Chapter 4

Ranma sat with his father and the Tendos in complete silence. Genma decided to end the silence and threw his son a bag. Ranma caught the bag without even looking and placed down to his side. When he didn't ask why he threw the bag at him, Genma decided to talk.

"Ranma, with our staying here, I have decided that,"

"I will be going to school? Yeah, Ms. Tendo informed me yesterday while I was meditating. I totally agree with you on this one. I'm going to need it if I'm going to be training people in the art. Kami knows I don't wish to teach the way you taught me." Ranma said. The jab at his teaching skills made Genma angry but he said nothing. Nabiki decided to speak up.

"Ranma," Nabiki called out, gaining his attention. "I will have that thing we talked about done by today."

"It will be notarized and everything right?" he asked.

"Of course, who do you take me for? I have been honest with my intentions." She explained.

"Very well then, thanks again Nabiki." Ranma said.

"No problem. Well, I'm off." Nabiki said and grabbed her bag.

"Hey wait Nabiki, I'll walk with you." Akane said.

"Now Akane, how is Ranma going to find the school if you come with me. This will give you two a chance to get to know each other." Nabiki said and left. Akane glared at Ranma who was not impressed with her. Ranma just got up and grabbed his bag. He walked pass Akane and out the door. Akane followed him with a stomp.

Ranma walked on the fence while Akane walked on the ground. She kept glancing at the pig-tailed boy who ignored her. It did not sit well with her that she was engaged to this jerk. He insulted her father and her school. He acted like he was this big martial artists when he was just showing off. There was no way she was marrying this jerk.

"Hey, when we get to school, pretend that we don't know each other." Akane said hotly.

"You mean like I have since I've been here? Don't worry, out of your whole family, Nabiki is the only good one." Ranma said.

"Hey, stop insulting my family! You don't know anything about us!" she shouted.

"I know enough that I will not marry any member of your family. I'm only staying with you until my papers clear. Once that is done, I'm going to find my cure. I don't have time for marriage." Ranma said. He jumped off the fence. When he landed, he was hit with cold water, triggering his curse. Akane smirked in amusement which did not go unnoticed by Ranma. He ignored her and pulled out a thermos filled with hot water. He poured it over himself, returning to his original form.

They arrived to the entrance of Furinken High School. Ranma felt Akane's temper increase as they got closer. He was confused when she kept muttering about hating boys. She increased her speed and entered the grounds. He jumped on the school wall and looked in. What he witnessed was something amazing. He watched as Akane tore through a massive group of guys.

"Hey Ranma," Ranma turned to see Nabiki with a couple of people. He quickly made his way to the second floor with amazing ease. He stood in front of her as she scoffed at him. "Showoff," Ranma just smirked at her. He then turned to the fight.

"So what is that about?" he asked.

"It just something Akane goes through everyday. You don't have to worry about it." Nabiki said off handed. Ranma looked back to the fight. He had to admit that Akane was not as good as he first assumed. He would have figured that she, being the only one who does martial arts, would be a lot better than this. He saw that she had way too many holes in her attack. Her defense was nothing impressive. His father wanted to merge the schools with this?

"Now I know that I'm making the right decision concerning the joining of the schools." Ranma whispered to himself. He entered the school to get registered for class.

It was now lunch time and Ranma sat alone, leaning against one of the trees. So far, he found school to be boring. He was learning things that did not mean anything to him. Still, he knew that he had to learn these things. His father had kept him stupid so that he would not challenge him and that he would need him. He was not going to let that happen. He decided to keep at and stop complaining.

"Which one of you knaves is Ranma Saotome?" A voice over a bullhorn asked. Ranma was curious as to why he was called a knave and who was calling for him. He stood and made his way to where the crowd was forming. Ranma looked to see a junior in a kendo uniform, holding a wooden sword in one hand and a bullhorn in the other.

"I say again, which one of you knaves is Ranma Saotome? Do you not have the courage to face your betters? I, the Blue Thunder of Furinken High, demand that you step out and face me!" The junior demanded. Ranma didn't like being called a coward and stepped forward.

"You want something?" Ranma asked. The boy turned and faced the pig-tailed sophomore. He gave the bullhorn to one of his teammates and pointed his sword in Ranma's face.

"You, how dare you harass the beauteous Akane? How dare lay claim to her hand? I will not allow such a travisity to happen!" he said.

"I don't speak 'ye olde english' but are you saying that you know about the agreement?" Ranma asked.

"Yes, you cur. Now submit and leave my fierce tigeress alone or you shall face the wrath of the Blue Thunder." He dictated. Ranma heard the sound of thunder in the background. Saving that thought for later, Ranma looked at this moron and decided on a course of action.

"Listen here, oh great Blue Thunder, if you have such a beef with the engagement, then I suggest that you speak to the Tendo patriarch. He is the one who is forcing your 'fierce tigeress' into this farce of an engagement. I'm not interested in your girl. It's her father you need to talk to." Ranma said. Kuno, surprisingly, listened to him.

"But that mercenary told me that she was engaged to you."

"That was not my decision. I was given the choice to choose and I chose no one. Sorry to say, but Akane is nothing more that an ill-tempered brat." Ranma said. Everyone surrounding them gasped in shock. No one and I mean no one, ever called Akane that. Ranma watched as the junior trembled with rage.

