Magical Interludes:  A Day In The Life
Fanfic by J.K. Hayashi

*******************************************
The story so far:

Magic has come into the world based on scientific principles.  The 
unlocking of major talents seemed to be linked to the appearance of 
'Vortices', people who were at the center of energy/magic storms. 
The fifth vortex, Ranma Saotome, managed to draw three sixteen year old 
'daughters' into his reality from other universes.  The three sixteen 
year-olds (Ayuki, Keiko, and Midori) came under the care of 
Nodoka Saotome.  Both families are living in the Tendo Dojo while 
the Saotomes prepare to move to their new house.

It is the January 16th of Ranma and Akane's sophomore year...
*******************************************

Episode I:  Keiko

When Akane asks if anyone wanted the last of her "Crispy Tuna 
Fish" I was already out the door and headed for school.  I think poor 
daddy got tagged because I saw Akane stepping on his foot just 
before I left.  Much as I've grown to love her, and even though she 
has gotten better these two weeks under 'ba-chan's direction, 
Akane's cooking is still to be avoided if possible.

Mother calls out my name and I wait for her to catch up.  I have to 
remind myself that Nabiki isn't really my mother, any more than 
Ranma is my daddy, but they feel the same to me.  She asks me 
(since I am going there anyway to check them out) to pick up a 
packet at the financial investment company after school, since she'll 
be busy debating Kuno for the upcoming Student Body President 
Elections.

I've only been here two weeks and already I can't stand him.  I'm 
pretty sure that Kuno's the reason the guys are too scared to talk to 
me, much less ask me out.  I'd like to talk to Kasumi about the 
problem, but she won't be back from her honeymoon until tonight.

I have a soft spot for Auntie Kasumi.  She didn't have to with four 
children of her own, but she insisted on taking me and my brother in 
after Kodachi Kuno poisoned my parents.  She is just the same as I 
remember, only younger.  In fact, Midori says Kasumi is the same 
that she remembers.  I suppose that Kasumi is Kasumi no matter 
what universe she's from.

As I reach the school it seems that Kuno is still convinced that if he 
beat me that I would go on a date with him.  Ha!  His only good 
point seems to be that he recovers pretty fast.  He hasn't even 
figured out that daddy is his "pig-tailed goddess" even though we 
spent ten minutes dumping hot and cold water on him.  He has even 
started to pay attention to mother now that her martial skill are 
developing.  He must have a fetish for martial artists.  Weird.  As he 
hasn't attempted anything in the past week, I thought he finally 
gave up.  It seems I was wrong.

Kuno swings his bokken at me and I use a variant of Happosai's 
momentum trick to lever him into the ground a couple of times (I 
saw that inspector do the same thing New Year's Eve).  He must be 
pretty stupid because all he had to do to stop from getting hurt was 
let go.  He's just lucky I wasn't Ayuki.  She'd stomp on him a few 
times just for good measure.

Mother goes off to her classroom and I sit at my desk, opening my 
schoolbag.  I review my planned investment portfolio.  Given the 
current world situation, it seems wise to keep out of any foreign 
investments.  Strictly speaking, it isn't just my money.  Ayuki and 
Midori are letting me use some of their portion of the calendar sales 
and mother is letting me use part of her share.

All the other students in the classroom suddenly rush into the 
hallway and start looking down at the courtyard.  I jump to a point 
above them to get a good view and then return to my seat.  It was 
just Ayuki stomping Kuno a few times for good measure.

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

The bell rings and the teacher introduces a new transfer student to 
the class.  It is (Ayuki's boyfriend) Ryoga, with his guide dog.  
Transferring to Furinkan was my idea, though Ayuki certainly 
helped in Ryoga's parents making the decision.  I think they were 
just happy that Ryoga found someone that accepted his 
misdirectional tendencies (this was before they went shopping and 
disappeared again - why they also don't have guide dogs is beyond 
me).  I was able to arrange a job for Ryoga with a construction 
company demolishing old concrete walls by having him show them 
the "Breaking Point".

