Miss Hinako looked over her class. No one was concentrating on the lesson. She could easily see the math and science books hiding inside the literature books. Finally, she stopped her lecture and asked in English: "You do know that English is required by most of the colleges, right?"

Several students started and looked guiltily at her. Unfortunately, way too many of them were bound for trade schools and two-year schools – precisely the ones who didn't need to worry. Miss Hinako sighed and picked up her meter stick. She then walked among the rows tapping each student lightly on the head. She said "Stand" or "Sit" to each one as she tapped them. When she had tapped everyone, she walked to the front of the room and called out "Mr. Ono." Ranma (who was standing) looked at her quizzically. "Take everyone who is standing down to the music room for a study hall. On your honor," She saw Ranma wince. "There's to be nothing but studying. There shall be no conversations except about math and science. If anyone breaks the rules, bring them back to me." Ranma blew out a breath and nodded to her. Two years ago, she would have thought it ludicrous to entrust Ranma with this task, but over the years they had grown to understand one another and become friends outside of the classroom. Inside of the classroom, he worked just hard enough to keep her happy and not disrupt the class.

Once Ranma had led his share of the students down the hall, Hinako addressed Akane Tendo: "Miss Tendo? Please come to the front of the classroom and stand here." Akane had question marks in her eyes, but did what she was told. "You're my aide for the rest of the class," she told Akane. She looked at the remaining ten students. "All of you are applying to colleges that require a second language. All of you are relying on English as that second language. All of you need help desperately." She looked into their suddenly fearful eyes and quickly added: "All of you have a chance of getting a good grade, if – IF – you actually spend some time working on English. It's not like you're failing in here, but you're not good enough yet to beat out the other students you have to. I want to help you, but you have to let me, so put away the other books." The students all dropped their eyes and did as they were told with a little shame showing on their faces.

"All right," she began. "The test is in two weekends, so let's begin…"

Ranma met Akane in the cafeteria. "How did it go?" she asked him.

"I didn't have to say a word," he said with a shrug. "Everyone was filled with either abject terror or deep sympathy."

She sighed. "I just had abject terror in my group. Hinako had to tell them the truth to get them to pay attention."

"Which was?"

"Listen or fail," she answered.

"Crud. Daisuke was with you," Ranma groaned. "He doesn't think TODAI will take him, but he's hoping for Tokyo Tech and they're just as bad with the admission rate."

"Sayuri was also with me," Akane responded. "Hokkaido takes only 5% of the applicants, and she really wants to go there." She paused and then said: "I wonder if there's anything we can do for them?"

"Yeah," he answered a little derisively. "Stay the hell out of the way."

"Oh come on! There must be something we can do! They've been there for us," she shot back.

"Akane," Ranma answered a little painfully, "I do all right, but Daisuke is better at math and science and we tie elsewhere. There's very little I can teach him where he's going…"

"I'm sure we can help out someway..." Akane stated.

After school the next day, Ranma saw Akane and Yuka comforting Sayuri and decided to stay out of the way. Instead, he bounced around town for half an hour and finally ended up on a tree near Daisuke's window. He saw his friend bending over his books on his desk making notes feverishly. "Damn, his hand is going to explode," Ranma thought.

"There's nothing you can do for him, Master Ranma," a voice said from above him.

Ranma looked up and saw the little ninja, Sasuke, on a branch a couple meters up.

"I know. I'm just checking on him," Ranma answered. An annoyed looked flashed across his face. "And unless you're taking lessons from me, stop calling me 'master'."

Sasuke shrugged. "Sorry, the formality is a habit, but I'm still right."

"Yeah," Ranma sighed. "I suppose I should move on."

"Well, there is one thing you could do…" Sasuke started.

Ranma rang the doorbell and Mrs. Miura answered the door. "Ranma," she half-scolded before he could say anything. "You know Daisuke has to study!"

Ranma winced and quickly answered: "Hello Mrs. Miura. I know. I just wanted to ask you to let me know if there is something I can do to help out. I'm not good at sympathy, but I can still just shut up and listen if he needs someone to vent with."

Mrs. Muira's eyes softened and she said: "Thank you, Ranma. I'll let you know."

Ranma nodded and turned to leave when a trumpet sound shattered the air. "What the he-" Ranma stopped himself.

