[Ranma/RK][FanFic] Rurouni Ranma, Part 7-10 (Revised)

[Ryoga P Hibiki]

Ruroni RanmaRuroni Ranma

Part 7

The Wandering Street fighter.

+++++++++++++++

Ranma blinked in confusion and
shook his head as he sat
across from Yuriko and simply
looked at her blankly. "Oro? A
street fighter you say?
Looking for me?"

"Does it sound familiar?"
asked Nabiki looking
interested as usual.

"Not really, I don't know any
street fighters, at least they
weren't street fighters when I
knew them," said Ranma calmly.
He didn't really seem all that
concerned with this new
development.

"Well, he isn't very smart if
he thought the elementary
school was a high school,"
noted Akane lazily.

"Maybe he thought Ranma would
be there instead? He does look
rather young," noted Kasumi.

"That could be true," admitted
Ranma. "I don't really see any
reason to get worked up about
it, we'll meet him soon enough
I think."

"What are you going to do when
you meet him Ranma?" said
Akane warily.

"Not sure, I'll think of
something," said Ranma with a
casual smile.

+++++++++++++++++++

The next several days passed
quietly for the Tendo
household. Well as quietly as
they could considering. Ranma
mostly sat around with Soun
while Yuriko and Akane,
trained. The training mostly
consisted of Yuriko
complaining while Akane did
her best to teach her the
fundamentals of marital arts.
The girl caught on quickly,
but not without a fight.

++++++++++++++++++

Akane sat alone with Yuriko
and Ranma at the table after
the lesson was over. "I hate
her!" fumed Akane as she sat
down with the two men and
pouted.

"Have a little patience she is
learning after all," said
Ranma cheerfully.

"Indeed Akane, I think this is
a wonderful learning
experience for you, when I
leave this world the dojo will
fall in your hands. Especially
if you marry Ranma," said the
eldest Tendo sagely.

"Well, I'm not gonna!"
retorted the girl angrily.

Ranma found himself drenched
with a bucket of cold water as
Yuriko appeared behind her.
"Hey, I need someone to go
shopping with me."

"Oro? What's wrong with
Akane?" said Ranma in mild
surprise.

"What do you need to go
shopping for anyway?" said
Akane with a small measure of
amusement on her face. It left
quickly when Ranma's now dark
and somber look crossed her
eyes.

Yuriko blushed slightly.
"Nothing, I just need to."

The pony tailed martial artist
seemed to understand. "All
right, but just this once. I
don't exactly go around this
way normally."

Yuriko got a relieved look on
her face and followed Ranma
out the door.

+++++++++++++++++++

Out in the street she paused
and looked at the girl with a
knowing smile. "So, how long
has it been happening?"

"A couple of days, I'm not
scared or nothin, but it's
embarrassing," commented the
girl as they walked along. "I
don't suppose you'll lend me
the money?"

Ranma sighed and pulled his
wallet out of his gi. "I
suppose, I really wish you'd
go to Akane with these things,
or even Kasumi if it bothers
you that much.
I'm not a real girl you know."

"I'm just not comfortable with
that stuff around them ya
know?" said the girl as her
blush deepened.

"Well, you are at that age I
suppose, still. I'm not all
that comfortable dealing with
it either," commented Ranma
casually.

"Besides, she'd just tease me,
and if Kasumi found out about
it I know she'd tell Akane."
Yuriko smiled at her companion
and looked away.

"How do you know I won't tell
her?" commented Ranma with a
somewhat pleasant smile on her
face.

"Please, she avoids you like
the plague," snorted the girl.
"Besides, I don't know why,
but I trust you."

Ranma nodded at this and
seemed pleased. "Well, she is
going to find out anyway you
know."

Yuriko nodded, "I know, but
she won't bother me about it
if she doesn't know it's my
first time."

Ranma sighed. "Yuriko, she's
your sensei, you have to trust
her more. Besides, I might not
be around forever."

The girl paled at this, "I'm
going with you if you leave!"
she announced. "The only
reason I hang around is
because you're there!"

Ranma sighed and put his hand
on her shoulder. "Yuriko, I
want you to stay with Akane if
I go. When you're older and
more skilled I'll be glad to
have you along, but right now
you need to build your skills.
The world needs strong
fighters to keep the peace."

"I want you to teach me! I
don't care if it's Hiten
Mitsurugi or not! I want to be
strong like you!" cried the
girl.

"I can't do that Yuriko, I'm
sorry. I won't teach you how
to fight with a sword; and my
skill in the Anything Goes
School isn't what it used to
be. Akane is a much more
capable teacher than I would
be," said Ranma firmly. "Come
on, we'd better get to the
store."

Yuriko nodded solemnly and
walked with her.

++++++++++++++++

The next morning Ranma walked
to school with Akane. "Where
did you two go yesterday
anyway?"

Ranma looked at her and
smiled. "I promised I wouldn't
say."

Akane glared at him and
stopped. "What's that supposed
to mean?"

"Mean? Akane, I gave my word,
I'm sorry. If she feels like
telling you she will," replied
the boy lazily. "She just
doesn't trust you enough right
now, she will in time."

"Doesn't trust me? What does
that mean? Why does she trust
you so much anyway?" cried
Akane angrily as she chased
after him again. Ranma smiled
and kept a steady pace ahead
of her.

++++++++++++++++++

The day went by quickly. As
the classes let out for the
day a lone figure stood
waiting at the gates. He
reached down and grabbed the
first student to walk close by
him. "Where is Ranma Saotome?"

The boy about shook with fear
at the imposing figure holding
him by his collar.
The newcomer was dressed in
traveling clothes with a white
over shirt on, on his back was
a massive pack that seemed
weighed down almost as it hung
off his shoulders. Tied across
his forehead was a blood red
bandanna.

"Saotome?" quivered the boy
nervously. He pointed to a boy
quietly walking across the
schoolyard in a boy's uniform
blending in with the crowd
accept for the katana that
hung from his hip.

"At last I've found you!"
whispered the boy with a dark
smile on his lips.

