Disclaimer: I don't own any characters in this story; Ranma ½ is the property of Rumiko Takashi and Rozen Maiden is the property of Peach-PIT.

"Because you say, 'I am rich, have become wealthy, and have need of nothing' - and do not know that you are wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked - " Revalation 3:17

Chapter 3

Path of Thorns - Part 2

The news of Ranma's attendance had travelled quickly. Many students were eager to get to know this mysterious girl whose clothing were mostly in dark. At the first recess, Ranma's table as well as Akane's table were swamped with people, asking them various questions.

One of the boys approached Ranma, "Hey, nice to meet you, that's a fine dress you have there. I am Hiroshi."

"Since you are new to this school, do you want me to act as a tour?" Another boy, called Daisuke asked.

"Perverts off limit." A girl wearing glasses crossed her arms and moved in front of Ranma as an attempt to cease the flirting of the boys.

Ranma however, paid none of them any attentions and just stared out of the window upon the sky. "I am Sachiko, nice to meet you."

"Yeah," Ranma replied in monotone without looking at her.

"So how do you like this school?" Sachiko tried to get this girl to open up, just like any good students would do.

"Who knows?" Ranma continued to look at the sky.

"Geez, stop being an Ayanami," one of Sachiko's friend complained. However, any further conversations was drained out as background noises as Ranma continued to pounder about her new situation. Seeing how Ranma treated the first person who tried to befriend her, no one else bothered Ranma anymore.

Unknown to Ranma, rumours about her had already been spreading like forest fire.

"Did you hear that new girl, she is so ... a smart-ass. I felt sorry for the class representative," one of the girl whispered.

"Yeah, she acted all quiet and mysterious. Look at all those boys crazed over her, it is disgusting," another girl whispered.

"And what is with her dress, doesn't she know she need to wear a uniform for school?"

Birds of a feather flock together. What about those who does not conform? Like black mouse among white mice, it will be bitten to death.

It was just like that day, the day was gray and the sun was covered in great haze. Ranma stared at the sky as soon as reccess started. Apparently, there was a commotion started around her, but it was none of her business. This world was filled with uglyness. People befriend each others just so they can use each other. Lies waived against lies, there was nothing that interest her in this school. If they expect her to be good student, she would study hard and pay attention in class. Nothing more, nothing less. She was greeted, so she greeted back. She was asked, so she answered.

After lunch, Ranma went back to her classroom. It was science class. As the teacher entered the room, Ranma realized that her bookbag was missing. She can't take notes without something to write with and to write on. It was just her lucky day when things sprout legs and ran off by themselves. As class started, she could only stare at the blackboard as the teacher began his lecture. She could only laid back and listen, as everyone tried to avoid making eye contacts with her.

As the class ended, Akane walked to Ranma, "Sorry about that, I didn't notice your bookbag was gone. What happened?"

Ranma just shrugged, "Who knows."

"Let's look around, " Akane suggested.

They sought left and right, rooms to rooms. But it was no where to be found. Just when they were about to give up, Ranma spotted her bag in the garbage dump site at the back of school. Fortunately, nothing was damaged.

The next day, was the same. Obviously, someone was playing spranks on Ranma. Sometimes, she found rotten food under her desk. Sometimes, she found gum in her indoor shoes. And several of the classmate had tried to trip her. But being a martial artist and on the road, those were nothing compared to what her father had dashed out to her. But it did get annoying after a while. Even since yesterday, she knew she couldn't trust security, so whenever she went, she brought everything with her, her shoes, her bookbag, everything. Akane however seemed obvilious. As lunch time approached, Akane invited Ranma to have lunch with her again.

"Ranma, let's have lunch together," Akane walked to Ranma's table with a small smile, and no one paid Akane any attention. Usually, when someone approached Ranma, several of the classmates would give him/her an evil eye. But that's Akane, the flower of the school who beat people up on daily occurances. How would dare to defy her?

