Ranma of Ryozampaku

by Ranma789

What if Ranma came to Ryozampaku, the dojo of Kenichi's crazy masters from Kenichi the Mightiest Disciple, to train? And why does he lives abroad, with no contact whatsoever with the Tendos, his father and, more importantly, Akane? Will he get along with Kenichi and...what relatioship will he develop with Miu? Get ready for a lore dense crossover, with lots of action!

4. Ranma VS Kenichi

Chapter 4 Ranma vs Kenichi!

It had been a month since Ranma started training with Miu at the Ryozampaku dojo, and he had gotten used to dodging Kensei Ma's attempts to drench him with cold water as soon as he headed for the exit. Every time he stepped out, Shigure would chase after him, in a peculiar display of "female solidarity."

The masters appreciated the newcomer's skill, even though they mostly expressed it with monosyllables, nods, and satisfied smiles. The exception was Sakaki, who, between sips of beer, never missed a chance to praise "the kid's spirit" contrasting it with "their disciple", comments that invariably sent Kenichi into a deep depression.

Everyone, however, was pleased to see the effect that finally having a training partner at her level had on Miu: for the first time in her life, she could afford to let go, fighting without holding back or fearing she might hurt her sparring partner.

At the same time, she pushed herself to be creative and aggressive because Ranma was still better than her and countered her every move. Their training sessions were intense, fast, technical, and always different; with the acrobatic style that characterized both of them, they ended up resembling a dance, as elegant as it was lethal.

Through fighting, both Ranma and Miu could truly express themselves. Strikingly similar in style and personal history, they fought purely for the joy of it, and anyone who knew the blonde girl would say they had never seen her as happy as she was during those days.

As for Ranma, his respect for girls in general, and for Miu in particular, had grown significantly; aside from Akane, who had never been as deeply immersed in martial arts as he was, the ponytailed boy had met several girls with high-level combat skills, like Shampoo or Ukyo, but none of them had ever been his equal. And even disregarding Genma's misogynistic teachings, the boy had come to the conclusion that females likely had inherent physical limitations that prevented them from progressing beyond a certain level.

Miu's very existence disproved this assumption: although Ranma was superior to her in every aspect, the girl from the Furinji clan possessed speed, strength, and technical skills of a very high level.

One day, after one of their sparring sessions, it was the Elder, sitting as usual with his legs crossed and a lollipop in hand, who spoke up.

"Since you started training last month, both of you have improved, Ranma-kun. I'm really glad you came to Ryozampaku."

"So am I," the boy replied, "and I have to admit, I never imagined there was a girl my age with skills at this level. Before coming here, I was convinced that girls were necessarily less skilled at fighting than men."

At that comment, Miu shot him an amused look, raising an eyebrow. Hearing Ranma-kun talk like that bothered her a bit, but at the same time, she was flattered to be the one who made him change his mind and was pleased with his sincere compliments.

"However, there might be something else you could do for our dojo, if you don't mind," the Elder continued.

"If I can help, sure," the pigtailed boy replied without hesitation.

A few neutral and curious glances turned toward them. No one knew where this was going.

"I'm asking you to take on an official match with Kenichi, our first disciple."

At those words, the courtyard fell silent.

Miu was stunned.

The other Masters exchanged interested, perhaps slightly amused looks. Some grins formed on their faces as if they had expected this all along and were wondering if it was too soon or not.

Ranma was the very picture of astonishment.

Kenichi was shocked.

The Elder remained impassive.

"What?" Ranma exclaimed, breaking the silence. "But this is an absurd suggestion, Elder, pardon my bluntness!"

Clearly, his diplomacy hadn't improved.

"I'm always ready to face any challenge, but I'm not used to picking on the weak," declared Saotome, raising his voice. "And there's no way that talentless guy over there could be a suitable challenge for me!" he concluded, almost shouting in indignation and pointing back at Kenichi without even turning around. "It would just be a senseless massacre!"

Kenichi, who up until that moment had been shocked at the idea of facing Ranma—whom he undoubtedly recognized as superior—and was wondering what on earth the Elder was thinking, seemed to shrink smaller with each new insult. By the end, he found himself on the ground, doubled over in the darkest of depressions.

Miu seemed to be the only one who noticed, and a sweatdrop appeared on her temple, embarrassed by the pigtailed boy's bluntness. The Masters, on the other hand, grinned even more, interested in how the situation would unfold.

"Ranma-kun, what you're saying is undoubtedly true," began the Elder, "but I still renew my request to organize an official match. Martial arts are not an exact science. Progress is not always made in a linear fashion, but often through leaps and deviations."

Ranma's expression shifted from indignant to puzzled. Miu seemed to wonder where her grandfather was going with this, and she was very worried. Even Kenichi perked up, a little reassured but still doubtful.

"What I mean-the Elder continued-is that even a match that seems hopeless on paper might hold surprises. The beauty of martial arts lies in their unpredictability. It's possible that, regardless of the outcome, both of you could learn something new from this match. And that's the purpose of a dojo—to stimulate the growth of its students, by any means and at any cost."

Ranma found himself glancing sideways at Kenichi, wondering if that weak-looking guy could really surprise him.

In fact, Miu had mentioned a few weeks earlier that Kenichi was some sort of hero, who had saved her from the clutches of Jenazad, had faced every challenge that came his way, and had reached this level in just two years of training. He had to admit that the story intrigued him and maybe even annoyed him a bit for reasons he couldn't quite pinpoint.

