Chapter 7

"And as you can see," The English sensei, Mizuho, turned to the chalkboard, continuing her lecture. "If you want to create a sentence with two or more subjects, simply place a semicolon between them like this." She wrote on the board, "John and Alice went to town; they bought a new car." Turning back to the class, she asked, "Does anyone have a question?"

"Where did they put my couch?" A sleeping student mumbled.

Mizuho looked at the student and giggled. "Could somebody please wake up Kotaishi-kun?"

The bored student sitting next to him flipped a few paper wads at his head. "C'mon, Kotaishi. If I gotta sit through this, so do you."

The boy stirred and slowly lifted his head. "Ugh, Saotome? Whuzzup?"

"You've just slept through class, that's what's up." The sensei answered. "I know you're bi-lingual, Kotaishi-kun, but if you can't learn anything, you could at least help out." She looked at the pony tailed boy sitting next to him and smiled at the thought that crossed her mind. "As punishment for sleeping, I am going to have you tutor Saotome Ranma."

"What?!" Both boys erupted and Diro said, "But Sensei, I don't have time to…"

"I don't need no tutor, teach!" The pony tailed one interrupted. "Why're you pickin' on me? He's the one who was sleeping!"

"That may be true, Saotome-kun, but I've noticed your grades have been slipping. I see this as a good opportunity to kill two birds with one stone!" The red-headed teacher giggled and looked at her watch. "It seems that we've run out of time. I'll check up on you two later, for now just enjoy your lunch!"

The two looked at each other and sighed. Mizuho giggled again as she made her way to the classroom door. She slid it open and saw a blonde girl standing on the other side.

"Konnichiwa, Mizuho-sensei!" The cheerful girl greeted. "Is the sophomore class out for lunch now?"

"We've just finished, Aino-san, was it?" She waited for the girl to nod in recognition of the name. "You're one of Kotaishi-kun's friends aren't you? Can you tell me why he's been so tired lately?"

"Well, uh, he's getting ready for a competition. It's really important to him, so he's been spending all of his spare time on it." She sighed and rested her cheek in her hand. "It's like he doesn't even have time for me these days!"

Mizuho looked down at her with a maternal smile. "I'm afraid he may have even less time for a while. I just sentenced him to tutoring a rogue student in English."

Minako tilted her head to the side. "How come?" She asked.

"I caught the poor thing sleeping in class. I hope my punishment won't be too much for him. Saotome-kun can be a handful at times." She bowed slightly to the girl. "Please apologize to Kotaishi-kun for me, okay?"

"Yes ma'am." She bowed deeply as the sensei walked away. The girl peeked inside the classroom to find Diro. Seeing that he had his back turned, she giggled to herself and snuck inside. Taking a deep breath, she threw her arms around his neck and affectionately sqealed, "Diro!"

Choking under her grasp, he said in a hoarse voice, "What's up, Minako-chan?"

"I want you to come have lunch with me and the others." She answered bluntly.

He moved her arms to give himself room to breathe. "I'd love to, but now I have to organize some tutoring sessions with this punk."

Minako looked at the lounging boy in front of them. He had a short ponytail and wore Chinese style clothes, somewhat out of place in the high school. "You must be that rogue student Mizuho-sensei was talking about. My name's Minako, what's yours?"

"God, did she really call me that?" The boy muttered. "The name's Saotome Ranma. How's it goin'?"

"Great!" She bubbled. "Are you sure you can't join us, Diro?"

He gave her a mockingly sad smile. "Sorry, no."

"Okay." She sighed and placed her forefinger on the tip of his nose. "But you have to promise to make it up to me!"

Reeling back, he chuckled nervously. "Sure, anything you want!"

"Anything?" She asked. The boy gulped and nodded. "Oh thank you, Diro! I'll find something really fun for us to do! You won't regret it!"

He grimaced as he waved her off. "Somehow I doubt that!"

Ranma grinned. "She's cute. Your girl?"

"My what? No, she's just a friend." He scratched the back of his head. "She may be cute but she's also kinda needy."

"Still, it must be nice t'have a chick like that around." He turned to a short haired girl standing by the window. "Hey Akane, why can't you act like that more often?"

She scowled at him and spat, "Just die, Ranma!"

He leaned back in his chair and muttered, "Yeah, what would a tomboy like you know about bein' cute any…" The pony tailed boy stopped short as a flying desk collided with his head.

