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Ranma 1/2: New Challenges
The Phoenix and the Dragon
Chapter 2




"Can... we stop here... to take... a rest?" asked an out-of-
breath Hikaru Gosunkugi, who promptly collapsed onto a fallen log
without waiting for a response.

Yuri turned and huffed. "Not again! At this rate, we'll never
catch up to my brother!"

"Calm down, Yuri-honey," Ukyo soothed, placing a hand on her
friend's shoulder. "He's not as physically able as the rest of us." She
wondered at the change in the other girl. Before, Yuri had been
friendly, cheerful, and bubbly. But ever since this trouble with her
brother first began, she had begun to become more distressed, upset, and
short-tempered.

The ninja girl rolled her eyes. "Oh fine. Look, I'm grateful
you were able to help us track my brother, but I just don't see why you
had to come along." She was referring to her brother's amulet that
initially allowed Kenji to find their old house. The Gosunkugi boy had
been able to magically alter it so that it pointed towards her brother,
though only she could use it.

Hikaru had wondered why he had come along as well, since
traveling was not really his thing. The old monk had told him to seek
out the Mage Clans, and then hinted that journeying with this group
would lead to that. All he could figure, was that if there was the
slightest chance he could help Ariko, he would do it. He missed her
greatly, as she had been his greatest friend and accomplice in the
magical arts.

"Leave him alone!" Selah ordered, coming to Hikaru's defense and
sitting down alongside him on the log. "I'm not as strong as you are,
either!"

"You didn't have to come either!" Yuri countered. She knew that
Selah had come because the young water mage did care about Kenji as
well, and wasn't about to be left behind.

"Yuri!" Ukyo reprimanded, somewhat shocked.

"Sorry!" the ninja girl barked, then leapt into a tree to rest
on a branch away from everyone else. She sensed Konatsu take up a
position in a tree branch just above her, but he didn't say anything.
She hadn't entirely forgiven him for letting her brother get away, and
now he was playing servant and bodyguard for her, in an obvious attempt
to win back her favor. It was actually starting to get irritating, which
only contributed to her bad mood.

Back on the ground, Ukyo shook her head, then turned to the two
mages. "Well, it is getting on towards noon. Why don't you two get a
fire started and I'll go catch lunch." The chef set her pack down to
rest against the log, then at a nod from Selah, she headed off the path
and into the forest, readying a couple of throwing spatulas.

"Are you alright, Hikaru-san?" Selah asked, searching his face.

He nodded, finding the attention that this female was giving
him somewhat flustering. [Think about Ariko!] he commanded himself. "A-
ah, I'm f-fine."

She smiled slightly, thinking his shy routine was kinda cute.
"Well, us mages have gotta stick together." [Think about Kenji!] she
berated herself.

What followed was one of those awkward silences that you know
was coming, but could do nothing about. Instead, the pair of adolescents
thought about two other people entirely.




Miyo sat in her study, contemplating.

Her thoughts we not focused on any one subject, instead
flitting back and forth on many different things. However, foremost
among these thoughts were the clear crystal ball resting in its stand on
the table in front of her, and the small object in her hand. Both were
enigmas to her, though they were two completely different mysteries.

Or were they?

The old monk had given both to her. The crystal ball had just
shown up in her study, but after the last story segment, he had revealed
that it had come from him. On the other hand, the small key in her hand
had been given to her nearly a week ago from the old man directly. He
hadn't said a word, just handed it to her. She figured it was her
responsibility to comprehend the meaning behind it.

So far, touching the key to the crystal ball had done nothing.
And the cloudless sphere had yet to offer up the promised "last story"
despite repeated attempts. So what was the key for?

The door to the study opened and a figure dressed in black
entered. His shadow was not accurately cast from the room's signal lamp,
but instead seemed to move around of it's own accord.

"Greetings, Toshi-kun," Miyo said. "What brings you by?"

He shrugged. "The folks are off on another spiritual quest
again."

Miyo nodded. She knew him, perhaps better than anyone else,
even though he never said much. His parents were never around a lot, as
they seemed less inclined to deal with the physical and material planes,
preferring the metaphysical and spiritual ones instead. Which partially
explained why they did not raise much of a fuss when he was kidnapped by
the Mage Clans nearly a year ago.

