#7: Doco in the Battle of the Bands
			(a.k.a. Ranma 1/2 the Musical)
		The Wheel of Fire, Part 3: Doco-- Turning Point

  Written by Razorclaw X (spiceoflife@hotmail.com)
  http://www.crosswinds.net/anaheim/~slythe/ranma/ranff.html
  Disclaimer: Ranma 1/2 and characters belong to Rumiko Takahashi. And 
all that other good stuff. Proper licenses belong to respective 
properties and characters. 
  This file can be freely distributed so long as it appears in its 
complete form and proper credit. No part may be reproduced for monetary 
gain without permission from the author. (to which the answer is 
probably "no")
  As of yet, this is the Ranma fic I'm most proud of writing. It only 
got this long because of that. :)

Fanart inspired by this story can be found at: 
  http://www.crosswinds.net/anaheim/~slythe/ranma/ranfa1.html

  Author's note: This series takes place after the final manga story, 
Vol.38, following after my previous fics, "Moments of Transition," "Team 
Ranma vs. the Orochi Assassins," "End of the Beginning," "Where We Go 
>From Here," "The Heart Screams From Within," and "The Law of Amazons." 
This particular story focuses primarily on Nabiki, of all people; don't 
ask why, that's just how things turned out. Knowledge of the previous 
stories helps in understanding the minor details of the story (see "Plot 
Points" below). This is the first story of Part 3: Turning Point, where 
Ranma and company take a turn toward the better. 
  Personal bias says that this story has almost nothing to do with Ranma 
or Akane, but instead the people around them. Story basis mainly follows 
the manga, with anime details on the side. Ling-ling and Lung-lung exist 
solely because the author likes the characters :)

  Simple but important facts you have to know: If you were wondering why 
Kodachi and Ukyo don't sing, well, here's the answer in short: Ukyo 
wasn't around when the group formed, and Kodachi (at the time) was 
considered a minor character. (Of course some people interpret as this: 
the VA for Kodachi wasn't 'good' enough for the group; by the gods I 
hope my interpretation is right, otherwise this was a glaring insult.)
  BTW: onna-Ranma = Girl-type Ranma (I'm being lazy)

Plot Points (from previous stories)
==================================
1. Ranma and Akane are married. Only Shampoo contests this marriage now. 
2. Mousse and Ukyo have been dating, but recently broke up when Shampoo 
returned from China. Mousse still wants Shampoo, but this leaves Ukyo in 
the dust. Both feel guilty over a sham relationship (it was based on 
desperation), but Ukyo's punishing herself too much, convinced that she 
knew she shouldn't have gotten started in the first place. 
3. The so-called 'Kiss of Death' law has been forcibly-repealed by 
Cologne. 
4. Mousse is now an outsider of his tribe (banished by Cologne). He's 
now living at and works at Ucchan's, since Cologne's still mad at him 
for defying traditions. 
5. Ryoga is looking for his mother to get permission to marry Akari. 
6. Kodachi and Tatewaki have reached an understanding. That is, they 
recognize the fact (openly) that they can't bear to live without each 
other and viciously defend one another from harm. Tatewaki is 
practically the father figure for Kodachi. 
7. After being possessed by a malevolent spirit, Ukyo discovers she has 
'untapped potential' to manipulate chi to heights greater than Ranma. As 
of yet she's reluctant to use it as she's afraid she might hurt someone. 
8. Ling-ling and Lung-lung work as draw girls at Nekohatten. That is, 
they stand just outside the door to attract men inside :) They're now 
disillusioned with their tribe's ways, but keep it to themselves. 
9. Both Kunos know that Ranma and the pig-tailed girl are the same 
person. While Kodachi accepts this, Kuno's hatred of Ranma was 
intensified, since the sorcerer Ranma toyed with his fragile heart. 
Kodachi sees the curse as an 'added incentive' to give up on Ranma and 
look for 'more perfect' guys. 

------------------------------------------------
Opening: Don't Cry Anymore (a.k.a. Ukyo's song; read lyrics to find why)

The street casts
a lonely silhouette, that's me.
The good-bye speech-- now,
I can't believe what I heard.	

