Chapter 12

Just as Ranma stepped into the grounds of Furinkan High school, he was passed by a girl
he vaguely recognised as Kasumi's little sister. The girl was running and quietly chanting
a mantra that sounded suspicously like "I hate Ranko, I hate Ranko, I HATE RANKO!"

Said redhead was just about to peacefully make her way into the main building without
incident when Akane made her presence known with her usual "Ranko Xiawang! I
challenge you!" (she had finally stopped making the 'Reiko' mistake last week).

"Aw geez, Akane. Give it a rest, you suck." Ranko made a half hearted protest as Akane
launched into a flurry of attacks. The scene was mostly ignored by the students as being
routine, but Ranma was one of the few people who were watching intently.

Ranko was standing in a relaxed pose with one hand still clutching her bookbag while
the other hand darted about to intercept every single one of Akane's attacks with no sign
of real effort. She wasn't even looking at her opponent as her eyes were fixed upon the
school clock "You're gonna make us both late ya stupid uncute tomboy."

Ranma sniggered. He'd have to remember that insult.

"Dammit, why can't I beat you?!" Akane raged as she increased the ferocity of her
attacks, yet every blow was gently redirected by a single finger on Ranko's dainty hand.

"Because you suck, Akane." Ranko explained in a tired tone of voice "In fact, I feel my
own skill is degrading just from having to waste time on your stupid challenges. You're
not even a real martial artist, just a little girl that likes to pretend. In fact... from now on
I'm going to treat you exactly as you deserve." so saying, she trapped Akane's fist after
her next punch and yanked her off balance before trapping the girl in a headlock.

"Let me go!" Akane protested as she flailed wildly, trying to find purchase to reverse or
counter the hold to no avail.

Ranko got an evil gleam in her eye as she announced dramatically "Anything Goes
Ultimate Noogie Attack!" and started rubbing Akane's head with her knuckles. She
wasn't going very fast (by her standards) since her full speed would likely set the poor
girl's head on fire, but it was certainly enough to hurt.

After a few seconds of this, Akane was released and fell stumbling into the arms of her
would be beloved. "Akane Tendou, do you require assistance?" Asked the Blue Thunder
(although he only decided upon that name this morning and had yet to use it, so everyone
still thought of him as the Shooting Star).

This latest humiliation from her hated foe was enough to eat away at Akane's pride as
she looked up at Kuno with tear filled eyes "Kuno-sempai, if you love me then why do
you always let her beat me?" she asked pathetically.

Kuno stood tall and adopted his usual regal demeanour as he postured dramatically "It is
not the place of a samurai to interfere in the affairs of women. It is obvious that Ranko
Xiawang is jealous of our love and seeks to win my attention by besting you in combat.
But fear not, Akane Tendou, for her love will go unrequited."

Akane chose not to refute his inference that she loved him, just this once since she was
trying to get his help.

Ranko sighed heavily as she wondered just what went on in Kuno's sorry excuse for a
brain "I already have a fiance, Kuno-baka, and I definitely ain't interested in you. But are
you trying to say I'm not good enough or somethin'?"

Kuno gave Ranko a pitying glance before speaking "While it is true you are both comely
and possessing of the fierce heart of a tigress, it would be unseemly for a member of the
noble house of Kuno to consort with an ai no ko such as yourself."

Ranko's eyes lit up. So that was why Kuno didn't harass her this time! She hadn't really
given any thought to the fact that she was half Chinese in this life - it even made a kind of
twisted sense since her girl body was 'born' in China from Jusenkyo's waters. Still, even if
she was glad Kuno wouldn't be harassing her, she couldn't let his racist remarks lie.
"Your sister doesn't have any problem 'consorting' with me." She said, drawing herself up
to her full height - which of course wasn't very impressive since she was five foot
nothing.

Kuno raised an eyebrow "Indeed? Kodachi is sadly perverse in her actions and does not
always act as befitting a person of her station. She takes a sick delight in acting out
against the proper rules of society. Truly my wicked sister is a depraved soul!" The
samurai wannabe raised his bokken to the heavens and wept righteous tears as he
badmouthed his own flesh and blood.

