Muyami Academy
What if they ALL went to the same school?
Previous chapters at: http://members.xoom.com/bellchan/
What I originally intended to be Chapter 6 grew to 150 k. I decided
to break it into three chapters, but when you read them, be aware that only
Chapter 8 has what I consider a nice, dramatic ending. Chapter 6 and
Chapter 7 end wherever it seemed most convenient to break that section of
the tale off. And don't ask me why I didn't just make it Chapter 6 part 1,
2, and 3... I guess I like chapters to be within a certain length, that's
all. ^_^
Thanks to my longsuffering prereaders, T.H. Tiger, Bombadil Goh,
and my friends Jeffrey Cornish and William Morse. Thanks to Jed Hagen for
prereading even without being a prereader, and for feeding me two good
lines, and to those who have not given up on me and my story. ^_^
DISCLAIMER: Ranma 1/2 characters and stuff, and Inu-Yasha
characters and stuff, not to mention Ursei Yatsura characters and stuff,
copyright 1999 Rumiko Takehashi. Tenchi Muyou characters and stuff,
copyright 1999 Pioneer & AIC. Mamono Hunter Yohko characters and stuff
copyright 1999 AD Vision, NCS, Toho Company, LTD, Mad House, and I don't
know who else. Koko wa Greenwood characters copyright Yuki Nasu. Mint na
Bokura characters copyright Wataru Yoshizume. Other characters and stuff
also copyright the creators and owners.
Chapter 7
Schoolgirl Crush
In her rented house on a hill overlooking the school, Madoka Mano
sat in her study, eyes bright. The large oak table before her had two
circles drawn on it in green chalk, with ancient script and runes drawn
between the circles, and with fragrant candles burning at the outer edges.
In the center of the circle sat a computer. Its screen flashed
bright in the dimly lit room.
"Three..." she counted. "Two... one...."
She stopped, and held her breath, then slammed her palms down on
the table, hard enough to make the candles and her nearby teacup jump. She
leapt out of her chair and began to dance about the room.
"Yes!" she cried out. "Yes! Yes! Yes! Bidding is closed! I've got
the highest bid!"
She sat down at the table again. After a few mouse-clicks she
laughed again.
"Ho-ho! Confirmation! Now all I have to do is contact the seller,
send the money... and wait for it to arrive! Oh, won't Yohko and Ranma be
surprised!"
She sat back and laughed again. "Well, what do you know?" she said.
"Isn't technology a marvelous thing? The things you can find on the
internet, with just a few clicks of a button."
She took a sip of tea, and added, "Even, it would seem, a Mamano
Hunter amulet...."
***
In a dimly lit room many miles away, another woman was pounding on
her computer keyboard. "That's not fair!" she screamed. "I had that bid! It
should be mine! Mine!"
Behind her, two girls, one of whom happened to look remarkably like
Yohko Mano, watched in silence.
***
Miss Shizuko Morinomiya of Registration studied the girl before
her, noting her wide hips, accentuated by the flare of her pale pink dress;
her narrow waist and the ribbon that encircled it, tied into a large bow in
back; her well-endowed chest, which pushed against the satin of her blouse;
and her long, slender legs, encased in white tights.
Most striking was her bright red hair, tied back into a pigtail.
Miss Morinomiya was somewhat sorry to see such beautiful hair tied back
like that.
She said, "Forgive me, Miss...."
"Ranma Saotome."
Miss Morinomiya smiled. "Forgive me, Miss Ranma Saotome, but...
what makes you think that you're a guy?"
Ranma sighed. "I know what I look like," she said. "Look, it's this
curse I have. Right now I am a girl, obviously, but I'm really supposed to
be a guy."
"I'd really like to help you, Miss Saotome, but you must
understand. I simply can't assign a girl to the guy's dormitory, simply
because you claim to be a guy...."
"Don't my records say I'm a guy?"
Miss Morinomiya smiled. She knew that first days could be
stressful, but she'd never met anything like this. It was best, she
thought, to play along. She made an elaborate show of checking the girl's
records again, then turned back from the computer screen.
"I'm sorry, Miss Saotome, but you're registered as a girl. Now, I
realize that sometimes there are mistakes, but really...."
"Look," Ranma said, fishing her ID card out of her pocket. "This
should straighten things out."
Ranma handed the card over. Miss Morinomiya dutifully inspected it,
then handed it back.
"This also says you are female," she pointed out.
"What?" the red-haired girl looked at the ID card, as if seeing it
for the first time. "But I... I left this one the dresser at home....
"Look," she said, glancing back up, "there's been a mistake. I
swear I can change into a guy! It's just a weird Chinese curse that I
change into a girl when splashed with cold water. Do you have any hot
water?"
Miss Morinomiya frowned, wondering how long she should humor the
girl. It wasn't as if they had time to waste in registration, not on the
first day of class. If she could just get the girl to lie down in the
doctor's office, until these odd delusions faded....