Even so, seeing how much Kenichi struggled every day, he couldn't really imagine how he could pose a challenge in a fight.

"A training match like the ones I have with Miu would be one thing, but come on! An official duel! They really don't care about his well-being!"

Kenichi, on the other hand, had been shaken by Hayato's last words and fell into deep thought for a few seconds.

Then he stood up completely and looked at all his masters one by one, instinctively sensing the gravity of the moment, realizing that somehow it was his duty to do what the Elder was asking.

He had always trusted Ryozampaku, and that trust had always been rewarded. This time wouldn't be any different.

"Ranma-kun!" he began, clearing his throat. The pigtailed boy turned around. Kenichi clicked his heels together and gave a deep bow.

"I would be honored if you would accept this match!"

Ranma looked at him with an indecipherable expression, but it was done. He accepted with a sigh, "Well, if you really want to..."—but then added, only in his thoughts, "Just don't come crying to me if you get hurt."

Miu was almost moved, noticing the courage of the boy with whom she had shared so many experiences. She was proud to see that after the initial despair, and despite the humiliations of the past month, with the masters' constant praise of Ranma and the jabs like "Unlike our disciple" and even despite the evident joy Miu knew she felt when training with Ranma, Kenichi didn't seem to be jealous or hold any resentment towards the pigtailed boy.

He would face the match with the sole purpose of learning. Like a true martial artist.

Ranma and Kenichi took their positions in the courtyard, about ten steps apart. All the masters, along with Miu, were seated on the porch in a seiza position, except for Shigure, who was lounging on the roof, lying on her back with Tochoumaru by her side. Akisame stood up and extended an arm between the two opponents (who exchanged a brief bow) before exclaiming:

"The official match between Ranma Saotome, Heir of the Saotome Branch of the School of Indiscriminate Martial Arts, and Kenichi Shirahama, First Disciple of Ryozampaku, is about to begin! The match will have no time limits, and in accordance with the teachings of Katsujinken, killing the opponent is forbidden. Besides that, all techniques are allowed. The outcome of the match will be decided by the Elder. Do you both understand?"

"Yes."
"Of course!"

"HAJIME!" Koetsuji exclaimed, lowering his hand between them, signaling the start of the match, before instantly returning to his seat.

Both opponents took their stances, Kenichi with a Chinese martial arts leg posture and a Karate guard, Ranma with a low, open-handed stance, bouncing lightly on the spot with casual ease.

For a long moment, they just stared at each other, the tension in the air palpable.

Ranma's expression was stern. He was annoyed at being dragged into this challenge. He didn't really want to hurt Kenichi, and he was irritated with the Elder for involving him. He was also bothered by the implication that Shirahama might somehow challenge him.

"And if Kenichi gets hurt," he thought, "what will happen? Would Miu blame me?"
Kenichi, on the other hand, was sweating cold. He intended to take the Elder's task seriously, but he realized from that first face-off that Ranma was truly formidable. Even in that relaxed stance, he had no openings.

"Tsk! So this is the level of a fighter halfway between Expert and Master grade, huh?" he thought. "Fine. It's like that time with Kokin. There's no point in hesitating. I have to take the initiative!"

Kenichi charged, instantly closing the distance between them and attacking with the Strongest Combo No. 1...

"Yamatzuki!"
"Kao Loi!"
"Ugyuu Haitou!"
"Kuchiki Daoshi!"
...or at least, he tried to, but Ranma effortlessly neutralized all his attacks right from the start.

The masters were delighted.
"Ooh, Kenichi went on the offensive right away. That's rare for him," Sakaki noted.
"Even the hare sometimes realizes it must react against the lion if it doesn't want to be devoured," commented Ma. "You can't run forever."
"Apa!" exclaimed Apachai. No one commented on his opinion.

Kenichi had jumped back, returning to his starting position to avoid a counterattack. "Tsk!"

Ranma was still in the same stance and raised a hand with a single finger pointing up.
"One minute, Kenichi."
"Huh?"
"I want to see what the First Disciple of Ryozampaku can do. For that reason, for one full minute... I'll block your attacks without countering. Come on, give it your best shot!" he concluded, flipping his hand and making an inviting gesture.
Kenichi was somewhere between surprised and annoyed. "Is he underestimating me that much?"

Miu grew a little concerned.
"Hmm... a provocation," Sakaki observed with interest.
"It's the kind of tactic where Ranma is probably already at Master level," Ma concluded.

"However," Koetsuji observed, "it's also possible that he genuinely wants to closely observe Kenichi's abilities. He might think that defeating him immediately wouldn't be interesting, and he's curious to see what Kenichi has learned here with us."

"Go, Kenichi, Go! Take advantage! Kill! Kill!" Apachai cheered, waving small flags.

A vein bulged on Kenichi's forehead. Without forgetting Master Kensei's teachings, he launched into the attack with determination. He wouldn't make a fool of himself in front of Miu.

"I'LL SATISFY YOU RIGHT AWAY!"

He unleashed a series of rapid-fire techniques of all kinds, constantly varying them to prevent Ranma from getting used to them—kicks, punches, knee strikes, elbow strikes, palm strikes, headbutts, grappling moves—everything he had learned at Ryozampaku over the past two years.

But the boy with the pigtail was able to deflect everything effortlessly. As he did so, he remained silent, which was unusual for him, and observed closely, with a doubtful expression. It was as if he was studying something about Kenichi but found the result a bit disappointing.

