The Gift Of Heaven Chapter 2:
Darkness Descends
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I do not own Ranma 1/2 and its associated characters. They belong to Rumiko Takahashi. I do not own Rurouni Kenshin and its associated characters. They belong to Nubuhiro Watsuki.
Thoughts
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Shinta Himura was puzzled. Not that this was very unusual state of mind for him but still the name kept hitting him, Ranma...Ranma... It sounded so familiar...
Then like a bolt of lightning realisation struck him. He calmly stopped and lifted the carefully wrapped bundle from his back. Those passing him by instinctively shied away from him. They had not lived in Nerima for nothing and were well aware that many of its inhabitants were give to acts of mindless violence.
(Not to mention the fact that a certain Pig-boy had, on occasion, lashed out at nearby targets in an effort to quench his hatred for our pig-tailed hero. - daval18)
As the bindings fell away the cloth covering dramatically unravelled to reveal... a plain, ordinary length of wood, about the length of a regular katana.
Needless to say major facefaulting resulted.
Sitting down on a nearby bench Shinta closely examined it and then, finding what he was looking for, pushed an almost invisible lever on the surface. One end detached itself from the rest and falling to the pavement it revealed the stick to be hollow. Inside was a message. Shinta sighed in exasperation, his master had most definitely been mad. What could have been put in a simple envelope was instead hidden with an elaborately disguised messenger case, the sort of thing a ninja might use. Pulling out the well-worn message he read it, as he had a thousand times during his travels:
"To my most useless student,
Suffice to say that if you are reading this then I am dead and gone, and you no longer feel worthy of your new found rank (Shinta smiled at this display of his master's wisdom and foresight). Well you're not (sweatdrop)! You may have mastered the finer techniques of our style, even our most powerful, finishing maneuver however you are still a mere child. Wander, search for your true calling and restore the honor of our school. You must find the Dark Horse, bring him and his associate to justice and return the blade of your ancestors to its rightful place.
I hope and pray your successor is better than mine was ("stupid old man" mumbled the now red-faced young swordsman).
Signed
Your Most Awesome Master
P.S. Don't you dare through away the case! It took me a month to craft that!
Shinta contemplated the message again in the light of his newly found acquaintance, Dark Horse...Wild Horse... he sighed, shook his head and turned his gaze towards the now chiming school bell tower. In any case I dare say I'll see him soon enough, Furinken is the only school in the district after all.
The Clock tower chimed again and finally the significance of the sound dawned upon Shinta.
"ORO!!! I'M GOING TO BE LATE!!!"
To the surprise of all onlookers the young swordsman leapt to his feet and began to bounce from one foot to the other, gradually picking up speed. With one final bound the young man blurred and disappeared from sight. The sound of tapping feet trailed off into the distance in the wake of a giant dust cloud, heading in the direction of Furinken High.
The watching citizens just shrugged in unison, this was Nerima after all, and continued on with their daily lives.
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Ranma ran towards the school gates as fast as he could. I'm gonna be late... I'm gonna be late, I'm gonna be late....
Of course normally he wouldn't be in such a hurry but he had English first thing and Miss Hinako was not known to be open to excuses.
Behind him ran his uncute tomboy of a fiancée fuming at the audacity of her possession -errr- fiancée. How dare he make her late! To top it off he tried to grope her sister, her poor defenseless sister.....oooo her mallet hand was itching like crazy.
"Halt foul sorcerer"
Ranma groaned and ran his hand through his hair in exasperation, "Not now Kuno, I'm really not in the mood."
The insane kendoist appeared dramatically from behind the school's only surviving sakura tree, taking a stance between Ranma and the entrance to the school building. "This is the last time I shall ask thee demon! Release thy hold on the fair Akane Tendo and my Pigtailed Goddess and I shall spare thy tainted life. So speak I....Tatewaki Kuno, age 17."
Ranma was about to make a sarcastic reply and then pound Kuno into L.E.O. (lower earth orbit) when an increasingly loud noise distracted both would-be combatants. Imagine their surprise at the sudden appearance of a disheveled-looking Shinta right in between the two of them.
"Phew, this One guesses that technique wasn't designed for such long distances" the scarlet haired boy muttered to himself as he caught his breath. Looking up he bowed in Ranma's direction, "It is good to see you again Ranma-san. May this One inquire as to why you stare at this One so?"
