Chapter One: The New Girl

Akane walked to school in a huff. How dare that jerk leave without me, she fumed. Apparently he'd been gone even before Kasumi had gotten up. Where could he have disappeared to? Couldn't he at least let someone know? "If I catch him with Ukyo or Shampoo, I'm gonna­–" Then she saw him. He was leaning against a tree in front of the school, oblivious of the small group of girls gazing at him.

"Ranma." She growled, stomping toward him, her fist clenched tightly. "Where were you this morning?" Her angry scowl turned to surprise when he handed her a small cluster of marigolds.

"I'm sorry if I worried you. I was training. I'll leave a note next time." Ranma had a feeling she wouldn't be too pleased at finding him gone. He'd hoped the small flowers would save him a beating. He was stunned at how quickly her eyes softened.

She smiled, nuzzling the yellow petals. She is so cute, he thought. No matter how easily he made her mad, it didn't seem to take much to please her.

"Well, let's get to class."

He breathed an inner sigh of relief and smiled back.

They walked to class in comfortable silence.

The girls immediately noticed them coming in together.

"Oh, Akane! Are those from Ranma?" Sayuri asked.

"Marigolds. How did he know they were your favorite?" Yuka said, teasingly.

Akane glanced at him. He crossed his arms, and maintained an air of indifference as the boys crowded around him. She didn't miss the slight blush on his face. When their eyes met, she winked at him. His flush deepened.

The teacher slammed the gavel onto the surface of his desk, effectively halting conversation. "Now that I have half of your undivided attention, I wish to inform you that we have a new student."

It was then they noticed the figure standing near the door. "My name is Nami Mitsukai." She bowed politely to the class, and then to the teacher. Her waist length hair curtaining her face. When she straightened, she looked at them with cool green eyes.

The teacher nodded at her. "Please take your seat, Mitsukai-san." He gestured to the far side of the room. The class watched as she walked to her desk. Right next to Ranma.

The teacher cleared his throat, snatching their attention back. "Please open your books to page 375 and…"

Throughout class several of the boys were caught either staring at the new girl or trying to pass her a note. At the end, most of the girls were openly glaring at her. For her part, Mitsukai either didn't notice her classmates' antics or chose to ignore them.

The only time she spoke, it was to ask Ranma when the dismissal bell was.

It was a brief exchange, hardly worth notice, but Ukyo saw it as a personal affront. She stepped in front of Mitsukai as she was about to leave her seat. "Hiya, Nami. Could we have a little chat?"

The few people that hadn't filed out snapped at attention. They knew what was coming.

The new girl blinked. "Certainly."

"It's about Ranma Honey, here." She gestured to the snoozing form in the next desk. "I want you to stay away from him."

"All right."

"I've got three other girls to deal with. So, don't think I'm gonna–"She stopped.

"All right? What do you mean, All right?"

"I'll stay away from him. That's what you want isn't it?"

"Well, yeah. But I didn't think…"

"Were you expecting an argument perhaps?" She glanced at Ranma, drool had begun to pool at the base of his mouth. "I have no problem respecting your wishes. Now, if you'll excuse me?"

Ukyo didn't move. "Are you saying he's not good enough for you?" Her voice had risen, waking Ranma.

"Not at all. I'm merely agreeing to stay away from him." Her tone, though meant to be soothing, had the opposite affect.

"Why would you agree so easily?" There was just something about this girl that rubbed her the wrong way. "Ranma happens to be the heir to the Saotome School of Anything Goes Martial Arts. He's beaten every opponent that he's faced. He even faced down a god just last year! He's fast becoming the best martial artist ever!"

Throughout her brief rant of Ranma's accomplishments, Mitsukai's face didn't change. It remained serene and impassive as she said. "I see." Her gaze shifted to Ranma. "Most impressive. He does seem destined for greatness." Her eyes came back to Ukyo. "You are a very lucky girl. I could never compete for Saotome-chan's affection." She sighed. "I'd better go now before I make a fool of myself." That said, she lowered her head and made her way out of the classroom.

Ukyo blinked. What just happened?

"What was all that about?" Akane asked.

"I think the new girl just said she'd stay away from me because I'm out of her league." Ranma said.

"Which is exactly what I wanted but…" Ukyo frowned, puzzled. "Why do I feel like I was just conned?"

(-)(-)(-)

"Here it is," Akane flipped through the martial arts magazine until she found the article. "Nami Mitsukai. Founder and Champion of Martial Arts Mind Manipulation."

They sat in the courtyard, the school abuzz with gossip over the new girl.

"Mind Manipulation, huh?" Ukyo asked, skeptically. "Tea Ceremony. Rhythmic Gymnastics. Now Mind Manipulation. What's next? Martial Arts Grass Cutting?"

