The Mightiest Disciple 1/2
(A/N: I have nothing really to comment on in regards to reactions last chapter. Some were more positive than others, some were legit critiques. However, thanks to a certain review, I have to ask a favor: If I appear to be writing ANY character out of character, let me know. Anyways, on with the show)
A Young Person's Struggles; The New Disciple
Ranma and Akane arrived at Akisame's clinic where the man in question was nowhere to be found. Ranma set Akane down on the patient's bed and waited for Akisame to show up.
"Huh. Wonder where the old guy went," Ranma said.
"He's right here," said Akisame, startling the two teenagers.
'I hate when people do that!' They simultaneously thought.
"Sorry if I scared you kids, but I just thought Ms. Tendo here would liked to be patched up as quickly as possible," Akisame apologized.
"Welp, I've done my good deed today," Ranma said with a shrug. "I'll leave you two alone now," he added while exiting.
"Now let's have a look at that leg of yours," Akisame said.
Akane lifted her afflicted limb up on the bed and Akisame started his examination. Running his hand up and down Akane's lower leg, taking notice of her expression as he did so. He stopped once he noticed her wince in slight pain when he went over a spot just above her ankle.
"Alright Ms. Tendo," Akisame started. "I have to warn you this may sting a bit, so you'd better brace yourself," he finished.
Akane noddedand mentally prepped herself for Akisame's next action. The man in question simply dealt a swift, but light chop to the area on Akane's ankle. At first nothing. A couple of seconds later, Akane let out a loud, surprised and strained yelp.
"What was that all about!?" Akane asked
"What? Does your leg still hurt?" Akisame replied.
Akane got off of the bed and stood up. After a couple of practice kicks, she was surprised to realize that he was right. Her leg had stopped hurting altogether.
"Wow! My leg does feel better," Akane said surprised. With a grin she added, "That was almost better than our family doctor back home."
Akisame chuckled. "Who? That old boy Tofu?" he asked.
Akane turned to Akisame with a look of surprise. "You know Dr. Tofu?" she asked.
"Of course," Akisame answered. "Through some of our old letters and such, he mentioned a young girl he's known for a long time with a knack for giving and receiving a lot of minor injuries," he stated. "I must admit, I never thought I'd meet my old friend's best patient."
Akane couldn't help but blush in embarrassment. Sure she had gotten over her schoolgirl crush for Doc Tofu, but she still held the man in high regards.
"Did he...happen to mention anything else about me?" Akane asked.
"Yes, in fact. He mentioned that you were indeed a skilled martial artist," Akisame answered. "Although I must say, he might've exaggerated a bit," he added.
Akane raised an eyebrow. "What do you mean 'exaggerated'?" she asked in a salty tone.
"Forgive me if I'm being rude," Akisame began, "but from what I could gather from your match with Miu, you're skills as a martial artist leave a lot to be desired," he criticized.
Akane's eyes narrowed. "I just underestimated her, that's all!" she exclaimed defensively. "I could beat her if I tried my hardest!"
"Oh? I thought you were trying you're hardest," Akisame replied.
Akane could only blush in embarrasment. "I might've been...or maybe I might not've been!" she quickly tried to defend herself.
"Actually, that brings me to my next question: Why did you challenge Miu in the first place?" Akisame asked. "As far as I could tell, you're quarrel was with Ranma, so why drag Miu into it?"
Akane sat back down on the patient's bed and crossed her arms. "I-! I don't know," she sighed. "I was just angry," she continued.
Akisame chuckled. "No worries. Believe me I understand."
"You do?"
"Of course. I mean seeing your fiancee with another visibly appealing young girl would be enough to at least raise some tension."
Akane's face went fully red. "N-no! That's not it!" Akane said defensively. "Why would I care about who that jerk-pervert Ranma hangs out with!?" she exclaimed.
"Hmhmhmhm, hit the bull's eye, didn't I?" Akisame asked.
Akane crossed her arms and turned away from Akisame with a huff. Though Akisame couldn't see her face, he could tell that her expression had softened.
"There's something else troubling you isn't there?" Akisame asked.
Akane didn't respond.
"It involves Ranma again, doesn't it?"
Again, Akane didn't answer.
"If you don't want to talk about it, I understand," Akisame stood up and headed for the door.
Before Akisame could exit, Akane stood up with a loud stomp.
"Can I train here!?" she quickly asked.
Akisame froze momentarily. "Well Ms. Tendo, this is a surprise?" he admitted. "Though if you don't mind my asking, why are you suddenly interested in training here at Ryozanpaku?" he asked.
Akane clenched her fists together. She looked at Akisame sternly and asked, "You're a legitimate doctor, right?"
