Muyami Academy
What if they ALL went to the same school?
Previous chapters at: http://members.xoom.com/bellchan/
What I originally intended to be Chapter 6 grew to 150 k.
I decided to break it into three chapters, but when you read
them, be aware that only Chapter 8 has what I consider a nice,
dramatic ending. Chapter 6 and Chapter 7 end wherever it
seemed most convenient to break that section of the tale off.
And don't ask me why I didn't just make it Chapter 6 part 1, 2,
and 3... I guess I like chapters to be within a certain length,
that's all. ^_^
Thanks to my longsuffering prereaders, T.H. Tiger,
Bombadil Goh, and my friends Jeffrey Cornish and William
Morse. Thanks to Jed Hagen for prereading even without
being a prereader, and for feeding me two good lines, and to
those who have not given up on me and my story. ^_^
DISCLAIMER: Ranma 1/2 characters and stuff, and Inu-
Yasha characters and stuff, not to mention Ursei Yatsura
characters and stuff, copyright 1999 Rumiko Takehashi.
Tenchi Muyou characters and stuff, copyright 1999 Pioneer &
AIC. Mamono Hunter Yohko characters and stuff copyright
1999 AD Vision, NCS, Toho Company, LTD, Mad House, and
I don't know who else. Koko wa Greenwood characters
copyright Yuki Nasu. Mint na Bokura characters copyright
Wataru Yoshizume. Other characters and stuff also copyright
the creators and owners.
Chapter 7
Schoolgirl Crush
In her rented house on a hill overlooking the school,
Madoka Mano sat in her study, eyes bright. The large oak
table before her had two circles drawn on it in green chalk,
with ancient script and runes drawn between the circles, and
with fragrant candles burning at the outer edges.
In the center of the circle sat a computer. Its screen
flashed bright in the dimly lit room.
"Three..." she counted. "Two... one...."
She stopped, and held her breath, then slammed her palms
down on the table, hard enough to make the candles and her
nearby teacup jump. She leapt out of her chair and began to
dance about the room.
"Yes!" she cried out. "Yes! Yes! Yes! Bidding is
closed! I've got the highest bid!"
She sat down at the table again. After a few mouse-clicks
she laughed again.
"Ho-ho! Confirmation! Now all I have to do is contact
the seller, send the money... and wait for it to arrive! Oh, won't
Yohko and Ranma be surprised!"
She sat back and laughed again. "Well, what do you
know?" she said. "Isn't technology a marvelous thing? The
things you can find on the internet, with just a few clicks of a
button."
She took a sip of tea, and added, "Even, it would seem, a
Mamano Hunter amulet...."
***
In a dimly lit room many miles away, another woman was
pounding on her computer keyboard. "That's not fair!" she
screamed. "I had that bid! It should be mine! Mine!"
Behind her, two girls, one of whom happened to look
remarkably like Yohko Mano, watched in silence.
***
Miss Shizuko Morinomiya of Registration studied the girl
before her, noting her wide hips, accentuated by the flare of her
pale pink dress; her narrow waist and the ribbon that encircled
it, tied into a large bow in back; her well-endowed chest, which
pushed against the satin of her blouse; and her long, slender
legs, encased in white tights.
Most striking was her bright red hair, tied back into a
pigtail. Miss Morinomiya was somewhat sorry to see such
beautiful hair tied back like that.
She said, "Forgive me, Miss...."
"Ranma Saotome."
Miss Morinomiya smiled. "Forgive me, Miss Ranma
Saotome, but... what makes you think that you're a guy?"
Ranma sighed. "I know what I look like," she said.
"Look, it's this curse I have. Right now I am a girl, obviously,
but I'm really supposed to be a guy."
"I'd really like to help you, Miss Saotome, but you must
understand. I simply can't assign a girl to the guy's dormitory,
simply because you claim to be a guy...."
"Don't my records say I'm a guy?"
Miss Morinomiya smiled. She knew that first days could
be stressful, but she'd never met anything like this. It was best,
she thought, to play along. She made an elaborate show of
checking the girl's records again, then turned back from the
computer screen.
"I'm sorry, Miss Saotome, but you're registered as a girl.
Now, I realize that sometimes there are mistakes, but really...."
"Look," Ranma said, fishing her ID card out of her
pocket. "This should straighten things out."
Ranma handed the card over. Miss Morinomiya dutifully
inspected it, then handed it back.
"This also says you are female," she pointed out.
"What?" the red-haired girl looked at the ID card, as if
seeing it for the first time. "But I... I left this one the dresser at
home....
"Look," she said, glancing back up, "there's been a
mistake. I swear I can change into a guy! It's just a weird
Chinese curse that I change into a girl when splashed with cold
water. Do you have any hot water?"
Miss Morinomiya frowned, wondering how long she
should humor the girl. It wasn't as if they had time to waste in
registration, not on the first day of class. If she could just get
the girl to lie down in the doctor's office, until these odd
delusions faded....
"No," Miss Morinomiya said, "there's no hot water here,
but... perhaps we could visit the doctor across the hallway?"