++++++++++++++

Ranma stopped and side stepped
as a crater formed where he
once stood moments before.
Slowly a figure rose from the
dust cloud that formed as a
result of the impact. All
those surrounding the scene
stopped cold and stared at
Ranma and the newcomer.

Akane froze in place and
stared at the pair as they
watched each other passively
for a moment. Ranma's face was
calm and patient, and the new
boy merely had a smirk
crossing his features.

"Tell me. Who are you?" asked
Ranma.

The boy laughed out loud and
dusted off his pants. "You
don't remember me? I shouldn't
be surprised after all these
years. I am the street fighter
Tetsukasa.
I've come to challenge you as
I promised ten years ago."

Ranma raised his eyebrow
slightly and looked the boy up
and down. "Tetsukasa? I don't
recall knowing anyone by that
name..."

Nabiki appeared next to Ranma
and stared at the new boy in
shock. "Tetsukasa? The
invincible street fighter?
Ranma, he's a mercenary, a
thug for hire. He fights all
across Japan! I've heard
stories about him."

The boy smiled and pointed at
Ranma. "That's right, I've
trained my whole life for this
moment."

Ranma smiled lightly. "You're
Ryoga Hibiki aren't you? It's
been a while."

The boy nodded his head. "And
you're Ranma Saotome, or
should I say... Hitokiri
Battosai?" The small crowd
surrounding them froze in
place and all attention turned
towards Ranma.

The boy merely stood
motionless and watched
Tetsukasa silently giving no
indication of surprise or any
other emotion.

"I heard stories of a Japanese
soldier in that war, the
strongest warrior. He fought
for around five years, the
first half as a silent killer
working for the Chinese
Government. The greatest that
ever lived, the second half he
defended the village of
Amazons against the final
attacks of the Musk, even
participating in the final
assault. I've heard you've
become a gentle vagabond
though. I'm curious as to what
might cause that."

Ranma raised his eyebrow
slightly. "I got tired of
killing."

Akane looked at her fiancee
and passed out in a dead
faint. Nabiki looked like she
was about ready to join her.

"I accept your challenge, we
will face each other as we did
all those years ago." Ranma
took his sword off his waist
and handed it to Nabiki. "With
our fists."

Tetsukasa merely chuckled. "I
don't think so Ranma, our true
skills do not lie in our
fists. It would be a joke to
fight you without a sword,"
replied Ryoga shaking his
head. "You will face me as a
true man."

Ranma paused and stared the
boy down. "As you wish."

"This place is too small,
we'll fight in that field,"
Tetsukasa pointed towards a
soccer field a short distance
away.

The boy pulled a large metal
umbrella from his backpack and
chuckled to himself. Nabiki
raised her eyebrow slightly
and moved closer to him. "Is
that where you got your name?"

"Tetsukasa? Yes, it means Iron
Umbrella, my weapon of choice.
I've cut down many opponents
with this," replied the boy
with a shrug. He swung the
thing around as if it was made
of paper and rested it against
his shoulder.

Nabiki nodded and moved away.
"All right, betting starts at
a thousand yen minimum. Come
on and get started before the
main event!" A crowd of
students formed around her as
her assistants seemed to
appear out of nowhere and
start taking down the names of
the students.

Akane woke up in a daze and
saw her sister standing over
her. "Nabiki I just had the
weirdest dream..." She blinked
when she realized she really
was lying on the ground.

"Does it involve finding out
your fiancee is the legendary
Battosai?" asked Nabiki with
remarkable calm.

The girl sat up and stared at
the two men as the patiently
stood off against each other
waiting for the betting to
complete. "Ranma!"

Ranma stood facing off against
his opponent and smirked
casually at him. Akane
approached him carefully from
the side. "Ranma, you don't
need to do this!"

"I made a promise Akane, I
have to keep it. Don't worry,
no one is going to die, I
promise," the boy smiled at
her and stepped back away from
her. She nodded and moved to
the sidelines. Ranma looked up
at his opponent again. "This
room enough?"

"More than enough to beat you
Battosai," replied Ryoga with
a smirk. "Come on!"
The boy charged forward
swinging his arm out and
opening the umbrella. It slid
open quickly with a loud
clank. The boy stopped dead in
his tracks about twenty yards
in front of Ranma and heaved
his arm sending the umbrella
towards his opponent in a wide
spinning arc.

Ranma merely moved very
slightly to his right to avoid
the projectile and then to his
left as it passed by again and
returned to Ryoga's hand.
"Impressive trick."

"This is why I'm called
Tetsukasa," replied the lost
boy casually as he pulled
several bandanas from his
forehead. "Now I'll show you
why I've never been defeated!"
His arm shot forward sending
waves of spinning disks flying
through the air toward Ranma.
The swordsman dodged around
them skillfully and drew his
sword knocking a few of the
more erratic spinning
projectiles out of the air.
"You should learn more control
before attempting that move.
Someone could get hurt if they
fly around to wildly," said
Ranma as he landed on the
ground again with his sword
still drawn. He was now in a
kenjitsu stance and staring
the boy down more carefully
than before.

"They knew the dangers when
they chose to become
spectators," snorted Ryoga in
reply.

"You're careless," noted Ranma
calmly as he charged forward.
Ryoga smiled and pulled the
closed umbrella off his chest
swinging it in a wide arc
towards Ranma's head.

The pair clashed in a wave of
motion that was hard for the
crowd to follow. They stood
opposite each other in the
field and finally stood
upright.

"Ranma won," said Nabiki
happily.

Akane shook her head. "Not
yet, this isn't a test of
skill."

Her sister looked at her and
blinked before turning back to
the field to see Ryoga
laughing cruelly.

"What happened?" wondered
Ranma as he heard the boy
laughing behind him. "That was
a definite hit! He's strong,
this is going to be tougher
than I thought."

His features hardened and he
turned around to see Ryoga
still had his back turned to
him. The kanji for evil
flapped in the wind against
his back as he slowly turned
to face his opponent again.

"This isn't a contest of skill
Battosai, the better swordsman
isn't going to win! It will be
the last man standing."

