Author's rantings: I am really sorry for the delay this time, but I've had a really busy week. Hopefully, I can release more chapters next week. Thanks for the people who gave reviews, they really helped me continue writing! I realized I didn't answer one of the other questions, which is regarding Inuyasha's sword. Inuyasha believes that he is rescuing Kagome for the first part of his fight with Ranma, which is why it reacts – (that's my interpretation of how the sword works anyway). As for Slade3's question, no, I don't have any plans on Ranma being Inuyasha's reincarnation: but there is some relation.
Ranma walked along the road at a slightly faster pace, having heard from the village that he had just past that Mt. Hakurei was quite near, and in fact that it would be visible from the next village. "Finally, I can get that dog jerk to give some answers!" Ranma muttered, "He had better."
The weather was nice, the birds singing all around the young martial artist while on the ground, one or two small animals could sometimes be seen scampering through the grass.
In the distance, Ranma could make out a human figure and decided to ask whoever it was for directions. As he approached, Ranma could make out a young man holding a large sword. A purple line slashed downwards from each of his eyes, making him look rather creepy while his hair was done in a messy top knot.
The stranger stopped when he saw Ranma approach. "You're pretty cute."
Freezing, Ranma reconsidered talking to the stranger. "What a weirdo," he thought, "I'm a guy!" deciding that he must have heard incorrectly, Ranma asked his original question. "Uh.. yeah, I was wondering if you know the way to Mt. Hakurei."
"Mt. Hakurei?" The stranger asked, "Why would you want to go to that creepy place?" He looked at Ranma slyly, "you would do much better with me."
Disturbed, Ranma turned away, "well, I guess I shouldn't bother you then…"
"Wait."
Ranma looked back at the stranger.
"You should be careful around these parts." The stranger gave Ranma an unreadable look, "Rumor has it that the Shichinintai have revived."
"Shichinintai?" Ranma asked, "Who are they?"
"You don't know?" The man asked, apparently offended, "well, I'll introduce one to you!"
Ranma's martial arts sense once again saved him as he instinctively dashed sideways. Next to him, a cut mark in the ground showed where a blade had been.
"I am Jakotsu, of the Shichinintai," The man laughed, "we are a powerful group of mercenaries who have the strength of an army!"
Immediately switching to a fighting attitude, Ranma leapt to and fro, dodging what seemed to be an invisible blade. "Where is it?" Ranma wondered, trying to follow the sword that Jakotsu had drawn out. Ranma felt a tingle at the back of his neck, leaping in to the air, he felt a rush of air underneath his feet. "Huh? How did that go from behind me?" Ranma was unsettled, eyes laying onto Jakotsu's sword, "it must be that, he swings it every time I feel the attack." So deciding, Ranma took up a solid stance, facing the mercenary.
"Had enough fun already? Ah well, it was good while it lasted." Jakotsu giggled, "now come to me!"
Within the split second after Jakotsu swung the sword of Ranma, the martial artist realized that it was an unfolding weapon sword. Ranma noticed that besides that, the blade appeared to be normal. A second later, the blade had sopped - Ranma blocked the sword with his bracer.
The sword wrapped itself around Ranma's arm. Startled, Jakotsu looked at Ranma, "Do you really want to do that?" Jakotsu tightened the sword, "I'll slice your arm into many pieces, perhaps I'll keep part of it as a souvenir." He said dreamily.
The many blades started to bite into Ranma's arm braces, and Ranma could feel some blood trickle down his forearm, as the steel cut into his arm.
"Oh no you don't," Ranma grunted out, "Mouko Takabashi!" Ranma fired his attack with his other hand.
The chi blast knocked into Jakotsu, who inadvertently let go of the sword. Ranma then unwound the strange blade and threw it behind him.
Jakotsu looked up, "I didn't expect you to do that," he said, a somewhat startled look on his face.
Ranma cracked his knuckles, "You had better tell me why you attacked me for no reason, you little weirdo." he growled.
Jakotsu looked at him strangely, "Its fun, of course," he said easily, "and you're a cute one, how could I miss the chance?"
Ranma was about to reply when Jakotsu suddenly streaked past him, grabbed his sword and ran off, "hey, come back here!"
Jakotsu ran off, blowing Ranma kiss, "Mt. Hakurei is just north along the path, I'll see you there later!"
Ranma was left standing alone once again in the middle of the road. "Weirdo."
***
Ranma arrived at a village after a few more days of travel. It was by the sea and across it, the fogginess just obscured what was probably an island. In the far distance, Ranma could also make out a mountain.
"Finally! Mt. Hakurei!" Ranma cheered as he looked for somebody to question, "That dog-jerk should be somewhere around here." After approaching a random villager and introducing himself, Ranma asked for the whereabouts of Inuyasha.
"Oh yes! He passed by here just now." The villager replied, "He just off to see about the Living Buddha.