***
A small man in dark blue janitor's overalls was sweeping
the steps leading to the basement. He was very old, with lines
in his face and missing teeth, and he had a halo of white, puffy
hair ringing an otherwise bald head. He appeared to be a
typical old janitor, apart from being only two feet tall.
A black cat bounced through an open window and landed
on his head.
"Hey!" the janitor exclaimed, "what's the big idea?" The
little cat tried to leap away to freedom, but the janitor's hands
moved in a blur, snatching the cat in mid-leap.
The janitor held the cat before him. The black cat, with
eyes as big as saucers, stared back.
"Well now," the old man said, "it's nothing more than a
lost little cat. Aren't you a cute little thing?"
The little cat looked about for an escape, but found none.
"You know, pets aren't allowed in the dorms," the old man
continued. "Except the kind that live in an aquarium. But I
don't suppose you'd like that, would you?"
The cat shook its head violently.
"Thought not," the man said. Leaning his broom against
the wall, he sat down on the steps and set the cat down beside
him. "I'd offer you some cream, if I had some," he said. "But
maybe I've got something just as good...." He stuck his hand
beneath his coverall and dug around a bit, finally producing a
small bento box, along with a pipe and a tobacco pouch.
He opened the bento box and produced two fried prawns,
which he set before the little cat. It began eating greedily,
while the old man lit his pipe and puffed in thought.
"Of course," he said after a while, "they don't like me
smoking my pipe in the dorms either. But I won't tell on you,
if you don't tell on me, okay?" He winked at the little cat
conspiratorially. "Anyway, I don't see a problem if one of the
girls wants to keep a cat in her room. Truth to tell, I wouldn't
mind being a little black cat myself. I can just imagine some
young, sweet thing pressing me to her soft bosom...."
The little cat appeared to sway woozily for a moment,
before righting itself and finishing the last prawn.
"Maybe I should take you upstairs and see if I can find
your owner?" the man said. "It's as good excuse as any to
knock on every girl's door...."
"Oh!" a girl exclaimed, "I thought this was the way to the
laundry room!"
The man and the cat both looked up to see a young girl
with long black hair standing at the top of the stairs. A second,
more willowy girl, with her hair in two looped braids, appeared
behind her.
"What a cute cat!" the first girl said. "Is he yours?"
"As a matter of fact, no," the old man said. "I was just
thinking of looking for its owner."
"Can I help you then?" she asked. "If you can't find the
owner, do you think I could keep it?"
"Well, I suppose so... the name's Happosai, by the way.
I'm sort of the janitor around here."
"Oh! Forgive our manners," the girl said, blushing. "My
name's Akane Tendo, and this is my friend, Yohko Mano."
Happosai's eyes lit up at the names. "Akane Tendo?" he
repeated. "Really! You don't say!"
But Akane wasn't listening. She lifted the cat up and
hugged it. "Oh, he's so adorable!" she exclaimed. The little
cat's eyes bulged, a trickle of blood came from its nose, and
then it passed out.
"Ah, to be a cat," Happosai said with a sigh.
***
"By all accounts," Officer Ido said, "you have some
remarkable students here, Principal...."
The man behind the desk steepled his hands and stared at
the local police official.
"Ikari," the man said. "Principal Gendo Ikari."
Ido raised his eyebrows. "Indeed? The noted scientist?"
The man who was apparently head of Muyami Academy
had black hair and an Abraham Lincoln style beard. He wore
glasses and a black sports jacket over a red turtleneck shirt. He
was, Ido noted, very good at staring. And steepling his hands.
His office was large. Two walls were lined with
bookshelves, stacked with everything from science texts to old
tomes, foreign novels, and even a few manga books. A third
wall was dominated by a large picture window that looked out
on the school campus. The desk was also imposing, made of
solid oak, with a large, polished, uncluttered surface.
Chief Ido didn't like uncluttered desks. It indicated, to
him, that the owner had too little to do.
"Chief Ido," the principal said, "did you come here to
interrogate me, or to discuss my students?"
"This is about your students, of course," Ido replied.
"There was a commotion in town last night. Some of your
students were involved."
"I'm aware of it," the principal replied.
"Are you aware, then, that your students are allegedly
battling demons?"
"I think," Principal Ikari said, "that you will find that there
are no laws against the slaying of demons."
The police officer raised an eyebrow.
"Indeed," he said. "However, a man is missing, and there
is also a great deal of damage."
"The school will gladly cover everything. Just have the
bills sent to my office, and they will be paid."
"And the missing man?"
The principal spread his hands. "You may question my
students, if you wish. I was not there."
The officer nodded. "I intend to do that," he said.
He paused a moment, then said, "Tell me, Principal Ikari,
how is it that one of the nation's leading scientists should
suddenly quit his job and become the principal of a small,
private high school?"
Principal Ikari watched the police inspector like a tiger
watching a grazing antelope. Finally he spoke.
"I thought this was about my students?"
"I'm merely curious," the Chief said. "You needn't
answer."
Principal Ikari stood and paced to the window. He stared
out at the well-kept rose bushes and the manicured lawn.
"How much do you know about the history of this
school?" he asked.