If there is a reason that martial artists tend to get involved with 
other martial artists it is undoubtedly people like Kuno.  Once Kuno 
found out that Ayuki and Ryoga were seeing each other, he reacts 
the same way to him as he does to daddy.  Of course, things haven't 
gone very far between them as Ryoga tends to spout blood and lose 
consciousness when things get too intimate.  A little hand-holding 
and an occasional kiss from what Ayuki tells me.

The big topic of conversation at school is usually how far Ranma 
and Akane have gone.  I don't really care.  I can tell that they love 
each other.  That's all I need to know.  When I first arrived I wished 
that daddy and mother would get back together again, but they don't 
love each other.  Just before they left on their second honeymoon 
cruise, mother told me that "sometimes married couples need some 
time alone to fall in love again", and we talked about love for the 
rest of the night.

I miss her.  And daddy.  And my brother and cousins and friends.

We all do.  I think that's one of the reasons we (me and Ayuki and 
Midori) got along so well.  Much as living here is a dream, we all 
lost something in coming here.

At least Uk-chan came back with Midori.  I like her.  I only wish 
she'd find someone special so that she'd be happy.  I also wish I'd 
find someone special.  Doesn't seem like that'll happen anytime 
soon, unfortunately.

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

In class we talk about world events.  Its been just a month since 'The 
Chaos' started, and things are a mess.  Since most major cities were 
paralyzed for two weeks with riots, and shipping schedules are off.  
The government's thinking of rationing food until the deficit is 
caught up.  Taiwan has declared independence and applied for 
United Nations membership, but China has been too busy with 
revolution to notice.  The most prominent chinese warlord is the 
leader of the "Musk Dynasty", which is about all we know about 
him.

I just hope Auntie and Uncle make it back all right.  They're 
supposed to return from their honeymoon trip this afternoon.  At 
least they only went to Hawaii.  The rest of America has had real 
problems.  Splinter groups, terrorists have all seized on the 
opportunity to raise havoc and they haven't stopped.

I think things are going to be bad.  We've come to rely on the 
modern world too much, and we aren't prepared to deal with a break 
in the supply lines any more.  It won't be as bad in the third world 
countries, but could get out of hand the more urban an area is.  I 
don't tell this in class.  I don't think they're prepared to hear it.  I 
talked to 'ba-chan a couple of days ago and we've been quietly 
building up our reserves at home.

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

At the mid-morning break I sit with everyone in the schoolyard.  Its 
a little chilly, but still warmer than New Year's.  After arranging 
with Ayuki to make sure that Ryoga gets to the construction 
company after school, she says that she's going to start work at the 
Cat Cafe.  Its true that since Mousse left for China they've needed 
help, but I think that Ayuki just wants to be close to Shampoo.  Its 
the same with Midori.  She's kept on working at Uc-chan's even 
though we've completed the deal we made with Uk-chan.

I have to laugh to myself at how daddy seems to remain the topic of 
conversation among all the other students.  He's too tired to get 
anywhere with Akane.  As soon as school finishes he has to help 
Grandpas working on our new house (since 'ba-chan wants to move 
in after next week), then return to the dojo to teach his beginner's 
class, and then do his homework!  I don't know how he found time 
to develop that "Tiger's Roar" technique.  Ayuki's trying to teach it 
to me and Midori (the big blast version), but I'm another week or so 
away from perfecting it.  I think she's also trying to teach it to 
Ryoga.

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

Lunch goes by pretty quietly, especially by Furinkan High standards.  
I can tell mother has something planned for her debate because she 
arranges for daddy and Akane to be there.

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

After school finishes I head over to the first investment office that 
I'm considering.  Mother's debate looks like its turning into an 
event, judging from the crowd heading over to the auditorium.  I 
reach the station and take a short train trip to the business district.  

When I meet the broker, I can tell he's condescendingly amused at 
my age.  I put him in his place when he tries to latch me onto a 
beginner's account, and tell him my investment choices.  He's 
surprised and tries to counsel me out of some of them.  His 
unprofessional nature (he keeps trying to look up my skirt!) really 
disgusts me and I walk out of the office.

Really!  What did he think he was dealing with?  A kept housewife 
or a ignorant schoolgirl?  In business they'll cut your throat if you 
make a mistake.

