Ranmatech

Disclaimer: What are you looking at me for? I write 'em because I can.

< >: Thoughts
(* *): Computer responses

Chapter 5

Meet Miss Nagi

Ranma frowned as he looked at the morning paper. On the front page was a 
large photo of himself in his Exo-Armor during his fight with Vorak's battle 
drone the day before. He winced as he read the headlines.

"Mysterious 'Rocket Ranger' saves Tokyo from rampaging space mecha." <Rocket 
Ranger?! They're calling me Rocket Ranger? Sheesh! >

(*Host is showing considerable signs of irritation. *)

<No kidding! > Ranma mentally replied. <Damn! I was hoping to keep a low 
profile here! Looks like I'm going to have to deal with Vorak soon! >

(*There is a ninety-two percent probability that sworn enemy will come into 
confrontation with host within the next few days. *)

<Oh this is just perfect! > Ranma thought with sarcasm as he wondered just 
what he was going to do. His greatest rival was somewhere on the planet and 
wouldn't think twice about devastating the Earth to get to him. Furthermore, 
a certain intergalactic mega-genius kept on bugging him to get a certain 
sample from him. He shuddered a bit as he thought back to what happened 
after the battle.

Flashback, in the laboratory of Washu...

"It's a pleasure to finally meet with the famous Ranma." Washu said as she 
shook Ranma's hand. All the while, her eyes wandered all over his well-built 
frame, much to the annoyance of Nagi, who was standing behind him.

<Hmmm... perfect proportions! > Washu thought as she mentally began listing 
all the fun examinations that she had planned for him. The famous bounty 
hunter and troubleshooter was a prime example of the humanoid body at the 
pinnacle of perfection. His body wasn't bulky like a weight lifter's, but 
also wasn't as lean as a gymnast's. He was perfectly balanced between the 
two comparisons; he emanated a sense of brute power, yet also a kind of 
grace, which promised agility and speed. He had the best of both worlds and 
from what she observed from the battle, he could use his abilities to their 
utmost potentials. The energy readings she had collected during the battle, 
indicated that he was using some kind of power source that was unknown and 
could not be measured accurately, even by devices created by her. And that 
was saying something! Then there was the fact that he was using high-powered 
weaponry that had been deemed forbidden by the intergalactic council. Of 
course, she had contributed to that list herself, by inventing things like 
ozone-depleting bullets, neutron-oscillating grenades and her 
interdimensional cannon, which could level a galaxy!

Another fact was that Ranma stored his weapons in some kind of subspace 
pocket that was light-years ahead of anything that was possible by Earth 
standards, and many other worlds. Oh yes, she was sufficiently intrigued 
enough to mentally list him as her soon-to-be new guinea pig.

"It's a pleasure. So Nagi tells me that you're scanning for Vorak. I 
appreciate the help, so what can I do for you in return, Miss Washu?"

The mad scientist smirked as she said her most kawaii voice. "Please, can 
you call me... Little Washu?"

Ranma had a bit of a sweatdrop, but shrugged and said, "All right... Little 
Washu."

Washu grinned as she leaned forward and said, "Now then... as for what you 
can do for me..." Her smile became even more pronounced.

<Uh oh...>

Some time later...

Ranma sat up from the examination table. Currently, he was unclothed from 
the waist up and barefoot. He appeared to be wearing only a pair of black 
pants. He mentally gave the command to his cyberweave suit and it instantly 
expanded itself back into its full form, complete with boots, gloves and 
shirt. His body was completely covered, except for his head.

On the side near a console, Washu was very interested in the readouts she 
had gotten after scanning her subject. Of course, she had also taken the 
liberty of snapping a few 3D holograms of Ranma as she had instructed him 
into certain... positions for examinations. Purely for scientific research 
of course (yeah, right ^_-).

She nodded as she saw Ranma become fully clothed again.

"Interesting. That some body suit you have there. Complete with unstable 
molecule fabric and subatomic microweave fiber relays for cybernetic 
manipulation, right?"