"Well," Ido said, "it's been here for a very long time. It
was originally a Jesuit school, I believe, but it's been privately
owned and without religious affiliation for many years. I also
heard that it was recently sold, although I never heard the
details of the sale."
Principal Ikari turned to face Chief Ido. "Would it interest
you to know that it was purchased by Mishima Heavy
Industries?" he asked.
Ido's eyes went wide. "Is that true? What would Mishima
want with a school like this? They're a weapons
manufacturer!"
"Among other things," Principal Ikari added. "Of course,"
he added darkly, "not all weapons are made of metal."
"And what is that supposed to mean?"
"I can't claim to know everything," Principal Ikari said.
"However, you noted yourself that our student population
includes some extraordinary individuals. This is not a new
thing... for several years this school has been attracting students
with unusual abilities. I can not explain it, but the trend has
been noted by Mishima...."
"So they bought the school," the Chief said, "and made
one of the nation's best scientists it's chairman? Why? And
why did you agree to this foolishness?"
"They pay well," the Principal said. There was just a hint
of a smile in his face. "Working in the private sector does have
its advantages, Chief Ido. If you ever tire of your job and it's
measly pay, I'm sure they could find a position for a man of
your talents, as well...."
***
Dr. Tofu was a young man with black hair, dressed in a
loose gi, with a white lab coat over it. He had round wire-
framed glasses and an easy-going manner, and Ranma instantly
felt comfortable around him.
Ranma grimaced. She didn't like to put her curse on
display, but it seemed like the only way to convince anyone
around here of the truth. She was very glad Yohko had not
tried to come with her.
"From my cursory examination," Dr. Tofu said, "you
appear to be a remarkably healthy girl, Ranma. And yet, you
insist that you are, in reality, a boy?"
Ranma nodded. "It's a curse," she said. "If you have any
hot water...."
"Ah, yes," the Doctor said. "Hot water." He walked over
to the sink, where a large thermos sat next to some cups and
teabags. "Tell me, Ranma, where did you pick up this curse?"
"In China," Ranma said. "At a place called Jusenkyo."
"Ah," the doctor said. "I've heard of this place." He filled
a cup with steaming water, turned and upended it over Ranma's
head. Hot water poured over her.
Both he and Miss Morinomiya watched in fascination as
the young red-headed girl transformed into a taller, black-
haired boy.
"My! What a remarkable transformation!" the doctor
exclaimed.
"There," Ranma said, "Now do you see?" He glanced
down at the dress he wore -- now very tight across his belly --
and grimaced.
Miss Morinomiya was staring, open-mouthed. "Well,"
she said, "I've seen girls that fly through walls, lift cars, and
toss electricity around, but this is a new one. At the very least,
I believe that you can transform into a boy. If the rest of your
story is true.... Doctor, which would be his or her actual
gender? Is she really a boy, as she says?"
The Doctor rubbed his chin. "I've heard of Jusenkyo
curses, but this is the first one I've seen. I'd have to do some
research to be sure...."
"Oh, for the love of...." Ranma began.
"Don't worry, Ranma," the woman said, "I'll call your
parents and straighten this whole thing out."
Ranma nodded, solemnly. "Okay, I understand. How
long will that take?"
"I'll call right away. If you could just wait in my office?"
Ranma nodded. "Um... Doc, do you have any cold water?
I don't really want to walk out of here like this...." He indicated
the ill-fitting silk blouse and pink dress.
"Of course," the doctor replied. Moments later he poured
cold water over Ranma, and he and the registration assistant
watched Ranma's transformation again.
"Amazing," the woman said. "That's kind of neat,
actually."
"Kind of embarrassing and confusing is more like it,"
Ranma replied.
***
Ranma sat in the waiting area outside of Miss
Morinomiya's office, glad that this whole silly ordeal was over.
Well, almost over... she still had to find some male clothes to
wear, and get moved into the boy's dorm, and she'd have to
straighten things out when they went to get their uniforms.
Most importantly, she'd have to explain things to her
friends. Especially Yohko. She really wasn't looking forward
to that. Why, oh why, did her life have to be so complicated?
Her feeling of dread had returned, although not as strong
as before. Ranma wondered why she couldn't shake it. As she
thought about it, another wave of unreasoning terror began to
build. Ranma quickly diverted her thoughts away, and focused
on her current problem.
The door to Miss Morinomiya's office opened. "Please
come in, Ranma, and sit down," the woman said.
Ranma sat in a comfortable leather chair. Miss
Morinomiya closed the door.
"I've spoken to your mother," the woman said as she sat
back down behind her desk.
"What did you say to her?"
"Not a lot," the woman replied. "I only said that there was
some confusion with your records, and asked her to verify that
you were, in fact, her son."
"And she said yes?"
"Well, naturally. You are her son, aren't you?"
"I... yes," Ranma said. "Now, anyway."
Miss Morinomiya raised an eyebrow, but didn't ask
Ranma to elaborate.
"Did she say she was sending my clothes?" Ranma asked.
"No," the woman replied. "I didn't ask her. Is there a
problem?"
"I kind of brought the wrong suitcase," Ranma said. "I
don't have any guy's clothing right now."
"Ah, I see," Miss Morinomiya replied. "That would
explain why you're dressed as a girl."
