Ahh... feel free to throw whatever you want at me, I might be able to
salvage something from it.
C&C and all that other stuff much wanted.
Other works can be found at
Http://www.angelfire.com/ny/Ohdear/FANFIC.html
Characters are property of ther respective owners. Saying otherwise
would mean swift actions of events along the line of mallet to the head.
Spirit of the Battousai
*thoughts*
Chapter1: A sword that kills, A protector lost
*Where am I�*
Sounds of clashing swords rang throughout his mind. Flashes of
metal sparkled near the corner of his line of sight. Everything was
blurry, constantly moving, distant�
He felt his hands move on their own. *A sword!* A sickening
sound was heard. Moist dark liquid tickled at his skin.
*Blood� What is this!?*
A voice spoke out; "I will find a way I can protect people
without
killing..."
*What's going on?*
A second voice, "Life, death, and the sword, that's your way."
*Am I dreaming?*
"No, never again will I kill--"
"It is who you are�"
*No�what is happening?�no�NO!*
*The ceiling�* Saotome Ranma's eyes finally recognized the
familiar surroundings of his room. *It was a dream�*
Rolling over, he again tried to sleep.
< OH MY! >
"Hey, Ranma. What's with you today."
Ranma looked up out of his eerie slouching pose and gave Akane a
rude glare. "What's it to you, Tomboy."
Akane furrowed her eyebrows, anger boiling up. "Well-excuse-me
for caring. Mou, Ranma, you looked like you're half here."
It was true; the great Ranma Saotome was not looking up to his
reputation. In fact he kind of looked like the skinny kid that everyone
ignores at school. It was a good resemblance in this way with dark bags
until his lazy eyes. "I just didn't get a good night's sleep that's all.
So
drop it tomboy, I'm not up to it today."
"Fine, by me," Akane Tendo, a.k.a, tomboy, refuted. "I hope you
won't put your foot in your mouth on the way to school, or I'll have to
pound you even in this condition," Turning around with not so graceful,
but rather stiff and rigid, she turned towards her elder sister. "Come
on big sis, let's leave the baka."
"What's the rush, Akane," Nabiki replied ever so casually, not
moving the paper in front of her, "besides, Ranma might be useful. It
seems there was a robbery and murder last night in Nermia. At the
museum, it seems a recently displayed katanna was stolen, and three
dead security guards."
Akane gave her sister a baffled look, "What does that have to do
with us?"
Nabiki wriggled her finger and put on her lecture look, "Akane,
you of all people should know by now that anything that happens in
Nermia has a way of attaching themselves to Ranma. I'm just
positioning myself to come out in the best possible way."
Akane couldn't truly understand how right Nabiki was.
< OH MY! >
Ranma dragged himself along an unfamiliar area. It had been a
bad day for him--then usual anyway. He was tired from the nightmarish
dream last night and shampoo just had to do her glomp thing. He was
used to that, but he didn't have to like it. It was a predictable,
'Ranma
you pervert' from the tomboy, followed by the water, and the run
around.
Today though, he must have ran farther than usual, because he
was 'slightly' lost. On top of which, Ranma was still tired after waking
up from whatever sleep he had. The only bright spot was the fact that
he had been able to be a man for now.
So deep in his own pity, he didn't notice banging into something.
His danger sense suddenly spiked as a tint of light gave him the
moments notice. The slick sound of the unsheathing of steel was
heard, but Ranma was prepared for that. He was already executing a
precise counter.
In one swift motion a long object was projected into the evening
sky, flying with graceful arc. Ranma with his skill level easily caught
the
sword's hilt as it descended.
"Oi, if you want to kill me, at least give me a reason first, ya
know." Ranma hadn't even gone into a combat stance, casually standing
and resting the newly acquired katanna on his shoulder. He may have
been tired, but another 'Die Saotome' opponent, was nothing he couldn't
handle.
His opponent flung back his dark cloak to reveal a second
sheathed blade on his hip. "Why you little prick. I shouldn't have been
lazy to let you dodge that hit."
Drawing his own blade, he rambled on, "I had hoped to use that
sword, the legendary sword of the Hitoki Battousai, but it seems I'll
just have to add another set of blood on my old blade. A little prick
like
you don't deserve to be killed by such a great sword anyway."
"Is that so�" replied Ranma not in the slightest interested.
"Die, you prick!" The opponent swiftly closed the distance and
executed a precise slash. Too bad Ranma Saotome could not be hit with
just a precise slash. Before the opponent has even started the attack,
Ranma had already disappeared.
"Hey, where did you go, you prick!"
"You don't deserve this sword," Ranma's voice behind him
suddenly sounded serious. "You don't have the skill, the strength, or
the spirit to wield the sword of the Battousai."
Turning around, the opponent's eyes widened, "How-when did you
get there�" He took an unconscious step back. *That look�* The
appearance was completely difference from before. *The eyes�* The
eyes were now lowered, cold, distant, the eyes of a killer, and they
were all focused on him; the glint of the light from his eyes reflected
on the moon gave his a disturbing notion he was out classed.
