Ranma the Warrior ?

By Kyokukou

Disclaimer : I don't own the characters from Ranma 1/2 only the characters that 
I write myself . So please don't sue me ! But if you try to use my characters 
.....there will be ...unpleasant consequences if I find out . Do not repost or 
reprint this without my permission , however if you do ASK there is a good 
chance I will let you .



" Our past , our memories , our experiences shape us just as much as anything a 
parent can impart , if not more ." 
                                             -Anonymous



Prologue 

    He fingered the handles of his daisho* pair out of nervous habit . He had a 
bad feeling about this one , and he always trusted his instincts . At the moment 
they were telling him to remain hidden . He looked to his companion .
" Matso , are you sure about this ?" He asked softly .
" Quite sure my Hitokiri* . He may be thorn in the sides of other bands , but we 
shall cut the thorn before harvesting the rose ." Matso chuckled .
" Somehow I fail to feel confident as that ." He muttered , causing his 
companion to glance at him .
" Why ? You are Hitokiri , we are mere bandits . We are the ones who should know 
fear . You have your skill to protect you ." 
    He stared down the lonely road , noting the snow that began to fall silently 
from the silver clouds that hid the blue ocean of the sky from them . Even with 
the road of man to mar it , nature always had a calming beauty to him . He was 
ready to die today if the kamis willed it .
" Even the skill of a Hitokiri comes to nothing if the kamis wish your death ." 
" You need to stop reading those philosophy books ." Matso dismissed with a soft 
laugh .
" Perhaps.." He conceded before a presence graced the edge of his extended 
senses . "...our thorn approaches ."
    Matso motioned the others to drop down into their ready positions . Without 
flaw the entire band of ten vanished into their hiding places . Weapons at the 
ready , he felt each of them drop from his senses as they extinguished every 
trace of their presence from years of practice .
    A lone figure stalked up the hill . He wore no cloak to ward against the 
chill of the dawning winter . Only a samurai's haori* the color of the dark 
morning sky before the first rays of dawn . His pants of the same dark hue were 
loose but tucked into his high laced sandals like some martial artist . As he 
marched closer he couldn't make out the man's face as the slight breeze whipped 
the figure's black hair over his eyes and cheeks . In his easy gate of one who's 
body was trained for activities infinitely more strenuous the figure walked past 
his position .
    He tightened his grip on his katana . The breeze started to fail . He knew 
when to strike . Too soon and his movement would be carried on the wind as a 
warning . Too late and he would not be able to hide sound in the stillness of 
the air . The breeze started to blow it's last wisps , and he set his body into 
motion . His coiled legs lifted him high into the air , his hand drew the katana 
and raised it above his head for the first and final blow , the other gripped 
the handle of his wakizashi . 
    His sword fell . To slice only empty air . He reeled his head back , 
thrusting his wakizashi out to shield himself . The crescent kick sent his short 
sword flying from his now numb hand . He raised a knee to deflect the following 
side kick . Then ten bodies converged on the figure from all directions . He 
backpedaled , eyes wide in amazement . Ten men attacked the figure 
simultaneously , and ten battered men flew away from the maelstrom of strikes 
and counterstrikes . He retrieved his wakazashi without taking his eyes from the 
sight .
    Finally only he and his opponent stood . Only a heartbeat or two had passed 
since his initial attack .
" And then there was one ." The figure quoted from somewhere .
" I see now why you have the reputation you do ." 
" You haven't seen much yet . Neither of us were trying ...Hitokiri aren't you?"
" Hai ." He conceded . " You could become Hitokiri too ." 
" Naww , such things just are not what I am ." The figure smirked . As if by 
wind , though the air was still , the hair obscuring his features parted . 
Revealing a face that couldn't have seen more than a decade and a half .
" A boy ?" He all but gasped in surprise .
" A man , and don't you forget it ." The figure corrected with more than a touch 
of menace in his voice .
" I shan't . Now shall we have at it ?"
" Fine by me ." 
    He raised his daisho in a defensive stance before sheathing them in a quick 
motion .
" Oh , a battou-jitsu* man ? But are you faster than me ?" Infuriatingly his 
opponent laughed . Then before the laughter's echoes died in the still air he 
was gone .
    He ducked under a leg that shot out at him from above as his opponent sailed 
overhead . Twisting his torso he drew his katana in a steeply angled arc . Again 
his blade met nothing but air . Turning he rose with the draw-slash of his 
wakizashi . He saw the backfist an instant before it sent his short sword flying 
for the second time . However , he brought his katana down from it's slash , 
twisting as it went to bear the edge at the moment of impact . But his move had 
been read , his opponent leaned into the swordblow , taking it before he could 
turn the razor edge about to strike .
    Withdrawing his blade from the failed attack he shot his foot out at his 
opponent in a roundhouse meant to break ribs . Few expected unarmed attacks from 
a swordsman hitokiri . The kick was blocked only partially , even a opponent as 
skilled as this one could be surprised . The boy staggered back a step , 
off balance from the blow . He grasped the katana with two hands now , he was 
hitokiri , it would only take one blow . He brought his sword down in a arc 
aimed to diagonally cleave from collar bone to heart .
    He let his jaw drop when the boy twisted out of the way only to twist back 
in after his blade had dropped past shoulder level . With speed and precision he 
only dreamt of the boy trapped his sword under his arm against his side . Then 
the boy's knee flashed up then horizontally . 
    The sound of a sword breaking sent icy spears through his soul . His katana 
, a part of his being , had just been broken . So in shock was he that even his 
reflexes failed to offer his opponent any resistance to the hail of devastating 
blows that followed .
    When conscious thought returned he found himself slumped against a boulder , 
his body reporting severe injuries through the pulsating pain that racked his 
body .
" I'd say this is good enough punishment for such scum . But if I hear of any of 
you again I'll be much more ...harsh ." Nonchalantly the man resumed his walk 
down the road .
    Unnoted the snow fell upon him as he watched the man walk away . His sword 
was broken , and so was his spirit . Such things must be avenged . He clenched a 
fist in a silent vow . Dimly noting his comrades as they began to stir into 
consciousness .

