Disclaimer: See Prologue.
A/N: A big thanks to Death-TheOnlyTrueFreedom, trigun 1 girl, maguswizard, Gyre, Mysao-werewolf, Setsuna_Darkheart, Katoriina, ZeonReborn, Lunaboh22, RillieDeAnnPotter5569, Mimi, Darak and Redbird for their reviews!!
Death-TheOnlyFreedom: If what you mean by the well thing from Ranma is the cursed springs of Jusenkyo, it will crop up but not as a main event. I know killing Ranma was really mean of me but.. it was necessary for the story. Sorry about that. As for stretching the things baby Harry did, well my friend's brother is just nearing two and trying to catch him for 'Bath time' is no easy feat. So I'll let you be the judge on that one. ^.^; And yes, Neko does mean cat. Neko ken=Cat fist.
Darak: The whole story isn't really going to be based in the Ranma world. Just the beginning so it wouldn't really fit in the Ranma fanfics category. And I'm sorry I can't bring Ranma back because I really haven't got a part for him to play in this story, please forgive me? * Puppy dog eyes * I can promise you a very sweet revenge on Genma in the near future though!
Mysao-werewolf: Yes, Harry will be going to Hogwarts but not for a while yet.
Setsuna_Darkheart: I'm updating quite often because it's the holidays over here, but school starts in exactly 8 days so I thought I'd get as much done as possible because I wouldn't get the chance once school's on again.
Katoriina: Thank you so much for the Japanese lesson! It was very useful but I've decided to just stick with English as I'll make too many mistakes otherwise.
Trigun 1 girl: Yep that's basically it. Whether he gets a curse or not.. you'll just have to find out! ^_~ (though really, I hadn't planned on it)
Mimi: * shrugs * what can I say? I'm one strange gal.. Thanks for the encouragement!
Thanks again to everyone for their reviews!!
Chapter 4 - Neko ken
'The wha-?' The green-eyed child asked confusion clear on his face.
'Weren't you listening?' The fat, balding martial artist glared in the boy's direction.
'Well yeah..but I zoned out when you started to go on about being the greatest martial artist and world domination..'
'Ingrate.' Genma growled under his breath and hands snapping out cut the dangling boy loose from the tree.
POOFT! Said boy landed with a thud face first on the ground causing small mushroom clouds of dust to rise up.
'Ow..' He whined. 'Couldn't you have given me a warning?'
'A good martial artist is always on alert.' Was all the older man had to say.
Reaching down to grab the twitching boy by the collar he hurled the child upright.
'The first step to mastering the Neko ken is to dig a hole.'
'Come again?' The poor child looked more confused then ever.
'You heard me.'
'Bu-'
'Don't argue. Do you or do you not want to learn? Now go. Start digging.'
The bewildered child blinked and set off to find a good site to dig a hole. If this was what was needed to learn the Neko ken then he was going to do it to the best of his abilities. He'll make his Sensei proud by digging the best hole ever.
* * *
And so the child dug, for two days straight he dug non-stop until the more experienced man had nodded in satisfaction that, yes, that hole looked about the right size.
On the third day, they advanced to the second step of mastering the Neko ken - catching as many cats as they could, whether wild or somebody's pet they had to catnap and chucking them into the hole which now boasted a hinged trapdoor to keep the felines in.
All this the boy did without question, he was determined to prove his worth to his Sensei, and secretly hoped that one day the older man would be proud to call him son.
Dawn on the eleventh day saw Genma Saotome coming back to camp looking a tad bit worse for wear, with several large bulks in his arms which, upon closer inspection, were packs of sardine, catnip, mince rolls, tinned tuna, smoked salmon and other such items.
Rubbing sleep from his weary eyes, for the continued yowling of the cats had kept him up for most of the night, the boy asked sleepily:
'Are you finally going to feed the poor things Sensei? Maybe now they'll stop making such a fuss and we'll at last be able to get some sleep.'
The large man just shot the child a mysterious grin that sent shivers down his spine.
'You'll see in due time, boy. You'll see.'
