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Ranma 1/2: New Challenges
All That We Have Known
Chapter 6




         Ranma blocked another flurry of punches from Happosai and
retaliated with a side kick that forced the old master back a few paces.
There was a brief pause as they took a moment to study each other from
where they were standing on opposite sides of the roof. Without warning,
they collided again in a flurry of movement and attacks. Watching from
the ground, Akane could just make out their forms as they bounded around
the yard

         Ranma was feeling prety good! Never in his life had he felt
faster or more skilled than in the past week training with Happosai. The
old man had pushed him to a new level he never thought possible. He was
actually trading blow for blow with the master's best attacks. Of
course, if Ranma didn't think of something, he would end up losing
again; or maybe it would be a tie.

         With a grin, he formed a plan.

         In the span of a couple of seconds, Ranma maneuvered the fight
to the pond and took a quick dip; then he was right back into it with
barely a pause in the action. He knew Happosai would never fall for his
female form again (he tried it and the old lech resisted!), but since
his male form was matched for Happosai's speed, his female form could
surpass it, if he could compensate for the decrease in reach.

        "Kachu Tenshin Amaguriken," he whispered, as his flurry of
punches closed in.

         The old master grinned. "I thought you learned, Ranma-chan,
speed is no substitute for skill." Before Ranma could connect, Happosai
ducked and shot his pipe into Ranma's stomach, then flipped him into the
sky. "Can that boy never learn?"

        "I don't know, I like to think I've learned."

         Happosai looked up to where his pipe was still pointed up over
his body. Ranma was not in the sky where he was supposed to be, instead,
he was doing a handstand on the pipe. For once, the old master was
stunned.

         That proved his undoing.

         Ranma jerked on the pipe, pulling his now-ascending sensei into
his descending fist. When it was over, Ranma was standing over the old
man's head which was poking out of the ground.

        "You have gotten better, Ranma," Happosai admitted, climbing out
of his hole. "You will truly surpass me in the Art."

         Ranma grinned. "Ya got that right." <The old freak has changed,
too. He hasn't touched a piece of underwear since he regained his
youthful form.>

        "And humble as always." He shook his head. "There's not much
more you can learn from me. The remainder of your training will be done
by you alone." He laughed. "Well, your future bride will help, too. Now
come."

         He walked over to join the spectators and Ranma followed. "My
work here is done. From now on, Ranma will be your sensei in the art,
Akane. And she will be your sensei in schoolwork." Akane giggled and
Ranma groaned. "You schooling is just as important as the Art, Ranma.
Intelligence and knowledge is just as important as strength and speed."

        "Will you be going now, Jiji?" Akane asked.

         Happosai took a puff from his pipe. "Yes. I've taught Ranma all
I can. He'll teach you now."

        "Say it isn't so, master!" Soun voice attracted the trio's
attention to the master's two former pupils.

        "Yes, you've taught us so much!" Genma added. "How can you leave
us now?"

         Happosai laughed. "Oh, stop that you two. I know what a burden
I've been. I know you'll be glad to finally be rid of me." He leapt the
top of the outside wall. "I don't know how much longer I've got, but
there are a few things I still need to do. Chances are you probably
won't see me again. Take care, all of you."

         Ranma stepped foreword. "Hey wait, you still haven't said
anything about that technique you and Cologne did. I think you called it
the Ravaging Dragon's Heart or something like that."

         The old master took a long puff on his pipe. "That's an
extremely difficult and dangerous technique. It needs at least two
people to do and it once you start it, you can't stop." He shook his
head. "I'm sorry, but I can't teach you that. If it's needed again, then
it will become available."

        "So, what exactly happened to Krynn?" Akane asked.

        "Basically, we immobilized him and tore open a portal, sending
him into the demon world." His visage darkened for a moment. "It's the
place where unclean creatures belong."

        Ranma was quiet in thought after that, so Akane spoke up again.
"Is there anything we can do for you?"

         Happosai grinned evilly. "Name your first child after me!" A
group face-fault ensued. "Just kiddin'!" He waved, and then was gone.

