Forever Friends

By Sargon Dorsai

Chapter 7


Many of the students at Furinkan High School were used to the strange and the miraculous. When you lived in a district filled with powerful martial artists, acts that defy the laws of physics became commonplace. However, in order to survive amongst those martial artists as one of the normals, people learned to recognize when profound changes were about. Those changes usually heralded a potentially life changing alteration in their daily lives.

The sight of Ranma Saotome early to class, already seated at his desk as they filed into the classroom filled many of the other students with a sense of dread. That he appeared to be studying was only further confirmation of the end of the world. While several of those students were praying to whichever dieties they could think of, one student in particular was contemplating what those changes might mean to her.

Ukyo Kounji prided herself on being the 'cute' fiancee. It defined her in a way that was different from her skill as a martial artist and a chef. She knew that truly understanding her wayward fiancé was a lifelong lesson, one that she was only too ready to begin. However, this latest string of changes, which had only begun the day before, were defying her ability to understand.

What could possibly be happening to her Ranchan that had changed him this way? Was it some strange Martial Arts School Work or had he lost a bet to Nabiki forcing him to pay more attention in class? Was there some secret motivation that inspired these changes? How were they related to the new teacher that had shown up at their school?

Turning her gaze towards the diminutive teacher at the front of the room, Ukyo considered what she knew and what she'd overseen. This teacher had proven willing to not only enforce the rules of the classroom, but also proven to not be prone to blaming Ranma for every thing that might go wrong. That second portion of the changes was more significant than the first, at least to her. No one ever trusted Ranma. Not her, not Akane, no one.

Did that mean they weren't really Ranma's friend or even, dare she admit it, fiancée? Had she been taking her Ranchan for granted, in a different manner than the tomboy? This depth of thinking wasn't something that the women involved with the pigtailed boy usually preoccupied themselves with. Realistically speaking, Ranma was an uncomplicated individual. He loved the Art. He loved food. He would do almost anything to help his friends. He was completely incapable of understanding women.

The introduction of a change of such a magnitude as the new teacher was turning out to be even in a single day was proving to build a cascade of changes that would ripple through the entire district. The biggest question was how it was going to affect one Ukyo Kounji and what was she going to do about it? Was she going to let this new woman come in and steal her man?

Ukyo hadn't backed down to anyone. Not to Akane. Not to Shampoo. Not to myriad of random fiancées that showed up from time to time. She was certainly not going to back down to a teacher. The problem though, was how to properly defend herself from this particular threat. She couldn't just get Ranchan worked up over her, at least not from what little she recalled of their interaction yesterday.

This would require careful planning and observation. She settled into her desk to keep an eye on her man and the threat. Teacher. She meant teacher.


Akane stumbled into the room just as the bell was ringing the start of class. Her uniform was slightly scuffed and rumpled, all thanks for the annoying and persistent attention of a certain boken wielding upperclassman. Where was Ranma? Why wasn't he there to keep Kuno from annoying her? Not that she needed his help to deal with the pervert. She'd proven that when she embedded the kendoist into the wall of the school. However, she shouldn't have had to deal with him. It was the perverts job to deal with the other perverts.

Scowling, the youngest Tendo sent her gaze across the classroom, instantly zeroing in on her wayward, unwanted fiancé. He was just sitting there as if nothing was wrong. There was even a smile on his lips, like he was enjoying her suffering. She knew it! It was all his fault. She made to stomp over to the boy and show him just what she felt about the situation when she was distracted by the sound of a clearing throat.

Turning her head slowly, Akane saw their homeroom teacher pointing towards Akane's empty desk. "Please take a seat, Ms. Tendo, so that we can all begin. As I understand why you're late, given your appearance, I will forgive your tardiness."

For a moment, Akane just blinked at the teacher in incomprehension. Suddenly it clicked and she blushed a brilliant scarlet as she scurried to her seat. Obviously it wasn't the time to deal with the pigtailed boy. She'd teach him a lesson later, show him what he was supposed to do. She just had to wait. He would do something to get himself in trouble, just like he always did. Then she would be further justified in pounding him into the floor with her mallet.

The rest of the class tried to ignore the wisps of red aura that wrapped around the bluette.


Ms. Hinako Ninomiya prepared her lessons for the day, the diminutive teacher thinking back to her earlier talks with Grampa Happi and Elder Cologne. The two ancient martial artists had briefly discussed her condition and how her ki draining abilities were working. There was some discussion of figuring out a way for her to retain her adult form without having to keep draining other people. Some ideas were batted back and forth, though the details eluded her. Teacher she may be but the more advanced forms of martial arts still managed to stymy her.

