Chapter 19 Sun Shines, Clouds Gather
Premise:
The Chapter starts immediately where the former ended: with Ranma having a party hosted for him for his promotion to Master Rank
Returning to the main hall of Ryozanpaku, Ranma and Sakaki were greeted by an outburst of enthusiasm from everyone present, who had been worried about their ten-minute absence.
The hall was decorated for a party, with banners, streamers, and tables filled with chips, popcorn, and drinks of all kinds. To everyone's surprise, as they were used to seeing him quite aloof, Ranma went straight to his mother, as if to apologize for his brief absence.
Nodoka did not show affection in public but clasped his arms in her hands, looked at him understandingly as if to tell him not to apologize, and then, with a sweet and proud smile, simply said: "Well done, my son. You have honored your ancestors. You are the worthy Successor of the Saotome School of Indiscriminate Martial Arts."
Ranma blushed and bowed slightly. "Thank you, okaa-san*."
At that point, everyone else, one by one, went to congratulate Ranma. Kenichi warmly and sincerely shook his hand.
Miu approached to congratulate him, giving him a look that only the two of them could understand: he had her stay terribly worried, but was proud of him.
Renka didn't hesitate to place a hand on his shoulder, expressing how amazing he had been.
Both Kenichi and Miu glared at her. Then it was the turn of his old rivals.
Ryoga, Mousse, and Kuno, practically all at once, approached him.
"Well, Ranma, I must admit you've exceeded my expectations. Again," Ryoga admitted, adding a wink. "You truly are the only man I want as a rival."
"A magnificent spectacle," declared Kuno. "A striking example of the results of effort and tenacity."
"I could find many brilliant words to diminish your achievement," Mousse began with an intellectual air, keeping his arms tucked into his sleeves. "But the truth is, I don't want to," he changed tone, smiling.
"You were truly incredible, Ranma Saotome. Enjoy this moment because you've done something extraordinary."
"I... don't know what to say. Thank you all."
"At the same time," Mousse continued, "don't think you can keep being the only one among us to boast the title of Master for long... we'll catch up to you in no time."
"Oh, I don't doubt it," Ranma said, returning the challenging look. "In fact... I'm counting on it."
For a long moment, the four of them stood there, looking at each other with camaraderie.
Both Miu and Kenichi, from different perspectives, came to some realizations about the bonds between men.
"They constantly push each other to improve" Kenichi reflected. "That's why they're so strong. I've always felt a bit cut off from my friends, training here. But... even the guys in the Shinpaku Alliance share my ideals. I should train with them more often"
"Men..." Miu pondered. "Even though I'm not a typical girl, many of their ways remain mysterious to me... but I'm starting to understand a little."
While Ranma was then monopolized by the Masters, who showered him with elaborate compliments, there was someone who didn't know how to act.
It was Kisara. "A penny for your thoughts, young lady?" Kisara almost jumped.
It was Nodoka. Kisara Nanjo, utterly embarrassed, struggled to respond.
"Oh… uh, h-hello ma'am, how are you? I… my name is Kisara Nanjo, very nice to meet you."
"Nodoka Saotome, a pleasure to meet you too. So... may I ask, what is your relationship with Ranma? You're the only person here I've never seen before. Do you also train at Ryozanpaku?"
"Um… I, well… not exactly. Let's say... I'm a friend of Miu and Kenichi, and I also practice martial arts, but not here... let's just say… well... Ranma and I have some mutual acquaintances, that's all. And... and I was lucky enough to be invited to this event, heheh."
She was sweating bullets.
"Mmmh… I see. Well, it wasn't a formal occasion, but if I may, a young lady your age shouldn't go around in such short shorts... trust me, some things are better left to the imagination."
Ranma, almost by chance, turned while the Masters held him back, and out of the corner of his eye, he saw a red alert: his mother and Kisara talking. They were the two people who absolutely should not meet, one way or another. Moreover, Nanjo wasn't great at handling tension.
He excused himself and reached them. As the lady overwhelmed her with chatter, Kisara was puzzled.
"But she seems so... kind. A bit old-fashioned, sure, but she seems delightful. I don't understand why she and Ranko don't get along. I'd really like to..."
"Hey, Mom! Sorry to interrupt, but I think Miu mentioned she wanted to ask you about the recipe for your famous homemade Taiyaki.*"
Then he turned to the blonde, who had spotted them and mouthed: "BACK ME UP."
The heir of the Furinji nodded, amused. She was the only one who guessed the reason. "Oh, of course. I always enjoy talking with her. Excuse me."
Ranma took Kisara by the arm and led her outside to the porch.
He was already wondering if he had jumped from the frying pan into the fire—his mother suspected something between him and Miu, so it would be better to keep them separate as well—when he was interrupted by a question.
"But WHY?"
"Huh?"
"Oh, sorry. I realize I haven't even congratulated you yet. I… I have to admit, what you did was phenomenal. I've never seen anything like it. Truly exceptional," the girl declared, lowering her gaze, shy.
"Well, thanks. It was tough. If I hadn't trained at Ryozanpaku every day for these six months, I'd never have made it. By the way, Kisara, can I make an observation?"
"Huh?"
"You know, the prim and respectful tone doesn't suit you at all? It's obvious you're bad at it. You're a cheeky tomboy and proud of it. There's no need for you to go against your nature. It almost embarrasses me to hear you force it with me."
"What... WHAT A JERK! And here I was trying to be nice!" the girl ranted, shocked.
Then she calmed down, adjusted her beret, and added, "Anyway... I have to thank you. I don't often get encouragement. Let's just say polite manners aren't my strong suit, but lately, training with your sister, I've gotten used to being more subdued. I'm too afraid that if I say one word too many, she'll dump me as a disciple."
"Heheh, I get it, but I don't think it'll be that easy. If she hasn't kicked you out after all this time, it means she's pleased with you as a pupil."
"R-really? Did she tell you that?" Kisara had received compliments from Ranko, and against all odds, they had even opened up to each other, but the idea that she had spoken well of her to someone filled her with joy.
"Well, not explicitly. But you can tell," concluded the boy with the pigtail, slyly.
Kisara seemed momentarily disappointed, but then she smiled anyway.
For a moment, she remembered that in their confidences, Ranko had mentioned her brother had never recovered from a bad breakup. For a moment, she felt like expressing solidarity, but she stopped. For a moment, she wanted to tell him she understood his struggles—that the two of them were alike, both having to decide whether to take on responsibilities imposed by others, but she stopped there too.
Those were confessions Ranko had made—her twin sister, sure—but he might feel embarrassed or annoyed to know his business had been shared.
Then the crux of the matter came back to her. "But so... WHY?" she asked, melancholy.
