Chapter 2

Ranma watched as the house burnt down before him. Shouldering his pack, he watched as the place was consumed by flames, burning the body of his father. He had taken what he could carry out of his father's bag, including the scrolls he had found. On the back of one of the scrolls, Ranma carefully copied his father's last words. Then, he dragged Genma's body to the house, collected as much wood as he could carry, tossed his blood soaked gi on the pile, doused it in the cooking fuel his father had packed, and set it all ablaze.

'Master the Cat.' Ranma knew he had killed his father. Somehow, he had caused the devastation he had witnessed. He had memory, no inkling of what he had done. He needed to learn. But first, he needed to go to the temple he had passed with his father to have the monks there perform a funeral rite for his father. Body racked with sobs, he watched until the last of the flames died down and the embers cooled. He wasn't sure when he fell asleep, but when he awoke the next morning, Ranma simply wandered in the direction of the last town he and his father had visited, unsure of what to do next.

Two Years Later

Ranma hefted the pack on his shoulders to adjust the weight. He was only eight, but had already spent the last two years trying to carry out his father's wishes. He was tired, hungry, and wanted to find this fabled training ground he had been told of. He didn't know how he would master the Art, but he thought it was good to visit various dojo's and train for a few months before moving on. He was a quick study – he only needed to see a technique or kata once to memorize it, then, he would practice on his own till he could perfect it.

Needless to say, most martial artists went out of their way to help him when they learned his story. The temple he visited after immolating his father had been enormously helpful in dealing with the grief. He came to have a sutra read for his father's repose. The abbot had taken him aside, and explained to him about life, suffering, and the four noble truths.

"Ranma," the abbot said, "What do you know of the Dharma?"

"The what?"

"The teachings of the Buddha, Ranma."

"Isn't he that little guy with the bubbly head that lives in our shrine at home?"

"HA! Yes and no. You see, the Buddha was an Indian prince. According to the Buddha, there are four noble truths. The first is that to live is suffering. Second, desire fuels suffering. Third, the cessation of suffering leads to nirvana. Fourth, the road to enlightenment can be obtained by assiduous practice of wisdom, morality, and meditation."

"I don't understand, Sensei."

The abbot smiled. "Of course not, child. Nor do I! Those who do can never explain it. That is why I am here practicing, while you, Ranma, you have a much easier road to follow. All you have to do is do exactly what your father has asked. Come. Let us recite a sutra for him together. Repeat after me. Namu amida butsu."

"Nam bu ambida busu?"

"Close. Try again. Na mu a mi da bu tsu."

"Na mu a mi da bu tsu."

The abbot smiled. "Good. You are now a step closer to mastering the art. Never forget that, Ranma. Everything in stages. Now, let me show you how to meditate. In time, I am sure you will be teaching me about the Dharma. Come. Your father is watching. Let us ease his suffering."

Ranma stumbled over a root. He cursed himself for falling into a daydream. Concentrating on finding the hidden valley of the Kunoichi, he trudged on. It was starting to get dark, and he would need to set up camp soon. Ranma marched on for a couple miles more until he found a small mountain brook at the base of a small hill.

"Looks like a good spot..."

Pitching his tent and setting out his sleeping bag only took a few minutes, so Ranma started a fire and set some water on to boil in a double boiler. In the bottom pan were small stones, and the water sat on top in pot. While waiting for the water, he began running through the kata he had picked up previously in the last dojo, working to perfect them, committing the movements to somatic memory so that he could concentrate on breathing and keeping his form in good shape.

The water had still not boiled 45 minutes later, so transferred the water to the fire directly, and moved the now searing stones aside. This was the other thing he had picked up in the last dojo – hand and foot toughening. He pulled a burning log out of the fire by the unlit end, built a second small fire ring, and placed the stone filled burner pan on top of the flame again. Breathing deep, Ranma plunged his hands into the stones.

With a yelp, he pulled his hands out. "Guess the Sensei was right. I need to go a little slower..." The water was boiling. Ranma made dinner, set aside a small portion for the soul of his dad, and left the stones on the fire.

After the meal was eaten and the dishes cleaned, he began his practice once again. With each quick jab into the hot stones, his confidence grew as he learned how to deal with the heat. "So, I just breathe like this...."

Exhale. Inhale. In went the hands. The sun slowly began to fall towards the horizon.

"And focus on forcing the breath to my hands..."

Exhale. Inhale. Out came the hands.

