The new version of the previous chapter can be found here: viewtopic.php?p=435307#p435307 (Edit: Yeah this topic sadly died. Er I'm fairly certain chapters 1-3 have their new version on fanfiction.net already.)
Disclaimer: The characters of Ranma ½ belong to Rumiko Takahashi. Other characters and items belong to their respective creators. The story is mine though, so I don't think it's too much to request that you ask permission before posting this elsewhere.
Twin Trouble by Lioconvoy
Pre-chapter note: This chapter has had significant changes from its original version.
Chapter Four: Growing up with Ms Hinako Part 1
As Nabiki and 'Usagi' walked past the morning mob, the older twin could see her sister's fiancé was still mentally somewhere else. Ever since Ranma changed into a girl and put on her school uniform she had been distant and silent. “Ranma…”
"Truly such a boorish lot. Evidently each of them intends to ask you out Akane…"
"Sempai, I'm Nabiki, the one with the short hair remember, Akane is still fighting the boorish lot." To his credit, Kuno only confused her with her younger sister half the time, but it was still annoying.
Looking up from the rose in his hand, the Blue Thunder of Furinkan High saw he was indeed addressing the wrong Tendo. However there was a girl walking past the sister he stopped…. "That you are. Tell me Nabiki Tendo, do you know who that redhead was who traveled with you through the fools?"
"She’s Usagi Narita. She's…"
"AH HA! It is as I thought.” Kuno turned around. The girl who just passed was the little sister to the one who tormented him so. If only Natusme had not run away when he was finally ready to avenge himself, then this girl might have been spared. As this was the case, she would receive her sister's punishment. Kuno readied his bokken. "Fear not, for I shall end this quickly. I will not allow Akane Tendo to wait for me."
Was the sword boy about to attack Usagi? The redhead was close to the door, maybe Kuno wouldn’t give chase inside the school. “Usagi! Run!”
Akane arrived at the steps just in time to see her last opponent run into the school. Then she saw Nabiki was standing very still. "Nabiki? What happened?"
"Kuno…, I think he believes that Usagi is Natsume’s sister and he’s going to hurt her.“ Something felt wrong about Kuno, almost evil. Ranma started to show them how to read auras last night, while she didn’t entirely grasp the technique she couldn’t shake the dark feeling Kuno just gave off.
"WHAT!" Akane knew Kuno was dumb, but to attack Usagi? Akane grabbed her twin by the arm dragging her into the school, they would find Usagi and pound Kuno. No one hurt her fiancé. Just then a bell rang. "What was that?"
"That, was the first bell. Furinkan has a new principal, you have until that bell to get inside the school or you're locked out. If you excuse me ladies, I need to lock the door. You should hurry up and get to class, if you’re not in your seats by the second bell there are some steep punishments. Not any strange costumes like the old principal either." The janitor frowned, poor boys, they were all going to have an unexcused absence. If they kept playing with the younger Ms. Tendo they'd be held back a year. The frail old man waited for the girls to step away from the door and then he locked it.
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Ranma ran as fast as his, er, her legs could move in her female foot wear. Her shoes weren't meant for running, so it unfortunately let the barefoot upper classman keep her in his sights and in swinging distance. If not for her instincts his first blow might have taken off her head. Why was this happening? Did she do something in her state of deep thought to anger the upperclassman?
"NO RUNNING IN THE HALL!"
The dumpling haired girl stopped in her tracks, she didn't know where the female voice came from but she dared not disobey it. Turning around, she saw the sword boy fall to the floor unconscious. Out a door she had just passed stepped an older woman with long brown hair, in a form fitting, yellow, short skirted dress. The woman turned to Kuno before she could get a good look at her face.
"Your name is Usagi Narita?" The new principal kept her back turned towards the girl as she didn't want her to see her smile. She knew exactly who this girl was the moment she saw her name on the school roster.
"Yes."
"Ms. Haruna, your new student is here." The second bell rang. Maybe, there was a little too much time in between the first and second bell. Still smiling Hinako walked off to her office, stepping over the fallen boy and going the long way so as not to let Usagi see her face.
As the first woman left another one came through the still open door. Ranma assumed this must be Haruna-sensei.
"Hello Usagi, I'll be your homeroom teacher. Now, let’s get you a locker, change those shoes and get to class." Ms. Haruna smiled warmly at the new student. She was the spitting image of her older sister though she had a more feminine air about her.