After a few seconds, however, he feinted a counterattack, aiming his wrist at Kenichi's chin, causing Kenichi to perform a double backflip. He was beginning to breathe more rapidly.

"Damn, nothing's working. On reflection, it's obvious it would be like this. But the bigger problem is that he reads my attack rhythm perfectly. What can I do? Did I just say rhythm? Right, why not? Like that time… I could try that."

Suddenly, Kenichi lifted one bent leg, standing on one leg and assuming a symmetrical guard. His eyes emitted a strange light, and his personality seemed to change.

"APA!"

A "HOORAY!" rose from the audience area where Apachai and Shigure were seated.

"Ooh, it's been a while since we've seen this. Kenichi is really getting creative," Hayato observed.

Ranma raised an eyebrow as Kenichi, perfectly imitating Apachai's movements, charged at him, attacking wildly with powerful yet clean Muay Thai strikes.

RYOZAMPAKU'S RHYTHM!

His opponent was a bit surprised but continued to deflect the blows, always using the minimal necessary force.

35, 36…

Suddenly, Kenichi's rhythm changed.

He assumed a middle guard, and a fierce, animalistic expression appeared on his face as he let out a satanic laugh.

"Oh, now he's imitating Sakaki-san. It's just like that time with Ryuto... but since then, Kenichi has improved a lot, so his Ryozampaku's Rhythm is more effective," Miu confidently stated.

"Tsk! But I don't have that evil laugh..." Sakaki protested.

Everyone else nodded in agreement, as if to say: "Yes, you do."

Kenichi bombarded his opponent with punches, palm strikes, chops, and kicks, but still couldn't land a hit.

41, 42…

There was another change, as Kenichi adopted a solemn and austere expression, his gaze superior. He was imitating Koetsuji.

He attempted various grappling techniques, throws, and joint locks, but Ranma slipped away like an eel.

48, 49…

While Kenichi channeled Kensei (causing Miu some unconscious concern because of his manic expression, even though she didn't recall Ranma and the ponytailed girl being the same person) and attacked with complex and strange techniques combined with lightning-fast movements, the blonde girl noticed that the Master in question was shaking his head.

"What's wrong, Kensei-shishou?"

"Kenichi can't trouble Ranma this way."

"But at least this way, Ranma can't read his rhythm correctly. He promised not to counterattack, but..."

"Idiot! Look more closely," Sakaki scolded her.

Huh?

"Up until now, you've been watching how Kenichi attacked Ranma. But have you noticed how RANMA defended against Kenichi?" Akisame explained.

The girl observed more carefully. The soft Kempo attacks were being blocked... with heavy Muay Thai blocks!

And now that I think about it…

OH!

It was the same before.
When Kenichi attacked with Muay Thai, Ranma defended with soft Kempo deflections. When he switched to Karate, Ranma evaded with elegant Jiu-Jitsu dodges. When Kenichi used Jiu-Jitsu, the way Ranma avoided it resembled the fluid movements of a weapons master. And now...

57, 58…

"Kosaka Style! Kosaka Slash!"

As Kenichi used a hand chop to mimic a sword, Ranma blocked the attack, intercepting the forearm with his own before it entered his guard... using Karate!

He had blocked Kenichi's attacks using the same styles!

And there was something else!

All this time, Ranma... had remained in the exact same starting position, with his right leg and arm forward (despite not being left-handed), as if giving himself an additional handicap, and… he hadn't retreated a single inch!

Miu frantically checked the clock.

OH NO!

"KENICHI, WATCH OUT!"

The boy with the pigtail gave a slight smile.

"Time's up!"

At the exact moment he neutralized the last technique, Ranma instantly switched his guard, moving his left foot forward before delivering a devastating roundhouse mid-kick to Kenichi's ribs with his right leg.

It was a textbook kick—clean, lightning-fast, and powerful. Kenichi was sent flying through the air.
"Wha...?"
"Kenichi!" Miu shouted, while the masters let out a series of approving "Oohs."

But it was Ranma who was surprised. "Strange, I clearly hit him, yet he hasn't suffered any serious damage. It's as if..."

While thinking this, he sensed danger. He instantly withdrew his leg, so the arms Kenichi was using to grab it with a Jujitsu hold only swiped through the air. Kenichi landed on the ground, on his feet.

"Hey!" the boy with the pigtail seemed to protest.

But his protest was short-lived, as Kenichi immediately threw a left straight punch, which Ranma easily deflected with his right hand, then grabbed the exposed hand from the attack.

From there, he twisted Kenichi's wrist in the opposite direction, putting him in a joint lock that forced him to his knees.

Ranma then delivered a double backfist with his left hand, first to Kenichi's temple and then to his right thigh, opening his guard.

He released the hold and withdrew his right hand, assuming a textbook left guard.

Ranma took a deep breath, then leaned forward, striking Kenichi's stomach with the palm of his hand, twisting his entire body into the blow.

The impact was tremendous. The air seemed to bend behind the shockwave.

Kenichi was sent flying backward like a rag doll, spitting blood from his mouth and crashing like a missile into a wall about ten meters away, hitting it so hard that cracks spread out like a spiderweb.

Sakaki: "Not bad!"
Shigure: "However..."
Apachai: "Apa!"
But, "Still, Kenichi's internal organ training has paid off."
Akisame: "Indeed, he hasn't sustained excessive damage."

Kenichi slid down from the wall, somehow managing to land on his feet, though with bent knees. He was panting, and his vision was already shaking.

Ranma was the most surprised of the two—he expected Kenichi to be unconscious by now.

