This is a new-character fic, a powerful one. I just like powerful people....
SPOILER WARNING. It's not much of a spoiler, but it has few characters and
things that may be unfamiliar to newcomers. It's sort of my first fic, cuz
I've started about four, and haven't finished any yet. :)
C&C very welcome, any sort. Do your worst! How else will I get better?
The sun was barely beginning to peek over the horizon, early birds were
looking for those stupid worms everyone was always talking about, and old
men and women were drinking their tea and giving the appearance of the
all-knowing elder without moving a muscle (quite a neat trick). In truth,
they were only up early to witness the brief period where chaos didn't rear
it's ugly but very familiar head. It was the beginning of another day in
Nerima.
Ranma was lying on his futon, sleeping peacefully. He turned slightly, and
smiled as a small beam of sunshine landed on his cheek.
"WAKE UP, BOY!"
"GYAAHH!!!" Ranma screamed as he jumped up and clung to the ceiling.
"Glad to see you awake! Time for early-morning training!" Genma called,
grinning.
Ranma responded by dropping to the floor and grabbing at Genma, who jumped
out of his reach. He bounced off the wall and came flying at Ranma. Ranma
grabbed his foot and tossed him out the window. He threw on his clothes and
jumped out after him.
Akane sat up, and groaned. She pulled the earplugs out and tossed them on
her desk. "I hoped they would work better..."She got out of bed and yawned.
"Idiots. You'd think they could be a little quieter..."
Kasumi was preparing breakfast (bet you didn't see that one coming!), Soun
was brushing his teeth, and Nabiki was getting dressed. P-chan was in
Hokkaido, viciously biting the offending restaurant owner's wrist. "Ow!
Stupid pig! Let go! Damn! Get this stupid ham off me!" But that's a whole
other story.
Genma grabbed Ranma's wrist and tossed him towards the pond. Ranma grabbed
the rope he had tied to the tree the other day. "Ha! I'm miles ahead of you,
pop!" He looked up to see Genma snap off the branch the rope was tied to.
"Ah!" Ranma yelled as he fell in the water.
Genma dropped to the ground. "Never assume that everything you plan will
work. Wish I'd have thought of that one, though..." he muttered under his
breath. " Ranma bounced one of the rocks from the pond off the back of
Genma's head. "I heard that! You think it was a good idea! Ha!" Genma jumped
up and put his glasses back on. "I said nothing of the sort!" He whirled
around to face Ranma. "You think I would be as stupid as to over-inflate my
enemy's ego?"
"You just might be!" Ranma shouted back.
"I can't believe you think so low of me! An opening," he calmly stated as he
planted a foot in Ranma's midsection.
"Breakfast is ready!" Kasumi called from inside.
Genma turned and dashed inside. Ranma's jump kick landed in the koi pond
again, as his target was no longer there. "Ah! I'm gonna kill you! Wait,
breakfast? My food!" he yelled as he imagined the crimes occurring involving
his unprotected
food and an over-hungry father. He dashed inside in a panic.
Genma was already wolfing down from both plates at once as fast as he could.
"You stupid old man!" Ranma yelled as he punched his face into the table and
grabbed for his plate. Genma kept it out of his reach and waved some egg in
front of his face. "You have to be more skilled if you want your breakfast!"
he taunted.
"Why you," Ranma growled, and pulled four pairs of chopsticks out. He held
two pairs in each hand and began rapidly stabbing at whatever food Genma
held. Genma was forced to move quickly to avoid letting Ranma have all the
rice. "Where'd you learn to do that, boy?"
Ranma gloated as he swallowed a mouthful of rice. "I taught myself, you
moron!" Genma took the opportunity to shove his own chopsticks up Ranma's
nose.
"Gaornk!" Ranma exclaimed as he dropped his chopsticks. Genma dashed away,
grabbing a dish from the table as he went.
"By oo," Ranma shouted and dashed after him, pulling the chopsticks out of
his nose.
