So far it had been a slow morning for Rachel. She had shown up at the school early to get her desk organized in the student lounge. Unlike American schools she was informed she would have to walk between classes, students stayed in their respective rooms for most of the day. It was slightly surreal to the teacher who had been used to the opposite for the last few years. Then again she had been feeling surreal experiences quite often the past few days, and still could not quite wrap her head around the fact that this was all real. That everything that was happening to her was real.
"Well now, it seems someone else is an early bird around here." The sultry voice from the door knocked Rachel back to the present moment. Turning her head sharply she had to resist the urge to drool. Because framed in the doorway was a busty brunette in a form fitting yellow dress with hair hanging to her waist. Rachel merely gulped…loudly. Apparently the anime industry had not been exaggerating the curves of this universes women.
"Um…I-I was j-just getting organized. For my classes. I'm a teacher." Rachel awkwardly stammered out. Damn it, I don't remember a girl like her, no make that woman like her in the manga! Way to make an impression you idiot! She shook herself mentally, trying to shake off the blush that tinged her cheeks.
The woman didn't seem fazed in the slightest. Walking over she gave a slight bow to the American. "I heard we were looking for a new English teacher. I didn't realize that they would find someone so quickly."
"That's because no one wants to deal with working under our esteemed Principle Kuno." Came a cheerful male's voice from behind the two of them. It was Keitaro Hiro, the male teacher who had shown Rachel around the day before. "You ladies are going to make me look bad if you all keep showing up before me. Makes me look like a slacker." He flashed a cocky smile before taking his seat at his desk. He promptly put his hands behind his head and leaned back, never losing the cocky smile plastered on his face.
"Hmmph, like you would need any help from us in that regard Hiro. Especially considering the science club you oversee is so rampant in their…'studies.' They are nothing but delinquents!" The woman shot back.
"Oh come now, creating a bacteria to eat petroleum spills is a wonderful contribution to humanity." Hiro responded.
"W-what? How could you have a problem with that? That's incredible for students so young!" Remarked Rachel in wonderment despite her continued nervousness. Is science in this world that much advanced? Hiro flashed a brilliant smile her way in appreciation.
"You see? Even the new girl can see the brilliance of my leadership." Hiro responded smoothly.
"That is because she doesn't know the side effect your 'brilliance' caused," The brunette responded coldly. She turned to look down at Rachel before continuing. "You see, it works very well on consuming petroleum. It also eats petroleum products. That would include most clothing and undergarments. The pandemonium his students caused made us refer to the bacteria as "the Full Monte" strain."
"I still say it was a great contribution to Man." Hiro said.
"Yes, to the displeasure of most Women." The woman came back with. Shaking her head she started to walk out the room." I have students to check up on while I still have my treatment in place. Try not to corrupt our new teacher on her first day Hiro." Pausing at the doorway she turned back to the still blushing teacher. "I hope we can get to know each other later, good luck on your first day." Then with a bow the woman was gone.
Hiro just whistled at the passage of the brunette. "Man, if only she were like that all the time. Her condition really takes the fun out of life sometimes." Standing up the man made his way to the door as well. "Guess I better check on the science rooms. Good luck Miss. Hunter, you have Ranma in one of your classes. Try not to go run screaming for the hills."
With that the man was gone, leaving Rachel still sitting there. Sighing she leaned forward and rested her head on the desk. She sighed at the cool wood as it chilled her inflamed cheeks. "This…is going to be a long, long, day."
It was later that day Ranma sat at his desk staring out into the sky. Rei had decided to tag along this morning with both him and Akane. He didn't like how his fiancée was starting to act so friendly to the American. But Akane refused to listen to his reasons of why she shouldn't hang around her. Stupid tomboy, how dense is she gonna get anyway? First Ryoga and now Rei, did I piss off a Kami or what? Stupid Hibikis. Ranma grumbled internally.
His sub-consciousness registered the class rep Reiko giving the orders to stand and bow. His consciousness also vaguely registered the fact that it meant another teacher was getting ready to start a lecture. Ranma didn't even stir. It hadn't taken long after his arrival for the instructors to give up on forcing him to follow most school rules. Despite his hectic life and abysmally poor study habits Ranma had managed to keep his average and class attendance in the school's regulations. But any attempts at trying to get him to conform to the dress code had failed. This along with the frequent destruction of school property that occurred around him caused Ranma to be seen by the staff as more or less a nuisance that just could not be gotten rid of. They had tried several times to get him expelled, but first it was Nabiki that stonewalled their efforts, then it was the Principle himself that refused to do so. The first was motivated by Yen, the second by his lunacy.
