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After the Fall - Chapter 7, Kendo
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Kuno Tatewaki stood in the entrance to the Dojo. His day had already been long and tiring. He had been awakened early by Ranma for speed-training exercises and an early morning sparring match, had spent his school day avoiding the Kendoists and attempting to study. When he returned home, he had been subjected to strength-training exercises. Now it was time for his evening class. Ranma-Sensei would be watching him, to give only appraisal and guidance. It was time for him... to teach.
Standing before Kuno, waiting in the Dojo, was the entirety of the Furinkan Kendo club. The few other students who had signed up for the class also seemed eager to learn the bokken.
Kuno turned to Ranma. "Ranma-Sensei, were you aware of this situation?"
"Uhm... situation?"
"The entire Kendo Club has signed up for my bokken class, obviously. I did not realize they were this dedicated."
"So, less talk, more teach."
The next two hours passed in a blur. Kuno led the Kendo Club through the most basic of exercises, not letting anyone touch a bokken for the first hour. He began to notice holes in his own defense and offense; things which he had always prized in his quest for "textbook perfect form" but which, thanks to the Anything Goes training, he recognized as openings for an opponent to attack. With Kuno and Ranma working with the students, the majority of them showed promise. After the class, Kuno opened up the floor for any challenges.
The entire Kendo Club, one by one, challenged him and lost.
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At breakfast the next morning, Kuno brought his concerns to Ranma.
"Ranma-Sensei, I feel I must ask something of you. It appears that the Kendo Club is unusually dedicated, and I find myself wishing to participate in their matches and training more fully. I realize that my schedule does not quite allow me time to remain at school to train them. I believe I know of a way that will allow for both, but it will require your assent and assistance."
"So ya wanna be able to compete with the Kendo Club, but not at the expense of yer training? Good attitude. What do ya need me to do?"
"The first step is to consult the school's headmaster..."
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Ranma and Kuno sat in the Headmaster's office. The man was still trying to digest their proposal.
"So you're telling me that the entire Kendo Club, plus approximately 15 more students, have all signed up for his class?"
"That is correct," confirmed Kuno.
"And why did they do this, again?"
"I am Tatewaki Kuno -- up until two years ago, considered the best swordsman in Tokyo. I am surprised it was not mentioned in my school record."
"Well, truthfully, most of the old school records were thrown out. Too many of them were unintelligible -- having an entire school of 'insolent keiki' just didn't make sense, so we discarded the stuff that couldn't be confirmed."
Ranma smiled. "Seems they did a good job cleaning up after your pop, Kuno."
"Wait a minute - " the principal began.
"No, you wait a minute. We're trying to do your students a favor here. As Master of the Tendo/Saotome School of Anything Goes Martial Arts, I offer to provide a 50% discount to those who wish to enroll in Upperclassman Kuno's bokken class. We'll be giving class facilities and instructor at cost. Enrollment in the class will count as their membership dues. Furinkan High School will provide the normal amount of funding to cover equipment, and any students enrolled in the class either as teacher or student will be considered members of the Kendo Club for purposes of tournament enrollment."
"And what exactly does this do for Furinkan High, again?"
"Well, for starters, it gets the Kendoists off the property when we start teaching them a few attacks that might do some damage to their surroundings. As you'd know if you'd kept the old records, Kuno can shatter concrete using just a wooden bokken. The school also gains prestige when its Kendoists start winning tournaments again. A side bonus is that we can ensure that the students keep up with their studies, since their enrollment in the class would require their maintaining acceptable grades."
"Very well, I see you have thought this through. Since your school is held in extremely high regard in the local community, and since the Kendo Club has already enrolled, I'll give this my approval. Come back in two days to sign the official documents. You will, of course, be asked to refund the extra monies the students have paid, since you're giving them this discount."
"Thank you."
Kuno and Ranma left the headmaster's office, very pleased.
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The next day, the Dojo received a special letter in the mail.
Ranma read it to the family at dinner. "Martial Arts Weapons Competition. Barehanded attacks are forbidden. Should fighter or weapon strike ground outside the circle, automatic loss of bout. Sounds like a lot of our students will be into this -- but we're only allowed 10 competitors. Kuno, you have any suggestions?"
"I myself would very much like the chance to attend this competition. It would be a good chance to evaluate my skills in a truly neutral setting."
"Sounds good to me. You're in. Any other suggestions?"
"I do not believe that any of the Kendo Club would fare well in the tournament. Doubtless some of Kuonji-san's Martial Arts Okonomiyaki class would like to attend. I believe that the Amazons practiced weapon attacks as well, so Mousse and Shampoo would most likely represent the school quite well."
"Looks like we'll be having our own mini-tournament then. Yer gonna be one of the directors. I'm reserving three places in the tournament. Yer gonna compete. Mousse deserves the chance to put his skills to use. Ukyo, of course, is in. Everyone else -- Shampoo, those two violent teenage Amazons, Ryoga assuming he can find the place -- gets to compete on Friday for our remaining seven spots. That gives the winners a week to get ready; should be plenty for an Anything Goes student."
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The rest of the week passed quickly. Kuno trained his students as hard as they could handle. He doubted that it would be enough, but he had to give his students every chance to further their training. He drilled them on tournament strategy, specifically ways to remove their opponent's weapons from the ring.
Ukyo's class had trained likewise, and Kuno had no doubt that the two violent teenage Amazons were planning to attend the tournament. Thankfully, Shampoo had decided not to compete -- she would support her husband from the sidelines instead. Ranma had made it crystal clear to the twins that they were not to give the Kiss of Marriage (or the Kiss of Death) to anyone in Japan unless they cleared it with him first. Sparring, whether during training or a tournament or even on the streets of Nerima, was not an occasion to resort to such things.
When school ended for the day, there was an announcement.
"All current Anything Goes Martial Arts students, please report to the soccer field."
Kuno didn't quite understand until he looked outside. The soccer field's normal lines had been replaced by a giant circle. As he came down, he realized that he was the last to arrive and that Ranma was already explaining the rules.
"Alright, listen up. If ya wanna be in the tournament next week, get into the circle. Combat will continue until there are only seven students left in the circle. Once you're out, you're out. Once we have the seven, they will train every evening, all week -- and the rest of you will be HELPING them train."
"Fight."
By the time the dust cleared, only two students were still standing -- Lin-lin and one of Ukyo's students. Amazingly enough, two of the Kendoists were lying facedown in the dirt, but were still in the circle.
After sorting the situation out, the Anything Goes School had committed Kuno, Mousse, Ukyo, Lin-lin, Lun-lun, three Martial Arts Okonomiyaki students, and two Kendoists to represent them at the tournament.