"Sure," Ranma walked with Akane downstair. Apparently, today she invited Nabiki as well. Nabiki was very observant, she knew something was wrong since yesterday. In fact, she probably knew who was behind everything in school, it was the same person who set up Kuno on Akane. On the surface, Nabiki was the ice queen, but there was someone else who wielded greater power under the surface. Their head was probably that Sachiko the class representative. She was an "A" student, a teacher's pet. She always put on a great smile and treated everyone politely and kindly.

"Ranma, you better watch out. You probably have offended someone you shouldn't, " Nabiki as Ranma began to savored the bento prepared by Kasumi. The food in the bento of course.

"Huh? What are you talking about?" Akane asked. Sometimes, Nabiki had difficulty to believe her little sister was related to her, but that's what she liked about her. She was always honest and tactless, she would do everything in the name of justice. But this wasn't a foe her little sister could fight. If only Kasumi was still in school...

Ranma answered Akane for Nabiki, "Oh, it was nothing. I just got myself a few sparring partner in school."

Akane stared at Ranma in the eyes, "I wasn't aware there was someone better than me in school. And I spar with you every morning!"

Ranma smirked however, "Come on, do you honestly think people would fight you with all their strength? None of them really want to hurt a little girl like you, they just want you to flash your panty at them during a fight. There were probably several people who could defeat you in this school." Ranma snickered.

"That isn't true, " Akane fumed. Martial arts was her pride who she took very highly of. She couldn't just let people insult her like that.

Ranma continued to taunt, "That Kuno for example was several levels higher than you in the arts."

"Ranma, that's enough," Nabiki was very upset at Ranma. Even though she knew everything she said was true, but maybe that's why she was upset. Nabiki put a hand on Akane who began to calm down.

"That isn't true, you were still new to school so you just misunderstood, " Akane reasoned and calmed down. Ranma was a friend to her, she told herself. She probably didn't mean to insult her.

They finished lunch early today. So Akane was told by Nabiki to take Ranma to a tour at school since Nabiki was busy with her schedule. When they walked up the stair, they met Sachiko.

"Good afternoon, " Sachiko greeted.

Akane smiled, "Good afternoon."

"I would like to have a chat with your friend there if you don't mind, " Sachiko asked politely.

"Why of course, " Akane pushed Ranma forward, "You need to make some new friends too." Akane was happy that Ranma was making new friends in school. That girl was very smart, she could probably help Ranma with homework problem, especially if it was mathematics which it one of the few subject Ranma wasn't good at.

"What is it?" Ranma asked. She seemed to be in a bad mood.

Sachiko anwsered in concern, "I heard that you were bullied. Are you okay?"

Ranma smirked, "Oh? I didn't realize I was bullied. There were a few children playing childish pranks on me. Maybe they had too much time, why don't you ask the teacher to make more homework for them? to keep them busy..."

Sachiko frowned for a split second and looked behind her briefly, before she turned back to smile at Ranma, "You were overestimating me, Ranma. I was just a class representative, but I glad to see you doing fine. I should get going now. If you have any problems, feel free to contact me."

"Isn't it great?" Akane bleamed. "You got a new friend, and it is the class representative none the less. It is rumour that she is the sole daughter of the Honda family."

"Yeah, that's nice," Ranma replied without any emotion and walked down the stair with Akane. Suddently, someone pushed her from behind, or would have been the case if Ranma didn't moved aside. Finding empty air instead of a person, a short girl fell down from the top of the stair. Everyone screemed as the body impacted loudly with the floor. Ranma just smirked at the girl who tasted her own fruit. Shortly afterward, a few teachers arrived and carefully assessed the girl. She was unconsious and had a broken arm. At least it wasn't a broken neck, the homeroom teacher sighed. Within a couple of minute, the girl was transported to the nurse office. Ranma was called in as well as a few other classmate. Akane however was nowhere to be found.

As Ranma entered the office, she overheard the other classmates. Most of them didn't know what happened, but they seem to give unhelpful suggestion that Ranma pushed the girl down because that girl was one of the bully playing pranks on Ranma. As Ranma approached, the students made a wide berth for Ranma and the teacher looked at Ranma in anger. He calmed himself and asked Ranma, "Could you tell me what happened?"

