Ranma 1/2 is owned by Rumiko Takahashi

Tribe of One is owned by TSR



"Are you SURE Ryoko said that you were her equal?  Come on boy!" Genma taunted Ranma.

"I'll wipe that smile off your face yet, Otosan!"  Ranma replied.

<Play>  *This is boring!  Isn't breakfast ready yet?  When are we going to school?*

"HA!  You haven't touched me yet!"  Genma said as dodged three more of Ranma's swings.

The two men, father and son, were sparring in their small backyard.  Since Ranma was
going to start school, Genma had planned early morning workouts and would let Ranma
train on his own in the evenings.  Genma felt that this method of training worked best.
Ranma was a very independant and creative student who could probably come up with 
all sorts of interesting techniques on his own.  Besides, the morning sparring sessions
would inform Genma if Ranma was lax in his training.  

Nodoka smiled as she watched them from the kitchen window.  Her small family had a
LOT to work out, but at least they were together, and that was all that mattered.
After watching them for a few minutes more, she walked out to the backyard and
said, "Come in you two, breakfast is ready."

"Coming, Dear! "  Genma replied then turned back towards Ranma.

"Ok, boy, that's enough for today."

Ranma nodded and walked back inside the house.

<Ranma>  *Otosan is a bit better than we gave him credit for.*

<Guardian> *A bit?  You didn't manage to hit him once!*

<Bitter>  *He's still an idiot.*

<Guardian>  *Well, that goes with out saying...*

<Ranma>  *But I CAN learn something from him.  At least that's a start.*


   *****************************************
   *     *
   * Raoh the Conquorer presents *
   *     *
   *    A Story of Ranma 1/2  *
   *     * 
   * A Stained Glass Mind part 6 *
   *     *
   *****************************************


"Are you ready to introduce your new fiancee' to all your friends?" Nabiki teased.

"NABIKI!  He is not my-"

"Uh.. Good morning Nabiki, Akane..."  

Akane glared at Ranma who was currently standing in front of the Tendo home.  She and
Nabiki had just walked outside on their way to school.  

"What are YOU doing here?"  Akane demanded.

"Good morning, Ranma-kun!  Are you here to walk us to school?  How sweet!"  Nabiki said.

Ranma scratched the back of his head and said "Well, yeah... Actually Okasan suggested
it, especially since I don't know where Furinken is.  Besides, Okasan thinks that
it will give us a chance to get to know each other. "

"Well whatever..."  Akane said as she stormed off down the street.  

"Don't worry about her too much, Ranma-kun.  The beginning of the school
day is kind of stressful for Akane."  Nabiki said.  

Ranma nodded wordlessly and he and Nabiki followed after Akane.  After a few minutes
Ranma let Guardian take control and she probed Nabiki.  

<Guardian>  *Wow. Akane has to fight a bunch of guys at school every day.*

<Bitter>  *Ranma, guess the two of you have something in common after all...*

<Ranma>  *Every day?  Why?*

<Guardian> *Well, apparently someone named Kuno, who Nabiki thinks of as a 
cute, idiotic cash cow, told the entire student body of Furinken that if anyone
wants to date Akane, they have to defeat her in combat.*

<Ranma>  *You can't be serious!*

<Guardian>  *Well, obviously we haven't seen it yet, but this information is coming
straight from Akane's and Nabiki's minds*

<Ranma>  *I guess that explains why Akane is so angry.  Does she still hate us?*

<Guardian> *Yes, but is a more general kind of hate.*

<Ranma>  *WHAT is a general kind of hate?*

<Guardian> *Yesterday, she hated us because of the engagement.  Today she hates us
because you are an adolescent male.*

<Ranma>  *But I thought she was already in love with someone?*

<Guardian>  *Yes, she is in love with their family doctor.  A Dr. Tofu, but she 
thinks that he loves Kasumi.*

<Ranma> *What a mess!  Dozens of guys from school like her, but she likes some
doctor who likes her sister, right?*

<Guardian> *Something like that...*

<Bitter>  *What's it to you anyway, Ranma?*

<Ranma>  *Hey!  I just want a friend, that's all... I've been kinda lonely since
we left the village.*

<Play>  *Lonely?  Why?  You still have us!*

<Ranma>  *It's not the same, Play...*

<Bitter>  *Enough of this, Ranma.  Let me out, I want to talk to Nabiki.*

<Ranma> *Why?*

<Bitter> *Never mind why!  Just let me out!*

<Ranma>  *Ok, Ok...*

Ranma/Bitter walked up to Nabiki and smirked in anticipation. 