Akane stood with her sister on
the sidelines with a worried
look on her face.
"This is a test of endurance.
Ryoga has much more than Ranma
does; he's not a swordsman,
but a fighter. He's used to
taking heavy blows. Who could
have guessed he'd be strong
enough to take one of Ranma's
Hiten Mitsurugi techniques?"

++++++++++++++
Ruroni Ranma

Part 8

The thing about a girl's
hair...

+++++++++++++

Ranma stood calmly as Ryoga
faced him again. The street
fighter was smiling.
"Tetsukasa, the man you knew
died in China."

"That doesn't matter to me,
all that matters is the fact
that I am your strongest
opponent!" screamed the boy as
he charged again.

Ranma feinted away and slashed
at the boy's side. Ryoga
faltered and turned creating a
wide defensive arc with his
metal umbrella. "Stop playing
around Battosai! Use the blade
you're so famous for!" snarled
Ryoga angrily.

++++++++++++

Akane froze and stared at the
scene in shock. "He hasn't hit
Ryoga yet!"

Nabiki looked at her sister
and furrowed her brow in
disbelief. "What are you
talking about? You saw him
take the hit."

The girl shook her head.
"Ranma hasn't touched him with
the sword yet. What's going on
here?" The pair clashed again
and a strange sound floated
over to Akane, it sounded like
a strange vibration in the air
almost. She saw a flash of
motion for a split second by
the street fighter's gut.
"What?"

+++++++++++++++

"I have to admit that hurts,
but how long can you keep it
up Ranma?" snarled Ryoga as he
rose from his knees and threw
the umbrella again followed by
a volley of bandannas.

Ranma's expression didn't
change as he turned around and
faced him again. "I can do
this as long as I need too."

Tetsukasa merely smirked.
"We'll see, I'll have you
taking me seriously enough
before this ends!" He charged
again but changed his tactics.
As soon as Ranma closed in on
him he shifted his weight,
stepped back away from him,
and opened the umbrella.

Ranma jumped back dropping his
fist to his side in pain. He
pulled the blade across his
chest defensively and kept his
distance. "Damn." He put the
sakabato back into the
scabbard and changed his
stance.

Ryoga smiled and stepped
forward slowly. "That trick
won't work now Saotome, let's
see what you've got!"

Ranma jumped into the air and
Ryoga met him in the air. They
exchanged blows for a moment
and passed each other,
Tetsukasa spun around and
threw his umbrella at Ranma's
back causing the boy to twist
and avoid it.

When they landed Ranma had a
strange smile on his face.
"He's no match for me in the
air."

+++++++++++++++++++

Akane gasped as she sat the
events take place and finally
put it together. "He's been
faking him out with the sword!
He's not even using it! It was
so fast I didn't even see it!"

Nabiki glanced at her sister
skeptically and turned her
attention back to the battle.
If Ranma won, she would make a
lot of money today. "He does
practice
Anything Goes Akane, I think
he can pull it off."

"That jerk! He's not even
taking this seriously! If he
had used the sword from the
beginning the fight would have
been over by now!" snorted
Akane distastefully.

"That boy could be hurt if he
does that Akane, have you
forgotten who he really is
already?" replied Nabiki
carefully. Ranma had just
grown much more interesting to
her. She smirked to herself
when that silenced her sister.

++++++++++++++++

"Eat this! Cried Ryoga as he
tore across the field and
slammed his fist into Ranma's
chest after breaking out into
a run as they landed again.
The boy flew across the field
and slammed into a drinking
fountain. Water sprayed in
every direction drenching all
the spectators nearby.

+++++++++++++++

Tatewaki Kuno stepped towards
the crowd and frowned as he
left the school building and
moved towards the field. "What
is this? What is going on
here?" He pulled one of the
male students over by his
collar and shook him for a
moment.

"It's Battosai! He's returned
from China! Some guy is
fighting him!" cried the boy
nervously.

Kuno froze and stared at him.
"Battosai? Here?" The boy
nodded dumbly and pointed
towards the battle. Ryoga was
standing calmly in the shower
and watching the rubble
carefully. A figure slowly
stood up from the wreckage
shrouded in a sheet of water
with his head down.

++++++++++++++++

Ryoga wasn't sure what to
expect, he hadn't lost sight
of Ranma, he was standing
directly in front of him, but
his demeanor had changed
suddenly. "Are you prepared to
finish this Saotome? Are you
ready to take me seriously?!"

The boy merely laughed, "I
underestimated you Hibiki, my
congratulations." He looked up
and stepped from the spray of
water drawing his sword
slowly. "You said you wanted
to face Battosai... so now you
face him."

Tetsukasa stepped back at what
looked him in the eyes with a
cold blue eyed stare. "Wh-
who?"

Ranma chuckled and never took
her eyes off of him. "What's
the matter Hibiki? Never seen
a girl before?"

"R-Ranma?" said the boy in
complete shock.

"Close enough," replied the
girl as she rushed forward and
slashed at him with an amazing
speed. Ryoga took the blow
dead in the forehead and was
knocked backwards. He managed
to keep his on his feet and
backed away from the girl. He
growled low and put his
umbrella up defensively.

"I don't care if you are him
or not. This looks like fun."
He laughed to himself for a
moment but stopped cold when
his umbrella fell in half in
his hands. The top portion hit
the ground with a metallic
thud. He threw the rest of the
weapon to the ground and put
up his fists. "I think I might
be in trouble..."

Ranma jumped up and back as a
huge number of bandannas
suddenly filled the air.
She bat a few of them away and
spun into a back kick that
took the boy in his face.
Ryoga was pushed into the
ground head first and rolled
away barely managing to dodge
one of his own projectiles.

+++++++++++++++

Akane watched in awe as the
battle moved up and down the
field closer to where she was
and gasped. Ranma had just
changed in front of everyone!

Nabiki was busy screaming at
her lackeys. "Who the hell is
that? Find out! Get these bets
changed, anyone who bet on
Ranma is working with the girl
now! Put out the word, I don't
want any loss of profits
because of this! Damn!"