"Why isn't Ranko here? It's her twin brother's moment of triumph, and they're so close! She should be here celebrating with us! Is it because your mother is here? Does she really not get along with her? Why? She seems like such a lovely person—perhaps a bit old-fashioned, sure, but I think that—"
"Kisara," Ranma interrupted her with an understanding but slightly sad smile. He hated having to keep lying to her.
"I assure you... Ranko saw everything. Hidden somewhere, I don't know where, but she saw it all. It's like she was here with me.
"And about our mother... I promise you, she adores Ranko. Sure, maybe at first she would have preferred a son, but from the moment she first saw her, she loved her. She's always happy to take her shopping or to do other girly things... though Ranko doesn't really give her much satisfaction in that department. She's a tomboy like you, you know.
"Maybe... that's why she ultimately kept you on as her student. She understands what it means not to feel completely comfortable in your own body, or with the expectations others have for you... so she's glad to help."
Ranma wasn't entirely sure where those words had come from. Perhaps, in some way, for the first time, he was beginning to understand the expectations another tomboy he knew had faced... while he certainly knew what it felt like not to be at ease with his own body.
Kisara blushed, and her eyes seemed to wander far away. She felt a deeper gratitude and affection for her Master than ever before.
She wished more than anything that she were there.
"That's exactly why she's not here," Ranma continued, almost as if he could read her thoughts.
"The truth is, Ranko's too shy; she's timid and doesn't like big emotional displays.
But as for us, we should head back and join the celebration. If we stay out here too long, my mother will start getting strange ideas about the two of us."
"W-what? Oh, come on! That's ridiculous!"
After the initial informal celebrations, Ranma and Sakaki were taken to the infirmary, where Kensei and Akisame carefully examined them. They had exchanged some terrible blows, and it was important to ensure they hadn't sustained any internal injuries. Kensei questioned Ranma in particular about his understanding of Sogetsu's Kyousa technique to ensure Sakaki hadn't suffered any severe trauma. However, Sakaki seemed completely unbothered.
When the examinations were finished—and both fighters now sported bandages covering half their bodies—they headed to the dojo.
Inside the dojo, everyone was seated on cushions—the guests on the left and the Masters on the right, with Hayato in the center. Ranma went to kneel before him. He noticed a bundle lying next to the Elder, with Akisame standing at his side.
"Ranma Saotome," Hayato began in his deep but powerful voice. "The result of the battle—and even more so the manner in which you conducted it—leaves no doubt. You have achieved the rank of MASTER! Congratulations!"
Everyone applauded. Ranma bowed. His heart was pounding in his chest.
Gathering his courage, he said, "I must thank every single person in this room for the result I've achieved. I worked hard for it, and it's certainly not a destination but a starting point.
"That said, recently, a very wise person helped me understand that I'm too obsessed with results.
So... I think, for a while, instead of focusing on the next destination... I'll enjoy the journey."
Sakaki snorted. Compliments, even indirect ones, embarrassed him.
"Very appropriate," Hayato agreed. "If I may offer one piece of advice, Ranma, I'm a bit concerned by how easily you use secret techniques you don't fully understand. I'm, of course, referring to Sogetsu Ma's Kyousa technique.
This time, it worked out because it was Sakaki, but against a normal opponent, you risk killing them unintentionally. Always calibrate your strength to the objective and the situation. Never use too much or too little.
"This ability to discern is what separates a true Master from an ordinary practitioner."
"Yes, Elder, I promise," Ranma said, somewhat embarrassed, bowing his head.
"And now, let's move on to something more enjoyable," the Elder added, softening a bit, "your promotion gifts, as we might call them."
"Wait, gifts?"
"Yes," the Elder said, smiling under his mustache. "In anticipation of a positive outcome, some items were prepared... nothing frivolous. These are all things that will be useful to you sooner or later... and I want you to know that every member of Ryozanpaku contributed."
Ranma was genuinely astonished. Gifts? From all the members of Ryozanpaku? He hadn't expected this at all.
Hayato removed the cloth, revealing the items.
A pair of shiny metal bracelets. Chinese-style clothing similar to Ranma's usual ones, complete with shoes. A leather belt next to a dark box. Another kind of longer leather belt with four small throwing daggers tucked inside. Another transparent box containing... a vial with blue liquid and medical needles? Then a sort of miniature first-aid kit, a tanto in a richly decorated sheath, a small compass, an energy bar, a kind of miniature extendable telescope, a mysterious vial with green liquid, a pair of oval objects that were hard to identify, and... the strangest item of all: a long spool of metallic thread with a lead ball at one end.
"Let me explain," Hayato said, noticing the young man's puzzled expression. "First of all, some gifts come from an individual, others were collaborations, and for some, multiple people contributed. But everyone did so wholeheartedly.
"Now, the first items are these metal bracelets. At first glance, they're just ordinary bracelets, but... go ahead, try them on."
Ranma complied.
"Now cross your wrists together."
Ranma gave him a skeptical look. "This feels oddly familiar..." but he did as instructed.
Instantly, the bracelets unfolded like magical objects in a movie, transforming into a pair of tekkou that covered the backs of his hands and forearms. The metal looked like nothing he'd ever seen—lightweight yet shiny and seemingly very durable.
"What the...?"
"Impressive, isn't it?" Akisame chuckled with pride. "I have to admit, Shigure, Mousse, and I had to combine our expertise and work quite a bit to make these.
"You should know that these tekkou were forged personally by Shigure and are made of the same indestructible alloy as her katana and the tekkou worn by Kenichi and the Elder. There's no material in the world that can break them."
"From now... on... you'll face... heavily armed opponents," Shigure explained in her usual slow, spectral tone.
"Ugh! But obviously, carrying them around all the time would be inconvenient," Mousse interjected, clearly embarrassed to appear generous. "So we developed that folding mechanism, so you can always have them with you but use them only when needed."
"I... I don't know what to say. This is an incredible gift."
"But it's not the only one," Hayato pointed out. "Even if it might be the most useful, don't underestimate all the others. The logic behind these gifts is that a Master must always be prepared for any situation... and thus, must have appropriate equipment.
It was Mousse who helped us realize this. Apparently, as a Hidden Weapons Specialist, he always carries a ton of useful stuff, so he gave us the general idea... and helped us develop it. Then everyone contributed a different piece of the puzzle, so to speak."
Ranma turned to the Chinese martial artist. They were on good terms, but he hadn't expected this. Mousse deflected his gaze in embarrassment.
Ranma clashed the tekkou together again, and they reverted to simple bracelets.
"Now it's my turn!" Renka chirped, stepping forward.
It was a Chinese-style outfit almost identical to his own. Upon closer inspection, however, the inner lining contained several hidden pockets (a bit like how Mousse's clothes must have been).
"Our Renka is a magician with needle and thread," Kensei said proudly.
"Ah! Well… I understand it doesn't seem like much," the girl waved off, "but this way, you can always carry everything you need…i might say, all the other gifts, following the hidden weapons logic... and there's a little surprise," she added in a low voice, making sure only he could hear.