"Have at thee!" he shouted and raised his sword to bring down on his head. Ranma sighed and struck him with a bunch of shaitus points. Kuno was frozen in place. Ranma walked away with a bored look. He did not pay attention to the shocked crowd or the frozen Kuno.

Ranma sat in the Tendo dojo in a meditative state. When he opened his eyes, he found a cat looking at him. Ranma eased himself into putting his hand on the cat's head. The feline enjoyed the attention which made him smile. He was not freaking out by being near the cat and he enjoyed it. He gave a silent thanks to that blind woman who helped him.

Suddenly, the cat ran away which confused Ranma. That's when he heard the stomping. In came Akane and by the looks of it, she was pissed off. Ranma stood to face her as her anger seem to be directed at him.

"Is there something wrong?" he asked calmly.

"Yes there's something wrong! Because of you, everyone thinks that you beat me and that's why we're engaged! I told you not to mention the engagement!" Akane shouted.

"And I didn't. Some moron in a kendo uniform got in my face and demanded that I called off the engagement. He learned it from someone else, not me." Ranma said with an edge. Akane calmed down and thought about what he said. She returned to being angry.

"Nabiki, I bet it was her." Akane snarled.

"Well then, can I have an apology?" Ranma asked.

"Excuse me?"

"I would like an apology. You may get away with how you act with others but I'm not one of your friends. You don't throw around your accusations onto others and think that it's ok. Now, I would like an apology." Akane looked at Ranma with shock. No one had ever spoken to her like that. She glared at him and cocked her fist back. Ranma saw it coming from a mile and easily countered it. He flipped her, sending her twisting around in the air. She landed on her back. As she looked up, she saw Ranma's fist in her face. Beads of sweat rolled down her face as she looked at Ranma's angry expression.

"If I'm not taking any of my father's crap, what makes you believe that you're any different?" Ranma asked.

"BOY!" a voice shouted. Ranma looked up to see his father and the Tendos. Genma looked ready to blow a gasket. Ranma sighed as this was not his day.

"What were you thinking boy? I taught you better than that!" Ranma said.

"She is your fiancée and she is to be treated with respect!" Soun added.

"Respect is earned, not given. Since I arrived, she had done nothing but insult and belittle me. Besides, she's your heir which makes her a martial artist. Don't coddle her just because she got thrown on her ass." Ranma said.

"Now listen here," Genma snarled.

"No, you listen! I'm not going to apologize to her when she is clearly at fault!" Ranma spat. On the sidelines, the Tendo sisters watched with different expression. Akane was in between anger and rage. She did not like the fact that she was easily beaten by this boy. Then he has the nerve to say that it was her fault. She was going to make him pay. Nabiki watched in amusement as Ranma argued with the adults. She was also very amused with the fact that there was someone who wasn't afraid of Akane. She really was beginning to like this guy. Kasumi was worried as the argument increased between them. The tension was starting to get unbearable and she didn't like it one bit. Suddenly, Ranma stood and walked toward his room.

"We're not done yet!" Genma shouted.

"Yes we are. Don't bother waking me up in the morning or I'll put you in the hospital."Ranma threaten and walked upstairs. Soun and Genma were irate and moved into the study to talk. The Tendo sisters were left alone to their opinion.

"What a jerk, he thinks he's so cool." Akane muttered.

"I think he's funny. He might actually become the man his mother wants. I may have to reconsider this engagement business." Nabiki said.

"Nabiki, this is not the time to be joking. If things do not change, I don't know what I'll do." Kasumi said.

"And who are you blaming for that? Certainly, you wouldn't be blaming Ranma again, Ms. Tendo?" Nabiki said, stunning Kasumi.

"Why are you taking his side Nabiki?" Akane asked hotly.

"I'm taking his side because he is actually helping around here. You made not know but he asked to pay for room and board here. Not only that but he is pretty handy. We wouldn't have to pay for any damages should he plow his father through the walls again. I just respect him that's all and it makes my decision to help him out of this mess all the more clear." Nabiki explained.

"It is a matter of honor Nabiki. I don't like it either but we can't just ignore our father's wishes." Kasumi said.

"Even if what Ranma said about his father engaging him to others turns out to be true?" Nabiki asked. Kasumi did not have an answer to that. Nabiki stood and stretched. "Well, this has been a amusing day. I'm going to turn in for the night." Nabiki made her way upstairs to get ready for bed.

"Can you believe her? Whatever, I'm not marrying that jerk." Akane stated and followed her sister. Kasumi was left alone. She thought about what Nabiki just said and had to admit that she was blaming Ranma again. She knew that it was not his fault but he was too combative with herself, Akane, her father and his father. The only one he respected was Nabiki and she made her intentions know. She sighed and silently asked for some help.

As she sat there, she remembered what Ranma had said about the other engagements. Did his father really do all those things to him? It would be wrong of her to do what she was thinking but it was all she could think of. Setting in her resolve, she stood and made her way toward the kitchen. Tomorrow, she would see that journal and find out the truth.

Authors' Notes: Sorry that this is late but I was really busy. Plus, I learned that a great friend of mine had passed last week. Either way, enjoy this new chapter.