"Anything interesting happening here?" he asked in a casual
manner as he filled a glass of water from the sink.

The fortuneteller reached up and placed the key on the table.
"Not really. Despite my efforts, I cannot figure out why the crystal
ball remains blank to me, nor can I discover what this key is for."

Toshi sat down across from her and picked up the key, studying
it. It did appear to be a key, cut and shaped from pure sapphire. A
string had been run through a small hole in the handle, enabling it to
be worn as sort of a necklace. Also, it could have just been the
reflection from the lamp on Miyo's table, but the key seemed to glow
with its own inner light. Toshi chalked it up to his own imagination
though.

He set it back down on the table. "Well, it obviously unlocks a
door. Which door is the question." He reached for the glass of water and
began to drink.

Miyo sighed. "Well, I've done everything I can to try and
figure it out. Tarot cards, mantras, and even Hikaru's voodoo." She
smiled suddenly and looked up. "Of course, now that you're here, we
could try using tantric magic." She was rewarded when the normally
unflappable spiritualist choked and spit out the water.

Toshi caught her coy grin. "What!?" He knew that tantra was the
art of using sexual energy for magic.

"Just kidding," Miyo teased. "It's good to see there are some
things that can get to you."

The spiritualist frowned. "Feh."

The scary part was, he couldn't positively be certain if she
was really serious or not.




"So, this is the vaunted home of the Musk?"

"Yes, my lord Shogun," Darmondo replied. He turned his gaze, as
everyone else did, to the large stone castle that was literally carved
out of a mountainside. It was actually well hidden in this small valley,
cut off from modern civilization. A narrow pass led into the forested
plateau, and on the opposite end was the ancient home of the Musk
Dynasty.

Behind the main line of generals, Kato stood, leaning up
against a tree while he studied the situation, and more importantly, the
Shogun. Clad in the same ebony samurai armor as most of the troop, this
commanding figure seemed to radiate power. But to Kato, it felt
unnatural. He remembered a week ago, when the Shogun had climbed out the
swirling vortex in the Rogues sanctuary, his armor scratched and muffed,
even cracked in some places. Damage that had told of a powerful
struggle.

But now the Shogun's armor was polished and whole, even the
black mask under his helmet which covered his face completely, except
for the eyes. Kato had only gotten a single glimpse of those eyes, but
they were as jet-black as the armor and seemed somehow hollow or empty.
But he had never seen the Shogun's face.

Kato's gaze flickered to his companions. Most of the others
were clad in bits and pieces of the armor, like Zin and Zan. But he
noticed that Kang had refused, saying he only needed his twin katana
that were strapped to his back, the hilt of the two weapons poking over
each shoulder. Mongol had also refused, relying on his giant battle axe
and huge muscles instead. Kang and Mongol appeared to have known each
other before coming to work for the Rogues, as they tended to stick
together much the same as the twin brothers, Zin and Zan.

"Ah, it appears General Genshi has issued the challenge,"
Darmondo stated, his voice light and amused. "And that must be the
little Dragon Prince descending from his high throne. This will prove to
be a most enlightening match."

"I do believe you are right, Darmondo," the Shogun replied that
mid-range light tenor-ish tone that Kato had become accustomed to. He
was quite disturbed to hear it, as it was slightly distorted, as if two
people were speaking at once. And it was nothing like the gruff,
rumbling voice he expected to hear from the dark warlord.

The Shogun leaned forward slightly and rested his forefingers
on his chin. "I do believe this will be an interesting match."




Akari dismounted from Katsunishki and let herself into the
cabin, as had been her habit almost everyday. Her darling Ryoga had been
staying here for the past couple of months, learning from his sensei. It
was here that she had finally found him after losing the fight against
Sakura, and it was here that she had won him back.

She smiled at the memory as she placed her basket full of
treats on the kitchen table. Being without Ryoga had hurt her so very
much inside, but when he was with her, she felt a warmness that
permeated every part of her being and made life seem like heaven.

