Teacher One Half
Disclaimer: *is sweating nervously and quite pale* I don't own either Ranma 1/2 or Please Teacher. There, ya happy now? *two people, hidden in shadows, put away the fully automatic weapons they were carrying* Sheesh, anime authors.
Chapter 3
"And so you see, the faster you go, the less time has an effect on you."
In front of the class, Mizuho was doing her best to explain what she considered to be very simple science. On the blackboard, there were diagrams, graphs, and calculations that made every member of the class' heads spin.
Usually, if one were to look at Ranma during such a time, they would see him peacefully rested against his desk and sleeping quietly. However, Ranma was alert and attentive in class today. or at least, this class. He had come to consider Ms. Kazami a friend quickly, and he thought the least he could do was stay awake for her class, since she was a friend and all.
Of course, one blue haired tomboy thought he was paying attention for a different reason. "THAT PERVERT! He only stays awake during this class just so he can stare at the new teacher!" Akane thought to herself.
Had this been anywhere else, Akane would have pulled her trusty mallet out and dispensed divine retribution against the pigtailed young man. Akane had to restrain from such actions, as she did not want to get in trouble again like yesterday.
Ranma was oblivious to Akane's foul mood as he thought about what Mizuho was saying, "So if ya get goin fast enough you are effected by time less. so when you stop everything is older than if you were going slow! Weird. hope I never go that fast." While he may not have understood what all the calculations and everything was on the board, Ranma has a basic grasp of what the teacher was saying, which was a lot better than anyone else in the class at the moment.
Despite what everyone thought about Ranma being some dumb jock, he was actually a genius to anything he tried to learn. With his high learning curve, he was able to replicate Ryoga's Shi Shi Hokodan after only seeing it a few times, and then modify it to his own style. In battle, Ranma could devise strategy and tactics faster than any computer on the planet.
This same mind would allow Ranma to make it through the toughest university with ease. The problem wasn't his lack of understanding or intelligence. The problem was that Genma had never raised Ranma to care about school, saying it was not what a manly man did.
Mizuho could only sigh at the dumbfounded looks on her students' faces. This had seemed like such a simple lesson to start out with. She knew Earth was not at the same level technologically as the Galactic Federation, but she thought that her students would at least be able to understand such a rudimentary concept.
As she stood there, trying to decide what she should try and teach them, a hand shot up from the class. There sat Ranma with his hand up, waiting patiently to be called on. Most in the class automatically dismissed this, thinking he was either going to say, "I have to go fight some martial artist with a ridiculous style" or, "Akane's been kidnapped and I gotta go save her." After all, that's what he always asked.
Mizuho merely turned to Ranma and said, "Yes Ranma, what is it?"
Ranma put his hand down and asked, "Does that mean if ya got movin fast enough time would have no effect on you at all?"
Every student in the class stared at Ranma slack jawed, while Akane thought to herself, "Ranma asked an intelligent question? What's going on here?"
Mizuho was smiling ear-to-ear and beaming happily at Ranma, "First of all Ranma, that isn't possible because we can only go so fast. We are all made of matter and matter cannot exceed the speed of light. Also, even if you found a way to move that fast time would still effect you a little bit." And here she worried no one understood.
Ranma didn't even bother to raise his hand and just asked, "So no matter how fast you go, you couldn't escape time?"
Mizuho nodded and said, "That's right. Think of it this way. If you were going somewhere and one day you traveled halfway there. The next day you did half the remaining distance, and half the remaining distance the day after, and so on, and so on. When would you reach your destination?"
Ranma thought for a moment before answering, "Never. You'd get real close, but never quite get there."
"It's the same way with time. You could keep going faster and faster and time would still effect you, though to a much smaller extent." Mizuho responded.
As Mizuho smiled happily that SOMEONE understood and Ranma thought more on what Mizuho had told him, the rest of the class was utterly silent and stared at Ranma in disbelief. After a few moments, Akane stood up, pulled out a mallet from. somewhere, and stalked over to Ranma.
"Okay" she said, "Who are you and what did you do to Ranma?"
"Huh? Whatcha talkin 'bout 'Kane?" the martial artist replied.
Akane growled, "I know you aren't Ranma, you cheap fake. Ranma is a brainless idiot without two brain cells to rub together."
Ranma's eyes widened in surprise, before turning to a cold glare. When he had fought Saffron to save Akane, even going so far as to kill the phoenix god, he had truly thought then that he did indeed love Akane. When he found her seemingly dead, he felt his heart break, yet it was healed when she opened her eyes.
Then there was the wedding and everything seemed to be going well until Shampoo and Ukyo showed up throwing bombs. While it was a set back, Ranma figured in a short while, they would have the real wedding and life would go great. Things didn't seem to work out that way though. Since the wedding, the other girls seemed even more determined to become Mrs. Saotome than ever, while Akane was colder than before, thinking Ranma was glad the wedding was off.
Ranma felt slightly hurt at Akane's words. He knew now that they couldn't be together, especially after the failed wedding. Maybe, just maybe if everything had gone through at the wedding, they would have lived happily ever after. Now he knew that wasn't an option.
Ranma kept his cold glare on Akane and said, "I may be some idiot, but at least I ain't an uncute, violent, sexless, cooking challenged, TOMBOY!!"
Akane blinked a few times. There was only one person who could hurl insults like that. This really was Ranma! She almost smiled before realizing what he had said and called her.
"Ranmaaaa." Akane growled out.
Before things could get any further out of hand, Mizuho spoke up, "That is enough you two! Both of you spoke out of turn in class, so I will see you in detention this afternoon."