Ranma just shrugged, "That girl found the stair interesting and she lost her balance trying to touch air."

The teacher however wasn't very happy with Ranma's anwser, "Did you push her down?" He asked accussingly.

"Why would I?"

"It was my fault for not noticing some bullying happening in my class. But that happens in every school, and violence is not the answer, " another teacher entered the room. Apparently, the "victim" regained conciousness.

Ranma followed the teachers to the nurse office. She wasn't allowed into the room however.

"Minako, could you tell us what happened?"

"I wasn't sure. One minute I was walking down the stair, the next minute, I was falling," the girl seems frightened. She probably didn't see who pushed her, the teacher deducted.

"Do you recall Ranma there?" another teacher asked.

"I think I did see Ranma there smirking at me, " the girl answered honestly.

Ranma was sick of people accussing her for something she didn't do. But frankly, she didn't care. They were all fools if they can't even see the obvious truth. One of the teachers emerged from the room and asked him to go to the office with them. How troublesome.

"Ranma, you are new to the school, but you have already gotten yourself a trouble," a white haired man commented. He was the only person left in the room as it was already late. Apparently, this old man was the teacher instructor and he was also the one responsible for students' problems.

"I understand how school can be stressful compared to your previous life style. You probably aren't very good at socializing and offended someone. You have only yourself to blame."

What is this fool talking about? Ranma wondered. School was stressful? Ha, he probably was never on the road and starved for days.

The instructor continued, "I wasn't saying they were not at fault, but violence should never be used as a solution."

So they had already decided that Ranma was the culprit. So be it. It was just like them to judge based on false premises.

"You are still new to the school. If it is someone else like Akane, you would probably got suspended from school. As a punishment, memorize the first chapter of this book by tomorrow. It wasn't like me to take education away from people," he sighed at talked to himself, "Two cases in one day. What a long day."

"You can go home now. Akane is probably out now. The Tendo nowadays brings so much trouble."

Ranma walked out of the office and indeed, Akane just walked out from another office. She was just dismissed from the office.

Both of them walked home in silence. It was already late evening, and winter was coming. Wind blew through the empty brushes and dead leaves spiraled above the ground.

"I am home," Akane said tiredly.

"Welcome home," Kasumi greeted back. The aroma of dinner was already in the air, but neither Akane nor Ranma was particularly hungry.

"What happened, Akane?" Kasumi asked in concern, "Did you got called into the office again?"

"Yeah, it is all the perverts' faults. Can you believe it? They are reading pornography in school in board daylight. They deserve a beating," Akane fumed.

"My, how improper of them," Kasumi continued, "Although I don't approve of violence, maybe next time you should invite them for a sparring instead."

"I will keep that in mind, thanks " Akane walked up the stair to her room in deep thought.

"Ranma-kun, thank you for staying by Akane's side."

"No problem," Ranma walked upstair as well. There was no need for them to know she was bullied, that's like telling people to pity her, to think lowly of her. And she would rather be anything than be treated like that.

It was almost time for dinner, the time for family gathering. However, Ranma was still on the roof looking upon the evening sky. The evening sky was ever beautiful, but it would soon come to an end when the night approach.

"Dinner is ready," Kasumi called. Taking that as clue to enter the compound, Ranma jumped from the roof to the floor next to the dinning room.

"We are a guest here, my boy," Genma walked in and scolded Ranma, "Don't embarrass your family and look at the time next you stay on roof."

Ranma just shrugged and walked to the seat between Nabiki and Akane. Soun was already seated at the end of the table with Genma next to him.

"Itadakimasu"

During dinner, the Tendo chatted about what happened at school today. Apparently, after her chat with Sachiko, she was called to help them with carrying books. She walked into a meeting room by accident and found out several of the boys watching pornography. She got so pissed off that she hurt them very badly.

"Oh yeah, Ranma-kun," Akane looked at Ranma, "I noticed you walked out from the office as well. What happened?"

"A girl fell down the stair next to me. Because I was next to her, people assumed I pushed her," Ranma told them honestly.

"How could they?" Kasumi commented.