My heart beats like a drum,
even a klaxon.
Starting to invite tears, a lullaby.

Cheer up, don't cry any more.
When tomorrow comes,
everything will change.
Cheer up, don't cry any more.
Face the new wind and
Smile again!

I had felt like I
was totally cool.

In the car that's driving away,
a lovely kiss scene.
You and your girlfriend--
it's no mistake!

Cheer up, don't cry any more
because nothing but bad things
won't continue.
Cheer up, don't cry any more.
The sky I look up at embraces me.
Smile again!

Cheer up, don't cry any more.
When tomorrow comes,
everything will change.
Cheer up, don't cry any more.
Face the new wind and
Smile again!
					*  *  *  *  *

  If it has the words 'martial arts' in it, Ranma could do it easily. 
And wipe the floor with the opponent at it, too. Well, most of the time, 
if you counted combat with Pantyhose Taro, Cologne, Happosai, and 
sometimes Ryoga got lucky.... But when it really mattered, Ranma came 
out on top. 
  Of course, that didn't apply to activities that didn't involve 
physical activity of some form. Playing musical instruments was one of 
them. 
  And playing card games, Ranma reminded himself dryly. 
  The microphone screeched as Mousse sang off-key, with Ranma, Ryoga, 
and Kuno trying to play instruments in which they had no skill in using. 
Well, actually, Kuno looked like he knew what he was doing, Ranma 
thought. DUCK, as Mousse liked to call his 'band,' never left the walls 
of the Tendo dojo. 
  "...don't you knoooow-oh it's luuuuu-uhhhve...." sang Mousse 
pathetically. 
  Ranma threw down the electric guitar. "I've had it, Mousse! Not only 
can't we play these things, you can't sing either!" 
  Kuno waved his drumsticks menacingly at Mousse. Fortunately for 
Mousse, the drumsticks were nowhere near as long as a bokken. "Had you 
recruited better talent than what I see before me, we wouldn't sound so 
terrible!" 
  Ryoga set his guitar down as well. "If you're done wasting my time, I 
still have some traveling to do."
  All four men bickered while Akane and Nabiki entered the room. 
  "What's it about this time?" asked Akane. 
  "Looks like they're discovering music," muttered Nabiki. 
  Ranma pointed at Mousse accusingly. "It's HIS idea."
  "Umm, Mousse?" Akane started, staring at the equipment in the room, 
"What are you doing?"
  Mousse produced a flyer from his sleeves, handing it to Akane. "It's a 
battle of the bands. Sponsored by the Tokuyama Agency, who are looking 
for talented bands. Grand prize is an all-expenses paid trip to Hawaii 
for two weeks and a recording contract."
  Akane read the flyer over. "Hawaii, huh." 
  All-expenses paid wringed in Nabiki. "Mousse, Mousse, Mousse... I can 
help you get to Hawaii, if for some small favors."
  "Name them!" replied Mousse, excited. 
  "One: don't sing. Two: when you win, I'm going along. Say 'hello' to 
your new manager." 
  "Nabiki," Akane said, "the flyer says the entire band gets to go." 
  Nabiki smiled slyly, then wrapped her arm around Akane's waist. "Now 
let's talk business, Akane. How would you like to go to Hawaii for 
summer vacation?"
  "Well, yeah, it would be nice."
  "I've got an idea."
  The two sisters walked out of the training room and to the kitchen, 
where Kasumi was washing dishes. 
  "Hey, Kasumi," greeted Nabiki. 
  "Hi Nabiki!" answered Kasumi cheerily, as usual.
  "Tell me, when was the last time you went on vacation?"
  "Oh my, I don't know. I've been working so hard that I've never 
thought about it. Why?"
  "How would you like to take a vacation to Hawaii?"
  "If this involves hurting someone, then the answer is 'no.'"
  "Nothing of the sort, dear Sister," Nabiki replied coolly. Akane 
handed the flyer over to Nabiki, who in turn showed it to Kasumi. "It's 
a battle of the bands, grand prize gets an all-expenses paid trip to 
Hawaii. Interested?" 
  Kasumi nodded, understanding the meaning. "Wonderful! It'll be like 
old times again...."

