Ranma Half Moon 2: Phrase White - Chapter 2 - The Power of Gravitation - Part 2

Note: "Moe" as used in this story is roughly equivalent to "enough already".

Ranma looks at a campus map. Wow, they weren't kidding about this being a rich school. This map looks like a map for a college. Oh, there it is.

Ranma enters the student union, a building larger than many large company headquarters. He starts following the signs for the cafeteria. After ten turns in the hallways, he lets out a sigh of frustration. "Is this a labyrinth or something?"

An elegantly dressed pretty boy appears before him. "Excuse me, I couldn't help but overhear. My name is Suou Tamaki. I am the prince of the school's host club. I know that you are lost right now but my club can help you find your happiness again." Tamaki goes through an elaborate pantomime while he talks.

"Host club?" Ranma looks at Tamaki incredulously. "Sorry, I am a boy."

"We don't discriminate."

Ranma rolls his eyes. "Not interested. I am trying to find the cafeteria."

"Oh, that. Two more lefts, then a right. You won't be able to miss it. If you change your mind, we'll be waiting."

"Don't hold your breath."

Ranma enters the cafeteria. He stops one of the students walking by. "Excuse me, do you know where Jadero is?"

The student looks at him as if Ranma was born yesterday. "Seriously? You don't know?"

"Yes. He called me out on his radio show, so I have shown up. My name is Saotome Ranma."

The cafeteria, which up to this point was as noisy as any normal cafeteria, goes so quiet that one could hear a pin drop. The terrified student points to an elevated section of the cafeteria, accessible by an ornate stairway.

"Thanks." Ranma walks over to the stairs. Two huge sumo wrestlers block his way.

"Halt, these stairs are for F4 members only."

Ranma smirks to himself. Those F4 guys must be really naive to think that these two guys could stop me. But the guards don't seem like bad guys and they're probably only doing their job. I guess I can play nice in this situation. "Well, excuse me then, but I was summoned by Jadero. I am Saotome Ranma. May I be allowed an attendance?" Crap, now I sound like that host club guy.

"Wait here." One of the sumo guards waddles up the stairs. He waddles back, out of breath. "You may pass."

Ranma climbs up the stairs. Two impressively handsome guys are eating and reading in the elevated area. Ranma notices that there is a nice panoramic view from the elevated area. "Excuse me, is one of you Jadero?"

One of the boys looks up. He has short blond hair. He speaks in a deep radio DJ like voice. "That is me. I am impressed that you came so quickly."

"In my school of martial arts we take all challenges seriously and meet all of them."

"Well, Zoiki is still in class right now. But, he will meet you in fifteen minutes in the football field in the stadium to fight you."

"Great."

The other boy, who has long dark brown hair, looks up. "Ranma, allow me to introduce myself. My name is Nephuyu. Am I to understand that this fight is based on your opinion of the quality of Zoiki's lyrics?"

"I don't know what else it could be about."

Nephuyu smiles a sneaky smile. "Are you good at fighting?"

"Yes."

"Do your best."

"I will." Ranma bows and walks down the stairs. Now all I need to do is find the football field.

Ranma squeezes around one of the guards and does not see a passing student and bumps into him. The student falls down. "Are you okay?" Ranma helps the student up.

The student smiles and holds up a bunny doll. "Everything is okay, I was able to break Mister Usagi's fall."

Ranma looks at the boy who looks much younger than him. "Will you be okay, this looks like a rough high school. I hope you aren't being bullied."

The boy moves closer to Ranma and whispers in his ear in a deeper voice. "Nobody is stupid enough to try to bully Haninozuka Mitsukuni." He leans back and talks in a higher-pitched voice. "But you can call me Hani-chan."

Ranma grins. "Okay, Hani-chan. My name is Saotome Ranma."

"Great! Ranma-chan, please come eat some cake with me sometime. You seem like a really cool guy."

"Thanks, but I don't have a lot of money. I'm sure cake at this school costs a fortune."

"You're a commoner? Wow, I wouldn't have guessed. Don't worry, the cake will be on me. Just come to the host club."

Moe! Figures he would be associated with that other weird guy. "But, I don't go to this school. I am only here because I was challenged to a fight."

"With who?"

"Zoiki."

Hani-chan laughs. "Can me and Mori watch?"

"Is Mori another host club guy?"

Hani-chan nods.

"I don't see why not."

Hani-chan points out a tall brooding-looking guy. "That's Mori."

Ranma waves, and Mori gives him a half smile. "Well, I had better be punctual."

"Mori and I can show you the fastest way to the stadium."

...

Ranma walks out on the field. He nods to Hani and Mori who wait in the bleachers. He sees Zoiki in the middle of the field and walks over to him. Ranma notices another guy sitting in the third level of the bleachers with opera glasses. He is too far away for Ranma to see his face.

"So Ranma, I see you have no faith in your fighting ability and brought along some mercenaries?"

Ranma laughs. "First off, I'm not some rich kid like you. I wouldn't be able to afford mercenaries. Second, even though such a thing is perfectly okay in my school of martial arts, I enjoy doing things myself. Third, those aren't mercenaries, those are two guys from the host club."

"You don't know? Well, so long as they keep out of the fight, that's okay. I'll have you know that you are fighting not only against me but also against my passion as a writer."

"Now listen up. I think that you are a moron. I have been in a lot of fights over a lot of things but fighting over the worth of a bunch of lyrics is the stupidest reason for a fight I have ever been in or even heard of. Beating me won't stop your lyrics from sucking so you have nothing to gain from this fight. You should call it off."

"Never!"

Ranma shrugs his shoulders. "Okay." Ranma assumes a fighting stance.

Zoiki charges him.

In three seconds, it is over.

Hani looks at Mori in amazement. "Wow, it's a good thing that Ranma is a nice guy."

Mori nods and speaks in a deep voice. "He could have easily maimed Zoiki."

Kunochi, the boy in the third row of bleachers, rubs his chin. Fascinating. I will have to study the tape of that.

Ranma offers to help Zoiki to his feet. "I hope this teaches you a lesson. You shouldn't challenge people to a fight over trivial things."

"It's not a trivial thing. It's my life and my passion. And, I will make you see that someday." Zoiki suddenly pulls himself up by Ranma's hand and kisses Ranma, then runs off.

Ranma makes a disgusted face. What is wrong with this high school? It's not like this is an all boy's school. There are plenty of attractive girls walking about.

To Be Continued