So far, Chapter four has the most extensive revisions of any of the
chapters.  I took out a whole section dealing with Shoki's ancestry when I
decided it would be cumbersome.  Instead of dwelling on his Japanese
ancestors, in the future I will concentrate on his scottish ancestors.
Yes, the movie highlander gave me a couple of ideas, but I didn't make
anybody immortal!

All forms of comments, public, private, Mst whaterver are deeply appreciated.

Ranma 1/2 and all characters excepty Shoki belong to R. Takahashi.  I don't
even own Shoki, but he was my idea.

Shoki Saga
Chapter 4
The Training Continues

	The next morning, training went  smoothly for Shoki and Soun.  Of
course, Ranma and his father each ended up in the Koi pond but that was
relatively normal.  By the time they broke for breakfast, everyone had
worked up quite an appetite.  Everyone but Akane was present as Kasumi
started dishing out the food.  Before either Ranma or Genma could claim her
portion, she came in and set down next to Ranma.  When Shoki looked up and
nodded in acknowledgement he noticed that she was carrying a small black
piglet.
	"Aw, nuts,  I thought you would be gone longer than that P-Chan!"
Ranma complained rolling his eyes.
	"Don't start picking on P-Chan Ranma, or else!" threatened Akane.
Clearly this was not the first time for this argument.  But then,  no
argument seemed new to these two.
	Shoki looked closely at the pig while he ate.  It didn't seem
overly special at first.  Then he noticed that whenever it looked in
Ranma's direction it took on a very belligerent air, and when it looked at
Akane, it had sure adoration in it's eyes.  It seemed to be very
intelligent looking for a pig.  "Uh, what's with the piglet, Akane?"  Shoki
asked between bites.
	Genma sensed rather than saw an opening at that moment.  Quick as
lightning a chopstick lanced out towards the sausage left on Shoki's plate.
Normally he didn't steal food from anyone but Ranma, but this new kid was
just asking for it by leaving such a tasty morsel unprotected.  What he
didn't know was that Shoki had been hoping he would try something.
	Just as the chopsticks were about to close on the link another pair
streaked in and deflected them upwards.  The sudden change in direction
caused them to fly out of a startled Genma's hand and imbed themselves in
the ceiling.  As the bald man sat looking at his chopsticks, Shoki calmly
leaned over and took the last sausage off of Genma's plate.  He munched it
down and grinned at his adversary.  Nabiki snickered rudely.  Reaching down
to get the last of his own breakfast, Shoki found it gone.  Looking over he
saw Ranma licking his lips finishing up the last bite.  Everyone began
laughing at his surprised expression.
	"Well, boy, it seems you didn't quite take everything into
account!"  Chortled Genma.

