Hello and good day to you all! Thanks to all of you who are still reading this. I'll do my best to keep up the good work.

Like I said in the last chapter, It's going to take a few chapters, but this story WILL diverge from the usual Ranma 1/2 plot. Until then, just be patient.

Disclaimer: I don't own this stuff bla bla bla start the chapter!

Spring of Drowned Nymph

Chapter Two: Off to a Rough Start

Akane awoke to the sound of her alarm clock. She slowly got up to turn it off. Once that was done, she got started on her daily routine for getting ready for school. When she finished taking her bath and getting dressed, she sat down at the dining table to await breakfast. Her attention was drawn to some noise coming from the yard.

The noise was coming from the sparring match of their two house guests. She watched on in mild fascination as Ranma and his father traded blows, neither gaining the upper hand on the other. Nabiki sat down next to her younger sister. "They're pretty good aren't they?"

Akane tore her eyes away from the match and pretended to be uninterested. "Please, I bet I could take them with one arm tied behind my back!" She declared proudly.

"Oh really? But didn't Ranma beat you yesterday without a problem?" She asked with a knowing smirk on her face.

"That was different! He was a nymph back then. He admitted himself that his nymph form is stronger than his normal form, which means he cheated in our spar!"

Both girls heard a shout from the yard. "Hey! For your information, I went easy on you, so don't go acting like you could take me in a fight!"

"Concentrate boy!" His father scolded.

The two returned to their morning spar until Kasumi came out of the kitchen. "Breakfast is ready! Come on in you two!"

Genma called back. "Thank you Kasumi! We'll be there just a minu-ack!" Ranma used the distraction to knock his dad into the Koi pond.

"Look who's telling who to concentrate!" He taunted.

His taunting ended when he was knocked into the pond by his panda father with a wooden sign that read: [Stop being so arrogant!]

Ranma popped her blonde head out of the pond. "Whatever Pops. I'm getting breakfast." She levitated out of the spring and onto solid ground. She released an electric charge that instantly evaporated the water on her. She took a seat at the table next to Akane and started digging into her food.

Genma walked into the room and took a seat across from his son. Kasumi came out of the kitchen with a kettle of hot water and offered it to the panda. Once he was back to human form, he handed the kettle to his son-turned-immortal daughter. "Boy, I want you to know that you'll be going to school today."

Ranma changed back to his male form and looked at his dad curiously. "Hm? How come?"

"Well, for one thing, no responsible son of mine is going to sit around the house all day while his fiancé is at school. Got that?"

"Fine, whatever." was his response.

Nabiki finished the last bites of her breakfast and stood up. "You'll be going to the same school as Akane and me. I have some business to take care of, so I'm going early."

Akane stood up. "Wait! I'll go with you!"

"Then who's going to show Ranma the way huh? He's YOUR fiancé, so you can take him."

"But…but…"

"She has a point Akane." Said Kasumi. "You should take Ranma. It'll be a good chance for you two to get to know each other."

"The blunette crossed her arms. "Fine."

Once Ranma was all packed and ready to go, him and Akane said their farewells and started walking to school. The path they took was right next to a canal. Rather than walking on the ground like a normal person, Ranma chose to walk on the fence instead. "What are you doing?"

"Balance training." He replied simply.

"I'm not going to marry you. I hope you know that."

"I know. Besides, why would I want to marry a macho-chick like you anyway?"

Before Akane had a chance to pulverize him, Genma came running along the fence and smacked his son in the back of the head. "Foolish boy! You're in no position to be picky with woman! You should be grateful to have a high-spirited fiancé like Akane and-" He was cut off when Ranma tripped him, causing him to fall into the canal. The usual panda leaped out of the water and started swinging at his pigtailed child, who dodged while balancing on the fence.