"I used two different kinds of thread, and one of them glows under the moonlight… revealing a hidden design on the outfit. I made it to… thank you for helping me get closer to you-know-who."
"Oh… thank you. You're welcome."
"Additionally, the shoes have rubber soles," Akisame pointed out. "They are non-slip and, most importantly, insulated in case you find yourself on an electrically conductive surface."
"Let's move on to my gift!" Sakaki exclaimed impatiently.
It was a belt to be worn at the waist. In the small black box were various tiny lock-picking tools, that could be perfectly concealed in the belt.
There was also a small electronic device.
"These tools can help you sneak into any place without overly sophisticated security, as I've taught you," he explained. "And that device is a transmitter set to Akisame's computer frequency at Ryozampaku… with it, you can communicate with us from anywhere in the world."
"Very useful."
"Next… mine!" Shigure exclaimed, almost speeding up her words.
The longer belt was to be fastened to the first one in the front, passed over one shoulder, and attached again in the back: the four throwing knives were thus positioned on the back and could be extracted by sliding a hand inside the tunic collar, to be thrown in one smooth motion.
"Sometimes… you'll need to fight… from a distance…" concluded the Weapons Master.
"Thank you, Shigure."
"And now mine!" Kensei exclaimed. They were all getting worked up like little kids, not wanting to be left out.
"These acupuncture needles serve a dual purpose: they can be used to relax or stabilize a person's condition if you know where to stick them… and one of these days, I'll teach you how.
But the best part is… if you dip them in the liquid from this other vial… they can also paralyze an ordinary person's movements for several hours. Useful for silently neutralizing weak enemies without harming them."
"Impressive."
"My gift is the dagger, as you can tell from the elegance of the sheath," Kuno said haughtily, pretending to look elsewhere. "Even if you mainly fight barehanded, it can sometimes be useful to have a weapon within reach."
"I… suppose so. Thank you." Ranma noticed that the sheath had small hooks that allowed the dagger to be fastened diagonally to the belt, behind the back.
"And… these things? What are they? I can't see the logic," he then asked.
"The compass is from me," Ryoga murmured, blushing. "You never know when it might come in handy."
Ranma snapped his head around but said nothing.
Ryoga is giving me a compass? Something doesn't add up… oh well, I guess no one more than him could consider it a precious object, in a way...
"The mini-telescope, on the other hand, is from me," Hayato informed him. "As small and portable as it is, it's very powerful. By adding or removing lenses as needed, you can adjust the distance. The maximum range is 500 meters."
"Interesting. Thank you, Elder."
"APA! And the energy bar is Apachai's gift!" the latter exclaimed. "In case you get hungry while on a mission…"
"Uhm… okay?"
"Actually," Akisame explained, "it's a high-calorie, long-shelf-life food used by the military. That bar can sustain an adult man for two days and if not opened, lasts up to six months."
"The first aid kit is my gift!" Miu exclaimed happily. "I know it's small, but I still packed some bandages, ointment, a disinfectant, needle and thread for stitching wounds, and an adrenaline tablet to stay awake."
"Oh… thank you." Ranma couldn't miss the underlying meaning of the girl's care. She had tended to him on the rare occasions he'd needed it.
She didn't want him getting into too much trouble.
"Umpf! And I added those three syringes," Mousse specified. "They contain antidotes for the most common poisons used by professional assassins. Don't expect all your opponents to fight cleanly."
"Um… I hadn't really thought of that. It's an incredibly useful gift. I'm impressed."
"Don't be. The smoke bombs are also mine. Sometimes, you need to work in the shadows."
"So this vial with green liquid… is Kenichi's gift? What's it for?"
"Actually, he didn't want to tell us," Akisame clarified. "Kenichi created it through experiments with substances derived from rare plants… a result of his botany studies… a sort of repellent for dangerous animals. He said you'd understand."
Ranma turned abruptly toward Kenichi, trying not to show his astonishment.
He gave me a cat repellent?
The boy seemed to brush it off with a knowing look.
Wow, I knew he was a good guy, but… I still misjudged him.
I thought he'd be happy about my phobia, just to see me knocked off my pedestal… but instead, he sincerely wants to help me.
Ranma gave him a long look of surprise and genuine gratitude.
"And finally… what's THIS STUFF?"
"Seems… obvious. It's Tochoumaru's… gift," Shigure stated, as if her student were foolish for asking.
"Tochoumaru? Your… pet mouse wanted to give me a gift separately from you?"
"Of course. Why… not?" the woman replied, as if the mouse were a full-fledged member of Ryozampaku.
The little mouse appeared out of nowhere, perched on Shigure's shoulder, and seemed to protest the lack of faith.
Ranma decided not to insist. "But… what is it?"
Akisame spoke up. "The wire is made of a highly durable but flexible metal, while the ball is made of a dense yet lightweight material. Its purpose is to be thrown like a grappling hook, wrapping around objects to allow you to climb, descend, or swing like a vine.
It can help overcome obstacles like a chasm or similar challenges. Moreover, if you need to rescue someone, the wire can extend up to 30 meters and support up to 200 kilograms, meaning two average Japanese adults plus yourself."
Ranma's mind seemed to explode as he imagined, like in a comic strip, Tochoumaru coming up with this idea while playing war with other small animals, then rushing to his owner to explain it using little drawings on paper; she somehow managed to understand it and explain everything to Akisame, who then brought it to life.
"Well, what can I say… I didn't expect it, but… it's a very useful gift."
The little mouse solemnly crossed the room to shake his hand (or rather, a finger with its tiny paw), dressed as an army general and giving him a military salute.
Now that everything was done, Ranma stood up and began to don all the gifts (Hayato covered him when he started undressing without considering the presence of the girls, causing embarrassed protests from them and a couple of irritated comments from the boys).
When he finished, he was dressed in Renka's outfit and equipped with all the other items they had given him. Realizing this, he felt a surge of emotion in his chest.
It was… warmth. It was… affection. It was… gratitude.
More than that, it was… overwhelming. He wasn't used to being treated kindly by others.
But now, standing before him, were those people. He was wearing the tangible proofs of their care.
In that room, all those people cared about him.
He bowed deeply (very deeply, to hide that he was actually moved).
"Thank you all so much!"
The celebrations continued until late at night, and it was decided that everyone would stay overnight at the Ryozanpaku, even Kisara, who called her family to let them know she was staying at a friend's place.
Both lunch and dinner were prepared by Miu, Nodoka, Renka, and Kensei (the latter making compliments to Mrs. Saotome, with Renka's primary role being to keep him away from her). They were real feasts, composed of a great variety of delicious dishes accompanied by wine, beer, and sake.
The meals were enlivened by a wealth of stories—tales of past exploits, humorous anecdotes about private lives, shared histories, or the martial arts training they had undergone together in recent months.