"Man, you really are dumb. First you insult me, then you insult my friend." Ranko said
before kicking him in the face, incidentally providing a free show of her panties to
anyone who cared to look. Not that she particularly cared about that since she only
bothered to fake feminine modesty when really thinking about it.

"That did not hurt." Kuno spoke in a montone.

"That's 'cause you're too dumb." Ranko replied before flicking his forehead, causing him
to topple over unconscious before she turned and entered the school.

"She's better than I thought..." Ranma said to himself as he watched his fiancee go,
wondering just how much she was holding back.

***

"Class, we have a new student starting today," the teacher said, gesturing to the pigtailed
boy at the front of the room. "He has just returned from a trip to China. Why don't you
introduce yourself?"

"I'm Ranma Saotome, heir to the Saotome school of Anything Goes martial arts. Nice to
meet ya." Ranma bowed to the class and grinned, attracting more than one appreciative
glance from the girls of classroom 1-F.

"Very well." the teacher nodded "Are there any free seats?"

"He can sit next to me!" Ranko was bouncing up and down while waving her arm as she
indicated the empty desk next to her own. The males of the class particularly appreciated
the display they were treated to as her actions did interesting things to her chest.

"But where am I going to sit?" Gosunkugi whined plaintatively from his position on the
floor, having just been rudely shoved from his seat.

"I don't care, find somewhere else." Ranko hissed out the corner of her mouth before
flashing a big innocent smile at Ranma.

The teacher adjusted his glasses. He could have almost sworn that that there was
supposed to be someone occupying the desk in question. Oh well, not like it really
mattered "Very well, you may sit next to Xiawang-kun." He told Ranma, who dutifully
went and sat down.

Gosunkugi sat and sulked in his new seat at the back of the class.

A few minutes later a despondent Akane Tendou trudged into the class. "You're late,
Tendou." the teacher observed.

"I... I have a note from the nurse..." Akane said in a small voice, still nursing her sore
head.

The teacher sighed, not even bothering to look at the note "Again? Fine, take a seat so I
can get back to the lesson."

After the class ended and they had a few minutes until the next teacher arrived, Yuka
turned to give a mock glare towards Ranko "What's the big idea putting the moves on the
new boy, huh Ranko-chan? What about that fiance you're always telling us about?" she
teased.

"Yuka, meet Ranma; my fiance." Ranko said drolly as she gestured between the two.

Everyone in the classroom instantly leapt on that statement as the girls glared at Ranko
for snagging the handsome new guy while the guys glared at Ranma for stealing
arguably the cutest girl in school (Akane used to hold that slot until the revalations about
her weird taste in porn made every guy except Kuno rather wary of the youngest Tendou.
The fact that she constantly sought out beatings from Ranko also led many to believe she
was a closet masochist).

"It wasn't my idea!" Ranma protested, still not comfortable with the idea of being
engaged.

Ranko looked at Ranma with a totally downcast expression "Oh.. I see... *sniff* I'm not
good enough for you..." she made her eyes start to tear up and looked the picture of
abject misery.

"N-no, that's not it!" Ranma stammered, waving his hands in protest, wondering how this
girl could one minute be so self assured and the next she'd go to pieces over a tiny little
thing. I'm just such a great guy she obviously can't handle me being upset with her,
Ranma thought, cursing his overpowering masculinity which girls just had no defence
against.

"So you don't hate me?" Ranko asked in a tiny quavering voice, affecting a cute pout.

"Ahaha! Of course not!" Ranma laughed nervously and scratched the base of his pigtail.

"Stop flirting with her! You're supposed to be engaged to my sister!" Akane yelled at
Ranma, thoroughly sickened by this display.

"He's engaged to Nabiki? Poor guy..." Muttered Hiroshi, sadly not quiet enough for
Akane heard him.

"What are you saying about my sister?!" The tomboy rose from her desk and advanced
menacingly on the boy. "Besides, it's Kasumi that he's engaged to, not Nabiki."

