In My Life
----------

by Florencio B. de la Merced, Jr. (fmerced@pworld.net.ph)

A Fanfic inspired by the Anime Ranma 1/2 created and copyrighted by Rumiko
Takahashi

Previous Episodes:
http://www.geocities.com/Tokyo/Temple/3641/index.html

---------

EPISODE FIVE


A Whisper, A Hope


Shampoo was the last person left in the room.  It took her some considerable
time to rewrite her notes and figure out most of what had happened in class.
As far as she could decipher from all that she had hastily written on her
yellow pad, she was definitely dealing with something about Math.  The
numbers and letters proved that to her, but, most of the relations that she
was supposed to resolve were missing, especially from her head.  At least,
that was what she stubbornly had been trying to do during the past whole
period.  "Bah!  Math is so boring.  Ranma had better help me later," She
picked up her notebooks and headed out the door, "or Ucchan."

The hallway was crowded.  Shampoo headed towards the stairwell.  She walked
past several groups of seniors that were eyeing her.  She didn't pay much
attention though, as she was used to the constant stares and glances of
attention.  This was a constant problem whenever and wherever she went.  She
however always blamed it to her hair.  It had a purple and bluish hue that
always stood out in any crowd.  Would she act differently if she realized
there was more to her than her hair?  She hopped down the flight of stairs,
easily passing students left and right, ignoring the traffic and flow of
people.

Even though the sea of students was moving towards the cafeteria, Shampoo
knew she wouldn't find her friends there.  "Dumb Ucchan." She walked out of
the school building and entered the schoolyard.  She looked at her left
towards the gymnasium and it was filled with student activity. None looked
familiar.  She looked towards the right, but the benches were empty.  She
sighed, regretting her decision to stay behind in the classroom.  She walked
across the field towards a huge tree in one corner.  Someone was there.  It
was a girl and was waving at her.  She immediately recognized the girl.
"Akane!  Fancy meeting you here.  Can Shampoo join you?"

Akane nodded excitedly, revealing to Shampoo that she had been waving to her
since she saw her come out of the school building.  "I thought you didn't
see me.  Is there something wrong?"  Shampoo sat down beside her.

"Nothing.  Just a major headache from class." Shampoo made herself
comfortable in such natural accommodations. Akane giggled, knowing what her
friend meant. Shampoo heartily joined in with a laugh or two before she had
to stop lest she turned her little headache into a full-blown migraine.
"So, what are you doing under this tree here?"  She tapped the tree's trunk
with one hand, feeling the strength and coarseness of its bark.  She loved
plants.  The nature lover in her was quite sentimental to these things.  She
looked high up, the canopy allowed very little of the afternoon sun to pass
through.  She estimated that it was more than half a century in age, given a
year or more.  The wind rustled the leaves of its branches on the periphery,
and this delighted her.

"I usually stay here, whenever I have the time to kill.  And," Akane stared
away, "whenever I want to be alone.  You know what I mean?"

Shampoo felt the wind picking up, the cold breeze whistling past her cheeks.
She breathed deeply, enjoying the soothing air.  "Ah, I think I know.  This
is a wonderful place to be alone, Akane.  It's quite peaceful, yet," She
leaned back on the tree, "shady."  A smirk on her face made Akane laugh.
Shampoo truly laughed with her friend this time.

-----

Kasumi Tendo walked past several students as she sat down on her desk.  She
looked somewhat excited already that morning, as she eagerly flipped the
power switch that turned her computer into life.  While waiting she casually
unpacked her bag.  Her books stacked up neatly on one corner, while the
cookies she had baked earlier that day went straight to the cookie jar that
sat proudly on the other end.  Proudly, one would ask when this was a large
jar to begin with, creatively adorned with finger paintings of floral
designs.  As soon as she finished replacing the cap, a few of students
started to flock her desk.

"Say, Kasumi-chan, are these cookies yours?"  Daisuke humbly asked as he
reached Kasumi's desk first.  A moment later, every staff member of the
Furinkan High's School Paper had gathered around Kasumi.  "Oh, cashew this
time, eh?"  Daisuke helped himself with a couple before thanking Kasumi.

"I'm glad you like them, Daisuke.  Just remember to pay for them, alright."
Kasumi jested with an accompanying grin, everyone else giggled seeing the
startled reaction from Daisuke.  "Oh, you know I was only kidding."

"Whew...and for a moment there I thought you were our chief."  Daisuke
commented as he stepped away to let the others have their share.

"Kasumi-chan, when do you think we'll ever taste your wonderful brownies
again?"  One of the youngest journalism student asked as she finished with
one of the cookies that was handed to her.

