Obligatory Disclaimer: Tried to bet against Rumiko Takahashi and Ken Akamatsu to get the rights for Mahou Sensei Negima! and Ranma 1/2. I lost miserably, but at least I managed to get this fic out of it. But I can always try again. Besides, next week's Bingo night.
Episode 2: When Worlds Collide
It was a peaceful day in the town of Nerima. The sun shined in the cloudless sky. There was a steady breeze that kept one from getting overheated under the summer sun. If one listened, one could hear the sounds of water dripping, birds chirping, and trees swaying. In any normal town, this weather would make this a perfect day. But Nerima is not what most people would call "normal". To the residents long aware of the town's "status quo", such a quiet day was a godsend. One could get his work done uninterrupted by the usual noise and take advantage of the peace to relax. Because of this, no one noticed the young boy in a white robe on top of a wooden staff plummeting his way down into a nearby alley.
Negi quickly cast a spell, slowing his descent until he was hovering several inches from the ground. Negi got off his staff and used another spell to have it cling to his back. Checking to make sure that no one saw him, the boy speed-walked his way towards the marketplace. Covering his face with his hood, he checked to see if anyone was taking a particular interest to him. To his surprise, he was able to walk through the street completely unnoticed.
Negi sighed with relief before chuckling to himself. Haruna was the one who came up with this idea of using a hood to "blend in" with the environment. Negi thought it was ridiculous, believing that he would be more noticeable because of it, but he figured he'd give it a shot anyway, if only to keep Haruna off his back. He never expected it to actually work.
About twenty minutes later, Negi arrived at a large traditionally house surrounded by a tall stone wall. The entrance gate consisted of two large wooden doors, and there was a sign on the side with the words "Tendo Dojo of Anything Goes Martial Arts" written in bold kanji. Confirming the location on a piece of paper, Negi walked through the gate and knocked on the front door.
A few seconds later, a woman opened the door. She appeared to possibly be in her early twenties, and had long brown hair. Most of her torso was covered in a white apron, most likely from using the kitchen in the back. In short, this woman looked like she jumped out of the dictionary's entry for "Japanese housewife", which startled Negi for a second.
"Can I help you?" the woman asked, with a sweet high-pitched voice.
Negi bowed in response. "Hello, miss. My name is Negi Springfield."
The woman giggled before returning the bow. "You're very polite for someone so young, Negi-san. My name is Kasumi Tendo."
"I am looking for someone by the name of Ranma Saotome. Does he live here?"
"Yes, but he is not here right now. He should be busy with some of his friends."
"Oh. Well, do you know where I can find him?"
"He tends to make a lot of noise when he is with his friends. If you keep searching around town, you should be able to find him." Negi slightly shivered, mostly because of the way Kasumi smiled while she said it.
"Um, thank you, Kasumi-san". Negi bowed a second time, turned around, and walked out past the gate. He could've sworn he heard Kasumi mumble about politeness before the door closed behind him. Turning back towards town, he prepared himself for the one called Ranma Saotome.
Flashback – 2 days ago
The sun began to set in the Chinese mountains; the sky lit with an orange glow. Crickets could be heard nearby the small house. The inside, like the outside, had a rustic look and feel, with the few modern appliances being outdated but usable. There was silence in the small household, which was quickly broken by the whistling of a boiling tea kettle.
"Tea is ready!" the man known as the Jusenkyo Guide shouted as he hurried over to stove. He quickly poured two glasses, and passed one to his young foreign guest.
"Thank you, sir." Negi replied. He was already seated at the table, but he bent over slightly to bow. The Guide took a sip of his own tea before taking a seat of his own.
"So, you tell me you want to know about interview, yes?" the Guide inquired.
"Yes sir." Negi responded. "Namely, I wish to know about the people involved in that incident with Saffron. You mentioned something about martial artists?"
"Ah yes. I remember. Give me one moment." The Guide stood up and walked out of the room. 5 minutes later, he came back into the kitchen with a large green book. He skimmed through the pages, before stopping at page towards the end.
The page showed two people. Both had the same hairstyle, a short pigtail, and both even seemed to have the same facial expression. However, the one with black hair was clearly a boy, while the other with red hair was clearly a girl. Negi was further confused when he looked further on the page. All he could read was the name "Ranma Saotome" written in Japanese kanji. He regretted not taking advantage of those free Mandarin lessons he was offered after he graduated.
"This Ranma Saotome." The Guide began, snapping Negi out of his thoughts. "He is very talented Japanese martial artist. I have run into him several times over in past. He is nice boy. Often rude, but still nice."
"So who is the girl?" Negi asked. However, it didn't take long for Negi to quickly consider the possible magic behind Jusenkyo. "Wait, could it be that this is also Ranma?"