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Ms. Haruna stepped into 1-F to see the students talking amongst themselves. Some of them weren’t there when she left, but it would take some time to get used to the new two bell system. For today she wouldn’t mark anyone in the classroom now as tardy. Unfortunately a third of the class was missing and it was likely a third of the entire school was missing thanks to the principals new policy. "I apologize for being late. Class we have a new student."
Ranma saw Haruna-sensei motion for him… her to come in. She had to do this right, she didn‘t want anyone thinking she was a boy turned into a girl. "Hello my name is Usagi Narita, it is a pleasure to meet you all."
Was that the result of Kasumi’s lessons? They spent just an hour together last night after her sister came home. The polite bow had all the girls mumbling about how graceful she was. Akane sighed…Ranma was more of a girl than she was…in more ways than one.
"Settle down class. Usagi please take the empty seat behind Nabiki." Ms. Haruna was in heaven. Usagi was nothing like her older sister. Natsume would have plopped right down in her seat, where Usagi gracefully sat down and fixed her skirt. "Now as you are all aware Furinkan has a new principal. Principal Ninomiya is very strict and there will be some major changes from the way Principal Kuno used to run things."
Stepping over to her desk she picked up a book and held it up to the class. "This is the new rule book, I suggest you all take the time to read it. Every rule is strictly to be adhered to. Nabiki?"
Glad Haruna-sensei acknowledged her raised hand, the older twin stood up and addressed the teacher. "Ms. Haruna, these books are in English."
"Yes, well, before Principal Ninomiya came here, she was an English teacher. Usagi, you won't be punished for being late, but I think Hinako-san would be mad if I didn't punish you for running in the hall. Therefore, before you leave school today you have to translate the rule books for each of your classmates present."
Ranma wanted to slump in her desk chair at that announcement. If she did that though word would get back to ‘him’ and soon everyone would know about her curse. ‘He’ was a good guy but sometimes he accidentally let slip things he shouldn’t. "Yes ma’am."
"Ms. Akane Tendo please report to the principal's office."
Still smiling at Usagi's response, she wasn't surprised by the announcement on the loudspeaker. Ms. Haruna put her rule book back on her desk. "Akane, you may go."
Akane got up from her desk and walked past her classmates and out the door. She saw the janitor dragging Kuno away and now she dreaded what might happen next.
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As Akane approached the Principal's office door she noticed it was cracked open and peeked inside. It was very dark and she couldn't see much.
"Please come in Ms. Tendo and close the door behind you."
"Yes ma’am!" The youngest Tendo quickly did as she was told. Once in the room she stood in front of Principal Ninomiya's desk. Her body shivered. The room wasn't very well lit, and the windows were darkened. Behind the large desk, the new principal sat in an oversized chair facing the window.
Hinako could feel the fear her student emitted. It was likely Akane Tendo would not be a problem child much longer. "Ms. Tendo I have talked with the teacher, and it's of my opinion that you are the number one delinquent here, followed by Domon Ishijima and Tatewaki Kuno. I come from a family steeped in the Martial Arts, I understand some of you only learn through your fist. Now when the door is closed this room is completely sound proof. You have two choices, you can stand there and accept the punishment I am about to hand down, or you may fight me. I'll even allow you to throw the first punch. What will it be?"
She wasn't a delinquent, it was Kuno's fault she fought those boys every day. Somehow though she got the feeling the principal wouldn't accept that answer. Yesterday before Kasumi got home Ranma was teaching her how to see spirits. Focusing she looked at what little she could see of the back of the principal's head…her spirit was strong. Not as strong as Ranma's but still very strong. If it was another student she wouldn't be afraid of a fight, but the principal… "I'll accept your punishment."
"Good, tomorrow morning, don't fight the mob outside. If they attack you, avoid them. I can tell you are skilled so I'm sure you can do it. It is my belief that with your ability you should have been doing this all along, that is why I feel you share the blame for what the former principal’s son instigated" Although the student couldn't see it, the older woman smiled. Then she raised her katana that she had sitting beside her so Akane could see it. "You made a wise choice, I happen to be a master iaijutsu, and I don't think you would have stood a chance. You may leave, make sure the door is as you found it."