                         *           *          *

    Ignoring the tears that flowed freely down his cheeks he read the letter , 
not his usual postcard , but a actual letter from his friend Genma .

           Tendo-
         I can't believe it , but it's happened . I've lost Ranma . Well ,
       I didn't actually lose him , but he's gone . The priestess of the 
       Temple said something about the blood tides of the earth , and Ranma
       returning , but I have no idea what she meant . All I know is that my 
       only son went into a temple hearing someone cry for help and he never
       returned . I have searched the entire temple stone by stone , room by
       room , floor by floor , centimeter by ... you get the idea Soun . The 
       priestess keeps assuring me that Ranma will come back , but . Soun , my
       friend if he does not return in one year I shall commit seppuku* . It 
       was my cowardice that kept me from following my son and sharing his 
       fate . If you do not receive word from me a year from when you receive 
       letter tell my beloved wife that Ranma was more than a man among men 
       he was the greatest man that I have ever met , and that we both loved 
       and missed her with all our hearts .

       -P.S.  If you do receive word before a year is up then burn this letter 
       and make damn sure that Nodoka never ever gets even a hint about it .
                                            -Saotome

    " Oh poor Ranma !" He lamented .
" Who ?" His youngest daughter asked , trying to peek over his shoulder at the 
letter he held .
" N-no one ." He stuttered , quickly stuffing the letter into his gi . 
" Isn't Ranma Uncle Genma's son ?" She pressed .
" Well , yes ." He admitted warily .
" What happened to him that was so bad ? A training accident ?" Real concern 
began to show on Akane's young face .
    Thinking fast was not his strong point unless it was for fighting . Still he 
had his moments , and thank Kami-sama this was one of them .
" No , it's just that Ranma's training trip has just been extended again . The 
poor boy wanted so much to meet his mother again . He hasn't seen her since your 
mother died ."
" Wow , we just got back from our trip a month ago ."
" Hai , but that was more to clear our heads that true training ."
" You mean all those years was just for a break ?" She asked in disbelief .
" We came back every year on the date of her death ." He countered . " Genma has 
been on the road with his son since Ranma was six . They only came back for your 
mother's last days . Then they were off again ."
" So he's been training for ..." Akane did some quick mental math . " eight 
years now ...Wow I'd love to spar him some time , he must be pretty good . How 
old is he again ?" 
" The same age as you Akane , fourteen ." 