         For several moments, no one moved. Each expected to see the old
master come bounding back in any minute with a sack of underwear, but it
was a long time before the name of Happosai was ever spoken in the Tendo
household.





         Tatewaki Kuno sat in the dojo of his ancestral home,
meditating. He was sitting on the floor in the classic `lotus' position,
with his bokken resting across his lap, studying the family portrait
hanging on the wall. It depicted his father, mother, sister, and
himself, sitting in a classic familial setting.

         <How I miss those days,> he thought to himself. <Mother passed
on when I was but a lad, I can barely remember her. Father is no longer
the man he was. Now even my sister has finally snapped. What is going on
with my family?>

         He cocked his head as a few more random thoughts entered his
mind. <Tendo Akane and Saotome Ranma. How could I not see it before? All
those times she so forcefully rebuffed by amourous advances, how could I
not see that she would never love me? How could I have been so blind?
When Kodachi attacked Akane, something inside of me changed. It was if a
bounty of chains that had held me, suddenly snapped. For once, I was
thinking clearer than I ever had.> He tapped his chin thoughtfully.
<There is something in our family that is affecting us mentally. I wish
I knew what it was!>

         His reverie was interrupted by a slight knocking at the door.
"Come Sasuke."

         The black clad ninja appeared in the room and knelt by his
master's side. "She has returned, master Kuno."

         Kuno's head popped up and he stood. "Where is she?"

        "She went into the room."

         He didn't need to say anymore.

         In all the rooms of the  Kuno mansion, one room was forbidden
to the house's servants. Only members of the Kuno family could enter,
and they frequently did. But for the life of him, Tatewaki couldn't
remember what was in that room, despite the fact that he knew he had
entered it before.

         He grabbed his bokken and rushed out of the dojo, heading for
the basement. Sasuke followed close behind. A short jaunt down another
set of stairs brought them into a stone cellar, empty, save for a table,
a few chairs, and a heavy stone door on the opposite wall.

        "Wait here, Sasuke," Kuno commanded. The ninja nodded as the
kendoist approached the slightly ajar door. When he could hear nothing
inside, he carefully pushed it open and stepped inside.

         It was a small room, and only a statue in the center occupied
it. Taking a closer look at revealed it to be some scuplture of some
half-man, half-dog being that was apparently glaring at him. It almost
seemed alive and Tatewaki could swear it's eyes were watching him. While
the statue held him enraptured, a ribbon snaked out from somewhere and
tugged the wooded sword out of his hands.

         That swas enough to snap him out of his trance.

         "'Dachi!" he exclaimed as his sister emerged from behind the
statue. "What is the meaning of this?"

        "Ohoho, brother dear, what ever do you mean?" she asked. "Don't
you remember Galfgar?"

         That name rung inside Kuno's head. He had heard it before, and
his mind associated it with the statue. "Why didn't I know that?" He
shook his head. "Come sister, I sense evil in this room. We must leave."

         She laughed a bit more. "Indeed I shall, brother dear, but only
me!" With that, she flung a black rose bouquet at him, which struck his
face and dropped to the ground, but not before disgorging the paralysis
powder it contained. Kuno ignored it and advanced on her. "H-How can you
still be moving!?"

         Tatewaki smiled. "Surely thou dost not realize I have become
immune to thy poisons after all these years?"

        "I shall simply have to work on a new formula." She growled and
attacked, flicking her ribbon at him. "And do not call me Shirley!"

         Kuno sidestepped the strike and tried to move in closer. She
responded by tossing a bladed hoop at him to back him up. Then she
followed it up with another ribbon strike that wound itself around his
arm, while he was distracted with the hoop.

         Kuno frowned, grabbed ahold of the ribbon, began to pull his
sister towards him. "You shall have to work on new attack maneuvers as
well."

