Chapter 10 A Gathering of New Disciples and Old Rivals
That evening, Ranma, as expected, stayed the night at the Ryozampaku.
When Miu climbed up to the roof, as she often did to watch the stars, she found him already there.
She was a bit surprised, as the boy with the pigtail didn't know that this was their spot—hers and Kenichi's—where they often came for that very reason. The blonde had just come out of the bath and had her hair down, a rarity.
She noticed that Ranma was also wearing pajamas (Miu had recently discovered that many boys didn't wear them to seem "tough," but he didn't care about that).
"Oh, hi Miu. I didn't expect you'd come here."
"Actually, I'm the one who's surprised to see you. Usually, Kenichi and I come here to watch the stars."
Ranma seemed slightly disappointed. "I didn't know. Where is he now?"
"In bed, asleep, I think. He crashed right after the bath. Not that I can blame him after a night like that."
"Yeah, sure, I get it. I, on the other hand, couldn't sleep."
"Too many emotions?"
"In a way. I didn't plan on meeting your friends that way, nor did I expect all that drama to happen right after."
Miu felt a bit embarrassed. "I need to apologize again for their behavior."
"Cut it out. You know full well it's not your fault. I don't like formalities when they're unnecessary. As for the rest, I was wondering... was I too hard on them?"
"Ranma Saotome!—the girl teased him lightly—Is that concern I hear in your voice?"
"Haha, very funny. I DO care about people," Ranma replied, slightly offended, "even though I recognize I can often be a bit... how to say? Direct?"
"We could easily say 'brutal,' you know? But don't take it badly, it's clear you don't do it out of malice," she clarified, noticing his expression, "and as for the rest, I think, as unpleasant as some truths may be, receiving advice from someone more experienced can only do good in the long run. In fact, you've just given them a mini-training program to follow to fix their flaws, and in the long run, they'll only be grateful to you.
Even in Kisara's case—by the way, I realize that in the end, we didn't even properly introduce everyone to you... Anyway, the girl who practices Taekwondo is named Kisara Nanjo, also known as Valkyrie—like I said, I realize she was upset, but she'll get over it. She's a strong and determined person. She'll find a different path, just as she always has."
"That's good to hear."
Miu didn't add what was on her mind, namely that Kisara's words had stirred memories that had been tormenting her for some time.
Who is this mysterious girl with the pigtail? What does she have to do with Ranma? Is she the same girl I fought? And if so, why won't he tell me anything?
Is it possible that Ranma-kun... is hiding something important from me?
"You know," Ranma began suddenly, pulling her out of her thoughts after a long moment of silence, "I've realized that you and I are alike. Surprisingly so, actually."
"In fact... we've had very similar life paths."
"Both of us have dedicated our lives to martial arts, spent it completely immersed in this world... In some way, that makes us different from most people" continued the pigtailed young man.
"Yes... I've thought that too. I noticed there are many similarities in our stories. Honestly, when I realized it, I was happy. Happy that... there was someone else like me. Someone who understood me." the blond concluded.
Ranma smiled inwardly at hearing this. Then he asked her:
"Was it hard? Traveling the world with your grandfather, facing many dangers, I mean."
"A bit. Mostly, it was strange readjusting to civilian life. No matter how much I tried to behave normally, there was always something I did that drew attention. Kids can be cruel. They always pushed me aside because I stood out too much, or at least that's what they said."
Miu seemed to recall sad memories.
"For a long time... I was alone. Kenichi was my first real friend. Those skills that scared everyone else... he admired them. That made me really happy."
"What nonsense!"
"Huh?"
"No, I mean," Ranma blushed, "what nonsense, the attitude of the kids. As if everything out of the ordinary had to be admired or hated. And what if it were simply... ignored? If everyone could live as they please, regardless of differences?
Why do people get unsettled by something that's not what their limited minds expect it to be? And let's say a girl jumps higher, throws things farther, is prettier than usual…What's so strange about that? Why should she be blamed? It's a petty attitude. It smacks of envy toward her.
If I were you, I wouldn't have let myself be intimidated. If someone says something like that, it's because they want to achieve the same results but can't. Or don't even try."
Miu had been listening in admiration, and she hadn't missed the compliments. She felt grateful.
Then she commented, "Well, I can understand that not everyone lives for competition."
"One doesn't have to live for competition. You choose which battles to fight; except in certain cases where life chooses for you. Normally, individuals should be able to live absolutely ordinary lives without being forced to measure themselves against anyone. But it's also true that competition is somehow ingrained in humans. To obtain resources, to find a partner..."
Miu blushed slightly at that last remark, though Ranma seemed to have made it entirely innocently.
"And anyway," the boy with the pigtail concluded, "the real competition is with oneself. It may sound like a cliché, but it's true. Becoming a little better each day. That really makes you... feel alive."
For a while, they remained silent.
"You know, you're more talkative than you seem."
"It's true, I didn't use to talk so much. I guess I'm changing in that way too, over time. Or maybe it's because I feel comfortable talking with you."
"S-same here. Maybe... it's because of what we were saying earlier. That we really understand each other. We see that the other is like us, so we're not afraid to open up."
At that moment, the shelter's cats began to meow at the moon. The boy with the pigtail twitched slightly in place, causing an innocent smile to form on the blonde girl's face.
"Still," Ranma added, "there are things I'd rather not open up about. I would have preferred you hadn't found out about my phobia. First, because I'm embarrassed by it; second, because it could be used against me if word gets out; third, because Kenichi and his sister already seem like they want to take advantage of it."
"Haha, aside from Honoka, I guarantee Kenichi's not the type. He was probably just glad—though I can understand why—to see you come down from your pedestal for once. The thing is, since you arrived at Ryozampaku, you seem... well, you seem capable of everything. You've revolutionized our lives, you're much stronger than us even though you're only a bit older, the Masters admire you, you even know how to cook... I have to admit—at the risk of sounding like the girls who used to isolate me—that it's not... easy to measure up to so much perfection. The fact that even you aren't perfect makes you... more likeable. More human."
Ranma paused for a moment, contemplating the implications of what Miu had said.
"I hadn't thought of that. I never wanted to overshadow you."
"Oh, you don't, don't get me wrong. It's just that... well, like I told you once, now I understand Kenichi a bit better. Since I'm good at doing things too, I don't always manage to put myself in the shoes of someone who isn't. In a way, having this perspective allows me to understand others better. To be more... empathetic toward them."
