Ranma/ Hannibal
'Mind Games'
Ranma ran alongside Akane, musing to himself. Akane wasn't sure what to make of this, after having experienced a rather talkative (and particularly prying) Ranma not too much earlier. She decided not to look a gift horse in the mouth, as she noticed she was almost upon the school.
Ranma had been paying slight attention to Akane, so he was able to notice her darkening expression. The pigtailed boy focused up ahead, and easily identified the reason for Akane's animosity towards the young male populace, "Your fan club, I presume?"
"Stay back, or you'll get hurt!" Akane warned, as she put in an extra boost of speed. Ranma slowed back, deciding to take it all under observation
He would later have to admit to himself that he was rather impressed, as Akane tore through her attackers with a great deal of skill, leading to her ease. From the looks of the other observers, this was a relatively commonplace occurance.
Ranma patiently waited until the final boy collapsed, before applauding, "Now I know for certain you didn't need my help, not that I didn't trust your judgement on your ability prior."
Akane turned towards him with an expression of irritation, he hadn't gotten the chance to discern if it was towards him or something else, before she spoke, "It's not over ye-"
Ranma almost casually stepped past Akane, intercepting something before it came within her reach. He pulled the rose back to Akane, and presented it to her, "For you, I presume..."
"YOU THERE!"
Ranma raised his head, as Akane groaned, "Ranma Saotome, I'll forgive your rather uncivil tongue, if you use my name when addressing me from this point."
"By what right did you intercept my meager, yet grand token of my ever-lasting endearment and honorment towards Akane Tendou?"
The pigtailed young man raised an eyebrow towards the newcomer's archaic speech, but quickly recovered, "Forgive my impertenance, I had reacted with best intrests to Akane's welfare, though she has shown she is quite capable of handling herself." Ranma bowed in greeting, "I have given you my name, would you maintain this to be a one-way association?"
"I see you are quick to identify your betters, knave," the older boy with the bokken retorted. Ranma quickly placed the other boy under the catagory of 'irritant'. Akane looked between the two, not sure of what was currently going on.
"I have given you my name, I remind you," Ranma stated through gritted teeth, "It would behoove you, as someone I presume of a... privelaged... upbringing to use it, as fitting of someone of your assumed station."
The young man seemed to muse the appeal given to him, not even noticing the backhanded insults given towards him, "I see your point... very well, Saotome, was it? I shall give you my own."
"Please, do," Ranma drawled, finally getting somewhere.
"My name is Tatewake Kuno, Junior, grou-"
"And it is a pleasure to meet you, Kuno-san," Ranma interjected, already knowing how long winded the introduction would be, "I take it that you have business with Ms. Tendou?"
"Indeed," Kuno narrowed his eyes, recalling Ranma's impudence, "I would have the reason you feel yourself privelaged enough to be so familiar with Akane Tendou."
"Only trivial, nothing of your importance," Ranma replied. He quickly moved on before Kuno could make his indignant rebuke, probably something along the lines of 'all things related to Akane were his business', or some other nonsense, "I'm afraid I am not aware of the rules and protocol around here, and as I can see, you would be the gentleman best suited to inform me of these, lest any other such misunderstanding occur."
"Ah, so you then realize your folley," Kuno nodded, looking at Ranma in a different light, "If you wish, we may meet sometime in the future to orientate you."
"I thank you for the privelage," Ranma returned, "But, as I am new, I'm afraid Ms. Tendou will have to show me the office, so that I may be fully registered. It has been a pleasure, Kuno-san."
"Aye, indeed it has," Kuno replied, before bowing, and turning to walk away.
On a balcony of one of the classrooms, Nabiki stared in disbelief, along with her cohorts.
"Um..." One girl started, "Did Kuno just get talked out of a fight?" Nobody answered, all still in slight shock.
"What just happened?" Akane asked, as she was pulled along by Ranma.
"I just made a new friend, that's all," Ranma stated in an amused voice, "Oh, by the way, I apologize for my rather prying questions earlier, they were out of line."
Akane stopped, jerking her arm out of Ranma's grip. The pigtailed boy then stopped, and turned around with a puzzled expression.