         Kodachi merely grinned back at him and hit a hidden button on
the ribbon handle. The battery in the handle promptly released it's
electric charge that traveled along the metallic strips in the ribbon
and into her brother's body. Kuno felt his insides twist as the shock
fired through his nervous system, overloading it. When it was over, he
slumped to the ground and Kodachi tied him up.

        "Well, Tatchi, you seem to have underestimated me yet again. Not
that it matters anymore. By the time you get out of here, you won't have
much of a mind left." She looked up at the statue. "Right Galfgar?" The
statue almost seemed to nod.

         Laughing, she left and closed the door, leaving Tatewaki alone
in the dark with the glowing eyes of the statue. He struggled helplessly
with his bonds as the voices descended upon him.

         In his mind, the voices took the form of a pack of wild dogs
and Kuno began to quiver in fright. The dogs had come to him
occasionally in his dreams before, and it became one of the worst
nightmares he had ever had. Now, the dogs tore into him once more,
biting and growling and tearing his body apart, only to be put back to
together and have the process start all over again.

         Outside the door, Kodachi knew it was a simple matter to subdue
the bumbling ninja that served as House Kuno's head servant. Then she
was on her way to prepare for phase two of her plan.





         Hikaru gulped and glanced around the room. All the members of
the `magic circle' were present. Miyo, the fortune teller and
officiator; Toshi, the spiritualist; Ariko, the novice sorceress; and
Hikaru, the failed magician.

         He sighed. He was the most useless of the group since he had
nothing much to offer. Clenching his fist in frustration, he tried
again. Nothing. The glass cup in front of him refused to move. <Why
won't it work anymore?>

         At the elemental sect compound, it had all seemed so clear.
When Akane was in danger, something inside him snapped, almost like
someone had turned a faucet. The power flowed forth and he began to
manipulate objects and magical energies. With mere thoughts, he
redirected fireballs, smashed golems, put up a deflective telekinetic
shield, and sent invisible mind bolts that staggered a wizard many times
more powerful than himself.

         But why had the power left him?

         He shook his mind to try and clear his thoughts as Miyo called
the meeting to order. The four seated themselves around the small table.
It could have been his imagination, but it seem Ariko scooted her seat a
few inches in his direction.

        "Greetings fellow souls of the magic," Miyo intoned with a
slight smile. "Before I reveal the results of my latest reading, does
anyone have anything to say?"

         Toshi was silent as usual; he never said much, and when he did
it was short and to the point. Ariko was the bubbly one. She always had
something to say, even when it wasn't relevant. On the occasions when
Hikaru said something, she was always attentive and supportive. He was
almost starting to like her. But he couldn't forget Akane...

         He raised his head. "I-I have something to say." Three pairs of
eyes fixated on him. "I'm dropping out. I-I don't belong here."

         Ariko looked confused. "What? Why?"

         Hikaru stood up. "Because, I no longer have any magic. I don't
think I had any in the first place." His voice began to break. "I don't
belong here!" He bolted for the door and was gone.

        "Well, that was interesting," Toshi mused, nary a trace of
emotion on his face.

         Ariko stood up. "We have to go after him!"

        "Why?" Miyo asked.

         Ariko stammered. "B-because! He's an important part of this
group!"

        "Is that all he is?" Miyo returned. "Maybe his destiny lies not
with us." A hint of a smile appeared on her face. "Maybe you think it
lies with you?"

         Ariko blushed and open her mouth to retort, but nothing came
out. Frustrated, she then ran out the door after Gos.

        "Think they'll come back?" Toshi asked with a small smile.

         Miyo looked a bit shocked. "You talk like I'm supposed to know
the future." The two shared a good chuckle before Miyo spoke up again.
"I have a feeling they'll be back."

         Toshi raised an eyebrow. "Foretold in your crystal ball, eh?"

         The fortune-teller shook her head. "Nope. Female intuition."

         Toshi actually sweatdropped.