"Hmm... empathy. That's not something that's abundant at Ryozampaku."
"I have to give you that. The Masters' methods are a bit extreme, though you have to admit they work."
"You know, Miu, since I arrived, many of the practices I see here don't sit well with me, they seem too... radical. Like you said, I also see things from the outside, and even though I personally am a crazy guy who would do anything to get stronger… I wouldn't force the same choice on someone else. I grew up a certain way, and all in all, I'm okay with it, but I also went through some trauma, like the Neko Ken training, so I still have a hostile attitude toward unnecessarily risky training practices."
"You're right, I was also thinking today that the Ryozampaku mentality, this boldness taken to the extreme, is harmful in the long run. I think even the Shimpaku Alliance attack means they too have started absorbing that typical way of doing things.
I… think we should do better than that. Find a different system. Maybe it's our task as future Masters. To develop a new way to pass on knowledge to the next generations more safely."
Ranma paused for a moment to think.
"Future Masters, huh… I've never thought of it in those terms. My destiny was supposed to be managing a dojo, but things turned out differently. I've modified the program for Kenichi… and I admit I enjoyed doing it. And as you noticed, I gave some advice to the Shimpaku members, and earlier, I helped you… But I don't know if… I really want to take on the responsibility of teaching someone."
"Oh, at Ryozampaku, they say that the rank of Master isn't something you ascend to, you just fall into it. As if to say, sooner or later, it's inevitable."
"Yeah, probably. But I was talking about teaching, not the level. Although… I see that here… everyone really cares about raising the next generation."
"In a way, it's even essential for martial arts, passing them down so they continue to exist. That's why at Ryozampaku, they want to make Kenichi the Strongest Disciple in History. And that's why Yami founded Yomi, a parallel organization with the Masters' Disciples, destined to replace them one day."
"Like children with parents?"
"More or less, yeah, like a kind of substitute family."
"Then I don't really understand it too well, the family is a new concept to me."
"Yet you seem very attached to your mother. I mean, I think that's a beautiful thing."
"Well… I guess you could say that, but… the truth is, my mother and I… we're rebuilding our relationship, because I hadn't seen her for many years, since I was really little."
"Oh, I'm sorry. So you… grew up without her?"
"Unfortunately, yes. All because of my father, who took me on a training journey since I was just able to walk. I… actually realized that I must have missed her a lot over the years."
Miu's heart started pounding wildly.
Another similarity between us.
"I… went through a similar experience too. Well, worse, actually. My mother… died when I was an infant, and my father… due to various circumstances, it wasn't possible for me to grow up with him. I was raised by my grandfather. Just like you, I had a parent, in my case, my father, who was alive, but I'd never seen him until a few months ago."
"I'm really sorry. That's…terrible."
"It is. But in our case too, we're catching up on lost time. I spent my vacation month with him, and it was such a joy. We had so many things to talk about, so much lost time to make up for."
"Yeah, I understand… and I'm a bit ashamed of something."
"Huh? What?"
"That… some of the things you just said… your personal matters, which you have every right to keep private… I already kind of knew about them. Someone here at Ryozampaku mentioned it to me in passing. That your mother had died, that you never saw your father… but I realize these are deeply personal matters, and it makes me feel like an intruder knowing them before you told me yourself, as if… I had spied on you."
Miu widened her eyes, then smiled softly.
"There's no problem, really. In fact, I appreciate your care. They… well, the Masters have practically raised me since I was a child. So they're protective of me. There's nothing they'd do that wasn't for my own good. Even though, in general, privacy is an absolute value here at Ryozampaku.
In fact, with you too, we've been mindful of your privacy, and it's clear that there are many things about your past you don't want to talk about. But, well… I respect that. I understand how it must feel."
Miu thought for a moment about the mystery of the girl with the pigtail. But now more than ever, she felt she could trust Ranma, and decided that if he didn't talk about it, there must have been a good reason.
"Yeah, the past… can be a burden, sometimes," Ranma admitted after a brief pause.
"Yet, it's the foundation of our present and our future. Whether good or bad, it teaches us something."
"Like not making the same mistakes again?"
"Yes, that too. That's why now… I'm more focused on rebuilding my relationship with my father, rather than lamenting the past. Maybe at a certain point, it's just right to move on and embrace without reservation the good things life has to offer."
Now it was Miu who became talkative. For a few minutes, the two of them said nothing. Then the blonde spoke again:
"Oh, by the way… I noticed, you know… that in the training program, you've scheduled for me one Sunday a month and the entire week off, to spend with my father.
That was a particularly thoughtful touch on your part and… well, I want you to know that I appreciated it."
Miu leaned over and gave him a kiss on the cheek.
Ranma didn't expect it, but-strangely-he wasn't shocked or scared by it. He simply appreciated, welcomed that affectionate gesture. It felt natural.
Then Miu rested her head on his shoulder, and they spent another hour watching the stars.
The next day, Ranma woke up early and began practicing Wing Chun forms on the wooden dummy before breakfast. It wasn't long before Ma Kensei approached him.
"Hey, Ranma, my boy. I heard you had a lively evening yesterday."
"Uh? How do you know? Did Kenichi tell you?"
"It's a bit hard to hide things from your master," replied the little man with a sly smile.
THE NIGHT BEFORE:
Kenichi is tied up with ropes, and Kensei is fanning strange vapors from a brazier containing who knows what kind of concoction.
"Don't lie! Your clothes are wrinkled, and you're wearing perfumes from various girls! You've been fighting with girls! And you didn't think to call your dear master to watch the show? Confess!"
"Yeah, the Shimpaku Alliance decided to ambush us to test their strength. It was an idea of that Nijima, and maybe Renka too, I think."
In short, the Kung Fu master was brought up to speed on what had happened.
"Mmhh... I see. So, no serious consequences. Not physically, at least."
But there will be emotional ones, oh yes. If I'm not mistaken, we'll see some developments today.
That afternoon, Ranma was munching on a bag of chips while lazily watching Kenichi's training when something rather strange happened.
From the gate of Ryozampaku came what sounded like groans. At first, it seemed like it could have been the wind or a sick cat passing by. However, as the minutes passed, the sounds grew more intense, as if someone was under superhuman strain.
Curious, the boy with the pigtail got up and headed toward the sound.
