CHAPTER 3

SUDDEN REQUEST


Sunrise.

A beautiful condecoration of heavenly proportions adorning
the morning day after day after day.

All is but majestic, and perhaps it would be, should it not
be for dreaming.

Dreams that make a naive young man smile to himself in his
own personal fantasy world, in his room in one of the most costly houses in Tokyo.
Dreams that are filled in a fantaseous world of that which would never come to
pass.

Then again, this has always been the world of Kuno Tatewaki...

*
"Thou hast fallen Saotome. Once again I have overpassed thine
skill with my own. Now make haste and remove thyself from mine view."

"Yessss sir Kuno! But please, don't hurt me!" says Ranma as he
grovels under Kuno's bokken.

Akane and Ranma-chan are both watching intently at Kuno's heroism,
suddenly racing towards him with their arms outstreched. Kuno turns around, his arms
also reaching for his loves. Ranma-chan managed to get ahold of his neck as Akane
grabbed his left arm.

"Kuno, you are such a powerful man!" exclaimed Ranma-chan.

"Thank you for freeing me of the engagement to Ranma. Now we can
finally get married!" said Akane.

Kuno closed his eyes and ran his free hand through his hair.

"Ahh, mine lovely Akane and pig-tailed love," he said as he
wrapped his arms around them. "All is as it should be now!!!"
Tears begin to spill from his eyes.

*

Finally awaking, he sat up immediately, greeted by his life-size
portraits of Akane and Ranma-chan.

He stands up, picking up the bokken that laid next to him and assumed
his ready stance.

"Today is the day. An epifany hath come to me. Mine lovely Akane
and pig-tailed goddess, today I shall smithe Saotome, and thee shall finally be free
of his curse. Worry not my loves, I shall emerge victorious this time!!"

Laughing a stupid laugh, he ran out of his room to get ready for
school.

-------------------------------------------

The tardy bell rings at Furinkan High.

Kuno is standing near the main gate, waiting.

He increases the grip on his bokken in anticipation knowing that any
moment now, Akane and Ranma will be speedily arriving.

There is one drawback though.

The gates are now closing and the couple is nowhere to be seen.

He keeps his stare at the street. He is baffled, since they are
never this late.

"KUNO! Class has started, get out of here!"

Kuno turned around and saw the math teacher yelling out his warning.
Almost not wanting to, he takes one more good look at the street. Nothing.

He slowly turns around and walks out, heading towards his college, smiling
his stupid smile.

*Saotome must have sensed my preparation for our battle and hath run
away in cowardice.* He let out a small laugh as he left.

*

"WHAT!?" yelled out Kuno, but he was quickly silenced as an eraser
hit him right smack in the face.

"Be quiet Kuno," said the Chemistry instructor.

Very slowly, he sank back down on his desk, regaining his composure.

"Tendo Nabiki, tell me more about this situation."

Nabiki held out her hand. "Three thousand yen."

He grunted, but reached into his Kendo uniform and pulled out the money
which he had trouble letting go.

"Thank you," said Nabiki as she counted it; she slipped it into her
pocket.

"Now, if you will kindly instruct me about yesterday's events..."

She smiled that 'I-own-you-now' smile and began. "Ranma was beat
up pretty badly. He's in the hospital now, and Akane is with him." She ignored Kuno's
eyes bulging out and slowly turning red.

"Where can I find them, Tendo Nabiki?"

Once more, she held out her hand. "That's another five thousand yen."

Reluctantly, he paid her again. "He's at Doctor Tofu's clinic.
You just take a turn left before the main gates."

Somehow, Kuno managed to zone out before he heard Nabiki's directions.
He was lost in his own world, trying to explain to himself how someone other than him had
managed to beat Ranma, little alone hospitalize him. *How is it that another but me hath
defeated Saotome? I am the only warrior powerful enough for such a task.* He kept his gaze
on the clock. It would soon be 11 am, school class change soon. He decided he had
to find the truth out for himself once the bell rang.

(RING)

Kuno stood up immediately, holding his bokken. "Saotome, prepare
thyself! Hahahahah!" he yelled as he stormed out the door and out the building.

Instead of wondering where he was headed, the entire class looked at
Nabiki, who was casually counting her recent profits.

"What?"

*

Jumping over the fence, Kuno ran as fast as he could, with the little
directions his subconscious instructed him with towards Tofu's clinic. He kept running,
until he came up to a small building that bore a sign that said: 'Ono-Tofu's Clinic.'

He lingered at the entrance, pondering his next course of actions.

-------------------------------------------

*Nothing.*

Tofu put back yet another book back to its place on his research shelf.

Looking through titles, he picked out another book; any book that
could prove relevant to this situation would be handy.