  "No way, I'm not going to do it!" Ranma said fiercely. 
  Ranma stood defiantly in the middle of the Tendo dojo, his back to 
Akane and Nabiki. Try as they might, the Tendo sisters couldn't convince 
Ranma to cooperate with them. Yet. 
  "Oh come on, Ranma," Nabiki persisted, "even Shampoo agreed. Why don't 
you? We can't do this without you."
  "Singing is not a guy thing," returned Ranma. Especially considering 
how well Mousse was doing only hours before....
  "I can fix that!" shouted Akane, throwing a bucket of water on Ranma. 
  "Hey!" yelled onna-Ranma. 
  "Problem solved," concluded Nabiki. "Really, Ranma, you don't have a 
choice anymore. We want to go to Hawaii."
  "Well, thanks a lot," replied onna-Ranma sarcastically. My dignity for 
Hawaii. What else could go wrong? 
  All at once, several figures broke their way through to the Tendo 
training hall: Mousse, Kuno, Kodachi, Ukyo, and Ryoga. 
  Of course, how Ryoga found his way there was a mystery....
  "Hey!" they shouted in unison, "We want to go to Hawaii too!"
  Ranma sank to the floor in frustration. NOW what?
  Kuno waved his bokken menacingly. "To think that the vile scourge, 
Nabiki Tendo would conspire with the cretinous sorcerer, Ranma Saotome, 
in order to spirit off to Hawaii with the flower of rare beauty that is 
Akane Tendo, without my approval or chaperone...."
  "Oh, shut up," Kodachi snapped at her brother. "The commoner Nabiki 
Tendo fails to understand her proper station in respect to us Kunos." 
Whipping out a ribbon, she cried to Nabiki, "And soon you'll learn your 
place! Soon you'll wish you studied your father's martial arts!"
  "If it weren't for me, you wouldn't have known about the contest in 
the first place!" complained Mousse, digging through his robes for 
blades. Any would do. 
  "Yeah!" agreed Ryoga, waving his umbrella. "Mousse was generous enough 
to let me hook up with his band, but you...."
  "Not fair playing favorites," argued Ukyo. "Mark my words, Tendo: this 
will be the last time I'll be looked over by your little 'gentleman's 
club' you call a singing group you've got running here." She unstrapped 
her combat spatula, twirling it in the air and catching it. "I'll make 
sure that you're 'full of memories,' full of memories of me hurting you! 
Any last words before you die?"
  Ranma looked at Nabiki nervously. "Nabiki... I can't take all _five_ 
of them at once...." Well, Kuno wasn't too much of a problem, but then 
there  was both Ryoga and Mousse, unless you got rid of Mousse's 
glasses... then there was Kodachi and Ukyo... wait a minute, could I 
hurt my best friend? 
  "Oh, come now," Nabiki started, addressing the five aggressive teens, 
"don't you think I have everything planned out already?" 
  All five shouted at Nabiki angrily. All at once, trying to yell over 
the others to make themselves heard. Nabiki calmly ignored them, as if 
her life wasn't in jeopardy. "Well, if you guys would settle down and 
listen, you'd know that the entire band gets to go."
  They stopped. All attention was on Nabiki. 
  Kodachi narrowed her eyes in suspicion, barely restraining herself. 
  "We're listening," Ukyo hissed, gripping her spatula harder. 
  "I've taken into account what we have here," she said. "Without a 
shadow of a doubt, Akane, Kasumi, Ranma, Shampoo, and I will sing, after 
all, people like us. We've enough singers, but nobody to play 
instruments. So what do you say?"
  Ranma slapped herself in the face. What in the world was Nabiki doing? 
  "The Kuno tradition dictates a proficiency in all manner of 
instruments," commented Kuno. "Particularly those of the reeds and 
winds, as they yield the most pleasant tunes. Of course, a set of bongos 
I wouldn't mind at all."
  "Well," Ukyo started, "I learned how to play a piano when I was 
younger. Sort of." Then, strapping her spatula, she added, "I can sing 
too, you know."
  "Well, I have something to say to you about that: no," answered Nabiki 
coldly. She glared at Kodachi, who looked just about ready to protest 
herself. "I don't know how well any of you can sing, but I'm not willing 
to put Hawaii on the line to find out." Nabiki kept her other reason in 
the back of her mind; it wouldn't do any good to make them mad again. 
  "Just give me something," Kodachi said. "All I want is Hawaii."
  "I'll help if Akari can come along," Ryoga said. 
  "And what am I supposed to do?" Mousse said. "I mean it, I WANT to do 
something important this time. If I have to do lights again, which is 
NOTimportant, I swear someone is going to...."
  "You'll all see," Nabiki answered. 
  
