A Ranma 1/2-Rurouni Kenshin fusion Return of the Warrior

By: Q Ranma 1/2 and Rorouni Kenshin do not belong to me and are being used solely for non-profit purposes.

Kasumi stood in the doorway of the guest room with a look of disappointment. 'It's been two days now...I keep hoping that he'll show up again saying that he changed his mind and decided to stay. There's hardly anything still here to remind us of him.' "Poor auntie."

While Kasumi tried to clean the guest room before her thoughts became anymore depressed, Nodoka sat in the dojo. She had spent much of her time in their since her son departed. 'He seemed the most happy when he was in here, training in the art he loved so much. The same art that has lead him to leaving me again.'

Soun and Genma, as per norm, were sitting at the shogi table. As much as they hated the fact that Ranma left on his own, as martial artists they understood that some things just couldn't be ignored.

"Do you believe Ranma can return from facing off against a group of fighters trained from that school?" Soun asked his old friend.

"The boy has a knack for beating the odds Tendo. I'm sure he'll return." Genma for once spoke of his son with out sounding boisterous, but instead as a matter of fact.

"Still Saotome, they all use invincible techniques, can he really take on that many?" Soun pressed on.

"He's not going at it alone, Lee will be with him. They work well together, even if they'll never admit it." Genma never looked up from the game as he spoke, hoping his casual manner would set his friend at ease.

__________

"Jerk"

"Moron"

"Idiot"

Akane continued to whisper to herself as she broke pieces of her desk off during her last class for the day.

Almost everyone around her stared at her with fear in their eyes. The only person not paying her any attention was Ukyo, for she was also trying to deal with Ranma's parting.

'How could he just leave without hardly telling anyone goodbye. I know we haven't been as close since the failed wedding, partly because we didn't want our parents to force another one, but we're still friends. He should've told me goodbye or taken me with him.' Akane thought to herself.

Ukyo wasn't doing any better. 'Dammit Ran-chan! I was finally starting to really have a chance, and now you leave me again. Your mother was starting to really like me and you were spending more time with me, why couldn't you have at least told me you were really going to leave. No way am I going to let you go off and die in some stupid fight and leave me all alone...' Ukyo stood up from her desk "You're not leaving me behing this time jackass! I'll follow you no matter where you go!"

"Please sit down." the teacher called out.

"No! I won't be turned away from my goa-OW!" Ukyo rubbed her forehead where an eraser had just smacked her. "Sorry."

"That's bett..." The teacher trailed off as yet another student stood up.

"Right! That jerk can't just leave like this, I'm going too. I'll show him I'm a real martia-HEY!" Akane blinked as she felt something connect with her forehead as well.

Before the teacher could reprimand her the final bell chimed, signaling the end of the school day.

Ukyo wasted no time in rushing to her restaurant to make preparations for her trip. She'd have to leave the Ucchan's in Konatsu's care... Ranchan was going to pay for forcing her to do this she promised herself.

Noticing Ukyo race home Akane decided to stop by one of the shops on her way home and pick up some supplies. As she started to leave her two friends stopped her.

"Akane, what were you talking about back in class?" Asked Yuka.

"You're not really leaving again are you?" Sayuri pleaded.

"Sorry guys but I can't let my... friend go off on some stupid journey to face a super martial artist alone. So yeah, I'm leaving as soon as I stop and pick up some supplies and tell everyone back home bye." Akane gave her friends a sad smile before leaving.

Sayuri and Yuka watched Akane leave before they heard someone come up behind them. Nabiki ignored their worried looks when they saw her. "What's this I hear of Akane making some proclamation in class?" she demanded.

"Well..." Sayuri looked at Yuki while stammering.

Yuka decided to just spill it "She's going after Ranma."

Nabiki shook her head "Why am I not surprised. Did she already head home?"

Sayuri spoke next "No she was going to stop and pick up some supplies first."

"I see, well see you girls later." Nabiki waved off before heading in the same direction that Akane left in.

None of them noticed they were being watched. *****

As Mousse put away the chairs Cologne sat off to the side trying to ignore the banging from the cooking area. 'I think Shampoo is taking Ranma's leaving rather well.' Cologne was happy that Shampoo took her frustrations out on the food she was cooking instead of Mousse... after all Cologne actually needed him for something for once.

Shampoo continued to manual make the mix instead of using a beater. 'Dumb Airen, why didn't he take me with him? He knows I'm an Amazon warrior! He probably was thinking his macho thoughts again about not wanting women to fight.' Shampoo suddenly grinned 'I am an Amazon warrior and we never let our men get away... well except the ones we don't care for.'

Cologne cocked her head to the side as the sound of cooking coming from the kitchen calmed down. 'So Shampoo have you made your decision?' Cologne smiled to herself. *****

Akane was surprised to run into Ryouga on the way to the store and told him of her plan to follow Ranma.

"There's no need for you to go. I'm planning on finding Ranma myself." Ryouga tried to dissuade her.

