Disclaimer: I do not own Ranma ½, Street Fighter, King of Fighters, or any other anime series/characters or games characters that might be mentioned.

Powers Comes With A Price

BY: Confucius

Chapter 3

     Taski found himself drinking a bit in the little pub they have in the mansion.  He was just ordered to kill his friend because his old brother was growing suspicious of Ranma.  Ranma and him had gotten close over the past three years.  In fact, he considers the younger man as a little brother of the family.  They have trained together and even worked on the same assignments from time to time.  This was the part of the job he hated most.  He made sure that he didn't over drink so that he was in the right state of mind to get things done.  He opened a bottle of brandy and started to take shots.

     Ranma stood up straight and sensed the fighters were recovering.  As he focused on his target, he found the old man was knocked unconscious from his sudden entrance.  It doesn't look like the target will be getting up soon and with him there on the job, he could guarantee that the man won't ever be waking up.  He let his left hand down and straightens out his fingers.  He imagined a powerful wind growing around his left hand and used his will to make it a reality.  He wonders if there was anybody who was unlucky as the man who was lying defenseless.

     Genma Saotome sneezed.  Things had not gone well for him.  Three years ago, Genma and Ryouga dropped by the Tendo Residence.  It was announced that Ranma, who was now renamed to Ryouga has to marry one of the Tendo girls. 

     "What?!" Nabiki exclaimed.  "A fiancé?"

     "That's right," Soun, replied.  "Long ago when I and my dear old friend Genma Saotome were training with the old master, we made a pact to unite the schools together if one of us has a boy and the other has a girl.  It turns out that he does have a son.  It says that his name is Ranma, who prefers to be called Ryouga.  This postcard was mailed a few days ago so I'm guessing they should be making there way here very shortly."

     "How can you do that to us father?" Kasumi

     "All boys are nothing but perverts!" Akane yelled.

     "Is he cute daddy?"  Since it looks like he father is not going to give this up, Nabiki felt that she should have the right to know if the man was cute. 

     "I don't know.  I've never met the guy"

     Poor Soun didn't notice how much the temperature had dropped in the room.  Suddenly, they heard a noise coming from the front of the house.

     Nabiki got very curious and ran out to meet her future whatever excited.  "That must be them now!"

     The rest of the Tendo family watched as Nabiki ran down the corridors and gave a loud scream.  She then ran back to the group frantically.  They were wondering what was going on until a Panda and a little black pig came out from where Nabiki had went. 

     "Oh my!  You have weird friends father."  Kasumi chuckled a bit while thinking her dad was silly.

     "What the?!  Don't worry, I'll go and kill it."  Akane then notices the cute black pig that was beside the big panda.  She then lost all her anger as she adore the pig.  "Hey there little guy.  What are you doing here?  Did you go and get yourself lost?"

     While Akane was just trying to have an adorable conversation with the pig, Ryouga (the little black pig himself) had other ideas.  How dare she makes fun of me about my sense of direction, he told himself.  Ryouga started to make some angry pig snarl, which Akane was totally oblivious about. 

     Genma pulled out a sign from out of nowhere and had requested for hot water.  During the time when he was trying to tell the family of his accursed dilemma, Ryouga the pig had managed to get himself lost, which nobody noticed except Akane.  She decided to go look for it since she still wants to hold the little thing.  That was when she heard noises coming from the bathroom.  Thinking it was the little pig, she ran inside only to find a strange boy who was naked from head to toe.

     "Pervert!  There is a pervert in the bathroom!" Akane screamed while running out.

     "If there is a pervert, wouldn't you just go and bash him to death," Nabiki asked in confusion.  Usually her little sister would just go and bash someone automatically and not running around like this. 

     "I was scared all right!"

     It was then that Ryouga popped out to the group (fully dressed of course). 

     "That's him!"  Akane cried out.  "That's the pervert!  What they hell were you doing in our bathroom?  Did you do something to my little pig?  What have you done to P-chan?"

     "P-chan?"  Nabiki asked.

     "Yeah, the P stands for pig."

     "Pervert?" Ryouga repeated.  "Look girl, you came in on me."

     "Well, that's different," said Akane.  "It is never okay for a guy to see a girl!"