The topics ranged from fierce battles, embarrassing moments, and adventurous travels to intimate details like Renka's first steps (proudly recounted by her father), everyone's quirks, Shigure's habit of talking in her sleep and terrifying Sakaki, or how she found and trained Tochoumaru. Ryoga shared stories from his travels. Kuno recited ancient poetry. Hayato told tales from his youth. Ranma spoke of adventures he'd experienced with others. Miu reminisced about traveling the world with her grandfather, and Renka made everyone laugh with anecdotes about customers at her restaurant.
Above all, there was joy, camaraderie, and laughter.
During a lull, Nodoka placed a hand on her son's shoulder and spoke.
"You know, Ranma… I'm happy. After everything that happened last year… I was afraid you wouldn't find people to be with in this way again. I was a little worried about you, thinking you might shut yourself off from the world. I'm truly glad you came to Ryozanpaku."
Ranma was silent for a moment, then looked at everyone present, one by one, and finally at her.
"Yes. I think so too," he admitted.
Later, Ranma sought out Mousse to thank him again and to apologize.
"For what?" asked the Chinese youth with a sidelong glance.
"For doubting you," the pigtailed boy confessed. "The fact that you had me followed to find this place, the fact that you regularly fought those fierce underground matches for money… let's just say I thought you might be involved in something shady.
But now I realize… you've really changed. Matured.
You're a good person, Mousse, and I want you to know I trust you."
Mousse seemed genuinely surprised and, for once, refrained from striking a dramatic pose.
"I… thank you, Ranma. That means more to me than you think," he replied before retiring.
That evening, before heading to bed, everyone took advantage of the hot springs.
As Ryoga had discovered to his dismay, the walled grounds of Ryozanpaku, encompassing several square miles, included not only the main buildings but also a dense forest with a natural hot spring at its center.
Usually, the hot spring was used by the women, which was why Shigure had set up numerous traps to prevent Kensei from spying on them (not that it deterred him from trying anyway).
On this occasion, it was decided that the male Masters would go first, followed by the male disciples, and finally all the women, including Nodoka.
This way, someone would always be keeping an eye on Kensei—or at least, that was the plan.
In practice, however, things turned out differently.
Ranma had gone to bed early, exhausted from the day's events. Sakaki got drunk, Ryoga got lost somewhere between the kitchen and the laundry, Hayato took advantage of Miu's absence to search for the safe's combination, Akisame composed poetry, Apachai raided the fridge for ice cream, and Mousse retired to his room to read.
No one noticed where Kensei and Kuno had gone…
Making his way through the forest with a towel wrapped around his head, the small Chinese man said,
"Remember, disciple, this mission requires discretion, focus, and determination."
"Yes, Shishou," replied the young man, dressed in a similar fashion.
"The stakes are very high," the Master continued. "We've never had such a rich bounty, and we may never get this chance again," he added, pulling out an ultra-modern high-resolution digital camera that must have cost a fortune.
Indeed, Shigure, Miu, Renka, Kisara, and Nodoka were all soaking in the water, a truly mesmerizing sight.
They relaxed without a care in the world, though Kisara felt a bit envious of her companions' more generous figures. Renka, meanwhile, couldn't help but notice, perplexed, that both Shigure and Mrs. Saotome kept their katanas resting on their shoulders…
And then came a CLICK!
Shigure opened one eye, glancing to the right.
"They're coming."
She slowly rose from the water, drawing her sword.
"Don't… mind me… just keep… enjoying your… bath."
"Oh no, Master!" groaned Kuno. "I fear I've tripped over something. maybe a sort of alarm?"
Kensei moaned. "No… so close to the goal… what cruel fate… do the gods have no mercy?"
Shigure appeared behind them, a towel wrapped around her body, her long katana unsheathed, her eyes gleaming with murderous delight.
"You're… corrupting my… disciple, Kensei? This time… I'll kill you!"
From the hot spring, the other women began to hear noises and various indistinct shouts.
If one listened closely, one might discern,
"I BEG YOUR FORGIVENESS, MASTER!" and
"GO ON WITHOUT ME, MY YOUNG DISCIPLE! SAVE YOURSELF AND IMPRINT THAT HEAVENLY VISION IN YOUR EYES!
OR, EVEN BETTER, SACRIFICE YOURSELF AND LET ME DO IT INSTEAD!" alongside
"REPENT… FOR YOUR… SINS!"
When Miu and Kisara returned to the main building, almost everyone had gone to bed. Only the garden resounded with noises and cries, as Shigure chased Kensei around the perimeter to slice him up, while Kuno lay sprawled like a washed-out rag over a tree branch, having taken quite a beating.
Renka and Nodoka remained in the water, partly because they weren't bothered in the least, and partly because they were less accustomed to hot springs and wanted to enjoy them a bit longer.
After saying goodnight to Kisara and showing her to one of the free rooms, Miu began heading toward her own. Then, as if struck by a sudden impulse, she tiptoed to the men's wing, tapped lightly three times and once hard on a particular door, and quickly returned to her room.
Half a minute later, a figure quietly opened that same door, poking its head out to check if anyone was around, before slipping out and carefully closing the door so it appeared locked from the inside but could still be reopened.
A couple of minutes later, the same figure knocked four times—twice softly, twice loudly—on a certain door in the women's wing. The door opened just a crack.
Ranma saw Miu Furinji in all her splendor, her hair still damp, her voluptuous figure covered only by a towel tied around her body.
"I-I didn't expect you to use the signal tonight," he stammered after a brief pause, his jaw nearly hitting the floor.
Miu tried to feign nonchalance, attempting to flirt—a skill she was still learning and not quite mastering.
"Well, you know, at first I wasn't planning to… but then I realized you haven't opened your gift yet… your other gift… but if instead you're too tired…"
She didn't finish the sentence. Ranma literally dove into the room.
Kenichi was heading back to his room, still complaining about how much beer Master Sakaki had practically forced him to drink—he felt a bit tipsy, a new sensation for him—and about the racket Shigure was making with Kensei in the garden. She seemed determined to make him pay once and for all.
"Shigure-san, of all nights… I really need to sleep. Ugh, that glass of water didn't help with the buzz at all; maybe I should go back and make some coffee, but then I won't sleep at all… oh, what's this?"
He picked up a shiny object from the corridor.
"This is Miu-san's hairpin… when did she lose it? Hmm… I wouldn't want to disturb her at this hour… she might think I have strange ideas… but then again, she should have gone to bed just a few minutes ago… I'll try dropping it off."
Kenichi went to the women's wing and made a terrible discovery.
The door to Miu's room—which, like all the rooms after the renovation six months earlier, was soundproofed—was slightly ajar, as if someone hadn't bothered to close it.
For some reason, a shiver ran down his spine. A premonition.