"So Nabiki, "  he bagan casually, "what was with the pictures yesterday?  Wanted
something for your scrap-book?  Or maybe your Hope chest?"

Nabiki glanced at Ranma and said, "Nothing like that, I just thought that some
of the more popular men's magazines would be interested in a cute girl like
you.  Don't be surprised if you get a call or two..."

<Ranma>  *Bitter!  What the hell are you doing?*

"I'm sure you'll be first in line to buy those magizines, eh Nabiki?"

"Hmph.  You wish.  By the way, I get a 40% cut on whatever you make off those magizines."

"Do you two HAVE to act so perverted?"  Akane asked plaintively from up ahead.

"You have to learn to relax and laugh a little Akane... Life isn't as bad as you 
seem to think it is..."  Ranma/Bitter said.

Akane whirled towards Ranma and said, "Don't you start with me!  You no nothing about
what my life is like!"

<Ranma>  *You'd be surprised...*

"Can it be any worse than changing genders when getting hit with water?"  Ranma/Bitter asked.

"Never mind... You wouldn't understand.  You're just a... just a... BOY!"  Akane replied
as she ran on ahead towards school.  

"Come on, if we hurry, you can see what it is that bothers her so much."  Nabiki said to
Ranma as she hurried after Akane.  

<Bitter>  *I hate running... You can come back Ranma...*

<Play>  *I wanna come out!  It's MY turn!*

<Guardian>  *Play, there's going to be a fight, are you SURE you want to around for it?*

<Play> *Well...*

<Ranma> *Play, I'll let you out during lunch, OK?*

<Play>  *Promise?*

<Ranma>  *Yeah, I promise.*

Bitter ducked under and Ranma ran after Nabiki. As soon as they got to the front of the
school, Ranma jumped up on the gate and watched as dozens upon dozens of boys attacked
Akane.  Nabiki weaved in and out through the crowd and was able to make it the school
building in ease.  Ranma smiled as he saw Akane defeat boy after boy who attacked her.

<Play> *She has THIS many guys after her and she's upset?  What a waste!*  

<Guardian> *She wants to be loved, like most people.  She doesn't like THIS.  Those
morons who are trying to defeat her is the reason why she hates boys.*

<Bitter> *She COULD try being a bit less violent herself.  She seems to be something
of a tomboy.*

<Ranma>  *Actually, she reminds of some of the women from the village; strong and 
confident.*

"Ranma-kun!  Get into the building right now! You don't want to be late on your first day!"

Ranma looked up to a third-floor window and saw Nabiki waving towards him.

<Ranma>  *How did she get through the crowd?*

<Bitter>  *Maybe she's not such a bad martial artist herself...*

"Don't worry Nabiki, I won't be late... I just want to watch this..."  Ranma replied.

<Watcher>  *It's going to rain soon.*

Ranma looked up at the sky and noticed it was getting cloudy.  He looked back towards 
Akane and was happy to see that the fight was over.

<Ranma>  *Good, I can get back inside before it rains...*

<Guardian>  *It's not over yet..*

Ranma watched as Akane caught a rose that whizzed by her head.  Her face took on a
resigned look as a young man wearing a purple kimono and carrying a bokken walked out
in front of her.  He started speaking to Akane in formal manner that was somewhat
unfamiliar to Ranma.

<Ranma>  *What is that gibberish he's spouting?*

<Bitter>  *That's Shakespeare, Ranma.  What he's basically saying is that the boys
who fought Akane were not good enough for her, and that HE is the only man truly
worthy of her.*

<Ranma>  *Ah... This must be Kuno.  Guardian?*

Ranma ducked under and Guardian took control and probed the man with the bokken.

<Guardian>  *Yep, that's Kuno all right... A legend in his own mind.  He is rather
delusional as well.  He is madly in love with Akane and believes that she loves
him as well.  He can not imagine why she would not.*  

<Bitter>  *The guy's a fruitcake!*

<Ranma>  *I think I'd better step in here...*

<Guardian>  *That might not be a good idea Ranma, besides he would never hurt her.
He always holds back when he fights her...*

<Ranma> *Still...*

<Play>  *Go ahead Ranma!  Introduce us!  He's kinda cute!*

With one last, long look at the increasingly darkening sky, Ranma jumped off the
gate and walked up to Akane.  

