On Sun, 19 Oct 1997 19:38:29 -0700 (MST), Raphael See <raphael@asu.edu>
wrote:

week. "So, we've got Wataru covering this week's damage and Takaya doing 

I always look names like this up in the dictionary to check for
in-jokes... hmmm, none here.

	"I wasn't talking to you, so mind your own business!" Suzuki 
snapped. He turned to Gosunkugi, who just shrugged impassively in 
response. *Next time, I'll keep my mouth shut,* he sighed to himself. 

Suzuki's sweet on Noriko. This is a little like a Rumic World. :)

	Noriko shook her head again, chasing away her conscience. *It 
_is_ Ranma's fault, and he deserves this!* She clenched her fist without 
realizing it. *He's the one responsible for all the property damage and 
chaos that's happened in the past year, and he's always gotten away with 
it! I'm the only one that can show everyone the truth.* Her conscience 
jabbed her once more at the word "truth," and she tried once more to 
shake off her trepidation. 

This kind of reaction to Ranma makes sense. People like Noriko have
influence and importance in school that they build up through
connections; then along comes Ranma who is more important just because
of his fighting ability. It's a wonder more people like this don't end
up striking back.

	"I left my book bag here by mistake and came back to get it. Ah, 
there it is." Suzuki picked it up from where it lay and walked over to 
Noriko's desk. "So, Chief, what's this feature you're working on?" He 
looked down at the scratch layout before Noriko could cover it up and 
gulped at its contents. "Uh...Chief, you're going to print this?" 

Suzuki must be a really fast reader, from the way you describe this
action.

	"Chief...this isn't like you," Suzuki said, hoping for the world 
that Noriko wouldn't take what he had to say the wrong way. 
Unfortunately, he knew that it had to be said. "For the past week and a 
half, you've done nothing but blame everything that's wrong on Ranma. 
It's almost...," Suzuki searched for just the right words, "...it's 
almost as if...well...the news about the 'Informer' maybe losing funding 
and all, you're blaming _that_ on him, too. Maybe you should rethink 
printing this project. I mean, I know this has been really hard on you 
and everything, but..." 

Suzuki strikes me as a little TOO insightful here. I think Noriko's
motivation comes off well enough by itself, and you don't really need to
have this guy explain it.

	"Okay, what about the interview with Miss Hinako about 
disciplinary techniques?" 

	"Uhh...give me another minute or two to get it printed out! I'll 
have it soon, I swear!" 

I can just see it...

Noriko: Okay, what about the interview with Miss Hinako about
disciplinary techniques?

Reporter: Have it done in ten minutes.

Noriko: (Holds out a coin a la Hinako) How long?

Reporter: Uh... two minutes tops! I swear!

Hmmm... might be too silly for this story....

anyone asks, I'll just tell 'em what happened. Who's gonna believe...," 
Ranma pulled out the article again and looked at the byline, "...some 
girl named Noriko Hirauchi, anyway?" 

	"Ranma Saotome, you vile miscreant and cur! Prepare to pay for 
your trespasses!" a voice shouted from the distance. Ranma sighed and 

That answers THAT question.... :-)

	"ALOHA, Ranma!" Ranma jerked his head and saw a Hawaiian-decked 
man on a skateboard hurtling towards him. "It be time to PUNISH you for 
your misconduct, kahuna!" Pineapple bombs began exploding around Ranma as 
he frantically dodged. 

Ranma ain't no kahuna; Da Principal, he da big kahuna. Mebbe he oughtta
be callin' Ranma "brudda", or "keiki", or somet'in' li' dat.

	"And now, the Blue Thunder of Furinkan High shall smite you!" 
Kuno had landed from his assisted flight and charged madly at Ranma with 
a new bokken supplied by Sasuke, who threw nets, snares, ropes, lines, 
and anything else the gopher-faced ninja could produce from the folds of 
his uniform. 

	*This could be bad,* Ranma thought. 

Nah, just a normal day for him. :-)

Looking forward to more of this!


Gary Kleppe
http://www.execpc.com/~kleppe/comics