A Humble Home for a Strong Heart

Chapter Six

Insert the usual disclaimer: All Sailor Moon characters are the solecreations
of Naoko Takeuchi, while all Ranma 1/2 characters are the sole creations of
Rumiko Takahashi. Anything else is mine, mine, mine.

BTW, there is an instance in here that actually came from personalexperience.
And before you ask, yes, I learned my lesson. And no, I haven't made anysince.

====================

This cannot be. This is not supposed to happen. Something's wrong...

======================================================================

Suddenly, her eyes flew open, and she knew that something was dreadfully,
horribly wrong.  She sprung from the bed to the floor in a fighter's stance, her
hands ready to do lethal violence.  Frowning, she cocked an ear.  It was quiet.
Too quiet.  It wasn't supposed to be quiet.  What happened to everyone?

Then she frowned deeper.  This wasn't even her *room*.  What the heck...?

Then events from the day before flooded her mind.  Oh yeah.  That strange
switcheroo.  She was still at the temple--which meant that yesterday wasn't some
crazy, mixed-up dream.

Akane relaxed, wondering if she should feel depressed about not waking up in her
own world.  Normally, she would always awaken to the sound of shrieking, whether
it was from her alarm clock or from Ranma landing in the carp pool.  Small
wonder she was jerked from sleep moments ago.  The house had never been*this*
peaceful and quiet.

She rummaged through the dresser, coming up, to her delight, with a traininggi
that fit her.  Well, might as well take advantage of the early hour.

She tiptoed out of the room via the sliding doors and did some warm-ups,
breathing in the cool morning air.  Then she shifted to some kempoexercises,
marveling at how focused she was <it must be the temple, or the solitude>. No
Ranma making fun of her.  No Happosai pouncing on her.  No Father cryingover
the fact that she had not made up with Ranma. Despite her circumstance, she
could feel her mood strangely lifting.

"The temple can do that, sometimes."

Akane whirled to see Raye, clad in her temple clothes, leaning on a whiskbroom
and smiling at her.

"How did you...?"

"One of the benefits of being a Shinto priestess.  But I don't need to be
psychic to see your look of awe about this place.  I take it you’re notused to
waking up to such peaceful mornings."

"No," Akane admitted with a smile of her own.  "I think around this time I’m is
usually booting Ranma into the atmosphere.  But you’re right.  This placeis so
peaceful."

"Yeah, I know." Raye closed her eyes, allowing the rising sun to play gentlyon
her face.  "Taking care of this place can be a pain sometimes, but there are
benefits."

"Like getting the chance to see such beauty this early in the morning?"

Akane looked at the newcomer who emerged from nowhere, scratching the backof
his neck in embarrassment.  If it wasn't for the temple clothes similar to
Raye’s and the whisk broom, she would've thought the young man was one ofthose
musicians in a grunge band, from the dirty blonde hair down to the scruffy
goatee.  Even his romantic words suggested he was more from California than
Tokyo.

Raye didn't seem to be charmed.  All semblance of peace had vanished fromher
face.

"Chad!  What did I tell you about the temple steps?"

"But I just cleaned them, Raye!  Just like you told me to!"

"Then why are there leaves still scattered across them?"

"Oh, you meant *those* steps!  I thought you meant the back steps!"

Raye glowered at him.  "Akane, maybe you should go in and get ready for
breakfast.  I'll be right back."  Before Akane could ask why, she hefted her
broom and charged towards Chad, who 'eeped' and took off in an unmanlike manner.
"You idiot!  What steps do you think people see when they come here?!"

"Sorry Raye!  Sorry Raye!  Don't hit me!  Yeowwwch!!"

<I guess male bashing is the same wherever you go.>  Akane mused as she went
back into the ·ouse, smiling at the small pun she made.  Somehow, seeingRaye
lose her temper made her seem less mysterious and more real to life. Chasing
guys with various blunt objects was something Akane was more familiar with.

As she washed up, she idly wondered about Chad.  Raye had mentioned him last
night.  He must be hired help...help that was obviously in love with his
employer.  Akane had not missed the adoration on his face.  The same lookwould
come upon Mousse whenever he looked toward his darling Shampoo.  And, intrue
Shampoo fashion, Raye seemed to despise Chad.

<What is with guys falling for headstrong women who treat them like dirt,
anyway?  Don't they know they have absolutely no chance at all?  They’rebetter
off if they found girls that respected them, or even knew that they existed.  If
there was a guy that felt that way about me, I would definitely treat him better
than that!>  She thought back to Chad’s look as she soaped her washcloth. <At
least, if anyone looked at me like that, I would notice it and not ignorehim.
Hmm...I wonder...>

Unbidden, an image sprung to her mind.

"Oh, no. Not him.  He would never look at me like that."

Furiously, she attacked her reddening cheeks with the washcloth, hoping it would
scrub away a certain pig-tailed guy in the process.

================================================================

Raye’s grandfather smiled at her from behind his paper as she entered the dining
room.  "Good, you’re awake!  Have some fruit and cereal."

"Arigato gozaimasu, Mr. Hino."  Refreshed by the morning’s exercise (and with no
Ranma to hog all the food), and now clad in a borrowed shirt and shorts,Akane
fell to with relish.

"An early riser, aren't you?"  Quipped Grandpa Hino.  "When I saw you weren't in
your room, I thought you already left us."

"Oh, no."  Akane said around an apple.  "I always get up early to do my
exercises.  At least, I try to anyway."

"Really?  Trained in the martial arts as well?  Those moves you were doing
earlier shows you definitely have potential to be a temple girl.  How’sabout
it?"

"Huh? How did you...?"

"GRANDPA!"  Raye snapped from the doorway.  For a moment, Akane thought shewas
dressed as Sailor Mars again. <I thought it was supposed to be a secret
identity.> A closer look showed her dress was dark grey instead of red."What
did I tell you about spying on people?!"

"Aww, Raye, it wasn't my fault that I came upon her as I was enjoying this
lovely morning. I only watched her for a little bit anyway!"

"Nani yo?!"

"Grandpa, how could you?  Akane’s our guest!  I will not have you runningabout
like some hormone drenched teenager!  I already have to put up with Chad!
You’re too old to--"

The old man’s expression changed from cunning to harried.  "Uh, Raye, Ithink I
hear customers.  Yes!  I better go get them some charms...or something."
Without saying goodbye, he scampered out with a quickness that would putGenma-
san’s panda-panicked retreats to shame.

Raye shook her head and clenched her fist.  "Sometimes...sometimes...men canbe
so juvenile no matter how old they are!"

"Tell me about it."  Akane murmured.  They looked at each other and began
giggling.

"I guess it’s the same wherever you go."  Raye said as she poured somerice
cereal in a bowl and began wolfing it down.

"Umm, are you going off to school?"

"I wouldn't be dressed like this if I wasn't.  T&A’s colors aren't exactly vogue
this year."

"Ano...T&A?"

"My school. T&A Private Girls School.  It’s a Catholic school of sorts."

Akane blinked.  "A Shinto priestess going to a Catholic school?"  <And in a
uniform *that* short?!>

Raye winked.  "I have to get some religion with my education.  Besides, Catholic
school produces the most mentally-stable students."

Akane thought of a certain ribbon-wielding psycho and wisely kept silent.

"So, Akane," continued Raye.  "what are your plans for today?  I would stick
around and hang out with you, but unfortunately I've already missed enough
classes to put me in detention for a month.  Luna and Artemis haven't called us,
so I don't think the computer has found a way to send you back yet.  You are
welcome to stay here at Cherry Hill until school’s over, if you don't mindmy
grandfather hitting on you all the time."