******

	A short time later Ranma, Akane and Nabiki left for school.  Ranma
and Akane were having another argument about the black piglet the girl was
carrying.  Due to the playing around during breakfast, Shoki had found out
nothing about why Ranma hated the pig so much- he would just have to ask
later.
	Packing everything back into his hockey bag, Shoki thought about
the fact that he was moving into Ranma's old house.  Though Mrs. Saotome
had offered cook for him if he bought some of the groceries, the thought of
her cooking for him when Ranma so desperately wanted to be with her didn't
set well.  He decided that he didn't want to strain his budding friendship
with the young martial artist.  Thinking things through he came up with an
idea and went in search of Mr. Tendo.
	He found Soun and Genma playing shogi on the porch.  Kasumi was at
the table mending a shirt of Ranma's.  Perfect.  Everybody he needed to
talk to was in one place.
	"Mr. Tendo, Mr. Saotome, Kasumi," he said looking at each one in
turn.  "I'd like to talk with you,  I have a small problem."
	The trio looked quite surprised, but Soun nodded for him to
continue.  "I sorta have a problem with my new room.  Mrs. Tendo offered to
cook for me if I bought some of the groceries, but it just dosen't feel
right.  Since Ranma and Genma can't be with her, it would feel really weird
if I took my meals with her.  Therefore I'd like to make a proposition."
The three simply looked at him, waiting for him to finish.  Kasumi, being
Kasumi, smiled.  "I plan on spending as much time training here as you will
let me.  If I paid for part of the groceries, would it be alright if I take
my meals here?  I'm not asking for anybody to wait on me or anything, just
if I'm here would it be alright to share meals with you?"
	"I like your reasoning boy," said a thoughtful Genma.  "At first I
was worried when you told me Nodoka had rented you a room.  Then I was a
little jealous.  Now, I am happy that it is you and not someone
less...palatable lets say."
	"I have no problem with it myself.  Kasumi, you will be the one
doing the work, what do you have to say?"
	"It won't be any trouble at all father.  I'd be quite happy to do
it.  Especially if Shoki wouldn't mind telling me if some of the American
dishes I want to try turn out correctly.  Maybe I'll even try some Scottish
meals!"  Kasumi nearly glowed at the idea of trying out some new cooking
styles.  'I  just hope she doesn't try haggis' thought Shoki.
	"As a first offer, how about I pick up the tab for...say a quarter
of the monthly grocers' bill."  Shoki  said, fearing that he would insult
them with such a low offer.
	Soun was dumbfounded.  "Shoki!  There is no way you could afford
such an amount every month!"
	"How much would that be?"  Instinctively he looked at Kasumi since
she did the shopping.  She wrote a number on a piece of paper and handed it
to him.  He looked at it and spoke.  "Done. "
	"I thought you said you weren't rich?"  Genma asked as Soun tried
to get his mouth working again.
	"The room combined with this is still less than I would pay to go
to college in the U.S.  I'm not exactly rich, but I have a few large
investments that let me live off the interest.  It's money from the
settlement with the airline company that I got when my parents were killed.
If I'm careful, I won't ever have to get a job  unless it is something I
want to do.  Right now, I'm 'trying to find myself' as my father might have
said.  Anyways thanks!  I gotta get over to Mrs. Saotomes and get settled
in.  See you later tonight!"  With that Shoki shouldered his hockey bag and
left.
	The two men ignored their game of shogi and looked at each other
for a few minutes.  Genma broke the silence first.  "You know Tendo, I  am
glad that it is that gaijin, not somebody else."
	"Right you are Saotome."

*********

	"You needn't knock anymore Shoki," scolded Nodoka when she answered
the door.  "You live here now."
	"Well, I  just didn't want to walk straight in the first time."
Shoki did his best to smile disarmingly.  "If it's okay, I'd like to put
away my things, then perhaps I'll take you up on your offer to spar a
little?"
	"I'd be delighted!   I have a couple things to do then I'll come up
and get you.  Alright?"
	Shoki nodded an affirmative and walked to his new room.  Inside he
quickly put his clothes in the small bureau.  The laptop and cell phone
went on top after having their chargers plugged into the wall.  Finally he
put his Bokken  in an empty corner. Not sure if he would need his Kendo
gear, he left it out where he could get at it easily.
	As he took of his arm bands of throwing knives, Mrs. Saotome walked
in.  "You use throwing knives as well as study Keno, Shoki?"
	"Um, yeah, I do.  I kind of like bladed weapons.  I'm pretty good
with most styles."
	"Hmm, you'll have to give me a demonstration some time.  Follow me,
and we'll get started.  Oh, and grab your Kendo gear, you'll need it!"  As
Shoki followed Nodoka out of the room she asked "Where are you studying at
now?"
	"The Tendo Dojo."
	"Really?  They are friends of mine.  I'll have to visit you there
sometime!"