"How can you be engaged to two girls?" Yuka asked curiously, trying (and failing) to
picture Ranma with Akane's eldest sister.

"It's Mom and Pop's fault..." Ranma grumbled "They both arranged marriages with me
for different girls..."

Yuka eyed Ranko dubiously "And you don't mind sharing your fiance with someone
else?"

"It's not that we're sharing," Ranko protested "it's just that Ranma needs time to decide
between us. Besides..." she gazed up at Ranma with a lovestruck expression "I think he's
worth it..." she sighed dreamily, followed by half the girls in the class. The boys just
grumbled quietly amongst themselves about Ranma being a lucky bastard.

***

Ranko dusted her hands after she finished stacking the gym equipment in the storage
room. She had been pulled out of study hall to help move the stuff becuase, as one girl
had put it 'Oh Ranko-chan, you're so strong!'. She didn't really mind since she wasn't
really doing much studying and she tended to get this job at least once a week. But it sure
would be nice if the other girls would stick around to see the job to the finish rather than
just ditching her to do it all by herself!

She stepped out of the room onto the small paved area behind the gym and was about to
head straight back to class when she was stopped by a voice.

"Ranko Xiawang, I would speak with you."

Said redhead sighed as she recognised the owner of that pompous voice. "Whaddya want,
Kuno?" she asked tiredly, wondering what the hell he was even doing here since this area
was typically devoid of students. For that matter, why was he even talking to her, since
she was usually beneath his notice.

"Know that I have heard your plight, and it pains my noble heart that your love should
go unrequited due to the harsh demands of Japanese society." Kuno droned on as he
stepped closer to Ranko.

Ranko smirked "Heh, don't worry about it. I'll get by without your love." She none too
gently pushed the kendoist out of her way and started marching out from behind the gym.

"Nay!" Kuno clapped a hand on her shoulder "I cannot bear to see this injustice pass!
Even if we can never show our love in public for fear of the scandal it would cause, there
is nothing to prevent us consumating our passion in secret!"

He did *not* just proposition me! "Excuse me?" Ranko asked, her voice deceptively soft.

"I cannot date with thee, but if we are careful we can still have dalliance together in
private." Kuno said, oblivious to Ranko's rapidly rising ire.

"And what about Akane?" Ranko asked, still softly voiced, though her eyebrow was
twitching rapidly.

"Ah, Akane! Sweet tigress of my heart! Indeed my love for her is as boundless as the sky.
But worry not, fair Ranko, for I have love enough to let you bask in my manl-
AIIIEEE!!" Kuno abruptly stopped talking and started screeching as Ranko kicked him
square in the balls.

Ranko spat on the ground next to him and snarled "Just when I think you can't sink any
lower, you just have to surprise me don't you? Listen good Kuno, I do not love you. In
fact, I don't want you to even speak to me ever again!" She turned on her heel and
stormed away, steaming mad.

"I can't believe that asshole!" she hissed furiously "At least when I was the pigtailed girl
he made an effort to be romantic, but now he just thinks of me as some sort of cheap
slut" Breathing heavily from supressed rage, she gave one last glance to the gym building
which Kuno had yet to emerge from behind "I'm going to ask 'Dachi to give him such a
poisoning!"

***

Chapter 13

Lunchtime had finally arrived and Ranko was now in far better spirits, her encounter
with Kuno more or less dismissed from her mind. Now she'd be able to impress Ranma
with her delectable cooking by giving him a free lunch, which would no doubt take him
one step closer to falling in love with her so she could get back to her old life as Ranma
herself. The fact that the free food gambit never really worked for Shampoo and Ukyo
was convieniently forgotten.

"Here you are, Ranma. I made a bento for you!" Ranko smiled cutely as she held out the
proffered lunchbox to the pigtailed boy, the pair of them sitting together under one of
Furnikan High's numerous trees.

Ranma grinned as he accepted it and pulled two more lunchboxes from his bag "Thanks
Ranko, I've already got lunches from Mom and Kasumi, but there's always room for
more!"

