Brothers in the Art chp 1
---------------------------


"Father! the mail came, there's a letter here for you.  It's from America!"
Kasumi
exclaimed as she interrupted Soun's and Genma's game of Go.  

"From America?"  Soun quizzically replied. 

"Who do you know from America, Tendo-san?"  Nodoka asked from the living room.  

She had been mending a tear in one of Ranma's shirts.  A job that constantly 
needed to be done.  She sighed.  Ranma was probably off fighting somewhere right
now... getting more of his clothes torn.

"I don't know anyone from America..." Soun anwsered as he looked at the letter.

He looked at the return address and suddenly gasped.  "Saotome-kun!  This letter
is from Hitomi!"  

Genma jerked his head up and quickly scrambled around to where Soun was
sitting.  "Well, Tendo, what are you waiting for? Open it!"

"To think, Saotome, " Soun said as he opened the letter, "to hear from her
after all these years!"

"Who is Hitomi?"  Nodoka asked.

The two men ignored her as they concentrated on the letter.  

"Excuse me," Nadoka asked a little louder, "Who is Hitomi?"  

Soun and Genma looked at each other and then looked at Nodoka.  

"Well, " Genma began, "She is an old friend.  The three of us, Tendo, Hitomi,
and I grew up together."

"Yes, " Tendo continued, his eyes distant. "We used to do everything together.
All three us trained to be martial artists, but then Hitomi got married and
the two of us ended up with Master Happosai.  It was a very difficult break up
for all of us, but she was in love." 

Soun's last statement was almost bitter.  Genma's face reflected Soun's
feelings.    
Nodoka wanted to question them further but instead said, "I see. Well, what
does the letter say?"  

Soun had almost forgotten the letter while reliving the distant memories.
He open the letter while Genma looked over his shoulder.  

He glanced and Genma, then Nodoka, and decided to read the letter aloud.

	"Dearest Soun,

		It has been many years since we have been in contact
		with each other.  I am sorry that I have not written
		sooner, but I had lost track of you and Gen-chan after
		you went off to train with that weird old man. I just 
		recently found out where you were living and decided to
		write you; for three reasons.  1)  I wanted to renew
		a friendship with an old and dear friend.  2) I wanted
		to know if you were still keeping in touch with Gen-chan.
		Although I was able to find you, I still don't know what
		happened to him.  We, the three of us, had such wonderful 
		times, didn't we, Soun?  I plan to visit some time when
		I get the chance, I know my husband would like to see you
		as well.  Soun, I know my marriage, and to an American at 
		that, hurt you and Gen-chan deeply.  I am so sorry, I would
		never intentionally do anything to hurt either of you.  I 
		love the both you dearly, but I had to follow my heart.  I
		hope you have forgiven me.  The third and final reason that
		I am writing is that my son will be visiting Japan soon. I told
		him about you and have asked him to pay you a visit.  I think
		you would be proud of me, and him.  He has learned the art,
		although not from me.  I can proudly say that he is much more
		skilled than the three of us were at his age.  (I may be 
		a bit biased, but I am a mother, after all!)  His name is Ken,
		and I hope you welcome him, as you welcomed me so long ago.

						With love,
							
							Hitomi Masters  


Soun and Genma re-read the letter again, to themselves.  

"Well, " Soun said after a few moments, "She has a heir as well. All three
of our
dreams are complete."  

"SOME dreams, anyway."  Genma said as he noticed Ranma and Akane walking into
the house, arguing as usual.  

Soun looked pensive, "I wonder why she didn't teach here son herself?"

"Well, as good as she was as a martial artist, she was also a very traditional
woman.  That was one of the reasons that American fell in love with her."
Genma answered.

"Oh 'Gen-chan'?"  Nodoka interrupted.

Genma suddenly looked like a dear caught in the sight of headlights.

"Uh, yes dear?"  He replied weakly.

"Perhaps we should go upstairs, and you can tell more about this... Hitomi."

"Yes, dear."

Nodoka led Genma upstairs.  Soun watched them go and sighed.  He smiled
pleasantly
as he remembered a girl he had once call his companion, and friend.  He was
very eager to meet Hitomi's son.  He wondered what this Ken Masters would
be like.  

			************************

Ken stared out the window from his luxurious first-class seat as the plane
landed.
It had been many years since he had been in Japan.  He remembered the time, so
long ago when a similar plane landed at this airport.  He was not as
enthusiastic
a passenger back then, though.  He smiled at the memory.  God! What a
spoiled brat
he was!  

Ken liked to live a dangerous life as a child.  Not much had changed in that
respect.
Yet, he was also very disrespectful of others, and didn't really care how
his actions
effect his family and friends.  He never thought about the consequences of
anything.

His father was at his wits' end.  It looked like he was going to spend the rest
of his childhood at St. Martin's Military School for young men.  It was at this
point that his mother suggested sending him to Japan, to learn from an old 
martial arts master.  Ken remember how he cringed at the thought of living out
in the woods in some backward country, listening to an old man ramble on and
'teach' him how to fight.  How wrong he was.  

