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The Long and Winding Road

Book 1: The Truth Behind the Neko-Ken

Chapter 1: Introductions.

(Not so Quick A/N: I was in a good mood tonight so I decided to also post the first chapter of the story as not to leave you all with a prologue that left out too much of the attention getters. I would also like to make a request for some proof readers/co-authors if any would like to help. If you're interested please e-mail me via the address in my author info on All the characters used so far in this story do not belong to me. They are the property of their respective owners and I am only borrowing them for a short while. In the future more characters will be introduced some who will be my own creation while others will belong to their respective creators.

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It was a rainy day in Izumo. At the Asakura estate, Yoh was sitting back and relaxing after a training session by the river. He rung out his coat. "Sheesh, having to train even on a rainy day. Doesn't grandpa know that I'll probably catch a cold from this?" Yoh sneezed. "Great there's the first sign."

At that time there was a ring from the buzzer at the front gate. "I wonder who that could be?" Yoh got up and walked to the front door where he saw his grandfather talking to a red headed female stranger. She introduced herself as Ranma, a ronin in search of her father. Yoh couldn't help but look as he saw what looked like a spirit in a cloud floating around her neck.

Yoh was shaken out of his stupor by her voice. "Are you okay? You look like you've seen a ghost." Yoh looked up at his grandpa to see him looking at him.

"Nah, it's nothing." Yoh took one more look at his grandpa before saying his pardons and leaving the room.

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After the boy left Ranma took on a relaxed posture and let out a sigh. "What's up with him, sir?" Ranma looked back to Mr. Asakura.

"That's my grandson. I don't know why he was looking at you weird ma'am, but I assure you that it couldn't of been much. He has a wild imagination." Yohmei answered.

"That's alright sir. Well I'm sorry to be blunt, but I was wondering if you had some space I could stay in for a few days? I just got back to Japan from China and am in the process of finding the location of my father who left me for dead during the training of an ancient martial arts style."

Yoh was standing in the doorway listening to the conversation. 'Maybe that has something to do with that cloud around her neck.' As Yoh said this, Amidamaru came out of his memorial tablet.

"I believe you might be correct sir. I've seen the results of the training for a technique that resulted in a cloud like that first hand, and I can tell you that the way she moves highly suggests that she has gone through the Neko-ken training."

"Neko-ken." Yoh echoed deep in thought.

Yoh was startled for the second time that night as Anna tapped him on the shoulder. "You know that it's not nice to spy on guests." Anna took a look around the corner and blinked. She came back and looked at Yoh. She looked around the corner again for a few more seconds. "What the heck, is that cloud around her neck?"

Yoh and Amidamaru quickly explained what had happened since their arrival and told her of their guess as to what the cloud was.

Anna looked up at Amidamaru. "So how did you come to know of this Neko-ken?"

Amidamaru gave her a serious look before replying. "What do you think killed me?"

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Flashback:

Amidamaru was on top of Memorial Hill where he was waiting for his friend Minosuke to return. He'd of killed one thousand men in order to keep his word. He looked up from where he was meditating when he heard the sound of two sets of feet approaching.

"So you have survived all those men, have you Amidamaru?" The emperor said while looking around at all of the dead bodies.

"I can't believe you'd ask me to kill my own friend. I'm sorry, but my promise to my friend is stronger than any pledge I had with you."

"That is too bad Amidamaru." The emperor spoke with venom in his voice. "You will die here and now for your foolishness. You will be the first victim of our newest kind of warrior. This is Kurasu our first volunteer to this training." The emperor pointed to the man with him who Amidamaru now recognized to be acting like a cat. "Now Kurasu! Kill Amidamaru!"

With this Kurasu looked straight at Amidamaru and let out an inhuman meow. "MRREOW." He twisted his head to the side and began sniffing the air as he began circling Amidamaru who now had his sword drawn and was in a stance, ready to attack.

Amidamaru took first charge, slashing his sword at Kurasu who simply weaved around the attack and with a swipe of his hand made three gouges down his back.

