For Wolverine, he was impressed; the boy was fast and skilled as well as powerful, if these blows he was taking to his forearms were any indication. Whoever this kid was, he wasn’t going to be a pushover.
Pressing his attack, Ranma was able to overcome Wolverines defenses and land a kick to his kidneys, followed by a right feint and a left hook to his opponent’s jaw which separated the two combatants.
Ranma stood back trying to shake the pain out of his hand, “Jeez it, what are you made of?”
“Name’s Wolverine, kid,” he said as he spat some blood, his split lip was healing itself as Ranma watched, “and I’m made of more than you can handle.”
*I have to finish this quick.* Ranma thought to himself, *being able to heal like that, he could simply outlast me.* “I’m Ranma Saotome of the Anything Goes School of Martial Arts, and I DON’T LOOSE.”
Ranma jumped back in not giving Wolverine time to attack. Wolverine’s defenses were pressed but eventually lost out as Ranma found his opening.
“Kachu Tenshin Amaguriken!” Wolverine felt like he was being hit everywhere all at once and on all of his vital spots. Luckily most are covered by adamantium. With a final uppercut, Ranma ended the attack and Wolverine flew back landing a couple yards away. “You’re good, old man, but I’m better.” He turned away from his fallen opponent.
*Snikt* Ranma stopped, he knew the sound of a weapon being drawn and this was close enough.
“Wrong, bub. I’m the best at what I do.” Ranma watched as another set of claws popped into view from the back of the man’s other hand. Without a doubt, the amaguriken blows were healing as they spoke.
“You should have stayed down, you’re wasting my time.” Ranma dropped into a more defensive stance and invited his opponent to attack with a wave.
Wolverine decided to oblige him and attacked. But realized even now, he was still out skilled as a counter kick snapped his head around even before his arm finished it’s swing. He ignored it and continued to attack, his claws coming dangerously close to the boy, shedding the Chinese style shirt 3 ribbons at a time.
Ranma knew he was in trouble as well; the old man had much greater endurance and could take a hit better than he and Ryoga combined. Plus this fight was simply taking too long.
“Don’t you ever feel you’re getting too old for this, Pop?” Ranma taunted, with a punch to the old man’s nose. “Too old and way too slow. “ Kick to his ribs. “Maybe it’s time for you to retire; you’re not going to win, anyhow.” Box to his ears.
“I won’t loose,” Wolverine panted, “not to a snot nosed punk like you.” This kid was just too much, smarting off at the mouth while nearly getting cut to pieces. Wolverine pressed the attack harder. This punk was going down.
Ranma smiled, “Hiryu Shoten Ha!” Ranma’s uppercut sent Wolverine into the center of the spiral. It only lasted a short while as the cyclone ripped at the older fighter and deposited him on the grass in an ungraceful heap.
Ranma dropped to one knee to catch his breath. This whole situation was getting out of hand. He just wanted to find his mother or the item she came after and get out, now he seemed to have another fast healing killer after him.
“That is quite enough.”
Ranma looked at the beautiful white haired African woman dressed in a black bodysuit and a black cape at the top of the steps with one arm outstretched like she was holding court. Behind her a bald man in a wheelchair rolled forward.
“The time for fighting is over.” Though the man spoke softly, the tone of authority still carried in his voice. “Who are you and why are you here?”
“My name is Ranma Saotome. I’m looking for someone.” Behind him he could hear the others he had fought and some he had avoided surround him. When nobody answered right away, he continued, “My mother, her name is Nadoka Saotome.”
“My name is Charles Xavier; I am the head of this institution.” Ranma smirked at the irony that the head of the school was bald. “And believe me,” he continued, “there is no one here by that name.”
“I know that.” This was the part Ranma really wished he could avoid, “You, you wouldn’t know she was here," he grit his teeth, “she came to steal somethin’.”
“Perhaps we should talk. Please come inside.” Xavier turned and rolled inside, the other’s moved to follow. The tall boy was leaning on the shoulder of the redhead and wearing a smaller set of red sunglasses. The blue furred fellow was helped by a shorter pony tailed girl and an African boy with a styled crew cut. Another girl with a white streak in her hair took up position beside Wolverine who, Ranma was surprised to see, was walking on his own. These two made sure to walk behind him as he entered the house. Looks ranged from curious to hostile or both, but none seemed ready to dispute the guy in the wheelchair.
“Please, Ranma, have a seat.” Xavier said as they entered the parlor. Ranma looked around him. So far every room, even the entry hall was bigger than the Tendo dojo by itself. He had taken his shoes off at the door by habit and even though no one else did, it seemed better to leave them at the door.
“You don’t seem very surprised by our appearance or the fact that we are mutants, Ranma.” Xavier continued, “This doesn’t bother you?”
“Nah, not really.” Ranma said, “Mom’s a mutant, but pop doesn’t like ‘em. But people can’t help the way they was born, y’ know? Even if they are powerful, I know what it’s like to take a bunch of flack because you can do things other people can’t.”
“Hmm.” the professor nodded. “The reason I ask is that I too am a mutant, I have the ability to read minds. If you will allow me, I would much rather see your thoughts than hear your story, it may take some time to tell and you might leave out something important.”
“I don’t mind, I guess.” Ranma said. “It didn’t hurt the last time somebody did that.”
Xavier reached out and touched Ranma’s head and images began to flood into his brain, of his life in Japan, finding his mother was actually Mystique and being coerced by Magneto, his trip to the United States, via the Hellfire club, and the help from Emma Frost, the White Queen herself. There were also many barriers that Ranma himself had erected, even a covered pit that Charles himself found terrifying. He respectfully never touched any of them.
Finding another son of Mystique was definitely not what Charles had anticipated. Letting other’s know, especially Kurt and Rogue, would make things harder on the boy and there was no doubt he simply wanted to do the right thing.
“Wolverine, Scott, Jean, please check the vaults to make sure they are secure. The rest of you had better get ready for school. In the meantime, I would like to invite you to stay with us a while, we don’t know when your mother will show up.”
Before Ranma could answer, the African woman spoke up, “Why don’t I show Ranma to the guest quarters and get him a new change of clothes?”
“Thank you, Orroro. Is that ok with you, Ranma?”
“Yeah, sure.” Ranma followed the white haired woman while the Professor wheeled himself in the other direction.
“That was quite an entrance. I would have expected a more stealthy approach for someone of your ability.” she said as she led him down the hall.
“Yeah, well, the security you have around here is way too tight, though I can see why you have it. You’re trying to keep this place secret so you can teach and help mutants and no one will bother you, right?”
“Yes. You really are very good.” she said as she opened the door to a bedroom, “You can rest in here.” she said, motioning for him to enter, she then closed the door and locked it and pulled Ranma into a hug, “Thank God you are all right, Son.”
“Momma?”
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(Posted Mon, 09 Aug 2004 03:09)
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