Disclaimer: I don't own either Histories Strongest Disciple Kenichi or Ranma 1/2.
"Writer"
"Hello." Speech
"(Hello.)" Thought
"Mouko Takabisha" attack/ technique
"[U-chans]" signs
"/Hello/" Panda signs
"/Hello\\" Telephone
It has been a few days since Kenichi started going to Ryozanpaku. They say things change with time, they didn't.
"Lower your head more. Weave through the pegs quickly!" Akisame ordered as he hit him with a stick. He tried his best but it wasn't enough for the man. The exercise had him holding two large earthenware jars and going through the pegs with bent knees. It might have seemed easy but it wasn't. "It's too difficult." The young Shirahama said as he moved through the pegs. As he said it another hit landed on the top of his head. Since the day he first joined the dojo, he didn't learn things like they did in the karate club. All he was doing is muscle training. "Sensei? Is this muscle training all we'll be doing every day?"
Miu just walked into the yard with the laundry to witness his training. She was quite impressed with it.
"Wow... he sure is training hard." She smiled at seeing her friend working like that.
Akisame didn't answer Kenichi who just turned around to do the exercise again.
Still Kenichi wanted to learn moves like they did back in the karate club. "When are you going to teach me some moves?" Hearing this, Akisame stopped hitting him.
"There is a saying that goes like this: Power is the foundation of everything. No matter how polished its skills are, an ant cannot defeat an elephant." Kenichi thought about the saying a little but understood what his master wanted to say.
"In that story... are you saying that I'm the ant?" He was having problems speaking and still holding the jars. It wasn't wise to lower his arms, Akisame might hit him again! The reply wasn't what he waited for.
"Don't insult the ant." This caused a specific jar to crack. A large jar with Patience written on it.
"Don't look down on me... I'll quit!" He put the jars he was holding down and set down. Seeing the distrust his student was showing Akisame chose to motivate him to work.
"Kenichi. An ant has the strength to lift something that is a few times heavier than its body weight." He sat down as his student was thinking on what he just said."Instead of giving up, learn from the ant!" After a few moments Kenichi understood Akisame's words.
"It's true I lack power... so, what do I need to do next?" His student's words brought a smile to Akisame's face. After laughing at the youths he kneeled down next to him.
"Let's rest a bit."
On the sidelines Hayato, Apachai and Shigure were watching the training session, all of them holding there refreshments.
"As expected, it was a good thing to make Koetsuji teach. He does it well." Hayato laughed at seeing the two. It reminded him of fond memories. He lifted the cup to his lips and took a sip of his tea.
"He understands the young man's heart well, and controls it properly." Shigure and Apachai weren't sure if it was tactful way of saying that they should learn from him.
"Heh. He's so wishy-washy, he'll get beaten up before he becomes strong!" From the roof Sakaki voiced his opinion on the young student.
After laughing at the words of his friend Hayato couldn't leave it like that.
"Maybe you should teach him then?" Sakaki didn't answer right away he closed his eyes and chose to enjoy the rays of the Sun instead.
"I don't train disciples." While the karate master wasn't showing too much enthusiasm towards teaching the Death God of Muay Thai did.
"Maybe Apachai should teach him as well?" Apachai's idea was quickly vetoed by Shigure.
"Don't even think about it." The giant Thai became depressed hearing that from his friend. Hayato tried to improve things before it turned worse.
"Maybe when Kenichi's stronger then..."
The other spectator of the lesson was Ma but he chose to stop being a spectator. He walked over to Kenichi who was still doing the exercise.
"Your sides are sloppy." The boy was surprised by the sudden interruption. The small man walked next to Kenichi and showed him.
"Extend your leg first then carry the weight. You can use the foot's surface to gain balance!" Kenichi tried to copy the movement but wasn't sure, if he was doing it right.
"Like this?" The small man continued to show the movement and nodded to him.
"Right. Use the centre of your foot to focus on gaining balance." Kenichi started doing as he was instructed and Ma seemed quite pleased.
"That's right. You're doing it pretty good." The few praises he got surprised Kenichi. Akisame didn't say any praises instead said things that made him think.
"Really?" Meanwhile Akisame wasn't sure what to do."Isn't that the Bear step from Chinese Kung Fu?" Ma let the young student continue as he walked over to talk with his co-teacher.
"Since he is already learning different techniques a little kung fu wouldn't hurt." While the words were true, Akisame thought that one thing at a time was a better choice.