He and Shigure found themselves in the same position, perched on the branches of two trees across from each other, waiting curiously to see what would happen.
Inch by inch, the gate began to open. The groans grew louder, and through the crack between the two doors, sweat could be seen dripping from the poor soul trying to open them.
Finally, with a sharp snap, the gate fully opened, and from the center, the large body of Kozo Ukita was thrown forward, collapsing to the ground from the effort.
Shigure hung upside down from the branch by her feet, like a bat, to take a closer look at the unfortunate visitor.
"It's Kenichi's... friend..."
Ranma was startled.
It's that guy from last night. But... could he have come here because I suggested it? I didn't think he'd actually do it.
By now, everyone at Ryozampaku had noticed what was happening, and especially Kenichi and Miu rushed to their friend's side.
"Ukita-san! What's wrong? Are you okay? What are you doing here alone?"
"Anf... anf... too... heavy..." panted the poor guy.
"Ohoh!" Kensei gloated with satisfaction, "Sooner than I expected, even."
Master Koetsuji had arrived like the others, but after a quick glance, he concluded that the boy was fine.
"He's just collapsed from overexertion. Let him breathe, and I'll give him water and electrolytes. He'll be fine."
After a few minutes, Ukita realized he had everyone around him and blushed in embarrassment.
Then he looked toward Akisame, quickly lowered his gaze, and bowed, kneeling on the ground.
"Koetsuji-sensei! Please! Train me!"
The look of shock on Kenichi and Miu's faces was priceless.
Ukita, do you even realize what you're saying?
The expression on the Jujitsu philosopher master's face was indecipherable.
"Are you really sure?" he asked finally.
"More than sure, sir!
For a long time now, I've known. That I'm not... on the same level as the others. For me, martial arts have never been as all-consuming. But I've seen... my friend Kenichi, who was an ordinary person just like me, train here and become an extraordinary fighter, an inspiration to all of us. I've never been special. But I know that if I want to keep up with my friends... I have to get stronger. And I'm willing to go through any hardship to do so. Please!"
Kenichi seemed both moved and worried at the same time.
Koetsuji lowered his gaze, smiling.
"Uhuh... very well..."
Ukita looked up, hopeful.
"Does that mean you accept?"
Koetsuji began to mumble to himself but out loud, with a mad grin.
"It's rare, but at the same time comforting to see a young person willing to put everything into what they do... even though they don't yet know what they're getting into... uhuhuhu..."
Kenichi, Miu, and Ukita all paled, sensing he was already thinking of torturous training sessions for him.
I knew it, I knew it...
"Kozo Ukita," the Jujitsu Master finally said, "since you're really sure, I accept your request. You'll train with me at Ryozampaku."
"Really? Thank you, Master! Thank you so much!"
"However," the mustachioed Master resumed, "since for now your physical condition doesn't even allow you to open the gates of our dojo without fainting—even though we made them a bit heavier when we renovated it—I don't think it would be advisable for you to train here every day like Kenichi. I suggest this plan: today, go home and rest, and starting tomorrow, you'll train here in the afternoons, two days a week, on Thursday and Friday."
"What? Only two days? But..."
"To start with, that will be more than enough," the Master said, preventing the objection. "Also, since, I assume, you're looking for a job after graduating, you can't dedicate too much time to training or be too tired from it to work, right?"
"Uh... in fact..."
"And finally... uhuhu... since my training is quite tough, this way, after Friday, you'll have two whole days over the weekend to recover your strength and heal from the injuries before having to work again on Monday. It seems perfect to me."
Ukita's pale face spoke more than a thousand words, but then his expression turned serious.
"Alright."
Neither Kenichi nor Miu said anything, though they wanted to. The determination of their friend was evident.
Ukita paid the monthly fee to Kensei (at a reduced rate, since he wouldn't be training every day), then headed for the exit. As he did, he looked over at Kenichi and smiled. Kenichi returned the gesture with encouragement.
Miu, on the other hand, snuck over with a mischievous look to the foot of the tree where Ranma had been observing the scene, a bit surprised despite the fact that he had suggested this development.
At the questioning look from the boy with the pigtail, the blonde told him:
"You see, Saotome? Just like Kenichi, you're starting to influence the people around you. You should get used to it. You can't escape your nature. And you're more important than you yourself want to believe."
Ranma didn't know how to respond. That didn't happen to him often.
About an hour later, however, the Ryozampaku gate swung open again, this time with a jolt. But right after, total silence followed, as if the person who had opened it was unsure whether to enter or not.
Finally, as if suddenly shaking off the indecision, Ma Renka marched down the path at a fast pace. She was wearing the most modest clothes she used for school, not the flashy ones Ranma had always seen her wear when fighting.
The boy with the pigtail noticed she seemed deeply worried. She barely acknowledged him with a glance, while she avoided, embarrassed, Miu's gaze, and lowered her head, full of shame, when she crossed paths with Kenichi.
The latter seemed strangely cold towards her, as if he hadn't forgiven her for involving the Shimpaku Alliance in the stunt from the previous night.
Miu, on the other hand, seemed to understand what was happening and felt compassion for the girl.
The Chinese girl strode straight toward the field where her father was training Kenichi.
Sakaki, who was downing his fourth beer of the day, remarked, "Tsk… today really is the day of unexpected visits."
Ma Kensei, on the other hand, barely glanced at his daughter, as if he had anticipated this very turn of events.
When Renka was nine steps away from her father, she bowed formally, Japanese-style.
"Baba! This unworthy daughter of yours, Renka, humbly comes to ask you to train her again!"
The silence that fell over the courtyard was surreal.
Huh… just as I thought…
Then Kensei turned toward his daughter.
"I expected you to visit, Renka, though not this soon. But I don't understand, why don't you go to Uncle Hakubi? And by the way, what about your work at the restaurant? And could Genson and Shokatsu keep the Triads at bay in Chinatown without you?"
"I've already spoken to Hakubi, Father. Though he's very fond of me, he agreed to let me go for a few months, and it's precisely because he's too kind to train me seriously that I'm asking you. I know blood ties won't stop you from being strict if necessary."
Kenichi was a bit surprised by these words. Renka was speaking to her father with respect when it came to martial arts.
Plus, he couldn't imagine Kensei being strict. I mean, if behaving like a clown already put him at risk of killing Kenichi on a regular basis, lesson after lesson, he didn't want to see his strict side.