"No," Miss Morinomiya said, "there's no hot water here, but...
perhaps we could visit the doctor across the hallway?"
***
A small man in dark blue janitor's overalls was sweeping the steps
leading to the basement. He was very old, with lines in his face and
missing teeth, and he had a halo of white, puffy hair ringing an otherwise
bald head. He appeared to be a typical old janitor, apart from being only
two feet tall.
A black cat bounced through an open window and landed on his head.
"Hey!" the janitor exclaimed, "what's the big idea?" The little cat
tried to leap away to freedom, but the janitor's hands moved in a blur,
snatching the cat in mid-leap.
The janitor held the cat before him. The black cat, with eyes as
big as saucers, stared back.
"Well now," the old man said, "it's nothing more than a lost little
cat. Aren't you a cute little thing?"
The little cat looked about for an escape, but found none.
"You know, pets aren't allowed in the dorms," the old man
continued. "Except the kind that live in an aquarium. But I don't suppose
you'd like that, would you?"
The cat shook its head violently.
"Thought not," the man said. Leaning his broom against the wall, he
sat down on the steps and set the cat down beside him. "I'd offer you some
cream, if I had some," he said. "But maybe I've got something just as
good...." He stuck his hand beneath his coverall and dug around a bit,
finally producing a small bento box, along with a pipe and a tobacco pouch.
He opened the bento box and produced two fried prawns, which he set
before the little cat. It began eating greedily, while the old man lit his
pipe and puffed in thought.
"Of course," he said after a while, "they don't like me smoking my
pipe in the dorms either. But I won't tell on you, if you don't tell on me,
okay?" He winked at the little cat conspiratorially. "Anyway, I don't see a
problem if one of the girls wants to keep a cat in her room. Truth to tell,
I wouldn't mind being a little black cat myself. I can just imagine some
young, sweet thing pressing me to her soft bosom...."
The little cat appeared to sway woozily for a moment, before
righting itself and finishing the last prawn.
"Maybe I should take you upstairs and see if I can find your
owner?" the man said. "It's as good excuse as any to knock on every girl's
door...."
"Oh!" a girl exclaimed, "I thought this was the way to the laundry
room!"
The man and the cat both looked up to see a young girl with long
black hair standing at the top of the stairs. A second, more willowy girl,
with her hair in two looped braids, appeared behind her.
"What a cute cat!" the first girl said. "Is he yours?"
"As a matter of fact, no," the old man said. "I was just thinking
of looking for its owner."
"Can I help you then?" she asked. "If you can't find the owner, do
you think I could keep it?"
"Well, I suppose so... the name's Happosai, by the way. I'm sort of
the janitor around here."
"Oh! Forgive our manners," the girl said, blushing. "My name's
Akane Tendo, and this is my friend, Yohko Mano."
Happosai's eyes lit up at the names. "Akane Tendo?" he repeated.
"Really! You don't say!"
But Akane wasn't listening. She lifted the cat up and hugged it.
"Oh, he's so adorable!" she exclaimed. The little cat's eyes bulged, a
trickle of blood came from its nose, and then it passed out.
"Ah, to be a cat," Happosai said with a sigh.
***
"By all accounts," Officer Ido said, "you have some remarkable
students here, Principal...."
The man behind the desk steepled his hands and stared at the local
police official.
"Ikari," the man said. "Principal Gendo Ikari."
Ido raised his eyebrows. "Indeed? The noted scientist?"
The man who was apparently head of Muyami Academy had black hair
and an Abraham Lincoln style beard. He wore glasses and a black sports
jacket over a red turtleneck shirt. He was, Ido noted, very good at
staring. And steepling his hands.
His office was large. Two walls were lined with bookshelves,
stacked with everything from science texts to old tomes, foreign novels,
and even a few manga books. A third wall was dominated by a large picture
window that looked out on the school campus. The desk was also imposing,
made of solid oak, with a large, polished, uncluttered surface.
Chief Ido didn't like uncluttered desks. It indicated, to him, that
the owner had too little to do.
"Chief Ido," the principal said, "did you come here to interrogate
me, or to discuss my students?"
"This is about your students, of course," Ido replied. "There was a
commotion in town last night. Some of your students were involved."
"I'm aware of it," the principal replied.
"Are you aware, then, that your students are allegedly battling
demons?"
"I think," Principal Ikari said, "that you will find that there are
no laws against the slaying of demons."
The police officer raised an eyebrow.
"Indeed," he said. "However, a man is missing, and there is also a
great deal of damage."
"The school will gladly cover everything. Just have the bills sent
to my office, and they will be paid."
"And the missing man?"
The principal spread his hands. "You may question my students, if
you wish. I was not there."
The officer nodded. "I intend to do that," he said.
He paused a moment, then said, "Tell me, Principal Ikari, how is it
that one of the nation's leading scientists should suddenly quit his job
and become the principal of a small, private high school?"
