Teachers

by d3jake

Well, here is the second story in Rod's stay at his Uncle's house. Things have been going quite well, Rod even helped Ranma and Akane's engagement go quite a bit smoother than it had been. But will it hold? Read to find out.

1. Default Chapter

Ranma 1/2:Teachers by:d3jake

Disclaimer: Ranma 1/2 characters except for Rod Tendö in this Fan Fiction are creations of Rumiko Takahashi and are hereby used without permission.

This Fan Fiction may be freely redistributed as long it is not changed from it's original form unless permission is granted from the author. Notification must be given to the author when this Fan Fiction is redistributed.

A few things happen in this fanfic that you will understand better if have read 'Ranma 1/2:Adjustments.' Those who haven't read it to give you a quick summary: The narrator Rod Tendö and his family decided to go on a vacation to China, and one of the last places they decided to visit was the Accursed Springs at Jusenkyo only because his dad received a brochure for the place and decided that it should be a safe place since an Amazon village was nearby and, 'it's gotta be safe, since somebody built a village nearby.' And Rod fell into Spring-of-Drowned-Girl. Afterwards Rod has to go live with his cousins, yup you guessed Akane, Nabiki, and Kasumi, because his family ran into a few financial troubles.
It can be found at:

Prologue

It was another normal carnival...well abnormal since neither Akane or Ranma had been attacked andor kidnapped. As they walked along they were closer then they had been since...ever, both physically and emotionally. They weren't sure why though, maybe just a lull in the fast paced life that the Tendö's and Saotome's share.
Rod had adjusted well to life among his cousins and Ranma. Normally he liked a life that isn't very fast-paced, he didn't quite find that at his Uncle's house. But, he did find people that he could safely confine his curse to. And he was in luck because his cousins had a back round with Juesenkyo curses. As for the weighted pack that his Uncle had him wear; turns out it helped to improve his leg muscles. So in effect he was able to, after a while, jump farther than he had ever dreamed of, such as jumping onto the roof of the dojo or jump over the property wall, with a running start of course.
Since the beginning of the carnival he was spending most of his time with Kasumi. She had always been his favorite cousin, he guessed it was because she seemed to calmed him despite any situation that Rod might be in.
"Hey Rod, look at the happy couple," Kasumi said, pointing at Akane and Ranma who were walking through the crowd.
"I guess my plan worked," Rod said looking at Akane and Ranma. "Have your dad and Ranma's dad back off on the whole marriage thing, and Akane 'n Ranma might come together by themselves. It's helped that Shampoo and the rest of the peanut gallery hasn't bothered them. I wonder where they've been the past few weeks. I just hope that they won't ruin what I helped to create."

"So do I."

They weren't quite sure how it happened, but Akane and Ranma were actually getting closer to one another, not by a whole lot, but by little things really. Akane would maybe walk a little closer to Ranma on the walk from school, after hauling him off the fence first. Or Akane and Ranma would sit by each other during lunch instead of with their friends. Also it seemed that they were getting into less and less arguments lately. Mostly because Ranma's accidental run ins with Akane in the bath had ceased, and Akane hadn't tried to cook anything recently which helped matters most. Nobody had really said anything about it, maybe person saying a snide comment in the school's halls that was quickly taken care of by one of Akane's or Ranma's friends. The only changes that had resulted were that Rod, instead of walking home with them, he would walk with Nabiki talking about business plans or whatever else. Luckily enough, Kunö was off in the mountains or something, relieving a major strain on any kind of relationship that Akane and Ranma could develop during school hours and around town.
And all of this was thanks to Rod. He convinced Soun and Genma to back off any pressure to get married. It took only one conversation to convince them...it kinda helped that they were drunk at the time. Rod proved that it's always easier to get a drunk to sign something than a sober man.
The two drunks were elated at the fact that Akane and Ranma would finally date, if they got far enough. And it was all thanks to Rod. It seemed that his plan went off with out a hitch.

Ranma watched Akane, who was in her kimono that made her look absolutely stunning. As they walked along Ranma thought, 'Ya know, I think I can get used to her. I'm not quite sure how I missed it before, but she is beautiful. It seems like the old ghoul's been gone for the past two weeks and without her around shoving Shampoo down my throat I have time to stop and smell the roses. I've almost always been in a shouting match with her so I've never noticed how cute she really is. Am I feeling alright? Did I just think those things? I got to be slipping'
"Hey Ranma, can you win me one of those?" Akane asked, pointing to a small black pig doll that was a prize for a 'If-You-Knock-The-Bottles-Down-You-Get-A-Prize' stand. "Sure, but why does it have to be a pig doll?" "Because it looks like P-chan." "Of course," they walked up to the booth. "Sir, would you like a try at knocking down the bottles?" the stand-owner asked.
"Yes please," Ranma paid the man and was handed three balls, he gave all but one back.
"Um, scuse me sir but you're going to want all chances you can get"
"Just watch," Ranma lined up a shot at the stack of three bottles and threw the ball. It collided with the bottom two, knocking them away, allowing the top one fell onto it, balancing perfectly atop it. After a few seconds it too tipped over.
"Whoa! I've never seen anybody do that before. Which toy would you like?" Akane pointed to the pig doll and he took it off the shelf and handed it to her. "You two have a good night now. The fireworks are supposed to start in a few minutes. So you might want to find a good spot to watch them"
"Thank you sir," they said and walked to a small grassy part next to a tree on a hill to sit down ans wait for the fireworks.

Chapter 1 Monday, morning, Front School Grounds

"Well, here comes the happy couple now," Nabiki said as Akane and Ranma walked onto the school grounds.
"And here comes Kunö to break them up," Nabiki's friend said, observing Kunö rushing up to Akane and Ranma in his Kendo outfit minus the armor. (I don't know the name for it)
"This ought to be good."