"Actually, I was thinking of taking a walk to see just how different thingsare
here."

Raye pondered for a moment, then rummaged in her satchel for a sheet ofpaper
and a pencil and scribbled down some directions.  "You know, if you’regoing
out, why don't you stop by Lita’s apartment and water her plants?  I know she'll
be upset if they die--Lita loves plants as much as she loves cooking andguys--
and you have her keys and  stuff."

"That sounds like a good idea!"  Akane smiled.  "It’s the least I can dofor,
um, coming here.  Maybe I'll even stop by her school and pick up her
assignments.  I don't know if anyone told her teachers she’s absent."

"Oh, don't worry.  She goes to the same school as Serena and Amy, and Idon't
think she ranks homework on the same high level as plants and guys.  But you may
want to go by anyway.  Amy’s going to be stuck in classes all day, and Idon't
think Serena would remember--if she makes it to school at all today.  And
speaking of school," She slurped the rest of the milk from her bowl.  "Igotta
book it.  If you need to get in touch with one of us..."

Akane stopped her with a raised hand, then with a flourish producedJupiter’s
communicator.  "I know, I know.  Luna told me what to do."  She smiled. "Luna
is so helpful.  I wish she was in my world, but then again, I don't thinkRanma
would take too kindly to her.  He’s deathly afraid of cats, and with Lunabeing
able to talk, well, let’s just say he'll be speaking her language morethan
she'll be speaking his if he saw her."

Raye blinked and nodded slowly. "Riiiiiiight.  Well, I'll catch you at 4:00,
okay?"

"Have fun!"

After Raye dashed off, Akane lingered over breakfast and pondered on what todo
next.  Normally, she and Ranma would be off at a mad dash for school right about
now.  It was almost a luxury to just sit back and relax without fear ofgetting
into another argument with Ranma, or Shampoo or Kodachi bursting in tryingto
kill her.  And best of all, no school!  Well, at least for her, anyway.

She decided it was time for a walk.

Raye’s grandfather and Chad were involved in a little sparring match withthe
whisk brooms.  Although Raye’s grandfather was no Happosai (unless you count the
hentai in him), he wasn't an amateur in fighting, either.  "Taking off, Akane?"
he asked as he ducked a swing and whirled to poke Chad in the stomach.

"Just for a little walk.  I'll be back this afternoon."

"Well, don't forget to think over that little offer.  No matter what my
granddaughter says, we could use pretty girls such as you."  He sidesteppedand
chortled as Chad careened, flapping his arms wildly, into a bush.  "Maybe Ican
use you to replace this idiot so he can go back to his old singing career. I
thought nothing could stink more than his singing...until now!"

This produced an inarticulate yell from the young man as he leapt up and charged
towards the old man, his broom swinging wildly over his head.  As Akaneheaded
down the temple stairs, there was a loud whack, followed by a chuckle.  "You
missed again,  pathetic loser."

At first, she wandered aimlessly, letting her feet take over while her eyes took
in the sights about her.  This world wasn't so different from her own world,if
you didn't count the liberal use of English words intermixed with Japanese
kanji.  Besides an odd building or two, the streets were laid out in thesame
manner.  The people also looked the same, though the dialects weredefinitely
different from Nerima.  In fact, the people didn't sound Japanese at all. One
girl she passed was telling her friend about the new drawing pencils she gotin
a voice she would expect from a character in "Gone With the Wind".  And thetwo
little boys teased a little girl about her Sailor Moon pin in perfectlyclipped
New England accents, like how Amy talked.  It made Akane wonder about herown
voice, so curiously chipmunk-high.

<I must sound like a baby on helium.  Even Serena’s voice is deeper thanmine.>

She had stopped at a store window to gaze at a display of "Bran Muffins",which
looked curiously like mochi balls, when the voice in question tore throughthe
otherwise quiet street. "OooooOOOOOOooooHHHHHhhhhhh!!!  I’M SOOO LAAAAAAAATE!!!"

A seething cloud of dust zoomed past, barely recognizable only by thepigtails
flapping behind it.  Akane cheerfully waved to it.  "Ohayo gozaimasu,Serena!"

"Can't talk!  Running!  Bye!"  puffed the cloud as it streaked down the street.
A mere second later, a muffled growl made Akane look down to see Luna,toting a
lunch bag in her mouth, straining to catch up to the speeding teenager.
"Surrrmmaaa!  Uuurrr unch!"  The duo whipped around a corner.

Akane was still staring after them when a body slammed into her.  "Ouch! Why
don't you watch where--oh, Akane!  What are you doing in the middle of the
sidewalk like that?"

Akane reached out her hand to help Mina to her feet.  "Sorry about that.  Iwas
just watching Serena go by."

"You mean she’s ahead of me for once!  No way!"  With a cry, Mina dashedpast
Akane, throwing back over her shoulder.  "Don't forget lunch, ‘kay?!"  Shetook
off in the same direction, her long hair streaming behind her and a small, white
streak (which toted a brown bag in its mouth) tagging at her heels.

Akane giggled, consumed with an overwhelming sense of deja vu.  The strange
sight made her think of the time Shampoo had made Ranma lunch and had
intercepted their usual madcap dash to school.  With her usual candor, Akane had
malleted the bike-grounded Ranma with the Chinese girl clinging to him intoa
ditch.  What followed afterwards was almost an exact replay of what she had just
seen, down to Ranma shrieking at the top of her voice and Neko-Shampoomewling
piteously around a bento box as she chased the fleeing red-head.

The girls had said that Lita’s residence was in the same vicinity asNerima,
though the neighborhood wasn't named that.  Fifteen minutes later, Akanefound
Marine Street, the street Lita lived on.  To her amazement, it was similarto
her own neighborhood, though Lita’s apartment complex stood in what was normally
the corner grocery store’s parking lot (the store was still there).  Nextto it
was the hardware shop (convenient when she needed to patch up the dojo and where
she got her bricks).  A few doors down was the small house where the littleold
lady would come out, rain or shine, to clean her sidewalk (and splash Ranmain
the process--when will he ever learn to walk on the other side of the street for
a change?).  As she walked by, the door opened and out came a little old man
with a pail of water and a dipper.  He squinted at Akane, squinted up anddown
the street, shrugged, splashed his sidewalk, and shuffled back inside.

Intrigued, Akane walked further, passing the complex, curious to see justhow
changed her neighborhood was in this world.  She did a double take as she
reached the corner at a building that looked very similar to Dr. Tofu’sclinic,
down to the sign that read "On’s..."  Coming closer, she saw that a treebranch
obscured the rest of the sign, which only read, "Dr. Too’s PodiatryClinic".
<So Tofu-sensei does have a counterpart here,>  Then a turn left, two more
blocks, and...

Akane stared for a long time before she made herself go forward in the small
plot of land they had made into a park.  It was more of a rest stopreally--a
small slice of nature set in the middle of a city block for people to relaxand
enjoy the smell of cherry blossoms.  But it was what the trees surroundedthat
had stopped Akane at first.  It wasn't as if she was surprised.  Far from it--in
fact, it made perfect sense.  She gave a sarcastic laugh, startling the few
people enjoying the park’s peace.  <I should've known my home in thisworld
would be nothing but a big carp pond.>

======================================================================

"And who are you supposed to be?"  The wizened gardener scowled as heclipped a
straying twig from an otherwise straight hedge.

