Here it is, the last re-write. I've been reading a lot of C&C on this
and it all seems pretty valid. After re-reading it I agree that more
explanation is needed for Nabiki and Kasumi rejecting Ranma, as well as a
few other points. [Putting Ara, as a question was a mistake. The
spell/grammar check didn't catch it because it isn't an English word]
Once again I've made Kenshin a little to aggressive. I've been reading
the Battosai chapters with Tomoe again. That's the reason for it, I went
back and reread the beginning again after I read some of the C&C and
frankly. "Oops."
I really appreciate everyone who is helping me out with Kenshin's
character on this.
Ruroni Ranma.
Part one, Here's Ranma.
1975...
Nodoka Saotome looked down at her son as he stood proudly with his
father, a shinai was strapped across his back just behind his traveling
bag as he stood and simply smiled at her. She fell to her knees and
smiled at him gently as she pulled him into a gentle hug. "Remember my
son, do not forget your heritage while on your voyage, no matter what
your father tells you." she whispered into his hear. Genma looked away in
frustrated and impatient embarrassment as he eagerly awaited the journey
he was about to embark on with his son. The boy would learn the Anything
Goes style of Martial Arts and forget this foolishness his mother had
implanted in his head. The bamboo practice sword would be thrown out at
the earliest convenience once they left the home.
The boy returned his mothers embrace and simply whispered his answer.
"Hai." Without the elder Saotome noticing she slipped an aged looking
scroll into the boy's backpack.
"When we return, our son will be a true man," announced Genma as he
pulled the boy away.
Nodoka merely nodded and said nothing more as she watched her son leave.
Her instruction had been minimal, and the fact that her own skills with
the blade would be considered atrocious by any master of the art. Still,
she had a faint hope that her own son would secretly carry on her family
style. She bowed her head slightly and turned back into the house having
only her memories to comfort her.
1979...
Ranma Saotome stood in a vacant lot and stared patiently at the street.
"Boy," growled his father angrily.
"I will not leave until he comes," replied Ranma firmly. He simply stood
waiting; the blade at his side kept his father at bay. He knew better
than to press the boy's honor. His son had been practicing with a sword
in secret for most of the journey. Waking up in the night and sneaking
away into the shadows, Genma had ignored it at first, waiting until the
boy's exhaustion would tire him of the game. Unfortunately that day never
came. Ranma just became more and more focused on his mother's arts. After
about three years of vainly hoping that the boy would give up the blade,
he confronted his son. The battle had been remarkably short and Genma
decided to allow the boy to continue to practice his art, so long as it
did not interfere with his training.
Ranma smiled at his father's wary gaze, the shinai had long ago been
destroyed, it was replaced by a worn looking Bokuto. The boy was
progressing favorably in the family school, but his skills with the sword
were down right frightening to the man. If he ever got his hands on the
family blade Genma would have more fear of him than his own wife; Ranma
was not aware of this of course, but still the elder Saotome decided to
wait another day for his son's rival to appear.
On the fourth day, Ryoga Hibiki arrived. He was dressed in black
traveling clothes with a yellow and black bandana tied across his
forehead. He stood firmly opposite Ranma and smiled. "So, you had the
guts to show up?"
Ranma merely nodded his head and smiled. "The same could be said of
you."
There was a ferociousness in his eyes that only served to strengthen the
Hibiki boy's resolve. "I will not be so easily beaten!"
Ranma merely took up a loose kenpo stance and waited. Ryoga charged
forward screaming in rage as the pair collided. His fist slammed into
Ranma's face sending the boy back with a look of shock on his face as he
staggered under the force of the boy.
He recovered instantly and kicked out his leg taking the boy in the jaw
and lifting him off the ground sending him sprawling across the ground.
Hibiki reacted true to form and recovered instantly rising to his feet
just as Ranma slammed his foot into the ground where he had been a moment
before. They stood and charged again, Ryoga faced the wrong direction and
glanced around in confusion before paying for his mistake as he received
a hard kick in the back of his head. Taking advantage of the situation
Ranma pulled Ryoga into a hold as he locked his arms around his neck and
squeezed slowly.
Ryoga screamed in rage, but slammed his palm on the ground signaling his
defeat. "Damn you Ranma."
The boy smiled at his opponent and flipped his ponytail back over his
shoulder. "It was a good match, I hope you're stronger when I return."
Ryoga looked up at him from his place on the ground in surprise. "You're
going somewhere?" His voice almost sounded hopeful, but also disappointed
at the same time.
"See you around Hibiki," said the boy as he walked off and met his
father in the middle of the road. Genma looked back and sighed as he
watched his son's rival stare at them in shock as they walked away. He
would miss the boy, he had been good for Ranma; but his training would
progress too slowly even if he remained here with him as a rival. The
best way for them was to move on, besides, he owed rent money on the
apartment anyway.
Ryoga simply watched as they vanished into the sunset. Ranma Saotome was
indeed an honorable man, he had waited four days for him to arrive and
given him a good fight. "All right Saotome, when you return, Ryoga Hibiki
will be your strongest opponent!" He pulled his bag over his shoulder and
turned away for his own voyage of training.
1985...
"Tendo, coming from China, Saotome."
