This was originally going to be the last chapter, but I cut it in two because it got to be ridiculously long. So chapter nine is the last chapter now. Oh yeah, and just so you know I do update my profile page every so often with new information. You might find some things of interest there.
WHO SAID THERE'D BE A FESTIVAL?
Mr. Yamamoto straightened some papers on his desk and set them aside. He looked over his new office with a satisfied look on his face. "Ah, my first week has a high school principal seems to have come off without a hitch." The young principal sighed happily. "Finally, my dream of educating the fine young people of Bunraku High will be realized!"
Just then the Vice Principal opened the door to the Principal's office and stepped inside, looking frantic. "Sir, I think there's something you should see."
"Now, now, no need for formalities! Call me- AHHH!" Mr. Yamamoto yelled. The Vice Principal had pulled up the blinds on the office window to reveal a completely unexpected sight below. The front schoolyard was filled with tents and booths and food carts. Lanterns were strung from the trees and Mr. Yamamoto could even make out a boxing ring near the center of all of this. People were crowded around laughing and enjoying the festivities. Some were even wearing festival kimonos.
"Wha…what's going on? I didn't approve a school festival today!" Mr. Yamamoto stuttered, his eyes bulging from his head.
"Oh, it's not the students." The Vice Principal explained. "It's the local businesses."
"Well what the heck are they doing here?" He demanded.
"I don't know Sir."
"Get them out of here!"
DOWN IN THE SCHOOLYARD
Daichi and Jatsuma had just arrived at school and were staring at the crowd of people with their mouths hanging wide open.
"WHAT ARE ALL THESE PEOPLE DOING HERE?" Daichi screeched, expecting the worst.
"Well…uh…I'm sure it has nothing to do with you." Jatsuma assured him.
Just then Mousse rolled up a food cart that had 'Cat Café' written on the side. "Well Daichi, you're finally here! " He said to Jatsuma.
"Try a few inches to the left." Jatsuma said, smiling. Mousse looked off in the other direction. "I meant my left."
"WHAT IS GOING ON?" Daichi yelled.
"There you are!" Shampoo called, walking over. "Where you been? We've been waiting all morning."
"CAN SOMEONE PLEASE TELL ME WHY ALL THESE PEOPLE ARE HERE?"
"Well these fights used to always draw a large crowd of students. It's good business. Like a sporting event." Mousse explained.
"They're here to watch me fight!" Daichi said, turning a slight shade of green. "But…but how is that even possible? How do all these people even know-"
"You two have GOT to try these funnel cakes!" Ranma said as he appeared out of no where holding a funnel cake.
Daichi's eye twitched. "YOU!" He growled and pointed at his father. "YOU DID THIS!"
"Hey, I had nothing to do with all these people!" Ranma said, offended. "I just thought I'd come to watch your fight and there was a whole festival going on!"
"Actually, my daughter told me about the fight." A man walked over. "When I heard that a Saotome was fighting I just had to come see for myself. So I thought it would be fun to set up a booth for catching fish!" He held up a paper net.
Another man walked up. "Yeah, my daughter told me too. She said everyone was going to see this fight. I work for a wrestling agency so I borrowed a boxing ring for it! You can't see it from here, but if you head down this way and take a left-"
"WHO ARE YOU?" Daichi interrupted, extremely irritated.
"Daichi, these are some of my old friends from high school!" Ranma explained happily. "Daisuke and Hiroshi used to watch all the fights at our old high school!"
"Yeah!" Hiroshi said. "We just had to come out to see the legacy!"
"This is just like old times!" Daisuke laughed.
"Isn't that a funny coincidence?" Ranma asked.
"Hilarious." Daichi grunted.
"Jatsuma!" Mascara ran over to them, she was wearing a Cat Café waitress outfit. "Isn't this exciting? This is my first time at a Japanese festival!"
"It's not a festival! It's a conspiracy!" Daichi yelled.
"Yeah, it's a great cultural experience." Jatsuma said, ignoring Daichi. "Sooo" He smiled at Mascara. "When's your break?"
Mascara blushed and giggled.
It took Jatsuma a second to realize something was coming towards him, but he jumped back just in time to avoid Luffa's attack. "You are so tackles!" She yelled in rage.
"Now, now, Luffa! Let's not be hasty!" Jatsuma said as he took a step back, waving his hands in a non threatening manner. "Maybe we could discuss this over coffee?"
Luffa tried to hold back a smile that was quickly spreading across her face, but it was no use. "I'd love some coffee!"
"Great!" Jatsuma said. "...You do have a different break from Mascara, right?"
Luffa's eye twitched and her expression changed as fast as lightening. "I HATE YOU!" She punched him clear across the festival. The others watched him fly away.
"Jatsuma!" Mascara called in distress.
"Can't say he didn't deserve that." Ranma sighed. "Yes, Jatsuma still has a lot to learn about women."