Akane’s mouth dropped.  Raye didn't say anything about security at Lita’s place.
"Um, I’m here to water Lita’s plants."  She blurted and mentally kicked herself.

The gardener's scowl deepened as he straightened, clapping the dirt from his
wrinkled hands.  Akane swallowed but did her best to glare back as he cameover
to her.  Her confidence wavered a little when he stared down at her. Thoughhe
was old, he still towered over her. "I can take care of that just aseasily."
He roughly growled.  "If Lita wanted her plants watered, she would've toldme
herself."

"I know, but," Aghast, Akane realized that she was actually simpering, and
immediately hardened her voice.  How dare he try to intimidate her! "Something
came up suddenly and she had to leave.  She asked me personally to make sure
that things were okay at her place."

"Is that so?  And just who are you?  One of those wacky friends of hers?"

"Friends?  It just so happens I’m her cousin."  Akane snapped beforerealizing
what she said.

The gardener’s bushy eyebrows shot up.  "Cousin?  I thought that girl hadno
family."

"Well, she didn't think so either until now.  That’s why she left.  Shewent to
visit my dad."  <And that’s as close to the truth I’m gonna get.>

"Your dad, huh?  So if she’s so bent on seeing her 'family', how come youain't
there to share in the family reunion?"

Akane’s patience was wearing very thin and before she could stop herself,she
snapped,  "Look, I’m not going to rob her blind.  I’m just going towater her
plants and that’s all.  You got a problem with that, take it up with herwhen
she comes back, okay?  It’s called a friendly gesture and I don't have totell
you anything!"

The gardener’s lips pursed as if he'd eaten a bad prune.  For a moment,she
thought he would physically toss her out of the complex until, with a sharp
laugh, he bent back to his work.  "All right, all right. No need to convinceme
anymore. With a temper like that, you two definitely must be related."

Akane blinked.  What was that supposed to mean?  She glared at him a second
more, just for good measure, then stomped off to the entrance.  "And don'tyou
go on making a mess!"  she heard him yell at her turned back.  "Bad enough I
have to put up with those crazy friends of hers.  No messes!"

Lita’s apartment was on the eighth floor, if one could call it an apartment.  To
Akane’s eyes, it was more of a condo, with large windows that opened tothe
east.  The furnishings was tasteful and modern.  A kitchenette lined thesouth
wall, while the west wall held a bookcase, an entertainment system, the doorto
the bathroom, and a half-shut door that Akane assumed led to the bedroom.
Plants of all sizes and hues lined the windows.  The entire place was
immaculately clean and orderly, except for the sofa, which held a lightgreen
sweater tossed on its cushions, and a bookbag with books and papers (withred
marks) spilling from it to land on the sofa and floor.  It look like someone had
just returned from school and suddenly had to leave in an awful hurry.

Akane hesitated.  It seemed so...eerie, being in someone else apartment, knowing
that person had vanished off the face of this earth and you had come alongto
take her place.  It wasn't right to go about snooping in her things.  For a
second, she nearly turned to leave.

<But if she’s in my world, who’s to say she hasn't done the same thingwith my
stuff?>

That would be true.  If Raye’s vision was true, Lita would have stayed atthe
dojo--she may have even slept in Akane’s room, though she wondered if her father
would allow such a thing.  After all, her father had a tendency tooverreact,
and if he knew that Akane had disappeared and this stranger had shown up to take
her place, he would probably go ballistic with grief.  Unless Ranma came up with
one of his half-notched, cockamamie schemes...

She bent down and gathered the bookbag’s contents, setting them backinside.
Whoever this Lita was, she wasn't very good with tests.  <As if I'm any better.>
On top of the bag she set the clothes she appeared in yesterday, includingthe
pair of earrings she discovered on her ears as she was washing up last night. <I
guess she does like plants. She even wears rose earrings.> Akane thoughtwryly
as she searched for the watercan.

After the plants were watered, Akane realized that her desire to leave had faded
to curiosity, and she wandered about the apartment, trying to determine who
this mysterious girl was.  There weren't any photos lying about, so shestill
didn't know what she looked like other than she was tall.  One thing she was
sure of:  If Lita wasn't good with tests, she was definitely good at
housecleaning.  There wasn't a speck of dust anywhere <she and Kasumi wouldget
along well>.  In the kitchen, she gasped at the almost overstocked refrigerator.
Serena had mentioned that Lita loved to cook.  Idly, as she reached for arice
ball, she wondered how Ranma would react to that.  <He hates my cookingenough
as it is.  Would Lita show her gratitude by cooking everyone dinner?> Biting
into it, Akane had to admit it was very delicious, on the same par as Kasumi’s.
With a sinking feeling, she realized if Ranma ever found out, if he haven't done
so already, she could forget ever making anything for him again.  <I bet if--no,
*when* I return, I would never hear the end of it.  Well, see if I make him
anything ever again anyway!>

Depressed, she wandered over to the bookcase.  It was filled more with
knickknacks than books, and the few books that were on it dealt withphysical
fitness and the martial arts. <She knows martial arts, too?  I wonder howgood
she is.> The sinking feeling grew bigger as Ranma’s voice poppedarrogantly in
her head. "A martial artist, and a cook, too?!  You’re so unlike Akane." He
would probably tell her all his horror stories of winding up in bed fromeating
Akane’s occasional dinners.  He'll make himself into a martyr, and Litawould
have sympathy and they would laugh at Akane’s incompetence...

Angrily, she dashed that thought out of her head.  <Foolish girl,> shechided
herself.  <Getting all worked up over someone I haven't even seen, much less
met.  It’s not her fault she got zapped to my world.  And why should Icare what
Ranma thinks anyway?  The pervert already has Ukyo, Kodachi, and Shampoo begging
to be his.  Why should I care if he wants to bring Lita into his personal harem?
I’m not jealous!>

She scooped up Lita’s stuff, intending to set them just inside Lita’sbedroom,
but as she pushed the door wider, she blinked at the sight before her. Lita’s
neatness extended to her bedroom, but her walls were nearly coveredcompletely
with posters of men: Jackie Chan, the band Rabbit, U2, etc.  What was oddwas
that on every poster was a handwritten comment, scrawled with little hearts next
to each man:  "Got his eyes!" "His hands are so like Freddy’s!" Freddy’shair
was darker, but it’s his style!"  "Smile flashes just like Freddy!"

What really caught Akane’s eyes, however, was the framed photos on herdresser
and the loose photos stuck in the frame of her mirror.  Akane picked upone--a
beautifully-framed picture of five girls in swimming suits, four of whichAkane
immediately recognized.  The photo had caught them in the middle of ahilarious
moment:  Raye, Amy, and Mina were grinning at a laughing Serena, who was perched
ridiculously upon the back of a brunette who stooped just slightly, puttingher
face just below the level of the others.  Though Serena’s legs poked out
absurdly, the girl appeared to be carrying her with ease and was smiling
confidently at the camera.

A glance over the rest of the pictures showed the same girl in many of the
pictures, though Serena and the rest figured prominently in them as well.  There
was a picture of the girls clustered together in regular school uniforms;she
clearly was the tallest, as she stood behind the girls looking slightly
uncomfortable.  A few pictures were torn--these had her with her arm around
someone who had been ripped out the picture.  The largest framed pictureshowed
her around ten or eleven years old, standing with her arms around a
distinguished gentleman and a beautiful woman with emerald eyes, beaming
slightly up at her--she was already a few inches taller than both of them. She
looked at the camera with a hint of defiance, as if daring someone to try to
release her hold on them.