*********

	When Ranma got home he found that Shoki was not practicing Anything
Goes.  Instead, he had set up a board next to the tree by the Koi pond and
was throwing knives at it.  As he watched another deadly projectile thumped
into the board.
	"Whoa!   That's pretty neat.  Could you teach me to do that?"
	Shoki turned and smiled at Ranma.  He also noticed that Nabiki had
already come home.  She was sitting on the porch in the same spot she sat
every night when Ranma and Shoki practiced, seeming to be doing homework.
"Sure, it's easy.  Do you want to start now?"
	"Well, yes, but let's wait until you have gotten a little better at
Anything Goes first.  I'm supposed to be helping you, not the other way
around.  Besides, you need to work on your speed.  You're as slow as an ox
cart!"  There was a flash of silver and Ranma jumped.  He looked down to
see a knife buried in the school bag he held dangling from his left hand.
	"I'm sorry  Ranma, I couldn't hear that."   The bag was left
dangling in the air for a moment more as Ranma launched himself at the
smiling American.  Knowing Shoki was  good enough that he was in no danger,
Ranma still decided that gaijin needed to be taught a little lesson about
being so cocky.   Holding back next to none of his speed, he began a
blinding flurry of jabs, punches and kicks.
	Though amazed at the speed Ranma exhibited, Shoki managed to mount
an effective defense.  Only a few of the blows landed and Shoki managed to
return a few of his own.  The fight began to move around the yard a bit as
the two combatants tried to gain the upper hand.  Ranma was frustrated that
so few of his punches were landing.  It was time to show this newcomer who
the boss was.  " Kachuu Tenshin Amaguriken!!"
	Nabiki looked up as Ranma started the special technique with a
battle cry.  'Ohmigod!' she thought.  'Ranma's gonna kill him!'  She drew
her breath to yell for her father or Mr. Saotome when she saw something
unbelievable happen.
	Shoki took the first few punches and realized that there was no way
to stop this attack  it was simply too fast.  Obviously Ranma was
demonstrating something at nearly full power.  The punches didn't hurt too
much, so he had to be pulling them, but the unfairness of using such a
technique on a beginning student made him angry.  Ignoring the pain he let
his knees drop out from under him, taking him below the level of Ranma's
attack.  Before he could adjust, Shoki rolled in close and underneath the
blurring arms.  Bringing his hand up like an undercut, Shoki grabbed Ranma
by the shirt front.  Continuing to come up like that, he used his left hand
to grab the back of Ranma's head.  Some of the chestnut fist punches were
still landing, but not in anyplace critical.  Bunching his legs he leapt
up, reversing in midair, intending to slam Ranma's head into the ground
with the force of both of their masses.  However, he misjudged and sent
them both into the Koi pond.
	Nabiki watched in horrid fascination as the the soaked pair
surfaced sputtering.  The two looked at each other and started laughing.
	"What was that anyways?  I couldn't even see your fists!"  Asked
Shoki as he drug himself out of the pond.  "You must have hit me a hundred
times!"
	"A hundred and twelve."  Replied Ranma-chan, gratefully accepting
the hand out of the water.  "It's called the Chestnut Fist.  I'll teach you
after you master the next kata."  Both combatants are still grinning and
standing nearly side by side next to the pond.  They look up to see Nabiki
walk straight at them.
	'How dare they get me concerned that he, I mean they, might get
hurt!' Nabiki thought.  Smiling sweetly she walked up in front of them.
Then she slapped them both with one sweeping blow.  Hard.

***********

	Getting back out of the pool a moment later, Shoki turned to Ranma
with a questioning glance.  Ranma looked as bewildered as he.  "I don't
know.  I'd expect that from Akane, but not Nabiki!"
	"I heard that!"  Came Akane's voice from the porch.  "You two quit
horsing around and get ready for dinner.  It'll be ready in a few minutes."
	"Okay Akane!"  answered Shoki, trying to forstall an angry outburst
from the girl that might spill over onto him instead of expending itself on
Ranma.   "Hey Ranma, what do you think Kasumi made tonight?"
	Akane's voice was heard from inside the house:  "Kasumi let me make
dinner tonight.  We're having-"  Shoki couldn't hear anything else as Ranma
grabbed him by the arm and leapt up on top of the house.  Without bothering
to let her passenger gain his feet,  Ranma switched from holding Shoki's
wrist to a deathgrip around his neck.  Then the red haired girl then began
to run very, very fast.
	After a moment, Shoki's fear of the speed they were traveling was
replaced by the fear of Ranma dropping him during one of the leaps from
rooftop to rooftop.  This was fear was also soon replaced by discomfort.
This was related to the fact that in his current position, his head was
mashed up against Ranma's abundant chest.  The motion of the running and
jumping did strange things to his bodily functions.  Though  having
fantasized about being in a similar position with an attractive woman,
Shoki's dream girl wasn't Ranma.  Oh, she was attactive enough (serious
understatment), but when he thought of the girl having the mind of a boy,
he became vaguely ill.  Add to this that he was becoming turned on by the
body of someone who was fast becoming his best friend and....'better end
this line of thought and this ride right now!'
	 "Uh, Ranma, I can walk myself you know!"
	Taking a terrified glance back to make sure there was no pursuit,
Ranma jumped to the ground behind a building.  "Whew!  That was a close
one!"  she said wiping off some sweat.
	"What was close?"  Shoki was genuinely puzzled by their sudden
departure.
	"DIDN'T YOU HEAR!  AKANE IS MAKING DINNER!'
	"Yes I did.  I  thought it was sweet that she took the time to do
that and then tried to make sure you would be there.  What's wrong with
your fiancee making you dinner?"
	Ranma grabbed Shoki by the shirt front and pinned him against the
wall.    She didn't seem angry, just determined to give the young american
a lesson that could save his life.  "Akane can't cook.  I don't mean she
hasn't learned yet, I mean flat out impossible, no-way, can she make any
food taste like something edible.  Her cooking is lethal!  I'd rather let
Ryouga use me for bandana practice than eat something she made!   Heed my
warning...don't eat anything Akane has prepared."  Ranma was obviously
sincere, so Shoki nodded and was let down.  "Well then, what shall we do
for dinner?"
	"We will just stop in at Ucchan's.  We're right behind her place
right now!"
	"Okay then, for saving me from imminent doom, it'll be my treat."

