The fine ribbon bit the air to slash at its target with a ferocious 
glee.  Reaching back, almost like a living entity, it paused in its strike 
- then rushed forward mercilessly to bite deep, tasting of its master's 
opponent.

	A hideous sound suddenly was flung into the air; a worse weapon then 
even the ribbon.  For this weapon could pierce through the deepest of 
armors, driving a man mad.  A weapon, cruel and drawn out to maximize its 
effectiveness; a laugh.

	"That hussy!  Stealing my victory!"  Kuno Kodachi lashed out with 
the ribbon, scoring against the wooden target once more.  "I will show her 
the mistake of offending a member of the noble house of Kuno!"

	Once more that piercing cackle slashed through the air, and in his 
room, Kuno Tatewaki frowned mightily in his meditation, irked by the 
ever-present annoyance.  Calmly reaching over, he grasped what had become 
his only salvation from Kodachi's hideous laughter.  Slapping the 
headphones over his ear, he boosted the volume of the cd-player, and 
pressed play.

	Kuno smiled as the soothing melodies of Enya spilled over him.


	A Ranma 1/2 Fanfiction
	Created by Winston Smith
	Written by Trebane


	Morning already?

	Shiro rose from the bed and looked around, surprised.  He felt 
completely rested, and after a night of trying to rescue Tonomi and Sakura 
it was pretty odd to feel that way.  Almost literally bouncing from his 
bed with a peppy attitude, Shiro glanced at the clock and grinned.  He had 
plenty of time to get ready, maybe even check his e-mail for the second 
time in as many days.  What an amazing thing!

	On the way to the shower he flicked the computer on so it would have 
time to boot.  On the way out of the shower into the kitchen for breakfat 
he connected it to the internet, auto-checking his e-mail.

	Then, finished with his morning routines, Shiro seated himself and 
looked at the screen.
	"Hello Dave.  You have '1' new message(s)."
	Shiro rubbed his eyes, "Maybe I'm a bit more tired then I thought."  
He brought the message up...

		Hey Shiro!  I know I wrote you just last week, but 
	I wanted to let you know that I'm on my way.  Ain't 
	it cool?  I should be at Tokyo International at about 
	8:00 tomorrow!  And you better have that spot ready!

		Oh!  Thinking of which, I'm bringing something 
	with me.  You're gonna like it!  Lova ya lots, cya 
	later.  

		~Kira~

	For a long moment, Shiro didn't move.  But his eyes eventually 
strayed to date of the message.  It was as he feared.  He then, still 
without really moving, looked at the clock.  7:37 a.m.  
	He nearly forgot to lock the door on his way out.

	Kira checked her watch for the fifth time that hour, scowling at 
what she saw.  Crossing her arms over her chest, she tapped a foot 
impatiently and looked around for her "beloved" cousin.  "Damn jerk, 
always showing up late.  I can count on him."  After a few more seconds, 
she sighed and entered a nearby coffee shop, keeping an eye on the hall 
for when Shiro would, no doubt, come rushing past.  For a bit she savored 
the imagine look on his face as he rushed past, missing her, panicked that 
he had missed her.  But, unfortunately, Kira really couldn't depend on 
such a fantasy.  Shiro was slightly more... unpredictable then that at 
times.

	Speaking of the devil...  Shiro raced down the hall, past the metal 
detectors, and into the lounge, glancing frantically about for Kira.  Not 
seeing her, he move to the next, and then the next, but still didn't see 
her.  "I missed her!"

	"No you not you idiot!  I in here!"

	Shiro turned around and blinked, "Oh, hi Kira!"

	She rolled her eyes, and led the way back to her seat, "You come 
late, of course.  Shiro, you idiot."

	"<Would you rather speak English?>"

	"If wanted to speak English, would have already!"

	"Alright.  You're choice... <You just sound like an idiot.> "

	She reached over and smacked him, "ANYway.  You got place for me to 
sleep <dear cousin of mine>?"

	"I left in a hurry, Kira.  I'll set you up a place when we get..."  
His eyes suddenly widened, "<Kuso!>"

	"What?"

	"I forgot!"  He grimaced, "I've got to teach today."

	"You teaching now?" She asked in surprise, "Already?  How that 
happen?"

	"I'll tell you on the way!"  He grabbed her hand and started 
running.

	"<This is an amazing place, Shiro...>"  Kira observed, looking in 
interest at the school yard.  Already the school had been repaired from 
Ryouga and Ranma's disastrous fight, and the giant pineapple school sat 
behind it like a looming threat.  

	People had gladly returned to the mundanity of a normal school 
building compared to the odd, hard to get around and distinctly disturbing 
pineapple.  Of course, people tended to dislike the works of the Kunou 
anyway, and how would this case be different?