The Guide laughed. "You very smart young boy. Jusenkyo contain many cursed springs, each with unique effects. When Ranma first arrive in Jusenkyo, he fall into Niannichuan, Cursed Spring of Drowned Girl. Very tragic story of young girl who drown in spring over 1600 year ago. Now he take body of young girl when splash with cold water. He turn back into boy when splashed with hot water."
"Interesting." was all Negi could say. However, his voice was weak as he retreated back into his thoughts.
I knew the magic here was strong; the springs seem to constantly radiate like the World Tree during the Festival. But I would have never expected this magic to be so complicated! To create a curse with such specific conditions, let alone maintain it, would require much more powerful magic than the wishing spells during the Festival, or the binding spell on Evangeline-san! The seeds of curiosity were planted, but he quickly refocused himself, before his thoughts ran any further.
He decided to change the subject. "What about the other martial artists?"
The Guide grinned. "Ranma most involved during Saffron battle. He also connected by past to other martial artists. If you want information, you seek him first."
Negi sighed with slight relief, hoping that this would shorten his search. "Can you tell me where to find him?"
"This record lists current address as Tendo Dojo in Nerima, Japan. Others are reported to live in area if you wish to find them."
Negi stood up and bowed once again. "Thank you sir. I just have one question."
"What is it?"
Negi began scratching his head. "Is it okay if I sleep here for the night? I don't have anywhere else to go right now."
The Guide laughed again. "Sure. Guest bedroom upstairs. Make yourself at home, honored guest."
End Flashback
Negi stopped and stood in the middle of the street. He had heard something. As he began to focus, he began to recognize the sounds he was hearing. He heard them every time he sparred with Kotaro or Asuna. It was the sound of thrown punches, smashed walls, and determined screams. Could that really be his target? Could it really be that easy? Negi began moving at a faster pace, hoping that the sounds would not disappear. Not only did the noise remain, but as Negi continued, they continued to grow louder and stronger.
It did not take long for Negi to begin ignoring the sounds as his pace grew faster. If Negi had to be most proud of something from his training, it would have to be all of the new knowledge he now had of ki. He could not manipulate ki the way that Kotaro and Kaede could, but it was simple for him to learn how to sense it. And a quick scan with this new sense nearly threw Negi back in astonishment. He didn't expect to feel such an impressive level of ki in such a concentrated area. At this point, Negi was in a full-on sprint, using this sense like the nose of a bloodhound.
After 5 minutes of running, Negi could finally make out some figures in the distance. As he got closer, he could see the skirmish occurring between them. One Negi quickly identified as Ranma, with his black pigtail and red Chinese shirt. Unfortunately, the Guide hadn't told Negi about the other two. The first had black hair like Ranma, but he had no pigtail. He was also wearing a yellow shirt and a yellow bandana with black polka-dots. The other had brown hair, and was dressed in a blue robe. Ranma and the yellow-shirted boy were both fighting with their fists, while the blue-robed boy was wielding a wooden sword. The styles of the first two seemed to be some variant of kung fu, while the third was strictly sticking with kendo.
To Negi Springfield, the skirmish was an interesting and captivating sight. But to Ranma Saotome, it was nothing more than part of his daily routine. There is really no reason to go over all the details of how this fight transpired (i.e. this author is too lazy to write another flashback), so here is the abridged version: Ranma Saotome was walking through the streets alone, hoping that something would fill this otherwise empty day. His prayers (if you can call them such) were answered in the form of one Ryoga Hibiki entering the scene with an attempted flying kick to Ranma's face. Ryoga challenges Ranma's strength, Ranma insults him, blah blah blah and they start fighting. Cue in Tatewaki Kuno, entering the scene during one of his daily strolls through town. Never one to resist a chance to strike his "mortal foe", Kuno jumped into the battle with bokken in hand. Fast forward to around the five and a half minute mark, and Negi arrives.
Anyway, as the fight continued, Negi noticed something. Another thing Negi had learned about ki is that the names of special techniques needed to be shouted out loud in order to use them, much like the chants that activate magic spells. This fight was no different, but he had not seen techniques like this. Ranma would shout something out and begin punching faster than the eye could see, while the other fighter would shout something else and break a section of the wall or floor. Negi first thought that the swordsman had no such skills, but was quickly proven wrong when he suddenly felt his robe tear at his shoulder. However, as Negi surveyed the battle, he noticed something about Ranma's stance and form. He was fighting a lot like how Ku Fei would fight during one of her lessons.
Ranma's holding back, Negi thought. I expected him to be that strong, but I can't have this fight last all day. It would be best if I finished this mission as soon as possible.
"Um, hello?" Negi said. Of course, no one heard him. Using a normal tone in the heat of combat is the equivalent of muttering to yourself.
