The figure walked along the path through the small town, he seemed to
give off a faint frightful presence as he walked along and people quickly
moved out of his way. He wore simple cloths, a gray shirt, dark pants, both
probably made for fighting, with military style boots on his feet, on his
back was a travel backpack, with a rod strapped to its side in a simple
holster, and had short dark hair.
Then it happened, it always did, some local thugs decided that the stranger looked like he had more money then their usual targets, and decided to relive him of his wallet. The four of them approached him from two different directions. One of them spoke, obviously there leader, "Hay you there. You're new in town so we'll give you a quick lesson in how things work around here. Ether you give us all your money now or we knock you senseless and take it from you." The leader smiled a little liking the fact that his gang had a four to one advantage, "So what's it gona be?"
The wanderer looked up into the eyes of the gang's leader and was slightly delighted to see a flinch of fear show on his face. It was the eyes, it always was. He didn't know why he had red eyes, and he really didn't care, but they always had the same affect on people the first time and he always tried to use it to his advantage. "I'm afraid that I won't just give you all my money, so you'll just have to beat it out of me."
"What!?!" The gang's leader obviously wasn't used to people standing up to him in this way. And definitely wasn't used to people with red eyes. He looked as though the vain in his forehead was about to explode. "Get him guys!" he shouted and jumped at the wanderer along with his gang. All he saw after that was the wanderer smile and drop into a ready stance, and then everything went black as he lost consciousness. When he woke up he and his gang were in handcuffs and being taken away by the local police. And all he could think was 'Who the heck was that guy?'
The wander left the town as quickly as he arrived. Some time later he came to a new city, the only thing there to greet him was a sign reading 'Welcome to Nerima.' The figure bent down to one knee and took a handful of dirt. Raising it to his nose he took in its sent. "This town is a troubled one. I may be needed here." He quietly let the dirt fall from his hand to be caught in a slight breeze, as he stood and looked out at the new city standing before him. The sun was beginning to set providing a magnificent view of the mountains, the city was starting to quiet down, save for a few areas witch were probably known for there night life. He took a breath of the fresh night air and started to make his way into the city. He didn't know why but he got the feeling that he should hurry.
The Wanderers Arrival: Chapter 1
Kasumi Tendo was on her way home from her evening job, it didn't feel right. She usually was dismissed for the day before night fall, but tonight Elder Cologne had asked here to stay for a while longer to help here and Shampoo with a few things. She didn't mind but she got an odd feeling as she turned down the familiar alleyway that she used as a shortcut to get home after work. After here father had left on some idiotic training trip with that stupid Genma Soutome she had to take on a second job at night to support herself, her sisters, and her new brother in-law. Her day job was at Ukyos Okonomiyaki, and her evening job was at the Cat Café. Her brother in-law, Ranma, was working at the high school teaching basic martial art classes for a few hours after school. Between the two of them they could easily pay off the bills and save a little every now and then.
When she was about halfway through the ally she saw him. He was a member of one of the local gangs known for there brutality, and he had friends, there were at least three of them blocking her path. She turned to go back the way she came only to find that her path was blocked by another four of them. She knew that she could take most of the thugs in the city on most days, she was a fairly accomplished martial artist, nowhere near Ranma's level, but still good, so she knew she could take any one of them. But the gangs of Nerima weren't exactly known for playing fair, and even if she could take one of them there were seven of them, and she knew that she couldn't beat them all.
"Well boys what do we have here?" one of them said, "I don't now. Looks like something sweet to me." Said another, at that Kasumi knew what was coming, they were going to rape her then probably beat her or worse. "Well if its something sweet I think we should try some." Said one coming up behind her, he locked her arms behind her back and all she could do was watch as the others moved in closer smiling in anticipation of what was to come.
She kicked the one holding her in the shin and tried to run as he lost his grip but was promptly thrown into the ally wall. When she tried to get up she found a knife being pressed against her neck. "That wasn't very nice, now was it?" he glared at her menacingly, "Now we can do this the easy way or the hard way." He said as he pressed a little harder with the knife drawing a small drop of blood at the point. "We can rape a dead body just as easily as a live one." This brought a laugh from some of the others. She was so scared that she didn't know what to do. So she did nothing as they ripped off her blouse exposing her breasts for all of them to see.