"Heh. Can't catch me Pops." He perfectly jumped off the fence and perfectly landed on the ground…where he was perfectly splashed by an old lady emptying a bucket of water on the street. "Peachy. Just peachy." She sent a death glare at the panda, who ran off to avoid the pissed off immortal. "Now I need more hot water, but I don't want anyone at school to see me like this."

"Follow me. I know where to get some water. It's a little out of the way, but we should still make it to class on time if we hurry." Akane lead the nymph to a local clinic. There didn't seem to be anyone there at the moment, so they let themselves in. Akane assured Ranma that the doctor that worked there was a friend and that he wouldn't mind. "You stay here, I'll get the water."

Ranma stood impatiently next to the open door and waited for the water. Suddenly, she felt a light weight on her shoulder. She turned around to see a skull only a few inched away from her face. "ACK!" She instinctively grabbed onto the top of the open door.

"I'm sorry. Did I startle you?" Asked a kind voice. The voice belonged to a young man wearing a pair of glasses and holding a skeleton model in his hands. "My name is Doctor Tofu, and this is my skeleton Betty."

"Please…never do that again." It took nearly all of Ranma's willpower to keep her electricity under control when he snuck up on her. She was now using what was left of her will to keep her heart rate under control. She was about to get down from the door when misfortune struck again.

"Ranma, I've got the water!" Akane shoved the door out of her way, effectively shoving Ranma out as well. She didn't take notice in this however, as she was distracted by the sight of Dr Tofu. "Oh! Doctor! H-how've you been lately?"

"Akane! I've been doing fine. I haven't seen you in awhile. No new injuries?" He asked in a slightly teasing but kind tone.

"No! I mean, I wouldn't do anything that would get me injured or anything." She said nervously.

From the other side of the door, Ranma was listening intently. "Interesting."

After the brief meeting, Akane gave Ranma the water and they both ran down the streets to get to school before the bell. As they ran, Ranma asked one of the less personal questions on his mind. "So, that guy's a martial artist right?"

Akane nodded. "How could you tell?"

"He snuck up on me with no trouble at all, and as a nymph, I'm usually able to sense the living things around me. He completely hid his presence."

"It's true, he's a great martial artist, and a wonderful doctor too. He would treat my injuries when I was younger."

"What's up? I thought you hated men."

The gates of Furinkan High School came into view and a scowl suddenly appeared on Akane's face. "That's right, I hate boys." She picked up the pace as they came closer and closer to the gates. "I hate boys, I hate boys, I HATE BOYS!"

Ranma looked ahead and saw something he definitely didn't expect to see at a school. Behind the gates, waiting in front of the school, was a large group of male students. They were wielding sports equipment and other such weapons. The moment they saw Akane, they all charged forward. "What the…"

Once they reached the gates, Ranma hopped up on the wall surrounding the campus while Akane charged straight into the crowd of boys. They all attempted to strike her while shouting things like, "I will earn your love!", or "I shall be the one to date with you!" Each one was quickly silenced by a single strilke from Akane.

As this went on, Ranma heard Nabiki's voice shout down from the second story window of one of the classrooms. "Ranma! Get in here! You'll be late!"

He looked at the slaughter going on in front of him. "But, what about…"

"Don't worry, this happens everyday. Akane will handle it."

"If you say so…"

Akane finished off the last student in the group and wiped the sweat from her forehead. "Don't these guys ever get tired of this?"

Ranma jumped off the wall and landed next to Akane. "You okay?"

"I'm fine." She replied with some annoyance.

"Truly, such a boorish lot this is." Came the voice of the last man in the courtyard. The man threw an object towards Akane, who caught it on instinct. The object he threw was a rose. "These whelp truly believed they could defeat you in combat. Oh how foolish they were."

"Kuno." The blunette muttered under her breath.

The young man was wearing a blue kendo uniform and holding a wooden sword. "Fair Akane Tendo, wouldst thou spar with me?"

Ranma leaned closer to Akane. "You sure are popular here aren't ya? Who is this guy anyway?"

Kuno pointed his wooden blade at Ranma. "You! You are being rather familiar with Akane Tendo."