Chapter 1
Icanexplain , Icanexplain 

    " Kasumi !" She heard her father call from the common room .
" What's wrong , Father ?" She asked , hurrying into the room .
" No , it's what's right Kasumi ! Please get Nabiki and Akane in here . I have 
something to tell them ." 
    She did as she was asked as fast as dignity would allow . Soon they were all 
gathered around the table . All eyes were on their father , and his huge watery 
eyed grin . The light rain outside caused the room to have a soft blue/gray 
light .
" I just received this today , the mail had been delayed for some reason ." He 
produced a postcard from his gi with a flourish . After clearing his throat he 
began to read it verbatim to them .
"          Tendo-
         Ranma and I are coming . We shall be there by Saturday evening .
       Our families shall be united soon .
                                            -Saotome ."
    Predictably their father soon began pouring tears of joy . Patiently they 
waited until he had calmed sufficiently before Nabiki opened up with the 
question on all their minds . 
" Daddy , what did he mean by 'our families shall be united soon' ?" 
" I forgot to tell you . Shortly after Ranma was born Genma and I made a pact to 
unite our families by Ranma marrying one of you , thus securing the future of 
the Anything Goes style of martial arts ."  
" You just forgot to tell us this ?" Akane deadpanned .
" Today is Saturday ," Nabiki observed . " so where ar-" Loud knocking on the 
front door alerted them to a arrival . " -never mind ." 
    Just as she rose to let the pair in rapid footfalls suddenly echoed from the 
hallway . A rather stout man in a gi rushed into the room waving his hands 
wildly .
" Icanexplain , Icanexplain , Icanexplain , Icanexplain , Icanexplain!" He 
repeated over and over again his words rushing into one .
    A rather annoyed red head girl followed him at a easy walk . The older man 
fell silent at a level glare from the red head . Resolutely the red headed girl 
turned to face them .
" I'm Saotome Ranma ." She introduced herself with a bow before turning to face 
the man in the gi . " See , I told ya they wouldn't go for it ." She said before 
any of them could respond . 
" I'll be back after I get a cure ," The red head said over her shoulder as she 
started to leave . " then we'll straighten this arranged marriage thing out ." 
    Suddenly the man in the gi was blocking her path .
" Foolish boy ! You owe them a explanation at least before you run away !"
    The red head had her back to them but whatever her expression had been the 
man in the gi turned stark white .
" I'm not running away , old man ." The red head said in a level voice . " I'm 
just dealing with things by priority . These girls got along without me for all 
these years , they can wait a while longer ."
" Please , um , Ranma ?" Her father began . " We would like to know what's going 
on ." 
    The red head's shoulders slumped , and the color returned to the man in the 
gi's face . She took that as a good sign .
" Alright , could someone get me some warm water , and I guess some tea , it's a 
weird story ." 

