Ruroni RanmaRuroni Ranma
Part 7
The Wandering Street fighter.
+++++++++++++++
Ranma blinked in confusion and shook his head as he sat across from
Yuriko and simply looked at her blankly. "Oro? A street fighter you
say? Looking for me?"
"Does it sound familiar?" asked Nabiki looking interested as usual.
"Not really, I don't know any street fighters, at least they weren't
street fighters when I knew them," said Ranma calmly. He didn't really
seem all that concerned with this new development.
"Well, he isn't very smart if he thought the elementary school was a
high school," noted Akane lazily.
"Maybe he thought Ranma would be there instead? He does look rather
young," noted Kasumi.
"That could be true," admitted Ranma. "I don't really see any reason
to get worked up about it, we'll meet him soon enough I think."
"What are you going to do when you meet him Ranma?" said Akane warily.
"Not sure, I'll think of something," said Ranma with a casual smile.
+++++++++++++++++++
The next several days passed quietly for the Tendo household. Well as
quietly as they could considering. Ranma mostly sat around with Soun
while Yuriko and Akane, trained. The training mostly consisted of
Yuriko complaining while Akane did her best to teach her the
fundamentals of marital arts. The girl caught on quickly, but not
without a fight.
++++++++++++++++++
Akane sat alone with Yuriko and Ranma at the table after the lesson
was over. "I hate her!" fumed Akane as she sat down with the two men
and pouted.
"Have a little patience she is learning after all," said Ranma
cheerfully.
"Indeed Akane, I think this is a wonderful learning experience for
you, when I leave this world the dojo will fall in your hands.
Especially if you marry Ranma," said the eldest Tendo sagely.
"Well, I'm not gonna!" retorted the girl angrily.
Ranma found himself drenched with a bucket of cold water as Yuriko
appeared behind her. "Hey, I need someone to go shopping with me."
"Oro? What's wrong with Akane?" said Ranma in mild surprise.
"What do you need to go shopping for anyway?" said Akane with a small
measure of amusement on her face. It left quickly when Ranma's now
dark and somber look crossed her eyes.
Yuriko blushed slightly. "Nothing, I just need to."
The pony tailed martial artist seemed to understand. "All right, but
just this once. I don't exactly go around this way normally."
Yuriko got a relieved look on her face and followed Ranma out the
door.
+++++++++++++++++++
Out in the street she paused and looked at the girl with a knowing
smile. "So, how long has it been happening?"
"A couple of days, I'm not scared or nothin, but it's embarrassing,"
commented the girl as they walked along. "I don't suppose you'll lend
me the money?"
Ranma sighed and pulled his wallet out of his gi. "I suppose, I really
wish you'd go to Akane with these things, or even Kasumi if it bothers
you that much.
I'm not a real girl you know."
"I'm just not comfortable with that stuff around them ya know?" said
the girl as her blush deepened.
"Well, you are at that age I suppose, still. I'm not all that
comfortable dealing with it either," commented Ranma casually.
"Besides, she'd just tease me, and if Kasumi found out about it I know
she'd tell Akane." Yuriko smiled at her companion and looked away.
"How do you know I won't tell her?" commented Ranma with a somewhat
pleasant smile on her face.
"Please, she avoids you like the plague," snorted the girl. "Besides,
I don't know why, but I trust you."
Ranma nodded at this and seemed pleased. "Well, she is going to find
out anyway you know."
Yuriko nodded, "I know, but she won't bother me about it if she
doesn't know it's my first time."
Ranma sighed. "Yuriko, she's your sensei, you have to trust her more.
Besides, I might not be around forever."
The girl paled at this, "I'm going with you if you leave!" she
announced. "The only reason I hang around is because you're there!"
Ranma sighed and put his hand on her shoulder. "Yuriko, I want you to
stay with Akane if I go. When you're older and more skilled I'll be
glad to have you along, but right now you need to build your skills.
The world needs strong fighters to keep the peace."
"I want you to teach me! I don't care if it's Hiten Mitsurugi or not!
I want to be strong like you!" cried the girl.
"I can't do that Yuriko, I'm sorry. I won't teach you how to fight
with a sword; and my skill in the Anything Goes School isn't what it
used to be. Akane is a much more capable teacher than I would be,"
said Ranma firmly. "Come on, we'd better get to the store."
Yuriko nodded solemnly and walked with her.
++++++++++++++++
The next morning Ranma walked to school with Akane. "Where did you two
go yesterday anyway?"
Ranma looked at her and smiled. "I promised I wouldn't say."
Akane glared at him and stopped. "What's that supposed to mean?"
"Mean? Akane, I gave my word, I'm sorry. If she feels like telling you
she will," replied the boy lazily. "She just doesn't trust you enough
right now, she will in time."
"Doesn't trust me? What does that mean? Why does she trust you so much
anyway?" cried Akane angrily as she chased after him again. Ranma
smiled and kept a steady pace ahead of her.
++++++++++++++++++
The day went by quickly. As the classes let out for the day a lone
figure stood waiting at the gates. He reached down and grabbed the
first student to walk close by him. "Where is Ranma Saotome?"
The boy about shook with fear at the imposing figure holding him by
his collar.
The newcomer was dressed in traveling clothes with a white over shirt
on, on his back was a massive pack that seemed weighed down almost as
it hung off his shoulders. Tied across his forehead was a blood red
bandanna.
"Saotome?" quivered the boy nervously. He pointed to a boy quietly
walking across the schoolyard in a boy's uniform blending in with the
crowd accept for the katana that hung from his hip.
"At last I've found you!" whispered the boy with a dark smile on his
lips.
++++++++++++++
Ranma stopped and side stepped as a crater formed where he once stood
moments before. Slowly a figure rose from the dust cloud that formed
as a result of the impact. All those surrounding the scene stopped
cold and stared at Ranma and the newcomer.