**********
He was walking buy the ally when he heard it. It was a scream a quiet one but a scream none the less. He turned to look down the alleyway the scream came from. Then he saw it. There were eight of them seven men and one woman. The men were standing around the woman who was leaning against the wall and was missing her blouse. She seemed to be a bit distressed. He stretched out with his senses, and knew there intentions, and knew her fear. Yes it was clear to him, he had to help her or she would most likely be killed. He didn't have much time he had to move quickly.
**********
She looked up into his eyes as he started to reach for her shorts, when she heard it, "You'll leave that woman alone if you know what's good for you." She turned to look at the new voice and saw a young man possibly around her sister Nabiki's age, his hair was cut short, and he looked to be in good physical condition but not overly muscular. He didn't look threatening to her, but looks can be deceiving. Then he looked up and she saw his eyes, his bright red eyes. He reached behind him to his pack and drew out a rod about the same size as a kodatche sword.
The thugs looked at the stranger with an air of shock. No one had ever been so stupid as to openly threaten them before. They looked to the one holding her to the wall as if looking for guidance. "Get Him!" he yelled. They hesitated but attacked once they remembered that there was six of them and only one of him. They attacked in three groups, two from the right, two from the left, and two down the middle.
His movements seemed to be a blur, he moved forward to attack the two from the middle but at the last second changed his attack towards the two on the right. He struck out with his rod and the two fell to the ground, he jumped and spun in the air and landed behind the left two and hit them both on the back of the neck, they fell as well. He looked at the other two and charged them ramming them into the wall, they watched them both lose consciousness.
The leader of the band of thugs didn't know what to think, he started to run trying to get away. The stranger shifted his rod's position and threw it like a spear and caught him in the back of the head. After retrieving the rod and making sure that everyone was down for and not getting up for a while he started to make his way over towards the woman.
**********
Kasumi didn't know what to think. Had she been saved from one fate only to be trapped within another inescapable one? "Are you all right? Did they hurt you?" his voice was soothing, she could sense that he meant her no harm. He took off his pack and took out a light coat and handed it to her, "Here. Go ahead take it." Realizing that she had nothing on but her shorts she quickly accepted it and put it on. He extended a hand to her and helped her out of the ally. "It's too dangerous to for you to walk home in your current state alone. I'll walk you to your house." Kasumi looked at him with a look of fear and trust. He smiled and said "Don't worry you have nothing to fear from me. I won't hurt you or try anything. You have my word." Kasumi nodded and proceeded to lead the way to her house. "What's your name?" his sodden question startled her.
"Wha... Oh. Kasumi, My name is Kasumi Tendo. What's yours?"
"My name is Duo Karr."
"Well Duo Karr. Thank you for saving my life."
Duo smiled "Anytime."
**********
Nabiki was in the sitting room of the Tendo house trying to keep up with the family's bookkeeping when she heard the front door open, "We're home." Ranma and Akane said as they entered the house. They entered the room and Nabiki smiled as she saw them kiss briefly before Akane went to the kitchen to start dinner.
There relationship hadn't started out this way. When Ranma and his father Genma first arrived and her father explained that Ranma and Akane were engaged, things got off to a bad start. They were always fighting and arguing with each other. But about three months ago things started to change, Ranma started being nice. The two got to know each other and one month later they were trying to decide how long before they should make the wedding date.
It seemed like everyone had someone to be with these days, Akane had Ranma, Kasumi had Dr. Tofu, but Nabiki never really had anyone to care for her. She glanced at the clock on the wall, speaking of Kasumi she should have been home by now, it was already dark out and in this part of Nerima that wasn't a good thing if you were still out on the streets. Not even Ranma liked to go out after dark, there were just too many things to worry about.
There father and Mr. Saotome had left on a training trip about two months ago and said that they wouldn't be back for a wile. This left them all a little bit on edge. There father had always been able to take care of any of the local thugs that always seemed to be hassling the Tendo daughters. But with him gone the thugs and perverts seemed to be coming out of the woodwork.
She heard the door open again and was relived to hear Kasumi's voice, "I'm home everyone. Sorry if I worried you." She called out, then in a more quiet voice she said, "Oh please come in and join us for dinner. It's the least I can offer after what you did for me."
