Brian M wrote:
*-*-*-*
Possibilities, Fragile Flower
Those sound like two different titles.
*-*-*-*
Hinako-sensei stood at the front of her classroom, confronting a
hoard of student's, the male half of which were leering at her
"horde of students"
(currently) adult form. Next to her stood a girl in the standard
Furinkan high school uniform. She stood average height and would be
Too bad. Saint Hebereke's uniform is far better.
considered pretty by most standards, and gorgeous by some. She too, was
being leered at by most of the boys in the class.
"Class, I would like you to meet our new student, Kodachi Kuno.
She just transferred here from St. Heberke's school for girl's." The
"Hebereke's School For Girls"
leering stopped, quickly. Kodachi's reputation as an insane maniac had
apparently preceded her. "Kodachi-san, you may sit over there, behind
Saotome-kun." Miss Hinako pointed over to some seats on the right side
of the room. "Saotome-kun, could you raise your hand please?" The
gentle snoring of a youth in a red chinese shirt could be heard.
"Oh..." Miss Hinako muttered something under her breath about
delinquints and not respecting their elders. "He's sitting in between
Ukyo and Akane, girl's could you raise your hands please." They did.
"girls" Question mark.
Kodachi took her time in getting to her seat, sparing a loving glance
for Ranma and blatantly ignoring Akane and Ukyo. When she finally did
sit down Akane waited for Miss Hinako to get into her lecture before
turning to Kodachi. "What are you DOING here, psycho?"
"My father was rather... insistent, that I attend his school. I
Hmm. Kind of late in the year to transfer her.
would have resisted more, but then I remembered that my Ranma darling
attended here." Kodachi reached forwards to try and stroke Ranma's hair,
but was stopped by a wall of slate-grey metal, and the words "Don't
touch my Ranma-honey."
Comma after "words"
"I would be freeing my Ranma-sama from you two right now, but I
was always taught that knowledge came before revenge. I guess you do
not value your education very much." With that, she resumed paying
attention to Miss Hinako's lecture. Leaving Akane and Ukyo to fume over
Kodachi's verbal victory. Ranma slept through the whole thing.
I wouldn't exactly call that victory.
"Saotome!"
"Uh, huh, um, yes sensei." Ranma drowsily raised his head.
"No sleeping in class, go stand in the hall."
Kodachi watched the entire scene with a sort of suppressed
What do you mean by "a sort of"? Do you mean "snort"?
amusement. <Ah, my poor Ranma-sama. He really must learn to pay
attention one of these days. I hope brother dear doesn't decide to
attack him in the hallway... again.> A crash was heard from the hall
accompanied by someone screaming 'DIE FOUL SORCERER!' <Then again...
brother dear was never very bright.> Kodachi redirected her attention
to the front of the class to catch the rest of the lecture. But was
surprised to find that Miss Hinako had been replaced by a twelve year-
old girl. <Now where did the teacher go?> It was only a moment before
the solution to this problem presented itself when the young girl ran
More of the answer to a question than a solution to a problem.
to
the door of the classroom and shouted 'DELIQUENTS! HAPPO-GO-EN-SATSU!'
"Delinquents!"
and the girl in the doorway morphed into a taller, shaplier, woman.
"shapelier"
Wearing the exact same yellow dress. <Father was right when he said
Sentence fragment.
Furinkan was an interesting school.> Noticing that no one else took any
special exception to these activities, except for the boys who resumed
leering at Ms. Hinako, Kodachi continued paying attention to the
lecture.
*-*-*-*
Lunchtime rolled around with all the subtlety of a freight train
hitting a truck. Kodachi was shocked to watch the entire population of
Furinkan tear through the halls towards wherever they were going to eat
lunch. She merely headed out to the front of the school, hoping to
catch Ranma and eat with him, already having prepared him a lunch. She
had even sworn to herself that she would no longer try to use any
poisons when preparing food for him. Paralysis or sleeping potion,
maybe, but no posions, and she hadn't even used any of her potions this
time.
"poisons"
She strolled along the front yard of the high school but was
unable to locate Ranma. <I guess he decided to go somewhere else to
eat. No use hunting for him on an empty stomach, but I bet that Chinese
hussy is hanging all over him anyway, or that red-haird slut.>
"haired"
Seeking
out the nearest table, this one populated by a generous portion of
giggling girls, Kodachi went over to eat her lunch, when she sat down
the conversation stopped. Looking up she noticed that the girls were
all staring at her. "What?" Kodachi asked as she nervously checked her
hair and dress.
The girls all stood up and walked slowly away from the table.
Leaving Kodachi poking at her rice. <How hospitable...>
"So, my twisted sister has decided to disgrace the wondrous halls
of Furinkan High. Those self-same halls that are home to Akane Tendo,
the
pig-tailed girl, and myself, The Blue Thunder."