And so it continued, till the sun was long gone and only the fire's feeble light lit the camp site. With a sigh, Ranma stopped his practice and pulled out a texts book and began studying how to read and write characters, math, and geography. It was getting late. Ranma packed away his books, meditated, applied some ointment to his hands, crawled into his tent and went to bed.

The cold woke Ranma up in the morning. This high in the mountains, the cold was more than the boy was expecting. He crawled out of the tent to be greeted by the site of a little girl about his age eating the rice he had set aside for his father last night. She was wearing a dirty gi, had her forearms and shins taped, and sported a pony tail that stretched to her lower back. With an inarticulate cry, Ranma launched himself at the offender, intent on pounding the little girl. To his surprise, the girl whipped around and executed a perfect leg sweep, sending Ranma to the ground.

Ranma quickly sprung to his feet, and faced his opponent. Her stance told Ranma that the girl knew martial arts. Ranma slowly slid forward, guard raised. The girl mirrored his actions. The two began circling, looking for an opening. Hoping to distract the girl, Ranma asked, "Why did you eat my dad's rice?"

"It was just left out there. I watched you leave it out last night."

"Yeah, well, it was for my pops." Ranma lowered his shoulder, hoping the girl would thing he was getting ready to change direction.

"I didn't see him. How was I supposed to know?"

"You won't," Ranma growled, "because he's dead." The look of shock on the girl's face gave Ranma the opening he needed. He lashed out with a right front snap kick, forcing the girl to dodge left, into Ranma's left haymaker. She knocked his punch across her body, forcing Ranma to over extend, and jabbed him a couple of times in his exposed midriff and kidneys.

Ranma spun, connecting with an elbow to the side of her head.

"That hurt, you know." Ranma growled, holding his side.

"Yeah, so did yours." She shook her head, forcing the spots in her vision to clear.

"Ready?"
"Yeah. Let's go!"

The battle was joined in earnest.

After a couple of hours, the two kids lay on their backs, panting, dirty, and too tired to move. "What's your name?" Ranma asked.

"Konatsu Kenzan. Your's?"

"Saotome Ranma. You are really good, Konatsu." Panting, Ranma struggled to lift his head and failed. With a thud, he let his head fall back. "Where did you learn to fight like that?"

"I'm a kuno ichi. My mom and dad taught me how to fight."
"A girl ninja? Wow. That's really cool. How did you get here?"

"Oh, I live just over the hill there."

" If you live here, why did you have to eat that rice? Don't you have food at home?"

"My mom died a last year. My dad got remarried, but my step mom doesn't treat me very well. My step-mom treats me really bad, but my dad doesn't know because he's sick, and doesn't get out of bed much any more."

"Oh, gosh Konatsu, I'm sorry 'bout your mom and all."

"That's okay. I just hope my dad gets well soon and can get rid of my awful step mother. What about your dad? You said he was dead."

"Yeah, he died a few years ago, too. He... died trying to teach me a banned technique." Ranma paused. "Ever hear of the Neko-Ken?"

"Nope... But I am pretty sure my dad might know. What about your mom, Ranma?

"I don't remember her very well. I know she lives in Tokyo somewhere, but I have to finish the task my dad set out to do before I go back."

"What's that?"

"Master the Neko-Ken. Perfect the Art. Learn all I can, and find some guy named Tendo."

Konatsu turned her head to look at Ranma. "Is that all?"

"Yeap."

"Oh. Then you'll be done in no time!"

"Yeah, I hope. I miss my mom." Ranma slowly rolled over, wincing with every movement. "You still hungry, Konatsu? I can make some food."

"Uh – huh! Before we eat, do you mind I just pass out for a little while?"

"Sounds good."

The sun was high overhead by the time the Konatsu and Ranma woke up. Groaning, the two began the slow task of standing. Both were covered in bruises, dirt and a little blood from their previous tussle.

"Wanna meet my dad, Ranma?"

"Sure, I think that would be great. Help me carry some water?"

After water had been secured, Ranma began to start a fire while Kontasu stretched.

"So, you just basically wander around looking to get better at the Art?" With a grimace, Konatsu began to work out the kinks in her body. "What exactly do you hope to do with it?"

"Don't know exactly, Konatsu. But I can't go home till I do, and I know I have a lot to learn. Hell, you fought me to a dead stand still, and all I ever do is train. So, I've got to get better. Plus, I am no where near mastering the Neko-Ken. I don't even know what it is, or how it works. All I have is this training manual left over, and it's so stained I can't read it."