In short, the school more or less left Ranma alone, and Ranma did his best to return the favor. So when the instructor took her place at the front of the room he paid it no heed, even when she began her lesson. He just continued to stare out the window and watched the clouds float by.
He also didn't notice when the instructor stopped talking, or the footsteps coming towards him. Or the yelling that occurred trying to catch his attention. Ranma just continued to stare out at the cloud that vaguely looked like Ukyo's okonomiyaki. That was until something slammed into his desk, knocking him out of his daydreams most forcibly.
With a jerk he whipped his head around in surprise to face a foreigner. She was slightly taller then him and wore a blue short sleeved buttoned shirt and black slacks, and she looked angry. She nodded with her hands on her hips at him. "Good, now that I have your attention you can give me your name. Mister…?" She trailed off.
Ranma, still slightly shaken, could only dumbly stutter out his name. "R-ranma Saotome S-sensei." The female instructor nodded once.
"I see, so you would be the infamous Ranma Saotome, top tier martial artist? Well, since you obviously have such an excellent grasp of the English language to waste time daydreaming then you will obviously have no trouble reading the next line for the class." Seeing him look around as if for help the instructor narrowed her eyes, "Now, Mr. Saotome."
Ranma looked down at his desk, nothing placed upon it except the instructor's notebook, and struggled to come up with something. Suddenly a phrase popped into his head, "I look for bathroom?" he said awkwardly in English, much to the amusement of his classmates who burst out laughing. Ranma sighed and started to get up. He knew the drill, first the instructor makes an example of him and then he stands out in the hall with buckets.
"Where do you think you are going Mr. Saotome?" The teacher asked sternly. Ranma froze halfway out of his seat.
"The hallway, that's where ya send the stupid students right?" Ranma asked tiredly. What, was she going to mock him a bit first?
"Sit down Saotome." She said firmly, to which Ranma confusingly complied. "Since you seem to want to waste my time I will return the favor. Be outside the teacher's lounge after school, you will be asking for Miss. Hunter." Turning around she made her way back to the front of the class. "In the meantime take out your supplies and follow along, or at least do a better job of faking it." She called back over her shoulder, to the snickers of his classmates.
Ranma shrugged and did as he was told. It was just one more teacher trying to change him. She would give up soon enough.
"You are nuts, you know that right Hunter?" Rachel looked up from her desk at Keitaro standing in the doorway. It seemed the two of them had the same free period. It was two hours after her class with Ranma, and it seemed the news of her actions had already made it's rounds throughout the school. She had to admire the Japanese rumor mill, it made the American girls look quiet and close lipped.
"Oh? And how am I crazy for punishing Ranma?" She asked in return. She had already gotten tired of the stares in the hallways after her fourth class today, she was already on her way to a foul mood.
"No one wastes their time with the Saotome kid anymore. Its pointless." Hiro shrugged, "Not everyone makes it to being a good citizen, better to focus on the students you can teach. The others, well they made their bed. Saotome might have talent as a martial artist, but as a student he is just a dumb jock." He was nonchalant in his tone, which made the fury boiling up in Rachel all the hotter.
She had seen people like Hiro in her five years of teaching. She had grown used to in in the inner city schools which were under funded and under staffed sometimes. She had been told to let the 'retards' and the 'punks' stew in their own juices if they wanted. No sense holding back the smart ones or the ones who can actually amount to something. She even came across it in rural school she had been last teaching at, though now it was more toward the 'faggots'. She resisted that philosophy with all her heart though and tried to teach everyone equally. They may be set in their ways but she was not, different culture be damned!
"Mr. Hiro," She ground out, "While I appreciate the concern I would thank you to let me deal with my own students." Standing up she started to make her way to the door past the other teacher's unoccupied desks. As she made to pass Keitaro he reached out and grabbed her by the arm, hard. "Let me go Hiro, I mean it." She hissed at him. The man shook his head at the American.
"Miss. Hunter, don't forget that the nail that sticks up must be beat down. But if you can't then it is best to simply get a new nail." Rachel stared defiantly back at the neutral visage of Mr. Hiro. He then simply let go of her and walked away down the hall as the bell rung. She lost him in the crowd of students that flowed out of the classrooms for lunch.