Then there was the picture of her standing alone, on a beach, in a modestgreen
one-piece swimsuit, apparently taken the same day as the one in which shewas
carrying Serena.  Akane pulled the picture from the mirror frame to stare
closely at it.  The girl was obviously fooling around, as she was winking at the
camera as she cocked her arms in a he-man pose.  But there was no denyingthat
she was in great physical shape; in fact, she had a great shape overall.  Almost
like an Amazon, a tall Amazon. Akane could even say she was...pretty.  Very
pretty.

<So that’s Lita.  She’s...she’s so unlike me...>

She blinked, and in her mind’s eye she saw Ranma and Lita sittingcross-legged
in the park, laughing uproariously.  "So then," Ranma was saying.  "Shewhips
out a mallet and starts pounding me with it...just because I wouldn't eather
cooking!  She is such a violent tomboy!"

"How mean!" cried Lita in a cutesy voice (which sounded mysteriously like Ukyo's
for some reason).  "How about if I make you lunch from now on?"  She whipped out
a lunchbox and chopsticks.  "You know, you look so much like my oldboyfriend,
it’s scary!"

Ranma opened his mouth to accept Lita’s offering. "Well, you lookabsolutely
nothing like my fiancee.  You’re so much cuter..."

"RANMA NO BAKA!!!"

Akane jumped at the sound of her own voice.  She looked down to see that she was
crumpling Lita’s photo in her clenched hands.  Hastily, she begansmoothing it.
<I’m not jealous.  I’m not jealous.  Just because she’s a better cookthan me
and she’s better looking than me doesn't mean--I’m not jealous. I’mnot jealous.
I’m not jealous. I’m not, I’m not, I’m not...>

A loud buzzing in the living room yanked her out of her thoughts.  Shedashed
out the bedroom in a panic:  Did she turn the stove on by mistake?  Fire alarm?
No, it was coming from a small box set in the wall next to the front door. She
blinked at it until she realized that it was one of those door pagingsystems.
But who would know she would be here?  For a disorientating second, shethought
the gardener was coming to yell at her for violating Lita’s room...

Hesitantly, she pushed the button on the box that said 'Talk'.  "He-hello?"

"Akane!"  A bright, bubbly voice chirped.  "It’s me, Mina!  Can I come up? You
have to buzz me in.  The button’s on the right."

"Oh!  Sure!"  Akane pressed it and dashed to Lita’s room to put theswimsuit
picture, now noticeably wrinkled, back in its place.

A minute later, Mina bounced in.  "Hey girlfriend!  What’s up?"

"How did you know I was here?  I thought you were on your way to school."

"I was, but they closed the gates on me, so it looks like I get an off day."
She set her bookbag down on the couch.  "I figured since you were walking about,
you would come here eventually, so I decided to come and wait for you.   ButI
see you've already made it pass Fidget."

"Who?"

"The landlord.  His real name is Mr. Ferguson, but we call him Fidget sincehe
tends to snap at anyone who steps on his precious property, including hisown
tenets.  I’m amazed he let you in by yourself."

Akane smiled winsomely.  "Oh, I had to convince him a little, but he let me in."

Mina’s answering smile suddenly dropped and she peered closer at her. "What’s
wrong?  Are you okay?"

"Huh?  I-I’m fine."

"Yeah, right, and I’m the Queen of Scotland.  Your eyes are all red.  I
recognize a tear-splotched face when I see it."

Akane self-consciously rubbed her face.  She couldn't let Mina know that she was
getting upset because...no, it was foolish.  It sounded foolish even to herself.
But Mina was looking at her with such concern.  She couldn't tell her...

"I--uh, was just thinking about home.  Being here made me realize how much I
miss everyone back home.  I guess it kinda got to me after a while."  Not
exactly a lie; in a sense, she was missing her own room, her own family and
friends.

Mina nodded commiserably, though she still had a not-so-sure look on her.
"Yeah, it must be so tough, being away from your family."  Her face brightened.
"But at least you don't have to be alone!  We’re gonna have so much fungetting
to know each other.  Just think of all the stuff we can do!  Right,Artemis?"

To Akane’s surprise, Mina’s bookbag wiggled and a furry white headpopped out of
the opening.  "Well, it’s about time!  Do you know how stuffy it is inthere?"

Mina giggled as she bent to extricate the cat.  "Yeah, but let’s notforget the
last time I had to smuggle you in here.  I didn't have my bag and there wasno
other place to put you.  That’s the last time you get to see the inside ofmy
blouse!"

Artemis pouted in a way only a cat can.  "As if there’s anything to
see...yeowwch!!"  He began to fan his rapidly-reddening nose.

"You had to smuggle him in?"

Mina shrugged.  "No pets.  Mr. Fidget runs a tight ship here."  Sheroughened
her voice and screwed up her face.  "'If I see any one of those mangyfleabags
roaming around my flowerbeds, I'll bag ‘em and sell their guts to one ofthose
violin makers!'"

The wounded look Artemis gave her made Akane giggle.  She reached out toscoop
the cat into her arms, scratching beneath his chin.  "Oh, I’m sure hewon't ever
catch you."

"Be careful, Akane.  You’re gonna spoil him."

Artemis meowed throatily.   "Are you kidding?  This is the best I've everbeen
treated!"

"That’s because she doesn't know how much of a pervert you are.  Yet."

Artemis only meowed again and stuck his pointed tongue out at her, causing Akane
to giggle again.  Already she was feeling better.  "So now what do we do?
Artemis, did you and Luna find out anything yet?"

"Well, the computer came up with a few ideas, but I want to wait until allthe
Scouts are together before we try anything."

"Hmm.  So that still gives us a few hours to kill."  She turned to Mina. "You
can show me around, I suppose."

"Actually, I have a better idea."  Mina’s eyes twinkled mischievously. "You
mentioned yesterday you’re a martial artist.  I was wondering just howgood are
you?"

Akane smiled at the blond girl.  "Oh, I can handle my own."

"Care to see if that statement is true?"

"How?"

Mina went into Lita’s room to emerge a second later with a couple of gi.
"Hmm...I would have to say you’re Amy’s size, so you can wear hers. How’s about
a little sparring match?"

"What?  In here?  There’s not much room."

"Oh, no.  There’s an all-purpose room at the end of the hall that’s usedfor
parties and stuff. We practice there most of the time. I would go outsidebut I
don't feel like enduring Fidget’s looks.  He doesn't really approve ofgirls
fighting. We won't doing anything strenuous, like jump kicks or something. I
just want to see how good you are.  Plus, it’s good practice.  Luna’salways
saying it’s better to be prepared than being stuck out in the rain.'"

Artemis winced.  "I doubt Luna would say anything like that."

"Well, it’s still good advice, so nyah, nyah!"  She turned to Akane, hergrin
widening.  "So, how’s about it?  A little friendly match?"

Akane matched her grin.  "You know, it’s been a while since I sparred witha
*real* girl..."

================================================================


An hour later, Akane was chiding herself for making such a statement.

The room was nice and large, with a few tables and chairs. All the furniture had
been pushed to one side and all the windows were opened.  Mina crouched near the
front door, trying to gauge her next move.  The 'friendly match' had quickly
escalated to a fighting bout, and as Akane wiped the sweat out of her eyes,she
began to consider if she could do a jumpkick indoors.  Mina had definitely shown
it could be done.