Akane stared at Ranma with a wide-eyed expression; a boy... just apologized to her...
"Akane?" Ranma ventured, finally giving in, and waving his hand before her face. Akane blinked, and focused back on Ranma.
"What were you apologizing for?"
"I guess it's of no importance, by your merit," Ranma stated, instead of repeating himself, "Now, if you'll show me the way to the office?"
_____________________
"Class this is Ranma Saotome. He had just recently returned from a trip to China, so let's all give him a big 'Nihao' welcome!"
Ranma gave a courteous bow to the class, before speaking on his behalf, "Thanks for the welcome, I kinda haveta admit that I ain't got much experience hanging around people, so if I seem a bit shy, I apologise." Ranma smiled, acting like he didn't notice the attentive intrest he had from the girls in one fashion, and from the guys he had speculative intrest. This would make things a lot easier about fitting in.
"Ranma, you may take your seat next to Akane Tendou. She can show you around later." Ranma obeyed the teacher, and sat down where he was assigned. Akane was looking at him with a somewhat confused expression, "Something wrong?"
Akane's face scrunched up a bit, before responding, "Why are you suddenly talking like that? You were speaking like that when we first met, come to think of it..."
Ranma stared at Akane in uncomprehension, though inside he was cursing himself for underestimating the girl. He quickly realized that it was something he could use to his advantage, though. "Well," the pigtailed boy started in a chagrinned voice, "I sort of never could make any friends, and I thought it was because I sound a bit..."
"Nerdy?" Akane asked, attempting to be helpful, while sounding sympathetic.
Ranma smiled gratefully, "Yes, a bit nerdy, as you said. People tend to have a hard time relating to me, I think."
"Oh," Akane replied in comprehension. She realized that Ranma was always so polite an courteous because he was always trying to make friends; that would explain why he was kow-towing to Kuno. The raven-haired girl decided that Ranma may actually be one of those boys that she could finally relate with... and be friends.
Next to Akane, Ranma had turned away to seem like he was paying attention to the class. If Akane had been looking at his eyes, she would have noticed the darker, sharper edge they seemed to have gained. Ranma himself was savoring his minor victory, as he already knew what Akane was thinking.
His silent victory didn't last, as his latest aquaintance burst into the classroom. "I FORBID YOUR ENGAGEMENT TO AKANE TENDOU!"
_____________________
"Japan?" The young man of Chinese descent in white robes with long hair replied in calm question, "So, he has returned back to your homeland?"
"Yeah," replied the bandanna-clad boy with a deep growl, "That's what people who have seen them said they were going."
"I hope you're correct on this," the other young man said, pushing his thick glasses higher onto his face, "We can't afford to let him run amok too long. Saotome has proven to be far more dangerous then we had realized."
"Far... far more than any of us could have realized," a wizened voice stated, coming up from behind the two young men, "I can confirm what young Hibiki had surmised. Saotome was indeed heading for the land of the Rising Sun."
"Then let's go," the young man named Hibiki demanded, "The sooner we kill him, the faster we'll be able to save someone else from your grand-daughter's fate!"
"Patience must coincide with our need for haste," the old woman in green robes with short hair replied, "Saotome has proven too wiley and deadly to make an attempt at without a plan. Plus, we have no idea his whereabouts in Japan. Your country may not be near as big as China, but it is vast, nonetheless."
"Cologne is correct," the young man in the white robes commented, "but we can surmise his location within much easier once we are within your nation's borders."
"That's presuming he kept that fool of a father with him," the old woman named Cologne interjected, "It seems far too foolish for Ranma himself to keep him around. I'm pretty sure he knows how much of a trail his father is causing him to leave behind."
"Perhaps he wants us to follow him?" Mousse enquired, musing the notion.
Cologne gave him a grave look, "If he is wanting us to follow him, that would be disasterous."
"Why?" Ryoga asked, sounding anxious from all the talking they were doing, instead of hunting down their advisary, "There's no way Ranma can take on all three of us, especially with me and Mousse's extra training you've been giving us."
"Why?" Cologne replied, as if Ryoga should greatly fear the answer, "Because, young man, that would mean he's expecting us..."