"I am sure they have misunderstood the situation," Soun tried to comfort Ranma. But Genma grabbed Mr. Tendo and adjusted his glasses.

"Ranma my boy, with your martial arts calibrates, you should have spotted the girl losing balance miles away. Why didn't you save her? Have you no honour?" the bald martial artist was getting really upset. He had taught the boy how important it was to uphold honour and that it was the duty of martial artist to save the weaks. Ever since their trip to Jyusenkyou, Ranma had taken a turn to the worst. Ten years of trainning, all gone into the drain if one's heart wasn't pure. It was all the curse's fault, if only he could get a cure.

Ranma could only stare at her father in shock. Why should she save that bitch? She tried to push her down the stair! "Ha, if you are so concerned about her, why don't you visit her yourself? Maybe you can make her a successor of the school," Ranma taunted.

Genma slamed the table loudly in fury and kicked Ranma out to the backyard. The two continues to exchange blows with blows, but it was clear that Ranma was gainning the upper edge as Genma was getting clumsy and sloppy. In the end, Genma was sent flying into the koi pond. Seeing his Pop had finally cooled down, Ranma went directly to her room. She wasn't in the mood for dinner anymore.

Ranma went to her room and opened her bookbag. She still had schoolwork and a poem to memorize by tomorrow. That's when she noticed every pencils in her case were broken, and someone had put soil into the bag. Her notebooks had doodles all over the place and filled with sentences like "Go home and die", "You good for nothing" , and "You are unworthy of schools". People can be so entertainning nowadays. Ranma laughed to herself and looked at her homeworks. She wasn't alone however, as the Tendo sisters also found something funny and laughed as well downstair. It probably had something to do with the TV shows. Humans were so interesting.

By the time Ranma finished her homework, it was already 11:00pm. Ranma looked to the book of peotry and said to herself, "Looks like it would be a long day."

The morning arrived regardlessly. Ranma was awokened by Akane yet again so that she could train her. Throughout the trainning over the last few weeks, with Ranma's non stop taunting, Akane had learnt to control her temper. You would no longer snapped when people said her martial arts wasn't up to par, because Akane realized. Even after several weeks, she still couldn't touch Ranma. She could no longer deny herself that she was a frog under the well. Taking that in heart, fueled by the determination to better herself, Akane's skill had progressed effectively. And today, was the first time Akane caught Ranma by surprise and throw Ranma thought the dojo door by grabbing her wrist. Ranma was surprised by Akane's progress as well.

clap clap Nabiki clapped her hand, it seems like it was already breakfast time.

Ranma and Akane quickly ran into their respectively rooms and changed into their school uniform. Then, they rushed to the living/dinning room for breakfast. It was Japanese breakfast as well today, with miso soup, rice, pickle, and grilled fish.

"That was a nice throw," Nabiki commented.

"Thanks, sis," Akane replied.

Genma had finished his breakfast with a serious expression, "Ranma, you let a weak girl beat you?"

Ranma looked at Genma in disbelief, but Genma said nothing further.

"It was just a sparring match," Akane added helpfully, "and I am not weak. I had just improved a lot over the last few weeks."

Genma said nothing though. Even though it was a sparring much, a martial artist should always be alert.

After breakfast, Ranma helped Kasumi with dishes before grabbing her bookbag for school. When she exited the kitchen, Ranma spotted her father packing up and ready to go. "Where are you going?" Ranma asked.

"That's none of your concern," and with that, Genma left the Tendo, apparently going on a long trip.

"Wait up, Pop," Ranma called back. Are they going on a trip now?

"No, you stay with the Tendo."

"But... why? We always travelled together."

Genma picked up his pace and said with one last glance at Ranma, "You are not my boy."

Ranma stopped. She never felt so alone, so naked. The only constant in her life, was not leaving her behind. Father...

"Ranma, what happened?" Akane caught up with Ranma and brought Ranma's book bag with her. Nabiki followed behind her closely.

"Father..." Ranma could only starred at the ground; Akane held onto Ranma for support. It was the first time she saw Ranma like this. She could already guess what happened. She knew Genma wasn't a good role model, even in a game of Shogo, Genma would cheat. But even she wouldn't expect Genma would sink to the level of abondaning his child.

