DISCLAIMER: I don't own any Ranma characters, but DN belongs to me! I created him 9 years ago and he has been in many of my personal stories. His original name was Death Ninja, and the special sword he uses is the Death Blade. If you have any other questions, feel free to e-mail me. I also suggest you check out my other fanfics which I will now continue. Thanks for reading.
Chapter 1
"Ranma, prepare to die!" Ryoga cried, running up to Ranma. "Bakusai Tenketsu!" Ryoga _aunched his finger at Ranma, but Ranma hopped up and over Ryoga, kicking him to the wall, which surrounds Furikan High School.
"Aw come on Ryoga, what'd I do this time?" Ranma asked, looking at the heaving Ryoga. Instead of answering, Ryoga lets loose a volley of punches and kicks, Ranma simply dodging them.
"Don't play dumb with me. You know exactly what you've done. Poor Akane. I can't stand her being engaged to such a moron!" Ryoga said, breathing heavy.
"Now wait a minute, who are you calling a moron? I didn't do…" Ranma stopped in mid sentence and whirled around.
"Don't turn your back on me Ranma, or you'll regret it!" Ryoga said, but Ranma held up his hand.
"Shut up Ryoga. Something's out there." He said, his eyes searching for someone. He had felt a dark presence nearby, but it was gone now. The school bell rang and the gates started to close.
"Oops. Sorry Ryoga, we'll finish this later!" Ranma said, using Ryoga's head as a step to jump over the gate.
"Curse you Ranma. I'll get you yet!" Ryoga said, bursting through the wall, and making his way to his class.
* * *
Ranma was walking from school after the final bell when he heard a familiar voice call out.
"Oh Ranma honey, wait up!" Ukyo called as she ran up to him. "Care to stop by for an after school snack?"
"Of course Ukyo, I've been dreamin' about that Okonomiyaki all day!" Ranma said, rubbing his stomach.
"Oh no you don't!" Akane said from behind him. "Did you forget whose turn it is to do chores around the house Ranma?" Ranma let out a chuckle while scratching his neck.
"Gee Akane, would you mind if you took care of them today?" He asked, grinning. She bowed her head slightly and gasped.
"Would I mind? Of course not Ranma, I'd be happy to do your chores just like the little housewife you must expect me to be. I THINK NOT!" She yelled, smashing him with her oversized mallet. He was sent flying towards the Tendo Dojo.
"Geez Akane, you don't have to be so hard on the guy. He's just hungry that's all." Ukyo said, walking away.
"You stay out of this Ukyo. It's none of your business." Akane said angrily, storming away. She was walking towards home talking to her self as usual.
"Honestly, who does he think he is? It's not like he has to do much work around the house. Even his dad is just as… Satsuke?" She stopped when she saw the Kuno's Ninja lying in the street, seriously injured. She ran up to him to see a hideous wound on his chest.
"Satsuke, what happened?" She asked. However she got no response. She lifted the small ninja in her arms and ran to Dr. Tofu's clinic.
* * *
The sun had begun to disappear behind the clouds that afternoon as Akane sat in Dr. Tofu's office.
"Is he going to be okay Dr. Tofu?" Akane asked, looking concerned. Dr. Tofu had just finished bandaging up Satsuke's wounds.
"It's hard to say Akane. This wound is pretty severe. Any idea what caused it?" he asked, sitting behind his desk.
"I don't know. I was walking home from school and he was just lying there. Its doubtful Kuno would do it. He'd never hurt Satsuke that bad." She replied.
"I'll keep him here overnight for observation, but there's not much more I can do for him. Would you let Kuno know he's here?" He asked. Akane nodded and left the clinic. The more she though about it, the more she was positive Kuno hadn't done it. His bokken could cause injury, but not shred the skin. And Kuno never used a weapon other than his bokken. She neared the Kuno dojo and rang the bell. She heard the world's most annoying sound coming to greet her. Kodachi's laughter. The gate opened, and there stood Kodachi in her usual gymnastics outfit.
"Akane Tendo, what are you doing here? Come to challenge me to a duel? You know your pathetic skills can't match my ultimate techniques." Kodachi said, still half-laughing.
"Oh shut up Kodachi, I'm here to see Kuno. Is he here?" She asked. But Kodachi didn't have to answer. A resounding "Akane Tendo!" could be heard as Kuno rushed to hold Akane in his arms. He never quite got that far as he met with her fist in his face.