Sighing she went back to her desk and collapsed in her chair, leaning forward she held her head in her hands. Thinking about Hiro's reaction to her statement made her wonder if she was going to make a few enemies in the near future. Guess I'll find out after school. She thought with a rueful smile on her lips. Ranma, I wonder if you truly are as dumb as they claim you are?
"She did what?" Ukyo asked in surprise. She was Ranma's third fiancee, the 'cute' one as Ranma himself had put it. Though currently the only thing really giving away the fact she was a girl was her long chestnut colored hair tied back in a ponytail. Her curves hidden beneath a boy's uniform. But despite any initial confusion of her gender she was known as the best okonomiyaki chief around.
Which she was currently reeducating Ranma in, on the house of course. "Yeah, she has me coming in after school. Dunno why though. Most of the teachers gave up on me already. " Ranma said from his position of leaning back against a tree with his eyes closed.
Ukyo sighed before flipping the okonomiyaki she had made onto a plate and handing it to Ranma."I dunno sugar, Americans are supposed to be pretty lax. At least that's how the tourists always look. Maybe she isn't so bad?" She sighed as Ranma simply inhaled the food she had made for him. "You are going to need better grades to get into a good university anyways Ranchan." She pointed out.
The boy had polished the plate at this time and handed it back to the girl with a smile, "Thanks Ucchan, but I don't need anything 'sides being the best. When am I ever going to use that stuff anyway? Or to run a dojo?" Ranma leaned back with his hands behind his head and looked up at the sky. "'sides, Pops said all that other stuff is a big waste of time, that's why he never taught it to me."
"Yeah, probably because he couldn't figure it out either." Ukyo muttered under her breath before sighing in exasperation. As she started to make more food Ukyo began to talk to her fiancée about a different foreigner. "Hey Ranchan, who was that girl I saw you talking to earlier? She the American everyone is talking about?" Her tone was friendly enough, but Ranma had been on the receiving end of his fiancée's wrath enough times to learn when to step lightly….usually. In this case he didn't need to pretend or exaggerate any denials.
"Yeah, that's her. Don't worry though, the old man had nothing to do with her being here." He said offhandedly. Ukyo grinned widely at that.
"Oh well. I guess those panda flavored okonomiyaki will have to wait to be a house special. Ranma's eye twitched at the comment, part of him wondering how serious his 'cute' fiancée was and the same part wondering if it would be such a bad outcome. He coughed into his hand.
"Dunno 'bout that Ucchan, even if the old man didn't have anything to do with it, kinda wish she would leave already." Ukyo paused at the monotone voice that came from Ranma, letting the okonomiyaki sizzle on the grill. She was slightly less shocked then Akane had been before at the outright refusal that Ranma was making of the American. She may not be Japanese, but Ukyo didn't think it was something to hold against her to much. That and Ranma was normally a pretty outgoing guy, clueless sometimes but still outgoing. The only times he really had any animosity towards anyone was because they were a challenger, and that was only as long as the challenge lasted.
"Common now, what she challenge you Sugar?" Ukyo teased Ranma, "Common, Americans don't take martial arts seriously, maybe you could teach her?" Ukyo said lightly.
Yeah, that's gonna happen Ucchan. Ranma wanted to say instead of, "Maybe Ukyo, but do me a favor and keep 'n eye on her would ya?" Ranma said with a bright smile. Ukyo felt her heart skip a beat. But Ranma, in a rare burst of insight realized something. If he had to stay after school, did that mean Akane would…?
No way, even 'Kane wouldn't be that… Ranma grimaced, Yeah she would. Jumping to his feet he started to dash towards the main entrence. "Thanks Ucchan, see ya later." He called behind him with a wave. Leaving a very confused fiancee still frozen in the act of giving him another plate of food.
"You want me not to walk home with Rei? Why?" It was the end of the day and classes when Ranma had finally caught up with Akane. Even though he never studied, Akane didn't really waver from paying attention in class. He had learned the hard way to not pass notes to her during said class over a year ago. Not only did it tick off his 'uncute' fiancée but it only added fule to the gossip about him and Akane.
"Aw, common Akane. Do I really have to spell it out for you? Hibiki is dangerous. I figured you would know that considering how uncute you both are." Ranma, as usual, failed to note the reaction his fiancee was having to his reasoning.
