"Didn't I already hear your name?" Ranma replied.
"Not as is proper, bore! Are you going to listen, or am I going to have to make you?"
"Go ahead."
"Good. This will go better on you if you continue to bow to my will. For I am Tatewaki Kuno, junior group E, captain of the Kendo Club, undefeated star of the high school fencing world, but my peers call me... the Blue Thunder of Furinkan High!"
"I thought that it was 'Shooting Star'?" Nabiki murmured.
"It can change!"
"Not if it's that big of a name, though with you giving it to yourself..."
Her Master blinked at her. "He names himself?"
"Pretty much. Started with 'Ace' back in kindergarten, and went from there. In the past month, he's been 'Heaven's Sword', 'Shooting Star', and now, the 'Blue Thunder'. Each time it's something he's called himself."
"Ah... I gotcha."
"I'm sure that you do. But... it does get to be amusing, in a familiar, rather expected way."
"BAH!" Kuno declared. "As if you would know the intricacies and twists of my mind!"
"I seriously doubt that anyone could, Kuno-baby."
"Then be silent, wench, and let a real man do his work!"
"First off, I do plan to let the fight start. And second, any orders have to come from my Master."
"Then I'll leave him to deal with you, once I've gained that which is rightfully mine!"
"You're gonna get it," the pigtailed boy drawled.
"I know. Then will you submit?"
"Not on your life. Ya gotta be kiddin'. Ta someone like you?"
"Tell me then, knave. Who exactly are you?"
"Just like it's been told before. I'm Ranma Saotome, of the Anything Goes School Of Martial Arts."
"Then, let us begin, so that I may show you the true strength of my skill!"
"Bring it on."
"Then, let the battle start. FIGHT!" the Advocate called out.
"I shall show you! Take this! HA!" the older boy yelled as he swung at his opponent... who dodged it in plenty of time. Growling under his breath, he tried to do some rapid swings, but the other boy ducked and weaved around them like he was almost bored. Fortunately, it was doing well to push the whelp backwards, and would soon leave him no breathing room. When he got almost to the wall of spectators, Kuno smiled, for he knew that Saotome could not run any further. That meant that he had him where he wanted him, and as such, he was able to pose properly before landing his strike.
But as the bokuto came down, the younger boy was not there. Ranma had quickly darted out of the way, and was rolling over to the other side of the 'ring'.
"Have you no honor at all, theif! Face me!" the would be samurai demanded.
A smirk curled up one side of Ranma's mouth. "I am facin' ya."
"Then come and fight me!" Kuno snarled as he ran forward. A sense of satisfaction came over him as he saw Saotome coming over to meet him, and he swung his weapon of choice in what he thought would be the strike that would win the fight.
However, Ranma twisted around it, and twirled so that the strike grazed him, before swinging his fist in a roundhouse punch that struck the older boy's jaw so hard that those around it could hear the connection.
For a moment, the two of them stood there, with Ranma favoring one shoulder over the other, and Kuno's face buried into the hit.
"That did not hurt," Kuno commented... just as his eyes rolled up in his head and he collapsed.
Ranma looked down at the elder boy, and let out a large sigh.
"Winner, Ranma Saotome!" said the Advocate, as he duly noted that on his forms.
"You won..." Akane breathed in amazement.
"That he did," Nabiki put in. "And very well, I might add. Now that Kuno-baby's lost, he can't put any legal leverage into getting you. So, basically, your safe from him, as far as the law is concerned."
"But what if he tries to take me?"
"Can't, or he'll wind up getting the 'criminal treatment' at the processing facility."
"You mean...."
"No more Kuno. Master's saved you from that."
"Thank you, Master!" the youngest of the Tendo sisters cried out as she ran over and hugged him. Then she noticed what she was doing, let him go, and walked away in embarrassment.
"What was that?" Ranma asked.
Nabiki gave him an understanding smile. "Like I said, stress. Good job, Master."
"Thanks. Now, I'd sorta like ta get outta here...."
"I understand."
"But don't leave the area," the Advocate advised.
"Oh?"
"The young Master renting my services did put up a bet on his side. That means that the outfits that he was planning on giving his prize if he won will now be made up for you, and your fellow slaves. Which will now include his sister, as she was part of his bet. So, it'll take some time for her to be collected, processed, and delivered to your Master."
"True. We'll just have to see where we'll be. I'm sure that we can stay for that long. Am I right, Master?"
Her Owner shrugged. "I guess so. If nothin' else, ya do need clothes."
"But what about Mister Kuno's sister?" Kasumi murmured.
"Don't know her, but I don't think that I could abandon her. 'Sides, it ain't like we've got some pressin' business. Right, Pop?"
"That's true, boy. There's nothing that can't wait for that long," Genma agreed.
"See?"
"That's good then. As it was agreed to by the young Master, and is legal, I see no problems coming up. You should have your new slave, and the clothing soon enough," the Advocate informed the pigtailed boy.
"Okay," Ranma replied with a negligent shrug, while:
Read the comments on this episode
(Posted Sun, 10 Jul 2005 20:19)
Questions? Problems? Suggestions?
Send a mail to addventure@bast-enterprises.de
or use the contact form.
らんま1/2 © Rumiko Takahashi
All other series and their characters are © by their respective creators or owners. No claims of ownership of these characters are implied by the authors of this Addventure, or should be inferred.
The Anime Addventure is a non-profit site.