Author's Notes –

Yes, I've been busy lately – three new fics, finishing one, and trying to update this one as well. Oh, and finally buying a house. Yes, I don't have internet yet either. With the latest project I'll be tied up for some time, not to mention that we don't have internet set up for the house yet. Yes, my updates will be slower.

When you see this – "Hi!" – the italics in quotation marks, they're speaking Chinese.

That said - this fic is taking a big change of direction. It's already been established that Ranma is well out of the league of any of the fighters from Change 123, so he's going to need something more to keep him involved.

* * * * *

The cool, almost chilly late winter wind seemed to keep most of the other students inside as the large groups gathered in the hallways and rooms, discussing their the new school, new students, or the new term. But for the pigtailed martial artist, the roof provided him with the perfect place for some solitude as he contemplated his situation. Though he had wanted to avoid a confrontation with the newest punk in the school, Ranma ultimately had been forced to show some of his fighting potential, well just enough to convince the tall punk that he wasn't in Ranma's league.

It was that display that left him feeling more than just a bit uncomfortable. In projecting his battle aura enough to scare the unschooled and undisciplined punk, Ranma had noticed the number of fighters that the school had, many of them among the new students and teachers.

"So," he said, stopping the unknown girl in her tracks as she tried to sneak up on him. She'd probably have been successful to given that the door to the stairwell was wide open and she'd been relatively quiet, but his ability to sense an attack always trumped a silent attacker. "I take it you're one of the new kids trying to test just how good I am?"

"I was considering it," the distinctly female voice replied.

She definitely didn't sound like someone his age. Was she one of the teachers? Turning around Ranma wasn't completely surprised to see the new school nurse. Having dealt with Dr. Tofu's eccentric yet useful knowledge of the healing arts and martial arts the pigtailed fighter knew that he should have overlooked the possibility that the new nurse (as busty as she was) was an accomplished martial artist.

"You're definitely not someone I would have though wanted to make a name for themselves and be the 'Guardian'," he said coolly.

"I'm not here to see how good you are," she stated, "I already know that you're a much better martial artist than I am. No, I'm here to bring you in."

"What, the bell hasn't even rung yet," Ranma joked. Seeing her warm smile, Ranma knew that she'd already melted the hearts of many of his peers. She definitely had the edge in looking sexy and being able to manipulate the boys, but those tricks wouldn't work against him.

"You are Ranma Saotome," the nurse stated. "You are the only son of one bastard Genma Saotome and Nodoka Gettou."

Ranma blinked. That had caught him by surprise.

"I know your grandmother," the older woman stated. "She wanted me to bring you and Motoko back into the fold."

"And why would I want back in?" the young martial artist replied.

"What do you plan to do once you're done with school?"

Though she had a valid question, Ranma resorted to what he knew best – deflecting and joking. "I though you were the school nurse, not the guidance counselor."

"Simply running a dojo is nice, but teaching and instructing will only fulfill you so much," the older woman replied. "Though you're more than up for the challenge, I'm sure that you want to do more than just spar with your handful of students. By rejoining your grandmother and taking up where your mother left, you could do so much more."

Weighing her words, Ranma considered if maybe she did have a valid point. Still, he couldn't just abandon his students, not now. "Maybe in a few years," he finally said, "once I've graduated from high school I'll give you an answer."

* * * * *

The new term had gone surprisingly well for Ranma and the rest of the students and faculty at Saotome High. With all the formalities and festivities of the first day of the term over Ranma was allowed to wear his usual red silk shirt and black pants, though many seemed to view that as a sign that he was in fact the 'Guardian' of the school due to his blatant disregard for rules and not wanting to blend in like the rest of the students. If not for the fact that he tended to hang around students like Kannami and other outstanding students, many would have thought that Ranma really was a rogue and vagrant.

"You think that'll work?" the blond genius asked in fluent Mandarin.

"Maybe," the pigtailed boy replied as he looked down at his meager lunch, though meager was a relative term for someone who could consume as much as he could. The two orders of food from the nearby fast food chain had vanished in a few seconds, the same amount of time that it had taken Kannami to take a sip of his tea. "But just in case I've brought in some help," he explained in broken Mandarin.

