Later that day, Kasumi showed Ranma an empty room.

"Ranma, you can use this room" said Kasumi. Then, as Ranma dropped her bag, she added "Would you like to freshen up and have a bath now?

"Uh, no thanks" said Ranma quickly.

"Here" Kasumi gave her the towel "You've been exercising haven't you?

"Yes" said Ranma, looking down.

Ranma went to the bath, sighing. She poured some hot water in the bath and got in, pondering. The now male Ranma turned some things over in his head. They're bound to find out sooner or later. I'll have ta find a way to make it easier for them...

Some time later, the bath had cooled. Ranma was surprised to find his curse activating and found himself turning back into a girl.

Meanwhile, Akane had been told to take a bath too. Seeing Ranma's clothes still outside, she decided the redhead must still be in the bath. Quickly stripping, Akane opened the door to find Ranma halfway out the bath. The girls stared for a second and Ranma turned away.

"Oh." Akane breathed, "Are you getting out now?"

"Umm..." said Ranma, turning slightly red "Yea..."

Ranma went out of the bathroom as Akane went in, sighing with relief. That was a close one... I'd better make this stuff more clear in future.
She dried off and got dressed, and smelling a meal, headed downstairs. Kasumi was in the kitchen, making a small meal. She sighed, so decided to cheer herself and went to see her father to gloat.

He had been confined to the garden, which she laughed at.

"Heya Pops" Ranma gloated

The panda grunted in annoyance.

"Mr. Tendo?" asked Ranma "this is Pops. He's a... panda I found in China." At least that's half true...

Mr. Tendo grunted, then asked "What happened to Genma?"

"Uhh" mumbled Ranma, trying to think of something plausible " "H-he... I don't know. We were training in China and... I... He... Didn't come back after getting a challenge letter."

"Hmm..." Said Soun a bit doubtfully "Well I've no doubt he is perfectly fine."

"Yea, he sure is" Ranma laughed

Then, sticking her tongue out at the panda, she went inside


"Remind me why I have to come along?" Ranma grumbled "Who needs school? It's completely pointless."

"You've got to study" argued Akane "We've got to go NOW or we'll be late.

"What if I'm not ready?" protested Ranma "Its not like-" She was cut short by a panda thrusting a bag at her. "Alright, alright" She muttered angrily "I'm goin' already. Jeez."

They set off for school together at a run. Ranma ran on the fence beside her.

"Watch out when we get there, OK?" Akane told Ranma

"Uhh, sure." Ranma replied, jumping down beside her "Why?"

But they had reached Furikan by now. Nabiki was watching from the classroom near the window, along with some others. She looked as if she was looking forward to something. Sure enough, as Ranma passed through the gate, a horde of students came flooding out of the door.

"OUT of my way" yelled Akane "I'm late!"

She was instantly covered in by the horde of boys, who, as Ranma watched, were being forced aside by Akane. She beat her way through them with practiced ease, without a single one landing a hit on her.

Ranma, who was perched on a nearby tree, looked at Akane in amazement. She prepared to jump down to help, forgetting Akane's previous request, but Nabiki called to her:

"She's fine! She does this every morning!"

"Every morning?" Ranma asked incredulously, watching boy after boy being knocked out.

Akane had just forced the last one aside, sending a large jock sprawling, when something flew straight at her. She instinctively caught it. It was a rose. Akane's expression crumbled and she let out a groan.

A man stalked out from behind a tree, holding a wooden bokken in his hands. He was wearing a simple kendo kit, but with a blue colored shirt, and no helmet.

"But earthlier happy is the rose distilled..." He started, but Ranma interrupted him.

"What just happened?" Ranma asked Akane, ignoring the kendo-wielding teenager.

"Who dares interrupt me?" He shouted "Show yourself!"

Jumping down in front of him, Ranma put her hands in her pockets.

"You called?" She asked, annoyed

Seeing Ranma in front of him, Kuno thought for a moment, and changed tack from his previous hostile voice to a friendly one. "What is your name?" He asked

"Huh? You talking to me?" Ranma pointed to herself "Well" She said with a cocky smile "I'm-

"Wait. Is it not the custom to give ones own name first? Fine then. Mine I shall give. I am the undefeated captain of this school's Kendo club. The rising new star of the high school fencing world. The sound of my voice strikes fear into the hearts of my enemies." Raising his sword upwards, he proclaimed "My peers call me the blue Thunder of Furikan high!"

"Tatewaki Kuno, aged 17."

"I-I'm Ranma. Ranma Saotome."

"Such a pretty young girl should not be fighting." Tatewaki Kuno, aged 17 told her, flicking his hair back.

Ranma launched a kick straight aimed straight for Kuno's head. Kuno took the blow, crumpling from the unexpected attack.

"I am not a girl!" She shouted. Then she realized what she had said, looking nervously at Akane, who seemed not to have noticed "I mean, I can fight just fine!"

"Such a pretty young girl..." murmured Kuno, sprawled on the ground.


"What was all that about?" asked Ranma, putting her stuff in her locker.

"That? Kuno made this STUPID speech at the beginning of the semester." Akane said

"The vengeance of heaven is slow but sure. If you wish to take Akane out, you must defeat her in combat! I Tatewaki Kuno, will accept no other terms! Now. Am I making myself absolutely clear?" Kuno shouted the last part, slamming his hands down for effect.

"Since then, they've been at me all year. Honestly, you would've thought they'd have learnt by now." Akane told her

"Why do they even want to go out with you?" asked Ranma.

"Hey!" Akane complained good-naturedly "I don't suppose you have a hoard of people wanting to date you"

"Sorry, sorry" Ranma replied quickly "What I meant was, aren't there other people to go for? Who don't beat them down every time?"

"I don't know the answer to that, honestly." Sighed Akane. "What would you do?"

"Uhh..." said Ranma, trying to think of an answer "Well, I've been training a lot, so I'm not used to this stuff"

Sensing Ranma didn't want to talk about it, Akane nodded. It was only when Ranma went in that Akane realised she hadn't answered her question. In fact, her answer didn't even make sense. Frowning, she headed to her first lesson, and decided to let it drop.

At break, Akane told Ranma she should get a look at the timetable to see what was going on.

"Since you don't have your own timetable you can use mine for the time being. See here, its Gym next, then maths. This blank bit mea-"

She was cut short by Ranma who was suddenly paying a lot more attention. Her voice a pinch higher than usual she said "Gym?"

Akane frowned "Yea. That reminds me. We've got to get you some gym stuff, if just for now."

The bell rang then, and Akane grabbed Ranma's hand, and pulled her along.

"We'll be late if we don't hurry!" She said, running along to corridors to the boiler room, where the spare stuff was stored.

"Here, we'll find one that fits" said Akane as she searched the shelves for some gym clothes. "This place is old though, so be careful."

Ranma stood behind Akane worrying about what she should do. But the door burst open as they were looking around, freeing Ranma from the choice of what to do

"Ranma Saotome! I challenge you!" shouted Kuno, charging at her.


1,383 words

I'm happy with this chapter for now. I'm trying to make all my chapters over 1,000 words. Comments and criticisms are welcome, as this is my first fanfic. I had the idea ages ago, but I'm having difficultly writing this out.

I like the idea of Ranma having boy troubles, but I'm trying to think of a way to get rid of the daily horde.