"As for the rest," the girl continued, "those two will manage just fine. In case of necessity, they can also count on Kaku, Chou, and Yo. Besides, Chinatown has been very quiet lately.
Or, to be honest, i was targeted in a serious attack recently by several assassins of Expert level, but they were all routed by a mysterious red-haired girl who happened to be passing by—a mystery I'll solve another time—and it's unlikely the Triads can afford to hire any more of the same level for quite some time. So, there are no obstacles to my training."
At these words, Kenichi's eyes widened, while Ma Kensei shot a look of astonishment and gratitude toward Ranma, who shrugged it off with a tilt of his head, as if to say, "Eh, no big deal…"
Miu, on the other hand, was brooding with anguish over something else (though the repeated mention of the mysterious red-haired girl piqued her curiosity more than ever).
It's because of me… It's because she lost to me yesterday that Renka feels this way...
"Alright, Renka," said the Master at last, "you can train here every day after school, like Kenichi and Miu. Stand beside Kenichi and, to start, repeat his exercises as a warm-up."
"Yes, Master!"
Miu felt a pang in her heart, though she didn't understand its origin, as she watched Renka position herself next to Kenichi and begin training with him (even though she looked like a scolded dog, and he avoided her gaze, still upset).
Despite that, Miu seemed shocked to see the two of them train together.
At that moment, Ranma appeared behind her, hanging upside down from a branch like Shigure had earlier, and whispered, with a hint of teasing:
"Well, it seems you influence those around you too, Furinji. Though perhaps this isn't the development you would have wanted…"
But that wasn't the last surprise Ryozampaku would see that week.
On Thursday, the Valkyries—all eight of them—came to beg for training with Shigure. In response, she used the sheath of a dagger to disarm them all and shred their clothes, causing Kenichi to faint with a nosebleed. For good measure, he received a punch from Miu for looking, while Renka tended to him. Kensei Ma, meanwhile, exploded with excitement, snapping photos like crazy, while Ranma blushed with a mixture of embarrassment and bewilderment—but while the girls scrambled to cover themselves, deeply embarrassed, the Master of Swords and All Weapons seemed pleased.
"Compared…to last time…each of you blocked…one blow…you've…improved."
"I can train you a bit… but not here. I'll come every Thursday afternoon…to the Shimpaku Alliance's headquarters."
The girls' expressions changed to happiness, and they gathered their things and left.
Shortly after, the three henchmen of Nijima, namely Kamioka, Kimoto, and Matsui (with clear traces of nosebleeds, indicating they had crossed paths with the Valkyries on their way in), entered through the open gate and, somewhat embarrassed, presented themselves to Master Sakaki, begging him to train them.
Sakaki couldn't believe his ears, but after a series of "I don't take students," he received a fiery glance from Miu, urging him not to refuse paying customers.
Reluctantly, he allowed them to come, but only together and only on Thursday afternoons, starting from the following week. For the rest of the week, they would be better off working on their basic physical fitness if they hoped to survive his training.
The three paid for the month and then, somewhat frightened, ran off to train.
Miu was overjoyed, clutching all the yen the Ryozampaku had earned in a single day, more than what they had earned in many previous months all at once. Her eyes had yen symbols, and she sounded like a cash register.
Ranma, predictably, was a bit perplexed by the turn of events.
From behind him, the Elder approached.
"Uhuhu, Ranma-kun... it seems that since you started visiting our dojo, things at the Ryozampaku have improved. Your little scuffle on Tuesday night had the effect of making many of Kenichi's friends reflect on their own limitations and push themselves to improve. And of course, it doesn't hurt that they want to train here."
"You say so, Elder? We'll see if they last. Looking at some of them, I wouldn't give them two days."
Hayato merely chuckled, then looked at the ponytailed boy again.
He also has an influence on those around him... but indirectly, not like me or Kenichi... he's more the type to lead by example and then let others find their own way... in fact, just like Saiga.
But it was Friday morning when Ranma received the biggest surprise of all, although at first, the ponytailed boy didn't realize it.
Through the Ryozampaku's gate came a young man with a large brown tuft of hair.
Shigure was the first to greet the guest, appearing, yet again, hanging upside down from a tree branch. "And you... who might you be?"
The young man was surprised for an unusually short time, considering the situation, and then began to recite verses.
"Oh, pure lady, what kind fate has brought us together? Thine eyes shine like the snow on Mount Fuji's peak. Thine hair is black and smooth like the wings of ravens, messengers of the skies. Could you be an illusion? A wicked fox?* Please, do not confuse this innocent heart."
Then, pulling a bouquet of flowers out of nowhere, he asked, "Will you go out with me?"
Ranma, training in the courtyard with Hayato and dodging the swings of large wooden clubs, heard a loud BONK! and was permitted to go see what was happening.
What he absolutely did not expect was to see the young man, dressed in a richly decorated hakama and samue, lying on the ground, bound like a sausage, with a lump on his head that Shigure had given him with one of her tonfa.
"KUNO? But... what's he doing here?"
Suddenly, a flood of memories related to Nerima came rushing back to him—many pleasant, some unpleasant, both old and recent. Unfortunately, most of the memories associated with Kuno were negative.
"Do you know him, Ranma?" asked the Weapon Master.
"Unfortunately, yes. His name is Tatewaki Kuno. He was my senpai in high school. A Kendo practitioner, fairly strong, but nowhere near my level. He's from a wealthy family, very arrogant, and a bit off in the head.
Specifically, he's a sort of maniac who jumps on every woman he sees, though he's not quite on the level of Master Ma or the old man Happosai. Unlike them, however, he lives under the delusion that every woman he sees will fall in love with him at first sight, and he doesn't take 'NO' for an answer."
As he said this, a couple of things clicked into place. He turned to Shigure and asked, "Shigure, did you tie him up because he hit on you?"
"More or... less."
"Ohoh, so he's a young man full of energy," chuckled Hayato, not at all bothered.
"If you want to put it that way..."
At that moment, the "young man full of energy" woke up and stood up as if nothing had happened.
"You hurt me," he said to Shigure with all the calm in the world.
"That was...actually the point," confirmed the woman.
"Hm... he recovered quickly," observed the Elder.
"Yeah, he's got the vitality of a cockroach." Confirmed Ranma.
Upon hearing that voice, Tatewaki Kuno turned, his expression surprised.