Mrs. Muira had a resigned look on her face. "That's our neighbor. He's in a part-time band and insists he has to practice mid-afternoons," she stated bitterly.

"The hell he does," Ranma replied with a determined look on his face.

"Ranma, you just can't barge into his house and order him around," she warned him. "And he won't answer the door anymore."

He blew out a breath and said: "O.K., I can't." He sent his thoughts out. "But I can do this!" The sound stopped immediately.

Mrs. Muira's eyes widened. "Those rumors are true?! Daisuke wouldn't say!"

Ranma shrugged. "I can pull off a few things." Then his look became sly. "Like putting a sound baffle in front of his horn. It will stay as long as I'm thinking about it."

"I appreciate the effort, but that's only temporary. What will it buy us?" she asked him.

"Watch," he told her.

Shortly thereafter, they both saw her neighbor storm out of his house. "I just had this fixed!" the man half-shouted to himself. "I'm going to sue!" The neighbor stormed down the street.

"That will buy Daisuke a little time. If we're lucky, the rest of the day," Ranma said.

Mrs. Miura eyed the young man speculatively as she stated: "You are good with strategy, aren't you?" Her expression became a little smug as she said: "Let me get you a few cookies for the walk home…"

Ukyo stole out of school a little early. The gym teacher had already taken attendance and Ukyo wasn't worried he'd miss her. As it was, she wasn't really worried about school anymore – truth be known, she was hanging out to get her diploma simply because she was so close; it was silly not to put in the three more months. She already knew more than the basics about business and what more she needed, she could pick up from night courses here and there (often sponsored by the local chamber of commerce or the local colleges). "Today, I need to hit the shops before the school crowds let out though," she thought. "And gym is the perfect cut class."

She hopped the school wall and made her way along it toward town center. She was about to strike away from the wall when she heard a sobbing sound. Curiosity got the best of her, so she carefully continued along the wall until she hit a corner. Peeking carefully around the corner, she saw a classmate, Mio Abe, huddled on the ground with her back to the wall. The young woman had her legs pulled up against her chest and her head buried in her knees.

A year ago, Ukyo would have turned away and left Mio to her troubles. Mio had been a constant thorn in Ukyo's side, forever teasing Ukyo about Ranma falling for Akane. Ukyo had considered Mio a smug little trouble maker and had hated her with a passion. Of course, that stopped at the end of summer when Ukyo officially gave up on Ranma and renounced the engagement. Mio's taunts had lost all of their sting and Mio left Ukyo alone to find other amusements. Mid-fall, Ukyo watched smugly as one of those amusements – a boy named Kodo – had given Mio the brush off, breaking Mio's heart.

But there was a problem: the heartbreak had been a little too deep. Apparently, Mio had put too much of herself into the relationship. Mio's mourning had gone on long enough that Ukyo's smugness faded, and then eventually turned in to pity – especially since Mio had bumped into Ukyo and apologized for everything. The girl hadn't even stayed to hear whether or not Ukyo accepted the apology – she was too ashamed and ran off crying. Now, Mio was sobbing again, but Ukyo had a feeling it wasn't over the boy anymore; Mio had started to heal.

Briefly, Ukyo did consider just stealing away, but she wasn't exactly heartless, no matter what she pretended. Besides, Akane had been rubbing off on her. With a sigh, she knelt down and asked: "Mio, what's wrong?"

Mio jumped a little and looked over at Ukyo. With a sad smile, Mio laid her head back against the wall. "It would be you," Mio said. "I've been jealous of you ever since you showed up. You've always known who you want to be, and I've never had a clue."

"Well, that explains a lot," Ukyo told her.

Mio nodded and said: "I'm really, really sorry, Ukyo. For what it's worth, you still know what you want, and I still have no clue."

"Is that what you're crying about?" Ukyo asked gently.

Mio nodded again. "That and this damn test coming up," she admitted. "I don't even know what sections to take. I've been trying to figure it out, and I can't even get enough peace at home for that, never mind study."

"Oh, that's right, you have eight brothers and sisters," Ukyo remembered out loud. Mio gave another nod. Ukyo thought for a few moments and stood up. "Well, you're not going to figure anything out here," she stated as she pulled Mio up. Then she led Mio towards the market.