Ranma blinked and was about to argue, but decided to just accept it. Ms. Kazami was a friend now, and if she thought he did something wrong, he'd accept her judgement. Akane took her own seat and stared moodily out the window until the lunch bell rang.
*_*
During lunch, Ranma, Akane, and Ukyo all sat under a tree on the school grounds. They were making small talk while Ukyo cooked okinomiyaki for any customers that came by. All in all, things were peaceful and calm.
"So Ranchan, you seemed pretty interested in the new teachers lesson today" Ukyo said in an off-hand way. Well, that was enough to remind Akane and set her battle aura off.
Ranma noticed Akane's angry aura, but ignored it saying, "Yeah. I keep getting faster and stronger. I wondered if that would ever happen to me, you know? Move so fast that everything else passed me by. Sorta worries me."
Both girls thought about this for a moment. Ranma's speed and strength grew at incredible rates. It might be possible for that to occur after all. Satisfied with his explanation, both girls went back to eating their meals. In truth, Ranma had a few more questions that he couldn't ask in class, though he didn't need to tell them that.
Ranma stood up and looked at his companions, "I'm gonna go for a walk by myself, just around school. And before you say anything Akane, Shampoo's at the Nekohanten and Kodachi is at her own school, so I ain't goin to flirt with no one."
With that, Ranma began walking towards the sports field, leaving a bewildered Akane and Ukyo behind him.
*_*
Ranma walked around, lost in thought. He was currently berating himself for the way he attacked Genma. True, the old man did deserve it, but Ranma knew he should have more control than that. Ever since the Saffron battle, Ranma had found it harder and harder to control himself during a battle, to keep from lashing out with his strongest techniques like the Yame Sen Ken or Hiryu Shoten Ha.
Something changed that day, and Ranma knew it. It was as though he lost something inside, an innocence that could never be regained. This scared him to no end, thinking about what he would be like if he completely lost control with as strong as he was now.
Ranma absentmindedly opened the door in front of him and closed it once he walked though. Once he was inside, he looked around to find himself in the equipment room for the sports groups of Furinkan.
"Oh. No. Ryoga really IS rubbing off on me!" Ranma thought in horror.
While Ranma thought about what it would be like if he had Ryoga's sense of direction as well, a voice spoke out of the darkness, "Hello Ranma."
Ranma jumped and tensed up. He couldn't make out the persons figure, but he could tell it was a girl by the way she was giggling. The figure finally stepped out of the shadows, revealing herself to be Mizuho.
"Well, it's nice to startle you for a change" Mizuho said, smiling warmly at him.
Ranma immediately relaxed and dropped his guard, while smiling himself, "Ms. Kazami, what are you doing here?"
Her expression gained a slightly more serious tone to it, though it did not lose its friendliness, "Actually, I brought you here so I could ask you something."
Ranma didn't understand how she brought him there, he didn't remember being teleported by the flash of light, "Uh, sure. I got something to ask you too."
Mizuho gestured to a conveniently placed bench sitting nearby. Once they both sat and were comfortable, Mizuho asked her question, "How did you blow through the defense doors last night in my ship?"
Ranma thought for a second before realizing what she was talking about. Ranma stood up, placed his hands in front of him, pointing at each other, and made a small ball of yellow chi. Mizuho looked at the ball and him in amazement.
"This is chi, your energy" he explained, "I can take it, mix it with my confidence, and use it to attack. What I did the other night was my Mouko Takibisha. Sorry 'bout those walls, Ms. Kazami."
Mizuho didn't even here Ranma, as she was too focused on the glowing ball of energy. Reaching one hand timidly forward, she touched the yellow energy and let it flow around her. Immediately she felt better than she ever had before, like she could do anything and nothing could stop her. Honestly, it was quite a rush for the extraterrestrial.
Seeing the slightly glazed look on his teachers face, Ranma decided stop the energy and explain what she just felt, "That was my confidence. You can use any emotion, but that's my best one."
Mizuho shook the lingering feeling off. Ranma had to be the most confident person alive if that's how he felt. Mizho couldn't help but feel attracted to Ranma after feeling his own emotion. It was so assuring, so warm, so. Mizuho mentally slapped herself and forced her mind away from such thoughts, though her cheeks were red with a heavy blush.
Ranma looked at Mizuho with a little concern, "Hey teach, you okay?
Mizuho, who was still blushing, nodded and said, "Yes Ranma. I believe you have a question for me as well?"
Ranma perked up at that. He had wanted to ask this in class, but decided it would be best not to, lest he blow his teachers cover.
"If you can't move real fast without screwing up time, how did you get here?" Ranma asked.
Mizuho was slightly impressed at Ranma. He had taken an idea that confused everyone else, understood it, and was now making good questions. The teacher also wondered why Ranma seemed to have the lowest grades in the class from the previous year.
"That's a good question. You see, we have learned to you something called Z space, or Zero space. I won't go into details, but basically it allows you to punch a whole in space at one point and emerge at another. That is how the teleportation we used the other night worked."
Ranma wondered if there was a martial arts technique that could teach him to do that while Mizuho came up with another question, "Ranma, can all Earthlings use their energy like you? My reports mentioned nothing about such powers."
"Naw" Ranma replied, "I'm a martial artist, the best there is. After training a long time in the Art, you learn to use your energy, and I been training all my life. You see, when I was five my Pop."
Ranma then told Mizuho his story. Originally, he planned to tell her a little bit about the training and the use of chi. After a few minutes, Ranma began opening up to Mizuho though, telling her his life story, though emitting the Neko-ken since it was slightly embarrassing for the pigtailed martial artist.
Mizuho sat in shock as Ranma explained the training exercises he went through and how his own father had raised him. Things only got worse as Ranma told her about all his rivals, unwanted fiancés, his mothers seppuku contract, and the final battle with Saffron.