The girl was good.  The girl was really good.  Underneath her bubbly
personality, which Akane discovered to be almost exactly like Serena’s,was a
seasoned, professional fighter.  Not as good as Ranma was in his girl form,but
she could definitely give Shampoo or Ukyo a good fight. She was certainly
whipping Akane’s tail.

Mina suddenly broke away from the door, shooting a fist towards Akane’s
midsection.  Swiftly, she blocked it, twisted and brought her foot up, trying to
catch the girl’s other hand falling towards her.  Instead, Mina caught itand
yanked, sending Akane to the floor with a woosh.

"You left yourself too vulnerable there."  Artemis scolded from one of the
chairs, his head resting on his paws and his eyes half-closed.  "Don't be so
eager to retaliate.  Remember, some enemies can use your own body as an
effective weapon."  Akane had thought he had fallen asleep earlier and was
surprised when he started making comments as the two girls fought.  Now, she
simply nodded and leapt to her feet.

"Wait.  Hold up."  Mina gasped.  Akane noticed she was holding her side.  "I
think it’s time for a breather, don't you think?"

"You've only been fighting for a short while and already you’re tired? Mina,
you’re becoming as bad as Serena!  Next thing you'll know, you'll be pigging out
at all hours of the night."

Mina stuck her tongue out at the white cat.  "Easy for you to say.  I don'tsee
you training with the rest of us.  How you and Luna can order us about and still
take cat-naps is beyond me."

Artemis leaned his head forward.  His toothy grin made Akane think of the
Cheshire cat in that Disney movie.  "Jealous?"

"Hmph."  Before she could say anything truly nasty, however, Akane jumpedin.
"No, it’s okay.  I could take a rest too."

Mina’s glower towards Artemis quickly changed to a happy smile.  "Great! You
know, you’re really good at this.  You must get a lot of practice athome."

"Well, when you fight off hordes of guys, you have to be good."  Akane said
absently.  "They stopped attacking me once Ranma showed up, but every oncein a
while..."  She hesitated as she noticed Mina staring at her.

"Hordes of guys.  Chasing you.  Right.  Where did you say you come fromagain?"

Akane cracked her knuckles.  "Hey, I think I’m all rested up.  Wanna have
another go at it?"

"Whoa, I believe you.  I believe you!"  Mina looked down at herself.  "Ick.  I’m
all sweaty.  I’m gonna take a quick shower, ‘kay?"  She bounced out ofthe room.

Artemis shook his head and grumbled.  "That girl!  Ever since that battlewith
Beryl she’s been acting goofier and goofier.  I sometimes wonder if she’s doing
it on purpose, or if it’s because Serena has some strange influence onher.  It
certainly would explain much."

Akane glanced at him as she began stretching.  "Well, she certainly doesn'tact
goofy when she fights.  She’s really, really good."

"Of course she’s good.  Out of all the Scouts, she’s the one who’sbeen fighting
the longest.  I’m sure you've noticed all the Sailor V hoopla around here.
Before Mina joined with the others, she was fighting as Sailor V."

"Really? So Sailor V is real?"

"Oh, yes."  Artemis raised himself up, seeing that he wasn't going to getany
catnaps soon.  "When I found Mina, she was already active in sports.  It was
just a simple matter of reawakening her body’s skill.  She took to it assay, a
fish to water, so to speak."  He licked his muzzle at the words.  "Ofcourse, I
still think she has much to improve on.  Just because Serena was revealed as the
Princess doesn't mean Mina automatically absolves her responsibilities.  Like it
or not, she still is the leader of the Scouts."

"Serena’s a princess?"  Akane was taken aback.  "When did that happen?"

Artemis frowned.  "No one told you?  Well, if you’re going to be with usfor a
while, perhaps it’s best that I've told you.  After all, you already knowtheir
identities."

As Artemis recounted the history of the Silver Millennium and the search for the
Scouts in this age, Akane’s exercises slowed until she simply stood there,
mesmerized by the tale.  It sounded too fantastical to be true; in fact,Akane
wouldn't have believed it if it wasn't for the fact that it was being toldto
her by a talking cat.  Still, it was hard to believe that that whining,food-
scarfing, clumsy girl she knew as Serena was a powerful Princess from themoon.

"Yeah, it is hard to believe, isn't it?"  Mina said from the doorway, cladin a
shirt and shorts and toweling her hair dry.  Akane had been too engrossed in
Artemis’s tale to notice her.  "I myself thought we made a mistake beforewe
even knew she was the Princess by the way she acted as Sailor Moon.  That’s why
Artemis and I didn't reveal ourselves until the last possible moment.  We needed
to be absolutely sure we weren't making a mistake with her.  Of course,there
are times I wonder if we had..."

Artemis snorted.  "You should talk.  Who was the one who decided to trashthe
plan and burst in out of the blue to nab Zoicite?  Face it, Mina, the real
reason you did that was because you thought Tuxedo Mask was cute."

"That floozy stabbed him with an crystal shard!  I was only helping!"  But a red
flush crept into her cheeks.  "Besides, he’s Serena’s man, even if hecan't
remember it now."

Akane frowned.  "Tuxedo Mask.  That's the Darien guy, right? But why doesn'the
remember her?"

"It happened during the battle with Queen Beryl.  Actually, we all lost our
memories, but afterwards, this mess started with those two mysterious aliens you
saw when you first came here and all of us, except Darien, got our memories
back.  I guess the world needed the Sailor Scouts again."

Akane turned to Artemis.  "But you never told me what happened with Queen Beryl.
How did Sailor Moon beat her?"

"The Scouts went up to the North Pole to fight her."  Artemis’s voice went
curiously flat.  "After everyone fell, Serena turned into the Princess andused
the power of the Silver Crystal to destroy her."  He glanced uneasily atMina.

"Fell? You mean, everyone got captured, right?"

Mina looked away with a strange expression before replying softly, "She hadto
do it all alone, without our help.  You know, despite all her faults, shetruly
has a strong heart." Mina said softly.  "Despite all that happened.  If itwas
me...I don't know if I would have been able to handle it.  One thing I doknow,
though.  If anyone tries to harm her, they'll have to go through us, first.
Then, they'll have to go through *me*."

The uncharacteristic grim look in her eyes frightened Akane a little.  <She
really means it!  She would really defend Serena without even thinking about it.
Why?>

Unbidden, another memory arose in her mind, this time when Mikado Sanzenin
challenged her and Ranma to a duel over P-chan.  He had mentioned something
about kissing Akane (as if she would allow herself to be kissed by thatjerk).
Ranma had leapt to his feet and, in front of the entire assembly, he had
shouted, "You dare touch my fiancee and you will die!"

And he wore the same determination as the girl before her.

Mina visibly shook herself and said.  "It’s getting close to noon.  Weshould
get ready for our picnic."  Her face brightened.  "Hey, I got a great idea!  Why
don't we take our lunch over to Crossroads High?  It just a few blocks from
here.  We can make Serena *so* jealous!"

"That’s a great idea!  I was planning on heading over there anyway.  And Igot
some *great* ideas for lunch!  I'll go get cleaned up!"  Giggling, Akanetook
off, eager to get into the kitchen without anyone stopping her.

"Interesting girl." Mina commented as she scooped up Artemis using hertowel.
"She’s a pretty good fighter, but I have the feeling that there’s more potential
in her.  It’s as if she had reached some plateau and decided to stay there
instead of continuing on to the top."

"Perhaps she really is a better fighter in her own world."

"Maybe.  I don't know.  I hope Lita’s okay in her world.  Oh, well."  She turned
towards the door.

"STOP RIGHT THERE, YOUNG LADY!!!"