* * *
Coming back from the forest with arms full of firewood the boy stopped at the edge of camp and stared, wondering if the old man had finally cracked.
For crouched on the ground while humming out of tune was his Sensei, busy strapping pieces of mince roll, catnip and sardines to a mutilated garment that was once his training gi.
Cautiously approaching, as he didn't want to startle the poor nutter, he paused along side the large man and hesitantly asked:
'Sensei? What ARE you doing?'
'This, m'boy,' The old man replied while pouring a can of tuna oil over the attire laid flat on the ground. 'This is the final step in mastering the Neko ken.'
'Turning my gi into a seafood delicacy?'
His Sensei shook his head and licking his fingers clean said:
'Its ready, go put it on.'
'S'cuse me?' The boy's eyebrows were scrunched together and he looked at the older man with barely contained disbelief.
'You...want Me to put That on?' He pointed an accusing finger at the soggy, fishy smelling gi.
'That's right.' The larger man straightened. 'Today is the day you complete your training in the Neko ken.'
Picking the garment up off the ground he pushed it into the boy's already occupied arms.
'Now stack the wood away and change.'
'O-okay.' By then the child had confirmed his fears that, yes, the other man was most definitely insane.
Balancing the dripping attire atop the logs he hurried away deciding to go along with his Sensei, even if he was a couple of cards short of a deck.
* * *
Nose wrinkled, the child with brilliant green eyes waddled out of their shared tent trying very hard not to make a bigger mess than there already is.
'Sensei?' He looked questioningly at the big man, wondering why in the world he was dressed like a walking, talking, 'seafood delight bento box'.
'Uh...now what?'
'C'mere boy.' The older man gestured for him to come closer.
Still waddling the boy drew up next to the man.
Nodding down at the deep hole filled to the brim with starving felines, the old man said:
'Well boy, will you go willingly or by force?'
The boy blinked.
'Go where Sensei?'
'Down.'
Following the balding man's gaze, the child peered down into the hole where hisses and yowls could be distinctly heard.
He gulped.
'You wa-want me to go down in THERE?' The boy's eyes widened to the size of ping-pong balls.
'Bu-but, they'll EAT me Alive!!'
The larger man shook his head and muttering something about 'force it is then' under his breathe grabbed the boy by the collar, opened the trap door and before the boy even knew what was going on, chucked him into the hole.
* * *
'It was dark, and it stank like you would never know it.' Were the boy's first thoughts after a rather rough landing.
Picking himself up he noticed the thousands of bright gleaming lights that surrounded him.
He took a step back and the first cat leapt.
Seconds later he was buried under a mountain of hissing, and clawing felines.
Pain.
There was so much pain.
Claws dug into his skin, ripping deep gashes that bled furiously.
Teeth penetrated his soft flesh, biting and tearing.
He didn't know who he was anymore - he didn't care.
All he knew was the pain.
Distantly he was aware of somebody's terrified, horror-filled screams, then realised with a jolt that it was him.
He screamed.
Screamed and screamed and screamed until he could scream no more.
* * *
Silence.
Unnatural, deafening silence.
Genma Saotome looked up from his spot by the fireplace where he was busy preparing his lunch.
'Perhaps the boy's fainted' He thought. 'Or maybe all the food's been eaten.'
Either way he'd have to retrieve the boy.
Sighing he gave his ramen a yearning look and went off to fetch the child.
The instruction manual had shown that it took about three to however many sessions with the hungry felines, depending on the susceptibility of the trainee, to master the Neko ken.
The large man mentally decided to refurnish the boy's spare gi so training can resume as soon as possible so that he may get back to his ramen.
Pulling out the cotton balls from his ears, (he'd placed them there to dampen the child's blood curdling screams), Genma padded to the sizable hole and removing the padlock, wretched the hinged door open.
All hell broke loose.
* * *
A/N: Yes..it's a cliffie. * Gives a wicked grin * By the way.. will somebody PLEASE teach me how to do italics and all the other cool stuff? Please? Pretty please?