Kuno stared at the scene in
shock. A strange man was
facing off against a red
haired woman. His gaze fell on
Ryoga and he sucked in a quick
breath. "This is Battosai? How
could such a noble and
honorable man... perhaps he is
in love with this woman? Yes
that must be the truth! He has
chosen to face her in
honorable combat to win her
hand!"

The students around him were
buzzing with conversation.

"Who the hell is this girl?"

"I don't know, but she's as
good as Ranma!" cried one of
the boys excitedly.

"Who are you kidding? She's
better than him!" countered
the girl next to him proudly.

Kuno was lost in thought. "As
with my own quest. I must help
Battosai win the object of his
affections. Such is the way of
the samurai."

+++++++++++++++++++

Ryoga was in trouble and he
knew it, he was getting short
on projectiles and his weapon
was in pieces on the ground
over a hundred yards away.
Ranma seemed tireless and
moved in closer with each
passing moment. Finally the
girl seemed to have enough and
jumped into the air towards
him as he spun the last few
spare bandannas in his hand.
"Damn!"

"Ryuukansen!" cried Ranma as
she slashed up at Ryoga with
the blade at an angle,
launching herself into the
air, she came down landing the
edge of the sword across his
forehead.

Ryoga fell to the ground with
a dull thud out cold. The rags
spinning in his hand flew
about erratically in every
direction cutting a wide path
through the crowd. She turned
back towards the crowd and
froze in fear almost
instantly.

+++++++++++++++

Nabiki took a step back as the
fight ended. Thanks to her
quick work most of the bets
had been turned over to her
favor, but the girl was still
an unknown factor. "Who the
hell is that?"

"Battosai," replied Akane
simply with a strangely calm
look crossing her face for a
moment. It fell away when she
saw the girl in question
charge forward towards her
with the blade still drawn.

"Akane!" cried Ranma as she
dove forward through the air
far to fast for the girl to
react.

Akane felt the air blow by her
head followed by a strange
noise that seemed to pass by
her for a moment as the girl
shoved her aside slightly. She
had instinctively fallen to
her knees and covered her head
defensively.

After a moment she blinked and
waited a split second longer
before looking up. Ranma was
standing in front of her with
the blade held at an angle in
an underhanded block; two
bandannas were wrapped around
the edge of the sword.

"What the?" cried Nabiki in
shock as she stared the new
girl down.
Ranma ignored her and looked
down at Akane. "You should be
more aware, these things are
dangerous."

The girl could do nothing but
nod dumbly as she looked up at
her savior in shock. "T-thank
you..."

The redhead winked at her and
turned away, moving back
towards her fallen opponent.
"Anytime."

Ryoga Hibiki simply lay still
on the ground for a long
moment. He slowly opened his
eyes and saw the figure
standing over him with a
strangely satisfied smile on
her face. "You did well. I do
hope you have that out of your
system now."

He sat up and shook his head.
"What hit me?... Oh yeah, you
did." With that said he
staggered to his feet and
retrieved a few of his
bandannas and the broken
weapon from the ground
stumbling across the field as
he did so. Moments later he
had his traveling bag tossed
over his shoulder and was
looking off in the sunset
dramatically. "We'll meet
again Saotome."

Nabiki walked over to him
after a few moments and
coughed into her hand. "Aren't
you supposed to walk off into
the sunset now or something?"

"I would, but it hurts too
much to move right now,"
replied the boy with his back
still towards her.

"Who the heck are you anyway?
Where's Ranma?" said one of
the boys that had gathered in
the small, but steadily
growing, crowd.

The redhead merely smiled at
him. "Someone who is best
forgotten. A phantom who
should have died already." She
put the sakabato across her
shoulder before walking away
towards the gates of Furinkan.

"Who?" said another boy in
confusion.

"She said she's a ghost,"
offered another boy.

"She was being dramatic you
twit!" cried the girl next to
him.

Akane moved towards the front
of the crowd and smiled at the
slowly fading figure that
moved down the street. "So,
that was Battosai..."

Ryoga stood thinking and
watched the sun slowly sink
into the horizon. "I've
failed. I couldn't beat him."
She seemed to melt away into
the light as he watched her.
"The legend of Tetsukasa ends
here. I can no longer live as
a street fighter. My honor
will not permit it. One day I
will become strong enough to
face him again, then perhaps I
can go on as before..." His
contemplation was interrupted
by a soft cough.

Kuno stood next to the boy
with a serious face. "I have
always respected you. I am to
understand you wish to take
this woman and defeat her?"

Ryoga blinked and looked at
him for a moment before
nodding his head. "Of course."

"Perhaps I can be of some
service? I am a master of such
manipulations," said the boy
proudly.

Ryoga frowned and remained
standing as he was. "I don't
need your help to defeat her."

"I would not dream of
interfering with such an
honorable battle. I would help
you win her though."

Ryoga looked at him again and
sighed. "What do you mean?"

"One who has lived in battle
for so long cannot comprehend
such things as beauty and
life. I will help you
understand these things so
that you can capture her
forever and leave her weak
against your powers," said
Kuno dramatically.

"What? What the hell are you
talking about?" snorted Ryoga
in embarrassed confusion.

"I will help you win this
pigtailed goddess."

"I don't want to go out with
her you twit!" screamed Ryoga.

Kuno smiled and walked away
from the scene. "How odd, such
a brave man as Battosai would
be so incredibly shy."

+++++++++++++++++

Nabiki collected the last of
her bets and turned around.
The sky was dark and her
profits were high, just the
way she liked things at this
time. She was surprised to see
Ryoga still standing there. He
seemed deep in thought as she
walked up to him. "You're
still here?"

He blinked and looked at her,
seeming to come out of his
trance. "I've got a lot to
think about."

"Oh come on. It can't possibly
hurt that much can it?"
snorted Nabiki lazily as she
turned and walked away.

Ryoga turned a deep red and
looked away from her. "Shut
up! It does all right?"

+++++++++++++++++

Yuriko sat down next to Ranma
at the table and sighed after
she finished her evening
session with Akane in the
dojo. "Did anything
interesting happen today?"

"That Hibiki boy showed up
today," replied Ranma simply.