'Alright,' Rod thought, 'after all I've done to finally get those two together Kunö is not going to screw it up. I just hope I've learned enough from Ranma and Akane to save my ass.' Rod ran to intercept Kunö and reached him just as Kunö reached Ranma and Akane.
"Saotome! How dare you act so familiar, yet again, with the dearest Akane Tendö?" "Hey Upperclassmen!" Rod said breaking Kunö's attention from Akane and Ranma.
"Yes Rodney Tendö, I'm in the middle of something, what can I do for you? Be quick about it"
"I'd like it if you'd back your ass off of Akane and Ranma. After all I did help them to be together, and I will not have you mess it up"
"You? You are the cur who made Ranma Saotome so close to Akane Tendö"
"Nice work Sherlock Holmes." "How dare you insult me? I shall make you pay with your life!" Kunö readied himself.
'Okay, I'm about to go into battle with a very skilled kendoist. What is the first step Ranma told me to do at the beginning of a battle...oh, yeah!
1. Size up your opponent. That shouldn't be too hard. Lesse,' Rod looked over Kunö, 'dumb as a rock and twice as dense. That wasn't too hard. The next step was...2. Check for any hidden injuries or weaknesses. Hm... his stance suggests that his left ankle is hurting a bit and his right wrist is taped so that might be to my advantage, if I can exploit it'
"Okay Rod," Ranma said. "It's nice that your doing what I've told you to do but would you get a move on"
"Yeah yeah, don't rush me," Rod responded. "Alright Upperclassmen sir
come and get it"
"Surely you jest! But if you insist. En guard"
Kunö, being the ever pompous self that he is decided that one swift knock to the head would win him the battle, a bad decision considering his strength. Seeing Kunö start to slash down Rod side-stepped to the left so Kunö's bokken would jam itself into the ground, and it did. When Kunö tried to yank his bokken of the ground, Rod stood, not taking advantage of Kunö's current situation.
"What are you doing!" Akane yelled. "Get him already"
"I cannot, will not, and shall not attack a defenseless enemy," her cousin said back. "It would not be honorable." Ranma nodded his head, "Good job." "I commend you sense of honor Rodney Tendö," Kunö said who had finally pried his bokken out of the ground, "but it shall be your down fall!" He made two slashes through the air making an imaginary "X". A rush of air pressure went toward Rod, striking him and knocking him back.
"So you can shoot air pressure from your bokken," Rod said, "big frickin'
deal," his school-uniform jacket fell into the ground in four pieces. "That could be a problem"
"It is frivolous to face me, you are lacking in skill and experience. It would be foolish to continue, concede now and I shall spare you"
"I have never backed down from a challenge, and I'm sure as hell not going to start now. Ready yourself Blue Thunder!" Rod charged a few paces in at a speed close to that of Ranma, and punched Kunö in the few basic vital points that he could remember Ranma showing him on a chart. They didn't have the desired effect but did make Kunö pause to recover from the sudden speed that Rod exhibited.
Either to safe Rod's butt or to be cruel to all resident Juesnkyo-cursed people, it started to downpour. (As it did in Vol. 1) And like Vol. 1 Genma-panda came running past, knocking out Kunö and carting Akane, Ranma, and Rod off into a shed to the school grounds. (Okay, so it wasn't EXCATLY like Vol. 1, but close enough)
"That wasn't needed pop," Ranma said shaking water out of her hair. "I've changed loads of times in front of Kunö and he's never noticed"
If you hadn't noticed, Genma-panda wrote on a sign, then continued on another, Kunö was trained on Rod and I figured- "Why don't we hear it," Rod turned Akane away from looking at Genma as Ranma poured water onto him from a steaming kettle.
Genma cleared his throat as he put on his cloths and glasses, "Yes,
I didn't think Rod would like anybody finding out about his curse so I had to knock out that boy, again"
"That's nice Mr. Saotome," Rod said, "but now he'll think that I backed out of the fight"
"Would you rather have the entire school know about your curse"
"Uh, no," the four heard the school bell signaling the time for school to start.
"But now we're late," Ranma said.
"That's the least of your worries my boy," his dad responded.
"Aside from the fact that your dad was a total jerk for lining up all the fiancés that you got, he can be quite considerate," Rod said after school.
"You didn't have him knock you into that damn spring. And if I recall call right, you fell in by yourself"
"I already told you a cliff ledge crumbled and made me fall in"
"Sure"
"Do I have to drag you back to China to show you the ledge"
"Rodney Tendö!" Kunö yelled across the school yard. "You ran out on our duel!" he ran to where Rod was standing.
"Yes, I had a previous engagement that I forgot about, I apologize"
"You are forgiven. We must continue our duel." "You start"
Now, if determination could decide the battle, Rod would've won. But since the battle was based on skill and strength, Rod was beaten. It all came down to skill, which Kunö had much of, and Rod had very little.

Rod slowly opened his eyes to see Dr. Tofu's clinic ceiling.
"Damn, I guess I did lose. I must've been kidding myself thinking that I could take down Kuno, since it'd take a several years before I'm even up to par with Akane"
"So how are you feeling Rod?" asked Dr. Tofu as he walked to the end of Rod's bed, from out in the hallway.
"Like I was hit by a freight train," Rod responded.
"Seems like you bit off more than you could chew"
"Well, I finally succeeded in getting Akane and Ranma to actually start liking each other and I didn't want Kunö to ruin it. So logically fought him"
"Risking life and limb was okay just to help your cousin and Ranma stay together"
"You got it Doc"
"That's quite noble of you"
"Hey, I value family"
"Apparently very much so"
"Yessir." "Just rest for now. It's never fun to get knocked out"
"So I've heard," Dr. Tofu walked out of Rod's room to tend to other patients, Rod rolled over and fell asleep.

"Just to think," Akane said sitting at table in the den, "that he'd do that for us"
"He seems to really appreciate family," Ranma said.
"He's always been that way. From the beginning did you think that he had a chance"
"Not at all"
Akane looked up at Ranma who was reading a book for school, "But you let him go ahead and get KO'd"
Ranma looked up, "I had a feeling that even if I did tell him that he had no chance, he would've gone ahead with the fight anyway. Determination is good to have, but too much can cloud judgment"
"Like what happened with Rod"
"Yup. His quick grasp of concepts of martial arts makes him a couple years behind you"
"Couple? How could he be that good"
"Remember, that's just a guesstimate. I'd have to get my pop to help with a more accurate guess."

