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Ranma 1/2: Another Approach
Part 4
By Jack Staik, Bookkeeper-At-Arms
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SYNOPSIS: Ranma Saotome, sensei to Akane Tendo, has defeated
the imbecilic and possibly inbred Tatewaki Kuno. Nabiki has
made a quiet public claim on the affections of Ranma Saotome
(without Ranma's knowledge). And unknown to all, a Lost Boy
approaches, seeking Ranma on a mission of vengeance...

 * * * * * * * * * *

Akane was in a good mood.

She'd been in a *foul* mood since Ranma's 'training' had
begun three days ago. Her nice soft bed was gone, she was
awakened rudely at *dawn* every day and humiliated in his
'sparring', then she had to fight for every single *bite* of
breakfast!

Then there was the morning Horde of Hentai's, to whom Ranma
was giving *pointers* ('To make them give a better workout'
he said)! She'd had to fight harder than she ever did before
to get through them! Then at lunch, Ranma would show up and
they ended up dueling over her bento.

Then after school there was yet another humiliating
'sparring match'. Then they ended up dueling over supper,
too!

Then there were the insults! 'Frilly little housewife', 'too
feminine to be a martial artist', 'weak little girl' - it
was like he was *trying* to goad her into killing him! And
after she got mad, he told her that a *real* martial artist
has better control of their temper!

Along with the rest of the so-called 'training' (jumping off
the roof, running along the fence tops, running blindfolded
through obstacle courses), she was miserable.

But now she'd get rid of him and be avenged in one fell
swoop!

"Problem, Ranma?" she asked, all sweet and helpful.

"I can't seem to find any of my clean clothes."

"Oh really." she said.

"You seen any of my stuff?" he asked, still looking through
his closet.

An image of Ranma's clothes in a box and hidden under the
dojo (where she had put it) flitted through her mind. "How
would I know?" she said. "But - if you really need some help
- I suppose I can get you something to wear."

"Thanks, Akane. You're a lifesaver."

She had a clear image of how everything would unfold ...


<RAMNA-CHAN, wearing one of Akane's schooldresses, comes out
in front of Soun and Genma.>
<SOUN (shocked): What are you *WEARING*?>
<GENMA (equally shocked): There must be some mistake!>
<RANMA-CHAN: I was out of clean clothes ->
<AKANE: But you told me to throw away your guy-clothes. See?
Here they are. (Holds out bundle of Ranma-clothes)>
<GENMA (weeping): My son is a crossdresser! Oh the shame!>
<SOUN (demon-head): Hentai! Get out!>
<SOUN boots RANMA-CHAN to horizon.>
<SOUN (to Akane): I am so sorry, my daughter. Of course
we'll make you the Master and Heir to the School at once!>


Akane walked back to Ranma's room with her spare school
uniform, her head filled with the vision of Ranma out of her
life.

Only to find Nabiki handing Ranma a familiar-looking bundle.

"What - ?"

"Oh, Akane-chan!" Nabiki said cheerfully. "I found Ranma's
clean clothes! What a lucky break, don't you think?"

"Oh yes ... a lucky break ..." Akane moaned. "Excuse me ..."

Ranma looked at Akane as she left his room, her shoulders
slumped. "What's with her?" he asked.

Nabiki shrugged. "Dunno. Maybe she was hoping you'd wear
what she brought you?"

"Why would that matter?"

"Maybe she has a crush on you and wanted to give you a
present?" Nabiki said, smirking. "You *are* quite the
heartbreaker, Ranma-kun. It wouldn't surprise me if she
asked you on a date!"

A look of panic appeared on Ranma's face. "That isn't right.
I'm her sensei! I'd better do something about it."

Nabiki managed to keep from laughing. <Try to get rid of
Ranma? Not while I have use for him, Imouto-chan! Now taste
the Vengeance of Nabiki!> She frowned slightly. <Mental note
- stop hanging around Kuno.>


Akane fumed in her room. Nabiki must have done that on
purpose! How could she?!? She should be *helping* her try to
get rid of him!

A knock at the door shook Akane out of her brooding. She
answered, and found Ranma standing there, looking sheepish.

"Um, Akane?" he said diffidently. "Nabiki told me ... what
you tried to do."