"Damn! I missed it!" cried the
girl in disappointment.

"Watch your mouth!" screamed
Akane as Yuriko found an elbow
planted in her head suddenly.

"Hey! That hurts old woman!"
screamed the girl as she
rubbed the spot protectively.
Akane ignored her and sipped
lazily at the tea Kasumi had
made for them.

Nabiki blinked and stood up
from the floor where she had
been reading a magazine. "Say,
where did you go anyway
Saotome? And who was that
girl? She looked an awful lot
like you."

"Oro?" Ranma laughed and
scratched the back of his
head. "Well, I uh..."

"She called herself Battosai.
You've met him or her before,
is that her? How does she know
you? For that matter how does
she know Akane?" Nabiki found
her mind going into overdrive
with the amount of questions
it suddenly generated.
"Do you have a sister or
something?"

Ranma looked at the girl
helplessly and then glanced at
the television behind her for
a moment before a knowing
smile crossed his face. He
pointed at his nose with his
finger and winked at her. "Now
that... is a secret."

"You realize that I hate you,"
grumbled Nabiki as she looked
him in the eyes.

"Akane? You're going to tell
me aren't you?" She turned
around and found her sister
examining the ceiling tiles
above her head quite
carefully.

"I'm going to find out you
know. It's only a matter of
time," said the girl as she
stood up angrily and stomped
away from them. "I don't care
what I have to do to find out
either."

"You'd better be careful
Ranma, she means that," said
Akane quietly.

The boy looked at her and then
towards Soun, who was trying
very hard to disappear behind
his newspaper.

"Oro?" He hung his head and
sighed. "Just two more
weeks..."

++++++++++++++

Ruroni RanmaRuroni Ranma

Part 9

Love lost and found yet
again...

++++++++++++++

Ranma stood out in the yard
moving through another slow
kata. He paused and glanced
around to see someone staring
at him through the bushes.
"Can I help you Nabiki?"

"You're going to tell me
everything you know, sooner or
later I'll catch you off
guard."

"Later then, after all you
only have to put up with me
for another week right?" Ranma
smiled at her and went back to
his kata.

Nabiki scurried away and
sulked. "Damn you! I'm going
to find out!"

Akane watched the whole
exchange from the table. "I'd
forgotten you only have to
stay another week."

Yuriko smirked. "Only one more
week and I can dump you! Woo
hoo!" she cried out with joy
and jumped up and down.

"You aren't going anywhere,"
muttered Akane angrily as she
smacked her in the back of her
head.

"Owie! I told you old woman,
I'm going with Ranma!" snapped
the girl.

"You'll stay here with Akane
and continue your training for
a few years first," said Ranma
as he sat down and sipped at
the tea Kasumi had laid out
for them.

"Aw, do I have to?" grumbled
the girl with a dejected look.

"You should be careful with
Nabiki though Ranma. When she
sets her sites on something
she doesn't let go," warned
Akane.

"She's like a dog that way,"
noted Yuriko.

"My sister is not a dog!"
screamed Akane angrily.

"Sure she is, her sister is a
bitch too," muttered Yuriko.
She found herself sailing
through the air and landed in
the koi pond seconds later.

"I think it's time we started
training again, you're getting
too lax," snarled Akane as she
brushed her hair back behind
her shoulders again.

Ranma found himself smiling at
this. It brought back many
pleasant memories.

+++++++++++++++++

"Ranma! It's time you learned
to respect your father! We're
going to train again!" said
Genma as he dusted off his
hands.

"Why you! You stupid old man!
I'll get you for that!"
screamed Ranma in reply.

He charged forward and pulled
the boken from across his back
as he charged.

"Put that thing away boy! I'm
not here to teach you how to
sword fight!" countered Genma
as he kicked the young boy in
his chest.

Ranma buckled under the strike
but remained standing. "Fine,
have it your way old man, I'll
beat you with my bare hands!"
He replaced the weapon and
charged his father again.

A short time later Genma sat
across from his son with a
satisfied smirk on his face.
"Come on boy, we have to get
moving. The battles are too
close to us right now. I want
to make it to this training
ground before then."

"Why don't we just go straight
ahead pop? Wouldn't that be
faster?" said the boy in
confusion as he looked at the
small guide map in his
father's hands.

"That's Musk territory son, we
don't want to find ourselves
in the middle of a fight,"
replied the man sagely.

"Why not?" asked the boy
obliviously. They were martial
artist after all.

"My son, you don't understand.
This isn't a fight you can win
with your fists or a boken.
People are dying," said Genma
with a small smile of pride on
his face. The boy was brave,
and strong. His wife would be
proud when they returned to
Japan.

"Dying? Aren't we supposed to
help those in need pop?" asked
the boy obliviously.

"Indeed we are son, but this
is much too large for us alone
to stop. It's best to allow
the Chinese government to deal
with it. This isn't even our
country after all." The elder
Saotome pulled his traveling
bag onto his shoulders again.
"Come on boy, we need to get
moving again."

Ranma hung back as he followed
his father. "Something we
can't beat with our hands or a
boken? I need to find a real
sword then."

++++++++++++++++

"Hey Ranma, what's up? Are you
there?" He woke up to find
Nabiki waving her hand in
front of his face.

"Oro? Have you been there long
Nabiki?" he said as he shook
himself out of the trance.

"You just spaced out there. I
was gonna bug you some more,
but you had a strange look on
your face," said the girl with
a wary look in her eyes.

"Sorry, just old memories,"
replied the boy with a small
smile.

Nabiki relaxed, Ranma had
looked scary when he spaced
out that way. His features
became hard and almost angry
looking. "Thinking about the
war?"

The boy blinked and looked at
her. "No, pleasant memories.
Akane and Yuriko brought back
better times during my own
training." His smile changed
again, it was almost wistful.

"I see," Nabiki turned away.
She was more than a little
disturbed by the look he had
moments ago. Still, it drove
her curiosity even more now.

++++++++++++++++

Ryoga Hibiki sat in the small
Okonomiyaki restaurant and ate
slowly. His face was serious
and somehow devoid of anger.
"So, he really was the one
called
Battosai. I had my doubts
before... I wonder why he
turned into a woman though."

