Hi y'all. I really need more pre-readers so hope I get offers after you read 
this. Thanks to LarryF for pre-reading the first draft.

SCHOOL DAYS - part 1
The Rules

Disclaimer: It'll cost you more to sue me than to simply ignore me. Ranma 
1/2 belongs to Rumiko Takahashi. Rival Schools and Street Fighter belong to 
Capcom. X-men belongs to Marvel.

Notes: Ranma got beat by some guy named Daigo. Some other guy called Retsu 
happened to be in town looking for young martial artists to go to the school 
he's scouting for. Since Cologne knows him, she points him in the direction 
of the Tendo Dojo. And that's the quick rundown. Now onward march!

"So this is it huh? Nice set up ya got here Retsu, but why'd the name sound 
so familiar?" Ranma couldn't help but feel a LITTLE apprehension toward his 
new school for the semester. While Nerima was as much a magnet for super 
powered martial artists as he was for water, but there the ENTIRE student 
body was not made up of them. Well, at least he would get a chance to get 
even with one of said practitioners of the Art. Daigo. And the great thing 
was that it was actually being sanctioned by the school! The only conditions 
being that it be held at the school gymnasium at the end of the semester and 
that he wouldn't try and start a fight beforehand. Which was fine with 
Ranma, that'll just give him time to see Daigo in action and develop an 
effective strategy.

Retsu, who was busy nursing a lump on the head from Cologne wasn't really 
listening. After getting Ranma to join the school by telling him about 
Daigo's role as the school 'enforcer' of sorts, he went over to the 
Nekohanten where he got a whack on the back of the head for old times sake. 
Oh yeah, that and his rejecting Shampoo as a student for the school, thus 
keeping her from her 'airen' and ruining whatever plans the 'old bat' had 
concocted for the poor lad. When Ranma's last question registered, he just 
looked at him funny. "Well it should be. I told you, we're sponsored by the 
scientific community. This place belongs to the Xavier's School for the 
Gifted. We would have sent you to one of our more mainstream locations but 
with your curse and fianc�e problems, this really is the best place to be. 
Now are you SURE you're not afraid of ANYTHING?"

"Heck no! I ain't afraid of anything! And ain't no place in the world that 
got anything on Nerima when it comes to being weird." Ranma was perhaps a 
bit too quick and eager to answer though. A fact not lost on the older man. 
He'll just have to wait and see how the lad reacts when the time comes.

"Now let's see now" Retsu though. "What was Mistress Khu Lon saying before 
she whacked me? Oh yeah, Ranma's been underestimating his opponents since 
that Saffron thing. And he's been too used to fighting the same old, same 
old. That's some of why he lost to Daigo. Guess he needs a little spice in 
his life. Heh heh heh, no problem around here. Oh well. Hmm, she also said 
something about a Cat Fist� she seemed to think it was important. Guess I 
shouldn't have interrupted and told her Shampoo didn't get in. God I know 
I'll live to regret it. I can never keep my mouth shut around the old bat. 
Heh, still can't believe me and the boys got away with calling her that."

Seeing the blank expression on Retsu's face, Ranma figured the old man was 
in one of those spells of his again. "Weird, he ain't that old. Guess he 
didn't get out much living� where the heck did he live anyway? Darn, I'm 
doing it too. This is all pop's fault." His own musings did not deter him 
from noticing what was headed his way though. Ranma took a slight defensive 
posture as the trio approached him.

Daigo barely cocked and eye when he noticed Ranma's stance. Bowing to Retsu, 
he said, "Good morning Mr. Toriyama. I see you have convinced Mr. Saotome to 
join us. I'm sure he would be a wonderful addition to our school."

Breaking out of his trance, Retsu smile at the big boy. "My you've gotten 
big since you were a little tyke. What are you now? 6'4, 6'5? And what is 
with that hair of yours young man? You look like a hedgehog with a James 
Dean complex." They both let out a hearty laugh at that old joke of theirs. 
"But seriously now 'little brother', you do remember the rules concerning 
young Ranma here don't you?"