It must have been Dr. Tofu. He loved Kasumi everyone knew it, even Kasumi did, but the good Dr. never seamed to find the courage to tell her himself. But when Kasumi walked in with a complete stranger, Nabiki and Ranma were a little more then shocked.
"So is Akane cooking tonight or is it my turn?" Kasumi asked with a smile wide on her face, obviously trying hard to keep from laughing at the shocked faces of her sister and brother in-law.
"Um. Kasumi." Ranma began, "Who is this?" he said pointing at the figure standing just behind her.
"Oh. This is Duo, he helped me out of a bad position this evening." She smiled as Duo stepped forward and gave a deep bow. She was quite pleased with the respect Duo was showing her family, "I invited him to join us for dinner tonight."
"Well good luck." Said Nabiki, "Akane is cooking tonight and her cooking could kill most people." Nabiki had to suppress a laugh as Ranma looked at her with a scolding glare.
"That wasn't very nice Nabiki." Ranma scolded, "You know that Akane's cooking has improved."
"Ya. But we had time to get used to her cooking. I'm not sure if he can take it."
Nabiki was quite surprised when Akane came out with a small plate of riceballs, witch she politely offered to there guest after they were introduced, Duo smiled and made a quiet comment about looking forward to a home cooked meal. He took one of the riceballs and quickly devoured it. "That was wonderful!" exclaimed Duo, "please can I have another?"
"Well I'm glad that someone other than Ranma likes my cooking. Here have as many as you like." Said Akane as she handed the tray to Duo and watched with a smile as he quickly devoured all of them.
"Wow. You must have been pretty hungry to have eaten all of those things." Said Nabiki with an expiration of shock still on her face, "After all Akane's cooking is far from perfect."
"Hay." Ranma and Akane said together. They looked at each other and smiled at each other.
"Actually I thought it was quite good." Said Duo as he stood up, "I haven't had much to eat for the past week. It's nice to have something in my stomach."
Akane smiled at the complement, and then before she could say anything Kasumi said exactly what she was about to, "Duo." She stopped for a moment trying to think of the right way to say what was on her mind, "Where are you staying in town?"
Duo stretched and thought for a moment for a moment before answering, "I guess I don't have a place to stay. I just got into town tonight."
Nabiki spoke up with a question of her own, "So you're from out of town. Then what exactly brought you to Nerima?"
Duo looked at her for a moment before answering as if trying to decide what to tell her, and then seemed to settle on an answer, "I'm searching for someone. Someone I've been tracking for the past five years."
Nabiki was about to ask who, but the look in Duo's eyes suggested that it was a particularly painful subject from his past. Maybe he would tell her later.
Ranma decided that it was his turn to say something, "Well, we have plenty of room here. You can stay here for as long as you're in town." Judging from the smiles and nods of the others in the room he guessed that he had said the right thing.
Duo bowed to Ranma, "Thank you for your hospitality. I intend to repay you as much as I can during my stay."
**********
Akane returned to the kitchen to finish dinner and Kasumi went to give her a hand. Nabiki was curious as to what Duo had done to help her sister, but decided to let it go for now, Kasumi would tell them when she was ready.
"So Duo so you study martial arts?" asked Ranma, "I noticed the rod and was just curious."
Duo started to smile but quickly hid the expiration, after all he wasn't quite sure how much he could trust these people, and his master had always told him to be cautious when in the company of strangers, "Yes. I'm a student of the Yun Karr style of martial arts."
"Yun Karr style. I haven't heard of it before."
"Not many people have."
"How did you come to learn it?"
"My master and adoptive father taught it to me. He was the 20th master of the art."
"Can you teach me some of your art?" Ranma asked hopefully.
Duo shook his head, "Sorry, I'm afraid not. Only a master of the art can teach its secrets to others. And a master only takes on one student at a time."
"Oh." Ranma said looking a bit saddened.
Nabiki had a questioning look on her face, "You said adoptive father. What happened to your biological father?"
Duo looked down and began to study the table, "He was killed trying to protect me and my mother. His killer escaped. My mother got sick a few months later and just couldn't get better. She also died."
Nabiki couldn't help but notice that a drop of water appeared on the table in front of Duo. 'Was he crying? I must have hit a sensitive subject without knowing it.' She reached across the table and took his hand in hers and gave it a reassuring squeeze, "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to bring up a painful subject." Nabiki remembered the pained look that Duo had earlier and cursed herself for not remembering.
