Chapter # 7

Chapter # 7

Nerima, 1990's-

A sound at the door alarmed Kasumi. She set her tea down and walked over to see who it was. Suddenly, Akane tore through the door dragging Kenshin in by the collar. Kasumi raised her hand to her face and commented, "Oh my! Akane, what are you doing to Ranma? You really should try to get along better."

Akane turned her nose up and scoffed, "Hmp. He doesn't deserve my good graces."

Nabiki looked up from a book and studied the situation. Finally she said, "You know, if you fight that much now, I wonder how it'll be when you're married."

Kenshin's face all of a sudden went white. * Married?* "Oro!" he squeaked out.

"And I don't get it," Akane dropped him in front of the table and said, "He's been saying 'oro' so much lately I'm beginning to wonder if he's developed a new catch phrase."

Hearing the commotion, Soun and Genma stopped their shogi game. After a few minutes, everyone sat around the table as Kasumi brought out fresh tea and dumpling snacks. She smiled as she did. Little made her more happy as being helpful in a house where so much help was needed. It was then that she realized she meant to call Dr. Tofu, but decided to put it off till Daddy had finished whatever he wanted to say.

Soun used a somber voice as he stated, "Ranma," Kenshin looked up having gotten used to doing so at the name. "I hope Akane has told you that the dojo has a new challenger."

Himura looked thoughtful for a moment and replied, "Yes, yes she has." He made a mental note that the blue-haired girl was named Akane.

Soun continued, "Good. Our challenger is the notorious Wufei Chang. He is known all throughout China as an excellent warrior who has a remarkable lineage of martial arts forefathers. Our school being grounded in the Anything Goes School of Martial Arts must rise to the challenge and defeat this man."

Akane turned to her father and asked, "Why has he come all the way from China to challenge us? What have we ever done to him?"

"Ah," Soun began, "Wufeu only mentioned in his letter that we were weak and should not fight because of it. I suppose some of our exploits have even reached him there in China! As to why he thinks us weak, I have no idea. But we must be prepared."

Licking her lips Nabiki asked, "Father, is the Chang family a rich one?" Soun sweat dropped.

The ceiling fan above whirred with a hum. It wasn't a completely upsetting sound, thought Kenshin. He had found Ranma's quarters. In it was a single framed picture. It was of the family he'd met, with one difference. A boy dressed in a red Chinese outfit stood in the middle with a goofy grin. He had his arm around Akane in a friendly manner. *So these are the fiancées. * Kenshin thought, * They don't seem to make a bad couple, though everyone around here seems to believe they get into a lot of fights. I'll just do my best not to intrude and keep things peaceful. Though, they are to surely catch on eventually that I'm not the real Ranma.* he sighed and continued to think of his situation at hand.

* I'll have to get out of this somehow. I don't even know where I am.* Happening to look up, he saw a calendar with a picture of a dragon on it. He scanned it over and suddenly gasped. *Year nineteen ninety-…

The sound of heavy footsteps tramped through the dojo. Akane looked up from the cinder blocks she was about to chop. The birds from fluttered away to escape the ruckus. The door to the training hall snapped open surprising Akane.

"So," Nabiki started. She had papers she was filling out on a desk for who knows what. "What's been up with you lately?"

The room remained quiet for a few moments. Everything in it seemed to be a marvel to Kenshin. He finally replied though he never looked at Nabiki, which was just as well because she was paying more attention to her forms anyway. " I guess you could say I'm not the same person as I was before. I've come to some…revelations."

"That's an understatement." She filed the papers away and took out a ball of rubber bands untying them one by one. "You've been acting so different it's almost scary." She continued to take a band and place it on one hand like a loaded gun.

Unsure how to answer, Kenshin said, "Well, how do think I'm supposed to act?"

"Well for one you aren't training every day like you normally do. I haven't seen you do a flip or a kick or even walk on the roof for the past three days. Which is very odd. Especially since that Wufei guy will be here soon." She uncocked her hand sending a rubber band flying at Kenshin hitting him on the chest.

