Enter Toshirō, the Afterimage Assassin!
[A/N: Here's one of the places my head has been over the last month. Just for clarity, this takes place sometime in the week long time skip in the episode True Confessions! A Girl's Hair is Her Life! Enjoy!]
"So this is Nerima, huh? I may have a job to complete, but I wouldn't mind sticking around afterwards, heard this place always has something going on," a figure says in menacing voice. The figure in question is wearing a black kimono with baggy sleeves with a red snake design that wraps around the torso and ends with the head over the sternum giving a menacing glare to those looking at it, his feet and hands lack any sort of covering while on his head is a hat similar to a tengai but with skull design woven over the face and the rest of the hat woven with black straw. The man in question is walking down a sidewalk having just entered the town.
"The person I need to find should be easily found, I've heard much of the action in this town follows their family around like the plague, let's get to work," and with that the man's image flickers out of existence as he disappears from where he was standing, causing a few of the people in the vicinity to wonder if they had simply imagined him.
"You ever wonder where Ryoga ended up?" Akane asks Ranma as they walk home from school, her on the road and him atop the various fences nearby, "Not really, no. I've come to learn that the guy could end up literally anywhere just by taking a step off the spot he's standing on," Ranma responds without looking at her.
"Hey, do you hear that?" Akane suddenly asks, Ranma strains his ears and hears what sounds like a flute of some sort being played just around the corner further down their route home, "Ya, sounds almost like a flute it's on the way back so let's take a look," Ranma says to his unwilling fiancée as he jumps down and runs ahead. "Ranma, wait up!" Akane shouts in irritation as he leaves her behind.
As Akane runs around the corner she sees Ranma standing in front of a person in kimono with a woven basket-like hat covering their head with a flute-like instrument of some kind protruding from the bottom of hat. As Akane reaches the two, she is now able to focus on the notes being played, the person is expertly playing a song that simply fills her with tranquility, making her forget about everything other than the notes being played. For what seems like hours, but in reality was only a couple minutes, the person stops playing, drawing Ranma and Akane out of their trance.
"Hello there, residents of Nerima, I hope my playing was not an issue, if it is I shall leave and let you enjoy your day," the person, likely a man, says in a smooth and even voice, "Oh, no, there's no issue, your music was actually really calming and I just lost myself," Akane hurriedly explains to him, "Ya, I don't think I've ever heard someone play so good, though I ain't really into music in the first place," Ranma agrees. "Ah, yes, my music usually has that affect on people, I'll admit it is selfish of me to draw people's attention, but I do so to see if they are willing to offer me alms, for you see my ideology revolves around depending on human kindness to sustain me as I delve deep into my inner self and try to find enlightenment," the man explains to the two.
"Well I'd that's the case you can come with us to my home, as long as you play some more of that music I'm sure everyone would be happy to another person at the table," Akane offers the man, "Hey now, just because he's good at playin' that thing doesn't mean he should just be let into our house," Ranma argues. "Oh, so you think it's just a waste of time to help the poor now? I know you're a pervert Ranma, but that's just disgusting. Besides, I isn't your house it's mine, your just a guest," Akane spits out at the pig-tailed boy who puts his hands up and simply says, "Fine, fine. But if anything bad happens be prepared to say I told you so."
With this, Akane walked ahead of the man who turned, picked up a nearby backpack, slung it over his shoulder and followed her back towards the dojo with Ranma taking up the rear. "So if you're gonna be at our place for the rest of the day, I'm gonna have to ask what's up with your getup," Ranma asks as he walks besides the man, "This is a mostly traditional outfit of those practicing the same ideology as me, I'll admit the designs are my doing, I've always been quite artistic, I also use it as a lesson that even things that look bad may hold something great at their core. Also, we generally own very few things, however I travel the country so I take supplies given to me on the road to sustain myself between towns and cities," the man answers to Ranma's question.
Just a few minutes later, the three of them finally arrive at the Tendo Dojo and household, stepping inside they make their way to the kitchen. "Welcome back Akane, Ranma," Kasumi welcomes as she turns around only to pause at the stranger, "Oh, who's this now?" she innocently asks, "We met the guy on the way home, he lives by taking charity from people while seeking enlightenment," Ranma explains as he heads into the backyard to train. "Oh, should I make more for tonight then?" Kasumi asks turning to Akane, "That's the plan, and later hopefully he'll play his instrument, it's really quite calming," Akane explains as she heads out back to train as well, leaving the man and Kasumi alone.
The man turns to Kasumi after watching Akane leave and bows to her and says, "Thank you for not only being willing to provide me with food, but also for allowing me into your home, I am most grateful," "Oh, think nothing of it, it's always nice to help those in need," Kasumi says back to him with her trademark smile. "If it does not bother you, I would like to watch the the two that lead me here, I've heard around town that they are both exemplary martial artists and would enjoy seeing their prowess in action," the man asks Kasumi who simply answers, "No, not at all, go ahead," with this the man bows again and leaves as Kasumi begins preparations for the next meal.