"And it looks like he'll be able to go to school tomorrow," Dr. Tofu told Soun and the rest of the "crew" who were standing in Rod's clinic room. Surprisingly even Ukyö and Shampoo joined them after arriving back into town after hearing about Rod's situation. The fact that they could try to get Ranma by showing compassion was a bonus really.
"Well, that's good news," Soun said. "We wouldn't want you to miss any more school." "What's Kunö been doing?" Rod asked, sitting up in his bed.
"He's all high and mighty saying, 'he was a fool to face me,' and stuff like that," Ranma responded.
"Just don't worry about it," Akane said. "But he's right," Rod said, eyes downcast. "The thought should've never even crossed my mind. I'm such a fool for thinking I could beat him"
"Hey, get off your back!" Ukyö said. "Its not going to do you any good to say things like that"
"But it's true"
"So do what all Amazons do if get beaten," Shampoo said not wanting to see a relatively new martial artist like Rod so down from a first loss.
Rod looked up, "What's that"
"We train and get even"
"You think that'll work"
"How you think I get be strong"
"Good point. In light of that, I'll do it"
"That's the spirit," Genma said.
"But you must understand that there are no miracle strengtheners that'll work overnight," Ranma said. "It's not going to be easy. And I doubt I can teach you everything"
"I wouldn't mind teaching him a few things," Ukyö said. "It'll be cool to teach someone"
"I is wanting strong in-laws, and I guess it would be okay to teach you,
since you is being a girl sometimes"
"T-Thanks," Rod was surprised at their offers. "In no time I'll be wiping Kunö's butt across the school yard"
"Are the rest of you getting the fuzzy feeling too?" Nabiki asked ruining the moment.
"Kill joy."

About two weeks later Rod got crash courses from the best teen martial artists, turned teachers, in all of Nerima, starting with Shampoo.
"How much you learn of combat in that body?" Shampoo asked.
"Ranma trained me equally, a night in my guy body, the next night in this one," Rod responded.
"Smart. I is guessing you not used to having chest bound"
Rod's face became light red, "No, I'm not. Why did you have me do it"
"It is possible that they might get in way, smaller number of distractions in battle is better. Is practiced by most of my village, and is useful if they serious about training"
"A little tidbit of useful information. Pity it feels like someone took a large rubber band and wrapped it around my top." (That's pure speculation, I don't happen to know any girls who do that. Besides, it's not exactly something I go around asking girls)
"You will get used to it, is better for you to have that then having chest flop around while dodging"
Rod smiled, "It did get a bit annoying a couple of times"
"Is time to begin, we start with basic sparing"
And with that she and Rod started to spar, with Rod trying her hardest and Shampoo not even close to fighting her best. Since her best would turn Rod into a crater in the ground quite quickly.
'Why am I even helping Rod train to beat some Kunö kid over the fact that he helped to get Ranma closer to that Akane...' Shampoo thought, not fragmented since she thinks in Chinese. 'Rod himself isn't too bad considering his rather recent introduction to martial arts. But he has a lot to learn, I can understand how he could've been beaten by that Kunö boy. I do have to admit that his fighting spirit is great,' about ten minutes later they ceased. "So how well do I stack up against an average Amazon"
"You is at the level of a twelve year old"
"Looks like I have a bit of catch up work to do. I'd be cool if I could be as good as you"
"That take long time. Depending upon Ukyö training you might get as good as Akane, evil girl," and as if to punish Shampoo for her comment, a wave of water came out of nowhere hitting Shampoo, changing her into a cat shortly afterward.
"I don't suppose we can continue for now, huh?" Shampoo meowed as Rod picked her and her cloths up.

"So how well do you rate Shampoo as a teacher?" Cologne asked Rod as Shampoo tromped off to change back into her self.
"She's a fine teacher. We didn't get too far before she got hit by the water," Rod said. "I did learn the use of chest bindings. I never thought I'd use them, Amazons are quite wise"
"Something I've known for a long time"
"Espically since you've been around for a long time"
"Watch it boy"
"We is done for today," Shampoo said buttoning the top button of her outfit. "You might want to braid your hair or tying it at the end, will keep it out of the way more than tying it back as you do." "I'll give it some thought," Rod bowed at Shampoo. "Thank you for your time"
"You is a good student, and you learn well"
Rod smiled, "I learn from the best. See ya," she walked out and toward her Uncle's house.

"So did Shampoo teach you anything useful?" Akane asked as Rod walked into the den.
"Nothin' much." "Hm, you seem awfully flat today," Ranma said pointing at Rod's chest.
"This is what she did teach me," she said and opened up her gi shirt to show Ranma the bindings. "It's quite useful to have two less things flopping around (lack of a better term...) while sparing or whatever"
"Never thought of it before. They uncomfortable"
"Yeah, but Shampoo said I'd get used to it after a while. Think of Ukyö she uses them almost all the time and I ain't never heard her complain about them"
"It's not exactly something girls talk about openly," Akane said. "Especially when there are men close by," she pointed at Soun and Genma who were playing Chess.
"If you will excuse me now, the bath is calling," she stood up and walked out.
"I hope he doesn't overstress himself"
"Why?" Ranma asked. "You afraid that he might be able to beat you one day soon"
"That's absurd"
"Don't worry, he probably wants to get even with Kunö is all." "He should just take it easy, he'll eventually get strong enough to beat Kuno. Why should he rush it"
"Akane, lemme see if I can s'plain this to you. His first actual match was a loss, not something you'd like to carry with the rest of your martial arts career. So to at least make it a bit less sharp of a thorn, he's training for a rematch that he hopes he'll win. And with Shampoo's and Ukyö's help he will get to that goal quicker than just doing the normal spar and teach that I do." "Good analysis Ranma," Genma said looking at his son. When he did, Soun flipped around a few pieces on the Chess board.
"Ha! Got you Saotome," Soun said, Genma looked back at the Chess board.
"You switched around the pieces"
"I most certainly did not"
"Don't lie now Tendö, I know you did it"
"Your dad takes advantage of every chance he gets, doesn't he?" Ranma asked Akane who both had Anime sweat drops on their heads.
"Sure does," Akane responded.