"Yeah, so?"

"Who do you think you are, to think you have the right to stand in her presence?!" Kuno shouted.

"Well, I'm-"

"Wait! Is it not proper to give one's own name first? Then mine I shall give!" Kuno held his blade up high in a dramatic pose. The fact that storm clouds suddenly started forming also made it very dramatic. "I am the undefeated captain of this school's kendo club, the rising star of the high school fencing world. Enemies fall at the mere mention of my name! I am the Blue Thunder of Furinkan High, Tatewaki Kuno, age seventeen." Lightning flashed in the background. "And you are?"

Ranma just stared at him. "Um…I'm staying at the Tendo Dojo and-"

"What?! Under the same roof as Akane Tendo? I will not allow this!" Kuno charged forward and slashed at Ranma.

The pigtailed martial artist jumped into the air. "My name is Ranma Saotome of the Anything Goes School of Martial Arts." He took off his backpack and threw it to Akane. He landed on the ground and took a stance. "And I accept your challenge!"

"Have at thee!" Kuno charged forward again to slice his opponent. Ranma dodged to the side, but the wall behind him received a large gash from the wooden sword. Kuno's next slash sliced a tree in half, but was avoided by Ranma once again. The two continued their match with Kuno on the offensive. Ranma didn't make any attempt to attack. Instead, he continued to dodge while analyzing Kuno's fighting style. Rain drops started to fall, but the fighters were too fixated on their match to notice.

"I shall not allow you to continue hounding the beauteous Akane you whelp!"

"Hounding?!" Ranma shouted. "Me and Pops are just staying with her family, that's all! There is NOTHING between me and her!" The rain was now falling in a steady drizzle. Ranma and Kuno charged at each other. Kuno struck out with his sword while Ranma struck Kuno with his bare hand.

Before anyone could react, Genma came running into the courtyard in panda form. He knocked Kuno out of the way, grabbed Ranma (who had just transformed from the rain), and ran into the school. The students who were watching the fight continued staring in disbelief at what just happened.

Akane sighed and went inside to find her unwanted fiancé and his father. She found them in a storage closet. Ranma dried herself off with electricity while grumbling to herself. "Stupid rain. I had that guy right where I wanted him too!"

"Oh really? Then what do you call that?" Akane pointed at a bruise on the side of Ranma's neck. "I think you two are pretty evenly matched, don't you?"

Ranma poured a kettle of water over himself and shrugged. "Maybe, maybe not."

(Meanwhile, in Kuno's classroom)

Kuno was looking into a hand mirror. On his forehead, the word 'moron' was written in bruises.

"And you didn't even feel him do it to you?" Nabiki asked.

"Here I thought Ranma Saotome was 'good'." He walked up to the chalkboard and wrote the word 'genius' on it. "Surely this is what he meant to write!"

"Actually, I think he meant to write this." Nabiki wrote the words 'clueless idiot' on the board.

"You realize I despise you."

"Oh, I'm so scared."

(In Akane's class)

Ranma was standing at the front of the class while the teacher introduced him to the class. "This is our new student, Ranma Saotome. I understand you and your father have been traveling around lately, but that doesn't excuse the fact that you and Akane Tendo were late. I want you both to stand out in the hall."

Soon Ranma and Akane were standing in the hall while holding buckets of water, as is Japanese tradition for some reason. "So, what was with that group of guys earlier?"

"It was because of some stupid announcement Kuno made at the beginning of the semester. He said that if anyone wanted to go on a date with me, they had to beat me in a fight. Ever since then, those morons have gathered in the courtyard to fight me every morning."

"That's pretty stupid." Ranma commented.

"You're telling me."

"So you fight Kuno every morning too?"

Akane nodded. "Yeah, and I always win somehow."

Ranma looked away. "Well, when a guy fights a girl, sometimes he lets her win, y'know?"

"Don't underestimate me. Why don't you try fighting me without cheating sometime?"

