Genma and Soun sat on the porch playing shogi as usual but today Soun had managed to convince Genma to share more about his training trip with Ranma.
"I don't understand Soun. he suddenly stopped going all out about three years ago." He heaved a sigh as he took his turn. "One day he came back from school for training and was no longer hitting as hard as he could. He stopped using techniques that might injure his opponent beyond a bruise. He even had the audacity to pull his punches with me. Not that I'm complaining we probably got more training done in the long haul because of it. If it weren't for the years of conditioning we underwent during our training he would have been breaking bones at that point."
Soun only nodded while thinking of his next turn. "Perhaps it was for the best then; besides its the mark of a great man and an even greater martial artist to know when to hold back." He smiled as he finally figured out a good move and executed it, rewarding himself with a sip of tea.
Genma looked frustrated for a second he was really hoping Soun wouldn't spot the flaw in his strategy. "But that's the thing he's been holding back against every opponent since then. And when I confronted him on it those years ago he made the excuse that: 'I don't like hurtin' people pop.' like a weakling. He even stopped going for real insults too."
Soun was still busy patting himself on the back he didn't notice Genma cheat by slipping an extra piece on the board that protected his strategy. "Well old friend maybe it's a good thing your son is so kind hearted."
Soun turned his eyes back to the board for his next turn and was hit with a sudden wave of confusion. He was certain his victory was assured last turn. He glared angrily at the board.
"I wasn't exaggerating when I said every opponent. I wasn't there to witness the fight between him and that Saffron guy but from what I hear this is the first time he's fought someone fully intending to bring bodily harm in years. From what I understand the guy could heal faster than Ranma could hurt him at the
beginning of the fight and by the end Ranma was still standing and saffron was dead on the ground."
"He KILLED someone!?" Soun almost blew a gasket.
"Well not technically the guy was a demigod or a god or something like that, part Phoenix or whatever, after he died he turned into and egg or an egg appeared for him tone reborn from, I don't know. I just know the guy isn't permanently dead. But that's not important, from what Akane, tells me the boy never once threw a punch intend to break bones or cause internal damage, just to incapacitate.
Soun made his move while Genma was distracted and switch a few pieces around advantage back on his side. Game aside Soun was suddenly nervous, not for himself but for the wellbeing of Ranma's opponents. After a calming sip of tea he spoke, "Well I don't see the big problem so long as he doesn't go full out against anyone."
"But that's just the tip of it you remember our 5 days to learn a new skill rule when he was still a child the only skill he didn't master within 48 hours was the neko ken. And it only takes him seeing a technique two or three time to understand it and about 24-36 hour to make it his. 72 hours if he only sees it once. He already revealed to me that he's known the breaking point move since the first day of seeing it, has it fully mastered in fact. I'm sure that by now he could give the master a run for his money with the master's own skills at that. Heck he could probably take the old ghoul while he's at it."
"Yes I'm well aware of how quickly he learns if you recall he asked me to do a single run through of every Kata in the Tendo school months ago and came back to me the next day with them mastered and improved. It was simultaneously humiliating and awe inspiring to see him move through my own moves with more fluidity and grace than I ever could." Soun conceded.
"Pride aside I don't think he's been taking our sparring sessions seriously for a long time. It's only a matter of time before he realizes he doesn't have to put up with the stuff people put him through daily." Genma said as he discreetly moved one of Soun's pieces into a losing position and his own into a winning one.
However Soun caught him this time and shouted "LOOK A HUNDRED YEN" and quietly switched it so he had won the match while his oldest friend scrambled greedily for the nonexistent money. "Ah my mistake just a trick of the light." By the time Genma turned around it was too late to save the shogi match.
This conversation took place the day before the failed wedding.
A/N Sorry there's not more and if there are typos let me know. I type this on my phone so it may be a while before I make more if at all. I got a couple other one shot ideas. but who knows when I'll get around to putting them to paper. I don't mind if you don review. but I would appreciate your opinions on how I could improve. its probably gonna be rankane. [Edit] I came, I proofread, I conquered