"Living Buddha?" Ranma asked.
"Yes, the living Buddha protects us from harm. But lately, there have been some problems. Our village chief has gone to see the Living Buddha and has not come back. If you want more information, I suggest you go to the chief's house. His daughters are there, although the chief and his son are not here right now."
Ranma thanked the villager and went up to the biggest house, which he correctly guessed was the chief's.
Three girls greeted Ranma after he had knocked. They invited Ranma in as a guest, introducing themselves as the chief's daughters. Upon learning that he was the powerful martial artist that had been helping various villages, were overjoyed.
"I know that that Inuyasha is powerful, but he is a yokai and it is difficult to trust such things. You though, are a normal human, won't you please go and look after our brother?" they begged.
"Uh… could you tell me what's actually been happening?" Ranma asked, confused.
"My father had gone to the sacred island across the water." The oldest told Ranma, "but he hasn't returned. We were worried until a group of travelers came along and asked us about Mt. Hakurei. We told them of the Living Buddha and how our chief had not come back. They borrowed a boat to investigate."
Ranma was puzzled, "you said earlier that you didn't trust that Inuyasha dude because he's a yokai… yet you allow your brother to go with him?"
"Well, he seems like a good enough person, but when all is said and done, he is a yokai, and that means that he is dangerous – in fact he threatened some people for a boat. If it wasn't for the other travelers, we would never have let him accompany our brother!"
"Hmmm… sounds like that Inuyasha guy is a bit of a brute." Ranma thought. Ranma asked the girls how he could help.
"We can lend you a boat to the island where we hope you can investigate. I have a bad feeling about what is happening and it would comfort us knowing that somebody as noble as you has gone to protect our brother." The eldest daughter told him, leading Ranma out of the house.
Ranma found himself being led to the waterside. There were some boats. The girl pointed at one of the boats, "you can take that boat to the island, and we'll have a villager row you over. When you get my brother back, I am sure that he can answer more of your questions."
A few minutes later, Ranma was sitting in a boat as a villager was rowing him towards the island.
In the silence, Ranma decided to start a conversation.
"Do you know why that Island is giving off such a holy aura?" Ranma asked, "I can feel it going into my bones – it's almost uncomfortable."
The villager looked up at Ranma, "It is the Living Buddha." He said, "Many years ago, a holy monk wanted to protect our village forever. Thus, he decided to become a Living Buddha, where if he gave up all earthly things, he would ascend into nirvana while still being in the world. Now, he sits in the shrine, casting his holy powers and giving us protection."
"Gives up all earthly things? What does that mean?"
"In the last few days of the monk's mortal life, we sealed him in a pit where he would only tap a bell regularly. He had no food, nor sleep. In the end, he died and became a Living Buddha."
It took some time for Ranma to absorb the information, "So basically, the man was willing to die so that he could protect you?"
"Yes."
Ranma spent the rest of the trip in silence... "Could somebody really be so pure of heart?" he wondered, deep inside, he knew that he, himself, couldn't do something like that. He did not notice the skillful way in which the villager navigated through the water.
***
The boat docked at the side of the island, Ranma stepped out while the man started to row away.
"What are you doing?" Ranma asked incredulously.
"I am not allowed on the island." The villager said as he started to fade into the distance, "I will be back in the evening."
Annoyed, Ranma turned back. The area was lush and beautiful. A field of flowers and grass created a picturesque haven. The smell of the flowers was peculiar, Ranma realized, they smelled of complete purity and holiness. In the distance, he could see a hut… and some flashes of light.
Ranma quickly ran towards the hut and stopped as he took in the scene.
Inuyasha and another pigtailed man were having a furious sword fight. Inuyasha's menacing looking sword was clashing against the other person's equally absurdly sized weapon. Sparks flew as the two titanic blades clashed while the two men growled at each other,
Looking across, Ranma noticed a man and a boy just when they seemed to be striking at nothing. There was a crackle of energy where the two people struck whatever it was and suddenly, the flowers started to disappear.
Ranma was completely disorientated, "Just what is happening right now?" He asked himself, he did not know whether or not he should join, but it looked like a man to man fight and he decided that he should respect that.
Inuyasha smirked. "Heh, Bankotsu! Now that the sacred barrier is gone, I can take you down easy."
The other man who Ranma took to be Bankotsu smirked back at Inuyasha, "You think so? Don't forget that the barrier was weakening me as well. Go on, do that thing that you did in our last fight."
"Bastard! I'm going to kill you! Before you die though, I'm going to ask you one more time… What happened to Kagome?!"
Bankotsu was openly laughing now, "you think you're in the position to demand these things? Even if I knew, I definitely won't answer you!"
Inuyasha roared, "Kaze no Kizu!"