  All questions were answered, and a few more were raised when Nabiki 
gathered all band members to the rented auditorium: onna-Ranma, Akane, 
Kasumi, Shampoo, and Nabiki were singers. In percussion were Kuno, 
Ryoga, and Kodachi; Kuno having a set of drums, Kodachi an xylophone 
set, and Ryoga got cymbals and a gong, along with the rest of the 
percussion instruments (as not every song had each instrument included 
within the scores, so, Nabiki reasoned, better to keep the boy busy). 
Ukyo was given a set of keyboards, and a spare flute for good measure. 
Wind instruments were given to Ling-ling and Lung-lung (they would've 
gotten mad otherwise if Shampoo were in and they weren't, but Nabiki 
wouldn't let them sing either). Konatsu (who wanted to stay with Ukyo) 
got a guitar, Akari (who joined at Ryoga's insistence) got a violin, and 
Mousse got a bass. Well, fourteen people wasn't so bad, the more the 
merrier, Nabiki thought. Now if only she could get them to work 
together. 
  Soun, Genma, Nodoka, and Cologne sat in the midst of empty seating in 
the auditorium, watching the teens practice. Soun couldn't help but cry, 
spouting words about his daughters growing up, words to which Genma paid 
no attention. 
  Nodoka smiled warmly at Cologne. "So you're Shampoo's 
great-grandmother? She's such a sweet girl!"
  Cologne nodded. "Most men covet her beauty," she said, careful not to 
bring up anything related to Son-in-law. After all, this was his mother. 
Some things you just can't talk about with certain people; a hundred 
years of hard lessons reinforced this suggestion. 
  Mousse and Ryoga were among the first to complain, but Nabiki gave 
them a stern look, and reminded them of Hawaii. She sighed, realizing 
that the trip was the only thing keeping all the variables (as she 
referred the 'new recruits' to the band as) in check. It wouldn't look 
pretty if the group they called 'Doco' didn't win first place. 
  In times before Doco was primarily a singing group, grown to 
popularity beyond what any of its members imagined. A back-up band was 
hired to play the background music, very professional they were. After a 
few concerts the five singers thought it best to disband, much to the 
disappointment to the fans. The biggest reason was exhaustion, among 
other things. The last time the five sang together was at the last 
Christmas party. 
  From what Nabiki could remember, that was the last time any of them 
worked on the same side. Referring to the generally uncooperative Kuno, 
Mousse, Ryoga, Kodachi, Ukyo, and Shampoo, that is. 
  And now today, the beginning of summer, nearing summer vacation, the 
group was back together, with others along for the ride. Vacation in 
Hawaii never sounded so good in Nabiki's life. All-expenses paid trip 
hit the spot. 
  The preliminaries wouldn't be for another three weeks, not a lot of 
time for the band to shape up, admittantly, but not impossible. At least 
they knew the basics of music, now all they had to do was play it 
together. Then again, Konatsu looked like he'd never seen an instrument 
in his life. 
  "Okay, everybody, listen up," Nabiki said, raising her voice as to 
catch everybody's attention. "We've only three weeks to practice. Revel 
in the fact that the other bands only have that long as well. But we're 
going to work at this, both day and night, school time permitting, for 
the next three weeks, until we get our routine down perfectly. Your trip 
to Hawaii depends on it. Understand?"
  The others nodded. 
  "Okay, you all read over the notes, so lets get started."
  About five seconds later the band played to their own hearts' content, 
which bothered Nabiki. The racket they made was unbearable to the 
audiences' ears, as one-by-one the adults ran for the doors. 
  This was going to take a while. 