Principal Ikari watched the police inspector like a tiger watching
a grazing antelope. Finally he spoke.
"I thought this was about my students?"
"I'm merely curious," the Chief said. "You needn't answer."
Principal Ikari stood and paced to the window. He stared out at the
well-kept rose bushes and the manicured lawn.
"How much do you know about the history of this school?" he asked.
"Well," Ido said, "it's been here for a very long time. It was
originally a Jesuit school, I believe, but it's been privately owned and
without religious affiliation for many years. I also heard that it was
recently sold, although I never heard the details of the sale."
Principal Ikari turned to face Chief Ido. "Would it interest you to
know that it was purchased by Mishima Heavy Industries?" he asked.
Ido's eyes went wide. "Is that true? What would Mishima want with a
school like this? They're a weapons manufacturer!"
"Among other things," Principal Ikari added. "Of course," he added
darkly, "not all weapons are made of metal."
"And what is that supposed to mean?"
"I can't claim to know everything," Principal Ikari said. "However,
you noted yourself that our student population includes some extraordinary
individuals. This is not a new thing... for several years this school has
been attracting students with unusual abilities. I can not explain it, but
the trend has been noted by Mishima...."
"So they bought the school," the Chief said, "and made one of the
nation's best scientists it's chairman? Why? And why did you agree to this
foolishness?"
"They pay well," the Principal said. There was just a hint of a
smile in his face. "Working in the private sector does have its advantages,
Chief Ido. If you ever tire of your job and it's measly pay, I'm sure they
could find a position for a man of your talents, as well...."
***
Dr. Tofu was a young man with black hair, dressed in a loose gi,
with a white lab coat over it. He had round wire-framed glasses and an
easy-going manner, and Ranma instantly felt comfortable around him.
Ranma grimaced. She didn't like to put her curse on display, but it
seemed like the only way to convince anyone around here of the truth. She
was very glad Yohko had not tried to come with her.
"From my cursory examination," Dr. Tofu said, "you appear to be a
remarkably healthy girl, Ranma. And yet, you insist that you are, in
reality, a boy?"
Ranma nodded. "It's a curse," she said. "If you have any hot
water...."
"Ah, yes," the Doctor said. "Hot water." He walked over to the
sink, where a large thermos sat next to some cups and teabags. "Tell me,
Ranma, where did you pick up this curse?"
"In China," Ranma said. "At a place called Jusenkyo."
"Ah," the doctor said. "I've heard of this place." He filled a cup
with steaming water, turned and upended it over Ranma's head. Hot water
poured over her.
Both he and Miss Morinomiya watched in fascination as the young
red-headed girl transformed into a taller, black-haired boy.
"My! What a remarkable transformation!" the doctor exclaimed.
"There," Ranma said, "Now do you see?" He glanced down at the dress
he wore -- now very tight across his belly -- and grimaced.
Miss Morinomiya was staring, open-mouthed. "Well," she said, "I've
seen girls that fly through walls, lift cars, and toss electricity around,
but this is a new one. At the very least, I believe that you can transform
into a boy. If the rest of your story is true.... Doctor, which would be
his or her actual gender? Is she really a boy, as she says?"
The Doctor rubbed his chin. "I've heard of Jusenkyo curses, but
this is the first one I've seen. I'd have to do some research to be
sure...."
"Oh, for the love of...." Ranma began.
"Don't worry, Ranma," the woman said, "I'll call your parents and
straighten this whole thing out."
Ranma nodded, solemnly. "Okay, I understand. How long will that
take?"
"I'll call right away. If you could just wait in my office?"
Ranma nodded. "Um... Doc, do you have any cold water? I don't
really want to walk out of here like this...." He indicated the ill-fitting
silk blouse and pink dress.
"Of course," the doctor replied. Moments later he poured cold water
over Ranma, and he and the registration assistant watched Ranma's
transformation again.
"Amazing," the woman said. "That's kind of neat, actually."
"Kind of embarrassing and confusing is more like it," Ranma
replied.
***
Ranma sat in the waiting area outside of Miss Morinomiya's office,
glad that this whole silly ordeal was over. Well, almost over... she still
had to find some male clothes to wear, and get moved into the boy's dorm,
and she'd have to straighten things out when they went to get their
uniforms.
Most importantly, she'd have to explain things to her friends.
Especially Yohko. She really wasn't looking forward to that. Why, oh why,
did her life have to be so complicated?
Her feeling of dread had returned, although not as strong as
before. Ranma wondered why she couldn't shake it. As she thought about it,
another wave of unreasoning terror began to build. Ranma quickly diverted
her thoughts away, and focused on her current problem.
The door to Miss Morinomiya's office opened. "Please come in,
Ranma, and sit down," the woman said.
Ranma sat in a comfortable leather chair. Miss Morinomiya closed
the door.
"I've spoken to your mother," the woman said as she sat back down
behind her desk.
"What did you say to her?"
"Not a lot," the woman replied. "I only said that there was some
confusion with your records, and asked her to verify that you were, in
fact, her son."