                         *           *          *

    She took the offered kettle of hot water from the oldest daughter of Tendo-
san ... Kasumi ? She vaguely remembered her name from Aunt Tendo's funereal 
years before . Waiting until everyone was seated she then took a step back from 
the table and poured some of the water over her head . The change was so fast 
that even his father couldn't really see it , but to her it was almost painfully 
slow . Her weight increased , she grew a head taller , organs shifted 
sickeningly inside , her breasts melted into a powerful and muscular chest , and 
of course her hair darkened to black . 
    He held a hand out to silence the questions before they began . Setting the 
kettle down he took a seat alone at the table and began .
" I got the curse at this place called Junsekyo , in china . It's a cursed 
training ground that has hundreds of pools that if you fall into them you turn 
into whatever drowned there a long time ago . Cold water triggers the change , 
warm water reverses it . Going there was Pop's idea of a celebration after I 
came back ." He gave his father a glare of about four on his intimidation scale 
, it was enough to make the martial artist go pale .
" 'Came back' ?" Soun asked .
" I explained everything in my second letter Tendo-kun ." Genma said .
" Second letter ?"
" Tendo-kun , remember my first letter when Ranma disappeared ?"
" Hai Saotome-kun ." 
" Remember my second letter when I found out what happened ?"
" Um.."
" Or the one after he returned ?"
" Umm.."
" Just tell us what they said ." The one that looked to be the middle daughter 
said .
" You know about my first letter , well my second was sent a month afterwards 
when I finally found out what had happened to my son ." The man in the gi took 
on a tone of telling some epic tale . " It was when I manage to find a book , 
during my extensive research , that told of underground lakes that nourished the 
trees that the first kamis planted . Time has little meaning to these trees , 
and so when one falls into the lake around them they may find themselves in a 
entirely different time . The temple that Ranma ran into was built over the 
entrance to this lake and tree in an attempt to block people from falling in and 
time travelers from coming out . I knew that Ranma would find his way home . 
After confronting the priestess with the truth she admitted that even if he were 
to come back unless he was skilled he might arrive years early or late . So I 
resolved to train and wait until Ranma returned . I explained this in my letter 
and that I withdrew my former vow in light of this news ."
" Oh ." Soun said .
" I sent a third letter after Ranma returned almost two years after his 
disappearance . In it I told you some of what Ranma told me of his journey and 
that we were going to China on a celebration training trip ." Suddenly his 
father hopped to his feet at a sudden thought . " Soun ! If you didn't get my 
letters then Nodoka ... KAMI-SAMA !" He lamented .
" Mom what !?" He demanded .
" Your mother thinks you're gone forever and I'm DEAD !" His father turned 
angrily to Soun . " YOU ! Why didn't you get my letters ?"
" Not to worry Saotome-kun I forgot all about telling Nodoka-san anything ." 
Soun dismissed .
" Nani !...I-...You-...never mind . She doesn't know anything's amiss that's all 
that matters now ." He sat down again .
" So how were you so clumsy to fall into one of those cursed springs ?" The 
youngest of the sisters asked .
    He considered snapping at her , but recently he had learned that people in 
this era were much easier to frighten , and he didn't want to make any enemies 
of the Tendo girls . So he turned to his father instead .
" That's what I get for saving his flabby butt from falling into one ." He began 
hotly . " We were sparrin' and 'course I was wining , but I overestimated him 
and knocked him clear off the poles . I saw he was going to fall into one of the 
springs so I jump to save him . So what does he DO ? He kicks me after I save 
him !" It took a fair measure of his control to keep from giving his father a 
intimidation look of around seven or eight , but one of those probably would 
have given the poor man a heart attack .
" Thought you were still attacking !" His father protested . " I didn't know 
about the curses .! Remember , I never finished reading the brochure !"
" I was totally off guard ," He continued on as if his father had never spoken . 
" I mean who expects to attacked by the one your rescuin' ? So I get knocked 
straight into the spring of drowned girl , lucky me ."  
    No one spoke for a few moments until Soun broke the silence abruptly .
" Well that's not so bad !"
" Nan* ." He responded dumbly .
" Ranma , I don't see how your curse affects my agreement with your father so ." 
Suddenly the older man was at his side . " I'll give you the choice , Ranma-kun 
. How old are you by the way , sixteen ?" 
" Nan ... um I'm eighteen ." 
    Soun was puzzled at that for only a half second before accepting it and 
pressing on . " Alright , you can choose any one of my daughters . There's my 
eldest , Kasumi , she's nineteen . Nabiki my middle daughter at seventeen , and 
Akane my youngest at sixteen . Choose any one of them ." 
" I think you'd like Akane the best . She's be best marital artist of the three 
of us ." Kasumi quickly said .
" Yeah ," Nabiki agreed . " besides you're half girl and Akane hates boys ." 
" Then it's sett-"
" Hold IT !" He commanded in the tone used to silence everyone in a room .
    Everyone went silent and stared at him .
" Kami-sama I love that trick ." He thought before speaking . " It's NOT settled 
. I'M the one making the choice , and I haven't YET ."
" But what's wrong with Akane ?" Nabiki asked . " She is the best marital artist 
of us ." 
" Yeah , but I thought I was looking for a fiancée not a sparrin' partner . I'm 
the one taking over the Dojo . I look for more in a wife than just how she can 
fight . 'Sides , ain't she a bit young for me ?" 
    Akane began to boil in indignation .
" Then who Ranma-kun ? Choose ." Soun urged , giving him a pat on the shoulder .
" I hate being forced into decisions ." He grumbled mentally . " Well it's time 
for Saotome decision backup plan number two : Stall ."
     Purposefully he looked at each of them in turn before turning to face Soun 
. " Alright Tendo-san ."
" You've made your decision ?!" Soun asked excitedly .
" Sort of . I refuse to choose until I know them better ." He said as matter-of-
factly .
" Nani ?" Everyone exclaimed in unison at him .
" Gimme a while to get to know them before I say one way or the other ." He said 
aloud . " More like time to find a excuse to go to china and get cured ." He 
thought to himself .



