[Ranma/MI][FanFic] Tales of the Wanderer 3-6: "The Calm Before"

Ranma 1/2 and Maison Ikkoku are both property of Rumiko
Takahashi, and the several publishing companies she has sold
the rights to as well.

Books 1 and 2 can be found at:
rangerhq.50megs.com
sofaspud.org, and
fanfiction.net

Comments and criticism welcome, E-mail me at [EMAIL PROTECTED];
Pointless flames will be ignored.

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Tales of the Wanderer: Book Three: "Nerima Wandering"
Chapter 6: "The Calm Before"

     Ranma gave his prospective student one last visual
appraisal before turning to Akane, raising an eyebrow in
silent question.

     "He's definitely a most gaijin brawler."

     "Which he readily admitted at the start."

     "He's well... Old.  Even with the promise he shows I
doubt he'd be able to learn our most advanced techniques"

     "But he doesn't ask for that.  Just to learn what we can
teach him."

     "Ooooh, all right then.  I'm just not sure that this
isn't another wild plan on the part of both our fathers."

      "Why not ask him?"

     "Thunders-san, why do you want to study the art... and
especially why with us?"

     Muck raised his head and met the inquiring gaze of the
two teens.  "Because I need to learn what you have to teach,
Senseis."

     Ranma glanced at Akane before taking up the line of
questioning himself.  "Nice evasion, but why do you need to
learn from us?  Did our fathers put you up to this?"

     Muck's even gaze stared back at Ranma.  "No, they did
not.  As for the why, well, this is the answer..."  As his
voice trailed off, Muck was on his feet in a single, smooth
motion, his left arm drawing back in a throwing motion.  As
the arm came forward, Muck mumbled something and a yellow
streak left his arm; the streak caromed several times off the
walls of the dojo before Muck caught it once more, the glow
fading to reveal a round shield embossed with an eight pointed
star.  "Sorry to startle you two, but I needed to make certain
that there wouldn't be any...  outside ears to this part of
the conversation.  This was once intrusted to the Joketsuzoku,
who entrusted it to someone else before it could be stolen
from them, along with their underwear.  That someone else
entrusted it to me; but the thief is still out there, and
would love to get his perverted hands on it.  I need to learn
as much as I can, to defend it and myself from him."

     "Why not the old ghoul?"

     "Because her price was too high.  She demanded my
assistance in certain... marital matters."  Muck settled once
more into sieza, slipping the shield back onto his left arm
where it disappeared once more.

     This provoked another startled look between the two teens
before they returned their gaze to Muck.  "You said no?"

     "I said no.  As far as I am concerned, whomever Ranma
marries is a non issue...  But I feel that is Ranma's choice
to make, and Ranma's alone."

     "And the person he's marrying doesn't have any say in the
matter?" Akane demanded angrily.

     "Only that it is mutual between them."

     "Oh," Akane replied, mollified by the answer.

     "There are other... concerns," observed Ranma.

     "Two major ones, certainly," agreed Muck.  "As to the
first, I agree that it is... unwise to train under the roof of
the very person who wants this for his own.  Fortunately, I
believe that with my position we would be able to use the
Furinkan grounds after school.  As to the second, I will
gladly pay the going rate; since I expect that Nabiki will
claim that for the household funds, however, I offer this in
addition...  My assistance.  As long as it would not break the
law, or any school rules; ask, and I will do what I can." 

     "Tutoring if we get stuck?"

     "Most definitely."

     "Deal."

          *    *    *    *    *    *    *    *    *

     Kocho Kuno was in his office, and all was right with the
world as he stood at the window and surveyed his domain. 
Miscreancy was at an all time low since the arrival of
'Typhoon Gaijin'; the only fly in the ointment being that
Thunders, knowing what would probably happen to them, refused
to send students to him unless the offense was severe enough
to actually merit it, depriving him of his favorite pastime of
handing out really bad haircuts.  Even his son had finally
gotten it through his thick head that one did not ignore the
Typhoon lightly.  The man was depressingly honorable, though. 
He only came down hard on the real miscreants... and was
willing to give a student the benefit of the doubt until
proven otherwise.  Personally, Kocho was surprised that Nabiki
hadn't wound up in deeper trouble yet; although that was
probably because she worked very hard at not getting caught. 
Shaking his head, he pulled the curtains closed before turning
on the sunlamp and settling into his beach-chair.  The day was
still young; even if he didn't get a victim to...  counsel
this afternoon, at least his tan would be nice and dark!

     Outside, life was going on as usual.  Lunch period was
far enough along that everyone had bought whatever food they
were going to;  Ukyou was cleaning her portable grill before
settling down to eat her own lunch when she heard the soft
cough she'd been fearing, yet praying for.

      "Hi Ran-chan!" she brightly chirped, trying her best to
hide the sinking feeling in her middle;  She knew he'd been
really upset over what she'd done at the wedding, and feared
this had been the last straw.

