He woke at a leisurely pace, which was some what different for him. His normal morning would have started with his entire bed shaking from the vibrating alarm. He was grateful that he didn't have to deal with that, but wondered if the price he was paying for such a morning was higher then he could afford.
Rising out of his futon, he noticed that Ranma and Genma were already gone.
"I must have over slept," he said to himself.
From downstairs, the smell of food assaulted his nose and he wondered if it was breakfast or lunch.
- - - - - -
"Good morning Joe-san," Kasumi said with a bow. "Breakfast is on the table. Please help yourself."
"Thank you Kasumi." He went over and poured a small bowl of rice along with an assortment of other items left out for him and ate as quickly as he could. As he ate, a small figure of a man crept up silently.
"Who's this?" came the elderly voice of Happousai.
"This is our guest, Joseph from America," Kasumi said sounding very happy.
"America you say?" He turned and eyed Joseph closely. For a moment, Joseph felt as if the old man were trying to read his very soul. "So... familiar... But no... it couldn't be..."
"Um...," Joseph managed.
"Yes, something you need to ask me?"
"What's your name?"
"My friends call me Happi and so may you."
"Um.. ok, sure..." He said, not sounding convinced that the old man was telling him the truth. "It was a pleasure to meet you sir."
"Of course," Happousai stated before cackling. "I'll see you later tonight ma'boy. I've some thinking that needs to be done, but I might have an offer for you when I'm done."
With that, the elderly man hopped off.
- - - - - -
Akane walked beside Joseph on the ground while Ranma, as usual, decided the top of the fence was a better place.
"Aren't you afraid of falling?"
"What? Me? Fall?"
"Well, it would only take a second of losing your balance and from there it'd be all downhill."
"If I ever fall, I'll learn to do better next time Joe."
"Don't listen to him Joe. He just prefers to avoid walking next to a cute girl."
"You are not cute!" This started Akane's temper flaring, but in an odd display of self control, she turned to Joe.
"We'll have home room first."
"I hope the school isn't big cause I'm terrible at finding new places."
"Well, it is a bit big, but you really don't have to worry since most of out classes will be in the same room."
"Oh... interesting."
- - - - - - - -
As the approached the school, Ranma heard Joseph swear lightly.
"What's the matter?"
"This place is huge."
"Oh? Never seemed that way to me," he said with a shrug. "It's pretty much exactly like every other school I've attended... or hiked by with my old man..."
"Hmmm?"
"Forget about it. Let's hurry before..." his words were cut off as his fear came true.
"Today is the day I rid you dear Akane of the cursed Ranma!" The self proclaimed Blue Thunder announced from the entrance to the school yard. The kendoist eyes quickly caught sight of the new person beside Akane. "Still more fools come forth to challenge me?"
"No Kuno, don't! He's not a fighter!" Ranma shouted, knowing that Joseph was almost certainly out of his league, at least while he was awake.
"Then his end shall be mercifully quick."
"You want someone to fight, then come get me Kuno!" Ranma brought up his hands, prepared to take down Kuno fast incase the blunderer still went for Joseph. Without even trying to be unpredictable, Kuno charged towards Joseph.
Joseph flinched and in the moment he looked away, Ranma moved in front of Kuno's path. Wasting no time, Ranma slammed his fist into Kuno's gut, following it with a blow to the back of the head.
"Woah," was all Joseph could say in response to this.
"Lousy Kuno... You alright Joe?"
"Yeah... Just shaken. I'll be alright."
"We better head to class then."
"Shouldn't we take that guy to the nurse's office?"
"He threatens to kill you and you want to help him?"
"Well, I can't say I know why he felt the need to harm me, but I don't think it's right to leave him here like that."
"You're a good guy, but don't worry. Nabiki should be along shortly. She'll take good care of him."
"Are they dating?"
"Dating? Well, if that means he gives all his money to her, then yeah."
- - - - - - -
Ranma worried for Joseph. People as crazy as Kuno were a dime a dozen and any one of them could present a serious problem for the young American. Still, he knew that on his own, Joseph wouldn't draw too much attention, save the fact that he was currently the only non-Japanese attending the school. That fact alone rarely got anyone into trouble.
At lunch time, he met up with Joseph.
"Yo," he said casually.
"Uh... yo," Joseph responded, sounding a little less then confident.
"Kuno given you any more trouble today?"
"No, I can't say I've even seen him since this morning."
"Good. I hit him a little harder then normal. But he's probably starting to wake up about now, so be on your guard for the rest of the day."
- - - - - - -
Joseph walked down the halls of the school, admiring the clean white walls as he tried not to think of the worst thing that could happen as he made his way to the nurse's office. He'd decided to see if he could find out what the swordsman had against him and how to make amends
After a bit of searching, he came across the oak finished door leading to the nurse's office. Inside, he heard the voice of Kuno ranting something about Ranma. Part of Joseph wanted to leave, but he fought the instinct to flee, deciding now would definitely be better then later. Especially if Kuno was planning on another attack.
Slowly he opened the door and called in.
"Hello, is that you Kuno...," he paused, then considered that this boy believed himself to be older, "Sama?"
"Yes, you may enter."
"Uh, thanks..." Upon entering, Kuno had a gleam in his eye.
"It is you, the one I saw walking with Akane this morning."
"Yeah, about that. I just sort of dropped in... on my way to China. I'm really not someone you need to be jealous of."
"Of course not. One such as yourself could never truly rival one such as I. However, for the crime of hounding the fierce tigeress, only a swift beating will do." Before Joseph could regret his choice, Kuno rushed him with his bokken raised. The first impact knocked Joseph to the ground. As he began to pass out, he prayed that either Kuno would find this to be enough or someone would come to his aid.
- - - - - - -
Kuno raised his bokken to strike yet again, determined to finish off the American. For a second, he wondered why he hated the young man so much, but was not willing to stop. For once, one of Akane's suitors was a man he could vanquish with no trouble and his lust for dominance would goaded him to go on to the end.
As he swung his bokken a second time, he was shocked to see a pale white hand stopped his attack.
"Who goes there?" He staggered upon seeing the face of this new person. "So, you're already dead and have come back for vengeance... I shall vanquish you yet again foul being!"
The form of Joseph spared a moment to glance down at himself before turning back to Kuno. Pushing his hand out, the form caused a shock wave that sent Kuno flying through the wall.
The shadow form picked up his body and placed it on one of the beds, then left.
- - - - - - -
"Now this is an interesting turn of events," The old man stated as he watched the shadow form of Joseph flee from the school. With great care, Happousai sneaked into the school grounds and retrieved unconscious body.