Diro watched his body twitch on the ground. He rested his head in his hands and sighed. "Oh yeah, this is time very well spent."

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Makoto looked up as Minako entered the classroom. "Did Diro-kun not want to have lunch with us?"

"He was too busy." She answered shortly. "He got in trouble and now he has to tutor some guy in English."

"Is he cute?" The taller one asked instinctively.

Minako considered it and said, "kinda, yeah."

Ami giggled quietly. "Honestly, it always has to be about boys with you two. Don't you ever think of anything else?"

"Like you don't ever think about boys, Ami-chan!" Usagi teased and elbowed her in the ribs.

"Yeah Ami-chan, I've seen the way you've been makin' googly-eyes at Diro-kun and that guy in the sophomore class!" Makoto insisted.

Minako snuck up behind her and tickled her neck. "Don't get any ecchi ideas, Ami-chan. I've got dibs on Diro-kun!"

The girl giggled and tried to escape her friend's attack. "C'mon Mina-chan! I thought you were giving up on Diro-kun!"

She draped her arms over Ami's shoulders and looked her straight in the eye. "When did I ever say that?"

"Don't you remember what you said a couple weeks ago?"

"No." She answered bluntly. "What'd I say?"

"You said that you were gonna give Rei a chance to figure out her feelings!" Usagi pointed out.

Minako considered it and said, "Well, she's had a few weeks so I think it's only fair that I step in and claim what's rightfully mine!"

Mizuho chuckled quietly as she watched the group from afar. "It would seem that those four are more than just good friends of our young prince." She whispered to herself. "I'd like to see just how 'close' I can make them!"

"Hey, I've got an idea!" The teacher was brought out of her musings as Makoto spoke up. "It's gotten warm enough to swim now, so why don't we take Diro-kun to the beach?"

"The beach?" Minako thought aloud. "That would mean we'd get to see Diro in swimming trunks…or maybe even a Speedo!"

Ami put a tissue over the girl's face. "Mina-chan, you're nose is bleeding!" She turned to the others. "Wouldn't it interfere with Diro-kun's training to take a day off?"

"Not really." Usagi chimed. "I talked to him the other day and he said that he was almost ready."

"Besides, it's not healthy to go straight into a fight without being relaxed." Makoto added.

Minako sported a wide smile and said, "So it's settled. The day before the tournament we'll drag Diro-kun to Yokohama with us!"

"Are you sure you can convince him to come, Mina-chan?" Ami asked.

"Of course!" She replied enthusiastically. "Who on earth could resist my charm? Besides, he said he owed me one for skipping out on lunch today!"

"The Yokohama beach, huh?" Mizuho mused. "This could be interesting!" She giggled and walked off to her next class.

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"I can't believe I let that girl talk me into that!" Diro exclaimed as he walked behind Ranma and Akane.

"Well, she did seem rather insistent." Akane commented.

"Stop whining, Kotaishi. It sounds like fun. At least you won't havta put up with a violent chick like Akane here."

"Says you." He returned. "Once Sakura catches wind of our little trip, she'll wanna come. And I'll bet a thousand yen that she's twice as violent as your fiancée!"

The girl's eye twitched. "If you two don't shut up, I'll show you just how violent I can be!"

The boys backed away and held their hands up in defense. Diro said, "Sorry, Tendo-san. I didn't mean anything by it!"

Ranma said, "Yeah, c'mon Akane! Don't flip out on us!"

She turned her nose up in the air and stormed off. I can't stand boys!"

Diro blinked a few times as he watched her stomp away. He turned to Ranma and asked, "Shouldn't we go after her?"

"Nah," He replied. "She's always doin' stuff like this. Tch, she's just a bratty tomboy that only wants to get her way 'n beat me up in the process."

"Be that as it may, you two are engaged and should try to get along, right?"

The pony-tailed one spat. "It wasn't my damn idea! Our stupid parents decided for us. If I had it my way, I'd still be in China tryin' to find a cure for…" He stopped himself from saying anything more.

"A cure for what?"

"Nothin'." Ranma insisted. "Let's just get this tutoring session over with!"

"Uh, sure." He returned confused. The two walked the rest of the way in silence. As they approached Ranma's home, Diro read the sign out front. "Tendo School of Indiscriminate Grappling? This is the dojo of Anything Goes Martial Arts!"

"That surprise you?"

"Yeah! I mean, I had you pegged as a martial artist but I had no idea you and Akane practiced Anything Goes!" He thought for a moment and grinned. "Hey, how about you'n me have a little match?"

