Shadows Over Nerima

by

Jeremy Harper

Disclaimer – Ranma ½ is the creation of Rumiko Takahashi. Batman is the creation of Bill Finger and Bob Kane. Both are used without permission.

Chapter 9

Ranma Saotome grunted as he landed flat on his back. He stared stupidly at the dojo ceiling until a feminine face floated into his vision. It was a pretty face, framed by silky black hair cut in a chin length bob. The young woman was smiling mischievously, her dark brown eyes bright with amusement.

"Chee, Ranma," said Kairi Tanaga. "What is with you today? I'm practically throwing you around at will, and there is no way I should be able to do that."

"Kairi is correct," said Yoru Yamamoto sternly. The old master stood by the back wall of his training hall, arms folded across his lean chest. "Concentrate, or else leave here and don't come back until you are able to spar properly."

Ranma started and kipped up to his feet. "Yes Yoru-sensei. I'm sorry." He bowed to Yoru then to Kairi. "Sorry Kairi. I'll do better now, I promise."

"You better," said Kairi. "I was hoping to have something of a challenge today, yet here I am kicking your butt completely when I should only be kicking it thoroughly."

"Feh!" Ranma swiped the tip of his nose with his thumb and set into an active guard. "The only butt getting kicked from here on out is yours."

"Big talk from a little boy," said Kairi with a grin. "Can you back it up, little brother?"

"Enough," said Yoru. A smile flickered briefly across his face. "Begin."

Ranma fought much better, and Kairi found herself hard pressed for the next five minutes. After getting dropped to the mat for the third time she held up her hand. "All right, you can back it up." she said with a laugh. Ranma helped her to her feet. "About time you woke up. I was starting to think you finally got bored with me."

"Much better," said Yoru. "I hope this slackness you demonstrated earlier is not a habit with you, Ranma." He eyed Ranma critically.

Ranma shook his head hastily. "No, sensei. Bruce wouldn't allow it. Trust me. It's just..." he sighed and bowed his head. "I've had a lot on my mind lately, and I guess it distracted me."

Yoru's expression softened slightly. "I understand, Ranma. But remember always that distraction is something you can ill-afford."

"I know, Yoru-sensei. I usually focus much better than I did today. I think I let my guard down because I considered it safe to do so around Kairi." Kairi punched his arm playfully. He mock-glared at her. "For a relative value of safe, that is."

Yoru smiled fondly at his students. "Very well. I have some correspondence I wish to attend to. I will see you both at dinner." Students and master exchanged bows and Yoru left the training hall.

Once he was out of earshot Kairi turned to Ranma. "So, why is your head in the clouds today? That's not like you. I mean, you're a bit weird, but never flighty."

Ranma snorted. "Thanks Kairi. I feel so loved."

Kairi giggled. "Seriously, little brother, what's wrong?"

"Nothing." Ranma walked to the hall's open front doors to sit down on the steps. Kairi joined him, and they looked out at Yoru-sensei's well kept garden. In the distance the Tokyo skyline glittered like a faery kingdom, enchanting and serene. Ranma rubbed the line of his jaw. "I'm just trying to adjust to the garbage my parents dumped on me. That's all."

"Are you certain?"

"Yeah."

"Very well. But I have to say, you're acting like you have a crush on someone."

Ranma sputtered. "Wha-what? Yeah, right! What makes you say that?"

Kairi grinned. "Because I've seen the signs before."

Ranma stared at her gape-mouthed for a moment. "All right," he said quietly. "Maybe I sorta do." His shoulders slumped. He tugged at his gi pants and looked down dejectedly at his feet. "Not that it matters, since it's just as hopeless as the last crush I had."

"Ranma," breathed Kairi. She slid closer to him, putting an arm around his shoulders. "I never meant to hurt you, Ranma."

"I know, Kairi. I'm not mad at you about that. I never was. I mean, I was thirteen and you were nineteen. I was just a stupid kid." He laughed a little sourly. "Not that that has changed much in three years, since I'm being stupid now."

"Maybe, maybe not. Tell me about it?"

