Ah, here we are. The End All Be All excitement of Justice High...bake sales. Good lord, I’m not gonna survive here. I got enough pictures.... It may very well damage my lens if I point it at another muffin.

Come to think of it.... There have been a few interesting stories about this school, lately. That decides it. Ran Hibiki, intrepid reporter of GREAT JUSTICE, shall investigate the crimes of Justice High School herself! No backup, that’s for wimps! Just make sure the extraction choppers on time, I don’t wanna hold off their Mongolian forces barehanded for eight hours again! Not that I couldn’t, mind you. It just...really screwed up my hair last time! That’s it! A girl’s hair is her pride and joy, y’know?

A’ight, let's do this. OUCH! Okay okay I’ll quit the pimp talk, geez, you people have no sense of humor. Bleeeaahhh, meanies!

Carefully now, step around the machine. I just dropped a quarter and it rolled over here. Really, I swear. Look back to the muffins, you Kasumi Tendo wannabe. Mweh!

Success! The empty halls of Justice! Let’s go! Zooooom!

Aha! Deceptive! Another empty hallway! But I’ll not be fooled again! Zooooom!

And...it’s another deceptively placed empty hallway. This place’s waaaay too big. Wait...AAAH! It’s not empty! We are not alone! The truth is out there! Or actually, walking over there! Good, he hasn’t seen me. It probably wouldn’t look good for a reporter to be seen around here. Especially one as incredibly attractive, and as such, so well known as myself. What? I’m well
known....no, really, I am.

So what if my first story was just reporting the lunch menu? What’s that have to do with anything?

.....Okay, so what if I still have to report that? IT DOESN’T MEAN I’M A BAD REPORTER, YOU HEAR ME!?

Maybe that boy can help me...okay, I’ll just strut up to him, put on the ol’ Hibiki charm...and probably get thrown out for harassment. Or he’ll take me to his dorm and that’s the last place I want to be. He looks like a freaking Chikara Kachi fanboy. www....

Well, there’s always Plan B...Sorry man, this has to be done. FOR SCIENCE! No wait, for JUSTICE!

Alright...I’m sorry, but investigative reporters sometimes need to go to drastic measures. I’m sure you’ll be fine in a few hours...not that I’m an expert in this sort of thing. Gotta get ready before he turns that corner, though. Shirt collar over nose, hiding school emblem....I’m really sorry about this. I’ll send you a free clipping of the news story to make up for it, okay?

JUDO JUSTICE TESTICLE SMASH!

Sorry sorry sorry sorry sorry sorry sorry!!!......Okay, drag this guy to the bathroom...I’m sure he can’t get a positive I.D. with all those tears....

Gah! Justice boys have *underwear* issued to them!? And ORANGE!? Ew ew ew ew ew!

Anyway, now to the girls room. Thanks bud, I’ll try to give you credit or something as a source. The bathrooms empty? Awesome. Time to pull my Tony Stark impression.

Lemme see...tie my regular outfit into my jacket...Excellent, that looks....kinda bag-like. I’m sure no one’ll notice. Definitely. A bunch of people who go around kidnapping and brainwashing others can’t be too bright, right? I mean, since they got caught and all....right? Right?

Oh hell! Guys aren’t supposed to have, uh...these proportions....uh....Lemme see...Well, the pants’ll be a little baggy now,
but this belt has more important uses for the moment. Ugh...it’s gonna be a tad strained breathing, but I can take it!  Now I just put on my sunglasses...there we go, and talk a bit lower....alright! Whoops, maybe not that low....

....Thank God Iinchyo can’t see me doing this.

Raizo leaned back on his chair. He had issued another interview with Hideaki. Something about his demeanor didn't strike him as trustworthy, and he had some additional questions about any possible gang interaction.

Finally, he heard Anamia buzz in. "Uhh.. Mister Iwamano.. someone is here to see you..."

Raizo nodded to nobody in particular. "Ah, yes! I've been expecting them. Send them in."

"Umm.. you sure? I mean, OK, OK."

The double doors opened-- and inside a weird person stumbled in, obviously female but donned in the attire of the male Justice High student.

Raizo stuttered. "W-What the hell is going on here??"

Hmm. Not good. I think he was expecting someone different. Oh well, no problem! No one can withstand the charms of Ran
Hib--waitasec, I'm in disguise! I guess I'll have to act the part. C'mon Ran ol' girl, you can fake a guys voice. No problem, no problem at all.

"That's exactly what I would like to find out, sir!" That's perfect! Wait, why am I here to find out!? Think think think quick quick quick! "I'm, uh...on the Justice Newspaper Staff! We thought it would...boost moral to hear our beloved Principle Raizo comment on the recent, um....activitiess about the school!" Proof! He'll want proof of being on the newspaper!
CAMERA!