"Ranma Saotome. What are you doing here? What bizarre twist of fate has brought you across my path once again? Ah, yes, I understand. So you must have laid your eyes and claws on the tender maiden here. But if that's the case, the Blue Thunder will punish you in the name of—"
"Yeah, yeah, I know the whole spiel by heart. Do me a favor, Kuno: cool your imagination, for once, okay?
First of all, after all the time we've known each other, you should have realized that I'm not that kind of guy.
Second: the 'tender maiden' you're talking about is Shigure Kosaka, Prodigy of Swords and All Weapons, one of the Masters of this dojo, the Ryozampaku. I assure you that NO ONE IN THE WORLD could lay a finger on her without her consent unless they wanted to earn a one-way ticket to the afterlife. Tell him yourself, Shigure."
But the young woman didn't react as Ranma had expected.
Sitting on a rock in the garden, she was looking up dreamily.
"I've been... acknowledged as a woman!"
Ranma nearly fell to the ground for the surprise.
Kuno, on the other hand, seemed deeply impressed by the pigtailed boy's declaration.
How? So she must be the one!
Suddenly, he made an elegant Western-style bow and offered Shigure, instead of the whole bouquet, a single red rose, which she accepted after a brief hesitation.
"Please forgive me, gentle Master. The rudeness of this one here is unforgivable. I had come to this dojo to improve my skills, but I allowed worldly thoughts to distract me from my path. A sign, alas, that I still have much to learn."
Ranma was stunned, as were the others, who had now gathered to see what was happening.
Has Kuno's pompousness turned into... politeness? Elegance? Maybe Sakaki hit me too hard that time, and I'm still in a coma, dreaming this nightmare...
"Hmm, it's rare to find such a well-mannered young man," observed Koetsuji.
"Tsk! I don't like fancy lads," Sakaki remarked dismissively.
"Apa! Are roses good to eat?" asked the Thai giant.
"Wait... is that boy... hitting on Shigure? And she's letting him?" Kensei exclaimed, his face flushed.
"Hm... Ranma seems to know some peculiar people..." reflected Hayato.
"Since you're all here, allow me to introduce myself. I am Tatewaki Kuno, of the illustrious Kuno family, national champion (high school and university) of Kendo, both individually and in teams. I have come to this dojo because I heard that the Ryozampaku has a Master who could help me perfect my swordsmanship... though I never imagined it would be such a young maiden, more beautiful than any flower I could give her to apologize for my impudence."
Kensei was fuming, smoke practically coming out of his ears.
Ranma, on the other hand, couldn't believe his ears—a situation he had grown quite accustomed to by now.
"Hm... so you'd like to train here?" Hayato asked.
"Certainly. I have heard wonderful things about Ryozampaku, and now that I see Ranma Saotome here—a dear kohai of mine from high school, whose martial prowess is almost on par with mine—I have no more doubts about your worth."
The boy with the pigtail burst out.
"Listen up, you! Maybe the hit Shigure gave you was a bit too hard! Or perhaps it's the combined effect of all the hits you've taken over the years, from both me and every self-respecting girl living anywhere between Hawaii and Korea! It seems we remember a few details a bit differently, Kuno.
'Dear kohai?' 'Prowess almost on par with yours?'"
But the aristocratic boy ignored him, too busy showing off to the Masters.
"What do you think, Akisame? Do you think he could be a valuable addition to the dojo?"
"Hmm… I don't know, Elder. To be honest, it's strange. In just a few days, we've gathered more students than we've ever had. Sure, in terms of timing and…cough…financially, we could certainly add more, but... it's a decision Shigure must make. The boy would train with her, so she needs to feel comfortable. Especially given his... ahem, inclinations."
Shigure now sized up Kuno, as if trying to figure out the martial artist hidden behind the vain boy.
"Tell me, Kuno Tatewaki. You said you practice Kendo, right? And what else?"
The boy with the tuft turned to the Master and appeared to grow serious.
"Yes, I practice Kendo, both with the shinai and bokken, but I have recently moved on to Kenjutsu, an art with a long tradition in my family style. I've also learned the basics of blacksmithing to forge katanas myself."
Ranma remembered when, about a year ago, Kuno had hammered out a brand-new katana to try and cut him down during the Tanabata Festival*.
"Moreover, I've humbly spent time practicing other forms of Bujutsu, such as Iaido, Tanto Jutsu, Wakizashi and Kodachi Jutsu, Muto Dori, Ba Jutsu, Suiren, Tessen Jutsu, and Gunryaku Heiko. I regularly practice Mekkyo and Saimin Jutsu to perfect my mind and train myself to visualize my goals." (NDA: Seriously, look all of these up in the notes!) *
Ranma roughly knew about most of those things but wasn't impressed.
So, he believes himself to be an ancient samurai living in the 20th century… well, that explains all the poetic nonsense he always spouts and his obsessions… he's probably convinced himself he can succeed at anything through self-hypnosis and won't accept 'NO' as an answer from any girl…
But the others were quite impressed that someone so young was carrying on such ancient traditions with such diligence. Even Shigure seemed satisfied.
"Maybe… you might be suitable. But first..."
"First what? I'm willing to do anything to train with you, sweet Shigure."
Tsk! Yeah, not just for training, I bet…
In response, the ninja woman pulled out one of the weapons she carried on her back, a wakizashi still in its sheath.
"I want to verify... your level."
A spark of interest lit up in Kuno's eyes. "Hmm… stimulating. Very well."
All the Masters appeared interested, making space in a semicircle to let them duel freely.
Only Ranma began to sweat nervously.
"Kuno! You don't know what you're doing! Look, that woman... she's way stronger than me! You'll get hurt! Don't be fooled by the fact that she's only in her twenties! You might as well be dueling with old Happosai himself!"
"Your concern for me is as unexpected as it is appreciated, Ranma Saotome, especially considering our past. But don't worry, I won't hurt HER too badly."
"Stupid idiot! You heard EVERYTHING and understood NOTHING!"
Meanwhile, Shigure, seeing that Kuno had pulled out his usual wooden bokken from the various weapons he carried in a kind of quiver, signaled for him to throw it away and take the katana instead.
He was quite shocked by the audacity of the Master, but after a moment of hesitation, he slowly and uncertainly complied. The katana he unsheathed was new and of excellent craftsmanship, gleaming in the autumn sun.
"Remember, you asked for this. Kuno Tatewaki does not harm maidens, but if that's what you want… PREPARE YOURSELF!"