Mina rolled her eyes and looked down.  "What, Artemis?"

"And where do you think you’re going?"

"I’m going to help Akane with the food."

If a cat could pale, Artemis would've done so.  Instead, he did the nextnear-
human thing to express his dismay: waving his paws rapidly.  "Oh, no.  No. No.
I forbid it.  You can't."

"Why not?"

Artemis breathed a heavy sigh.  "Mina, must I remind you of that Sunday in
October?"

Mina stiffened, her face slowly growing red.  "There was nothing wrong withthe
food.  I served a great course."

"Yeah, and nearly shot the kitchen to the moon while you 'cooked'.  Theystill
haven't figured how to get that gunk off the ceiling yet."

"It’s not gunk, it’s teriyaki sauce!  And it wasn't my fault the potshot into
the air like that.  I've been telling Mom for months she needs a new stove."

"And a new microwave, and a new electric knife, and a new refrigerator..."

"ALL RIGHT, ALREADY!!!"

"Hey, no shouting in here!"  The landlord popped his head into the room. His
eyes squinted at Mina.  "You’re disturbing the tenants.  And who are you talking
to anyway?"  He squinted even more at the towel-wrapped bundle in her arms.

"Uh, it’s my sister’s niece.  We, um, shout lullabies to her to make her sleep.
Well, gotta go change her diaper!"  Mina shot past the bewildered landlord,who
shook his head unhappily.

"Darn kids, messing up the place.  I should've made this an old folks home."
Then, belatedly, he frowned.  He could've sworn that she was talking to a man in
here, but the place was obviously empty. "Kids these days...always comingand
going..."

Mina dashed into Lita’s apartment and locked it good before dumpingArtemis on
the sofa.  From the bedroom, the hiss of water on ceramic could be heard.  "That
was close."

"I'll say."  Artemis crept out from beneath the towel and gave his charge a
stern look.  "Now Mina, I know you mean well, but you'll have to be careful!  We
don't want Lita to return back to see her kitchen destroyed.  Why don't youlet
Akane cook and just help her instead."

Mina pouted.  "You’re no fun, Artemis.  You're beginning to sound likeLuna.
All right.  I promise not to cook."  Her face gentled a little as the water
stopped and Akane began singing aloud something she must've forgotten thewords
to. Yappapa, yappapa, something.  "She sure sounds happy, doesn't she? Maybe
cooking will help get her mind off of her predicament.  I know it works for
Lita..."

Artemis stretched out and tapped Mina’s arm.  "Don't worry, Mina.  Litacan take
care of herself.  From what Akane says, she’s in good hands.  We'll gether
back.  Don't worry about it."

"Yeah, I guess you’re right,"  Mina sighed.  "Though it’s a shame thoughthat
Akane’s gotta go back to her world too. I’m beginning to like her.  Atleast we
won't have to worry about food while she’s here.  Anyone that nice must bea
great cook!"

For reasons not yet unknown to Artemis, a strange chill went up his spine.

===================================================================


"That’s funny.  This dough is supposed to rise but all it’s doing isjust
sitting there."

"Maybe you should add more yeast."

"Yeah.  Think I'll add some baking soda too."

"Akane, that’s talcum powder."

"Hey, how did that end up here?"

"I haven't the faintest clue.  I'll put it up for you, though."

"Thanks.  Can you check on the cookies while you’re at it?"

"Hmm.  They’re not brown yet."

"Darn.  They've been in there at least an hour.  Maybe there’s not enough heat."

"You’re probably right.  I'll set it to broil.  If that doesn't brown it,
nothing will."

"Cool.  Are you sure you don't want to make something, Mina?"

"Oh, no, you look like you know what you’re doing.  I'll only get in theway."

"No, you’re not.  You’re such a help!  I’m glad you’re here.  Backat home,
Ranma makes fun of the way I cook."

"What a meanie! I can't believe you’re engaged to such a dork.  Ugh, thisspoon
is stuck in the rice."

"I think it’s quick-setting rice, though I never seen rice that colorbefore.
It wasn't that way when I started frying it."

"Maybe it’s the special sort that changes colors as you cook it.  Wow,this
spoon is really stuck."

"Hmm...maybe it had something to do with the cornstarch.  I know!  Pour some
water in it and stick in the microwave on high.  That will unstick it for sure."

"Akane, you are a genius!  I would've never thought of that."

"Doggone it, those cookies still aren't brown.  Maybe we should stick themin
the microwave too."

"Uh, your dough is rising.  I mean, it’s really rising.  I never knewdough
could stretch itself like that.  Uhh, it’s heading towards you, Akane."

"Not again.  Hand me that knife, Mina.  No, the butcher knife.  Hurry.  It’s
wrapping around my waist..."

"Here you go.  What’s that beeping sound?"

"I think it’s the microwave.  The rice is done, I think."

"How can you tell?  I can't see a thing in there.  It’s all one huge blob
spilling over the pot.  Well, that and all that weird electricity bouncingoff
the walls.  I wonder if that’s a metal pot? I can't remember if you’renot
supposed to put metal pots in a microwave or wooden pots."

"Uh, oh.  That’s not good.  At least I got the dough under control again. Open
the microwave and I'll stick it in with the rice."

"Okay.  I still don't like the way it’s beeping though...wait a minute.The
door’s stuck."

"Here.  Use the butcher knife to pry it open."

"Okay.  Now, if I just stick this here..."

===================================================================


Amy stretched out beneath a cherry tree--her favorite lunching spot--andtook
out a book on quantum physics to do some light reading.   It would be awhile
before Serena could join her, so she took advantage of the peace and quietto
lean against the tree, reveling in the warm sunshine and soft breeze tugging her
blue hair across her face.  A breeze tinged with the scent of cherryblossoms
and...and something strangely foul.

Her eyes flew open just as Akane and Mina walked up.  "Hi, Amy.  Can we have
lunch with you?"  Akane asked.  She held up a large paper bag.

"Of course."  Amy closed her book and wrinkled her nose slightly.  Where was
that smell coming from?  As the two girls sat down, her frown deepened."Mina,
what did you do to your hair?"

Mina grinned a tad too widely.  "Oh, I’m fine!  You like it?!"  Shefluffed her
hair, which had frizzed into a golden halo about her head.  "It’s a newlook,
all right!"  She gave a strange, high-pitched giggle.

Akane leaned over to say softly.  "We had a slight accident while makinglunch
earlier. She keeps saying she’s fine, though."  She began digging into the paper
bag.  "Would you like some cookies?  We made plenty!"

"Yes, have some!  We made them just for yooooou!"  Mina chirped happily.

"Uh," Amy hesitated as Akane pulled out a blackened lump with bits of glossy
things poking out of it.  "May I ask what kind is it?"

"White chocolate macadamia nut cookies.  It’s my own recipe!"

Amy grunted as Akane handed it over. It was too heavy to hold with one hand,so
she placed it on her lap, where it sat--an odd, misshapen lump of....something.
"Um, thank you, but um, I’m allergic to nuts."

Mina blinked rapidly and said, "Really?  I thought you were allergic tofish."

"That too."  Amy threw her a frantic look as Akane continued to rummage inthe
bag, setting out objects that bore little resemblance to anything edible. The
lump on her lap grew heavier.  "Mina, where’s Artemis?"

"Artemis?  I don't know.  Last time I saw him, he was underneath Lita’sbed.
Something must've spooked him; his tail was three times the size of hisbody!"