Ran quickly whipped  it out from under her shirt, trying to be careful not to show the bra or belt underneath.

Raizo continued to sit, folding his arms over his chest. He didn't blink, but just sat.

Why was he staring? He couldn't have seen through her brilliant disguise! No way at all! "So, um...What about the allegations of rising gang activity in our beloved Justice High?

"Who the hell are you, and why are you here..MISS?" Raizo said, an obvious hint of anger in his voice. His fiery gaze was trained directly into Ran's eyes.

Ack! Miss!? Crap crap crap crap CRAP! “Sir, trust me, you're very mistaken. I'm one of you're male students...Mister...Mister Usagi Yojimbo!” Ran put on a blatantly fake smile, that probably gave her away even more.

I'm gonna dieeee!

Raizo sighed. "Leave RIGHT now, Miss ’Usagi Yojimbo’ or I shall be notifying the authorities.”

Suddenly there was a buzz from Raizo's intercom. "Hideaki has come here to see you. He said you requested a meeting. I'll buzz him in, he must have been related to the other.. err, gentleman I sent in."

Raizo sputtered. "N-No! Miss Ana--" The double doors opened, and Hideaki walked in, clad in the orange attire of the
school. But he looked good in it, somehow fashionable despite the disgusting color. He was obviously extremely handsome.

"Erm. Excuse me, am I interrupting...?"

“N-not at all!” Ran squeaked, her voice cracking for a second. She tried to pass it off as male puberty. Or something. Don't they go through that? Yes, of course. They have to. PLEASE let them have to! “In fact, I was just trying to interview our beloved Principle Raizo to dispel these nasty rumors about our school!”

Hideaki nodded, an amused expression on his face. “ Well, that’s certainly a lovely idea.”

"In fact, if you help me, I'll be sure to give you special thanks in my column." Men always like attention and glory, right? Sure, he'll take the offer. He's got to. Pretty please, for little ol' me?

Hideaki chuckled. “Why not?” The young man sat in a cair beside Ran's, er, 'Usagi's', crossing his legs and chuckling to himself.

"W-Wait one damn second. Who are you?" Raizo snapped. His patience was growing as thin as Ran's disguise.

Hideaki laughed a bit. He snatched off Ran's sunglasses, who eeped and tried to snatch them back.

"Why, if it isn't Raaaan Hibiki. Taiyo High, right?"

Gah! How did he know!?

"You where that school reporter covering the bake sale in the main building."

Oh. Drat.

Raizo snapped to attention. It WAS her!

“Ran Hibiki!? I have no clue who that is! My name is Usagi Yojimbo, honestly!” And what's this 'Tai--"

Miss Anamia buzzed in again. “ Sir! A student just came in. It seems some girl in blue beat him up and stole his clothing! “

FUCK! No, this sweet innocent little schoolgirl did NOT say that, despite what you think. You're hearing things, I tell you!

"Run away!" screamed her little internal King Arthur. She followed the advice of her king. Ran eeped and turned to bolt for sanctuary, but Hideaki leapt to his feet and grabbed her arm. Desperate, Ran swung to hit him with as much strength as she could muster, but he brazenly grabbed her other arm and held her stationary.

"Well Well. You’re in quite a dilly of a pickle now, Miss Hibiki. Much obliged, Hideaki."

Hideaki nodded, a smirk on his face. He plumped her into the chair he was just sitting in. The fact that it was still warm did nothing to comfort the captured reporter.

"We'll discuss the gang issue later, Mister Iwamano." He winked and left as Raizo cursed. Ran's ears perked up after hearing that. The rumors were true!

But, she was still trapped behind enemy lines. Ran sighed to herself, mentally bequeathing her stuffed animals to Dan in the growing-more-likely-by-the-second event of her demise. Mustering what little courage she had left, Ran dared face the ominous beast sitting before her. "So, there really IS gang activity going on in Justice!?" What the hell, why not go out with a bang?

Raizo sighed. "There have been issues yes, but none half as big as the one you created." He mumbled. This wouldn't be good... press. Rubbing his temples, he stood up. Maybe he could use this to his advantage, let the people of Taiyo High be aware he’s not a monster. And punishing another person is not something that would fare well.

"Fine. I will not press charges in exchange for a favor from you."

Ran blanched. A look of clear fright and a large helping of disgust was on her face. This man wanted...THAT!? That was disgusting! Horrible! The type of thing someone would print in some magazine of ill repute!

One question from the God of Self-Preservation....what are the charges for assault and robbery again? If clothing that bad can be considered 'robbery' anyway.