"I probably have time to bake some for tomorrow.  But, don't you think it's
time that you sweeties make the snacks around here?"  Kasumi smiled as she
saw that her computer was ready for her.  "Besides, Its been a while since
we tasted some of those wonderful ginger-bread men of yours."  Kasumi looked
away from her monitor just in time to see the last cookie fall from her
hand-made cookie jar.  "Oh, finished already?"

"They're great!"  Some of the girls around cheered.   "I'll make some
ginger-bread men tomorrow, who'd want some?!"  A lot of hands went up,
including Kasumi's.  "Okey, just remember to pay me later, okey?!"  A few
laughs circled the room again.

"How adorable children."  Kasumi quickly went back to her work.  Her hand
guided her flower shaped pointer towards a feature story she's been working
on.  "Back to work."  The screen changed, and the text within filled her
screen almost immediately.

Everyone else veered back to their places, and life was back to normal for
the Furinkan's Blue Flame's office.

-----

"Ucchan!  Where are we going?"  Ryoga almost tripped as he held desperately
on to Ukyou's hand.  He found himself almost dragged across the hallway.  He
tried to look behind them.  Ranma was nowhere in sight.  "We lost him."

Ukyou finally slowed down, only to take a look back down the corridor.
"Hey?  Where is he?"  Ryoga's momentum carried him forward and sent him
plowing through his girlfriend.  "Ack!"  Both fell on the cold floor, Ryoga
on top of Ukyou.  "Ah!  That hurts."  Ryoga fumbled to get up, pressing on
Ukyou's body, rather than on the floor.  He reddened in embarrassment after
realizing where his hands were actually groping.

"Sorry!  Really I am."  Ryoga closed his eyes, as his body still hovered
awkwardly above Ukyou's.  He was expecting a slap on his cheek, an
appropriate response for what he had done.  Instead, he found himself being
dragged back down and rolled over.  He found his back flat on the floor.  He
looked up.  Ukyou now had the advantage.

"Don't be sorry, I'm not."  She grinned and lowered her head for a kiss.

"Ucchan?"  He managed to say her name in between gasps for air.

"Yes?"

"Can I get up now?"  That irked her a bit, but realizing where they really
where, she conceded.   Both took turns dusting each other off.  Ryoga
apologized, but he didn't really have to.  Ukyou knew better than to be
rolling on the fifth floor of their school.

"I'm sorry too.  I shouldn't have done that."  Ukyou took Ryoga's hand and
both smiled to each other.  Both didn't hear the footsteps approaching.

"Are you two finished?"  Ukyou startlingly turned around, Ryoga hastily
looked at who was asking.  He didn't recognize the girl.  She had short
hair, and quite pretty and tall.  She must know Ukyou, since his girlfriend
acknowledged her presence.  What surprised him was that Ranma was
accompanying the girl.

"Nabiki!  How long..." Ukyou faced flushed red in embarrassment.  She
squeezed at Ryoga's hand, backtracking a bit.

"Not long.  Just came up with Ranma here, looking for you."  Nabiki grinned,
and then looked up at the boy standing behind her friend.  "Ryoga, right?"

Ryoga nodded.  His thoughts about this �Nabiki� girl were momentarily
derailed by the question.  He'd been eyeballing Ranma, who was still
standing solemnly on Nabiki's side.  Could this be the girl Ukyou was
talking about?  He thought about the classmate Ranma was with last night.
But this girl wasn't familiar to him.  He thought he would at least have
seen her before in class.  Who was she?

"Glad to meet you."  Nabiki extended a hand, but retracted as soon a she saw
Ryoga's hands were preoccupied.  "Oops.  Well," She figured waving instead
would suffice, "anyway, I'd like to interview the two of you for the school
paper.  I already asked...Ranma?" Nabiki blinked, seeing Ranma stone cold
expression.  She turned slowly back at Ukyou; her icy stare at her brother
was quite similar.  "Um, is this still about last night?"  Ukyou and Ranma
nodded, not straying sights from each other.  Ranma eyes� narrowed, his
eyebrows meeting.  Ukyou felt the pressure, even with Ryoga being there with
her, she didn't feel secure.

"Ukyou? Ranma?"  Nabiki grasped Ranma's hand.  That snapped Ranma from his
trance.

"Huh? Oh, sorry, Nabiki."  Ukyou heaved a sigh of relief.

"Gee.  If you really wanted to get a date with my sister..." Ranma's head
snapped and turned towards her. Nabiki was startled.  She knew she can be
tactless sometimes, but she never figured Ranma to get angry.  He wasn't, he
smiled instead.