"You're not trying to say I'm not good enough to help... you know I'm a martial artist too." Akane narrowed her eyes.

"No, no, no, I just mean I don't think your family wants you to leave you know." Ryouga waved his arms frantically.

"How true." Came Nabiki's voice from behind them.

"Nabiki?" Akane hadn't wanted Nabiki to know until she was already halfway out of Nerima. 'I know she's goint to try and stop me.'

"Akane what do you think you're doing! After what happened in China you shouldn't be getting involved in these things." Nabiki spoke without her usual cool tone.

"Um ladies, you've been followed." Ryouga announced while looking past Nabiki at the man walking up on them.

The two girls turned to see Lee approaching them with a frown on his face. "What are you planning?" he asked.

Ryouga glared at him "I heading after Ranma. Something wrong with that?"

"WE'RE heading to Kyoto." Akane corrected.

"Actually yes, there's definitely something wrong with that. Regular martial artists like you would only make matters worse. A fundamental principle in battle is to attack the enemy's weakest point. Which would make you Daigo's first target. Ranma can't watch over you all as he is now." Lee lectured the three, even though he was referring to Ryouga mostly.

Picking up on that Ryouga spoke up "What exactly are you saying?"

"You all are nothing more than weaknesses to Ranma, that's why he left by himself." Lee smirked at the anger on Akane's face and the shock on Ryouga's.

Ryouga lowered is head letting his bangs cover his eyes 'Ranma doesn't think I'm good enough? Does he really think we'll just get in the way?'

"My demonstration on you back at the dojo was to show him that. Your beating would be for nothing if you were to go Kyoto anyway, so be a good boy and stay here where you belong." Lee ordered.

"Now just wait a minute! You can't just tell..." Akane began.

"Screw that! Now I want to find that jerk even more! So why don't you move before I have to make you!" Ryouga snarled.

"Make me? Go for it." Lee smirked once more.

Ryouga ran at Lee and tried to elbow him with his right arm. Before he closed the last few couple of feet to reach him, he received a swift kick to his injured shoulder. Lee punched Ryouga into the alley beside them as Ryouga went to grabbed his wound.

As Ryouga stumbled into the alley Lee jumped at him and delivered a kick to his shoulder again. Ryouga dropped to his knees in pain. Akane came running behind Lee intent of tackling him to stop him from attacking Ryouga. She froze in her tracks as he looked at her with his peircing green eyes. Trying to gain control of her nerves, she fought out the words "You're cheating, you keep going for his hurt shoulder since it hasn't healed!"

"Exactly. I not fighting fair am I. Well neither will Daigo. I'm not trying to be mean, but this is how it will be in Kyoto. The only rule in the fights that await in Kyoto is kill or be killed. You kids have no place there so stay away, is that understood." Lee's gaze never left Akane's eyes.

"Why should I listen to you?!" Akane started to roll up her sleaves.

"A-Akane stay out of this... Lee, I'm not done yet. My shoulder feels fine compared to what I feel for Ranma thinking of me as worthless!" Ryouga punched at Lee with the same right arm.

Even though Lee blocked the attack he was forced out of the alley. "Now move it Lee! I'll show Ranma that he can't ignore my strength when I see him in Kyoto!" Ryouga roared out.

"That's right!" Akane cheered.

Nabiki didn't seem as convinced as they did however 'Ryouga isn't doing to well a job right now...'

"Your strength? Funny I don't recall you having that much in you last time we fought" Lee returned.

"What?!" Ryouga fist clenched.

"Don't fall for it Ryouga!" Akane called out.

"What a pain... Tell you what, to make it clearer to you I'll fight you with just my legs." Lee's smile almost seemed good natured.

"Don't believe him, he'll probably throw his shoe at you or something." Akane warned Ryouga.

"I don't think you like me much." Lee replied sarcastically.

"I guess you're smarter than you look." Akane called back.

'Not bad Akane.' Nabiki was somewhat surprised that Akane was handling the situation so well, she expected Akane to be laid out thanks to trying to attack Lee with a mallet by now.

Lee continued smiling "Don't worry I'll keep my word. If I can beat this pig with just my legs then he won't be able to ignore the facts."

"Alright let's do it!" Ryouga didn't waste any time as he charged Lee.

Lee danced around Ryouga's punches connecting with light kicks to Ryouga's thighs to soften them up. Ryouga continued to throw puches at speed that not even he could tell where they were going. 'He might not let me kick him in return, but with him throwing all those kicks one of my punches has to have connected.' Ryouga paused to observe his handiwork. He was shock to say the least when he found that none of his punches found a mark.

"Did you think I would be defenseless while kicking you? I guess that might be true for some fighters..." Lee pretended to think about it.

"Did you see that?" Nabiki asked her sister.

"Yeah, he dodged all those punches like Ranma would, all while still kicking." Akane couldn't help but be impressed.

