I do not own Ranma 1/2
To say things have changed since Kazuma's arrival would be an understatement. Since the fight a few days Kazuma's appeal in the town had gone from basically nonexistent to questionable while some supported him most were against it.
"You know Nabiki when you offered to help me move I thought it would be a little more hands on." Kazuma said as he, Azusa and Shampoo each carrying a boxes of different sizes into his 2LDK apartment. While this was going on Nabiki was watching from the comfort of a couch drinking what Kazuma hoped was lemonade.
"Hey supervision is crucial to the success of any venture beit big or small." Nabiki lectured smirk never leaving her face.
"Wow Nabs you're the salt of the earth." Kazuma rolled his eyes as sarcasm dripped from every letter of every word.
"You know me I'm a giver."
The room was silent just as Kazuma walked back into the room. "Ah I know I'm still pretty new to this town so I don't get everything that goes on here but what's with that howling that's been going on lately?" Kazuma couldn't help asking as he pulled a katana rack into the living room.
"Ranma, Airen." both Nabiki and Shampoo said in sync smiles starting to form on the two as they watched Kazuma freeze.
"Please tell there's a couple of dogs named Ranma and Airen?" upon receiving only negative response Kazuma the rack away.
"Explain."
With a smirk quickly forming on her face Nabiki began. "You see when it comes to challenges there are sore losers and then there's Ranma who desire to win out ways that of basic common sense. If he ever loses a match he will spend days howling at the moon swearing revenge."
"D-days?" Kazuma paled at the thought.
"Maybe even weeks." she continued as she rose to her feet striding over to her "friend". Nabiki proceed to wrap her arms around his chest while pressing her chest against his back. Say what you want about Nabiki but she had her priorities in order and that being Kazuma+Ranma+Rematch= more money and the betting rates will change meaning even or money for her. "You could stop all that if you give him a rematch he'll probably stop." she whispered seductively in his ear.
Before anything could come from a shout ruined the mood. "LEAVE KAZI ALONE!" Azusa shouted as she separated the two before pulling Kazuma into a hug inadvertently shifting his shirt revealing something that caught Nabiki's eye.
"Kazuma do you have a tattoo?"
"Yeah got one a few months before coming here." Kazuma explained drawing the attention of the three women in the room. "I was wondering around at the time a stumbled on this guy getting attack by these thugs so naturally I stopped knocked them out, took their wallets you know the usual. So the guy turns out to be a tattoo artist and offered me a free tat."
"Neat can we see it?"
Kazuma only shrugged his shoulders before removing his shirt, causing the women to stare in shock at his muscular frame almost as if scrupled from rock. The thing that stuck out the most was the tribal chinese dragon starting at his left pectoral with dragons mouth wide open as if it was about to eat his heart. It then went over his left shoulder diagonally to his right hip his pants covering the rest. "Figured if I was get a free tattoo I might as well get my money's worth." Kazuma explained to basically to deaf ears as all the girls seemed to have more on their minds.
"Aiya." was the only thought going through Shampoo's head as she admired the muscles of her best friend. I mean it's not like she hasn't caught him checking her out it was only fair...right?
"Cute Dragon!" Azusa squealed in her mind in delight this only made him even more amazing and only conformed that he was met to be her knight.
"Mmmmm and me without my camera. Kazuma you get more valuable the more I get to know you." Nabiki licked her lip in financial lust.
"You know my master has one similar to this on his arm now that I think about it. And I thought I was being original."
"So is that an all over tattoo?" Nabiki asked with a flirty smirk.
"Wouldn't you like to know?" Kazuma replied with a smirk of his own. The moment ended second Kazuma put back on his shirt and back out of the room. "Ah Shamps help me move the couch!"
Later Tendo
"NABIKI WHERE HAVE YOU BEEN!" was the first thing Nabiki heard upon returning home.
Nabiki could only roll her eyes in annoyance. "its fine daddy I just went over to help Kazuma unpack."
"What after what he did to your sister how could you even stand to be around him?!"
"Hmph he's pretty fun to talk to." was all Nabiki said said with a shrug. "Besides what the harm it's not like he's challenging the dojo."
"The harm is that, that ruffian dishonored the Anything School of Martial Arts and assaulted Myself, Mr Saotome and your poor sister Akane!" Soun whined loudly enough to gather the attention of the other dojo residents. Nabiki's eyes briefly cringed at the sight of Akane while Cologne's healing herbs did wonders there was still a faint bruise on the side of her face.