For so long now, Ranma had held in his emotion, yet when he started talking to Mizuho, who's friendly sweet aura made him feel relaxed, all his pent up emotion came through. Ranma had no one to talk to really. The closest he had to friend were Ryoga and Ucchan. Ryoga wanted to kill him and Ukyo only listened because she thought she could earn fiancé brownie points.
After many hours, Ranma finished his story. Looking to Mizuho, he expected to see rejection, fear, perhaps even her laughing at him like so many had done before. What he saw was her with a saddened expression and tear filled eyes.
"Ranma" Mizuho moved closer to him and pulled him into her arms, hugging him gently, "No one should ever experience what you have. I am sorry Ranma, I am so sorry you have lived such a hard life."
Ranma returned the hug and sat there, allowing the soft embrace of his teacher to comfort him. The same feeling as the previous night returned as Ranma felt warm, safe, and secure. For once, he wasn't worried about rivals, fiancés, or even cats. Right there, right then, all that mattered was the woman in his arms, her sweet scent, her soft touch, it was intoxicating.
"What is this feeling?" Ranma mentally asked himself as he looked at the older woman. There was just something about this that felt so. right.
Mizuho was thinking something similar. This felt a lot like when she touched his energy, the same feeling of security enveloped her. This was an even stronger feeling than before. Mizuho felt even more attracted to Ranma as she pressed against his firm body. She wanted to comfort him, be there for him. Always. be there for him.
Alas, such things cannot last forever. The door opened to reveal the schools assistant administrator, Mr. Yamada standing there, gaping at the warm embrace between student and teacher.
Ranma and Mizuho looked at the Mr. Yamada, then each other, then him again. Finally realizing what the situation looked like, they both pulled away, while blushing furiously.
"I think you'd better come with me" Yamada said in a stern voice. Both nodded and began reluctantly following the man.
*_*
The three are now sitting in Yamada's office. Ranma and Mizuho both look nervous, while Mr. Yamada looks downcast.
"As you know" he begins, "Teacher student relationships are absolutely forbidden unless denoted by special cases."
"Yes sir" they both say.
Mr. Yamada sighed, he really didn't want to do this, "If the administrator was here, he would likely shave you both bald and call it a day. However, I am not him."
*_*
The eldest Kuno is seen running around Hawaii after screaming girls wearing coconuts and grass skirts.
"Hey! Let da big Kahuna give ya a haircut, ya? Come on back here now, keiki!"
*_*
Mr. Yamada sighed once again, "I am sorry, Ms. Kazami, but since you have broken our rules, you must leave this school. Ranma, you will have in- school suspension for a week."
Mizuho gasped and Ranma looked at her in concern. He didn't mind the suspension that much, but he knew how much Ms. Kazami wanted the teaching job. Suddenly, an idea hit him.
"Hey Mr. Yamada, you said there were special cases, right? Ms. Ka. Mizuho is my fiancé. It's ok then, right?" Ranma asked with hope. So it wasn't a great idea, it was the best even HE could come up with at that point.
Mizuho looked to Ranma in surprise. She knew the problems he had with fiancés and was amazed he would do something like that for her.
"Waitaminute" she thought, "Aren't I the only fiancé Ranma made for himself willingly?" Mizuho could only blush at that thought.
Mr. Yamada well knew of Ranma's many fiancés. Hell, the entire district knew, so it wasn't a big surprise finding this out, "No, I am sorry Ranma. If you were married it would be a different story, but not just being engaged.
Mizuho's hope deflated. It seemed she would be fired after all, and after only two days. Even in such a short time, she already had come to enjoy her classes, and meet many interesting students, though one in particular was above the others. She felt a connection with this one, and was sad she would have to leave now. Turning to Ranma, she got ready to say goodbye, but was surprised to see a determined look on his face.
While many things can be said about the young Saotome, the truest of all is that Ranma will do anything for the ones he truly cares for. When Ryoga showed up with the stupid mark of the gods, Ranma didn't help him because he wanted to win. He helped Ryoga because he still considered the pig a friend, winning was just an added bonus. He even killed Saffron for Akane.
Ranma turned his back to Mr. Yamada and held his hand in front of him in what appeared to be frustration, "Why? Just one more week and. and."
"And?" asked both Mizuho and Yamada.
Ranma dropped his hands to his sides and turned to Yamada, a sad look on his face, "And we would have been married."
Silence reigned for several minutes. "Married?" Mizuho thought to herself, "I would be. Mrs. Mizuho Saotome." She couldn't help but smile at that thought.
"Married?" Mr Yamada thought to himself, "That would mean less property damage from the Tendo girl, less medical supplies needed for the Kuno boy, and less of the other rivals and fiancés causing damage to the school. Plus, we get to keep Ms. Kazami as a teacher! It might bend the rules a bit, but I can't pass this by!"
"Very well" Mr. Yamada finally said in an official tone, "If you two are married within a week, then Ms. Ka. excuse me, Mrs. Saotome can stay on as a teacher."
"Thank you" Mizuho and Ranma both said before bowing and leaving the room.
Once they were outside, Ranma turned to Mizuho, "Ms. Kazami, I." He was silenced when she placed two fingers on his lips, causing a slight tingling sensation.
Mizuho was blushing heavily as she stared deep into Ranma's blue eyes, "Ranma, thank you for everything. I would be honored to be your wife." Mizuho's blush then intensified, "I suppose since we will be married soon, we should live together."
Ranma blushed as well while nodding, "Uhh, yeah. I need to go pick up some stuff from the dojo. It would probably be better if I went alone. I'll meet you at your apartment?"