He approached slowly.
And then he heard.
And then he saw.
And then he couldn't understand anything anymore and found himself wandering down the hallway in a trance.
Renka had escorted Mrs. Nodoka to the room reserved for her—located in a corridor perpendicular to the one with her and Miu's rooms, side by side—and was now returning to her own room, still wrapped in her towel, carrying her clothes under her arm.
But in her corridor, she saw the last thing she would have expected to see.
Kenichi was there, standing against a wall, looking as if he'd been hit by a train.
"Kenichi-san! What's wrong? Are you feeling sick?" she asked as she approached, gripping his arms with her hands.
The boy was clearly tipsy, but that alone couldn't explain the devastation on his face. His eyes were ringed with deep dark circles, he was stammering incoherently, and his gaze was empty, as if he were looking at something galaxies away and couldn't see what was right in front of him. He was nodding his head back and forth.
"Kenichi! What's wrong? I'm here! It's me, Renka! Tell me what's going on!"
"Huh? Renka-san? You… you're here? Is this real, or… am I dreaming?"
"No, Kenichi, I'm really here, here for you. But tell me what's wrong—I'm starting to worry."
Kenichi seemed to snap out of it slightly, but at the same time, he looked even more confused.
And then it happened.
No one could say how it started.
Renka was close to Kenichi, concerned, filled with warmth for him. Their faces were close.
And she was so beautiful.
The faces of the two young people met in an extraordinarily long kiss.
At first, Renka seemed surprised, tried to say something, then gave in.
Kenichi moved automatically, holding her in his arms.
And they ended up in her room.
With all the commotion coming from the garden, no one noticed that Mousse had gone out for a walk in the cool night air, a few hundred meters from Ryozanpaku.
Ranma's words echoed in his head.
"I trust you."
Ranma Saotome… naive to the last, huh? Well, so much the better.
Two figures appeared suddenly behind him, staying in the shadows. They were kneeling.
"Laobàn, we're here to report, sir."
"Yes, sir."
Mousse stood with his back to them, staring into the void, his arms tucked into his sleeves.
"Go ahead. How's the surveillance going? Any updates?"
"None, sir. Everything seems to be proceeding as usual, sir."
"Hmm… I see. Do you think they suspect anything? Have they noticed you?"
"I don't think so, sir. We've been careful. But we can't rule it out completely, sir. After all, we're dealing with extraordinary individuals, sir."
"Hmm… true. Alright, return to your usual duties and inform me of any updates. You're dismissed."
"Of course, Laobàn, sir."
"As you wish, Laobàn, sir."
With a—SWIIISSSHH—both shadows disappeared into the night.
Mousse remained staring at the horizon, deep in thought.
We must act soon… before they realize something… strike hard and fast, leaving no room to react…
Weeks passed at Ryozanpaku.
Spring break (*6) allowed Kenichi, Miu, and Renka, along with their friends from the Shinpaku Alliance, to relax a little, even though Thor, Nijima, and the Valkyries had to prepare for final exams right after their return to complete high school (their older friends had already graduated).
This worried them only slightly—Miu had excellent grades but was sure she wouldn't go to university since it would mean spending a lot of money; Kenichi, on the other hand, planned to apply to a public university to study literature. Still, they couldn't completely neglect their studies.
If nothing else, this gave them a chance to get to know Ranma's friends a little better.
During spring break, Kenichi, Miu, and Renka changed their routine, training in the mornings and studying in the afternoons. This allowed them to have casual chats with Ryoga, Mousse, and Kuno.
Under different circumstances, Kenichi would have been impressed by Kuno's self-assuredness and might even have taken notes, but that was no longer the case.
As for Ryoga, he already knew him somewhat and confirmed his initial impression: they were superficially similar—shy, dreamers, and introverted. At the same time, their differences were as significant as their similarities.
Both, however, were evolving… becoming something more, or something different, from what they had ever been.
Ryoga had let go of all the resentment and indecision he had harbored for years, while Kenichi was overcoming most of his insecurities.
How much of this was due to his regular nighttime meetings with Renka was something even he couldn't say.
Since that affair had started, everything felt like a kind of waking dream. They didn't talk about what was happening (though she clung to him even more during training), nor had he confronted Ranma or Miu about what he'd discovered. Everyone simply went on with their lives as if nothing had happened, behaving toward each other as they always had.
Kenichi didn't know exactly what he felt for Renka—he was confused and going with the flow—but he realized he'd been foolish not to notice her feelings for all that time.
Kensei's daughter was kind—at least sometimes—funny, and extraordinarily captivating.
Thinking about it, he must have been incredibly oblivious not to realize it before.
At the same time, he couldn't fathom that Miu could be with another man.
There was a kind of unspoken promise between them—or at least that's what he thought.
Surely, he hadn't been the only one to feel that way—and they had shared moments together that were worth a lifetime.
His mind and heart refused to believe what he had seen, so much so that, as a defense mechanism, he simply stopped thinking about it altogether.
The Strongest Disciple in History was the only person at Ryozanpaku who knew about both affairs—by some miracle, none of the Masters had discovered the two pairs of young lovers—and from the moment he ended up in bed with Renka, it was as if something inside him had changed.
It was as though he had shed the aura of a naive idealist he had always had, as if he had inwardly decided that sometimes the world is unjust, but if you can get through it, then it's alright. Dreams are beautiful, but at some point, you have to wake up.
Renka, on the other hand, had developed a good relationship with Mousse—they shared a calculating nature, always analyzing every aspect of a problem, though they were otherwise very different—and she especially enjoyed being able to speak Chinese with someone again after so long. The two often had intense conversations—drawing glares from Kenichi—and no one knew what they talked about.
In reality, Mousse was deeply interested in everything Renka knew and did to counter the Triads in Chinatown—she still received regular reports from the other martial artists working at her uncle Hakubi's restaurant—and she saw nothing strange about sharing some information with him, since everyone at Ryozanpaku—and especially Ranma, who had known him the longest—trusted him.
As for Ranma, after the celebrations for his promotion, he had taken a week off to rest without training.
For him, it felt a bit strange, but he needed to recover from his injuries and, most importantly, he had realized he could take a break every now and then.
The real problem, however, had been coming up with an excuse for Kisara. Ranma couldn't turn into Ranko and train her while half of his body was wrapped up like a mummy. So, he gave her the week off—preparing exercises for her to do on her own, if she really wanted to—and wrote her a letter saying he needed to take care of his brother, so he wouldn't be available. The pigtailed boy didn't know how the girl had taken it, but he hoped not too badly.
Like with everyone else, he hated lying to her. But unlike with Miu, revealing the truth to Kisara would have broken her heart—she cared too much about her Master being a woman—so he wouldn't have known what to do. Sooner or later, he'd have to figure something out…
Yes, sooner or later.
The thought struck him.