"Your technique's not half bad, Akane... I'll remember that the next time we spar."

Akane turned towards Ranma, a scathing reply on her lips, but was interrupted.

"You there!  You are being very familiar with Akane!  Who are you!"  Kuno demanded.

"Well, I'm-"

"Is it not customary to give one's own name first?"  Kuno interrupted.

"Well, sure, if-"

"Very well.  Mine I shall give.  I am the rising star of the High School Fencing World!
The guilty tremble at the mere sound of my name!  I am the Blue Thunder of Furinken High!"

Kuno paused as a flash of lightening struck the dark sky.  

<Bitter>  *His timing isn't half bad.*

"Tatawaki Kuno. Age 17," he continued.

<Bitter>  *Go ahead Ranma, I think its your turn now.*
  
"Uh... Nice to meet you Kuno.  My name is Ranma Saotome."  Ranma replied.

"Oh, I'm a student of the Saotome School of Anything Goes Martial Arts, " he said as an
after-thought.

"Once again knave, WHY are you being so FAMILIAR with Akane Tendo?" Kuno demanded.

"What business is that of yours?"  Ranma asked, his tone delibrately belligerent.

<Guardian>  *Ranmaaaaaa... We DON'T have time for this now!  Unless you want to
become a girl in front of all these students."

<Ranma>  *Relax, this won't take long...*

<Bitter>  *One of these days your over-confidence is going to get us killed!*

<Lyric>  *Bitter is a fraidy-cat!  Bitter is a fraidy-cat!*

<Bitter>  *Quiet You!*

"If you wish to date the glorious Akane Tendo, you MUST defeat her in battle!  But
you,  you are hardly worth mentioning!  Stand aside scullion, lest you feel my wrath!"

"I don't want to date anyone, Kuno.  I just want to be Akane's friend, that's all.
However, if you want a fight, I'd be more that happy to kick your arrogant ass!"

Kuno started charging towards Ranma, his bokken held high.  

<Watcher>  *It's going to rain, now!*

<Guardian>  *Ranma!  Let Shade loose! We need to end this quick!*

<Ranma>  *I don't want to kill him!*

<Guardian>  *Shade's main priority is to protect the tribe!  He'll get us out of
this rain, and quick! Do it!*

Ranma reluctantly let the Shade take over just as Kuno was in striking distance.  Ranma/Shade
crouched down and launched an upper-cut right as Kuno was bringing the bokken down on
Ranma's head.  

Ranma/Shade's fist went through the bokken and continued on until it met with Kuno's chin.
The blow pick Kuno up off his feet and he landed on his back.  Ranma/Shade ran past Kuno's
prone form and was able to get into the school building just before the beginning of the
rain shower hit the ground.  

Ranma winced in pain as he took control and looked at his bloodied fist.  The wooden blade
had managed to cut him as it struck his fist.  Akane ran out of the rain and joined
Ranma in the school building.  

"Are you OK?"  she asked in a concerned voice.  

"Yeah, I'm fine.... Just cut myself a little.  Kuno ain't bad.  It takes a lot of skill
to make a clean cut with a blunt, wooden sword."  

"You were lucky that the bokken broke.  If it hadn't he might have slit your hand in half."

"Maybe..." Ranma said, cradling his injured hand.  

<Bitter>  *Well, I for one DO NOT want to be out for a while, that looks painful!*

"Here, let me take a look at that..." Akane said as she took a hankerchief out of
her school bag and tied it around Ranma's hand. 

"There, that should stop the bleeding until we go to the clinic after school."  Akane said.

<Play>  *That was so sweet of her!*

<Guardian>  *I suppose...*

"Thanks Akane..." Ranma replied as he followed Akane to their classroom.

As it turned out, Ranma and Akane, WERE late to class and the teacher made them stand
in the hall, holding a bucket of water in each hand.  Akane became angry again.  In
fact, it seemed to Ranma, that 'anger' was Akane's favorite pastime.  Of course, she
was angry at him.  

"Baka. "  She whispered angrily.  

"It wasn't my fault!"  Ranma whispered back.

"Then whose fault was it?  I'm NEVER late to class, in spite of the morning fights.
Then, you come along, butt in where you're not wanted _or_ needed and all of a sudden,
I'm late!"  Akane said, this time somewhat louder than a whisper.

"Well, what was I supposed to do?  He insulted me and all but challanged me and just
because I was talking to you!"  Ranma replied.  

"I don't need YOU to defend me!"  Akane yelled.