	Luckily, Shiro and Kira weren't too late, and on the taxi ride over 
he'd regaled her with tales of his short, but packed career.  Emphasizing 
that the night before he had risked life and limb simply to rescue a 
fellow teacher and a student he'd become friends with, he ended up giving 
Kira the idea that the stress of an actual teaching job was making her 
cousin go insane.

	But when she saw the school... concrete smashed, trees uprooted, the 
walls functional but decidedly unaesthetic, she began to suffer a glimmer 
of belief.   

	"<You wouldn't know the half of it...>"  He sighed.

	Kira's eyes widened, and she giggled, "<Meaning, this place is 
almost as bad as a anime!  It's like a self-insertion fanfic!>"

	"<Huh?>"

	She turned and hugged him for all she was worth, "<Thanks, Shiro!  
This is going to be great!>"

	He grinned and returned the hug, "<I hope so.  Maybe with a crazy 
American here, the insanity might step down a level or two.">

	"<Or maybe...">

	"Hey!  You there!  What do you think you're doing!?"


	Takahashi Sakura was _not_ happy, in the least.  Here she had waited 
most of the morning so she could walk with Shiro, and he comes in with 
some... floozy!  After showing such concern the night before, it simply 
amazed and hurt Sakura that he could do something like that.

	Sakura narrowed her eyes and turned to walk away.  If he wanted that 
girl then it was just _fine_ with her.  It wasn't like she liked the 
stupid jerk very much anyway.  

	But out of the corner of her eye she saw the other girl reach up and 
hug Shiro tightly... did he resist?  He hugged back!   Why that little...

	Sakura's left eye twitched a bit, "All right you little hussy.  You 
want to play tough...?"  She rolled up the sleeve of her coat and shouted, 
"Hey!  You there!  What do you think you're doing!?"  

	Shiro looked over, surprised, and Kira quickly let go to face the 
newcomer.  Sakura didn't pause for a second before berating Kira in 
Japanese too quick for the other to follow, "What do you think you're 
doing, hugging Shiro in a school?  And Shiro, what do you think you're 
doing hugging back!?  Do you know what will happen if Hinako-san sees the 
two if you..."

	Kira interrupted what was likely to become a long tirade, "<Um, 
Shiro, I can't understand her...>"

	Shiro frowned, "<Basically she said that PDA's are bad.  But, this 
isn't like Sakura at all... I wonder what got into her.>"

	Sakura frowned at Shiro, "What did you say?"

	"She asked the same thing... she's not from around here..."

	"Well it doesn't matter!  You..."

	"<Jeez, what's HER problem?>"

	"...know better then to do these kind of..."

	"<She's stress out, I guess."  He rubbed the back of his head.

	"...things on the school yard!  And especially with a SCHOOL GIRL!"

	"What!?"

	"<What!?>"

	"She's my cousin!  I told you about her the other day... wait, no... 
yesterday?"  He blinked, "Wow, it seems like a few days ago."  He shook 
his head, "Sakura, this is Kira.  Kira, this is Sakura."

	Sakura flushed, "She's your cousin?"

	"Yes."  He nodded and gave her a grin, "Don't worry, its 
understandable Sakura... huh?"  He blinked, noticing Sakura had grabbed 
Kira's hand and dragged her off.  "What are you two doing?"

	"Girl-talk!" Kira called back, "Go inside Shiro!"
	
	"Sorry about what happened back there,"  Sakura bowed quickly, "When 
I saw you hugging Shiro I got..."  She blushed.

	Kira grinned at the other girl, "A little erm... jealous?  No worry, 
I forgive."

	"That's very nice of you, Kira-san."

	"No worry."  She winked, "But you not know Shiro as well as you 
think.  Maybe I should help you... erm... get to know better?"

	Sakura shared an evil grin with Kira



	Author's Notes-

I apologize for the short and hasty chapter.  You try juggling school, 
church, the life of a bachelor, insane friends who like crashing their 
cars >_< and being on one of the strangest ML's in all of existence.  And 
it all crashes down on you in two weeks.  

Two weeks ago I could've done this no sweat... and not so short too.  As 
it is I gotta write a chapter for FFL as well.  *slaps forehead*  Baaad 
timing there on my part.

Nah, I ain't blaming anyone but myself.  Anyway, I hope ya'll like the 
chapter.  I was thinking "Get Kira into Japan, reveal more of Sakura's 
crush, make Tonomi jealous, and give Kodachi a bit more spotlight.  (I 
always liked that nutcase.)

Trebane; Last of the Seraphim Dragons