Ranko ignored her own lunch as she stared at the familiar oval bento decorated with
fishcake swirls "Kasumi made that?" she asked in a strange tone of voice. She could
already imagine the exquisite taste of Kasumi's lovingly made lunch, the exquisite fluffy
rice and juicy little squid sausage tantalising her taste buds. While Ranko considered
herself a pretty good cook, she desperately missed the sweet taste of Kasumi's cooking -
not even her mother's could compare!

"Yeah... you're not jealous or nuthin' are you?" Ranma asked, slightly defensively as he
misinterpreted her meaning.

Ranko licked her lips as she ignored Ranma to focus fully on the no doubt delectable
lunch that was just out of reach. The fact that said lunch was on Ranma's lap made the
boy misinterpret her once more as he started to discreetly shift away from the spellbound
girl.

"Uh... Ranko... I don't think..." he started saying but was abruptly interrupted as the
redhead thrust her own lunchbox under his nose.

"I'll trade you my lunch for Kasumi's!" she blurted out eagerly.

"But you already gave me a lunch...." Ranma pointed out, indicating the bento he had
just been given.

"This one's better since I made it for myself." Ranko blithely dismissed his concerns with
a wave of her hand.

"I don't think I should give you this... I mean, Kasumi did make it for me, after all."
Ranma cradled Kasumi's bento protectively, causing Ranko to make distressed
whimpering noises.

"Please!" Ranko looked up at him with the most pathetic begging expression she could
muster "I'll give you my lunch and..." she started fishing through her pockets and drew
out a crumpled note and some coins "One thousand and... sixty five yen!"

Ranma was now starting to figure out that Ranko wanted the lunch, not to deprive him of
Kasumi's food in some kind of oneupmanship, rather she just wanted it because it was
really that good. This of course made him even more protective "That's alright Ranko,
you just eat your lunch and I'll eat mine." he said reasonably.

"No... I'll do anything for that bento... Anything!" Ranko looked at Ranma with a
pleading expression which caused Ranma to swallow a lump in his throat as he thought
of several things he could ask of her...

"Um.. Y-you d-don't havta do nothin' Ranko, howsabout we just share?" he said,
blushing furiously.

"Wai! Thankyou!" Ranko cried out joyfully as she grabbed Kasumi's bento and dug in.
Good God, she had missed this! Only one more reason to get back her old life so she
could enjoy Kasumi's cooking every single day... or at least every single day until
Kasumi moved out, then it would be Akane's cooking for the rest of her life. Ranko
shuddred violently at the prospect, but the wonderful taste of Kasumi's lunch soon
washed away her doubts and she immersed herself in one of her favourite activities; that
being eating fine cuisine.

The two of them spent the rest of lunch happily eating together, although Ranma kept
getting distracted by the downright orgasmic moans of delight his companion made after
nearly every bite. For her part, Ranko was just pleased at eating Kasumi's much missed
cooking, and was blissfully unaware of the effect she was having on her erstwhile fiance.

***

"Man, I'm glad today's over," Ranma leaned back with his hands clasped behind his head
"I'd forgotten how boring school is."

"No kidding." Ranko nodded in agreement as she stuffed her papers into her schoolbag.
"Hey, you wanna come with me after school? I've got a friend who's been dying to meet
you."

"Er... I dunno..." Ranma hedged, "I don't want to miss Mom's dinner..."

"Don't worry," Ranko slapped his back in a companionable gesture "she won't make it
until you get home. Besides, just tell her you were having tea with two beautiful young
girls. She'll be thrilled!" She winked cheerfully at him.

Ranma unconsciously found himself nodding. His mother did tend to get rather
disturbing when the subject of girls came up... "Yeah, I guess it couldn't hurt." he
shrugged "Why not?"

"That's the spirit!" Ranko enthused "Trust me, you and 'Dachi' will get along great. Just
um..." for a moment she looked slightly nervous before recovering her poise "Just don't
get too freaked out by her laugh. She's really nice once you get past that."