"It's bad enough that he is having troubles with this..." Ma chose logic to coerce Akisame into following him.
"Teach him how to confront someone with kung fu and he will be able to grasp the Wushu techniques better. Don't you want him to become a master at this?" The idea appealed to both as an idea came to mind, something... 'entertaining'.
"I'd be lying if I said it won't be fun..." Akisame replied as he already had ideas. There was one thing he might have to ask from Ma." But can our disciple's body endure it?" Kenichi was sure that if that question was voiced then it doesn't mean anything good for him.
"If you are afraid to fail, you won't make any progress." If Kensei's answer wasn't enough, since it was about time to run, Apachai joined to two. "And with Apachai it will be flawless!" The two masters looked at the thai master with great curiosity.
"That's right. You never had a disciple yet." Apachai nodded as he answered."That's right. Experience is everything." Then tension was incredible when Ma spoke out. "If he dies in the process then we accept it and give up." With that the idea was sealed for the three and they looked towards the upcoming entertainment.
The three looked at Kenichi with menacing looks or at least to Kenichi it meant his end. "Shall we..." "Apa!" "There is a saying: Neither help nor kill a disciple..." Survival instincts kicked in as Kenichi screamed and made a run for it.
He made it to the gate with Shigure behind him."(Open! OPEN!)" He quickly looked around to see an alternative escape route when his eyes caught sight of Ranma. He was going through Katas while the tiny master was doing everything to disturb him and when he did fail with the kata the old man jumped smack him into the ground.
"(Ranma-san goes through that to become better... I can too!)" With that Kenichi turned around only to bump into Shigure. For a moment the gorgeous woman didn't look at Kenichi but at the pigtailed boy and Nerima's number one panty thief. Then Shigure looked at Kenichi who stood up and went back to the awaiting masters. When Kenichi walked back Shigure further observed Happosai's training methods.
"(A strict master is a good thing but this is over doing it a little.)" After that the pigtailed boy was hit with a small ki blast, she had enough and went to find Touchomaru.
After a day in Hell or as Kensei, Akisame and Apachai thought of it as slightly harder training, Kenichi finally arrived home. "(Finally home. I made it.)" As he went for the final steps he fell to the ground and fell asleep. His dream was interrupted by a very familiar voice."Kenichi! Kenichi! Wake up!" Kenichi opened his eyes and could see his little sister. "Honoka? Is that you? Did you die as well?"
The little girl spoke louder to him as he closed his eyes again."What are you talking about! This is our house! We found you lying in front of the gate!" Hearing this Kenichi suddenly sat up, his sister moving back so he wouldn't bump into her.
"Home? I'm home?" His surrounding did seem like his home. The happiness he felt at this couldn't be said in words so he expressed it with dancing! "I'm home! I'm home! I didn't die! I didn't die!" His sudden happines did scare Honoka. "Mom! Dad! Brother went mad!"
After Kenichi calmed down his father called him into the kitchen to speak with him.
"Kenichi, what you do with your allowance is up to you but coming home after getting beaten up is something I can't allow." His father let his words sink in while his mother brought tea to calm down the nerves.
"Tell me son, is that even a normal dojo?" Kenichi almost replied a 'no' without hesitation but he thought about something. "(Father wouldn't let me go to train at Ryozanpaku, if I say no. It isn't a normal place but... I don't need a normal place! I have to become stronger...)" Images flashed in his head seeing Ranma and Miu holding hands and kissing."(Stronger than Ranma, I have to beat him so I can ask Miu-san out. I can't do that at a normal dojo.)" After thinking it through again Kenichi was ready to answer.
"Normal... no, but I don't have time to do things normally." Kenichi stood up and for the first time his father thought his son was confident in himself. When Kenichi went out of the room, Honoka followed him. Their parents stayed silent for a little time but this silence was broken by the father.
"What should we do dear? I'm sure that our son is forced to go to such a dangerous place!" The man of the house fell to his knees in front of his wife. Kenichi's mother was happy that her son seemed confident in himself. This wasn't something that her husband seemed to understand.
Tired, his body in pain yet sleep eluded Kenichi. He couldn't shake the image of Ranma laughing at him and then kissing Miu."(I won't let that happen! I started martial arts so I can stand up for myself. I won't stay... inferior! Even to Ranma-san!)" With that thought planted deep in his head Kenichi got up from his bed and practiced some of the katas he was shown today. He continued training until he kneeled over from tiredness and fell into a dreamless sleep.