The sound of kiyahs and grunts could be heard outside, leading
Akari to conclude they were training in the backyard again. Ryoga sure
did work hard, she mused. But that was okay, because it just meant that
he would be hungry for her specially and lovingly prepared pig-shaped
riceballs. Preparing some tea to go with the food, Akari placed the
entire lunch on a tray, then headed out back.

Sure enough, Ryoga was sparring against his sensei. She smiled
in admiration that they danced around each other, striking out with
kicks and punches that were blocked with an ease that belied the high
skill involved.

Without warning, Ryoga's sensei backflipped away from his
student and landed several yards away. Instead of following, Ryoga stood
there and waited as his teacher pulled several black bandanna's off his
bald head.

"Are you ready, Ryoga?" the sightless sensei asked.

Ryoga grinned as he spread his feet apart slowly and brought
his hands up, his fingers half-curled. "Anytime."

Akari began to get a little worried, but told herself that her
fiance and his teacher did stuff like this all the time and that they
knew what they were doing. Of course, that didn't prepare her for what
happened next.

Ryoga's sensei launched bandanna after bandanna, and they spun
like shuriken as they curved and homed in on their target. Akari
expected Ryoga to dodge at the last second or launch some of his own. So
she was caught totally by surprise when Ryoga just stood there and
allowed all six, incredibly-sharp projectiles to strike at the exact
same time.

Akari's eyes rolled up into her head as she collapsed.




"State your purpose for imposing your troops on the land of the
Musk Dynasty," Prince Herb intoned, crossing his arms over his chest.
"And be quick about it."

"Straight and to the point," General Genshi said, his face
betraying no emotion. "I can appreciate that. Very well, I shall let you
know our demands. It has come to our attention that our enemies, the
Mage Clans, have sought shelter in your castle. They are very dangerous
and cunning foes, and would not hesitate to betray you and take your
castle for themselves. My lord Shogun wishes to enter and root them out
for you."

Herb frowned. The more this Genshi talked, the less Herb liked
him, but there was something about the man that put the Dragon Prince
ill at ease. He took a moment to study this emissary, trying to figure
it out what it was.

A long black cloak was draped on the general's shoulders, not
quite hiding the black samurai armor underneath. His short, equally-dark
hair was tied into a short top knot, and matched his the short mustache.
His angular face was hard, yet revealed nothing of the inner workings
which motivated him. All in all, he presented a picture of something...
otherworldly; something unnatural. No doubt, the intent was to unnerve
his opponents, but Herb was not a man to affected by such a display.

"The Mage Clans are under the protection of the Musk Dynasty,"
Herb replied at last. "I thank you for your concern, but I assure you
the Prince of the Musk is more than capable of handling the matter."

The General's black eyes flashed. "I am afraid that will not be
possible. The Mage Clans are an enemy of the Rogues, and must be
eliminated at all costs. To stand against my liege is sure folly. I'm
sure a noble ruler such as yourself, can see the best way to help your
people is to cooperate with us."

"I have heard enough," Herb told him, his voice rising slightly
and not hiding the irritation he felt. "Tell your Shogun to take your
troops and go. The Musk shall not be intimidated by the likes of mere
dogs like you."

Genshi's ebony mustache twitched slightly, the only outside
sign of his inward emotions. "I'm sorry you feel that way.' He flipped
back his cloak and reached behind his body, bringing out a small scythe
in each hand. The handles were about eight inches in length, with
curving ten inch crescent blades that twinkled in the sunlight. "But my
Shogun will not be denied. Face me, Prince of the Musk, and if you win,
we shall withdraw. But if you lose, not only will you forfeit the Mage
Clan members you protect, but your life and the lives of your subjects."

Herb smiled grimly and let his ki begin to swirl and grow
around him. "I am the descendant of a long line of Dragons. Very few can
rival my power. It would not be wise for you to foolishly challenge me.
But if you insist, the Musk Prince will accommodate you."




"How was your match with our son, dear?" Nodoka asked as her
husband entered the house.

"The boy has learned much, and there is not much more I can
teach him," Genma replied in an even tone as he sat down by the table.
"Physically, he has surpassed me, or at least he thinks he has."