"Father I heard screaming what's wrongs?"
"Hey sis Kazuma says hi."
"Oh my that's nice of him."
"What's wrong is that your sister has no loyalty to her family!"
"Wow daddy say how you really feel." Nabiki replied hands on her hips with a condescending look on her face. "I think your overreacting he's not hurting anyone."
"Who's not hurting anyone?" Akane asked as she, Genma and Ranma descended the stairs.
"Your sister thinks there's no harm in spending time with that ruffian Kazuma." Soun tried and failing to look like a mature adult but instead sounded petty.
"WHAT!" was the general response of the dojo resents as they all surround the middle Tendo.
"Where's your sense of loyalty young lady."
"Mr. Soatome is that loyalty toward the family or loyalty toward your has been son?" a smirking Nabiki asked only for the smirk to grow at the enraged look on Ranma's face.
"Ah Ranma Soatome ain't no has been." to say Ranma didn't take the news of not only his defeat but also what happened after would be a whole can of worms all its own. Between his own desire to defeat his opponent and the added pressure from Soun and Genma to avenge Akane a rematch was the only thing on Ranma's mind.
"That's not what the rest of the town says, word on the street is Kazuma sent you running like a scared puppy."
"He just got lucky!"
"That's what they all say Ranma." Akane interrupted.
"It's true and once I get a rematch we'll see you the better fighter is!" Ranma roared.
"Don't shout at me jerk!" Akane shouted in anger.
"No one's yelling at you, you uncute tomboy!"
Seeing the opportunity to get away Nabiki walks out the front door back onto the streets of Nerima.
Later
"So you just left them all there to argue?" Kazuma asked with a look that said "what the fuck" Nabiki merely shrugged her shoulders before digging into her meal.
"Hey Kazuma what is an explorer/rescuer?" Nabiki finally finding the time to ask the question that plague her mind.
"You know how "modern man" believe that martial arts is basically a hobby with no real world uses. Kazuma explained while air quoting modern man. "Well this career path was created by the people that didn't believe this. So basically they hired martial artist with not just fighting skills but also knowledge in a number of fields. So we basically get called on mission by people who need a little extra help."
"So you're like mercenary?"
"Kinda we do missions but we have ethics for the most part. Plus in order to become one you have to go through more work than you'd think would be necessary."
"Care to explain?" Nabiki asked actually surprised this was an actual profession figuring if it had something to do with Martial Arts Ranma would be part of it.
"Well short hand you'd need to train under an explorer/rescuer for no less then 4 years, you have to have a general history from the four corners of the world and be able to speak at least four languages." Kazuma explained rubbing his chin.
"Sounds like a lot of work."
"You don't know the half of it. But there are some perks you can find treasure and magical items if you know what you're looking for."
There was an oddly off putting quite in the air like the calm before the storm.
HISHIGAKI! (He-she-gah-key) was shouted as a youth dressed in samurai garb stormed the restaurant brandishing his sword.
"Hello Kuno-baby." Nabiki said with a light wave.
"Okay what's this about?" Kazuma said hopping over the counter to confront the swordsman. "Do I know you, because I've got to know how this is going down?"
"It is customary to introduce oneself first is it not?"
"Please don't."
Choosing to ignore him the samurai posed dramatically sword high into the air. "I am Tatewaki Kuno age 17 known as the Blue Thunder of Furikan High!" the now identified Kuno explained as an actual bolt of blue lighting lighted the sky.
"H-how did it get dark its light 2 in the afternoon and how was there lighting behind you we're in doors?" Looking around the room in wonder, Kazuma choked out not sure if what he was seeing was real.
"Well I commend you for your victory over that foul sorcerer I cannot sit idly by and allow your strike upon the fierce tigress cannot go without consequence!"
"W-What?!" a very confused Kazuma asked.
"He's happy you beat Ranma but pissed you hit Akane so he's feeling conflicted." Nabiki answered not moving from her meal.
"It is as the vile Nabiki Tendo says, I am vexed but I believe that defeating you will at least avenge my fierce tigeress. I STRIKE!" and with that Kuno began swinging his sword as Kazuma weaved through the strikes.