"And she said yes?"
"Well, naturally. You are her son, aren't you?"
"I... yes," Ranma said. "Now, anyway."
Miss Morinomiya raised an eyebrow, but didn't ask Ranma to
elaborate.
"Did she say she was sending my clothes?" Ranma asked.
"No," the woman replied. "I didn't ask her. Is there a problem?"
"I kind of brought the wrong suitcase," Ranma said. "I don't have
any guy's clothing right now."
"Ah, I see," Miss Morinomiya replied. "That would explain why
you're dressed as a girl."
Ranma nodded. "I really didn't have any choice."
"Well, that's something I wanted to talk to you about," the woman
replied. "Your mother seemed very proud and excited to have you attend
Muyami Academy. She's spending a lot of money to make sure you get a good
education at a private school, am I right?"
"Yes," Ranma said. "She's saved up for a long time...."
"Just as I thought," Miss Morinomiya replied. "She would be very
upset if, for some reason, you couldn't attend?"
"Why?" Ranma sat up straight. "What's wrong? Why can't I attend?"
"Now, now, Ranma," the woman said, "I did not say you couldn't
attend Muyami Academy. In fact, you are already registered and you have a
dorm room assignment, so naturally you already are attending. But we do
have a problem; I'm afraid the boy's dorm is full up. I gave out the last
open rooms several days ago; there are no rooms left... in either
dormitory, actually."
Ranma stared across for the desk for a moment, letting this sink
in.
"But if there are no rooms open..." she began.
"You'll have to remain in the girl's dorm," the woman replied.
"But I'm not a girl!"
Miss Shizuko Morinomiya smiled.
"At the moment, I would say that you are a girl," she replied. "And
a very pretty girl at that."
Ranma's faced flushed red. "Now just a second, Miss Morinomiya...."
"Ranma," the woman said, "I realize that you're really a boy, who
becomes a girl only through an odd curse. But what I'm saying is this: If
you wish to attend Muyami Academy, you will have to remain a girl. You're
already registered as a girl, you have a room assignment and apparently the
clothes to go along with it, and physically you are a girl, when you want
to be. If you wish to stay, then I'm more than willing to help you keep
your secret.
"If that's not acceptable.... well, I'm afraid you will have to
transfer to another school. Those are your only options."
Ranma slumped back into her chair.
"I'm sorry, Ranma," the woman said. "Perhaps you can go back home
and attend public school. There may be an opening here next semester."
"Go home?" Ranma echoed. She thought of returning to her parents.
She thought especially of facing her mother.
"No," she said, "that would be worse. That would be... really bad.
Mom spent a lot of money to send me here."
The woman nodded. "You have until the end of the week to withdraw,
Ranma. After that, the tuition cannot be refunded."
Ranma stood and drew in a ragged breath. "Okay, I understand. I...
I need to think about this."
***
"Wow, Akane! Where did you get it? He's soooo cute!"
Girls crowded around Akane -- Yohko, a young girl named Maria
Minamino, a cute, haughty Chinese girl with purple hair named Shampoo, and
Shampoo's roommate, Shinobu Miyake, who seemed much more normal. Like
herself, Akane had decided.
All eyes were focused on the little black cat in Akane's arms.
"Isn't he, though?" Akane said. "The janitor found him; we think
he's a stray."
Behind her, Akane's roommate Nanami was busy making hot lunches.
Already she had attracted a crowd of hungry students. Meanwhile, the short
old janitor had finally left, and Akane had just about decided that the cat
was hers after all.
"Is okay you keeping cat?" Shampoo asked. "Shampoo told is not
allowed."
"Well," Akane said, "I don't know. If we can't find his real
owner... I mean, others have done it, right? As long as I don't get
caught."
"Belldandy would never report you," Shinobu said. "You just need to
worry about the teachers and staff."
Other girls crowded into the room, including Ayeka, Ryoko, and
Yohko.
"Perhaps you should keep him, Ryoko," Ayeka said. "After all,
according to local custom, every witch owns a black cat."
"What's that supposed to mean?" the green-haired girl growled.
Ayeka laughed. "Why, Ryoko, isn't it obvious?"
Akane winced, sensing a fight.
"Girls, girls," Nanami said, "don't stand around arguing! Give me
your orders! Great food at affordable prices! Oh, Shinobu, Shampoo, your
udon bowls are ready!"
Two steaming noodle bowls were handed to Shampoo and Shinobu. As
the Chinese girl tested the noodles, her eyes went wide. "Is good!" she
said. "Almost as good as great-grandmother's... Shampoo impressed!"
"How about you, Yohko?" Shinobu asked. "You're kind of a witch,
right?"
"No, not right," Yohko said. "I'm a devil hunter. That's nothing
like being a witch."
"Isn't Belldandy a witch then?"
"She's a goddess," Akane said. "At least, that's what she says...."