    " Gimme a while to get to know them before I say one way or the other ." The 
cursed boy told her father . 
" So you're just going to leave us hanging ?" She asked .
" You want I should make a snap decision 'bout his ?" He responded .
" No , but how long are you going to wait ?" She said , she smelled ulterior 
motive .
" Um , I dunno ." 
" You feel like sparring Ranma ?" Akane asked suddenly .
" Um...not really , but I guess ." Ranma shrugged .
" Come on let's have a match or two ." Akane urged .
" Alright ..." Ranma looked faintly suspicious .
    Akane led Ranma to the Dojo while she retrieved her and Akane's gi's . Soon 
after she changed she handed Akane her gi . Leaving her and Ranma alone in the 
Dojo .
" So you want to skip out on us as soon as you can ." She began without preamble 
, expecting to shock Ranma into admittance . The reaction she received almost 
cracked her calm exterior .
" How long did it take you to figure that out ?" He said without malice . " Of 
course I do . I wanna get cured , and guess you three aren't really keen on this 
damn engagement thing ."
" Well , I can't speak absolutely for my sisters , but I'd say that Kasumi and 
Akane wouldn't mind being chosen ." She said noncommittally .
" What 'bout you ?" Suddenly Ranma's hugely grinning face was centimeters from 
hers . " Would you mind being chosen ?" 
    It was then that she noticed something so obvious that she mentally kicked 
herself for not noticing it before even in the low light . Ranma had a dark but 
thin scar running from the outer edge of his left eyebrow down across his nose 
to the right corner of his mouth . 
    She didn't realize she had been staring until she noticed Ranma's face was 
now dark with a disappointed frown . 
" Fine , you really want a good look at it ?" He snorted before thrusting his 
face so close to hers that their noses almost touched . Despite herself she 
stared at it for a instant before backpedaling a few steps .
    She opened her mouth for a apology but he never gave her a chance .
" How'd I get it ?" He asked for her bitterly . " All I'll say is that never , 
ever , underestimate a Hitokiri even when she's down ." His eyes flashed with a 
sadness that contrasted with the bitterness on his face . He shook his head , 
snapping himself out of the state . 
" Hey ," He began in a lighter mood once more . " wanna bet how long it takes 
for ..." 
" Akane ." She offered . Boy , was he betting with the wrong person .
" Akane -thanks- , wanna bet how long it takes for her to notice it ?" 
" Sure . I'll say right after the first time you two move in for a exchange . 
Let's not bet money this time ." She didn't want to make a worse impression by 
cleaning him out .
" Well I say she won't until after I tag her ."
" Tag ? Akane doesn't like point sparring ." 
    He chuckled , as if he knew something she didn't . " Well I don't hit girls 
unless there's a serious reason , but she's welcome to try to hit me ." 
" Don't worry , I will ." Akane smiled as she walked in . 
    Ranma stepped to the middle of the Dojo and motioned for Akane to step up . 
Then he motioned for her to do so too . 
" Sorry , one on one only ." Akane shook her head at Ranma .
" Fine then ." He sighed , closing his eyes and folding his arms . " Just don't 
hold back ." 
    Instead of answering Akane lunged for him , veering off at the last second 
to dance about until she was behind him . She sent a palm strike aimed at Ranma' 
back . Suddenly Ranma wasn't there . Instinct caused her to look up , to find 
Ranma crouching on the ceiling for an instant . He uncoiled his legs and 
launched at Akane at a blur . Now it was Akane's turn to disappear , still she 
noted that even at the end Ranma didn't even prep a attack . Akane streaked 
around Ranma , he ran in the same direction . Circling clockwise , vying for 
position they all but flew across the Dojo floor .
" He's good . Damn good ." She thought . " I never thought anyone could actually 
toy with Akane , and she's better than Daddy ."
    With a ludicrous burst of speed Ranma all but blurred from sight , leaving 
only a streaked afterimage in his wake . Akane screeched to a halt and threw up 
her defenses . But it was too late . Ranma landed a few meters behind Akane , a 
marker raised like a katana after a killing stroke .
    Akane blinked a few times before bringing a hand to her forehead . She had 
to walk up to her sister to read the kanji* on her forehead . 
" Slowpoke ." She sniggered .
" I am not !" Akane protested .
" No , no that's what he wrote ." 
" Wrote ?!" Akane asked in amazement .
" I do that to Pop all the time with trusty red here ." Ranma chuckled pocketing 
the red marker . " I gotta say , you're a lot better than I thought you'd be ." 
" I ...um...thanks I guess ." Akane stammered , before becoming indignant . 
" Hey ! this stuff better not be permanent marker !" 
" Nan ." Ranma said taken aback by the sudden change in reaction . " N-no it 
isn't . Ya just wipe it off with soap and water ."
" What style was that ?" She asked while Akane scurried over to a bucket of 
water . " That wasn't kempo ."
" Yeah ," He began scratching the back of his head . " I studied kempo from Pop 
until my little trip . Then I kinda mixed a few things inta making my own school 
of anything goes ."
" Oh ?" Akane prompted , returning with a wet rag and scrubbing her forehead .
" Yeah , I'm not real good with names so one of my friends named it . It's 
called the Saotome Anything goes school of Pride-fist ."
" Pride-fist ?" She deadpanned .
" Did I say he was good with names either ? Anyhow it's a daisho type school ."
" Daisho is swords Ranma ." Akane said .
" I know , swords are in the Pride-fist . Anyway it called that because it's two 
styles in one ." He took a bokken and a wakizashi bokken from the Dojo wall and 
slid them into his belt . " This is how he described it , and he's better at 
