Academy Days
A Ranma Alterverse
by Chikiko (Chikiko@thekirealm.com)
Webpage: (www.thekirealm.com)


Disclaimer:

Ranma ½ and its characters belong to Rumiko Takahashi.


Academy Days Prologue

Ranma Saotome was looking out the window of the plane he was sitting in. Although the only thing he had seen for the last ten hours was water, he was content to stare at it and think. Although he would never admit it, he was feeling very nervous. However, it wasn't that this was Ranma's first time on a plane that was making him nervous; it was where he was going after it landed. For the first time in his life, his future was so uncertain. Until now he had spent his whole life on the road. With a few exceptions, he had never stayed in any one area for too long, but now his mother wanted him to settle down and start going to school. Not only that, but his mother picked a school for him in America of all places.

He felt a little relieved that three other Japanese kids would be going to the same school. On the flip side though, the other three were coming from the same town. So that meant that they would most likely know each other, if they weren't already friends. He realized though, that he would likely be as strange to them as the other non-Japanese people there. It was typical for him to be going to a new country were he barely knew the language and didn't know anyone. Even in Japan, where he was born, he felt like a stranger, as he was always on the road training in the art. He felt so different from everyone else, but especially now. After what had happened four years ago in china, he didn't think he'd ever be normal.

His eyes began to get heavier, so he decided to close them for a few minutes. He seemingly opened them a few minutes later, when his mother began to call him. "Ranma wake up dear, we're here. Its time to wake up and go to your new school."

Ranma looked at her for a minute, while trying to ignore the panda seated on the other side of his mother. They couldn't have landed already, there was still several hours left. He quickly looked out the window and realized they had indeed arrived. He also noticed to his horror that it was raining.

They quickly went through costumes and then headed toward the baggage claim. They were about to go look for their luggage when they saw a man holding a sign that said "Saotome." He was an older man about as tall as Ranma, with glasses and short greying hair.

Seeing the small family approach him, the man assumed them to be the people he was looking for. "You're the Saotome's I take it? I'm here to take you back to the school. My name is Ron Grahm."

Nodoka bowed before him. "It's a pleasure to meet you. I'm Saotome Nodoka and these are my husband and son Saotome Genma and Ranma. It was very kind of you to come here. All we have left to do is pick up our luggage, and we'll be all set."

After collecting all the luggage, they headed for the van and left the airport. Genma again fell asleep the moment he sat in his seat just like he had done on the plane. Nodoka and the man made idle talk, while Ranma stared out the window.

After driving for about an hour, they pulled of the expressway onto a small road. The further they drove the more country the scenery became. They took another turn and then the only thing he could see was corn fields.

A few minutes later, something caught Ranma's attention. To the left of the van he noticed something white standing in the middle of a corn field. As they approached he realized it was a water tower and it wasn't in a cornfield at all. He could now see other building around the tower. The street they were on end on another street and they took a left. The man stopped talking to Nodoka for a moment. "Here we are! Welcome to Broadview Academy.