"O...kay...?" Ranma sounded rather unsure of himself as he followed Ranko out the
classroom.

"Man, I can't believe Ranko's engaged to that hunk..." Sayuri groused, watching them
leave before she grabbed a brush and dustpan to commence the daily duty of cleaning the
classroom which she was assigned to that day.

"Yeah, she's so lucky." Yuka agreed as she went over to the blackboard to clean the
erasers "They really do seem like a perfect couple though..." she trailed off and sighed
wistfully.

Sayuri stuck out her tongue at her friend "He'd make a better couple if he was with me I
think."

Yuka chuckled "Trust you to say that! But seriously, they just seem so right together -
almost like they were made for each other."

"I guess." Sayuri shrugged nonchalantly "Hard to believe he's engaged to Kasumi as well
though..."

***

Kodachi Kuno, Black Rose of St Hebereke, rising star of... well, nothing really since she
quit rhythmic gymnastics... entered the small cafe halfway between the Kuno estate and
her school and looked around.

Nope, no sign of her redhaired friend. Not that that was unusual since the cafe was closer
to St Hebereke than Furinkan, so Kodachi was normally the first to arrive. Settling into a
seat by the window, she signalled the waitress and ordered a cup of darjeeling tea,
sighing in contentment after taking a sip.

After a few moments of silent contemplation, Kodachi looked up to see Ranko entering
the premises accompanied by a boy wearing the uniform of Furinkan High. A rather
handsome boy too, she noted idly.

"Hey 'Dachi!" Ranko cheerily greeted her friend as she took a seat, gesturing for her
companion to do the same before signalling the waitress for two cups of tea.

"A pleasant day to you, Ranko-chan... now won't you introduce me to your delightful
friend?" Kodachi purred, giving a sultry look towards the boy, who shied away
nervously in the most endearing fashion. It was so amusing Kodachi just had to laugh.

Ranko's smile became slightly strained at Kodachi's gut churning maniacal laugh, while
the boy shuddered violently. "A-heh..." Ranko chuckled nervously "This is my fiance,
Ranma Saotome. Ranma, meet my friend, Kodachi Kuno."

"Nice ta meetcha, Kodachi-san." Ranma offered hesitantly.

"Charmed." Kodachi replied drolly before turning her attention to Ranko "I must say,
Ranko-chan, you really have made a fine catch. He's quite the handsome devil."

Both Ranko and Ranma flushed "Aw thanks," they both muttered at exactly the same
time.

Kodachi blinked in surprise "Did you practice that?"

Ranma and Ranko stared at each other for a moment before Ranma looked away,
blushing even more. Ranko just chewed her lip thoughtfuly and continued to stare at
him, a puzzled frown on her features.

"Aw, he's so adorably shy!" Kodachi teased, "So tell me Ranma-kun, what do you think
of your fiancee?"

"Which one?" Ranma blurted out, causing Ranko to grimace and smack a palm against
her forehead.

Kodachi twitched. "Quite. I had forgotten your... unique... position. Be that as it may, I
was asking about my friend here."

"Oh.. uh... she's er..." Ranma tugged at his collar while sweat dripped from his forehead
"Well... I mean... she's real nice and... um... I... er... that is to say..."

"She's so wonderful you're lost for words?" Kodachi said flatly, her tone indicating she
was not impressed with his flustering. He should be praising her to the stars, not
struggling to string two compliments together!

"Um... I guess..." Ranma shrugged helplessly, looking to Ranko for support, but she was
simply sipping her tea, to all appearances not even paying attention to the conversation,
seeming rather to be concentrating her thoughts on something else.

"You guess?" Kodachi arched an eyebrow, now thoroughly convinced that this peasant
was not worthy to lick the feet of her best friend, much less presume to be her fiance!

"Oh, by the way 'Dachi, I need to ask you a favour." Ranko rejoined the conversation,
seeming to have pushed aside whatever it was that she was thinking about.

"Oh? What is it that I can do for you?"