After all my walking (and jumping) in downtown Tokyo, I end up 
deciding to use the same broker as mother.

I take the train back to Nerima with mother's envelope in my 
schoolbag.

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

Kasumi's home!  I run up and hug her as she sits in the living room 
with Uncle Tofu.  She's a little surprised, but she returns it.  I forgot 
that we aren't as close here as we used to be.  I talked to her some 
before the marriage, but we were both busy.

I step back and look at her.  She has a gorgeous tan that really 
brings out a glow to her face.

I wish it was summer so I could get a tan like that.  The boys would 
go crazy!

Kasumi tells us about the places she went to on her honeymoon and 
it sounds so nice.  It is soon time for dinner and everyone except 
Ayuki and Midori is there.  I give mother her envelope.  I can tell 
daddy is mad at her for some reason, and it probably has something 
to do with him being in girl form (and probably Kuno as well).

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

Mother knocks at my door.  I look up from my homework.

Nabiki:  "So... what did you think?"
Keiko:  "About what?"

Mother waves the envelope in her hand and sits down next to me on 
the futon.

Keiko:  "What is it?"
Nabiki:  "You didn't look at it?"
Keiko:  "No.  Should I have?  You never said to."
Nabiki:  "That's why I had it unsealed."

Keiko takes the envelope and looks at the papers inside.  Its a 
financial investigation on Inspector Muramoto.  I look it over.

Keiko:  "Mother, are you really going to..."
Nabiki:  "I don't know.  I wanted to know what you thought about 
	him.  I mean, he comes around every so often and talks to 
	daddy and the Saotomes.  And when I see him it seems that 
	he's looking at me like he's interested, but he never says 
	anything except for being polite."
Keiko:  "But do you love him?"
Nabiki:  "I don't know him.  I'm not like Akane, falling in love 
	with the guy my daddy engaged me to.  Or Kasumi, with 
	someone who's loved me forever.  I'm not very lovable."
Keiko:  "You are!"
Nabiki:  "I'm not.  I've been on plenty of dates, but it was never 
	love.  I think if they really loved me, they never would have 
	let me take advantage of them.  All they wanted was to be 
	the guy that 'bagged Nabiki Tendo'."
Keiko:  "Mother, you told me that love was the most wonderful 
	thing that could happen to me, and that when I was in love, 
	I would know it."
Nabiki:  "Do you think there's anything wrong with him?"

I think about the inspector.  There's nothing that 'feels' wrong 
about him, nothing that rubs me the wrong way (like there is with 
Kuno).  I tell mother what I feel.  Mother gets up to leave.

Keiko:  "Are you going to talk to him?"
Nabiki:  "I don't know.  There's nothing wrong with his finances.  I 
	guess I'll think on it some more.  Besides, you're the one 
	that grabbed his ass."

I blush when mother brings that incident up.  It was funny at the 
time, and it still is funny when I recall how he jumped.

Keiko:  "Why was daddy mad at you?"
Nabiki:  "Oh.  I had one of my classmates dump cold water on him 
	when he and Akane walked in during the debate.  Kuno 
	immediately jumped onto him and Akane and they punched 
	him back into his podium, then left."
Keiko:  "Did you have to take advantage of daddy, though?"
Nabiki:  "Probably not.  Kuno yelled out that 'women aren't suited 
	for politics'.  He can't go about making stupid statements 
	like that and expect to get elected."
Keiko:  "Did you apologize to daddy, yet?"
Nabiki:  "Oh, he knows.  He must have suspected when I asked him 
	to show up."
Keiko:  "So you haven't."
Nabiki:  "Is it that important to you, Keiko?"
Keiko:  "I don't him to be mad at you.  I don't want to have to 
	choose between you."

Nabiki looks indecisive, biting on her lip.

Nabiki:  "OK.  I'll apologize right after he finishes his class."
Keiko:  "Thank you, mother."

I hug her and she leaves the room.

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

Midori and Ayuki are lying next to me as we cover ourselves in our 
futons.  I've been thinking about mother.  Will she really ask him 
out?  What will that make us?

As I close my eyes I realize I've been thinking about it too long.  
Ayuki's starting to snore.

****************************finis Day, Episode 1