Seeing one of the strikes coming in a horizontal slash Kazuma jumps into the air before landing on the wooden sword. "Is there a way we can end this quickly?" he asked as he landed on the ground and using a nearby chair to block an incoming sword strike.
"If you break that chair you're paying for it!" Cologne shouted from the back.
"Oh come on!" seeing the swordsman attempt a downward slash Kazuma dashed catching his opponents wrist mid-strike.
"Unhand me archfiend!" Kuno shouted trying to pry his arm free to no avail.
"Can we not do this when I'm working!"
"BAAAASSSSSSHHHHHHH!" was the only sound that echo in the resturant as the two young men hit the floor courtesy of Cologne.
"You two stop making a scene." the amazon matriarch ordered.
Rising to his feet Kazuma looks at his fellow rising adversary. "Okay so what can I do to get you to stop trying to put me in the ground?"
"While originally I intended to defeat you and avenge my fierce tigeress Akane Tendo perhaps you can be of a better use to one such as myself." Kuno said mostly to himself. "Ah yes you shall help me acquire the skill to defeat that foul socerer Saotome."
"He wants you to help him..."
"I got it Nabiki thanks." Kazuma turned to Kuno. Looking the swordsman up and down a smirk formed on his face. "So you need help getting stronger huh, yeah I think I can do that. I should have you know that my services don't come cheap."
"Name your price!" the samurai shouted to the heavens with his head help high.
Kazuma rolled his eyes the young man before him not sure if he was serious or not. "Yeah how about a beach house." Kazuma sarcastically replied while picking up the fallen chair.
"SOLD!"
CRASH! was the only sound as everyone was stunned at the now broken chair in Kazuma's hand. "Y-yyyour joking right?"
"Young naive you should know that the mighty house of Kuno never speaks in jest! If a beach house is what will get me one step closer to defeated that foul socerre and claim my love Akane Tendo and the Pigtailed Girl then it is a small price to pay."
"So let me get me this straight you'll build me a beach house for free and all you want is help to get stronger?" Kazuma asked not sure if he had taken one too many cracks to the head.
"Construction shall begin on the morrow!" Kuno shouted to the heavens before looking to his adversary to see him missing. "Nabiki Tendo what foul trickery is this!"
Rather than answer Nabiki merely held out her hand expectedly. With a growl Kuno reluctantly handed the middle Tendo a stack of yen. "Oh he left the moment you started talking." Nabiki explained counting her money.
"Then I shall embark on an epic quest to fin..."
Suddenly the door slammed open cutting the ranting swordman off "Okay I'm back!" an admittedly excited Kazuma shouted bursting back into the shop holding two scrolls in his hands.
"These should give you an edge in a fight the first is called the Hiten Mitsurugi-ryū style developed to allow a single samurai to defeat numerous foes single-handedly. And the second is the Kamiya Kasshin-ryū style stressing the importance of controlling the flow and pace of the battle to its practitioner." Kazuma explained as he handed off both scrolls.
Kuno's jaw could only go slack as he held the scrolls in his hands. Being one of the three in the resturant that not only new the history of the two style but also how deadly one can be if mastered.
Without another word the samurai left the restaurant with plans to master the two styles and finally defeating the sorcerer known as Saotome.
"Seem Sword boy go learn new tricks." Shampoo said everyone in the restaurant nodding their heads in agreement.
"Well look forward to it I've been needing a new training partner, plus if I can actually get a beach house out of it then that's just an added bonus." Kazuma said with a smirk on his face and a spark in his eye.
"Aiya!" Shampoo shouted as she was launched thirty feet in the air.
"Wow she's really high!" Azuza could only say in wonder looking at the skyward purple blur.
"Yeah she's way up there." Kazuma agreed being the one who sent her flying. This had become the usual since the fight with Ranma, every day after work Shampoo would pull Kazuma into the woods for training, beit polishing up on techniques or intense sparing.
Looking down at the skater "So what are you doing here, not that I'm complaining?" this was asked just as Shampoo gracefully landed.
Without a word Azusa latched onto Kazuma burying her face into his chest. Both martial artists could smile as they looked down at the girl who simply continued to hug.
KABOOOOOMMMMM
The group was practically thrown to the ground at the sudden explosion that engulfed the area as a large eruption of rocks and dust clouds shot through the sky. When the dust cloud cleared a young man wearing a yellow headband. "Now where am I?" he asked himself looking around the area.