Kuno's forward strike was easily blocked by Shigure, who crossed her weapon horizontally.
What? I'm pushing with my whole body, gripping the katana with both hands, and she's holding the wakizashi with one hand... and she's not moving an inch? And the sheath isn't even scratched! Yet this is a top-quality blade.
With a slight shift, the ninja woman pushed him back to his starting point.
Tatewaki was sweating cold.
After a brief moment of reflection, he charged again, launching a series of thrusts, the same ones he used regularly against Ranma during their high school years, but, if possible, with even less success.
Shigure had a serene expression on her face, but while she blocked all his blows without even looking, one of Akisame's old statues resting along the boundary wall behind her exploded into pieces.
"Hey! That was my work!" protested the philosopher and Jujitsu master.
"Hmm… the boy has learned how to generate air shifts with his strikes," observed Hayato. "His physical abilities are superhuman, but his technical level is a bit lacking… I'm not surprised he won the national championships, but he doesn't go much beyond that... he hasn't managed to develop his physical and technical skills in parallel... he could really use a good Master."
Ranma was sweating cold watching the scene. It reminded him of one of the first times he had beaten Kuno at Furinkan High School. And if that was any indication…
"Move! Protect the trees, the buildings! Hurry!"
"Huh? What do you mean?" asked Sakaki.
Almost as if in response, Kuno, growing impatient, began executing wide, cutting strikes. Shigure started dodging them with the same troll-like expression on her face, as if she were skipping rope like a child.
However, as she moved and Kuno, frustrated, followed her, wildly swinging his sword, everyone had to dodge to avoid being caught in the crossfire.
They soon realized Ranma's warning about protecting the vegetation: as the boy with the pigtail remembered well, Tatewaki had a terrible relationship with trees, often slicing them in half without a care as he tried to hit his opponents, as well as with walls and other furnishings.
But Ranma's concerns were unnecessary, as Shigure, almost sensing the danger, began to hop around, carefully avoiding anything that could be damaged. As a result, Kuno's slashes only hit the air, damaging at most a couple of protruding branches and roof tiles.
Tsk! Good thing it's morning, and Kenichi and Miu are at school!
After a series of other failed strikes, Kuno stopped to catch his breath, astonished.
Strong… she's so strong…
Shigure, however, didn't seem to be done having fun, pulling down her lower eyelid with one finger, like a child, while sticking her tongue out at him, daring him to continue.
Koetsuji realized that this was a bit too much. "Shigure-san… when this is over, we'll need to have a talk about tact..."
The others were laughing out loud. Ranma was pulling his hair out.
Only Kensei was enthusiastically cheering for Shigure, waving both Chinese and Japanese flags and eating popcorn while yelling, "Go Shigure! Kill him! Teach him a lesson about respecting you!" (completely missing the irony in his statement...)
Tatewaki, on the other hand, was furious.
"Urgh… no one mocks Tatewaki Kuno. NO ONE!"
And then, he swung a more powerful slash than the others, and something happened.
From the strike, a blade of air seemed to split off, shaped like a crescent moon, and launched itself at Shigure with great speed.
A sort of lightning bolt shot through everyone's minds, realizing the novelty.
Even Kuno seemed surprised by what he had done.
Shigure went from genuine astonishment to a sly and satisfied smile.
"But, what…?" Ranma barely had time to think.
And then there was a sharp sound, and the wind whistled, scattering all around.
Shigure had unsheathed the Wakizashi and held it raised upwards. She had performed a counter-slash that intercepted and dispersed the wind blade thrown by Kuno. However, the technique was undeniably effective, as indicated by the Master's expression.
"Not…bad," she conceded.
Kuno himself seemed unaware of what had just happened.
But… what did I just do?
Ranma was dumbfounded.
"That… was a new technique? He developed it instinctively, in the heat of battle? Someone like him? No, it's as if…"
"Shigure did well," Koetsuji noted.
"Yes, she brought out that boy's latent potential," confirmed Hayato.
"Latent potential?" asked Ranma.
"Certainly," Akisame confirmed. "Shigure noticed that Kuno was able to manipulate the air with his strikes, but he hadn't made the next step of developing that ability into a decisive technique.
Now those… wind blades can become a useful tool for fighting at a distance, even while using a close-range weapon like a sword."
Amazing… The technique resembled the Kijin Raishu Dan of Ryu Kumon's Yamasen Ken, but it was a bit less powerful, and it was made of air, not emptiness. Indeed, he had heard that wind could cut, but he had never seen it before. *
"So that boy…" Sakaki began.
"Yeah," Akisame confirmed. "He uses the Ki of the Dou."
So… Kuno isn't just an idiot? Ranma thought
Kuno, meanwhile, had gone from surprise to excitement.
Then I can do it!
"Shigure-dono, I am grateful to you for helping me develop this technique, but now… I will test it on you, to teach you not to mock my august person!"
"Deadly Technique: Multiple Wind Blades Descending from the Sky to Punish Evil!"
Ranma pinched his nose with his index finger and thumb.
…but he hasn't lost the habit of giving ridiculous names to his techniques!
Kuno shone with Ki, starting to perform a series of rapid slashes, and from each of them, a crescent of wind like before was unleashed, flying at high speed towards Shigure from various directions, apparently blocking every escape route…
…but in reality, the girl began to dance between the blades, moving so fast that she left afterimages, and was even gradually drawing closer.
Until she disappeared and reappeared with her face right in front of Tatewaki's.
"We're… a bit lacking… in defense… aren't we?"
And with that, she struck him in the chest with the hilt of the Wakizashi, smashing him against the wall, leaving a web of cracks.
The boy barely raised his head, eyes half-closed. "Damn…"
The Masters were cheering, mostly for the development the aspiring student had just shown, but Ranma felt a strange sensation.
New. Unfamiliar.
Something about this felt wrong. Why did it feel wrong?
Kuno had been his rival, a nuisance, though not for a long time now. They were no longer enemies, but he hadn't forgotten the humiliations he had suffered every time, in his female form, he needed something, or the constant groping attempts Kuno would make.
And yet…
Yet he was still someone he knew, someone he had shared part of his life's journey with.
A rival he had fought many times.
A person who knew the Tendo family.
A companion with whom he had shared adventures, like when they all went to Nekonron, China, to face the Seven Lucky Gods, or when they shipwrecked in the South Seas on Touma's island.