Amid the dust, Kenichi suddenly raised a hand, shouting, "WAIT! STOP! TIME OUT!"

Ranma looked at him sideways. "What's this? Are you giving up already? Although I didn't think you'd still be conscious..."

Miu was doubtful. "It's true... Ranma's blow was perfect... Ken-san shouldn't be able to stand... - she paused, noticing all the masters were smirking - AH! Unless..."

Kenichi put a hand behind his neck, utterly embarrassed. "Well, no, you see, the thing is... today was supposed to be the day of Shigure-San's weapons defense training, and so... I'm a bit uncomfortable, but... - as he spoke, he began to remove his Gi - I completely forgot I was wearing this!" he concluded, revealing the steel chainmail he used during missions: a protection designed to withstand Master-level strikes!

The masters burst out laughing uncontrollably.

Ranma turned as red as his jacket, annoyed at being made fun of. It was clear the masters had remembered it and pretended not to notice.

"You know, I didn't mean to cheat, it's just that... eheheh," Kenichi continued to stammer, sweat droplets springing from his face as he spoke.

"Now I understand why he didn't feel the impact of the earlier kick" Ranma reflected.

"No! It's the complete opposite!" Miu suddenly realized. "Between the two of them, Ranma is the extraordinary one, because he hit with all his strength, both with his leg and his hand, against the chainmail made by Akisame-san, and he didn't get hurt! He didn't even notice! What kind of training does he usually do?"

"Anyway," Kenichi resumed, changing his expression, with his Gi re-tied and the chainmail clutched in one hand, "let's start over, as if we're just beginning now. Here I come."

He dropped the chainmail to the ground, and the impact created a small crater.

"WHAA? How heavy was that?" Ranma thought.

He barely had time to think, because Kenichi suddenly leaped forward in a flash, in a tackling position, grabbing Ranma's legs.

"What? He's faster! Don't tell me the chainmail was slowing him down."

Ranma and Kenichi were suspended in mid-air for a long moment, the former destined to fall on his back, the latter to land on top of him.

In that moment, several things happened.

The masters raised a genuine wave of applause.

Miu found herself with a big smile on her face. "Kenichi" she thought.

"I see all that basic training is finally paying off," Ma commented.

"Apa! It looks like a move from the guy in camouflage suit!" Apachai exclaimed.

"That's right," Koetsuji clarified, "though, in addition to Sambo or Western Wrestling, that move is part of the Jujitsu curriculum."

"But..." Shigure began.
"Yeah," Sakaki continued.

While they were suspended in mid-air, Kenichi saw the shadow of a smile on Ranma's face.

The boy with the pigtail thrust his hips, freeing himself from the hold, then arched his back backward, planting his hands on the ground in a handstand.

At the same time, he hooked his feet under Kenichi's armpits.

Kenichi instantly understood what was about to happen, and a shiver ran down his spine.

Miu: "What? He managed to counterattack from that position? He's really skilled!"

Sakaki commented: "Nice counter in that situation, and with such ease. I like this guy."
"Unlike our student, he's got talent..." confirmed the Elder.

A thought crossed Miu's mind:
"He's going to fling him with his legs, throwing him several meters against the back wall."

"WATCH OUT, KENICHI!" she blurted out, even though she shouldn't have interfered.

Kenichi had to think quickly.
"He's going to throw me against the wall? But if I know he's going to do that, I can try to use the momentum myself, do a flip in the air, and land on the wall with my feet. I can do it!"

At that moment, as if he had read Kenichi's mind, Ranma changed his rhythm, suddenly contracting his abs, folding into an inverted "V", and instead flinging Kenichi headfirst into the ground, planting him there like a post.

Then he sprang to his feet, turning his back on the impromptu human signpost and brushing off his jacket's shoulder.

Ranma: "Tsk! After all, that was easy..."

Miu: "What? He knew Kenichi had guessed his intentions, and he changed his attack on the fly, choosing an unavoidable one? That's crazy!"

But from within the dust, Ranma's sixth sense alerted him to danger. "What? That's impossible!"

He turned sharply, seeing that Kenichi was getting up, not completely unscathed, but still far from defeated.

"How did he do that? I slammed him into the ground with all my strength..."

"But you... Are you immortal or something?" he asked aloud.

"Well, no, of course not," Shirahama replied. "It's just that... I'm used to taking hits from my masters during training, so I've developed a certain resistance... they say I'm a genius at getting beaten up, hahaha," he concluded with an embarrassed chuckle.

All the masters, with evident pride, seriously confirmed this with a chorus of "Of course, that's right" accompanied by various chuckles and snickers.

A drop of sweat appeared on Miu's forehead. "Honestly, that's not something to be proud of..."

Ranma was stunned.

"Tsk! This is just like that time... when I fought Ryoga after that old hag Obaba made him go through explosion technique training... Anyway," he thought, casting an indignant glance at the masters, "what kind of training do they do in this dojo? They use their student like a lab rat! They really have no shame!"

"Anyway," Kenichi's declaration as he brushed the dirt off his shoulders snapped him out of his thoughts, "as I suspected, you're really strong. Traditional techniques won't work against you."

"I'll have to fight with full power. I'll use THAT."

Miu was astonished. "Ooh! He's doing it already?"

The Elder nodded, "Well, well... this is getting interesting."

Shigure added, "In the end... even a watermelon... must eventually... ripen."

The others avoided commenting on her bizarre metaphor...

