Unknown;Disclaimer- I don't own Ranma ½ or any of the characters therein and I also don't own any songs that are inserted into this text. Please note that during the musical sections that the lyrics are in italics and the action is in (parenthesis). Also note that all characters automatically have perfect singing voices and are always accompanied by the music that goes with each song (unless otherwise noted). I will have a song sequence in each chapter, so each chapter will probably be very different lengths, hopefully this won't confuse people.


Ranma stood up and shook Ryouga's hand. "Ryouga, I accept."

Cologne beat her stick on the table. "Son-in-law, I refuse to let you blindly walk in to a humiliating defeat."

"Hey old crone! I ain't gonna lose!"

Ryouga stood from his chair. "Ranma, you'd better listen to her. If anybody knows how to defeat my techniques, she will. Isn't that right old woman?"

Cologne sighed. "Yes, I have defeated your master before. He was a rebel that thought the men should rule our village. He tried to take it over. He was easily overcome when the Amazons banded together. We exiled him to the forests of China, never to return to the village."

Ryouga nodded in agreement "Well, that explains why he hated you so much."

"Yes, but as to the matter at hand. Ryouga I'd like to see all of you're new techniques, if I'm going to train Ranma I need to see exactly what I'm up against."

Ryouga bowed respectfully. "Purely out of respect, I'll do it. If everyone will follow me to the back yard."

In the yard, everyone stood around Ryouga. "Okay, I'll start with the basics." Ryouga holds up his finger and a fire starts on the tip. "I can create fire and ice ki." He holds up the same finger on the opposite hand, a blue fire starts on it. "As you already know Ranma, when you combine hot and cold kis, it forms a tornado." He brought the two fires together. When they touched, a strong gust of wind blew by everyone.

"You can't sense me because I've made myself more rock-like. With the Bakusai Tenketsu training behind me, that was relatively easy."

Ryouga pulled off a bandana and twirled it on his finger. "I can also combine some of my old attacks with these kis to make them much more powerful." The bandana glowed red and he threw it at a nearby tree. The tree ignited. Ryouga stuck his finger into the ground and the tree froze.

"And finally, the most powerful attack is the power over lightning. It requires extremely heavy amounts of ki to work." He put both his arms to his sides, and a large beam of yellow colored ki was released from his body. It came back down on top of Ryouga and emitted a loud thunderclap.

The entire area that was hit was blackened. Ryouga walked out of the area completely unscathed. "Well I hope you're happy, old woman, and I hope you can mold Ranma into a formidable opponent."

"Yes I believe I can. Son-in-law, you are to come here everyday after your schooling, we will be doing special training. I also suggest that you rid yourself of any distractions. You'll need every moment to think and prepare."

"Aww old crone, I don't need school. You can train me and I'll skip it."

Cologne bopped him on the head with her cane "Shampoo's groom needs to be knowledgeable in worldly matters. You'll go to school."

"Yeah, whatever." Ranma turned to Ryouga. "So pig boy, how do you plan on staying here for three whole weeks?"

"Well… uh. I was hoping to stay here."

"I'm sorry Ryouga, but staying here would interfere with son-in-law's training. Besides, we have a law about a student staying with a rival's teacher."

"Heh, I thought as much." Ranma piped up. "Come on buddy, we'll find you a place to stay."

Ranma tried to grab Ryouga's hand, but he jerked it away. Ranma looked up, to see Ryouga staring at him with wide eyes. Ranma looked around at everyone else, only to find they were staring at him in the same way.

"What! I didn't do nothin' wrong." Ranma looked at Ryouga again. "Come on Ryouga, lets just go."

Ryouga just kept on staring at him. He finally asked the question that was on everybody's minds. "Buddy? Since when did you and me ever become buddies?"

"Just come on, P-chan." Ranma finally grabbed Ryouga's hand and jumped over the fence.

Shampoo walked next to her great-grandmother, still looking where Ranma had hopped the fence. "Grand mother, what we do now?"

"Just go inside granddaughter." She turned to the rest of the group. "As well as the rest of you, go home. I think we'll be in for a very interesting few weeks."