"Where are we going?" Mio asked.

"Well, you're going to help me do a little food shopping – I can use the help carrying everything – and then I'm going to show you a nice quiet apartment where you can think and study since the tenants will be working downstairs," Ukyo replied.

"But I don't know what I want to take!" Mio protested.

"Then it doesn't matter what you take," Ukyo answered reasonably. "I'd suggest some nice comfortable subjects – aiming toward a business degree probably."

"There's a surprise," Mio shot back with a little spark returning to her voice.

"Do you want my help, or not?" Ukyo asked with a raised eyebrow – and an amused tone.

Mio squeezed Ukyo's hand and then let go to fall in step. "I'll take any help I can get from you, - and thank you," Mio responded.

"Look, forget about the exams," the boy told Sayuri. "You're going to find a rich man and marry him. I'm going to be very rich, so go out with me."

Sayuri told the boy – Takaki was his name – in very pointed terms where to go and what to do. "I'm studying," she finished.

Cologne took all this in and debated marching over to Sayuri's booth and removing the young jackass. However, a better option entered the restaurant's back door. Cologne walked quickly over to Mousse. "Your girlfriend needs a rescue, Part-Timer."

"I don't have a girlfriend…" he started and then caught Cologne's glance. "Where?" he asked instead.

"Booth five," Cologne answered shortly.

Mousse knew that was the booth Sayuri took when she wanted to lie in wait to tease him – or when she wanted somewhere quiet to think; the timing was about right. He stormed in to the main dining room and stomped over to Sayuri's booth. Without a word, he reached around with one hand and lifted the boy who was harassing Sayuri out of the booth. Takaki blanched as he was held half a meter off the ground by one fist. "She has a boyfriend," Mousse growled. "A very jealous boyfriend. Understand?"

"Whoa! Hold on! I didn't know!" Tataki protested.

"You have two options," Mousse told him. "You can run out that door, or I can throw you out. If you don't answer me fast enough, I won't bother opening the door."

"I'm leaving! I'm leaving!"

Mousse dropped the hapless young man, and Tataki bolted out the door.

"Boyfriend?" Sayuri quizzed.

"For the next two weeks or so anyway," Mousse answered nonchalantly. "After exams, we can agree to keep things light again."

Sayuri made a gesture with two fingers and Mousse came closer, bending down. She put her arms around his neck lightly. "You realize, I'd normally take offense at such a 'macho' show."

"This is a special occasion," Mousse replied with a shrug.

"So it is," she answered. With that, she tightened her grip and pulled Mousse into a fierce kiss. When she released him, Mousse fell to the floor on his rump. "And if you're not careful, I'll make that 'boyfriend' thing real – and then you'll really be screwed." Mousse just gave a light chuckle at the empty threat.

Akane groaned as she saw the line of people waiting for her at her desk.

"Problems?" Ranma grinned at her.

"Shut up and get me a marker and some paper," Akane ordered him.

"This I gotta see," he answered as he left to do her bidding.

The line began to notice Akane as soon as Ranma left. "Akane!" Tamura called out. "I need help with a physics problem."

"Akane! My parents won't get off my back!" Kouno yelled.

"Akane!" Ishii shouted. "Should I take the Chemistry test or the Physics test?" Others joined the chorus, all shouting "Akane!" and whatever their request was.

Akane ignored them all as she unpacked her book bag and then held up a finger for quiet. Eventually, the students waiting for her got the hint and shut up. Ranma re-appeared with a marker and a large sheet of paper. Akane took those from him and wrote on the paper "THE COUNSELOR IS 'IN' - 5 YEN". She placed the paper on her desk.

"Here's the deal," she called out. "You want me to help you, it's five yen to the class party fund – you have to find exact change. You also have to do exactly what I tell you."

Immediately, more than half the line vanished as students left to find exact change. A sigh of relief escaped from Akane. However, Ishii slapped five yen down on the paper. "What test do I take?" the boy asked.

Akane beckoned Tamura over and she also slapped five yen down. "Help Tamura with the physics problem. If you can answer it, take the physics test." She looked at Tamura. "If he doesn't help you, come back." Then Akane sent the two off to work on the problem.