Everybody ignored them as they ate their breakfast silently.
By the time Genma was lying on his back with a cracked rice bowl on his
head, two strips of meat shoved in his ears, and a pickle shoved up his
nose, Ranma was back at the table, eating calmly.
The rest of the meal went by in peace, and Ranma and Akane dashed out the
door to school just as Genma came around.
"Inolen oy! Iwe tee ib om annerb!" he stated striking a determined pose. The
effect was ruined, somehow. Soun set down his newspaper. "I beg your pardon,
Saotome?"
Genma stared at him, then realized something. He quickly pulled the rice
bowl off his head, the meat out of his ears, and the pickle out of his nose.
"I said, 'Insolent boy! I'll teach him some manners!' That's all."
"Oh," Soun nodded and returned to his newspaper.
Ranma walked along the fence, whistling. Akane looked at him curiously. When
they reached school, Akane demolished the boys as usual, and held up her
hand to catch the rose. After standing there for a minute, she looked
around, confused. "Where is that idiot?" she asked no one in particular.
"Okinawa," Ranma replied.
Akane turned to him. "Why? And how would you know?"
Ranma chuckled. "I sent him a postcard from 'the pig-tailed girl' saying she
was in Okinawa on vacation, trying on new swimsuits at the beach. I doubt
he'll be back very soon." Akane just shook her head. "It'll be nice to have
him out of my hair, for once."
They both rushed into the building before they were late.
Miss Hinako bounced in; followed by a boy no one had seen before. "Good
morning class! This is a new student from Kyoto! Please introduce yourself."
The boy cleared his throat, and said, "My name is Kijo Kuraki. I came here
from Kyoto, but I travel often. Pleased to meet you." He had black hair that
went slightly passed his shoulders, tied in a ponytail(not a pig-tail). He
wore a blue long-sleeved shirt and had green Maoist pants and was sporting
the usual slipper-shoes.
Miss Hinako nodded. "You may be seated."
Kijo sat down and Miss Hinako started the day's lesson. The students waited
until lunchtime, then assaulted him. "You travel a lot? Have you been to
China? To Jusenkyo? Are you cursed? Are you a martial artist? Do you know
Ranma? What was your name again?"
Kijo sweated nervously, then answered, "Yeah, I travel a lot, I've been to
China, never heard of Jusenkyo, I don't think I'm cursed, I do martial arts,
I don't know Ranma, and my name is Kijo Kuraki."
"Are you single?"
"Can I eat my lunch?" he asked, very nervous. Everyone looked at each other,
shrugged, and walked away. He sighed in relief. He looked around, and saw a
few people who hadn't joined in the questioning. (Guess who? Yep, that's
right.) He walked over to Ranma, Akane, and Ukyo.
"Hi. Do you guys consider yourselves nosy?"
They all looked up. "No," they all said together.
He let out a breath. "Mind if I eat with you then?"
Ranma nodded. "Go ahead."
Kijo grinned. "Thanks a lot. You guys know my name?" They all nodded. "OK,
so you are?" Akane spoke up, "I'm Akane Tendo, this is Ranma Saotome, and
this is Ukyo Kuonji. Pleased to meet you." Ranma looked thoughtful.
"Are you a martial artist?"
"Yeah..."
Ranma grinned. "Cool! You'll fit in fine around here."
Kijo cocked his head to the side. "Why, are there lots of martial artists
around
here?"
Ranma snorted. "Nerima is loaded. All three of us are martial artists, if
not very good ones." He grunted as Akane's bento flew into his mouth. "Ow!
You uncute tomboy, whadja do that for?"
"You're such a jerk, Ranma!" She yelled at him.
Ranma muttered under his breath. Akane ignored him.
Kijo turned to Ukyo. "What kind of martial arts do you do?"
Ukyo pulled a huge spatula off of her back. "This is one of my main weapons.
The Kuonji School specializes in Okonamiaki martial arts."
Kijo grinned. "That's cool. How about you two?"