"Nani?" she said. <He knows I tried to humiliate him and get
rid of him?>

"I want you to know that I don't mind -"

<Whew!>

"- and I'm flattered. Really. You *are* cute and all - "

<Huh?>

"But I *am* your sensei -"

<Here it comes. He'll tell Daddy? Start some humiliating
training as punishment?>

"- and it wouldn't be appropriate for us to be dating."

<WHAT?!?>

"So you'll have to get over this crush you have on me -"

Akane roared. "You conceited SON OF A - DIIIEEEEE!!!"


Nabiki listened to Akane attacking her sensei yet again. And
then listened to her fly screaming through the air and hit
the koi pond - yet again. <That'll teach her. Try to screw
around with *my* property, will she?>

"Everything go well, Ranma-kun?" Nabiki asked.

"I think so." he said. "I hope so. I never had to handle
that sort of thing before."

"A good-looking fellow like you? Hard to believe."

Ranma smiled. "The only girl I even knew the name of before
I came here was Shampoo -"

"Shampoo?" Nabiki giggled.

"It's a long story." Ranma said shyly.

"You can tell me while Akane's changing clothes."

 * * * * * * * * * *

Akane grumbled all the way to school. She and Ranma went
slowly on top of the fence (she *had* to admit her balance
had improved the past few days) to let Nabiki keep up.

It was bad enough that she had Ranma in her life, but now
he's somehow turned Nabiki against her! When she came down
from changing, they had been talking and giggling together,
sharing some private conversation, going quiet when they saw
her. Obviously they were talking about her!

As they approached the school, the Horde of Hentais prepared
for their assault. Rather then the blind mob of the past,
the divided themselves up by their individual clubs (as per
Ranma's observation that they were helping her by being in
that huge muddle).

Today, the Sumo Club had point, with the Dance Club, the
various sports teams, and the Chemistry Club behind. The
Kendo Club withheld participation, out of respect for their
captain, not due back from the hospital until tomorrow.

Akane snarled. Their new tactics wouldn't help them today.

 * * * * * * * * * *

(Later that day...)

Akane had calmed down a bit by lunch - only to get annoyed
as Ranma stole half her food.

It was annoying for Ranma to be so much better at something
that she had felt was her True Calling (she could admit he
was better - especially since it had been rubbed in her face
for half a week!). It was embarrassing to listen to him
lecture her on the weaknesses in her fight with the Horde
this morning.

And it was especially annoying to watch Nabiki stride up to
him and hold his hand! And him acting like he didn't even
notice! Everyone in school was talking about it, asking
Akane the most embarrassing questions.

Akane was too busy brooding, and Ranma lecturing on the
holes in her defenses, that neither noticed the bandana-clad
boy approaching the school.


Ryoga looked around, not recognizing anything around him
(not that he would, but it was worth a shot). There seemed
to be a lot of young people around. Perhaps one of the would
know.

Grabbing a nearby kid, he asked, "Where is Furinkan High
School?"

The surprised youngster (being held several inches off the
ground by some stranger would surprise most people) pointed
to the sign right besides them.

Ryoga read the sign slowly. "Fu - rin - kan - High School."
A smile spread across his face. "I've finally made it!"

He turned to the student (that he's still holding off the
ground) and asked, "No mistake?"

The student grunted "uh-huh,"

"Where is Ranma Saotome?" he asked.

The student cleared his throat. "Well, Saotome - "

The sound of laughter came from behind them - including a
very familiar-sounding laugh. He turned, to see Ranma
Saotome with a brown-haired girl holding his hand, and
talking to another dark-haired girl by his side.

Ranma the Fiend, Ranma the Inflictor of Curses, who stole
his lunch, his honor, and now was apparently living the high
life as a playboy while he suffered as a wanderer!

"This is the end, Ranma!" he roared, charging toward Ranma,
his umbrella swinging.

Ranma, hearing the yell, shoved Nabiki and Akane away,
sending them flying and leapt straight up, letting the
umbrella pass underneath him, smashing a crater in the
ground. Ranma flipped in mid-air and came down gracefully a
couple of meters away.

"What's the big idea -" Akane began until she saw the hole
in the pavement. <Wow. Strong.>

"I've finally found you, Ranma Saotome!" he snarled. "You
still dodge well."

Nabiki dusted herself off. "Do you know this ... person?"
she asked, annoyed.

Ryoga hefted his umbrella. "I've been waiting for this
moment for a long time."