"Ah, brother dear, I cannot imagine a more lovely companion with
whom to share my lunch, please do the world a favor and silence
yourself." Kodachi's voice was oozing sarcasm.
"Were we not related by blood I would strike you down where you
sit horrid woman. But as such I will allow your affront to pass without
retribution."
"You're so kind brother."
"Ah, yes, it is true, now I must seek out the villain Saotome and
free the glorious pig-tailed girl and Akane Tendo."
"Brother, I believe it would be in your best interest to leave my
Ranma-sama alone." Kodachi's voice was increasing in volume now. Kuno
looked unimpressed. "So, it is a battle you seek. Very well then,
prepare yourself for a smiting, sister." Kuno slipped into a battle
stance, bokken at the ready.
Kodachi smiled as she removed her ribbon from her backpack.
*-*-*-*
Ranma was sitting under a tree as Ukyo attempted to forcefeed him
a freshly prepared okonomiyaki. Akane was standing over him, glowing
with righteous fury. Out of the corner of his eye, Ranma spotted
something hurtling towards Akane. Grabbing her by the front of her
shirt, Ranma pulled her flat against the ground. Kodachi sailed past,
rolling through the air, to plant her feet on the wall surrounding
Furinkan. Kuno leapt over Akane to face his sister.
Propelling herself from the wall, Kodachi reached into her blouse
and removed a gymnasts ball, which she jammed into her brother's face as
she flew by.
Akane raised her head from the ground, growling at Ranma. Seeing
Kodachi heading towards them again, Ranma put his hand on top of Akane's
head and attempted to shove her into the dirt again. Akane, not seeing
Kodachi's flying form, refused to budge.
Ranma felt something clip his hand, and Kodachi's flight pattern
changed from straight forward to straight down. The gymnast rolled to a
stop, her face buried in the ground, obviously unconscious.
Idly rubbing the part of his hand where Kodachi's foot had
connected, Ranma walked over to where she was lying on the ground.
"Well, what are you waiting for? Let's go!"
"Jeez, Akane, will you give it a rest?"
Ukyo leaned in from the side, eyeing the fallen form of Kodachi.
"Ran-chan, don't you think we should take her to the nurse? I mean, it
is Akane's fault that shes unconscious."
Sighing, Ranma leaned down and picked up the fallen gymnast,
turning to Akane he made a mistake. He opened his mouth. "Well? Now
what?"
"Take her to the nurse, baka!"
"Fine..."
Ranma began trekking towards the nurse's station, Akane following
close behind, Ukyo followed as well, holding Kodachi's backpack. Both
were there to be sure Ranma didn't do anything perverted to Kodachi
while she was unconscious.
I think Ukyo has a little more faith than that in Ranma. The thought
occurs to me, however, that Akane and Ukyo might want to be sure this
wasn't a cunning scheme by Kodachi.
As Ranma placed Kodachi on a cot in the nurse's office, the shirt
of her school uniform rode up ever so slightly, revealing that she
wasn't wearing her leotard today.
Akane noticed Kodachi's bare midriff. "Pervert!"
Hmm. Sounds like Akane is a bit demented.
*-*-*-*
Kodachi woke up shortly after Ranma and Akane left, <Now who could
have brought me in here?> She looked up to see the imprint of a face in
the wall, she'd know that skullmark anywhere. <Ranma-sama?>
Ok, so Akane is a lot demented. Perhaps that's to balance the saner
Kodachi. If you don't want Akane to be a frothing nutcase, why not give
her a little more cause? For example, thanks to his peculiar variety of
luck Ranma could trip, fall on top of Kodachi with his face in her
cleavage or something.
Swinging her legs over the side, Kodachi raised herself to her
feet. A flicker of movement drew her eye to the cot on the other side
of the room, her brother was unconscious, with the gymnastics ball still
lodged in his cheek. Smiling slightly to herself, Kodachi picked her
backpack up from the floor and made her way back towards the classroom.
<Ranma does care about me...>
*-*-*-*
Kodachi rummaged through her backpack, standing in the middle of
one of the hallways of Furinkan high. <Oh drat! I know I had it in
here somewhere.> Kodachi continued rummaging, glancing up at the clock
every so often, until a piece of paper at the bottom of her backpack
caught her eye. Smiling to herself, she reached down and removed her
schedule from it's hiding place. She unfolded to reveal that she was
currently supposed to be in Home Economics. <Wonderful... I love to
cook.>
Kodachi dug her map of Furinkan out of her backpack and, following
the directions precisely, arrrived at her destination in the minimal
amount of time. The teacher was slightly startled to see her appear
Clumsily phrased. "arrived" I suggest, "with minimal delay"
so
late after the bell had rung, but accepted her explanation. After all,
everyone in the school was familiar with the way the Kuno boy acted.
