Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto or Ranma ½. I do have a few of my own characters in here though, so I would appreciate it if you asked before using them.

Notes

This was originally done for NanoWrimo in 2007. With this story I made the word count!

Characters form Ranma ½ and Naruto may be out of character

While in the Neko-ken, characters roll their rs (I am not going to spell it that way, since it is to hard to write/read that way)

"Hi" Speaking

'Hi' Thinking

Painful Pasts and New Beginnings

By: Shlandria

Chapter 7

After they left the Hokage's office, Ryu noticed it was growing dark, so they headed straight for Naruto's apartment to get his stuff. On the way there, Ryu noticed the looks the villagers were giving his otouto. He also noticed Naruto looking at the ground, not making eye contact with anyone. Ryu decided that this needed rectified so he grabbed his otouto's hand and glared at the villagers.

One of the villagers thought he would be brave; which was stupid on his part. "You should stay away from that boy, he's a little monster." The villager said to Ryu. At this Ryu glared at him and literally growled at him. "I suggest you watch what you say aboutmy otouto." Ryu said angrily. The villager was not to be deterred so easily however, which was extremely stupid on his part. "Your otouto? Are you nuts? Yeah I guess you must be. I guess i'll have to educate you then." He said approaching Ryu and Naruto. Several others saw this and decided to help the man educate the older boy.

Unfortunately for them, they didn't know exactly who or what they were dealing with. Not only was Ryu very possessive and protective when it came to those he considered his friends, and more so his family, he was a neko warrior; which is someone who is in full control of the neko-ken.

When some of the villagers ganged up on him and his otouto intent on beating them both up, Ryu to educate him, and Naruto just on principal, they made a grave mistake, and ticked Ryu off. He gave them one warning only to run away, and that was a very feral growl standing in front of his otouto, showing his fangs, his eyes slitting in anger as he tapped back into the neko-ken. He could faintly smell fear coming from some of them. "This is your only warning, leave my otouto alone or face my wrath." He growled out, snarling angrily at them. Naruto was not sure what to do, usually he ran and found some place safe to hide, however he didn't want to leave his aniki who was protecting him. He quickly realized though, that it would be safer for him to stay behind his aniki, than to run.

Some of the villagers saw Ryu's silted eyes and his fangs and came to the same conclusion. "No wonder he considers that little brat his otouto, he's a monster as well!" the fool said, cries of agreement coming from the crowed. "Let's show these monsters that they are not welcome in our village!" someone yelled, as others cried in agreement.

"Monster?! You dare call a Neko Warrior a monster and threaten his family?! You've just made a very grave mistake." Ryu growled out at them, crouching into a strange fighting stance, his knees bent and his back arched slightly, his right hand nearly brushing against the ground, his left held up to chest level, fingers in a clawed position. His fangs were bared and he was growling very feraly, he looked very much like a wild cat in that position. "Leave. Now." He said ominously.

"Let's get him!" Someone said. That was all it took for the mob of villagers to rush at Ryu and Naruto, intent on doing them harm. When they got within feet of Ryu and Naruto, who were backed up against a wall, Ryu acted. He lashed out with fist and foot, tooth and claw. As soon as there was an opening, he yelled "Otouto, run! Go find a safe place to hide, hurry! I'll keep them away from you!"

Naruto did exactly what his aniki said, trusting Ryu to do as he said and keep the angry villagers away from him. He ran as fast as his legs would carry him, and as far away from the angry mob as he could get. He didn't know where he was going, all he knew was he had to get away and find some place safe to hide. He was moving on pure instinct. He finally found a cave he had never seen before, and crawled as deeply into it as he could, curling into a ball and trembling in fear. Somewhere in the deep recesses of his mind, in a small corner that was not numb with fear, he hoped his aniki could find him, because he had no idea where he was.

Meanwhile, back in town with Ryu, the villagers had tried to stop Naruto from running, however Ryu kept them from him by any means necessary. Once they all realized they were not going to be able to get Naruto, they focused on Ryu, after all, they could search out the brat later. They didn't realize how vicious Ryu could be however.

You see, when Neko Warriors form a family; it's not always with someone they are related to. Their families are usually called Packs or Prides, because they resemble packs of wolves or prides of lions, in the way they interact and treat each other, Prides being above Packs. They are more loyal to this family than to blood relatives, and Ryu considered Naruto, his otouto, part of his Pride. This meant that he would fight with all he was worth for the younger boy, in this; he was like a wild animal protecting what was theirs.

He clawed at them, punched them, kicked them, head butted them, he even bit them. The unlucky ones not only got bit, he held onto their arm, leg, or whatever else he had bitten into and either tore a chunk out, or held on and shoot his head back and forth, tearing into muscle, and sometimes hitting or breaking bone.

Some of the smarter ones fled, others decided to go get help, conveniently forgetting that they were the ones to start the fight. Between the ones who went for help and the screams and cries of pain from the ones dumb enough to continue fighting Ryu, the ANBU came.