TRTSS 22: Ranma of the Bat! – By DS Wynne


Disclaimer: R1/2, SM, ST, DC/Marvel Comics and other properties belong their respective properties.

Note: This is a multi-genre story.

Special Note: This story takes place before the event Norman Osborn's siege of Asgard.

Author's Note: This is a 1000-plus story chapter.


Part 4


As the day wore on, everyone was excited for the night's festival. Hokage Hashirama Senju wanted to make sure that the anniversary of the founding of the Hidden leaf Village would go on without a hitch. After all, the purpose of the hidden village system was to maintain the peace between rival clans and organizations. For the Rantsu clan's part, Ranma being on hand was to make sure that prefectures (the equivalent of counties) honored the peace agreement that was made at the end of what will be known in the future as the "First Great Shinobi War", not knowing that a certain Madara Uchiha will do his best to make sure that there will have be conflict within the world of the shinobi…

Still, it was good to celebrate even a temporary peace with a festival.

"Yo, Bruce," Ranma said, as he knocks on door frame of young Bruce Wayne's room. "You have a moment?"

Bruce, who was practicing his writing in kanji, looks up.

"Yes, sensei?"

"Bruce, I heard through the grapevine that you don't want to attend the festival," Ranma said, as he sits down on a nearby chair.

"That's correct," Bruce replied. "I don't have time for fun, especially since I have to prepare for the Chunin Exams in a few weeks."

"I see," Ranma said, as he strokes his chin in a sage-like manner. "Well, it's too bad you're neglecting this part of your training."

"Oh?" Bruce said, as he continued his script writing.

"Oh, yes," Ranma said. "Stopping criminal behavior is about observation and profiling within a social dynamic."

"Really, now," Bruce said, as he stopped his penmanship.

"Yep. All the great detectives started out by developing their analytical skills by interacting with other people. Simply learning established police procedures is not enough when it comes to outsmarting even the most brilliant of criminals, since you have to be able to establish a practical aptitude for intelligence gathering capabilities."

"Hmmm," Bruce mused, as he rubs his chin.

"And besides, you've been working hard on your martial skills that you NEED a break," Ranma said with a smile.

"Do I?"

"Yes, you do. So, as your teacher, I insist that you unwind tonight."

"But my training…"

"Then use tonight as part of developing your analytical and observation skills. Heck, with the lifestyle of a shinobi, there is bound to be some trouble."

Bruce raises an eyebrow.

"You know, the occasional purse snatcher, or something."

"Hhh," Bruce said, as he thinks for a moment. "Alright, I'm in."

"Good," Ranma replied with a smile.

"But I REALLY hope this isn't your attempt to get me to go out on a date or something," Bruce said, as he gets up from his seat to get ready. "I know Himeko Hyuga and Hoshinko Uchiha have been asking me lately if I was going to the Founding Festival, and that I saw each of them, one at a time, ask you about whether or not I was going to attend the festival or not."

Pause.

"You're not trying to set me up on a date, are you?"

"Heh," Ranma said, as he laughs nervously. "You are WAY too suspicious, Bruce."

"Humph."

Later that night…

"This is a lovely festival, Lord Ranma," said Miko Uzumaki, as she was being escorted through the carnival, which was the highlight of the festival. Miko was the younger sister of Mito Uzumaki, the wife of the Hidden Leaf Village hokage.

"That, it is," Ranma said, as he waved as some of the heads of the family that were milling about the carnival. "I just wish Usagi was here for it."

"Now, now," Miko said, as she flicks back her red hair. "You promised not to bring me down this evening."

"How am I bringing you down?" Ranma asked incredulously.

"Because I want you ALL to myself," Miko said, as she wrapped her arms around Ranma's left arm.

"Goodness, woman! I'm a married man, you know."

"Since when has that stopped you from accepting the advances of a girl interested in you?"

"You got a good point, there…"

"Besides, you are allowed to have a concubine or another wife, correct?"

"Yes…"

"There, then that settles it then."

Ranma just shakes his head in mild embarrassment. He can't help it that he attracts strange, yet attractive, women at times…

Meanwhile, Ranma's student, the young Bruce Wayne, was having his own difficulties with members of the opposite sex.