Soun Tendo held the postcard in his hand as he trembled and simply
stared at it in disbelief. "Oh, how I've waited for this day..."
A few moments later his daughters sat around the table staring at their
father in shock. "Is he cute?" asked Nabiki shrewdly.
"Ara, I hope he's older, younger men are so...young," gasped Kasumi with
a worried look on her face.
"I don't know, I've never met him," replied Soun honestly. The girls
looked at him for a moment when a noise came from the hallway. Soun stood
up and rushed to the door with an excited look on his face. Kasumi and
Nabiki followed close behind him while Akane merely scowled angrily.
Soun threw open the door to greet the newcomer and stopped as a boy of
about fourteen years old stood with his hand in a knock and looked at him
blankly. On his face was a cross shaped scar, his hair fell back into a
long ponytail, and his dress was that of a traditional samurai, although
the red and black color scheme was a little unusual. Soun froze in place
as he saw the scabbard hanging at the boy's side, throwing his arms wide
he grabbed him in a rough hug.
The boy merely looked at him and cocked his head slightly. "Oro?"
"Ara," said Kasumi as she was uncertain of what to do at the moment.
"Is this the Tendo residence?" asked the boy cheerfully.
Soun flustered for a moment and regained himself. "Yes, why yes it is."
"I'm Ranma Saotome, pleased to meet you," replied the boy as he bowed to
them politely.
Soun grabbed him in a rough hug instantly and squeezed him. "Oh, I'm so
glad you came! Tell me, where is your father?"
Ranma looked down at the ground and said nothing for a moment. "He's
dead." Soun Tendo decided that the information was too much for his brain
and passed out.
Ranma turned towards Kasumi and smiled at her warmly. "Is there a place
I can put this?" He held up his bamboo umbrella.
The girl blinked for a moment and indicated the umbrella stand by the
door. "He's so... young," she sighed with a hint of disappointment in her
voice. The boy in front of her didn't look any older than fourteen.
Nabiki sat with the boy at the table with her two sisters flanking her
on either side. "So, who are you, and what's with the weird clothes?" The
boy was dressed in a long black Hakama and a rather flamboyant red shirt;
he also had a Katana resting on his hip. He looked like something out of
a samurai movie.
"Ranma Saotome," replied the boy cheerfully. "What's so weird about
them?" He lifted one of his sleeves up and inspected it for a moment.
The girl looked away muttering something about 'Kuno' and seemed to
loose interest. The youngest girl rolled her eyes.
"Why are you here kid?" snapped Akane.
Ranma looked confused for a moment. "Didn't your father tell you? I'm
supposed to marry one of you and continue the school of martial arts in
my father's name."
Akane looked at him for a moment. "You knew about this?"
"Of course, it was my father's dying wish that I come here to honor the
agreement," replied Ranma with a small shrug.
"To this little kid?" said Nabiki with a small snort of disgust.
"I am not a 'little kid,'" retorted the boy. He was about to continue
when Kasumi spoke up and placed her hand on his shoulder.
"Ara, a final request!" said Kasumi with a horrified expression on her
face. "It must be hard for someone as young as you."
"Yes, it was my father's last request, I wasn't planing on marrying
anyone anytime soon. I hope you don't mind," said the boy with a slightly
worried look on his face.
Akane's face softened a little, but her glare remained. "I don't care
why you're here. I'm not marrying anybody! Especially not some little
kid!"
"Little kid? I suppose I'll just have to choose someone else then,"
replied Ranma simply as he turned his gaze towards Nabiki and Kasumi.
Soun sat up and remained silent as he took up his place at the head of
the table. "Tell me, Saotome is he really..."
"I'm afraid so, he died honorably," said Ranma simply as his face took
on a seriousness that the girls had yet to see from him.
"How?" asked Soun.
"In the final battle of Jusendo, against the Musk Dynasty," answered
Ranma coldly.
"You were involved with that?" asked Akane as her eyes suddenly became
wide in shock. Her sister's reactions were similar.
It was no small matter, several years ago war had erupted in China
between three factions, the Chinese Government, the Musk Dynasty, and The
Joketsuko. In the end the Chinese government had won, but at heavy cost.
An alliance between them and the Joketsuko was formed; they all but wiped
out the Musk Tribe.
"Yes, we were forced into service in the Chinese military, we fought
bravely until the end for the cause," replied Ranma simply.
"I'm sorry," said Kasumi gently.
Ranma nodded, "I would have joined even if they hadn't forced us."
Akane nodded as her eyes fell on the sword that hung at Ranma's side;
the Japanese government had sympathized with the communist government
despite past relations with them. Japan was against the Musk and what
they represented during the course of the drawn out war that lasted
almost nine years. Herb was a monarch, a complete and total ruler. His
rise to power had shaken many of the democracies around the world.
Soun smiled at the boy and took him by the shoulder. "Well, now that
you're here, these are my three daughters! Pick anyone you like and
she'll be your new fianc�e!"
Ranma blinked and his serious face was gone in an instant. "Well, we
have plenty of time to consider that later."
"Oh, he want's Akane!" said Nabiki sweetly.
"Most definitely," agreed Kasumi as they pushed their younger sister
towards him.
"What? Why would I...?" snapped Akane before Nabiki cut her off.