With a fiery aura surrounding her she pulled back her fist to let fly. It was only a giggle behind her that gave her pause. Blinking a few times she turned her head to face Rei standing there with a mirthful smirk on her face. "Yep, I'd definitely say love." She said simply. Akane gave a short squeak before jumping to her fiancée's side.
Immediately the two engaged teenagers began their denials, to which Rei simply shook her head. "It doesn't matter to me lovebirds. But I'm going to head out, so if you wanted to walk together a ways lets get going." Rei suddenly leaned forward at the hips and spoke in a hushed tone of voice. "Unless you wanted me to leave you two alone…together?" She finished with a smile.
"I-it ain't like that!" Shouted Ranma. Jeez, can't I get away from this girl? Feels like she's followin me or something! "Besides, why you acting like we are friends?"
"Dunno Ranma, why? Did you want her to wait here for you to finish your detention or whatever it is?" Responded Rei.
"Um, I think we should be going Rei." With cheeks as crimson as Ranma's girl half's hair Akane started to drag Rei out the door.
"A-akane, wait up." Ranma got out after the two had disappeared outside the classroom. Chasing after them he didn't notice the rooms he was running after until a stern and female voice rang out in the hallway.
"Mr. Saotome, did I not say to be waiting outside this room after class?" Ranma froze and turned around slowly to face the foreigner from before. He may not follow the rules to the letter much, but he didn't shirk punishment usually either. Well, when it was justified at least.
"See ya tomorrow Saotome! Have fun with the teach, Ok?" Rei called out from her position of still being dragged along by Akane. Ranma grit his teeth. He was really starting to dislike foreigners.
What was that all about. Rachel wondered absentmindedly. She had just been exiting the Teacher's lounge when Akane had passed the doorway dragging Rei. It was one of those instant déjà vu moments the split second she had seen the girls face. Then the pair had been gone, with Ranma appearing a few seconds later. I know that girl, I think. Maybe an anime or manga somewhere? She shrugged. Either way, she had a student to teach.
Seeing Ranma turn to face her she simply shook her head sadly. "Follow me Ranma, and we will get started on wasting each other's time." With that she started to head down the hallway, with a annoyed student in tow.
A few moments later had the teacher and the student in an empty science room simply staring at each other. Ranma from his seat at one of the science tables and Rachel leaning back across from him on another. This went on for a few moments before Rachel sighed and walked to the front of the class room to face the blackboard.
"Well, why did you not pay attention Mr. Saotome?" She asked without facing him.
"Huh? What do ya mean?"
The woman sighed again, "In class today you weren't paying attention, remember now? You know, the reason you are here?" she supplied in an annoyed tone.
Ranma shrugged, "I dunno, its just boring I guess." he replied flatly.
Rachel shook her head slightly and walked over to the board. Picking up the chalk she started to write a series of complex equations before turning back to Ranma. "Ok, what did I just write out? Get it right and I swear to leave you alone in class, get it wrong and you promise to hear me out. Agreed?" She gave Ranma a challenging stare. Common Saotome, let me prove them wrong.
Ranma just shrugged and walked up to face the board. It showed a series of numbers and strange symbols that seemed to terminate on one number. "I dunno, what is it?" He said in a bored manner while placing his hands behind his head. Man, don't they ever just give up? He mentally yawned.
Rachel had a wide smirk on her face. "Mr. Saotome, you are telling me that you don't know what it is even though you deal with it everyday as a martial artist?" She gestured to the board, "Give it another try, think about it real hard." With that she walked to one of the science tables and sat on one of it's stools, waiting patiently for her student's reply.
Ranma turned to face the board again, this time a little more seriously. Involves martial arts? How the heck do numbers involve that? After several moments of concentration on the board he turned to face the woman again. "I dunno Miss Hunter, what is it?"
With that admission Rachel grinned like the bird who just ate the canary and got away with it. Reaching beside her she grasped a ordinary ball and reached out to her side. Still holding her smile on Ranma simply let go of the rubber ball and let it bounce away. "Gravity, Mr. Saotome. The formula before you is the mathematical essence of Gravity. With it people have been able to do things as complex as launch a rocket to the moon or a simple as predicting where a paper airplane will fall from flight."
"Heh, well I still don't understand what that hasta do with me. A martial artist doesn't need to understand math to know how to use the Art." Ranma responded defiantly. Rachel shook her head, she had students like this before. Usually from the ones who already knew where they were going and also knew it wasn't going to need a higher education from them to succeed. Or so they thought.