Akane, still slightly mad, answered, "We specialize in the Anything Goes
style."
"Anything Goes? Sounds brutal."
Ranma shrugged. "I guess. So how about you?"
Kijo took a deep breath. "Well, the Kuraki School developed a special style
because of a genetic tendency in the family."
Ranma leaned forward. "What was that?"
Kijo answered, "The ability to use your ki as if it were your right hand."
Ranma's eyes widened. "Really? How well can you use it?"
Kijo shrugged. "I'm not bad, but my parents are much better."
Ranma nodded. "That's neat. You'll have to show us your skill sometime."
Kijo shrugged again. "I guess."
The bell rang then, signaling the end of lunch. They all stood up and headed
to their classes.
When school was over, Ranma called out, "Hey Kijo! Wanna come to our place?"
Kijo nodded. "Sure! Why not?"
He walked over and the three of them walked to the Tendo Residence. Halfway
there, a figure jumped into the middle of the street. "Ranma! At last I've
found you! Do you have any idea the trouble I've had trying to find you?" he
yelled.
Ranma laughed. "I've been here all along, P-chan." Ryoga thrust his umbrella
at him. "WHO is P-chan?" Ranma laughed again and started his fight with
Ryoga. Kijo stared at him. Akane looked at him apologetically. "They always
do this. I'm not sure why, something to do with bread or something." Kijo
nodded. "Really, you know, I think I've met that guy before." Akane looked
up and said, "Who, Ryoga?"
Kijo snapped his fingers. "That's it! He's that guy I met a few years ago!
Hey! Ryoga!"
Ryoga paused and stopped before his punch landed. He whirled around.
"Who..." his eyes widened. "Kijo? Is that you?" Kijo smiled and nodded.
"It's great to see ya again! How's life been treatin' ya?" Ryoga sighed.
"Not bad, I guess. It could be a lot better."
"What, did something happen?"
"I'd rather not talk about it."
"Ok, man, whatever you say."
Ranma and Akane stared at the two, confused. "You guys know each other?"
Ranma asked. Ryoga rolled his eyes. "Gee, is it THAT obvious? We met a few
years ago, before I met you. I saw him again in China, when I was chasing
you." Kijo's eyes widened. "So YOU'RE the guy he was hunting. Didn't you run
out on a challenge?"
Ranma scowled, and said, "I waited for three days! He never showed, so I
left for China."
"Well, you could've stayed for the fourth day!" Ryoga shouted at him.
Ranma stuck his tongue out.
They all began walking to the dojo, Ryoga's anger at Ranma forgotten. He
chatted with Kijo about old times. Ranma and Akane noticed that they were
really good friends.
"Remember that one stupid boy? The one who would always jump off your face
and take the bread? You had a major grudge on him or something, didn't you?
He was kinda annoying."
Everyone turned and stared at him. Ranma looked slightly angry, and Ryoga
shook his head. "Well, you see, you've already met him."
Kijo shook his head. "No, we never introduced ourselves. Besides, it was a
long time ago, you're over it, right?"
Ryoga looked down at his clenched fist. "Yes, the boy who selfishly stole my
bread every single day has not yet been brought to justice, but I know who
he is! I know where he is!" He paused and looked around. "He's right there,"
he said quickly, pointing at Ranma. Kijo looked shocked. Ranma looked
sheepish. "YOU? Geez, I didn't think I'd ever see you again. You're really
the one that harassed Ryoga all the time?"
Ranma looked angry now. "I wasn't harassing him! I was... uh...."
Kijo smiled. "Well, that's in the past, so let's all let bygones be bygones,
OK?"
Ranma stared at him. Well, at least he's not the grudge-holding type. Then
he smiled and nodded. "Sure." Then he turned to Ryoga hopefully. "Well?"
Ryoga looked confused. "What?"
"Let bygones be bygones?"