Amidamaru let out a scream that caused the emperor to laugh. "So the great Amidamaru screams in pain from the simple swipe of an unarmed opponent's hand. How pitiful can you get?" Amidamaru got up and took another swing with his sword at the person with feline grace. This time he ducked under the sword and pounced on Amidamaru before he could recover from his swing.

"Stop." The emperor commanded. Amidamaru laid there recovering the breath that was knocked out of his lungs by the pounce. Karasu simply sat on Amidamaru as it's master walked up and looked down at the pinned samurai. "You see Amidamaru; I was planning on having you killed after you returned from killing your so called friend who ran away. This experimentation of fighters like these has been going on since a month after you swore loyalty to me. I was able to foresee this and decided to press the experiment. Now because of your incompetence you will die here today." He backed away again. "Kurasu." The cat man got back on his hand and feet. "Come here."

Amidamaru was confused that he had the cat-like man get off of him. "Why?" He asked.

"Because I'm going to give you one chance to kill Kurasa and myself to end this so called tyranny and save your own life." As he was saying this Amidamaru was getting back up onto his feet breathing hard. "I've never had the privilege of seeing your famous Buda Giri. (please correct me if I'm wrong with the name there. A/N) I was told that with the technique you were able to kill many before they even reached you. Now I want to see how it will fend against my loyal warrior who uses the ancient art of the Neko-Ken."

Amidamaru looked deep into Kurasu's eyes and saw absolutely no signs of human intelligence in there. "What kind of a fighter would give his sanity away for strength? WHAT KIND OF MAN WOULD FORCE ANOTHER TO GIVE UP HIS SANITY FOR THE SAKE OF STRENGTH?" Amidamaru was enraged now. "I will use the technique that helped me slay one thousand men to kill this abomination and you along with it!"

The emperor just smirked to himself. "Yes Amidamaru. Use the Buda Giri and kill this man with no sanity. Kill the man who made him that way. Or die trying. Whenever you're ready go ahead, and die."

Amidamaru raised his sword into position. He wound up his sword and gave out a cry, "Buda Giri!" He swung his sword in an arc unleashing the wave of force towards the emperor and Kurasu.

The emperor smiled. "Kurasu." At the command the cat quickly lifted its arm and took a swipe through the air that caused three waves to travel towards Amidamaru. Amidamaru watched in horror as his Buda Giri was cut by Kurasu's attack and continued forward to go through Amidamaru.

After it was over the attacks finished the emperor simply turned around and walked from the battle field with Kurasu, and we watch as Amidamaru's body falls into four pieces that slide to the ground.

End Flashback

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"That man, Kurasu. He definitely wasn't acting like a man would. It seemed that he was possessed, and that in being so he gained great strength. "

Both Yoh and Anna were staring at Amidamaru. They couldn't believe what they just heard.

"Well the behavior you just described definitely sounds like what I've been told I act like when I'm in the Neko-Ken." They were all shocked to see the red head standing in the door way looking straight at Amidamaru. "So, you had a run in with someone in the Neko-Ken. I know better then you do what this Kurasu would have had to go through in order to do that. Because of the training I can't ever be around a cat without going crazy."

Yohmei walked into the room. "So the Neko-Ken is triggered when you are consumed in fear and there is a cat around?" It wasn't as much of a question as a statement.

"Yes." Ranma confirmed.

"Then why don't you stay here for a little while young lady. There are some people around here that I'm sure could help you with your problem."

"That would be great." Ranma stated.

"Then how about you show him to one of the guest rooms Anna? We'll talk more over dinner when it's ready." At Yohmei's inquiry Anna took Ranma around the corner and down the hallway.

After Ranma and Anna disappeared around the corner Ranma asked the question that had been bothering him. "Was that a spirit I saw around his neck grandpa?"

"Yes," Yohmei answered. "I do believe that was a spirit." He looked where Ranma went for a few more seconds. "But I don't think that's just any normal spirit."

"Is it a nature spirit?" Yoh suggested.

"No, nature spirits can't hide their identities to the point that one did. I don't think that even the higher spirits are able to do that." Yoh looked over at his grandfather with surprise written clearly on his face.