"A match?" He flashed a cocky grin. "You sound pretty sure of yourself."

"Well, I've studied Bushin ninjitsu my entire life." He insisted. "I think that should be just about enough to contend with Indiscriminate Grappling!"

The boy chuckled at his challenge. "Sounds fun. Who wants to study anyway?"

"Totally." He raised his fist in front of his new friend's face. "Lead the way, Saotome!"

They walked around the house to the dojo just to the side. Along the way, Diro stalled when he saw a large panda sipping at some hot green tea. The animal spotted him and gave him a peace sign. He shook his head and thought to himself that perhaps he'd been working too hard.

"In here." Ranma slid open the door walked in, kicking off his shoes just inside the doorway.

Diro followed his lead and asked, "How you wanna do this? Close or long range?"

"How 'bout we start off with a charge?"

"If you insist." A cocky grin crossed the young ninja's face. He took his stance and waited for Ranma's signal that he was ready. "Hajime!"

The two sprinted toward each other at a steadily increasing speed. When he neared his opponent, Diro leapt forward and performed a Bushin Senpukyaku, in which he extended his leg as he spun completely in midair. Ranma, however, rolled beneath his attack and grabbed the other boy's hair, jerking him to the ground.

"Ouch!" Diro groaned as he stood. "Foul! C'mon Saotome, what's with that?"

He ran his finger under his nose and chuckled somewhat sadistically. "It's Anything Goes, Kotaishi."

The other laughed with him. "So that's how it's gonna be? Okay, we'll play by your rules!"

A pure white cat watched as the long-haired teen rammed his head into the other boy's face. He mewed somewhat confused by the events that had taken place. Minako had told her guardian everything she knew from her encounter with the Divine Knights, as Usagi had done with Luna. Since then, the two had consorted to watch over the supposed prince of Alundar. Neither of them remembered an alliance with this kingdom, but then there were many secrets of their former lives that they had yet to unlock.

"He doesn't really look like he has any regal blood in him at all!" Artemis mused. "And he certainly doesn't show it in his actions. But then, Usagi is the neo-princess Serenity and she acts more like a child than a princess."

From his side, he received a few oinks as a response. The cat turned to see his unwitting companion. A small, black piglet wearing a yellow and black polka dotted bandana looked back at him. Its eyes widened and it ran away squealing after realizing it was sitting next to a talking cat. Artemis simply shrugged his shoulders and returned his attention to the fight.

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"Mamo-chan!" Usagi squealed and hugged him around the neck. She whispered in his ear, "Did Luna or Artemis know anything about our situation?"

"They're looking into it." He whispered back and turned to the rest of the crowd. "C'mon, the train's about to leave!"

They all crowded in the door and found their respective seats. As usual, Rei took her place at Diro's side, and Minako found another seat next to him. Usagi grasped onto her boyfriend's arm while Sakura shared gossip with Makoto and Ami absorbed herself into her compact computer.

"So how have things been going with that guy you're tutoring, Diro?" Rei asked after situating herself.

The boy laughed out of embarrassment. "To be honest, we haven't really studied at all. We've primarily spent most of our time fighting."

"You mean like Rei and Usagi?" Minako asked.

"More like me 'n Sakura." He corrected. "This guy's an awesome martial artist. We're pretty much an even match! I've considered it to be great training, and it gets me away from those three freaks that've started to hang around me."

Rei giggled. "They are pretty weird." She agreed. "What was that guy's name again? Saotome Ranma?"

"Saotome?" Ami asked and looked up from her computer. "That guy in Diro-kun's class with the braided ponytail?"

"You know 'im?" Diro asked.

Makoto's eyes gleamed and she said, "Ami's had her eye on someone in your class, Diro-kun. Is this Ranma the guy, Ami-chan?" She elbowed the blushing girl in the ribs.

"Izzat so?" He asked. "Well, y'know, I asked him if he wanted to come along, but he said he's not good around water for some reason. But anyway, you shouldn't get your hopes up for Ranma. He's kinda engaged."

"Yeah, but I heard it wasn't his decision. It's supposedly an arranged engagement that neither of them agreed to." She returned timidly.

"Yeah, that's true." He considered. "They don't really seem to get along. I guess I can try to set somethin' up if you want."

"But Saotome still has some other girls fighting for his attention." Sakura pointed out. "If you wanna get in on the action you're gonna need to learn how to fight." She thought for a moment and her eyes lit up. "Okay! I'll teach you everything I know!"