Akane froze in place and stared at the pair as they watched each other
passively for a moment. Ranma's face was calm and patient, and the new
boy merely had a smirk crossing his features.
"Tell me. Who are you?" asked Ranma.
The boy laughed out loud and dusted off his pants. "You don't remember
me? I shouldn't be surprised after all these years. I am the street
fighter Tetsukasa.
I've come to challenge you as I promised ten years ago."
Ranma raised his eyebrow slightly and looked the boy up and down.
"Tetsukasa? I don't recall knowing anyone by that name..."
Nabiki appeared next to Ranma and stared at the new boy in shock.
"Tetsukasa? The invincible street fighter? Ranma, he's a mercenary, a
thug for hire. He fights all across Japan! I've heard stories about
him."
The boy smiled and pointed at Ranma. "That's right, I've trained my
whole life for this moment."
Ranma smiled lightly. "You're Ryoga Hibiki aren't you? It's been a
while."
The boy nodded his head. "And you're Ranma Saotome, or should I say...
Hitokiri Battosai?" The small crowd surrounding them froze in place
and all attention turned towards Ranma.
The boy merely stood motionless and watched Tetsukasa silently giving
no indication of surprise or any other emotion.
"I heard stories of a Japanese soldier in that war, the strongest
warrior. He fought for around five years, the first half as a silent
killer working for the Chinese Government. The greatest that ever
lived, the second half he defended the village of Amazons against the
final attacks of the Musk, even participating in the final assault.
I've heard you've become a gentle vagabond though. I'm curious as to
what might cause that."
Ranma raised his eyebrow slightly. "I got tired of killing."
Akane looked at her fiancee and passed out in a dead faint. Nabiki
looked like she was about ready to join her.
"I accept your challenge, we will face each other as we did all those
years ago." Ranma took his sword off his waist and handed it to
Nabiki. "With our fists."
Tetsukasa merely chuckled. "I don't think so Ranma, our true skills do
not lie in our fists. It would be a joke to fight you without a
sword," replied Ryoga shaking his head. "You will face me as a true
man."
Ranma paused and stared the boy down. "As you wish."
"This place is too small, we'll fight in that field," Tetsukasa
pointed towards a soccer field a short distance away.
The boy pulled a large metal umbrella from his backpack and chuckled
to himself. Nabiki raised her eyebrow slightly and moved closer to
him. "Is that where you got your name?"
"Tetsukasa? Yes, it means Iron Umbrella, my weapon of choice. I've cut
down many opponents with this," replied the boy with a shrug. He swung
the thing around as if it was made of paper and rested it against his
shoulder.
Nabiki nodded and moved away. "All right, betting starts at a thousand
yen minimum. Come on and get started before the main event!" A crowd
of students formed around her as her assistants seemed to appear out
of nowhere and start taking down the names of the students.
Akane woke up in a daze and saw her sister standing over her. "Nabiki
I just had the weirdest dream..." She blinked when she realized she
really was lying on the ground.
"Does it involve finding out your fiancee is the legendary Battosai?"
asked Nabiki with remarkable calm.
The girl sat up and stared at the two men as the patiently stood off
against each other waiting for the betting to complete. "Ranma!"
Ranma stood facing off against his opponent and smirked casually at
him. Akane approached him carefully from the side. "Ranma, you don't
need to do this!"
"I made a promise Akane, I have to keep it. Don't worry, no one is
going to die, I promise," the boy smiled at her and stepped back away
from her. She nodded and moved to the sidelines. Ranma looked up at
his opponent again. "This room enough?"
"More than enough to beat you Battosai," replied Ryoga with a smirk.
"Come on!"
The boy charged forward swinging his arm out and opening the umbrella.
It slid open quickly with a loud clank. The boy stopped dead in his
tracks about twenty yards in front of Ranma and heaved his arm sending
the umbrella towards his opponent in a wide spinning arc.
Ranma merely moved very slightly to his right to avoid the projectile
and then to his left as it passed by again and returned to Ryoga's
hand. "Impressive trick."
"This is why I'm called Tetsukasa," replied the lost boy casually as
he pulled several bandanas from his forehead. "Now I'll show you why
I've never been defeated!" His arm shot forward sending waves of
spinning disks flying through the air toward Ranma. The swordsman
dodged around them skillfully and drew his sword knocking a few of the
more erratic spinning projectiles out of the air.
"You should learn more control before attempting that move. Someone
could get hurt if they fly around to wildly," said Ranma as he landed
on the ground again with his sword still drawn. He was now in a
kenjitsu stance and staring the boy down more carefully than before.
"They knew the dangers when they chose to become spectators," snorted
Ryoga in reply.
"You're careless," noted Ranma calmly as he charged forward. Ryoga
smiled and pulled the closed umbrella off his chest swinging it in a
wide arc towards Ranma's head.
The pair clashed in a wave of motion that was hard for the crowd to
follow. They stood opposite each other in the field and finally stood
upright.
"Ranma won," said Nabiki happily.
Akane shook her head. "Not yet, this isn't a test of skill."
Her sister looked at her and blinked before turning back to the field
to see Ryoga laughing cruelly.
"What happened?" wondered Ranma as he heard the boy laughing behind
him. "That was a definite hit! He's strong, this is going to be
tougher than I thought."
His features hardened and he turned around to see Ryoga still had his
back turned to him. The kanji for evil flapped in the wind against his
back as he slowly turned to face his opponent again.
"This isn't a contest of skill Battosai, the better swordsman isn't
going to win! It will be the last man standing."
Akane stood with her sister on the sidelines with a worried look on
her face.
"This is a test of endurance. Ryoga has much more than Ranma does;
he's not a swordsman, but a fighter. He's used to taking heavy blows.
