However, as a relative, he was not someone who would be a threat to him in that sense. So, without the clouds of jealousy warping his thoughts, he could see that this was a warrior of some strength, and that he had obviously impressed and befriended his niece, which was a good thing in the kendoist's mind. No weakling would be worthy to be related to the fair Akane Tendo, as power in some area was what would be the true test of who should be considered her family.
And now that he looked, he could see the similarities between the glorious Ranko, and this boy, particularly in the eyes and jaw. The latter might be harder with this 'Ranma', but it was set in the same way as the redheaded matron of grace would have had hers. That told him much about the boy, and he knew that he would do well in a fight. Of course, he could obviously appreciate the strength of another, and if he had the chance, he would have no choice but to recognize that Kuno was the only person who could be worthy of being the romantic companion of the fierce goddess that was Akane.
That was a chance that Kuno wanted to give to him, as he pointed his weapon of choice at him. "Now, you will fight me, as is only proper!"
"Me?" Ranma asked, pointing at himself with a blink. "Fight ya?"
"But, of course. For is there no better greeting between warriors? In the battlefield, two warriors can truly know what sort of person they face. This will show us just how powerful each of us is, as well as allowing you to see a simple fact."
"What'd that be?"
"That I, Tatewaki Kuno, rising star of the high school fencing world, am the best individual to date your niece!"
"Ya wanna fight me?"
"Did I not say so? For what other way would allow you to see that I am the strongest, and therefore, the most deserving of Akane Tendo."
"Ya gotta be kiddin' me...."
Kuno posed as dramatically as he could. "The 'Blue Thunder' does not 'kid'."
"'Blue Thunder'?" Akane muttered, giving him a flat stare.
Nabiki gave a small shrug. "It's new to me."
"Listen up," the pigtailed boy scoffed. "I really don't know what ya think ya are doin'..."
"You mock me?" the older boy growled.
"Trust me. If I made fun of ya, you'd know."
"Ah... Then... You desire for me to make it clear that I am serious!"
"Eh?"
"A fool could simply stand and prattle on, simply saying that he intends to do something, and never actually put his words into actions, as he was simply puffing up his own delusions of his importance!"
"Kinda describes himself pretty well," the middle Tendo sister drawled with a smirk.
"Yup. And all I've seen says that ya really ain't thinkin' 'bout what you're doin'," her uncle commented with a nod towards the other boy.
The kendoist smiled back. "I see... Then we must do away with pleasantries."
"Huh?"
"I will give you the fight that truly honors you!"
Ranma's eyes went wide as he saw the wooden blade coming at his head, but reflexes honed over years of training took over, and he dodged it without thinking. His body weaved past a strike that cut into the walkway, and he leapt over a cut that would have taken his legs out.
"Now, do you see?!"
There was no answer from the younger boy as he flipped out of the way, and stood facing him with a scowl. It was clear that he wasn't a simple fighter, as his avoiding skills were rather high. But then he tossed his backpack to Akane. "Hold onta this for a sec."
"Are you taking the time to make me into your pack mule?" growled the youngest Tendo.
"Nope. Don't wanna get it messed up."
"Well then, you'd better know that Kuno really fights when he faces a guy."
"Exactly! I am glad that my fair love knows me so well, as to know what I would do without any difficulty. But what will you do?" the wannabe samurai asked.
Smirking, the pigtailed boy got into a ready stance. "I'm Ranma Saotome, of the Saotome School of Indiscriminate Grapplin', and I accept your challenge."
"Good, for now you shall know my strength!" Kuno declared as he swung his bokuto at his opponent.
Ranma leapt out of the way and bounced off of a property wall that was subsequently hit by a slice from Kuno. The next attack would have taken off the pigtail on the younger boy's head, but he was already moving. Before the kendoist knew what was happening, his weapon of choice was being smacked away, and when he tried to land a counterstrike, it failed miserably as it was easily sidestepped, so that only a sore spot might have a chance of being left. The response to it came in the form of a series of punches that he could not count, and a crescent kick that went so high that Saotome flipped backwards after landing it.
As he fell backwards onto the ground, Kuno could only think of one thing. 'This is no mere boy. As truly befits a relation of both glorious Ranko and wondrous Akane, he is a warrior.'
"Impressive," Nabiki murmured as she stepped over to where her classmate had fallen. "Right, sis?"
"I... I didn't see him... He was like a blur," Akane whispered, blinking as her uncle took his bag back.
"Really? Wow. If you didn't see it all...."
"It was nothin'," Ranma said, waving off their words.
"But I trained under both my Mom and Dad!" his younger niece protested, clearly confused.
"So?"
"'So'?! Mom's your sister!"
"And I got trained by the guy who trained her, who left her ta train me. So... Who knows who's better? But she can teach ya only up ta what she knows. Still...."
"Yes?"
"She did a pretty good job in teaching ya."
"Really?" the dark haired girl asked, sounding happy at the compliment.
"Yeah. 'Xcept... I don't wanna talk 'bout how good she taught ya, or how ya need ta work on defense, right now."
"Why? Are you avoiding the conversation?"
"More like avoidin' the rain. I think that I felt a drop on me just now."
"A few hit me too," Nabiki confirmed.
"Oh," Akane said as she led the way inside. "We can talk about that later then. And I can find out how you can do that stuff. You're good."
"Thanks," the Saotome Heir replied.
From where he lay, Kuno wanted to nod, but he could barely keep his eyelids from dropping too fast. He wanted to look upon the loveliness that was Akane, as well as the new boy in the school. Normally, when knocked down, he would be complaining about such a cheap strike, but in this instance, he was feeling something quite different. 'That warrior... He is one who I can truly be glad to have in this school....'
With that thought, he dropped off into unconsciousness, and didn't complain when the other members of the kendo team carted him off, while:
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