"He's one of those strong martial artist types, you two should get along
well!" reasoned the girl desperately. "Besides, you're the only one young
enough to marry him without looking weird," she whispered into her
sister's ear as she gave the boy a sidelong glance.
"What?!" cried Akane in shock.
"He is a bit young, but perhaps you'll grow to love him?" said Kasumi
cheerfully.
"There's no need to be pushy, we have lots of time before..." started
Ranma as he looked at her as she crossed her arms and looked away from
him purposefully.
"So, Akane it is Saotome," said Soun cheerfully as he pat the boy on his
shoulder.
"Now wait a minute Tendo I..." started Ranma, it seemed everyone was
ignoring him.
Akane glared at him with a stare that was almost pure hatred. "I'm
leaving," she stomped up to her room and slammed the door, after a moment
it opened back up and she stuck her head out again. "I'm not marrying
him!"
Soun looked at Ranma and smiled. "Don't worry, just give her a little
time, she'll warm up to you."
Ranma merely blinked again and opened his mouth. Nabiki covered it
quickly and winked. "Don't worry Ranma, I'm sure you and Akane will get
along fine."
The boy hung his head and sighed. "I see..."
Soun looked at the board in shock, he had intended to sit and reminisce
about his old friend while playing a friendly game of Shogi with the
man's son. Unfortunately, the boy was wiping the floor with him quite
nicely, despite the fact that he was cheating as much as possible under
the boy's careful gaze.
Ranma started a casual conversation. "So, how is the dojo doing?"
Soun looked up at him and blinked as he realized he had been asked a
question. "Well enough, we don't take many students nowadays."
"That's too bad," replied Ranma with a shrug as he placed a tile down on
the board.
Soun looked back and fourth between his side and Ranma's and started to
sweat a little. "It seems you have me."
"It does?" said Ranma as he raised his eyebrow slightly and looked at
the board, he saw at least three ways Tendo could retaliate. "So tell me
Tendo, what kind of girl is your daughter?"
"Ah, trying to find out what you've gotten yourself into now?" asked the
man as he leaned over the board and pat his shoulder.
"Something like that," replied Ranma with a knowing smile.
"Well, her measurements are twenty-seven, twenty..." started Soun.
Ranma merely blinked and stared at the man in shock. "Oro?"
A few moments later Kasumi walked up to Ranma with a small armload of
sheets. "I'll show you to your room Ranma."
"Thank you," replied the boy with a pleasant smile as he stood up.
Kasumi blinked and felt a tiny pang of regret for dumping him off on
Akane; he seemed like such a nice boy. She shook the thoughts away, he
was after all, still a boy.
As she led him into the spare room she turned to see him placing his
traveling bag on the ground and glancing around at the windows and the
closet carefully. The boy smiled and bowed to her, "Thank you again
Tendo."
"Oh, you can call me big sister if you want too!" she replied cheerfully
and blushed at her reaction to his formality.
"How about, just Kasumi for now?" said Ranma wryly.
"That will be fine," replied the girl. "Would you like to take a bath
now? I just filled up the furo a short time ago."
"I'd like that, thank you," replied Ranma.
A few moments later he sat on a stool looking at his reflection in the
mirror. His hair dripped with the water he had dumped over his head and
ran down his breast creating a strange yet familiar sensation. Ranma-chan
sighed heavily as she stared at herself and stood up turning her back and
inspecting herself. "How do I tell them about this?" she wondered out
loud. "Well, I suppose there's no need to if I'm not staying long."
After a moment she stepped into the water and relaxed feeling the change
overtake her again. "This is nice."
His hand shot out to his blade as a sound caught his attention just
outside the doorway. After a moment he realized where he was and replaced
it back in the corner carefully as the intruder walked back out the door.
Akane looked at the basket and saw Ranma's clothes there. She frowned
slightly and turned back out the door. "Kasumi, why did you tell me the
bath was ready when Ranma's already in there?"
"Sorry, I must have forgot about him," replied her sister sweetly as she
stuck her head out of the kitchen.
It was evening, Ranma stood out in the yard and breathed calmly as he
stood silently with a shinai in his hands. He slowly opened his eyes and
stepped forward in the first motion of a slow kata. His movements were
smooth and precise, nothing fast or particularly flashy. It was
flawlessly executed though.
Nearby just inside the house Nabiki Tendo watched carefully while eating
a bag of chips. Beside her Akane sat staring at the spectacle only half
way interested. "What style is that? It isn't Anything Goes..." she
commented.
Ranma appeared beside her with his grin still plastered on his face.
"It's called Hiten Mitsurugi style."
Akane blinked for a moment and stared at him, she hadn't even realized
he was finished yet. "Don't sneak up on me like that!" She slapped him
across his face and he merely stood there looking at her.
"Oro?"
"Very impressive," noted Soun calmly as he nodded in approval. "I take
it you learned it while you were in China. I've heard rumors of a
Japanese man who killed with decisive efficiency during the wars. Did you
happen to meet him?"
"He was called Battosai," said Nabiki as her father handed her a small
yen bill with a questioning look on his face.
"Thank you Nabiki, tell me Ranma, did you know this Battosai?" said Soun
cheerfully.