Who could have guessed he'd be strong enough to take one of Ranma's
Hiten Mitsurugi techniques?"
++++++++++++++
Ruroni Ranma
Part 8
The thing about a girl's hair...
+++++++++++++
Ranma stood calmly as Ryoga faced him again. The street fighter was
smiling. "Tetsukasa, the man you knew died in China."
"That doesn't matter to me, all that matters is the fact that I am
your strongest opponent!" screamed the boy as he charged again.
Ranma feinted away and slashed at the boy's side. Ryoga faltered and
turned creating a wide defensive arc with his metal umbrella. "Stop
playing around Battosai! Use the blade you're so famous for!" snarled
Ryoga angrily.
++++++++++++
Akane froze and stared at the scene in shock. "He hasn't hit Ryoga
yet!"
Nabiki looked at her sister and furrowed her brow in disbelief. "What
are you talking about? You saw him take the hit."
The girl shook her head. "Ranma hasn't touched him with the sword yet.
What's going on here?" The pair clashed again and a strange sound
floated over to Akane, it sounded like a strange vibration in the air
almost. She saw a flash of motion for a split second by the street
fighter's gut. "What?"
+++++++++++++++
"I have to admit that hurts, but how long can you keep it up Ranma?"
snarled Ryoga as he rose from his knees and threw the umbrella again
followed by a volley of bandannas.
Ranma's expression didn't change as he turned around and faced him
again. "I can do this as long as I need too."
Tetsukasa merely smirked. "We'll see, I'll have you taking me
seriously enough before this ends!" He charged again but changed his
tactics. As soon as Ranma closed in on him he shifted his weight,
stepped back away from him, and opened the umbrella.
Ranma jumped back dropping his fist to his side in pain. He pulled the
blade across his chest defensively and kept his distance. "Damn." He
put the sakabato back into the scabbard and changed his stance.
Ryoga smiled and stepped forward slowly. "That trick won't work now
Saotome, let's see what you've got!"
Ranma jumped into the air and Ryoga met him in the air. They exchanged
blows for a moment and passed each other, Tetsukasa spun around and
threw his umbrella at Ranma's back causing the boy to twist and avoid
it.
When they landed Ranma had a strange smile on his face. "He's no match
for me in the air."
+++++++++++++++++++
Akane gasped as she sat the events take place and finally put it
together. "He's been faking him out with the sword! He's not even
using it! It was so fast I didn't even see it!"
Nabiki glanced at her sister skeptically and turned her attention back
to the battle. If Ranma won, she would make a lot of money today. "He
does practice
Anything Goes Akane, I think he can pull it off."
"That jerk! He's not even taking this seriously! If he had used the
sword from the beginning the fight would have been over by now!"
snorted Akane distastefully.
"That boy could be hurt if he does that Akane, have you forgotten who
he really is already?" replied Nabiki carefully. Ranma had just grown
much more interesting to her. She smirked to herself when that
silenced her sister.
++++++++++++++++
"Eat this! Cried Ryoga as he tore across the field and slammed his
fist into Ranma's chest after breaking out into a run as they landed
again. The boy flew across the field and slammed into a drinking
fountain. Water sprayed in every direction drenching all the
spectators nearby.
+++++++++++++++
Tatewaki Kuno stepped towards the crowd and frowned as he left the
school building and moved towards the field. "What is this? What is
going on here?" He pulled one of the male students over by his collar
and shook him for a moment.
"It's Battosai! He's returned from China! Some guy is fighting him!"
cried the boy nervously.
Kuno froze and stared at him. "Battosai? Here?" The boy nodded dumbly
and pointed towards the battle. Ryoga was standing calmly in the
shower and watching the rubble carefully. A figure slowly stood up
from the wreckage shrouded in a sheet of water with his head down.
++++++++++++++++
Ryoga wasn't sure what to expect, he hadn't lost sight of Ranma, he
was standing directly in front of him, but his demeanor had changed
suddenly. "Are you prepared to finish this Saotome? Are you ready to
take me seriously?!"
The boy merely laughed, "I underestimated you Hibiki, my
congratulations." He looked up and stepped from the spray of water
drawing his sword slowly. "You said you wanted to face Battosai... so
now you face him."
Tetsukasa stepped back at what looked him in the eyes with a cold blue
eyed stare. "Wh-who?"
Ranma chuckled and never took her eyes off of him. "What's the matter
Hibiki? Never seen a girl before?"
"R-Ranma?" said the boy in complete shock.
"Close enough," replied the girl as she rushed forward and slashed at
him with an amazing speed. Ryoga took the blow dead in the forehead
and was knocked backwards. He managed to keep his on his feet and
backed away from the girl. He growled low and put his umbrella up
defensively.
"I don't care if you are him or not. This looks like fun." He laughed
to himself for a moment but stopped cold when his umbrella fell in
half in his hands. The top portion hit the ground with a metallic
thud. He threw the rest of the weapon to the ground and put up his
fists. "I think I might be in trouble..."
Ranma jumped up and back as a huge number of bandannas suddenly filled
the air.
She bat a few of them away and spun into a back kick that took the boy
in his face. Ryoga was pushed into the ground head first and rolled
away barely managing to dodge one of his own projectiles.
+++++++++++++++
Akane watched in awe as the battle moved up and down the field closer
to where she was and gasped. Ranma had just changed in front of
everyone!
Nabiki was busy screaming at her lackeys. "Who the hell is that? Find
out! Get these bets changed, anyone who bet on Ranma is working with
the girl now! Put out the word, I don't want any loss of profits
because of this! Damn!"