"Excuse me?" Negi shouted in a much louder voice. Unfortunately, he never liked shouting loudly, and held back a bit. So once again, no one paid attention. Negi knew that he was going to have to go max-power on this. He closed his eyes, took a big breath, and-
"SSTTTTOOOOOOOOOPPPPPP!" Yeah, that would do it.
The three fighters immediately stopped right in their tracks. Unfortunately, said "tracks" involved Ranma's grabbing Kuno's bokken with his right hand and punching Ryoga in the face with his left, while allowing Ryoga's knee to hit his chest. Ranma had to turn around to see who the other two were looking at, only to see a small red-haired boy with small glasses, a white hooded robe, and a wooden staff strapped to his back. Like the other two, Ranma was confused.
"Oh! Sorry!" the boy cried while bowing to the three. "My name is Negi Springfield. I take it you're Ranma Saotome?" which he said while pointing at the pigtailed martial artist.
Ranma walked over to the boy. "Yeah, that's me. What do you want, kid?"
"I need to talk to you regarding the Saffron incident in China. I heard you were involved in that."
Ranma began to shake his head. "Oh lemme guess, you've come to praise the 'God-Killer' right? Jeez, how many times do I gotta tell people that he wasn't a god! I certainly didn't kill the brat either!"
It was Negi's turn to look confused. "Um, what? I just wanted to ask you about the interview the Jusenkyo Guide gave on television several days ago."
"Oh." Ranma almost slapped himself on the head. Ol' foot-in-the-mouth Saotome strikes again. "Yeah, now that I think about it, I do remember seeing it on TV a while back. What do ya wanna know?"
"Well, I can't exactly ask you now. It's, uh, private. Is there anywhere where we can talk just the two of us?"
"Oh, I get it." Ranma quipped. He knew well about secrets. "Well, how about you and me he-"
"HALT!" Kuno shouted, pointing his bokken at Ranma. "You think I cannot see past your deceptions, sorcerer? You can never hide your schemes from me!"
"Schemes?" Ranma inquired. "What exactly am I 'scheming' this time?" He knew he was going to get a stupid answer, but he decided to bite just to see how stupid.
"Do you take me for a fool, Saotome? Your tricks are obvious! But to think that you would go so low as to use children as distractions as you try to woo my beloved Akane! Your cowardice continues to sicken me!"
Yep, stupid answer. Ranma squeezed the bridge of his nose so hard he almost popped his eyes out. "Look, Kuno, I have no clue who this kid is. I'm not doing anything. I've never done anything. How about we finish this tomorrow and-"
"NO! You will not escape my vengeance!" However, just as Kuno prepared to charge, Negi suddenly stepped in front of Ranma, directly in Kuno's sights.
"Begone, boy!" Kuno shouted. "This is between me and the demon Saotome!"
"I will not!" Negi shouted back. "As of now this fight is over! Whatever feud you have with Ranma-san you will continue another day!"
Kuno was taken aback, and paused slightly, if only to think about what had been said. "Zounds, this is worse than I could have thought! I merely assumed you to be pawn in the sorcerer's schemes, but no! It appears that he has brainwashed you into servitude! How, Saotome, can you be so cruel?"
Ranma appropriately facepalmed. Negi gave the look most people give when their brain shuts down.
Kuno pointed his sword forward. "Fear not, young boy, for I, Tatewaki Kuno, age 17, will save you from the ties that bind you! Vile Saotome, face the blade of the Blue Thunder of Furinken High! EN GARDE!" With that, he charged, bokken waving above his head, prepared for a forward strike. Ranma got into a stance, ready to hit Kuno the moment he got there. He hoped for Negi to get behind him, but then he saw the boy move.
It only lasted an instant. One second, there was nothing but the sound of Kuno's yells. The next, his yells turned into a loud grunt as Ranma heard a sudden burst of wind go through. Ranma noticed the boy was in a martial arts stance of his own, and upon closer inspection, Ranma saw that Negi's fist was drilled into Kuno's chest.
Wow, this kid's good. Ranma thought. So, the kid's a martial artist, eh? Not the last time I've seen kids do crazy stuff. But man, I didn't even see him punch! No one moves that fast! Ranma chuckled to himself a bit. Well, no one except me.
Kuno's body collapsed unconscious on the floor the moment Negi pulled his hand back. "Your name is Kuno-san, right? I apologize for doing that. I didn't even mean to hit that hard. I was just defending myself."
Ranma took a look at Ryoga, only to see the lost boy still shocked at the sight. However, the sound of Kuno's body hitting the floor seemed to snap him back.
"W-WAIT!" Ryoga shouted. "I won't let you get away, Ranma!"
Ranma sighed. "Look, P-Chan, can't you wait a bit while I find out what this kid wants? I'll kick your ass later, okay?"