***********

	The restaurant was very crowded.  Obviously, it enjoyed a good
clientele.  The girl behind the counter was very busy whipping up some
batter and pouring it on a hot griddle.  Looking up, she spotted Ranma and
Shoki.  Instantly her face brightened.  "Hi Ranma-honey!"
	"Hi Uchhan!"  Said Ranma brightly as she led Shoki over to the
girl.  "This is Shoki. He is a new student over at the Tendo's.  Shoki,
this is Ukyou, the best okinomiyaki chef in Japan."  The girl blushed at
the compliment.
	"Flattery will get you everywhere Ran-chan.  Very pleased to meet
you Shoki.  I'd shake your hand, but I kinda have them full right now."
That much was obvious.  If the stack of papers next to her was unfilled
orders, she could be at this for a while.
	"Could we help?"  asked Shoki, despite a startled "ULP" from Ranma.
	"Sure, I'd love some help.  Ran-chan, you know where everything is.
Why don't you help me out back here after you show Shoki where to wash up,
and he can deliver the orders."
	Ranma nodded his acceptance and scowled at Shoki.  As they walked
back to the sink to scrub she asked "Why did you do that!  We came to eat,
not work!"
	"Well, if I remember correctly she is one of your myriad of
fiancees.  You should have no problem helping one of them out.  Besides,
she's a real dish and I 'm a sucker for nice girls in distress....must be
the scot in me."
	"Yeah, well, at least I'm getting some hot water out of the deal."
Grumbled Ranma.
	"I don't know, you'd probably get bigger tips as a girl, besides,
you look sooooo cute right now."  Shoki instantly jumped back to avoid the
kick.
	"Now look here-"
	"I was just kidding Ranma, now hurry up, we need to start helping
if we want to eat sometime tonight ourselves!"

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

	An hour later the evening dinner rush had faded and Ukyou joined
the two boys at a table.  They had finished their okinomiyaki, and it had
been every bit as good as Ranma had promised.  The three talked for a while
over the remains of their meal.  Ranma wanted all the details of Shoki's
time with his mother.
	"...anyways, after I finished sparring with Nodoka, I decided to
practice with my throwing knives.   Anyways,  I better be heading back.  I
need to get up a little earlier to get over to the Tendo's in time for my
morning training."
	"And I better get back and let Akane pound me for missing dinner.
You better watch out too Shoki.  You skipped out, too."
	"Hey, you drug me out of there!"
	"Ran-chan's right Shoki.  Akane is not big on listening before she
mallets you.  You know Ranma, you could just always stay with me and you
wouldn't have to go through that anymore."
	"Well, thanks for dinner, see you later Ukyou.  Bye Shoki!"  Faster
than the a blink Ranma ran out of the the door in a swirl of curtains.
	Shoki couldn't believe how Ranma could let women practically throw
themselves at him and still be able to run off like that.  None of his
business though.  "Well, thanks for the dinner Ukyou.  I'd feel better if
you let me pay for it though."
	"That's okay, sugar.  You were a big help tonight when I really
needed it.   That was really sweet of the two of you. This one's on the
house."
	Shoki waved goodbye on the way out the door, and didn't notice that
potted plant by the door was frowning.


Done already?  Wow, you read pretty quick~

Well, what do you think so far?  Let me know!  All comments greatly
appreciated.

Until next time,

Big Bore and the Nitro Express!


Visit Bob and Tanya's Alaskan Homepage at
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"There is not enough darkness in this world to extinguish the light of a
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