Akane glared at Ranma. "You know him, don't you?" <How dare
he drag his old enemies into our lives!>

Ranma had a look of confusion on his face. <He looks
familiar... c'mon memory ...>

"You still pretending you don't know me?!?" Ryoga accused.

"C'mon," Akane prompted. "You know him, right?"

Ranma shrugged.

Ryoga had a hurt, incredulous look on his face. "You really
don't remember?" <How dare he not remember me, his greatest
rival!>

"Do you know him?" Akane accused. <At last! Something to pin
on him! Probably something perverted, too!> "Hurry up and
remember!"

"Don't push me, *student*!" Ranma shook his head. "Doesn't
ring a bell."

"ENOUGH!" Ryoga yelled. "But answer this question - Why
didn't you come to fight me on that day?"

"Fight you?" Akane asked. "You miss a fight, *sensei*?" <Did
Ranma run out on a fight? Cowardice - *that* would be enough
to get him kicked out!>

Nabiki saw the way Akane was thinking. "If Ranma didn't show
up for a fight, he would have had a good reason." She looked
up at Ranma. "Right?"

A look of comprehension appeared on Ranma's face. "I've
finally remembered who you are! We were together at Junior
High School!"

"Ryoga Hibiki!" Ryoga said angrily. "At least remember my
name!"

"That's right!" Ranma said cheerfully. "Long time no see!"

"Answer my question! Why didn't you show up!?!"

Ranma looked surprised. "I waited three days for you to show
up!"

"Three days?!?" Akane said. <Damn! Can't claim cowardice
them.>

"And when I arrived on the fourth day, you were gone!" Ryoga
said accusingly.

"The fourth day?" Nabiki said. "What took you so long?"

"I wasn't taking a stroll for my health!" Ryoga retorted.
"You don't know the hardships I endured before I found the
place!"

"It was the vacant lot just behind your house!" Ranma said.

The crowd that had assembled began mumbling. "Can't he
follow directions?" "Seems not." "- no sense of direction -"

"You ran from a challenge and tried to hide in China with
your father!" Ryoga accused.

Ranma smirked. "So you've come to settle the score?" <This
should be interesting.>

Ryoga's face got even more red and angry. "Settle the
score?!  You must be joking. I've come for revenge!"

Ranma looked puzzled. "Revenge? What for? What did I do to
you?"

"Don't act so innocent!" Ryoga retorted. "I'll do whatever
it takes to ruin your happiness!"

Ranma looked even more puzzled. "My happiness?" He glanced
at Akane. "I didn't know I *had* any."

"I certainly hope not." Akane said, smirking. "What did you
do to make him so angry? I thought *I* was your first
student."

"I was wondering myself."

"Stop talking nonsense!" he bellowed. "Defend yourself!"

"Look out!" Nabiki yelled.

Ranma dodged the umbrella again and again, the various blows
damaging the schoolyard walls and the pavement. "Ryoga! What
the hell-" he began. Then a thought struck him.

"Hold on just a minute." he said. "Akane, come on!"

"Wait! What are - YIPE!" she yelled as he dragged her down
the street.

"RANMA! Are you running away again?!?" Ryoga cried.

"We'll be right back!" Ranma cried. "Don't go anywhere!"

A minute later, they came back, Akane carry a big sack.
Ranma threw something toward Ryoga, who caught it in mid-
air.

"Curry bread? What's this?

"Why not settle this with these?" Ranma said.

Ryoga was doing a great job of looking shocked today.
"You've got to be kidding!"

Ranma huffed. "Greedy, ain't'cha? Okay - here!"

He began tossing: "Yaki soba bread, croquette bread, melon
bread, katsu sandwich, meat bread, wakame bread - How's
that? That's all I can remember."

"What on earth are you thinking?!" Ryoga said. "Do you think
this can be resolved with *bread*?"

Akane nodded. "He right! What the hell is this, Ranma?"

"Well," Ranma said, "Ryoga and I were students at an all-
male junior high school. It was kind of a weird place -
every day at lunch, the teachers threw the food out and the
students fought for their lunches like they were at war. I
think Oyaji had something to do with it -"

[FLASHBACK]    

At a junior-high school, a lunch bell chimes and all the
students converge on the cafeteria.

The World's Ugliest Lunch lady takes her cigar out of her
mouth. "All right, everyone - take a good look! This is the
very last curry bread we have!"

She tosses it out amid the sea of students, laughing as the
students start grabbing and snapping like wild animals..

Young Ryoga jumped up. "Got it!"