A large yellow wave of energy blasted towards Bankotsu, Ranma cringed slightly from the attack, "That attack is full of youki!" He thought, "I didn't think that that dog-boy would have such a powerful attack though."
The other fighter smirked, as he himself also released a similarly strong blast, canceling out the first.
"Let's take this up a notch, shall we?"
Ranma walked along the road at a slightly faster pace, having heard from the village that he had just past that Mt. Hakurei was quite near, and in fact that it would be visible from the next village. "Finally, I can get that dog jerk to give some answers!" Ranma muttered, "He had better."
The weather was nice, the birds singing all around the young martial artist while on the ground, one or two small animals could sometimes be seen scampering through the grass.
In the distance, Ranma could make out a human figure and decided to ask whoever it was for directions. As he approached, Ranma could make out a young man holding a large sword. A purple line slashed downwards from each of his eyes, making him look rather creepy while his hair was done in a messy top knot.
The stranger stopped when he saw Ranma approach. "You're pretty cute."
Freezing, Ranma reconsidered talking to the stranger. "What a weirdo," he thought, "I'm a guy!" deciding that he must have heard incorrectly, Ranma asked his original question. "Uh.. yeah, I was wondering if you know the way to Mt. Hakurei."
"Mt. Hakurei?" The stranger asked, "Why would you want to go to that creepy place?" He looked at Ranma slyly, "you would do much better with me."
Disturbed, Ranma turned away, "well, I guess I shouldn't bother you then…"
"Wait."
Ranma looked back at the stranger.
"You should be careful around these parts." The stranger gave Ranma an unreadable look, "Rumor has it that the Shichinintai have revived."
"Shichinintai?" Ranma asked, "Who are they?"
"You don't know?" The man asked, apparently offended, "well, I'll introduce one to you!"
Ranma's martial arts sense once again saved him as he instinctively dashed sideways. Next to him, a cut mark in the ground showed where a blade had been.
"I am Jakotsu, of the Shichinintai," The man laughed, "we are a powerful group of mercenaries who have the strength of an army!"
Immediately switching to a fighting attitude, Ranma leapt to and fro, dodging what seemed to be an invisible blade. "Where is it?" Ranma wondered, trying to follow the sword that Jakotsu had drawn out. Ranma felt a tingle at the back of his neck, leaping in to the air, he felt a rush of air underneath his feet. "Huh? How did that go from behind me?" Ranma was unsettled, eyes laying onto Jakotsu's sword, "it must be that, he swings it every time I feel the attack." So deciding, Ranma took up a solid stance, facing the mercenary.
"Had enough fun already? Ah well, it was good while it lasted." Jakotsu giggled, "now come to me!"
Within the split second after Jakotsu swung the sword of Ranma, the martial artist realized that it was an unfolding weapon sword. Ranma noticed that besides that, the blade appeared to be normal. A second later, the blade had sopped - Ranma blocked the sword with his bracer.
The sword wrapped itself around Ranma's arm. Startled, Jakotsu looked at Ranma, "Do you really want to do that?" Jakotsu tightened the sword, "I'll slice your arm into many pieces, perhaps I'll keep part of it as a souvenir." He said dreamily.
The many blades started to bite into Ranma's arm braces, and Ranma could feel some blood trickle down his forearm, as the steel cut into his arm.
"Oh no you don't," Ranma grunted out, "Mouko Takabashi!" Ranma fired his attack with his other hand.
The chi blast knocked into Jakotsu, who inadvertently let go of the sword. Ranma then unwound the strange blade and threw it behind him.
Jakotsu looked up, "I didn't expect you to do that," he said, a somewhat startled look on his face.
Ranma cracked his knuckles, "You had better tell me why you attacked me for no reason, you little weirdo." he growled.
Jakotsu looked at him strangely, "Its fun, of course," he said easily, "and you're a cute one, how could I miss the chance?"
Ranma was about to reply when Jakotsu suddenly streaked past him, grabbed his sword and ran off, "hey, come back here!"
Jakotsu ran off, blowing Ranma kiss, "Mt. Hakurei is just north along the path, I'll see you there later!"
Ranma was left standing alone once again in the middle of the road. "Weirdo."
***
Ranma arrived at a village after a few more days of travel. It was by the sea and across it, the fogginess just obscured what was probably an island. In the far distance, Ranma could also make out a mountain.
"Finally! Mt. Hakurei!" Ranma cheered as he looked for somebody to question, "That dog-jerk should be somewhere around here." After approaching a random villager and introducing himself, Ranma asked for the whereabouts of Inuyasha.
"Oh yes! He passed by here just now." The villager replied, "He just off to see about the Living Buddha.
"Living Buddha?" Ranma asked.
"Yes, the living Buddha protects us from harm. But lately, there have been some problems. Our village chief has gone to see the Living Buddha and has not come back. If you want more information, I suggest you go to the chief's house. His daughters are there, although the chief and his son are not here right now."