     "What are you talking about?!  I was the one who was naked here!  Did you forget that you were the one that was fully clothed?  Maybe you're the actually pervert here in this room."

     Akane was getting ticked off from the stranger while her two sisters were giggling. 

     "Answer me!  What have you done to P-chan?!"

     "P-chan the pig?  Stupid girl, I'm the…" Ryouga didn't have time to finish when Genma bopped him in the head.

     "Stupid boy!" Genma yelled.  "Where have you been?  Oh the shame, my son has no honor!"

     "Oh, so you're the Saotome boy," said Nabiki.

     It was then that Soun decided to speak up.  "Its good that you're here.  This is Kasumi; she's nineteen.  Nabiki is seventeen and Akane who is sixteen.  Pick whoever you like."

     "What are you talking about?"

     The two elder Tendo girls had secretly communicated with each other and decided to dump the problem on their youngest sister.  "Oh, he wants Akane," said the girls in unison. 

     Akane was quite surprise at this.  "What?  Why me?"

     "It just seems like you two are perfect together, that's all."

     "Like I ever want this pervert.  You still haven't answer me you know.  Where's P-chan?"

     "I've been trying to tell you.  I'm…" Once again, he was interrupted as a table that was just smashed onto his head.

     "That's what you get pervert for trying to spy on me."  Akane felt very proud of herself for justice that she had just given out.  It made her happy to know that other girls were now safe from been spied on from the pervert that she just taught a lesson.  Unfortunately, her feelings of being proud were cut short from the television set that smashed down onto her.

     "Don't think that I don't hit girls!" said Ryouga.

     Genma suddenly just remembered something.  "Oh yes, I forgot to tell you.  Ryouga here gets angry easily and he gets really irrational.  He's not afraid to hit back."

     "Oh my poor little girl."

     The elder Tendo sisters on the other hand were glad that they've made the right decision.  What a perfect match, they thought.

     The next morning came and Ryouga was found strapped with Akane with the cuffs so he wouldn't get lost.  This caused much anger in the school's male population, especially a kendoist by the name of Tatewaki Kuno, the Blue Thunder of Furinkan High. 

     "You fiend!" Kuno cried.  "Unhand the beautiful maiden Akane or else thou shall face the wrath of the Kuno family."

     "Listen, if you really want Akane that badly then you can have her.  Its not like I want that psychotic bit…" He stopped talking for the moment when he noticed a battle aura was raging behind him.  He had completely forgot that his left hand was cuffed in a long string to Kuno's so-called beautiful flower.

     "How dare you?  Are you trying to say that my beautiful flower is not worthy upon your hands?  I shall smite thee."

     Ryouga ends up winning of course but he didn't get any victory party.  All he got was a punch in the face by his fiancé. 

     Akane smiled to herself as her punch connected to Ryouga's face and was even happier when he started to fly through the school ceiling.  Too bad she totally forgot that their arms were strapped together and was at a complete shock when she flew up in the air with him. 

     When Kodachi made her first appearance at the Tendo Residence, she had successfully completed what she had set out to do.  While she was giving Akane a beating of her life, while the hero Ryouga was sound asleep in his room.  Poor Akane was in a body cast for a few weeks and Furinkan High School had to forfeit their Rhythm Gymnastic competition.  Of course, she blames Ryouga for all of this since he had hit her with the same mallet she used on him earlier that evening, which had made her venerable to attacks.  She also wonders where he find found her secret mallet.  She wouldn't have to hit him if he just told her where her P-chan was.

     "Oh P-chan, there you are.  I missed you so much.  Did you finally get away from that big nasty Ryouga?  Don't worry, the next time I see him, I'll give him a beating just for you okay.  That idiot is probably lost somewhere right now.  I get so sick and tired of being tied to him you know.  I just had to be unattached to him for even a bit, so when I yanked off the cuff.  The second I turned my head around that stupid moron was gone.  Can you believe that jerk?  If he has a right mind, he should know better than leave his spot away from me."

     Ryouga was furious that she was talking trash about him right to his face while she was smiling and holding him.  That pisses him off royally.  He then jumped out of her hands and started to run off.  He didn't care where he was headed as long as it was away from that lunatic (as if he has the right to call someone that).  He then manages to find himself in the bathroom again that was filled with warm water.  It was probably left over from whoever that just had taken a bath.  Luckily, it was still hot enough to change him back to human form.  As he got dressed and successfully found his way out of the room, he came across Akane. 