Sitting on the roof with many students around them, the pair had decided that the best way for them to have a private conversation while in the midst of their peers was to speak in another language. English was spoken by too many of their peers, but Mandarin (something Ranma had picked up a bit in his recent travels to Hong Kong and Taiwan as well as his time around the Chinese Amazons) was spoken by fewer people given the long history of bad blood between the Chinese and Japanese. As such it was the perfect language for the two to converse in given the number of supposed spies that were looking into Ranma and Motoko's activities.

"You're sure that they're capable of handling her?" the blond asked skeptically.

"Ryoga's been named as the heir to the Tendo branch of the school," Ranma replied. "He's also my longtime rival. Kuno doesn't know what he's in for, but I'm sure he's going to do just what I expect him to do."

"Which is to annoy Blue enough to force her to fuse with Black," Kannami stated as he eyed the last of his lunch. Rather than referring to the girls by their names, they had taken to referring to them through code – red for Hibiki, yellow for Miriki, blue for Fujiko, and black for Zero.

Ranma nodded. "Taro was the hardest to convince, but he promised to help out once the old man agreed to rename him. The only problem is getting Hero to stay out of trouble once everything goes down." They had of course been forced to find a code name for Teruharu 'Hideo' Kosukegawa as well.

If I only had someone of your caliber when I first came up with the test for Motoko, Kannami mused as he finished his meal. "When are you going to start everything?"

"It's already started," the raven haired boy replied. "I just hope Ryoga manages to find Motoko when HiFuMi is in control."

* * * * *

Weeks flew by with little change other than the fact that Kosukegawa was slowly learning another style of Tai Chi. Well, Osuma's puppy was no longer a puppy, and the big lug had started taking advanced Judo lessons from Ranma. He'd even taken to using other styles against the firmly set Judo practitioner.

Looking out of the window Ranma wondered just where his former rival had gone.

"Wanna play Old Maid?" Kosukegawa asked cheerfully from the middle seat.

Ranma repressed the urge to shudder.

"It's just a friendly game," the tall and muscular Saitou, the captain of the second years for the Judo team smirked.

It hadn't taken long for the entire school to find out about Ranma's weakness – his inability to bluff. Then again, he'd rarely needed to bluff in a fight. But card games and gambling were different. They worked on a completely different set of rules.

"How about Hearts?" Ranma countered.

"We'd need a fourth," Kosukegawa replied.

"Osuma!" Ranma said, standing up slightly so that he could put his hand on the taller boy's shoulder, "Why don't you play with us?"

Glancing at the cute girl to his left the taller boy froze. He did owe Ranma for the free lessons/sparring, but this was supposed to be his time with Osada….

"If Motoko and I join we can all play Old Maid," the slight girl suggested, pounding in the last nail in Ranma's coffin.

"Well, um," the timid container of HiFuMi muttered.

"Come on, it'll be fun," Osada beamed. "What else are we going to do while we're on the plan?"

"Seven'll make it the perfect number," Kannami said with a slight smile.

Damn, even he's getting in on this, the raven haired boy grumbled as he considered his odds. Why the hell did I have to sit next to these goons on the flight to Okinawa?

"Excuse me," the bright and cheerful face of one Izuru Hino interrupted.

"Izuru," Ranma blurted, ignoring the fact that he had addressed her with her given name rather than her family name.

"I need to borrow Ranma for a few minutes," the cheerful red-head said, her warm smiling miraculously saving the pigtailed boy.

Counting his blessings, Ranma stood up and slipped past Hideo and Osuma as he unofficially ran from the challenge his classmates had thrown his way. But it was card games and gambling; he was exempt from the challenge because it wasn't martial arts oriented.

"Thanks for the save," he whispered to the redhead as she lead him away.

"While I may have save you from them, I didn't save you from playing," she replied with a smile.

Damn! I knew I should have just swam to Okinawa.

* * * * *

By the time they finally made it to the beach Ranma began to wonder if perhaps he should have stayed behind. Having been coerced into gambling for duties, the pigtailed boy had ultimately been saddled with trash and recycling as well as helping lug around Osuma and Osada's things while they were at the beach.

With his curse currently locked so that he was stuck in his male form, Ranma was feeling good about this trip to the beach. For once he didn't have to pack a bathing suit or bikini or have to worry about Happosai stealing his top or copping a feel. Maybe, just maybe, it was actually worth the crap that he got from his peers. Hell, it was a lot easier to deal with than the various fights, challenges, and other things that usually happened with his old crew.