He'd been at this since early in the morning. He was yet to hear Akane
or Ranma wake up, but he decided that it would be inappropriate to disturb two youths in
love.

Finally, in his latest pick, he found some help. He stood up from his
spot on the floor and sat in his desk. He rumaged through cabinets, until he found his
'Chinese Translations' booklet, which would without a doubt be helpful.

Very slowly, he translated the one page which held some information
concerning the Shegkusa clan.

*Doragon. Kuro. Doro. Sutairu.* He noticed a few Kanji's which he
recognized right away, chinese or no. *Forbidden...*

He was distracted when a loud crashing sound filled the hall.

*

Kuno burst through the sliding doors in some kind of attempt of looking
heroic. He looked in all directions of the room, unsure of where to look.

By process of elimination, he noticed that the first floor was just
a waiting lounge. He also noticed the stairs and decided that was a better bet.

Once on the second floor, he opened door after door, finding nothing
more than beds and all regular gear in a clinic.

He came up to his fifth door; all the others had been empty, but he
had a good feeling about this one.

He opened the door and quickly stepped inside, not bothering to look
the second he turned the nob. His eyes opened wide amd steam almost came out of his ears
once he registered the two sleeping figures on the bed. They were the cur Saotome and
the lovely Akane.

Ranma's right arm was a support for Akane's head; her left arm crossing
his chest and her hand resting on his shoulder. She was nuzzled quite comfortably against
his semi-bare chest.

Almost as much as this displeased him, the latter ideas boiled his
blood. Their embrace seemed passionate, almost intimate... Akane's clothes were all
wrinkled. Ranma was covered up to his waist with a sheet, the rest of him was bare.

Several scenarios flashed through his mind. Scenes of embrace, passion,
love... All between two people who belonged with someone else, according to him al least.

Being of an irrational, and very dense nature, he gripped his bokken
and lifted it above his head.

"SAOTOME! Get thy filthy hands off mine lovely Akane!"

The two were woken up by his rant. They stared at Kuno with sleep filled
eyes as he charged towards them.

Kuno thought of a thousand different ways to slice-and-dice Ranma in
about a half-second.

(KAPOW!)

The rest of his conscious actions were how to figure out a not so
painful landing as he was sent airborne through the window via 'Akane air'.

*

Seeing that the unpleasant nuisance was now flying through lower orbit,
Akane shifted from her kick stance and snuggled to Ranma again. "Morning."

"Morning," responded Ranma.

They just layed there, enjoying the feel of the other's body too much
to notice that Dr. Tofu was at the door, looking a little confused. He blinked at the shattered
window, then at them.

"What was that?" asked Tofu as he inspected the shattered window.

"Nothing, just the alarm clock," responded Akane, who was having a
really hard time recovering from all the snuggling; it was just too comfy to let go.

Tofu walked over to Ranma, looking him straight in the eye. "How
are you feeling?"

"In two words," he began. He tried to sit up now that Akane was standing
next to the bed; pain still consumed every angle of his body. "Like shit."

"I see..." He began pressing certain pressure points on Ranma's
chest, arms and stomach, each time getting a little grunt from Ranma, but he was soon done.

"There. You should feel better now. Try to stand."

Ranma slowly sat up; effectively, he felt much better. He could move
freely and felt no pain. He streched his arms high above his head. He still felt a little
sore, but it felt as if he'd spent a bad night.

"Hey, thanks Doc."

"Don't mention it. Just try to take it a little easy for a time."

Akane sighed in relief. She sat beside Ranma, hugging his arm as she
nuzzled her head on his shoulder.

"Wait a minute, Dr. Tofu. Why didn't you do that sooner?"

"Well, in his previous state, it would have been too painful, even
for him." He left and came back a few miutes later with a breakfast tray.

"I'm betting you're both hungry," he said.

Ranma's stomach grumbled loudly, which made Akane laugh. "You win that
bet doc."

They all laughed; but she was a bit more skeptical. In any event, they
all started eating and idle chit-chat.

-----

*Cur Saotome. Perhaps I must seek another vantage point,* thought
Kuno as he slowly shuffled his way to his estate.

He used his bokken as a third leg. The landing had beeen VERY rough
and he had just one too many sore spots on his head.

*Saotome has enslaved my loves far too long. It is time he be rid of. Permanently.*

Many agonizing minutes later, Kuno was finally seated, properly bandaged, in his room
at the Kuno estate. He sat meditating in front of his two life-sized pictures of
Akane and Ranma-chan. For once though, he wasn't thinking of who to choose.

*The best means to be rid of a sorcerer like he is... is...*

"Saotome! Thou hast entraped my lovely Akane and Pig-tailed girl for far too long!
It is time someone brought an end to your womanizing days!" He was already facing
skyward, his hands balled into fists. Calming himself, he sat back down, and, for once,
thought rationallly.