Kenichi's aura lit up with Ki as he got into a stance, expanding the power of the Sei Ki to its fullest.

His eyes seemed to gaze into the void, focusing on an indefinite point, as the air around his body contracted and cooled.

"Come at me and attack however you like!" he declared confidently.

Ranma had never seen that technique before, but he was irritated by Kenichi's sudden change in tone.

"Tsk! You're getting full of yourself!" he shouted, and for the first time, he initiated the attack…

…Only to see his punch effortlessly deflected.

Surprised, he attempted a kick from the opposite direction, with the same result.

Now thoroughly annoyed, he began attacking with every move he knew—right punch, left punch, kick, combination, elbow, palm, knee, combination, punch... but all with the same outcome.

Kenichi moved as little as possible, but deflected all of his attacks with ease.

The situation had completely reversed from earlier.

Ranma paused to gather his thoughts.

"Damn it! This is definitely one of his techniques. He's completely different from before. I need to analyze this calmly and find a weak point without allowing him to counterattack."

He launched into a series of daring attacks, jumping left and right, making sudden changes in direction, somersaults, flying kicks, acrobatic moves, clearly intending to surprise Kenichi, but all to no avail.

Kenichi narrowly avoided every blow.

Miu was thrilled to see Kenichi fighting on equal footing with Ranma, even though she had seen that technique used in combat dozens of times in real-life dangerous situations.

Ryusui Seikuken.

One of the Sei's ultimate techniques, created by the Elder himself and part of his 108 secret techniques.

By synchronizing one's breathing with that of the opponent, it becomes possible to predict their moves, enter their flow to anticipate them, and finally disrupt it to counterattack.

It wasn't the first time that such a technique allowed one to face much stronger opponents without taking damage, as in the case of Kanou Sho or Kajima Satomi.

"Yes! Yes! This way, Kenichi can do it!" the blonde cheered in her heart.

Sakaki chuckled. "Heh... did you all notice it too?"

Akisame nodded. "Yeah!"

Ma added, "Of course."

Apa said, "Apa!"

"What are you talking about?" Miu asked.

"About the fact that, if the match continues like this... Kenichi will lose," Akisame explained.

"What? But Kenichi is at an advantage now!"

"Idiot! Look closer! Activate the Dou Ki if you have to," Sakaki scolded her.

A bit doubtful, Miu obeyed, her eyes glowing with a reddish light, and she began to observe even more closely.

Ranma had been unsuccessfully trying to hit Kenichi for a couple of minutes.

The disciple of Ryozanpaku's defenses showed no weaknesses, yet Miu sensed that something was wrong... wait a minute!

"Kenichi hasn't had a single opportunity to counterattack this entire time," confirmed the Karate master.

"WHAT? Is that possible?"

"Hmm," the Elder interjected, "as you know, Ryusui Seikuken is a three-phase technique. In the first phase, you synchronize your breathing with the opponent. In the second, you use the synchronization to evade attacks. In the third, you harmonize so much with their movements that you can counterattack without them realizing where the blow is coming from."

"But this whole time, Kenichi has stayed on the defensive," Sakaki continued, "and not because he doesn't want to counterattack, but because Ranma's attacks have no blind spots, and they're so fast that he doesn't have the time to attempt anything."

"Sooner or later, Kenichi will tire," Akisame concluded, "and he won't be able to maintain Seikuken forever. He needs to try to defeat Ranma before that happens."

"Kenichi..." Miu pleaded in her heart.

"And it's not just that," Hayato added to himself, "Miu hasn't noticed, but the others certainly have.

This isn't Ranma Saotome's MAXIMUM SPEED. If he were to attack seriously, Kenichi's Seikuken would be shattered in an instant. It's already happened against lower-level opponents, after all.

However... Ranma is instinctively holding back to avoid hurting Kenichi TOO much... and since power is the result of Strength multiplied by Speed, the boy can't reduce his maximum power without also slowing down his attack speed...

If Kenichi realized this, he'd understand that he needs to counterattack as soon as possible. He has to break the stalemate before he gets too tired."

But if Athens weeps, Sparta is certainly not laughing either.

Ranma was starting to accumulate frustration from being unable to hit Kenichi, yet he stubbornly refused to resort to his best secret techniques, as he wasn't facing a life-and-death battle or an opponent on his level.

Moreover, he was convinced that something was escaping him, as if the solution to the problem—actually much simpler—was within reach, but he couldn't grasp what it was.

"And yet there must be a way.

He's perfectly synchronized with my movements, damn him.

He's completely internalized my attack rhythm, and even if I try to change it, and... hey, wait a minute.

Yeah, that might be an idea. I'll do it this way."

For half a minute, the fight seemed to continue in the same manner. Then Miu began to notice something strange.

At first, she thought she had made a mistake.

She wasn't used to observing fights with Dou Ki, and her eyes might have played a trick on her.

But it was undeniable. Bruises began to appear on Kenichi.

First on the left shoulder, then on the right side, then on the cheek, and finally on the thigh. At first, even he didn't seem to realize it.

Yet, he was clearly avoiding all of Ranma's attacks!

"But how...?"

"Look closer," Sakaki warned her again.

The blonde increased her Dou Ki until her eyes almost hurt, and then she saw it. Among all of Ranma's attacks, some were faster than the others.

1, 2, 3, 4 strikes at normal speed.

The 5th at super speed.

Numbers 6, 7, 8, 9 at normal speed.

The 10th at super speed.

"Heh... a clever trick," Sakaki acknowledged.