Kuno stared at the scene in shock. A strange man was facing off
against a red haired woman. His gaze fell on Ryoga and he sucked in a
quick breath. "This is Battosai? How could such a noble and honorable
man... perhaps he is in love with this woman? Yes that must be the
truth! He has chosen to face her in honorable combat to win her hand!"
The students around him were buzzing with conversation.
"Who the hell is this girl?"
"I don't know, but she's as good as Ranma!" cried one of the boys
excitedly.
"Who are you kidding? She's better than him!" countered the girl next
to him proudly.
Kuno was lost in thought. "As with my own quest. I must help Battosai
win the object of his affections. Such is the way of the samurai."
+++++++++++++++++++
Ryoga was in trouble and he knew it, he was getting short on
projectiles and his weapon was in pieces on the ground over a hundred
yards away. Ranma seemed tireless and moved in closer with each
passing moment. Finally the girl seemed to have enough and jumped into
the air towards him as he spun the last few spare bandannas in his
hand. "Damn!"
"Ryuukansen!" cried Ranma as she slashed up at Ryoga with the blade at
an angle, launching herself into the air, she came down landing the
edge of the sword across his forehead.
Ryoga fell to the ground with a dull thud out cold. The rags spinning
in his hand flew about erratically in every direction cutting a wide
path through the crowd. She turned back towards the crowd and froze in
fear almost instantly.
+++++++++++++++
Nabiki took a step back as the fight ended. Thanks to her quick work
most of the bets had been turned over to her favor, but the girl was
still an unknown factor. "Who the hell is that?"
"Battosai," replied Akane simply with a strangely calm look crossing
her face for a moment. It fell away when she saw the girl in question
charge forward towards her with the blade still drawn.
"Akane!" cried Ranma as she dove forward through the air far to fast
for the girl to react.
Akane felt the air blow by her head followed by a strange noise that
seemed to pass by her for a moment as the girl shoved her aside
slightly. She had instinctively fallen to her knees and covered her
head defensively.
After a moment she blinked and waited a split second longer before
looking up. Ranma was standing in front of her with the blade held at
an angle in an underhanded block; two bandannas were wrapped around
the edge of the sword.
"What the?" cried Nabiki in shock as she stared the new girl down.
Ranma ignored her and looked down at Akane. "You should be more aware,
these things are dangerous."
The girl could do nothing but nod dumbly as she looked up at her
savior in shock. "T-thank you..."
The redhead winked at her and turned away, moving back towards her
fallen opponent. "Anytime."
Ryoga Hibiki simply lay still on the ground for a long moment. He
slowly opened his eyes and saw the figure standing over him with a
strangely satisfied smile on her face. "You did well. I do hope you
have that out of your system now."
He sat up and shook his head. "What hit me?... Oh yeah, you did." With
that said he staggered to his feet and retrieved a few of his
bandannas and the broken weapon from the ground stumbling across the
field as he did so. Moments later he had his traveling bag tossed over
his shoulder and was looking off in the sunset dramatically. "We'll
meet again Saotome."
Nabiki walked over to him after a few moments and coughed into her
hand. "Aren't you supposed to walk off into the sunset now or
something?"
"I would, but it hurts too much to move right now," replied the boy
with his back still towards her.
"Who the heck are you anyway? Where's Ranma?" said one of the boys
that had gathered in the small, but steadily growing, crowd.
The redhead merely smiled at him. "Someone who is best forgotten. A
phantom who should have died already." She put the sakabato across her
shoulder before walking away towards the gates of Furinkan.
"Who?" said another boy in confusion.
"She said she's a ghost," offered another boy.
"She was being dramatic you twit!" cried the girl next to him.
Akane moved towards the front of the crowd and smiled at the slowly
fading figure that moved down the street. "So, that was Battosai..."
Ryoga stood thinking and watched the sun slowly sink into the horizon.
"I've failed. I couldn't beat him." She seemed to melt away into the
light as he watched her. "The legend of Tetsukasa ends here. I can no
longer live as a street fighter. My honor will not permit it. One day
I will become strong enough to face him again, then perhaps I can go
on as before..." His contemplation was interrupted by a soft cough.
Kuno stood next to the boy with a serious face. "I have always
respected you. I am to understand you wish to take this woman and
defeat her?"
Ryoga blinked and looked at him for a moment before nodding his head.
"Of course."
"Perhaps I can be of some service? I am a master of such
manipulations," said the boy proudly.
Ryoga frowned and remained standing as he was. "I don't need your help
to defeat her."
"I would not dream of interfering with such an honorable battle. I
would help you win her though."
Ryoga looked at him again and sighed. "What do you mean?"
"One who has lived in battle for so long cannot comprehend such things
as beauty and life. I will help you understand these things so that
you can capture her forever and leave her weak against your powers,"
said Kuno dramatically.
"What? What the hell are you talking about?" snorted Ryoga in
embarrassed confusion.
"I will help you win this pigtailed goddess."
"I don't want to go out with her you twit!" screamed Ryoga.
Kuno smiled and walked away from the scene. "How odd, such a brave man
as Battosai would be so incredibly shy."
+++++++++++++++++
Nabiki collected the last of her bets and turned around. The sky was
dark and her profits were high, just the way she liked things at this
time. She was surprised to see Ryoga still standing there. He seemed
deep in thought as she walked up to him. "You're still here?"
He blinked and looked at her, seeming to come out of his trance. "I've
got a lot to think about."
"Oh come on. It can't possibly hurt that much can it?" snorted Nabiki
lazily as she turned and walked away.
Ryoga turned a deep red and looked away from her. "Shut up! It does
all right?"
+++++++++++++++++
Yuriko sat down next to Ranma at the table and sighed after she
finished her evening session with Akane in the dojo. "Did anything
interesting happen today?"
"That Hibiki boy showed up today," replied Ranma simply.
"Damn! I missed it!" cried the girl in disappointment.