Mizuho smiled and said, "Our apartment." before walking down the street to get home.
"I've known her two days and already I'm engaged to her. In a week I'll be married to her! She's really nice and I really like her, but how the hell do I get myself into these things?!" Ranma thought, then began roof hopping to the dojo, "It ain't gonna be pretty when I get there."
*_*
Ranma paused outside the front door of the Tendo household. This was something he had to do, thought he really didn't want to. Finally resolving to go through with it, Ranma walked in through the door calling out, "I'm back."
Immediately, a man with long black hair and a mustache came around the corner calling out, "Ranma!"
Afore mentioned man then burst into tears, wailing about him being unfaithful and the schools never being joined. Genma quickly joined Soun in their bawling. Akane came around the corner next, looking angry as ever.
"Where have you been Ranma?! You missed all the afternoon classes and the detention we had after school!"
"Indeed Saotome, just where did you go?" Nabiki asked, just now joining the group.
"Oh my! Welcome home Ranma." Take a wild guess who said that.
Ranma rubbed his forehead in frustration, "We all need to talk. Lets sit down."
*_*
Everyone was sitted around the dining room table, sipping the tea Kasumi had brought out.
"Alright, boy" Genma said in an authoritive voice, "What's this all about and where were you during school today?"
"Ranma, you weren't being unfaithful to my little girl, were you?" Soun said, trying to sound firm.
"Yes, do tell." Nabiki said with a smirk.
Kasumi stayed silent while Akane's aura built higher and higher.
Ranma ignored the question and turned to Kasumi, "Kasumi, do you want to marry me, now or ever?"
Everyone gasped at the question, surprised by it. Kasumi held her hand to her mouth and replied, "Ranma, you are a nice boy and all, but I."
Ranma smiled, "That's alright Kasumi, thanks. Nabiki, how bout you?"
Nabiki wasn't sure where Ranma was going with this, which frustrated her, "I'll give you three guesses Saotome, and the first two don't count."
Ranma nodded at Nabiki and turned to Akane, "Guess that's a 'no' then. How bout you Akane?"
In Ranma's heart, some small part was still hoping she'd say yes. Still hoping that something might work out between them.
Akane turned a violent glare to Ranma, "Theres no way I'd ever marry a perverted freak like YOU!!!" And that little piece of Ranma's heart was shattered.
Ranma turned to the fathers/idiots who were still awaiting an explanation, "None of em wanna marry me and I aint gonna force em. I'm engaged to a woman, by my own choice, that none of you know about. She and I will be married within a week."
The shock was enough to keep everyone quiet for a few moments until.
"Ungrateful boy! You must marry Akane and join the schools!" Genma cried out as jumped into the air, then sent a flying kick at Ranma. Ranma caught Genma's extended foot mid-air and threw Genma back to his seat with ease.
"Ranma! How dare you be unfaithful to my little Akane!" Soun cried out, using his demon-head attack. Ranma sent a small chi ball into the fake head, neutralizing it and knocking Soun back to his seat.
Before anything else could be said or done, Ranma generated to very powerful chi balls in his hands, immediately silencing the commotion, "I'm leaving tonight to go live with my fiancé. Nothing you can say or do will stop me, it will just piss me off. Try and get in my way, and there will a lot of screaming and pain, got me?"
Everyone nodded nervously, still eyeing the dangerous chi balls. Ranma finally dispersed them and walked up to the room he had used since he arrived. He would miss the dojo at the apartment, but he could use the flat roof easily enough. It only took the martial artist a few minutes to pack all his belongings.
After descending the stairs, Ranma saw that no one had moved since he left.
"Well, I'm leaving now" Ranma said, and turned to leave. Before he could go, a voice stopped him.
"So you really were going out and flirting with someone all this time. I was right after all, despite what you said"
Ranma turned to see Akane giving him a cold, sad glare, "Nope" he replied, "I met her less than a week ago. You were wrong all those times Akane."
Ranma then walked up to Nabiki and handed her 3000 yen, causing her to look at him quizzically.
"Just tell everyone that I have something to say that's important. I'll be outside Furinkan at noon, and my future wife will be with me." Ranma said, then turned and walked out the door.
As soon as he left, Genma and Soun began wailing about the schools never being joined, ungrateful boys, and loss of honor. The entire time, they were taking large gulps from nearby sake bottles. Nabiki got up and walked to her room wordlessly, all the while lamenting Ranma leaving. The pictures of his girl side was her main source of income.
Kasumi said nothing as well, but her smile was now missing. She had always enjoyed having Ranma in the house. It made the place more exciting and turned what had previously been an ordinary housewife's life into an adventure. She had also grown to love the pigtailed boy like a younger brother she never had.
Akane trudged angrily up to her room, stomping all the way. Once there, she finally broke down crying. "He's really gone this time! Oh, why didn't I say anything. Why didn't I say I wanted to marry him. Now it's too late. Ranma you. you. dummy."
*_*
After a brief roof hopping, Ranma landed in front of the apartment complex he helped move Mizuho in to. After walking up the stairs, Ranma paused nervously in front of the door before knocking.
Mizuho opened the door and smiled brightly at him, "Welcome home! I suppose we'll need to have a key made for you, hmm?"
Ranma smiled softly back at her and nodded, "Yeah, I'm home."
*_*
Authors Notes: Wow, took me longer to write this than originally expected. Just couldn't get motivated, you know? Anyways, I really enjoyed this chapter, and its my longest one to date (more than 4500 including disclaimer)! My thanks to all reviewers. Your kind words, criticism, and questions have helped me more than you can imagine. Well, it's now 4:45 a.m., so I am headed to bed. As usual, please R&R so I know what you think.
