Chapter 6

Kuno swung his blade in the same way as their first fight. Ranma easily dodged around his attacks only this time he hit Kuno with counters. It forced Kuno out of his pattern and he had to reset himself. After a few minutes of this, Ranma decided to end the fight. He was quickly inside Kuno's guard and unleashed a series of attacks that knocked the kendoist on his ass. Ranma slipped back into his stance as Kuno got to his feet.

"This is getting old Tatewaki. I suggest you stop before I have to get serious." Ranma warned.

"That is Kuno-sempai to you cur! Thou I do concur with you words. It is time I do get serious." Kuno said and raised his wooden sword about his head. "Prepare yourself and witness the true power of the Blue Thunder of Furiken High" Ranma readied himself as he could feel the intent in Kuno's form. Kuno suddenly lashed out, unleashing a series of jabs that were extremely fast. Ranma dodged as best as he could but he noticed that the attack came with air pressure. He was nicked a couple of times by them.

He wobbled when he landed and Kuno attempted to bring his wooden sword down on his head. Ranma regained his senses and dodged the strike. He caught Kuno in the jaw with and elbow. During his spin he landed two kicks to Kuno's chest. He landed and took off, despite the pain. He slammed his fist into Kuno's gut, causing him to gasp for air. He then brought his foot down on his head and drove it into the ground. Ranma stepped back in a guarded stance as Kuno laid in a heap.

Seeing that he had not moved, Ranma visibly relaxed and grabbed his side. Nabiki was to his side when he went to a knee.

"Are you alright Ranma?" Nabiki asked.

"I will be. Damn bastard, he should be careful when he unleashes his attacks. That attack could have hurt any one who was behind me." He then looked at Akane and glared at her. "I'm surprised you did finish the job." Akane fumed and was about to retort when Nabiki gave her a look of her own.

"I'll deal with you later Akane." Nabiki warned. She then turned to Ranma. "I'm going to take you to our family doctor. He can fix you up real good." Ranma just nodded as she led him off school grounds. The crowd began to leave and the Kendo team carried Kuno to the nurse's office. Akane was left standing there as she could only clench her fist in frustration.

She was already getting looks from people and they were not positive ones. What made her really angry was the fact that Kuno had been holding back against her. She looked at a tree that was now tilting over. That was done with the air pressure attack Kuno unleashed on Ranma. It didn't help that Ranma while still injured managed to still bet him at his best.

Akane stormed into the school, grumbling and muttering for the whole day.

–

Ranma threw another punch and winced a little. While his wound was not as painful as before, it still stung. Luckily for him, he had always had fast healing due to his father's training methods. He was just throwing attacks in order to clear his head. He had a lot on his mind, most of it dealing with that fight he had with Kuno.

While he got in a lucky shot, Ranma still felt that he was slacking. From just one fight with him, Ranma realized that Kuno only knew Kendo. If he knew any other sword style he would be worried but that was not the case. He might be strong against other kendoist but he should have wiped the floor with him. Instead of making him act the fool, he should have disarmed him and laid him out. With how Kuno moved, it should have been easy for him to disarm the fool. Perhaps that is where he should start.

He knew how to disarm people from any weapon they had but his method was to kick the weapon away and attack when his opponent was open. His father didn't really teach him how to get in close and put someone down with a hold. In fact, he couldn't really remember any other hold except for that stupid Jigoku no Yurikago (Cradle of Hell). He nodded to himself and decided that is what he was going to do.

"Ranma, dinner is ready!" Kasumi shouted. Ranma stopped his exercise and made his way into the house.

–

Akane watched with angry eyes as Ranma conversed with her sisters. How could they just talk to him like that? Couldn't they see that he was only setting them up to do something perverted? Well, she would let them figure it out for themselves. It would only make it more satisfying when she was proven right. Besides, she wasn't really okay with her sisters at this very moment.

Nabiki tore her a new one in front of everyone at the school today for what she did. She didn't feel that it was all that bad and told her that she was just joking. Nabiki didn't buy it and warned her to stop be such a brat to Ranma. If that was bad enough, Kasumi was very displeased with her. She demanded an explanation of her actions. She said the same thing that she told Nabiki but Kasumi did not share her humor. She lectured her and told her that she was very disappointed with her behavior.

Both sisters told her to apologize to Ranma but she never did. She did nothing wrong in her opinion and she wasn't going to admit that she was wrong. Ranma suddenly changed the subject of his day to something else.

"Hey Nabiki, you know all the martial artist around this area right?" Ranma asked.

"More or less, why do you ask?" Nabiki countered.

"Do you know any one who is good at disarming people? I've decided that is where I will begin with my new style." Ranma said.

"What foolishness are you talking about boy? Do not blame you injury on my teachings. You've just been slacking off with your training." Genma interjected.