Nodoka frowned slightly as she entered the dining room to sit
across from her husband. Normally, Genma's voice was filled with pride
at Ranma's abilities, but this time his voice was carefully controlled.
"What happened, Genma? What is going on?"

To her surprise, Genma sighed heavily as he studied the hands
in his lap. "Ranma has long said I have nothing left to teach him.
Today, I decided to challenge that assumption of his."

Nodoka's hand flew to cover her open mouth, her eyes showing
surprise and worry. "Oh, Genma, you didn't! Why now? Of all the times to
do this, surely it can wait..."

"No," Genma told her firmly, shaking his head. His eyes came up
to meet hers. "It has to be now. It might very well be too late if I
wait. With what the old monk told us, and the history of our clan, I
have to believe that the event we have waited for is close at hand." He
pushed his glasses up with his right forefinger as he closed his eyes.
"In two weeks, either I will defeat Ranma and teach him that the student
has yet to surpass his master, or he will defeat me and prove that he is
ready for the challenge ahead."

"Oh, Genma," Nodoka whispered, somewhat brokenly. "What am I
going to do with you?" Her gaze dropped. "And my son, my poor son." Her
deep blue eyes flashed. "Promise me you will be careful?"

Genma kept his eyes closed. "You know I cannot." He didn't
bother to explain further, knowing that he could not make such a
promise. He had never made things easy for his son before, and he was
not about to start now.

This had to be a fight only one of them could walk away from.




"Akari, are you alright?"

The young teenage girl moaned as she felt a wet cloth applied
to her forehead. "Ryo-chan, I had the worst nightmare." She blinked her
eyes open, relieved to see her fiance's worried face looking down at
her. His blind sensei was next to him.

"It's okay, Akari-chan," Ryoga soothed. "You just fainted."

Akari slowly sat up with the help of her fiance. "I dreamed
your sensei killed you-" she stopped, now seeing the blind teacher
retying several black bandanna's around his head.

Ryoga's gaze turned sheepish while his sensei chuckled. "Um,
sorry you had to see that. I should have warned you."

"It was real?" Akari asked in disbelief. Her eyes flicked back
and forth from the bandanna's to her beloved's unmarred clothes. To re-
assure herself, she let her hand brush against the front of Ryoga's
shirt. "But... I saw... how?"

"What you saw was the Hibiki-Ryuu Ougi: Genbu Dogi Bouei," the
sightless old man explained. "It allows the user to make his clothes as
hard as steel, by focusing the power of his ki and the earth. And Ryoga
managed to master it in under a month," he added with a hint of pride.

Ryoga sat down beside Akari and closed his eyes, using a
bandanna to wipe the sweat off his brow. "But it's incredibly draining.
I can't keep it up for more than a 30 seconds at most."

Akari thought over. [The Hibiki School Ultimate Secret? Black
Turtle Battle Costume Defense?] Considering what it did, she supposed it
made sense. Then an odd thought struck her. [Wait a minute, Hibiki
school?] She looked up and fixed the old man with a curious gaze.

"Sensei, if that technique is from the Hibiki school, why do you
know it?"

Ryoga's eyes snapped open. "Sensei?"

If anything, the old man's expression became even more amused.
"Oh? Didn't I tell you? I'm your grandfather, Hibiki Toramasa. I'm
actually surprised you father didn't tell you about me." The old man
smirked, the sun glinting off his bald head.

"But... but... why didn't you tell me this before!?" Ryoga
demanded to know, clearly surprised. "And I thought my grandparents were
dead!"

"You mean you never knew his name?" Akari asked her fiance.

Ryoga's looked embarrassed. "It, uh, sorta never, um, came up."

Akari blinked at that.

Toramasa chuckled some more. "What made you think I was dead?
No, don't tell me, its meaningless. In any event, you've learned the
last of the family secret techniques. I'm just disappointed your father
didn't teach you, but I have no complaints." He grinned, his teeth
slightly yellow and a bit crooked. "It was fun! You were a good student,
once you gave up that silly revenge idea."

