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After the Fall - Chapter 3, A Return to Furinkan
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Kuno Tatewaki opened his eyes, aware of someone shaking his shoulder. He began to observe the strange place he was in, so different from where he should be.
As he shook his head, the haze of sleep left his brain and he remembered; he was at home. This was his new room at the Tendo/Saotome Dojo, where he was staying. The person shaking him was truly beauteous.
Kuno smiled. "Tendo Nabiki, I am awake. You need not shake me any more."
"But it's fun, Kuno-chan. Oh, all right, if you insist."
His angel walked out the door, giggling something about breakfast being almost ready.
Kuno went to his dresser and took out the clothing he needed for the day. Both Kasumi and Nabiki had spent half a night, it seemed, altering the clothes so that they would fit his frame properly. He headed for the furo, finding a sign indicating occupancy. A moment later, Tendo Ranma exited, and Kuno cleaned himself and put on the new suit for the day.
Breakfast had already started by the time he was changed. Everyone stopped eating to comment, however.
"Hey, Kuno, never seen ya in one of those before."
"Oh my. We may still have to do a little sewing."
"I never thought anyone could make that outfit look good, Kuno-chan, but you managed it. Congratulations. Pose for the photo. "
Kuno had looked in the mirror, and hardly recognized himself. In some ways he wished he could go back to his faux-samurai garb for his first day, but the Furinkan Boys' Uniform was what was required and the "exceptions" of the past (due mostly to students who were too unruly to comply, such as Ranma and himself) were no longer in effect.
Breakfast was gulped down, and the Tendos walked him to school for his first day. Kuno felt naked walking into the familiar place without his bokken, but he didn't really need it. As he arrived, a surprise awaited him: the Kendo Club, or at least its now-senior members (the freshmen from when he had been present) had come to welcome him back. A quick trip to the Headmaster's office, now conspicuously missing its old hawaiian flavor, ensured that he could reenter classes where he had left off, and actually gave him a month of review to catch up on what he might have forgotten. The new Headmaster's only request was that Kuno not participate in any of the old-style behavior, a condition he was only too happy to agree to.
Kuno sat through his early morning classes, trying to figure out what to say to the Kendo Club. He had tried to avoid their questions about when he would come back to lead them, and the Tendos had said nothing on the matter, but eventually he would have to inform them of his intentions and status. He wondered at how quiet everything was: no martial artists running through the halls, no fights breaking out, only a few students in trouble and holding water buckets, for no more major offense than passing notes. It was strange, seeing the school so quiet.
At lunch, there seemed nowhere to run. Kendoists came from every direction, offering him swords, shouting challenges, begging him to come back and train the club once more to bring back its stature in the local Kendo community. Kuno tried avoiding them, and eventually found himself outside the school. He began trying to find an escape, and saw a nearby tree.
"Ah. If I can use that trick Ranma has been trying to teach me, perhaps..."
Kuno concentrated, and felt his Ki begin to flow. He funneled it into his legs, rather than his arms where he usually placed it, and PUSHED.
The next thing he knew, Kuno was sitting in the tree, calmly eating his lunch, while the Kendo Club attempted to reach him. This was much better... no wonder Ranma had always sought to eat outdoors and away from people, with all the fiancees following him everywhere. It also explained Ranma's power and speed, since those could easily be augmented with Ki as well. It was to Ranma's credit that he summoned his Ki so effortlessly.
Classes in the afternoon passed in a blur. He knew most of the material already, and was able to spend time examining the notes passed to him in class. Those from the Kendoists he ignored. A few came from people who didn't know who he was and wondered if he was "available". He was flattered, and glad to know that he did not have too many ill effects to his reputation as a result of past conduct.
One note was particularly interesting; it asked whether or not the "Nerima Wrecking Crew" had really existed. He decided to kill two birds with one stone. He replied to the note, instructing those who wished to ask questions to assemble at the Tendo/Saotome Dojo an hour after school ended. He was sure that the Kendoists would be among those in attendance.
When school ended, Kuno left through the third story window, trying out the Ki jumping technique once more, to get ahead of those who thought to catch him at the gates. He ran home to the Dojo, and arrived to find Tendo Nabiki standing at the gate. She opened the gate, allowing him in, and told him to go get changed into his old clothes and have his bokken ready.
Ever the mercenary, Tendo Nabiki was already preparing to sell tickets to the "Nerima Wrecking Crew Q&A Session".