"Something like that." Ranma replied.
Washu looked back at her readouts and said, "That body suit is more advanced 
than the standard Synatech fabric that is being used at present."

"It used to be a set of Synatech body armor, but I've had it modified. I've 
got several sets."

"Very nice. Cuts down on your wardrobe I imagine." Washu then began 
summarizing the information that the displays on her console were showing 
her. She could barely contain her excitement. "Ranma, did you know that you 
happen to be host to the MOST advanced colony of nanomachines that I have 
ever encountered? Those little robots are WAY beyond anything in terms of 
nanotechnology! I wouldn't have been able to scan them at all, if you hadn't 
let down your protective screens."

Ranma shrugged, as it was no big deal to him. The nanites within his body 
had saved his life and made him what he was today.

"I STILL haven't identified the main energy source that those nanites are 
using." Washu cited. "Though I did discover several micronized, highly 
efficient backup generators that work on the same principle as 
meson/anti-meson thermoelectric power cells. I've also analyzed your body's 
organic tissue and it seems to be continually evolving, probably because of 
those nanites. Your body is working at near 100% efficiency! And it looks 
like those nanites are continually improving themselves with the rest of 
your body!"

Ranma nodded. "Each time I encounter a new situation, my nanites reconfigure 
to counter whatever threat or challenge."

"And you say that you don't remember how you came to be that way or who put 
those nanites in you?"

"Haven't got a clue." Ranma said.

Washu nodded as she looked at the schematic of one of the nanites, magnified 
one billion times. Of course, since the nanomachines continually improved 
themselves, what she was looking at was only their PRESENT design. Already, 
she could see the structure of the nanite gradually alter itself. 

<Interesting! The nanites are replicating and mutating Ranma's own DNA! 
They're continually improving on their host at the same time they evolve! 
Hmmm, this could mean that Ranma might be able to achieve a perfect form in 
which further evolution may not be necessary. Might be fun to see what he 
finally evolves into! Hmmm, this reminds me of an old experiment I tried a 
few thousand years ago. I wonder...? >

"So are you done already?" Ranma asked as he stood up.

That was when Washu smiled evilly. She then said, "Wellllll... not quite! 
You see, since your nanites have made your skin invulnerable to penetration 
by syringe or any other extraction device I have, I'm going to need to 
collect a certain... ah, bodily fluid sample."

"What?" Ranma DEFINITELY didn't like the way she phrased that.

"I can't get any blood samples, since it would take too much energy and time 
to get through that super-strong hide of yours. Plus the fact that those 
nano-robots would see my attempts to getting to your blood as a threat. 
They'd probably counter any method that I'd try on them. The nanites are 
also setting up a disruption field to prevent me from using a transphasic 
teleporter to get some samples. Saliva, sweat and urine wouldn't give me any 
nanites or your own genetic material for me to study. I can't even get a 
hair sample and even then, that wouldn't give any nanites to study. 

However... there is one fluid sample that would contain sufficient organic 
tissue that contains at least half of your genetic code. I'm also betting 
that a few of your nanites are bonded to those cells. Soooooo..." Washu 
suddenly snapped her fingers and was instantly dressed in a nurse's outfit. 
She then snapped on a pair of latex gloves and said in her kawaii voice, 

"I'm ready now."

"What's with the nurse's outfit?" Ranma REALLY had a bad feeling about this.

"I'm an angel of mercy and I've got MAGIC fingers!" Washu rubbed her hands 
with glee.

"Magic fingers? What are you talking...?" Ranma then realized what she was 
implying as he saw her eyes travel down toward his crotch. "Now hold on a 
minute!"

"Aw come on now! Don't be shy! I promise to be gentle as I shake the dew off 
your lily!"

Ranma suddenly jumped back, raised an arm and materialized the Annihilator.
Washu's eyes crossed as she found herself staring down the barrel of the 
weapon.

