The next morning started pretty chaotic. Genma woke his son pretty early so they could spar together. Although Ranma was pretty upset that his father woke him - now her - by pouring a bucket of cold water over his head.
Later, at breakfast, Akane spoke up that she wanted to take a quick bath.
Ranma then made the mistake of saying: "Oh, I'd like to do that, too."
WHAP!
"Ow!" Ranma shouted and rubbed his hurt head. "What did ya do that for?"
"Pervert! Wanting to take a bath when you know that I'm gonna take one as well!"
"But... but I meant, later..."
"Yeah, sure..."
Ranma wished he knew what he could do to make Akane accept his presence in the house. At first, he had been pretty agitated because of the forced engagement... even if Mrs. Tendo said she would leave the choice to the children.
But after he found out more about the house they were now staying in, he was getting more and more curious about this 'wizarding world'. While he knew he could never become a wizard himself (not that he wanted, the arts were everything for him), he wanted to learn as much as he could, so he could be prepared for everything that was waiting for him at his new working place.
Mrs. Tendo was always busy, taking care of her family and doing work for school, even at the weekend. Her husband was always hanging around with his father, playing Shogi or drinking sake. Not much of a help either.
So the only ones he could ask for help were the Tendo girls.
Kasumi he didn't want to bother. While her mother was helping her with the housework, she was still very busy... and Ranma didn't want to make too much use of her time.
Nabiki was glad to help him out - provided that he was able to pay her price. While she preferred a payment of Galleons and Sickles, she also accepted Yen, as the community they were living in was a mixture of Muggles and wizards.
As Ranma had no idea where to get that many money, he could not accept the middle Tendo's terms.
That left Akane, and his newly appointed fiancee was more than hesitant to do him any favor.
"Why won't you just talk to him?" Kasumi asked while she was preparing some Veritaserum, as part of her homework.
"Oh Kasumi, he's just so... Well, he's a boy! Isn't that enough? I mean, just remember how he touched me during our fight. If that isn't groping..."
"I'm sure that was just an accident," Kasumi assumed while adding some herbs to the mixture.
"An accident? Kasumi, I wouldn't be surprised if he turned himself into a girl deliberately, just so I wouldn't suspect anything!"
Kasumi shook her head. Sometimes, her little sister could be so stubborn, especially when it came to boys...
"Say... why don't you just give him a chance? You both like to practice your fighting abilities, right? And Ranma is going to work as Mother's assistant anyway. So, sooner or later you will get in close contact with him anyway. Why don't you two use this last day before school starts again to get used to each other? Spar a bit, and Ranma will get a feeling for what he will have to do for his job."
"Well, I suppose I could do that... but as soon as he stares at me in some lusty way, I'm gonna punt him through the roof!"
Kasumi smiled. "You do that, Akane!" Gosh, she could be so... violent sometimes...
Akane looked into the pot. "Say, I always wanted to know how Veritaserum is being made. Can I help you?"
Kasumi flinched. She did want to get a good grade for her potion this time, and the last time Akane tried to 'help' her, it ended in a big mess.
The least dangerous thing that could happen was that her new cauldron would be reduced to a mass of molten metal.
"I'm sorry, Akane, but this is a very delicate potion, you know? And I need to make sure my concentration won't be disturbed."
"Oh... I see. Well, I guess I'll go and talk to Mom."
While she agreed to give Ranma another chance, she wanted to ask her mother for some advice first.
"Say, do you know where Mom is?"
"Yes, she went to school, a few minutes ago."
"What?" Akane was perplexed. "But it's Sunday!"
"Yes, but she wanted to meet with that new student that will come to your class tomorrow. She wanted to give her the necessary books, as she won't have the time to buy them herself before tomorrow."
----
Ukyo looked around the grand entrance hall in awe. She had expected a traditional, Japanese architecture, but the whole building was looking pretty up-to-date. Clean floors covered with carpets, electric lamps hanging at the walls and the ceiling, and marble pillars that looked like they belong in a luxury hotel, not a school.
"You like it?" a voice next to her asked. Ukyo turned around and saw the woman that had sent her the letter... Mrs. Kimiko Tendo, the deputy headmistress.
"Yes, but it's just so different from what I expected," the young girl nodded.
"I admit it's pretty unusual for a wizarding school. Unlike the European magic schools, we made sure to combine our magical ambiance with a modern touch. Therefore, you will find many pieces of Muggle technology within our walls, a tradition that most European wizards are regarding with skepticism."
