Chapter # 5

Chapter # 5

Nerima, 1990's-

The streets of the Nerima District were crowed this time of year. Tourists and such. Luckily the blue sky hadn't changed nor the tolerance for weird things its inhabitants had developed, for surely, Kenshin was a peculiar sight. He tried his best to remain casual and not look so awestruck. The towering buildings, the roaring motorcars, and the unfamiliar faces started to wear on him. Occasionally he'd gawk at his surroundings just trying to take it all in. It would be at these times he'd wonder, * What have I gotten myself into?*, * How is the rest of the gumi?* and, * I hope that Ranma boy is doing well and hasn't messed things up. If he's in my same situation, I hope he hasn't done anything foolish.*

Kyoto, mid 1800's-

Ranma clutched his pounding heart as he gazed his proximity. Chickens ran loose, the roads were made of dirt, the all women wore kimonos, and all the men were dressed like Kuno! He whimpered knowing he'd screwed up somewhere along the way. Probably from the beginning and he knew it, too! In his hopelessness he cried out , "WHERE ON EARTH AM I?!!!" He huffed and puffed for breath now truly realizing the horrors the real Lost Boy must face on a daily basis.

His outburst got the attention of about everyone in the market. Recognizing the voice, Tae came running out of the Akabeko she worked at. She gasped as she saw Ranma on his knees in the middle of the street. He looked incredibly haggled and discombobulated. She ran over putting her arms about him. "Kenshin-san!" she cried, "What's wrong with you?" She helped him up and led him into the restaurant for a seat.

As Tae got him a drink and a snack on the house Ranma was in deep thought. He sat with his elbows on the table. One hand fiddled with a chopstick and the other rubbed his tight shoulder. He did not look at anything as he thought, but had a piercing stare non the less. His mind was spinning with what could have possibly happened. * Ok, I evidently made it to the light, I'm not dead, and I'm sure as heck not in Nerima.* He slumped in his seat lazily slapped his hand to his head. * I must'a looked like a total idiot at that dojo! They found me and now I'm stuck here for who knows how long.*

The sound of footsteps made him look up. The waitress, Tae, was back with a serving disk full of food. She set them in front of Ranma happily. She smiled as she worked and said with vigor, "Eat up, Kenshin-san! I got you jasmine tea to drink, but for food I could only throw together leftovers from the cook's table." She finished her sentence with a hearty grin waiting for an answer.

The food smelled delicious like any home cooked meal should. Looking down, it was composed of many very traditional Japanese things. He lifted his glance back at Tae who was still waiting for his response. Ranma picked up his chopsticks and dug in. Tae was in shock while he inhaled all that she brought him in thirty seconds flat.

Feeling satisfied, Ranma patted his belly with an, "Aah…Thanks for the meal Tae."

"Uh, sure, Kenshin-san."

Ranma met her comment with an inquisitive tone, "Why's it everybody around here keeps callin' me 'Kenshin'? That some sort of title?"

Tae looked shocked. She placed her small hand on his broad shoulder and asked, "You really aren't feeling well, are you? What else would I call you? Himura maybe? You have no nick-names." She then turned away for a moment and continued, "That is, unless you want to be referred to again as the Hitokiri Battousai."

Ranma fell to the floor in a severe fault. He pulled his disheveled self back up and quivered, " 'Murderous assassin?!' No! Don't call me that! Kenshin is good! Kenshin is fine! I'm all about the Kenshin!" With that, he marched out the door and proceeded on his way.

Tracing his steps back to the dojo wasn't easy. Everything was foreign to him here. Nothing familiar at all. Still, he kept thinking of possibilities. * After all that, there's only one conclusion: I've somehow traveled back in time. But to when? And how?* Then it hit him hard. * That guy in the hole I ran into, that must be that Kenshin guy! There's no other way to explain how he dodged me with such expertise, especially if he was a trained assassin. Assassin! That means he landed in my time! With Akane! I gotta get some answers now before she gets hurt!* He ran all the way back to the Kamiya dojo holding back what he feared worse, that she had already been hurt.

The gumi first saw Ranma skidding through the streets at top speed towards them. "There he is!" shouted Yahiko. Ranma just charged forward not anticipating to meet them on the other side of the curve. Yahiko's anger took the best of him. He took his bokken and tore after Ranma.

Kaoru observed him too late. She called out to him, "Yahiko! What are you doing? Get back here!"

But he did not care. Kenshin, for whatever reason had dishonored them all and himself, and for that he was going to pay. He cried out ahead of him, "How dare you Kenshin! Take this! GAA!" He thrust his wooden sword at the oncoming Ranma.

Someone was on the attack! Ranma reacted quickly jumping to avoid the strike. He vaulted off the boy's head landing softly behind him. Unfortunately, Yahiko was not trained for such treatment and crashed to the ground.

Ranma turned to face his opposition to realize that it was that same little boy. He walked up to where Yahiko was lying in the dirt and bent over to talk to him. He said in a very casual voice, "Hey, you're that kid, right?"

Yahiko's eyes blazed with fire. "Kid, huh?" He sprouted up for another strike when Sanosuke grabbed him by the shirt and pulled him back.

"Not right now." he said. "Kenshin, I think you and I had better talk."

Understanding how things must have appeared, Ranma nodded and followed the group back to the dojo without saying a word.