"He's found a weakness in the Elder's technique..." Koetsuji admitted, "one that perhaps even he didn't know about" he concluded but was careful not to say that last part aloud.

Hayato, for his part, watched silently, deep in thought.

"He knows a technique to increase speed without increasing power. But he's only using it to wear Kenichi down, instead of wiping him out. It's likely a pre-existing technique, but he's created a variant on the fly. He's experimenting with new options for the future."

"And yet...," Shigure thought, "it seems like he doesn't want to hurt him too much." She glanced to her right. "Could it be... because Miu is watching them?"

"What's happening?" Kenichi thought. "He's suddenly managing to hit me, and I don't understand how it's possible. Damn it, soon I won't be able to maintain the Seikuken. And then..."

"If... it continues... like this..." Shigure commented.

"Yes. Soon, the Seikuken will be destroyed," Akisame confirmed.

"Kenichi!" Miu thought painfully.

"That Ranma" Ma Kensei thought to himself, "where did he learn the Legendary Chestnut Roasting on an Open Fire Technique? It's clear he's not just any kid..."

"Kenichi is at a crossroads now," the Elder declared. "To try and turn the situation around, he should go on the attack, but..."

"Damn it... this isn't good! I have to fight back! At any cost, I have to try to attack!" Kenichi thought, now covered in bruises.

In the barrage of Ranma's attacks, he thought he saw one that was less protected, a left straight.

"That one!" and he prepared to grab it with a hold.

A flash crossed everyone's faces.

"You... missed," Shigure chirped.

It was a feint.

Ranma was the first to grab Kenichi's right hand, using his left to twist his wrist into another painful joint lock.

He then dropped into a low position with his legs, sliding under Kenichi's counter left hook, and drove his right elbow into his opponent's solar plexus.

The First Disciple doubled over, but the combination wasn't over.

Ranma's right arm extended, bringing a hammer punch down on Kenichi's forehead.

Then, the pigtailed boy pivoted on his right foot, spun around, and performed a sweeping kick with his left foot, lifting Kenichi several meters into the air.

At that point, Ranma leaped even higher, did a pirouette, positioned himself directly above Kenichi, perpendicular, and delivered a devastating axe kick to his stomach.

The boy spat out a mouthful of blood, there was a cracking sound from the displaced air, and he was sent crashing down to the ground at supersonic speed, landing with a thud and creating a crater.

Ranma landed calmly, still on guard, at the edge of the crevice from which a huge cloud of dust had risen.

He was breathing just a bit harder and kept his eyes fixed on the ground.

It all happened in an instant.

Only when it was over did Miu snap out of it enough to scream, "KEN-SAN!" with tears in her eyes.

The masters were warming up and watching the situation like a pack of wolves eyeing a deer. The show was starting to please them.

"Come on, get up," Ranma ordered in a firm tone, without a trace of triumph in his eyes or voice. "I know you're still alive."

Slowly, inexorably, coughing up blood and trembling, Kenichi emerged from the crater, bloodied and unsteady on his feet.

Seeing that he was no longer a threat, Ranma relaxed and lowered his guard. He straightened up, closed his eyes for a moment, and took a deep breath.

When he opened them again, his expression was strangely compassionate.

"Kenichi... I have to admit, I was wrong. You're not just anyone. I recognize your worth. You're an extraordinary opponent. But now, you don't have to keep fighting. I'd hurt you seriously, and I don't want to do that. Let's end it here."

As he said this, he placed a hand on Kenichi's shoulder, who had dragged himself, nearly crawling, toward him, breathing heavily.

"I... can't... cough... give up..."

"What did you say?"

"At least... cough... until..."

As he said this, he seemed to cling desperately to Ranma's jacket with his hands, just to stay on his feet.

"I don't understand. Until what...?" Ranma lowered his head, bringing his ear closer to his mouth to hear better.

"Until I'm... able... to..."

Kenichi's hands shifted position, pressing straight against Ranma's chest, parallel, horizontally.

"...PROTECT MIU!"

"What the...?"

There was a brief flash in his eyes. Ranma was frozen as he realized something was wrong. But it was too late. Kenichi's body position suddenly changed.

MUBYOSHI!

A shockwave rippled through Ranma's body as Kenichi lunged forward, driving his fist into Ranma's torso, hurling him backward.

"WHAT THE FU-"

A crack echoed in the air as the impact's shockwave sent Ranma flying a dozen meters back, his feet digging trenches in the earth.

A stadium-like roar erupted from the veranda, as if Japan had just won the World Cup.

"Ken-San!" Miu cried out in ecstasy.

The masters were cheering, waving Japanese flags, eating snacks, popping drinks, and throwing confetti and streamers.

"Apachai: Apa! Bravo Kenichi!"

"Akisame: He executed the Mubyoshi perfectly."

"Kensei Ma: Sure, you could argue that Ranma had stopped hitting him and was completely relaxed, but…"

"…It's his own fault for lowering his guard," Sakaki concluded. "In a real fight, there's no mercy for the enemy, and the Elder hadn't yet declared the match over."

"Ohohoh, now things are getting interesting," Hayato chuckled.

"But Ranma… is still… standing," Shigure observed.

And it was true. Holding his stomach from the impact, bent forward, the air knocked out of his lungs, and his knees trembling, Ranma had nevertheless managed to stay on his feet. He also needed to gather his thoughts.