She had a large sweatdrop as she realized what was being aimed at her. 

"Errrr... heh, heh... THAT wouldn't happen to be a Mark Twenty Annihilator 
Super Anti-Matter Cannon, now would it?"

"Nope." Ranma replied.

"Whew."

"It's a Mark Twenty-five!"

"Mark... Twenty-five?!" Washu gasped. The Annihilator cannon series had been 
banned after the Mark Nineteen models came out. Of course, that didn't stop 
Washu from creating the Mark Twenty model and even using the basic layout to 
create her devastating Dimensional Cannon. Now she was faced with a weapon 
that was more than capable of reducing a galaxy to subatomic particles.

"Did I mention that along with my body, my nanites also continually upgrade 
my weapons and equipment?"

"I think we'll hold off on getting that sample." Washu said with a sheepish 
grin. <For now. >

End of flashback...

Ranma shook his head and shuddered. He was pretty certain that Washu wasn't 
the type to give up, once she set her mind onto something. He decided to 
table those thoughts for later as he prepared to head for Furinkan High. 

After mentally commanding the body suit he was wearing to shift into a 
simple ensemble of sweatpants, T-shirt and running shoes, he went to exit 
his apartment. He was quite surprised when he opened the front door and 
found Nagi standing before him.

"Good morning, Ranma."

"Nagi?" Ranma couldn't help but stare at what his old acquaintance was 
wearing. Nagi was still wearing the hairpiece that kept her dark hair in 
place and that facial mark on her right cheek. However, instead of the 
skintight outfit that she usually had on, she was now wearing a dark blue 
blouse and matching skirt that came to just above her knees. She also had on 
a pair of one-inch heeled pumps and Ranma had to tear his eyes away from her 
long, slender legs. He also noticed that her ample bosom seemed to strain at 
the fabric of her blouse. Ranma swallowed hard. "Nagi? What are you doing 
here? And why are you wearing...?"

The female bounty hunter shrugged nonchalantly. "I'm here to walk with you 
to that school."

"What?"

"Well, since we still haven't found Vorak, I feel that the best bet is to 
stay near you. Eventually, he will have to show himself to get to you, 
right? So I had Washu create a new wardrobe for me to help fit in."

"Fit in?" Ranma asked.

"That's right. I also had her hack into the computer systems at Furinkan 
High. We're going to be working together." Nagi gave Ranma a wink.

"What?"

Nagi nodded, as her grin became even wider. "You're looking at the newest 
member of the teaching staff at Furinkan High."

"You're a... teacher?"

"Mmmmmhmmm." Nagi nodded as she sided up to Ranma and took an arm.

"But Nagi, you don't know anything about teaching."

"Au contraire." Nagi said with a smile as they began walking toward 
Furinkan. "You are looking at Furinkan's new physical education instructor 
for the girls' gymnastic and track and field programs. We're going to be 
working alongside each other. I do know a thing or two about martial arts as 
well, or have you forgotten?"

"How could I forget? I was the one who trained you." Ranma replied with a 
sigh. "I really don't think..."

"Too late Ranma. The school board has already accepted my application. Like 
it or not, and I know I'M going to like it, we're partners again until this 
matter with Vorak is settled." Nagi snuggled up even closer as they 
approached the front gates.

Ranma sighed again. He knew from past experience that, like Washu, once Nagi 
set her mind to something, she wasn't likely going to give up on the idea. 

"Well, I guess there's no stopping you. By the way, what about Ken-ohki?"

"He's staying with Ryo-ohki back at the Masaki residence. Since I'm mentally 
linked to him, he'll come when I call for him."

As the couple came to the gates, the students of the school got quite an 
eyeful of seeing the most handsome teacher to ever attend the establishment 
with a very attractive woman hanging on his arm. Of course, this got the 
gossip flowing.

"Wow! Who's the babe?"

"Is she his girlfriend?"

"Aw! Just when we were about to find happiness!"

"Whoa! Is she a teacher?"