"Um, yeah," Ryoga replied sheepishly, looking down. He really
hoped his grandfather didn't find out that Ryoga was still planning on
challenging Ranma to a formal duel, to make up for the missed one Ryoga
was four days late to, all those years ago.

A sudden thought struck the lost boy, and his head came up
again. "So, does this mean I'm a master of our family's school?"

This time, Toramasa burst out laughing. "A master!? Oh ho,
that's rich!" The old blind man arched backwards, as his loud, rolling,
belly laugh sounded throughout the yard. He eventually wound down,
wiping a tear from his closed eyes. "No, not yet. You must pass these
techniques on, before you can be considered a master."

Ryoga laughed confidently. "Ha! That's easy!"

Toramasa cocked an eyebrow. "Really? Then who will be your
student? Your fiancee perhaps?"

That brought up both teens short.

Akari hesitantly pointed at herself. "Me? But I don't think..."

Ryoga was just as hesitant. "I don't know..."

"If you cannot teach your fiancee, how can you teach your
children?" Toramasa told his student in a gruff voice. "Your father
could not do this. And I think Akari-chan is capable of learning at
least some of the techniques."

"Sensei?" Ryoga questioned, glancing back and forth from his
sensei to his fiancee.

"Her ki, Ryoga," Toramasa explained. "While not as strong as
yours, it is stronger than that of a normal girl. You did say she does
have some martial training." He smirked. "And she has been wearing your
bandannas."

Akari self-consciously fingered the yellow and black striped
bandannas she wore, the one around her forehead and the one that tied
off her hair into a ponytail. "But... Are you sure..."

The blind old man sighed, suddenly looking his age instead of
the spry, energetic teacher he usually appeared to be. "At any rate, I
think this is enough discussion for now." He grinned as his expression
reverted to his usual happy-go-lucky facial cast. "I do believe Akari-
chan has made us a lovely picnic lunch!"




"I wonder what they're talking about?" Lime wondered aloud.

Tojiko's grip on the ancient stone battlements tightened. "Most
likely, they are discussing my clansmen." [But will Herb give us up? Or
is the word of the Musk as good as I've heard?]

"Well then, why hasn't Herb beat him up?" Mint inquired.

"I doubt very much that this will end without a fight," Sage
explained solemnly. "Young Prince Herb, while powerful, still carries a
strong air of arrogance. And this army has tracked your clansmen, Sir
Tojiko, all the way here. I do not think they shall give up so easily."

"I fear you are right, old one," the mage replied. "And I think
the time of talking has come to an end."

The small group quieted down, as the man in black armor pulled
his cape back, and withdrew two weapons from behind his back.

"It begins," Sage intoned.




"If you will not leave our lands, I shall remove you myself,"
Herb told the general while raising his hand, palm open. "Begone!"

The smirk on Genshi's face lasted all of a second, before power
exploded from Herb's hand, engulfing the other man in a spectacular
blast of green ki energy. The ground where the General was standing
exploded in a shower of rocks and dirt, obscuring Herb's opponent.

The Dragon Prince allowed a grim smile to appear on his face as
he lowered his hand. "Pity, he never really had a chance."

"Oh, I have more than a chance, little Prince," came a sardonic
voice.

Herb's eyes widened as the dust cleared, revealing the general
still standing, his arms crossed in front of his body in a guarding
gesture. "I see you are made of sterner stuff. Very few can handle my
level of power. But can you handle my full strength?"

"Let us see!" the other man declared, then sprung forward,
scythe's arcing towards the Dragon Prince it incredible speeds.

Herb blocked one on his gauntlet, then sidestepped the second
one. The weapon didn't completely miss, tearing a long gash in his cape.
The Musk Prince backpedaled as Genshi continued the assault, until an
opening appeared in the general's offensive. Herb took it, slipping in a
fist to rain several dozen blows on his opponent's armored chest. The
ebony breastplate held, but Genshi was forced back from the force of the
kinetic energy.

The Dragon Prince followed up on the assault by leaping in the
air. "Ryu Sei Hisho!" Unleashing the Dragon Spirit Flight, Herb arced
around Genshi, rebounding a dozen ki sphere's off the ground to pelt the
general from all sides.