He had thought about the
possibility that it was
someone else, but quickly
discounted it. The way she
fought was too close, and she
even held the sword in the
same manner, there was no
doubt in his mind that it was
Ranma behind that woman's
eyes.

"Are you going to pay this
time?" said the girl who
walked up to him. He knew her
name was Ukyo from past times
in the shop.

"Put it on my tab will ya?" he
snorted.

"You don't have a tab here,"
replied the girl darkly.

"Get me one then, I'm going to
be hanging around the area for
a while," replied the boy
simply.

Ukyo nodded and sighed. "I
guess it can be arranged, just
make sure you pay it from time
to time."

Ryoga nodded and froze as the
door opened behind him. A
familiar figure walked over to
his table and sat across from
him.

Tatiwaki Kuno smiled at him
and placed his boken across
the table with the blade
facing away from Ryoga.
"Battosai, I wish to speak
with you."

"What do you want? I'm not
Battosai," replied Ryoga
gruffly.

"I see, you wish to keep your
true name a secret," said the
kendoist calmly. "I shall
honor your wish."

"No, I mean I'm not Battosai,"
replied the boy.

Kuno nodded and brushed the
topic aside. "Tell me how you
have tried to win this woman
and I will help you."

"I haven't tried to win
anyone, leave me alone you
idiot!" screamed the boy as he
glared at Kuno.

Ukyo walked up to the table
and smiled. "Having woman
troubles?"

Ryoga hit his head on the
table and sobbed. "Why? Why
me?"

"I understand, perhaps you
should try to bring her
flowers? Roses are particular
to a woman's heart," said
Kuno.

"He's right you know, but
nothing says 'I love you' like
jewelry," added Ukyo.

"I wish someone would bring me
flowers." She paused and
looked away wistfully.
"Ranchan..."

Ryoga looked up at her and
blinked. "Ranchan? You mean
Saotome?"

"The cur! How dare he steal
the heart of both Akane Tendo
and the Okonomiyaki girl!"
screamed Kuno angrily.

"OKONOMIYAKI GIRL?" cried Ukyo
as she slammed her fist into
the back his head.
He fell face first into the
table and rubbed the sore
spot. "I'm not talking about
Saotome anyway."

Ryoga looked skeptical and
shook his head.

Ukyo sighed and sat down
across from him. "I had a
fiancee once. Ranma kind of
reminds me of him a little. He
died in the war in China a few
years ago."

Ryoga blushed and hung his
head. "I'm sorry."

"Don't be, I know you didn't
mean anything," said the girl
wistfully.

"Ukyo! Stop babbling and clean
up those tables!" cried a
gruff voice from the back of
the room.

"Yes daddy!" said the girl as
she pushed herself back onto
her feet.

Kuno watched her leave and
sighed. "A pity, she gave her
heart away. Only to have it
crushed, now she'll die an old
maid."

"She's can't be older than
sixteen, she has time to find
someone else," snorted Ryoga.

"You must understand, she is
the woman of a samurai! She
will wait for all eternity for
him to return to her!" cried
the boy dramatically. A pair
of fans appeared in his hands
as he did so.

"Whatever, I'm leaving," Ryoga
stood up and walked out the
door.
Kuno sighed and nodded his
head. "He really is good, that
was an excellent exit." He
stood up and started for the
door. A large hairy hand
stopped his stride.

"You haven't paid your bill
yet," said Ukyo's father as he
shoved the paper into his
face.

"My bill?" Kuno blinked and
looked at the man in
confusion.

+++++++++++++++

Ranma Saotome sat in the furo
and relaxed in the water. "Ah
this is nice."

He paused and glanced at the
mirror across from him. She
seemed to be staring back at
him through his eyes, hidden
deep inside the back of his
mind. "I don't need you
anymore, the fighting is
over." He spoke calmly to her
and smiled. "But you'll never
really go away will you?" He
fingered the crossed scar on
his cheek and smiled. "Not as
long as she still holds us."
He stared at her for a long
time before two hands started
to rub on his back. "Ah,
that's nic... oro?"

Yuriko smiled as she rubbed
Ranma's shoulders in the tub.
"Do you want me to wash your
back?"

"Wh-what are you doing in
here?" said Ranma. He had yet
to move.

"Well, you didn't say anything
when I came in so I didn't
think you'd mind," said the
girl with a small shrug.

"Akane's going to kill me!"
thought Ranma as he backed
away from the girl.

"Is something wrong?" said
Yuriko in confusion. She
wasn't being perverted or
anything, at least she didn't
think so. She glanced down and
looked at herself,
Ranma had seen better than she
had before, in fact he had
better. What was he so worried
about?

"I'm coming in Yuriko," called
a feminine voice from outside.
Akane opened the door and saw
the girl smile at her.

"Hiya, old bag! Starting to
sag already?"

Akane didn't hear her, she
only saw the boy sitting in
the corner of the tub with a
frightened expression on his
face. "R-Ranma?"

"Uh, hi," said the boy. It was
all he could think of.

++++++++++++++

Several moments later Nabiki
cocked her head as she heard
her sister's battle cry from
the bathroom. "What the?" A
split second after she
finished saying that a loud
crash sounded inside the
house. She watched Ranma sail
through the air outside and
land in the koi pond. After
that she shrugged her
shoulders and went back into
her room.

Ranma walked into the home
naked and wet, she had a
strange look in her eyes as
she walked by Soun and went
into her room. The man had
somehow managed to shove an
entire pair of chopsticks into
his mouth as she went by.

"Oh my, Ranma! Are you all
right?" said Kasumi in
concern.

"I'm fine, just had an
accident in the bathroom,"
replied the girl as she closed
the door behind her.

Soun looked up at his eldest
daughter and blinked. "Rnmah?"

++++++++++++++

A short time later, Akane
emerged from the bathroom
dragging Yuriko by her ear.
Both of them were dressed in
bathrobes. "You little
pervert! What were you
thinking?"

"Ranma is a girl too
sometimes! It doesn't matter!"
cried the little girl
defensively.

