With the sureness of one who knew victory was his only future, he strode forth across the schoolyard to face off against the boy who would claim what should rightfully belong to a man, which was the beauty that stood beside him. He needed a moment after arriving to let himself soak in how wondrous she looked in her new uniform before he could speak. "You there! The one who would claim my true love, the fair goddess Akane Tendo for his own! Turn and face me!"
"Ya don't have ta shout," the pigtailed boy complained as he winced slightly. "You're standing right in front of me."
"Ah, that I am. And for that, I apologize. But I find that in a matter of great importance, one's tone must be appropriate."
"So ya gotta be loud?"
"Are you attempting to impress upon me the manner of insults you may toss off?"
"Nah. If I were insultin' ya, ya'd know. I'm just tellin' ya the truth."
"Ah, so you like to speak the truth?"
"Pretty much. Don't see what the point of beatin' 'round the bush is," the younger boy replied.
"I see. Then I think that we can have a most intelligent conversation."
"Considerin' the fact that I don't know who ya are, or what ya want, I can't be sure of much."
"That was remiss of me. I am Tatewaki Kuno, the 'Shooting Star' of this school."
"So, you're the guy who set up those fights she was telling me about!"
"She told you about me?" Kuno asked.
"Sure did. Came out and told me 'bout them."
"Then you see the passion that I inspire in her."
"Ya inspire somethin', alright."
"I hope that with this knowledge, you will allow me to purchase her."
Ranma just stared at him. "Huh?"
"I do not find it to be a difficult concept. In exchange for a monetary settlement, you will transfer ownership of the dainty Akane Tendo to my welcome possession."
"Ya wanna buy her? What 'bout her sisters? Ain't Nabiki and Kasumi worth anythin' too?"
"Ah, but they are not the true love of my heart that their sister is. It is unfortunate that the eldest must be placed into bondage, but that is the way of things. And as for Nabiki Tendo, I care not for what slavery will bring her to."
"Why, thanks for the concern, Kuno," the middle Tendo daughter drawled sarcastically from nearby.
"You have shown yourself able to adapt to such affairs. But no matter, I shall pay for Akane Tendo, and take her."
"Nope," the pigtailed boy refuted. "Don't think so."
"What?! How can you say such a thing?!"
"Simple. I ain't sellin' her. Period. I might not've asked ta get her or her sisters, but I'm not 'bout ta sell 'em. 'Specially not when she's already said how much she don't like ya. Plus, I made her a promise, and I ain't 'bout ta ignore that."
"Oh really?! And I was thinking that such an offer would be a boon to one such as your self. Do you not desire such an influx of funds?" the kendoist demanded, and named what he thought would be a welcomed amount of cash to the boy.
"Uh... no. I don't want it, or any of your money at all. 'Sides, even I can tell that's not a lot when you're tryin' ta buy the girl ya say ya 'love'."
"Then you want more, is it? Name your price. I shall match it and then some!"
"Don't ya get it? I ain't sellin', especially ta ya. Ya could offer ta give me everythin' ya have, and I still wouldn't sell her ta ya."
"Then you give me no choice. I order you to give her to me."
"'Order'? Since when do ya give anyone orders?"
Kuno stood as proudly as he could. "Since the heavens chose me to be a leader among men. All peasantry, such as yourself, must see the glory that is my most manly self, and know that I would know what is best. So, you will sign her over to me as a matter of honor!"
"Not a chance."
"Do you not understand the great boon I give you in simply talking to one such as yourself? Can you not feel what others must sense is innately in my person?"
"What? Wantin' ta not be bothered by a jerk like ya?"
"Well then, I see that you will not listen to reason, so I shall have to resort to something less dignified. But then, you have pushed me into it."
"And what would that be?" Ranma asked.
"I shall show you the error of your ways, fool that you might be."
"Yeah, right. I've gotta at least be smarter than ya."
"Only in your dreams, cretin. A swine like yourself could never understand the worth of true men, and can only yap like the dog you are."
"I ain't a dog!"
"But you look, sound, and," Kuno sneered, sniffing for a moment, "smell like one."
"Really... That's funny comin' from a big bag of hot air like ya."
"Then let us see who the true man would be. HAVE AT YOU!" the swordsman barked, already swinging his weapon of choice.
But Ranma moved faster, and both dodged the strike and deflected it with one hand. At the same time, his foot came up and cracked Kuno right in the jaw, sending him flying upwards. When he came down, the pigtailed boy laid into him with a series of jabs that looked like only a few, but left the older boy bruised and unconscious.
Brushing dust off his hands, Ranma turned away and smirked. "Strike one idiot."
"You should know that he won't give up," Nabiki informed him as she came over to his side.
"He won't?"
"Not a chance. If I know him, he'll be back tomorrow, ready to 'do battle' with you."
"Ya gotta be kiddin' me..."
"Sorry, Master, but it's the truth. But you do seem to be rather good at this. And you can close your mouth sis."
"He knocked Kuno out just like that..." the younger Tendo murmured.
"Very impressively, I might add."
Their owner grinned. "I ain't the best for nothin'. Ten years of nothin' but trainin' does pay off."
"Obviously. At least you're better at this than you seem to be with negotiating."
"Pop never was big on talkin'. 'Course, this is the only way that I could make him stop."
"And for which I see that you now have the admiration of our fellow classmates."
Ranma turned to see the other students staring at him in a mixture of awe, wonder, and some other looks that made him feel twitchy. That was not what he'd hoped for, since he'd spent most of the day trying to not notice such things.
Sighing to himself, he hung his head while:
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