        "Hikaru!" Ariko called out into the darkness. She was running
aimlessly, trying to find out where the distraught boy had disappeared
to. <Where did he go? And what does he mean he has no magic? I clearly
saw him use it back at the wizard fight. And I believe I still sense it
in him. So why'd he run?>

         She turned a corner and sighed. "Don't see him here, either.
I'll never find him this late at night." She leaned up against a wall
and glanced up at the sky. A shooting star flashed passed, prompting her
to make a wish. <I wish I could find Hikaru and make him understand how
I feel.>

         As soon as she said it, a small wind gave her a short case of
the shivers and when she resumed walking, she spotted a figure in the
distance. The only reason she could see him, was because he was under a
streetlight on a footbridge spanning the canal. Her heart quickened and
she picked up her pace.

         Stepping onto the bridge, she could clearly see it was Gos, and
his back was to her. She cleared her throat as she approached. "Hikaru-
kun, are you alright?"

         For a few minutes, he didn't move nor say anything. Then, "Go
away, please."

        "Why!? Why won't you tell me what's wrong?"

         He turned around to face her and she flinched a bit when she
caught the hate-filled eyes. "Just go away! You don't want to hang
around a loser has-been." He turned his back to her again. <Please don't
go away...>

         Ariko shook her head. "What do you mean? You have as much power
as me, if not more. You're not a loser."

        "You're wrong. I may have had some power during the fight, but
it's gone now. All my life I dreamed of the magic I would wield one day,
hoping that I could make myself somebody and stop the bullies that pick
on me. Hoping I could get Akane-san to notice me."

        "Akane?" Ariko thought for a second. "Isn't that the name of one
of the girls who rescued us? I thought she was engaged or something."

        "To a jerk named Saotome," he growled. "Her parents arranged it,
though, and he just treats her like crap. He doesn't deserve her."

         Ariko stepped back, a bit hurt. "So why don't you do
something?" she asked flatly.

        "Because he's stronger than me! I'll never beat him unless I
have magic!"

        "But you have magic..."

        "No I don't!" he yelled. "Not anymore! If I did before, it was
all a coincidence."

         Ariko frowned. "No, you don't get it. You still have the magic.
I can sense it in you." Hikaru stopped and stared at her in disbelief.
"Yes, it's still there, maybe you're just having problems accessing it."
She held out her hand, trembling slightly "I would very much like to
work with you in restoring it. If you would let me."

         Hikaru debated with himself for a minute. Then, slowly, his
hand took hers and she smiled at him. <No one's treated me like this,
except for Akane. Oh, Akane. If what Ariko says is true, then once I
regain my magic, I can make you mine!>

         He smiled, and she took it as meant for her, when in reality it
was meant for someone else.





         Kasumi hummed silently to herself as she hung up the laundry to
dry. The cause of her good mood was the fact that she had another date
with Tofu tomorrow evening. Of course, she was always in a good mood
without any particular reason, so it came as no surprise to the rest of
the family. She absently wondered why she was always in a good mood, but
that line of thought soon went away and she was back to happily doing
the laundry.

         She detected approaching footsteps and looked up. "Oh, hello
Akane. How was school?"

         Akane was obviously very angry and didn't even acknowledge her
older sister. Instead she growled, "That JERK!" before heading into the
house.

        <Oh dear,> Kasumi thought. <I guess I'll need to talk to her
before dinner.>

         A few minutes later, Ranma leapt to the top of the outside wall
and carefully peeped inside.

        "It's okay Ranma-kun," Kasumi said sweetly. "Akane has gone up
to her room."

         Ranma sighed in relief and jumped inside, before walking up to
Kasumi. "Is she still angry?"

        "I believe so. Would you like to tell me what happened?"

         Ranma hesitated, then scratched his head. "I'm really not sure.
I was just setting up a study session with a friend at school when she
walked up and hit me. Then she stormed off before I could figure out
what was going on."

        "Who are you studying with?"

        "Sayuri and Daisuke. Sayuri's got the highest grade in math, and
I nearly failed my last test. She said she could help me out and I
figured, why not?"

         Kasumi thought for a minute. "Isn't Akane supposed to be your
sensei for schoolwork?"