"Yes?" Akisame answered. "If you're asking whether or not I'll keep your answer a secret, believe when I say, you have my word that I won't tell a soul anything you say from this point onwards," he promised.
Akane nodded. "There's...a number of reasons. First off, I want to improve myself as a martial artist. I used to be the best martial artist in Nerima, but ever since Ranma came to live at my family's dojo, I regret to admit, I've been falling behind...a lot. Secondly, there are a few rivals that I need to defeat, and I'm not even counting Miu(right now). And third-!" Akane quickly covered her hand with her mouth. While she believed that Akisame would keep his swear to secrecy, she hadn't wanted her No. 3 to slip out.
"You want to stay closer to Ranma, correct?" Akisame guessed.
Akane's eyes widened. She didn't want to admit it, even to herself, but she had started to miss Ranma within the past week. Unlike the last time Ranma and his family left the dojo, they hadn't seen each other at all until today.
"It's not that I want to be near him," Akane replied. "But I do have to keep my eye on him since he has a knack for getting himself into trouble." she finished crossing her arms.
"This coming from the girl who gets kidnapped every other major arc," came a familiar forth wall breaking voice.
Akisame and Akane turned toward the door to see Ranma leaning his back on the door frame with a slightly smug look on his face.
"R-Ranma!?" Akane exclaimed. "How long have you been there!?" she asked.
"I just got here, why?" Ranma replied.
"Uhh...just wondering," Akane replied.
"Ranma, by any chance did you hear any of our conversation?" Akisame asked.
"No. I just came to get you Akisame. Kenichi was training with Apachai and, well...you know," Ranma replied.
"Wait a sec, what were you guys even talking about?" Ranma asked.
Akisame chuckled. "Akane, why don't you tell Ranma the news while I go fix Kenichi," he said while making his exit.
"What news?" Ranma asked.
"I'm going to train here too," Akane answered.
It took a few seconds of awkward silence for it to register, but once it did, Ranma reacted with an exasperated, "WHAAAT!?"
"What's wrong? Is that a problem?" Akane asked.
"No but-! Maybe-! I don't know!" Ranma stammered.
"What's the problem? Don't forget Ranma, I'm a martial artist too, so of course I wanna get stronger," Akane started. "Besides, you train here, so why can't I?" she asked.
Ranma put his hand behind his head. "Akane, I'm not gonna try to stop you, but I will say this is kinda a bad idea. You haven't seen the kinda crap they've put Kenichi through and-,"
"And what? You think I can't handle it?" Akane cut him off.
Ranma shrugged. "I know you're pretty tough, but the stuff that goes on in this dojo could kill any lesser man. I just don't want you getting hurt." Ranma said.
"Ranma..." Akane said softly.
"Then again, carrying you to and from Akisame's clinic all the time could be a decent workout for me," Ranma said putting his hand on his chin.
Ranma was silenced by the patient bed slamming into the back of his head, and knocking him to the floor.
"You don't think I can take it, do you ya jerk!" Akane exclaimed, a vein popping on her forehead. "I'll show you! I'll show them all what Akane Tendo can really do!" she proclaimed while taking a victory stance on top of the downed Ranma and bed.
[]
Ranma and Akane headed back to the main dojo building where they were greeted by Miu.
"Oh, welcome back," she said. "Akane, how's your leg?" Miu asked with concern.
"Fine, I'm fine," Akane assured her. She then reluctantly put her hands behind her back. "Uhh, Miu?"
"Yes?"
Akane wasn't too used to doing this sort of thing, but she decided to just get it over with if she was going to be training at the dojo with Miu.
"I...I wanna apologize for how I acted earlier!" she quickly exclaimed. "And I hope that we can get along from now on!" she nearly forced out.
Miu responded with a warm smile. "Oh that's alright, just...don't ever call me a hussy again," she said through a slightly twitched eye. "Deal?"
"Deal."
"Ahem!"
The girls were interrupted from their little discussion by Akisame's loud throat clearing. The teens turned towards the nearby door and saw Akisame motioning for them to follow him back to the living room.
[]
"So, the new girl wants to join the dojo?" Sakaki commented.
"Well, this is a welcome surprise," added Hayato. "This past week has certainly been the most eventful we've had in a good while," he chuckled.
"So...can I?" Akane asked.
"But of course!" Hayato replied.
"R-really?" said Akane
"Sure!" Hayato replied. "In fact if you're feeling up to it, we can start immediately."
"I'm ready!" said Akane darting up.
[]
A few minutes later, Akane was back in the dojo backyard in a spare uniform(she hadn't brought her own) with Akisame and Kenichi. Miu was in the kitchen preparing dinner, while Ranma, Kensei, and Appachai were all off to the side on the back porch watching.
"We'll take it lightly for now since it's starting to get pretty late," Akisame said. "For now, Akane and Kenichi, I want you two to spar with each other."