Abruptly, Young Ryoga was shoved to the floor as Young Ranma
jumped on top of his head and grabbed it.

Ryoga looked up at his oppressor. "You - Who are you?"

"Ranma Saotome."

"Ranma Saotome, I will never forget losing that curry
bread!"

[END FLASHBACK]

Ranma chuckled. "You were so horrified at losing the curry
bread that you cried!"

"Shut up!" Ryoga barked.

Akane shook her head. "Getting that upset over a piece of
food - "

Ranma nodded. "Yeah, I know."

"But that's not all, *is it* Ranma?" rebutted Ryoga.
"There's more - "

[YET ANOTHER FLASHBACK]

[A slideshow of days in the lunch room]

The Ugly Lunch Lady barked out, "Here's the very last yaki
soba bread!"
"And the very last croquette bread!"
" - last melon bread!"
"Katsu sandwich!"
"- last Meat bread!"

[END FLASHBACK]

Ryoga kept going on. " - Wakame bread, tamago bread, then
there's salad bread, and soup bread. That's all I can
remember."

Nabiki chuckled. "Pile up enough dust, you get a mountain."

"Believe me," Akane said, "I know *exactly* how you feel!
This youma has eaten almost everything in a fifty-kilometer
area! I have to fight for almost every bite!"

"That's part of your training." Ranma said importantly. "If
you want me to stop, then guard your food better."

"We are not here to talk about our fighting over bread!"
Ryoga interrupted.

Ranma looked at Ryoga curiously. "We're not?"

"No, we're not!"

"Then what *are* you here for?"

"I don't have to answer *you*!" Ryoga barked, lunging with
his umbrella like a sword. Ranma dodged to one side.

"Hey! Hold on!" he said. "If I'm going to defeat you in a
casual and humiliating fashion, can't I at least know why?"

"I've gone through hell because of you!"

"I still don't understand!"

"Even if I told you, you'd never understand!" he cried,
popping his umbrella open. With a sweep of his arm, the
umbrella spun like a top straight toward Ranma. Ranma hopped
over it, letting it strike sparks from the wall before
bouncing into the schoolyard, where it cut down a tree.

"Damn!" Ryoga snapped, "Missed him!" He looked around
frantically. "Ranma! Where are you?!"

Akane tried to point to the top of the wall, where Ranma was
perched, but Nabiki grabbed her arm. Ryoga ran toward the
school building, not even slowing down.

"Ranma! Ranma! Where are you?! Show yourself!" he cried,
eventually wandering out of sight.

Ranma hopped down. "Heh-heh-heh! One dependable thing about
Ryoga - his sense of direction. It'll take him a few days to
find his way back."

 * * * * * * * * * *

Ranma-onna, Nabiki, and Akane were still talking about it
when they got home.

"C'mon!" Akane said. "I *know* how nasty you are to *me*!
You must have done something terrible to him!"

"I keep telling you, I don't have any idea!" Ranma insisted.
"And I'm not 'nasty' to you - you would understand that if
you were a *real* martial artist and not just playing at a
hobby!"

"GRRRAARRR!!" Akane replied, swinging at him - only to find
herself hanging upside-down by her ankles, not exactly sure
how she got that way. (She thanked the kamis that she had
started wearing shorts under her skirt. Last thing she
wanted was to give a free show - again.)

"Akane, leave it alone!" Nabiki insisted. <Nabiki the Nice
Girl giving a show of support and trust, very timely -
thanks, Imouto-chan.> "You shouldn't harass your sensei like
that."

"Oh, it's all right." Ranma said, dropping Akane on her head
with a loud 'bonk'.

"ITE!!" Akane protested.

"I don't pay any attention to it." Ranma continued. "Y'know,
Oyaji's right - your student's protests begin to sound like
the buzzing of mosquitoes after a while."

Nabiki giggled. "You're so clever, Ranma-kun."

Akane felt nauseous at her sister's display. <She *does* lay
it on thick, doesn't she? And he just laps it up!>

 * * * * * * * * * *

Stumbling through the woods, Ryoga blundered upon a road.
The roadsign nearby was no help because Ryoga never learned
to read Russian.

"WHERE AM I NOW!?! RANMA THIS IS ALL YOUR FAULT!!"

Ryoga kicked a tree, causing it to fall over.

"I've *got* to get my revenge! I'll ruin his life - I swear
it!"

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To Be Continued