Out of the corner of Amy’s eye, she saw the paper bag leap out of Akane’s hand
and begin scooting away.  Nonchalantly, Akane whammed a fist on it, snatchedit
back, and shook it vehemently.  When it didn't move again, she resumed unpacking
it, muttering to herself, "Funny. That never happened before..."

Amy realized she wasn't very hungry after all.

Mina looked around, her movements less jerky.  "Hey, where’s Serena? Shouldn't
she be here by now?"

Grateful for the distraction, Amy replied, "She was late for school, so she’s in
detention for half an hour."

Akane paused.  "Would she be in the same class as Lita?"

"I would guess so.  Ms. Patricia Haruna teaches the regular homeroom, and I know
they have the same teacher.  Why do you ask?"

"It’s just that Raye mentioned that I should pick up Lita’s assignmentswhile
she’s gone.  Maybe I'll ask Serena when she comes..."  The bag now emptyof its
contents, Akane handed Amy and Mina containers and chopsticks.  "Well, it’s all
unpacked!  Enjoy!"

Amy stared at the congealing mixture of browns and whites and reds, with bits of
green sticking out of it.  "And this is...?"

"Soy rice!"  Akane exclaimed with an extremely cute smile.  "It’s one ofmy
specialties!"

Amy glanced at Mina, who was stirring the mixture with an odd expression and
muttering  to herself, "I told him to let me do all the cooking, but did helet
me? NooOOOooo..."  She was pondering the best excuse to use when out of the blue
Serena plopped into their midst.

"Aww, man. I can't believe Ms. H kept me in that classroom all that time just to
do some stupid quiz!  And there’s only twenty minutes left for lunch!  I’m sooo
hungry..."  Her eyes latched onto the container Amy was holding.  "Ohhh,
Amy...is that food?  I didn't have anything to eat all day...I think I forgot my
lunch...I thought Luna had it but I hadn't seen her..."

Gingerly, Amy held it out.  "Actually, I ate before all of you came, so..."She
jumped as the container was snatched out of her hand.

"Ah! Serena!  Hey, slow down.  I made plenty for everyone!"  Akane beamed as
Serena’s hands became a blur.  "You must be really hungry...no one at homeeats
my food like that.  How is it?"

Serena merely grunted and started on another container.

"Oh, this is so great! Wait ‘till I tell Ranma about this! We'll see wholaughs
about my cooking now! I’m so happy!"

Mina and Amy stared hard at Serena, not believing their eyes. Mina evenlooked
down at her own food, sitting untouched in her hands, then shook her head.
"Akane, you were talking earlier about seeing Serena’s teacher aboutLita?"

"Huh?" Akane turned from the joyous sight of Serena devouring her cooking. "Oh
yeah! I wanted to talk to her about getting Lita’s assignments."

Serena glanced up, specks of food spattered on her cheeks.  "You mean Ms. H?
Usually she goes to the teacher’s lounge around this time.  You might findher
there.  It’s on the second floor on this side of the building.  She’seasy to
spot--she’s got wavy red hair and she’s wearing a brown suit."  How shecould
talk and shovel that...stuff in her mouth simultaneously was beyond Amy,even
though she had seen her do so several times in the past.

Akane rose to her feet.  "In that case, I better go catch her before yourlunch
is over.  Enjoy the lunch, okay?  And if I’m not back, I'll meet you guyshere
after school!"  She tossed a wave over her shoulder and took off, just as Serena
set the container on the ground and let out a satisfied ‘ahhh’.

"That hit the spot!" She exclaimed, patting her belly.  Amy gave her adubious
look.

"Err...how was it, Serena?" Mina asked.

"It was okay, I guess.  To tell the truth, I was so hungry, I ate too fastto
taste it."  Serena smiled at her, then suddenly blinked and pointed at her.
"Hey, what happened to your hair?"

Mina smiled bleakly as she ran a hand through the frizzy mess.  "I had alittle
accident. You like it?"

"Erk!" Serena said.

Amy sighed, hefting the cookie from her lap.  "Really, Serena, I know youmean
well in making Akane feel more at home while she’s here, but do you haveto act
like an uncivilized pig around her?  It’s a miracle you didn't choke the way you
were eating so fast!"

"Erk!" Serena said again.

Mina frowned.  "Uh, are you okay, Serena?"  Her eyes widened as she realized
Serena was still pointing at her.  "My hair’s not that bad, is it?!"

"Grckkk...!"

Amy edged forward and tugged Mina to her side.  Serena remained rooted where she
was, her finger held motionless in the air.  A strange green color began to
flood her face, and her left eye occasionally twitched.

Amy sighed. "Oh dear. It looks like Akane’s cooking finally caught up with her."

==============================================================

"Excuse me?  Ms. Haruna?"

The pretty teacher entering the teacher’s lounge turned at her name andsaid
pleasantly, "Yes?  Can I help you?"  She blinked a little bit.  "You’renot in
standard uniform.  Are you a student here?"

"Not really.  I’m here to talk to you about Lita Kino."

"Oh dear, not her again.  Please don't tell me she got into another fight? I
noticed she wasn't in class today."

Akane blinked.  <Another fight?>  "Uh, no. Some urgent family business cameup
and she had to leave for a while.  I’m here to collect her assignmentswhile
she’s away."

"Ah, I see." Ms. Haruna looked Akane over.  "And I assume you are a friendof
hers?"

Well, she used it once.  Might as well continue it.  "Actually, I’m her cousin."

"Cousin!  I thought the girl had no nearby relatives.  It’s good to knowher
family is finally taking an interest in her education.  Lita’s not exactlya
model student.  The only classes she seems truly interested in is gym andhome
economics, though the two definitely do not belong together.  The rest ofher
time is spent daydreaming about boys.  And I never seen a girl get into somany
fights!  With boys, of all people!  I certainly hope spending some time with her
family will tame her a bit.  How long will she be gone?"

<Fights?  I didn't know she was that tomboyish... almost like...>  Akane started
as the teacher repeated her question.  "Oh, sorry.  I think she'll be outfor a
few days."  <At least, I hope so.>

"Hmm.  A few days.  I know there’s an algebra test next Wednesday..."  AsMs.
Haruna stood there pondering, another woman poked her head out of theteacher’s
lounge.  "Telephone for you."  A sly smile crossed her face.  "I think it’s
Roger."

"Roger!"  squealed Ms. Haruna gaily, looking almost like a schoolgirl.  "I'll be
right there!"  She turned back to Akane.  "Tell you what.  The homeroom isjust
two doors down.  Why don't you go there and wait until I come back?  Thisphone
will just take a few moments, and I'll give you Lita’s assignments when Iget
back."  Without waiting for Akane to answer, she skipped into the teacher’s
lounge, hearts seeming to float about her.

Akane shrugged and went to the classroom the teacher indicated.  It wasempty
except for a young girl with long russet hair standing by the window withher
back to Akane.  She was speaking aloud, though she made no indication thatshe
knew Akane had entered.  "Stupid teacher, can't tell the difference between good
poetry and gobbledy-gook.  I bet if I did say it in stupid English, shestill
wouldn't get it.  Our poetry is too deep to be translated by any language on
this stupid earth.  Well, they'll pay.  Soon, they'll all pay, once I...” She
began grumbling in some strange, sing-song syllables.

Akane sweated and decided to speak before the girl began doing somethingreally
weird.  "Um, hello.  I take it you’re here waiting for Ms. Haruna, too?"