describin' stuff than me ." He walked back to them and took a stance that wasn't 
any kendo stance she knew of . " You can either use it for Do* fighting or 
Jitsu* fighting . He called that the dry fist and the blood fist ." He drew both 
swords with ease , slowly running through a sword kata . 
    Early on she noticed that he used the katana for blocks and the wakazashi 
for the point blows . Then he sheathed them in one motion before redrawing them 
. This time in a batto-jitsu strike . Then he proceeded the same kata but the 
katana was used for clearly lethal strikes and the wakazashi for blocks and 
minor strikes . Again he sheathed them in one obviously practiced motion .
" It's kinda like that . You can fight to beat your opponent like in a regular 
fight or ta take them out in a life or death fight ." He explained , replacing 
the bokkens on the wall racks . 
" Guess I won't be using the blood fist now that I'm back here in Japan ."
" Don't you mean back in this time ?" Akane asked .
    Ranma looked at the ground suddenly almost ashamed . " I've been back for a 
year . But when I was in china I had to use it a few times , I didn't kill 
nobody , but ... I hope the hospitals there are good ." 
" Let's see this 'blood fist' ?" She asked . Better to know as much as she could 
before it was her turn to spar him .
" I guess ." He walked over to Akane's supply of cinderblocks and to their 
amazement he tossed two high into the air , towards the middle of the Dojo . He 
dropped into a fighting stance that looked like a kempo stance , except his 
hands were relaxed and almost open and his arm position was altered .
" What are you-" Akane had began after he tossed the cinderblocks .
    Without warning Ranma's after image was already fading before they realized 
that he had started to move . She whipped her head around to watch the two 
cinderblocks become two clouds of gray mist with chunks falling to the floor .
" -doing ?" Akane finished lamely .
    Ranma stood on the other side of the Dojo , his fist slowly retracting from 
a thrown punch . She did notice to her satisfaction and relief that he was 
struggling to keep his breathing normal .
    She started to clap , prompting Akane to follow in suit . " Nice Ranma , but 
what good is it if you're exhausted afterwards ?" She asked in mock shyness .
    Across the Dojo Ranma winced , and ceased hiding his fatigue . Panting he 
walked back to them .
" So I've had a big setback in my trainin' sue me ! I had to leave the thing 
behind ! 'sides the hikarinohayasa* isn't exactly easy !" He protested once he 
had his breathing under control .
" The what ?" Akane asked .
" The hikarinohayasa , that's the starting move I used . It's a really long 
story , and I'd..." He trailed off noticing where Akane's eyes were firmly fixed 
upon . He bobbed his head up and down slowly then side to side , Akane 
unconsciously mimicked the motion . The sadness flashed through Ranma's eyes for 
a instant before he forced a smile .
" We're both wrong Nabiki-san ." He chuckled . " Akane-san ?"
" Huh ?" She jerked out of her trance .
" Seen enough ?"
    Akane was mortified . " OH ! I , um , I didn't , I ...how did it happen ?"
" Never , ever underestimate a Hitokiri even when their down ." She said for 
Ranma . 
" Yeah ." Ranma nodded . " Oh yeah , why isn't Kasumi-san here ? I thought all 
three of you practiced martial arts ." 
" Oh , Kasumi practices Anything goes school of flowing wind ." Akane answered .
    Ranma furrowed his brow for a second . " That's the pure defense one isn't 
it ? No attacks , just blocks and disabling pressure points ."
" Yup , real hard to spar her when she won't attack ." She smirked .
" You're Anything goes school of flowing shadow , right ?" He asked her .
" Well , that and regular Tendo style ." She admitted , hoping he wasn't about 
to ask her to spar . She hated being totally outclassed in a fight .
    He turned to Akane . " And you don't have a specialty , just regular Tendo 
school , right ?" 
     She nodded . Ranma folded his arms and looked thoughtful for a moment . He 
had just opened his mouth to speak when Kasumi interrupted from the doorway .
" Where are you sleeping tonight Ranma-san ?"
" The roof ." He answered nonchalantly .
" The roof ?" Kasumi repeated , puzzled .
" Yeah , what's wrong with that ?" 
" Well , don't you sleep inside like everyone else ?" She asked sarcastically .
" No ." He answered . " I don't like to sleep inside a unfamiliar house ." 
" Oh , my ." Kasumi said . " Why ever not ?"
" Old habit I picked up and never bothered to break ." He shrugged .
" Akane , you can take the bath first since I didn't do anything . Ranma and 
I'll clean up the cinderblocks ." She said .
" Thanks Nabiki ." Akane smiled as she followed Kasumi out of the Dojo .
" So you planning on skipping out in the middle of the night then ?" She asked 
after they had started sweeping up the remains .
" Naww , I need a legit excuse ta leave , code of honor and all ."
" Codes of honor are best bent ." She snorted .
" You have no idea how much I bent it just being here ." He sighed .
" Oh ?" She prompted . This promised to be intriguing .
" Ya don't spend three years in feudal times during a war without making a few 
commitments and obligations ta people ." He laughed , but she couldn't decide if 
it was forced or not . " I guess since alla the daimyo's* are gone I'm a rounin* 
now ." 
" You , a samurai ?" She scoffed .
" My mom is samurai so I took the same loyalty she said her family had durin' 
that time . Met a few of my ancestors too ." 
" Well I'm done , time travel rurouni* Ranma - now that's a mouthful- . How 
about you ?"
" Just ...there I'm done too ." They walked to the trash can to dump the 
powdered refuse . " You guys seem awfully accepting 'about all this ?" 
    She laughed heartily . " Rurouni Ranma , you have no idea how much of our 
own share of weirdness the Tendo's have been through ." 