Disclaimer: *is sweating nervously and quite pale* I don't own either Ranma 1/2 or Please Teacher. There, ya happy now? *two people, hidden in shadows, put away the fully automatic weapons they were carrying* Sheesh, anime authors.
Chapter 3
"And so you see, the faster you go, the less time has an effect on you."
In front of the class, Mizuho was doing her best to explain what she considered to be very simple science. On the blackboard, there were diagrams, graphs, and calculations that made every member of the class' heads spin.
Usually, if one were to look at Ranma during such a time, they would see him peacefully rested against his desk and sleeping quietly. However, Ranma was alert and attentive in class today. or at least, this class. He had come to consider Ms. Kazami a friend quickly, and he thought the least he could do was stay awake for her class, since she was a friend and all.
Of course, one blue haired tomboy thought he was paying attention for a different reason. "THAT PERVERT! He only stays awake during this class just so he can stare at the new teacher!" Akane thought to herself.
Had this been anywhere else, Akane would have pulled her trusty mallet out and dispensed divine retribution against the pigtailed young man. Akane had to restrain from such actions, as she did not want to get in trouble again like yesterday.
Ranma was oblivious to Akane's foul mood as he thought about what Mizuho was saying, "So if ya get goin fast enough you are effected by time less. so when you stop everything is older than if you were going slow! Weird. hope I never go that fast." While he may not have understood what all the calculations and everything was on the board, Ranma has a basic grasp of what the teacher was saying, which was a lot better than anyone else in the class at the moment.
Despite what everyone thought about Ranma being some dumb jock, he was actually a genius to anything he tried to learn. With his high learning curve, he was able to replicate Ryoga's Shi Shi Hokodan after only seeing it a few times, and then modify it to his own style. In battle, Ranma could devise strategy and tactics faster than any computer on the planet.
This same mind would allow Ranma to make it through the toughest university with ease. The problem wasn't his lack of understanding or intelligence. The problem was that Genma had never raised Ranma to care about school, saying it was not what a manly man did.
Mizuho could only sigh at the dumbfounded looks on her students' faces. This had seemed like such a simple lesson to start out with. She knew Earth was not at the same level technologically as the Galactic Federation, but she thought that her students would at least be able to understand such a rudimentary concept.
As she stood there, trying to decide what she should try and teach them, a hand shot up from the class. There sat Ranma with his hand up, waiting patiently to be called on. Most in the class automatically dismissed this, thinking he was either going to say, "I have to go fight some martial artist with a ridiculous style" or, "Akane's been kidnapped and I gotta go save her." After all, that's what he always asked.
Mizuho merely turned to Ranma and said, "Yes Ranma, what is it?"
Ranma put his hand down and asked, "Does that mean if ya got movin fast enough time would have no effect on you at all?"
Every student in the class stared at Ranma slack jawed, while Akane thought to herself, "Ranma asked an intelligent question? What's going on here?"
Mizuho was smiling ear-to-ear and beaming happily at Ranma, "First of all Ranma, that isn't possible because we can only go so fast. We are all made of matter and matter cannot exceed the speed of light. Also, even if you found a way to move that fast time would still effect you a little bit." And here she worried no one understood.
Ranma didn't even bother to raise his hand and just asked, "So no matter how fast you go, you couldn't escape time?"
Mizuho nodded and said, "That's right. Think of it this way. If you were going somewhere and one day you traveled halfway there. The next day you did half the remaining distance, and half the remaining distance the day after, and so on, and so on. When would you reach your destination?"
Ranma thought for a moment before answering, "Never. You'd get real close, but never quite get there."
"It's the same way with time. You could keep going faster and faster and time would still effect you, though to a much smaller extent." Mizuho responded.
As Mizuho smiled happily that SOMEONE understood and Ranma thought more on what Mizuho had told him, the rest of the class was utterly silent and stared at Ranma in disbelief. After a few moments, Akane stood up, pulled out a mallet from. somewhere, and stalked over to Ranma.
"Okay" she said, "Who are you and what did you do to Ranma?"
"Huh? Whatcha talkin 'bout 'Kane?" the martial artist replied.
Akane growled, "I know you aren't Ranma, you cheap fake. Ranma is a brainless idiot without two brain cells to rub together."
Ranma's eyes widened in surprise, before turning to a cold glare. When he had fought Saffron to save Akane, even going so far as to kill the phoenix god, he had truly thought then that he did indeed love Akane. When he found her seemingly dead, he felt his heart break, yet it was healed when she opened her eyes.
Then there was the wedding and everything seemed to be going well until Shampoo and Ukyo showed up throwing bombs. While it was a set back, Ranma figured in a short while, they would have the real wedding and life would go great. Things didn't seem to work out that way though. Since the wedding, the other girls seemed even more determined to become Mrs. Saotome than ever, while Akane was colder than before, thinking Ranma was glad the wedding was off.
Ranma felt slightly hurt at Akane's words. He knew now that they couldn't be together, especially after the failed wedding. Maybe, just maybe if everything had gone through at the wedding, they would have lived happily ever after. Now he knew that wasn't an option.
Ranma kept his cold glare on Akane and said, "I may be some idiot, but at least I ain't an uncute, violent, sexless, cooking challenged, TOMBOY!!"
Akane blinked a few times. There was only one person who could hurl insults like that. This really was Ranma! She almost smiled before realizing what he had said and called her.
"Ranmaaaa." Akane growled out.
Before things could get any further out of hand, Mizuho spoke up, "That is enough you two! Both of you spoke out of turn in class, so I will see you in detention this afternoon."