"Funny," Shinobu said, "you'd think we'd have a witch in the dorms
somewhere. We've got just about everything else."
"Anyway," Akane said, "he's my cat. I'm going to keep him."
"Do you have a name for him?" Yohko asked.
Akane frowned. "Actually," she said, "I think I'll call him Jiji!
You know, like the cat in Kiki's Delivery Service? Don't you think they
look alike?"
"You're right..." Shinobu said. "He looks almost exactly like
Jiji!"
"How's that for a name, Jiji?" Akane asked, holding him before her
face. "Do you like it? And we can call you Jichan for short!"
Akane squeezed the cat to her chest. The cat promptly passed out.
"Oh, look, Akane, he's fallen asleep!"
"Poor kitten," Akane replied, "this is all just too much for him."
She carried the little black cat across the room and laid it carefully on a
towel in a cardboard box. "We'll just let him sleep awhile, okay?"
She glanced up, to see Ranma standing in the doorway.
"Ranma!" Akane called out. "I'm glad you're here! We have to go get
fitted for our uniforms."
"Do I have to?" Ranma asked.
"Don't be silly! There's Opening Ceremonies this afternoon, right
before the club fair. Uniforms are mandatory!"
Ranma walked into the room and sat on the bed. "But I really don't
feel like it," she replied.
Akane noted the way Ranma walked -- head down, with her hair
shadowing her eyes, and with a strange listlessness.
"Ranma?" she asked, suddenly concerned. "Is something wrong?"
Then she saw a tear roll down Ranma's face, and her eyes grew wide
with alarm.
She snatched up the box with the kitten in it. "Let's go to your
room," she said, holding out her hand. "We'll have some privacy there, and
if you want to talk about it...."
Ranma nodded, and grasped her hand.
***
Ukyo looked her new roommate up and down.
She -- Ukyo was pretty sure it was a she -- was a young girl in
casual clothing, pants and a loose top. She had long pink hair and an
engaging smile.
A girl.
"Konichiwa!" the girl exclaimed. "My name's Shun Kisaragi! Are you
my new roommate?"
Ukyo glanced back at the two boys who ran the dorm. They were both
tall and -- she had to admit -- incredibly good looking. Mitsuru Ikeda was
the dorm President. His roommate, Shinobu Tezuka, was the favorite to
become Student Body President.
"Is this some sort of joke?" Ukyo asked.
"Is what a joke?" Mitsuru replied.
Ukyo waved a hand in Shun's direction. "I've got a girl in my
room!"
"Ah, yes," Shinobu said. "Shun-chan."
"Is there a problem?" Mitsuru asked.
Was there a problem? Of course there was a problem... Ukyo was a
guy. At least, she dressed like a guy, acted like a guy and was registered
as a guy. Nobody in the school knew that she was really a girl.
Or so she had thought.
Ukyo crossed her arms. "Okay, what's the big idea?" she demanded.
"Do I look like a girl to you?"
"Well," Shinobu said, "you do have an exquisite face...."
Ukyo caught the repressed grin on the partner's face, and realized
they were joking with her. They didn't know.
Good. This was some sort of joke, then.
"Come on, spit it out. Why are you rooming me with a girl?"
"Well," Mitsuru said, "I can understand if you're a little shocked.
Actually, we didn't realize at first that Shun was a girl. We thought that
'he' was just a little weird... until she told us the truth."
"You see, Shinobu said, "Shun has been raised as a boy since birth.
All of her records, including her family census, say that she's a boy, but
she's truly a girl. I can't go into the details just now, but Shun must
graduate from Muyami Academy as a boy."
"Since you two will be living together, we thought you should
know," Mitsuru said. "But this has to remain a secret between the four of
us."
Ukyo frowned. She glanced back at the pink-haired girl in question.
"So you're really a girl?" she asked. Shun nodded. "And you're just
pretending to be a guy?" Shun nodded again.
Ukyo dropped her bags onto the bunk bed and sat down.
"Well, you're not very good at it," she said.
"But you don't mind sharing a room with a girl?" Shun asked. "I
know it's a lot of trouble...."
"No," Ukyo said. "No, that's okay. I can kind of sympathize."
"All right!" Shun jumped forward and wrapped Ukyo in a tight hug.
"Thank you so much, Ukyo!"
"You see, Mitsuru?" Shinobu said. "I told you he'd be a good sport
about this."
"Oh, and Ukyo?" Mitsuru added.
"Yes?"
"This is an old building, and the walls are very thin. Shinobu and
I are right next door. So if you even so much as think to take advantage of
this situation...."
Ukyo nodded, and smiled. "Don't worry," she said, "you've got
nothing to fear from me."
***
Akane sat quietly in Ranma's room. The lights were off, and the
curtains were drawn. In the dim light, she listened as her poor, miserable
fiancee explained everything.
"So," Akane finally said, "so that's it, then."