"The name does sound familiar, I've been practicing Hiten Mitsurugi
style almost as long as Anything Goes. I don't remember where I learned
it, but it is very important to me for some reason. I can not stop, I
think it was a promise I made..." the boy trailed off and looked into the
distance outside.
"Hmm, I see. Well, I suppose we can spar a little tomorrow after you get
back from school, I'm getting out of practice myself," said Soun
cheerfully.
"Oro?" said Ranma as he whipped his head around with a confused look on
his face. "School?"
"Well, you are going to be staying a while Saotome," replied the man
calmly.
"I suppose I should return to school, I kind of forgot what with all the
excitement over the past few years," said Ranma with a small laugh as he
scratched the back of his head as if purposely avoiding something.
"Honestly," growled Akane half-heartedly as she turned away from the
men.
Ruroni Ranma
Chapter 2
The soul of the true samurai.
Ranma sat across from Soun Tendo, the three daughters had recently gone
to sleep while the men sat together in the living room around the table
talking. Soun relayed old stories about the boy's father while Ranma
recounted a few tales from China. He skirted around the years they had
spent in battle. Soun let the matter pass; Ranma would reveal those
things to him when he felt comfortable with it. After a long moment,
around eleven o'clock Ranma suddenly became serious.
"Tendo, I'm sorry to say this, but I'll be leaving tomorrow," he bowed
politely and sat with an almost rigid position across from the man.
Soun's face fell as he looked at the boy in shock. "Pardon?"
"I said I'll be leaving tomorrow in the morning," repeated Ranma simply.
"Why? Where are you going? When will you return?" said Tendo as he did
not quite understand what the boy was telling him.
Ranma took in a deep breath and hung his head. "I won't be coming back,
it is obvious to me that none of your daughters desires this marriage. I
will not force myself on any of them, even as a last request from my
father."
Soun looked at the boy and suddenly became almost as calm as he was. "I
see..."
"I am truly sorry Tendo, but I cannot force an unhappy marriage upon one
of your daughters," Ranma was stern and did not waver under the man's
harsh glare.
Soun's face softened slightly and he bowed before Ranma. "I have a
request of you."
This took the boy by surprise and he raised his eyebrow slightly. "Yes
Tendo?"
"Give it one month, that is all I ask. Akane has never had a good
relationship with a boy. She is hostile towards most men, I believe she
will grow to like you quickly Saotome, but it will take time for a girl
like her. Please, all I ask is for you to remain here one month. If she
still does not wish you to stay, you may leave with your honor intact."
Ranma paused for a moment and seemed to consider this, it didn't take
long. "All right Tendo, I give your daughters one month. If one of them
does not ask me to remain here, I will leave."
"You have my gratitude," said Soun with a relieved sigh. "Now, it's
getting pretty late, you do have school tomorrow do you not Saotome?"
Ranma blinked. "I suppose you're right."
The next morning Ranma stood waiting for Akane outside the dojo. The
girl came running out and stopped cold as she saw him standing there.
"What do you want?"
"Your father thought it might be a good idea if we walked together
Akane," replied the boy simply.
She looked him up and down and frowned when she realized he was wearing
the same kind of clothes he was wearing the day before. They were
slightly different; a flame pattern was dyed into the sleeves and waist.
He smiled at her and started walking. "Why don't you just go by yourself?
I don't want anything to do with you."
Ranma didn't turn to face her; he merely stopped and spoke to her. "One
month."
"What?" said the girl in confusion.
"I told your father I would remain one month, if you still wish me gone
a month from now I will leave without question," Ranma started to walk
towards the school once again; suddenly he stopped and looked thoughtful.
"I just realized I don't know where this school is at. Perhaps you could
show me?" When he turned to face her the smile was there again as if it
had never left his face.
Akane shrugged and started walking beside him. "All right, I'll show
you, the middle school is this way..." She took a turn by the
chiropractor's office on the corner.
"Um, Akane. I should be going to high school shouldn't I?" said Ranma in
confusion.
Akane looked at him and frowned. "Look, I don't care about this
engagement thing, but if you think I'm gonna drag you to school with me
just because we're engaged..."
Ranma coughed into his hand. "Um, I'm sixteen years old Akane."
The girl blinked and stared at him for a moment in complete shock,
unable to speak, finally she let her jaw drop. "SIXTEEN?!" After a moment
she recovered and turned away from him. "Fine, when we get there we don't
know each other."
"Fair enough," said Ranma simply.
"Right," Akane started to run forward and Ranma followed close behind
her.
As they neared the school Ranma jumped away from a small old woman who
was emptying her bath water on the sidewalk and stopped as he inspected
himself suddenly. He looked down and pat his chest giving a relieved
smile. "What is it?" said Akane as she stopped and turned back to him.
"Sorry, just making sure," replied the boy simply as he started forward
again.
Akane rolled her eyes and continued forward towards Furinkan with a
strange determination in her stride. "I hate boys."
Ranma appeared next to her keeping up with her stride easily; his face
suddenly became serious. "Why do I get the feeling you're preparing for
battle?"