Ranma blinked and was about to argue, but decided to just accept it. Ms. Kazami was a friend now, and if she thought he did something wrong, he'd accept her judgement. Akane took her own seat and stared moodily out the window until the lunch bell rang.
*_*
During lunch, Ranma, Akane, and Ukyo all sat under a tree on the school grounds. They were making small talk while Ukyo cooked okinomiyaki for any customers that came by. All in all, things were peaceful and calm.
"So Ranchan, you seemed pretty interested in the new teachers lesson today" Ukyo said in an off-hand way. Well, that was enough to remind Akane and set her battle aura off.
Ranma noticed Akane's angry aura, but ignored it saying, "Yeah. I keep getting faster and stronger. I wondered if that would ever happen to me, you know? Move so fast that everything else passed me by. Sorta worries me."
Both girls thought about this for a moment. Ranma's speed and strength grew at incredible rates. It might be possible for that to occur after all. Satisfied with his explanation, both girls went back to eating their meals. In truth, Ranma had a few more questions that he couldn't ask in class, though he didn't need to tell them that.
Ranma stood up and looked at his companions, "I'm gonna go for a walk by myself, just around school. And before you say anything Akane, Shampoo's at the Nekohanten and Kodachi is at her own school, so I ain't goin to flirt with no one."
With that, Ranma began walking towards the sports field, leaving a bewildered Akane and Ukyo behind him.
*_*
Ranma walked around, lost in thought. He was currently berating himself for the way he attacked Genma. True, the old man did deserve it, but Ranma knew he should have more control than that. Ever since the Saffron battle, Ranma had found it harder and harder to control himself during a battle, to keep from lashing out with his strongest techniques like the Yame Sen Ken or Hiryu Shoten Ha.
Something changed that day, and Ranma knew it. It was as though he lost something inside, an innocence that could never be regained. This scared him to no end, thinking about what he would be like if he completely lost control with as strong as he was now.
Ranma absentmindedly opened the door in front of him and closed it once he walked though. Once he was inside, he looked around to find himself in the equipment room for the sports groups of Furinkan.
"Oh. No. Ryoga really IS rubbing off on me!" Ranma thought in horror.
While Ranma thought about what it would be like if he had Ryoga's sense of direction as well, a voice spoke out of the darkness, "Hello Ranma."
Ranma jumped and tensed up. He couldn't make out the persons figure, but he could tell it was a girl by the way she was giggling. The figure finally stepped out of the shadows, revealing herself to be Mizuho.
"Well, it's nice to startle you for a change" Mizuho said, smiling warmly at him.
Ranma immediately relaxed and dropped his guard, while smiling himself, "Ms. Kazami, what are you doing here?"
Her expression gained a slightly more serious tone to it, though it did not lose its friendliness, "Actually, I brought you here so I could ask you something."
Ranma didn't understand how she brought him there, he didn't remember being teleported by the flash of light, "Uh, sure. I got something to ask you too."
Mizuho gestured to a conveniently placed bench sitting nearby. Once they both sat and were comfortable, Mizuho asked her question, "How did you blow through the defense doors last night in my ship?"
Ranma thought for a second before realizing what she was talking about. Ranma stood up, placed his hands in front of him, pointing at each other, and made a small ball of yellow chi. Mizuho looked at the ball and him in amazement.
"This is chi, your energy" he explained, "I can take it, mix it with my confidence, and use it to attack. What I did the other night was my Mouko Takibisha. Sorry 'bout those walls, Ms. Kazami."
Mizuho didn't even here Ranma, as she was too focused on the glowing ball of energy. Reaching one hand timidly forward, she touched the yellow energy and let it flow around her. Immediately she felt better than she ever had before, like she could do anything and nothing could stop her. Honestly, it was quite a rush for the extraterrestrial.
Seeing the slightly glazed look on his teachers face, Ranma decided stop the energy and explain what she just felt, "That was my confidence. You can use any emotion, but that's my best one."
Mizuho shook the lingering feeling off. Ranma had to be the most confident person alive if that's how he felt. Mizho couldn't help but feel attracted to Ranma after feeling his own emotion. It was so assuring, so warm, so. Mizuho mentally slapped herself and forced her mind away from such thoughts, though her cheeks were red with a heavy blush.
Ranma looked at Mizuho with a little concern, "Hey teach, you okay?
Mizuho, who was still blushing, nodded and said, "Yes Ranma. I believe you have a question for me as well?"
Ranma perked up at that. He had wanted to ask this in class, but decided it would be best not to, lest he blow his teachers cover.
"If you can't move real fast without screwing up time, how did you get here?" Ranma asked.
Mizuho was slightly impressed at Ranma. He had taken an idea that confused everyone else, understood it, and was now making good questions. The teacher also wondered why Ranma seemed to have the lowest grades in the class from the previous year.
"That's a good question. You see, we have learned to you something called Z space, or Zero space. I won't go into details, but basically it allows you to punch a whole in space at one point and emerge at another. That is how the teleportation we used the other night worked."
Ranma wondered if there was a martial arts technique that could teach him to do that while Mizuho came up with another question, "Ranma, can all Earthlings use their energy like you? My reports mentioned nothing about such powers."
"Naw" Ranma replied, "I'm a martial artist, the best there is. After training a long time in the Art, you learn to use your energy, and I been training all my life. You see, when I was five my Pop."
Ranma then told Mizuho his story. Originally, he planned to tell her a little bit about the training and the use of chi. After a few minutes, Ranma began opening up to Mizuho though, telling her his life story, though emitting the Neko-ken since it was slightly embarrassing for the pigtailed martial artist.
Mizuho sat in shock as Ranma explained the training exercises he went through and how his own father had raised him. Things only got worse as Ranma told her about all his rivals, unwanted fiancés, his mothers seppuku contract, and the final battle with Saffron.
