*Shrugs* This has been sitting on my hard drive for about a year now,
can't remember how long exactly. And I thought I might as well post it


The Wheel of Time turns, and Ages come and pass, leaving behind memories
that become legend. Legend fades to myth, and even myth is long
forgotten when the Age that gave it birth comes again. In one Age,called
the Third Age by some, an Age yet to come, an Age long past, three
youths were being thrown out a small but well-kept farm building.

	" And stay out!" The three winced simultaneously as the door slammed
behind their teacher, Masamichi Fujisawa.

	"Ouch, I wonder what's gotten into him. It's not like it's a big deal
or anything that we're late," Ranma said, as he leaned against the
wooden wall of the farmhouse.

	" Well if someone hadn't gotten into that fight over the last pickle
with his father, we'd be on time," Makoto remarked dryly.

	Ranma just grunted in annoyance. He hated being reminded he was wrong
and was about to retort when the door to the farmhouse flew open. Their
teacher was standing in the door way, dressed in his usual clothes and
holding six buckets of water menacingly.

	" Carry these and stay out until I tell you to come in," he said as he
threw two buckets towards each youth, without bothering to make sure
they caught it before retreating back into the house.

	Ranma caught the buckets easily, years of martial arts training guiding
his hands. He grunted as he tested the weight of the buckets, careful
not to let the water slosh out. He hated getting wet, he didn't know why
but he just did.

	Shinji grunted slightly as he lifted each bucket up. " You can't blame
him, he's still testy that he lost his supply of tobacco and the
village's out of stock now," he said patiently, which was how he
normally spoke most of the time.

	The other two sighed, they knew how bad Fujisawa's mood could get when
he didn't have tobacco nearby. When he didn't have tobacco and alcohol
nearby then it was time to run for the hills.

	Makoto not liking the sudden lull in conversation, asked, "So what are
you two going to do for Beltine tomorrow?"

	Shinji and Ranma looked at each other before shrugging almost in
perfect synch. " I don't know," Ranma said, "I guess we'll be doing the
same old things. Watching the girls braid their hair and dance around
their stupid flagpole."

	" So says the most popular guy in the village," Shinji remarked with
the slightest trace of sarcasm, " Let's just hope you don't start up
another incident like you did last year after you punched Billy
Congar."  

	Ranma shrugged nonchalently before replying, "Hey he started it, he was
trying to punch me first for no reason."

	"That's because he jealous of the attention his girlfriend was giving
you, didn't you notice it all!?" Makoto remarked.

	Ranma just shrugged uncomfortably. "No, I was...busy at the moment."

	"Stuffing your face you mean, I swear you only attend Beltine because
of the feast. And then remember what happened after you punched him? All
his male relatives started coming after you!" Makoto exclaimed as he
remembered how Ranma had managed to defeat all of them single handedly,
although it did spoil the festive mood of Beltine.

	" Hey, they deserved it!" Ranma protested loudly, "They're such a bunch
of--"

	" WILL YOU KEEP IT QUIET OUT THERE!! WE'RE HAVING A CLASS IN HERE!!"
Fujisawa screamed as he poked his head out of the door before slamming
it shut again.

	The three wisely decided to shut up.