Ranma nodded. "I really didn't have any choice."
"Well, that's something I wanted to talk to you about," the
woman replied. "Your mother seemed very proud and excited
to have you attend Muyami Academy. She's spending a lot of
money to make sure you get a good education at a private
school, am I right?"
"Yes," Ranma said. "She's saved up for a long time...."
"Just as I thought," Miss Morinomiya replied. "She would
be very upset if, for some reason, you couldn't attend?"
"Why?" Ranma sat up straight. "What's wrong? Why
can't I attend?"
"Now, now, Ranma," the woman said, "I did not say you
couldn't attend Muyami Academy. In fact, you are already
registered and you have a dorm room assignment, so naturally
you already are attending. But we do have a problem; I'm
afraid the boy's dorm is full up. I gave out the last open rooms
several days ago; there are no rooms left... in either dormitory,
actually."
Ranma stared across for the desk for a moment, letting
this sink in.
"But if there are no rooms open..." she began.
"You'll have to remain in the girl's dorm," the woman
replied.
"But I'm not a girl!"
Miss Shizuko Morinomiya smiled.
"At the moment, I would say that you are a girl," she
replied. "And a very pretty girl at that."
Ranma's faced flushed red. "Now just a second, Miss
Morinomiya...."
"Ranma," the woman said, "I realize that you're really a
boy, who becomes a girl only through an odd curse. But what
I'm saying is this: If you wish to attend Muyami Academy, you
will have to remain a girl. You're already registered as a girl,
you have a room assignment and apparently the clothes to go
along with it, and physically you are a girl, when you want to
be. If you wish to stay, then I'm more than willing to help you
keep your secret.
"If that's not acceptable.... well, I'm afraid you will have to
transfer to another school. Those are your only options."
Ranma slumped back into her chair.
"I'm sorry, Ranma," the woman said. "Perhaps you can go
back home and attend public school. There may be an opening
here next semester."
"Go home?" Ranma echoed. She thought of returning to
her parents. She thought especially of facing her mother.
"No," she said, "that would be worse. That would be...
really bad. Mom spent a lot of money to send me here."
The woman nodded. "You have until the end of the week
to withdraw, Ranma. After that, the tuition cannot be
refunded."
Ranma stood and drew in a ragged breath. "Okay, I
understand. I... I need to think about this."
***
"Wow, Akane! Where did you get it? He's soooo cute!"
Girls crowded around Akane -- Yohko, a young girl
named Maria Minamino, a cute, haughty Chinese girl with
purple hair named Shampoo, and Shampoo's roommate,
Shinobu Miyake, who seemed much more normal. Like
herself, Akane had decided.
All eyes were focused on the little black cat in Akane's
arms.
"Isn't he, though?" Akane said. "The janitor found him;
we think he's a stray."
Behind her, Akane's roommate Nanami was busy making
hot lunches. Already she had attracted a crowd of hungry
students. Meanwhile, the short old janitor had finally left, and
Akane had just about decided that the cat was hers after all.
"Is okay you keeping cat?" Shampoo asked. "Shampoo
told is not allowed."
"Well," Akane said, "I don't know. If we can't find his
real owner... I mean, others have done it, right? As long as I
don't get caught."
"Belldandy would never report you," Shinobu said. "You
just need to worry about the teachers and staff."
Other girls crowded into the room, including Ayeka,
Ryoko, and Yohko.
"Perhaps you should keep him, Ryoko," Ayeka said.
"After all, according to local custom, every witch owns a black
cat."
"What's that supposed to mean?" the green-haired girl
growled.
Ayeka laughed. "Why, Ryoko, isn't it obvious?"
Akane winced, sensing a fight.
"Girls, girls," Nanami said, "don't stand around arguing!
Give me your orders! Great food at affordable prices! Oh,
Shinobu, Shampoo, your udon bowls are ready!"
Two steaming noodle bowls were handed to Shampoo and
Shinobu. As the Chinese girl tested the noodles, her eyes went
wide. "Is good!" she said. "Almost as good as great-
grandmother's... Shampoo impressed!"
"How about you, Yohko?" Shinobu asked. "You're kind
of a witch, right?"
"No, not right," Yohko said. "I'm a devil hunter. That's
nothing like being a witch."
"Isn't Belldandy a witch then?"
"She's a goddess," Akane said. "At least, that's what she
says...."
"Funny," Shinobu said, "you'd think we'd have a witch in
the dorms somewhere. We've got just about everything else."
"Anyway," Akane said, "he's my cat. I'm going to keep
him."
"Do you have a name for him?" Yohko asked.
Akane frowned. "Actually," she said, "I think I'll call him
Jiji! You know, like the cat in Kiki's Delivery Service? Don't
you think they look alike?"
"You're right..." Shinobu said. "He looks almost exactly
like Jiji!"
"How's that for a name, Jiji?" Akane asked, holding him
before her face. "Do you like it? And we can call you Jichan
for short!"
Akane squeezed the cat to her chest. The cat promptly
passed out.
"Oh, look, Akane, he's fallen asleep!"