Oh hell...No! Dan'd be angry as hell with her if he found out about me sneaking around like this! And the school would fire my butt in a second, for sure....Losing my job, maybe my housing, hell the possability of getting kicked out...and the only way out....ew. EW EW EW!

But Dan and I can't be homeless...and I love my job....Damn it, you old lech! I'll bury you when this is done, I swear! Stupid buttons....

Raizo sputtered, looking away very, very quickly. "W-What? Button your shirt, miss! Not THAT kind of favor!!"

What? Really? WOOHOO!

"Okay okay! whew!" Ran quickly covered herself back up. This Raizo was a dirty old man, but at least he wasn't THAT dirty yet. "What favor are you after?" Please please PLEASE anything, just not that!

"Let's do your interview. I'm not as... gruffy as I'm made out to be. It would be good to publish something from my own words and not biased on the circulating rumors."

Dude! Score!

"Oh, certainly! I mean, I can understand that it must be bad press to have everyone one saying your a loony psycho who kicks
students out for filing their nails in the halls. It'd be great to try and erase all that!"

Unaware of the fact she may have just insulted a very big and powerful man, Ran reached into her pockets and brought out a pad and paper. Before she started the interview fully, she took this opportunity to reach into her shirt and take off that bloody belt. Putting on her Super Duper Patented Hibiki Grin (Tm), she managed to sit much more comfortably in the large, plush char and prepared for any opening statements Raizo decided to send her way.

Raizo coughed, ignoring the display and also the insult. "That was not true. A student stabbed another student in a fight, which I stopped before there was a DEATH. I issued punishments as I saw appropriate."

He rubbed his temples, mentally counting to ten.
"What's the next question?"

"Stabbed him, you say?" Hey now, violence always got attention, that's for darn sure. "Do you know what started the argument?"

"A..A student did, after apparently instigating something with her boyfriend.."

Oh drat. A lovers tiff. Bo-ring. Wait, bad idea to let him see that reaction, though. Look understanding. Do it now!

Ran nodded. “Does that mean there's something wrong with the basic discipline being administered to the students? How about giving our readers a basic outline of you're punishment system? The types that don't include expulsion, of course.” Ran flashed her Hibiki grin (Tm) again. No mortal could stand against such a charming smile. Really, no one. No one in recent memory anyway.

Raizo made a low growling notion. Finally, he smiled. A smile of amusement however.

"Being the young, ecstatic young girl you are, you can just read my reformed Procedures and Protocols." He pulled out a fairly
thick yellow folder, handing it to Ran.

Opening it up, it was a never-ending sea of contract lingo and lawyer slang. The only word that Ran thought she understood was 'the'.

What is this? The Necrominocon reborn!?

Raizo nodded. "Does that help?" Just the smallest smirk was on his face.

Oooh, you picked the wrong person to smirk at, gramps.

It was Ran's turn to smirk. So the old lech thought he could outwit her just because the disguise failed, eh? Time to strike back! "Indubitably, although I hope that's not your only copy...?" she intoned, beginning to put in in her rolled-up jacket/bag thing.

Raizo coughed, scratching the back of his head. "Erm, I can of course make you a copy if you wish." he muttered, taking it
back. He buzzed to Anamia, saying a super speeded sentence in some language Ran either didn't know or didn't understand at that speed. Miss Anamia ran in, grabbed the papers, made a slight bow and ran out.

Wily old goat! Okay, next topic. "After a little studying of your papers, no doubt you'll be shown to be completely in the right as far as the students' expulsion goes." That's right, butter 'im up. He has no clue whom he's dealing with. By the end he shall be calling me Queen, practically! "However, is it true that you allow known gang members into this school?"

Raizo shook his head. "Any people admitted to this school have a clean record, or have reformed substantially to meet the school requirements for attendance."

He crossed his arms. Hah. Give me a hard one, girl.

Ran muttered under her breath, "I guess they come here to be bad little boys, then." though whether or not she intended Raizo to hear that was unknown. Once again meeting the large educators gaze, she cheerfully moved on. "Now, there have been several rumors going around of drug pushers in various schools. None of course, are related to Justice, but what are your thoughts? Are you afraid there may be pushers in your school as we speak? That they may sneak through your 'impervious defense'?"

Raizo snarled. "Drugs? There has been NO confirmed instances of ANY drug usage at ALL within this school. We have, and
shall continue, to have the best filtering system for ANY form of foreign objects forbidden by our Procedures and Protocol."

He appeared abnormally annoyed by that question.

Ran, in a fit of pride overshadowing her good judgment, simply smiled at the miffed principal. No confirmed usage? If you say
so, teach. "But if you have the best filtering system, how did the knife object get into the hands of a Justice student? Unless of course deadly weapons aren't in the outlined items."