Having been of a weak constitution most of her early life, before meeting Happosai, Hinako had often thought of what it would be like to be healthy and able to run and play like the other children. The first bright spot in her life had been playing in the hospital with a little boy half her age. Though they'd shared a relatively short time together, she felt they had connected in a way she'd never been able to find since then.

The bond she'd formed back then was what led her to teaching. Led her to study. Both to find her friend and to better understand herself. She'd briefly thought about going into medicine to try and find a cure for herself. She'd then though about becoming a martial artist and studying ways to better utilize the ki she drained from others. However, those particular studies had never panned out. Maybe if Grampa Happy and stayed…

Shaking away those particular thoughts, Hinako tried to focus on her lessons, though her eyes were continually drawn to a particular stack of papers on her desk. Ranma's homework. She thought about their chat as well. The boy had asked for extra help with his homework, stating that he'd prefer to finish them right after school so he wouldn't have to worry about losing them. Also stating, somewhat sheepishly, that he hadn't really paid much attention in school until she'd confronted him about it. He'd actually thanked her for opening his eyes like that.

With a soft sigh, she pushed aside those thoughts. She was still a teacher. This was only her second day so she needed to be prepared. She'd have time to talk to Ranma about it all later. When they were studying together.


Kasumi wiped the sweat from her brow as she put down the duster. The house was spotless already and it was still morning. There was a sense of energy to the day, one that had her feeling empowered. She'd breezed through cleaning up the meal and the kitchen (with a little subtle help from Ranma) and quickly worked her way through the day's chores. Thankfully, there weren't any repairs and hadn't been for a while. It seemed that Ranma had been better about avoiding Akane's anger and kept his rivals away from the house.

A slight frown marred the eldest Tendo daughter's lips as she contemplated her youngest sister. Of late it seemed that all Akane could do was channel her anger at the pigtailed martial artist. Akane didn't see her friends or hangout. She hardly practiced anymore, other than her routine morning joy. It was as if the girl had focused on her fiancé to the exclusion of all else.

Letting loose a soft sigh, Kasumi made her way up to her room, determined to indulge herself in a little light reading. It had been far too long since she'd had so much of the day available to her. There were several books that she simple must finish. She had several hours before she needed to leave for the market to pick up the things for dinner. She just had to know what Roberta was going to do when she finally confronted Dominic with her feelings


Ranma was eager for the day. He'd managed to get his homework in safely. He'd had a short chat with his newly reconnected friend about helping him with his homework. He was taking what he'd been told yesterday about learning and applying it with the same dedication he gave his martial arts. There was more to learn than just other ways to survive the crazy challenges that kept presenting themselves. It was time to truly apply the Anything Goes principles in all aspects of his life, starting with schooling.

The pigtailed martial artist would be the first to tell say that he wasn't book smart. That he wasn't school smart. He knew that. He also knew that it wasn't because he wasn't smart. It was all about application. Now he had a chance to truly engage his mind, to make these hours that he'd previously viewed as a necessary evil, into something that would help him to grow and evolved.

Glancing at the teacher, he tried to focus on what was being said in the homeroom, completely oblivious to the stares of the other students and the sometimes nervous glances the teacher sent his way. This was a battle, one that he was determined to win. There were tactics that he wasn't aware of yet, ones that he would have to learn. He was going to utilize all his resources to make himself better.

Learning directly from the teachers was the first step. Hear and learn the information in class. Get the homework. Work with Hinako-chan for the subjects she covered in school. Find someone else to help with the subjects he wasn't able to get to during the afterschool session. Perhaps Kasumi would be able to help him again?

Turning his thoughts to the kindest girl he'd ever known, Ranma pondered on how he was going to get that help at home. Kasumi was already terribly busy taking care of the household. Wincing slightly inside at the thought of how much work Kasumi really did around the house, he made a solemn vow to himself that he would help out around the house more, if only to free up the girl so she'd have to help him. He also needed some way to thank her for the help that she'd already given him and the help that she was most likely to offer again, due to her generous nature.

Opening his notebook, Ranma started taking notes. Glancing down at his papers, he frowned slightly. Who could really read that chicken scratch? One would think that having fought a martial arts calligraphy master, Ranma would have been able to master note taking…

Wait a minute. Martial Arts Calligraphy? That was it! Yet another master he needed to track down and learn from.


Author Notes:

Nearly nine years later and this story is finally updated. Just a short update to get a peek into the minds of those involved in the story. I'm excited to be writing again and I'm hoping to get all of the stories updated on a regular basis. I'm hopeful for at least one update a week, which is one of the reasons I'm keeping the chapters shorter. I hope you enjoy. Let me know what you think and where you think this story is going. It's fun seeing how the characters will evolve and where the story may lead.

Thank you for stopping by and I hope you enjoy the story.