Leaving the room Akane sighed in relief. Maybe the principal did have a bit of a point. Still that woman scared her. Walking back to class she wondered what would happen tomorrow.
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Nabiki sat at her desk eating her lunch as Akane talked about her experience in the principal's office. Next to her Usagi sat translating a rule book, listening, and ignoring her own bento. After the events of the day it was hard to believe the redhead was really the same boy that arrived at their home less than four days ago. Looking over Usagi she noticed a bruise on her neck. “Usagi your throat!”
“I noticed during gym. That’s what I get for being distracted. I’m just glad my instincts kicked in otherwise I’d be breathing through a hole in my neck.” Last night she remembered one of her friends from her middle school’s Otaku club planned on attending Furinkan. ’He’ was a good guy, but bad with secrets. She couldn’t let ‘him’ find out about her curse or everyone would know.
“Ran…Usagi, just what did Kasumi do to you in that hour last night.” Since the conversation shifted from the principal, Akane just had to know.
“Oh, I can’t blame the way I’ve been acting on your sister. I remembered a classmate from middle school was going to be attending here.”
“And you think he’ll figure you out if you don’t act like a princess? Seriously Ran…Usagi relax. Be yourself a little more. Natsume was a total tomboy. I think your act is going to cause you more trouble than save you from it.” Her twin almost made the same mistake and here Nabik was repeating it. Maybe the reason she did it was to confirm to herself that Usagi was still the same person as her sister’s fiancé.
“You are not allowed to join the Drama club.” Her future husband was just too good of an actor. Then again, wasn’t it because he was over thinking his act that he almost died this morning? Was she allowed think of Ranma as him while he was a her? That wasn’t really that important.
"Nabiki-pyon! We have our midday report ready!"
Usagi looked at Nabki's two friends who were joining them. One of looked like a blonde Azusa, minus the hair ribbon. What was with the -pyon suffix after Nabiki‘s name? The other girl looked liked the short haired friend from the manga, but had a rather dark aura to her. Not really evil but kind of brooding. “Report?”
“We’re Nabiki’s spies. We go about the school collecting information for her. Stuff she can use to make a profit. I‘m Mai Shiranui, and my bubbly friend is Karumi Asari.” Mai took a good look at Usagi. She had been watching the new girl all day in addition to her normal information gathering. “First things first. Nabiki’s ice queen act is established, people are used to it. On the other hand, your Princess of the moon act: no one is buying it. Everyone’s worried about you and Nabiki taking over the school the way your sister did.
“She doesn’t have those intentions. Kasumi told her that Natsume was like that and she bought it. I just got done telling her to be herself.” Take over the school like Kasumi and Natsume did? As if the new principal would even allow something like that. Her money making schemes were going to probably hurt her enough under this new administration, such ambitions would probably get her expelled. Nabiki really hoped these rumors weren’t reaching Mrs. Ninomiya’s ears.
“Why doesn’t Usagi-pyon know about her own sister?” Asari tilted her head. How could someone related to the great Natsume Narita not know about her legend?
“I honestly just found out about Natusme yesterday. My moth…mom and pop are separated. It happened when I was little and I don’t remember anything about either my mom or Natsume. Whenever I ask my old man about that sort of thing, he just gives me a lame excuse. Technically I’m not a Narita. I should be using his family name, but, well he has enemies and thought it’d be safer if I used my mothers family name.” A good actor, she could be. A good liar, not so much. Ranma really hoped Nabiki’s friends would buy her story. What they said though confirmed what the older of the Tendo twins already said. Trying too hard would cause more trouble than not trying at all. She needed to find a middle ground. Maybe she could act like her normal self, but she should still think of herself as a girl while she was one. Would that be enough to fool Miura?
“So what is your real family name?” To Mai there wasn’t a shadow of a doubt Usagi was in fact Natsume’s sister. Both she and Karumi had met the older Narita at Nabiki’s home more than a few times.
“No Mai! She mustn’t tell us! A secret is what makes a woman a woman! You don’t want her turning into a guy do you?”
Usagi, Akane, and even Nabiki fell out of their seats at that comment. There were times when the short haired girl wondered just what went through the blonde’s mind. Right now though she was more interested in what caused that reaction from the three on the floor. Mai was about to say something when the next teacher arrived in their classroom.