"Umm.  Can we talk about something else?"  Ranma calmed down.  The situation
was really getting out of hand.  What was he being angry about?  Nabiki was
innocent, and his morning long feud with his sister was just getting to be
too childish for his own good.  He had to stop being regretful.  He has more
chances. He hoped.

"Sure," Nabiki turned to the other two, "Ukyou, how about that interview?"

-----

Mousse took off his glasses and started cleaning them.  The condition of the
air in the city was a far cry from the peaceful and tranquil serenity of
Ryugenzawa, he thought.  The roads were filled with fast moving and long
queue of vehicles that didn't help maintain the clearness of his spectacles.
He was getting tired of clearing the dust off his eyes.  But there was
little he could do about that.  What he could do, though, was put some
common sense into his companion.  "Why don't we just go back, Shinnosuke?
If we head towards the train station now, we would still make the early
afternoon trip back..." He was cut short by his friend's glare.

"We're not leaving, Mousse."  Shinnosuke looked away.  He walked up to some
students near the gates of Furinkan High.  No luck, freshmen, he thought.
He headed towards the nearest building, adjusting his visitors ID along the
way.  Mousse had no choice but to follow.  Shinnosuke again asked around.  A
senior student heard of Kasumi, but didn't really know where she was right
now.  Disheartened, Shinnosuke made his way through the main hallway.

"Kasumi Tendo?  Sure, I know her."  A girl with long black hair, tied like a
ponytail in the back stared at the young man asking about her friend.
Kodachi adjusted her eyeglasses, staring at the boy from bottom up.  He's
kind of cute, she reasoned.  "She's my friend.  May I ask why are you asking
about her?"  Mariko, standing on Kodachi�s side, looked at the stranger with
suspicion.

"Is she around?  She must be if you are her friend.�  Somehow Shinosuke felt
rusty.  Has it been that long since he had tried his charms on another girl?
Usually he wouldn�t be this straight to the point.  �I mean...I�m sorry,
forgive my rudeness.  I�m Shinosuke, and I�m also Kasumi�s friend, but from
her previous school.  I do wish to meet her again.  It has been such a long
time since I saw her last.  You see, we were separated when our old school
got burned down.  She had to move out of Ryugenzawa and I, well we couldn�t
afford to. And that...� So far so good, he thought.

�What?� Mariko spoke for the bit stunned and charmed Kodachi.

�Oh, I just miss her so much.  Do you know where she is right now?  Do you?
Please.�  Perfect, he said to himself.  It won�t be long now.

Mousse was not amused. He was familiar to Shinosuke�s dashing and
gentlemanly methods of charming a girl.  At times he was even sick and tired
of it.  Shinosuke wasn�t a bad person, but sometimes he uses his strengths
in so many wrong ways. Even if the intentions were good, the ways wasn�t
justifiable. Mousse could never see Shinosuke�s logic in using a girl the
way his friend does.

Too impressed to say anything, and a bit teary eyed from Shinosuke�s sad
story, Kodachi could only point to the nearby classroom.

�I thank you, miss?�

�Kuno, Kodachi Kuno.�  Mariko knew she was in trouble when her friend
started backtracking, and slipping as Kodachi felt weak in the knees.

Shinosuke, on the other hand, quickly turned to his companion.  �Eureka!
She�s here after all.  Let�s go Mousse.�

�Ho hum.  Like I�ve been waiting for this.�  Mousse followed Shinosuke down
the corridor, like the sick dog he was to his master.  �Gee. When will this
guy ever learn?�

Mariko desperately hanged on to her fainted friend, oddly staring at the two
strangers before they disappeared around the corner.  "Strange that Kasumi
knows those creeps.  Hey,"  She turned to Kodachi, "wake up now.  We'll be
late for our next class."

-----

Genma took some casual liberty looking at the facade of the place.  It was a
large home, but not as large as that of his own.  It had a tall fence, the
usual wooden gate that paved the entrance, and the sign.  Yes, it was the
sign that struck him.  "Tendo dojo?"  He asked himself, realizing what the
rest of the inscriptions meant.  Nodoka had her arm across his as they stood
in front of the Anything Goes School of Martial Arts Dojo.  "This has to be
Soun's place." Genma looked at his wife.

"Shall I knock?"  Nodoka asked, shamefully Genma realized his mistake.  His
fist knocked once on the wooden gates, then he rapped three successive
knocks before stopping.  He seemed focused, Nodoka figured as she kept her
stare at her husband.  She mentally counted the years the two friends had
been apart, and it was a long way back to memory lane.  A minute later the
doors opened for them.

"Genma?  Is that you?"  Soun opened the gates and let the two visitors
inside.  "I can't believe how...how..."