Akane ignored him and blasted into the crowd that awaited her. Ranma
gaped in shock and frowned as he watched the scene carefully with his
hand on the hilt of his blade. After a moment he paused and strode
forward purposefully ignoring the battle around him. Finally he came to a
stop and leaned against a wall waiting patiently for the fight to end. It
did rather quickly and he watched a nearby tree without moving as Akane
finished off her attackers.
Nabiki sat and watched the exchange from her usual place in the window.
"What's he doing here?" she wondered as she saw Ranma run up behind him.
"He must have walked her to school. How cute." One of her friends walked
up beside her and followed her gaze down to Ranma.
Nabiki was about to call out to the boy when she realized that he was
watching the tree. Kuno stood in waiting just behind it patiently. She
frowned and realized that there was no way he could see the boy from the
angle he was standing at. Still, he sat and waited. "What's he up to?"
"What was that boss?" asked one of her associates.
"Nothing," replied Nabiki calmly.
Akane finished up the last of her opponents and panted while remaining
in a ready stance. Her hand darted up in time to catch a single rose that
had flow into her hand.
"What fools these mortals be, they seek the honor of your company on the
eve that they might defeat you," said a voice as a tall almost bishonen
looking boy emerged from his cover and stepped out.
"Now, might you spar with me?" the boy chuckled to himself as he held
his bokuto up towards her.
Akane was about to answer the challenge when a new voice spoke up. "I
think I've seen about enough."
Kuno turned and saw the strange boy leaning against the wall with his
head bent down. He growled when he noticed the sword hanging at his side
and his familiar dress. "Who might you be boy? Were you not taught how to
respect your elders?"
"Elders? What is it with you people? I'm sixteen." Ranma frowned for a
moment and looked up at the kendoist. "I'm Just a vagabond whose found a
place to stay for a while. I must say your technique is cowardly."
"Who are you to speak of such things?" snapped the boy as he diverted
his attention from Akane for a moment.
Ranma ignored him. "Using weaker opponents to wear her down, so that you
can take advantage of her weakened state and defeat her easily. A
masterful plan, but hardly the way of a true warrior. If you truly wished
to test your own strength you'd do it without all this pageantry. If you
truly believe yourself to be a samurai of honor you will stop this and
face her alone."
"Who are you boor? How dare you speak so to one such as myself!" snapped
Kuno as he stepped towards the boy.
"As I said, I'm just a vagabond, nothing for you to concern yourself
with. Let her go peacefully, otherwise she might be late for class,"
replied Ranma simply. "Please."
Kuno looked like he was about to burst a vein. "How-how dare you! A
lowborn fool like yourself cannot begin to comprehend the honor of this
battle! Do you know who it is you address? I am the mighty True Battosai
of Furinkan High! The rising new star of the high school fencing world;
Tatewaki Kuno!" Kuno stepped forward holding the bokuto in an offensive
position.
Ranma's eyes narrowed as he stepped back. "I did not come here to fight
with you."
"You speak of honor and wield a steel blade against an opponent with a
bokuto," replied Kuno as he pointed to the scabbard at the boy's side.
Ranma shook his head. "You misunderstand, this isn't a blade that can
kill."
"What foolishness is this? How can a blade of steel not kill? Is that
not the art of the sword?" Kuno seemed to puff himself up in what
appeared to be the worst bluff of all time.
Ranma removed his hand and smiled. "If you wish, I can wield a bokuto
against you. If you so challenge me, this is not the time or the place
for such things, I ask that you stand down."
Both men stood off in the center of the schoolyard Ranma ignored Kuno's
stares and simply smiled at him. "So be it, I shall issue my challenge at
a later date," announced Kuno as he turned to address the crowd, the
crowd that was no longer there. "What is this?"
Ranma looked up and saw Akane Tendo disappearing into the doors of the
school. She stopped long enough to stick her tongue out at both of them
and slammed the door behind herself. The pair stood alone in the
courtyard for a few moments until the first bell of the day rang.
Ranma could only say one thing. "Oro?"
A few moments later Ranma stood out in the hallway after his short
introduction to the class. In his hands was a pair of buckets filled with
water. He sighed to himself and looked up at the ceiling. "What have I
gotten myself into?"
Tatewaki Kuno stared Nabiki down at her desk. "What? You say you know
this strange vagabond? Tell me who this stranger is!"
"Oh, Kuno baby, that is really going to cost you," replied the girl
sweetly.
With righteous tears in his eyes Kuno set down a wad of bills on her
desk. "Tell me who this miscreant is so that I might deliver my message
of challenge!"
"His name is Ranma Saotome, and he's Akane's new fianc�e," replied
Nabiki with a smirk as she accepted the money from him cheerfully.
Kuno froze and simply stared at her, "Wh-what?" The entire class had
gone silent as well.
"Three thousand yen for a repeat performance Kuno baby," said the girl
shrewdly.
Ranma was passing the time away humming to himself as he waited to get
called back into the room. He felt something vaguely familiar from down
the hall and turned to see Kuno charging him with his bokuto ready. He
blinked for a moment and stepped back in a battle ready stance dropping
his buckets to the floor.
"I Tatewaki Kuno, shall not allow this travesty to continue!" roared the
boy angrily as he sliced at Ranma. The boy retaliated by raising his
scabbard up and blocking easily. Kuno seemed beyond anger. "Never, never
shall I allow this engagement! I shall never allow your engagement to
Akane Tendo!"
