In a secluded forested area outside of Kyoto a man who appears to be no more than 27 drinks a little sake. His name is Hiko Seijo the 20th, the successor of the Hiten Mitsurugi Ryu. He is the only man living on the earth who knows the ancient school that was created during the Age of the Warring States. And it appeared he would be the last. At his side is his sword, Fuyutsuki (Winter Moon). He takes another sip of the sake before sitting it down. (“Someone is headed this way,”) He rises and looks back at the forest. Something moves within a bush then shots out. The object lands near Hiko. (“A boy?”) It is a young boy, maybe 13 years old. But what is so odd is the fact that he is on all fours and cleaning himself with his tongue, like a cat. (“The Neko-ken.”) Hiko whistles to the boy. He turns and looks at the swordsman. “Come here,” Hiko says in a soothing tone. The boy meows and obeys. Soon he is purring contently as the swordsman pets him. (“Who would be foolish enough to teach the Neko-ken. It has been forbidden for nearly half a century.”)
A new person emerges from the bushes. “Ah, so there you are boy!” The fat man says as he moves towards the boy.
The boy arches his back and hisses at the man. Hiko turns back to the man, his question now answered. “So you are the fool who taught his boy the Neko-ken.”
Genma begins to sweat. “You know of the Neko-ken?” Hiko nods. “The foolish boy could not even master a simple technique like the Neko-ken. Why was I cursed with such a worthless child?” Genma laminates.
Hiko looks down at the boy. He is still ready to pounce on his fool of a father. Hiko expands his senses and looks at the boy’s aura. His eyes widen in shock. (“In all my years I have never seen someone with so much potential! This boy…I must train this boy!”) Hiko turns back to Genma after regaining his composure. “You will leave the boy with me.”
“What? I don’t think so! He maybe a worthless excuse for a son, but he is my son.”
Faster than Genma can see Fuyutsuki is out of its sheath and pressed against his neck. “You will leave the boy with me. You may return for him in one year. However, if I see you before then I will kill you. Do you understand?” He asks.
“H…Hai.”
Hiko backs off and sheathes his sword. “Good, now leave.”
Genma nods and disappears into the bushes.
The boy strolls over to Hiko and nudges his leg. “You have nothing to fear now boy. I will show you how to conquer your fear and in the process I will show you the Hiten Mitsurugi Ryu.” The boy smiles and meows, almost like he is agreeing.
One Year Later
Hiko Seijo had not kept his promise. Genma had indeed tried to recover Ranma before the year was out. However, Hiko allowed him to live. And now finally that the year is up, he will never have another chance to keep his promise.
“There you are boy!” Genma cries out as he runs up to Ranma.
The boy is kneeling before a fresh grave. He stands to his full height. The last year has been good to him. He has matured both physically and mentally. Physically he is only a few inches shorter than Genma, his body is now built better, and his eyes shine with a confidence he did not have when his father last saw him. Mentally he is no longer a boy, now he is a man. The fear of the Neko-ken has now left him along with his innocence. At his side is Fuyutsuki; it is now his sword. “I’ll be ready to leave in a minute tousan.” He places a cloak upon the grave and a stone upon it. “Farewell Shishou.”
One Year and Three Months Later
“Damn that old man,” Ranma whispers as he moves silently through the forest. After wandering around Japan for a while Genma thought it would be a good idea to come to China, even if there were rumors that a war was being fought. Now the Chinese Government has separated him and Ranma. (“He’s probably running back towards Japan right now. Damn that old fool, I wish I would have listen to Shishou and left him.”) Ranma stops and hides behind a tree as a small unit of Chinese soldiers move by him. (“Only 13,”) He signs in relief. He waits for them to march by before continuing towards the east.
<”Be careful everyone. We don’t know if there are soldiers around or not,”> Shampoo speaks softly. The five Amazons in her company nod and move ahead slowly.
<”I see something!”> Conditioner says. She motions towards the other side of a small clearing. There, moving slowly from the Amazons’ right to left, is a unit of Chinese soldiers.
<”Down!”> Shampoo orders.
But it is too late. <”The enemy!”> One of the soldiers cries out.
<”Shit!”> Shampoo curses as they unleash a hail of bullets.
(“Gunfire?”) Ranma thinks. He looks back towards the sounds of gunfire then towards the east. (“Should I head home or to the fight?”) His deliberation lasts only a few seconds. He wheels around and disappears back into the forest.
<”Hold your fire!”> One of the soldiers orders. After a few more shots the guns go silent. <”Surrender yourselves! You cannot escape!”>
Shampoo looks around at her fellow Amazons. She and Conditioner could escape but the rest could not. (“What would Great Grandmother do?”) She looks to Conditioner. She smiles and nods. Shampoo returns the gesture before standing. The guns of the soldiers immediately turn to her. <”We are proud warriors of the Amazon nation. We would rather die than surrender to you.”>
The Chinese commander frowns. <”Very well. Kill…”>
But he is interrupted by a loud Ki-ai. The soldiers turn their heads sky just in time to see a young man descend upon them like an unforgiving force of nature. <”Kill him!”> But before the commander has time to call out his order five men have fallen. The remaining men desperately fire at the boy, who appears to be a blur of movement.
(“I’d better finish this,”) Ranma thinks as he prepares to attack. “Hiten Mitsurugi Ryu…Kuzu Ryu Sen!” Faster than anyone on the battlefield can see, seven more men fall to their deaths. “And then there was one,” Ranma says as he sheathes Fuyutsuki.
The commander takes a step back and draws his gun. <”What are you?”> He screams as he fires.
But the boy is not where he is aiming. “Hiten Mitsurugi Ryu…Battou-jutsu!” He feels a pain in his lower body and looks down. The boy is standing in front of him with his sword drawn. “Sorry, but I don’t speak Mandarin.” The commander’s upper body falls backwards as his lower body falls forwards.