"You can say it, Tendo." Genma muttered, feeling the tension growing in the
air.  Soun tried to laugh his embarrassment off, hoping that his jest on
Genma's figure wasn't really meant as it could have been.  Genma too was
eyeballing his old friend.  He was the same, still the tall, long haired man
he knew back then, when he was still training.  Soun was his best friend
back when he was learning martial arts, but somethings were meant only to be
remembered, like their friendship.

"Please, make yourself at home."  Kimiko said as she greeted the Saotomes
inside the household.  She had prepared a small snack for Genma and her best
friend.  "Oh, it's so good to see you again, Genma."

"Yes, it is good." Genma thought for a minute, realizing his words were
coming out of his mouth in all the wrong fashion.  He was far more uneasy
than he had thought he would.  He cleared his throat, hoping to come up with
a better answer.  "I mean, yes, it is. Kimiko.  How long has it been?
What?..."  Genma looked at Soun, and then to his wife.  Nodoka answered
twenty.

"Has it been that long?"  Soun asked, pouring some tea to everyone's cup.
"It's seems like it was just yesterday, when we were still...training...
that is."  Soun winced, realizing the faux pas he stumbled into.

"That's alright, Tendo."  Genma must have sensed it too, Soun thought.
"I've gotten over it.  What happened to us way back then."  Genma answered
as he took a sip from his cup.  Nodoka and Kimiko just stared at each other,
making visual conversations as they took some tea too.

"You know, Genma."  Soun  placed his cup of tea down, "I envy you."

Genma was surprised, and so were the wives upon hearing those words from
Soun.  "Why do you say that?"  Genma asked in interest.

"You have a young man to call as son.  Ranma seems to be a very courteous
and well mannered young man, Saotome.  You've raised him well."

"I did?"  Genma blinked a few times, before Nodoka slapped him on the
shoulder to snap him out of his trance.  "I...mean, I did!"

"Oh, Genma.  Ranma seems to get along quite well with our children as well."
Kimiko added into the conversation, winking at her best friend at the same
time.  As if on cue, Nodoka giggled with glee.

"Eh, that's right." Soun added, "Remember our agreement, Saotome.  Back when
we were still training."  Genma nodded, adding his own reminiscing stories
into the conversation.  "...Oh, and remember when we..."  Soun and Genma
were into the reminiscing part quite vigorously, leaving their wives in awe.

"Nodoka, what were they talking about...this agreement?"  Kimiko whispered
the question, as the ruckus Soun and Genma were making, trying to keep each
other updated on their past, was filling the room.

"I think they already had agreed to arrange the marriage of our childrens
longe before we came up with that idea."  Nodoka answered.  The conversation
between Soun and Genma was now into the game of Shogi, and Nodoka and Kimiko
were still amazed at how their husbands were acting like the best friends
they were twenty years ago.

"So, you still play the game, Tendo?"

"I must admit, I haven't had a good game in years."  The laughter was
accompanied by a round of tea.  "But I think I still have a set somewhere in
the house."

"Psst.  Does this mean ..."  Kimiko asked again.

Nodoka answered immediately, "Yup, it looks like the Saotomes and the Tendos
would become one big family."  She happily smiled and so did her friend.


-----

Hikaru entered Dr. Tofu's clinic quite early and that made the kind hearted
doctor go see what was wrong with his friend.  He didn't have patients
waiting so he made time to observe.  First he seemed happy, Tofu's
observation was obvious.  Gosunkugi's attitude was totally different that
morning than when he arrived the other day after reporting in Science class
about Magnetism.  "So, Hikaru.  What are you doing here so early in the
day?"

"Oh, I'm sorry Dr. Tofu.  I didn't think you would mind if I'd study here
early, rather than take your time tonight."  Hikaru had already line up his
books on a table nearby and was fixing himself some snacks while studying.

"No, I don't mind, Hikaru.  It's just that I'm curious, you know."  Tofu
smiled, expecting Hikaru to spill what he was being so moody about.  "Well,
you seem happy enough."

"Enough for what?"  Hikaru grabbed a chair and laid down the instant noodles
and assorted cookies he had found in Dr. Tofu's pantry.

"Nothing."  Tofu was a little disappointed, his tactics weren't working on
the spirited Gosunkugi.

-----

"Kasumi-san, do you know anyone by the name of Ranma Saotome?" The question
came from behind.

"Ranma?  Why do you ask, Daisuke?"  Kasumi was startled a bit hearing the
question from her fellow journalist.  She turned around her swivel chair to
face Daisuke.  She then saw a familiar face standing by the door.  "Oh,
Tatewaki-kun, what are you doing here?"  Just then, it struck her  that
everyone in the room was looking curiously at her.  Somehow her mind had
gone from clear to blank in an instant, but a second later she realized her
mistake.  "Oh, my!  What a dumb question that was?"  She smiled and acted
like there was something logged in her head at the moment.  Daisuke just
blinked, not really putting much meaning to Kasumi's sudden loss of poise.

