Chapter 3: Poked slashed and penetrated

The next day, a glorious sun rose over the rain-drenched city of Nerima. The sparkle of bright and warm rays reflected and refracted off the dew and raindrops, splashing the world with vibrant color and life. The air was filled with the crisp freshness of dewdrops and the world overflowing with the symphony of happy birds. Today, it seemed the grass was extra green, the sky extra blue, and roses and lilacs extra red and purple. Today was the perfect day for stormy couples to mend their quarrel and embrace the green sapling of love.

Or perhaps, as Kuno thoughts flowed, to win the heart of the Pigtailed Goddess from the cruel clutches of the vile Ramna Saotome. And so Kuno stood in the front patio/garden of his Furinkan High School, waiting for the moment the dastardly Saotome would charge in with the lovely Akane – whose fierce beauty still held his heart as captive.

"Oh my most pure and beautiful Akane Tendo, what horrible fate would've rendered you captive of that vile Saotome!" A flower (which had suddenly appeared into Kuno's hand from out of nowhere) wilted and died in Kuno's hands as his bittersweet voice sang of the tragedy of the two lovers (Akane and himself), "Oh what cruel fate would befall us, my fair Akane, that two hearts so entwined would be separated by one so vile and loathsome. But, my fair Akane, I shall avenge you today!" Clenching his fist and ignoring the stares (he was, after all, emoting to a broken hat stand); Kuno shouted to the gods in the sky, "Ranma Saotome shall fall today!"

As if on cue, he saw Ranma and (oh my fairest!) Akane appear around a corner running toward them. Saotome's pigtail, a flagrant insult to Kuno's beautiful Pigtailed Goddess (Oh my Pigtailed Goddess! what cruel fate would separate us so!), bounced against him. He seemed completely oblivious to Kuno's presence.

"Ranma Saotome! Prepare yourself!" Kuno's noble and brave voice, deep, crisp, and clarion split the air. Drawing his kendo sword – his favorite one with an ebony tip – he stood his ground and poised his weapon – a deviation from his normal mad charge – dangerous and ready like a coiled viper.

Kuno smiled inwardly as a look of confusion permeated Saotome's face; he could almost read the thoughts flowing in his knavish face, why would he give me the first strike?

You find out now!

Ranma leapt into the air; demonstrating the standard Saotome School of Indiscriminate Grappling Jump-Kick, Ranma's mud encrusted and wet shoe (he fell into the flood channel while strutting about on the fence) barreled down at Kuno's face. Saotome was fast, extremely fast, had it been but a few (eight or more) month ago, Saotome's feet would've become intimate friends with Kuno's face. But now, Kuno was faster, stepping aside, Saotome flew past him, and with an impossibly quick strike from his sword, sent Saotome tumbling to the ground behind him.

Kuno spun around to see Saotome roll to his feet. In a confident and commanding voice Kuno said, "The likes of your cowardice and knavery will find the Blue Thunder of Furinkan High much harder to defeat, Saotome."

Ranma simply stared at Kuno for a scant few seconds, reeling from shock of being hit, then angrily, "Shut up Kuno!" Ranma's snarl held an odd tremble to it, one barely detectable to the average man, "I defeat you like I always have and will!"

"Well then Saotome, if I win, then you'll arrange for the Pigtailed Goddess to date with me." Kuno poised his sword again.

"Yeah! And If I win, you never bother the Pigtailed girl ever again you pervert!" With that Ranma leapt forward, fist and feet attacking more rapidly then the eye could follow.

For a moment, Kuno panicked, he could hardly see Saotome's moves, but then, the lengthy lessons with the old man in the Forest of the Illusion Demon strung back into memory:

"In a heated battle, you must first master yourself, control your heart beat, feel your blood flow, and master the balance of chi within your own body. Then, and only then, will you be able to feel your opponent's chi and through it, know where he is and where he will be, master this technique and you'll find losing much harder. But often, there isn't time for such concentration, therefore, you must buy time – you deceive your enemy with his own imaginations before you are ready to confront him."

After hours of practice at twirling his swords and refracting and reflecting everything sunlight to bullets, Kuno had mastered both of the old man's techniques and strategies.

Closing his eyes against Ranma's onslaught, Kuno shut out everything until his breath became even and his heartbeat steadied. Then, he felt it, a strange sensation that can't be described by words, a strange equilibrium between left and right, up and down, male and female, and so many others. Kuno felt his own inner chi; he felt it flow in his veins. And though his eyes were closed, he knew exactly where Ranma was, and his sword flew swiftly and naturally to parry the kick aimed at his groin.

From the outside, Kuno, with his eyes closed, moved not an inch from where he stood, only his sword danced about him in deadly arcs and stabs while Ranma tried feebly to break Kuno's defense land a blow. The powerful wind generated by his sword slashes marking the grass and concrete on which Kuno stood.

Suddenly, a chilling ringing sound shattered the warrior's deadly dance. Ranma jumped back, there were cuts and holes in his shirt and pants that weren't there previously, but strangely, he didn't seem hurt – at least he wasn't showing it. Kuno stood where his ground, eyes still closed, clothe in perfect condition.

"The bell! We hafta get to class!" Someone among the crowd that had gathered around them shouted.

"I don't want to be late Saotome, let's finish this!" Kuno's free hand drew forth the other kendo sword; he held both blades in a strange pose. A gasp of recognition arose from somewhere in the audience.

"For once I agree, Kuno!" Once again, Ranma charged at Kuno, only this time, he began to swirl about Kuno's sword strikes. Ranma danced around Kuno with practiced speed, evading every slash and stab, while penning up his own energy for his release.

Then, in a powerful uppercut, Ranma saw his fist jab straight into Kuno.

"Hiryu Shoten Ha (Dragon's Heaven Blast)!" A tornado of cold and hot air swirled and blended, the sheer roar of the wind and tumble of the force taking Kuno high into the sky. When the wind cleared, Ranma stood at in the center of his small wind-blow crater. His clothe slightly torn, his form quivering in exhaustion, but a satisfied smile glowed on his face – Kuno was probably somewhere in Okinawa by now.

Mumbles jittered about the crowd, "What is that!" and "Look at that crater!" flooded through. Ranma stared down at his handiwork, and immediately, the smile vanished from his face and his eyes dilated with suspicion. The dent in the ground where he stood was craved most strangely into what appeared to the Taoist symbol of the Ying-Yang (black and white circle separated by a sine line).

Suddenly, someone was right behind him, but before he could so much as blink, two powerful sword slashes beat into his unprotected back. One slash sent Ranma flying into a most alarmed looking Akane, the other knocking air and consciousness out of him.

"Witty one-liner" Kuno said with great humor.

The last image to cross Ranma's eyes was a man in shimmering white kendo robes standing over him with two kendo swords in his hands and a look of serene nobility about his face.

Kuno…

Author's Notes: I have a confession to make – I've written very little of this type of action scenes, so I would truly appreciate it if any you, dear reader, would point out mistakes and generally areas you felt that didn't flow well. Don't be afraid of hurting my feelings (it is the internet, after all), I won't be crying my eyes out and slitting my wrists, but I will try to improve myself. Personally, it's nice to hear praise and receive laud, but to be criticized is more helpful.