"It's ok. You didn't know." Duo having regained his composure looked up into Nabiki's eyes. They were the most beautiful brown eyes he had ever seen. He forced himself not to blush and he noticed that she was still holding his hand. He had never felt this way before, Master had said that he would, but he had never really believed him. It was an interesting feeling, he kind of liked it. But when he gave Nabiki a reassuring smile, and was a bit disappointed when she removed her hand, but she did smile back.
Akane and Kasumi returned from the kitchen with a fair sized dinner. The meal was by most standards average, but to Duo found the meal quite good. After the meal Kasumi showed Duo to the guest room and showed him where he could store his things. Duo thanked her for her kindness and said that he would like to turn in early, he had been traveling all day and was a bit tired. Kasumi looked as if she understood and left him alone so he could rest.
**********
It was late probably around 3 o'clock, and Nabiki couldn't sleep at all. She sat up in bed and looked at the wall, 'What could it hurt?' she said to herself. She got up and left her room and walked down the hall as quietly as she could so she wouldn't wake anyone up. When she got to the door of the guest room she cracked the door and looked inside. Duo was resting in a meditative position, and his rod lay across his keens. His eyes were closed and he looked like he was unaware of her presents.
"You can come in if you want." Nabiki was a little more then shocked when he opened his eyes and looked strait at her, "Its ok, come on in."
Nabiki slowly entered the room and sat across from him, "How did you know I was there?"
Duo removed the rod from his lap and set it along side of him, "I was taught to extend my senses so that I could always be alert and ready for danger."
"So," Nabiki hesitated, "what brings you to Nerima, I know you're searching for someone but there has to be another reason."
Duo looked at her, "My master told me that he can't teach me any more until I discover what it is that I am missing as a martial artist." He looked down before continuing, "I've been searching for it for almost five years, and I don't know why but I think I'll find it here." He looked up then turned to look out the window then turned back to her.
They sat there for a while and just looking at each other. For what seemed like hours. Until Duo noticed the first rays of morning light start to shine thru the window, "I think that you should return to your room now it's almost morning."
Nabiki looked out the window and nodded before she got up and left the room and into the hall. 'He really is a different kind of guy. I know plenty of men who would have jumped at the opportunity to try something alone with me.' She smiled, 'I think I can trust him. And besides he's really cute.'
Then it happened, it always did, some local thugs decided that the stranger looked like he had more money then their usual targets, and decided to relive him of his wallet. The four of them approached him from two different directions. One of them spoke, obviously there leader, "Hay you there. You're new in town so we'll give you a quick lesson in how things work around here. Ether you give us all your money now or we knock you senseless and take it from you." The leader smiled a little liking the fact that his gang had a four to one advantage, "So what's it gona be?"
The wanderer looked up into the eyes of the gang's leader and was slightly delighted to see a flinch of fear show on his face. It was the eyes, it always was. He didn't know why he had red eyes, and he really didn't care, but they always had the same affect on people the first time and he always tried to use it to his advantage. "I'm afraid that I won't just give you all my money, so you'll just have to beat it out of me."
"What!?!" The gang's leader obviously wasn't used to people standing up to him in this way. And definitely wasn't used to people with red eyes. He looked as though the vain in his forehead was about to explode. "Get him guys!" he shouted and jumped at the wanderer along with his gang. All he saw after that was the wanderer smile and drop into a ready stance, and then everything went black as he lost consciousness. When he woke up he and his gang were in handcuffs and being taken away by the local police. And all he could think was 'Who the heck was that guy?'
The wander left the town as quickly as he arrived. Some time later he came to a new city, the only thing there to greet him was a sign reading 'Welcome to Nerima.' The figure bent down to one knee and took a handful of dirt. Raising it to his nose he took in its sent. "This town is a troubled one. I may be needed here." He quietly let the dirt fall from his hand to be caught in a slight breeze, as he stood and looked out at the new city standing before him. The sun was beginning to set providing a magnificent view of the mountains, the city was starting to quiet down, save for a few areas witch were probably known for there night life. He took a breath of the fresh night air and started to make his way into the city. He didn't know why but he got the feeling that he should hurry.