     Ranma winced, realizing at once that this was going to be
even harder than he'd already imagined; he also knew that the
only way out of this was through the other side.  "Yeah.  Hi. 
You might wanna hold off on the Ran-chans till you've heard
everythin' tho."  Seeing her face fall, his stomach went and
tightened itself into a knot tighter than the worst Akane's
cooking had ever done.  The urge to use the Saotome secret
technique was overwhelming; but wasn't going to solve anything
this time.  The point of running was to give one enough time
to think up another solution; but no amount of thinking was
ever going to come up with an answer to this one!  Even facing
Saffron hadn't been as hard as this, he realized as he mutely
stood there for a second, bumping his index fingers together. 
It took every bit of the discipline and resolve he'd ever
learned to force the words from his lips, and still they came
out as a barely audible mumble.

     "I'm sorry, but I couldn't understand you, sugar," Ukyou
prompted, a faint hope still wavering inside her pounding
heart.  Neither noticed the crowd that had started to gather
around them, nor did they notice Nabiki and her cronies
somehow materialize between them and the crowd, keeping them
away from the discussion.  And as the crowd gathered, much
like storm clouds on the horizon, this drew the approach of
the Typhoon...  Who, on seeing what was happening, simply
nodded at Nabiki and changed course.

     As usual with such a journey, it was the first step that
was the hardest, so Ranma was better able to articulate
himself this time; "I...  I wanna apologize for the way I've
been acting since... well... you know."

     Ukyou's heart soared at this; he was apologizing!  He was
forgiving her for what most  would feel was the ultimate in
unforgivable!  He really loved her...  Then she caught sight
of his eyes.  No....  NO!!!!  Trembling inside she found
herself voicing...  "But..."

     "But.   I'm...  I'm sorry, Ukyou," Ranma sagged to the
ground, drained by this more than any challenge he'd ever
fought.  Ukyou found herself likewise drug down by the
heaviness in her heart; the two teens coming to rest back to
back, staring out into space, not noticing the crowd held at
bay.  In a strange way, this breaking of the line of sight
somehow made it easier for Ranma to continue.  "It wasn't the
wedding.  It made me realize something though...  You're the
one best memory of my childhood.  My... my best friend."

     "But not your wife," Ukyou finished for him, the
quavering of her voice confirming what the shaking of her back
against his had already told him.  Ukyou was crying.  He'd
never wanted to hurt her...  that was why he'd put it off for
so long, dammit!  She deserved to be happy...  Ranma hated
himself, and hoped that someday he'd be able to see her smile
again.

     "But not my wife," he confirmed.  "I... I don't have a
way to replace your dowery...  Not yet.  But I will, somehow."

     "But I don't want it back!!!  I want you!!!" Ukyou
wailed.

     "But you can't have me," Ranma reminded her gently as
possible.

     "I KNOW THAT YOU STUPID JERK!" Ukyou raged at the top of
her voice, screaming defiance against the storm in her heart
before falling silent for an ageless pause.  The gathered
crowd, expecting imminent violence, scattered like clouds
driven by the wind.  "I know.  I'll...  I'll have to think
about this, Ranma...  A-a-alone, ok?"

     "Yeah.  Just...  Just don't do anything rash, willya?"
Ranma asked as he slowly forced himself to his feet, a sobbing
silence his only answer.  Head bowed and shoulders slumped, he
made his way to where Akane was waiting for him.  He supposed
this could be counted as a victory... so why did it feel so
much like a loss?

          *    *    *    *    *    *    *    *    *

     "Ukyou...  Come on, time to get up.  I'm going to walk
you home," the soft voice intruded into her sorrow, forcing
her to look up.

     "Why?  Why should I, sensei?"

     "Well, you can take your pick of any of a number of
reasons.  The two I like the best are that the grounds keeper
is about to turn on the sprinklers and the principal is going
to shave your head and send you back to class if you don't,"
Thunders-sensei replied, doing a comical mustache twist as he
extended a hand to help her up.

     "Yes, sensei," Ukyou giggled as she accepted his help. 
Somehow, he'd managed to turn her sorrow into hysteria, which
still threatened to overwhelm her, but somehow the laughter
was holding the pain at bay.  She started to ask about her
things, but stopped when she saw that he already had them with
him.  Dusting herself off slightly, she fell into step beside
him as he escorted her off the grounds.  It wasn't until they
were about to cross the rail line that ran between Furinkan
and the rest of town that she spoke again.

     "Sensei?"

     "Hmm?"

     "Why?"

     "Why what?"

     "Why are you doing this?" she asked.  "I mean, the first
time you came in to Ucchan's, you said if it didn't affect
class, you'd be staying out of it?"

     "And you don't think what happened affected class?"

     "Oh.  But this seems kind of... well, above and beyond
what's necessary, sensei."

     "Ah.  Let's just say that I don't agree and leave it at
that, ok?" Muck replied as they arrived at Ucchan's.

     "Yes, sensei," Ukyou sighed as she sagged into the booth
by the door and Konastu appeared as if by magic, as ususal. 
The kounichi glanced worriedly between Ukyou and her teacher,
but kept silent in response to a warning shake of the head
from Muck, who quietly set down Ukyou's school things before
drawing the kounichi aside.