"I guess I got a little to wild with my punches if they couldn't connect." Ryouga told himself.

"Counterattacking my kicks with punches that don't land isn't counterattacking at all." Lee informed him.

"Round Two!" Ryouga tried to throw punches and kicks before Lee could even start any of his own. After blocking the low kicks with his legs and ducking any thing higher, Lee bounced back a few steps and then slide forward taking out one of Ryouga's legs before spinning on the ground and taking out Ryouga's other one. As Ryouga jumped back to feet from off the ground, Lee was already up and waiting. Lee actually ran up Ryouga's chest before springboarding off his face with a strong kick using both feet.

Ryouga slammed into the ground, while Nabiki and Akane gasped in shock. "He's even better than I thought..." Nabiki looked at her sister who was staring with her mouth wide open.

'I guess I shouldn't be surprised by this, I mean he fought the cat fist to a stand still.' Akane thought to herself.

"Accept it, compared to Ranma and myself you just can't compete as you are know. You have a long way to go to be of any use in Kyoto and we don't have enough time to wait for you." Lee began to face the girls.

"Whatever." Ryouga spat out as he stood back up.

'He's still determined to fight me?' Lee gave the kid credit for determination.

"You can't stop me from going to Kyoto no matter how hard you try." Ryouga shook his head to get the ringing out.

"Sorry, but I can't have that..." Lee lifted his left leg into the air while standing straight on his right.

"Now what?" Wasn't it bad enough with out Lee pulling out weird stances left and right Akane thought to herself. "Be careful Ryouga I don't know what he's planning."

"Give up. With all the different kicks I've given you your legs are about ready to give up. Determination and strong words aren't enough to close the distance between you and me." Lee called out then began to spin toward Ryouga alternating between having his left leg raised and his right leg supporting with his right leg lifted and his left being stood on. As he spun closer he picked up speed until he almost seemed like a twisting top.

Ryouga desperately thought of a counter before gambling. He took his belt and threw like a javeline at Lee's legs. Lee's spin abruptly stopped as he almost tripped on the now loose belt. "How's that? Even with my skills at this level I can find a way around your so called distance. I bet you're surprised huh?" Ryouga grinned at Lee's angered face. "You and the others all started like me so don't act like I'm some kid trying to tag along with the big boys."

Lee smacked Ryouga upside his head with the belt before walking away. "Fine. I'm tired of wasting my time with you. If you're that eager to get yourself killed then be my guest."

"Hey!" Ryouga cried out indignantly.

"Heed my words, those who ignore defense and try to get by on natural abilities won't make it out of the battlefield that Kyoto will become." Lee warned him.

As the three of them watched Lee walk away, Nabiki was the first to speak up. "I guess that means you won this one."

"I knew you could do it Ryouga." Akane congratulated him.

Ryouga laughed in embarresment at Akane's comment "I guess so..." While Ryouga got a hold of himself Akane continued "Now we have to get your shoulder looked at again."

'Wait a minuet! My shoulder, he didn't attack my shoulder during our fight. He only went for my legs, chest and face. He was just playing with me. I'm really starting to hate student from that school.' Ryouga thought to himself. "That's alright Akane, I really should get going. I don't know how long it'll take for me to reach Kyoto." Ryouga began to walk in a random direction.

Akane stopped Ryouga from leaving "Wait! I said we were both going to Kyoto, so help me get what I need so we can hurry up and leave."

Ryouga looked at Akane, he really wanted to tell her no but he just didn't have the strength to. "Okay let's get this over with."

"Nabiki tell everyone where I'm going." Akane told her older sister.

"What? You're not going to tell them?" Nabiki blinked at her.

"Well Ryouga is in a hurry... besides, they'll probably try to stop me. So bye sis." Akane gave Nabiki a long hug.

"Fine, but you better come back." Nabiki got out.

"I know Ranma... and Ryouga will make sure I do." Akane blushed.

While the sisters talked, Ryouga was busy thinking to himself 'I have to get better, a whole lot better. I will be strong enough when I get to Kyoto!' *****

Kasumi prepared herself for the heartbreaking sight that she was sure to find within the dojo. 'Come on Kasumi you need to get her out of there... she needs to eat and get some sleep.'

On the other side of the door sat Nodoka who was now staring out into space. 'I couldn't do anything to stop him. I was right there with him before he left and yet I couldn't make him stay. When he started to truly open up to me I just froze, I had waited for that moment for so long, and before I new it, it was over.' "Ranma..."

Back outside Kasumi heard the soft whisper of Nodoka and couldn't stand it. Sliding the doors open she called out to the older women. "Auntie? Are you alright?" 'stupid, stupid, stupid of course she's not.' "I think you should come inside the house, maybe get something to eat." As Kasumi tried to help her up, Kasumi couldn't help but note the way the women seemed to move mechanically to wherever Kasumi guided her. 'Why aren't you doing anything uncle?' Kasumi tried to keep her anger in check.