It was obvious that this Ranma person was actually a martial artist, much like Sano. Unfortunately, Kenshin never trained in hand to hand fighting and by the sounds of it, Ranma was very good and very showy, too. He winced as yet another band hit him, this time on the forehead.

Preparing another round she continued, "And you've been carrying that sword around. What's with that? You've never even picked up a katana in your life! I've seen you use a broadsword or a gim once or twice, but a katana? You act as though it were your pride and joy the way you handle it."

It was true! Having used the sakubattou so much, Kenshin loved it like a teddy bear. Realizing his fault, he took his resting hand off the hilt of his sword. Placing his hand there became like second nature, almost appropriate. Once again, he knew near to nothing of broadswords and gims. His fight with Enishi was the only time he ever really had to deal with a gim and the one Enishi used was also a katana in one!

Seeing as how he was still silent, Nabiki let fly another band hitting him in the arm this time. "But most of all," she said seriously, "You're attitude has overwhelmingly subsided to something so meek and mild!" She shot another band which struck him in the neck. "What is with you, Ranma? Normally you would have taken out anyone dumb enough to hit you once out! And here I am pinging you with rubber bands and all you do is sit there! Your usual aggression and pride seem to have been completely swept out of your being!"

Knowing he had to reply, Kenshin just answered with the truth he lived by, "I just don't believe in senseless violence. The world has already seen too much bloodshed, I don't want to contribute to it. That time in my life is past me." How little he knew that Ranma was ready for a fight any day of the week and enjoyed a good one as well!

Nabiki dropped her next rubber band in shock. She came over feeling Kenshin's head. "You don't seem to have a fever!"

Kenshin shook away. Was this Ranma character really so crude and violent? If so, he'd never be able to pass for him till he himself could get back home!

Suddenly, a yelp was heard from the other side of the dojo. * Akane?* Kenshin thought. He ran over the training hall. Whipping open the sliding door, he was appalled by the sight. A tall, brown haired boy wearing a kendoist garb was nearly on top of Akane holding a bouquet of flowers in on had, a rose in his mouth and a ring in the other hand.

A sharp smack resonated through the room when Akane slapped Kuno at the cheek. She broke free of his grasp exasperated. He continued forward sputtering bits of poetry about something like eternal love.

"Akane Tendou!" He said desperately, "Come away with me so that we may live happily ever after as man and wife! I'll save you from that vile Saotome and we can be together forever in the Kuno family mansion where we can live out our days in harmony!"

Rage filled Akane's eyes. She was supposed to be training, not being bothered by this idiot! She protested, "Get away from me, Kuno! I never said I wanted to be your wife! Can't you see I'm training?"

"Training?!" he said surprised. "How my fire for you leaps when I see your determination. Fear not! I will smite any foe that comes between us!"

"Let her be." Kuno and Akane turned around. A dark shadow was silhouetted against the light from the adjoining room. At the door stood Kenshin with his hand on his sword. He would not have anyone harassing the innocent while he was around.

The sword dawned on by the new-comer caught Kuno's attention. He blinked then laughed, "Ho-HO! So you are now going to beat me at my own trade, Saotome? How I have waited for the day for you to take my swordsmanship seriously." With that he dropped his wooden bokken and opened his gi. From inside he pulled out a true katana with a glittering sheath. "Passed on through the Kuno family line, now I, Tatewaki Kuno, possess the legendary katana used to swiftly kill enemies as far back as the Mejei restoration!"

Author's Note: Hey, I've got a couple of ideas swirling in my head. What do you guys think I should do? At any time (More particularly the Grand Finale) should Kenshin and Ranma fight side by side, or to each his own battle? And if so, should the Nerima Wrecking Crew and the Gumi get involved? Either post a comment or email me at FuWarrior@aol.com

~ Draca