"Watch your mouth!" screamed Akane as Yuriko found an elbow planted in
her head suddenly.
"Hey! That hurts old woman!" screamed the girl as she rubbed the spot
protectively. Akane ignored her and sipped lazily at the tea Kasumi
had made for them.
Nabiki blinked and stood up from the floor where she had been reading
a magazine. "Say, where did you go anyway Saotome? And who was that
girl? She looked an awful lot like you."
"Oro?" Ranma laughed and scratched the back of his head. "Well, I
uh..."
"She called herself Battosai. You've met him or her before, is that
her? How does she know you? For that matter how does she know Akane?"
Nabiki found her mind going into overdrive with the amount of
questions it suddenly generated.
"Do you have a sister or something?"
Ranma looked at the girl helplessly and then glanced at the television
behind her for a moment before a knowing smile crossed his face. He
pointed at his nose with his finger and winked at her. "Now that... is
a secret."
"You realize that I hate you," grumbled Nabiki as she looked him in
the eyes.
"Akane? You're going to tell me aren't you?" She turned around and
found her sister examining the ceiling tiles above her head quite
carefully.
"I'm going to find out you know. It's only a matter of time," said the
girl as she stood up angrily and stomped away from them. "I don't care
what I have to do to find out either."
"You'd better be careful Ranma, she means that," said Akane quietly.
The boy looked at her and then towards Soun, who was trying very hard
to disappear behind his newspaper.
"Oro?" He hung his head and sighed. "Just two more weeks..."
++++++++++++++
Ruroni RanmaRuroni Ranma
Part 9
Love lost and found yet again...
++++++++++++++
Ranma stood out in the yard moving through another slow kata. He
paused and glanced around to see someone staring at him through the
bushes. "Can I help you Nabiki?"
"You're going to tell me everything you know, sooner or later I'll
catch you off guard."
"Later then, after all you only have to put up with me for another
week right?" Ranma smiled at her and went back to his kata.
Nabiki scurried away and sulked. "Damn you! I'm going to find out!"
Akane watched the whole exchange from the table. "I'd forgotten you
only have to stay another week."
Yuriko smirked. "Only one more week and I can dump you! Woo hoo!" she
cried out with joy and jumped up and down.
"You aren't going anywhere," muttered Akane angrily as she smacked her
in the back of her head.
"Owie! I told you old woman, I'm going with Ranma!" snapped the girl.
"You'll stay here with Akane and continue your training for a few
years first," said Ranma as he sat down and sipped at the tea Kasumi
had laid out for them.
"Aw, do I have to?" grumbled the girl with a dejected look.
"You should be careful with Nabiki though Ranma. When she sets her
sites on something she doesn't let go," warned Akane.
"She's like a dog that way," noted Yuriko.
"My sister is not a dog!" screamed Akane angrily.
"Sure she is, her sister is a bitch too," muttered Yuriko. She found
herself sailing through the air and landed in the koi pond seconds
later.
"I think it's time we started training again, you're getting too lax,"
snarled Akane as she brushed her hair back behind her shoulders again.
Ranma found himself smiling at this. It brought back many pleasant
memories.
+++++++++++++++++
"Ranma! It's time you learned to respect your father! We're going to
train again!" said Genma as he dusted off his hands.
"Why you! You stupid old man! I'll get you for that!" screamed Ranma
in reply.
He charged forward and pulled the boken from across his back as he
charged.
"Put that thing away boy! I'm not here to teach you how to sword
fight!" countered Genma as he kicked the young boy in his chest.
Ranma buckled under the strike but remained standing. "Fine, have it
your way old man, I'll beat you with my bare hands!" He replaced the
weapon and charged his father again.
A short time later Genma sat across from his son with a satisfied
smirk on his face. "Come on boy, we have to get moving. The battles
are too close to us right now. I want to make it to this training
ground before then."
"Why don't we just go straight ahead pop? Wouldn't that be faster?"
said the boy in confusion as he looked at the small guide map in his
father's hands.
"That's Musk territory son, we don't want to find ourselves in the
middle of a fight," replied the man sagely.
"Why not?" asked the boy obliviously. They were martial artist after
all.
"My son, you don't understand. This isn't a fight you can win with
your fists or a boken. People are dying," said Genma with a small
smile of pride on his face. The boy was brave, and strong. His wife
would be proud when they returned to Japan.
"Dying? Aren't we supposed to help those in need pop?" asked the boy
obliviously.
"Indeed we are son, but this is much too large for us alone to stop.
It's best to allow the Chinese government to deal with it. This isn't
even our country after all." The elder Saotome pulled his traveling
bag onto his shoulders again.
"Come on boy, we need to get moving again."
Ranma hung back as he followed his father. "Something we can't beat
with our hands or a boken? I need to find a real sword then."
++++++++++++++++
"Hey Ranma, what's up? Are you there?" He woke up to find Nabiki
waving her hand in front of his face.
"Oro? Have you been there long Nabiki?" he said as he shook himself
out of the trance.
"You just spaced out there. I was gonna bug you some more, but you had
a strange look on your face," said the girl with a wary look in her
eyes.
"Sorry, just old memories," replied the boy with a small smile.
Nabiki relaxed, Ranma had looked scary when he spaced out that way.
His features became hard and almost angry looking. "Thinking about the
war?"
The boy blinked and looked at her. "No, pleasant memories. Akane and
Yuriko brought back better times during my own training." His smile
changed again, it was almost wistful.
"I see," Nabiki turned away. She was more than a little disturbed by
the look he had moments ago. Still, it drove her curiosity even more
now.
++++++++++++++++
Ryoga Hibiki sat in the small Okonomiyaki restaurant and ate slowly.