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Ranma was following Anna down the hallway. Ranma fidgeted for a few seconds before he managed to muster the guts to ask his question. "Excuse me ma'am?"

Anna stopped and turned to Ranma. "Yes?"

Ranma fidgeted for a few more seconds. "Just to be sure, that samurai back there was a ghost wasn't it?"

"Yes, it was." She answered. "I have to say that you surprised all of us when you started talking to him. His name is Amidamaru and he's been dead for five hundred years."

Ranma put her hand behind her head and grinned sheepishly. "He certainly has an aura of strength about him doesn't he?" Anna quirked an eyebrow as she stared at the girl before her. "I must say though that his aura isn't as strong or as at peace as Yoh's though. He seems like a great guy even though he was a bit rude when he saw me staring at my neck and all."

Anna took a look at the cloud around Ranma's neck for a brief second before looking back up to Ranma's face. "Did you know that you have what looks like a spirit around your neck?"

Ranma looked at Anna for a second before responding. "What are you talking about?" Anna's eyebrow quirked further up if that was possible. "I'm sure that if I had something around my neck I would've noticed by now."

Anna and Ranma stared at each other for a few seconds. Anna was the first to break the silence. "Have you looked in a mirror?"

"No." Was Ranma's quick reaction. "I've been on the road all of my life. A mirror has been a rare thing for me to even see one, never mind use one."

Anna gave another look and then turned back around. "How about we get you to your room so that we can get back in time for dinner Ranma? Yoh's mother is cooking tonight so I don't think it'd be something we'd want to miss."

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After another ten minutes of walking Anna stopped in front of a door and opened it while standing off to the side. "Well this is your room. How about you set your things in here, I'm going to head back to the living area now. I guess I'll see you there once you're finished getting comfortable." With that Anna took off down the hallway at a fast walk.

As soon as Anna rounded the corner in the hallway Ranma chuckled to herself. 'I think I'm going to have some fun.' With that thought Ranma tossed her bag into the room and closed the door after it. 'I'll unpack some stuff later.' Ranma went over to the window and opened it. The first thing she noticed was that it finally stopped raining (much to Ranma's relief.). Ranma climbed out the window and landed on the ground.

On the other side of the yard Ryo was taking a walk around the estate admiring its size like he did each day after his training. "No matter how many times I look, it still won't sink in the fame that Yoh's family once had." He said aloud to no one in particular.

He was taken from his thoughts by the sound of a window opening about twenty meters ahead of him. He watched as a young red headed girl climbed out the window and jumped to the ground. Tokagero came out of his memorial tablet and took a look at the situation. He saw the red headed girl, and he saw the look on his still master's face. 'Not again.' He thought to himself. He looked again at the girl to see her pull a jump that would've left any normal person amazed. This time he was a part of the normal populace. He was shocked stupid by the red head's effortless jump up onto the roof, where she began running along its edge.

Tokagero shook his head and looked again at the girl running along the roof towards the main entrance. "Jeeze, not even Yoh could manage that." He continued watching her run for a bit at an incredible speed. "Maybe we need to go see a psychiatrist."

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End Chapter 1

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Well there's the first chapter of this story. As of right now I have the story plotted. The planned story will be split into ten storylines (which will be referred to as books) and one conclusion chapter. For now the fanfic is only a Ranma: one half and Shaman King Crossover but will soon have characters and/or scenarios introduced from several other manga/anime series. They will be introduced at their appropriate times and will not be known until then (unless I make a cameo appearance for them.) I will start work on the next chapter immediately.

Also, I am aware that I apparently suck at coming up with titles. I'd ask you guys to make a few suggestions but I know that it will be over 50 chapters before this story reaches a point where a definite title that would make sense for the story. So since this series will likely last over 200 chapters I will keep the name as "The Long and Winding Road." For now. (Though that is subject for a change if I hear a title I like better. 'Hint, hint')

As an extra I will be posting the new sypnosis with the completion of the first book. It will also change each time a new book starts.

Written by: Cloud1239999