'Mind Games'
Ranma ran alongside Akane, musing to himself. Akane wasn't sure what to make of this, after having experienced a rather talkative (and particularly prying) Ranma not too much earlier. She decided not to look a gift horse in the mouth, as she noticed she was almost upon the school.
Ranma had been paying slight attention to Akane, so he was able to notice her darkening expression. The pigtailed boy focused up ahead, and easily identified the reason for Akane's animosity towards the young male populace, "Your fan club, I presume?"
"Stay back, or you'll get hurt!" Akane warned, as she put in an extra boost of speed. Ranma slowed back, deciding to take it all under observation
He would later have to admit to himself that he was rather impressed, as Akane tore through her attackers with a great deal of skill, leading to her ease. From the looks of the other observers, this was a relatively commonplace occurance.
Ranma patiently waited until the final boy collapsed, before applauding, "Now I know for certain you didn't need my help, not that I didn't trust your judgement on your ability prior."
Akane turned towards him with an expression of irritation, he hadn't gotten the chance to discern if it was towards him or something else, before she spoke, "It's not over ye-"
Ranma almost casually stepped past Akane, intercepting something before it came within her reach. He pulled the rose back to Akane, and presented it to her, "For you, I presume..."
"YOU THERE!"
Ranma raised his head, as Akane groaned, "Ranma Saotome, I'll forgive your rather uncivil tongue, if you use my name when addressing me from this point."
"By what right did you intercept my meager, yet grand token of my ever-lasting endearment and honorment towards Akane Tendou?"
The pigtailed young man raised an eyebrow towards the newcomer's archaic speech, but quickly recovered, "Forgive my impertenance, I had reacted with best intrests to Akane's welfare, though she has shown she is quite capable of handling herself." Ranma bowed in greeting, "I have given you my name, would you maintain this to be a one-way association?"
"I see you are quick to identify your betters, knave," the older boy with the bokken retorted. Ranma quickly placed the other boy under the catagory of 'irritant'. Akane looked between the two, not sure of what was currently going on.
"I have given you my name, I remind you," Ranma stated through gritted teeth, "It would behoove you, as someone I presume of a... privelaged... upbringing to use it, as fitting of someone of your assumed station."
The young man seemed to muse the appeal given to him, not even noticing the backhanded insults given towards him, "I see your point... very well, Saotome, was it? I shall give you my own."
"Please, do," Ranma drawled, finally getting somewhere.
"My name is Tatewake Kuno, Junior, grou-"
"And it is a pleasure to meet you, Kuno-san," Ranma interjected, already knowing how long winded the introduction would be, "I take it that you have business with Ms. Tendou?"
"Indeed," Kuno narrowed his eyes, recalling Ranma's impudence, "I would have the reason you feel yourself privelaged enough to be so familiar with Akane Tendou."
"Only trivial, nothing of your importance," Ranma replied. He quickly moved on before Kuno could make his indignant rebuke, probably something along the lines of 'all things related to Akane were his business', or some other nonsense, "I'm afraid I am not aware of the rules and protocol around here, and as I can see, you would be the gentleman best suited to inform me of these, lest any other such misunderstanding occur."
"Ah, so you then realize your folley," Kuno nodded, looking at Ranma in a different light, "If you wish, we may meet sometime in the future to orientate you."
"I thank you for the privelage," Ranma returned, "But, as I am new, I'm afraid Ms. Tendou will have to show me the office, so that I may be fully registered. It has been a pleasure, Kuno-san."
"Aye, indeed it has," Kuno replied, before bowing, and turning to walk away.
On a balcony of one of the classrooms, Nabiki stared in disbelief, along with her cohorts.
"Um..." One girl started, "Did Kuno just get talked out of a fight?" Nobody answered, all still in slight shock.
"What just happened?" Akane asked, as she was pulled along by Ranma.
"I just made a new friend, that's all," Ranma stated in an amused voice, "Oh, by the way, I apologize for my rather prying questions earlier, they were out of line."
Akane stopped, jerking her arm out of Ranma's grip. The pigtailed boy then stopped, and turned around with a puzzled expression.