"Poor kitten," Akane replied, "this is all just too much for
him." She carried the little black cat across the room and laid it
carefully on a towel in a cardboard box. "We'll just let him
sleep awhile, okay?"
She glanced up, to see Ranma standing in the doorway.
"Ranma!" Akane called out. "I'm glad you're here! We
have to go get fitted for our uniforms."
"Do I have to?" Ranma asked.
"Don't be silly! There's Opening Ceremonies this
afternoon, right before the club fair. Uniforms are mandatory!"
Ranma walked into the room and sat on the bed. "But I
really don't feel like it," she replied.
Akane noted the way Ranma walked -- head down, with
her hair shadowing her eyes, and with a strange listlessness.
"Ranma?" she asked, suddenly concerned. "Is something
wrong?"
Then she saw a tear roll down Ranma's face, and her eyes
grew wide with alarm.
She snatched up the box with the kitten in it. "Let's go to
your room," she said, holding out her hand. "We'll have some
privacy there, and if you want to talk about it...."
Ranma nodded, and grasped her hand.
***
Ukyo looked her new roommate up and down.
She -- Ukyo was pretty sure it was a she -- was a young
girl in casual clothing, pants and a loose top. She had long
pink hair and an engaging smile.
A girl.
"Konichiwa!" the girl exclaimed. "My name's Shun
Kisaragi! Are you my new roommate?"
Ukyo glanced back at the two boys who ran the dorm.
They were both tall and -- she had to admit -- incredibly good
looking. Mitsuru Ikeda was the dorm President. His
roommate, Shinobu Tezuka, was the favorite to become
Student Body President.
"Is this some sort of joke?" Ukyo asked.
"Is what a joke?" Mitsuru replied.
Ukyo waved a hand in Shun's direction. "I've got a girl in
my room!"
"Ah, yes," Shinobu said. "Shun-chan."
"Is there a problem?" Mitsuru asked.
Was there a problem? Of course there was a problem...
Ukyo was a guy. At least, she dressed like a guy, acted like a
guy and was registered as a guy. Nobody in the school knew
that she was really a girl.
Or so she had thought.
Ukyo crossed her arms. "Okay, what's the big idea?" she
demanded. "Do I look like a girl to you?"
"Well," Shinobu said, "you do have an exquisite face...."
Ukyo caught the repressed grin on the partner's face, and
realized they were joking with her. They didn't know.
Good. This was some sort of joke, then.
"Come on, spit it out. Why are you rooming me with a
girl?"
"Well," Mitsuru said, "I can understand if you're a little
shocked. Actually, we didn't realize at first that Shun was a
girl. We thought that 'he' was just a little weird... until she told
us the truth."
"You see, Shinobu said, "Shun has been raised as a boy
since birth. All of her records, including her family census, say
that she's a boy, but she's truly a girl. I can't go into the details
just now, but Shun must graduate from Muyami Academy as a
boy."
"Since you two will be living together, we thought you
should know," Mitsuru said. "But this has to remain a secret
between the four of us."
Ukyo frowned. She glanced back at the pink-haired girl
in question.
"So you're really a girl?" she asked. Shun nodded. "And
you're just pretending to be a guy?" Shun nodded again.
Ukyo dropped her bags onto the bunk bed and sat down.
"Well, you're not very good at it," she said.
"But you don't mind sharing a room with a girl?" Shun
asked. "I know it's a lot of trouble...."
"No," Ukyo said. "No, that's okay. I can kind of
sympathize."
"All right!" Shun jumped forward and wrapped Ukyo in a
tight hug. "Thank you so much, Ukyo!"
"You see, Mitsuru?" Shinobu said. "I told you he'd be a
good sport about this."
"Oh, and Ukyo?" Mitsuru added.
"Yes?"
"This is an old building, and the walls are very thin.
Shinobu and I are right next door. So if you even so much as
think to take advantage of this situation...."
Ukyo nodded, and smiled. "Don't worry," she said,
"you've got nothing to fear from me."
***
Akane sat quietly in Ranma's room. The lights were off,
and the curtains were drawn. In the dim light, she listened as
her poor, miserable fiancee explained everything.
"So," Akane finally said, "so that's it, then."
Ranma nodded. She wiped the tears from her face with
the sleeve of her blouse. "I... I don't know what to do," she
said. "I want to stay here at Muyami Academy, but...." Her
voice trailed off.
"Is... is it so bad, being a girl?" Akane asked.
"Yes! No... I don't know! Mother and Father...."
"Ranma, you can't let your mother and father decide
something as personal as your own identity. This is about who
you are. Only you can decide that."
"That's just it!" Ranma said. "I don't know who I am
anymore!"
Akane sighed.
"Listen," she said, "would the old Ranma, the male
Ranma, have confided in me like this? Would he be crying?"
Ranma frowned. "No," she said. "It's... it's weak,
showing emotions...."
"That's your father talking," Akane said, "but you know
he's wrong. It doesn't help to hold things in, and confiding in
others always makes you feel better. You do feel better, don't
you?"
Ranma nodded.
"Oh, Ranma, don't you see? You've already changed.
Maybe you're not a girl, but you're not 100% boy anymore
either."
