Last time, on "Lack of Common Sensei":

------

Shiro got up and moved to leave the room.  All he had left to do was
pick up Kira from Sakura's lab and go home and relax... life was somewhat
back to normal.

Before he could leave, Mariko came up to him and tapped his shoulder
lightly. "Hmm?" Shiro mumbled, turning around to face her.  Their eyes met
for a moment before Mariko continued.

"Well, you did ask me for ideas for how you could teach better.  How
do you expect me to tell you about them before school on Monday?"

Mariko seemed to be a bit nervous, Shiro noted.  Nah, maybe he was
just imagining it.  She'd been fine for the last few minutes, oddly the
calm to his emotional storm.  "Did you have any suggestions?"

"H-how about we meet for dinner tomorrow night to discuss it?"

So much for life being back to normal.

---

Ranma 1/2: Lack of Common Sensei
Chapter 21: Insanity Takes a Holiday
LoCS created by Winston Smith
This chapter by Jeremy F

---

Sakura held her sample tightly in her hand, as she walked to her lab with Kira.

She grinned at the younger girl.  Kira reminded Sakura of herself somehow, and
she felt an strong connection between them.  "Kira, you have to tell me more
stories about your cousin."

Kira laughed.  "Sakura, I have too many story to tell for just one day.  Shiro
seems normal now, but he had some weird moment in his life before."
Kira leaned over and winked at the young teacher.
"Besides, what more important is getting you two together, right?"

Sakura blushed and turned away.  She muttered softly, "I guess you have a point
there, Kira.  So what suggestions do you have?"

Kira grabbed on to Sakura's arm and whispered conspiratorially in her ear,
"First you need tell me what problems you have so far.  Then we can make
plans for future."

"Hmm, well the main problem is all of these other girls trying to seduce him
all the time."

Kira's jaw dropped.  "Seduce Shiro?  That doesn't sound like my cousin much.
Who trying to seduce him? Is it Kawai-sensei?"

Sakura nodded grimly.  "Yes, I have the sneaking sensation that Mariko's
interested in Shiro as more than just a friend.  But she's not the only one. 
One of the senior girls, Tonomi Kanzaki has practically thrown herself at him."
She frowned and remembered the last time she saw them together.

***

Sakura walked innocently down the hall, a pile of papers perched precariously
on her palms.  She thought to herself, "I sure do gosh darn gee whiz
that Shiro'll be able to help me with my innocent homework grading.
That would be swell."  She turned the corner to face the slightly
open door for the teacher's lounge.  She gasped in shock and innocent horror.

Tonomi looked sultrily at Shiro and licked her lips.  "Shiro, you handsome
devil, you.  Is it hot in here or just you?" She whispered in his ear.

Shiro gulped and tried frantically to escape Tonomi's iron grip of seduction.
He stammered, "To-tonomi, I can't do anything with you.  My heart belongs
firmly in the innocent hands of Sakura, whose innocence, intelligence, and
beauty purifies my soul."

Tonomi licked her finger slowly.  "I'm sure we can think of some things that'll
make us both feel 'pure' if you catch my drift."  She slowly started to
unbutton her blouse.

Shiro gasped and fainted.

Sakura turned away from the door, thinking "Shiro, don't worry, I won't let
that vile student steal you away!"

***

Kira laughed.  "I don't think you have much to worry from Tonomi.  Shiro would
never date his student, he's too moral for that."

Sakura shook her self out of her daydream.  "So you think I should focus on
Mariko?"

"Not so much focus on Mariko, but instead play up your best qualities.  You
don't need to be mean, after all, Shiro wouldn't like that."

Sakura bit her lip.  "You've got a point."  Suddenly, she stopped walking and
shook her head.

"What is it?" Kira asked.

"We were so busy talking, that we just walked straight past my laboratory.
Come on, I have to drop off this sample."

---

Shiro gulped and laughed nervously.  "Uh, dinner? Well, I don't know..."