Rod knocked on the door to Ukyö's Okonomyaki shop that was closed for the day. After a several seconds, Ukyö opened it and invited him in.
"Okay, I'm here. Now what?" Rod asked.
"We go out back of the shop," Ukyö responded who was already in her battle outfit, spatulas and all.
"Lead on," they walked out to outside the back of the shop.
"So what kinda stuff did Shampoo teach you"
"We didn't get into much before she got hit by some UFW." "UFW"
"Unidentified Flying Water, happens alot around here. The only thing I did learn was the usefulness of chest bindings for my girl-body"
"My reasons are more than just convenience during training or battles"
"Quite right"
"Now the first thing that I gotta do is test you to see your current abilities. I didn't get to see much when you faced Kuno"
"Alright," Ukyö took the spatula off her back, "just be careful where you swing that thing"
And as Rod had done for Shampoo, they started to spar. It was easy for Ukyö to keep Rod on the defensive with her spatula. As she took a wide swing to the right, Rod dropped down and swung his leg underneath her to knock her over, with help from the fact that she was already a bit off balance from the swing of her spatula. When she about regain her balance, Rod punched her in a few basic vital areas, skipping the one in the upper chest region. Just when Rod thought he pulled off a miracle, Ukyö threw a couple of her smaller spatulas toward him as a throwing star type thing that doesn't spin, ripping the right leg of his gi and cutting his leg. In the time that Rod gasped and glance at his leg, Ukyö had already regained her balance and let loose a few more of her smaller spatulas.
And the battle continued in this fashion for fifteen minutes further.
"So, how good do ya think I am?" Rod asked.
"Not too bad, you just get too lucky sometimes," Ukyö responded.
"Do I now"
"That's one reason why you got your ass handed to you on a plate by Kunö"
"I try not to think about such things if I can help it"
"I can imagine." "Do you have a bandage or two lying around? My leg's bleeding pretty badly"
"Oh, of course I have a few in my bathroom just follow me, and don't touch anything"
"Yes ma'm," they went into the shop.
Rod sat down on a stool in Ukyö's shop as she went upstairs to retrieve the bandages. He looked around at the various paintings that were hanging on the walls, they were finely crafted.
"I suppose you'd better be heading back pretty soon," Ukyö said walking toward Rod with a first aid kit.
"As long as I get back before dinner I'll be fine. I already finished my school work for the weekend so I have time to burn." (The exact opposite of me, the author)
"Roll up your pant leg and let's see it"
"I know what to do," he rolled up his gi pant leg, exposing the cuts. "If I had any doubt about the sharpness of your smaller spatulas, it's been completely erased"
"This may sting a little," she raised a medical alcohol saturated cotton ball.
"Wha-Oww!" he said as she wiped the cuts.
"What'd I tell you"
"Are you sure I'm not gunna get Tetanus"
"I use them to cook as well, so I'm sure," she covered Rod's cuts with a bandage. "And I'm done"
"That was quick. Thanks," Rod rolled his pant leg back down.
"It's no problem. In case you're wondering, the bandages are water proof"
"Ah, convenience at it's finest."

"I'm home!" Rod said as he reached his uncle's house. He heard Kasumi in the kitchen so he went to see her. "Hiya Kasumi"
"Hello," she said turning to greet him, "I beleve the bath is open if you want to take one"
"That's good," he sniffed the air. "Whatever your cooking smells good, like usual"
"Why thank you. In case your wondering Akane and Ranma are out, Grandpa is off somewhere and daddy and Mr. Saotome are in the dojo sparing"
"Thanks for the info"
"No problem," she turned her attention back to what was cooking on the stove.
Rod snagged a towel and pair of shorts before going into the changing room, where he folded up his gi and walked into the bath. He rinsed himself off with a bucket of cold water, despite the unwanted effects. Just when she was about to step into a nice hot bath, a Kunö came crashing through the ceiling landing on her, his face in her chest. And as most women's reaction would be, she punch him...through two walls, and all the way to the property wall, knocking him out.
"D-Did I just do that"
"Sure did," Nabiki said jumping down from her room, which was the second floor part of the house that Kunö crashed through. "I suggest you hop into the bath pretty soon or the draft will get to you," she continued, looking where Kunö impacted. "Not the best thing to have, a severe draft down there"
Realizing her mistake, Rod filled a bucket with warm water from the tub, doused herself with it, dried off and pulled on a pair of shorts.
"I hope he's not hurt"
"Kunö-baby has taken worse hits before"
"I want to know is how he made it through two levels of the house"
"Hey," Ranma said as she and Akane ran up to Rod and Nabiki, "Have you seen Kunö fly through here"
Nabiki pointed at the wall where Kunö had hit, "Rod got to him, when Kunö decided to drop in," she pointed toward the bath.
Ranma patted Rod on the back, "Looks like your extra training has already paid off"
Rod's grew light red, "That's not quite why I was able to do that"
"Then how?" Akane asked.
"Well, when he came crashing through the ceiling, I was still a girl and he happened to land with his face buried in my chest"
Ranma cringed, "Not fun"
Rod looked behind him, "Looks like the bath is out of commission, for a while anyway"
"Oh happy day!" Happosai hopped from nowhere and latched himself to Ranma's chest. "We can go to the public bath house now"
"It was nice while you were gone," Ranma ripped Happosai from the front of her shirt and threw him into the distance, "So stay gone you old freak"
"Just what happened here?" Soun said walking out of the dojo with Genma by his side.
"You know the Kunö kid who got Rod"
"Yes"
"Well that's him over there," she pointed at the crumpled figure of Kunö that began to stir.
"How did this happen"
"Me and Akane were walking through town when I got splashed and then Kunö came out of nowhere and gave me 'n Akane a hug across the top"
"Lemme guess how this turns out," Rod said. "Then you punched him, unknowingly, toward the house. Then he crashed through two levels of the house landing on my girl body chest"
"-which didn't go over too well with you so punched him through the wall of the bath and changing room and toward the property wall," Kunö walked unsteadily toward the group.
"Mr. Tendö, please accept my apologies for my intrusion," he said bowing,
wavering a bit while doing so. "If there is anything I can do to for your forgiveness, just ask"
"Well," Soun said, "for starters you can pay for the house to be fixed,
since you yourself smashed through it"
"Yes of course," and in the primordial soup Kunö calls his brain, he made a discovery, or so he thought. "Ah, pig-tailed girl, so this is where you live"
Ranma, trying to fulfill Kunö's expectations of his 'pig-tailed girl', said, "Why no Kunö sweetie, I don't. I'm just visiting my close friend Akane"
to make it a bit more solid, Ranma rapped an arm around Akane and pulled her close to her. Rod had to admit that they made a cute duo.
"Pity. Can you tell me where the girl who I landed on is? I would like to give a formal apology to her as well"
"I can help you there Upperclassmen," Rod said. "I'll pass along the message, but something's telling me she won't be happy with just a formal apology"
"She shall have anything she wants"
"She'll be happy to hear that"
"Thank you Rodney. As for you Mr. Tendö, I shall have a contractor over to assess the damage and conduct repairs"
"That will be fine"
"I bid you all adieu," and with that he left, swaying every other step.
"When I get my hands on him he's gunna regret doing that for the rest of his life," Rod said, seething.
"Easy there," Ranma said. "Take it from me, pure rage will never get you anything, ever"
Rod took a deep breath to calm himself down, "You're right. I'll just channel it to extra hard training is all. My next lesson from Shampoo is tomorrow so I'll put it to good use. And I have alot of it."