"Kasumi?  Are you alright?"  Daisuke turned to who Kasumi was looking at and
realized Kuno was calling for him.  "Oh, what could he be asking for now?"
Like some dog happily meeting his master, Daisuke walked over towards
Tatewaki, but he wasn't a happy at the sight.

"Ah, Daisuke-kun...Do you have a minute?"  Tatewaki had already collared his
arm around Daisuke before the young victim could answer, dragging the poor
sould outside in the hallway.

"What do you want now, Tatewaki?  Don't you have training or something
today?"  Daisuke must have hit some nerve since Tatewaki immediately stop
dead in his tracks.

"Arggh!  I totally forgot!  Damn."  Kuno was about to leave in haste when he
suddenly remembered his reason to be at the Blue Flame's office in the first
place.  "Oh, Daisuke...remember that favor you owed me?"

Daisuke's face went sour.  "What favor?!  Are you talking about that girl
you kissed who you mistaken for..."  his mouth was promptly covered by a
rather embarassed Kuno Tatewaki.

"Alright, alright.  I get the picture."  Tatewaki let go of his hold lest
he'd want an unconscious Daisuke in his hands.  "I need a favor, Daisuke."
His victim coughed and cleared his throat first before replying.

"Why should I?  You still haven't fulfilled your promise to me, idiot!"

"Hey, I have problems of my own at the Tendo dojo, ok.  Maybe I can get you
enrolled in a different dojo?"  Tatewaki started thinking and talking to
himself, and that annoyed Daisuke.  "Hmm,  Wait.  Ranma is starting his own
dojo, right?"

"Ranma?  You know Ranma Saotome?  The new kid in school?"  Daisuke's
interest and mood suddenly changed.

-----

�I wonder where Ranma is?�  Shampoo and Akane was on the same hallway, about
to walk past the two strangers of Furinkan High.  �He must have caught up
with Ucchan by now.�  Akane asked her why was Ranma chasing after Ukyou.
�Well, I...can�t actually say.  They only tell me nothing when it comes to
family matters, you know.�  That wasn�t actually the truth, but how could
she tell Akane that she was the reason herself.

�Tell me.  If you don�t mind me asking.  How did you become part of his
family, Shampoo?�  Akane found this time alone with Shampoo the perfect time
to finally know more about the Saotomes.

�Well, I�m not really family.  It�s just that when we were little, Ranma
became my grandmother�s student.  Like me, and Ukyou too.  But she trained
much later.�  Akane needed to write that bit of information, its hard enough
listening to Shampoo in the middle of a crowd of students in the hallway.

�Why is that?  Ukyou and Ranma are sort of twins, right?�  That drew a bit
of laughter from Shampoo.  �What?  What did I say?�

�No, no. Ukyou is no twin.  I assure you.� Shampoo quieted down, lest
everyone around her forced her to stop her high pitched laughter.  �Its hard
enough to have one Ucchan.  But, tell me.  What made you say that, Akane?�

-----

�That voice?  That distinct laughter.  I know that girl?�  Mousse fixed his
glasses, they were slipping off his nose.  He could hardly make out the
source of the laughs as the corridor was filled with students.  He only had
to look farther ahead, though, to see the hazy violet shade on a girl�s hair
that was coming their way.  �No, it can�t be.�

-----

�Well, she and Ranma are almost the same age.  In fact we all are in the
same class.  So I figured if she was his sister, maybe they were...�
Shampoo�s swinging head forced her to stop, �you mean they�re not?�

�Nope.  She was adopted.�  Shampoo made sure to whisper that bit of
information into Akane�s listening ear.  She surely didn�t want to get into
trouble if that spread around the campus.  �Do you get it, Akane?�
Hesitantly, Akane nodded.

-----

�Kasumi, Tendo Kasumi?�  Shinosuke stepped into the room hoping that the one
he had been seeking would immediately acknowledge his presence.  Not today,
as apparently the faces in the room were unfamiliar to him.  It was
fortunate for him though that there was no teacher yet, or he would have
received more than the glares he did from the startled students.