Oooo, this is gonna be fun.

Raizo stuttered, adjusting his tie. He picked up a pencil, set it down then picked up a pen. "I.. erm, well..."

He sighed. "You'll be a fine reporter some day. Could we just move on?" He was beginning to get even more annoyed.

Ran, through her sheer incredible Hibiki bloodline willpower, kept her grin in check. "Fine then, and thank you sir. One last
question on the subject, however. If there are no drugs and no gang activity, then how do you explain the rumors circulating in the first place?"

Raizo sighed. "To say there is no gang activity currently circulating in our school would be a blatant lie. Yes, there is some mild gang activity. We have a name, and Gedo High is the prime candidate for the source."

He growled, glaring at Ran. "And I believe I ANSWERED your question on drugs..."

Ran gulped. It was probably a good idea not to point out that he had answered a question on foreign objects in general. And answered rather badly at that. "A Gedo name? Who?" Maybe she could find out who it was and be praised as the great hero who saved the schools! And unlike that leather-wearing brat, she wouldn't have to bust a lot of heads to do it. She was gonna be famous!

"I believe your previously stated question constituted as your last.  Now, it was a pleasure. Please evacuate the school grounds at this moment. The next time you are caught mugging our students, the authorities will be brought in. Do we have an understanding?"

D'oh! You insipid little...little...man!

Without waiting for a response, he nodded. "Good. You may leave now."

He spun his chair around, staring solemnly outside the glass window displaying half the school and the entire football field.

"But..." No response. Plus that guy had a creepy James Bond Villain look when he was swiveled around like that. She got up
quietly, regretting she hadn't thought to get a picture of Raizo during the interview. Oh well, the stupid bake sale probably took up all her film anyway. Oh yeah! "Uh...good luck with the sale...." She lamely finished as she opened the door and left. And also came face to face with her angry victim, who at least was wearing some kind of blanket his still-mostly bare body. Ran was thankful. Orange underwear was pretty much one of the last things Ran wanted to see right now.

After another trip to the bathroom for a reverse Tony Stark impersonation, Ran dejectedly walked out of the Justice High doors. The dusky sky had descended with the school days end at an alarming speed as she had been walking through the halls. At least she wouldn't need her shades...CRAP! Her sunglasses! Oooo, that stupid Hideaki! She'd clobber him the second she saw him again....

To her surprise, he appeared. Not in the magical, 'POOF, here I am!' sort of way, of course not. Rather, he seemed to spring
from a corner just as she approached it, when she was trying to check how much film she had left, no less. Creepy sense of timing, he had. Ran soon found herself with her back to the wall staring at the Evil Evil Shade Stealer.

But instead of doing something evil, he smiled. Deftly, he placed the bimonocles upon Ran's face, who blinked.

"Ah, sorry about the shades." he said apologetically.

"Uh...it's okay?" Ran really wanted a nap right about then. And a shower, Raizo's office had too much Old People Smell.

Waitasecondholdeverythingstopthebloodypresses! If he's the guy from before...."Hey, didn't you say something about gang activity back in that old man's office?

Hideaki smiled. "Ah yes, I think I did. And let me guess, you want an inside scoop?"

He then stared deep into Ran's pupils with his icy blue eyes.

Ran stared right back, though her own brown eyes were a bit more starry than his were. "Uh-huh..." she probably sounded
like something out a cheap zombie flick, but sadly, that didn't register in her mind just yet.

"I think we got off to the wrong foot however. Mayhaps we could discuss this later, over dinner?"

Out of nowhere he flashed a business card, showing his personal phone number and place of residence. "How about the Frommage Le Flambe? I hear its a quite exquisite locale. My treat, of course." He then winked at Ran, handing her his card. "Call me if you'd like to arrange a time."

Wow. Snazzy card.

Ran blinked a few times, much as she hated taking her gaze away from his for even a moment. What little it did to recompose
herself helped, she thought. "That sounds great. I'll definatly call you!"

Hideaki flashed a handsome smile. "Excellent. I shall be looking forward to your call." With that, he took her hand and gently kissed the back of it. Waving, he walked off, entering the school and disappearing  into the tide of orange consisting of the school's student body. Ran was left with his business card... and no answer to her question.

Wow...he was...waitasecond! You forgot to ask him! Damn it girl, how am I going to work with you if you end up going
puppy-eyed just because some suave cute guy decided to ask you out?

Ran decided to end her day and shut her stupid little inner reporter up. Though her blue uniform made it a lot harder to blend with all the scrangley staring orange-suited youth of Japan, she managed to get on her way home, at least. She kinda pitied Iinchyo, she was going to have to hear her gab about her adventures for a few hours tonight.