His face was serious and somehow devoid of anger. "So, he really was
the one called
Battosai. I had my doubts before... I wonder why he turned into a
woman though."
He had thought about the possibility that it was someone else, but
quickly discounted it. The way she fought was too close, and she even
held the sword in the same manner, there was no doubt in his mind that
it was Ranma behind that woman's eyes.
"Are you going to pay this time?" said the girl who walked up to him.
He knew her name was Ukyo from past times in the shop.
"Put it on my tab will ya?" he snorted.
"You don't have a tab here," replied the girl darkly.
"Get me one then, I'm going to be hanging around the area for a
while," replied the boy simply.
Ukyo nodded and sighed. "I guess it can be arranged, just make sure
you pay it from time to time."
Ryoga nodded and froze as the door opened behind him. A familiar
figure walked over to his table and sat across from him.
Tatiwaki Kuno smiled at him and placed his boken across the table with
the blade facing away from Ryoga. "Battosai, I wish to speak with
you."
"What do you want? I'm not Battosai," replied Ryoga gruffly.
"I see, you wish to keep your true name a secret," said the kendoist
calmly. "I shall honor your wish."
"No, I mean I'm not Battosai," replied the boy.
Kuno nodded and brushed the topic aside. "Tell me how you have tried
to win this woman and I will help you."
"I haven't tried to win anyone, leave me alone you idiot!" screamed
the boy as he glared at Kuno.
Ukyo walked up to the table and smiled. "Having woman troubles?"
Ryoga hit his head on the table and sobbed. "Why? Why me?"
"I understand, perhaps you should try to bring her flowers? Roses are
particular to a woman's heart," said Kuno.
"He's right you know, but nothing says 'I love you' like jewelry,"
added Ukyo.
"I wish someone would bring me flowers." She paused and looked away
wistfully.
"Ranchan..."
Ryoga looked up at her and blinked. "Ranchan? You mean Saotome?"
"The cur! How dare he steal the heart of both Akane Tendo and the
Okonomiyaki girl!" screamed Kuno angrily.
"OKONOMIYAKI GIRL?" cried Ukyo as she slammed her fist into the back
his head.
He fell face first into the table and rubbed the sore spot. "I'm not
talking about Saotome anyway."
Ryoga looked skeptical and shook his head.
Ukyo sighed and sat down across from him. "I had a fiancee once. Ranma
kind of reminds me of him a little. He died in the war in China a few
years ago."
Ryoga blushed and hung his head. "I'm sorry."
"Don't be, I know you didn't mean anything," said the girl wistfully.
"Ukyo! Stop babbling and clean up those tables!" cried a gruff voice
from the back of the room.
"Yes daddy!" said the girl as she pushed herself back onto her feet.
Kuno watched her leave and sighed. "A pity, she gave her heart away.
Only to have it crushed, now she'll die an old maid."
"She's can't be older than sixteen, she has time to find someone
else," snorted Ryoga.
"You must understand, she is the woman of a samurai! She will wait for
all eternity for him to return to her!" cried the boy dramatically. A
pair of fans appeared in his hands as he did so.
"Whatever, I'm leaving," Ryoga stood up and walked out the door.
Kuno sighed and nodded his head. "He really is good, that was an
excellent exit." He stood up and started for the door. A large hairy
hand stopped his stride.
"You haven't paid your bill yet," said Ukyo's father as he shoved the
paper into his face.
"My bill?" Kuno blinked and looked at the man in confusion.
+++++++++++++++
Ranma Saotome sat in the furo and relaxed in the water. "Ah this is
nice."
He paused and glanced at the mirror across from him. She seemed to be
staring back at him through his eyes, hidden deep inside the back of
his mind. "I don't need you anymore, the fighting is over." He spoke
calmly to her and smiled. "But you'll never really go away will you?"
He fingered the crossed scar on his cheek and smiled. "Not as long as
she still holds us." He stared at her for a long time before two hands
started to rub on his back. "Ah, that's nic... oro?"
Yuriko smiled as she rubbed Ranma's shoulders in the tub. "Do you want
me to wash your back?"
"Wh-what are you doing in here?" said Ranma. He had yet to move.
"Well, you didn't say anything when I came in so I didn't think you'd
mind," said the girl with a small shrug.
"Akane's going to kill me!" thought Ranma as he backed away from the
girl.
"Is something wrong?" said Yuriko in confusion. She wasn't being
perverted or anything, at least she didn't think so. She glanced down
and looked at herself,
Ranma had seen better than she had before, in fact he had better. What
was he so worried about?
"I'm coming in Yuriko," called a feminine voice from outside. Akane
opened the door and saw the girl smile at her.
"Hiya, old bag! Starting to sag already?"
Akane didn't hear her, she only saw the boy sitting in the corner of
the tub with a frightened expression on his face. "R-Ranma?"
"Uh, hi," said the boy. It was all he could think of.
++++++++++++++
Several moments later Nabiki cocked her head as she heard her sister's
battle cry from the bathroom. "What the?" A split second after she
finished saying that a loud crash sounded inside the house. She
watched Ranma sail through the air outside and land in the koi pond.
After that she shrugged her shoulders and went back into her room.
Ranma walked into the home naked and wet, she had a strange look in
her eyes as she walked by Soun and went into her room. The man had
somehow managed to shove an entire pair of chopsticks into his mouth
as she went by.
"Oh my, Ranma! Are you all right?" said Kasumi in concern.
"I'm fine, just had an accident in the bathroom," replied the girl as
she closed the door behind her.
Soun looked up at his eldest daughter and blinked. "Rnmah?"
++++++++++++++
A short time later, Akane emerged from the bathroom dragging Yuriko by
her ear. Both of them were dressed in bathrobes. "You little pervert!
What were you thinking?"
"Ranma is a girl too sometimes! It doesn't matter!" cried the little
girl defensively.