How long did he plan to stay at Ryozanpaku to train?
How long would he keep training Kisara while living a double life?
He had paid in advance to train at Ryozanpaku for a year, which would expire in a few months.
Meanwhile, Kisara would have to suspend her afternoon training sessions as soon as she entered university because she wouldn't have time anymore.
The lessons he gave her had earned him some money, and he was saving as much as he could, so money wasn't an issue for now.
But what would he do afterward?
Would he train there forever?
And for how long would he and Miu keep…
MEEEEOUUWWW!
Terrified, Ranma leaped to the top of the woodpile Apachai had stacked for the winter.
"Ah! There you are, rascal! Come to mommy!"
Renka picked up the one-eyed gray kitten that had escaped from their little shelter for stray animals on the other side of the yard.
"Uh? What are you doing up there, Ranma-san?" she asked, casting an innocent look upward.
"Eh? Uh? No, nothing, nothing special… uh, the breeze up here is so nice… and the view is great… earlier I saw a cloud that looked like a deer… and even a glider flew by."
"Really? Too bad I missed it. Oh, since you're not doing anything, do you want to come over with us? Kisara's there too. We're feeding milk to the kittens."
"Uh, yeah, maybe later…"
"Alright, suit yourself! See you later!"
The girl ran off with such a big smile on her face that Ranma couldn't help but wonder what had made her so happy. Lately, she was always on cloud nine.
Oh well, whatever it is, good for her. I'm happy for her, after all.
Kenichi had taken advantage of one of his breaks, and the fact that Ranma was chatting with Ryoga, to sneak over to Master Ma and speak to him while shielding his mouth with his hand.
"Psst! Master Ma Kensei. I need to talk to you in private."
"My boy, what's with all this secrecy?" asked the Kung Fu Master. "Do you need to buy more, uh, artistic images? I'm glad to hear it; it's been a while since I've seen you. I was almost worried about you, as if you were too busy training to nurture a healthy interest in the fairer sex…"
Kenichi gulped. If only he knew…
"Uh, no, it's about training," he resumed, somewhat embarrassed, "but I don't want the others to hear. Master Ma, I… I'd like to ask if you might be able to teach me… a certain technique I saw Ranma perform!"
One Tuesday morning, the kids from Nerima were taking a break from training and had almost spontaneously gathered in a circle. Ryoga took a long gulp of water from a bottle.
"Damn, I really needed that," he said. "Apachai tries to wear me out every single time."
"But it works," noted Ranma. "You've become a lot more fluid in your movements."
"But not as much as you, is that what you're trying to say, Ranma? Maybe soon it'll be time to test our levels with a duel… like the old days."
"Are you planning to beat me to prove you've reached Master level? Fine by me…" said the pigtailed boy with a sly look.
"The only one who will claim the title of Master by defeating Ranma Saotome is I, Kuno Tatewaki," declared the kendoka solemnly. "I owe it, above all, to the honor of my Master, the sweet Shigure-sama. I will prove her methods are the best!"
"You're truly hopeless," Mousse commented. "Besides the fact that you're the least likely of all to beat Ranma, didn't you consider that he and I also train with Shigure? What are you trying to prove? The quality of her training would be proven even if he beat you… or if I beat you… or if I beat him. Don't you think?"
Kuno seemed caught off guard and started counting on his fingers, muttering, "So, if I beat him, but if he beats me…"
"Tsk! What an idiot!" Ryoga said with a totally undeserved sense of superiority.
"Says the guy who got lost inside his own tent," Mousse reminded him.
"Hey! It was dark! The lamp broke! And anyway, it only happened once!"
"AHAHAHA!"
Three faces turned in unison to look at Ranma, who was laughing uproariously.
"Sorry, guys," he said, wiping away a tear of laughter. "You're just too funny."
Then, noticing their expressions, he added:
"Actually… it makes me happy to see us interacting like this. Like the good old days.
For a moment, it felt like… we were back in Nerima.
Actually… it's even better than back then, honestly."
The boy lowered his gaze with a bitter smile, and the other three found themselves lost in memories too.
"Well! There's no point crying over spilled milk, right?" Mousse said, snapping out of it.
"No, definitely not," Ryoga agreed. "But memories are what keep a man going… they're the things that gave his life meaning."
"The seasons change, life evolves… ideals remain," Kuno said poetically.
"Ideals and… something more. Like friendship," Ranma concluded.
Hayato was playing shogi with Akisame. Sakaki, next to them, was leisurely sipping a beer.
"So, Akisame, it seems Ryozanpaku has just leveled up, huh? We've got a new Master… and both Miu and Kenichi are clearly Experts by now…" the old man gloated contentedly.
"And that's not all," Sakaki chimed in. "I get the feeling Ranma's friends, that Ryoga and Mousse, are pretty close to reaching his level too."
"It's because their training is more focused," Akisame explained. "Ranma chose to train five days a week with five different Masters.
It's a big advantage—similar to what Kenichi does, after all—but at the same time, it spreads his skills and time across five different martial arts. While there's little overlap among them, and even the physical training is different, it's fairly normal for this to slightly slow down his overall development.
"Meanwhile, Mousse and Ryoga, though in completely different ways—Ryoga, for instance, always trains with Apachai, while Mousse divides his three days between Shigure, Kensei, and me, even learning non-martial knowledge in my case—are more focused on training only the practices most suited to them. This way, their growth is faster."
As for Mousse, I also suspect that on his days off, he still trains on his own, perhaps combining what he learns at Ryozanpaku and experimenting with new ways to use hidden weapons."
"You mean... that Ranma, paradoxically, is at a disadvantage compared to them? Like they're horses starting behind the favorite but then catching up?" he asked, frowning.
"I'm saying that Ranma might still maintain an advantage because he got there first," Akisame hypothesized, "but that isn't necessarily certain. However, I think the real issue is something else.
Ranma CHOSE to learn many different martial arts.
Heck, the name of his school is Indiscriminate Martial Arts. The underlying concept is that the more varied skills you learn, the better equipped you are to handle a wide variety of situations.
And this applies to his rivals as well.
If they were to face Ranma ten times each, both Ryoga and Mousse could win a few times—my current estimate is they'd lose 7 to 3, but it's a rapidly evolving situation; they could improve further soon—but that wouldn't necessarily mean they're truly equal. Anyone can win or lose against anyone, in theory.
But the advantage of knowing many different techniques is that Ranma could face and maybe defeat a wide variety of other enemies, against whom Ryoga and Mousse would be powerless due to sheer lack of options, not difference in overall level."
"I see. Sort of like playing rock-paper-scissors," Sakaki concluded with one last sip.
"Something like that," Hayato confirmed, still focused on the game. "And tell me, Akisame, where does that Kuno fit into this scheme? Has he reached a level similar to theirs?"
"From what Shigure says, no, not yet, although he too benefits from practicing a single martial art.
