Lesson Plans

"So, what did you think?" Soun asked his friend as they walked into the living room and sat down on the far side of the shougi board.

"The quality was definitely good," admitted Genma, "but it's an awful lot to spend on mats. We should shop around some more."

Soun nodded and set up the board as Genma took his seat across from him. "The ones we have will last for now."

They played for a while in silence before Genma gasped and cried, "Look at the size of that spider!" Soun quickly whirled around but saw nothing. When he turned back, he frowned at the game pieces and their new configuration. "My mistake," said Genma, "it was only a leaf."

Soun just made a noncommittal sound and played on for several minutes before looking past his opponent and saying in a puzzled voice, "There's a purple fox behind you."

Genma chuckled and shook his head. "You'll have to do better than that, my fri—" He stopped and stared down at the small animal that was now peeking at the game board near his elbow. "I believe it's actually lavender, Tendou." Quickly looking back at the board before his opponent could take advantage of his distraction, Genma took a moment to consider his options and reached for a piece.

"Tch."

Genma stopped and looked down at the fox with a frown. Looking back at the board, he realized that the move he'd been about to make wasn't really a good one. As he reached for a different piece, a soft snort came from the direction of the fox.

Genma scowled at the fox and said, "If you think you can do so much better, let's see your move!"

With a mild sense of amazement, Genma watched as the fox picked up one of his captured pieces in its mouth, turned it around, and placed it on the board. Soun's eyes bulged slightly and he made a brief strangled noise before calmly asking, "Another game, Saotome?"

oOo

"Dinner!" called Kasumi as she set the table.

As if summoned by magic, Ranma, once again in his cursed form, appeared at the entrance from the back yard. Pausing only briefly to direct a curious glance at the two fathers hunched at one side of the shougi board, alternately studying the game and looking up to glare at the lavender fox sitting across from them, she seated herself at the dinner table to wait.

While Kasumi finished bringing out the food, first Akane and then Nabiki joined Rama at the table, the former glaring at him and the latter simply watching them both and smirking. A few moments later, Soun and Genma groaned and walked over to the dinner table, heads bowed.

"I hear there's a chicken that plays tic-tac-toe at a casino downtown, if you two need to start small and work your way up," Nabiki helpfully offered.

"Be nice, Nabiki," chided Kasumi as she set a dish of barbecued beef in front of Velgri. "I hope you enjoy this, Velgri."

"Thank you," replied the lavender fox, "it smells delicious."

"She can talk!" exclaimed Soun and Genma in shock.

"Ah yes, there's the brilliance I've come to expect from those two." Velgri remarked drily.

There was an awkward pause before Genma asked, "Why is she here?"

"She's Ranma's new advisor and trainer," Nabiki answered.

"What!? That's my job!"

"It looks like I'll have my work cut out for me," sighed Velgri. "Don't worry, I will be her mentor only in specific areas; you can continue educating her in ... whatever it is you do."

"I'll have you know I am an expert martial artist," proclaimed Genma.

"Good. That's something that could actually be useful. Carry on."

"The martial arts is not some side project that can be studied in one's spare time! It's a way of life—a defining philosophy that should be a practitioner's primary concern!"

"Very well. Ranma may focus on the martial arts and be devoured by demons along with her friends and family."

"Of course, there are exceptions," Genma quickly allowed.

"Way to stand up for your principles, old man," drawled Ranma.

Silence reigned for a time as everyone remembered the food sitting before them and focused on giving the attention it was due. Eventually, when the plates were mostly empty, Soun cleared his throat and asked, "What is it, exactly, that you will be training Ranma in, Velgri?"

"I will be instructing and advising her in her new role as the Avatar of Light, a powerful champion who stands against the forces of evil and darkness," proclaimed Velgri.

"And is a magical girl," added Nabiki helpfully.

"Stop. Helping." growled Ranma.

"Boy! What do you think—"

"—or be devoured by demons," repeated Velgri.

After a moment of silence, Soun asked, "Surely someone who is truly a girl could have been chosen? Why, I expect Akane or Na...aaeighbors galore would be fine choices." Soun abruptly ducked his head and began sweating profusely as he tried to ignore his middle daughter's intense glare.

"If they were better choices, I would have been drawn to them instead."

Looking like she wasn't sure whether to be insulted or hurt, Akane asked, "Why wasn't I chosen?"