     "You!  What have you done to P-chan?  He's just a weak defenseless pig for crying out load.  If you hurt him you sick bastard, I swear I will…"

     "Like I try to keep on telling you," Ryouga interrupted.  "I'm P…" His body then collapse to the ground from being hit by Akane's mallet.

     "Don't ever interrupt me like that when I'm talking to you.  Now where is P-chan?"

     You are so going to get it, he thought.  Ryouga got onto his feet and grabbed the mallet from Akane's hand.  He saw that she was shocked how she was disarmed so easily and quickly.  Bringing the mallet down in front of his knees and pointed flat surface towards his target's direction, Ryouga started to swing upward.  "How dare she call me weak, defenseless, and a sick bastard!"

     Akane woke up in her room and saw that it was now night-time.  She tried to recall what had just happened and why she was suddenly in her room when someone attacked her.

     "So this is the great Akane Tendo who my brother is so infatuated of," said the figure in the dark.

     "Who are you and why did you attack me?"  Akane watched as the figure walked out of the shadow and looked straight at her.  The girl in front of her was wearing a gymnastic uniform.  "So you are the one that had attack the Furinkan Rhythm Gymnastic Team."

     "I fail to see why my brother has so much high regards of you.  I heard that you were going to enter the competition so that is why I am here."

     "Attack competitors before the competition is cheating and I hate cheaters.  I've run across nothing but cheaters for a long time now and I'm getting sick of it.  Come on then!  I'll show you exactly what a true martial artist can do.  I am the best martial artist that ever existed in Nermia so I won't be beaten by you."

     The next morning, Akane woke up once again and this time found herself in a body cast laying in what looks like to be Doctor Tofu's clinic.  She got ticked off as she recalled what had happened the night before.  She wonders where exactly everyone was in the house and why no one bothered to come in and help her.  At the moment, she had forgotten that everyone was probably having a good night sleep. 

     Akane wasn't the only one how was having a bad time during his stay at the Tendo Residence.  Ryouga had made many enemies as like Akane.  One of them already mentioned was Kuno.  Luckily, he didn't have a chance to meet Kodachi since he was asleep when she first dropped by.  His most fearful enemy was none other than Azusa, one half of the Golden Pair Martial Art Figure Skating Team.  It felt like eternity when his pig form was locked in one of Azusa's cages.  Somehow she had spotted him after he was splashed to cold water in the middle of a street.  He made a note to himself to avoid this girl at all cost with both his forms.  That was why he frantically said no to Akane when she wanted to go ice-skating so he would not have to risk seeing her there.  Akane was again ticked off that he dared to refuse her so she ended not going ever.  So for the moment, she has not yet being introduce to the Golden Pair (which I guess is a good thing.) 

     Nabiki kind of counted as one of Ryouga's enemy.  She was mad at the Saotomes for depleting so much of her money.  Sure, Genma has a job working with Doctor Tofu, but that was hardly enough to cover house damages and food.  She fails to find a way to make profit from Ryouga.  Most of his fights were with Kuno and people were getting tired of the displays so the betting pool was down.  When she thought that things couldn't get worst, she found herself slapping herself. 

     It seems that Genma had engaged Ryouga to other girls during the long training journey.  She actually enjoyed that Martial Arts Take-Out Competition.  She made quite a bit of money with the bets but it was just too bad that her family lost the competition (yeah right).  Ryouga had managed to get himself lost during the race.  Before the race the Tendo family and the Take out family had agreed that Ryouga would be engaged to who ever wins the competition.  The take out family had won the race significantly since her family martial art style was all about delivering takeouts.  However, a couple of days later, the fiancé returns to hand Ryouga back to the Tendos.  It seems like they were disgusted at Ryouga's directional curse.  With a family business that deals with making to a specific destination at a certain time, having a direction curse in the family was strictly a no-no.  Nabiki groin as her father happily accepted Ryouga back since that was the best opportunity for them to officially lose Ryouga besides him getting lost.  Unfortunately he seems to have annoyed the other family too quickly. 