"What the hell was that move? Ju Jitsu forward lunge, Karate stance, Wushu push, Muay Thai body penetration... it's a technique that combines all the martial arts he's been learning! It's incredible that he still had such a move up his sleeve! Did he create it himself? Someone like him?..."

Ranma, short of breath, looked at Kenichi. He was still in the position from which he had launched the strike, with a determined light in his eyes, not taking his gaze off him as he caught his breath. Even his wounds suddenly seemed less severe.

"...Damn, I got played. I had victory in my grasp, and now I've complicated everything. Mercy for an opponent in an official match? What's happening to me? If old Genma were here, he wouldn't stop lecturing me..."

"Ohoh, but Ranma must have diligently trained his flexibility and internal organs, too, to still be standing after taking that move while his body was completely relaxed," Kensei Ma observed.

"Certainly, the best part of the match is just beginning," Sakaki brightened.

"However, it's likely... the next blow will be the last" Hayato predicted.

"Can Kenichi do it? Ranma-kun took the hit, but it's undoubtedly Ken-San who has taken more damage so far..." Miu reflected.

Kenichi was catching his breath, hands on his knees. He glanced forward, towards Ranma.

"Damn... as I thought, you're tough... very few have withstood the Mubyoshi, and none of them while their body was completely relaxed like yours... you're truly incredible... it's absurd to think you're just a little older than me."

"Heh! I should be the one complimenting you for getting out of a desperate situation! By the way, nice move. What was it?"

"Oh, just an original development that I created by combining the teachings of all the masters... we can consider it the synthesis of my journey at Ryozanpaku. Its name is Mubyoshi."

"Heh! That explains a lot***..."

Miu could have sworn she saw the shadow of a smile on both their faces. And suddenly, she understood something about men that she had never really grasped.

Camaraderie? Mutual respect? Rivalry? Something else?

But Kenichi's expression changed after he quickly glanced in her direction.

He stood up straight, tearing off his now half-destroyed Gi, throwing it to the ground.

"Ranma-kun! You're without a doubt the strongest opponent I've ever faced! For that reason, I will also give my all in fighting you! Because I am the First Disciple of Ryozanpaku... I'll do it for my pride as a martial artist!"

Kenichi seemed like a different person. His toned muscles glistened with sweat, despite being covered in dirt and smeared with blood.

He had a determined, yet serene expression, as if he would accept any outcome.

Ranma seemed surprised, then closed his eyes for a moment and snorted.

"Pfff… now you're showing off."

He straightened up properly.

"Then I'll fight you without any restraint!" he declared, raising his arms and clenching his fists in guard for the first time since the match began.

"THAT'S WHAT I WANT!" Kenichi declared and launched himself into the attack, bombarding Ranma with an unrelenting barrage of brutal Muay Thai strikes.

"Huh? He still has this much energy? But..."

"Apa! Kenichi is using Muay Thai to finish his opponent! GO, KENICHI, KILL!"

"He's... exposing himself..." Shigure noted.

"No doubt, but... that's precisely his plan," Hayato affirmed.

STRONGEST COMBO NO. 3!

Ranma was dodging all the strikes effortlessly, making small jumps backward. He wondered what Kenichi's goal was: he would either tire himself out or expose himself. He had to know that.

And yet, it was Ranma who exposed himself.

Just by a centimeter, just for an instant. The need to dodge that combination had left his right side exposed for a moment.

And Kenichi was aiming right at it.

His legs bent against the ground, then suddenly exploded in a devastating jumping side kick.

KOROI NUKI!

"WHAT?"

Time froze. No cheers erupted from the masters.

All their gazes carried the same expression, as if to say, "It's over."

And it truly was. Kenichi felt a moment of triumph, seeing Ranma stunned, struck by the Koroi Nuki, suspended in mid-air.

"Did I do it?"

But that moment lasted less than a second, because then he saw Ranma no more.

Suddenly, he felt no resistance, finding his leg extended in the empty air. His opponent had somehow vanished.

The red Chinese-style jacket of the boy with the pigtail hung there, empty, as if lifted by the wind itself.

He heard a "swiish" and sensed a presence materialize instantly behind him.

Someone spoke, in a calm, understanding, and deeply admiring tone.

Or rather, in that brief span of time, there was no way for him to have uttered all those words, but it was as if Kenichi perceived them directly inside his head.

"Incredible... another decisive technique. And those violent attacks were to prepare for it, forcing me to open my guard so he could execute it. Kenichi... I acknowledge that you fought well.

But now, it's over."

Kenichi heard a "THUD!"—a sharp blow, delivered with knife hand, at the base of his neck.

His legs gave out, and he collapsed, like a puppet with its strings cut.

"EEEH?" was the last thing he thought.

Kenichi saw the ground rushing up to meet him, as if it had suddenly swapped places with the sky. Then everything went dark.

Miu darted forward before the Elder could even speak.

"KENICHISAN!"

Hayato stood up, raised an arm, and declared, before his disciple could hit the ground, "THE WINNER IS..."

At that moment, many things happened in slow motion.

Miu couldn't stop Kenichi's fall because someone else had beaten her to it. Ranma disappeared from her view, only to reappear sitting cross-legged on the ground, holding Kenichi in his arms.

He had caught him in mid-fall, before his face could hit the ground.

"...RANMA SAOTOME!" Hayato declared at full volume.

In that instant, all the masters rose as one and shot off in all directions like lightning bolts.

They reappeared surrounding the three young fighters, generating gusts of wind, as if they had used teleportation.

Miu was astonished, looking at Ranma with a questioning gaze, her face flushed and clearly surprised by this act of mercy.