The girl whirled at the sound of her voice.  Her features were delicate,from
the almost-pointed ears to the almond-shaped eyes.  She frowned hard atAkane
before saying in a brash, nasal voice.  "I didn't introduce myself when you came
in.  Don't assume you have to on my account.  In fact, don't assume,period."
She went back to staring out the window.

Most normal people would exclaim, "How rude!" and walk away in a huff. Less-
normal people would allow the comment to go right over their heads andcontinue
chatting until the rude person says something even ruder and walks away in a
huff.  Martial artists--particularly confident, arrogant ones--would say nothing
and simply crack their knuckles, causing the rude person to apologize andwalk
away quickly.  However, if the martial artist so happens to have a short
temper...

"What was that?  What did you say?"

"Look, do I have to draw a picture for you? Get lost!"

"You gotta lot of nerve speaking like that!"

"You gotta lot of nerve looking like that!"

"Wha--!!  How dare you!  How dare you!  Take that back or I'll pound that stupid
look off your face!"

The girl was getting very angry now.  "Look, I don't have the time or energy
to..."  Abruptly, she paused, then a slow smile spread across her face. Akane
vaguely noticed that she had small pointed canines, like P-chan.  However,on
him they made him look adorably cute.  On her, she looked predatory.  "So,you
think you can take me on?"

Akane shifted into a fighter’s stance and grinned.  "Feh.  I break bricks softer
than your head."  Mentally, she congratulated herself for coming up withsuch a
cool line.  Being around Ranma and his big mouth certainly had its benefits
every once in a while.

And it had the effect she wanted, too.  Flames were literally erupting inthe
girl’s eyes as she raised her hands like claws.  "That’s it!  Yourenergy’s
MINE!!!"

<Energy?> Akane wondered.  <What does she mean by that?>

She never had a chance to find out, because at that moment the building was
rocked by a piercing scream.  "WHAT DO YOU MEAN YOU’RE CANCELING OUR
DAAAAATE!!!!"

The door suddenly opened and students rushed in, their faces pale.

"Did you hear..."

"Yep. I know..."

"Oh, man, this is so bad..."

"I wonder what we'll get now..."

Akane picked herself off the floor.  <What was heck...?>

A red-hair girl and a boy with unruly hair and the thickest glasses she'dever
seen went over to pick up the other girl, who laid against the chalkboard,
dazzled.  "Ann?  Ann, are you okay?"  The girl asked. "Do you need to seethe
nurse?"

Akane snorted.  "In another few minutes, she would've have to. That willteach
her to be rude to me."

The girl blinked.  "Who, Ann?  Oh, don't mind her. She’s always like that. I
think she and her brother came over from France."

Actually, the girl's words were more like "Ah think she ahnd her bruddahcame
ovah fram Frahnss"  Akane considered asking her if she was from New Jersey,but
instead said, "France? Well, I guess that explains it."

The boy adjusted his glasses and peered hard at her.  "Who are you?" he saidin
a voice that automatically classified him as a geek.  "I can recognize every
single person who came into this building this morning, but you obviously aren't
a student here."

The girl glared at him before replying kindly.  "Don't mind him. He’salways
like that.  I’m Molly Baker, and this is Melvin."

"Tendo Ak--I mean, Akane Tendo.  I’m Lita Kino’s cousin."

"Aha! So that’s why Ann’s laid out like that.  It must run in thefamily!"
Melvin exclaimed.  Molly was spared from elbowing him when Ann came to, roseto
her feet and roughly pushed him out of her way. Giving Akane a look filledwith
malice, she stomped to her desk, taking pains to stomp on Melvin’s foot onthe
way.

Molly didn't notice as she was still chastising him.  "Melvin! That was so rude!
You’re beginning to sound like Serena, for Gawd’s sake."  She frowned,then
glanced at the rapidly filling room. "Hey, where is Serena anyway? She should be
here by now, after..."

"Serena?"  Melvin stopped hopping on one foot.  "I saw her heading towardsthe
nurse’s office a few minutes ago.  She was holding her stomach andgroaning and
turning all sorts of weird colors.  I think she ate something toxic."  He pushed
up his glasses again and started speaking in a lecturing voice.  "It couldbe a
conspiracy! I read on the Internet that there’s a cult going arounddrugging
young women’s food..."

"Get real, Melvin!  Who would want to poison Serena?" She turned her back on
him.  "I’m sorry, Akane. He can be so nerdy sometimes...hey, are youalright?
Your face is turning so red!  Maybe you should go see the nurse too."

Before Akane could explain, the classroom door banged open and in stormed an
enraged Ms. Haruna, her face contorted and her hair nearly crackling infury.
Students, including Melvin and Molly, scattered swiftly to their seats,leaving
Akane to stand awkwardly in front of the room.  Ms. Haruna stomped to herdesk,
slammed her papers and books on it, and barked out, "Take out your English books
and turn to page 257! We will be working on exercises seven through fourteen
instead of just exercise seven today.  And I’m moving the algebra test up to two
hours from now instead of next week! WITH NO CALCULATORS!!"

As the class groaned, Akane timidly approached the desk.  "Ano...Ms. Haruna?
It’s me, Akane Tendo, remember?"  She cringed back as the teacher whippedher
head around.

"What do you WANT?!?!"

"Um, you were going to give me Lita’s assignments?"

Her eyes narrowed. "Oh, I was, was I?" Akane almost expected her to start
cackling evilly.  "Fine.  You'll get her assignments all right.  Go take her
seat and turn to page 257..."

Akane blinked.  "Nani yo?!  But I’m just..."

"I SAID, SIT DOWN!!!" roared the teacher, doing a most impressive large-head
effect.  Akane gasped and scrambled towards the nearest open seat--which
happened to be next to the weird Ann girl at the back of the room.  As shesat,
someone pushed a book into her hands.  "Chotto...wait a second. I don'tbelong
here!  I can't..."

"SILENCE!! How are you going to explain Lita’s assignments to her if youdon't
know them yourself!  One more protest out of you and I'll have you holding
buckets in the hallway!"  She glared at Akane a few moments more beforecasting
her evil eye on someone else.  "Molly! Start reading exercise seven aloud. AND
NO STUMBLING OVER WORDS!!!"

Akane slumped in her chair as Molly leapt to her feet and began reading inher
faux-pas New Jersey accent.  She glanced over to see Ann snickering with an evil
grin, clearly enjoying her distress.  She tightened her fingers on the book.
<Ooo, if I could wipe that smirk right off her face with my fist!>

Someone else decided to do it for her.  "Ann!  You want something to laughat?
Fine! Hallway! NOW!!!"

Ann’s mouth dropped.  With a baleful look, she stuck out her tongue and sashayed
smoothly out the door.  At least, she would have if she hadn't kickedAkane’s
seat on the way.

It could have been a simple misstep.  Anyone could have mistaken it for that and
laughed it off...except for someone with a very short temper...

"WHAT'S WITH YOU ALREADY, YOU STUPID BAKA?!"  Akane surged to her feet. Then,
she winced.

"Akane Tendo!  Hallway!  NOW!!!"

Miserably, Akane trudged to the door.  If he could see her, Ranma would beon
the floor howling with laughter.  To think she was being punished at aschool
she didn't attend in a world she didn't even belong to!  It just made no sense!
<Oh well, at least some things never change wherever you are.>

Then she opened the door to see buckets of water, Ann, and a smile full of hate.
<No, things don't change.  They just get worse and worse.>
============================================================
LaShawn M. Wanak (tbone_m_jenkins@yahoo.net)
T-bone Enterprises * In Touch With Yours Truly
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