"How did you do that, even I can't move that fast"
The young man laughed nervously, "You might say it is one of this One's unique talents, carefully honed by training of course." He then turned to see a ranting Kuno, waving his bokken about and yelling some nonsense about demonic familiars.
"ORO?!! And who might this person be?"
Ranma shrugged, "A raving lunatic baka who tries to kill me everyday"
Shinta nodded sagely, "Ahhh, and the demon?"
"Huh?" asked Ranma intelligently
"The one behind you running up to the gates, the one who is surrounded by a fiery corona of red light, this One believes he saw it earlier today bellowing something about a P-chan"
Shinta was quickly introduced to the pavement via the mighty Mallet of Doom.
Ranma chuckled as he helped the boy up, shooting a quick glance at an enraged Akane. "Yeah that's my uncute fiancée, my Pop's fault as usual. Some sort of pledge to unite the schools meanin I have to marry her to satisfy the honor of our families"
Shinta smiled at the boy's rough, uncultured manner. His smile wavered somewhat when Akane made Ranma better acquainted with the concrete floor.
"Akane-dono, this One asks that you cease such behavior before someone is hurt"
She turned her gaze on him, snorting disdainfully "Shut up baka, he is a womanizing peverted jerk, he deserves all he gets and if you want to make something of it I'll have you know that I'm the best martial artist in Nerima"
Everyone in the school yard groaned (all except Kuno who launched into a new speech about the "fierce tigress" Akane and her attributes)
Smirking at the shocked expression on Shinta's face she turned and stormed into the school building.
The bell tower rang once more
Recovering, Ranma turned to Shinta "Come on, I'll show you to the registration office". However as they both turned towards the school Kuno leaped in front of them.
"I said halt, I wouldst duel with you Saotome, do not slight me so."
Angered by the pompous boy's manner, Shinta stepped forward.
"This One sees that you are skilled in the art of the sword. As this too is my art this One asks that you face him today." Remembering something he then broke into nervous laughter, "As you can see this One has no weapon but if one will be provided... "
(His eyes slant dangerously)
"I would see how good you truly are."
Ranma took a step back. Although Shinta appeared calm and collected Ranma detected a distinct change in his manner, an undercurrent of malice that wasn't there before.
Fuming Kuno pulled a spare bokken from his robes(Where the hell does he all those from anyway – daval18). Tossing it to Shinta he spoke through gritted teeth, "Very well peasant, as you wish... have at ye". He took a basic Kendo stance.
Shinta's eyes flashed hmm...basic kendo style, many holes in his defense, are some traps? Used to fighting weaker opponents, that's obvious by the way he carries himself. Speed...laughable, Strength...reasonable and his intelligence appears to be, well let's just say below normal. This should be quick.
Reaching deep within himself he reached his center, his point of total calm which allowed him to become devoid of emotion. His face composed itself into a cheerful smile
Beaming at Kuno he spoke:
"Ahhh kendo? Fine then I shall use it as well."
He took a similar stance. The rest of the school looked on, classes forgotten. Both raised their bokkens into the ready position.
A single blossom detached itself from a branch and floated down towards the ground. The second it touched down Kuno let out a roar and charged at his adversary, who simply stood there a smile etched on his features. "Prepare to taste the blade of Kuno you foul peasant."
Ranma started to worry as Shinta took no steps to defend himself.
Kuno raised his bokken above his head and slashed downwards in an attempt to split Shinta in two. It was then that Shinta acted.
"Kamiya Kasshin-Ryu – Master Stroke (1)"
With that Shinta stepped to one side and smacked Kuno's sword-hand causing him to reflexively let go of his weapon. He then whacked him on the head, knocking him out.
Silence reigned in the school yard.
Shinta looked around at everyone sweating profusely under their stares
"ORO?? What did I do?"
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END OF CHAPTER 2
Next Time: Ranma learns of a secret that shatter his entire world (this time for real) and Shinta finds what he's been searching for.
The technique used by Kaoru's father when he destroys Gohei's hand, just not as powerful
Send your questions, comments and ideas
Thanks and see ya (daval18 vanishes in a puff of green smoke)