Also, he started a bit further behind. We can say he's at the Expert level but below the other two... roughly on par with the level Miu has reached... at least, I think so.
We haven't followed Miu's training in recent months; we've only seen her duels together with or against Renka and Kenichi…"
The implication was that they were a bit annoyed that the Elder had kept his granddaughter's training secret. Hayato chuckled a little, satisfied, but then stopped.
"Checkmate!" Akisame exclaimed.
Sakaki opened another beer and reflected.
Also, the old man isn't just secretive about Miu... we have no idea what techniques he's taught Kenichi—or Ranma, for that matter... which reminds me of something else…
"Kensei is convinced that Ranma has other resources he hasn't shown us yet," he announced. "If that's the case, I can't imagine where he might go one day…"
Hayato frowned. "As long as he chooses the right path, that doesn't worry me."
"Still on about that? Enough, Elder, I'm fine. I don't hold a grudge because Ranma used that technique on me. And I know him better than any of you; his heart is in the right place."
"That's my opinion too, Elder," Akisame confirmed. "Moreover, we know the reason for his turmoil: everything that happened to him in Nerima, his girlfriend, and so on. But he even forgave Ryoga and seems to have completely moved past it. He's built a great relationship with the boys and even with the Shimpaku members. I don't think there's any reason to worry.
You don't think he's hiding something, do you?"
"Mmmh… maybe," the Elder muttered.
Still, something troubles me… a sort of feeling... or is it my own guilt?
In this very dojo, I trained two people who turned to evil in the past… one was that man, and the other was my own son.
Could Ranma become the third? Why can't I fully trust him? A premonition?
Ranma Saotome sneezed as he walked down the street, hands stuffed in his pockets.
An off-season cold? Or is someone bad-mouthing me?
As he progressed through the suburban neighborhood, however, he had a strange feeling.
He felt like he was being watched.
He turned around but saw no one.
He kept walking, picking up his pace, then stopped. It felt like a shadow was sticking to him.
He avoided showing it, but he continued walking, more slowly now, and closed his eyes, expanding his Sixth Sense and focusing intently…
…then suddenly leapt up onto the rooftops.
He looked around in every direction. Still no one.
Yet he was convinced… it was as if the shadow had been there until just a moment ago, mocking him.
It was a bit irritating. The feeling didn't sit well with him.
He jumped down and resumed walking normally.
Then, halfway home, he started running again and finally threw himself abruptly into a side alley.
He was about to turn to face his pursuer, but before he could, someone grabbed him by the collar and lifted him as easily as a child.
He felt a vacuum in the air as he was pulled upward, and the next thing he knew, he landed hard on his rear.
He turned around and saw someone materialize out of nowhere.
When the Ryozanpaku Masters moved, they were so fast it seemed like teleportation. With this person, no.
It felt like something else entirely.
It seemed like they had emerged from a tear in his field of vision itself, but they didn't appear to have moved.
The air around them seemed to twist. It took his brain a moment to understand.
He's so fast that my eyes not only can't distinguish his movements, but don't even perceive that he's moving at all... it's like he was painted here on the background by a painter... I see him as if he was completely still…
"Apologies for the rough approach," the individual said, "but I needed to make sure we weren't being followed. Here, we can talk undisturbed."
They were on a sort of roof overlooking an inner courtyard of an apartment complex.
High walls surrounded them on three sides, with a net on the fourth.
The man stood at least six foot three and, Ranma estimated, no less than 220 pounds of pure muscle.
Nevertheless, he dressed with care and elegance—not exactly appropriate for tailing someone and rooftop jumping—and, it had to be admitted, he was extraordinarily handsome. He had thick wavy blond hair and clear eyes that scrutinized him with a cold gaze.
"And who the hell are you?" Ranma asked, sensing he was dealing with someone out of the ordinary.
To his surprise, the man gave a slight bow. "My name is Saiga Furinji, a pleasure to meet you. I believe in recent months you've met my family, Ranma Saotome of the Indiscriminate Martial Arts School."
Ranma stood there for a moment, mouth agape.
"You're… Saiga Furinji? THE Saiga?"
"The one and only, at your service.
I imagine you have many questions for me, but in fact, if I brought you here, it's because I have something to say—no, it's more accurate to say I NEED to talk to you, Ranma Saotome. And the reason is simple: at Ryozanpaku, you, your friends, my daughter, Kenichi, and the Shimpaku Alliance... you're all in danger."
Ranma sat up properly, and Saiga did the same, crossing his arms to convey that he wasn't a threat.
"So," Ranma began, "what I'd heard about you was understated—you know who I am, what I've done at Ryozanpaku... and you move faster than anyone I've ever seen, except maybe your father."
"On one hand, it shouldn't surprise you," Saiga replied. "As you well know, I've spent a month of vacation with my daughter, and if I'm not mistaken, you're the one who scheduled days off during her training so she could see me. On that note, I must thank you." Ranma simply gave a slight nod.
"So it's natural that she's talked to me about you.
Truth be told, I was curious to meet you. To see what kind of man the person bringing so many changes to a place like Ryozanpaku was.
And believe me, I know how resistant that place is to change."
"But this isn't just a pleasant chat. You said we're in danger and brought me here, claiming we might be followed. What's going on?"
"We'll get to that, don't worry. But first, I want to understand more about you."
So basically, he dragged me here to talk in private, but he doesn't completely trust me.
"So you act all suspicious, but then YOU are the one who doesn't trust your conversation partner? Doesn't seem very fair to me," he taunted.
Strangely, the blonde man burst into laughter.
"HAHAH! You really are as cheeky as they say. But you're right, it's quite the demand on my part.
Tell you what. I'll confirm anything you want to know about me."
Ranma stayed silent, hesitant. He knew he was treading on thin ice, one wrong move and it could spell trouble.
"Is it true that…Miu's mother was a ninja from a clan called…the Kuremisago…and that…another member of that clan, named Senzui…killed her, am I right?"
The man's eyes flickered momentarily.
"That's correct. I imagine they didn't tell you the full story, but you've filled in the missing pieces.
What you don't know, though, is that for over fifteen years, the entire world believed I was the culprit of that crime.
Even my own daughter, upon learning her mother's fate, believed it."
Ranma swallowed hard.
"That's terrible. But…you couldn't tell the truth because…"
"Because during all that time, I was the head of Yami's No-Weapons Division: One Shadow, Nine Fists.
I was the One Shadow."
Ranma's eyes widened. He was trembling slightly, cold sweat running down his back.
All those whispered horror stories about Yami…and then to find out Miu's father had led it? It was worse than a bad TV drama.
"They didn't tell you that part, I see. Your reaction makes it obvious.
At most, they must've said I was someone who lived in the shadows for a time. And that's right...from a certain point of view."
"But…they also said you've recently returned to the right side."