The Wanderers Arrival: Chapter 1
Kasumi Tendo was on her way home from her evening job, it didn't feel right. She usually was dismissed for the day before night fall, but tonight Elder Cologne had asked here to stay for a while longer to help here and Shampoo with a few things. She didn't mind but she got an odd feeling as she turned down the familiar alleyway that she used as a shortcut to get home after work. After here father had left on some idiotic training trip with that stupid Genma Soutome she had to take on a second job at night to support herself, her sisters, and her new brother in-law. Her day job was at Ukyos Okonomiyaki, and her evening job was at the Cat Café. Her brother in-law, Ranma, was working at the high school teaching basic martial art classes for a few hours after school. Between the two of them they could easily pay off the bills and save a little every now and then.
When she was about halfway through the ally she saw him. He was a member of one of the local gangs known for there brutality, and he had friends, there were at least three of them blocking her path. She turned to go back the way she came only to find that her path was blocked by another four of them. She knew that she could take most of the thugs in the city on most days, she was a fairly accomplished martial artist, nowhere near Ranma's level, but still good, so she knew she could take any one of them. But the gangs of Nerima weren't exactly known for playing fair, and even if she could take one of them there were seven of them, and she knew that she couldn't beat them all.
"Well boys what do we have here?" one of them said, "I don't now. Looks like something sweet to me." Said another, at that Kasumi knew what was coming, they were going to rape her then probably beat her or worse. "Well if its something sweet I think we should try some." Said one coming up behind her, he locked her arms behind her back and all she could do was watch as the others moved in closer smiling in anticipation of what was to come.
She kicked the one holding her in the shin and tried to run as he lost his grip but was promptly thrown into the ally wall. When she tried to get up she found a knife being pressed against her neck. "That wasn't very nice, now was it?" he glared at her menacingly, "Now we can do this the easy way or the hard way." He said as he pressed a little harder with the knife drawing a small drop of blood at the point. "We can rape a dead body just as easily as a live one." This brought a laugh from some of the others. She was so scared that she didn't know what to do. So she did nothing as they ripped off her blouse exposing her breasts for all of them to see.
**********
He was walking buy the ally when he heard it. It was a scream a quiet one but a scream none the less. He turned to look down the alleyway the scream came from. Then he saw it. There were eight of them seven men and one woman. The men were standing around the woman who was leaning against the wall and was missing her blouse. She seemed to be a bit distressed. He stretched out with his senses, and knew there intentions, and knew her fear. Yes it was clear to him, he had to help her or she would most likely be killed. He didn't have much time he had to move quickly.
**********
She looked up into his eyes as he started to reach for her shorts, when she heard it, "You'll leave that woman alone if you know what's good for you." She turned to look at the new voice and saw a young man possibly around her sister Nabiki's age, his hair was cut short, and he looked to be in good physical condition but not overly muscular. He didn't look threatening to her, but looks can be deceiving. Then he looked up and she saw his eyes, his bright red eyes. He reached behind him to his pack and drew out a rod about the same size as a kodatche sword.
The thugs looked at the stranger with an air of shock. No one had ever been so stupid as to openly threaten them before. They looked to the one holding her to the wall as if looking for guidance. "Get Him!" he yelled. They hesitated but attacked once they remembered that there was six of them and only one of him. They attacked in three groups, two from the right, two from the left, and two down the middle.
His movements seemed to be a blur, he moved forward to attack the two from the middle but at the last second changed his attack towards the two on the right. He struck out with his rod and the two fell to the ground, he jumped and spun in the air and landed behind the left two and hit them both on the back of the neck, they fell as well. He looked at the other two and charged them ramming them into the wall, they watched them both lose consciousness.
The leader of the band of thugs didn't know what to think, he started to run trying to get away. The stranger shifted his rod's position and threw it like a spear and caught him in the back of the head. After retrieving the rod and making sure that everyone was down for and not getting up for a while he started to make his way over towards the woman.
**********
Kasumi didn't know what to think. Had she been saved from one fate only to be trapped within another inescapable one? "Are you all right? Did they hurt you?" his voice was soothing, she could sense that he meant her no harm. He took off his pack and took out a light coat and handed it to her, "Here. Go ahead take it." Realizing that she had nothing on but her shorts she quickly accepted it and put it on. He extended a hand to her and helped her out of the ally. "It's too dangerous to for you to walk home in your current state alone. I'll walk you to your house." Kasumi looked at him with a look of fear and trust. He smiled and said "Don't worry you have nothing to fear from me. I won't hurt you or try anything. You have my word." Kasumi nodded and proceeded to lead the way to her house. "What's your name?" his sodden question startled her.