"Of course it matters!" screamed the elder girl.
Nabiki poked her head out of her room and snickered. She couldn't be
sure because she had only heard part of the conversation, but she had
a pretty good idea about what just happened. "This is interesting."
+++++++++++++++
Ranma sat in his room a short time later, by himself. Somehow he felt
a little relieved that he was leaving in a few days. He glanced in a
small mirror and sighed, his reflection didn't say anything back.
"Maybe it's good that I'm relaxing."
A quiet knock came at his door and he smiled. "Come in Yuriko."
The girl sheepishly poked her head inside the door. "I'm sorry I got
you in trouble. I didn't mean anything by it."
He smiled at her and winked. "It's all right, just make sure no one
else is in there next time. Akane can hit pretty hard."
"Tell me about it," grumbled the girl as she sat on the floor in front
of him.
"You're coming along well in your studies, just don't forget to train.
In a few years I promise I'll come back and let you take a trip with
me." Ranma smiled at the expression on her face.
"Really? You promise?" she jumped up excitedly.
"Yes, but only if you work hard with Akane," replied the boy sternly.
Yuriko jumped up and grabbed him around the neck. "I promise I will!"
She released him and rushed out the door.
+++++++++++++++
Akane smiled to herself as the girl rushed by her. She had only know
her a very short time, but had already forgotten what it would be like
without her. Ranma was a strange man indeed, but hardly someone she
knew she could spend the rest of her life with. It was a shame they
didn't have more time to get to know one another, in a few years she
might have considered it. She stepped away from her spot beside his
door and went into her own room.
+++++++++++++++
Inside her own room, Nabiki Tendo smiled as she went over the things
Ranma had done over the past few days. There was nothing she could use
to force him to say what she wanted to know. A deep frown formed on
her lips as she thought. A moment later it changed into a sly smile.
"Well Saotome, I guess I'll just have to keep you around until I find
out what I want to know."
+++++++++++++
Ruroni Ranma
Part 10
Saiyonara Ranma!
++++++++++++
The morning had come; at long last it was time for him to leave.
Genma Saotome glanced over his shoulder and saw his son lying on his
mat next to him inside the tent. Without even bothering to secure
their gear he lifted the boy over his shoulder. "We have to get out of
here." He lifted the limp child over his shoulder and pushed back the
flap to his tent. They had purposely set up camp at the edge of the
army's encampment.
What he didn't know was that his son was awake the whole time. He
glanced back and sulked into the shadows.
"I'm sorry boy, but we can't stay here. This is no place for someone
as young as you. I still don't know what those fools were thinking
when they allowed you to join."
Genma turned back inside the tent and lifted up the flap in the back.
The forest was a mere dozen feet away. Silently he crept along the
ground with the boy on his back. Ranma watched coolly as the guards
sneaked up on his father from behind.
He didn't speak, only watched. One of them noticed his eyes on him and
he froze in place with the other guards following suit behind him.
They had no intention of facing a fully aware Genma Saotome, in the
short time since he had joined the Chinese forces they had become
almost legendary. Many aged and experienced soldiers had less combined
kills than the pair of Japanese recruits.
Then something none of the men expected happened. Ranma lifted up his
hand and beckoned them to move in.
++++++++++++++
Genma sat tied up in a chair, he was beaten and tired. Three guards
had been injured in his attempt to escape. The Chinese commander paced
back and fourth in front of him angrily. "You coward, how dare you run
away from us! You will be put to death!"
Genma looked up at his son; the boy was standing in the corner like a
statue of pure ice, the life that was once in his eyes long gone. He
wasn't a child anymore, no matter what his appearance. "How dare you
do this to my son."
The man stopped cold and stared at the martial artist in shock. The
gaze he found there was one of pure hatred, anger, and malice. The
purest emotions found on the battlefield. "You wish to protect your
son?"
"What kind of man wouldn't wish that? This is no place for a boy; we
are not your countrymen. We have nothing to defend here!" screamed
Genma in reply. "You have no right! Look what you've done to him!"
The man slowly turned around and looked Ranma in the eyes. The boy met
his gaze evenly and calmly. No single hint of emotion could be found
in his features. "We have granted your wish, he is a man among men.
Despite his interesting problem."
"He is not a man, he is a boy... and a killer," replied Genma coldly.
One of the men standing next to him hit him with the butt of his
rifle. The commander raised his hand and frowned.
"The only reason you are still alive, is because you do this for the
sake of your son. However, he is too important, and too good a soldier
to lose. I am sorry, but you will be relocated into another unit. Your
son... we have special plans for him."
"Send him to one of your pleasure brothels you have set up for your
men?" snapped Genma darkly, "as punishment for me?"
"Please Mr. Saotome, you think too little of us. We would never even
consider it. Our previous experiences with Ranma would teach us better
than that. We have already lost five men because they were foolish
enough to try. Your son did away with them quite nicely. All I will
tell you is that you will never see your son again." The man turned
and took Ranma by his shoulder. "Come boy."
"Wait! Let me speak to him one last time!" cried Genma desperately.
Ranma paused and looked at his father, his eyes were cold and dead.
"Where will I be assigned to?" He continued to walk away from his
father as the man screamed his name. The sounds of wood meeting flesh
filled the air behind him for a moment until the busy sounds of the
forces moving about their day drowned it out.
"You are an excellent soldier, but your skills will benefit us more
elsewhere. Those techniques your father unsealed will be most useful
to us." The commander watched his men move about proudly.
As for Ranma, he didn't feel pride, he felt empty, no more or less so
than he did before he saw his father. "I am to become an assassin?"
"Yes, the Joketsuko tribe has been giving us trouble in the North
east, you will help eliminate that problem," said the man coolly.