Ranma nodded. She wiped the tears from her face with the sleeve of
her blouse. "I... I don't know what to do," she said. "I want to stay here
at Muyami Academy, but...." Her voice trailed off.
"Is... is it so bad, being a girl?" Akane asked.
"Yes! No... I don't know! Mother and Father...."
"Ranma, you can't let your mother and father decide something as
personal as your own identity. This is about who you are. Only you can
decide that."
"That's just it!" Ranma said. "I don't know who I am anymore!"
Akane sighed.
"Listen," she said, "would the old Ranma, the male Ranma, have
confided in me like this? Would he be crying?"
Ranma frowned. "No," she said. "It's... it's weak, showing
emotions...."
"That's your father talking," Akane said, "but you know he's wrong.
It doesn't help to hold things in, and confiding in others always makes you
feel better. You do feel better, don't you?"
Ranma nodded.
"Oh, Ranma, don't you see? You've already changed. Maybe you're not
a girl, but you're not 100% boy anymore either."
Ranma sighed. "I know," she said. "But I wish it weren't so. It
only causes problems."
"Ranma," Akane said, "I can't help you make this decision. How
could I ever make such a decision for someone else? Let alone my own
fiancee! Nobody should be forced to be anything they don't want to be; you
have to decide for yourself. But I won't think any less of you, whatever
decision you make."
Ranma nodded. She breathed in a ragged breath, and sat up.
"I'm not a girl," she said. "I was willing to be one for my mother,
but...." She sighed. "That will never happen, now.
"But I can't leave school and face my mother, either."
"Oh Ranma," Akane said, "you're such a coward sometimes."
"Hey!"
"It's okay," Akane said, smiling. "To be honest, I think I like you
better as a girl."
Ranma grimaced.
"That's not the only thing," Ranma said. "I've been having these
dreams...."
"Dreams?"
"Well, visions," Ranma said. "I keep seeing that demon from last
night. I can see the tentacles reaching out for me; I can feel them wrap
around me...."
"Ranma!" Akane interrupted, "Yohko and Tenchi killed that thing!
It's all gone, now."
Ranma looked into Akane's eyes.
"That's just it, Akane," she said. "I don't think it is gone, yet.
I have this terrible feeling, deep inside, that something horrible is going
to happen...."
In the cardboard box, which sat next to Ranma on the bed, something
stirred. Up until this moment Ranma had been too distracted to notice what,
exactly, was in the box that Akane had been carrying.
A small black cat sat up and stared at Ranma.
"Nya?" the little cat said.
"KIYAAAAAAAAAAAAA!" Ranma screamed, leaping across the room.
"C-C-CAT!"
The little cat's eyes went wide. It bolted from the bed and out the
open window.
"Jichan!" Akane yelled, leaping for the window. "Ranma! You scared
Jichan! Jichan, come back! We're on the second floor! Oh, Jichan!"
She turned from the window, anger in her face, ready to lash into
her fiancee. But Ranma was on the top bunk, cowering under the comforter.
***
"I really appreciate this, Uchan," Shun said from the bunk above.
"I know this is going to be difficult for you. You don't mind if I call you
Uchan, do you?"
"Well, not really," Ukyo replied. She continued to unpack her
things and put them away.
"I was kind of hoping that you wouldn't show, and that I'd have a
room to myself," Shun said. "It would have been easier that way. I know I'm
going to cause trouble for you. If you can't deal with it, then I guess you
can report me to the dorm lady...."
"Don't worry, I'm not going to do that."
"Really? Thank you so much, Uchan!"
Ukyo laughed. "What about you? You're really okay with this, then?"
"Sure," Shun said. "I know it must seem strange, but I've always
gone to boy's schools, so I'm used to it. Anyway, I trust you, Ukyo."
"Trust me? You don't even know me!"
"That's okay," Shun said. "I can see in your eyes that you're a
nice person."
Ukyo began arranging books on the small shelf built into the head
of her bunk.
"Actually," she said with a smile, "your story doesn't sound that
strange at all."
Shun hung over the side of the bunk and stared into Ukyo's eyes.
"Really?" she asked.
"Really," Ukyo said. She smiled at the strange girl, hanging upside
down with wide eyes and dangling pink hair. "In fact," she said, "it kind
of makes things a lot easier."
There was a pause. "It does?"
"Yes," Ukyo said. "I was actually kind of worried about having to
share a room with another guy. Can I tell you a secret?"
Shun blinked.
"Okay," she said.
"Promise not to tell a soul?"
"Sure," Shun said. "What is it?"
Ukyo smiled up at her pink-haired roommate.
"I'm not really a guy, either," Ukyo said. "I'm a girl, just like
you."
"Uchan," Shun said, "this isn't something you should joke
about...."
Ukyo laughed, and began to undress. And Shun's eyes grew very, very
wide.
***
"Tell me, Chief, have you ever studied Nostradamus?"
Chief Daisuke Ido looked a little uncertain. The two were walking
across the campus towards Matsukata Hall, the three-story brick building
that was the girl's dormitory.