-Next day at School-"Kenichi-san, are you alright?" Miu asked Kenichi who had rings under his eyes and altogether looked exhausted. Kenichi didn't even respond, he was sitting in his chair, his head on the desk. Only when Miu poked him did he respond. He quickly sat up normally and looked around quickly.
"Miu-san? Where am I? Is class over already?" Miu smiled at the confusion and how strange Kenichi is.
"Were in our classroom, lunch time just started, would you like to eat with me?" Kenichi had stars in his eyes hearing that, Miu actually initiating a bonding activity. His fantasy started running wild but it was quickly shut down when he looked into his pack."I forgot my lunch." Before self pity took over Kenichi found a boxed lunch before him."(She made an extra... for me? How kind of you Miu-san. You really are the kindest girl.)"
"I made that for Ranma-san but he didn't come to school today." Kenichi's train of thought quickly got derailed after that.
The two martial artists went up to the roof to eat, Miu liked high places and it wasn't a gathering spot for students. While they were eating Kenichi wanted to ask many questions but in the end he only wanted to know one thing very badly.
"How come Ranma-san didn't come to school today?"
"Happosai-san said that they will be going back to see his family for the weekend and he already called school that he will be away but he will be back by Monday." To Kenichi this was another side of Ranma that he didn't know of yet.
"(So Ranma-san isn't away training secretly, I guess even he needs to see his family.)"
Kenichi tried to imagine what Ranma's family could be like, considering that Ranma never talked about his family Kenichi imagined his father either as abusive or very strict. His mother probably has high expectations and is very strict but maybe not as hard on him and if he has brothers or sisters they must not be on good terms with the pigtailed boy, if he doesn't mention them at all!
"Miu-san, do you wonder what Ranma-san's family is like?" Miu swallowed the food she had in her mouth then answered the curious disciple.
"From what I heard his father is a great martial artist and a great teacher but he lacks common sense and is very selfish." Kenichi wanted to ask how Miu knew all this stuff but he would have to ask her or maybe Ranma later.
After the two finished eating they still had time before the bell rang and Kenichi had questions he wanted to have answers for.
"Miu-san, if I continue to train under master Koetsuji, master Ma and master Apachai will I be as good as Ranma-san?" The question brought an awkward silence, Kenichi wasn't sure if Miu-was trying not to say anything or trying to say it in a way that doesn't hurt as much. Miu smiled at Kenichi before she answered.
"I'm sure that Kenichi-san will catch up to Ranma-san, if you keep up training."Another silence followed the answer but it was more of a heavy silence, neither daring to break until the meaning of said words sunk in. This silence broke when it was Miu's turn to ask.
"Why do you ask Kenichi-san? Did Ranma-san do something to you?" Miu's looks darkened but soon took up a more light and happy one."Maybe you would like him as a rival?" Most people think that a rival is a bad thing but Miu became giddy when she thought of Kenichi and Ranma as rivals.
"He didn't do anything... and what, if I see him as a rival?" When Kenichi said that, Miu turned around and entered wonderland as she imagined the two doing everything to overcome the other. Then reality called.
"Kenichi-san is still far from Ranma-san's level but I'm sure that Ranma-san would gladly call you a rival once..." Miu turned to see Kenichi and blinked as the boy wasn't on the roof anymore!
Kenichi was already back in his classroom, brooding. Many thoughts came to him most concerned the pigtailed boy. He was kind to him, they rarely spoke but he still talked to him like a friend. Still every time Kenichi had seen Ranma alone he was like he was in a different world. He had seen him train and while Kenichi was training hard, when Ranma was sparring with Sakaki-san or Apachai-san he was on the verge of laughing.
It was like a game to them! "(Could it be that Ranma-san is holding back that much?)" The thought that Ranma-san could be in the same league as the masters at Ryouzanpaku made Kenichi tremble."(It's not fair. I'm training hard and I'm barely getting better... how could I compete with Ranma, he's a genius!)" Kenichi knew that he shouldn't be like this. Ranma is his friend but it made him so angry that to the pigtailed boy, martial arts was like a ordinary thing like taking a breath.
A sudden but familiar voice brought Kenichi out of his brooding. "I see you're having problems Chicken Kenichi." Kenichi jumped from his seat when a clawed hand touched his shoulder.