Akane worked her way through the line, teaming up students wherever possible, until Miss Hinako arrived. The teacher shook her head in her hand and then ordered everyone to sit down. "Miss Tendo's not going anywhere class. Let's get started…"

It was nearly six o'clock when the line finally ended. Akane put her head down in her arms on the desk as the last student headed out the door. Miss Hinako walked back in as Akane groaned. "Congratulations," Hinako teased her. "You're an adult, just like the rest of us."

"I was faking it massively," Akane said in a muffled voice.

"What part of what I said confused you?" Hinako asked. "At least the class fund did well."

"That's because people kept coming back," Akane said without lifting her head. "Gods, what if I said something wrong?"

Mr. Chickafiji, a senior math teacher, entered the room. "You answered honestly with the best intentions. And, we were listening." Akane looked up at him. "Mr. Ito was with us too. We were ready to intervene if you screwed up, but there was no need. You only thought you were flying without a net."

Miss Hinako came forward and cupped Akane's chin. "You did great, my friend," the teacher said using fond tones. "Don't worry about it. You're a fine instructor and a good sensei."

"Eh, she's getting there," Ranma said from the doorway with a smirk on his face.

"Come a little closer and say that," Akane growled at him.

"Naw, I'm good," Ranma grinned.

"Where were you when I was going through that?" she practically hissed.

"Umm…I have a job. I was with you until 3PM. Then I had to get to the clinic. Ando's running it by himself since Tofu's on his honeymoon – remember?" Ranma answered innocently. Akane's face flushed at that. "I did come looking for you as soon as I got out," he pointed out.

"He was here," Hinako said, backing him up.

"And he did come back after all," Chickafiji commented. "Most people would have fled rather than face that line again." Akane groaned and put her head down again. Ranma decided it was safe to approach and knelt down beside her, placing an arm over her shoulders. She leaned into him a little.

"You two should get home now," Hinako said softly. "Nodoka will be waiting for you and tomorrow's a new day."

Akane laid her head back on Ranma's arm. "And a new line," she moaned.

Nodoka met them in the front hallway when they came home. "There you are!" she exclaimed. "I was starting to worry."

"Sorry, Mom," Akane told her. "I got caught at school and Ranma came to find me."

"Is everything all right? Are you in some sort of trouble?" Nodoka asked.

"Yes and No," Ranma answered. "We'll tell you over dinner…"

With Kasumi and Tofu on their honeymoon, Nabiki at college, and Mousse at work, it was only Nodoka, Soun, Akane, and Ranma around the dinner table. As the young couple recounted the day's events for the two adults, Soun and Nodoka couldn't help but be impressed by Akane's handling of the line of students. "Amazing," Nodoka said. "You did well at trying to reflect questions. When they wouldn't make a decision, you flipped a coin for them."

"Well, I tried to do a *little* better than that," Akane protested. "If I knew they had a strength, I told them to go with it."

"What was the most common problem, honey?" Soun asked.

"Peace and quiet," she answered. "Many of them were having a tough time finding a place to study. I could only suggest things here or there. The library is packed and the school closes at 6PM. I know Ukyo is letting people use her apartment and Cologne has set aside one of the smaller dining rooms for students. A handful of restaurants are also helping out, but there's not enough spaces."

Nodoka nodded her head. "That *is* a common problem. Many hotels offer student packages during these two weeks for just that reason. They set aside entire floors and even wings with some very strict noise rules."

"Unfortunately, not everyone can afford those," Akane replied.

"True enough…Maybe we should open the dojo…" Nodoka wondered out loud. "We've already cancelled this weekend's classes so you two can study. We could open it up after Friday afternoon's class and keep it open until the test weekend. It would mean just cancelling classes next week, but folks would understand one week – especially now. It may be a good idea anyway; high scores wouldn't hurt you two."

"We need good scores, not high scores," Ranma told her.

"Still wouldn't hurt to be prepared," she shot back. Then she paused and mused: "The idea has merit. The new dojo is up for the task. I could even cook for your friends."

"Now hold on, Nodoka!" Soun protested loudly. "You want to cook for a dojo full of teenagers for a week? We'd go bankrupt!"