The fact that Kodachi had a reputation as well may have effected the
teacher's acceptance slightly.
"affected". Or just because they're the principal's children. 7
Removing an apron from one of the wall pegs, Kodachi tied it
around her waist and chose a stove to work at. When she arrived at her
chosen destination, a group of four stoves, she noted that it had
suddenly become abandoned, not a single girl was cooking there.
Mentally shrugging, Kodachi looked up at the blackboard. <Cookies... is
that all they know how to bake here?>
*-*-*-*
"These are excellent cookies, Kodachi-chan. You should be very
proud, if you keep cooking like this, you'll pass this class easily."
Ms. Ayumi smiled as Kodachi headed back towards her stove.
Noting the amount of time left in her class, Kodachi set about
making another batch of cookies, for Ranma this time. She renewed her
vow not to use any potions or poisons in her cooking. After all, Ranma
wasn't her brother or father, and as such didn't deserve such harsh
treatment.
*-*-*-*
Ranma strolled along the fence towards the dojo. Akane was below
him, making the occasional odd growling noise, and looking up at him
like it was his fault. <Oh well, at least she hasn't hit me yet.>
Jumping down from the wall, Ranma proceeded to walk alongside Akane.
Both remained silent until they reached the front gate of the dojo, only
Akane's occasional growls leaving any indication that either of them
could speak.
When they arrived in front of the gate, Ranma turned to Akane, his eyes
burning with a fierce intensity. "Okay, Akane, what'd I do?"
Akane was shaken out of her angry stupor by his question. "What do you
mean, Ranma?"
"Well, you didn't speak for the entire walk back from school. You
don't usually do anything like that unless you're really pissed at me,
that's all."
"No, Ranma, it's not your fault."
"Well, that's a first."
"Hey!"
Ranma leapt the wall and ran into the house, Akane following close
behind with a large, blunt object.
Once again, I think Ranma should actually say or do something stupider
before Akane gets violent. For example, he could say, "And you're
actually admitting it? That's a first!"
*-*-*-*
Kodachi entered the gate of the Kuno household. Opening the door, she
let herself in and walked down the main hall. Tapestries of immense
size and complexity adorned the walls. She stopped briefly to look at
her personal crest, she couldn't remember when she had changed it to
it's present form. A short sword, her namesake, with two vines wrapping
upwards along the blade, ending with a black rose on either side of the
hilt. Sadly, she realized she couldn't remember what it had looked like
before either. She suddenly felt very tired trying to think back that
far.
A voice from the hallway removed her from her daydream. "So, my
twisted sister shows herself once again. I trust that Akane Tendo and
the pig-tailed girl have put you in your place, given that you no doubt
attempted to do them harm."
Kodachi locked eyes with her brother, the two of them had long warred
over these things, and she was not going to let Tachi win. "I did not
see the red-haired slut today, brother. And Akane Tendo chose
discretion as the better part of valor, rather than confront me." A
hint of anger passed through the older Kuno's eyes as Kodachi denounced
the pig-tailed girl. Despite her tiredness, Kodachi still managed a
slight smirk as she watched her brother's reaction.
"You lie, the fair tigress Akane would not run from one such as you."
"Believe what you will..." She said as she turned down the hallway
towards her room. <...you always have.>
Sasuke watched the exchange warily, remembering a time when things were
better in the Kuno household.
What time would that be?
*-*-*-*
Ranma, nursing the lump on his head, graciously finished off the snack
that Kasumi had prepared for him. "Thanks Kasumi, that was just what I
needed after today."
"Oh, why? Did something happen at school today, Ranma-kun?"
"Kodachi's only Attending Furinkan now. As if my life wasn't
Oop. Random capitalisation.
bad
enough already. You know, I didn't think it could worse. And then...
boom!" He mimed a small explosion with his hands. "It did. At least
you're here for me to talk to, Kasumi." Ranma turned to see that
Not that she listens...
Kasumi
was busily dusting the table in front of him.
"Don worry, Ranma-kun." She favored him with a bright smile. "I'm
certain it will all turn out allright in the end." Taking the dishes
from Ranma, Kasumi walked back into her kitchen.
"alright"
*-*-*-*
Dinner came and passed in eerie silence. Akane glared at Ranma
throughout the entire affair, still mad at him for some imagined slight
this afternoon.
Ok, so this really is an "Akane is a total b----" fic.
Aside from the occasional scarfing noise from Genma no
one made any sound at all.
Unable to take the silence any longer, Akane slammed her chopsticks
down on the table and stormed up to her room. Nodoka followed her with
her eyes, watching her round the corner, and listening to her stomp up
the stairs, and finally shuddering when the door to her room was slammed
shut.
