crowds of students poured into the courtyard. "Look
at that!" Shouts rang out. "She beat Kuno!"

"Them," Nabiki answered, smiling. "You wouldn't want me to lose the 
biggest new source of my income, now do you?"


--- End of Part 2.


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As always, C&C appreciated...

Ace Sanchez (email: jsa@fl.net.au | www: http://jsa.users.fl.net.au/)