Nodoka considered that while tilting her head. "So, let's charge for food and utilities then," she said finally. "It's still much more affordable than a hotel for students. We could even come out ahead – just a little."

"Wait, where are Akane and I going to spar?" Ranma protested.

"In the back yard," Nodoka told him firmly. "The two of you are immune to the cold anyway. We're not likely to get any precipitation in the next week, and if we do, it will be snow. And you *won't* be fighting anyone else – you are going to study!"

Her son and daughter-in-law (to-be) just mumbled "Yes, ma'am."

"This is still a big undertaking, Nodoka. Maybe we should sleep on it," Soun said in a pained voice. "There's a few things you're glossing over."

"All right," Nodoka agreed while starting to gather empty plates. "Will see what the morning brings…"

Soun looked at the shopping list Nodoka had prepared. "We're going to go broke," he mumbled.

Nodoka dropped a bowl of miso soup in front of him, "No, brother dearest, I do have some money lying around these days. I'll take the risk – and the profit."

Akane announced the open dojo plan at school as soon as the common complaint was said.

"But Akane," someone called out. "We can't afford a party right now."

Akane pointed at Ranma who took his cue. "It's not a party," he said firmly. "No loud music, no staying up late, no drinking, and no shouting. You bring your own futons, desks, panels, books, etc. We supply a roof, food, plumbing, and heat. Other than that, it's just peace and quiet."

"I'm sorry," Daisuke responded. "Did you say 'peace and quiet'? At the Tendo dojo? How the hell is that going to work?"

"It's going to work because I'm going to be there!" Miss Hinako cut in firmly. Akane and Ranma's mouths popped open. "There's no way I'm leaving you delinquents alone, and this is what many of you need." She covered her fish and resumed her child form. "I'm going to talk to the acting principal and have the dojo declared an official 'study hall'. And if *anyone* causes any problems…"

No one felt that she needed to finish that sentence.

"No, Daisuke," Ranma said firmly. "The stereo speakers stay in the car."

"But I need my tunes," his friend protested.

"Headphones only. Not everyone has your taste in music."

"You mean, not everyone has taste!" Daisuke grumbled. Hiroshi pushed the headphones into Daisuke's hands.

"Yuka? I'm glad you're here, but why?" Akane asked her friend. "You've got everything under control…"

"Sayuri asked me to come along and help, so I did," Yuka answered.

"Sayuri needs you to study with her?" Akane asked. "I thought the two of you didn't study together."

"We don't," Yuka said while tapping Akane's nose. "She wants me to make sure *you* study, Miss Busybody."

On Saturday, at 8AM sharp, two blood curdling war cries shattered the air. Sixty students bolted upright on their futons and began looking wildly around the dojo.

"Time to wake up," Miss Hinako called out while opening the dojo window shades. "Group A should make their ways to the showers. The rest of you should prep your study areas. Ms. Saotome has setup a breakfast area. While you're eating, you can watch the floor show." With that, she gestured grandly at the window and students rushed to see what the commotion was. What they saw was two of Nerima's top Martial Artists pummeling each other.

"Crap!" one student shouted. "They really do that to each other?!"

"She obviously doesn't want children if she's using that move!" another said.

"How can you tell what they're doing – all I see is blurs!"

"Check out the bruises! Aren't you suppose to pull your punches in sparring?!"

"He just sent her into a tree and she's not winded! What the hell?"

The Terrible Four watched as well. "Man, they are really serious about studying, aren't they?" Hiroshi noted.

Yuka nodded her head in agreement. "Yeah, they're taking an easy on each other."

"Ms. Saotome?" a student called out.

"Yes, Kenta?" Nodoka answered.

"There's something wrong with these Playstation controllers. It's like they are way too sensitive," he replied back.

"Hold on a minute, I think I know what's wrong," she called back. A minute or two later, the mother walked in holding two bowls of popcorn and set them before the small gathering. These seven students were on a mandatory break. Hinako insisted that they stop for twenty minutes after every two hours of study to prevent their brains from melting.

Nodoka looked at the controllers in the hands of two of the students. "Use the black controllers, not the orange ones. Daisuke built the orange ones for Ranma and Akane. If you're not a Martial Artist, you'll have a tough time using them."

"Ranma can use this?" Kenta asked stunned.