Genma actually was in the guest room himself. 'Boy, I believe in you, I know you'll come back... after all your mother is here waiting for you.' Genma heaved a sad sigh 'I wasn't even here to see him off, I wonder if he even thought about me before he left.' *****

'That Lee guy is amazing, and Ryouga's no slouch either. I hope he takes care of my sister... maybe it would be better if he got both of them lost and completely missed Kyoto until it was all over...' Nabiki muses were cut short by a familiar voice.

"Well hello child, do you mind if we accompany you?" Cologne asked with her granddaughter and Mousse by her side. The younger amazon woman had a traveling pack with her.

"Why do you want to go to my house?" Nabiki had a pretty good idea what the pack was for.

"Why to see if Kasumi or you could help tell us where son-in-law was going." Cologne answered.

"Well I know where he's going but why didn't you plan to ask Auntie Saotome?" Nabiki wondered it perhaps the Amazons had some sort of trick up their sleeves.

Cologne blinked at the question "Well with Nodoka going after Ranma..." She trailed off at Nabiki's confused expression. "She did go after him didn't she?"

Nabiki shook her head "No, actually she's been sitting in the dojo getting really depressed the last two days."

Cologne narrowed her eyes "I see." *****

Kasumi sat the bowl of soup in front of Nodoka "Please eat this." She waited as Nodoka simply stared at the bowl. "Auntie..." Kasumi bit her botton lip 'what should I do? I have no idea how she feels and Genma is hiding in the guest room. I wish someone else could help me...'

As if in answer to her request the front door opened. "What's this?" asked Cologne as she finally laid eyes on her son-in-law's mother.

"Elder?" Kasumi asked in surprise. 'Why is she here' Kasumi didn't see anyone with her.

"Mrs. Saotome, just what are you doing still here?" Cologne asked. Kasumi flinched at the tone she used, it didn't sound sympathetic.

Nodoka blinked at the voice of an older women. "E-excuse me?"

"Why are you sitting in the dining room at a time like this?" Cologne almost seemed to be interrogating the distraught mother. "Why aren't you heading for Kyoto? I expected more from a strong Japanese women like you."

"E-elder?" Kasumi gulped.

"What's that supposed to mean. My son has left me for a second time and you ask me what I'm doing sitting here!" Nodoka face finally showed signs of life again.

"Is this what you truly want? To sit here wishing for that your son never left like ten years ago?" Cologne questioned.

"No. I want my son..." Nodoka answered.

"Then that should be your goal."

"I couldn't..."

"So you're going to sit here and make the same mistake that you did all those years ago?"

"If I'm not mistaken didn't your Granddaughter travel all the way to Japan alone without you following her?" 'The nerve of this woman!' Nodoka seethed.

"Watch yourself Saotome Nodoka, I am an elder to our village, if I had been able I would have followed my grand daughter here. I would have followed many of the children who leave our village if not for the fact that I had to stay to make sure they had a village to return to. I was fortunate enough to be allowed to come to Japan this time though, and I did so without hesitation. You on the other hand do not have such obligations, so why haven't you left?" Cologne asked her again. "Ranma is going there with the knowledge that he could very well loose his life, will you let his good bye two days ago be the last memory you have of him? Do you know how many young girls have told the village good bye never to return?"

"You don't understand what it's like to have your own flesh and blood leave, knowing that there is a possibility that they won't be returning!" Nodoka yelled back.

Cologne pointed her cane at Nodoka "No child you don't understand! You have never had to say good bye to a daughter with the knowledge that she would not be returning as a guarantee!" Cologne showed true anger at that point as her eyes watered. "Your son is about to face a deadly foe and when someone fights a battle with such an opponent often the only thing that keeps them from failing is their heart. Don't let your son fight this battle feeling that he has no one there for him to keep close to his heart." With that Cologne walked out. *****

During Cologne's conversation with Nodoka, Nabiki and her guests stood by the gate as the watched Ukyo approach. Shampoo's eyes were glued to Ukyo's, more than likely due to the fact that the young chef was carrying a pack similar to her own.

"Spatula girl."

"Chinese bimbo."

Nabiki and Mousse sweatdrop as the two women glared at each other. After several tense moments of silence Nabiki spoke up. "So both of you are planning to head for Kyoto?"

"Kyoto? that's where Ran-chan's going?" Ukyo asked. 'It was easier finding out where he was going than I thought.'

"Yep, and Akane and Ryouga have already left." Nabiki smirked at the looks Ukyo and Shampoo sported. She blinked at Mousse who seemed to be extremely depressed. "What's wrong with you, Mousse?"

"Don't mind him, he's just upset because grandma's making him warn our village in case Ranma doesn't win." Shampoo waved off Nabiki's concern with out taking her eyes off Ukyo.

Letting out a sigh Ukyo finally spoke to her 'rival' "Look Shampoo you can glare at me all you want, you know I'm not going to fold and stay here. Now that I know where to go I'll just tell auntie goodbye and be on my way."