"Okay, students, start moving the desks back where they belong, and if you don't belong to this class please return to your own classroom now. We will begin history in five minutes." Mr. Kogane scanned the room as the students started re-arranging the class room. This one was missing six students thanks to the new principal's rule. Locking students out of school…well just as with Principal Kuno, he was too afraid to stand up to Principal Ninomiya.
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Tatewaki Kuno the Blue Thunder of Furikan High would stand up to this new principal. After he awoke in the nurse’s office the Janitor said that this Hinako Ninomiya wished to see him. He had no problem answering her summons. Arriving at the office and finding it with the door ajar he slammed it open and stepped in. “Tatewaki Kuno the Blue Thunder of Furinkan High is here to challenge you, you foul sorceress! I would know what magic you used to allow my prey longer to live!”
She had heard from many teachers that the seventeen year old kendo practitioner was imbalanced, but maybe she had overestimated his sanity. When he was chasing after Usagi this morning it proved that he did not belong in this school. Hinako sighed and pressed a button on the armrest of her chair and the door behind the ’Blue Thunder’ closed. “Kuno, I am expelling you from this school. You have a choice, accept this punishment or you may fight me to overturn this decision. If you lose you will never set foot on these school grounds again.”
“Then I shall not lose. Your magic will not beat me a second time. I strike! “
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Lio's Corner:
-This chapter has had a lot of change due to the small changes made in the previous one as well as things that I didn’t like about it’s original version. I’m sorry for changing things so much, but I feel this is a better path to my original goal that the one I was on before.
- "pyon" is a slang honorific that's even cutesier than "chan", don't worry if you haven't heard of it before, I didn't till I picked up Nosatu Junkie.
-Upgrade, Ranma is still just as much a water Magnet, it's just it doesn't always happen all that rapidly. It took some time in the manga before the other students found out about his curse, and it was because he got the full body cat tongue.
-Dragon Man 180, Kuno won't be falling in love with Ranma this time around.
As flat as Akane is, she doesn't own any sports bra's. She doesn't need the support.
-Howard Russell: Akane's going to be helpful for now, but she may end up resentful.
-JG, if you have an account, send me a personal message. I'll reply to you then.
-Manga/Anime that does exist in this world: Ranma ½(Manga only), Guyver, Flame of Recca, Dragonball, Sailor Moon, AI Love You, Ai Yori Aoshi, Maharomatic, Detective Conan, One Piece.
-Manga/Anime that does not exist in this world: Neon Genesis Evengelion, Dear Boys.
-WarGiver's Omakes are not a part of the actual story continuity, however if you enjoy them, check out his account too.
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Name Game: (This is the part where I explain semi-original characters.)
-Mai Shiranui: Well the main character has a name that suits him and so I wanted a minor character with a name that doesn't suit her. Mai has a somewhat dark personality and it always shows up in the tone of her voice.
-Karumi Asari: I wanted Nabiki's friends to be opposites, where Mai is dark, Karumi is cute and happy. I chose the name Karumi from the Hamster in Angel Tales and I'm going to strongly base her personality off of that character. For her appearance I chose Azusa, because in my opinion she was the most sickeningly cute character from Ranma ½.
WarGivers's Omake for Chapter 4
After Akane, Nabiki and Ranma, or rather Usagi, left to school Kasumi had left as well to college. Soun had found himself doing some house cleaning. as he entered the kitchen he found a note from his oldest stating she would be late coming home tonight and to not worry about her for supper.
He quickly chased Genma off to job hunt a few hours later, then noticed something in a garbage bucket. He bent over and took a better look at the box he pulled out, 'Instant Spring of drowned boy.'
Soun might not have been the smartest Tendo, but the math added up fast even for him. If Either Ranma or Genma had it they would have said something, Akane was not the type, and it was too soon for Nabiki to try something like this. This of course left Kasumi.
He remembered the note Kasumi left and realized what was up. He might not have been the Soun Tendo in the Ranma Manga, much less read it himself, but he proceeded to do a good impression of Waterworks Tendo.
Kasumi was disturbing Natsume all day, the way she kept looking at her with that feral smile every time they met in the hall. or the way Kasumi giggled all through lunch. Natsume knew she was about to be dropped the big one, but what really panicked her was when she found that Sailor Moon costume in her locker.