Looking up from her prone position Azusa sequels in delight upon seeing the young man. "Little Charlotte!" she processed to squeeze the life out of the shocked martial artist.
"OH god not you again!" the one known as Charlotte shouted attempting to remove the skater to no avail. After a few more attempts Azusa was removed, being held off the ground and at arm's length. The look of annoyance on his face was changed to rage the moment he looked over at Kazuma. "YOU!"
"Oh god not again." Kazuma said to himself as he jumped back away from the wild punch from the charging foe. He then jumped forward kneeing the guy in the chin.
"Why Pig-Boy being stupid?" Shampoo asked glaring at the lost boy clearly not liking her training be interrupted.
"Isn't it obvious he hurt Akane and now I'm here to avenge her. Now prepare to...AAAAHHHHH!" he began explain only to be sent flying through a number of trees courtesy of a kick to chest from Kazuma.
Before Ryoga could do anything Kazuma was already upon him as he dragged him by his bandana into the clearing they were first in. "So how do I know you?!" Kazuma growled out with a firm glare.
"Pig-boy love Akane to to much." Shampoo whispered loudly to Kazuma.
"Lies I have a girlfriend!"
"They why Pig-boy try fight Kazuma?"
"To avenge Akane after this guy viciously assaulted her!" he shouted in return. "And you know my name is Ryoga Hibiki!"
While the two were arguing Kazuma stared at Ryoga more specifically his bandana, in the time he's lived in Nerima Kazuma noticed some things about its small percentage of cursed people. Be it Xian-Pu or even Mu-Tsu's their transformations always had subtle traits that one could use to separate the cursed beings from the real thing. With Xian-Pu it was the odd color that differed from other cats, with Mu-Tsu it was both the similar haircut and the fact he wore glasses.
With this knowledge Kazuma remembered the only time he'd actually hit Akane and the weird pig that was in her arms. Eyes grew wide with realize. "Hahaha Holy Shit haha you're that pig that Akane was holding. You know there wasn't an entry fee so you didn't need to sneak in." holding his rips as he and Shampoo laughed which only fueled Ryoga's rage.
"Kazi stop being mean to Azusa's Little Charlotte!" Azusa angrily shouted standing between the two martial arts. While the look pout on her face was supposed to be intimidating it just came off as adorable.
Not taking the joke lightly Ryoga got in a stance preparing for battle. "That's enough out of both of you!" now enraged he shoved Azusa unknowingly tossing through the air.
Azusa expected to feel pain after being thrown by her Little Charlotte however that pain never occur as just as she was tossed she was soon wrapped in a strange cocoon that seemed to protect her. When her world stopped spinning Azusa opened her eyes to see she was currently sitting on Kazuma's chest who seemed to block the impacts.
"Kazi you okay?" Azusa asked lightly slapping Kazuma's face. Her response was a light grown from her knight.
With his eyes closed Kazuma looked to Shampoo chui at the ready. "Shamp stay out of this will you?" he asked pushing Azusa away with a slap on the rear. With his eyes still closed he made his way to Ryoga.
"You know personally I don't care about your petty reasons to attack me. Really I don't even understand why everyone's so upset about it. I mean if Akane is a martial artist like she says she is then she should be able to fight her own battles!" Kazuma spoke only getting angrier as his speech became a rant. "Come on she attacked me, I don't hear anyone talking about that!"
"Aiya I've never seen Kazuma get mad before." Shampoo thought to herself never actually seeing him be more then mildly annoyed.
"So what's your point?! Akane is the nicest, sweetest girl ever she deserves to have a happy life free from pain!" Ryoga shouted back missing the looks of bullshit he was recieving.
Getting into his stance "But if you believe you Akane needs to be avenged..." Kazuma opened his eyes only they were sharper, more focused and much more dangerous. "...Then it's your funeral.
With that Kazuma charged in with a punch, Ryoga meeting him half way causing there fists to collide creating a mini shockwave pushing the two back. Ryoga jumped into the air to deliver haymaker only to catch air as Kazuma ducked under the attack and send him flying with an uppercut just for Ryoga readjust himself in the air landing on his feet.
Seeing a few large boulders beside him Ryoga began tossing them with pinpoint accuracy causing to jump over and bounce off each one leaving him to distracted to notice Ryoga grabbing his leg. With a powerful tug he slammed Kazuma into the ground.