Shampoo finally dropped her stare and replied. "Wait for grandma to finish talking to her, I think she might go to Kyoto also."

Nabiki looked at Shampoo "What? You mean Cologne went to tell auntie to go to Kyoto!"

"That's correct child." Nabiki jumped at the voice from behind her. Spotting Cologne smiling at her Nabiki calmed her nerves. "Shampoo I would like you to accompany Mrs. Saotome... Hello Ms. Kounji I take it you plan on going too?" Cologne turned towards the two girls at the gate.

"Um... yeah" Ukyo hopped Cologne didn't try to stop her.

"Good. I would appreciate it if you also joined Shampoo and Mrs. Saotome." Cologne chuckled at Ukyo expression. "I wouldn't want my granddaughter to go on this trip without someone her own age going along, Besides two people can better protect someone than one."

Ukyo finally closed her gaping mouth. "Really? Well... Okay." 'Hmm, I can still get in good with Ran-chan's mother and keep a eye on Shampoo in Kyoto.'

Cologne turned serious "The two of you will need to pick up your training. Shampoo take this scroll with you, it describes some basic ki principles. With this you AND Ukyo will be able to hopefully hold your own in Kyoto."

"I'll make you proud." Shampoo nodded with determination.

"Alright, now go make your plans for leaving with Mrs. Saotome. Mousse come with me back to the restaurant." Cologne hopped away while Mousse stared at Shampoo. As the young man began to open his mouth Shampoo cut him off.

"I'm still upset with you for trying to help Lee hurt Airen." Shampoo turned away and walked alongside Nabiki and Ukyo towards the house.

"Shampoo..." Mousse trailed off before walking away dejectedly. *****

"A-Auntie?" Ukyo asked as she and Shampoo stood beside each other by the doorway into the dining room.

Nodoka seemed to come out of a trance as she heard the new voice. "Oh, hello Ukyo and Shampoo what are you two doing here... why are you two carrying those packs?"

"We're going after Airen of course." Shampoo stated.

"Yeah... um aren't you going too?" Ukyo looked from Shampoo back to Nodoka.

"I... I don't know?" Nodoka looked at her hands "Would Ranma be upset?"

"Who cares, everybody else in town seems to be going." Nabiki shrugged. "I mean Ryouga and Akane already left, Ukyo and Shampoo will be, Lee obviously is going there..."

"WHAT!" Kasumi shouted. "What do you mean she's already left?"

"Um well, Akane was talking to Ryouga earlier making plans to buy supplies and then telling everbody goodbye, but with Ryouga's sense of direction they figured they couldn't waste any time." Nabiki slinked away from her sister. 'She doesn't blow up to often, but when she does...' Nabiki let a slight shudder pass through her.

"See! we can't let Ranma leave us again right?!" Shampoo tried to rally Nodoka onward.

"Like you auntie, I had to go years without him, I won't let him put me through that again, will you?" Ukyo held Nodoka hand while peering into her eyes.

Nodoka looked from Ukyo to Shampoo 'They willing to take the chance and chase after him, can I do no less for my son?' "Al-alright I'll go." She was surprised when Ukyo gave her a hug. *****

The next day found everyone who was left in Nerima at the edge of town. Well except for the Kuno's. "I still don't think you should go, we should let the boy handle this own his own." Genma grumbled 'She's going to soften the boy up before his big fight, I just know it!'

"Regardless... please try to find my baby girl. WAAHHH! She's all alone with that Habiki boy, getting lost who knows where! WAAHHH!" Soun well... wailed.

"Still should you guys be going by foot as well?" Nabiki grimaced, she wasn't one for long hikes.

"Well the girls and I do need to train if we're going to be getting mixed up in all of this." Nodoka smiled at Nabiki and Kasumi.

"You will call us when you get to Kyoto, right?" Kasumi almost pleaded to Nodoka.

"Of course I will"

Cologne was the next to speak up "Remember there is Amazon restaurant in Kyoto called the 'Swan's bistro' you can stay at. Now go and hurry back with son-in-law." Cologne smiled at the three women.

"I wish to thank you Elder for the talk yesterday... I don't know what I would be doing right now otherwise." Nodoka gave a slight bow to Cologne.

"No need to thank me child." Cologne gave her own bow. *****

Somewhere very far from Tokyo or Kyoto... "Um Ryouga I think we're lost..." Akane spoke up. "...again." 'Every time we get back on a trail to Kyoto we end up getting lost!'

"Don't worry Akane we not lost, I come this way all the time." Ryouga assured her.

'Yeah I bet you do, we've come this way a dozen times in just the past two days alone.' Akane tried to calm down... she really couldn't be upset with Ryouga over something he couldn't control... well she couldn't get upset with him yet.

"I think we should get in some practice Ryouga. What do you think?" Akane tried to think about something besides they current situation of being hopelessly lost.