"I already told, I held back when I fought you, and either way, I'm not going to fight you. Tomboy or not, you're still a girl, and I don't fight girls."

Akane held her bucket of water up. "What if you're a girl yourself?"

"That would make it even worse!"

"Why? Just because your girl side is a bit tougher than your boy side? "

"It's not just a matter of power Akane, it's a matter of control." He explained. "I have a hard time controlling myself as a nymph, emotion-wise and power-wise."

"What do you mean?" She asked curiously.

"When you asked me to spar with you yesterday, I didn't think it was a bad idea because you're a girl, my nymph side doesn't really care whether I'm fighting a boy or girl most of the time. I didn't want to do it because I was afraid I might lose control of my powers and hurt you. I don't have total control over them. When that doctor guy snuck up on me, I almost lost control again. I try to stay charged down as much as I can, but sometimes I get pushed over the edge."

"Oh. I see." Akane looked away. "Well, okay then. I guess I can't blame you for not wanting to fight."

The two fell into an awkward silence until a voice broke it. "Ranma Saotome!" They both turned their heads to see Kuno running down the hall towards them. "Never! I shall never allow this!"

"What're ya talking about Kuno?"

"I am talking about your engagement to Akane Tendo!" He replied a bit too loudly. Suddenly, the windows between the classroom and the hall opened up and everyone in their class started assaulting them with questions like "Is this true Akane?" and "I thought you hated boys?" and other such questions.

"W-wait! It's not like that!" Akane tried to explain.

"Our parents decided! We didn't agree to it!" Ranma added.

"You shall never have Akane you cur!" Kuno slashed at Ranma, who jumped over his head and ran down the hall.

"This is no place to fight Kuno. If you want a piece of me, then come on!"

"That I shall!" He chased Ranma down the hall. Akane and the rest of the class followed after them, completely ignoring the fact that it was still class time.

Ranma came across an open window. "This way Kuno." He jumped out of the school building, Kuno following close behind.

Akane and the others ran up to the window. "But this is the third floor!"

"It's okay!" Ranma shouted up to her. Then he looked down and saw something that was not okay. Him and Kuno were falling towards the school's swimming pool. "Water! Why is it always water?!" The two hit the surface with a splash.

Up in the hall, the students were waiting for them to come up. "Are they okay?" "Where'd they go?" "I think I see Kuno, but where's Saotome?"

Down in the pool, Kuno was swimming after Ranma. His eyesight was hindered by the chlorine, but he could just make out a figure in the water. He swam towards it and grabbed the person. What he felt was much more round and soft than what a man's chest should feel like.

Ranma's eyes widened in shock when Kuno grabbed her chest. Then she started boiling with rage.

The students up above saw the entire pool light up, as if the whole thing was being electrified. When the light died down, Kuno was seen flying out of the pool and landing hard on the concrete ground around it. Many students could swear they saw a bolt of lightning come out of the pool before zipping away, but it happened so fast that they couldn't be one hundred percent certain.

While the students continued waiting for Ranma to come out of the pool, Akane slipped away to get some hot water. Unlike the other students, she KNEW she saw a bolt of lightning, and she knew exactly what that lightning meant. Once she got a kettle of hot water, she ran out to the grassy field located next to the school. "Where is he? I know I saw him go this way. He wouldn't travel too far away from the school, would he?"

"Oh Akaaanneee. Can you hear me?" A playful voice called out.

Akane looked around, she couldn't figure out where the voice was coming from. It sounded like it was coming from the inside of her head. "Is that you Ranma? I don't see you."

"I'm up here." The voice echoed. Akane looked up to see Ranma sitting up on a high branch of an especially tall tree. "Hello there!" This time when she spoke, the voice came from her, not Akane's head. She jumped out of the tree and landed softly next to Akane.

"How did you do that?"

"Do what?" Her voice was innocent, but the mischievous smile on her face let Akane know that she knew exactly what she was talking about.