"All right, what's on tap for today teach?" Rod asked Shampoo.
"We is going to help your strategy," Shampoo said. "What is your basic strategy"
"Not get knocked out, and that even failed"
"That is why I is helping you. A first strategy I used is, get them off balance, then take advantage of it"
"Sounds straight foreword enough"
"How you say...'That's the idea"
"Yup, you nailed it. But certainly if you know the strategy, then it shouldn't work on you, right"
"Ah, isn't the strategy that is important, is how you execute strategy"
"Geez, I got alot to learn"
"Is why I am helping you. You is asking good questions, is always a good thing"
"That's what I do best. Alright, I'll try out your strategy, ready yourself"
Shampoo took a basic battle stance, "When you is ready"
"Ten-four," and with a new strategy in hand Rod started an assault that was quite successful compared to her original "strategy". She had to admit that it was working, even on such a skilled martial artist as Shampoo. So in effect she found a new techniquestrategy that she would use in the future. But this was more than just Rod being elated that he had a workable strategy for a change. Even from the beginning, Rod was perfecting her newfound strategy. Seeing what methods work better than others against Shampoo, knowing that the method she found to work her would not be the best to use against Akane, for example.

Repairs went smoothly on the Tendö house, and to milk the Kunö family for more money Soun had various other things replaced that he could somehow tie to Tatewaki's violent intrusion.
"You're going to get as much out of him as you can, aren't you daddy"
Nabiki asked. "Well, since he was so generous to offer to fix the house, I figured it wouldn't hurt to get a few extra things repaired or replaced," Soun replied.
"I really don't think you should be trying to get things fixed that you were too lazy to fix yourself," Kasumi said. "It's not right"
"You're not going to talk him down sis," Nabiki said.
"But at this rate, we won't have to go to the public bath," Happosai pouted.
"Where'd you come from"
"I was watching Rod for a while and came here. I do have to admit that he has improved considerably. He's a fast learner and is persistent, and sure has delved into training after his run-ins with that Kunö boy"
"Wash your hands, it's almost time for dinner," Kasumi told the group.
"Rod should be coming back pretty soon," Akane said, "there's no way he'd miss dinner."

There was a knock at the front door, "'Bout time," Ranma said as he jumped up to answer it, an hour after dinner finished. He opened the door to see Shampoo with one of Rod's arms around her neck, that she was holding into, and Rod herself looking rather wasted. (Not drunk-wise)
"Nihao Ranma," she said and dragged Rod in. "He wanted to keep going with a big want to do it"
"So basically, he ran himself into the ground"
Rod thinking he was alright said, "Alright, you can let go of me"
"Is you sure?" Shampoo asked, seriously doubting it.
Rod stood up and took a few steps before crashing head first into the floor, "Hey! Who put this floor here"
"Kasumi! Get some ice packs," Ranma shouted into the next room. And that shout, along with the crash, also roused Akane and Nabiki from their rooms.
"Tonight's forecast, dark. Continued dark throughout the night until morning. The radar is picking up morning showers for tomarrow, also the radar is also picking up an ICBM so don't sweat the morning showers"
"I have the i-oh my!" Kasumi said when she saw Rod current situation.
"I figured he'd hit a wall," Nabiki said, catching the ice packs that her sister dropped.
Akane rushed to Rod's side, "C'mon, you can't just lie there all night"
She was able to, with the help of Shampoo no less, to get Rod up the stairs,
and into her room. During which Rod fell unconscious.
After escorting Soun, Genma and Happosai out of the room, they got Rod out of her cloths and chest bindings, into her pajamas and into her futon. "Thanks a ton Shampoo," Akane said placing an ice pack on a rather large lump on Rod's forehead.
"Is no problem," Shampoo said shrugging. "I is just making sure he is okay. As a teacher for a student should"
"He's going to take the next few days easy," Ranma said, "for the sake of his health. Luckily we have Monday off from school so he can sleep in"
"Is there anything I can be doing?" Shampoo asked Kasumi.
"Not right now, if there is anything I'll let you know," Kasumi anwsered.
"Thank you," Shampoo stood up and made for the door. "See you Ranma," and with that she left.
"What was that about?" Akane said as Soun, Genma and Happosai walked in.
"There is a special bond between a martial artist and their first student," Happosai explained. "And since Rod is her first student"
"So that's why Shampoo seems to care for Rod"
"The caring will never get farther than a student-teacher relationship"
"Lucky me," Ranma said.
"For now I think we should all leave," Kasumi said. "Out, all of you"
she ushered them out of the room, shut off the light and closed the door behind her. "I hope you'll be okay," she whispered before continuing on to prepare for her bath.

"Is he up yet?" Akane asked as she came from her room to the den for breakfast,
the next day.
"No, he's still sleeping," Kasumi said.
"Don't worry Akane," Ranma said, "he'll be okay"
"You think so"
"I sure of it, he's a big boy...you know what I mean"
"When's his next training session?" Soun asked.
"Friday, late afternoon, with Ukyö"
"Depending upon how he feels, I won't allow him to go for his training"
"And to think that he's doing it all for us," Akane said looking at Ranma.
"Don't you two feel special," Nabiki said. "He's never done anything like that for me"
"Nabiki, you don't even have a boyfriend"
"It would impede on my business capabilities. But your lucky enough to have a fiancée Akane"
"It's not like I wanted one"
"But you two make such a cute couple"
Akane and Ranma's faces went scarlet, "Please don't say such things."