Ranma sighed. "I know," she said. "But I wish it weren't
so. It only causes problems."
"Ranma," Akane said, "I can't help you make this
decision. How could I ever make such a decision for someone
else? Let alone my own fiancee! Nobody should be forced to
be anything they don't want to be; you have to decide for
yourself. But I won't think any less of you, whatever decision
you make."
Ranma nodded. She breathed in a ragged breath, and sat
up.
"I'm not a girl," she said. "I was willing to be one for my
mother, but...." She sighed. "That will never happen, now.
"But I can't leave school and face my mother, either."
"Oh Ranma," Akane said, "you're such a coward
sometimes."
"Hey!"
"It's okay," Akane said, smiling. "To be honest, I think I
like you better as a girl."
Ranma grimaced.
"That's not the only thing," Ranma said. "I've been having
these dreams...."
"Dreams?"
"Well, visions," Ranma said. "I keep seeing that demon
from last night. I can see the tentacles reaching out for me; I
can feel them wrap around me...."
"Ranma!" Akane interrupted, "Yohko and Tenchi killed
that thing! It's all gone, now."
Ranma looked into Akane's eyes.
"That's just it, Akane," she said. "I don't think it is gone,
yet. I have this terrible feeling, deep inside, that something
horrible is going to happen...."
In the cardboard box, which sat next to Ranma on the bed,
something stirred. Up until this moment Ranma had been too
distracted to notice what, exactly, was in the box that Akane
had been carrying.
A small black cat sat up and stared at Ranma.
"Nya?" the little cat said.
"KIYAAAAAAAAAAAAA!" Ranma screamed, leaping
across the room. "C-C-CAT!"
The little cat's eyes went wide. It bolted from the bed and
out the open window.
"Jichan!" Akane yelled, leaping for the window. "Ranma!
You scared Jichan! Jichan, come back! We're on the second
floor! Oh, Jichan!"
She turned from the window, anger in her face, ready to
lash into her fiancee. But Ranma was on the top bunk,
cowering under the comforter.
***
"I really appreciate this, Uchan," Shun said from the bunk
above. "I know this is going to be difficult for you. You don't
mind if I call you Uchan, do you?"
"Well, not really," Ukyo replied. She continued to unpack
her things and put them away.
"I was kind of hoping that you wouldn't show, and that I'd
have a room to myself," Shun said. "It would have been easier
that way. I know I'm going to cause trouble for you. If you
can't deal with it, then I guess you can report me to the dorm
lady...."
"Don't worry, I'm not going to do that."
"Really? Thank you so much, Uchan!"
Ukyo laughed. "What about you? You're really okay
with this, then?"
"Sure," Shun said. "I know it must seem strange, but I've
always gone to boy's schools, so I'm used to it. Anyway, I trust
you, Ukyo."
"Trust me? You don't even know me!"
"That's okay," Shun said. "I can see in your eyes that
you're a nice person."
Ukyo began arranging books on the small shelf built into
the head of her bunk.
"Actually," she said with a smile, "your story doesn't
sound that strange at all."
Shun hung over the side of the bunk and stared into
Ukyo's eyes. "Really?" she asked.
"Really," Ukyo said. She smiled at the strange girl,
hanging upside down with wide eyes and dangling pink hair.
"In fact," she said, "it kind of makes things a lot easier."
There was a pause. "It does?"
"Yes," Ukyo said. "I was actually kind of worried about
having to share a room with another guy. Can I tell you a
secret?"
Shun blinked.
"Okay," she said.
"Promise not to tell a soul?"
"Sure," Shun said. "What is it?"
Ukyo smiled up at her pink-haired roommate.
"I'm not really a guy, either," Ukyo said. "I'm a girl, just
like you."
"Uchan," Shun said, "this isn't something you should joke
about...."
Ukyo laughed, and began to undress. And Shun's eyes
grew very, very wide.
***
"Tell me, Chief, have you ever studied Nostradamus?"
Chief Daisuke Ido looked a little uncertain. The two were
walking across the campus towards Matsukata Hall, the three-
story brick building that was the girl's dormitory.
"Wasn't he a Western Philosopher?" Chief Ido asked.
"Of a sort," Principal Ikari said. "Some have called him a
seer, or even a magician, while others have called him a
lunatic. He made some interesting prophecies concerning a
great darkness that would one day descend upon our world.
"There are others," the principal continued, "who speak of
a coming cataclysm. Many think these events will begin with
the new millenium, or within a few years of it. Some even
speak of a war between heaven and hell...."
"You don't take these things seriously, do you?"
"I take everything seriously," the principal said. "As for
Mishima Heavy Industries... I do not know what they believe.
They pay me to watch over the children of this school, and to
observe."
"And what have you observed, so far?"
"Demons," Gendo Ikari said, as he reached to open the
door. "A steady increase in paranormal activity. It's
interesting, is it not?"
A few minutes later they were seated in the commons
room with the President of the girl's dorm.
"I wasn't there when it happened," Belldandy said, "so
there's not much I can tell you. But I know who was there...."
"Don't worry, Akane, he'll turn up eventually."
Belldandy glanced up as three girls came through the
doorway. "Oh, here's some of them now!" she exclaimed.