"Knock it off Kuno this is serious. Satsuke's been seriously hurt. He's at Dr. Tofu's right now and it doesn't look good." She said, after calming down.
"Satsuke? Injured? This does bare investigation. I will thank you for this information with a date this evening with myself. I shall pick you up at seven." He said, brushing his hair back.
"Thanks, but no thanks Kuno. I've got better things to do!" She yelled, walking away. She had to hurry home and make sure Ranma had done his chores.
* * *
Ranma was at home, though he wasn't doing his chores. He was in the dojo, sparring with Genma. Naturally, Ranma was mopping the floor with Genma with his old tricks.
"Look, a pork bun." Ramna said, pointing to the east wall.
"Where!?" Genma said, looking for the bun. Ranma got another jump kick in before Akane walked in.
"Foolish boy, you think those tricks will work in a real duel?" Genma said, getting mad.
"Aw come on pop, you don't even count. I've beaten little kids with more talent than you." Ranma said, laughing. Akane's shoulders started to rise and a low growl could be heard. She walked up and bopped Ranma on the head.
"Is this what you call doing chores?" She screamed. Ranma rubbed his head thoughtfully for a moment.
"What chores?" He finally said. She let out a roar of frustration and ripped up a floorboard. Ranma put up his hands and backed away.
"Geez Akane, chill out. I was only kidding. I'll do them in a minute." He said, backing to the wall. She roared again and swung the floorboard knocking Ranma across the room.
"You are such a JERK!" She yelled, storming out of the dojo. Ranma sat, his head slightly embedded into the wall, his arms crossed.
"That girl has some serious strength. She'll make great children for you Ranma."
"Get lost pop!" Ranma said, kicking Genma through the roof. Ranma left the dojo and went up to his room. He slid open the door and stopped dead in his tracks. There was a dagger buried into his pillow. He walked up to it and grabbed the knife, pulling it out. There was a small slip of paper attached and it read, "Prepare yourself for death." Ranma clenched his fists, crushing the paper. Someone was watching him closely.
* * *
"A threatening note? From whom?" Nabiki asked as she ate her rice.
"I don't know. There was no sign of a break in, and even less trace of someone being in my room." Ranma said, sitting solemnly.
"Ranma my boy, that is no ordinary dagger. It's the kind used by ninja's of the ancient past. Didn't think they still existed in this day and age." Happosai said, thinking quietly.
"Ninja's?" Akane asked. "Then why would the first victim be Satsuke?"
"Satsuke?" Ranma asked looking up. "What about him?" Akane told the family of how she had found the ninja wounded in the middle of the street, and how she had taken him to Dr. Tofu.
"No offense Akane, but he's not the best ninja I've seen. Even Ryoga could beat him." Nabiki stated, quite matter-of-factly. The others nodded slightly.
"So what are you going to do about is son?" Soun asked Ranma. Ranma didn't reply right away. Then after a moment he stood and grinned.
"I'll do what I always do. I'll kick their butt without breaking a sweat!" He said giving the thumbs up. The entire family sighed and bowed their heads.
"Ranma you don't seem to understand." Happosai said. "By using this kind of blade, this ninja will most likely have skills that even you'll have difficulty countering."
"Aw don't worry about it you old freak. I'll handle him." Ranma said, walking off. He was passing the garden when he stopped cold. That same dark presence he had felt the day before. Then he heard a female voice.
"You no hurt Ranma. You must beat me first." She said. There was no mistaking Shampoo's Chinese accent. But the question remained, whom was she talking too? Ranma ran outside, but not soon enough.
"AIIIYAAHHH!!!" Ranma heard the scream from above him. He looked up and Shampoo fell into his arms. She had a large cut across her front, and both her legs had large slash marks.
"Shampoo!" Ranma cried. "Are you okay?" She managed to open her eyes slightly and look at him.
"R-Ranma? Me sorry. He too strong." Her head fell as she dropped into unconsciousness. Ranma looked around, but not a sign of anyone. Akane came out the door.
"What's all the ruckus? Ranma! Just what do you think you're doing?" She said, seeing Shampoo in his arms.
"This is no time to get jealous Akane!" Ranma yelled. "Shampoo's been hurt bad!" He leaped over the wall, and was off to Dr. Tofu's. Akane stood there, her eyes wide.
"The same wounds as Satsuke…" she muttered to herself. She ran after Ranma.