"I'm sure my dad will help."

"I hope so. Ready to eat?"

"You betcha! After this, I'll take you to my house, deal? Bring the training manual, I'm sure my dad would want to see it."

"Deal!"

When the meal was over, Konatsu led the way. When they crested the hill where Ranma had camped, he saw a small, neatly kept house. Konatsu ran to the entrance, kicked off her sandals, and cried out, "Daddy, I'm home! I brought a friend!" Turning to Ranma, Konatsu motioned for him to take off his shoes and enter the house. Running towards the back of the house, Konatsu knelt in front of a pair of shoji and slowly slid the paper doors open.

"Dad? You awake?" Konatsu's voice was subdued. Quickly stepping inside the dark bed room, she walked softly towards a man lying on a futon in the middle of the room.

The man slowly turned his eyes towards the approaching ninja. "Kenzan! Welcome back. Where did you go?"

"I found a new friend, Dad! I wanted you to meet him, because he has some questions you can answer."

"Ho? That so, Kenzan? And who is this friend of yours?"

Ranma stepped forward, into the man's line of sight. "I'm Saotome Ranma. Pleased to meet you, Konatsu-san."

"How polite. I'm pleased to meet you as well, Ranma. Did you say Saotome? Was your father by any chance named Genma?"

"Yes sir, he was. Did you know him?"

"I know him by reputation only. What do you mean, was?"

"He died nearly two years ago."

"Hmm... Come here, Ranma." The man patted the ground next to Konatsu. "Tell me what happened."

"Well, that's actually why I came to see you. Konatsu mentioned you might know something about it. You see, my dad was training me in the Neko-ken." Ranma pulled the training manual out of his pocket and extended it towards Konatsu's dad.

"The Neko-ken? Hmm... not good. Kenzan, help me sit up." Konatsu rushed to comply, gently pulling her father into a sitting position. She quickly fetched a support for his back so that he could sit up unassisted.

"Tell me what happened, Ranma. Start from the beginning of the training, and try to include as many details as you can." He reached for the manual Ranma held forth. He stared at the book. It was covered in old stains, changing the original color of the book from green to a sickly brown. Opening the book, he saw that many of the pages were similarly stained, the worst of which made the book illegible.

He listened carefully as Ranma told him about the pit, the cats, and waking up to find his father dead.

"And you have no idea how it happened? None at all?"

"No sir... I think that I was responsible somehow, though." Ranma sighed.

"Just a second, Ranma. Kenzan, could you please prepare tea for our guest?" He waited till the girl had left the room. He nodded to Ranma. "Explain, please."

"Well," Ranma started, "when I woke up I hurt. I later noticed I was covered in blood, but it wasn't my own. I've thought about it, I am pretty sure that the gashes that were in the walls and on my father were spaced like my fingers... Konatsu-san, I am pretty sure that somehow I killed my dad."

At that moment Konatsu returned carrying tea for three. Her father waited until she had served them before he spoke again. "Ranma, let me tell you what I know about the Neko-ken. It is a nearly invincible technique, but to learn it exacts a terrible price on the initiate. It sounds like you know the Neko-ken, Ranma. I am sorry to say, you are probably right about how your dad expired." He stopped, and shook his head. He look Ranma in the eyes, and continued, "Are you afraid of cats, Ranma?"

Ranma jumped. "C-ccats? Where?"

"As I expected." Konatsu sighed. "What happens, Ranma, is the trainee becomes deathly afraid of cats, like you are." He raised his hand to stifle Ranma's protests. "That does not make you any less, Ranma, just unfortunate. Anyway, to continue, from what I have been told, at a certain point your fear of cats drives you insane, and you become a cat in your mind to escape. That is when you become the most dangerous. Do you understand?"

"Not really, Konatsu-san. Why am I dangerous if I am a cat?" Ranma asked.

"You become an unstoppable fighting machine. Do you know what ki and chi are, Ranma?" The boy nodded. Beside Ranma, Kenzan was listening raptly. Konatsu-san pointed to both children. "Imagine that all your reflexes, all your power, your speed is raised to invincible levels. No one can stop you. Judging from what you told me earlier, it seems you probably have the ability to make claws out of pure ki. Ki, Ranma, can cut through anything."

Ranma's face became pale. "Is that what cut up the walls and my... dad?"