"Why don't you give me the sheath too, this sword doesn't suite
you." A cold voice fluttered out.
The opponent knew he should have just ran, but his pride carried
him on. "Yea, right you little prick. When I'm done with you, I'll give
your
rotting body good wack with the sheath, that's what I'll do!"
"Is that so�" the cold distant voice of Ranma commented again.
For once it didn�t have a hint of mockery on it.
< OH MY! >
Morning came. The rays of sunlight and crickets chirping loudly
were proof of that.
"Hey Ranma, what happened to you."
"Eh? What do you mean Akane?" Ranma looked at his fiancee in
bafflement. Again he was in his usual slouch position, the same as
yesterday. This time though, the bags under his eyes were gone.
She gave him an agitated look, "That you baka," pointing at the
big slab of bandage on his left cheek.
"Oh that," commented Ranma, casually. "Just a little mistake I
made. No big deal."
"I bet," refuted Akane with a snort. "What's with the sword
then?
You never carried a katanna before." She made her point by glazing
directly at the sheathed blade at his hip.
"It's nothing really important. I just want to have it on me
that's
all," Waving it off Ranma continued, "I'm heading out for a bit, be back
later." Giving no time for Akane to respond, he turned his back on her
and left.
Akane glared at his retreating back, "What's that baka up to?"
< OH MY! >
"Oi, old ghoul, I need to talk to ya!" Ranma gave out his
usually
calling as he entered the Nekohanten.
"Aiya, Arien come with date, yes?" Followed by Shampoo's usual
line.
"What do you have for me son in law�" Cologne appeared,
balanced as usual on her cane. A flicker crossed the elder's
experienced eyes. "That blade�" Cologne eyed it carefully, up and
down. "That sword you have there son in law, has a powerful aura
around it. It is a very ominous blade, " Looking up at Ranma, "I feel
sickening evil in that sword. Is this what you came to me for?"
"Well yea, sort of�" he trailed off.
"I advise you get rid of it, son in law, a place where no one will ever
find
it, destroy it better yet."
Ranma gave a glance at his blade, "Humm, it doesn't seem all
that
evil and stuff to me." Focusing back on Cologne, "I kind of like this
sword, and I want to keep it. I just wanted to ask you to see if it's
like
magic or something. I can feel it's power, that much I agree with you."
The wrinkled elder gave her son in law a long look. *Those
eyes�*
"Very well son in law, come with me into the back.
Granddaughter, stay here." Cologne hopped off with Ranma following.
Shampoo analyzing the two figures, something was up, and if she
could find a leverage somewhere, husband would be hers.
< OH MY! >
Cologne brought out a glass ball out from her trunk of mystical
items. Carefully she set it down onto the table.
"Touch the sword on the ball, and focus into it. There you shall
find your answer," Cologne instructed with an ominous voice.
"Alright."
Ranma slid the blade still in the sheath out from his hip and
touched it on the glass ball. Peering into the ball, he focused�
Images flashed before his eyes. Horrifying images.
*Blood�so much blood�so much killing�bodies, everywhere�*
Then he saw it, the image of a woman, dead�blood soaked
through her kimono�
"No�no�NO�this isn't�"
Faster then cologne could follow Ranma drew the blade and
slammed onto the glass ball violently. Eyes wide with horror he
screamed, "NO!"
"Son in la�" was all the elder could get out before the
explosion
came.
< OH MY! >
Another time, another place�
"Kenshin!"
"Oro?" Himura Kenshin looked up from his laundry to see Kaoru
and Yahiko running up to him. "What is it, Kaoru-dono?"
"I'll tell you what happened, someone is impersonating you!"
shouted out an angered Yahiko. As usual he was prepared and ready
with his trusty shinai strapped on to the back.
"Oro?"
"The newspaper, Kenshin. Yesterday five policemen were killed at
the police station. An eye witness claim he called himself the Hitoki
Battousai!"
"I can't believe some guy would do this! And to frame you doing
it!" rambled on a fuming Yahiko.
"We have to do something about this, Kenshin," added in Kaoru.
Standing up, "We should go to the police to investigate,"
Kenshin
said finally. The group nodded in agreement.
Walking to the gates of the house, the group saw Sanosuke
leaning against the wall casually and calm. He was dressed in his usual
apparel of white pants and unbuttoned white shirt with the trademark
kanji 'bad' on the back. "I guess you guy heard about the imposter,"
Sanosuke gave a brief chuckle at that. "Let go and kick this guy's ass
Kenshin."
This would have been a majority cool and heroic scene, if it
weren't for the fact that at that moment, there was a collective growl
of hunger.
Kenshin put his hand on the back of his head and smiled, "I
guess
we should eat lunch first on the way there."
< OH MY! >
Walking to the usual place for a good hearty, and for Sanosuke,
free, lunch, Sanosuke was the only one that caught something odd. It
was almost pure luck for him really. He was nonchalantly looking around
when he caught an image in the mirror hanging by the shop.
"Hum�Hey guys, you go on ahead, while I check up on something
real quick." And with that he walked away.
"What's with him?" Yahiko commented.