He had learned so much from his master, and of course from Ryu.  He owed his 
mother a great deal for leading him towards this path.  Things were looking good
for Ken, and many aspects of his life were settled, he was finally getting
married and he had won nearly every martial arts tournament in the North
American
continent.  There was only one thing left to do.
    
*Well, Ryu. It's been a long time.  We'll finally see who's the best.*

			*************************

"So when is this Ken guy gettin' here pops?"  Ranma asked Genma the next morning
as the two sparred by the pond.  

"I don't know, boy"  Genma said as he ducked under the jab Ranma threw at him.

"But you listen to me, Ranma!  You treat him well!  Not like any of the other
people you know around here.  He is the son of an old and dear friend and
I want you make him feel welcome-"

"Yeah, yeah, yeah... I know, I know.  You explained it all last night pop."
Ranma
said as his jump-kick caught Genma on his forehead.  

As Genma fell back into the pond with a loud splash, Ranma suddenly turned
towards
the back door that led to the house.  He felt the presence of a powerful
fighting
spirit.  Kasumi walked into view with a tall blond man.  He had broad muscular
shoulders and was wearing a very expensive-looking pair slacks, shirt, and
sportscoat.

Kasumi gestured to Ranma and said, "Ken-san this is Ranma, the son of Genma
Saotome."

Ken grinned as he took of the sun glasses he was wearing.  

"It's nice to meet-" Ken started to say, then stopped as he saw a panda stand up
behind Ranma, pick him up and throw him into the koi pond.

Ken was staring at the panda when Ranma-chan screamed, "What did you do THAT
for?!"

"Oh my, it looks like I better heat up some hot water..." Kasumi said as she
walked into the kitchen.

A large sweat drop appeared behind Ken's head as he watched a cute red girl
fight the panda.

				*********************

"So you were cursed, huh?"  Ken asked Ranma and Genma as everyone was sitting 
at breakfast.  

The two had gratefully used the hot water Kasumi had given them and changed back
to normal.  Ken was still getting adjusted to everything that had happened
earlier
in the morning.  The family instantly liked him.  Ken had a very friendly and
easy-going manner and he flattered the ladies outrageously.  Soun had
started crying
and hugging Ken as soon the two had been introduced.  Ken cringed slightly as
his designer suit had gotten wet.  *Oh well, one of the hazards of martial
arts* 
Kasumi, Akane, and Nodoka were as sweet as could be and Ken was glad that he
was going to be living at the Dojo during his stay in Japan.  Ever since he had
proposed to Eliza, he started to like things that reminded him of a home.
He was a 
jet-setter no longer.

Ranma interested Ken almost immediately.  The two had been sizing each other up
ever since they looked at each other.  Ken eagerly anticipated an interesting
sparring session with the young martial artist.  Ranma was young compared to
Ken, but  was obviously skilled.  Truth be told, Ranma reminded Ken of himself
when he was that age.  The only person Ken felt uncomfortable with was Nabiki.
The girl made him nervous; she was looking at him with a predatory gleam in her 
eye.  At first he though it was just physical attraction, which of course, would
be natural.  After all, Ken was a very handsome man.  It took him a few minutes
however to realize that that was not the case.  Nabiki had a calculator in
her hand and was intently punching in numbers, stopping every few minutes to
study
Ken, his clothes, or his watch.  She was appraising him!

Ken's thoughts returned to the present as Ranma and Genma explained about
their trip to China and the cursed springs.

"Wow, " Ken said, "I've been all over the world, training and refining
my skills...but I've never heard of these cursed springs before."

"Consider yourself lucky..." Ranma said morosely.

"Well, its not all THAT bad,"  Ken said with a smirk, "At least you're a CUTE
girl, right?  It could have been worse, you could have been turned into a pig
or something..."

Ranma started to splutter in indignation when Ken's words sunk in.  *A pig...*
Ranma started laughing and the rest of the family joined in, even though
it was not for the same reason.

Ken sat back after finishing his meal.  

"Kasumi, Nodoka-san, that was the BEST meal I have had in a long time.  I'm
really glad I'm staying here if it means I can eat food like this!"

Nodoka smiled and nodded, acknowledging the compliment, while Kasumi just
blushed modestly.

"So, how is your mother?  We haven't seen Hitomi-chan in such a long time!"
Soun asked.

Ken shrugged, "She's doing well, keeping herself busy sponsoring all kinds of
charity banquets and such...  We really don't keep in touch much, I've been
traveling
around alot, training and entering tournaments...."

"I see... Well, the next time you see her, make sure you tell her that we
miss her and would very much like to see her again."

"I will Tendo-san, I will."

"What brings you to Japan, Ken-san?"  Genma asked.