Konatsu-san sighed. "Most likely, Ranma. I was told that when faced with a fighter in the throes of the Neko-ken, the worst thing you can do is fight. You have three choices; you run, you calm the fighter down, or you die. I think your dad probably tried to fight."

Both kids were silent.

"That should give you an idea of how powerful the Neko-ken is, kids. A six year old boy with only the rudiments of martial arts training could take out one of the best martial artists in Japan."

Konatsu looked at Ranma. Ranma merely looked at the ground, struggling to hold back the tears that had found their way to his eyes. Unexpectedly, Ranma felt himself embraced in a hug from Konatsu.

"Ranma, you're still my friend. So you are afraid of cats. I'll just make sure you never see any, okay?"

Ranma smiled. "Thanks, Konatsu." He turned back to Konatsu-san, and asked, "So, what do I do about it?"

"I don't know Ranma. Nobody has been trained in the Neko-ken in hundreds of years. There is a reason it was banned. Forgive me for saying it, but your father was an idiot to do that to you. He paid with his life. You have a couple things you can do. I guess you can work on overcoming your fear of cats, and that should keep you out of the madness of the Neko-ken. Or, you can try and master it. For that, I can't help you."

"You've taught me enough already. Thank very much, Konatsu-san." Ranma placed both of his hands in front of him, and bowed till his forehead touched the backs of his hands. Konatsu-san bowed back as much as he could from his sitting position.

"Ranma, would you like to stay here for a few days? I am sure Kenzan would love the company, and I for one would like to talk to you some more."

Ranma looked up at Konatsu-san, then over to Konatsu. The girl was grinning from ear to ear, and looking at Ranma enthusiastically. Ranma smiled. "Yeah, I would like that."

It took no time at all for Ranma and Konatsu to gather his stuff and head back. When they returned, Konatsu-san had fallen asleep. As Ranma was being set up in the guest room, Konatsu step-mother and sisters returned. The meeting was altogether quite unpleasant – Ranma watched as Konatsu was bullied, yelled at, and generally mistreated. Ranma wasn't spared either – together he and Konatsu were forced to clean the house, do the laundry, and cook dinner. If either complained, they received sharp words and sharper blows.

It wasn't all bad, though. In the weeks that followed, Ranma had more fun than he could ever remember, and learned more about the Art than he had at any time previously. Even though the compulsory labor was awful, Ranma and Konatsu sparred every day. Ranma talked to Konatsu-san often, and received many scrolls explaining ninjitsu techniques. Every day, however, Konatsu-san became a little weaker. One evening, while Konatsu was serving her step-mother and sisters, Ranma brought dinner to Konatsu-san.

"Ranma..." Konatsu-san began to cough violently. "I want you to do something for me."

"Yes, Konatsu-san."

"I am dying. I am being poisoned by that devil of a woman I am forced to call my wife."

"What do you mean, Konatsu-san?"

"The marriage was arranged after my wife died. This woman is just trying to claim my family heritage. Last laugh is on her, though. The heritage she wants so desperately lives on in Kenzan. She doesn't know, and still continues to poison me, hoping to get me to reveal our clan's secrets."

"What secrets? Why are they important."

"They aren't really. I've told her, and she things I am just holding out."

"Can't you stop her? Why do you let her?"

"She will continue to poison me regardless of what I tell her. Anyway, I wish to join my wife in the other world, Ranma. I am lonely and selfish.. But, I don't want Kenzan to suffer under that harriden. I beg you - take him with you when you continue your journey, please."

"Him? You mean your daughter?"

"No, I mean my son. Big secret, isn't it? Kenzan is the last in a line of famous kuno-ichi. He has the potential to be the best in one hundred generations, even though he is male. He knows the foundations of our Art, and it is up to him now. I won't last a week." Konatsu-san weakly gestured to the tokonoma in the corner. "You will find a letter there addressed to Kenzan. Take it to him, and pass it to him on my death. Please."

"I... I will, Konatsu-san."

"Thank you, Ranma. Take care of each other."

Konatsu-San managed to hold on for eight days before he lapsed into a coma. Ranma gave Konatsu the letter as he had promised. Konatsu read the letter while crying. He continued to sob as he packed his bags. He carefully folded the letter from his father and packed it as well. Standing up, he put his pack on slowly and carefully strapped his katana around his waist.

"Let's go, Ranma. I have a lot to do before I can avenge my father."