Ranma mulled over Kairi's request for a few moments then began to speak about Akane Tendo, from his first brief encounter with her to their spar in the Tendo dojo. When he finished Kairi smiled at him. "Wow. She sounds just your type. What's the problem?"

"You mean besides the whole secret identity thing where she's seen me more often in a mask than not? Well, there's the fact that our idiot parents wants me to marry one of the Tendo girls, and if I express anything more than polite friendship to Akane it's gonna cause trouble neither of us really need. Not to mention I don't even live in Japan any more. Who knows when I'll be back. Like I said, it's stupid for me to feel this way."

"Those are problems," conceded Kairi. "But since were you the kind of guy who lets problems get in his way? You've solved much harder ones like this." She snapped her fingers. "I think you should try seeing her again, in one guise or the other. What do you have to lose? You could end up having a lot of fun. You do know what fun is, right?"

"I have a lot of fun," Ranma protested indignantly.

"I mean the kind of fun that doesn't involve someone beating someone else up." Kairi thought for a moment and grinned slyly. "Though from what you told me about your spar, Akane seems to like that sort of thing. Kinky girl."

"Kairi!"

"You're such a prude, little brother," she laughed, giving him a hug. "Just think about what I said. Who knows what the future holds?" She stood and stretched. "I'm going to clean up. See you at dinner." She trotted off for the bath, leaving Ranma to ponder what she said.

After a while Ranma stood up, shaking his head. "Maybe it would be fun, but it's still a bad idea," he muttered. When he saw Akane again it would be as a hidden guardian, in an effort to find out who was spying on her, and nothing else. But he also decided that it would not hurt to try to do something else for her as well. She deserved it, and he was her friend. A few minutes later he was knocking at Yoru-sensei's study. "Sensei, could I talk to you? There's someone I want to discuss.

The man displayed on the flat-screen was broad-shouldered and fierce, dressed in military khakis. His head was bald, save for a close cut horseshoe fringe, and a scar arched from the side of his right eye. The skin around his mouth was tattooed – black bullets, forming an outline of a falcon with its wings spread. The man inclined his head slightly. "Talia al-Ghul," he said, his English spiced with a South American accent.

"Bird," greeted Talia. "Thank you for responding so promptly. I wish to hire you and your men."

"We charge high for our services."

"And I pay well those who serve the Demon. For you, fifty million dollars – ten million on acceptance of my offer, fifteen more upon your arrival at where I need you, and the balance when you complete the assignment."

"You have my attention. What do you want done?"

"I want you to ambush and kill someone interfering in my operations in Tokyo."

Bird considered this. "Intriguing. You command a cadre of the most dangerous assassins on Earth. Why commission outsiders to facilitate a death?" His flint-cruel eyes narrowed. "It involves the Bat, and you wish him to remain ignorant of your own involvement."

Talia nodded in acknowledgment. "Your target is Nightwing."

"The Son of the Bat," said Bird. Talia's eyes flashed but she held her tongue. "If we kill Nightwing, my men and I will never know peace again. The Batman will harry us ceaselessly."

Talia smiled mockingly. "Afraid, Bird?"

"Watch how you speak to me," he said softly. "I respect your power and that of Ra's al-Ghul, but I am not a man to be despised. And while I no longer serve him, Bane is still my blood brother."

"I know you are a dangerous man. I would not have contacted you if I did not think you capable of this."

Bird nodded once. "It is well-known you love Batman. If I kill Nightwing, I will do my best to also kill the Bat when he comes for me. Do you object?"

"No. I am not that unreasonable," said Talia. Besides, one way or the other, you will not be a threat to my beloved.

"I will also not hesitate to call on Bane's aid against Batman. Indeed, I will not need to – my blood brother is still sworn to break him. Again, do you object?"

"You may defend yourself as you see fit," said Talia magnanimously. "All I want, after Nightwing's death, is your silence."

Bird's mouth writhed in a parody of a smile. "Very well. I accept your commission."

"Excellent. Let us talk details."

Author's Note: A short chapter, but it sets up the action of the rest of the story. I believe we are now at the half-way mark, though considering my sometimes by the seat of my pants plotting that may change.

Cheers.

Jeremy Harper