"Alright I guess..." Ryouga really didn't want to spar with Akane... 'What do I do when I can't fight her but I can't tell her no. Damn it Ranma this has got to be your fault.' *****

Ranma got that tingly feeling that someone was blaming something on him for the umpteenth time in his life. 'I wonder who it is this time... it doesn't matter. Man, I never expected to be heading back to the school ever again.'

Ranma continued to walk letting his aura slightly surround him to keep people from getting to close to him. He remembered the reason he gave Lee for that decision...

~Flashback~

"How did everyone take your farewell?"

It was dark out near the outskirts of Nerima as Ranma continued his walk. He had just finished telling goodbye to his mother and was not in the best of moods when he heard the question. Ranma stared at the smile on Lee's face. "Touchy subject? Sorry 'bout that. Since we'll be fighting together again I guess we should be friendlier to each other." Lee continued to smile.

"Friendlier?" Ranma raised an eyebrow.

"Yes, after all it'll pretty much be just you and me against Daigo. Yamaguchi is going to be busy trying to calm everyone down about Daigo's recent assassinations."

"Just you and me huh, how lovely." Ranma didn't actually sound that thrilled.

"It sure is" Lee smirked "Anyway come on, I have a police escort waiting for us."

"I'd rather not." Was Ranma's curt reply.

Lee blinked "And why not? Don't like cars, you'd rather walk to Kyoto. Like you swam to China instead of taking a boat?" Lee joked.

"Yeah right, like I wanted to swim there. I just don't want to take the chance of Daigo trying to stop us and putting innocent people in danger when doing it. Like with Tetsuya, a lot of people could have been hurt by a runaway car." Ranma explained.

"Ranma, you know a warrior can't always choose his battlefield. Or are you still thinking like a foolish martial artist... because if you are I guess I'll have to remind you of what you really are." Lee started to remove his glasses.

Ranma dropped his pack "Don't try to itimidate me, you won't change my decision."

"Whatever. But know this, Daigo already knows your plan for making it to Kyoto more than likely. Our fight with him has already started."

~End Flashback~

Ranma continued to keep an eye out for anyone who might be after him as he walked. 'I wonder if and when will he attack me directly... What is your plan Daigo Mitsurigi?'

"Hey look! that guy's glowing." Said a young boy playing outside in a park. His friends looked over and pointed in surprise. "He really is glowing!" Cried out another. Soon the kids started to run towards Ranma. "I wonder if we can touch it?" Ranma heard one of them say.

"H-hey calm down guys..." Ranma called back as he tried to pick up the pace. This only caused the children to run even faster. "Crap!" He shouted before jumping into the trees and taking off as the children continued to try to keep up. *****

Kasumi was busy cleaning up when she felt something was off. Stopping in her duties she listened to hear if anyone was in. Nabiki was supposed to be in school and her father and Genma were out, dragged by Cologne, to see if they could find Happosai. Cologne probably wanted to find out if he had any information about the school, while Soun and Genma probably wanted him to bring back Akane and perhaps even Ranma.

Not knowing what drew her outside Kasumi entered the dojo only to gasp in shock. "It's you! Ryu Kumon!"

Indeed, standing in the dojo with a travel pack across his shoulders was the former user of half of the Saotome forbidden techniques. The young man turned towards her, Kasumi had to fight to not let a second gasp escape her lips at the sight of his eyes. 'They look almost dead!' "What are you doing here? I thought you settled everything with Ranma." Kasumi managed to get her voice to work.

"My fight against Ranma is not something for you to concern yourself with. Just tell me where he is and I'll leave you in peace and good health." Ryu slowly approached her. Before he could get any closer a new voice stopped him.

"Young Saotome is headed for Kyoto, Kumon." Lee grinned at the boy.

"And you are?" Kumon questioned the man standing by koi pond.

"You can call me Kyoji. I happen to work with the government." Lee continued.

Ryu looked him up and down "You actually fit the description of Leon Max, a practitioner of the 'Serpent's tongue', a man widely known in Kyoto."

"Well now, where did you here about that?" If Lee was surprised by the statement he showed no sign.

"During my travels I stayed at dojo in the area who at one timed trained student who couldn't make it into the 'School of the Fang' but still showed promise." Ryu clenched his fist at the mention of 'the dojo' he stayed at.

"I see. Well since you're here let me bring you up to speed on what's going on around here..." Lee began not sensing the other presence in the home who was listening intently.

After finishing the explanation Lee waited for Kumon's response. "Daigo Mitsurugi? Ranma is planning on fighting him in Kyoto." Ryu seemed to think about it for a while before starting for the exit to the Tendo home.

"So what do you plan Kumon?" Lee continued to grin at him.

"Ranma will defeat this Mitsurugi person and afterwards he will loose to me." Kumon returned from over his shoulders as he left.

"Interesting. He seems different, I can't wait to see what he has up his sleeve." Lee stated as he watched Kumon leave.