Rod sat up, taking note that she was still a she in various ways.
"Did I really run myself down that far?" she asked aloud. 'Ambition sure can get in the way of objectives quite easily. Dang I'm hungry, it's gotta be past morning,' she dug around and found her watch, which read, 14:17. "Lunch time, but first"
She sprang up, well she would have if she wasn't so sore from the past day's events. So she compromised with herself and used the wall to get her out into the hallway in a kind of half-stand.
"Hey there," Nabiki said poking her head out of her room. "You sure your supposed to be up and about"
"I'll be fine. I'm just making my way down to the bath"
"Would you like some help"
"That'd be nice," Nabiki walked out of her room and helped Rod down to the changing room, surprisingly with nobody seeing them.
"I'll let you do the rest"
"Thanks Nabiki"
"I couldn't have you collapse, you might wreck the floor"
"Your concern is as underwelming as ever. Could you not tell the others that I'm up? I don't want people circling the door while I'm in there"
"Sure, it's our little secret," she winked at her cousin and walked out. 'That's one less thing on my mind,' she took off her cloths and carefully walked into the bath. 'I can't over do it or I might hurt myself, again. But I'm not going to stop until I get even with Kunö," she filled the tub with hot water and submerged herself, popping back up after a few seconds. 'Ah, much better. Now, how did I get back here last night? Certainly I didn't walk. All I remember is saying something about a forecast...I think. And I sure have one heck of a headache geez.'

"He's been sleeping an awful alot," Kasumi said. "Maybe I should go check on him"
"No!" Nabiki said. "I mean, it would be best for him not to be bothered in case he's thinking about what he should do after his incident last night"
"Okay, if you say so"
"I don't care if he's thinking," Ranma said. "If he doesn't get his butt out here I'm going to drag him out here by her hair." (I hope that makes sense)
"In my experience," Rod said making everybody jump, leaning on the doorway to the den, "such violent shows of aggression get people nowhere quite quickly"
There was a collective, "Hey, your okayup"
"Naw, it's just a vicious rumor"
"Can you remember anything from last night?" Ranma asked.
"Can't say I can, only that me 'n Shampoo went a few rounds too many"
"Yeah, you could say that." "Was it too much trouble to keep them away from my room Nabiki"
"Piece of cake," she responded.
"What exactly did you two plot out?" Akane asked.
Rod carefully sat down, "I woke up not that long ago and took a bath, and enlisted Nabiki's help to make sure I didn't have the family floating around the changing room door out of concern. What's the charge"
Nabiki thought a moment, "Minus the near-incapacitated rebate...five hundred yen"
"Fair enough I left my wallet in my room, I'll get the money to you later"
"Okay then"
"So have you all been down here worrying about me"
"Yes we were," Soun said.
"Well, you can stop. I'm here and as you can see, I'm in one piece"
"And far from your next training session"
"Sounds fair," his stomach growled loudly. "Any chance I could get something to eat?"

Six bowls of food later, he was feeling almost normal, aside from an overfull feeling he had.
"Ah, that's better! Give my compliments to the cook"
"W-Where'd he put it all?" Akane asked, clearly shocked.
"Beats the heck out of me," Ranma said. "I guess getting completely wiped like that makes you really hungry"
"So you've seen," Rod said. "At least he cleaned out the fridge of leftovers," Kasumi said. "Though I'm not completely sure that all of them were still good"
"Too late now," Nabiki said.
Akane fidgeted with the hem of her skirt for several moments before asking, "Hey Ranma, do you want to go out with to town with me later?" her face was light red.
As was Ranma's, "S-Sure, just let me know when you want to go"
"O-Okay," she stood up and went to her room to get ready.
"I smell a date," Nabiki said.
"It is not!" Ranma objected.
"Then what is it"
"She just wants to go shopping is all," he looked a little nervous.
"One thing I've learned about women," Rod said, "is that few will actually come out right away and say, 'I love you,' you just have to be their friend until they're ready. And you've been around Ukyö and Shampoo for extended periods of time before haven't you? It'll just be like those times.
Just be careful not to insult her, she doesn't particularly like it"
"Figured that out yourself did you?" Nabiki asked.

While following Rod's directions, Ranma was able to avoid being shot across town. He had to admit that it was kinda fun to be with Akane despite his past incidences with her. "Do you like being with me Ranma?" she asked suddenly.
"Wha? Yeah, sure. You're fun to be with," Ranma responded.
"Good," she grabbed onto his arm as many women do to show a bit more affection than just walking close, which was beneficial to both of them, Ranma could be steered away from sources of cold water and show caring without announcing it to the world, too badly.
"How about some ice cream?" Ranma pointed to a ice cream parlor.
"I'd love some. Are you going to change into a girl like normal"
"Of course not," and just for Ranma, the biggest fluke of all time was in effect. All of the girls that they knew from school were at a new romance movie that had come out that day, and all the guys were still sleeping in, taking advantage of the extra day off of school. "Could you try not to get anything too big? I'm a little short on money"
"You didn't think to get some more from your dad"
"I forgot, sorry." 'Oh great, I blew it,' Ranma thought. 'And it was going so well too'
"That's okay, I brought a little just in case you couldn't completely cover the price of something today. You shouldn't be expected to pay for absolutely everything"
'You know, I'm starting to get the hang of this,' Ranma thought as they got the ice cream and found a seat.
"Do you know where Ryoga is?" Akane asked. "I haven't seen him in a while"
"Can't say I have"
"I hope he's not lost"
"That boy could get lost with two hands on a road map"
"He's not that bad, is he"
"I used to have to walk him after school because he got lost so easily"
"What about P-chan? Have you seen him?
"Nope, I'm sure he's safe." Ranma looked out the window, "Looks like it's going to rain." "Don't worry, I brought my umbrella."