"No way! Why does he have all the luck!"

"Looks like someone has staked her claim on Mr. Saotome."

"It's not fair!"

"Yeah, Akane has all the other boys in school and now Mr. Saotome's been 
taken!"

Nagi smirked as she looked up and saw Ranma becoming uncomfortable with all 
the comments and rumors that were circulating in the crowds. She knew he had 
enhanced hearing and could pick up the whispers and such. She deliberately 
snuggled up even closer and gave the predatory female students a look that 
clearly sent the message, 'Mine, all mine! Go get your own famous 
intergalactic bounty hunter.'

"Ranma Saotome! Prepare to feel the righteous blade of the Blue Thunder of 
Furinkan High!"

Ranma shook his head and sighed. "Oh no. Here we go again."

Nagi looked over to one side and saw a boy rush out of the main building and 
charge at them, waving around what appeared to be a stick.

"What...?"

"Hold on a sec." Ranma said as he gently disengaged Nagi's arm and nudged 
her to one side. As Kuno struck forward with his bokken, the nanotech 
warrior easily dodged the swing and lashed out with a sidekick, knocking the 
insane kendoist back into a tree, twenty feet away. Kuno slumped down in a 
daze, while mumbling.

"That didn't hurt."

"Whatever." Ranma replied nonchalantly. "Kuno, continually attacking a 
teacher can be grounds for expulsion you know. You're just lucky that 
Furinkan has such loose rules of conduct. Why don't you just stop this 
nonsense and rejoin your fellow students in the Kendo Club? If this keeps 
up, they'll soon be too far ahead of your mediocre skills."

"Silence!" Kuno raged as he got up. "The mere notion that anyone could 
become the better than the Blue Thunder is ridiculous! I can see that you 
are once again resorting to your black magic!"

"Black magic? What the heck are you talking about?"

Kuno then took on a heroic pose. "It has become undeniably clear to me that 
a lowly peasant such as you has resorted to some dark sorcery to have bested 
me and stolen my rightful place as captain of the Kendo Club! I, the great 
Blue Thunder will smite thee with my righteous blade and once again resume 
my place as the greatest warrior of all!"

Kuno then struck out again with his sword. Ranma was about to counter it 
with a simple twist of his fingers and send the idiot flying again, when he 
saw something flash out from the corner of his eye. The bokken was suddenly 
stopped in its tracks by a particle disrupter sword. He looked over to one 
side and saw that Nagi had pulled her weapon from out of thin air and had 
casually parried the strike.

"Who dares?" Kuno raged.
Nagi smiled at Ranma. "Let me handle this one."
Ranma gave his companion a questioning look, then shrugged. "Don't go too 
hard on him, okay?" He then took a few steps back.

"I'll try." Nagi replied as she focused her attention on the idiot who 
actually thought he could beat the most formidable intergalactic 
troubleshooter with a stick.

"So, the villainous Ranma Saotome shows his true colors and hides behind 
a..." Kuno's voice died in his throat as he got a good look the vision of 
loveliness standing before him. "Who is this goddess that I see before me? 
Have the heavens deemed to grant me not only the lovely Akane Tendo, but 
also this rapturous angel as well? Tell me your name fair one! Wait! Is it 
not the custom to give one's own name first? Very well, mine I shall give!"

Kuno stepped back and took a pose. "I am the..."

SHAZZZZZMMMMM! VOOOM!

Kuno had barely begun when Nagi suddenly moved and slashed the kendoist's 
robes to ribbons. Kuno wondered where that cold draft had come from and 
found himself standing in a pile of tatters and wearing only his boxers. His 
bokken fell apart into several cleanly sliced pieces. Then large lumps 
appeared on his head and the pain of the injuries came a second later, 
making Kuno moan as he slumped down to the ground.

Ranma smiled. Though Nagi moved too fast for the normal eyes to follow, his 
scanners had picked up her every motion. She had used her sword to slice 
Kuno's robes and bokken, then used the handguard located at the hilt to bean 
the idiot several times on the head.