"Poor Ranma," Akane tried to comfort Ranma, "It is all right, everything is alright."

Ranma pushed Akane aside, "How could you say that? Everything is alright? It is obviously alright for you." Ranma snapped.

"You always have a family who would accept you. You didn't know how much problem I went through in my life, and now Pop just ..." Ranma turned her head and rushed into the school building instead.

The assemble of boys totally ignored Ranma, except a few who at her in spite. Even though she was a beauty, her heart was dark as ebony. They couldn't imagine how someone could push that little girl down the stair. They felt bad for being distracted by a demon like her, no doubt, Akane was their one and only one. They quickly changed their attention to Akane and screamed with renewed zeal, "Akane, please date with me."

And the fight began.

Ah, A demon. Ranma eyed the boys as she passed them. She could only snicker back at them as she saw Akane stormed through the boy in an display of her martial arts skills. They were thrown, punched, kicked by Akane, some of them had their arms dislocated. Nevertheless, none of them could lay a finger on Akane who moved faster since Ranma came.

Like eggs thrown against rock, the boys broke one by one. The sky was turning gray as Ranma looked from the side line. Her aura flared in pink and smirked. Fight on, Akane. Teach them a lesson. Show them you are the only one worthy of their lust.

Akane finished the feat as yet another record time. Seeing Kuno was nowhere to be found, Akane went ahead into the school eagerly to avoid meeting with the Kuno if she could help it.

In yard was filled with groans and moans until the snickering of Ranma swiped across the yard. The crows nearby cawed in return in harmony.

Ranma entered the homeroom and silence filled the classroom. Everyone tried to avoid making eye contact with Ranma as she walked toward her desk. There was no longer misplaced legs. On her desk, was a vase with flower in it. She picked up the vase and poured the vase's content outside the window.

Homeroom started, and the following classes began without much incidents. The bullying had stopped, but now everyone were talking behind her back. Suddently, a second-year student busted into the classroom. It was none other than the infamous Kuno Tawaki.

"I forbid such desecration!" Kuno marched toward Ranma in anger, "How dare you forced an engagement on the lovely Akane. Such unnatural act, I will never accept it."

"Kuno!" Akane was surprised, Kuno must misunderstood something, yet again.

"I don't know what you are talking about," Ranma replied.

"Don't play dumb. Nabiki had told me of your engagement with the Tendo. Such abomination." Kuno then charged Ranma with his bokken.

Ranma however, sat on the window before lending backward and falling through the window.

Kuno stopped instantly. He looked down and Ranma was nowhere to be found. So the demon has fleed.

Under big oak tree, Akane was having lunch with her two best friends once again.

While Akane was opening her bentos, Yuki asked, "So what about your engagement with Ranma?"

Akane shook her head, "It isn't me, it is supposed to be between Ranma and Nabiki."

Yuki and Sakura looked at each other before Yuki asked again, "But they are both girls."

Akane sighed, "It is my father's idea, Ranma was supposingly a boy and that we are told she becomes a girl due to a curse, and hot water will change her back."

"Are you sure?" Sakura asked crytically. Curse and magic just were not real.

"Nope, I don't believe in it either," Akane continue, "Beside, girls just can't marry each other."

Before Yuki and Sakura could ask Akane more questions, the homeroom teacher approached Akane, "Akane, please go to the principal office. He would like to have a talk with you," He sighed, "Didn't you went just there yesterday?"

"Yeah," Akane answered. Yuki and Sakura exchanged a worry glance. But Akane reassured them, "Don't worry. It probably isn't anything major."

Behind them, Ranma was lending against the tree in shadow, snickering quietly while trying to have her lunch.

End of Chapter 3

Author Note: In the previous version, Suigintou/Ranma was obivously out of character. As suggested, I have put in more school scenes. Please read and review. Any suggestions are welcome.

For those who don't know the meaning of the vase, it was a custom and a respect to put a vase with flower on the desk of a for deceased classmate. What does it mean for Ranma? Use you imagination :P