"Aw, come on, Bruce-kun," Himeko said, as she pulled her team-mate, and the object of her affections, to one of the booths. "You promised me a prize."

"No, he promised ME a prize," said Hoshinko, as she pulled at Bruce's arm.

"I should have stayed home," Bruce replied, as he nearly threw up his head in disbelief. While he did think that the girls were attractive, he wasn't interested in developing a relationship with anyone at the moment. Still, being part of "Team Ranma", which consisted of Ranma (as team "sensei"), Bruce, Himeko and Hoshinko, Bruce did learn much in the ways of fighting and teamwork. He also appreciated the fact that he learned information gathering techniques, and the ability to hide in plain sight. Of course, Bruce still felt that he had many more things to learn. In fact, he's still suppose to attend prep-school in England sometime in the next term, after he passes the Chunin exams, something that I is virtually unheard of for a westerner to do. Still, Bruce was thankful for the opportunity to learn the shinobi arts, as a part of his training. Next, he'll go south to continue his diversification of his martial arts training. From there, he would travel through the rest of Asia, then into the Middle East, then through Eastern Europe before arriving in England, where he would complete his schooling. By then, Bruce will be legally an adult, and can decide for himself what he wants to do. He was thinking of joining one of the United States government's police investigation agencies to get more experience, if he was so inclined…

For now, Bruce has to deal with the advances of two girls who weren't his type.

"Look, if I get you girls some prizes, will you two at least stop fighting each other?" Bruce said with annoyance.

"I won't fight, as long as SHE won't," Himeko said, as he grits his teeth.

"I concur," Hoshinko replied likewise.

Bruce merely rolled his eyes. THIS he did not need.

"Alright, come on," Bruce said, as he dragged the girls in the direction of the games.

For some time, the three played the various games at the carnival. Since practically everyone was skilled in some kind of martial arts, the level of difficulty of the games went accordingly.

"Hey, kid, you want to try your luck?" said a booth operator, as he leans forward.

"Bruce-kun, I want a panda!" said Himeko.

"Fine," Bruce replied, as he turned his attention to the game. It appeared that a kunai (a shinobi knife) was suspended in the air on a string. Towards the ground were a circle of raised, empty milk bottles.

"What am I suppose to do?"

"When I whip the kunai around, your job is to cut the string attached it, so that the blade can land safely inside the milk bottles," the booth operator said, as he hand Bruce three kunai. "You have three chances to make your shot."

Pause.

"Let me know when you want to begin the game."

With that, the booth operator began to whip the suspended blade around. As it moves, it angles off a bit.

"It looks easy, Bruce," Himeko said.

"You can do it, Bruce," Hoshinko said.

As the suspended blade spun around, Bruce felt the edges of the blades in his hands. They were horribly dull. Add insult to injury, the string that the suspended the spinning kunai was thick. At best, even if he manages to cut the string, the force needed to do so would throw off the trajectory, insuring his loss…

"Your move, kid," the booth operator sneered, thinking that he has just tricked his next meal ticket.

"Indeed," Bruce said, as he suddenly threw his three kunai in rapid success. The first two knives went out in an acute angle, with both blades cutting thick string while keeping the swinging kunai barely still. The third kunai barely nicked the now falling main blade. However, it was enough to readjust its trajectory, so that it fell into its target.

"You did it, Bruce!" Himeko said, as she hugged her male teammate.

"Um, yeah," the booth operator said in near-surprise. He thought Bruce being foreigner would make him an easy mark.

"Well, here is your prize," the booth operator said, as hands Himeko a stuffed panda.

"Thanks!" Himeko said.

"Hey, let's play more games before the before the closing ceremony!" Hoshinko said, as she dragged Bruce away by the arm.

"Do we have to?" Bruce replied half-heartedly.

As the trio walk away, a mobile cotton candy salesman, who was standing nearby, turns towards the booth operator.

"Well, it looks like your scam was scammed," said the cotton candy salesperson.

"Doesn't matter after tonight, when Lord Madara puts his plan into action," the booth operator said. "After tonight, that foreigner, his little girlfriends and this village will no longer exist!"

Tbc.