"You know what I mean. You put your voice in my head. How'd you do that?"

Ranma shrugged. "I dunno. Just another nymph power I guess. I can talk telepathically with people and see what they're doing."

"Hold on! You can use your powers to SPY on people?"

Ranma glanced away nervously. "Yeah…but not if I'm too far away, and it's not like I make a habit out of it."

"Have you been spying on me?!" Akane asked angrily.

Ranma held up her hands in defense. "No! Only just now! I try to not use it as much as possible, like my other powers. Sorry if you're angry, but it could be worse. I mean, I could've kept it a secret from you."

Akane let out a sigh. "It's okay. Just don't use it to take advantage of people. And make sure you don't let Nabiki know you can do it."

"Sooo, can I have the water?"

"Here."

Ranma took the kettle gratefully. "Thanks! By the way, Kuno's coming."

Akane looked behind her to see the kendoist running their way. He looked slightly scorched, but otherwise okay. "You should find a place to hide so you can change back to a guy. I'll hold him off."

Ranma nodded and leaped back up into the tree.

When Kuno reached her, Akane didn't waste anytime. "Kuno, I challenge you!"

"Ah! If it isn't Akane Tendo. I was searching for that cowardly Ranma, but it seems I've stumbled upon much greater fortune. Very well! I accept your challenge." He raised his blade for battle. "If you win, I shall allow you to date with me!" He charged forward, sword held high.

"Who said I wanted to date you in the first place!" She asked as she dodged his sword swipes.

Ranma knew she should hurry up and turn back into a guy, but she was having far too much fun watching the fight below her. 'Yep, he's definitely holding back.' She thought to herself. 'Or maybe he's still recovering from the electrocution I gave him. I held back as much as I could too.' She was so caught up in watching the fight, she forgot about the kettle sitting next to her on the branch. The kettle rolled off the branch and started falling to the ground. Ranma noticed this and dived forward to catch it. She grabbed the handle and grabbed onto the branch using her feet. She knew she could easily levitate back up to the branch, but she didn't want to in fear that she'll start relying on her powers too much. So she just hung there while trying to regain her footing.

Meanwhile, back in the fight, Akane continued to dodge her opponents swings until he struck out with an overhead strike that she caught in-between the palms of her hands. He started to overpower her and push her back. Akane leaned backwards, put her foot up to Kuno's torso, and in one swift move, threw him high over her head.

Up in the tree, Ranma was just starting to regain her balance when a certain Akane-crazed nutcase fell headfirst into the kettle she was holding. Due to either wicked skill, or some lack of physics, Ranma stayed in her hanging position while Kuno balanced headfirst on a kettle.

"Why hello there miss." Greeted Kuno. "I don't suppose you've seen a man with black hair in a pigtail have you?"

"Nope. Can't say I have." She replied sheepishly. 'in anyplace other than a mirror. This guy's a moron, but he's gotta be tough if he got up this fast from all that shock therapy I just gave him.'

Akane shouted up at her. "You moron! I gave you that water for a reason!"

"I got distracted okay?"

"Oh well, the coward must've run off. Clearly he fears another encounter with the mighty Tatewaki Kuno." Kuno said. An annoyed look crossed Ranma's face. "That man is no man! He is truly nothing more than a coward! Not only does he lure me into that devious trap he set in the swimming pool, he runs away in fear I might recover quickly enough to strike him down!"

Ranma dropped the kettle.

*Bang!*

Kuno hit the ground hard, but that didn't stop him from getting back up. "That hurt you know."

Ranma jumped down from the tree. "I'm tired of all your yapping. If you want a fight, then I'll be happy to take you on!"

"Very well my fiery one! I shall accept your challenge. If you win, I shall allow you to date with me!" He grabbed his blade and thrust it forward.

Ranma jumped over the attack and landed on the blade with perfect balance. "As if I'd ever date a guy as moronic as you are!" She kicked Kuno in the face and jumped off his sword before he let it go. Kuno fell to the ground with a footprint on his face.