     Things had gotten even more chaotic as the months past.  The horrifying master had returned from the grave and caused Soun and Genma unspeakable grief.  Genma's worthless son was just too slow and inexperience to match with the grandmaster of the Anything Goes. 

     "So you are going to be my true heir in the Anything Goes School huh?"  Happosai asked.  "For some reason, I feel like I'm going to be in a world of disappointment."

     "Disappointment?  I'll show you old man!"  Somehow, he found himself flying through the ceiling.

     "My, looks like I have a lot of work on my hands on that one." Happosai then turns his head on Genma.  "Genma, have you begun to teach your son your forbidden techniques yet?  And I don't mean the 'crouch of the wild tiger' or 'fast break', I mean your sealed forbidden techniques."

     "No master.  The boy proves to not have the ability to learn the techniques.  No matter how hard I try to correct his posture and skills, the boy still does not have what it takes to be a good thief.  He is loud, brutish, and relies on strength too much, and he does seem to have a lot of strength."

     "That's a shame then.  That means I'll need to do your work for you.  A couple of panty raids in the boy's life and he'll be as fit and ready."

     "Panty raids?" Genma repeated.  I think it would be best to let the master know about Ryouga's direction problems at first hand, he thought.

     The relationship with Ryouga and Akane had not been getting any better.  In fact, they hated each other's guts.  She kept on calling him a pervert and continuously slams her big wooden hammer down at him.  If that was not enough, Ryouga actually fought back and gives Akane a sound beating.  It would also seem that she fails to find out that Ryouga was her precious P-chan.  In turn, every time when he tries to tell her, something always comes up that would interrupt him.  Soun was angry at first that Ryouga had hurt his daughter but Genma disagrees and said that the two were actually bonding.  The idiot Soun actually believed him and so he didn't take any actions to stop the madness.

     Ryouga was never dependable since he was nowhere when he was needed.  Sure, he was scrapped down with someone most of the time but that plan would not have really stopped his directional curse.  It would take him several weeks to a month or so to find his way back.  Akane had to defend the Tendo Dojo Sign from the Dojo Destroyer alone, which she was beaten severally.  She was never quite the same after that.  Of course, that didn't stop her from bashing Ryouga when she sees him.  Her ego has been hurt severally when all these top-notch fighters began to appear around Nerima.  Her spirit might have been crushed for now but her flame is still on.  Soon, she will show them all that she is no doubt the greatest martial artist in the world (and pigs could fly). 

     Lychee and her elephant had made their way to the Tendo Residence not long after.  During the weird confusion, Akane had gotten a hold of Lychee's scroll and was captured by Prince Kirin who finally decided to seek out the other half of his scroll and coincidentally finds it in Akane's hand.  The rescue attempt never successfully started since Ryouga keeps on disappearing at the moment when his cuffs were off.  Kuno was also never seen again after he left by himself to find Akane.  The Tendo had then given up on finding the youngest member of the clan.  They couldn't afford a trip to China and there wasn't enough manpower to save her. 

     "A-K-A-N-E!!!" Soun cried.  "Please forgive me because I am powerless to save you."

     "There-there Tendo," Genma tried to help his friend.  "If my worthless boy was not such a shame on the family, Akane would already been saved."

     Soun sobered up a little.  "Where do you think your son is now?"

     "Who knows?  With his sense of direction, he'll be at god-knows-where.  That Kuno kid and master Happosai hasn't gone back yet from that little rescue mission.  I have no idea where they are or even what they are doing right now.  On the good side, at least the master is out of our hairs for awhile."

     The sun has yet seemed to appear out from the dark cloud that was over the Tendo Residence.  Picolet Chardin III came one afternoon to claim his bride for the food that Soun and Genma ate during their training with Happosai.  The Tendo girls were outraged that their father had again done such a stupid thing.  Nabiki decided that she should be the one to be picked because she wanted to get out of this hellhole.  Picolet seems to be very rich by the cloths he was wearing and the food he had brought over.  Too bad she didn't have a clue about what was in store for her.  Kasumi was now the only Tendo girl left so she was designated to be Ryouga's fiancé, even though she protests.  It seems after that, Doctor Tofu had become enemies with the Saotomes and obviously fired Genma.  When Pantyhose Taro and Ashura came, the chaos magnifies, which left many citizens selling their property and moving away. 