Genshi snarled as he was buffeted back and forth by Herb's
attack, but managed to weather the assault. As his enemy landed, Genshi
sprung forward once more, nearly catching Herb off-guard. Still, the
Prince was able to get his defenses back up, blocking a flurry of scythe
strikes on his arm guards. Sparks flew as the blades sliced into armor,
showering both combatants in a rain of glowing embers.

Herb retreated once more under Genshi's dance of blades,
finding the other man's defense much tighter this time. Growling in
anger, Herb lashed out left arm, blocking another strike on his gauntlet
while simultaneously gathering ki into his hand. There was flash of
light as the Dragon Prince's ki lanced into a green blade, leaving a
dull green trail diagonally up Genshi's chest.

The surprised general was forced back a step, then his
expression turned back into a smirk as the line of ki faded, with no
apparent damage. "Now do you see? Your power is ineffective against the
strength of our Shogun."

Herb's countenance clouded, his ire rising. [That blow should
have severed him in half!] "The battle is not yet over."

"Indeed, it is not," Genshi agreed.

There was a slight pause, then both men rushed forward,
clashing once more in their deadly duel of flying blades and flashing
green energy. In the midst of their confrontation, Herb fired a powerful
ki blast straight down, detonating the ground in a spectacular shower of
stone and rock, and propelling the two men into the air. Herb was
slightly less effected by the move, being prepared for it, but the spray
of sharp stone still stung where it impacted skin. Still, he was able to
lash out with several powerful blows, rocking the general's head up. He
followed up with a couple of bone-crushing punches to his midsection and
a spin kick to the general's shin, using all of his ki-enhanced
strength. Herb grinned as he felt the armor buckle slightly.

Then Genshi struck back as the Earth reasserted it's force to
bring the two men down, forcing Herb back on the defensive. But this
time he didn't have the ground to brace him against the general's
powerful blows. The Dragon Prince spun backwards in mid-air, taking a
slice on his left leg before he could reassert his ki energies and
stabilize himself, then lash out with another Dragon Energy Sword to
counter Genshi's attack.

The head of one of the scythes went spinning away, but that
didn't stop the general from landing a backfist on the prince's cheek,
leaving his chest open for the other weapon. Herb recovered and tried to
back off, but felt a cool breeze caress the light wound on his chest.
Enraged, he brought his hand up, gathering as much of his ki as he
could. The ensuing blast sent Genshi tumbling away to crash into the
ground, but the recoil caused Herb to land badly as well. His ankle
stretched too far and the Musk Prince fell.

Silence settled over the battlefield as the two warriors lay in
the dirt, temporarily unable to continue their attacks.




"Ranma?" Natsume asked. "What is it?"

"I... don't know," he replied, confused.

The two were in the dojo with Akane and Kurumi, practicing
their skills together after there half day of school, when Ranma
suddenly stopped. His wife and the new youngest Tendo stopped their
sparring as well, sensing something going on. Ranma walked to the open
door and scanned the horizon, not knowing what he was looking for.

Akane came up beside him, her brow creased in concern. "Ranma?"

Ranma shrugged, not knowing how to phrase what he had felt.
"Something's wrong," he said at last.

"What's wrong?" Akane inquired gently. "I don't sense anything."

Behind them, Natsume and Kurumi glanced at each other in
confusion, but they remained silent.

"I just felt something awhile ago," Ranma repeated. "As if
something had gone wrong, something powerful. I can't explain it." He
shook his head.

"I don't feel anything," Kurumi offered.

"Nor I," Natsume added. "Perhaps you are merely mistaken."

Akane bit her lip, equally mystified. "Ranma..." She placed a
hand on his shoulder.

"I just know, that whatever happened, it wasn't good," he said
after a few moments. His gaze turned to the setting sun. "Not good at
all."



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

Author's notes:
Sorry this took so long to get out, but I believe I overextended myself
on the stories I'm working on. Can't say when the next chapter will come
out, but then, you know that by now. ^_^

As always, if you have any questions, comments, and/or death threats,
please feel free to send them along!