"I..finally..made it," Ryoga said in the front of the Tendö front gate. "What luck, it hasn't rained for the past week." The sky opened up to let rain come down. "At least I'm in front of Akane's house," and with that, he changed into his painfully familiar pig-body. 'All I have to do is stay put," to his dismay, he heard a dog growl next to him. "Bwee?" despite his want to not get lost he ran away as fast as his little legs could carry him. On and on he ran for all he was worth, thinking, 'If I get eaten, I'll never get to see Akane again... Eat my dust dog!' and with unpigly speed he shot off into the distance, away from an astonished dog that was chasing him.
'Alright! I got away. Now I have a new problem...where's my backpack! I can't change back without it since it has my cloths in it. Looks like I get to wander around again for another week,' he stoped and sat down.
"P-chan! What are you doing here?" Akane scooped up her beloved pet pig.
"I was worried"
'My luck's turning around it would seem'
"How's he doing?" Ranma asked.
"He seems okay. We should get him back to the house," they set off for their house.
"We're home!" Akane called, five minutes later. Ranma had found Ryoga's pack and brought it in.
Rod walked into the entryway, "Didja y'all have fun"
"Not really fun," Ranma said. "We just talked 'n stuff"
"So, how are you?" Akane asked.
"Fine," Rod said, then had a small loss of balance but recovered. "Just don't ask me to prove it. Would you mind helping me to my room? I wouldn't want to put another dent in the floor"
"Sure, I'm going that way anyway"
"Thanks," Rod put an arm around Akane's neck and she helped to walk him to his room, P-chan at her heels.
"Take it easy now," she smiled as Rod entered his room, and went into hers.
'It sure was nice being out with Ranma today. He seemed a little tense though I can't understand why'
"What do you think P-chan? Did Ranma seem kinda off at all?" P-chan shook his head. "Don't think so hm? Oh well, maybe I'm just imagining things."

"So you're sure that your okay for this," Ukyö asked, double checking as Ranma had instructed her to do.
"Stop worrying, you know me," Rod responded.
"That's what I mean. I don't want to have you over stress yourself again"
"I'll take it easy, don't worry. And if I go too far you can easily stop our session. Come to think of it, I wonder why Shampoo didn't stop me"
"Maybe she wanted you to take yourself out since you helped to get Ranchan and Akane together"
"No! She'd never do that, espically to her first student"
"Maybe your right. Shall we get to work"
"Yes ma'am. I've got a new trick up my sleeve so watch out"
"Courtesy of Shampoo I'm guessing, clever girl," Ukyö brought her spatula to bear. "Lead on"
"Don' mind if I do," and with the new strategy, that Shampoo taught him, in hand, Rod started a somewhat more successful assault (if you could call it that) against Ukyö. It was more effective against her since swinging around a huge spatula shifts her weight across her body, making it easier to knock her off balance. But he still couldn't get around her smaller spatulas, and he got three new cuts across his chest, but to him the phrase, 'no pain no gain' rang clear and true in his mind. Plus that meant that Akane could improve her sewing skills when she repairs his gi.
As one's strategy gets seemingly more effective, a bit of arrogance sets in. Not as much, but a small bit. Which was enough to get Rod smack up side the head with Ukyö's big spatula, and making him black out, something he had gotten regrettably used to. 'I wonder if he's gunna hate me for knocking him out,' Ukyö thought as, like other times, it started to rain. 'I'd better get him out of the rain,' Ukyö picked up Rod and slung her over her shoulder and walked into her shop. 'He certainly has improved some, all thanks to Shampoo. Meaning that she has taken her training of him serious, I'd better watch out or I might get beaten by him, sometime in the near future. But, I've certainly helped too. Though I doubt he'll beat Kunö tomorrow,' she carried Rod into her room and laid Rod on her floor. 'His cloths are soaked so he'll be fine on the floor. I'll just watch TV until he wakes up,' as she preceded to change out of her battle outfit, Rod woke up and sat up.
"Say Ukyö...," Rod said, spying Ukyö. She turned to face him, all upper garments stripped and in her hamper.
Realizing the situation Ukyö did what most women would do, knock out the guy (in this case, mentally) who saw her... So just as quickly as she awoke, Rod was knocked back out by a wave of random objects, the classic women's arsenal from nearly any MangaAnime series. Unless, in Keitaro's case, they punch him a hundred or so meters.
"That was close. Oh, damn, I just knocked him out...again. Okay so now he has a reason to be mad at me. Wait a minnit, he..just..saw"
After changing, Ukyö first dressed Rod's wounds, called the Tendö house to say that Rod was going to be a bit late, then flipped on her TV and watched the news until Rod awoke, who hoped to be awake for more than seven seconds.
"Hey Ukyö, did you just knock me out a second time," Rod asked, sitting up.
"Uh, yeah, sorry," Ukyö said.
"Ah, don' worry 'bout it"
"Are you sure you're okay. I thought you'd be pissed at me"
"Friends can't be mad at each other, it gets them nowhere fast. A perfect example is Akane and Ranma. Just don't let it happen again"
"Sure. It's not like I tried"
"I can understand the female reaction to a guy seeing, you know... Specially since I happen to be a female from time to time." Rod open the top of her gi to inspect her cuts that Ukyö dressed, "Thanks, for," she pointed at the bandages.
"No prob, it'll heal quick enough. Just, if you ever sleep as a girl in the near future, make sure to not roll over onto your stomach in the middle of the night. Those are quite sensitive"
"I've gathered that from past experiences, regrettably. As long as my training, or something else doesn't require me to wear a..." she trailed off.
"Problem"
"I don't happen to like that word much. Breast binding are as close as I'll get to one. As long as it's something to keep the twins from hooin' and hawin' around, and isn't...one of those"
Ukyö smiled, "Are you steady enough to walk back to your house"
"Aside from a slight headache," she stood up seeming just fine, "yeah, I'm good. If you wouldn't mind directing me to the exit, I'd like to leave now"
"Sure," Ukyö showed Rod out through the Okonomiyaki shop and out the front door. "Take care of yourself now"
"I'll be sure to do that."

"So what made you so late?" Soun asked. "We got Ukyö's call"
"I kinda got knocked out," Rod responded. "Twice"
"How'd you manage that?" Ranma asked.
"Once was to Ukyö's spatula, and the second, by volley of a couple hundred random objects"
"You're saying that you saw her"
"-You got it"
"How could you?" Akane asked slightly perturbed at her cousin.
"It's not like I tried"
"But off all people! Why did you have to see her"
"Well ya see, she knocked me out and took me into her room. Thinking I'd be out for a while she was changing I happened to wake up and"
"When'd you get hit by the water?" Ranma asked.
"Water..?" the pitch of her voice made it obvious. "Oh! Water! Just after she KO'd me the first time, I'm guessing"
"So you had a good time then," Nabiki said.
"Not particularly. Being knocked out is never fun. Now, if you would excuse me," Rod stood up. "A hot bath sounds good 'bout now," she walked off in the direction of her room.
"He seems to have taken a lot in the name of revenge"
"And yet he comes back for more," Genma said. "He certainly doesn't quit easily"
"After one too many times and he might not get back up," Soun said. "Persistence can be a powerful, yet dangerous force."