For so long now, Ranma had held in his emotion, yet when he started talking to Mizuho, who's friendly sweet aura made him feel relaxed, all his pent up emotion came through. Ranma had no one to talk to really. The closest he had to friend were Ryoga and Ucchan. Ryoga wanted to kill him and Ukyo only listened because she thought she could earn fiancé brownie points.
After many hours, Ranma finished his story. Looking to Mizuho, he expected to see rejection, fear, perhaps even her laughing at him like so many had done before. What he saw was her with a saddened expression and tear filled eyes.
"Ranma" Mizuho moved closer to him and pulled him into her arms, hugging him gently, "No one should ever experience what you have. I am sorry Ranma, I am so sorry you have lived such a hard life."
Ranma returned the hug and sat there, allowing the soft embrace of his teacher to comfort him. The same feeling as the previous night returned as Ranma felt warm, safe, and secure. For once, he wasn't worried about rivals, fiancés, or even cats. Right there, right then, all that mattered was the woman in his arms, her sweet scent, her soft touch, it was intoxicating.
"What is this feeling?" Ranma mentally asked himself as he looked at the older woman. There was just something about this that felt so. right.
Mizuho was thinking something similar. This felt a lot like when she touched his energy, the same feeling of security enveloped her. This was an even stronger feeling than before. Mizuho felt even more attracted to Ranma as she pressed against his firm body. She wanted to comfort him, be there for him. Always. be there for him.
Alas, such things cannot last forever. The door opened to reveal the schools assistant administrator, Mr. Yamada standing there, gaping at the warm embrace between student and teacher.
Ranma and Mizuho looked at the Mr. Yamada, then each other, then him again. Finally realizing what the situation looked like, they both pulled away, while blushing furiously.
"I think you'd better come with me" Yamada said in a stern voice. Both nodded and began reluctantly following the man.
*_*
The three are now sitting in Yamada's office. Ranma and Mizuho both look nervous, while Mr. Yamada looks downcast.
"As you know" he begins, "Teacher student relationships are absolutely forbidden unless denoted by special cases."
"Yes sir" they both say.
Mr. Yamada sighed, he really didn't want to do this, "If the administrator was here, he would likely shave you both bald and call it a day. However, I am not him."
*_*
The eldest Kuno is seen running around Hawaii after screaming girls wearing coconuts and grass skirts.
"Hey! Let da big Kahuna give ya a haircut, ya? Come on back here now, keiki!"
*_*
Mr. Yamada sighed once again, "I am sorry, Ms. Kazami, but since you have broken our rules, you must leave this school. Ranma, you will have in- school suspension for a week."
Mizuho gasped and Ranma looked at her in concern. He didn't mind the suspension that much, but he knew how much Ms. Kazami wanted the teaching job. Suddenly, an idea hit him.
"Hey Mr. Yamada, you said there were special cases, right? Ms. Ka. Mizuho is my fiancé. It's ok then, right?" Ranma asked with hope. So it wasn't a great idea, it was the best even HE could come up with at that point.
Mizuho looked to Ranma in surprise. She knew the problems he had with fiancés and was amazed he would do something like that for her.
"Waitaminute" she thought, "Aren't I the only fiancé Ranma made for himself willingly?" Mizuho could only blush at that thought.
Mr. Yamada well knew of Ranma's many fiancés. Hell, the entire district knew, so it wasn't a big surprise finding this out, "No, I am sorry Ranma. If you were married it would be a different story, but not just being engaged.
Mizuho's hope deflated. It seemed she would be fired after all, and after only two days. Even in such a short time, she already had come to enjoy her classes, and meet many interesting students, though one in particular was above the others. She felt a connection with this one, and was sad she would have to leave now. Turning to Ranma, she got ready to say goodbye, but was surprised to see a determined look on his face.
While many things can be said about the young Saotome, the truest of all is that Ranma will do anything for the ones he truly cares for. When Ryoga showed up with the stupid mark of the gods, Ranma didn't help him because he wanted to win. He helped Ryoga because he still considered the pig a friend, winning was just an added bonus. He even killed Saffron for Akane.
Ranma turned his back to Mr. Yamada and held his hand in front of him in what appeared to be frustration, "Why? Just one more week and. and."
"And?" asked both Mizuho and Yamada.
Ranma dropped his hands to his sides and turned to Yamada, a sad look on his face, "And we would have been married."
Silence reigned for several minutes. "Married?" Mizuho thought to herself, "I would be. Mrs. Mizuho Saotome." She couldn't help but smile at that thought.
"Married?" Mr Yamada thought to himself, "That would mean less property damage from the Tendo girl, less medical supplies needed for the Kuno boy, and less of the other rivals and fiancés causing damage to the school. Plus, we get to keep Ms. Kazami as a teacher! It might bend the rules a bit, but I can't pass this by!"
"Very well" Mr. Yamada finally said in an official tone, "If you two are married within a week, then Ms. Ka. excuse me, Mrs. Saotome can stay on as a teacher."
"Thank you" Mizuho and Ranma both said before bowing and leaving the room.
Once they were outside, Ranma turned to Mizuho, "Ms. Kazami, I." He was silenced when she placed two fingers on his lips, causing a slight tingling sensation.
Mizuho was blushing heavily as she stared deep into Ranma's blue eyes, "Ranma, thank you for everything. I would be honored to be your wife." Mizuho's blush then intensified, "I suppose since we will be married soon, we should live together."
Ranma blushed as well while nodding, "Uhh, yeah. I need to go pick up some stuff from the dojo. It would probably be better if I went alone. I'll meet you at your apartment?"