Ranma's eyes went wide as the boy shouted. He hadn't told anyone about
it, as far as everyone else was concerned up till now he didn't even know
Akane Tendo.
The windows to the nearby classrooms flew open as hundreds of shouting
students leaned out of them and shouted for verification of this new
rumor. Ranma grit his teeth and jumped away from Kuno just in time to
avoid another strike from his weapon.
Akane Tendo sat at her desk fuming with anger. "How dare he! How dare he
butt in on my fight?!" She scowled angrily and looked at the silhouetted
figure standing just outside the doorway. "When I get home I'm gonna give
him a piece of..." she froze as a familiar voice floated into the room
from outside. The teacher looked at her as she stood up from her seat
with a look of horror on her face.
"Is something wrong Miss Tendo?" said the man impatiently. He was
promptly cut off as a shout from the hallway told him what was wrong.
Akane's vision suddenly became red as the entire class looked at her in
almost perfect unison. There was no doubt in her mind everyone thought
she was some kind of weirdo pervert as young as he looked. "I-I-I'll kill
him!"
Ranma was having a bit of a difficult time in his battle in the hallway.
The narrow space didn't give him much room to move around and he didn't
really want to hurt this boy now. He turned away and jumped out of the
path of another strike. "This is not the place to fight Kuno."
That stopped the upperclassman for a moment. "I see, lead on then!"
Ranma looked back at the room and turned away leading Kuno down the
hall. He smirked as he jumped out of an open window and noticed the
student body closing in behind them.
Akane rushed forward as Kuno followed and snapped at Ranma angrily.
"This is the third floor fool!"
"Oro?" said Ranma as he balanced on the top of a flagpole just outside
the window. Kuno was face down in the pool three stories below. "I was
going up to the roof, but I guess he couldn't keep up with me..." he
looked a little ashamed and stepped back into the building.
"Why didn't you just take the stairs!?" snapped the girl angrily.
"Oh, yea..." Ranma turned his head and looked at the flight of stairs
that wasn't even ten feet away from him.
Akane merely hung her head and sighed. In the back of her mind she
wondered if he ever intended to fight Kuno at all. Perhaps it had just
been luck that he jumped out onto the flagpole instead of into the water
below?
Ranma stood next to her and glanced out the window nervously. "Well,
that was a close one," he muttered to himself as he eyed the water below
where the kendoist floated face down.
Kuno walked out of the pool and shook off his arms as he turned towards
the building and glared upwards in anger. "Ranma Saotome, I shall not
forget this offence! Be ready for my challenge!" He sat down there on the
pavement and fished a soaking wet notepad and pencil from his shirt. "You
will suffer for this humiliation!" he started to laugh to himself as he
scrawled, or attempted do considering the condition of his utensils.
Ruroni Ranma
Part 3
Kuno Strikes Back.
Ranma Saotome sat at the table and glanced at the sheet of paper that
had been given to him calmly. "A letter of challenge?" He sighed and
tossed it across the table.
"Serves you right for butting in on my fight," snapped the youngest
Tendo angrily. She froze suddenly; the note in her hand began to shake as
she read the challenge carefully.
"What is it sis?" Nabiki peeked over her shoulder and gasped.
"Ranma Saotome, I hereby challenge you to a battle of honor, your
cowardly ways shall come to light as my mighty and swift justice comes
upon you. Meet me tomorrow on the field of battle as I show you the might
of a true samurai of noble blood. I shall meet your challenge with steel
and a noble heart. Come prepared. Yours truly, Tatewaki Kuno, the True
Battosai of Furinkan High."
"Ranma, he's going to use a real sword! One of you will be killed!"
gasped Nabiki with a horrified look on her face.
Ranma blinked and looked at her. He took the letter back and read it
again. "Hmm, So it seems..." He turned towards the girl and smiled.
"Don't worry Nabiki. I won't kill him."
"What?" said Akane in confusion. "You'll get yourself killed! Kuno might
not be much of a fighter, but his kendo skills are exceptional.
Especially when facing a male opponent!"
"Don't worry about it, I can handle myself." replied Ranma simply.
"Let me guess, the war in China right?" said Nabiki flatly.
Ranma nodded his head quietly.
Akane gasped in shock and looked at the boy oddly. "You killed during
the war?"
"That is what one does in a war Akane, I have a lot of blood on my
hands," replied the boy simply.
"Tell me, what is this True Battosai nonsense Tatewaki is going on
about?" asked Ranma. "He's a Kendoist, does he even know what Battosai
means?"
"You of all people should know that, you said you met this Battosai
character," replied Nabiki with a smug grin.
"Oro?" said Ranma as he blinked at them.
Akane sighed, "Kuno thinks of himself as a samurai, a noble. So
naturally when a real samurai becomes a legend in a war like that he
makes him his hero."
"He thinks of Battosai as a hero?" said Ranma in confusion.
Akane seemed quite miffed at this insinuation. "Battosai was a hero,
people still talk about him today when they hear about him fighting
against the Musk during the war."
Ranma seemed a little upset by this. "I always thought he was the kind
of guy who faded away and never made it into the history books. A shadow
assassin, who was never really known," he looked oddly thoughtful for a
moment. "Hero huh? Weird."