Ranko's face took on a distasteful scowl as she spoke "Your brother tried to hit on me at
school today. He was going off on how I'm some sort of scum and not worthy of him, but
then when we were in private he tried to suggest I could be his 'secret mistress' or
something like that. I was hoping you could put something nasty in his food."

Kodachi groaned. Tatewaki could be *such* an idiot sometimes. "While I do posion
Tachi's food as a matter of routine, we both have developed a healthy resistance to
common poisons. However, I should have something appropriate to dampen his ardour -
I came up with it after my unfortunate encounter with Sanzennin."

Ranko nodded, her lips twisted into a cruel grin "That sounds great, 'Dachi."

Both Kodachi and Ranko then jolted as Ranma suddenly slammed his hands on the table,
jostling their cups and spilling some tea. "I can't believe that asshole! He tried to get you
to sleep with him after all that stuff he said this morning?! How dare he!"

"Oh, so are you going to defend your fiancee's honour from my brother?" Kodachi asked,
her opinion of Ranma rising by just the barest notch.

"Damn right!" Ranma snarled "First thing tomorrow I'm gonna teach him a lesson! No
way I'm gonna let him treat Ranko like that!"

Kodachi turned to Ranko, expecting her friend would be pleased at this declaration, but
instead the girl looked pale, almost ashen, as she stared at Ranma with a curious mix of
emotions playing across her face.

***

Ranko looked at Ranma after his declaration and tried to swallow, finding her throat
curiously dry. She was surprised at him making such a big deal of this, since she got
insulted and slighted, without anyone seeming to care, all the time in both her lives. Yet
more than that, she was shocked at the fact that his reaction was identical to how she
would respond if someone she cared about was denigrated.

What did that mean?

Up till now she hadn't really given Ranma much thought. She was the real Ranma after
all, this guy was just a copy and an obstacle to her regaining her gender and identity. But
seeing him like this, she was starting to doubt herself.

Distantly, she noted Ranma appeared to be looking at her in concern, his lips were
moving, and with an effort she focused on his words.

"... alright? You seem kinda spaced out."

Ranko nodded, having trouble finding her voice "I'm just surprised..." she whispered "No
one ever really bothers when stuff like that happens to me."

If anything, Ranma became even more outraged, and Ranko found herself being lost in
those stormy gray eyes, the same eyes she would see in the mirror once upon a time.

Unable to take it any more, Ranko spun away from Ranma and got out of her seat,
dashing out of the cafe before she did... she didn't know what... but she wanted to get
away before it happened. She needed some time to try and figure things out.

***

Ranma trudged home, feeling lower than dirt. Kodachi had blamed him for Ranko's
abrupt departure, though he couldn't really understand why - he was trying to be nice! He
just wished he knew why she had gotten so upset. Girls were such a mystery to him, he
really wished he could understand them better...

"So you're Ranma, eh?" a decrepit sounding voice impinged on his consciousness,
causing Ranma to spin towards the source, wondering how someone could get so close
without him noticing, even if he was preoccupied.

"Yeah, what of it, old man?" Ranma addressed the tiny bald man that looked up at him
with undisguised contempt.

"You don't look so impressive." the old midget sneered "Why Ranko-chan got engaged to
you I'll never understand."

"Who the hell are you to talk about that you little freak?" Ranma snarled, his disposition
plummeting rapidly.

"I'm Happosai, but you'll be calling me Master from now on."

Ranma snorted contemptuosly. "Feh, the day Ranma Saotome calls a little freak like you
Master is the day I die."

"Well, we'll see about that. If you want to marry my little Ranko-chan, you'll have to
prove your worthiness to me!" The seemingly harmless old man suddenly manifested an
immense battle aura.

Ranma instinctively stepped back in shock and just a little bit of fear, the sheer power
that Happosai was putting out was almost beyond comprehension, he'd never felt
anything like it! Swallowing nervously, Ranma took a stance and reminded himself that
this old man had taught his Pop, and for all his flaws, Genma Saotome was an incredible
martial artist. He would have to take this seriously.

Still... nothing like a good fight to take his mind off other problems...