"Wha... Oh. Kasumi, My name is Kasumi Tendo. What's yours?"
"My name is Duo Karr."
"Well Duo Karr. Thank you for saving my life."
Duo smiled "Anytime."
**********
Nabiki was in the sitting room of the Tendo house trying to keep up with the family's bookkeeping when she heard the front door open, "We're home." Ranma and Akane said as they entered the house. They entered the room and Nabiki smiled as she saw them kiss briefly before Akane went to the kitchen to start dinner.
There relationship hadn't started out this way. When Ranma and his father Genma first arrived and her father explained that Ranma and Akane were engaged, things got off to a bad start. They were always fighting and arguing with each other. But about three months ago things started to change, Ranma started being nice. The two got to know each other and one month later they were trying to decide how long before they should make the wedding date.
It seemed like everyone had someone to be with these days, Akane had Ranma, Kasumi had Dr. Tofu, but Nabiki never really had anyone to care for her. She glanced at the clock on the wall, speaking of Kasumi she should have been home by now, it was already dark out and in this part of Nerima that wasn't a good thing if you were still out on the streets. Not even Ranma liked to go out after dark, there were just too many things to worry about.
There father and Mr. Saotome had left on a training trip about two months ago and said that they wouldn't be back for a wile. This left them all a little bit on edge. There father had always been able to take care of any of the local thugs that always seemed to be hassling the Tendo daughters. But with him gone the thugs and perverts seemed to be coming out of the woodwork.
She heard the door open again and was relived to hear Kasumi's voice, "I'm home everyone. Sorry if I worried you." She called out, then in a more quiet voice she said, "Oh please come in and join us for dinner. It's the least I can offer after what you did for me."
It must have been Dr. Tofu. He loved Kasumi everyone knew it, even Kasumi did, but the good Dr. never seamed to find the courage to tell her himself. But when Kasumi walked in with a complete stranger, Nabiki and Ranma were a little more then shocked.
"So is Akane cooking tonight or is it my turn?" Kasumi asked with a smile wide on her face, obviously trying hard to keep from laughing at the shocked faces of her sister and brother in-law.
"Um. Kasumi." Ranma began, "Who is this?" he said pointing at the figure standing just behind her.
"Oh. This is Duo, he helped me out of a bad position this evening." She smiled as Duo stepped forward and gave a deep bow. She was quite pleased with the respect Duo was showing her family, "I invited him to join us for dinner tonight."
"Well good luck." Said Nabiki, "Akane is cooking tonight and her cooking could kill most people." Nabiki had to suppress a laugh as Ranma looked at her with a scolding glare.
"That wasn't very nice Nabiki." Ranma scolded, "You know that Akane's cooking has improved."
"Ya. But we had time to get used to her cooking. I'm not sure if he can take it."
Nabiki was quite surprised when Akane came out with a small plate of riceballs, witch she politely offered to there guest after they were introduced, Duo smiled and made a quiet comment about looking forward to a home cooked meal. He took one of the riceballs and quickly devoured it. "That was wonderful!" exclaimed Duo, "please can I have another?"
"Well I'm glad that someone other than Ranma likes my cooking. Here have as many as you like." Said Akane as she handed the tray to Duo and watched with a smile as he quickly devoured all of them.
"Wow. You must have been pretty hungry to have eaten all of those things." Said Nabiki with an expiration of shock still on her face, "After all Akane's cooking is far from perfect."
"Hay." Ranma and Akane said together. They looked at each other and smiled at each other.
"Actually I thought it was quite good." Said Duo as he stood up, "I haven't had much to eat for the past week. It's nice to have something in my stomach."
Akane smiled at the complement, and then before she could say anything Kasumi said exactly what she was about to, "Duo." She stopped for a moment trying to think of the right way to say what was on her mind, "Where are you staying in town?"
Duo stretched and thought for a moment for a moment before answering, "I guess I don't have a place to stay. I just got into town tonight."
Nabiki spoke up with a question of her own, "So you're from out of town. Then what exactly brought you to Nerima?"
Duo looked at her for a moment before answering as if trying to decide what to tell her, and then seemed to settle on an answer, "I'm searching for someone. Someone I've been tracking for the past five years."