     When Nodoka made her appearance at the Tendo Residence, she was shocked that she was finally reunited with her son.  Unfortunately, the picture she had of him came crashing down once she learned of his problems.  The boy keeps on getting himself lost and turns into a pig.  She didn't mind the later so much and the first.  It was kind of ironic in a twisted sort of way that she could be stripped away from her son again at any moment if she stopped monitoring him.  He would probably be in despair if he were locked inside a room that had no doors.  Then again, he'll probably find some way out of the room, which is totally illogical in scientific sense.  She has a hard time readjusting to call her son Ryouga.  When he mentioned that she was the one that gave him that pet name, she had a feeling that something was up but decided to drop it.  She doesn't really see him as manly and would have gone through the contract if not that she was not serious about it in the first place. 

     "If only my real son was that nice young boy Ryu Kumon," Nodoka murmured to herself.  "He would have been such a better candidate then Ryouga here."  Having him gone for so many years just to have him like this was very disappointing.  Genma was not able to sit properly for about six months from the punishment Nodoka gave him. 

     The Tendos and the city of Nerima was not the only place where things were hectic.  The Musk and the Phoenix Tribe were causing trouble to the Amazon Village.  The Curse Spring of Jusenkyo had flooded by the awakening of Saffron, leaving the Musk angry at the Phoenix.  An all out war looks like it was going to break soon between the three ancient tribes.  If only there was someone who would have taken cared of the problem before it excavated. 

     Ranma summons the power of wind onto his hands and released it towards the door.  "Razor Wind!"  He had sensed immediately after his headache was over that guards were on their way up.  They were the current threat, which must be disposed of.  The gust of razor sharp wind had made of long cut through the door and all the across walls.  Massive blood could be seen sprayed through the cracks.  Bodies could be seen decapitated it half once the door finally fell over because it no longer had support holding it up.  Some bodies were decapitated at different location due to where they were standing when the wind sliced through them.  

     Gen was shocked at the display of ruthless killing.  Sure he was also an assassin but most of his kills were clean and not like this bloodbath.  He sensed that Ranma was a threat and decided to attack. 

     Yamazaki who were used to bloodbaths was excited.  In that blink moment, he felt like he had met someone who understands the psychotic jokes.  He looked down at the blood that was sprayed on the wall and spilling all over the floor.  A smile grew on his face and he licked his lips.

     Ranma dodged Gen's lunged and did an outside crescent kick that swung outward and connects with the attacker's wrist to block the incoming strike.  Their hands blurred as they joined in battle.  Even though Gen was a more experience fighter, it seems like Ranma was always one step ahead.  The speed style attacks of Gen's Sou-ryuu Style, were not working on the young man.  

     Ranma was getting annoyed at the old man and decided to end it quickly.  Ranma overpowers him in strength and managed to garb the old assassin's arm and flung him beside the wall.  He then used his telekinesis to hold the old man in place.  Just because he was ticked off at the old geezer, Ranma slams the old guy to the wall and has him embedded in it.  "Are you senile old man?  You do know that we have the same target right?"

     Gen was now even more shocked.  Somehow the boy was able to break through his defense and grabbed him.  He found himself immobilized and can't control his limbs.  What is this boy, he found himself asking.  

     During the short fight between Gen and Ranma, Yamazaki managed to pull himself together and went to check on his employer's condition.  He didn't really care if the man was dead.  All he cared was if he was going to get paid after what he had been through.  If not, he would have to skin someone alive just to cool down his temper.

     Ranma notices Yamazaki getting himself up and was now cowering over his target.  He mentally smacked himself for letting that happen and hoped that he didn't just screw his whole mission.  He then decided to vent his frustration on his old opponent with verbal assaults while looking at Yamazaki.  "You see what you've done?  Now that other guy is back on his feet and is helping out the freaking target.  What are you, a rookie?  Have you done this before?  Why don't you just stay home and let your great-great grandkids feed you milk and cookies.  Can you even chew or do you have to have someone else does it for you huh?"