Returning to his usually aloof mannerism, Daigo nodded. "I'll keep us both 
out of trouble sir." Then addressing Ranma with an amused smile, he said, 
"Just remember the rules Saotome, if you want to pick a fight, don't. 
Whatever it is, bring it to the gymnasium. Just register for a slot at the 
counter and if you behave, you'll get your shot at me by the end of the 
term. You do anything funny on or off school grounds, then you'll have to 
deal with me and my gang, got it?"

"Yeah I got it. Don't worry, I got enough problems pounding me at home, I 
don't need ta go around looking for more. Besides" he smiled, "it'll just 
mean I'll get to end the year by kicking your caboose." Of course, Ranma 
being who he is, said it with a lot more cockiness than it was decent. Which 
got him a hard poke on the chest by one of Daigo's two escorts. A cute girl 
with black shoulder length hair, wearing very tomboyish clothing.

"Watch what you're saying pal. Pay some respect to your elders. And don't 
forget to call my bro' sempai next time, you got it?" she said in not so 
friendly terms.

"Hey, not like I said nuthin' that ain't true. Jeez, what the heck is it 
with you uncute tomboys anyway?"

"What!? Why you�" she was stopped by the only thing that could possibly do 
so, a brother's hand on her shoulder.

"Leave it be Akira. We both know his type. He didn't mean anything by it." 
Daigo tried to appease his sister. Knowing very well that it wouldn't last 
past the day. Then she'll just hunt Ranma down and grind his bones into the 
ground. Heaven knows how persistent she is and that she done it before for a 
whole lot less. And this is the guy who beat her up about a month ago. "I'll 
never understand what's with her and brawling with every Tom, Dick and Harry 
who looks at her funny. At least she protects her pretty little face with 
that motorcycle helmet she wears, even if it does make it hard to tell she's 
not a guy. But it wouldn't do to mar something that's going to break so many 
hearts." He thought as he shook his head slightly at her.

"You got lucky Saotome." She said with daggers. Whether she was referring to 
the Ranma's lack of respect or their last fight, well, even she's not sure 
about that.

"Yeah whatever." Ranma replied nonchalantly. "Hey, Daigo, don't ya know some 
guy call Akira too. He was the one with a helmet and dress all in black 
right?"

Daigo and the other girl with him both got a nasty look from Akira as they 
laughed while Ranma got to go into LEO again, and on a different airline 
too. Wonder if flying Akira Airline would effect his standing with Akane 
Airline. Retsu just smiled broadly while he received the same look the other 
two were getting. "I just love student interaction." he thought.

Notes: I hope I dropped enough hints on Akira without it sounding too forced 
out. Anyway, I intend to have the other girl with Daigo to play a major 
role, so her presence there IS important. And the name of the school is The 
Xavier's School for the Gifted, Japan (XSGJ), in case I refer back to it.

Here's a short rant; I originally did not want to write this because I felt 
the characters were too obscure. I was right. So here's a quick rundown:
1. Akira (Rival Schools) - in the game, she dressed all in black while in 
search of her brother and was thought to be a guy. She got beat by Ranma in 
the prologue, who thought she was a guy. He still does.
2. Daigo (Rival Schools) - is Akira's brother and he beat Ranma TWICE. He's 
the school's enforcer and leader of all the gangs. He's promised to give 
Ranma a rematch at the end of the year if Ranma can behave himself till 
then.
3. Retsu (Street Fighter) - no longer particularly important to the story 
but might still make a few appearances.
4. Ranma (Ranma 1/2) - most of you know him already, I'm just putting him 
here so he won't feel left out on his first day. Poor dear.
5. Mystery girl (?????? ????) - it's a mystery. She's the other girl who 
followed Daigo out to greet Retsu and Ranma.

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