"Umm Akisame-sensei, why do I have to spar with Kenichi?" she asked trying not to be TOO disrespectful.
"I'm right here ya know!?" Kenichi responded.
"Sorry," Akane said, "but I'm an experienced martial artist. Shouldn't I train with someone who's more my level?" she asked.
"Now now, don't be like that Akane," Akisame said. "From what I've gauged of you're ability thus far, Kenichi is the perfect sparring partner for you...or rather the opposite is more accurate, since Kenichi will most likely be getting the most benefit out of your match."
With an exasperated sigh and shrug, Akane took up her defensive stance, as did Kenichi. Finally, Akisame gave them the signal and Akane made the first move, throwing a punch at Kenichi's face.
Kenichi managed to block Akane's attack, but the impact left his arms shaking. 'Just one punch and I'm already shaking? Damn! I think she might have more muscle than Miu.'
Kenichi stumbled backwards and raised his defenses again. Akane followed up with a downward strike. Kenichi swayed to the side to dodge it and countered with a sideways karate chop that struck Akane in the arm.
Wincing slightly, Akane quickly shook off Kenichi's strike and countered back with a palm strike to Kenichi's midsection, knocking him down. Kenichi quickly rose back to his feet just as Akane launched a forward kick at him. Almost instinctively, Kenichi used the defensive technique he learned from Kensei to grab Akane's leg, leaving her off balance, and him pressed up against her chest.
[]
Meanwhile, with the spectators, Kensei and let out a satisfied chuckle, while Ranma was trying desperately to hold in a laugh himself. "Well what do you know? Kenichi really has been doing his homework." Kensei said while snapping a picture of the two teens' current position.
[]
"H-hey! What do you think you're doing!?" Akane yelled trying to push Kenichi down.
"Akane, please forgive me for this!?" Kenichi apologized in advance. Before Akane could ask him what he was talking about, Kenichi spun his head around in a circular pattern rubbing against her breasts, making her let out a surprised yelp.
[]
Kensei and Ranma both let out their own surprised gasps. The latter accompanied by a fierce blush. "Kenichi! I said you didn't have to do that part!" Kensei quickly yelled.
'Okay, what the hell's this guy's deal?' Ranma mentally asked with a look of restrained anger on his face.
[]
While Akane was caught off guard by Kenichi's unorthodox 'technique', he took advantage of the opportunity and pushed forward with his legs knocking Akane over onto her backside. Kenichi stumbled forward, but quickly corrected himself as he prepared to react to his opponent's next move.
On the ground, Akane just sat there with her arms crossed around her chest. She was breathing heavily, practically seething with anger. 'Why that no good-! Just who the hell does he think he is!?' Akane slowly stood up and shot a slightly teary eyed glare at Kenichi.
"That's it. I've been holding back but now, I'm gonna kick your ass!" Akane proclaimed.
Kenichi stepped backwards and waved his hands defensively. "Wait, wait,wait! I know you're angry, but that was a legitimate technique!" he quickly squealed out.
Ignoring his words, Akane threw a rage filled punch at Kenichi. Kenichi quickly swayed away to dodge it, but was given little room to rest as Akane kept up her assault.
Akane quickly threw punch after punch at Kenichi, and he kept sloppily dodging her attacks. With no room to counter, Kenichi had to resort to a risky but usually effective technique; strategic withdrawal. With another quick dodge, Kenichi scampered away from the very pissed off tomboy.
[]
"Huh, I didn't know Kenichi knew the Saotome Final Attack," Ranma commented.
"Oh? And what might that 'final attack' be?" Kensei asked.
"The old' 'Fast Break,'" Ranma answered with his arms crossed.
[]
Though momentarily stunned by yet another unorthodox tactic, Akane quickly gave chase to her opponent.
Kenichi finally created a fair amount of distance between himself and Akane, and quickly braced himself for her next attack. A few seconds later, Akane caught up with Kenichi and threw a full strength, rage fueled punch at him.
Kenichi waited with his guard up until the last possible moment. Without warning, Kenichi deflected Akane's punch and quickly swept his foot under her leg, tripping her up. Akane landed on the ground for the second time, this time with a loud THUD.
Akane strained to get back to her feet, eager to continue the fight, when she noticed Kenichi standing above her extending his hand.
"You wanna call the match here?" Kenichi asked.
"No way!" Akane snapped. "I'm not finished yet...I can still keep going!" Akane exclaimed.
"Actually, I think Kenichi's right. We should end the match here," Akisame intervened.
"But why?" Akane asked with a slight whine. "I can still fight!" 'And I still owe Kenichi for that little stunt he pulled,' she mentally added.