Ken's face took on a faraway look and he replied, "I am looking for an old
friend..."

"There are some things we need to settle before I get married."

"Ah..."  Genma  replied, not wanting to pry.

A silence descended upon the group and after a few moments Ken smiled at Ranma
and said, "So...want to show me the Dojo?"  

Ranma returned Ken's smile and replied, "Why not?"

		
			****************************************

Ken had changed into his red training gi and was warming up at one
end of the dojo.  Ranma was standing at the other end, waiting patiently
for Ken to get ready.  

"Sorry,"  Ken said, "jetlag always messes with my body."

"You wanna do this tomorrow?"

"No, I think that neither one of us would be able to get any sleep
until we get this out of the way..."

Ranma nodded his agreement and smiled.

"Well, anytime you're ready."  Ken said and dropped into a fighting stance.

"Let's do it!"  Ranma replied as he charged straight at Ken.

Ranma launched into a jump kick straight at Ken's head.  Ken dodged to the left,
Ranma's foot barely missing his face.  *Agressive little guy, isn't he?* Ken
thought as he tried to hit Ranma with a left hook.  

Ranma ducked under the punch and nailed Ken in the chest with a hard right jab.

Ken stepped back and spun-kicked Ranma in the face sending him staggering 
back. Ken decided to press his advantage and ran towards Ranma.  Ranma regained
his balance just in time for Ken to hit him with a right upper cut.  Ranma
jumped
back, ignored the pain in his head, and yelled out, "KACHU TENSHIN AMAGURIKEN!" 

Ken was push back as dozens of hits found their mark on his torso and face.
*He's
using Honda's technique!*  Ken thought as he smiled, jumped back out of Ranma's
reach, then jumped forward and flipped over Ranma's head.  

"TAT-SU-MAKI-SEMPU-KEKKU!"  Ken started his hurricane kick.  He was able to
kick Ranma six straight times to the head, but Ranma was able to bring his arm
up and partially block the seventh kick.  Ranma rolled with the kick, tummbled
onto the ground and shakingly stood up.  

Ken stared at Ranma, an incredulously look on his face.  *What is this kid made
of, stone?*  Ranma smiled as he thought, *YOU get hit in on the head with a
mallet
a dozen times a day, and see if a few kicks affect you.*  

The two fighters rushed towards each other, kicking, hitting, dodging, and
blocking.
Neither on was able to gain an advantage and both were suffering from bruses and
cuts all over thier body.  Ranma considered using the 'Hiryu Shoten Ha', but
decided he didn't want the fight to go that far; besides if they destroyed the
dojo, Soun would have killed him.  

Ken, meanwhile, had no qualms about HIS dragon attack, the 'Sho Ryu Ken', but
Ranma was too quick and Ken was not able to get close enough to use the powerful
punch.  After a few moments of staring at his young opponent, Ken made a
quick decision.  He jumped and flipped all the back to the dojo wall, twisted
his body to the side, and pulled his hands back, a faint blue glow starting to
eminate between them.  *Won't use full power, just enough to knock him out.*

*A Ki attack!* Ranma thought to himself as he jumped back as well.  He thrust
his hands in front of him, forming a slightly oblong circle and a yellowish-
green glow started eminating between them.

Ken noticed the glow between Ranma's hands and increased the amount of
power he was drawing between his hands.  Both fighters stood that way
for a few seconds more, drawing as much energy as possible.  And suddenly...

"HA DO KEN!"

"MOKO TAKABISHA!"


The two powerful blasts of ki met each other at the center of the dojo.
Ken's fire ball eventually pushed through Ranma's attack, but lost a lot
of power in the process.  A split second later, the blue fire ball struck Ranma
squarely in the chest, sending him slamming into the dojo wall.  

A look of mild consternation grew on Ken's face as Ranma slowly got up, shook
his head a few times and got back into a fighting stance.  He didn't look too
well, slightly swaying on his feet, but he WAS ready to continue.

Ken dropped his hands and stood straight, relaxing his stance.  Seeing this,
Ranma
did the same.  

Shaking his head, Ken said, "I thought the only figher who could ever match my 
skill was my best friend, Ryu.  No one, and I mean, NO ONE, has ever gotten up 
so quickly after being hit by my 'Ha Do Ken'.  You're a hell of a lot better
than I was at your age."

"Yeah, you still beat me though..." Ranma said.

Ken shook his head, "We were just sparring, and took things a little
to far.  I never use my special techniques when practicing..."

"Yeah, me either...It was a great match though."

Ken laughed and walked towards Ranma, his hand outstretched. "Friends?"

"Of course."  Ranma said grasping Ken's hand in his own.

*********************
End chapter 1
*******************************************************

Next time:  Ranma learns the secrets of the Ha Do Ken!
	    Ryu vs. Ryoga!
	    and the start of an adventure.....

C&C to anandr@earthlink.net




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Anand Rao
anandr@earthlink.net

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