Outside, Ranma is sparing with Genma on the bamboo rods while Akane sets up some stone slabs on some concrete blocks. Just as Ranma and Genma jump off the the poles and back onto the ground, the man walks outside and gets the attention of Genma. "Hmm, who's that?" Genma asks Ranma, "Some guy who lives off charity and looking for enlightenment, he's staying for dinner," his son answers him, "I see," he says as he starts walking over towards the man until suddenly he feels his left arm get sliced open. With the pain, he clutches his arm and grunts in pain and drawing the attention of Ranma and Akane. "Pops, you okay?" Ranma asks his father, "He won't be for long," a menacing voice says, turning around Ranma simply sees the man in the kimono standing with his back to him.
"Alright, who said that?" Ranma demands, not realizing he's looking at the culprit, "So foolish you two are, to let a stranger inside your home, especially one whose face you can't see," the voice answers back. "So it was you, huh? What's the big idea attacking us like that basket-head!?" Ranma shouts at the man, "Genma Saotome, know now that your death is by your own hands, that your actions have led to your demise. Debts must be paid off Saotome, and you left one unpaid for too long, now you have paid with your life. Unless an idiot dies, he won't be cured, seems to fit you quite well Saotome," the man says to Genma. "Ha! If you thinks Pops is gonna lose to the likes of you, you got another thing coming!" Ranma shouts back, "I wouldn't be so sure of that Ranma, your father is effectively already dead. The cut on his arm? Caused by a poison tipped blade, without the antidote, he'll die within the hour, and only I have the antidote, and I assure you that attempting to take it from me will only end in failure."
At this, Ranma jumps at the man, who seemingly doesn't move, and as he sends a kick into his head, he simply dissipates, leaving Ranma to land on the ground just behind where the man had just stood. "Why, whatever are you doing? That's not where I am," the man taunts, Akane and Ranma both turn to see the man sitting on the roof of the house with his legs dangling over the side, "How did he...?" Akane wonders aloud. "You get down here so I can knock your block off!" Ranma shouts at the assassin, "I was only hired to kill Genma Saotome. Poke a bush, a snake comes out," he cryptically says, to which Ranma's reaction is to jump onto the roof and attempt to punch him, and only getting the same result as last time.
"You never learn do you Ranma? Attacking thin air will get nothing done," the assassin once again taunts as he stands on one of the bamboo rods over the pond. At this point, the rest of the Tendo family has come outside to see what the commotion is about, upon seeing Genma, Soun rushes towards him in a panic, "Saotome! Are you okay?!" "I'm afraid not, I've been poisoned by the man with the basket," Ganma says while trembling slightly, the effects of the poison beginning to take hold. Soun turns towards where the man was standing but sees he has disappeared again, "Where did he go?!" Soun frantically asks.
"I'm right here Tendo," the man answers, causing Soun, Nabiki, and Kasumi to whip around in shock and fright at the fact that the he is now leaning on the wall behind them. Gathering his courage, Soun glares at the man and demands, "You are to give us the antidote and then leave, now," as he says this, his battle aura is activated in an attempt to intimidate the man. "That's not how this works Tendo, and your attempt at intimidation won't work," just as he finishes saying this, his own battle aura activates, taking the form of a gigantic demonic serpent coiling itself around the assassin's body and fiercely hissing at Soun, causing him and everyone else present to freeze in fear.
"Daddy, let me handle this," Nabiki says as she puts her hand on his shoulder and then walks towards the man, "Alright, how about this, we'll pay you for the antidote," Nabiki offers, "What makes you think that mere money would sway me? I am an assassin, my livelihood depends on people knowing I can kill their target, compensation now can lead to lack of employment later. The reputation of a thousand years may be determined by the conduct of one hour," the assassin questions Nabiki. "Given that Ranma and Mr. Saotome have been in China for the last while, can I assume that the person who hired you is from there," "You may," "Well, if they're in China, how would they know if he is dead or not?" Nabiki questions, "You are quite smart for your age, now, how much are you offering?" the man asks, "10,000 yen," "20,000," "12,000," "15,000," "13,500," "...Deal," Nabiki and the assassin come to an agreement after haggling with one another.
The man then pulls out a small vial of liquid from his pack and tosses it to Ranma who catches it, "Bring that vial to a doctor and tell them it's the antidote to Saotome's poisoning, they should be able to do the rest," the man instructs, "R-Right, Mr. Tendo can you help me get Pops to Dr. Tofu's?" Ranma asks, "Of course," Soun responds, going over to his friend and picking him up along with Ranma as they rush over to the clinic. With this, Nabiki hands the man the amount of yen they agreed upon before he hands her a card, "Your pretty savvy kid, this is my number, call if you need something done, I used to be a merc before I started only taking assassination jobs, I'll be staying in town for the next while for vacation, be seeing you," the man turns to leave but is stopped by Akane, "Hey! After all this and you're just walking away?! We don't even know your name!" she yells in anger, "My name is Toshirō Daija," he says as his form flickers and dissipates, leaving the three Tendo girls alone in the backyard.
