Hi this is new, And I'm also reposting the rest of this series as well.
Ranma Saotome: Master of the Mystic Arts
By Brendan O'Donnell
Chapter 4
A ragged figure shrouded in a brown cloak stood by the wall
surrounding Furinkan High School. He looked at the name, then pivoted
and sat, resting against the wall. "I wonder if I'll ever find him?"
He closed his eyes.
From inside behind the walls came the cry, "Ranma!"
His eyes snapped open as he shot to his feet, pivoted and
jumped over the wall, throwing his cloak aside as he leaped.
"Your foul magics shall not hold me back this time sorcerer!"
Kuno proclaimed as he strode forward, Garlic bulbs draped around his
neck and strung along his arms and legs. "Today I shall vanquish you
and rescue. . ." His speech ended as Ranma stepped through his
defenses and kicked him in the head. "That didn't hurt." Kuno
commented before falling back unconscious.
"Idiot," Ranma commented as he turned and walked away from the
Kendoist. A shadow fell across him, and every sense screamed danger.
Looking up he saw a cloaked figure outlined against the sun, a large
Chinese style umbrella raised over his head.
"Ranma Saotome, prepare to die!" The figure screamed as he
dropped to earth, smashing the umbrella into the spot Ranma had jumped
away from. The force of the blow tore a crater into the earth out to
ten feet from the umbrella strike.
"Heh, It's been a while, but you're as good at dodging as I
remember."
Ranma looked. His challenger was about the same age as him,
similar height though with a somewhat broader frame. He was wearing a
yellow and brown outfit, a large dusty backpack and a yellow and black
headband. Ranma looked at him. He raised his hand to stroke his chin.
"HMM."
"What, do you actually have the gall to pretend you don't
remember me?!"
"Just a second, I know I didn't meet you in Tibet, and I've
really had a lot on my mind." Ranma responded. He raised his hand,
touching two fingers to his forehead, and began gathering his magic
energy.
"A Whim, A Thought, and more is sought
Awake my mind..."
With a snarl Ryouga took a step forward and screamed "Just tell
me why you didn't show for our fight!"
Ranma halted his chant and let the magic dissipate. "Of
course, Ryouga Hibiki!" he proclaimed, taping the side of his fist into
his palm as he said it. "I haven't seen you since Dad pulled me out of
St. Jude's. How've you been?"
Ryouga blinked at the sight of Ranma's suddenly cheerful face,
then bared his fangs in a snarl. "Because of you I've seen hell!"
With a snap of his wrist he opened his red umbrella and tossed it at
Ranma.
Ranma casually leaned out of the way of the projectile, then
leaned to the other side as it reversed direction and flew past him to
Ryouga's waiting hand. "What did I do to you?"
"Have you forgotten how you ran from our last duel like the
coward you are?!"
The left side of Ranma's face twitched. "I stood there waiting
for Three days!"
"But when I arrived on the forth day you had fled to China!"
Ranma shook his head. "This all happened over a year and a
half ago. Besides our duel was in that vacant lot 100 feet down the
street from your house."
"Honor doesn't have time limits! I'm going to follow you to
the ends of the earth and destroy your every happiness, even if it
takes the rest of my life!"
Ranma shifted his eyes to look behind his opponent. From the
ground had risen an astral form resembling a man shrouded from head to
toe, except for the eyes. The white on white eyes could never have
belonged on any human face. Another flew down from the sky and the two
looked at each other before flying away in opposing directions.
"Don't you dare ignore me!" Ryouga screamed, raising his
umbrella to charge at Ranma.
Ranma's focus snapped back to Ryouga, and he raised his hands
and deepened his stance. The perfect posture to take an attack like
Ryouga's.
Ryouga drew back his right arm, tightening his grip on his
umbrella.
Ranma suddenly moved forward, just to the left of Ryouga's
path.
Snarling Ryouga twisted his upper body as he slowed his
advance. Ranma's suddenly extended leg tapped his own, knocking him to
the ground in a rolling sprawl.