  It was late in the evening when Nabiki agreed to quit for the day. 
Weary, the friends filed into a nearby sushi restaurant, as they were 
too tired and exhausted to cook their own meals. Even Kasumi, with her 
usual optimistic, energetic, cheery attitude, was exhausted. Being out 
of practice didn't help any of them one bit. Not to mention some of them 
never read music in their life. 
  "I wonder how the other bands are doing," wondered Akane. 
  "Probably not as bad as we're doing," replied onna-Ranma. 
  "I still plan on going to Hawaii," announced Mousse, with a 
slightly-renewed determination. 
  Strangely enough, Shampoo and Ukyo sat at the same table, Ranma 
noticed. And not a word passed between them, as if neither existed. 
Unable to help himself, Ranma got up and sat at their table. 
  "Heya, Ranchan," Ukyo greeted. 
  "Nihao, Ranma," Shampoo greeted. 
  "I couldn't help but notice you two stopped fighting," Ranma began. "I 
mean, thinking back over the past year, I can't think of one instance 
where the two of you weren't at each other's throats."
  Both girls giggled. "Things have changed, Ranchan," Ukyo said. 
  "We decide on truce," explained Shampoo. "There no reason to fight one 
another." Not to mention Spatula-girl no challenge for Shampoo, she 
thought. "Only pervert girl in Shampoo's way to marry Ranma now." 
  "Fat chance," Ranma replied. 
  "Shampoo," Ukyo began, "why don't you get together with Mousse?" 
  "Shampoo no like Mousse!" Shampoo replied, a bit too quickly. 
  "Uh-huh," Ukyo said. She thought about Mousse-- what a guy he was. 
Ukyo found it in her heart to love such a man, but his heart was still 
set on Shampoo, no matter what. It was a shame, her lot in life, really. 
Mousse did care about Ukyo, but not the same way as Shampoo, whom he 
truly loved. Nope, no denying it Ukyo, Mousse can't be yours. 
  Then there was Konatsu. Ukyo couldn't bring herself to think of the 
male kunoichi the same way she saw a man like in Ranma. Only time would 
tell. 
  Ukyo produced a pocket calendar, and flipped through several pages, 
and sighed. "If this is how the next three weeks are going to be, my 
business will suffer. I can only keep the shop open at very limited 
hours now."
  "Great-grandmother's restaurant have no such problem," Shampoo said. 
  Nabiki threw a wad of yen on the table before her. Until then nobody 
at the table noticed the middle Tendo sister's approach. "Should be 
enough to cover rent and profit loss for a month." 
  Ukyo counted the money, then looked up at Nabiki suspiciously. "Just 
where did you get this from?" No way could she have this much money. 
  "Oh, I have my sources," Nabiki replied coolly, sparing a glance at 
Kuno. 
  Ranma couldn't imagine how Nabiki conned Kuno out of his money this 
time, especially since he stopped buying photos of the 'pig-tailed 
girl.' Oh, how those lost days were yearned for, as Kuno redoubled his 
efforts to hurt Ranma after 'discovering' that his 'pig-tailed girl' was 
in fact Ranma. In their last battle Kuno had left Ranma with quite a few 
sores and bruises; there was nothing Ranma could do to distract him from 
the fight then, not even Akane's presence seemed to work. No doubt a 
broken heart fueled his anger and augmented his fighting focus. 
  Ukyo got up. "Nabiki, may I have a word with you?"
  Shrugging, Nabiki followed Ukyo to the opposite end of the dining 
room. "What's on your mind?"
  "Why are you helping me?" asked Ukyo. "You don't help anyone for 
free." 
  "Because I know you'll pay me back," answered Nabiki, then added, 
"with an all-expenses paid trip to Hawaii."
  Somehow Ukyo could tell that wasn't the real answer. "I know you don't 
need me, and I know you know you don't need me, so why are you helping 
me?" Ukyo persisted. 
  "You wouldn't believe me if I told you," Nabiki replied. 
  Ukyo stared back with a 'try me' look. 
  "Okay, it goes like this," explained Nabiki, feeling that her show was 
over. "If you weren't going to Hawaii, what would you do?"
  Ukyo thought for a moment. "Tag along?"
  "That, or try to stop us from going," Nabiki finished. "I'd rather 
keep everyone in one place where I can see them. I mean to go to Hawaii 
for my summer vacation, after all." Especially before the dreaded Exam 
Hell, the exams that determined a student's course in life. Nabiki 
intended to have some real fun in her life before college. 
  Ukyo wasn't satisfied. "There's something else, but you won't tell 
me."
  "Nope. Not even your money can unzip these lips."