"Tell me Ranma, you are one of the best martial artists around, right?"
Ranma's chest seemed to swell, "Yep, nobody beats Saotome!" He proclaimed to the teacher, causing her to smile once more.
"So someday you are going to teach martial arts to students, right?"
"Well yeah, I'm gonna open a dojo someday." His response was as if the teacher had asked the most obvious question in the world. To this the teacher smiled even more.
"So what would you say to a student who did not want to learn a technique because they would never use it?" She grinned at her student. Gotcha!
"That's stupid! You never know when you might need to know somethin to win a fight!" Ranma burst out. His tone of an incredulous instructor. It took a moment but Rachel could almost see the dim light bulb go off over his head, "Wait, your say'in that…"
Rachel nodded, "Yep, school and martial arts aren't that different. Might even help you on being a better martial artist in the end."
Ranma gave the woman a questioning look before shaking his head. He refused to be defeated that easily. "Yeah right, how is it going to help me?" He challenged the instructor again.
"Simple, and in many ways at that." She began to tick off on her fingers, "Lets look at Math, it helps you do quick calculations to better think about moving through space. Or more tactical ways to approach you opponent. Biology, it helps you know where to hit because you have a better understanding at what it is you are hitting. Geology, to better use the battlefield to your advantage. Social studies, that will let you understand the culture of your opponent. That would let you predict better what sorts of things your opponent might be capable of. Fighting a Russian versus an African, both of which have their own style of fighting. Finally Psychology, that area of study would open up an entirely new way to strike at your opponent without actually having to hit them." Rachel gave a quick wave at her now open hand towards Ranma, "Any questions?"
Ranma was a bit taken aback. His Father had always told him that school was stupid and a waste of time. He claimed that as a father and a teacher he had never needed it so why would Ranma? But she did raise what seemed to be valid points. Hadn't Ryoga's Bakusai Tenketsu technique originated from miners? Maybe, maybe, school might not be so bad. "I dunno, guess I can see yer point teach." He admitted out loud reluctantly.
"Ranma, I'm not saying you have to like school. I never did, and I think most adults will admit that as well. But I've never found knowledge to be useless, after all, I started out as a science teacher. Now though I get to teach English in Japan!" She gave a beaming smile. "Knowledge is a key, the more keys you have to more diverse your life becomes as you open doors you sometimes never know were there. That and with your level of intellect, you will do many great things once you start to take school a little more seriously."
"I guess so." Ranma acknowledged reluctantly.
Giving a quick nod Rachel stood up. "Great! This will give you plenty to think over for the rest of your detention." Still smiling Rachel headed for the door.
"W-wait, what?" Ranma stuttered out.
"Come now, you didn't think your punishment was a simple lecture was it? You still have to make up for wasting time in my class earlier. So you can leave in a half hour, have fun!" With a jaunty wave Rachel shut the door behind her.
Ranma sighed and hung his head. "Never mind. School sucks!" he groaned out. But looking at the board again he decided that maybe he could get something out of it after all. Wouldn't hurt to try right?
A while later had Rachel standing on the school roof looking out towards the setting sun. She leaned back on the concrete wall and lazily took in the cityscape. "Man, what a rough day. I wonder if he will change for the better though?" She knew she didn't have long to stand around, she still had paperwork and research to do. But this was the only place she could get a few moments of complete privacy. In theory at least.
"Ah, good show today. In fact I think you impressed the boy. Or at least you impressed upon him." The crisp English accent, the vague mocking tone. Rachel grit her teeth as she knew who stood behind her.
"I was wondering when you would show up again. So how much else will you do yourself to get your 'pawn' in play?" Her words laced with venom Rachel turned to see Loki standing in his white business suit. "What next? Am I going to introduce the Emperor to Ranma, or will it be the other way around?"
Loki simply chuckled, undaunted by the hostility in his servant. "Really Miss. Hunter, I get the impression you don't like me very much." He stepped forward and gently cupped her chin in his hand, "Then again I don't need you to. I do what I do to ensure my goal."
"Now what would that be?" The woman challenged him, all the while forcing down the impulse to smack his hand away. Luckily Loki removed his hand and took a step back before bowing.
"Why, to save the world of course!" His voice full of cheer.
"Right, and I got a bridge in Brooklyn to sell to you." Rachel responded under her breath.