"That wasn't very nice you know." came a voice from behind Lee. He turned around to face the women. "Really? I was trying to keep him from bothering you, besides we just might need him in Kyoto." Lee continued his annoying grinning.

"You're right we could use him in Kyoto..." The figure hidden in the house commented to herself. *****

"Fight back!" Akane screamed at Ryouga who still dodging or shrugging off her blows. They had been practicing for a while now and Ryouga still hadn't thought of a solution to his problem. 'Man, when are we going to get to Kyoto?!" *****

"This is sooooo boring!" Ukyo called out from her position on the ground beside a grumbling Shampoo.

"Come now girls if you want to get this technique down you're going to have to concentrate." Nodoka commented while going through a few of her sword drills.

"Sitting here trying to become one with nature is too too... um I mean really hard." Shampoo was definitely getting frustrated and it showed, or at least was heard. 'Stupid scroll...what kind of technique makes you sit in the dirt all day while meditating!' *****

'Why won't they just leave me ALONE!' Ranma screamed to himself as he continued to duck and dodge girls and young kids. Shouts of "Look at the cute guy running this way!" or the opposite "Look at the cute guy getting away!" had replaced the earlier "look at the guy glowing". Ranma didn't know which was worst until he turned a corner and realized it didn't matter compared to where he had just ended up.

"CATS!" Ranma quickly exited the alley. *****

Ryu slowed down as he came upon his campsite. Sitting around the clearing were 3 men, all of whom seemed to have the bodies of football players on steroids.

"What the hell are you all doing here?" Kumon asked. The three men finally took notice of him as he spoke up. They grinned and began to place themselves at his right, left, and center.

The one in front of him choose to speak. "We're... students of Daigo Mitsurugi. You've been selected to join him as well. You should feel special, even as his students we don't get taught personally by him because of how important he is. The fact that he noticed you is very special indeed."

"Sorry but I don't appreciate offers brought to me by underlings, if he had come himself then maybe... but as it is I shall ask you to leave, if you continue to pester me I will get rid of you and your 'teacher' if he bothers me as well." Kumon replied to the offer.

The three men nodded to one another than they all attacked at once. One went for a sweep while the second tried to jump on him from above, while the third went to kick him in his chest. Before any any of them could blink Kumon appeared in the air above them all. Even as they looked up at him they felt their chests explode in pain. As they all began to loose conciousness they briefly saw numerous dents in their chests in the shape of fists.

Once he landed he kicked one of the fighters for good measure. A voice from... somewhere was heard by Kumon. Hastily spinning around He came face to face with a blue haired kid. "I guess you're here to represent Daigo?"

She clasped her hands in front of herself with hopeful eyes.

"Um well, I really don't plan on working with anyone... um, no offense or anything, but I mean didn't you send those guys here knowing there were going to lose to me. That's not the type of thing I would want from my teammate." Ryu was caught off guard by her odd behavior, not to mention the fact that she hadn't actually spoken a single work, but thought he recovered fairly well.

Ayame scrunched up her face in thought. She looked at him questioningly.

"*Ahem* Yeah well..." Ryu trailed off. 'Damn that Daigo for sending some weird little girl to throw me off my game!'

Ayame waved goodbye.

"By- damnit." Ryu caught himself from telling the evil girl goodbye. After she left Ryu continued to think to himself. 'Father I took you life with my own hands... hands that couldn't defeat some arrogant jerk. The only way to make peace with you is to do the same to him. And the sooner the better.' *****

Ayame reached a second clearing further down from Ryu's where Daigo sat with his 'assistants' enjoying the early evening weather.

the figure of the girl disappeared as her question was received by Daigo.

"Absolutely, did you see the way he handled those buffoons I sent after him." Daigo smirked.

the voice came through again.

"That's probably because he wasn't fighting Ranma. Don't worry when the time comes he'll be more than ready to handle Ranma." Daigo assured.

"I think I should reintroduce myself to my calmer counterpart." Daigo answered.

"Calmer counterpart? You mean the cat fist fighter." One of the two women beside him assumed.

"Precisely."

stated the other voice.

"And why not? I'm about to revolutionize Japan." Daigo gave a mad grin. *****

Akane almost felt like crying "This has got to be the 100th. time we've circled this spot at least!" After saying that she dropped to her knees.

"Do you really think we've been here before." Ryouga asked.

"Ryouga..." Akane began calmly "There's the spot where I malleted you into the ground the last 99 times we've been here!" Akane pointed at a huge crater in the ground.

"Hey you might be right!" Ryouga agreed right before Akane decided to make it 100.

"Ryouga you idiot!" *****

Nabiki, Soun, and Genma sweated at the dinner table as Kasumi decided to make everthing they were eating a little to 'well done'... even the food that wasn't meat.

