Part 5: Tame Wolves Speak Mindfully

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A full two months passed between the time that Crawford became the English teacher at Furinkan and the time that Nagi Naoe joined Omi in the junior class.

Omi whispered. What took you so long?

We can't all appear at once, you know.

Omi took notes for a minute. Then, Why couldn't you have come before Crawford?

Tsukiyono. Do you have something to say to the class?

Just telling Naoe that I'm glad to see him again, Omi said solemnly.

And this couldn't wait.

Not really. Sorry, sir.

Alright, Tsukiyono. Just pay attention from now on.

Yes sir.

**Um. Nagi?**

**What?**

**You can hear me?**

**Of course.** Nagi seemed to be caught between amusement and irritation.

**Oh.**

The bell rang, signaling change of class.

**So what was it you wanted to ask?**

**I was just curious about something silly.**

Nagi smiled, reached over, and grasped Omi's shoulder. Then his arm dropped and they walked on.

All de boys be gettin' de buzz cuts! All de girls get de bowl cuts! the Principal's voice rang out over the speakers.

Class stopped instantly.

In the middle of wails, snarls, and cries of, Not again! two people moved against the flow and steadily towards one particular office. Omi and Nagi followed.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I'm tired of this, Ranma said. He and Akane were confronting the principal. Piles of broken hair shears surrounded them, stolen by Ranma and broken by Akane. Principal Kuno had nothing to protect him. He stepped back and jerked open a door just as Omi and Nagi came up behind the other two students.

Cats rushed at them from the door behind the principal.

You may have taken my shears, but I'll have you yet, Saotome, he cried. Ranma backed slowly away from them, but found the way blocked. The principal pulled out one last pair of shears and advanced.

Nagi frowned, but saw no reason to investigate. Omi was just confused.

The principal was a step away from his prize when Ranma yowled. Akane turned, shoved Omi and Nagi out, and then ran out herself.

What was that? Nagi asked calmly.

He's gone cat, she explained. I'll snap him out of it once he's trashed Principal Kuno.

**That's actually what I wanted to ask you about,** Omi told Nagi. **Did he try to shave your head too?**

**Schuldich removed the thought from his head before he could voice it.**

You are so lucky, Omi whispered.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Persia looked at the Saguras evenly. He did not allow any emotion to bleed through his face or his voice.

You want them killed? Naoki asked.

Including your nephew?

Persia sighed.

Rin looked at her husband for a moment before facing Shuuichi Takatori again.

That is not your business.

She raised an eyebrow. We don't have to take this job.

He sighed again. They have left Kritiker. It was understood from the beginning that should they desert, they would die.

Including your nephew? Naoki repeated.

Only a slight pause gave away the lie.

Naoki and Rin looked at each other a moment. Very well, Naoki said. We will find them.

Thank you. Persia let out his breath. How much?

Standard. Up front.

Mr. Takatori nodded, relieved.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Ranma looked warily at the white-haired girl that stood smiling before her. She scared her in a way that only cats could.

You're Ranma, she said.

I am. Who are you?

I'm Makizeen the Lightbringer. But please call me Maki. She smiled again and shivers ran down his spine. He felt himself being compelled against his will to like her, but as hard as he tried, he couldn't help but like her. He felt himself smiling back. Maki. How do you know of me?

Aya and the other guys got warned against letting you start a fight in their new shop. It's called Kitty in the House after the old one.

? Oh! The new Jusenkyouites. So you're following them?

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Um, Nagi?

Will you have time to talk after school.

I think so.

Okay. Thank you.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Omi waited for Nagi patiently. The other boy had been called to stay behind and help a girl struggling in mathematics. It wasn't much longer before he should be out.

Unfortunately, water found him before Nagi could.

A few minutes later, Nagi exited the building. He looked for Omi, but couldn't find him.

**Nagi?**

Nagi looked at a shadow.

**It's me. I got cursed.**

**Come on out. I'll take care of it.**

Slowly, a smallish, light brown wolf crept out of the shadow, holding Omi's pack in its teeth and looking hopefully at Nagi.

Nagi blinked. **Omi?**

**Yes?** The wolf looked miserable.

**You're rather cute.**

**Huh?**

Nagi burst out laughing. He knelt and wrapped his arms around the wolf Omi's neck. Good to see you, he said out loud for the school's benefit. He pulled Omi's pack from the wolf's mouth, unslung his own, and then got onto Omi as though he were a horse.

**Go on to the flower shop.**

Omi obediently started walking, but he complained in his mind. **This was your idea of taking care of things?**

**Hey, I'm improvising here. I think it worked out well. Now everyone will know to contact me if they see you wandering around.**

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Ilde laughed again as Nagi made an extravagant story out of the deal with Principal Kuno. Nagi, you should either write these down or record them. That was hilarious!

Nagi laughed back, pleased and flattered. I guess. It wasn't very funny at the time, though.

That kind of insane person is nothing but trouble and irritation. He'd be better off dead, Crawford grumbled.

Farfarello's eyes lit up. Can I? he asked.

Crawford looked at him for a moment, before returning to his dinner. If no one sees you, he said.