"I wasn't defending you!"  Ranma yelled back.

"QUIET YOU TWO!"  Their teacher said, sticking his head out into the hallway.

Ranma and Akane quickly shut their mouths and stood rock still against the wall.
Suddenly, Kuno came barging around the corning, carrying his bokken over his shoulders
with a water-filled bucket hanging on either end.

"I shall never forgive such insolence, Saotome!" Kuno bellowed.

<Play> *Kuno-chan's back!*

<Bitter>  *What does HE want?*

"What's wrong now Kuno?"  Ranma asked.

"Nabiki Tendo told me how you were ALMOST engaged to the fair Akane!  I can not
let such insolence go unpunished!"  

<Bitter>  *He's mad because we were ALMOST engaged?*

<Guardian>  *People like him will use any excuse to fight... not too unlike Ranma here..*  

<Ranma>  *Hey! I'm not THAT bad!*

Kuno twirled both buckets over his head and then launched them at Ranma.  Ranma jumped
up in the air and landed on one of the buckets as it hit the floor.  He managed
to avoid all the water.  

"This is no place to fight Kuno... Follow me!"  Ranma said as he ran down the hall.

Kuno ran after Ranma, swinging his bokken in all directions. All the students 
from Akane and Ranma's class suddenly burst out into the hall. Apparently, they 
had over heard the whole conversation and wanted to know about Akane's engagement.  

Akane tried to catch up with Kuno and Ranma but first had to get past all her 
classmates.

"For the last time, WE ARE NOT ENGAGED!" She screamed, finally able to get past them.

The rest of the class followed her as she rounded the corner just in time to see
Ranma jump out the window.  Akane just stood there with an incredulous look on
her face.  *Idiot!  This is the third floor* she thought to herself.  To her
continued amazement, Kuno jumped out after Ranma!  She ran over to the window
and yelled out,  "Ranma you idiot!"

"Hey don't worry Akane!  No problem!"  Ranma yelled back.

<Watcher>  *There's a pool under us.*

<Play>  *Cool!  Haven't been swimming in a long time!  Lucky!*

Ranma looked down in dismay, "Lucky she says!"

Ranma started to panic as the pool got closer, the last thing he wanted to do was
change into a girl while his whole class was watching on.  Shade, sensing Ranma's
fear and feeling that the tribe was in danger, immediately took control.  Ranma/Shade
straightened his body and fell into the pool, Kuno following soon after.  

As soon as he hit entered the pool, Shade felt the transformation, but ignored it.
Kuno appeared right in front of Ranma/Shade and had a shocked look on his face.  He
remembered Ranma falling into the pool, but the person he was staring at was DEFINITELY
not Ranma.  For one thing, the person in question had red hair, not black.  The person
in question also appeared to have a smaller build and a much cuter face.  In fact, the
person in question seemed to be a female.  Kuno, forgetting that he was underwater, decided
to open his mouth and ask the lovely young lady who she was, but never got the chance.

Ranma/Shade knew that Kuno was the immediate threat, so she pulled her fist back and
hit Kuno squarely under the chin with an upper-cut.  Fortunately for Kuno, the water
slowed down the punch, or he would probably have died.  As it was, the blow was 
powerful enough to send Kuno flying out of the water.  He landed on his head on the 
floor right at the edge of the pool.  The last thing Kuno remembered before he blacked
out was that the girl had a faint, black aura around her body.  

The threat gone, Shade pulled back and Play took control.  Ranma/Play jumped out
of the pool, gave all the students staring at her the victory sign, then ran off
into the forest.

<Ranma>  *Oh man... Guess they all know now...*

<Bitter>  *What on earth possessed you to jump out of the THIRD floor?!*

<Ranma>  *It seemed like a good idea at the time...*

<Guardian> *This was inevitable, they would have found out about us eventually.*

<Play>  *I hate wet clothes!*

Ranma/Play jumped up into a tree and quickly removed her pants.

<Guardian>  *Play, what ARE you doing?*

<Play>  *Oh relax... I just want to get rid of the excess water, that's all...*

<Watcher>  *Akane's here.*

<Ranma> *Let me out Play!*

<Play>  *No!, not yet... I just got here... I haven't been out since we were at Jusenkyo!*

Akane walked up to the tree Ranma was in and looked up.  

"That was a really stupid move, Ranma."  Akane said.

"Well... I- I won, didn't I?"  Play said rather lamely.