"My old friend Kenichi, I can see that something troubles you. Is it that girl that we have seen you with so much?" The freaky person known as The Alien Devil by Kenichi, also known as Haruo Niijima.
"What do you want Niijima?"
"What I want? I'm here to help you my friend Kenichi." Niijima evil and cunning as ever showed a 'friendly' smile to Kenichi. "Whatever you want, I'm not telling you anything." Niijima laughed at this response. "Kenichi, I already KNOW what you want to do. You want to romance the new girl Furinji Miu! The real problem is that guy that she spends a lot of time with. Speaking of time I have witnessed that unlike old times you aren't heading home like you used to, where are you spending your excess time?" While saying this Niijima had already pulled out his little gadget and had started typing and analysing.
"What I do in my free time is not your business... what are you doing?" Kenichi wasn't sure if he wanted to know when the demonic alien seemed to be entertained with his machine.
"Just adding some additional information into this little thing, I made it myself. This machine of mine can show the 'level' a person has after I add in the needed information. Want to see yours?" Even, if he didn't want to know Niijima continued none the less.
"Let's see... Kenichi, Kenichi... here it is, Shirahama Kenichi. Academic scores are low, P.E. score low, social score low, influence score low, and the only one that is slightly higher than average is your looks." Kenichi had enough for today. Not only is he bothered while brooding but to insult him no less!
"What about you? You don't have better grades then me, you're worse than me in P.E, I'm the only one who tolerates you and if you don't have any more influence in this school than a piece of chalk has AND you don't even have the looks that I have!" When Kenichi finished he got a hit to his head.
"You fool! Don't compare me to you! I have ambitions I'm not going to stay the underdog for long I'm going to become the most important person here!" After a moment of awkward silence Kenichi was ready to leave for class but Niijima pulled him back. "Anyway I'd like to ask you a few questions about that new kid that spends a lot of time with you and the Fuurinji girl." This was interesting news for Kenichi.
"I thought you knew everything about everyone." Playing a little with the alien might just be a good thing.
"That's why this guy is pissing me off! All I know is his name, his average academic score, outstanding P.E. score and by asking a lot of girls in the school I know that 'supposedly' he is very handsome." Niijima said those last words like he drank a bitter drink and even spat at the end.
"This Saotome Ranma is very irritating. I asked everyone and I mean, EVERYONE in the school. He isn't speaking with anyone except for you two!" Niijima grabbed Kenichi by his shirt and pulled him close."Tell me everything you know about him and I mean EVERYTHING!" Kenichi was surprised, he had never seen Niijima act like this. "(He must be really annoyed with Ranma-san.)" Niijima started shaking Kenichi to get some answers but Kenichi grabbed his wrists and made him let go.
"I won't tell anything to you about him." With that Kenichi released Niijima and walked to class. The demonic alien was confused. This wasn't how Kenichi acted, he isn't supposed to have a backbone he should be a pushover even to him!
"(Something is not right and I'm sure that it has something to do with that Saotome Ranma. Why is that name so familiar?)"
After school and dodging the annoying Niijima who followed him like a second shadow Kenichi went to Ryozanpaku with Miu. The place was usually lively but today it felt empty. He looked into the living room, there he found Apachai and Akisame. Apachai was playing with a colouring book and Akisame was carving something from a piece of wood. He was soon seen by Akisame who smiled at the boy.
"Good day Kenichi. You're lesson with Kensei is postponed to a later date." This was strange to Kenichi, Ma-san wasn't the type leave out a training session.
"He went with Happosai and Ranma to meet those Chinese Amazons, I would have loved to go but one of us had to stay and I couldn't leave you here without proper guidance." The idea that Ranma was taking his time to become better angered Kenichi but he calmed down quickly."(Ma-san must really want to meet this Chinese Amazon. I guess it's not Ranma's fault.)" As Kenichi thought about things it seemed logical.
"Supposedly the matriarch who is staying in Japan knows a lot of ancient secrets that might help us later. They both know the woman personally so it was an ideal moment to tag along to maybe learn something new." Kenichi didn't feel as bad as he felt first. Ma-san wanted to improve on his knowledge and thanks to Ranma he has a chance to do so.
"Your first lesson would have been with Ma and since Apachai is preoccupied at the moment I will be teaching you now. Apachai please watch, it will be good experience later on when you finally teach Kenichi."
"Apa! Apachai will watch like a guard dog so he can teach Kenichi how to kick ass!"