Ranma, however, had a solemn expression.

Then, he caught her gaze, misinterpreted it, and turned as red as a beetroot, with large drops of sweat beginning to spray from his face out of embarrassment.

"Hey, I... I-it's not my fault, it was a fair duel, and I didn't want to hurt him, p-please don't be mad at me, okay?" he stammered, waving his hands rapidly and tossing Kenichi aside like a sack, letting him fall to the ground, limp.

Miu knelt down without paying him any mind and began examining her friend's injuries. She then turned to look at Ranma, puzzled.

"WHY would I be mad at you? I KNOW it was a fair duel," she said, resuming her care of the injured.

Ranma suddenly felt a bit foolish. The embarrassment passed, and he spoke in a calmer tone.

"Uh... yeah, I guess you're right."

Then he turned his head back, thinking about the past.

"I guess I've been trained poorly with Akane... If I had left Ryoga in this state, she wouldn't have listened to reason, and she would have torn me to pieces. Sometimes I forget that Miu is completely different from her. Miu... truly understands the world of martial arts. She was raised... just like me."

But he didn't have much time to dwell on it, as all the masters started coming over to compliment him, and the boy with the pigtail, naturally shy, spent the next few minutes deflecting and thanking them.

"Nice match, kid. Not bad at all," Sakaki grinned, a satisfied expression on his face, giving him a pat on the shoulder.

"Eh... oh, thanks."

"A technically masterful fight," Koetsuji emphasized.

"Much obliged."

"Exceptional skills, at such a young age," confirmed Kensei Ma.

"Heh... I guess so."

"Apa!" squeaked Apachai.

"Uhm... thanks... I think...?"

"They're all so different from the masters I know... I just beat up their disciple, and they're showering me with compliments. They truly love the pure concept of martial arts. And then..."

His gaze met that of the Elder, whose expression was stern and neutral.

"Ranma Saotome... do you understand why I wanted you to fight Kenichi?" he asked solemnly.

"I... I think so. To make me understand never to underestimate any enemy... and to realize that the world of martial arts is still vast, and there's always so much to learn, no matter your level.

Moreover, there are many types of practitioners, each with different beliefs, dreams, and goals, but all equally deserving of respect.

My doubts aren't really anything special, so I must strive to find an answer to decide which path to take. And also..." he turned his gaze to Kenichi, "you did it for him, too. To push him to his limits by facing a superior opponent, something he can't and won't do when he fights Miu."

The girl seemed surprised. She had never really thought about it.

Could the fact that she was Kenichi's friend prevented him from fully evolving by fighting her all out?

Ranma continued, "You wanted to see how he would react, to stimulate his warrior spirit, which he usually lacks, and also... to get him used to the reflexes of a more powerful enemy than usual... without putting him at too much risk, as would happen if he fought against you Masters, or real enemies, in a life-or-death battle."

They all nodded, kindly. So, the boy had understood.

Ranma stopped to think more carefully about what he had just said, almost without thinking.

And suddenly, he felt a bit used. The thought annoyed him somewhat.

Then he looked at Miu tenderly tending to Kenichi's wounds and felt a pang in his chest that surprised him.

"Well, Kenichi was facing an impossible opponent," Sakaki stated.

"Obviously," Akisame reiterated.

"But this defeat will help him grow," Kensei Ma concluded.

"And as for Ranma," continued the Chinese master, "I believe he hasn't even used all the resources at his disposal. He'll have many more surprises in store for us. His talent is great, and his potential is vaster than the ocean."

"Yes, perhaps even too vast. I'd be curious to know..."

Miu paused for a moment in treating Kenichi and turned her gaze towards Ranma. The boy was still shirtless and hadn't yet put his jacket back on.

The blonde, seeing him shirtless for the first time, realized she was lingering a few seconds on his toned muscles. She was surprised at herself for this, but before she could process it, something distracted her.

On his right side, where Kenichi had aimed with the Koroi Nuki, the boy with the pigtail clearly had a bruise a couple of centimeters in size: he had been grazed.

"So, he wasn't able to dodge it completely…"

Shigure had remained silent and apart the entire time. She observed with a stern expression, sharp as her blades, Ranma's jacket lying on the ground, with its right side torn.

"There's no doubt... the technique he used... he even knows the Utsushimi no Jutsu****."

She turned her head to look at the guest of Ryozanpaku.

"Ranma Saotome… who on earth are you, really?"

Author's Note:

And here we are! Since the inception of this fanfic, i'm sure you were all expecting this fight!

It was no small feat balancing their power levels so that Kenichi would somehow compete with Ranma, while clearly being on a much inferior level, but i hope i've succeeded.

Now, the next THREE chapters might puzzle you guys…but i promise they're a necessary step to reach a point in the first part of the fanfiction.

There are some goals i have with this…character evolution and growth, and being at Ryozampaku will be a mean to an end…plus, everyone involved will change, due to be in contact with Ranma…

Other Kenichi's characters will start appearing from chapter 8 onward, but the mistery of Ranma leaving Nerima will puzzle you for some more time…

Read and comment if you liked it!

Technique Names Glossary:

*: The classic Japanese seated position on one's knees.

**: Literally "Flowing Water Technique."

***: Literally "Without Rhythm," meaning that the victim doesn't perceive the enemy's intent to attack until it's too late, which explains Ranma's comment about not understanding how he hadn't noticed it.

****: Ninja Body Replacement Technique (like in Naruto!).