Nabiki was about to ask who, but the look in Duo's eyes suggested that it was a particularly painful subject from his past. Maybe he would tell her later.
Ranma decided that it was his turn to say something, "Well, we have plenty of room here. You can stay here for as long as you're in town." Judging from the smiles and nods of the others in the room he guessed that he had said the right thing.
Duo bowed to Ranma, "Thank you for your hospitality. I intend to repay you as much as I can during my stay."
**********
Akane returned to the kitchen to finish dinner and Kasumi went to give her a hand. Nabiki was curious as to what Duo had done to help her sister, but decided to let it go for now, Kasumi would tell them when she was ready.
"So Duo so you study martial arts?" asked Ranma, "I noticed the rod and was just curious."
Duo started to smile but quickly hid the expiration, after all he wasn't quite sure how much he could trust these people, and his master had always told him to be cautious when in the company of strangers, "Yes. I'm a student of the Yun Karr style of martial arts."
"Yun Karr style. I haven't heard of it before."
"Not many people have."
"How did you come to learn it?"
"My master and adoptive father taught it to me. He was the 20th master of the art."
"Can you teach me some of your art?" Ranma asked hopefully.
Duo shook his head, "Sorry, I'm afraid not. Only a master of the art can teach its secrets to others. And a master only takes on one student at a time."
"Oh." Ranma said looking a bit saddened.
Nabiki had a questioning look on her face, "You said adoptive father. What happened to your biological father?"
Duo looked down and began to study the table, "He was killed trying to protect me and my mother. His killer escaped. My mother got sick a few months later and just couldn't get better. She also died."
Nabiki couldn't help but notice that a drop of water appeared on the table in front of Duo. 'Was he crying? I must have hit a sensitive subject without knowing it.' She reached across the table and took his hand in hers and gave it a reassuring squeeze, "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to bring up a painful subject." Nabiki remembered the pained look that Duo had earlier and cursed herself for not remembering.
"It's ok. You didn't know." Duo having regained his composure looked up into Nabiki's eyes. They were the most beautiful brown eyes he had ever seen. He forced himself not to blush and he noticed that she was still holding his hand. He had never felt this way before, Master had said that he would, but he had never really believed him. It was an interesting feeling, he kind of liked it. But when he gave Nabiki a reassuring smile, and was a bit disappointed when she removed her hand, but she did smile back.
Akane and Kasumi returned from the kitchen with a fair sized dinner. The meal was by most standards average, but to Duo found the meal quite good. After the meal Kasumi showed Duo to the guest room and showed him where he could store his things. Duo thanked her for her kindness and said that he would like to turn in early, he had been traveling all day and was a bit tired. Kasumi looked as if she understood and left him alone so he could rest.
**********
It was late probably around 3 o'clock, and Nabiki couldn't sleep at all. She sat up in bed and looked at the wall, 'What could it hurt?' she said to herself. She got up and left her room and walked down the hall as quietly as she could so she wouldn't wake anyone up. When she got to the door of the guest room she cracked the door and looked inside. Duo was resting in a meditative position, and his rod lay across his keens. His eyes were closed and he looked like he was unaware of her presents.
"You can come in if you want." Nabiki was a little more then shocked when he opened his eyes and looked strait at her, "Its ok, come on in."
Nabiki slowly entered the room and sat across from him, "How did you know I was there?"
Duo removed the rod from his lap and set it along side of him, "I was taught to extend my senses so that I could always be alert and ready for danger."
"So," Nabiki hesitated, "what brings you to Nerima, I know you're searching for someone but there has to be another reason."
Duo looked at her, "My master told me that he can't teach me any more until I discover what it is that I am missing as a martial artist." He looked down before continuing, "I've been searching for it for almost five years, and I don't know why but I think I'll find it here." He looked up then turned to look out the window then turned back to her.
They sat there for a while and just looking at each other. For what seemed like hours. Until Duo noticed the first rays of morning light start to shine thru the window, "I think that you should return to your room now it's almost morning."
Nabiki looked out the window and nodded before she got up and left the room and into the hall. 'He really is a different kind of guy. I know plenty of men who would have jumped at the opportunity to try something alone with me.' She smiled, 'I think I can trust him. And besides he's really cute.'