Ryoga narrowed his eyes in anger. "Let... bygones... be bygones? Do you
really think it is that simple? For all the hell you put me through, do you
think it can be fixed with a simple APOLOGY?!?" He was glowing now, and
picked up his umbrella. "Ranma, you... will... DIE!!" he leaped at Ranma and
viciously swung the umbrella. It missed Ranma, but left a small crater in
the sidewalk. "Whoa!" Kijo exclaimed. "He's gonna hurt someone!" He waited
until Ryoga turned his back, then placed a hand on his shoulder. Ryoga spun
around. Kijo wrapped his arms around his neck and placed their foreheads
together.
Ranma and Akane could see a yellow aura spring up around Kijo, and start
pushing its way into Ryoga. They watched in amazement as Ryoga stopped
struggling and stood perfectly still as the yellow aura dissolved the raging
green one of Ryoga's. Kijo stepped away and looked into Ryoga's face. "Are
you OK now?" he asked, concerned.
Ryoga shook his head slowly, and opened his eyes. "Yeah," he answered.
"What was that?" Ranma asked. "That was amazing!"
Kijo shrugged. "I just used my calm aura to overpower his rage aura. It's a
useful trick."
They all started slowly walking back to the dojo, no one talking.
They were greeted by Kasumi upon arriving home. "Hello, Ranma! Akane! Ryoga!
Who's your friend?"
"Hello, I am Kijo Kuraki, and I'm new here," he said, and bowed.
"Oh, what manners! I'm Kasumi Tendo, and you are welcome here!"
He smiled deeply. "Thank you very much, Kasumi."
They all walked inside. Kijo looked over at Akane. "Is she your sister?"
Akane nodded. He smiled again. "She's really nice, it must be great to be
related to her."
Akane nodded again, and replied, "I guess it is."
Ranma looked at Kijo. "So, you wanna spar?"
Kijo shook his head. "No thanks. Maybe some other time, though." He noticed
Ryoga shudder slightly. "It's OK Ryoga, I've gotten much more controlled."
Ranma looked at Kijo, confused. "What?"
Kijo looked back to Ranma. "When I first sparred with Ryoga, I tried a
ki-draining attack I had been practicing. He couldn't walk for a week."
Ryoga nodded absently. Ranma's eyes widened. "Wow! Really? Do you think you
could show me how to do something like that?"
Kijo shook his head. "If any normal person used it, they'd use up more ki
than they are capable of using. It would be too dangerous."
Ranma shook his head. "Come on!" he insisted. "I can do it!"
Kijo shook he head again, firmly. "No. Maybe, if I see you're capable, but
not until then."
Ranma grinned. "Oh, you'll see just how capable I am."
Kijo was invited to dinner, and couldn't possibly refuse Kasumi's request
(who could?). After eating, he smiled and patted his stomach. "That was
wonderful, Kasumi!" Kasumi beamed at him. "Thank you! It was nothing. Would
you like to use the bath?" Kijo was about to say no, when, Kasumi's
sweetness grabbed him in a headlock. "Sure. Hey Ryoga, come on, I need to
talk to you. Alone."
Ranma watched him go. "I wanna see how he fights."
Akane bopped him on the head. "Is martial arts ALL you think about?"
"Martial arts is my life!"
Kijo splashed the cold water on himself, and shivered. He looked over at
Ryoga. He was just standing there, nervously. "Well, come on man, just get
washed up so you can use the furo!"
Ryoga looked around nervously, then dropped down beside him. "I think I can
show you this. You promise you won't tell anyone?" Kijo shrugged. "That
depends."
"Within reason?" Ryoga pleaded. Kijo nodded. "Sure."
Ryoga walked over to the cold water faucet, and filled a bucket. "You ever
hear of Jusenkyo?" Kijo shook his head. "It is the Cursed Springs Training
Grounds. It is filled with hundreds of pools. Each one has a different
curse. If you fall in one of those springs, you become cursed with the form
of whatever drowned there. Hot water will change you back, but cold water
will turn you into your cursed form."