"Too slow, little boy." Nagi commented. "Not even worth Ranma's or my 
attention. Nothing but a wannabe samurai."

Nagi then nodded to Ranma as she placed her weapon at her side, which then 
vanished.

<Ah, I see. She must have a subspace field generator in her belt to keep her 
sword in a dimensional pocket. > "Very nice Nagi, but I think you went a bit 
overboard with that sword."

Nagi then took Ranma's arm and shrugged. Even though she had just displayed 
a high-tech weapon and skills of swordsmanship unheard of on Earth, she 
brushed it off as nothing. "Shall we go now?"

Ranma nodded as he and Nagi entered the school, leaving a stunned crowd and 
one very demented kendoist in their wake.

On the ground, Kuno moaned in pain as he watched the pair depart.

<Nagi... such beauty, such skill, such prowess with a sword! She is a 
goddess with the blade! I will date with her! And where can the Blue Thunder 
get a sword like that? > As Kuno was slipping into unconsciousness, he 
renewed his vow to defeating Ranma. <I swear that I shall free my beloved 
Nagi from your foul magic, which you have used to enslave her! >

In the crowds, Nabiki and Akane were staring in disbelief at what had just 
happened. When Akane had first seen Ranma and Nagi arrive, she snorted and 
wondered why anyone would want to be hanging on the arm of that know-it-all 
and showoff teacher. All the other girls in school were fawning over him and 
he was often the subject of numerous discussions as rumors and gossip about 
him circulated around the school. Not that she cared that she was no longer 
the center of attention. Not that she's really miffed about no longer being 
the best martial artist in Nerima. And it wasn't the fact that a very 
attractive young woman seemed to have staked a claim on said teacher. Nope, 
she wasn't angry at all that she wasn't in the spotlight any more. Not one 
bit.

She then considered Nagi and dismissed her as someone, who was dependent on 
weapons, just like Kuno was. She could take her out, no problem. She was the 
heir to the Tendo School of the Anything Goes, which did not depend on 
weapons.

For Nabiki, her sharp mind had begun turning at this latest development. 

<So, Furinkan High now has a new addition, eh? > She was already totaling up 
the revenue she would generate with the arrival of Nagi. From the looks the 
boys gave her, especially from Kuno, Nabiki could already see the huge 
amounts of yen from the sale of pictures and information about her. 

Furthermore, the girls would pay through the nose to learn the latest gossip 
of the relationship between her and Ranma. Then there was that strange sword 
she pulled out. She could tell that it was highly advanced and that in 
itself presented some moneymaking ideas. Of course, there was still the 
mystery that surrounded Ranma himself. The arrival of Nagi only made her 
desire to find out about him even more intense and she knew that once she 
learned his secret, she would have hit the mother lode! Of course, she had 
felt a tingle of jealousy when she first saw Nagi latched onto Ranma's arm, 
but decided that it was nothing.

Ranma was privately discussing with Nagi in his office.

"Nagi, I really wish you didn't use your particle disrupter sword like 
that."

The bounty hunter shrugged. "It didn't really matter. From what you've told 
me, strange things have happened before, so I didn't think it would have 
made any difference, right? People tend to ignore small stuff like that, 
thinking that it's some kind of gimmick, right?"

Ranma reluctantly nodded. "Okay, I'd admit that Nerima is a weird place and 
things do happen that you wouldn't normally expect. The people here seem to 
be used to craziness, but still, I'd prefer to keep a low profile, if you 
don't mind?"

Nagi smiled as she leaned forward. "You're so darn CUTE when you get all 
agitated. But... okay, I'll try to be good."

Ranma frowned when he caught that mischievous look in her eyes.

Some time later...

Ranma was walking down the hallway when he heard a familiar voice coming 
from on of the chemistry labs.

"Now then, these chemicals alone are quite stable, but when they are mixed 
together in the right proportions... heh, heh!"