"It makes sense." Akane told her. "Her objective was to leave the classroom. With you in her face like that, she knew getting all defensive wouldn't have gotten her anywhere, so she said what you wanted to hear, and in such a way that even I believed her. I thought it was genius."

"If you ask me, I don't buy it." Ranma remarked. "I mean, Mind Manipulation? How can that possibly be a martial art?"

They caught sight of Mitsukai walking across the lower field, her nose in a book, completely oblivious to the hoard of boys trying to get her attention.

"Honestly, the boys in our school are such–" Akane was cut off, as Shampoo made her usual entrance. Ramming her bike right into Ranma.

"Nihao, Airen!" She said, cheerfully throwing herself on top of him.

Akane gave him one chance, and then she'd hurl him to the moon.

"Shampoo," He took her arms firmly from him, and gently pushed her away. "I thought we agreed you wouldn't come to my school and cause trouble."

Akane and Ukyo were stunned. He usually panicked when the Amazon came around.

"Shampoo no come to cause trouble. Shampoo come to see Airen and make delivery." She held up her delivery box. "Ranma take Shampoo on date later, yes?"

"You got a lot of nerve! Trying to…" Ukyo trailed off and started to growl. "It's her."

They glanced in the direction she was glaring. Mitsukai was walking toward them, her eyes alight.

"I thought I told you to stay away from him." Ukyo said, her teeth clenched.

"Who this?" Shampoo asked, glancing at accusingly at her. Another girl after Ranma?

"As delectable as Saotome-chan may be, I'm not feeling particularly cannibalistic." She said, genially. "I'm here for my lunch." She looked expectantly at Shampoo.

"You order Ramen?" She asked, her voice cold.

Mitsukai's smile widened. "I'm very impressed you got it here so quickly. I only called in my order a few minutes ago." She took the delivery box from her and opened. "Wow, it's still hot." She took an appreciative sniff. "Oh, it smells wonderful. Here you go." She handed her a small wad of bills.

"What this?" She glanced down at the money. It was far more than the price of the meal.

"It's a tip. To thank you for a fabulous meal and quick service." She bowed, and walked away.

Shampoo just stared after her.

"She seems to have that affect on people." Ranma commented.

"What kind girl is she?" Shampoo demanded, looking at Ukyo.

"Her name is Nami Mitsukai. She's a new girl with her sights set on Ranma Honey."

"Ukyo, you're overreacting!" Though Akane had her own doubts about her, Mitsukai hadn't expressed any special interest in Ranma. "She doesn't seem like someone who would go after someone else's boyfriend, which is basically how you made him sound this morning."

"But Akane, if she's the champion of Mind Manipulation. Who's to say she won't find a way to work it so Ranma Honey falls for her? I can't let that happen!"

Ranma wondered if they realized they were talking about him like he wasn't even there. "Listen, I told Daisuke I'd shoot a few hoops with him."

The three of them made non-committal sounds, eyes focused on the new girl.

"Look at her," Ukyo said in disgust, "She so…so…obvious."

Mitsukai sat on a bench at the edge of the lower field, a hard bound book in her hands, her legs crossed at her ankles. She completely ignored the boys that tried to get her attention, and the girls who'd walk by with cold or sneering remarks.

"Maybe Shampoo go down there and show her Three Year Smile of Death, that get her stay away from Ranma for sure."

"Maybe I should make Okinomiyaki out of her pretty face."

"Come on, you guys. It's not like she's done anything to us or Ranma. Besides it's her first day, let her alone for now." She shrank back a little at the twin looks of mutiny on their faces.

"This is why you have so much competition for him, Akane." Ukyo told her. "You're too soft in protecting what's yours."

"He's not mine! The engagement is our parents' idea!" But her face went red, belying her words.

"Whatever, I'm still not letting her anywhere near him."

"For once, Shampoo agree."

"I give up." Akane left them to plot, making her way to the basketball courts. To find Sayuri and Yuka, of course.

(-)(-)(-)

"So, Ranma. What do you think of Mitsukai-san?" Akane asked casually, on their way home.

"Who? Oh, you mean the new girl?" He shrugged. "I didn't see her much outside of class. Why? Did she say something to you?"

She blinked in surprise. Is it me, or is there a protective tone there? "No, it's just that Shampoo and Ukyo think she's after you."

"Well, who would blame her? If it weren't for you, Akane, most of the girl at school would be all over me."

He's serious, she thought, amused and annoyed at the same time. "You're as full of yourself as Kuno."

"Hey now, I'm only being honest. No need to get insulting."

She giggled, despite herself. I'm being silly. He's not interested in her and she's not interested in him.

(-)(-)(-)