Looking at the deep, blue, sparkling water, Ranma felt himself smile. Even the cool, salty water that the new girl had managed to splash him with didn't damper his mood (especially since he didn't change into a girl anymore) though he did instinctively check for any leering perverts.

"Is this your first time to the ocean?" Sora asked with a crooked smile. "Looks like even the 'Guardian' can be caught off guard."

Several of their classmates started shouting, adding fuel to the fire. Clearly someone needed to be put in their place. Ever since the display at the beginning of the term, the pigtailed master martial artist occasionally felt the new girl's eyes on him, often trying to appraise him in a way very similar what Cologne had done when he'd first met the old ghoul.

Glancing around Ranma smiled. Pulling out some money he quickly paid for some melons before casually tossing one to Sora. "You know the usual beach game of breaking a watermelon, right?"

The predatory girl nodded as Ranma kicked a stick over to her which she deftly caught with her free hand.

"Well, the object is to be the last person with an unbroken melon," the pigtailed boy explained with a grin. "I'm sure we've all got enough melons and sticks around."

Grabbing one for himself Ranma spun it on his extended finger. "It's a good game and everyone gets to enjoy a new twist on the usual beach games."

Ozuma nodded, taking a small melon out for Osada before grabbing one for himself. "Then we can go rinse ourselves off afterwards," the tall judo practitioner added.

Though many of the other students were reluctant, seeing the petite Hino and the usually un-energetic Motoko (and Kosukegawa, but few were paying any attention to him) grabbing melons and sticks the others in the class soon followed suit.

"What are the rules?" Osada asked for clarification.

"No hitting each other with your sticks," Ranma explained, "and to make this really interesting you can form teams, but there can only be one winner… so the first person to cross the finish line…"

"Finish line? I thought you said the last person with a watermelon?" one of the guys shouted out.

"Yeah, but to keep you guys from accidentally hurting someone we're going to make it a race," the pigtailed boy amended. "That we we're all spread out some more."

Many of the others nodded, accepting Ranma's suggestion. Slowly a long line formed (with many of the students trying to stay out of reach of Ranma. Taking several steps back from the line, Ranma gave everyone else a good five meter lead. "Just so that everyone of you has a chance to win," he said with a knowing smile.

"And for an impartial judge," the distinct voice of the new school nurse interjected, drawing many of the boys' attention as the tiny bikini somehow defied gravity (and the silent prayers) and held up her ample assets, "I'll be at the finish line."

"Does the winner get anything?" several boys blurted out.

"How about lunch with one of us?" the new P.E. instructor and object of many girls' daydreams suggested, drawing a chorus of groans from the boys while the girls of course giggled happily.

Of course more students from the other classes decided to join the fray.

"I'll even supervise the 'contest' to make sure no one gets hurt," the devilishly handsome and athletic man said with a smile that made many of the girls blush or swoon. "And our nurse will be on hand just in case something happens."

The line before him grew longer as more students emptied the vendor's stand of watermelons. It almost looked as though everyone in the second year class, all 157 of them, were participating in this little game.

"You've done this before," Kannami stated as he took a position not too far from Ranma.

"Why are you over here?" the martial artist asked, trying to deflect the subject.

"While I may not be in your league or even Motoko and Hino's league, I'm capable of handling myself in most situations," the blond smirked. "And we are here to have some fun, are we not?"

Ranma nodded. Yes, this was all about having fun, but he knew that not everyone saw it that way.

* * * * *

Never one to want to stand out, Motoko wasn't sure that she wanted to participate in Ranma's impromptu challenge to the new girl Sora. Yes, he'd been pushing her to become more confident in her own abilities and not to rely on, well, the others, but did she really want to become more like them? Yes, Mikiru was playful, but she was easily the least mature of the group. Hibiki was very hotheaded and while she often saved Motoko, Hibiki was just as likely to cause trouble for her. Only Fujiko appeared to be someone she would want to emulate, but given how cool she was with Kosukegawa and the possibility that the speedster was interested more in Kannami than the runty Kosukegawa, Motoko wasn't sure if she wanted to be too much like Fujiko.

Though she had endured a few months of training under Ranma (having also started with Tai Chi to work on her balance) she was not allowed to revert to one of her other personalities to deal with the grueling training as Ranma was prone to take it much harder on whichever persona that appeared. After having brought out Zero several times Motoko had been forced to endure the training sessions herself rather than suffer the lingering bruises and aching muscles that were a result of Ranma working all four of her other personas hard.