Diro said, "Um, I don't think that's such a good id-"

"If you do that then I'll have to be there for damage control!" Makoto interrupted. "Ami-chan's not used to practicing martial arts."

Ami began, "But I really don't want to-"

"Then it's settled!" Sakura interrupted. "With your Kung Fu skills and my knowledge of Shotokan, we'll make Ami more than a match for those other girls!"

Diro said, "Hey c'mon, seriously you shouldn't-"

Minako grabbed his arm and squealed. "Oh, Diro-kun, isn't it romantic that Ami's going to learn to fight for her heart's desire?"

Ami started, "But I'm not-"

"And what exactly do you think you're doing, Minako?" Rei interrupted and grabbed his other arm. "Don't you think you're getting a little fresh with Diro-kun?"

Diro grimaced. "But it's nothing like-"

"Come now, Rei-chan." Usagi said, waving her hand in a dismissing manner. "Surely there's enough of Diro-kun to go around!"

"Butt out meatball-head!" She shouted back. "Like you're ever willing to share Mamoru!"

Mamoru blinked in confusion. "Share me? What are you-"

"That's different!" The pigtailed girl insisted. "Mamo-chan is my boyfriend. So until one of you claims Diro-kun, he's up for grabs!"

"Up for grabs?" He repeated. "Are you trying to say-"

"She's trying to say that until I make him my boyfriend, you have to share!" Minako shot at Rei.

"That is by far the dumbest thing I've ever heard!" The raven-haired girl demanded and stuck out her tongue. Minako followed in suit, resulting in a battle of raspberries between several of the girls lasting the entirety of the trip.

When the train had come to rest and the girls exited, Diro looked at the taller man next to him and asked, "Exactly how long have you put up with this?"

With a half-smiling half-cringing expression, he answered, "It's had to have been years now."

The boy whistled in amazement. "May I call you sensei?"

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"We're here!" Usagi squealed in delight. "And look, the beach is practically deserted!"

The group scanned the area, noting the very few people present. One figure, a well-built man in a red karate gi with long blonde hair caught the attention of Diro and Sakura.

"That couldn't possibly be…" The boy started.

"Ken!!!" Sakura squealed and ran up to him, leaving her friends behind.

They watched as she, with no sense of humility, tackled him and hugged him around the neck. As the two conversed in the distance, Mamoru asked, "So, who is that guy exactly?"

Diro ran his hand over his recently braided hair. "That's Ken Masters, the all-American champion of martial arts. He studied with Sakura's idol, Ryu. I didn't know she was on such close terms with him." He said wistfully and slowly walked toward them.

The senshi gave each other quizzical looks and followed him. As they approached, Ken looked their way and, after a brief moment of consideration, his eyes widened with recognition. "Diro Kotaishi?" He asked in amazement, and instantly took on a friendlier expression. He said in English, "What are you doing here? How long has it been? Two? Three years?"

"A little over three." The boy answered and punched his knuckles. "I assume you're here for the tournament."

"And pass up the chance to finally beat Ryu? There's no way I'd stay home! What about you? Don't tell me that Kunio actually gave you permission to participate in the street fights."

Diro looked down with a small, sad smile. "He didn't. I'm here of my own volition."

Ken leaned forward with an accusing grin. "You always were the first to break the rules, weren't you kid? How is the old man anyway?"

He shook his head and plastered an unconvincing expression of wistfulness on his face. "You really need to check up on your friends more often. Grampa died three years ago and Grandma didn't last but a year and a half after that."

Ken's teasing demeanor dropped immediately upon hearing the news. "How? Kunio was always so robust. What could have possibly happened to him?"

"Vega." He answered bluntly. "He wanted to test his Spanish Ninjitsu against our Bushin style. I got involved and got this scar." He ran his hand over the right side of his face. "Grampa pushed me outta the way before Vega took my eye, but he left himself open and…"

Sensing his emotional turmoil, Minako grabbed his arm looked up into his face. "Diro-kun, what's wrong?"

The boy composed himself and gazed back into his friend's beautiful blue orbs. Switching to Japanese, he said, "Nothing's wrong. I was just telling Ken a really old story, that's all."

"And so you've entered the tournament to try and make things right, huh?" Ken asked.

"That's partly true." He agreed. "But I feel if I don't do something, Vega's rampage may never end. That bastard even tried to make a move on Usagi." He jerked his head in her direction. "I gotta take him out before someone else gets hurt."