Ryouga threw himself off the ground and dropped into a
defensive stance of his own. He scowled as he saw Ranma glancing at
the sky. "I'm not going to let you get away with it!"
Ryouga jumped into a flying kick, which Ranma pivoted to avoid.
Ryouga turned as he landed and lashed out with a fast umbrella slash
that Ranma ducked under. Ryouga advanced, alternating kicks and
punches. Ranma avoided them while backing away. Ryouga smiled as he
saw the school building loom just behind Ranma. With a scream he speed
his advance, striking with his umbrella.
Ranma suddenly dropped, and with a low kick and simultaneous
rising punch threw Ryouga through the window into the classroom behind
him.
Ryouga came to his feet and charged forward, jumping through
the windows before him. He looked for Ranma, but saw only the school
hallway. "Damn!" he proclaimed as he began running down the corridor.
"I'm not letting it end like this! I'm going to find my way out of
here and finish it Ranma!"
Ranma looked into the broken school window and waited,
listening to the fading crashing sounds. "So much for that." He
commented, shrugging his shoulders and turning away from the school
building.
Akane walked up to him. "Ranma who was that? I can't believe
he'd just decide to leave like that."
"He got lost. He has the worst sense of direction of anyone I
know." He glanced at the sky with a pensive frown. "I gotta go." One
running jump and he bounced off the top of the school wall and began to
leap from rooftop to rooftop.
Akane scowled. "What is wrong with him?" Out of the corner of
her eye she saw something moving by her. Pivoting her head she looked.
For an instant she thought there was a transparent Ninja floating next
to her, but it was gone as she focused on it. "What's wrong with me?"
She said, shaking her head momentarily.
Two of the spectral forms floated around him, gazing, then they
turned and floated away. "Not looking for me it seems." Ranma
commented as he strengthened his levitation and looked more carefully.
"But they're definitely looking for someone. And someone with magic
considering how they reacted to my levitation spell." He considered
the motions of the wraiths a moment, then floated to the street.
"If I'm right . . ." Ranma began to run through the street.
An hour later, Ranma paused and looked at a tall Gaijin in a
blue suit. The figure shifted his hat and ducked into an alleyway.
Ranma followed his gaze and spotted a pair of the searching wraiths.
*Yes, looks like we both read that search pattern the same way.* A
quick sprint brought him into the alley behind the mysterious
foreigner. Who was staring down a group of five ragged looking locals.
One of the toughs started casually spinning a chain, another
dramatically unfolded a butterfly knife. Ranma felt the echoes of
power that went with the beginning of channeling the power of an
artifact beneath the strangers coat. He stepped past him and raised a
hand. "Allow me."
The knife-wielding tough stepped forward gesturing with his
weapon. "You'd better stay out of this if you don't want to get hurt."
Ranma looked at him. His eyes drifted to the rest of the gang,
casually appraising each. He took a step forward, his hand shot out in
a palm strike to the knife wielders chest, throwing him into the back
of the alley. He jumped a short distance further, pivoting at the end
to smash the chain wielder and another thug into the wall with a single
circular kick. He paused to clench his fists and look at the remaining
would be attackers. They turned and ran.
Ranma nodded his head and turned to look at the man he had
saved. He blinked as he looked. "Dr. Strange?"
"Yes, Ranma was it not?"
"Ranma Saotome. Why are you in Tokyo, what are those . . ."
"They are the servants of Baron Mordo. A few hours ago he
attacked the Ancient One and I, and the Ancient One is still
recovering. Somehow Mordo has gained incredible powers, and unless I
can puzzle out what the Ancient one meant he could well succeed in
usurping the position of Sorcerer Supreme." He tugged down the rim or
his hat and hunched over as a wraith passed through the walls over
them. "Come."
Note- In case your not familiar, what I'm doing is combining Ryouga's
introduction with the storyline where Barron Mordo was directly
empowered by Dormamu.