"Well, normally I suppose he would, but he was a major player in an
important war, and also one of a very few Japanese nationals involved
with it." Nabiki shrugged her shoulders and went back to her bag of
chips. "I guess it's just circumstance."
"Quite so," agreed Ranma as he went back to studying the letter. "But
what to do about this fool? I don't really want to fight him."
As the sun set Ranma stood alone in a field. He waited patiently for his
opponent as the hour dragged on. "He's late."
Almost as if on cue Tatewaki Kuno appeared on the street silhouetted in
the setting sun as he approached the designated battleground. Both men
were dressed in traditional samurai garb, with Ranma being a bit flashier
overall with his bright red shirt.
"So, you finally decided to show up did you?" asked Ranma smugly.
"I felt the need for an appropriate entrance," replied the boy calmly as
he lifted a rose to his nose and smiled.
"I can understand that, but all this pageantry still says nothing for
your skills. Tell me, why am I here facing you?" Ranma remained calm and
watched the boy look up in surprise.
"You have insulted my honor, and interfered with my sacred battle with
Akane Tendo," replied Kuno angrily.
"These are killing offences?" said Ranma in a questioning voice.
"I would choose the honorable path, such is the way of a samurai,"
replied Kuno with a shrug. "My honor must be avenged."
"The one you chose to name yourself after, never believed that. There is
no justice in killing over such foolishness... Besides, I never stopped
you from facing her; I merely pointed out that it was dishonorable to
have others attack her before you merely to wear her down. I will not
stand between you if you wish to continue, after all no one was really
hurt by this," Ranma met his gaze coolly and smiled. "So let's just
forget this all right?"
"For deceiving young maidens with your young looks and forcing yourself
upon Akane Tendo. I cannot allow this transgression to continue, have at
thee!" roared Kuno as he charged forward and drew his blade. Ranma merely
sidestepped the strike and stepped away from him as Kuno staggered for a
moment after missing. "You have good technique, but your killing power is
extremely lacking, I bet you've never taken a life before have you?"
"So, you say my sword ki is low?" replied Kuno with a chuckle, tell me
knave how would one such as yourself know of such things.
Ranma merely smiled and got into a low stance with his hand on the hilt
of his sword, his aura seemed to grow ten times as strong. Kuno's hand
loosened and his grip on his sword faltered for a moment, he froze in
place with a look of terror crossing his features as he simply gaped in
awe at the strange boy before him. "This is... it is impossible! No man
could be stronger than I with the blade! It is not possible to exceed
perfection!"
Ranma smiled at this; "There is no such thing as perfection in battle.
There is always a way to defeat even the strongest of opponents, it is
one of many hard lessons I had to learn in my life. Now, let's end this
foolish battle peacefully, I have no desire to draw against you."
Kuno seemed to snap out of his trance and pulled the blade up right
before charging again. "You speak wisely; however, I shall not lose
today!" He rushed forward sending the blade towards Ranma hundreds of
times in the space of a few seconds. "As with the mighty Battosai of
Japan, my kendo is unrivaled!"
Ranma ran backwards avoiding the strikes easily with a firm look on his
face. "The one you call Battosai does not use kendo, he uses Hiten
Mitsurugi style Batojitsu. That is how he earned his name."
Kuno blinked in shock and staggered for a moment, just long enough for
Ranma to jump comfortably out of range. "How do you know of such things?
Do you take me for a fool! Everyone knows that kendo is the strongest art
of Japan! Only Sumo Wrestling comes close to it's mighty power! What else
would the great hero of Japan use against her enemies?" He charged again
bringing his sword down in a wide arc towards Ranma.
The ponytailed martial artist merely stepped back as his hand flew to
the hilt of his sword. He thrust out in an upward cutting motion and
Kuno's blade was stopped cold and thrown up leaving his belly open to
attack. Ranma wasted no opportunity to strike and Kuno fell to his knees
clutching his wound.
"So, this is how it ends, a noble death for one such as I. I am pleased
to have died in battle against a fellow samurai," Kuno coughed and fell
forward onto the ground as his belly burned in pain.
"You've obviously never had a sword wound before," said Ranma with a
slightly amused chuckle. "Don't worry, I cannot kill, not ever again,"
Ranma was standing with his sword draw at his side with his back turned
towards Kuno in a rather dramatic pose. "Still, it was a good match,
perhaps we can do it again without our steel blades sometime."
"What?" Kuno reached down to his stomach and felt the blow. It was badly
bruised, but there was no cut. He coughed again and struggled to rise to
his feet only to fall again as he turned to see Ranma placing his sword
back in the scabbard. He gasped as he saw the blade just before Ranma
finished sheathing it "A Sakabato?"
"Yes, a reversed blade. I swore I would not kill once the battles ended
in China. I will only use my sword to protect those who need it. Akane
Tendo does not need your idle threats or your love, go and find another
passion for your heart," the boy turned away and started walking off into
the darkness as the sun finally fell, leaving the night sky behind.
"China? Battles?" he pushed the thoughts aside for the time being. "I
cannot give up my love for her, it shall burn eternal!"