"Are you sure you should go train with Shampoo right after you got knocked out twice yesterday?" Kasumi asked, helping Rod bind her chest, who decided to act on Shampoo's advice and tied up her hair by using many hair binders spaced evenly along her hair. He hadn't trusted anybody else to help, considering what it involves. They also had to be a bit more careful because she had the cuts across her chest. Kasumi also changed the dressings.
"I'm fine, you don't have to worry so much," Rod answered. "But you've seen the result of overstressing yourself"
"The thing is that I can't back down from a slight offset of plan," Rod put on her gi top.
"True, but you still have to be careful"
"That's one thing I can't afford to forget"
"Good, now try not to get knocked out"
"I'll see what I can do," Rod went out to the entry way to prepare to leave as Kasumi started the laundry.

"I hear you got knocked out twice yesterday, is true?" Shampoo asked.
"Yeah, twice," Rod responded.
"Is you getting that bad"
"No. You've never have face Ukyö have you? It's awfully tricky with her huge spatula swinging around"
"I cannot say I have. I is meaning to though"
"So you have no right to say that I'm slipping"
"You is right. That is first time you got knocked out. What about second"
Rod's face went slightly red, "Oh, about that. After I got KO'd she brought me into her room, thinking that I was going to be out for a while, she began to change into her plain "lying around the house" cloths when I woke up and happened to see this taking place, then the next thing I know is a wave of random objects flying toward me"
"Not many men get away from that attack"
"I was a she at the time, as I am now"
Shampoo thought for a moment, "How rest of fight go"
"Pretty good, your strategy worked quite well. I can't wait to see what else will come from your fountain of knowledge"
Shampoo smiled, "Flattery is getting you nothing"
"Hey, I tried. So whaddya have for today"
"Next important is stance. You is not having a very good one"
"I haven't exactly gotten any pointers from Ranma. I've just seen what parts of others seem to work the best and changed mine to reflect that. My stance also changes depending upon my body"
"How"
"If I'm in this one chances are that I'll try a first quick attack. Whereas if I'm in my other one I'll see what my opponent will try to do before trying anything myself"
"Show me"
Rod took her customary girl-body stance, "Here you are"
Shampoo walked around Rod, looking at various points of Rod's stance, "Is good, but when you is planning a fast attack, never leave any part open"
"But I thought that it wouldn't matter if I was quick enough"
Shampoo shook her head, "More often than no, stuff not go as planned. You must have a back up plan, and back up for back up"
"But there's no way to cover every part, right"
"Right. You do as best as you can"
"What should I change"
"Not much, lower right elbow and turn body more away from opponent," Rod did as she was instructed.
"Like this"
"Is good. Now, you know why I tell you to do that"
"I think so. You had me lower my elbow to improve my possible protection of my right side, and you had me turn away to make myself a smaller target against an opponent that would charge in right away"
"Correct. Now, show me other stance," Rod did as she was told and again Shampoo inspected Rod's stance. "Is better than first, still not perfect"
"But I did good for having no guidelines, right"
"I is not knowing why Ranma not teach you about it, but you did good for not knowing much"
"I'm quite resourceful when I have to be. So what if anything could I ch-" at point in time Ranma came flying into the area, landing on Rod.
"Nihao Ranma," Shampoo helped Ranma up. "Oh geez, did I just knock out Rod?" Ranma asked looking at the long-haired girl on the ground.
Rod stood up, "Close. What exactly are you doing here"
"Akane and me had a slight argument and"
"Don't tell me after all I've done, y'all've had a fight"
"Uh, yeah"
"'Zat mean this is all for nothing? All the times I've gotten my block knocked off was for nothing! Great, I just wasted a good portion of my weekends, not to mention several brain cells, all so I can beat Kunö, who I lost to because I was trying to defend y'all from being broken up by the weakest martial artist in town...besides me! And that's not all, no! I've discovered the joys of being knocked out! All to help protect a relationship that I helped to form in about a few weeks and you blew out of the water in five seconds! That's it, I'm done," with that she walked off in no direction in particular, rather pissed at Ranma and the rest of the world.
"I don't think I shoulda said that."

"He's still not home?" Ranma asked when entering the house, several hours later.
"Nope, not a word," Kasumi said.
"What, you lost him?" Akane asked.
"No! When you hit me out of the house, I kinda landed on him, and to add insult to injury I told him about our fight"
"I'm guessing he didn't take it too good"
"Uh, no. He blew a couple gaskets... Wait that would be like saying that the Atlantic Ocean is damp."

To Be Continued

Here is the story that supposedly comes after my first Fan Fiction "Ranma 1/2: Adjustments". I hope you enjoyed it, I certainly did writing it.
Any questions or comments direct to And please don't send any e-mails chewing me out for one reason or another because if you spend time to read this any then type up an e-mail saying it was crap you have less of a life than me. As a secondary disclaimer, I realize that this story may have a few inconsistencies and holes in it. But it would've taken a month or so to get every hole patched, and I didn't want to keep this story from y'all any longer so here it is. If you find any burps or hiccups in the story, please let me know! I'll try to get an updated copy out the first week of March (this copy) and April...if I don't forget.
If any of y'all have any ideas for situations for stories it'd be nice if you could send them to me. I want to continue my series of Rod's adventures with the Tendö's and Saotome's, but I have a supreme lack of plot ideas that I can use. Most of mine have the story concentrate on Rod, which is how most of my stories (the ones I haven't posted) go and I tried to stay away from that during this one. And it turned out suprisingly well.
Thanks,
d3jake

Credits:

Writer:
d3jake

Editors:
d3jake Squall

Newest Pet:
Gourd the Pumpkin

People Who Keep Me Laughing Everyday:
JDHack My Parents and Relatives Starath Squall vergessen And Two Girls From the School Bus

"Ain't gunna shut my mouth,
Don't mind if I stand out in a crowd,
Just wanna live out loud"
-Big & Rich "Rollin' (The Ballad of Big & Rich)"

End of Document