"Son, I think that you should speak with Akane-chan."
"Mom! I didn't do anything to her."
Genma and Soun stared at Ranma as if he'd just said the stupidest thing
possible. "Boy..." His father began. "You said that like it made a
difference whether it was your fault or not."
Nodoka fixed Genma with a dark-eyed glare, under which he immedeatly
"immediately"
shrank back to his previous position. "I'm sorry, No-chan. I didn't
mean anything."
After Nodoka had turned back to her son Genma emerged behind her
holding a sign that said "I told you so."
*-*-*-*
Ranma slowly treaded up the stairs towards his doom. Walking towards
Akane's room, Ranma noticed that the small duck with her name on it had
fallen to the ground when she'd slammed the door. Picking it up, Ranma
placed it back on the nail it was supposed to hang from.
Knocking gently on the door, Ranma waited nervously for a response.
A muffled "Go away Ranma." came from the other side.
"I need to talk to you."
The door opened to reveal a still very upset Akane. "What do you want,
pervert?"
"I just wanted to say that... that..." Ranma trailed off, fidgeting
with his hands as he looked down at the carpet. "That I'm sorry...
Akane."
Akane stared at him for almost a full minute after that. Ranma was
blushing from head to toe as he continued staring at the floor.
Akane gently shut the door in Ranma's face and walked back into her
room.
Seeing he wasn't going to get anywhere with his fiancee tonight. Ranma
walked back downstairs. <Jeez, not even an 'apology accepted'. Stupid
tomboy!>
*-*-*-*
<How DARE he do that. I was nice and mad at him and then he has to go
and spoil it by apologizing. That, that, that... BAKA!>
Akane lay on her bed, trying to think of some reason to be mad at
Ranma. But nothing came readily to mind. Regretting her decision not
to accept his apology, she slipped into her pajamas, and crawled into
her futon to sleep it off.
Staring at the cieling, Akane muttered softly to herself. "Apology
accepted, Ranma."
"ceiling"
The huntress had trapped her prey, it would not be possible for him to
escape. To even attempt it could mean a fate worse than death. His
only remaining option was to try and plead his way out. Kentaro dropped
to his knees and clasped his hands together.
"Puh-Leeze, Nabiki. I promise I'll pay you what I owe tomorrow. It's
payday at my job. I swear."
Nabiki looked down at the puppy-dog eyes confronting her, and couldn't
help but burst out laughing. It just looked so pathetic! "Okay,
Kentaro. I'll give you till tomorrow, but it's an extra 500 yen for
making me wait. Okay?"
Kentaro nodded his head vigirously, getting an extension from the Ice
Queen, even one with a little bit extra tacked on, was a rare thing.
And he wasn't about to spoil it by being disagreable. After she'd left,
he stood and ran off in the direction of his house. He was going to
need to borrow some money.
*-*-*-*
Kodachi rose early, taking a luxiously long bath in her private tub.
She thought carefully upon her new life at Furinkan as she sat in the
bubbles. <The teachers certainly seemed nice enough. But the students
all seemed... distant somehow. I suppose I will have to earn their
respect before they will socialize with me.>
Oh give me a break. I _really_ doubt that the Hebereke girls chummed
around with Kodachi either.
Kodachi rose from the water and undertook the ritual of preparing
herself for school. As today would be her second day, she chose her
finest leotard to wear under her uniform. Carefully straightening her
dress, and making certain her hair was properly kept, she stared at
herself in the body-length mirror near her closet. "I am Kodachi. The
Black Rose of Sain..." She gathered her thoughts. "The Black Rose of
Furinkan High."
She smiled to herself. For some reason, the words just seemed to flow
better. <Yes... I will teach those students to respect me. I am
Kodachi Kuno, the Black Rose of Furinkan High.> Her smile grew wider.
*-*-*-*
And that's the way it goes...
Note: You will notice that I included a Ranma/Akane semi-waffy moment.
I don't know how, but it just seemed to fit into the story. Do not be
fearing,though. Things will work out better for everyone in the end.
Ah. I take you mean Kodachi gets her man, and Akane gets some kind of
consolation prize?
You've got a really unbalanced relationship between Ranma and Akane
here which isn't necessary to achieve the goal of giving him to Kodachi.
Akane's biggest flaw in regard to Ranma is her intolerance of his
stupidity and her excessive responses. So...let him be stupid and
unlucky. Let him actually aggravate her. Don't turn her into this
two-dimensional bashing machine who hits Ranma regardless of what he
does or doesn't do. It's all too convenient to pick a side of a dispute
and put all the blame there, but in reality...and in Takahashi the
situation isn't that simple.