Michael Gutin

An Entirely Different Ranma- Altraverse Ahoy!

Chapter 2

A Friend Indeed

By the time Akane comes down, I'm already eating. I resist the urges to stuff my face as fast as I can, I would have under any other circumstances but this was the start of me making amends for the things me and Pops have done, and I want to do it right. Akane sits down next to me and begins eating. I make eye-contact with her and smile, she blushes just the tiniest little bit. She really is pretty cute. As I think about the food and the new people I've met, I realize living here is going to be better than I thought.

"You're going to school tomorrow" Nabiki informs me. I look over to where Pops is sitting, he usually tries to keep me out of school as often as possible, but this time I don't see any objection from his direction.

"Sure" I say. Why not? I'm not the smartest person, but I'm not as stupid as I look either. No harm in a little education being pounded into my skull.

I finish eating, and I feel pretty tired from all the walking me and Pops had done in the morning, so I excuse my self, and go up to my room. I don't sleep yet though, I have to figure out a way to earn money. Hmm…I think about it, but I come up with nothing, maybe I'll figure it out tomorrow, or maybe…is as far as I get before sleep overtakes me.

I'm awoken as usual buy my father tossing me out of bed. I was about to deal out some well deserved punishment, when I was rudely interrupted.

"Ranma, you better get ready for school or we're going to be late." Okay, so maybe it wasn't that rude, but still, that damned Panda needs a good beating. With a sigh I head downstairs, eat some breakfast, and head for the school. Apparently, Akane was assigned the duty of showing me the way to school. Fine by me, better her than Nabiki, something about her makes me feel that staying as far away from her as I can is a good idea.

As we near the school, I hear Akane mutter "Hate boys, hate boys, hate boys." As we neared the school, I see a hoard of boy at the entrance. I see Akane pull ahead and proceed to knock out all of them one by one. I was so surprised I just stared. She was pretty good, not as good as me, of course, but good just the same. Then I see a familiar face, its Tatewaki Kuno, I hadn't seen him in a long time. I remembered the bet we had made last time I saw him.

He spoke up, "Truly, the boors are such a boorish lot." Ha, seems he still remembered the bet as well. I decided to interrupt him; I jumped down next to Akane.

"Does he always talk like that?" I asked.

Akane gritted her teeth and muttered "Yes."

"Since he's obviously chasing you, I'm guessing he doesn't have a girlfriend?"

"Yeah, so?" she answered impatiently, I didn't care, victory was mine!

"Hey bokken boy, looks like I won."

He didn't seem to recognize me at first. "Who dares call out…why if it isn't my favorite half-man."

Yup, he remembered me. Just like old times I launched myself at him to initiate some friendly sparring.

"Hey old buddy." I call out as I feint a kick.

"I'm doing fine, how long has I been?" He responds as he tries to thrust his bokken into my solar plexus.

At this point, I noticed everyone was staring at us. Wanting to find out what was going on, I finished the fight with a deft blow to Kuno's head. He went down, but I didn't hit him too hard, so he was back up in no time.

"Well, you last the bet Kuno."

"I know" he answered. He handed me 100,000 yen.

"And?" I added.

"And I recognize that you are the best, and I am so sorry for ever doubting you, oh amazing Ranma." He said reluctantly.

I laughed. "And don't forget it, True Blunder."

"Oh shut up you transgender freak." He retorted.

Akane, who had been shocked silent the entire time, managed to ask "What's going on?"

I chuckled "It's just a bet I made with Kuno, that speaking poetically and endlessly pursuing a girl is not a good way to get her."

She finally seemed to get it. "You mean Kuno doesn't…"

"You didn't really think I talked like that, did you?" Kuno cut in.

She looks at us "So all this time…" she grew angry. "..All the boys, and the poetry…was all because of some stupid bet you made?"

I grinned sheepishly "Hehe…I suppose so."

"Ranma no baka!" she screamed and slammed me into orbit with her mallet.

Author's Note: Fine, I admit it, the thing with Kuno is just not plausible, but you know what? I have yet to read a fan fiction where Ranma and Kuno are buddies, and this was the easiest way to make it so. If you think about it, it would explain Kuno's behavior. But enough about that, send me your C&C and whatever, as always.

Update: Er, I just found out I accidentally posted chapter 3 instead of this, whoops, well here's the real one, it makes sense now!