"You think you can defeat me that easily? I will not stop until I have beaten you!" Ryoga began his charge forward, forcing Ranma to get into his own stance. Ryoga began with a flying kick followed by several wild punches, all of which Ranma was able to block. Ranma countered with his own set of punches, which Ryoga either blocked or took in without flinching.
Suddenly, Ryoga stuck both of his pointer fingers out. "BAKUSAI TENKETSU!" he shouted, before thrusting his hands into the ground. Negi was surprised to see Ryoga's fingers pierce the ground like needles, and was even more shocked to see the ground practically explode upon impact.
As the two continued to throw punches and kicks at each other, Negi observed closely from the distance. Negi was never a fan of violence, and he didn't like to engage in unnecessary fights. He attacked Kuno out of self-defense, and he was hoping that he wouldn't have to intervene against this other boy. However, his patience was beginning to wear thin.
Ranma's not finishing this as fast as I would have hoped. Negi thought. I don't want to fight, but I don't want this to take too long either. Is there anything I could do to speed this up? It was at that moment that Negi noticed something else about the scene. He looked back and forth up and down the street and was shocked at what he saw. Or, rather, what he didn't see.
There's no one here. By now I would usually hear someone ask about the 'effects' that are being used or make comments. But it's completely empty. There's a fight going on in the middle of the street and nobody's here to watch? Viewers at home should take note that the fighting amongst the martial artists of Nerima were so commonplace that nobody cared unless there was a big event behind it. Being a newcomer, Negi wouldn't know that. But a light bulb did flash in his head.
There's nobody here! The only people who could possibly see me are too busy focusing on each other! If I keep it small, I should be able to get away with a quick spell! Negi quickly dug in his pockets, and smiled as his hand managed to grab a ring. And I won't even have to use my staff.
Placing the ring on his finger, Negi began to channel mystical energy.
"Ras tel Ma Scir Magister." Negi chanted in a small whisper. "Flet Una Vente."
"FLANS SALTATIO PULVEREA!" Negi shouted. A powerful gust of wind fired forward towards the martial artists. Ranma and Ryoga noticed it for only a second before the wind swept through them. Neither was blown off their feet, but both had to close their eyes and turn their heads away from the dust
Ryoga started to gag as the dust settled. "Gah! What the hell just happened? Where did all this dust come from?"
"Yo! Ryoga!" Slowly opening his eyes, Ryoga turned to see Ranma already recovered and ready to strike. Before he could react, Ranma struck Ryoga's chest with an upward kick. Said kick seemed to have the force of a rocket, as Ryoga was launched hundreds of feet into the air and off towards the horizon. Most people would've expected Ryoga to disappear behind the shine of a star, but that's just unrealistic.
"GAAAHHHH!" Negi screamed.
Standing his ground, Ranma put his fists to his hips and laughed triumphantly. "HAHAHAHA! Isn't he supposed to be tough as rock? He can't even handle a little dirt!" Finishing his laugh, he turned around towards Negi. "Hey Negi, was that you who just did that?"
Negi wasn't paying attention. He was still in shock over the fact that Ryoga was launched sky-high. Normal response.
"Hey, Negi! Talking to ya here!"
"I-Is he dead?" Negi asked. He looked like he was going to burst into tears.
"Dead?" It took a while for Ranma to get it. "Oh, don't worry about Ryoga. He's tough as a rock. He's been hit with a lot worse."
"R-Really?" Negi began to think. The boy he now knew as Ryoga was shown to be a good martial artist, and martial artists seemed to have a tendency of being able to perform various inhuman feats. Hell, Ryoga was able to break walls with a single finger. It was entirely possible that he could've survived it. Negi decided to take Ranma's word on it.
"Yeah, Ryoga's tough. Now, you said you wanted to talk to me about some stuff, right? Well, how about we head over to the Tendo Dojo and talk there?"
Negi nodded. "Sure, Ranma-san. You can lead the way."
And thus is my second chapter for this fic. Why the long delay? Part of it is because of SATs and mid-terms. Part of it is the time it took so long for the formatting to start cooperating with me. Part of it is because I'm lazy as hell. Well, at least I managed to get this out, so it can't be too bad.
Looking back, I've realized that I've forgotten to state where the continuity is for this story. Ranma 1/2 will take place post-manga, although storylines exclusive to the anime, OVAs, and movies will be included. Mahou Sensei Negima! currently takes place at the very beginning of the Magic World arc, during the 2 week time skip from Anya's arrival to Ala Alba's departure. Why "currently"? Well, I'm hoping to time skip the fic into post-Magic World as soon as I know how the arc ends. Time skip will be between Chapters 3 and 4.
And yes, the little bit about Negi's robe at the beginning is meant to be a jab at Assassin's Creed. Yeah I know it kinda sucks, but I'm working on it.
Finally, I'd like to thank Japanese Teeth for proofreading this. I've never been the best with words, so I appreciate any help in making this as clear as can be.