'I hope everyone will be Okay... That Daigo person along with Lee and now even the Kumon boy will be there to them trouble.' *****

"I want a bath!" Shampoo screamed as she finally broke out of the dirt she was buried... er, laying under. She stood with a huge yellow aura around her. Ukyo looked at her then looked back at the dirt still on top of her. 'Damn Amazon' she wasn't sure if she should be angry or not about the fact that she actually was referring to an Amazon instead of just a extra buff women. "I'll get this... yet!" Ukyo's own yellow aura parted the dirt from around her. It wasn't quite as big as Shampoo's but Ukyo wasn't complaining at the moment.

"You-you did it." Shampoo was in shock. 'Sure I knew I'd get eventually, I mean grandma has been training me since I was young in the Amazon arts. But Spat... Ukyo? Her fighting style hardly has any hand to hand. I guess I've been underestimating her.'

"O-of course I did it." Ukyo dropped to her knees. Shampoo quickly rushed to her side. "We gotta' help Ran-chan right? I'll do whatever it takes to help him."

Shampoo helped her up. 'You'd make a great Amazon...' Shampoo admitted. It was a shame they were rivals. 'Then again...' Shampoo started before shaking her head. 'It would never work, right?' *****

Ranma passed through another town by the roofs 'I ain't taking any more chances walking by foot until I get to the woods. After all those girls saw me with my pack they all kept asking me if I needed a place to stay the night. What's even worse is when I almost agreed a couple of times. Stupid cat fist.' Ranma thought to himself as he finally entered into a forest.

After setting up camp Ranma sat down to take a breather. 'Man, on the road all on my own, it's kind of cool. But, I bet everyone was really upset that I left like I did. Heh, with my luck they'll probably chase me down for running out' Ranma started laughing to himself before he got a horrible feeling of impending doom. 'Please don't let that mean what I think It means...'

"Hey!"

Ranma blinked at the female cry. "Thank goodness. this is probably why I had that horrible feeling, I was really worried it meant everybody really was coming to get me..." Ranma wiped his head as he headed deeper into the forest toward the sound.

Ranma snuck up on the scene of four men surrounding a young woman. 'Ah man, how pathetic. I thought maybe I was going to see one of Daigo's fighters. It's kind of odd though, why is this women in the middle of the forest alone, it doesn't look like the guys forced her here.' While Ranma wondered about the exact situation, the women spoke up.

"I don't know..." She seemed to be thinking to herself as she backed away.

"Come on. You acted all impressed when you heard who we were. Don't back out now." Said one of the men who was pretty scrawny, making Ranma wonder who they could possible be to impress anyone.

The others all nodded in unison, saying things Ranma wished he hadn't heard. "Did you all really get all that money?" The, as Ranma guessed, easily impressed girl asked. When one of the men pulled out a small bag of bills the young womans posture changed dramatically. While the men took it as a sign of her becoming more willing, Ranma saw it for what it was. 'If I didn't know better I'd think that she was about to make one of those crazy Kodachi like entrances...' If only he could have been wrong, for at that very moment...

*Swoosh* the trench coat and hat was thrown to the wind and before the, obviously, criminals and the hiding Ranma stood a girl maybe a year or two younger than Ranma. "All right busters! Hand over the money!" The red headed girl asked. Ranma silently facefalted, not an easy task, at young girl in the ninja get-up. The four men blinked then blinked again.

"Um... She's kind of young..."

"Yeah, but I've never seen red hair like that before..."

"She's a little under-developed..."

"You have bigger breasts then she does Yota."

Ranma almost laughed at the last line. The young ninja girl fumed at their comments before launching herself at them.

"You watch your mouth!" She landed a flying knee to one man as she passed him by, easily taking him out. The other three men looked at their friend and then each other. "Had he been drinking?" one asked, the others just shrugged.

"What's that supposed to mean?!" The apparently upset girl went for the one who must have been Yota, with his large size and all, and connected with a kick to his groin area. Needless to say, he went down... hard. As the other two tried to jump her from behind she jumped towards them with her back still facing them. Raising both her elbows, she staggered them both when she connected. She finished them both off with two well placed kicks to the temple. "I guess that's that. Men are so stupid, they always follow their smaller heads." She informed the passed out men as she took the bag of money.

"Those guys were pathetic. Loosing to a girl pickpocket that easily." Ranma shook his head sadly at the man lying on the ground as he walked out of his hiding place.

"W-who are you? And what did you say about them loosing to me?" The young thief inquired.

"Huh? who me? I'm just a nobody passing through." Ranma hoped she wouldn't ask him about her second question again.

"Wait, you called me a pickpocket!" She pointed at him.

"Well... yeah. You are aren't you?" Ranma blinked at her accusation.

"No, I'm a ninja." She placed her hands on her hips.

"Sure you are." Ranma tried to placate her. "A pickpocketing ninja." he grinned.

"Right." She smiled before blinking. "HEY! Alright pal I'll show you what this 'pickpocket ninja' can do!" So saying the young girl jump back to get some room and pointed at him again "No one has ever seen me work without paying for it!"

Ranma summed it up in two words. 'This sucks' *****

To Be Continued

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