A/N: A big thanks to Death-TheOnlyTrueFreedom, trigun 1 girl, maguswizard, Gyre, Mysao-werewolf, Setsuna_Darkheart, Katoriina, ZeonReborn, Lunaboh22, RillieDeAnnPotter5569, Mimi, Darak and Redbird for their reviews!!
Death-TheOnlyFreedom: If what you mean by the well thing from Ranma is the cursed springs of Jusenkyo, it will crop up but not as a main event. I know killing Ranma was really mean of me but.. it was necessary for the story. Sorry about that. As for stretching the things baby Harry did, well my friend's brother is just nearing two and trying to catch him for 'Bath time' is no easy feat. So I'll let you be the judge on that one. ^.^; And yes, Neko does mean cat. Neko ken=Cat fist.
Darak: The whole story isn't really going to be based in the Ranma world. Just the beginning so it wouldn't really fit in the Ranma fanfics category. And I'm sorry I can't bring Ranma back because I really haven't got a part for him to play in this story, please forgive me? * Puppy dog eyes * I can promise you a very sweet revenge on Genma in the near future though!
Mysao-werewolf: Yes, Harry will be going to Hogwarts but not for a while yet.
Setsuna_Darkheart: I'm updating quite often because it's the holidays over here, but school starts in exactly 8 days so I thought I'd get as much done as possible because I wouldn't get the chance once school's on again.
Katoriina: Thank you so much for the Japanese lesson! It was very useful but I've decided to just stick with English as I'll make too many mistakes otherwise.
Trigun 1 girl: Yep that's basically it. Whether he gets a curse or not.. you'll just have to find out! ^_~ (though really, I hadn't planned on it)
Mimi: * shrugs * what can I say? I'm one strange gal.. Thanks for the encouragement!
Thanks again to everyone for their reviews!!
Chapter 4 - Neko ken
'The wha-?' The green-eyed child asked confusion clear on his face.
'Weren't you listening?' The fat, balding martial artist glared in the boy's direction.
'Well yeah..but I zoned out when you started to go on about being the greatest martial artist and world domination..'
'Ingrate.' Genma growled under his breath and hands snapping out cut the dangling boy loose from the tree.
POOFT! Said boy landed with a thud face first on the ground causing small mushroom clouds of dust to rise up.
'Ow..' He whined. 'Couldn't you have given me a warning?'
'A good martial artist is always on alert.' Was all the older man had to say.
Reaching down to grab the twitching boy by the collar he hurled the child upright.
'The first step to mastering the Neko ken is to dig a hole.'
'Come again?' The poor child looked more confused then ever.
'You heard me.'
'Bu-'
'Don't argue. Do you or do you not want to learn? Now go. Start digging.'
The bewildered child blinked and set off to find a good site to dig a hole. If this was what was needed to learn the Neko ken then he was going to do it to the best of his abilities. He'll make his Sensei proud by digging the best hole ever.
* * *
And so the child dug, for two days straight he dug non-stop until the more experienced man had nodded in satisfaction that, yes, that hole looked about the right size.
On the third day, they advanced to the second step of mastering the Neko ken - catching as many cats as they could, whether wild or somebody's pet they had to catnap and chucking them into the hole which now boasted a hinged trapdoor to keep the felines in.
All this the boy did without question, he was determined to prove his worth to his Sensei, and secretly hoped that one day the older man would be proud to call him son.
Dawn on the eleventh day saw Genma Saotome coming back to camp looking a tad bit worse for wear, with several large bulks in his arms which, upon closer inspection, were packs of sardine, catnip, mince rolls, tinned tuna, smoked salmon and other such items.
Rubbing sleep from his weary eyes, for the continued yowling of the cats had kept him up for most of the night, the boy asked sleepily:
'Are you finally going to feed the poor things Sensei? Maybe now they'll stop making such a fuss and we'll at last be able to get some sleep.'
The large man just shot the child a mysterious grin that sent shivers down his spine.
'You'll see in due time, boy. You'll see.'