The door behind him closed abruptly, and standing there, peering through the
small glass window was his friend.  Why was he cowering, Shinosuke ask
Mousse.  He was only ignored.  �I said, what are you so afraid of all of a
sudden?�

�Keep quiet, you fool!  She�s here!�  Mousse dragged his friend towards the
door, forcing his face up the window.  �See her?  She�s here, so keep
quiet.�

�I don�t see Kasumi?�  Shinosuke looked again, wiping the mist he made when
his breath made contact with the cold glass.  �I don�t see her, Mousse.
Wait...� A girl with violet hair? �Whoa you�ve got to see this...there�s a
girl out there that dyed her hair purple.  How stupid can you...�  He turned
to his friend, only to see him angrier than ever.  �Huh?  What did I say?�

-----

�I see.  Ranma and Ukyou were childhood friends, but when Ukyou�s parents
died, Mr. and Mrs. Saotome took her in as one of their own.�

Shampoo held a finger up to her lips.  �Sshh.  This is our little secret,
Akane.  I don�t want anyone else to know.  Or else...� She made a slitting
throat motion. Probably a joke on her part, Akane wondered.  �Anyway, Ukyou
is a bit touchy on the subject.  She�s got this...um, anyway...medical terms
aren�t much my fancy anyway.�  Only her pointing finger up on her head gave
some clue to what she meant.

�I see.  She must be so depressed at times, knowing her real parents are
gone.�  Akane held her bag up to her chest, clutching it with earnest.

�Yes, very tragic story.�  Shampoo felt crying too, but she already shed
those tears years ago.  �Well, where do we go now?  I heard we don�t have
volleyball class because of the water main got busted in the gym.�

�Volleyball class?  It�s Physical Education.�

�Whatever.  As I said before, technical terms are so much nuisance.  Like
Math, it should be called Big Headache class instead.� She laughed.

�I concur.�  Akane joined her laughing as they neared the flight of stairs.

-----

�So who were those cute girls anyway?�  Shinosuke finally emerged from the
room when Shampoo and Akane finally disappeared around the corner.

�You don�t want to know.�  Mousse walked in the other direction, away from
where the two women had gone too.

�Aren�t we going to follow them?�  Shinosuke tugged on Mousse�s garment.

�You blind?  That was Akane Tendo she was with?�  Mousse noticed the shocked
expression.  �Don�t tell me you didn�t notice?�

�Akane?�  Shinosuke turned to look back where he last saw the girl he had
know since childhood, the little sister of Kasumi.  �She cut her hair, didn�
t she?�

�D�oh!�  Mousse stepped off away from the stairs, but Shinosuke had other
plans.  �Hey, where do you think you�re going?�

�Where they were going, of course.�  Mousse ran after Shinosuke, begging for
him to turn back.  �Why should I? I came to see Kasumi, and Akane will lead
me to her.�

�But, do you really want to see Akane?  Not after what you did to her.�  The
two reached the stairwell, a crowd of students were coming down the steps.
�Listen, this is not a good time to meet Akane.  It�s better if you talked
with Kasumi first, right?�

�What are you so afraid of?  It must be that other girl you�re talking
about.  Frankly, I don�t see anything wrong if I see Akane now.�  The two
reached the second floor.  Shinosuke looked around but Akane or Shampoo wasn
�t in sight.  So he climbed up again.  �Hurry up, Mousse.�

�Numbskull!  You don�t remember, do you?�  Mousse finally caught up with
Shinosuke, forcing him back to the second floor landing.  �That brain of
yours must be so twisted right now that you can�t remember what you did to
both Tendos.�

�Quit it, Mousse.  You�re freaking me out.�  Shinosuke had good reason, he
was hanging in mid-air off the stairs, being held only by Mousse grasp on
his shirt.  At least they were only one story above the ground, Shinosuke
knew he will survive if he ever fell.  �Gee.  So I don�t remember
everything.  Big deal.�

�Oh, really.  Would you like me to tell you?�  Mousse shook Shinosuke,
eliciting a few shrieks from the student watching them.  A few where even
concerned for his friend�s life, even though Mousse himself was not.

�Actually, I�d like you to put me back down.  On the floor I mean.�

-----

"Dr. Tofu, you know what?"  Hikaru asked as Tofu finally emerged from the
clinic in the adjacent room.

"What is it, Hikaru?"

"I've been giving my future some thought lately."  Tofu's interest was
spurred hearing those words from such a kid like Hikaru.  "I've been
thinking of going to college."

Tofu immediately grabbed a chair and sat with Hikaru.  "College is good.
College is defintely a worthwhile endevour, Hikaru.  I commend you for
choosing this course so early in life.  Few people do, you know.  There may
be hope for you yet, Hikaru."

"Really?"

"Tell me, what do you want to be?"

"Well, I certainly can't be a magician all my life...and besides, how would
I support a family on a magician's wage."  Hikaru said as he didn't stir
away from the book he was reading.  Tofu though was stunned for a moment.