Ryouga and Ranma were standing in front of a large traditional Japanese house. Ranma rang the doorbell.

Ryouga fidgeted. "Are you sure about this Ranma?"

"Hey, don't worry buddy. Have I ever steered you wrong before?"

"Yes! Besides I don't think I can stand…" Suddenly the door flew open and a shadowy figure stepped out. The setting sun revealed it to be Tatewaki Kuno.

"Who dares disturb the meditations of Tatewaki Kuno?"

Both Ranma and Ryouga sweat-dropped "Yeah, um… Kuno, my friend Ryouga here needs a place to stay. I believe you two have met before."

"Yes, Hibiki ruined my fight with you before. Well being the good natured, samurai that I am, I shall help the poor and needy find a place to rest."

"Aw, I can't take this shit. I'm just going to find a hotel." Ryouga waved and turned his back on the two.

"You dare to refuse the Blue-Thunder of Furinkan High's hospitality? Fine then! If you are not my friend, you are my foe." So saying this, he leaped at Ryouga's exposed back.

Ryouga spun on his heel, grabbed Kuno by his shirt and slammed his back into the ground. "Blue thunder, if you don't stop acting like an idiot, you'll have to face the 'yellow thunder' of the Hibiki School of martial arts." Ryouga let go of his shirt and walked over him. "Come on Ranma."

Ryouga turned at the gate and walked away from the scene. Ranma ran after him. "Whoa Pig boy, what was that about?"

"I just wanted to show him how stupid he sounded. Where to next?"

"Well be damned if I know."

Ryouga shook his fist at Ranma. "Ranma! You promised me a home for 3 weeks, and KUNO was your ONLY idea!?"

Ranma held up his arms, shielding himself from Ryouga's impending onslaught. "N…now Ryouga. We've still got other places we could go. How 'bout ya sleep with Akane as P-chan for a while, or maybe go to Akari's and I'll come get you later."

Ryouga dropped his arms to the sides. "No Ranma, I can't do that. There are personal reasons."

Ranma just waved it off. "Yeah, well come on. I've got one last resort."

They arrived at Ucchan's. Ryouga stared up at the sign. "Ranma, you know you're cutting my life into pieces"

"Like I said, this is my last resort." They walked in and saw Ukyou, who was cleaning up for the night.

"Hey Ran-chan, did you get Ryouga a house?" She suddenly noticed Ryouga standing behind Ranma. "Oh I get it, you want him to live here. Well I ain't no charity sugar, you'll have to work if you want to live here."

Ranma's eyes widened. "You mean you'll do it?" Ranma embraced her in a friendly hug. "Thank you Ucchan."

Ukyo's eyes got all starry. "Oh Ranma."

Ryouga stood next to them, looking rather bored. "Ranma, if you're done, you should go home to Akane."

Ranma said his goodbyes and left, promising to see them both later.

Ukyou shut the door behind him, and spun on her heel to face Ryouga. "Okay Ryouga, since Ranma asked me to, I'm gonna let you stay here. But you're still going to work. Lucky for you I finished cleaning before you got here."

She walked up the stairs and Ryouga followed her. "Your room is the first on the left. It used to be Konatsu's. Right across the hall is mine, and at the end of the hall is the bathroom. Not even you can get too lost with only 3 doors."

Ryouga smiled at her. "But you know me, I'd have to be superman to pull that off."

"Oh well, good night Ryouga. And by the way, I expect you to be up at 6:30 for the breakfast crowd." She shut her door, leaving Ryouga in the hall.

"6:30?" Ryouga walked backwards into his completely empty room. He pulled out a futon and an alarm clock from his pack.

"Heh, 6:30." He set the clock for 6:30 and lay down to sleep.

Suddenly his eyes shot open. "6:30!? Ranma this is all you fault."

Ryouga shut his eyes again and finally went to sleep.

~Next day~

Ryouga's alarm got him up precisely at the right time. Unfortunately, Ryouga had to buy a new alarm clock because it did so. To put it bluntly, Ryouga was not a morning person.