"Just so you know Kuno, you won't have any more luck fighting Ranma than you did fighting me." She turned around and started walking away. "Come on Akane, let's go home."

"But it's not even lunchtime yet!" Nevertheless, she followed her fiancé away from the school.

Kuno muttered to himself as he watched them walk away. "Who is she?"

(The next day)

Ranma and Akane were running towards the school gates again. "Hey Akane, you need any help with those guys at school?"

"I don't need any help! You just stay out of my way. Got that?"

"If you say so…"

As they approached the gates, the mob of boys ran towards them. Ranma stayed back as Akane pulverized every man in her path. He looked down at the unconscious men left in her path. "This happens everyday? Does this school care about the well-being of its students at all?"

When the chaos ended, Ranma caught up with Akane. "I wonder where Kuno is today?"

Akane huffed. "Who cares? Let's just be glad he's gone."

Ranma shrugged. "Makes sense to me." They both walked into the school.

(Lunchtime)

"You want to know where she is, right?" Nabiki asked Kuno.

"You know who she is?"

"Yeah, I know her. She wears Chinese clothes and a scarf right?"

"Indeed. I want you to give her this." He handed her a letter and then clenched his fist. "If she thinks she can best the mighty Tatewaki Kuno and simply walk away, me thinks she thinks wrong!"

Nabiki just rolled her eyes. "Whatever you say Kuno-baby."

(After school)

Nabiki handed Ranma the letter. "What? From Kuno?"

"To your girl half. He doesn't have a clue you're both the same person."

He opened the letter and read it aloud. "To the scarf-wearing tree-girl…"

"I'm guessing he calls you a 'tree-girl' because of those vines on your girl form. It's not too far off. You are a nature spirit in that form after all."

Ranma continued reading. "Meet me on the second field of Furinkan High School at 5:36 p.m."

"Sounds like a challenge." Akane commented.

"Kuno-baby is a sore loser. He doesn't take a loss from anyone."

Ranma smirked. "Well he's just gonna have to make an exception for me now isn't he?"

Once it was about five o'clock, Ranma changed into his cursed form and headed out to the arranged spot. She waited there for over half an hour before she got sick of waiting. "That jerk! He's late, and he's the one who picked the time. Seriously, who does that?"

Somewhere far away, a boy wearing a yellow bandana sneezed, but we'll get to him later.

She felt Kuno's presence enter her range of life-force-sensing. "Sheesh, took him long enough."

Soon after that, he entered the field. "I see you've decided to come."

"You sure took your sweet time getting here. Where's that little sword of your's huh?"

"I have no need of a sword." He stated calmly.

"Well aren't you feeling confident."

"Confident enough,…to give you this!" He threw an object at Ranma, who easily caught it. Her eyes widened when she found out it was a bouquet of roses. "Scarf-clad girl. I love you." He walked away without another word.

Ranma stared at the bouquet of roses for a minute. This was one of the times when she was glad her cursed form was so uncaring. She knew this was going to hit her hard when she turned back into a guy. "Maybe it would be best if I stayed like this for tonight."

She dropped the roses to the ground and returned home.

End of Chapter

Hope you enjoyed the chapter!

If you have seen or played Kid Icarus Uprising, then you know that the deities have the ability to talk to Pit and each other telepathically during the levels. Phosphora has also shown the ability to communicate telepathically as she was talking to Pit while he made his way through the Thunder Cloud Temple.

If you have not seen or played KI Uprising, then you should at least take the time to watch it on YouTube. It's a great game and characters from it will be appearing in later chapters. It's good to be informed!

In other news, I cannot believe how quickly I wrote this chapter. If you've read my other stories, you'd know that my updates are never this frequent. This is most likely a sign of the apocalypse, or it just means I have WAY too much time on my hands. Either way, I hope you will review and stay tuned for chapter 3!