"Wasn't he a Western Philosopher?" Chief Ido asked.
"Of a sort," Principal Ikari said. "Some have called him a seer, or
even a magician, while others have called him a lunatic. He made some
interesting prophecies concerning a great darkness that would one day
descend upon our world.
"There are others," the principal continued, "who speak of a coming
cataclysm. Many think these events will begin with the new millenium, or
within a few years of it. Some even speak of a war between heaven and
hell...."
"You don't take these things seriously, do you?"
"I take everything seriously," the principal said. "As for Mishima
Heavy Industries... I do not know what they believe. They pay me to watch
over the children of this school, and to observe."
"And what have you observed, so far?"
"Demons," Gendo Ikari said, as he reached to open the door. "A
steady increase in paranormal activity. It's interesting, is it not?"
A few minutes later they were seated in the commons room with the
President of the girl's dorm.
"I wasn't there when it happened," Belldandy said, "so there's not
much I can tell you. But I know who was there...."
"Don't worry, Akane, he'll turn up eventually."
Belldandy glanced up as three girls came through the doorway. "Oh,
here's some of them now!" she exclaimed. "Akane, Ranma, Yohko, I'd like to
introduce you to Gendo Ikari, Principal of Muyami Academy, and Police Chief
Daisuke Ido. Chief Ido wants to ask you some questions about the demon
incident last night...."
"Well," Yohko said, "we were just headed into town to get our
uniforms...."
"Just a few quick questions then," Chief Ido said.
"Well... okay."
"Yohko, you said? So you're the demon-hunter?" the Chief asked.
"That's right," Yohko said. "I'm the 108th generation Mamano
Hunter. My grandmother was the 107th. She taught me everything about being
a devil hunter."
"And she was there last night as well?"
"Yes, that's right."
"And you two were there as well?" The police Chief indicated Akane
and Ranma. "Did you all see the... the entity?"
"I was there," Akane said, "but I didn't really see that much."
"I, uh -- don't remember that much either," Ranma added. "Just
something that was round and black, like a shadow, but with tentacles...."
The Chief nodded, writing the description down.
"The ones who saw the demon and fought it are Tenchi Masaki, Ryoko, Ayeka,
and myself," Yohko said. "I don't think anyone else really saw it. But I've
had a lot of experience battling demons, so if you're asking whether it
really was a demon, then trust me, it was."
Principal Ikari nodded. "Just as the prophets foretold," he said,
in a deep rolling voice. "There will be more and ever-stronger entities
entering our world and challenging us... demons of greater and greater
power, demons that dwarf our current concepts of a "major demon". A true
invasion from the otherworldly realms."
A large sweatdrop appeared on Yohko's forehead. "Oh dear,"
Belldandy exclaimed, holding her hand to her mouth.
"Well, um," Yohko said, "if you're right, then... I guess we'd
better be ready for them."
"My thoughts precisely," the Principal replied.
"Um," Yohko said, "if that's all the questions you have... we
really need to be going...."
"Did you see Mr. Jihara, the shopkeeper?"
"Well, when he took our orders, sure," Yohko said. "We didn't see
him after that."
The Chief nodded, scribbling furiously. "And where is the demon
now?"
"What do you mean?" Yohko asked. "We destroyed it."
"You're certain?" the Police Chief asked. "I saw no body."
"Well of course not," Yohko said. "It's a demon. There isn't any
body. When it dies, the body vanishes."
"But then, what proof do you have that it's dead?"
"Proof?" Yohko said, flustered. "What do you mean, proof? I saw it
die. There is no proof. The only proof is that it's gone, and that it
doesn't come back."
"Ah. And if it does come back?"
"Then I kill it again!"
The Chief nodded. "And this has happened before? A demon coming
back, that you thought you'd killed?"
"Well..." she began, "I guess, once or twice...."
"It's not dead," Ranma said.
Yohko blinked. "What do you mean?"
"I... don't know," Ranma said. "It's just a feeling I have... that
the demon I saw last night is still alive."
Chief Ido smiled. "Thank you, Yohko, Ranma, Akane. That's enough
for the moment," he said. "You may go. Although I would like to question
you further at another time... and your grandmother as well."
"S-sure," Yohko said, as the three girls headed out the door.
Chief Ido turned to the Principal. "You said 'otherworldly realms'.
Do you mean that these things might not actually be demons, but some sort
of alien?"
"Perhaps," the Principal replied. "They are creatures from another
world or plane of existence, of that I'm certain. I doubt it matters much
what you choose to call them. Although, some might call them angels."
Belldandy gasped. "Principal Ikari, whatever for? Angels aren't
destructive! Angels are good and pure of heart!"
The Principal stared into her eyes for a moment.
"And in Western myth," he said, "who was the most beautiful angel
of all?"
Belldandy stared back in confusion.
***
"You shouldn't have a guy and a girl rooming together. It isn't
right! Hiding a girl in the guy's dormitory... I'm ashamed of you two!"