"I think he missed a few basic lessons!" Daichi said.
"I'm not through with him yet!" Luffa yelled as she ran in the direction he was heading. "Do not hurt him!" Mascara called as she ran after her.
"Well, back to business!" Mousse pushed the cart after the girls.
"Ranma, you want some breakfast? It on the house!" Shampoo offered with a big smile on her face. Ranma sighed and put a finger on his temple.
"Come on!" Mousse said angrily as he grabbed Shampoo's arm and pulled her away.
"What you do?" Shampoo hit Mousse in the back of the head and stalked on ahead of him with an annoyed look on her face.
"You are so cruel!" Mousse followed after her, dragging the cart.
"Anyway…" Daichi said, gritting his teeth.
"WOW! A festival!" Makoto arrived next to him, dragging Iikiba along behind her.
"I can walk for myself you know!" Iikiba stood up and dusted himself off. "Ooh! A festival!"
"Looks like you lucked out Daichi!" Makoto said, smiling at him.
Daichi glared at them.
"WHAT THE-?" A familiar voice shouted.
Daichi looked around and saw that Setsuko had just arrived as well. He was just standing there staring at the festival in front of him with eyes as big as saucers. It took him a full thirty seconds to recover from the shock while Daichi, Ranma, Makoto and Iikiba just looked at him, unsure what to expect.
He slowly turned towards Daichi with a scowl on his face. "I see you're pretty confidant about this fight! But don't think this changes anything just because there are a few more people here!"
"What? I didn't do this!" Daichi yelled.
"That's Setsuko?" Ranma asked. "He doesn't look so tough!"
"Dad!"
Setsuko glared at them. "It's not too late to back down." He sneered. "If you give up now then I'll go easy on you!"
Daichi glowered back at him with a steadfast look on his face. "I'm not backing down."
Setsuko smiled. "Hm. Fine. I prefer to crush you myself anyway." He looked up at the big clock on the school building, 7:15. "I'll see you in fifteen minutes."
With that, Setsuko stalked off into the crowd of people.
"Little worm." Ranma glared after him.
Makoto turned back to Daichi with a look of concern on her face. "Daichi…if you lose then you have to give up on Lotion." She suddenly looked determined. "But if you give up the fight now then maybe you'll still have a chance with her!"
Daichi smiled. "Heh heh. You're realizing this now huh?"
"I'm serious!" She stomped her foot.
"This is just something I have to do." Daichi began to walk off. They watched him go for a few seconds before he tripped and rolled into one of the booths doing face painting. All the people who happened to be standing nearby were covered in colorful paint. The people screamed and scattered.
"His exits would be a lot more dramatic if the author would just cut to the next scene before he fell every time." Iikiba said. Ranma and Makoto nodded in agreement.
BACK IN THE SCHOOL
"Well today is the day you present your group projects!" Ms. Meadows announced. "Nervous Lotion?"
"Not so much." Lotion said, turning around to look at the empty classroom. For a second she could have sworn she saw a sagebrush roll by.
"It's early yet. I'm sure the other members of the science club will be here any minute for our morning meeting!"
"Ms. Meadows, I don't think anyone's coming. They're all down at that festival." Lotion said, indicating the window. "You'd think they'd make an announcement to let us know a school festival was coming up!"
"Festival?" Ms. Meadows ran to the window and stuck her head out to get a good look. "I love festivals!"
"Didn't you see it when was came in this morning?" Lotion asked with a raised eyebrow as she walked over to the window as well.
"Come on! Let's go!" Ms. Meadows grabbed Lotion by the wrist and pulled her into the hallway.
"Hey! Hold on!" Lotion yelled as she was tugged along.
IN THE MIDST OF THE FESTIVAL
"Alright Daichi. Just do your best. No pressure." Ranma said. He was outside of the ring just behind Daichi, who was standing in the corner of the boxing ring. Setsuko was standing in the opposite corner with his arms crossed, glaring at Daichi. Fold out chairs were set up in a circle around the ring so that the crowd could sit and watch.
"I think I'm gonna puke." Daichi wheezed.
"Just try to stay calm." Ranma reassured him. "No pressure."
"Would you stop saying that! It's making me MORE nervous!"
"Hey! When's this fight gonna start?" One of the ornery audience members yelled, one wearing a yellow construction helmet. "I gotta get back to work!"
"Bill, can't you try to relax? Enjoy this beautiful day?" Ted asked as he took a sip of his beer.
"We left Ryoga in charge so I don't think there's anything to worry about." Wallis added. He was sitting on the other side of Bill.
Bill snorted. "I don't trust that guy. There's something weird about him."
"You're just jealous that he's a way better demolitions worker than you." Ted sighed.
"I'm telling you! He ain't normal!"
"Alright! Alright, I believe you!" Ted chuckled, waving his hand passively. "Hey, maybe we should pick up some hog feed for him on the way back! HAHA!" He laughed loudly. Bill glowered at him.