He got dressed, and walked into the bathroom. Too bad Ryouga was trying to get downstairs. He walked between closets and bedrooms for a good ten minutes before finally making it to work.

Ukyou was already hard at work at the grill, dressed in her usual chef outfit with a large, happy smile on her face.

"Hey, morning Ryouga. About time you made it here. Flip the open sign over while I get some music playing. That ought to wake ya up."

Ryouga did as he was told. Ukyou flipped the radio to one of her favorite stations.

(I'm in a hurry to get things done, by Alabama)

Radio:
I'm in a hurry to get things done
Oh, I rush & rush until life's no fun
(Ukyou comes out with a batch of batter)
All I really gotta do is live & die
But, I'm in a hurry & don't know why
(She pours 10 okonomiyaki on the sizzling grill)

Don't know why
(Ryouga turns from the door, and begins nodding his head to the beat)
I have to drive so fast
My car has nothing to prove
(He sits at the grill and Ukyou serves him an okonomiyaki)
It's not new, but it'll do 0 to 60 in 5.2, Oh
(He eats it in one swallow)

Ryouga and Ukyou:
I'm in a hurry to get things done
Oh, I rush & rush until life's no fun
(A few customers come in)
All I really gotta do is live & die
But, I'm in a hurry & don't know why
(they sit at a few tables waiting to be served)

Ukyou:
Can't be late
(Ryouga goes to get the orders)
I leave in plenty of time
Shakin' hands with the clock
(Ryouga trips over a few chairs)
I can't stop
(Ukyou giggles)
I'm on a roll & I'm ready to rock Oh,
(Ryouga sweatdrops)

I'm in a hurry to get things done
(Ukyou flips a few pancakes into the air)
Oh, I rush & rush until life's no fun
(Catches one behind her back and flips it to an awaiting customer)
All I really gotta do is live & die
But, I'm in a hurry & don't know why
(Ryouga comes back and gives her some orders)

Ryouga:
I hear a voice
(Grabs a few plates from a cabinet)
It says I'm running behind
(He throws one in front of each awaiting customer)
I better pick up my pace
It's a race & there ain't no room for someone in 2nd place
(An okonomiyaki falls onto each plate)
(Ryouga walks back to the grill and stands next to Ukyou)

Ryouga and Ukyou:
I'm in a hurry to get things done
(They sit near the grill, taking money from leaving customers)
I rush & rush until life's no fun
All I really gotta do is live & die
(Ryouga walks over and flips the open sign to closed)
But, I'm in a hurry & don't know why

I'm in a hurry to get things done
(Ukyou steps in the back, and comes back in her school uniform)
Oh, I rush & rush until life's no fun
All I really gotta do is live & die
(Ryouga and Ukyou leave the empty restaurant)
But, I'm in a hurry & don't know why

I'm in a hurry to get things done
(Ryouga shoulders his pack and walks next to Ukyou)
Oh, I rush & rush until life's no fun
All I really gotta do is live & die
But, I'm in a hurry & don't know why

I'm in a hurry to get things done
(Ryouga begins to stay from course)
Oh, I rush & rush until life's no fun
(Ukyou grabs his hand and pulls him back)
All I really gotta do is live & die
But, I'm in a hurry & don't know why

Ryouga and Ukyou walked down the street to Furinkan high school. "Hey thanks Ryouga, This has been the best time I've ever had setting up shop and going to school."

"No problem Ukyou it was my..." Ryouga eyes suddenly went wide. "Ummm… Ukyou did you say school?"

"Yeah sugar, where did you think we…" Ukyou eyes went wide with realization. "Well we can't turn back now." She pointed in the direction they were heading. "Let's go into the unknown!" Ukyou ran off into the distance, dragging a complaining Ryouga the whole way.

Authors note's – OH THANK GOD I'M DONE! This was my longest chapter yet, cause I couldn't think of a good song to go into it. I know I did a bad job anyway, but I think it works. Next time, Ryouga at school!? When did he agree to this, and what's been going on since Ryouga's been gone, I mean 8 months, a lot must have happened right?