Ukyo gathered herself and gave her future teacher a respectful bow. "Thank you for taking your time for me, Mrs. Tendo."
Kimiko smiled. "Ah, I'm always glad when I can help a young girl like yourself, Kuonji-san. And your case truly is a special one... I really don't know how the ministry could have overlooked your status as a wizard-born..."
"Well, my family spent much time on the road," Ukyo explained. "And while I always knew my mother was a witch, I never suspected that I would be... gifted like this as well. I have always practiced Okonomiyaki martial arts, nothing else."
"Sounds like an... intriguing fighting style," Kimiko said. "Maybe you should speak to my daughter some time. She seems to share several of your preferences... I even believe she will be your classmate."
Ukyo smiled. "Sounds good. Well, what do I have to know about this school? I already heard quite a few things, but..."
"Well, Furinkan exists for several hundreds of years, founded by a couple of Japanese wizards. Back at that time, Japanese magic user always used to teach only the heirs of their own families, but after the western countries set up an example with Hogwarts and other schools, the idea of a Japanese wizarding school caught on. Earlier, it was simply called the 'Tokyo High School of Magic', but got later renamed to 'Furinkan'."
Ukyo was listening in awe. "I also heard there were several houses the students would be sorted in at the beginning of their school year, is that true?"
"Yes, there are four houses in Furinkan. Normally, the students are sorted by the means of a special ceremony, but as you have come here in the middle of the school year, we will make an exception.
There are four houses, and they are all named after the members of a certain group of Japanese heroes that had lived some time ago. They all have died, after having protected Japan and its residents from evil creatures for years."
"You don't mean... the Sailor Senshi?" Ukyo asked.
"That's what they are known as to the general public, but their identities were known to us wizards and witches. And so, to pay homage to their brave deeds, we have named our two houses after four of their most legendary warriors...
House Kino, which accepts the Brave.
House Hino, which accept the Wise.
House Mizuno, which accepts the Scholars.
And House Aino, which accepts the Impassionate."
"I never knew..." Ukyo muttered. "So... and how will I be sorted into the houses?"
"It's a very simple procedure. Here, see this ring on my hand? It's called the 'Ring of Insight', and it is used to read a person's thoughts. I can then find out which house would be most fitting for you."
"Okay... I guess that's easy enough. Um... do we start right now?"
"Let's go to my office first," Kimiko suggested. "In there I have the books you will need for your studies, as well as all the necessary instruments and your school uniform."
"And don't I need a wand or something like that?"
"Ah, yes... Unfortunately, our local wand maker isn't open until Monday, so you will have to spend the first day without a wand, I'm afraid... In the afternoon, you can always go and buy it. Oh, and don't forget to exchange enough money - you will need the wizarding currency."
Ukyo followed Mrs. Tendo through several hallways and corridors, up some stairs and through a few doors, until they were standing in front of the headmaster's office.
"Normally, this is where the headmaster would be, but he isn't regularly present... and let's hope it stays this way..." she added with a mutter.
"What did you say?" Ukyo asked.
"Um, it's nothing. Wait, let me say the password first..." She cleared her throat. "Pineapple Juice!"
The door opened.
Kimiko shook her head as they entered. "I have to tell him to change that silly password once in a while... Well, here we are! Those are your books."
She gestured at a pile of books that was lying on the principal's desk. Next to it, Ukyo could see a small cauldron, an assortment of flasks and pouches, a retractable telescope and a bundle of clothes.
While Ukyo looked at her new books and other belongings with interest, Kimiko opened a small drawer and took out a small, golden ring. A dragon was etched into the ring's surface.
She stepped up to the nervous student-to-be. "Ready?"
Ukyo nodded, and Kimiko slipped the ring on her finger, then she touched the girl's temples with her index and middle fingers.
The deputy headmistress closed her eyes. "I see... You are a brave, young woman, yes... but also very passionate at times. I can also see that your heart is burning with desire... A desire for... revenge?"
Ukyo blanched. She hadn't planned for that secret to be uncovered.
"Hmmm, difficult... Various houses would be nice for you... But, as I see it, there is one house in which you would fit best... You'll be a..."
Read the comments on this episode
See other episodes by Shritistrang
(Posted Sun, 22 Apr 2007 16:19)
Questions? Problems? Suggestions?
Send a mail to addventure@bast-enterprises.de
or use the contact form.
らんま1/2 © Rumiko Takahashi
All other series and their characters are © by their respective creators or owners. No claims of ownership of these characters are implied by the authors of this Addventure, or should be inferred.
The Anime Addventure is a non-profit site.