"Oh come on!" Ted said, seeing Bill's expression. "Don't you think you're overreacting? You shouldn't judge a pig by the color of his skin. Heh heh." Ted chuckled.
"You are such a basterd!"
"You're never going to get a promotion with that attitude."
"Can't you two calm down?" Wallis asked. "I'm sure Ryoga is doing fine."
AT THE CONSTRUCTION SITE
Ryoga looked at the rubble that littered the area. Remnants of the building he had just destroyed using the breaking point technique.
"Man, I hope that was the right building."
BACK AT THE RING
"This can't end well." Jatsuma said. He was sitting in one of the seats around the ring with Makoto and Iikiba. "I hope Daichi knows what he's doing."
"Of course he doesn't!" Makoto said angrily. "He had to go and try to act all macho and get himself into trouble like an idiot!"
"Yeah, it's usually me." Iikiba said.
"You know, I can hear everything you're saying!" Daichi snapped. Makoto looked like she was about to say something back but she was interrupted before she could say anything.
"WHAT IS GOING ON HERE?" Mr. Yamamoto yelled as he pushed his way through the crowd, towards the boxing ring. "Fighting is not allowed on school premises! And this festival is completely unauthorized! You're all trespassing! I demand you vacate the area immediately!"
A few people gave him glares and confused looks. Most just ignored him and went about their business.
"Who's that guy?" Jatsuma asked.
"He's the new principal, Mr. Yamamoto." Makoto explained.
"We have a new principal? Since when?"
"Since last week when they announced it at the school assembly, idiot." Iikiba said, grinning slightly. "Don't you ever pay attention?"
"Oh, don't even start acting like you know everything, Iikiba." Jatsuma said. "You didn't even know what a polo shirt was."
"SHUT UP!"
Daichi growled and put his hands over his ears. All their rambling was really distracting him from the task at hand. He had to try to stay focused. Setsuko was standing only a few yards away looking annoyed, he obviously wasn't impressed with Daichi's cheering section. He noticed Daichi looking in his direction and smiled like a cat would smile at a cornered mouse. Daichi was relieved when Ranma tapped on his shoulder so he could look away.
"Two minutes, Daichi." Ranma said, indicating his watch. "Just remember your training."
"I should call the exterminator then?"
"Now is not the time for sarcasm!"
"HELLO! DIDN'T ANYONE HEAR ME?" Mr. Yamamoto yelled to the unlistening crowd. "I WANT EVERYONE OUT OF HERE! NOW- …What are you doing? I told you to clear these people out!" He yelled towards the Vice Principal who was sitting in one of the fold out chairs and eating a funnel cake. He was now wearing a festival kimono, his face was painted and in the seat next to him was a huge stuffed purple teddy bear with a balloon tied around its paw.
"Well, I was. But then I tried this funnel cake and…I guess I got a little carried away. You have GOT to try it!" He held up the funnel cake to the principal.
Mr. Yamamoto snatched it away angrily. "What kind of Vice Principal are you? Getting distracted by a stupid funnel cake!" He tore off a small piece and put it in his mouth. A second later his eyes grew wide. "Dear God! That's the best thing I've ever tasted!" He tore off a larger chunk and stuffed it into his mouth.
"You can sit here if you want." The Vice Principal moved the purple bear from its chair to the ground.
"Cool." Mr. Yamamoto took the seat as he gobbled down another piece of funnel cake.
DING! The start bell rang. Daichi was taken off guard; he hadn't realized there was a bell. So of course he tripped out of surprise. "Gah!" He fell just as Setsuko's fist flew by, inches above his head. But about a millisecond later Daichi had to roll away to avoid Setsuko's foot.
"Fight! Fight! Fight! Fight! Fight! Fight! Fight!" The audience, led by Ted, began chanting.
Daichi grabbed hold of one of the thick elastic wires around the ring to steady himself. I've got to get a hold of myself! He thought in a panic.
"Look out!" Ranma yelled.
Daichi spun around quickly, slipping on his own feet in the process, and again narrowly avoiding Setsuko's attack.
"HOLD STILL!" Setsuko continued to throw out attack after attack and Daichi continued to just barely dodge; mostly by accident, as he had lost all sense of balance but still fought to stay on his feet.
"FIGHT! FIGHT! FIGHT! FIGHT! FIGHT!" The crowd continued. "Throw a punch already!" Jatsuma's voice came through, muffled by the shouts.
"What? I can barely even stand up!" Daichi yelled back.
Yeah, the polo shirt joke was something that actually happened with me and my sister. I didn't know what a polo shirt was. Of course I had seen then, but I had never identified them as being a special kind of shirt with their own name and everything. My sister went well out of her way to explain what a polo shirt was. She was so astonished and appalled that I didn't know! Heh heh