*'s 
daisho : refers to the katana and wakizashi pair that the samurai and other 
sword fighters used .

Hitokiri : Assassin (not a ninja , they were more than just assassins).

Haori : The outer jacket with the wide shoulders that samurai wore .

batto-jitsu : Batto , means to draw sword and kill with one motion . Batto-jitsu 
means the art of drawing and killing with one motion .

seppuku : ritual suicide .

Nan : Ranma's failure to complete 'Nani' . The equivalent of 'Wha' .

Kanji : Japanese writing .

Do and Jitsu : Do (sounds like "dough") as in Judo or Kendo means the 
honorable and more defensive martial arts . Jitsu as in Jujitsu or Kenjitsu 
means the war arts , combat for survival with ruthless and lethal moves and 
intent .

Hikarinohayasa : translates to 'the speed of light' .

Daimyo : a lord of feudal Japan , the samurai swore their lives to their 
daimyo .

Rounin : a samurai with no allegiance , without a daimyo either after the 
Daimyo's death or from desertion .

Rurouni : A wandering Rounin . Implies homelessness along with the lack of 
allegiance .

Author's note : I don't write many author's notes because few read them . Anyway 
this is just here to answer the question "why put Ranma in Masaru's position" 
the answer , why not ?
    Anyway , comments , criticism , and fan fic submissions always welcome . I 
know that some of the characters are a bit out of character , but that's because 
they've had different lives up to this point . (and time to grow up in Ranma's 
case)

Ghaleon_WG@hotmail.com