"Well,  I guess Magic doesn't really pay, does it?"  Tofu answered back.
"Maybe you like to be a doctor, just like me, eh, Hikaru"  Tofu said while
nudging Hikaru a bit.

"By the way, Dr. Tofu, How much does is a magician's wage anyway?"

"Um...I don't really know."  Tofu answered dissappointingly.

"Just kidding!"  Hikaru blurted out.

-----

Nabiki opened the door for everyone.  Inside, everyone that was sort of
working tried desperately to look busy.  Nabiki, though was busy herself,
entertaining her guest to bother with her staff.  "This is the Journalism
Class' office.  Officially, the school's Blue Flame's office is across the
corridor, but I've convinced our headmaster and journalism teachers to give
us this room for the rest of the staff."  Ranma and Ukyou was eagerly
looking around, embarrassed a bit by the numerous stares from the people
around.  Ryouga made himself comfortable, sitting down on one corner of a
huge table.

"So you're the editor-in-chief, Nabiki?"  Ranma asked as he picked up
several copies of the latest Blue Flame.

"Yup."  Nabiki walked past Ryouga, tugging at the folder beneath her new
friend.  "Um, Hibiki-kun...can ya?"

"Oops." Ryouga jumped and jerked away immediately, apologizing profusely.

"No harm done." Nabiki slapped the folders a bit, giggling a bit as she
looked at Ukyou's direction.  Her friend though was engrossed at the trophy
case instead.  "Like what you see, Ukyou?"

"Lot's of awards, I see." Ukyou finally walked up to a chair that was
waiting for her.  Nabiki looked at her watch, visibly irked at her
discovery.

"Where is that idiot? And where is she?"  Nabiki looked sheepishly at her
friends, embarrassed at fact that she's making them wait for an interview
she's been planning all week.

"Hello there."  The greeting came from behind them.  Ranma, Ryouga and Ukyou
turned to find a smiling face peering behind a computer monitor.  It was
Kasumi, smiling so charmingly at the three.  "I didn't know you were coming,
Ranma, Ukyou...my, who's this?"

Ryouga looked at his sides before he realized it was him that was being
asked by the beautiful girl manning the computer.  "Um, I'm Hibiki Ryouga.
I'm Ukyou's and Ranma's friend."  He stuttered a bit.

"He's Ukyou's boyfriend, sis.  The one that was not able to taste your
cooking last night." Nabiki peered through the blinds of her window.  She
didn't see anyone under the tree that she was particularly interested in.

Ranma greeted Kasumi, and so did Ukyou.  Ryouga was now piecing the puzzle.
"I see, you are Kasumi Tendo?"

"Hai.  Yes, I am.  Ukyou must have told you about me."  Kasumi rolled out
her chair from her desk and joined the group that was waiting in front of
Nabiki's desk.  "Are you the one still training?"

"I am." Ryouga said with a meek smile.

"I'm also learning martial arts." Kasumi was stunned a moment realizing what
she had just said.  Why did I say that, she asked herself.  She looked at
Ranma, he was smiling at her.  Was it because of Ranma?

"Really?  You don't look like the type."

Nabiki sat back at her chair, she looked menacingly at one of her staff.
"Where is Daisuke?"

"He was here a while ago."  The girl Nabiki was looking at turned to a
fellow staffer.  "Do you know where Daisuke went?"

"Tatewaki sempai fetched for him, I think." The reply came from a boy
manning a typewriter in another desk.

"Tatewaki?"  Nabiki was curious why her boyfriend would have any need for
Daisuke.  Then she remembered the date that day, realizing that she had made
plans.  "I guess we better go on without my chief reporter."

Kasumi had already struck up a conversation with everyone, mostly with
Ryouga and Ukyou.  Nabiki noticed it and decided who would be the perfect
replacement for her interviewer.  "Kasumi, do you have some spare time?"

Kasumi was hesitant in replying, knowing her sister very well.  "Um, why do
you ask, Nabiki.  I still have that feature to write up."

"Forget that one.  I've got something better for you to do." Nabiki handed a
folder to her sister.  "I need you to interview Ranma for the school paper."

"Ranma?" Kasumi turned to the subject. Ranma could only raise his shoulders
in apparent innocence.  "I...have to..." Kasumi knew she had to stop being
so ...uneasy about Ranma, "can I have an interview, Ranma Saotome.  Of
course, I would hope you'd say yes."  Why? Why was she afraid of Ranma?  He
was three years younger than her.  So what was the reason she
was...uncertain whenever Ranma was the subject of conversation.  She could
only recall what had happened last night and the question she was asked only
a while ago.