Still, facing off against virtually everyone while trying to defend her watermelon, well, that was just odd, though apparently not that odd for the pigtailed martial artist.

Clutching her stick she tried to recall everything that Ranma had taught her.

Watch out for Ranma, Kosukegawa, Hino, Ozuma, and Osada, Fujiko cautioned.

Ranma's the obvious threat, Hibiki seconded. He's bound to test you guys.

Ohh, I wanna do this, Mikiri whined. This looks like fun… and all those watermelons…

Just stay calm and keep your defenses up, Fujiko advised.

Nodding, Motoko hugged the watermelon. So focused on the competition was she that the be-speckled girl failed to notice the many leering looks that several boys were shooting over at her, Kosukegawa included. Though she knew that she'd attracted the attention of many depraved men and boys, she'd somehow allowed Ranma, Hino, and Anna to convince her to wear a red bikini with yellow pokadots and tied together with blue strings. The tiny bikini barely covered her ample assets, and if Mikiri were to come out, well, then she'd really come out.

Damn! I never noticed how hot Motoko was!

Kosukegawa hasn't worked up the courage to kiss her! What an idiot!

If I were her boyfriend I'd have… and… and…

How the hell id Kosukegawa get a hottie like Motoko?!

Those otaku losers were right – Motoko's a total babe!

I knew I shouldn't have forgotten to bring my cell phone!

I'm going to make millions on these pictures!

I'm never going to rip on Ranma after this…

Thank you Ranma…

I'm definitely taking Kosukegawa out first. Then Motoko will see how much cooler I am and dump him for me!

* * * * *

A cold shiver ran down Kosukegawa's spine despite the warm, tropical weather. Seeing the many looks that some of his peers and classmates were throwing his girlfriend and then him, he knew (or at least thought he did) just what they were thinking – how the hell did he get someone like Motoko to be his girlfriend?

Just you wait – I'm going to prove myself to all of you. Motoko and I belong together!

* * * * *

"Begin!"

Instinctively Motoko pulled her water melon towards her as someone to her right tried to smash her melon. A quick poke was all she needed to knock her attacker's melon out of his hand, sending the juicy fruit to an early and unfortunate demise against the compact sand.

All around many other students lost their melons as they either tripped over their own feet or were bested by their friends, peers, and fellow classmates.

Blocking a swift strike from one of the kendo students she leaned to the side and pivoted on her left foot before countering with a precise kick that sent the long haired boy's melon flying out of his hands and into the back of another student, toppling him and causing him to break his own watermelon.

Yeah, two down with one blow! Way to go Motoko! Hibiki cheered. As much as she wanted to participate, she knew that aside from Ranma and Hino, no one else in the competition would be worth her time.

Slowly she made her way past the defeated boys around her as she sought to protect her melon from harm. Scanning the beach she saw a large crowd of girls making a mad dash for the finish line even as they fought amongst themselves. The athletic girls all belonged to one of the many sports teams or clubs, though none of them seemed to stand out too much.

Like Ranma, Hino drew a wide birth from those around her. Having seen her display of skill during the previous school festival everyone knew that she was second only to Ranma and none dared to challenge her.

Then there was the large fight brewing around Kosukegawa. Somehow he always managed to get into trouble, even without Motoko around. Making her way towards her boyfriend, the be-speckled girl batted away the strikes of several assailants before countering with swift blows that broke their respective melons. Planting her foot, she spun herself, avoiding a rushed attack while also sending her attacker into the sand where she dropped her melon as she fell.

* * * * *

Sora was having fun. As a speed and defensive type, and one of her caliber, she was more than ready to deal with anyone that dared to come her way. She'd personally dispatched over a dozen of the other participants as she waited for Ranma. She knew she couldn't just launch into a fight with him, not without warming up a bit first at least.

Fending off Ozuma's wicked yet very precise attack, she countered with a fierce throw, sending her stick right into the large oaf's melon and eliminating him from the competition. Smiling wickedly she retrieved her weapon before rushing towards her next target – Izuru Hino.

"SAOTOME!" someone shouted, drawing everyone's attention to the odd young man standing guard at the finish line. "Prepare to die you foul, two-timing bastard!"

That was unexpected.

* * * * *

A/N

I'm going to leave this here for now. I figure the fight scene is going to take too long to write and given how long I've made you guys wait for this update, well, you deserve to get this now.

Please Read and Review.

Dreamingfox