Akane shook her head.  "You are very lucky that the rest of the class was so far up,
they didn't really notice your change.  Plus, you managed to knock out Kuno... He's
still back at the pool, just staring off into space."

"It wasn't luck!  It was skill.  I'm  REALLY good at what I do, Akane."  Ranma/Play smirked.

"Whatever...  I brought you some hot water, I figured you would want it."  Akane said,
holding out a steaming kettle.

"Uh... No thanks, I think I'll stay like this for a while."  Ranma/Play replied.

<Ranma>  *Play!  You take that water right now!*

"You WANT to stay as a girl?"  Akane asked, not believing what she had heard.

"Well, sure... It's-"  

<Watcher>  *Kuno is coming.*

"Hmmm.. Isn't that Kuno over there?"  Ranma/Play asked Akane.

Akane quickly turned around and saw Kuno.  She tossed the kettle up to Ranma
and said, "Hurry up and change back into a boy while I buy you some time."

Ranma/Play caught the kettle and put it on the branch next to her, while Akane
ran off to meet Kuno.

<Ranma> *Hurry up and change!  We can't let Akane fight Kuno!*

<Guardian>  *Relax Ranma, Kuno would never hurt Akane... She doesn't
need YOUR help.*

Ranma/Play leaned back against the tree and just looked out at the sky.  

<Play>  *It's a beautiful day.  I'm glad we get to see it...*

<Bitter>  *This is fine way to spend our first day of school!  We're missing class!*

<Play>  *What are you whining about?  Math and history don't change; they'll still
be there tomorrow.*

<Watcher>  *WATCH OUT!!!!!*

Kuno fell from the sky and landed head first on the kettle that Akane had given
Ranma. 

"So we meet again, pig-tailed girl."  Kuno observed.

"Hiya Kuno-chan!"  Ranma/Play said coyly.

"Why are you still like THAT!"  Akane said fron down below.

"Oh Akane, were YOU the one who sent Kuno flying up here?"  Ranma/Play asked.

"Tell me, pig-tailed one, have you by any chance seen that _cur_ Ranma Saotome?" Kuno asked.

<Ranma>  *OK, That's it!  Play!  Let me up!*

<Play> *NO!  I wanna talk to Kuno-chan!*

Ranma placed his will against Play and forced her down.  

<Ranma>  *Remember what I told you at Jusenkyo, Play!  Don't you dare start
hittin' on Kuno.*  

<Play>  *Aw, I was just having fun!  I'll do it with Akane, next time, if you want!*

<Guardian>  *PLAY!*

"Look Kuno, I don't plan on sittin' here all day listen to this!"  Ranma-chan said as
she knocked Kuno off the branch.

Kuno landed on the ground hard and glared at Ranma-chan as she jumped off the tree.

"That hurt, you know." He said. 

Ranma-chan ignored Kuno and turned towards Akane,  "Let's get outta here."

"Hold!  Dost thou thinkst that you can insult me an walk away?"  Kuno demanded.

<Ranma>  *Oh man, not the Shakespeare junk again!*

<Bitter>  *Actually, that's Old English.*  

<Ranma>  *Whatever...*

"What do you want Kuno?" Ranma-chan asked in a flat voice.

"Thou art brave as thou art lovely!  If you can defeat me, I will allow you to date with me!"

<Play>  *Kuno-chan wants a date?!*

Ranma-chan's face turned livid with anger  She ran up to Kuno, dodged a swipe he
made with his bokken, and kicked him in the face.  Kuno lost his grip on the bokken
and tumbled to the ground.  Ranma-chan caught the bokken in mid-air and twirled it
around in her hand.

"Oh, by the way Kuno... Ranma Saotome is even better than I am!"  she said loftily.

She turned around and walked out of the forest.  Akane ran up after her and said,

"Hey!  School isn't over yet! "

"Yeah, yeah.. just let me change back..."  Ranma replied.

"Are you a pervert or something?  WHY were you FLIRTING with Kuno?"  Akane demanded.

"I WAS NOT FLIRTING WITH KUNO!"  Ranma-chan screamed.

"That's what it looked like to me..." Akane said.  

Ranma-chan stuck her hand in her pockets and continued walking in silence, sulking.

<Ranma>  *Perfect.  Juuuuuuust perfect.*

*******************************************
End part 6

Next:  Kuno proclaims his Love!
 Meet Dr. Tofu!
 Enter Ryoga, the Lost Boy!

*******************************************

see ya next time!  

Namaste.

-anand