Ranma thanked the villager and went up to the biggest house, which he correctly guessed was the chief's.
Three girls greeted Ranma after he had knocked. They invited Ranma in as a guest, introducing themselves as the chief's daughters. Upon learning that he was the powerful martial artist that had been helping various villages, were overjoyed.
"I know that that Inuyasha is powerful, but he is a yokai and it is difficult to trust such things. You though, are a normal human, won't you please go and look after our brother?" they begged.
"Uh… could you tell me what's actually been happening?" Ranma asked, confused.
"My father had gone to the sacred island across the water." The oldest told Ranma, "but he hasn't returned. We were worried until a group of travelers came along and asked us about Mt. Hakurei. We told them of the Living Buddha and how our chief had not come back. They borrowed a boat to investigate."
Ranma was puzzled, "you said earlier that you didn't trust that Inuyasha dude because he's a yokai… yet you allow your brother to go with him?"
"Well, he seems like a good enough person, but when all is said and done, he is a yokai, and that means that he is dangerous – in fact he threatened some people for a boat. If it wasn't for the other travelers, we would never have let him accompany our brother!"
"Hmmm… sounds like that Inuyasha guy is a bit of a brute." Ranma thought. Ranma asked the girls how he could help.
"We can lend you a boat to the island where we hope you can investigate. I have a bad feeling about what is happening and it would comfort us knowing that somebody as noble as you has gone to protect our brother." The eldest daughter told him, leading Ranma out of the house.
Ranma found himself being led to the waterside. There were some boats. The girl pointed at one of the boats, "you can take that boat to the island, and we'll have a villager row you over. When you get my brother back, I am sure that he can answer more of your questions."
A few minutes later, Ranma was sitting in a boat as a villager was rowing him towards the island.
In the silence, Ranma decided to start a conversation.
"Do you know why that Island is giving off such a holy aura?" Ranma asked, "I can feel it going into my bones – it's almost uncomfortable."
The villager looked up at Ranma, "It is the Living Buddha." He said, "Many years ago, a holy monk wanted to protect our village forever. Thus, he decided to become a Living Buddha, where if he gave up all earthly things, he would ascend into nirvana while still being in the world. Now, he sits in the shrine, casting his holy powers and giving us protection."
"Gives up all earthly things? What does that mean?"
"In the last few days of the monk's mortal life, we sealed him in a pit where he would only tap a bell regularly. He had no food, nor sleep. In the end, he died and became a Living Buddha."
It took some time for Ranma to absorb the information, "So basically, the man was willing to die so that he could protect you?"
"Yes."
Ranma spent the rest of the trip in silence... "Could somebody really be so pure of heart?" he wondered, deep inside, he knew that he, himself, couldn't do something like that. He did not notice the skillful way in which the villager navigated through the water.
***
The boat docked at the side of the island, Ranma stepped out while the man started to row away.
"What are you doing?" Ranma asked incredulously.
"I am not allowed on the island." The villager said as he started to fade into the distance, "I will be back in the evening."
Annoyed, Ranma turned back. The area was lush and beautiful. A field of flowers and grass created a picturesque haven. The smell of the flowers was peculiar, Ranma realized, they smelled of complete purity and holiness. In the distance, he could see a hut… and some flashes of light.
Ranma quickly ran towards the hut and stopped as he took in the scene.
Inuyasha and another pigtailed man were having a furious sword fight. Inuyasha's menacing looking sword was clashing against the other person's equally absurdly sized weapon. Sparks flew as the two titanic blades clashed while the two men growled at each other,
Looking across, Ranma noticed a man and a boy just when they seemed to be striking at nothing. There was a crackle of energy where the two people struck whatever it was and suddenly, the flowers started to disappear.
Ranma was completely disorientated, "Just what is happening right now?" He asked himself, he did not know whether or not he should join, but it looked like a man to man fight and he decided that he should respect that.
Inuyasha smirked. "Heh, Bankotsu! Now that the sacred barrier is gone, I can take you down easy."
The other man who Ranma took to be Bankotsu smirked back at Inuyasha, "You think so? Don't forget that the barrier was weakening me as well. Go on, do that thing that you did in our last fight."
"Bastard! I'm going to kill you! Before you die though, I'm going to ask you one more time… What happened to Kagome?!"
Bankotsu was openly laughing now, "you think you're in the position to demand these things? Even if I knew, I definitely won't answer you!"
Inuyasha roared, "Kaze no Kizu!"
A large yellow wave of energy blasted towards Bankotsu, Ranma cringed slightly from the attack, "That attack is full of youki!" He thought, "I didn't think that that dog-boy would have such a powerful attack though."
The other fighter smirked, as he himself also released a similarly strong blast, canceling out the first.
"Let's take this up a notch, shall we?"