*Never have I witnessed Saotome bested in combat.* He thought of that rumor he heard just
the day before; someone beating Ranma badly. *I may need to bring help within this matter...*

Producing an ink stone and parchment, he quickly made out a quick note. Once done, he set
it at his side and suddenly dissapeared. Kuno just sat there, unmesmerized.

*Now, Saotome, you shall be once and for all defeated.*

-----


*Nice place... maybe I'll live here one day...*

Iori walked down the very busy Shopping Plaza in the Nerima district. He was mostly
window shopping, not looking for anything in particular.

One particular store that did catch his attention was an antique store, placed
rather well near a book store; a huge statue of a 'Squirrel'? on top of the
door. He entered and found himself in an antique store.

There was nothing to see so he was about to leave, until his eyesight caught a small
glimer of light. It was a small object on display, encased in a small glass displayer.
Just a small locket, nothing more.

It made his heart ache.

He left the shop, trying to free himself of his own personal torment.

*Damn it, get over it...*

His mind found temporary peace in lunch. He was starving.

He walked past the plaza and into a small street crowded with numerous restaurants.
He was about to go into one, when he felt that familiar pull on his spirit.

"I'm hungry, and wish not to play games. Show yourself."

Instead, whatever it had been, it left a note in his hand, and left.

Iori opened the letter and read it's contents.

*Great. Just when I was about to eat.*

He took to the place designated, ignoring his growling stomach for now.


-----


"Hmm, that was great," said Ranma as he put down his plate.

"Thank you. It is good to know," said Tofu.

"It's just as good as Kasumi's..."

*Uh oh...* they both thought at the same time. Within a second, his glasses had
fogged over.

"Well, thank you Akane."

"I'm Ranma, doc."

"Oh, terribly sorry," he said as he picked up his cup and poured the tea on his head.
They both laughed.

Tofu picked up the empty tray and went out the door, closing it behind him...

"Um, doctor?" started Akane, but he had already gone. She looked t Ranma. "That's the
bathroom..."

CRASH

Tofu came out, soaked and laughed nervously. He walked into the wall once more before he
made it out the real door.

Akane, ending her laughter, looked at Ranma.

"So, how are you feeling?"

He kicked the sheet away, trying his hardest not to blush as he only had boxers on.
"Not as bad as I look."

"Hold on a minute..." she said. She poked his chest lightly; he cringed in pain.

"Maybe not."

Akane smiled and rested her head on his shoulder.

"What happened?" he asked as he looked down. She looked and saw he was staring at her
bandage.

He picked her legs up and put her on his lap. She blushed, but did not resist.

"I tried to help with Iori."

He suddenly got very angry.

"Did he do this to you?"

"No, I kicked him when he grabbed you. He's as hard as steel, so I just twisted my ankle
a little, that's all."

"Oh..." His gaze went down.

Worried, she asked, "Ranma, what's wrong."

"(sigh) Thanks for helping, Akane. I don't know what could've happenedif it hadn't been
for you."

Akane smiled and kissed the tip of his nose. "Don't mention it. I wasn't about to
let him kill you."

He smiled and planted a kiss on her lips. She responded with greater abadon.

They were both so afraid of these new, powerful emotions, yet they were so welcome and
needed so badly.

"Umm, I forgot a glass," a voice from behind them said.

They both turned to see Tofu picking up a glass. they both flushed scarlet, but he left
quickly.

Akane sighed. "That is really getting old."

Ranma chuckled. "Hey, where'r my clothes?"

Akane giggled. "Some of the blood dried, so Kasumi took them home to wash. I'll go get
them." She kissed his cheek and stood. She waved her bye at the door and scurried away.

Ranma sighed, running his hand through his hair.

*I have to tell her soon. I don't want to keep this from her.*


-----


Iori stood in front of a massive wodden doorway. According to the note, this was the place.

*Kuno Estate...*

The door opened; a small midget ninja thing was there. "This way please. Master Kuno
is waiting."

Iori was lead through an impressive garden filled with all kinds of flowers, even weird
black ones he'd never seen.

They navegated through the large compound, until Iori foud himself sitting in a small
cabin, mostly secluded from the main house. The midget told him to wait for a few moments,
so he studied the room. It was without furniture, except for a casing for a katana
in it's scabbard, a closet filled with blue kendo uniforms and two huge pictures of
girls. One he recognized as the Tendo girl; the other was familiar, but a little hard to place.

After a few moments, the door opened and a young man came in. He sat in front of Iori.
He was tall, and looked to be strong.

"Shegkusa, Iori?"

"Yes. Why am I here?"