"Akane, Ranma, Yohko, I'd like to introduce you to Gendo
Ikari, Principal of Muyami Academy, and Police Chief Daisuke
Ido. Chief Ido wants to ask you some questions about the
demon incident last night...."
"Well," Yohko said, "we were just headed into town to get
our uniforms...."
"Just a few quick questions then," Chief Ido said.
"Well... okay."
"Yohko, you said? So you're the demon-hunter?" the
Chief asked.
"That's right," Yohko said. "I'm the 108th generation
Mamano Hunter. My grandmother was the 107th. She taught
me everything about being a devil hunter."
"And she was there last night as well?"
"Yes, that's right."
"And you two were there as well?" The police Chief
indicated Akane and Ranma. "Did you all see the... the
entity?"
"I was there," Akane said, "but I didn't really see that
much."
"I, uh -- don't remember that much either," Ranma added.
"Just something that was round and black, like a shadow, but
with tentacles...."
The Chief nodded, writing the description down.
"The ones who saw the demon and fought it are Tenchi
Masaki, Ryoko, Ayeka, and myself," Yohko said. "I don't
think anyone else really saw it. But I've had a lot of experience
battling demons, so if you're asking whether it really was a
demon, then trust me, it was."
Principal Ikari nodded. "Just as the prophets foretold," he
said, in a deep rolling voice. "There will be more and ever-
stronger entities entering our world and challenging us...
demons of greater and greater power, demons that dwarf our
current concepts of a "major demon". A true invasion from the
otherworldly realms."
A large sweatdrop appeared on Yohko's forehead. "Oh
dear," Belldandy exclaimed, holding her hand to her mouth.
"Well, um," Yohko said, "if you're right, then... I guess
we'd better be ready for them."
"My thoughts precisely," the Principal replied.
"Um," Yohko said, "if that's all the questions you have...
we really need to be going...."
"Did you see Mr. Jihara, the shopkeeper?"
"Well, when he took our orders, sure," Yohko said. "We
didn't see him after that."
The Chief nodded, scribbling furiously. "And where is
the demon now?"
"What do you mean?" Yohko asked. "We destroyed it."
"You're certain?" the Police Chief asked. "I saw no
body."
"Well of course not," Yohko said. "It's a demon. There
isn't any body. When it dies, the body vanishes."
"But then, what proof do you have that it's dead?"
"Proof?" Yohko said, flustered. "What do you mean,
proof? I saw it die. There is no proof. The only proof is that
it's gone, and that it doesn't come back."
"Ah. And if it does come back?"
"Then I kill it again!"
The Chief nodded. "And this has happened before? A
demon coming back, that you thought you'd killed?"
"Well..." she began, "I guess, once or twice...."
"It's not dead," Ranma said.
Yohko blinked. "What do you mean?"
"I... don't know," Ranma said. "It's just a feeling I have...
that the demon I saw last night is still alive."
Chief Ido smiled. "Thank you, Yohko, Ranma, Akane.
That's enough for the moment," he said. "You may go.
Although I would like to question you further at another time...
and your grandmother as well."
"S-sure," Yohko said, as the three girls headed out the
door.
Chief Ido turned to the Principal. "You said 'otherworldly
realms'. Do you mean that these things might not actually be
demons, but some sort of alien?"
"Perhaps," the Principal replied. "They are creatures from
another world or plane of existence, of that I'm certain. I doubt
it matters much what you choose to call them. Although, some
might call them angels."
Belldandy gasped. "Principal Ikari, whatever for? Angels
aren't destructive! Angels are good and pure of heart!"
The Principal stared into her eyes for a moment.
"And according to Western myth," he said, "who was the
most beautiful angel of all?"
Belldandy stared back in confusion.
***
"You shouldn't have a guy and a girl rooming together. It
isn't right! Hiding a girl in the guy's dormitory... I'm ashamed
of you two!"
Seated on the floor of their dorm room, Shinobu Tezuka
and Mitsuru Ikeda looked at each other, then back at their
accuser.
Shinobu said, "You're the last one I would expect to
complain about that, Moroboshi."
"And why is that?" Ataru Moroboshi said, standing erect
with his arms folded across his chest. "Do you think that I am
somehow less honorable or noble than any other student? I can
assure you, despite what you may have seen or heard in the
news...."
"Moroboshi," Mitsuru said, "has nobody explained this to
you yet? Despite his appearances, Shun Kisaragi is a boy."
"I'm well aware of that!" Ataru exclaimed. "What do you
take me for, an idiot? You think I can't tell a guy from a girl?
Don't play games with me! You're hiding a girl in that room,
and it isn't right!"
Shinobu sighed.
"Very well, Moroboshi. You're absolutely right, she's a
real girl. But she's registered as a boy and must graduate as a
boy... what would you have me do?"
Ataru Moroboshi began to pace.
"I understand the problem perfectly," he said. "But think
of the problems you might be causing for the poor boy that you
force to room with her. You turn her problems into his
problems as well. How can you force this fate on some
unsuspecting student?"
Ataru stopped, stood erect, and thrust his chin out. He
looked the very picture of a noble, honorable samurai.