"It's more accurate to say that my father and I have differing philosophical views.
For a long time, I didn't know who had killed my wife, but I was searching.
Martial arts were originally created to destroy opponents as efficiently as possible.
Many high-level practitioners still follow that belief.
At first, One Shadow, Nine Fists was meant to be a purely defensive alliance. A sort of truce to prevent the Grandmasters of the Fist That Kills from clashing among themselves…while also allowing the creation of Yomi, the institute where their disciples could be trained together."
Like Rachel Stanley, Ranma thought. If she was the sanest of the group, imagine the rest.
To be fair, even Kokin and Hermit weren't exactly mild.
"But eventually," Saiga continued, "I realized that some members were conspiring to ensure Yami gained more power and influence…to the point of manipulating national policies and even inciting wars to allow martial arts to thrive."
"But…that's monstrous!"
"Yes, and even after Yami's defeat, Senzui's death, and my…redemption, if we want to call it that, Yami isn't completely tamed.
Their numbers have dwindled significantly: most of the old members of the Nine Fists have defected and now operate independently.
However, they still outnumber us.
There's an equivalent to One Shadow, Nine Fists in Yami's Armed Division: they're called the Eight Shining Executioner Blades, and they're just as dangerous."
A whirlwind of information spun in Ranma's mind.
"So now you…the reason you're not at Ryozanpaku is…"
"…because I'm keeping an eye on them, ensuring they don't pull something major, yes.
I spend much of my time spying on them, careful not to get caught myself."
"And…you came here to tell me we're in danger. All of them…Miu, Kenichi, the other new disciples, my friends…are targets for these people?
What's going on? You have to tell me!" he demanded, almost growling.
Saiga Furinji studied him for a long moment.
Yes, he decided. He's sincere.
No, not just sincere. Much more. He's worried.
These are the eyes of someone who has lost everything once and doesn't want to lose it again.
A situation I can empathize with…
Saiga closed his eyes and let out a deep sigh.
"Listen to me, Ranma. Your concern does you credit.
But there's a reason I didn't go straight to Ryozanpaku to share what I've discovered.
One of the dangers I fear…doesn't come from the outside.
It comes from within.
I suspect that among the new disciples, perhaps even among your friends…there's a traitor."
"That's impossible!"
"I can't say I'm absolutely certain, but it's highly likely.
A phone conversation I intercepted—briefly, unfortunately, before the line went dead—said as much:
We'll act soon. One of their disciples will divide them, it's inevitable.
Soon, they'll cause chaos from within, and we'll seize the opportunity.
The strength of Ryozanpaku, their much-vaunted unity…will crumble forever.'
That's why I wanted to speak with you first and judge your character.
I chose you because Miu trusts you, and I trust my daughter's judgment.
But you, Ranma, would you be ready to do this? To condemn one of them…for the sake of all the others?
And if you won't…are you ready to risk losing them all?"
Ranma was stunned for several minutes.
He didn't know what to say. In his mind, he weighed all the possibilities.
Finally, he lowered his head, closed his eyes, and clenched his fists.
"I…I don't know! I don't know what to do! This kind of thing happens to me way too often, honestly.
Every time…I think I know what direction to take in my life, something comes along to throw everything into chaos! It's not fair!"
Then he calmed down.
He thought deeply about all of them.
Ryoga, Mousse, and Kuno.
About the experiences they'd shared, both good and bad.
About all the times they'd had each other's backs, despite everything.
And about the recent period, when they'd all been training together at Ryozanpaku.
The truth was, it was obvious what he had to say.
He raised his head and looked Saiga straight in the eyes, with fierce determination.
"Saiga Furinji. I don't believe a word of what you said.
Yes, maybe the message really said that…but its meaning is open to interpretation.
I know what you're implying: that since I know them better than anyone, I could point out who among Ryoga, Mousse, and Kuno I think might be the traitor.
But I can't do that, because I don't believe there's a traitor at all.
I've been through fire with each of them…and I will never believe they could do something like that!"
Saiga Furinji seemed genuinely surprised, neither positively nor negatively.
It wasn't the response he had expected.
"Are you sure, Ranma? This way, you might be putting everyone else at risk."
Ranma raised his arm, clenching his fist."
"Whatever happens… no, anything that might happen… I'll fight to protect the disciples of Ryozanpaku with my life! I swear it!
And if one of them truly does harm the others… I'll take them down with my own hands."
Saiga gave up. This boy was trustworthy.
In some ways, he reminded him of Kenichi, but in many others, he was completely different.
"Do you mean that? I thought you followed the Fist That Saves."
"I don't follow anything, actually, though… I've never killed and I'd prefer not to.
Honestly, I don't understand all this obsession with philosophies, codes… they just seem like ways to limit yourself, while to fully express your potential, you need to be free."
Saiga scrutinized him again. He understood why Ryozanpaku would be interested in this young man.
Then another brilliant realization struck him.
My father, Hayato Furinji. There's no way he hasn't noticed this boy's inner turmoil, his doubts…
He probably allowed him to train with them, not despite this, but precisely because he doesn't fully trust him.
He's afraid this boy might walk the wrong path.
And instead, he wants to guide him onto the right one. To make him become like himself, or like Kenichi, instead of… that other man…
…Hmph! But, Father, even you can make mistakes.
I bet you gave him your usual speech about the coin being flipped and landing on heads or tails…
…And yet, Father, you should know better than anyone. Especially because you've had an unworthy son like me…
…You should know that sometimes the coin can land standing on its edge.
Glossary
Okaa-san: "mother," spoken respectfully
Taiyaki: traditional Japanese sweets, often fish-shaped, with a filling of sweet red bean paste
Tantō: a samurai dagger
Tekkou: the armored gloves used by Kenichi and Hayato, composed of several metal plates covering the back of the hand and the entire forearm
Laobàn: Chinese for "boss"
(6*): In the Japanese school system, the academic year starts in April and ends at the end of March. Students have 40 days of vacation in August (while the school year is ongoing), 20 days in winter (from December 20 to January 10), and another 10 days in March, right before final exams and graduation.
Author's Note:
So, i've been away for a while. I realized this part of the fic needs one more chapter, to develop better some interactions between secondary characters who haven't interacted at all. But then i haven't written it yet. I was unsure about the position, but i ended up glossing over: it will be AFTER this point
And then...another nice chapter. We had to realize at which level everyone is and keep advancing the plot.
What is Mousse doing? Who are his subordinates?
Who is the traitor?
What is the menace looming over Ryozanpaku?
And of course: KENICHI BANGED RENKA!
This, perhaps, you did not expect, even after Ranma started banging Miu
Yet, i left breadcrumbs since chapter 10...
Now there's a switch of potential couples, and also another secret, another example of broken trust, jealousy...consequences will arise
And after two more chapters of development...the final part will begin!