* * *
Coming back from the forest with arms full of firewood the boy stopped at the edge of camp and stared, wondering if the old man had finally cracked.
For crouched on the ground while humming out of tune was his Sensei, busy strapping pieces of mince roll, catnip and sardines to a mutilated garment that was once his training gi.
Cautiously approaching, as he didn't want to startle the poor nutter, he paused along side the large man and hesitantly asked:
'Sensei? What ARE you doing?'
'This, m'boy,' The old man replied while pouring a can of tuna oil over the attire laid flat on the ground. 'This is the final step in mastering the Neko ken.'
'Turning my gi into a seafood delicacy?'
His Sensei shook his head and licking his fingers clean said:
'Its ready, go put it on.'
'S'cuse me?' The boy's eyebrows were scrunched together and he looked at the older man with barely contained disbelief.
'You...want Me to put That on?' He pointed an accusing finger at the soggy, fishy smelling gi.
'That's right.' The larger man straightened. 'Today is the day you complete your training in the Neko ken.'
Picking the garment up off the ground he pushed it into the boy's already occupied arms.
'Now stack the wood away and change.'
'O-okay.' By then the child had confirmed his fears that, yes, the other man was most definitely insane.
Balancing the dripping attire atop the logs he hurried away deciding to go along with his Sensei, even if he was a couple of cards short of a deck.
* * *
Nose wrinkled, the child with brilliant green eyes waddled out of their shared tent trying very hard not to make a bigger mess than there already is.
'Sensei?' He looked questioningly at the big man, wondering why in the world he was dressed like a walking, talking, 'seafood delight bento box'.
'Uh...now what?'
'C'mere boy.' The older man gestured for him to come closer.
Still waddling the boy drew up next to the man.
Nodding down at the deep hole filled to the brim with starving felines, the old man said:
'Well boy, will you go willingly or by force?'
The boy blinked.
'Go where Sensei?'
'Down.'
Following the balding man's gaze, the child peered down into the hole where hisses and yowls could be distinctly heard.
He gulped.
'You wa-want me to go down in THERE?' The boy's eyes widened to the size of ping-pong balls.
'Bu-but, they'll EAT me Alive!!'
The larger man shook his head and muttering something about 'force it is then' under his breathe grabbed the boy by the collar, opened the trap door and before the boy even knew what was going on, chucked him into the hole.
* * *
'It was dark, and it stank like you would never know it.' Were the boy's first thoughts after a rather rough landing.
Picking himself up he noticed the thousands of bright gleaming lights that surrounded him.
He took a step back and the first cat leapt.
Seconds later he was buried under a mountain of hissing, and clawing felines.
Pain.
There was so much pain.
Claws dug into his skin, ripping deep gashes that bled furiously.
Teeth penetrated his soft flesh, biting and tearing.
He didn't know who he was anymore - he didn't care.
All he knew was the pain.
Distantly he was aware of somebody's terrified, horror-filled screams, then realised with a jolt that it was him.
He screamed.
Screamed and screamed and screamed until he could scream no more.
* * *
Silence.
Unnatural, deafening silence.
Genma Saotome looked up from his spot by the fireplace where he was busy preparing his lunch.
'Perhaps the boy's fainted' He thought. 'Or maybe all the food's been eaten.'
Either way he'd have to retrieve the boy.
Sighing he gave his ramen a yearning look and went off to fetch the child.
The instruction manual had shown that it took about three to however many sessions with the hungry felines, depending on the susceptibility of the trainee, to master the Neko ken.
The large man mentally decided to refurnish the boy's spare gi so training can resume as soon as possible so that he may get back to his ramen.
Pulling out the cotton balls from his ears, (he'd placed them there to dampen the child's blood curdling screams), Genma padded to the sizable hole and removing the padlock, wretched the hinged door open.
All hell broke loose.
* * *
A/N: Yes..it's a cliffie. * Gives a wicked grin * By the way.. will somebody PLEASE teach me how to do italics and all the other cool stuff? Please? Pretty please?