Loki chuckled before turning his back on her. Walking over to the fence surrounding the roof he stared out over the city. "Tell me, what do you think you accomplished today?" Rachel knew from the man's tone that it was all business now.
"I planted a seed." She said simply. "The first step to getting close to Ranma I feel is to not try to get to close to quickly." She sighed. "Quite simply, I suspect that the 'affections' of those girls around him has left him leery of the fairer sex. Perhaps if I was a guy I could move faster, but since I'm not…" she trailed off.
Loki snorted before turning to face the woman. "Mortals, so complicated." He said with disdain.
Rachel nodded in reply with a small knowing grin, "Yes we are, some even more so then others." She tilted her head towards the spirit. "What? Think this was going to be done within a few days? I suspect that it will take weeks for me to gain his trust. Maybe if there was some sort of crazy adventure of his soon then…" She trailed off again as she noticed Loki smiling. It reminded her of the smile he had on the bridge a few days ago, cold and predatory.
"Interesting Miss. Hunter. I will need time to think on your words. In the meantime I suggest you work on your abilities, as well as your relationship with Ranma." With that he was gone. It wasn't like the movies where he faded away or disappeared in a cloud of smoke. He was simply present one second and gone the next. Leaving the instructor left behind to sigh and make her way off the roof.
"So you two don't come back together, this arranged marriage is off permanently?" Rei was shocked to say the least. It wasn't the ultimatum, but simply how much it seemed to affect the girl walking beside her. Akane had seemed suddenly depressed after dragging the American out the school gates. After a few prods the Japanese girl had revealed why. Despite herself Rei found herself sympathizing with Akane. So what do I care? This isn't anything that concerns me! Rei shook her head gently, Never hurts to have someone owe you. Besides, I could use a few friends. She admonished herself mentally.
"Well then, if you want to be together why were you fighting back there?"
Akane seemed a bit uncertain to reveal more, after all this girl was so new. With past history, new girls were trouble in the life of Akane Tendo. "R-rei? How much did you hear?"
Rei grinned, "Something about Ranma saying you are un-cute? Guy must be blind if he can't see your good looks."
"Rei!" Akane blushed a bright crimson. Rei simply smiled more.
"Hey! Its true. If I were a guy I'd go for you. But since I'm not…" She shrugged. "But anyways, I think Ranma's Mom is right. You are going to have to take the first step physically. I'd suggest kissing him, guy doesn't seem to have much experience in anything more than that."
"Oh? Do you think I do?" Rei suddenly was beside an angry woman.
Jeez, hair trigger anyone? "Cool off, I meant that he strikes me as one of the supremely naïve kind of guys. You strike me as someone who at least knows what the grownups are talking about. So all I'm going to say is that you are going to have to break him in slightly. Knock his socks off with a kiss and go from their." Rei supplied with a shrug. It seemed to sooth Akane's anger a bit. Rei saw an opening.
"What about Ranma's sister?" Rei suddenly asked.
"Sister?" Akane seemed off balance from the sudden topic change.
"Yeah, heard that Ranma had this twin sister that alternates between calling herself Ranko and Ranma." She eyed the girl beside her from the corner of her eye, "Kinda weird for parents to name two kids the same name, even twins."
"W-well that's her folks. They do weird things like that." Akane lamely replied with. A giant fake smile
Now why would you lie about something like that Akane? Rei wondered to herself. She smiled as if accepting her response. This is going to make things a bit more fun.
"Well, why you ask her on how to deal with Ranma? She has to know her brother right?" Rei asked nonchalantly. Akane grew flustered before noticing that they had reached the crossroads that separated their paths.
"I-its getting late, and Dad is going to want me to be home soon." Akane hurriedly said before she bowed to Rei. "Thank you for the advice Hibiki, see you tomorrow." Akane then rushed down the street leaving Rei behind.
Rei blinked a few times before grinning. Walking back to her apartment she reviewed what she had learned. Let's see, Akane doesn't want me knowing about this other 'Ranko'. The surprise that she had at the suggestion of Ranma's sister is telling. Not sure what's going on but it smells promising. Rei then thought of how Akane had reacted. Guess I need to be more careful in the future. Rei pondered. She isn't nearly as dumb as she looks. I have to play this carefully, this might be the thing I need to get my revenge.
Author's Corner
Well another chapter out. I plan to try to get two more out befire the end of the year. Next up, Ranma and Akane's date! ^.^