Looking down he expect to see an injured or even unconscious martial artist before him not a ball of white chi blasting him in the chest and back into the air. But he didn't get far as Kazuma grabbed him by legs slamming him into the ground before got going into a spin tossing the martial artist into a massive tree.
Rising to his feet Ryoga glared at his opponent as he began to glow an eerie pink while this was intimidating to both the amazon and skater, Kazuma however rolled his eyes in annoyance.
Kazuma pointed his open palm at Ryoga as he began to glow himself. "If you were paying attention to my fight with Ranma you'd remember what I said about Pure Chi!"
"Prepare to Die...Shishi Hōkōdan!" Ryoga roared in a weird combination of rage and sadness as he unleashed a wide spread blast of depressive chi.
Just as the blast shot forward Kazuma clapped his hands together before spreading his arms out wide cause a sphere of chi to appear around him just as the attack hit.
The impact hit the shielded martial artist pushing him back abit when the shield drop Kazuma was panting with a sweat pour down his forehead. "Okay... that was...stronger than I thought." a panting Kazuma before dashing at still exhausted Ryoga before throwing a number of punches and kicks at each other.
Just as Ryoga threw a straight punch Kazuma leaned his to the side before grabbing the outstretched and throwing him over his shoulder into a tree.
Rising to his feet Ryoga grabs the tree by the base and pulled it out of the ground before swinging the tree with Kazuma narrowly avoiding it.
"Okay so that was an event!" a wide eyed Kazuma shouted outstretched tree. Surprisingly in all his life he had never seen someone pull a tree out of ground. When the tree was swung at him again Kazuma now prepared jumped into the air and with his hands full Ryoga could do little to block the flying kick.
Rather than continue swinging the tree Ryoga decided to throw it at Kazuma. "Bakusai Tenketsu!" was all Kazuma said as he saw Ryoga ram his finger into the tree causing it to explode sending a wave of sticks and twigs at him. Temporarily districted Kazuma could do little to stop the raging boar named Ryoga delivering a deadly haymaker to the stomach sending him across the field in a skid on the ground.
"Okay that's one, two...three ribs!" Kazuma groaned out in his mind wincing as he felt the broken ribs. Rising to his feet he briefly began to glow. "That should keep them in place." with that he dashed back into the fray throwing a barrage of punches and kicks that Ryoga to either blocked or tanks which only enraged him further .
"It's time to finish this!" Ryoga now filled with anger threw a wild haymaker made of pure depression. In one swift motion Kazuma ducks under punch before jumping back up into the air before throwing his own chi infused punch into his elbow joint dislocating it.
Before Ryoga could even scream in pain Kazuma was upon him throwing a barrage of chi infused punches into Ryoga pushing him back. He then charged at Ryoga as a crackle of an electrical-like energy forming around his hand.
"Chi Purge!" with a punch to the stomach raising him up into the air before with a twist of his waist slammed him into the ground.
"Uugh you bastard why can't I move!" Ryoga growled when he tried to move only for nothing to happen.
"Oh I shut down your chi that move Chi Purge shuts down your chi which is basically what lets people do stuff. And because you haven't trained in pure chi your body isn't conditioned to protect against it. So it's just an auto shut-down." Kazuma explained as if it were a casual thing.
Dusting himself off Kazuma walks over to his bag grabbing a canteen he walks back to Ryoga. "And since your gonna be KO'd for at least three days, and that arm of yours I can't just leave you here." he processed to pour the contents over the downed Martial Artist turning him from a man to a pig.
"Little Charlotte!" squealed Azusa as she zipped onto the battle field scooping up the pig cradling him in her arms.
"Don't say I never did you did you any favors." Kazuma said to the squealing but prone Ryoga before walking away. Before getting away he locked eyes with a certain amazon with a look that promised a lot of explaining and a look of training. "After my rips heal." he explained as the trio walked back to the streets of Nerima.
Chapter End
Now before anyone gets all mad I'm gonna say this I like Kuno he's one of the only realistically strong characters in the series. It actually bothered me that he was the only guy to not get a power-up. I mean Mousse got one and all he did was carry around a statue for a few days.
No they're not together but I'm going to level with you I have no idea why Azusa loves Kazuma so much I mean I made the relationship and I don't even get it. If it was in the series it would the one ship I would like the most since there are no negative feeling between the two.
Anyway thats it.