Akane stared at Ranma with a wide-eyed expression; a boy... just apologized to her...
"Akane?" Ranma ventured, finally giving in, and waving his hand before her face. Akane blinked, and focused back on Ranma.
"What were you apologizing for?"
"I guess it's of no importance, by your merit," Ranma stated, instead of repeating himself, "Now, if you'll show me the way to the office?"
_____________________
"Class this is Ranma Saotome. He had just recently returned from a trip to China, so let's all give him a big 'Nihao' welcome!"
Ranma gave a courteous bow to the class, before speaking on his behalf, "Thanks for the welcome, I kinda haveta admit that I ain't got much experience hanging around people, so if I seem a bit shy, I apologise." Ranma smiled, acting like he didn't notice the attentive intrest he had from the girls in one fashion, and from the guys he had speculative intrest. This would make things a lot easier about fitting in.
"Ranma, you may take your seat next to Akane Tendou. She can show you around later." Ranma obeyed the teacher, and sat down where he was assigned. Akane was looking at him with a somewhat confused expression, "Something wrong?"
Akane's face scrunched up a bit, before responding, "Why are you suddenly talking like that? You were speaking like that when we first met, come to think of it..."
Ranma stared at Akane in uncomprehension, though inside he was cursing himself for underestimating the girl. He quickly realized that it was something he could use to his advantage, though. "Well," the pigtailed boy started in a chagrinned voice, "I sort of never could make any friends, and I thought it was because I sound a bit..."
"Nerdy?" Akane asked, attempting to be helpful, while sounding sympathetic.
Ranma smiled gratefully, "Yes, a bit nerdy, as you said. People tend to have a hard time relating to me, I think."
"Oh," Akane replied in comprehension. She realized that Ranma was always so polite an courteous because he was always trying to make friends; that would explain why he was kow-towing to Kuno. The raven-haired girl decided that Ranma may actually be one of those boys that she could finally relate with... and be friends.
Next to Akane, Ranma had turned away to seem like he was paying attention to the class. If Akane had been looking at his eyes, she would have noticed the darker, sharper edge they seemed to have gained. Ranma himself was savoring his minor victory, as he already knew what Akane was thinking.
His silent victory didn't last, as his latest aquaintance burst into the classroom. "I FORBID YOUR ENGAGEMENT TO AKANE TENDOU!"
_____________________
"Japan?" The young man of Chinese descent in white robes with long hair replied in calm question, "So, he has returned back to your homeland?"
"Yeah," replied the bandanna-clad boy with a deep growl, "That's what people who have seen them said they were going."
"I hope you're correct on this," the other young man said, pushing his thick glasses higher onto his face, "We can't afford to let him run amok too long. Saotome has proven to be far more dangerous then we had realized."
"Far... far more than any of us could have realized," a wizened voice stated, coming up from behind the two young men, "I can confirm what young Hibiki had surmised. Saotome was indeed heading for the land of the Rising Sun."
"Then let's go," the young man named Hibiki demanded, "The sooner we kill him, the faster we'll be able to save someone else from your grand-daughter's fate!"
"Patience must coincide with our need for haste," the old woman in green robes with short hair replied, "Saotome has proven too wiley and deadly to make an attempt at without a plan. Plus, we have no idea his whereabouts in Japan. Your country may not be near as big as China, but it is vast, nonetheless."
"Cologne is correct," the young man in the white robes commented, "but we can surmise his location within much easier once we are within your nation's borders."
"That's presuming he kept that fool of a father with him," the old woman named Cologne interjected, "It seems far too foolish for Ranma himself to keep him around. I'm pretty sure he knows how much of a trail his father is causing him to leave behind."
"Perhaps he wants us to follow him?" Mousse enquired, musing the notion.
Cologne gave him a grave look, "If he is wanting us to follow him, that would be disasterous."
"Why?" Ryoga asked, sounding anxious from all the talking they were doing, instead of hunting down their advisary, "There's no way Ranma can take on all three of us, especially with me and Mousse's extra training you've been giving us."
"Why?" Cologne replied, as if Ryoga should greatly fear the answer, "Because, young man, that would mean he's expecting us..."