Morning at Furinkan High.  They could see her, off in the distance, 
running toward the gates.  The roar came up from the milling crowd:

"Here she comes!"

They began to assemble...

*****

They Never Learn
a Ranma 1/2 shortfic by Ukyou Kuonji

Ranma 1/2 and all characters therein are the property of Rumiko 
Takahashi, and as usual, they're being used without permission.

*****

The girl was running as fast as she could for the gate, long hair tied 
back and bobbing with every stride.  At this point, she knew what lay 
ahead between her and the school entrance, and she was loath to think 
about it.  <Those cretins...

Well, woe be to anyone who dares challenge me...>

She crossed the threshold of the entrance gate; that was the signal for 
the melee to begin.  As one, the throng advanced raggedly upon the girl 
that was their hearts' desire, the girl they didn't know, but wanted to 
so deperately as to fight her.  Ah, but if they only did know...

Nabiki had already perched herself at the window, and was watching the 
fray with considerable interest.  "Let's see if she manages this 
time..."  A slight smile twisted her lips as she spoke.

Indeed, she was doing quite well.  A sweep of the right arm, and three 
cross-country runners bit the dust.  A left hook, and a boxer fell.  
The boys were falling like cherry blossoms, just like they used to in 
the old days.

"They never learn, do they?  They can't win."

The shouts were starting to reach the upper floors by now:  "Say you'll 
be mine!" "Let me defeat you with my love!" "I wanna know you better!" 
"Come date with -- OOF!"  The cries of pain were wafting up there, too.

And the pain she had inflicted was considerable.  Nearly fifty bodies 
were strewn across the front of the Furinkan campus, moaning in agony.  
The girl sniffed in contempt at the fallen masses...

...and raised her boketo in a gesture of triumph and defiance.

"Pah.  What fools these mortals be.  How dare they think they could 
unseat me for the captaincy of the kendo club.  Surely after these two 
weeks they would know the inexorable wrath of the Blue Thunder of 
Furinkan High!"  

On cue, the lightning flashed, the thunder crashed, and a cool rain 
fell upon the figure of what was now Tatewaki Kuno.  He turned, and 
calmly walked into the school building.

***

Ranma-chan and Akane picked their way through the remains of the 
battlefield.  "They haven't figured it out, have they?"

Ranma-chan shook her head.  "And you'd think Kuno would catch on, too.  
What's it been, ten days straight that Sasuke's been waking Kuno with a 
splash of that instant Nyanniichuan we gave him?  He *still* doesn't 
believe he turns into a girl."

"And he hasn't stopped hitting on you, either."

"Nope."  They were at the door, which Ranma-chan held open for Akane.  
"Well, at least he gets a taste of what he inflicted on you earlier 
this year, huh?"

"Maybe, but you'd think he'd learn..."

"Nope.  He never does.  They never do."

*****

Hiya!  Ucchan here...

It's been a slow month or two as far as writing goes, and this isn't 
much, I know, but it's just to letcha know I'm still alive and writing, 
if only trivial stuff like this.  Hope ya like it.

Still working on my website at http:\\members.aol.com\index.htm, and 
that's what's really slowed me down... I really would like to know 
someday how the rest of you manage to read all this FFML mail, keep 
your pages current, AND keep writing such voluminous works, all at the 
same time.  I'm amazed.

Anyway, enough from me -- back to the other fics, ne?  Ja!

Itsu mo,
Ucchan   ^_^