"If you must," he said, "then let her room with me...."
There was a loud crackling boom, as electricity arced
through the air like a bolt of lightning. Ataru was engulfed; he
screamed, then collapsed onto the floor in a heap.
"Darling!" Lum flew swiftly down the hall and scooped
up the badly charred Ataru. "You idiot! Must I watch you
every minute?"
As Lum dragged her stunned fiancee off, Shinobu and
Mitsuru again exchanged glances.
"I foresee a very interesting year ahead," Shinobu said.
"Indeed," Mitsuru replied.
"Mitsuru-sempai! Shinobu-sempai!"
Shun Kisaragi came running up the hallway, screeching to a
halt at their doorway. He was breathing heavily, and seemed to
be in a state of shock.
"Yes?" Mitsuru said. "What is it?"
"We've got a problem...."
***
Ranma stared at herself in the floor-length mirror.
"How does that look?" the saleswoman asked. "Does it
feel alright? I can adjust the fit...."
"No," Ranma said, "it's... it fits okay."
She glanced to the front of the small clothing shop, where
Akane and Yohko were waiting. Yohko gave her a thumbs up
and a big smile. She glanced back at her reflection.
For a girl's uniform, it looked okay. The problem was, of
course, that it was a girl's uniform.
I should have told Yohko before now, Ranma thought. But
the timing just never seemed right. Now, she was stuck with
the prospect of attending school as a girl... in a girl's uniform.
She'd almost reconciled herself to the girl part. But the
uniform....
The Muyami Academy uniform for girls consisted of a
white, long-sleeved silk blouse, with a sleeveless brown vest
that buttoned down the front, and a brown, ruffled skirt. A
short jacket of brown with long sleeves went over the top. A
half-slip and camisole were also suggested as undergarments.
It was, Ranma had to admit, very cute. Exceedingly cute.
Ranma glanced across the floor of the shop. Another girl,
tall and thin, with long pink hair, was also getting fitted for her
uniform. However, what she was wearing was different -- the
top was a traditional boy's black jacket, with a nehru collar, and
biker's shorts instead of pants.
"Hey," Ranma said, "How come she gets a guy's uniform,
huh?"
The saleswoman shrugged. "It's what she ordered," she
said, "and between you and me, it's a bit strange, isn't it? I
mean, a girl wearing a boy's uniform?"
"Well," Ranma said, "perhaps. But suppose I wanted a
boy's uniform as well?"
"Oh no, not you too!" the woman exclaimed. "Why
would you want to do that? You look so pretty as you are!"
"Well," Ranma said, hard pressed to deny the cuteness
and charm of her female self, "let's just say if I wanted to, could
I get one?"
If you want to purchase one, of course I'll sell it to you,
but why? That's a lot of money wasted."
"I don't know," Ranma said. "Maybe I'd like it better than
this."
"Your mother paid good money for this uniform," the
woman said. "I don't think she'd want you to just hang it in the
closet and never wear it."
"You don't know my mother," Ranma muttered.
"Anyway, if I got the boy's uniform, then I wouldn't need this
girl's uniform, would I?"
"You misunderstand," the woman said. "This uniform is
already bought and paid for. We designed it to the
measurements sent in by your mother. If you want a boy's
uniform as well, then you'll have to pay for that separately."
Ranma's gaze fell.
"I, uh... guess that's kind of expensive," she said.
The woman nodded.
Ranma sighed. She felt as if fate were conspiring against
her... just like the black-tentacled demon in her dreams. She
could almost sense the invisible tentacles of fate wrapping
around her, forcing her into decisions that she didn't care to
make....
*to be continued*
Miko!
Ranma sighed. Her whole life she'd planned on becoming a martial arts
Sensei. It had seemed like such a noble calling. She just hadn't
realized how much it resembled babysitting.
"It's a joke," Ranma said, sitting up. "All I meant was, what hit me?"
"Um... I did, Sensei."
Ah, thought Ranma. It begins to make some sense...
"Hmm? Nice try, Tamakaji, but we both know you can't lay a finger on me.
I may not remember what happened, but for you to get through my
defenses...."
"But I did, Sensei. You were distracted."
"A martial artist is never distracted, Tamakaji. Remember that."
"As you say, Sensei."
"Good. Next question. Why am I a girl?"
"Your niece threw water on you," the student said.
"Ah. This would be just before you didn't hit me when I wasn't
distracted?"
"Hai!"
Ranma put her hand to her head. "It's all coming back to me now. We were
all celebrating the opening of the new dojo, and the dormitory on the
third floor. All my family was here -- mom, pop, Kasumi and Tofu-Sensei,
even Nabiki. We were giving a short demonstration in the dojo, after
showing off your award for first-place in the all-Tokyo competition..."
Ranma stopped, glancing up at her student. "I didn't just dream that
part, did I? You really won, didn't you?"
"Hai, Sensei! Just last Saturday!" Kazayuki produced the blue ribbon and
beamed with pride. "You said I was the luckiest S.O.B. you ever saw!"
(Seven Fianc�es)
Nausicaa@sprynet.com Belldandy@angelic.com
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