And then… and then…
Why do I want to see him put up a good fight?
Is it because I have just seen that he has more potential than he ever showed me?
Is it because if he developed it, would it finally be fun to fight him?
Is it because he's someone from my "past" life, and I don't want him to look bad in front of the people in my "present" life?
But in the end, does it really matter?
And he ran off.
The others noticed, but had no time to ask him why.
Kuno was struggling to get back up, but barely stood.
"You… have to surrender," Shigure ordered. "As you can see, you're… better than you… appear, but there's no… point in continuing this… battle."
"Never! Tatewaki Kuno dies, but does not surrender! I may be defeated, but there's no way I can't land at least a single strike on my opponent!"
"Well! The boy's got guts!" Sakaki conceded.
"Apa! Ranma's friends," Apachai squeaked, "are as stubborn as him!"
At that moment, the "stubborn one" emerged from the pantry, carrying a large basket with half a dozen watermelons on his shoulders. The looks on everyone's faces could only be described as astonished.
I made it in time.
"HEY! SENPAI!"
Kuno, despite using the katana like a cane to prop himself up, turned his gaze toward him. "Saotome! What madness is this? Does this seem like the time for a snack?"
"Yes, it seems like the perfect time!" declared Ranma, bouncing a watermelon in one hand. "Take this!" and he tossed it at him.
At first, no one understood the reason for this gesture, not even Kuno.
Then, when he saw the watermelon just a meter away, he had a flash.
The katana sliced through the air, quick and precise.
The various slices of watermelon, perfectly cut, fell onto the freshly mown grass.
But… but why did I do that? It was like… an instinct… a memory…
"Very good! Keep it up! Let's turn this battle into a real party!" And he began throwing all the watermelons at him, one by one.
"Saotome! What are you doing? This is a serious duel!" Kuno protested, though, in the meantime, he instinctively cut all the watermelons into pieces, perfectly suited to be eaten…
…and in fact, the Masters of Ryozampaku had caught them in midair and were improvising a picnic, with Apachai stuffing his face without restraint, and Hayato trying to ask, in a philosophical tone, "um… Akisame, what do you think Ranma's goal is?" (though it would have been more authoritative if his mouth hadn't been smeared with juice and his beard wasn't full of seeds).
"Hmm… I don't know, Elder, but I see that… he's advancing toward Kuno with the last watermelon in hand?"
"SAOTOMEEE! You're ruining my sacred duel with the sweet Shigure! How dare you? I'LL KILL YOU!"
"Oh, come on, no need to get so worked up, senpai," Ranma declared, mockingly, literally dancing between all the strikes he was dodging. "Maybe you should… COOL OFF A LITTLE!"
And with that, she darted behind him and placed the watermelon on top of his head.
Instinctively, Kuno brought his sword down flat on the obstacle, and in doing so, he ended up with his head fully encased in the watermelon.
For a moment, an awkward silence fell.
Tochoumaru and his little animal friends passed by, accompanied by the autumn wind.
Everyone's eyes were wide as saucers, and they even stopped eating (except for Apachai, of course).
Then, the watermelon cracked and fell to the ground in pieces.
Kuno, however, was back in form.
But he no longer looked like himself.
His eyes showed only the whites, and his expression was ruthless and determined. He stood tall, chest puffed out, and gripped his sword with both hands, brimming with pride.
His body began to glow with the Ki of Dou.
Ranma quickly backed away, and in three jumps, he was back in the midst of the Masters.
Shigure, on the other hand, watched with interest at the new state of her opponent.
"Ranma-kun...what have you done?" Kensei Ma asked him.
"Oh, I simply made his deepest self emerge. Or, in the terminology I've learned here, I helped him unleash his true potential and release his Ki of Dou.
You see, Kuno, in this state, is not truly himself. It's as if he's fighting in a state of unconsciousness. Right now, he's not a mere braggart or a pervert; he's like a living embodiment of swordsmanship."
"And... what past incident triggers this psychic reaction? Does it have something to do with watermelons?" Akisame inquired, curious.
"Exactly. It was about two years ago. He went to the legendary Watermelon Island to...train to defeat me—" Ranma said quickly.
[In truth, saying "to learn how to slice watermelons for a picnic with my female half" would have drained the drama from the story. ]
"And so-he continued-he underwent a legendary training that involved hundreds of watermelons being released from a net, falling down the waterfall.
To avoid being crushed, you have to train at super-speed, slicing the watermelons and developing attack and defense reflexes at divine levels. I must admit, that time, he ALMOST managed to beat me."
"Well then," Sakaki conceded.
"It's just that—" Ranma continued, "—if a watermelon doesn't crash onto his head again, he won't return to that unconscious fighting state, and all the skills he learned that time are, so to speak, forgotten."
Akisame looked pleased. "You wanted to give your friend a chance against Shigure. Despite what you'd like us to believe, you're generous, Ranma."
The boy turned away, shyly. "He's NOT my friend. It's just that... it would've been too boring if he'd lost right away, that's all." The others chuckled.
And then... if your true potential is what I saw before... I want you to train at Ryozampaku, and in a few months, I'll fight you again. You can count on that!
Kuno measured the distance to Shigure, who was watching him cautiously, and suddenly dashed into attack.
With a completely different footwork, he began to spin rapidly, attacking with broad horizontal sword strokes, constantly changing the height of the blows and attacking with one continuous, fluid motion.
He looked like a spinning top, or a tornado.
Even Shigure had never seen anything like it.
"Apa! This fight is getting interesting!" cheered the Muay Thai Master.
The Mistress of Swords and All Weapons found herself on the defensive.
She evaded the attack of that metal tornado by leaping back and bouncing around the courtyard.
She tried to intercept the blows with her Wakizashi, but since the attack pattern made no sense, the strikes she blocked were simply deflected, and the onslaught continued as if nothing had happened, at most producing sparks.
Several minutes passed.
Shigure wasn't even close to fighting at her full ability, but as long as the newcomer maintained this level, it was difficult to defeat him without picking up the pace.
It was as if he was fighting purely on instinct.
Hmm... so this is the true strength of this boy? And Ranma...wanted me to see it?
At one point, she tried to stop the blade by planting the Wakizashi to intercept the Katana with brute force, but the sword bounced off, and an accident occurred.
Kuno's katana sliced through the front of Shigure's outfit, exposing her bare breasts.