Akisame sighed. "Maybe, but this fight with Kenichi has 100% confirmed my concerns for you. While your determination is admirable, it's also linked to your greatest shortcoming: You're actions range from satisfactory to sometimes sloppy." Akisame started to explain. "However, you're short fuse causes your actions to become even more sloppy. When you allow yourself to get angry, you don't consider your actions."
Akane let Akisame's statement sink in. She thought back to the beginning of the fight. She clearly had a distinct advantage over Kenichi. After Kenichi did that move with her leg and chest however, she realized that her advantage quickly dwindled. Realizing Akisame might be right, she let out a sigh. Sure she may get mad often, but in this case she kind of had the right to be, especially after that little stunt Kenichi pulled.
"I will admit that in this particular case, your anger was justified," Akisame quickly added while giving Kenichi and Kensei a disapproving glare. "But in future fights, you may want to remember that one of a martial artist's greatest weapons is a cool head."
Akane looked at Akisame with a firm look, and her spirit somewhat renewed. "Yes, Akisame-sensei," she bowed.
[]
"Well, I think that's enough excitement for one day," Akisame said. "If you want, you're welcome to join us for dinner Akane." he invited.
"Actually, I think me and her better split," Ranma interjected. "I'm pretty sure Mom will want her over for dinner since she hasn't seen her in a while," he explained.
"Well that's fine too," Akisame chuckled. "If you want Akane, we can start training for real tomorrow," he offered.
"Sounds good," Akane replied. "But tomorrow's Sunday. What about the other days of the week?" she asked.
"Oh we'll worry about that a bit later," chimed in Kensei. "For now you and Ranma should hurry on home. After all, dinnertime is one time of day NOBODY wants to be late to, am I right?"
"This is true," Ranma answered nodding.
[]
A short time later, Ranma and Akane were at the gates of Ryozanpaku, prepared to head back to the Saotome residence. With them was Hayato, Akisame, and Kenichi to see them off.
"Well, it has been fun meeting you Ms. Tendo," Hayato chuckled.
Akane nodded in agreement with a small smile.
"Apa!" Out of seemingly nowhere, Appachai joined the group and exclaimed, "Hey Elder, does this mean we can go eat dinner now? Miu said she's finished cooking!"
SPARK!
Akane froze and her expression became one Ranma was all too familiar with: the look of envious rage.
'So she can cook too!?' Akane yelled internally.
'Awwww, crap!' Ranma mentally added.
"Wellit'sbeengreathavingyouguysmeeteachotherseeyatomorrow, BYE!" Ranma quickly spat out. In the next instance, Ranma dashed away, leaving Akane behind
"Ranmaaaaaaa!" came the irritated yell of Akane who was in pursuit of Ranma.
Kenichi and Appachai both froze in confusion as Ranma and Akane darted off.
"There they go," Kenichi said nonchalantly.
"Apa! I wonder why Ranma got all excited just now," added Appachai.
Akisame and Hayato could only snicker at their friend's and their disciple's cluelessness.
"Hey guys! Dinner's ready!" Miu called jogging to the front gate.
"Huh. Are Ranma and Akane gone already?" Miu asked.
"Mmmhmm," Kenichi nodded.
"Awww. It probably would've been nice to have Akane join us," she groaned.
'Probably?' Kenichi thought.
"Oh well. Let's head back in, the food's getting cold."
"Apa!"
(A/N: I'm back y'all! First off, I appreciate all the feedback my previous Author's Note got. I've decided to continue the story as is(Seriously though, I cannot stress how frustrating writer's block is). Anyways, yeah, Akane's gonna be joining Ryozanpaku. Out of all the Ranma characters(who're actually important), Akane is probably the one who'd benefit THE most from joining the deadly dojo. While she does have the kind of strength to throw down with the Kenichi fighters, it's been shown that she has a number of flaws that prevent her from being one of the best in the series(and if I'm wrong, correct me[and I really gotta re-read major Ranma battles)]. Regarding the fight between her and Kenichi...I know at this point on the Kenichi side, Akane should be more than a match for Kenichi. However...I wanted to emphasize Kenichi's progression, and Akane's shortcomings(Disclaimer: I do not dislike Akane, but still). While any of the master's most likely could've accurately gauged Akane's skills from her fight with Miu last chapter, I figured fighting Kenichi would bring them into a brighter light since Miu is leagues above both Kenichi AND Akane. Anyone concerned that the Ranma characters would flat out steal the majority of Kenichi's fights don't worry. First let me just say that out of MAJOR Ranma characters who'll be appearing, we have...two, maybe three more that I plan to bring in. I'm not gonna spoil who they are, but they're pretty damn crucial(plus you can probably already guess since I said 'major' Ranma characters). Anyways, here's hoping the next chapter won't take so damn long)