         Ranma looked confused. "Yeah, but Sayuri's gettin' a higher
grade. I thought it'd be easier to learn from her."

        "Ranma-kun, you are her sensei for martial arts. How would you
feel if she decided to learn from someone else?"

         Ranma looked down at the ground in understanding. "I guess I'd
be upset, too. So what should I do?"

        "I think you know the answer to that. Talk to her and
apologize." She suddenly smiled as another idea hit her. "Oh, and how
about inviting her along for a double date with Tofu and I? I'm sure
she'd like that."

         Ranma smiled. "Yeah! That's a great idea! Thanks Kasumi-san,
you're the best!" He gave her a quick hug, then started into the house.






         Up in her room, Akane was choking back her tears. <That baka! I
really thought he loved me, but he was just stringing me along. How
could I have been so stupid!?>

         She hit her pillow a few times, but it wasn't nearly as
satisfying as hitting the pig-tailed jerk. Just when they started to get
closer, he arranges dates with other girls! She thought back to that
afternoon...

         She was looking for Ranma so they could walk home together when
she heard his voice. Glancing around a corner, she saw him talking to
Sayuri. Ranma was speaking.

        "Thanks Sayuri, you're the best!"

        <What's going on?>

         She giggled. "My pleasure. I never thought you'd ask me that!"

        <WHAT did he ask HER?>

        "Well, I just figured it was about time," he replied. "I mean, I
have to get serious if I wanna have a future."

        <He wants to make a future with another woman!? What about me!?>

        "Anyway, I'll see ya later?"

         She began to walk away. "You bet, it's a date!"

        <A DATE!?>

         When she was out of sight, Akane steamed towards him. Ranma
managed to get out a "Hiya Akane" before she smashed him into a wall and
went running off.

        "That baka..." she said softly through her tears. "I suppose
it's my own fault for letting him get too close. I should have realized
what he was, but I chose to ignore all the signs."

         She cried for a few minutes more before drying her tears. <I
won't let him do this to me; I'm stronger than this.> It was about that
time, that a soft knocking came at her door.

        "Akane?" she recognized Ranma's voice. "Can I come in?"

        "Go away!" she yelled.

         There was nothing, then, "Akane, we need to talk. I'm sorry,
but I'm coming in."

         She heard the door open behind her, someone came in, and then
the door closed again. She froze and willed him to go. It didn't work.

        "Akane..." he started.

         She turned. "Shut up!" she hissed at him. "Just get out of
here!"

         The look on his face was not anger, but shock, confusion, then
determination.. And... hurt?

        "No," he said softly. A few months ago, he would insulted her
and left the room. But that was then and he had changed. He recalled too
many times when misunderstandings forced them apart. "I obviously did
something to hurt ya and I want ta know what it was."

        <What, he doesn't know?> she thought. <Is he that dense?> She
shook her head. <Can't deal with this now. Just get him out.> She rose
and advanced on him, intent on punching him out the window like she had
so many times before. But it was different this time.

         He caught her fist inches from his face. Enraged, she swung
with her other fist, but he caught that, too. <What's going on? He's
never done this before?>

        "No Akane, not right now." He gazed into her brown eyes. They
were slightly red and puffy, telling him she had been crying. "Like I
said on that night, I don't want to lose you. Right now, it seems to be
going that way." His deep blue eyes were pleading. "Please don't shut me
out. If what we talked about meant anything, talk to me."

         Slowly Akane's anger began to drain. <What's going on? Why
can't I stay mad at him? This used to be so easy.> "I thought you loved
me."

         Confusion returned to his face. "I-I do. I have for a long
time."

         Her eyes were accusing. "Then why are you seeing other women?"

         He released her hands. "I'm not seeing anyone but you!"

        "I heard you make that date with Sayuri!" <There! Let's see him
wiggle out of this!>

         Understanding flooded his face. "Didn't you hear our entire
conversation?" She reluctantly shook her head slightly. "I was only
setting up a study date with her and Daisuke. I need help in math if I'm
going to pass and she has the best grade. Being a friend of yours, she
agreed." He pulled her into a hug. "I was planning on asking you to join
as well since you are my sensei. I should have asked first. I'm sorry
for that."

