Another
Ranma FanFic – Kuno's Revenge
Disclaimer: I don't own any of the after mentioned people or things.
Prologue:
Rustle rustle
"Who's there!" Kuno hand flew to the kendo sword at his side with practiced speed.
Rustle rustle.
"The bushes!" Kuno whispered to himself, then, in a louder and more commanding voice, Kuno yelled out as he whirled around to face the offending plant, "Come out and fight me you lowly coward!"
Rustle rustle The same bush sounded again.
Perhaps just a squirrel? Kuno mused to himself. No, any animal would've already fled from his previous loudly stated command – this was definitely another man. But who? Who would risk his neck in coming to find him in the Forest of the Illusion Demon? Kuno himself, a most talented and skilled swordsman – if he may say so himself – hardly survived entering the Forest…just who could this be? Who would be strong enough to…
"Ranma Saotome!" The cursed name flew from his lips the moment they appeared in his mind. It has to be that cowardly cur! Who else would sneak up behind someone and backstab them instead of fighting like a man! With a tap of his sword against the grassy ground, Kuno dashed toward the bush with the speed of a well fired bullet. Flicking his strong wrists, the sword flashed rapidly across the bush, and in a mere second the plant was cut to twelve pieces by the force of his force alone.
Kuno stood there, sword poised like a viper ready to strike, the wind from his sword strokes reverberating handsomely against his hair and robe.
"Well Saotome? Have you fled in fear of my might yet again? Or have you…" Kuno's voice trailed off as the pieces of bush slid away onto the ground, revealing what Kuno's masterful blade had attacked.
An elderly man wearing a Chinese rice hat sat on the ground, a small twig in each of his old wrinkled hands. His clothe was ragged and dirty – probably from Kuno's masterful blade skills – and his face showed the signs of hardship and hunger. But when he looked up at Kuno, a smiled played across his gnarled features; his eyes aglow with warmth and probably old memories. There was a disturbingly large scar that race from temple to temple, and judging by the way he stared past Kuno, Kuno knew he was blind – probably in battle.
"Old sir!" Kuno knelt down before the old man, showing him respect for his age but managing not to compromise his own dignity and pride, "I, Upperclassman Kuno the Blue Thunder, apologize for the unprovoked attack, even I, myself, am not fully aware of the true powers of my blade. May I offer you something for your pain?"
The old man's smile grew warmer. With a quickness that seemed to betray his age, he stood up and spoke in a rich hearty voice, "Ahh my boy! There's no need to bow before such an old man! And there isn't much you could do for this old soul unless you could restore my youth and sight."
"I see…" Kuno began, but the old man interrupted him.
"But, my boy, I am hungry, and if would be so kind as to offer this old grandpa some food for tonight…" The old man gestured toward Kuno's supply backpack leaning against a nearby tree.
"Of course Old Sir, I would be honor if you would join me for dinner."
Soon, the two sat around a small fire Kuno had built, munching at rice balls Kuno's sister Kodachi (the Black Rose) had prepared – Kuno tested them before leaving to weed out the poisoned ones.
"So…Kuno," the old man began fumbling over the Japanese name, his tone carefully neutral as he struggled with this obviously foreign language, "What brings such a young man as yourself to the cursed Forest of the Illusion Demon? Do you come here to seek treasure? Hunt animals? Dispose of unwanted things?"
"No, good sir, I came to the Forest to find my inner strength, I came to train."
The old man seemed taken back, "Train? Here in these cursed Forests? Don't you know and fear the dangers?"
Kuno closed his eyes, a look of complete confidence and nobility upon his mien, "Fear only holds me back, I am a man and I fear no challenge – long as it strengthens me, I will endure." Somewhere, he was sure a boom of thunder accented his bravado.
The old man smiled, "Well then, do you fear this?" Suddenly, the old man vanished before Kuno's eyes taking with him the light from the fire, leaving Kuno in blinding darkness.
A gasp betrayed Kuno, but that was all, he would let no other such weaknesses surface. This old man had some obvious powers to him, and Kuno was determined to discover what they were.
Kuno sat in the horrifyingly blinding darkness for what seemed an eternity, and then slowly, ever so slowly, he saw something materialize before him.
A mirror? Yes, it was a mirror…but why, of all things, would the old man send a mirror to terrify him?
But as he gazed into his own reflection in the mirror, he felt fear knot his stomach and terror grip his spleen. Kuno kept himself from crying out only by biting his lip. The image in the mirror, his image which he could still somehow see in the absolute darkness – handsome and charming as it was, was slowly changing…slowly changing and churning into…into…
Kuno tried to look away, but found he couldn't, he was enraptured by the horror that was his own reflection, yet somehow not. Panic gripped his mind as cold sweat beaded down his brow, Kuno felt a shrill scream split the silence around him, and his own scream almost joined the sound and fury….
But he didn't, he sat there stoically, his pride and dignity a font of undefeatable strength. Kuno refused to lose to fear, and in a voice far calmer than even he would've believed Kuno said, "You do not frighten me, old man, fear will never conquer the noble Kuno."
Suddenly, as quick as it happened, the old man reappeared sitting in front of Kuno, the fire restored before them, burning just as brightly as it had previously. The old man's warm smile returned to his face, "You're something my boy!"
Kuno nodded, acknowledging the praise, then it hit him, scrunching his eyebrows, Kuno said, "Tell me, Old Sir, are you the Illusion Demon?"
The old man chuckled at that, "I'm no demon my boy, just another old man with some meager skills in the art of Chi and Kung Fu."
A light bulb suddenly flared in Kuno's head, "Old Sir, would you help train me then?"
The old man looked dubious, by seeing the grim determination and energy in Kuno's face, relented with a smile, "Sure my boy, I'm an old man who'd kneel over and die any day now, I may as well pass on my art to a noble young man as yourself…You know, you remind me of myself in my youth!" The old man clapped Kuno on the shoulder in friendliness and acceptance. Then, as an after thought, he said, "We've got to make you another sword!"
Kuno beamed.
Live while you can Ranma Saotome, for my return marks your death!