"Of course it matters!"
screamed the elder girl.

Nabiki poked her head out of
her room and snickered. She
couldn't be sure because she
had only heard part of the
conversation, but she had a
pretty good idea about what
just happened. "This is
interesting."

+++++++++++++++

Ranma sat in his room a short
time later, by himself.
Somehow he felt a little
relieved that he was leaving
in a few days. He glanced in a
small mirror and sighed, his
reflection didn't say anything
back. "Maybe it's good that
I'm relaxing."

A quiet knock came at his door
and he smiled. "Come in
Yuriko."

The girl sheepishly poked her
head inside the door. "I'm
sorry I got you in trouble. I
didn't mean anything by it."

He smiled at her and winked.
"It's all right, just make
sure no one else is in there
next time. Akane can hit
pretty hard."

"Tell me about it," grumbled
the girl as she sat on the
floor in front of him.

"You're coming along well in
your studies, just don't
forget to train. In a few
years I promise I'll come back
and let you take a trip with
me." Ranma smiled at the
expression on her face.

"Really? You promise?" she
jumped up excitedly.

"Yes, but only if you work
hard with Akane," replied the
boy sternly.
Yuriko jumped up and grabbed
him around the neck. "I
promise I will!" She released
him and rushed out the door.

+++++++++++++++

Akane smiled to herself as the
girl rushed by her. She had
only know her a very short
time, but had already
forgotten what it would be
like without her. Ranma was a
strange man indeed, but hardly
someone she knew she could
spend the rest of her life
with. It was a shame they
didn't have more time to get
to know one another, in a few
years she might have
considered it. She stepped
away from her spot beside his
door and went into her own
room.

+++++++++++++++

Inside her own room, Nabiki
Tendo smiled as she went over
the things Ranma had done over
the past few days. There was
nothing she could use to force
him to say what she wanted to
know. A deep frown formed on
her lips as she thought. A
moment later it changed into a
sly smile. "Well Saotome, I
guess I'll just have to keep
you around until I find out
what I want to know."

+++++++++++++

Ruroni Ranma

Part 10

Saiyonara Ranma!

++++++++++++

The morning had come; at long
last it was time for him to
leave.

Genma Saotome glanced over his
shoulder and saw his son lying
on his mat next to him inside
the tent. Without even
bothering to secure their gear
he lifted the boy over his
shoulder. "We have to get out
of here." He lifted the limp
child over his shoulder and
pushed back the flap to his
tent. They had purposely set
up camp at the edge of the
army's encampment.

What he didn't know was that
his son was awake the whole
time. He glanced back and
sulked into the shadows.

"I'm sorry boy, but we can't
stay here. This is no place
for someone as young as you. I
still don't know what those
fools were thinking when they
allowed you to join."

Genma turned back inside the
tent and lifted up the flap in
the back. The forest was a
mere dozen feet away. Silently
he crept along the ground with
the boy on his back. Ranma
watched coolly as the guards
sneaked up on his father from
behind.
He didn't speak, only watched.
One of them noticed his eyes
on him and he froze in place
with the other guards
following suit behind him.

They had no intention of
facing a fully aware Genma
Saotome, in the short time
since he had joined the
Chinese forces they had become
almost legendary. Many aged
and experienced soldiers had
less combined kills than the
pair of Japanese recruits.

Then something none of the men
expected happened. Ranma
lifted up his hand and
beckoned them to move in.

++++++++++++++

Genma sat tied up in a chair,
he was beaten and tired. Three
guards had been injured in his
attempt to escape. The Chinese
commander paced back and
fourth in front of him
angrily. "You coward, how dare
you run away from us! You will
be put to death!"

Genma looked up at his son;
the boy was standing in the
corner like a statue of pure
ice, the life that was once in
his eyes long gone. He wasn't
a child anymore, no matter
what his appearance. "How dare
you do this to my son."

The man stopped cold and
stared at the martial artist
in shock. The gaze he found
there was one of pure hatred,
anger, and malice. The purest
emotions found on the
battlefield. "You wish to
protect your son?"

"What kind of man wouldn't
wish that? This is no place
for a boy; we are not your
countrymen. We have nothing to
defend here!" screamed Genma
in reply. "You have no right!
Look what you've done to him!"

The man slowly turned around
and looked Ranma in the eyes.
The boy met his gaze evenly
and calmly. No single hint of
emotion could be found in his
features. "We have granted
your wish, he is a man among
men. Despite his interesting
problem."

"He is not a man, he is a
boy... and a killer," replied
Genma coldly. One of the men
standing next to him hit him
with the butt of his rifle.
The commander raised his hand
and frowned.

"The only reason you are still
alive, is because you do this
for the sake of your son.
However, he is too important,
and too good a soldier to
lose. I am sorry, but you will
be relocated into another
unit. Your son... we have
special plans for him."

"Send him to one of your
pleasure brothels you have set
up for your men?" snapped
Genma darkly, "as punishment
for me?"

"Please Mr. Saotome, you think
too little of us. We would
never even consider it. Our
previous experiences with
Ranma would teach us better
than that. We have already
lost five men because they
were foolish enough to try.
Your son did away with them
quite nicely. All I will tell
you is that you will never see
your son again." The man
turned and took Ranma by his
shoulder. "Come boy."

"Wait! Let me speak to him one
last time!" cried Genma
desperately.

Ranma paused and looked at his
father, his eyes were cold and
dead. "Where will I be
assigned to?" He continued to
walk away from his father as
the man screamed his name. The
sounds of wood meeting flesh
filled the air behind him for
a moment until the busy sounds
of the forces moving about
their day drowned it out.

"You are an excellent soldier,
but your skills will benefit
us more elsewhere. Those
techniques your father
unsealed will be most useful
to us." The commander watched
his men move about proudly.

As for Ranma, he didn't feel
pride, he felt empty, no more
or less so than he did before
he saw his father. "I am to
become an assassin?"

"Yes, the Joketsuko tribe has
been giving us trouble in the
North east, you will help
eliminate that problem," said
the man coolly.