Mariko's face instantly turned sad.  "Oh, I see.  Well, that okay."  Her eyes
dropped and she faced the floor.

Shiro swallowed, and hastened to console her.  "Mariko, come on.  It's not that
bad."

Mariko held her face in her hands and mumbled, "Yes, it is.  You hate me."

Shiro put his hand on the young teacher's shoulder.  "Of course I don't."

Mariko looked up at him with a tentative smile.  "So we can go out to dinner,
then?"

Shiro grinned, wracking his brain for a solution.  "Yeah sure."  He snapped his
fingers.  "I know! Let's invite Sakura to come too! We can all work together on
this!" Brilliant, Shiro, he congratulated himself.

He could just picture it now...

***

Shiro sat at the wide circular table in the fanciest restaurant in Tokyo.  He
had a girl draped over each arm, Mariko on one, Sakura on the other.  He
grinned at the two girls.

"Now, girls, isn't this better than all that bickering?"

Mariko and Sakura blushed and looked deeply into Shiro's eyes.

"Wow!" Mariko exclaimed.  "Shiro, you're so unbelievable handsome!"

Sakura drooled a little, and breathed in Shiro's cologne.  "Oh, Shiro, you
handsome devil, you, you're man enough for ten girls!"

Shiro humbly winked at the two girls.  "Thanks, babes.  I couldn't have done it
without you guys, though!"

Tonomi bounded into the room.  She gazed in awe at Shiro.  "Shiro, great news!
I'm no longer a student, so we can date now!"

Shiro grinned.  "Sounds good."

They shared a hearty laugh.

***

"Shiro? Shiro? Hello, is anyone in there?" Mariko tapped Shiro's forehead with
her finger.  "You look kinda out of it."

Shiro shook his head, and focused on his current problem.  "So, Mariko, what do
you think? Sakura, you, and me out to dinner tomorrow night? I'll just
check with Sakura and we'll be all set.  Okay with you?"

Mariko said, "Sure thing, Shiro, it should be fun.  I can hardly wait!"

Shiro grinned weakly.  "Great."  'Phew, a potential disaster averted.'

Mariko watched as Shiro walked out of the room, mulling things over.

"Even though it would've been nice to just go out with Shiro, with both Shiro
and Sakura I can improve twice as much as a teacher! Then Yamada-sensei will
be so proud of me! And Shiro will be proud, too! And I won't be klutzy
anymore, and I'll always be the best teacher!"

She could easily imagine her amazing future.

***

Mariko strode purposefully and gracefully into the school.  Within seconds,
Yamada ran over to her, panting and out of breath.

"Mariko-sensei! We have too many students to teach! We need your amazing
teaching skills! Only you can reach these kids!"

Shiro nodded and put his hand on Mariko's shoulder, who stood tall and graceful.

"Mariko, Yamada-sensei is right! Only you can do this."

Mariko pecked Shiro on the cheek, who blushed.  "Oh, Shiro, you handsome devil,
you! And Yamada-sensei, thank you as well.  I'll do my best."

All the teachers and faculty lined up and saluted.

Yamada stepped forward.  "We know you will."

Mariko grinned widely, and cracked, "And that's the truth!"

They shared a hearty laugh.

***

"Kawai-sensai! Are you feeling okay?"

Mariko shook her head and peered at the girl in front of her.

"Oh don't worry, Miss Tendo, I'm feeling fine.  Did you want something?"

Akane bit her lip.  "Well, actually, yes.  You know Smith-sensai pretty well,
right?"

Mariko narrowed her eyes.  "Of course I do.  What about him?"

Akane sighed.  "Well, I just heard something from my sister about him you
should hear."

Mariko looked puzzled at Akane.  "What?"

Tonomi crouched by the door, straining to hear the conversation.  She muttered
softly, "Yeah, what?"

End of Chapter XXI
------


Hey, my first improfanfic chapter ever.  I hope I didn't scare off too many
people.
It seems a little short, but I think it gets the job done.

Without any real negative feedback, I plan to write again, so tell me what you
think!

Jeremy F