Mizuho smiled and said, "Our apartment." before walking down the street to get home.
"I've known her two days and already I'm engaged to her. In a week I'll be married to her! She's really nice and I really like her, but how the hell do I get myself into these things?!" Ranma thought, then began roof hopping to the dojo, "It ain't gonna be pretty when I get there."
*_*
Ranma paused outside the front door of the Tendo household. This was something he had to do, thought he really didn't want to. Finally resolving to go through with it, Ranma walked in through the door calling out, "I'm back."
Immediately, a man with long black hair and a mustache came around the corner calling out, "Ranma!"
Afore mentioned man then burst into tears, wailing about him being unfaithful and the schools never being joined. Genma quickly joined Soun in their bawling. Akane came around the corner next, looking angry as ever.
"Where have you been Ranma?! You missed all the afternoon classes and the detention we had after school!"
"Indeed Saotome, just where did you go?" Nabiki asked, just now joining the group.
"Oh my! Welcome home Ranma." Take a wild guess who said that.
Ranma rubbed his forehead in frustration, "We all need to talk. Lets sit down."
*_*
Everyone was sitted around the dining room table, sipping the tea Kasumi had brought out.
"Alright, boy" Genma said in an authoritive voice, "What's this all about and where were you during school today?"
"Ranma, you weren't being unfaithful to my little girl, were you?" Soun said, trying to sound firm.
"Yes, do tell." Nabiki said with a smirk.
Kasumi stayed silent while Akane's aura built higher and higher.
Ranma ignored the question and turned to Kasumi, "Kasumi, do you want to marry me, now or ever?"
Everyone gasped at the question, surprised by it. Kasumi held her hand to her mouth and replied, "Ranma, you are a nice boy and all, but I."
Ranma smiled, "That's alright Kasumi, thanks. Nabiki, how bout you?"
Nabiki wasn't sure where Ranma was going with this, which frustrated her, "I'll give you three guesses Saotome, and the first two don't count."
Ranma nodded at Nabiki and turned to Akane, "Guess that's a 'no' then. How bout you Akane?"
In Ranma's heart, some small part was still hoping she'd say yes. Still hoping that something might work out between them.
Akane turned a violent glare to Ranma, "Theres no way I'd ever marry a perverted freak like YOU!!!" And that little piece of Ranma's heart was shattered.
Ranma turned to the fathers/idiots who were still awaiting an explanation, "None of em wanna marry me and I aint gonna force em. I'm engaged to a woman, by my own choice, that none of you know about. She and I will be married within a week."
The shock was enough to keep everyone quiet for a few moments until.
"Ungrateful boy! You must marry Akane and join the schools!" Genma cried out as jumped into the air, then sent a flying kick at Ranma. Ranma caught Genma's extended foot mid-air and threw Genma back to his seat with ease.
"Ranma! How dare you be unfaithful to my little Akane!" Soun cried out, using his demon-head attack. Ranma sent a small chi ball into the fake head, neutralizing it and knocking Soun back to his seat.
Before anything else could be said or done, Ranma generated to very powerful chi balls in his hands, immediately silencing the commotion, "I'm leaving tonight to go live with my fiancé. Nothing you can say or do will stop me, it will just piss me off. Try and get in my way, and there will a lot of screaming and pain, got me?"
Everyone nodded nervously, still eyeing the dangerous chi balls. Ranma finally dispersed them and walked up to the room he had used since he arrived. He would miss the dojo at the apartment, but he could use the flat roof easily enough. It only took the martial artist a few minutes to pack all his belongings.
After descending the stairs, Ranma saw that no one had moved since he left.
"Well, I'm leaving now" Ranma said, and turned to leave. Before he could go, a voice stopped him.
"So you really were going out and flirting with someone all this time. I was right after all, despite what you said"
Ranma turned to see Akane giving him a cold, sad glare, "Nope" he replied, "I met her less than a week ago. You were wrong all those times Akane."
Ranma then walked up to Nabiki and handed her 3000 yen, causing her to look at him quizzically.
"Just tell everyone that I have something to say that's important. I'll be outside Furinkan at noon, and my future wife will be with me." Ranma said, then turned and walked out the door.
As soon as he left, Genma and Soun began wailing about the schools never being joined, ungrateful boys, and loss of honor. The entire time, they were taking large gulps from nearby sake bottles. Nabiki got up and walked to her room wordlessly, all the while lamenting Ranma leaving. The pictures of his girl side was her main source of income.
Kasumi said nothing as well, but her smile was now missing. She had always enjoyed having Ranma in the house. It made the place more exciting and turned what had previously been an ordinary housewife's life into an adventure. She had also grown to love the pigtailed boy like a younger brother she never had.
Akane trudged angrily up to her room, stomping all the way. Once there, she finally broke down crying. "He's really gone this time! Oh, why didn't I say anything. Why didn't I say I wanted to marry him. Now it's too late. Ranma you. you. dummy."
*_*
After a brief roof hopping, Ranma landed in front of the apartment complex he helped move Mizuho in to. After walking up the stairs, Ranma paused nervously in front of the door before knocking.
Mizuho opened the door and smiled brightly at him, "Welcome home! I suppose we'll need to have a key made for you, hmm?"
Ranma smiled softly back at her and nodded, "Yeah, I'm home."
*_*
Authors Notes: Wow, took me longer to write this than originally expected. Just couldn't get motivated, you know? Anyways, I really enjoyed this chapter, and its my longest one to date (more than 4500 including disclaimer)! My thanks to all reviewers. Your kind words, criticism, and questions have helped me more than you can imagine. Well, it's now 4:45 a.m., so I am headed to bed. As usual, please R&R so I know what you think.