"Why not simply destroy them? We have the technology. The mountains
would protect much of the land from fallout," said the boy.
"To do so would show weakness in our army. We will overcome them with
sheer numbers soon enough. However, the presence of men like you will
help casualties greatly. Besides, the mountains are rich with natural
resources we could use to help the war effort."
Ranma nodded with understanding as the man spoke. "I see." He glanced
back over his shoulder one last time and found that he had lost track
of which tent his father was in.
"You miss him?" asked the man half jokingly.
"No, I just remembered I forgot where he was," he looked forward.
There was nothing inside of him, how could he miss the man? He strode
forward and never looked back, in fact, he almost didn't notice the
single tear run down his face.
+++++++++++++++
Ranma woke up from his dream and almost screamed out loud as a flood
of emotion overtook him. He gasped desperately for breath and hung his
head down between his arms. The dreams had not come since he left
China, now his past was catching up to him again. "Why? Why did I?"
The memory of his betrayal was not his most painful memory, but hardly
something he wished to remember.
He stood and turned on the light inside the room only to find it out.
He glanced over to the small digital clock and realized that there was
a blackout. Thunder rumbled outside and lightening flashed through the
sky. He glanced at the small table just inside the door and frowned
deeply. He knew why he was having the dreams again.
"Battosai kills three!" It was the headline across the newspaper that
lay there on the desk. Someone claiming his name was killing people.
How long would it be before someone found where he was, or who he was?
This had to be stopped.
Whoever it was, they were good. Too good for the police to catch
apparently, despite the brutality of the killings, he knew that from
the descriptions alone.
He lifted the page into his hand and rubbed his brow. "Someone from my
past? Or is it something else?"
Nabiki Tendo frowned as she read the paper again. According to the
reports the one called Battosai was male, something she knew not to be
true. At least she thought so, if that girl was indeed Battosai.
Her father glanced at his eldest daughter and smiled. "Kasumi, what
made you call that girl Ranma?"
The girl looked at her father and blinked. "Father, that was Ranma."
"Really?" the man rubbed his mustache and sighed. "I don't
understand."
"Akane told me her name was Ranma," replied the girl sweetly. "She's a
friend of Ranma's."
Nabiki stopped and dropped the paper. "She was here? Did she have red
hair?"
Kasumi nodded, "She didn't have any clothes on either, it was very
strange."
Both of them coughed out loud and looked away from her going back to
what they were doing. "Why would Battosai be here? And why was she
naked?" Nabiki thought it would be best to forget about it.
++++++++++++++++
Ranma came down the stairs and bowed deeply to the family gathered in
front of him. "It's time Tendo."
Soun looked up at him and nodded. "So it is Saotome."
"I'm sorry things didn't work out," said the boy respectfully.
"Are you going to leave now?" Nabiki looked surprised, but not too
much.
"Yes, I think it would be best if I leave before Akane and Yuriko
return," said the boy honestly.
"Without saying goodbye?" Kasumi looked scandalized.
"If I wait for them, Yuriko might become a problem. You know how badly
she wants to go with me," said the boy as he lifted his bag onto his
shoulders and turned towards the door.
"Akane did not ask you to stay did she?" said Soun a little drearily.
"I'm sorry Tendo, it just didn't work out between us."
"Could you give it a little more time?" asked the man seriously.
"Maybe someday I will, but neither of us is ready to be married. I'm
sorry."
Nabiki stood up from her place at the table and smiled. "Not so fast
Saotome."
Ranma turned to face her and blinked. "Oro?"
"Please stay, I don't want you to leave," she stood up from her place
at the table with a cruel grin on her face.
"What?" Ranma was in complete shock at this. "Why would you..."
"The agreement was for one of us to ask, not specifically Akane. Now,
I'm asking. Please don't go," She placed her hands on her hips and
winked at him.
"Now you can't leave."
"Ranma..." started Soun.
"No, she is right Tendo, I gave my word of honor," he placed his bag
down and smiled at her. "I would like to know why though."
"Simple, I haven't found out what I need to know. There's also this,"
she held up the paper and smirked at him. "Battosai is a friend of
yours isn't she? We'll be safer with the real one around to protect us
won't we?"
Ranma narrowed his eyes slightly at this and she stepped back. "On the
contrary, that makes you targets."
She stepped up to him and smiled despite the uncomfortable gaze he was
giving her. "I won't let you leave Ranma."
The boy sighed and sat down at the table, immediately his normal
demeanor returned. "So, is it Go or Shoghi tonight Tendo?"
Nabiki Tendo smiled to herself as she returned to her seat. There were
other reasons she wanted him to stay. Akane had never gotten this
close to any boy as far as she could remember. There was no need to
voice that though.
++++++++++++++
About an hour later, Akane blinked as she walked into the house and
found Ranma sitting at the table. "He's supposed to be gone!" she
thought to herself darkly.
The reason she took Yuriko out in the first place was so he would have
the chance to leave without any problems from her.
Yuriko smiled obliviously as she sat down next to her. "I was afraid
you'd be gone by now."
"Ranma isn't going anywhere," said Nabiki calmly.
"What?!" screamed Akane angrily. "We had an agreement!" She turned on
the boy and grabbed him by his collar.
"The agreement was that any one of us could ask him to stay. I decided
I like having him around," said her older sister. "Besides, he hasn't
told me what I want to know."
Akane's jaw dropped. "You asked him to stay?"
Kasumi listened in from the kitchen and smiled. Despite the posing,
she could tell Akane was happy. If Nabiki hadn't done that, she would
have, although her reasons would have been different. She continued to
cook dinner cheerfully as her younger sister started chasing her elder
sister around the yard screaming about a long overdue sparring match.
It was so nice when they played together.
++++++++++++
Next Time: What do the murders have to do with Kuno?