"Of course, Kasumi.  I would love to give an interview.  Though, until now I
still can't understand why anyone would be interested in me?"  Ranma said as
he turned to Nabiki.

"Trust me, Ranma.  You'll thank me later." Nabiki said in reply.

Interested?  Kasumi stared at Ranma's dossier, hiding inside the folder that
was handed to her.  Was she interested in Ranma?  She asked herself again
though her heart couldn't answer her honestly.  Maybe she was.  The thought
lingered in her head as she and Ranma sat in one lonely corner of the room.

-----

Akane stepped into the room and hung her backpack on a hanger where coats
normally would be.  She apologized to her friend for the clutter and crude
settings of the furniture.  "We can sit over here.  This place really needs
some cleaning."  Shampoo sat on a chair while Akane tried to clear her desk.

"This is your own office, Akane?"  Shampoo looked around, everywhere there
were stacks and mounds of boxes and paper piles.  A machine press was at the
back of the room and it was fairly obvious what the room was used for.

"I know its not much, but ever since we got all these new inventory, we've
decided to move most of the staff to the Journalism room on the other side."
Akane finally placed down the intruding piles of papers off her desk.

"Cool!" Shampoo exclaimed.  "You're so lucky to have a room for your own."

"Well, this room has turned into an art department of some kind."  Akane
looked at the drafting tables in one corner, and the makeshift dark-room on
the other end.  "Yup, this is pretty ugly."

"No...it is not.  It's good to see you have some interest in art.  You say
you are the cartoonist, right?"

"Well, something like that."  Akane sat down, opening her drawer for no
reason at all.  "Huh?"  A piece of paper was the first thing she saw.  "Meet
me after lunch break."  It was signed by Nabiki.

"Who wants to see you?  Your boyfriend?"  Shampoo giggled, teasing Akane.

"Don't be ridiculous.  It's just my sister."  Akane stood up, "I've got to
see our Editor-in-chief for a minute, Shampoo.  Would you like to come?"

"Sure." Shampoo left her things on Akane's table and left the room a moment
later.

-----

Shinosuke was thinking.  Hearing the cruelest story he had ever heard from
his friend was a lot to reflect on, especially since it happens to be true.
It happened to him.  He looked across the way, Mousse had been reflecting
himself, leaning out the corridor window, eagerly getting his head cooled
from the outside breeze, and getting his mind clear of the past he had just
unearthed.  "Could I...I mean.  I don't remember!"  For once, the effects of
the pyschological theraphy was wearing off.  He was beggining to get back
into his secluded state, a place totally withdrawn due to the near fatal
trauma he'd suffered years ago.

"I'm sorry, man.  I wasn't suppose to force the truth of your past to you
like that.  But, you're as stubborn as you were before your accident."
Mousse said as he finally walked away from the sills and leaned on the
hallway wall.  "This must be hard on you...but I know you're strong enough
now to realize everything."

"Kasumi?  Akane?  They must hate me right now?"  The questions kept flowing
out of his mouth, with little Shinosuke could do in answering them.

"Not to mention that it was your fault that Ryugenzawa High burned down to
the ground.  Geesh, its a good thing your grandfather owns the school."
Mousse chuckled, aiming to inject some humor but failing.  "Come on.  We
better get going."

"No!  Not until I say...say I was wrong.  I have to find them, Kasumi and
Akane."  Shinosuke stood up.

"Here we go again."  Mousse followed after his friend.

"We'll come back tomorrow.  I'm not ready yet, knowing that I might be the
equivalent of a monster to those two girls," Shinosuke turned towards
Mousse,  "I want you to tell me everything."  Shinosuke disappeared through
a sea of students with Mousse catching up behind him.

-----

Cologne was sweeping the rather large inner court of her new training
school.  She was almost ready, with the final pieces almost in place and
little is left for her to finally start.  Her dreams are finally becoming
reality, and she had so much to teach.  "Advertising, that's what's
missing." She spoke aloud to no one in particular as she finished collating
the last of the fallen foilage into a large pile.  "Tomorrow, I'd send
Ryouga to seek out students."

The wind suddenly picked up, a forceful breeze blew across the courtyard.
The pile of leaves scattered across the field much to Cologne's disgust, but
that wasn't the reason she had stared up at the sky.  She saw a blue and
bright skyline, with a thresh of clouds flying oh so gracefully across the
heaven above the earth.  "The winds are changing." She spoke to herself.  "I
wonder if this is a good thing?"  She thought for a second but ignored her
conclusions and restarted on her work.

-----

End of Episode Five

-----

Authors Notes:


Don't even start....I know it's been awhile, right?  Just tell me what you
think. Public or Private C & C and MST3000 are greatly appreciated.