"Patience. You are in presence of the magnificent Tatewaki Kuno, blue thunder of Furinkan
High and rising star in the Kendo world!"

Iori raised one eyebrow. "Uh huh. What do you want?"

Kuno stood. "Come. let us take a walk."

He led Iori back outside, to the garden. Kuno absently played with a small dove that was
perched on one of the bushes.

"I shall be blunt. I require your services."

"I see. What for. What's in it for me?"

"There is nothing out of my reach. But, I need one piece of information."

"And that would be?"

"It has reached my knowledge that you defeated the sorcerer Saotome."

"So?"

"I wish you to dispose of him. His women-enslaving days must come to an end, and I see
no one but yourself fit for such a task."

Iori looked at Kuno. "So you want him out of the picture?"

"Indeed. He has enslaved the lovely Tendo Akane. She must be freed along with the pig-tailed
girl of his evil clutches."

Iori chuckled. "No."

Kuno turned to look at him. "What did you say? You dare deny a request of me?"

"I'm sorry, but I work for no one. Especially idiots like yourself." He turned and walked
towards the gates.

Kuno's blood began to boil. How dare he not accept. He would be punished.

"No one dares to cross me!" he yelled at Iori, who ignored him. His bokken materialized
in his hand as he charged towards him.

"Feel the wrath of heaven!!"

Kuno reached him, who appeared uninterested. He brought the bokken down hard...

CRACK

He stared baffled at the broken bokken. The other half dug itself in the ground.
He looked at Iori; the spot near his left shoulder was bleeding, staning his long-sleeve
white shirt.

Iori turned to look at Kuno, then at his shoulder.

"And I actually liked this shirt!"

Kuno didn't have time to react when Iori dissappeared, but reappeared half a second later.
He felt inmense pain; Iori had hit him with his elbow directly on the solar plexus.
He grabbed his chest in pain, but then he felt a hand on his neck. He found very difficult
to breath.

Iori stared at Kuno, death in his eyes. With inhuman power, he lifted Kuno off his feet
and held him in the air. With his right hand, he touched the bleeding wound. There was
a quick sizzle, a grunt and then he removed his hand, revealing a cautiorized wound.

"I should kill you for this. No one ever provoques me."

Kuno could only try to gasp for air.

"Just for today, I will overlook your stupidity, with one warning. Leave Saotome alone.
He is MY opponent."

"Cur..." Kuno said, findind it impposible to move.

"Just to proove my point, here's a small sample, Shakespere. If you want more, you know
how to get it."

Iori concentrated his ki, reaching out with it.

Kuno stared as Iori let him go, but he was still suspended in air. He noticed a dark aura
quickly surrounding him. Once he was engulfed, he felt as if he was being constricted.
He tried to move, but still couldn't; the pain made it even worse.

"Never 'cross' me, boy," he said as his pupils shrunk. His eyes turned completely black;
he moved his hands, his palms facing Kuno. Suddenly, Kuno went flying, crasing into the
stone wall. The dark aura dissappeared; he slid off the wall, which now had a 'Kuno'
shaped indentation.

Unable to withstand the punishment, Kuno sank to his knees and would have fallen face first,
if Iori hadn't grabbed his hair. He was twenty meters away. No human could move that quickly.

"Need I emphasize again, bokken boy?"

"You lowly..." he started, but was silenced as his fell unconscious. Iori let go of him
and let him fall into the ground.

Iori stared at Kuno. He shook his head.

*This one is desperate. I wonder if they all are? Anyway, time for lunch.*

He cleared the stone wall in a leap and walked away, back to the restaurant district, either
unaware or uncaring of the figure that stared at him.


*****


Ukyo had followed him all day. Through the plaza, the restaurants and now here. What she
had seen had literally left her shaking in fear.

Here was a man who could easily kill anyone should he want. For a moment, she thought
he would kill Kuno, but was relieved that he didn't.

She was worried though.

If he could take a hit that strong and handle his body that quickly, what else was he
capable of? She felt stupid for following him around, but needed to be sure for herself
that this man was...

Well, was...

Something! She didn't know how to explain it, she just knew she had to know. With that
in mind, she left in the opposite direction, hoping to catch to him by using this
short-cut.




Authors Notes

I have a few things to say.

I know it has been well over a month since I last updated. I even removed this story.
The reason was something all writers fear, loss of inspiration. I had lost all
desire to continue, despite many attempts to not do so.

It wasn't until today that I found that spark again.

A writer mainly writes for oneself, but also for those who read the work. If it
wasn't for one review I got, I would not have posted this.

Thank you, 'Ranma Fan'. It was by your desire to read this that I found that inspiration
again. I WILL finish this story, along with the others I have and those that are planned.
I promise!


BlackDragon