<Oh no! It can't be! > Ranma peered into the class and paled as he saw Washu 
pouring the contents of one test tube into another in front of a class. His 
eyes widened as his scanners analyzed the fluids in the tubes.

(*Contents are identified as nitroflex, bertonium and quincilium. A highly 
explosive mixture. *)

"Washu?"

The greatest mad scientist in the universe turned her head and smiled as she 
saw Ranma. "Oh, hello Mr. Saotome." She addressed the class. "Class, if 
you'll excuse me for a moment." She set down the tubes into a rack and 
stepped outside. Ranma dove in, grabbed the tube and neutralized the mixture 
with a light application of ki energy, while hiding it behind his back. He 
then promptly grabbed Washu's arm and dragged her out of earshot of the 
students.

"Washu! What are you DOING here?!"

"Oooh, I just LOVE the way you're being so forceful!" Washu purred as she 
snuggled up to him.

Ranma pushed her away and glared at her with hands on his hips. "I repeat, 
WHAT the heck are you doing here!" Ranma was struggling not to raise his 
voice.

Washu shrugged as she replied. "Well, what does it look like I'm doing? I'm 
teaching the chemistry class. Do you know how far behind the science 
programs are at this school? The stuff they're teaching nowadays wouldn't 
even let these students complete the application forms at the Intergalactic 
Science Academy. Heck, I mastered the entire senior level school science 
programs when I was still in diapers."

"That's not what I meant! WHY are you here?!"

"Oh." Washu nodded. "Well, I was getting bored with monitoring the scanners 
as they searched for Vorak and realized that the sensors could do that 
automatically without me hanging over them. So I decided to keep on eye on 
my brand, new, guinea pig."

"What?"

"Well Nagi had the right idea in keeping close tabs on you, since logically, 
Vorak will come to you. So I hacked into the school's systems and set myself 
up as the new science teacher."

"Say what?! And what exactly are you teaching to those students? How to 
build a plasmonic fission bomb?" He held up the tube that contained the now 
inert explosive chemicals.

"Well, not now. That's scheduled for midterms." Washu admitted.
Ranma slapped his forehead. Things couldn't get any worse, could they?

KABOOM!

Ranma turned his head to the sound of the explosion and winced as he saw a 
huge cloud of smoke coming from the home economics rooms. He left Washu 
standing in the hallway as he raced to the scene of the carnage. The mad 
scientist enjoyed the retreating view of his tight butt before returning to 
her class.

As Ranma came to the home economics room, he almost gagged at the foul odor 
that was emanating from the doorway. He waved off the thick clouds of smoke 
and entered, only to find Mihoshi standing near a ruined stove with Akane.

"Sorry Miss Mihoshi." Akane said. "I thought that was white wine, not salad 
oil."
 
"Oh, that's okay." Mihoshi said. "I can tell that you will become a really 
good cook someday."

"Really?"

Behind the two, the rest of the class moaned as they heard this. That is, 
those that were still standing and not choking to death from the smell of 
Akane's attempt at stir-fry. On the stove, a burnt-out wok had some kind of 
slimy... thing writhing about and continually changing colors while large 
bubbles appeared on its surface. Every time a bubble popped, more noxious 
fumes would be released.

Ranma winced, as he understood what was going on. Mihoshi was the new home 
economics teacher, and if she cooked as well as she piloted her mecha, then 
Ranma would not have to worry about being killed by Vorak. Vorak would be 
the LEAST of his problems. The space warrior quickly grabbed a fire 
extinguisher.

At noon, Ranma was shaking his head as he and Kiyone were privately 
discussing things in the teacher's lounge.

"Now, let me get this straight. You, Mihoshi, Nagi AND Washu are now part of 
the teaching staff?!"

Kiyone gave Ranma a sheepish smile as she said, "Well, as members of the 
Galaxy Police, Mihoshi and I believe that it is our duty to be on the 
lookout for a Class A criminal such as Vorak. We've already contacted GP 
headquarters and they've already assigned us to this case and approved for 
the... er, undercover operation."