     "Kunonji-san's having a very bad day, Konatsu.  I don't
know if she's going to feel up to talking about it later, but
if she doesn't don't push it, ok?  Oh, and give me your order
pad for a second."

     "Yes, Thunders-sama," the confused kounichi replied as he
handed over the pad.  "I don't understand..."

     "She'll talk about it when she's ready, Konatsu.  I
rather doubt she's going to feel like having the place open
for dinner tonight though," Muck informed him as he scribbled
furiously, then handed the pad back.  "These are her homework
assignments for tonight and tomorrow, but tell her I expect to
see her back in class no later than Friday, ok?"

     "Yes."

     "Good.  I have a feeling I'm going to crave okonomiyaki
for dinner Friday night, so I'll see you then.  Take care of
her, and yourself, Konatsu."

     "Yes, Thunders-sama..."

          *    *    *    *    *    *    *    *    *

     "I hate you," Godai sighed in a conversational tone as
the two of them turned the corner and made their way to Maison
Ikkoku.

     "Mmm?" Muck mumbled, raising an eyebrow as he sipped the
large soda he was carrying.  "Why?"

     "It's been just over a month, yet you've managed to get
the two most unruly classes in the school eating out of your
hand.  You get their attention and hold it; and the whole
school is buzzing over the companionate way you handled what
happened at lunch.  You keep this up, and the whole school is
going to be worshiping you by summer break!"

     "GACK!" would be the best translation for Muck's reply as
he spit out a mouthful of soda.  "Great Ghu, I'd better stop
or I'm going to have to change my name to Martin Susolov."

     "Marty Su.. Su.."

     "Susolov.  Yeah."

     "I don't get it."

     "Ah, don't worry about it.  You'd have to be a follower
of Star Trek fan-fiction to really get it."

     "Fan-fiction?  What's that?"

     "Well, It's like this, Godai.  There are some otaku who
love a show so much that they don't want it to ever end.  So,
when it does..."

          *    *    *    *    *    *    *    *    *

     All of the tenants were gathered outside the door to room
5.  While in and of itself, that might not be that
remarkable... it was the why that made it that way.  There was
a heated argument going on inside, one that had drawn
everyone's attention due to the fact that it was clearly an
argument between two men... yet Thunders-san lived alone!

     "He never struck me as yaoi," someone commented.  As one,
they turned their gaze to Yotsuya, who's only response was a
'darn if I know' shrug.

     "He isn't," Akemi spoke up from where she was lounging
against the door to room 6.  "He mumbles about Patricia in his
sleep."  Astonished eyes swivelled to stare at her.  "What?  I
took a day off..."

     The sound of Thunders-san ending the argument with "Fine,
be that way you unsufferable slab of silicon!  I'm going out,"
prompted most of them to scatter, leaving only Yusaku and
Kyoko in view when Muck flung open the door.  His sudden shift
from anger to embarrassment was rather comical as he hemmed
and hawed.  "Errr, sorry about that," he finally stammered.

     Kyoko looked past Muck, only to see an empty room. 
"Gomen, Muck-san, but who were you fighting with?" she finally
asked, causing Muck to slap his forehead.

     "Why don't you come in and I'll explain everything?" he
sighed, stepping back out of the doorway.  Once they were
inside, Muck closed the door and walked over to the computer
desk.  "Yusaku, Kyoko, Meet Fred.  Fred, I'm sure you remember
our landlords?  The nice young couple who like peace and
quiet?"

     "They have one child and another on the way. I'm sure
peace and quiet is only a fond memory," the computer replied
tartly, before swiveling the camera on top of the monitor to
face them; it then panned it down and up in an approximation
of a bow.  "Hajimemahite, Yusaku and Kyoko.  I am Fred."

     "Your computer talks!"

     "More than that, it sounds real, Kyoko!"

     "I am real, Yusaku, except for possessing a human body."

     "I don't understand, Muck-san," Kyoko murmured as she
settled down on a sitting pillow.  "If you created him, why
are you a teacher instead of making millions of yen as a head
of research somewhere?  Isn't this the breakthrough everyone
is working on?"

     "I am not a breakthrough.  I am a person who lives in
silicon instead of cells.  I am also one of a kind."

     "He's also the result of sleep depravation combined with
a caffeine and nicotine overdose," Muck added.  "I can't
replicate my results..."

     "And even if he could, it would raise all kinds of
ethical issues humans don't seem to be ready to handle," Fred
countered.

     "Gomen, Fred... but does that stand for anything?" Yusaku
wondered.

     "Fully Recursive Endotropic Deliberator... Which we made
up because I like being a Fred."

     "Oh."

     "Muck-san?"

     "Yes, Kyoko?"

     "Just what was it you were debating so heatedly with
Fred, anyway?"

     "Why Gojira and the other giant monsters always attack
Tokyo."  The straightforward answer caused Yusaku and Kyoko to
fall over in surprise, creating a break in the conversation.

--------

A musical thank you to Dolly Parton, who's songs of love and
loss were invaluable in writing certain scenes.  I'm sure all
of you can figure out which one it was. :)