         Akane's mind reeled. <He apologized?> Where were the insults
and the smart alecky comments? She melted into the hug, putting her
hands around his waist like his were around her waist and resting her
head on his chest.

        "Ranma, I'm sorry," she managed through muffled sobs into his
chest. "I got jealous again and jumped to conclusions again without
listening to you."

         He began to rock her slowly. He didn't know why, it just seemed
like the thing to do. "It's okay."

        "No it's not! Despite what we said, all it takes is one little
thing and I become angry and jealous all over again." She wiped the
tears on her face on Ranma's shirt. "I'm sorry Ranma. I love you and
don't want to lose you, either."

        "You're just gonna have to learn to trust me. I won't ever let
ya down."

         Somehow, hearing Ranma say those words lifted the hurt from her
heart and made all the difference.

         He lifted her chin up till she was look at him. "Oh, by the
way, how about a double date with Kasumi and Doc Tofu tomorrow?"

         She smiled, moved in, and kissed him passionately. Pulling away
after several minutes, she said, "That answer your question?"





         Kenji awoke in a cold sweat. He was breathing heavily, and the
blanket was sticking to his body, since he didn't wear a shirt to bed.
He took a few moments to let the strong, yet terrifying, emotions of the
horrible dream subside.

         It had been a long time since his last nightmare, and he
thought they were long behind him. Oh sure, he knew he'd get the normal
bad dreams that everybody got, but he had hoped the fire nightmares were
long gone.

         Instead, he had just had a pretty disturbing one. In it, he was
in some sort of fiery cavern. As the fear paralyzed him, deep mocking
laughter echoed around him. Kenji managed to find his voice and call
out, but the laughter only intensified. Sweat pouring down his brow, he
repeatedly screamed for the voice to stop.

         It continued like that, until he turned to see a nightmarish
face staring back at him, one that he recognized and feared greatly.

        "You're not real..." Kenji whispered, trembling badly, sweating
buckets.

        "Oh course I'm real, boy," the floating head of the Fire Lord
retorted. "Why wouldn't I be?"

         Kenji's mouth opened and closed, as he was unable to counter
the Fire Lord's logic. But he was dead, wasn't he? Ranma had told the
amnesiac that they believed he was. But Kenji hadn't actually seen the
Fire Lord die.

        "But you have, boy." The head was suddenly connected with it's
body.

        "What?"

         The Fire Lord sneered. "See what you have done!"

        He spread his arms wide and Kenji recoiled in horror. The Fire
Lord's midsection was a bloody mess and a wide sliver object was
protruding from it.

        "I... I... didn-"

        "YOU KILLED ME!" Kenji found a finger in his face. "Behold your
hands!"

         The boy's eyes instinctively went to his own trembling hands,
which he held up. The shaking grew worse, even as he mouthed the word
`No'. Red streaks of fresh blood covered his fingers and palms.

        "NO!!!!!!!!!"

         And that was when he woke up. Desperately, he scanned his
hands. With only the addition of a fine sheet of sweat, he realized they
were normal and he breathed a sigh of relief, collapsing back to the
futon.

         The Fire Lord had died, hadn't he? And if he had, who killed
him? Kenji then had a very disturbing thought. What if he was
responsible for someone else's death?

         Taking a second look, he could almost see the blood on his
hands.




------------------------------------------------------------------


Author's notes:
There, I've wanted to get rid of Happosai for some time. True, he was a
perverted panty thief, but I had to think there was more to him. I
actually think there is more to all the characters then the manga lets
on. In the end, I decided to have him pass his techniques down to Ranma
and go off as a somwhat-hero. Don't ask me why, since I'm mainly a
softy. I wanted to get rid of the two most knowledgeable people so the
Nerima crew would have to figure out things for themselves. Maybe it
will help them grow up a little, ne?