Kijo nodded in understanding. "So what spring did you fall in?"
Ryoga picked the bucket up, and splashed himself.
Kijo stared at the little black pig sitting on the floor, looking as forlorn
as it possibly could. Kijo picked him up, scrubbed him with soap, splashed
him again, and tossed him in the furo. "Hey!" Ryoga shouted as he burst from
the surface. "Don't do that!"
Kijo grinned as he stepped in the furo. "There's less of you to clean that
way. It's much easier. Jeez, so what's it like being cursed?"
Ryoga clenched his fist. "It is hell! Wild animals, hungry farmers, traps,
and this helpless form, it's awful!"
Kijo nodded sympathetically. "I bet." He leaned back in the relaxing water.
"So tell me, what's been going on with you lately?"
Ryoga looked up. "What do you mean?"
Kijo gestured at him and said, "I've never seen you that angry. I've seen
you mad a lot, and always thought you overreact a little, I've never seen
you nearly in a blind rage. What did he do to you?"
Ryoga looked down at the water. "He stole all my bread. He ran out on our
duel. When I followed him to China, he knocked me into the spring. Now, he
tries to keep me away from the girl I..." he trailed off, tears in his eyes.
Kijo placed a hand on his shoulder. "He really did all that?" Ryoga nodded.
Kijo straightened up. "I can't believe anyone could be so dishonorable and
cruel! He did all that to you and still harasses you? My god, maybe he's not
such a nice guy after all."
Ryoga smiled. Here was someone who was mad at Ranma for his sake! He now had
a, a, a friend!
Ryoga said, "He also has several girls hanging all over him, and always is
harassing Akane. She doesn't deserve him...."
Kijo set his jaw resolutely. "I'm here for you, man. You wanna stay the
night at my place? I know you wouldn't be able to find your own house."
Ryoga flinched, then nodded. "I'd appreciate that."
They both stepped out of the furo and toweled off. They dressed and walked
out. Kijo started walking to the door. "Bye everybody! Thanks for
everything!" Kasumi waved at him. "Good bye! We hope to see you again!" Kijo
couldn't help it, and grinned.
On the way to his house, Kijo sighed. "She's such a nice girl. I wish there
were more people like her in this world. Don't you, Ryoga?" he turned
around, and looked about him. "Ryoga? Dammit!" He closed his eyes and
concentrated. He could feel Ryoga's presence, about 3 blocks away.
Ryoga wandered along, then stopped suddenly. Where was Kijo? Aw, dang it! He
sat down disgustedly. Maybe he'll find me if I wait... he thought. Kijo
landed on the street in front of Ryoga. "There you are!"
"Yipe!" Ryoga exclaimed, and jumped up. "Don't scare me like that!"
Kijo grinned. "Sorry. Here," he said, pulling a string out of his pocket. He
tied one end to Ryoga's wrist, and the other to his own. "Problem solved!"
he exclaimed.
Ryoga grinned and followed Kijo home.
Kijo gestured for Ryoga to set his pack down in the living room. "Do you go
to school?" He asked. Ryoga looked a little sheepish, and answered, "No..."
Kijo waved him off. "It's OK, I understand. Say, I know you don't really
have a place you can call home, so how about you stay here? Don't you dare
refuse." Ryoga stared at him, then broke into a grin. "Thanks," he said
softly. "And, If you stay here, I can lead you to school!" Kijo added.
Ryoga looked up at Kijo. "You'd really do that... for me?"
Kijo grinned. "What are friends for?"
Ryoga smiled. *Friends... I have a friend*. "Yeah, Kijo.".
Kijo placed a hand on his shoulder. "Now that that's settled, let's get to
bed. It's been a fun day. You can sleep In here," he said, gesturing to a
room across
the hall from his own.
"Good night!" he called as he shut the door.
Ryoga lied down on the bed and took his shoes off. He gave a silent thanks
to kami-sama for his gratitude.
__________________________________________________
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