     Of course, Gen was completely boiling over the remarks.  He would have bopped the youngster on the head if he could move.  "Insolent child, don't you have any respect for your elders?"  However he knew the kid was somewhat right.  He had let the opportunity to do away his target go while choosing to fight the kid.  He was here to terminate the yakuza boss to stop the flow of narcotics.  He happened to stumble onto this by accident.  He felt obligated to take care of this matter for an old friend whom was missing.  He hopes that it is not to late to make finish what he set out to do. 

     Ranma was actually listening into Gen's thoughts.  He thought the older man's technique were awesome and very deadly.  If it weren't for his super senses, his lightning reflexes and quick thinking, he would probably be dead.  After downloading Gen's knowledge of the martial arts, Ranma decided to turn on his ability to read minds.  Basically his mind is now in tune to the brainwaves that surrounds a close perimeter to him.  From what Gen was thinking, it looks like the old man had finally dropped the idea of attacking him.  At least for the moment until the target has been eliminated. 

     A few moments later, Gen was freed from whatever that held him to the wall.  He was not going to make the same mistakes twice by attacking the boy again until his target dies.  The hired mercenary, Yamazaki was now back by his employer's side.  The dangerous man was not as skilled as him but somehow he was able to evenly trade blows.  What Gen didn't know at the time was that Yamazaki was not all human.  He had the Orochi blood within him empowering him with strength and a healing factor. 

     "You guys are not going to fight anymore?" Yamazaki asked.  "But things were getting good.  Show me some more blood fellas."  He then laughed.

     "Idiot," Ranma remarked while standing straight up and having his arms crossed.  "We both stopped fighting each other for the moment, because we have a mutual job.  Are you just going to stand there, or do we have to move through you?"

     "For once I agree with you child," said Gen.  "Let us take care of business before return to battle."

     "Man, you really are senile."

     "I have heard of you before Confucius," said Yamazaki deciding to cut into their conversation.  He placed his dagger in front of him.  "Rumors say you have a magnificent blade called the Ragnarok Blade, which could kill any prey.  Please give me the honor of seeing it in action."

     "The Ragnarok Blade is a curse item.  Once I bring it out, it'll need to taste blood.  Do you think you're actually worthy upon seeing it?"  Ranma was bluffing.  There was no actual powerful blade.  It was a technique that he created to go through even the most impenetrable force.  It is quite powerful indeed since it was made to kill his adopted father if the need arises.  The word of its existence got around when bystanders saw it in use when Ranma used his victims as guinea pigs.  The people who seen it spread rumors about a magical blade since they don't know what the heck Ranma had shot out.  He actually likes the rumors since it put the fear in the heart of his victims.  It was like winning before the battle even started.

     "You heard me wrong Confucius," Yamazaki stated.  "That wasn't a request.  You'll have to go through me if you want to kill him.  You should wait at least until I get paid.  Then you could do whatever you want."

     Gen didn't know what to think.  He realized that he was in a room full of killers.  Unlike Yamazaki, he hasn't been in Japan long enough to hear the rumors of the infamous assassin's blade.  He was intrigued after hearing the young lad's tell.  Yamazaki was presently not the only person who wants to see the blade.  Upon seeing the big man aiming his dagger at their way, he became tensed and readies himself.  He then noticed the child next to him hasn't even acknowledge the threat.

     "Sorry to disappoint you but we got schedules to keep."

     "So it looks like it's now down to the two of you against me.  I like the odds and when I'm done gutting you, you should both be honored that I will nick off your heads and keep them as a trophy.  And don't worry about your precious blade Confucius.  I'll make sure that I'll feed it a lot of blood once I get my hands on it." 

     "That's what you think you damn psychopath," Ranma replied.  Even though Ranma was blind, his mind could picture everything in the room from the flow of the air.  While Yamazaki was talking, he notices that there was a little flaw in his defense.  Ranma didn't want to lose that chance so he planned on exploiting that weak spot.  He smiles as he pulled out one of his throwing knives from the inside of his vest and plays with it in his right hand.  "Before you even ask, this isn't the Ragnarok Blade."