Ranma turned back and glanced at him with an odd look on his face. "So
be it, but I suggest you find another way to prove your affections to
her. Anything between us ends here Kuno. I don't need another enemy."
Kuno finally found the strength to rise to his feet as he watched the
boy walk away. He looked down at his blade and noticed a chip fall away
where the Sakabato had struck it. "A very strange man indeed." He fell to
quiet musings and put the blade away before walking towards his home.
Ranma entered the Tendo house and smiled as Kasumi walked out of the
Kitchen with a pan in her hands. "Oh, Ranma! You're just in time for
dinner!"
"Oh good," said the boy pleasantly. He sat down with the family and
looked around when he noticed no one had started eating yet. "Oro?"
"Well?" said Nabiki excitedly; there was a hint of nervousness in her
voice.
"Well what?" asked Ranma seemingly oblivious.
"What happened dolt?" screamed Akane in frustration as she slammed her
fists on the table cracking it down the middle.
"Saotome, I'm not going to get a call from the police about this later
am I?" asked Soun with a slightly worried tone.
"Police? About what?" asked Ranma in confusion.
"Ohmygod! He killed Kuno!" screeched Nabiki.
"Ara, you bastard," said Kasumi sweetly. Everyone looked at her and she
blushed.
"Kuno is fine," replied Ranma simply as he continued to give Kasumi a
slightly odd stare. "Well, not really, but he isn't dead at any rate."
"That is a relief to hear," said Soun a little more relaxed. The family
settled down for the evening after that and enjoyed themselves.
After the meal was over, Ranma stood up and grabbed some of the dishes
off the table. "I'll help you with this Kasumi."
"Oh, don't worry about it Ranma, I can handle it," she said sweetly.
"I insist, I don't want to be a dead weight around here," replied the
boy firmly.
"Oh, all right, you can help dry them off. How's that?" Ranma nodded at
her suggestion and smiled.
"That pervert had better stop hitting on my sister," growled Akane
angrily as she cracked the table under her grip.
"Why not? If you don't like him what's wrong with Kasumi taking him
instead? Did it ever occur to you that he might want to earn his keep
around here? He's young, but I bet he'll grow up handsome, maybe Kasumi
will notice it and let you off the hook?" replied Nabiki with a small
smile on her lips.
Akane turned her head away and 'Humphed' as a huge blush crossed her
face.
The next morning Ranma whistled to himself as he walked towards Furinkan
High in his brand new school uniform. "I hate new clothes, the fabric is
all itchy." He scratched at his back lazily and stayed fairly close to
Akane as she walked despite repeated attempts by her to move away from
him.
"Aren't you gone yet?" she snorted lazily. "Stop following me!"
"I said I'd give it a month and that's what I meant," replied Ranma
dryly as he put his hands behind his head and looked away from her.
"Don't worry, you've only got three and a half more weeks to put up with
me."
Akane seemed to turn to stone on the spot as a single tear fell down her
face. "Three weeks?"
"It's not that bad!" said Ranma as he turned away and continued to walk
with a neutral look on his face.
Once they reached the school grounds Akane froze as she saw... no one.
There were no boys waiting for her in a huge mob. Something had happened.
She turned towards Ranma and frowned. "What did you do to them?"
"Do?" said Ranma looking completely oblivious once again.
Akane almost jumped when a rose flew from behind a tree and landed in
her palm. "Eeek!"
Kuno emerged from behind the tree and smiled at her. His bandages showed
through his shirt easily and he leaned against his bokuto as he stepped
towards her. "Akane Tendo, I have revoked my challenge. From this day
forth, no man shall lay a hand upon the head of Akane Tendo without
facing the wrath of the True Battosai of Furinkan High. This is my gift
to you," he bowed dramatically and strolled away leaving Akane in shock.
"That was certainly nice of him, of course it would have been better if
he never issued the challenge in the first place, but..." Ranma was cut
off as Akane became angry again.
"I don't need you to protect me you jerk!" she screamed as she charged
and performed a flying sidekick that hit Kuno in the back of his head and
dropped him like a rock.
"Oy?" said Ranma as he poked at the boy lightly as he lay on the ground.
"You ok?" He looked up at Akane and smiled. "A very independent woman."
Kuno appeared to be crying tears of joy. "Such ferocity. Surely she
intends to show her spirit and true love for me by continuing our
honorable combat even though I can no longer partake in it with her!"
Ranma blinked. "Orooro?"
TBC...
Genma isn't exactly the hero Ranma is painting him to be, rest assured
that he will not take well to being drafted in the Chinese army. I can
get a few good jokes out of this later on. Personally the way I see it,
he's being kind to Soun right now.
Akane's reaction is indeed from having to put up with Ranma for another
three weeks. Someone pointed this out earlier; a lot of people didn't
seem to understand her reaction.
I had almost forgot that Kenshin is supposed to look young. This was the
perfect excuse to push Ranma off on Akane; after all, she is the
youngest. All that and it fit into the story well too.
This is turning out to be more difficult than I anticipated, I like it
even more because of it. Plot is easy, keeping everyone in character and
keeping the details in order is hard.
Ja ne!
Once again; as said before Next time: Someone finds out about Ranma's
curse, who it is and how they deal with it is a secret right now.
C&C to: Carrotglace@juno.com.