"I'm not blaming your teachings you old fool. I'm just considering a better way in disarming my opponents. Besides, I'm creating my own branch so what I decide is none of your damn business." Ranma replied hotly. Genma was seething at his son's disrespect. Nabiki chuckled but she quickly composed herself.

"I can find out for you about any of the local talent. It will take me a while and it'll cost you." Nabiki said.

"What about Koga, I know that he can help?" Kasumi cut in. Soun choked a bit and Akane snapped her chopsticks. Soun quickly regained his composure.

"Perhaps we should allow Nabiki check out some other masters?" Soun said. Ranma picked up the nervousness in his voice.

"But Koga would be perfect father. He is quite skilled in Aikido." Kasumi said.

"He's a hack and is not a true martial artist." Akane scoffed.

"That's only because he dropped you in a matter minutes." Nabiki added, making Akane growl.

"This sounds like a entertaining story but I would like to hear about it later." Ranma turned toward Kasumi. "So, this Koga guy can help me?"

"Yes, I believe he can help you with what you want. We can go this weekend and I can introduce him to you." Kasumi said.

"Thanks Kasumi, I would like that very much." Ranma said.

"Did you not here me boy, I forbid you," Genma began but was cut off by Ranma hitting a point that disabled his voice box. They rest of dinner was eaten in a comfortable silence.

–

It was now the middle of the afternoon. Ranma was seated across from Kasumi at a local restaurant. He had offered to treat her to lunch after today. The day went really well for him. Koga was a great guy and he was also one of the masters of the dojo. Koga had asked him for a demonstration of his skills and he was impressed with him. He agreed to teach Ranma some Aikido techniques. They spent some time there as Koga wished to catch up with Kasumi. After they left, Ranma treated her to lunch.

They eat in silence for a while before Ranma spoke.

"So, how do you and Koga know each other?" he asked.

"We use to be classmates. He would get into fights and I would take care of his injuries." Kasumi answered.

"Is that why he called you Dr. Tendo?" Ranma asked with mirth.

"Actually that is what everyone called me back in school. I liked to help people." Kasumi said.

"So why don't you become a nurse or a doctor?" He noticed that she looked uncomfortable. "I'm sorry for prying."

"No, it is OK. I actually wanted to be a doctor but then my mother died. The responsibility of the house fell onto me. I do not regret that decision so you need not feel sorry for me." Kasumi said. Ranma thought that she had probably had been pitied before because she never got to be the doctor she wanted. He would not add on to it.

"Nah, I don't feel sorry for you. Though, if you need me to do somethings around the house, don't be afraid to ask." Ranma offered.

"Thank you Ranma, I will keep that in mind." Kasumi said. They ate in silence again when Kasumi spoke again. "Ranma, I've been wondering something concerning your quest to create your own style."

"What is it?" he asked.

"Does your drive to do this stem from the promise your father made to your mother? Do you even know what she means by 'man among men'?" Kasumi asked.

"I probably don't really know and it would be stupid of me to assume that she would accept me for my curse and all. Still, I just feel that she wouldn't hold it against me if I showed her that I can be independent. If I show her that I don't need my stupid father, then maybe she won't hold me to that stupid contract." Ranma said.

"You're saying a lot of 'ifs' for someone you don't really know. What if she turns out to be something like your father?"

"Then I'll find a way out. If she's anything like the old man, I don't want to know her." Ranma stated. Kasumi was a bit taken back but she nodded in understanding. She remembered everything that she read and she wouldn't want Ranma to go through the same thing again. The two continued their lunch with some lite topics.

–

Ranma stood in complete stillness. He took a few deep breaths and focused. After a week of meditating, he figured that he would try and see if he could control the Nekoken (Cat Fist). He searched his subconscious for that feeling he got when he was meditating. When he found it, he focus on that feeling and brought it forward.

When Ranma opened his eyes, he saw things a little different than before. Things looked sharper and more focused. He looked at his hands and saw that there was a bit more muscle on them. He faced the dummy that he set up and fell into a fighting stance. He unleashed a flurry of kicks and punches with amazing speed. With a roar, he punched a hole through the dummy. He removed his arm and looked at the dummy. He watched as the dummy suddenly fell apart.

Ranma looked at his hands again. He couldn't believe the power he was wielding. He knew that he was no where near mastery but this was a very good start. If he could master the Nekoken, it would be a feather in his hat as he would be the only one to have done it. He suddenly caught a sound and looked toward the entrance of the dojo.

"Who's there?" Ranma called out. He got no answer and made his way to the entrance. He looked out and saw no one there. He did however smell something familiar. It smelled exactly like Akane. Ignoring her for a second, he realized that the Nekoken gave him enhanced smell and hearing. He could also see pretty good in the dark. He was very pumped now in mastering the Nekoken. He made his way back inside to meditate.

–

Authors' Notes: Sorry about the delay but I put my focus into a story I had. Now that it's finished I can concentrate on my other fictions. Anyway, please enjoy.