"I would have to probe you mind and spirit to be sure," replied Velgri, "But from what I've seen so far, your fighting skills are inferior to Ranma's, and you direct violence toward others when you are angry."

Akane abruptly turned red and stammered, "T-that wasn't serious. Ranma would have barely felt it if I'd hit him with my book bag."

While Ranma gave Akane an incredulous look, Nabiki quickly sprang to her sister's defense. "It's true. That would have been nothing compared to the time she kicked him at someone trying to kill him with a wooden sword or any number of times she's thrown him out the window."

"Stop. Helping." growled Akane.

"Yes, well regardless, it is important that I train Ranma as soon as possible in her new powers. We will leave tomorrow to an appropriate remote location."

"Excellent," said Genma, rubbing his hands together, "it's always a pleasure to see new techniques."

"I'm afraid this trip will be for Ranma and myself only."

"Surely, I should come along to help the boy integrate the new techniques into his style."

"Perhaps another time, Saotome," replied Velgri. "This first session will contain information that may only be passed on to the Avatar herself. We will try to return as soon as we are able. We leave tomorrow morning."

Genma grunted, more than familiar with the concept of secret techniques.

oOo

"I wonder what Ranma is learning," Kasumi remarked shortly after dinner was served the next night.

"Probably energy attacks and special magical techniques," stated Akane authoritatively as she picked up her tea.

"Oh, my. Do you think they'll be back soon?"

Akane shook her head. "No, it's going to be some time before—"

"We're back!" called Ranma's voice from the entrance hall.

"Doesn't that hurt?" Nabiki asked Akane, eying the broken cup in her sister's tea-drenched hand.

"No, I'm fine," replied Akane in a wooden voice. "Excuse me, please." With that, she stood up and stiffly walked into the kitchen. A moment later, the sound of running water was heard.

"Oh, great! We didn't miss dinner," said Ranma as she walked into the dining room.

"Welcome home!" exclaimed Kasumi, deftly plucking the fox from Ranma's shoulder and stroking her soft fur before gently placing her at an empty spot on the table and quickly filling a plate with the choicest parts of each dish. After seeing one especially fine piece of meat get snatched right off of Soun's plate, Nabiki quickly moved her own dinner out of reach.

"I'll … just help myself," said Ranma as she sat down and filled a plate, being careful not to directly challenge Kasumi for any morsels of food.

"So, Ranma, learn anything interesting?" Nabiki asked.

"Yeah," said Ranma with a frown, "never let a fox make the travel arrangements."

"Why? What happened?"

"She wanted me to eat snails!"

"I merely suggested ordering the escargot à l'Alsacienne, you philistine—the bistro was famous for it!" cried the fox in question.

"I don't doubt word got around about them serving snails to unsuspecting people!" retorted Ranma.

"I've never been so embarrassed in a restaurant in my life! And that was even before your revolting attempt at a wine selection!"

"Oh, do you like French cuisine, Velgri?" asked Kasumi, presenting the plate to her. "I have some recipes I've been wanting to try."

"Wait, bistro? Wine selection?" asked Nabiki. "Just what kind of training trip was this?"

"A civilized one," sniffed Velgri. "Or, at least, it was intended to be. And I'd be delighted to sample your efforts, Kasumi; you have so far proven to be an excellent chef."

As Ranma peered at Kasumi, surprised to see a faint blush blooming on the older girl's cheeks, Genma's voice rang out, "Restaurants and wine? Are you going soft on me, boy?! That's no way for a real martial artist to train!"

"But wholly appropriate for the Avatar of Light, which is whom I was training," interrupted Velgri. "While it may be appropriate for a real martial artist to look like a wandering vagrant and have matching manners, the Avatar is expected to have higher standards—and by the time I am through with her, she will have them!" she concluded with a stern look at Ranma.

Ranma sighed and shook her head, wondering how eating snails had somehow become a sign of having 'higher standards'. "Look, I'm willing to go along with this whole Avatar thing and fight demons and whatever because it needs to be done and you can't get anyone else, but that's it. I'm not going to waste time learning manners that don't mean anything, learning about wine, or acting like I want to eat snails, so you can just forget it."

