When Ranma arrived at school the following day, he discovered that he had somehow achieved celebrity status. Everyone seemed to know who he was and many students greeted him deferentially. Unlike the previous day when he'd had to shoulder his way through the crowded hallways to get to his classroom, today the way parted before him as other students stepped to the side to allow him to pass.
Not that this was anything Ranma wasn't used to; the students at Furinkan had acted similarly once his position as top ass-kicker was solidified. However, he hadn't expected it to happen so soon here. Ranma had to smile as he thought about the reason for his upgrade in status.
Ranma had found something he hadn't had in a long time: a friend that he could have a friendly fight with and wasn't coming after him on some bizarre quest for vengeance over some trivial slight. It was a hole in his life that hadn't been filled since he and Ukyo had been little. She was good too—good enough to push him and a lot nicer to look at than Pig-boy's ugly mug.
The only thing that kept him from being ecstatic over his good fortune was that stupid Fate thing hanging over his head. Still, he resolved to go with the flow for now unless more jackasses came after his family.
Ranma walked out of the classroom, bento in hand to find a place to eat lunch. Class had been as boring as it was yesterday and he had been forced to struggle valiantly to stay awake. As soon as he stepped into the hallway, he spotted a smiling Kanu leaning against the wall.
"Hiya, Kanu-san," Ranma greeted.
"Hi, Ranma," Kanu returned. "I was wondering if you'd care to have lunch with me? There's some people I'd like to introduce you to."
"Sure, why not?" Ranma nodded. "Lead on."
A couple minutes later, Ranma found himself standing in front of a collection of three more girls. One appeared to be about his age. She was a short-haired brunette and appeared to be sizing him up like she wanted to pick a fight with him. The second was another brunette with longer hair tied into twin ponytails hanging over her shoulders. This one wore a bright smile and she had a stack of books next to her. She was clearly not a fighter, but Ranma got the same weird feeling he got when he sensed Hakufu's ki, like something powerful was lurking just below the surface. The last one appeared to be about Kanu's age. She had long, silver hair and a katana leaned against the table next to her. At first, Ranma thought she might have been sleeping because her eyes were closed, but then she turned toward him as he and Kanu approached, still not opening her eyes. Ranma then thought that maybe she was blind. Regardless, he got the distinct impression that she was the most powerful fighter at the table—probably just as powerful as Kanu if not more so—and that she was aware of everything around her.
"Ranma, this is the Leader of Seito Private School, Ryuubi Gentoku," Kanu introduced, causing the short-haired brunette to short in disdain.
"It's a pleasure to meet you, Ranma-san," the pony-tailed brunette chirped politely. "Welcome to our school."
"Next is Chouhi Ekitoku," Kanu continued, indicating the girl his age.
"This is the guy that beat you, Kan-san?" Chouhi asked skeptically, crossing her arms under her breasts and turning her nose up. "He doesn't look like much."
"More than enough for a tomboy like you," Ranma snapped back, unable to let an insult pass despite his best efforts.
"Chou-san, don't be rude," Ryuubi chastised as Ranma and the other girl glared at each other.
"We'll just have to see about that!" Chouhi challenged.
"Anytime, anywhere, tomboy," Ranma smirked. "Whenever you feel froggy, start hopping."
"You two can compare the size of your egos later," Kanu interrupted. "Ranma, this is Chou'un Shiryuu."
"Ranma-san," the silver-haired girl nodded to him in acknowledgement.
"Everyone, this is Ranma Saotome, our new transfer student, and the one that beat thirty fighters at once then fought me to a draw yesterday," Kanu concluded.
Ryuubi and Chou'un both gave Ranma a polite bow which Ranma returned while Chouhi turned up her nose and sniffed in disdain.
"Don't mind Chou-san, Ranma-san," Ryuubi advised cheerfully. "She's always lecturing me about how I should act."
"That's because you don't act like a leader!" Chouhi retorted. "You've always got your nose stuck in some book when you should be training! I don't wanna be known as a fighter that serves such a weakling!"
"Ekitoku! That's enough," Kanu ordered, sitting down and patting the bench beside her. "Ranma, please have a seat." Ranma shrugged and sat down, opening his bento as Kanu continued. "Yesterday, Ranma proved himself an A-ranked fighter. I wanted everyone to meet him since he could be a great help in protecting Ryuubi from other schools if they decide to come after us."
"That would be welcome," Chou'un spoke up before Chouhi could start loudly protesting that they didn't need any help.
"Sure," Ranma said, pausing in his impression of a blackhole sucking in all edible matter in the vicinity. "It's part of the Code to protect the innocent. I'm in."
"Even if it's your cousins' school that attacks us?" Kanu asked.
"Well, I know Hakufu and Kokin wouldn't attack someone that couldn't protect themselves," Ranma shrugged. "But if anyone from their school wants to start some crap, then I have no problem teaching them the error of their ways. I really don't care what school they're from, and I really don't care about that Fate of the Sacred Bead thing. I just intend to keep living by the Code of the Art and if I have to bust some heads to enforce it, then so be it."
"You don't care about the Fate of the Sacred Bead?" Chouhi asked in an overly-calm tone.
"Nope," Ranma confirmed. "Why should I? It's all nuts if you ask me. If you buy into it, why bother to train and become a better fighter? If you really think you're bound to repeat history, it doesn't matter how strong you get, the person destined to take you down will do it even if they're a ninety pound weakling. I don't buy it. That's why I'm just gonna live on my terms and not worry about some stupid Fate. If it's true then there's nothing I can do to change it. True or not, either way I'm living like I'm in control of my destiny."
"Interesting outlook, Ranma-san," Chou'un commented with a slight smile. "Yet there are those that allow themselves to be controlled by their role in history."
"That's their choice," Ranma shrugged. "As long as they don't make it my problem by coming after me and mine, or targeting innocents, then it's none of my business."
"About that," Kanu said. "Please be careful about getting involved with other fights. I'm not saying don't defend yourself if you get attacked, but whether you realize it or not, you represent Seito now. Getting involved with fights between other schools could send the wrong message and lead to attacks on Seito. And I don't want you going after anyone without letting us know first."
"Excuse me?" Ranma blinked. "If you expect me to stand by with my hands in my pockets while some jackass is sending people after my family, then you got another thing coming. And don't sit there and tell me you'd do anything different if it was someone you cared about."
Kanu sighed.
"We could stop you," she pointed out softly.
"You could try and I'd be forced to consider you no better than the prick targeting my family," Ranma said coolly. "I wouldn't be your ally for very long if you forced me to choose between you and my family. I like you, Kanu-san, and I'd hate to throw away what I think is gonna be a great friendship, but I will protect my family even is it means personally putting my foot so far up this asshole Totaku's ass he tastes shoe leather."
Ranma looked around the table. Ryuubi was looking down at her food, clearly uncomfortable and not wanting to get involved. Chou'un looked as serene as ever. Chouhi was glaring at him, looking like she was about to explode, while Kanu met his eyes evenly.
"Fair enough," Kanu finally nodded. "I'm only asking that you let us know before you do something like that so we can be prepared for the fallout. Who knows, maybe some of us go with you. We've tried to stay out of it thus far, but if we're going to get dragged into it then it certainly won't be on Totaku's side."
"I can live with that," Ranma agreed.
"Good," Kanu replied. "Now for the next item. The Big Fighter's Tournament is due to take place soon."
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(Posted Wed, 09 Jul 2008 09:30)
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