Kiyone of course, saw this as a grand opportunity for promotion. If she 
could help a famous troubleshooter like Ranma track down one of the most 
wanted criminals in the quadrant, then she was certain that the upper brass 
at GP headquarters would finally recognize her talents. She could at last 
dump Mihoshi and get a NEW partner. Perhaps, she could even convince Ranma 
to finally become part of the GP. She could just see herself side-by-side 
with the nanotech warrior as her partner, busting criminals and solving 
important cases. She began to get lost in her daydreams. The sound of 
Ranma's moan brought her back to reality.

"So you're the new history teacher?"

The policewoman nodded. "Yes. I'm familiar with the curriculum so it wasn't 
any problem for Washu to set up a false background and get me registered as 
a teacher."

"Okay. Now I can understand Nagi as a Phys Ed instructor and I suppose that 
Washu, as the science teacher would be the logical, if somewhat twisted 
choice. But Mihoshi for Home Economics?!"

Kiyone could only helplessly shrug. "It was the only position that was still 
open."

Ranma gave Kiyone a very stern look. "Kiyone... remember that cake she made 
one time? The one in which she mistook the graviton particle suspension for 
yeast?"

Kiyone winced at the memory.

The nanotech martial artist nodded. "The graviton wave pulse it created 
almost pulled Galaxy Police Headquarters out of orbit!"

"Well, she can't make that mistake in an Earth kitchen and with normal 
ingredients." Kiyone supplied.

"Don't be too sure. If there's anything that I've learned from my encounters 
with Mihoshi, (and I'm sure you know this as well), is that if there is any 
way to turn a simple thing into a planetwide disaster, your partner will 
find it." When Kiyone sadly nodded, Ranma sighed. <I swear, putting Mihoshi 
in a kitchen is like putting a neutronium implosion bomb in a room full of 
nergon 14! There can't be anyone in the universe that is a worse cook than 
Mihoshi! >

Somewhere in another class...

"ACHOO!"

"Bless you, Akane."

"Thanks Yuri. I wonder where that came from?"

Gym Period...

"Class, I would like you to meet... Miss Nagi. She's the new instructor for 
the girl's gymnastics and track and field programs." Ranma said as the 
intergalactic bounty hunter stepped forward and smiled to the students.

"Hello students." Nagi greeted with a melodic voice.

The shapely space hunter was dressed in a pair of running shoes, gym shorts 
and a matching white T-shirt. The simple ensemble was well suited for the 
class, but since it showed off Nagi's long, slender legs, her shapely hips 
and the top curved over her ample bust, nearly all the boys in the class 
were either drooling, or trying to keep their noses from gushing blood. Her 
body was also lean and firm with muscle, but not bulky like a female 
weightlifter's. She had a showgirl's form with a sense of power and grace. 
She was like the Greek and Chinese Amazons, beautiful and sensuous, yet 
deadly.

The girls were somewhat jealous of Nagi's figure, in which most models would 
kill to have her measurements. Akane took one look at the new teacher and 
snorted. <She's not so great! So what's so special about her? >

Ranma took a deep breath as he continued with the introductions. "Miss Nagi 
is also an expert in fencing and various other sword styles, but you 
probably figured that out from this morning. She's also very proficient in 
hand-to-hand combat."

"Are you a martial artist?" One of the girls asked Nagi.
The bounty hunter paused for a moment before answering. "Well, I don't 
practice martial arts in the truest sense, not like Mr. Saotome here, but 
I'm considered to have fair skills by my peers." She gave a sidelong glance 
to Ranma, who smiled back at her.