"You took on the mantle of the Avatar of Light," growled Velgri, "and even if it was not fully intentional, you are obligated to meet the responsibilities of that position—and one of those responsibilities is to conduct yourself in a befitting manner! It may not be your primary responsibility, and I have no intention of forcing you to be presentable at all times—gods know that would be too much to ask—but I will insist you be able to interact in a formal setting without embarrassing yourself and everyone around you!"

Ranma opened her mouth to argue, when Kasumi added, "And I'm sure it would make your mother so happy."

Ranma closed her mouth with a snap and looked down for a moment before sighing, "Fine."

"Stop sulking, Saotome, it really is useful to know," added Nabiki. Turning to Velgri, she added, "I'd be more than happy to help with this. I can take Ranma to fine restaurants and formal social events as practical exercises—completely for free, of course, though I would need to have expenses covered."

"And we could have formal dinners here once a week," Kasumi enthused.

Velgri nodded approvingly. "Yes, that would be most useful. Thank you for your help in Ranma's training, Kasumi, Nabiki."

Walking in through the kitchen doorway, Akane stopped, silently turned around, and walked back the way she'd come with a stony expression on her face.

oOo

Placing her toothbrush back in its holder, Akane sighed softly, and started back to her bedroom for the night. In the hallway, she paused, seeing the cause of her current melancholy approaching. "Velgri," she acknowledged, with a nod of her head.

"Good evening, Akane," replied the fox.

Akane started walking again but stopped and hesitantly asked, "Why haven't you asked me for help with Ranma? I'm the one who knows all about magical girls."

Velgri cocked her head. "Oh? I didn't realize. How did you acquire this knowledge? Being an associate of magical girls? Helping to train them? Working with them?"

Flushing, Akane stammered, "Well, not exactly. It's mostly from, um, readings and watching programs about them..."

"I see. So, in short, you believe you have expert knowledge about magical girls because you've watched a lot of cartoons and read many comics. Thank you for your offer, but I do not believe such … experience will be overly useful." Velgri shook her head. "It is possible you may have something valuable to offer—your sisters do—but you will assuredly not discover it by offering expertise you do not, in fact, have. Now, if you'll excuse me, I am retiring for the evening. Good night, Akane."

Velgri walked away and slipped through a slightly opened door, somehow closing it behind her. Akane just stood there silently, so consumed by humiliation and embarrassment that it took her several moments to realize the room Velgri had slipped into was Kasumi's.

oOo

"Akane, are you in here?" called Nabiki as she stuck her head into the dojo. "Kasumi wants to know if you can go to the market and pick up something she needs to make lunch." Frowning slightly as she noticed her younger sister sitting, head bowed, by an unbroken stack of cinder blocks, she asked, "What's wrong?"

Not looking up from the floor, Akane miserably said, "I did something really stupid..."

Nabiki walked over and sat down next to her. "Go on."

"Do you know where Velgri spends her nights?"

"I hadn't really thought about it. With Ranma?"

Akane shook her head. "With Kasumi."

Nabiki groaned. "Oh, Akane, please tell me you didn't..."

"I didn't!" cried Akane. "I mean, I never even considered a fox would … you know. But when I woke up this morning, I remembered that a lot of animal advisors for magical girls also have human forms..." As Nabiki groaned again, Akane finally looked up to glare at her. "Come on! It's not like I stormed up to her and demand to know if she was molesting my sister!"

"Okay," said Nabiki sweetly, "then what did you do that was really stupid?"

Akane flushed and looked away before saying quietly, "I asked her if she could turn into a human. And, well... I guess she knew what I was really asking, because she got really offended ... and said no."

Nabiki sighed and shook her head. "Oh, Akane..."

"No, I can fix this!" protested Akane. "I'll apologize, make it up to her, and prove that I'd be invaluable in training Ranma!"

"Really? How are you going to do that?"

Akane sagged and moaned, "I have no idea."


Author's note: When I was trying to think of an appropriate name for Ranma's advisor, I remembered an interesting bit of trivia: 'The word Velcro is a portmanteau of the two French words velours ("velvet"), and crochet ("hook").' [Wikipedia] For Velgri's name, I decided velours ("velvet") worked nicely for the first half but changed the second to griffes ("claws"), which seemed rather appropriate for a fox who's polite and refined—until you piss her off.

As always, reviews are appreciated. They don't make me write faster per se, but whenever I get one, it reminds me that there are people out there waiting for the next chapter and I really should get working on it.