  The next day at the Nekohatten Ling-ling and Lung-lung were hard at 
work. Doing nothing. They were bored. 
  It was morning. For the Chinese restaurant there was no such thing as 
the 'morning rush.' It was the twins' job to attract young men inside 
for a bite to eat; they were beautiful young girls, after all. This 
morning was unusually quiet; then again, it was summer. Most of the 
business was either attending classes or working. 
  Ling-ling grabbed some empty bowls from a nearby table, tossing some 
to her sister. 

					*  *  *  *  *
Ouen-teki SHANPUU-anego (Helpful older sister Shampoo)

Ling-ling, Lung-lung
The rescuing Nekohatten
Ling-ling, Lung-lung
Helpful older sister Shampoo!

Supreme cooking, speedy delivery,
relaxing price, beautiful draw girls (btw, they mean themselves)

Satiated Ranma, annoying Mousse,
comforting o-baba, delightful older sister Shampoo

We two acting as one,
splendidly spinning porcelain bowls in the air!

[Aiyaa!]
[Customer, catch it, please!]  [Please!]
					*  *  *  *  *

  Cologne and Shampoo stepped into the dining room, wondering at all the 
commotion. Ling-ling and Lung-lung cowered, trying for a cute look. The 
two elder Amazons surveyed the shattered porcelain bowls across the 
floor. 
  "This is why you don't sing when you work," Cologne said. 
  Shampoo merely smiled, standing behind Cologne where the old matriarch 
couldn't see her. Those girls had potential, now if only they could do 
two things at once. Their style and personality relied on a focus to get 
by, and that was why they were such excellent fighters, if a bit 
unorthodox. Take away the focus, or disturb it, and they fell apart. 
  Which was one reason why they weren't singing. 

