"You're mine Ranma Saotome!" Ryoga charged forward. Ranma waited patiently for the umbrella to land hard on his rival's skull. Out of nowhere, a young man dressed in ninja garb flew through the air. His fingers skimmed over the side of the air-born umbrella. Shattering into thousands of pieces, Ryoga's chosen weapon slammed onto his head.
"What the hell…" Ranma sat on his haunches. He picked up a fragment of the former umbrella. It was cold and clear. Looking up, he saw the back of the blue and black outfit the strange guy wore as he quickly bounded across the marketplace. Ryoga lay shivering on the ground nearby, covered in shards of ice. A dealer's booth unexpectedly exploded, showering the vicinity with splinters. Another young man, apparently a little older than Ranma, stood fuming in the place where the stall had been. Ranma stood up and flung the scrap of ice down. "What's your problem, buddy?!" Without a word, the stranger, who also dressed in ninja garb, but noticeably yellow in color turned his head and glared at Ranma. Ranma blinked and he was gone. Out of the corner of his eye, Ranma noticed the black and yellow foot soaring at his head. The ninja landed the blow to the side of his head, which spun Ranma round before he crashed to the ground in a heap. The man took off, disappearing and reappearing as he went.
"C-c-c-old…" Ryoga sat up, and his teeth chattered.
"Whoa…." Ranma was at a loss for words, he had never seen anyone that powerful before.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Later that day at the Tendo dojo, Kasumi Tendo was outside, feeding the fish in the pond. A gloved hand cover her mouth, the other produced a small, blue blade. It wavered above her throat.
"Take me inside," her captor said in a low, determined voice.
Oh my! This can't be good, Kasumi thought to herself. She slowly edged forward toward the house. Carefully, she opened the door with a creak, and they entered the kitchen. Ranma jumped from his seat, as did Akane.
"You!" Ranma barked, as he pointed his finger at Kasumi's assailant.
"Release my sister!" Akane clenched her hands into fists. He let go of Kasumi and shoved her forward. He crushed the ice blade in his hand.
"What do you want ninja-boy?" Ranma's eyes were fixed intently upon the brown eyes of the stranger.
"Ranma Saotome," he began.
"Huh!?" Akane and Ranma said simultaneously.
"You are responsible for this," the young man hissed.
"What now, Ranma?"
"I-I dunno, really!"
"Like I haven't heard that one before," she crossed her arms over her chest. Kasumi tiptoed behind her sister and future brother-in-law.
"Maybe this will help," the ninja's hands hovered over his mask, then reached under his chin. He removed the cowl and mouth cover. He was handsome, as Akane noticed, with gaunt features, and jet-black hair combed back except for a few strands that fell forward to his eyes. The most noticeable feature was a long red-pink scar running down from above his right eyebrow to the top of his right cheekbone.
"Nope, not at all," Ranma broke the dramatic silence. The other man sighed in annoyance.
"Does the word 'China' ring a bell?" Ranma's eyes opened wide.
"You don't mean…"
"Yes."
"You're related to that Jusenkyo guide?" The other guy fell over in disbelief.
"No, you imbecile!" He gritted his teeth. "Maybe you'll understand better when she gets here," he gestured toward the front door.
"Wha?" Ranma was puzzled.
"You're worse than I thought, Ranma," Akane scoffed. The door opened and Ukyo Kuonji walked in. She caught sight of the ninja and abruptly dropped the package of food she had in her arms.
"Sub-Zero!?!?"
* More to come! *