"Why not simply destroy them?
We have the technology. The
mountains would protect much
of the land from fallout,"
said the boy.

"To do so would show weakness
in our army. We will overcome
them with sheer numbers soon
enough. However, the presence
of men like you will help
casualties greatly. Besides,
the mountains are rich with
natural resources we could use
to help the war effort."

Ranma nodded with
understanding as the man
spoke. "I see." He glanced
back over his shoulder one
last time and found that he
had lost track of which tent
his father was in.

"You miss him?" asked the man
half jokingly.

"No, I just remembered I
forgot where he was," he
looked forward. There was
nothing inside of him, how
could he miss the man? He
strode forward and never
looked back, in fact, he
almost didn't notice the
single tear run down his face.

+++++++++++++++

Ranma woke up from his dream
and almost screamed out loud
as a flood of emotion overtook
him. He gasped desperately for
breath and hung his head down
between his arms. The dreams
had not come since he left
China, now his past was
catching up to him again.
"Why? Why did I?" The memory
of his betrayal was not his
most painful memory, but
hardly something he wished to
remember.

He stood and turned on the
light inside the room only to
find it out. He glanced over
to the small digital clock and
realized that there was a
blackout. Thunder rumbled
outside and lightening flashed
through the sky. He glanced at
the small table just inside
the door and frowned deeply.
He knew why he was having the
dreams again.

"Battosai kills three!" It was
the headline across the
newspaper that lay there on
the desk. Someone claiming his
name was killing people. How
long would it be before
someone found where he was, or
who he was? This had to be
stopped.
Whoever it was, they were
good. Too good for the police
to catch apparently, despite
the brutality of the killings,
he knew that from the
descriptions alone.
He lifted the page into his
hand and rubbed his brow.
"Someone from my past? Or is
it something else?"

Nabiki Tendo frowned as she
read the paper again.
According to the reports the
one called Battosai was male,
something she knew not to be
true. At least she thought so,
if that girl was indeed
Battosai.

Her father glanced at his
eldest daughter and smiled.
"Kasumi, what made you call
that girl Ranma?"

The girl looked at her father
and blinked. "Father, that was
Ranma."

"Really?" the man rubbed his
mustache and sighed. "I don't
understand."

"Akane told me her name was
Ranma," replied the girl
sweetly. "She's a friend of
Ranma's."

Nabiki stopped and dropped the
paper. "She was here? Did she
have red hair?"

Kasumi nodded, "She didn't
have any clothes on either, it
was very strange."

Both of them coughed out loud
and looked away from her going
back to what they were doing.
"Why would Battosai be here?
And why was she naked?" Nabiki
thought it would be best to
forget about it.

++++++++++++++++

Ranma came down the stairs and
bowed deeply to the family
gathered in front of him.
"It's time Tendo."

Soun looked up at him and
nodded. "So it is Saotome."

"I'm sorry things didn't work
out," said the boy
respectfully.

"Are you going to leave now?"
Nabiki looked surprised, but
not too much.

"Yes, I think it would be best
if I leave before Akane and
Yuriko return," said the boy
honestly.

"Without saying goodbye?"
Kasumi looked scandalized.

"If I wait for them, Yuriko
might become a problem. You
know how badly she wants to go
with me," said the boy as he
lifted his bag onto his
shoulders and turned towards
the door.

"Akane did not ask you to stay
did she?" said Soun a little
drearily.

"I'm sorry Tendo, it just
didn't work out between us."

"Could you give it a little
more time?" asked the man
seriously.

"Maybe someday I will, but
neither of us is ready to be
married. I'm sorry."

Nabiki stood up from her place
at the table and smiled. "Not
so fast Saotome."

Ranma turned to face her and
blinked. "Oro?"

"Please stay, I don't want you
to leave," she stood up from
her place at the table with a
cruel grin on her face.

"What?" Ranma was in complete
shock at this. "Why would
you..."

"The agreement was for one of
us to ask, not specifically
Akane. Now, I'm asking. Please
don't go," She placed her
hands on her hips and winked
at him.
"Now you can't leave."

"Ranma..." started Soun.

"No, she is right Tendo, I
gave my word of honor," he
placed his bag down and smiled
at her. "I would like to know
why though."

"Simple, I haven't found out
what I need to know. There's
also this," she held up the
paper and smirked at him.
"Battosai is a friend of yours
isn't she? We'll be safer with
the real one around to protect
us won't we?"

Ranma narrowed his eyes
slightly at this and she
stepped back. "On the
contrary, that makes you
targets."

She stepped up to him and
smiled despite the
uncomfortable gaze he was
giving her. "I won't let you
leave Ranma."

The boy sighed and sat down at
the table, immediately his
normal demeanor returned. "So,
is it Go or Shoghi tonight
Tendo?"

Nabiki Tendo smiled to herself
as she returned to her seat.
There were other reasons she
wanted him to stay. Akane had
never gotten this close to any
boy as far as she could
remember. There was no need to
voice that though.

++++++++++++++

About an hour later, Akane
blinked as she walked into the
house and found Ranma sitting
at the table. "He's supposed
to be gone!" she thought to
herself darkly.

The reason she took Yuriko out
in the first place was so he
would have the chance to leave
without any problems from her.

Yuriko smiled obliviously as
she sat down next to her. "I
was afraid you'd be gone by
now."

"Ranma isn't going anywhere,"
said Nabiki calmly.

"What?!" screamed Akane
angrily. "We had an
agreement!" She turned on the
boy and grabbed him by his
collar.

"The agreement was that any
one of us could ask him to
stay. I decided I like having
him around," said her older
sister. "Besides, he hasn't
told me what I want to know."

Akane's jaw dropped. "You
asked him to stay?"

Kasumi listened in from the
kitchen and smiled. Despite
the posing, she could tell
Akane was happy. If Nabiki
hadn't done that, she would
have, although her reasons
would have been different. She
continued to cook dinner
cheerfully as her younger
sister started chasing her
elder sister around the yard
screaming about a long overdue
sparring match. It was so nice
when they played together.

++++++++++++

Next Time: What do the
murders have to do with Kuno?