"When the threat to the world arises, so shall the shadow of Bushin." He quoted. "Guy would be proud of your spirit."

"The heir of Bushin." He mused and looked at his friends. He squeezed Minako's hand and smiled. "Ever since he received that title I've wanted to train with him. But now, I think I have other plans."

Ken laughed lightly. "So you've become a ladies man? You remind me of myself at your age!"

"Don't be so insulting!" Diro teased. "These girls have become as much a family to me as I've ever had. I'm fighting Vega tomorrow for their sake."

"Well, good luck. I need a little more training before then, but I'll see you at the tournament." Ken punched the boy's arm and walked off.

Sakura watched him for a moment and turned around to face the others. "Hey guys, I think I'm gonna go train with Ken for a while, okay?" She looked over the girls real quick and flashed Diro a shy smile. He nodded back and watched her run after Ken.

Makoto watched with starry eyes and said, "Diro, why didn't you tell me you knew such a gorgeous hunk?"

He groaned. "He's married, Mako-chan."

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A red-haired woman watched as the teens played on the beach. She took careful note of the girls that gathered around the long-haired boy. She chuckled to herself about the mischief she intended to cause. Choosing her targets, she pulled out a thin pipe from her cleavage, put one end between her lips and took a deep breath.

"Just what do you think you're doing, Mizuho?" A sudden voice demanded from behind.

Surprised, the woman gasped, swallowing a small tack. "Melchior! Don't do that!" She choked as she turned around. "Oh no! I've swallowed it! This is all your fault, you jerk! You've just screwed up my plans to…take you home with me and make you my love slave!"

His eye twitched at her sudden change in demeanor. "What was in that pipe?"

"A love potion." She answered and scooted closer to him. "I was going to shoot it at that blonde girl and see how the prince would react to the results. But then you came along, you adorable demon, you!"

The knight groaned. "You always were an idiot. I'm taking you back with me."

"I'd follow you to the end of the universe, my love!" Mizuho squealed as she clung to his waist.

Melchior muttered, "If this is what the prince goes through with those girls, I don't envy him."

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Diro stood on a dock, watching the waves crash on the shore. He had been able to sneak away from the group as Makoto prepared their meal. He thought about the fun he had over the course of the day. How he and the girls built and knocked down each other's sand castles, and how Ami beat them all racing through the water. He had even been able to get to know Mamoru better by teaching him some of the basics of Bushin.

"Oh here you are, Diro." A voice brought him out of his reverie.

He turned to see Rei smiling at him. She had changed out of her bathing suit and into a pair of shorts and a red t-shirt. "What's up, Rei?" He asked.

"Makoto's finished with our food. If we don't hurry, the meatball-head will eat it all before we get there. What are you doing out here all alone, anyway?"

"Just thinking." He answered. "I'm going to that tournament tomorrow, and I've decided that I don't want you anywhere near it."

She blinked a few times, confused by his decision. "Huh? Why? I wanted to see you fight. We were all going to go together."

"I know, but I don't want you to watch me." He leaned back and avoided looking in her eyes. "It's going to be very violent, I could even get killed. Or, I may kill someone myself. You have no idea how these things are, it's nothing like any other martial arts tournament. These guys are out for blood! It's not even safe in the audience. Fights are always breaking out and I just don't want you or the others to get hurt."

"I see." She started, somewhat disappointed. "But, if it's so dangerous, why do you have to go? And what about Sakura? She's going to be there!"

"Sakura has participated in the tournaments before. She's a martial artist, she knows what to expect. Besides, she has a reason for being there, just as I do." He grabbed her and pulled her into a tight hug. "Please Rei, just trust me on this. I don't want any of you girls to get hurt. You…you're like a sister to me."

She gasped and yielded to his embrace. "Just a sister?" She whispered to herself and let her tears flow into his wet shirt. "Okay, I trust you, Diro. I love you, niisan."

Diro nestled his face into her dark hair. "I love you too, imouto-chan."

Author's Notes:

I was just looking over this chapter and I found like half a million typos! Wow, I'm gonna have to be more careful in the future! Right, so one of you guys mentioned something about the way I write the names of the characters. I just recently decided to write the Japanese names in the Japanese way (last name first) and Western names the Western way. So you may notice a few inaccuracies here and there. But, yeah keep the criticisms comin' man, they make for better writing.

See you next week,

The Rockstar Prince of Crossovers