"And Akane," Nodoka agreed. "The controllers force them to slow down and use smaller gestures and button presses. Sometimes their hands barely seem to move as the characters fly across the screen. The purple controllers are special too – they require more effort to use. When Ranma plays against Hiroshi or Daisuke, he gives them a black controller and he uses the purple one – it evens things out."

"I thought Ranma liked to win," someone else asked.

"Of course, he does," Nodoka smiled. "Don't you?"

The student blushed.

"He just wants it to mean something," Nodoka continued. "Also, he wants his friends to play with him – Why should they do it unless they have a decent chance?" Her smile became wicked: "Besides, a little losing is good for him."

"I am here to challenge Ranma Ono!" the brash man proclaimed at the dojo's gates.

"Come back in two weeks," the little girl told him.

"Move out of my way…" he said starting forward.

"HAPPO FIVE-YEN SATSU!"

Hinako searched the dojo attic and found two more students cuddling. "Ahem!" she called out. The tests start in six days. You're here to study, not make out! Back downstairs." Sheepishly, the boy and girl hastened to obey.

"Honestly," she thought. "Hormones run amuck!"

As she neared the other side of the attic, she heard more heavy breathing. Her hand zipped behind a beam and found an ear. Seizing it, she dragged the owner out.

"Ow!" Ranma half-yelled. "Ah c'mon, Miss Hinako!" The young man looked a little disheveled.

Akane appeared also looking a little mussed. "We're on break," she protested.

"Breaks are to be taken in the house under Nodoka's watchful eye. The dojo is for studying only," Hinako said firmly.

"Nabiki's home for the weekend," Akane stated.

Hinako hesitated for a second before she sighed and stated: "Sorry, the house."

The couple sighed in turn.

Soun stood in the shadows of the tree in the backyard late in the evening. He wasn't Cloaking (not that he was very good at it); otherwise Mousse would come looking for him. And if Mousse came looking for him, Nodoka would be in tow. His daughter's mother-in-law-to-be hated the cigarettes and usually carried a bucket of water to throw at him if she thought he was smoking. "How did I lose total control of the house?" he mused. "Even my supposed 'tenant' is higher on the pecking-order than I am," he half-laughed.

Oh well, Kasumi and Tofu were due back on Wednesday. He had today and tomorrow left and he was going to damn well enjoy his cigarettes. Once his son-in-law returned, the cigarettes would start vanishing again.

"You know, that's not really good for you," a voice said from behind.

"Maomolin?" Soun called back.

"Yes, it's me," the shape-changed cat answered wearing his human form.

"What's up?" Soun asked, avoiding the Bakeneko's observation.

"I just came to check on things. No one's staying overnight at the clinic, so I may crash here tonight," Maomolin answered.

"You know what's happening here, right?" Soun asked.

"Yes, you have about seventy students studying in the dojo. No one is staying in the house though, are they?"

"Just the normal residents," the father answered. Then he checked his watch. "The kids take breaks at the twenties though. You may want to watch first." As he said that, he pointed at the dojo door. Hinako appeared ushering eight students from the dojo to the house. Then she chased another seven students from the house back to the dojo. As soon as all the doors closed, the kids in the house screamed loudly using voices filled with frustration. They continued screaming until their voices gave out.

Maomolin's face paled as he took in the sound. "That happens every twenty minutes?" he asked finally.

"Yes," Soun agreed.

"Oh dear…" Maomolin started and then trailed off. He was about say something when a thunderous sound tore across the night. Two inter-twined columns of Power ripped toward the night sky some distance from the house. The cat judged they originated from the Cherry Street Park. "And that would be Ranma and Akane," the disguised cat concluded.

"Yes," Soun agreed. "Their break should be about now. I suppose primal screams are good for the soul. I'm not sure they're good for the bystanders though."

"Hmmm….maybe I'll sleep at the clinic after all," Maomolin mused. "I'm going say 'Hello' to Mousse and Nodoka though. Night," the cat said turning toward the house.

"Good night," Soun murmured after him. Soun waited until he was inside the house, then took out another cigarette. As he drew in a puff, he began choking on the smoke. He swore and split the cigarette open. "Willow leaves…" Soun muttered and silently cursed the shaped-changed cat.

A/N: Next up - The Attacks