     "You are such a party pooper."  Yamazaki was not feeling excited of that small knife.  "What are you going to do with that little thing?  You going to cut my nails"

     Ranma's face darkens.  "Like I said before Yamazaki; my target dies tonight."  With that said, Ranma flicked his wrist and the knife flew forward like a bullet.  No one besides Ranma even saw him make a move or see the knife leaving his hands.  The knife flew between the mercenary's legs, nearly missing the man's family jewels and was sent through the yakuza boss's body.  

     Yamazaki didn't know what happened.  Confucius' right arm just become straight all of a sudden and he felt a fast breeze rushing between his legs.  He looked down to see what it was about and was shocked that his pant has been split from the bottom. Just a couple of millimeters and he was have lost his…. "Damn dude, that's cold."  The entire room was then filled with his laughter.  But then he saw Confucius smile.  He turned around and saw that his employer was dead, which equals no money for him.  His fist clenched hard and found the two intruders gone when he turned around.  His entire face was red and steam could almost be seen shooting out from his ears.  Yamazaki's Orochi blood was boiling hot.  "CONFUCIUS!  I AM GOING TO TEAR YOUR FREAKING HEAD OFF!  DO YOU HEAR ME?!" 

     Ranma and Gen had made it outside when Yamazaki had turned his head around.  Unfortunately, the two also landed near the same spot.  They looked at each other and tried to figure out what the other's plan will be. 

     The battle was growing interesting before Gen lost the push.  He wants to continue things and test his limits with the youngster.  He got back into is Sou-ryuu Style stance and waited for his opponent to prepare.

     Is this guy nuts, Ranma asked himself.  They were still at the goddamn place even tough they were near the end of the property.  He read what Gen was thinking so he could understand his reasons.  Gen had contact an incurable disease, which was slowly killing him.  He doesn't know when he will crock.  It could happen months from now or maybe even many years from now.  He was using is ki to suppress the disease and even that was only a short-time solution.  Still, even if he does understand Gen's feelings, it was not like he was obligated to do anything for the old man.  The guy wanted a death match and that didn't exactly fit in his schedule.  For now he is planning to amuse the old geezer before making his grand escape.

     Ranma nodded his head at the old man and got into a fighting stance that shocked Gen.  The stance Ranma was using belonged to the Ki-ryuu Style that was apart of Gen's school.  He decided that since he had downloaded the new technique earlier in the previous fight, he could make use of the technique.  Just watching Gen's eye widening was worth it.  Of course he will only be an amateur but he planned only using some of the basic techniques and incorporate with the style he use now.  That would still be enough to shock the old man, and may even give him a heart attack and speed up his already destined demise. 

     Gen watched the young man as he has gotten into the Ki-ryuu stance.  The boy was up on one leg while the rest of his body was imitating a crane.  He was shocked since this style was supposed to be one of the forbidden techniques that were created to kill.  It was something that could not be learned from video tapes, watching films, or even from dojos.  Although the boy seems to have the likeness down, Gen could tell that the boy was still inexperience from the imperfect stance.  Before he could react, his opponent made the first strike.

     Ranma decided to entertain the old man for a while.  He quickly rolled on the ground and strikes the old man from below.  "Jasen!" 

     Gen quickly reacted to his school's technique by evading it.  He then swung his right leg forward in a low snap kick.  To his surprise, the young man before him had also evaded the attack.  From out of nowhere, the boy had gotten hold of his standing leg and tossed him literally aside.  The boy had incredible strength and seems to be over powering him as like the earlier fight in the mansion.  This child pacts quite a punch and he also has the speed to boot, he told himself.  Gen tried to go over all his knowledge about what to do in this type of situation but he finds that he has no time.  It was now all up to his instincts and the experience that he wields automatically. 

     Ranma was having a time of his life.  The old man he was fighting sure knows what he was doing.  It took a lot of energy to keep up with the old goat.  During the fight, the old man had switched into the Ki-ryuu style so fluently and taught him a few lessons of how it should really be done.  After a while, Ranma then used some movements with the old man's Sou-ryuu style incorporating it with his technique.  He could tell that the old man was impressed.  His danger sense was always flaring so it was a great deal of help.  Unfortunately, he wasn't perfect as his danger sense blinked on again and this time it didn't seem to diminish.

     "Hyakurenkou!" Gen called out as he lashed his hands out and blurred around Ranma's side.  He smiles as he felt that his fingers stabbing into the young man's pressure points. 