Akane's attention perked up at this revelation. So this new teacher knew 
martial arts? Maybe she could get into a match with her and see just how 
good Nagi was. Not as good as she was of course. Nagi had already admitted 
to not being a serious martial artist as she was, and though she was older 
than Akane, the youngest Tendo was certain she could best her. After all, 
she practiced the Anything Goes, which didn't rely on weapons and was 
supposed to be the greatest of all the disciplines. Nagi may provide for 
good practice and help her prepare for when she beat Ranma and that 
irritating Sho Renzubuki.

Nagi noted Akane looking at her through the corner of her eye. She then 
thought back to her discussion with Ranma in his office.

Flashback...

"Well, it seems like we'll be working together." Ranma sighed.
Nagi smiled as she seductively leaned forward. "Just like old times?"

"Well... not quite." Ranma said with uneasiness. "In any case, I think I'd 
better warn you of a few things about Furinken High."

"What kind of things?"

"Well, you met one of the headaches I've had to deal with every day."

"You mean that weakling with the stick?"

Ranma nodded. "Yeah, Tatewaki Kuno, age 17, and the self-proclaimed Blue 
Blunder."

"Blue Blunder?"

"Well, he calls himself the Blue Thunder, but Blue Blunder fits him better. 
He IS as stupid as he acts. His kendo skills are a joke, as you have already 
found out, and he's nothing more than a wannabe samurai under the delusion 
that he's some kind of unbeatable warrior."

"So how long did it take you to beat him and what did you use?" Nagi asked 
with a smirk.

Ranma shrugged as he held up hand with just a pinky extended.

"Galforian Galactic Digit Fighting?"

"Yep. Took him out in about a minute. I wasn't really trying."

"I'll bet. So he's got it in for you now?"

"Yeah, well I also knocked him off his position as captain of this school's 
Kendo Club, and I've been training the other members. Right now, they're all 
far above Kuno's skills and elected my best student, Sho Renzubuki, as their 
new captain."

"So he's after you because of that?"

"Yeah, well there are other things, but that's what got the ball rolling. 
Kuno really didn't take it well when I stopped the morning fights."

"Excuse me, morning fights?"

Ranma shrugged again. "Yeah, well that led to another headache of mine. You 
see, Kuno had gotten infatuated with another student, Akane Tendo, and he 
decreed that in order to date with her, a boy had to defeat her in battle. 
You know, that girl with long black hair that was watching from the second 
story window this morning?"

Nagi nodded, then cocked her head in thought. "Sounds like the courtship 
rituals on Zaroan IV."

"Whatever. In any case, I couldn't teach the students if they kept on 
getting injured every day, so I put a halt to it. I thought Miss Tendo would 
appreciate not having to fight them any more, considering that she 
complained about it all the time, but she then got angry at me for butting 
into her affairs. She even challenged me to a match when she heard that I 
knew the martial arts."

"She challenged YOU?" Nagi stressed with disbelief. "That girl must have a 
death wish or something."

"Don't worry, I went easy on her. I suppose she has some skills against the 
average martial artists of this world, but her fighting techniques are 
simple and not much else. When I beat her, and then she got defeated by Sho, 
well, she's been holding a grudge ever since. I guess it hurt her pride."

"Well, that's her problem, not yours." Nagi said. "She has to learn that no 
matter how good you become, there's always someone better. You taught me 
that lesson on Meridine." She then smiled sensuously as she leaned even 
closer and gave him a wink. "And I'm NOT just referring to your fighting 
skills."

Ranma's cheeks reddened a bit before clearing his voice. "Well anyway, Akane 
has a bit of a chip on her shoulder and it seems like she'll go to great 
lengths to prove that she's the better fighter, so try to avoid any 
conflicts with her, all right?"

"I'll try, but I won't make any promises."

End of Flashback...

Nagi nodded as she watched her class run laps around the tack. For the most 
part, they were about average except for the long-haired girl running ahead 
of the group.  She nodded as she mentally assessed her skills and probable 
power level. Ranma was correct. She did have some level of expertise, but 
nowhere near her own and even less against Ranma's. She could see that Akane 
was in better shape than the other students, but overall, she was still a 
novice.