Ranma couldn't help but jump, blushing as red as his tunic.
Kensei fainted, spurting blood like a fountain, a blissful expression in his face (this, however, prevented him from snapping any photos, and he would be depressed about it for the next three months).
Sakaki covered his eyes, while the Elder covered Apachai's, who asked, "What's happening? Is it Miu, did I guess right?"
Paradoxically, only Shigure, after the initial shock, remained calm, although Kuno, despite being unconscious, was distracted by the heavenly sight.
He snapped back to his previous self and yelled, "An opening!" attacking with a wide and powerful slash.
A few seconds later, the unfortunate Kuno was lying on the ground with a couple of kunai sticking out of his back and the rear of his head...
Ranma had only just recovered, and between embarrassment, shock, and disappointment, he wasn't sure what he was feeling. He then took a deep breath and calmed down.
Sorry, senpai, I really tried…
At that moment, Shigure approached him, her outfit hastily patched together, with Kuno's katana slung over her shoulder, still in its sheath, and dragging the unlucky aristocrat by the collar of his clothing.
"Hey… Ranma…"
"Uh… yes, Shigure-san?"
"Your… ex-senpai is… an interesting type. I think I'll… accept him… as a student."
The boy with the pigtail lit up, as did the other Masters.
"Really?"
"Yes, though… we'll have to… work quite a bit with him. But he has… potential. Plus, it will… do him good to have… a woman as a Master. Maybe, despite… everything, he won't end up… like that other one… down there."
"That other one down there" was Ma Kensei, who had been laid out on a blanket by Akisame and, judging by his expression, was dreaming sweet dreams of… softness and roundness.
"Heh, yeah," Ranma conceded.
And the Master of Weapons walked away, dragging her new student to Akisame's clinic for treatment, but giving the boy with the pigtail a nod as if to say, "well done."
Ranma was beaming.
The number of students at Ryozampaku was really growing, and he realized that much of it was his merit.
Moreover, for some reason, he was glad that Kuno would be part of it, even if they would have (or perhaps because of this) a relationship on entirely different grounds compared to the past.
Yeah, why... why am I so happy about this?
That there's someone from my past here, even if it's Kuno?
Maybe... I miss my old life after all?
What do I... really want?
To reclaim the good things from the past?
Or to project myself toward discovering the future?
Glossary
Heaven's Messengers: In Japanese mythology, crows are intermediaries between the Earth and the Deities. The Yagata Karasu, or Three-Legged Crow, in mythology, saved the life of Emperor Jimmu, guiding him in the founding of Japan at the request of the Goddess Amaterasu.
Fox: As anyone who has seen Naruto knows, in Japan, it is believed that there are demonic spirits, the Kitsune, that can take the form of a fox (gaining more tails and thus wisdom and magical power over time) but can also appear as beautiful women. These fox-women often seduce men only to deceive them.
Hakama and Samue: The traditional clothing that Kuno always wears, although that is more of a Kendoka uniform (Practitioner of Kendo), while here I mean the pant-skirt (Hakama) that men wear and the shirt with a fold on the other side (Samue) that he often wears. I intend to suggest that Kuno is putting on a "casual" and "luxury" version of his usual clothing.
: Kendo is the art of the sword understood as a sport and a method of personal improvement, like modern martial arts. The Shinai is the training sword made of bamboo, and the Bokken is the solid wood sword that Kuno always uses. KenJutsu is the ancient sword art used by Samurai on the battlefield with real swords.
: This happened in volume 35 of Ranma, chapter 377.
: They are all martial arts that are part of Bu Jutsu, the traditional arts of the Samurai (and there are even more...). "Jutsu," as you now know, means "Technique."
The Tanto is a small dagger; Wakizashi and Kodachi are short swords, often used in pairs with a katana, but the Kodachi is often longer and more curved than a Wakizashi.
Iaido is the art of striking with the katana while drawing it quickly from the sheath.
Muto Dori are unarmed disarmament techniques.
Ba Jutsu is horseback riding.
Suiren is the ability to swim in military contexts (or to wade through rivers in armor).
Tessen Jutsu is the art of fighting with a fan with metal tips.
Gunryaku Heiko is the study of ancient military tactics of generals.
Mekkyo is a form of transcendental Zen meditation of Buddhist origin.
Saimin Jutsu is a set of visualization techniques for achieving goals through self-hypnosis (NDA: which would explain a lot about Kuno's mental issues...).
: The Kijin Raishu Dan (Multiple Strikes of the Demon God) is the final technique of Yamasen Ken, the martial art created by Genma and used by Ryu Kumon, Ranma's rival in volume 28 of the Manga.
9* Respectively, the first and second Ranma films.
10* Episode of the Anime "The Watermelon Island", chapters 191-193, volume 19.
Author's Note:
This chapter is a direct consequence of the previous, and it creates the premise for the next one.
In order to start training from scratch, i've preferred to chose the "minions in the background" of Ryozampaku, plus Ukita, whose uselessness in manga always irked me, since he was such a good character.
Ryozampaku is now full of students, if only for some days a week.
Takeda and Freya already have Masters, while Thor and Siegfried can't train at Ryozampaku.
Some people have made me realize i was rushing a bit on a supposed "closeness" between Ranma and Miu. They were probably right, although everything was then on hold until now, and will still be on hold for some more chapters.
I'm translating the fic and don't intend to make changes to how i originally envisioned, right or wrong that it was. They're not "in love", but they surely are getting closer. And it's not like Miu has forgotten Kenichi all of a sudden.
Then there's the secret of Ranma still kept from Miu. Strange as may seem, he simply doesn't want to seem TOO weird to some people with whom to start anew. BUT, this secret will have consequences…in the next chapters. Not immediately, but wait 4-5 more and you'll see.
Back to the point, Kuno is another character from Ranma coming into Kenichi's world. His interactions with the cast seemed to me pretty logical.
I wanted to imagine him as a bit more mature, but still the same, overall. His delusional pompousness might seem, to the untrained eye, some old-fashioned charm, so it was fun to imagine him being appreciated by other weirdos. Kuno also has a bit of unexplored potential as a fighter, and that's all Ryozampaku does: allow people to bring it unto the surface.
He also raises, indirectly, some questions in Ranma, not the most obvious ones, about past and present.
Will he be the only one to appear? The only way to discover it is to continue following
In chapter 11, we'll see Kisara again. And i promise you'll like it