     Ranma kicked himself for leaving an opening that let the old man get through his defense.  He focuses his energies together and imagines that the force would rush from his body. 

     Gen was tossed away from the force that the young man released.  His eyes couldn't keep on his target as it moved to fast to see.  When Confucius reappeared behind a tree that was at his side, his eyes widen as he watched the young man push the tree off its roots and let it fall down towards him.  He didn't know how but he was able to barely move away from the falling tree's path.

     "Timber!"  Ranma smiled as he watched Gen lying on the ground about less than an inch away from the large tree that he easily pushed down.  Super strength… got to love it, he thought.  "Razor Wind!"  Ranma proceeds to continue the fight with one of his arsenal of attacks.  The ground was quickly cut up by the sharp edge of the wind and managed to cut Gen in several places. 

     Gen was able to slightly dodge the attack.  If he moved any slower, his body would have likely been cut to pieces and left for dog food.  He has two cuts on his right leg and one cut on his left.  His right shoulder had a deep cut and the blood was flowing all over the place.  He also had some cuts on his chest and the blood that soaked his shirt proves it.  He tapped a couple of his own pressure points to reduce the blood from pouring out.  His eyes never left Confucius and since it could cost him his life if he did.  This was the battle he was looking for but he felt uneasy that the boy has yet to even bleed.  His Hyakurenkou attach should have brought Confucius down but nothing seems to be happening.  Unknown to him, Ranma had willed away whatever effect the man had placed on him.

     Ranma didn't want to let Gen take anymore quick breaks so he made his next move.  He moved over to the tree and swung his left leg so that right side of that foot connects at the bottom of the tree trunk.  The tree responds immediately after the impact.  It rose and flew towards the old assassin.  The tree missed its target as Gen jumped up to avoid the collision and twisted his body around 360 degree in the air horizontally a few times before landing on the ground.  Gen's feet was only able to touch the ground for only a second before it rose again when Ranma slammed into the man.  Gen was knocked fifteen feet away.

     The old assassin felt like a big-rig truck had just hit him.  He had the air knocked out of him, which hasn't happened in years.  The master of the Sou-ryuu and the Ki-ryuu was impressed with the child.  He seems to be a beginner of using his art but he had greatly improved during the fight.  The lad was strong, fast, and agile, which pretty much was all that a martial artist could asks for.  The kid is talented but he feels that there is a dark side in the boy.  He wonders if he should end the boy and rid the world of a possible threat but it looks like the boy had more skills then he is letting on.  He traded power for power and speed for speed.  He now thinks back at the power the boy wields inside the house.  It was enormous though he couldn't sense any use of ki in the attacks.  He was very surprised that his young opponent was able to match his speed and strength and lasting longer than any other regular opponent. 

     Seeing that the Gen was distracted by his own thoughts, Ranma decided it was time to leave.  "Okay, that was fun but I really have to go.  Got to feed the dogs and do my laundry you know."  He saw Gen snapping back into reality but was too late.  Ranma was already in the air.  "Until next time, old man Gen.  Confucius says, 'drink your prune juice and ready yourself for our next fight'." 

     Gen watched as Confucius jumped away from the area.  The boy leaped at a phenomenal height and was quickly out of sight.  He heard the boy's words and was definitively going to abide it.  The guards should be out here soon and he must get away himself.  As Gen was running to his transportation he kept replaying the lad's words.  "What is he and how did he know my name?" he murmured. 

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NOTES:

I've been very busy lately so I didn't have time until now to upload this fanfic.  I'm also working on a new fic that I had uploaded but took it down because it wasn't working.  I tried to use some Harry Potter elements and that didn't work out too well.  So at the moment, I'm rethinking over my ideas for that fic. 

Introduction of the Tendos, Happosai, Kuno, Kodachi, Azusa, Lychee, Prince Kirin and the Seven Lucky Gods of Martial Arts, Picolet III, Dr. Tofu, and the Dojo Destroyer.  If you think that it's the end of the Nerima crew then you're wrong.  What part will they play in the future?

Next up:  Ranma face off with a hot ninja, Ryouga, and Nakago.  Looks like he's planning to go to Spain, where it all began.

Confucius says, "don't miss it!"