"Sanosuke is always weird," answered Kaoru, but just as
confused.
< OH MY! >
"Hey there, any good reason you're following us?"
The cloaked person turned around to find Sanosuke leaning on
the wall with a smirk on his face.
"Impressive, I didn't expect you to notice me," pausing a brief
second, "or did you just get lucky?"
This immediately got on Sanosuke's nerves; what was more was
the asshole was right. Righting himself off the wall, "So are you going
to tell me why you're following us or do I have to beat it out of ya."
Sanosuke hadn't meant it to be a question.
Under the hood of the cloak a smirked formed.
< OH MY! >
A loud crash was heard.
"What was that!?" yell out Kaoru as she twirled around towards
the sound.
"Let's check it out," added in Yahiko.
The gang ran towards the disrupting crash.
< OH MY! >
"Sanosuke!"
"Sanosuke!" doubled Kenshin along with Kaoru.
Sanosuke was lying on the ground and not looking very well with
cuts and bruises all around his body.
A few steps away stood a girl with fierily red hair, tied back.
"Watch out Kenshin, she can really do some ass kicking," groaned
the fallen Sanosuke trying painfully to get up.
Kenshin immediately focused his eyes on the attacker.
Chinese style red shirt and black pants; it was a young girl.
She
had a sheathed sword at her hip and there was an eerie look to her. Her
eyes were cold and distant. He knew what those eyes meant too well.
"Who are you?" asked Kenshin his tone suddenly darkened.
Right behind him Kaoru added, "Look at her cheek!"
Kenshin eye's widen finally catching it, as did Yahiko, she had
a
crossed shaped scar on her left cheek, the same as Himura Kenshin.
"Even though you hide your aura, I can still feel you. Himura
Kenshin, am I right? The Hitoki Battousai."
With that she went into stance. Kenshin knew that stance all too
well. Left leg leading, slanted side ways, left hand on the sheath, and
right hand ready. The stance of his style, the Hiten Mitsurguri Ryuu.
Kenshin was shocked when her image suddenly zoomed up closed
to him. A flash of light erupted as steel met steel. Kenshin grunted as
he barely got his own sword partially out in time to meet her rush.
The young girl wasted no time and immediately pressed her
attack, slashing with horrifying speed. He winced with every clash that
his deflected with his reversed bladed sword. Her skill level was
dangerously high.
Suddenly she blurred in front of his eyes. *Where--* Kenshin
forced a sharp gasp as he felt a flash of pain on his side. Immediately
hopping back, he clutched his side in pain, jamming his sakabatou sword
into the ground in order to keep from falling.
"Kenshin, watch out!" a warning bellowed out from Kaoru behind
him.
Looking up, she was in the air executing her next move.
"Hiten Mitsurguri Ryuu, Ryu-Tsui-Sen!! It can't be!" a wide-eyed
Yahiko spoke out not believing what is happening.
It was almost a whisper, but it was loud and clear enough to be
heard by everyone, "Hiten Mitsurguri Ryuu, Ryu-Tsui-Sen," and she
slammed her technique right down onto a shocked Kenshin. Dust clouds
flew out in all directions from the impact.
"Kenshin!!" yelled Kaoru, praying wildly that he wasn't hurt.
Slowly and definitely not fast enough for the three spectators,
the dust clouds finally scattered revealing two figures.
Casually the red haired girl, sheathed her sword, and turned
around. Picking her cloak carelessly on the ground, she draped it over
her shoulder and walked away.
Kenshin stood there, breathing heavily, still holding his sword
up,
and clutching his wounded side.
"Kenshin!" Kaoru, Yahiko, and Sanosuke rushed up to him as best
they can, seeing if he's all right.
"I'm alright everyone�" breathed out the wounded Kenshin finally
relaxing his guard.
"I knew you would be able to dodge her technique, Kenshin,"
smiled Yahiko trying to be oblivious to who was the victor.
"No Yahiko, if she fought at the level as before, I would be
dead
now. She held back at the last second� long enough for me to dodge it
in time." This gave a sinking feeling to the group.
*It was an almost perfect duplicate of my own technique with one
exception. Hiten Mitsurguri Ryuu, Ryu-Tsui-Sen is a direct downward
slash, but her blade was slightly titled to one side. This would put
more
power to one side and� if I had blocked the attack instead of
evading� I might have buckled under the strain coupled with my fresh
wound*
"She's the one trying to frame you, isn't she�" Sanosuke finally
said.
"It's possible," Kenshin relied slowly.
"You're hurt Kenshin, let's get you to Doctor Genzai," Kaoru
suddenly ruined the mood by dragging Kenshin to the doctor with the
side his wound was on.
"Orrroooo�" was all he could muster out.
To be continued�
Next:
Chapter 2: Two sides to a sword
Author's Babble,
It's been a while, and I had to do something. I am in the process of
going backwards and flushing bugs left and right...and there is always
enough around afterwards. Now I know how Skuld feels. This one might
become a little darker then my usual, hey, this is what I get for
watching the Kenshin OAV too many times. Bug fixes are always
appreciated with all the other stuff.
~Kuku