Seated on the floor of their dorm room, Shinobu Tezuka and Mitsuru
Ikeda looked at each other, then back at their accuser.
Shinobu said, "You're the last one I would expect to complain about
that, Moroboshi."
"And why is that?" Ataru Moroboshi said, standing erect with his
arms folded across his chest. "Do you think that I am somehow less
honorable or noble than any other student? I can assure you, despite what
you may have seen or heard in the news...."
"Moroboshi," Mitsuru said, "has nobody explained this to you yet?
Despite his appearances, Shun Kisaragi is a boy."
"I'm well aware of that!" Ataru exclaimed. "What do you take me
for, an idiot? You think I can't tell a guy from a girl? Don't play games
with me! You're hiding a girl in that room, and it isn't right!"
Shinobu sighed.
"Very well, Moroboshi. You're absolutely right, she's a real girl.
But she's registered as a boy and must graduate as a boy... what would you
have me do?"
Ataru Moroboshi began to pace.
"I understand the problem perfectly," he said. "But think of the
problems you might be causing for the poor boy that you force to room with
her. You turn her problems into his problems as well. How can you force
this fate on some unsuspecting student?"
Ataru stopped, stood erect, and thrust his chin out. He looked the
very picture of a noble, honorable samurai.
"If you must," he said, "then let her room with me...."
There was a loud crackling boom, as electricity arced through the
air like a bolt of lightning. Ataru was engulfed; he screamed, then
collapsed onto the floor in a heap.
"Darling!" Lum flew swiftly down the hall and scooped up the badly
charred Ataru. "You idiot! Must I watch you every minute?"
As Lum dragged her stunned fiancee off, Shinobu and Mitsuru again
exchanged glances.
"I foresee a very interesting year ahead," Shinobu said.
"Indeed," Mitsuru replied.
"Mitsuru-sempai! Shinobu-sempai!"
Shun Kisaragi came running up the hallway, screeching to a halt at their
doorway. He was breathing heavily, and seemed to be in a state of shock.
"Yes?" Mitsuru said. "What is it?"
"We've got a problem...."
***
Ranma stared at herself in the floor-length mirror.
"How does that look?" the saleswoman asked. "Does it feel alright?
I can adjust the fit...."
"No," Ranma said, "it's... it fits okay."
She glanced to the front of the small clothing shop, where Akane
and Yohko were waiting. Yohko gave her a thumbs up and a big smile. She
glanced back at her reflection.
For a girl's uniform, it looked okay. The problem was, of course,
that it was a girl's uniform.
I should have told Yohko before now, Ranma thought. But the timing
just never seemed right. Now, she was stuck with the prospect of attending
school as a girl... in a girl's uniform.
She'd almost reconciled herself to the girl part. But the
uniform....
The Muyami Academy uniform for girls consisted of a white,
long-sleeved silk blouse, with a sleeveless brown vest that buttoned down
the front, and a brown, ruffled skirt. A short jacket of brown with long
sleeves went over the top. A half-slip and camisole were also suggested as
undergarments.
It was, Ranma had to admit, very cute. Exceedingly cute.
Ranma glanced across the floor of the shop. Another girl, tall and
thin, with long pink hair, was also getting fitted for her uniform.
However, what she was wearing was different -- the top was a traditional
boy's black jacket, with a nehru collar, and biker's shorts instead of
pants.
"Hey," Ranma said, "How come she gets a guy's uniform, huh?"
The saleswoman shrugged. "It's what she ordered," she said, "and
between you and me, it's a bit strange, isn't it? I mean, a girl wearing a
boy's uniform?"
"Well," Ranma said, "perhaps. But suppose I wanted a boy's uniform
as well?"
"Oh no, not you too!" the woman exclaimed. "Why would you want to
do that? You look so pretty as you are!"
"Well," Ranma said, hard pressed to deny the cuteness and charm of
her female self, "let's just say if I wanted to, could I get one?"
If you want to purchase one, of course I'll sell it to you, but
why? That's a lot of money wasted."
"I don't know," Ranma said. "Maybe I'd like it better than this."
"Your mother paid good money for this uniform," the woman said. "I
don't think she'd want you to just hang it in the closet and never wear
it."
"You don't know my mother," Ranma muttered. "Anyway, if I got the
boy's uniform, then I wouldn't need this girl's uniform, would I?"
"You misunderstand," the woman said. "This uniform is already
bought and paid for. We designed it to the measurements sent in by your
mother. If you want a boy's uniform as well, then you'll have to pay for
that separately."
Ranma's gaze fell.
"I, uh... guess that's kind of expensive," she said.
The woman nodded.
Ranma sighed. She felt as if fate were conspiring against her...
just like the black-tentacled demon in her dreams. She could almost sense
the invisible tentacles of fate wrapping around her, forcing her into
decisions that she didn't care to make....
*to be continued*
Chapter Eight
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