  Two days later at the auditorium, while the others were setting-up the 
instruments on-stage, Nabiki fumbled through a plastic file-box, which 
was merely a plastic container that could serve as a portable file 
cabinet drawer. She thumbed through the folders until she hit the one 
she was looking for: lyrics to the song the Doco girls would sing: 
'Complex Two Thoughts.' 
  This one was a hit, Nabiki thought to herself. Perhaps one of the best 
songs the group had written. 
  The middle Tendo sister jumped when someone tapped her on the 
shoulder. 
  "Uh, Nabiki," she heard Ryoga say, "I need to talk to you." 
  Regaining her composure, Nabiki turned to face Ryoga. Standing beside 
him was Akari. The Tendo girl couldn't help but notice that Ryoga was 
wearing his heavy backpack-- why? 
  "Speak fast, because I've got places to go," Nabiki said. 
  "As do I," nodded Ryoga. "I need to go on a journey to find my 
mother." 
  Nabiki stared at the Eternally Lost Boy in surprise. "You can't leave, 
not now!" 
  Ryoga glanced at Akari, his mind seemingly set. "I must ask her 
permission before I can marry Akari. This desire, I realize, is far more 
greater than a chance to go to Hawaii." 
  "We've had a talk," Akari added. "We're both leaving." 
  Nabiki's head started to swim. Carefully-laid plans started to crumble 
before her eyes. Not for long, she vowed. "So, you two are both thinking 
about leaving the group, hmmm? What if either one of you change your 
minds? You're no good to us unless you're with us, NOW. Later doesn't 
cut it; we'd have to change all our plans just to accommodate you two 
again." 
  "Well, we didn't think it through that far...." admitted Akari. 
  Ryoga dug his toes into the floor. "I thought being together in Hawaii 
would've been nice, but I really want to marry Akari, too." 
  "You have to decide one over the other; you can't do both," Nabiki 
pointed out. "You can't go to Hawaii unless you're part of this band, 
after all, and you can't remain part of this band if you search for your 
mother. Besides, the band needs you!" Not to mention it helped to keep 
the variables all in one basket, Nabiki reminded herself. 
  The faces of Ryoga and Akari showed plain guilt. Obligation kicked in. 
  "Look," Nabiki argued, "you'd get just as lost as your mother, so how 
much better a chance do you have of finding her if you're both lost?" 
  Both Akari and Ryoga nodded thoughtfully. 
  "Ryoga, do you still want to go to Hawaii?" asked Akari. 
  "Only if you come along," answered Ryoga as he grasped Akari's hands. 
  "We can always find your mother another time, but Hawaii is a one-time 
chance," Akari pointed out. "I do want to go there." 
  "Then it's settled," concluded Nabiki. Wrapping her arms around both 
Ryoga and Akari, she lead them back to the stage, saying, "Now, my 
friends, we have some work cut out for us." 

  The next day, during school, Tatewaki Kuno walked through the halls of 
Furinkan High, alone, his bokken resting on his right shoulder. While 
the bokken was held in Kuno's right hand, his left hand was occupied by 
a thin book-- a travel brochure for Hawaii, in fact. 
  "Well, greetings, Tacchi," someone called, breaking Kuno's attention. 
  Father. Kuno closed the brochure and tucked it into his shirt pocket. 
"It definitely is not a pleasure, as always, FATHER," Kuno said, almost 
spitting out the last word. Of course, such actions were beneath 
Tatewaki Kuno, especially in a facility of learning such as this. 
  "What was that you were reading?" asked Principal Kuno. 
  "Why do you take a sudden interest in my reading material?" asked Kuno 
defensively. The grip on his bokken tightened. 
  "And when have you ever read anything besides thick textural 
literature, son?" the principal pointed out. With surprising speed, 
before Tatewaki could react, the elder Kuno reached into his son's 
pocket and produced the brochure. "Well, what's this?" 
  Kuno grabbed the brochure out of his father's hands violently. "That 
is my business, not yours." 
  Waving his index finger, the principal said, "I see... my son's 
following my footsteps! That's my boy!" Laying one unwanted hand on 
Kuno's left shoulder, he continued, "Now if only I can drill it into 
your thick skull that making others' lives miserable is the greatest joy 
life has to offer! Next I'll show you how to get students to bow at your 
own statue...." 
  "I need not the forcefully-coerced praising of a cold and unfeeling 
statue to satisfy my everyday needs!" Kuno placed a hard kick into the 
principal's gut, sending him reeling to the floor. "Stay away from me, 
and my sister, DAD, and I mean it this time. You're unfit to be head of 
the House of Kuno; as I am effectively the head of household, be aware, 
that our next encounter shall be our last. I don't want to see you 
again." 
  The principal watched his son stalk away. He called, "Mark my words, 
Tacchi! If you go to Hawaii, you'll never come back the same! 
Ahahahahaha!"



continued in part 2
-------------------------------

"That's my story and I'm sticking to it."--JMS, creator of Babylon 5. 
"If you go to Z'ha'dum, you will die."--Kosh, Babylon 5.
"Jump. Jump now!"--Kosh, Babylon 5, making some sense. 

--Razorclaw X

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