"Good!" Akane told him with a bright smile. "I'll show you to the dojo, and we can begin."
"I already know where it is...."
"How could you know something like that."
Taking in her suspicious look, he held up his hands and tried to give her a reassuring smile. "The sign says for challengers to come in the rear entrance, right? And the house is up front. So the dojo has to be out back, right?"
"He's got you there," Nabiki drawled.
"That's my boy!" Genma commented, puffing out his chest. "Always able to think quickly on his feet."
"Unlike you."
"Yes... HEY! What is that supposed to mean?!"
The middle Tendo daughter gave him a bland smile that managed to fit a whole lot of insult into it. "If you can't figure it out for yourself, then, trust me, it fits better than I thought."
"In any case, it's time that we get going," a mollified Akane told their younger visitor. "Unless you don't want to practice."
"Me? I'm always up for practicing the Art," Ranma responded.
"Then let's go."
"But... but...." Soun stammered, looking lost as he reached towards his youngest child. "But you.... he.... the promise...."
"Stop worrying. It's not like he's leaving our property. I'm just taking him so that we can spar with each other."
"Let them go, Tendo. They're young, and full of energy. We can settle in here, and let them train together. It'd give them some time alone to get used to each other," Genma told his friend.
"Yes, but...."
"Relax, and let nature take its course...."
"He's not suggesting that we're going to...." Ranma began.
Nabiki nodded sadly. "I believe that is exactly the case."
"Ah," the teenaged boy responded... and kicked his father in the head before heading off with Akane.
"Was it something that I said," the big man moaned before he collapsed to the ground.
In many places, when one had an individual of obvious foreign origin walking the streets, it was something that might be more noticed. It was a simple fact, as people would notice those who were different than them, and might go from acknowledging that a foreigner was there, to stopping and watching.
However, a man whose only garments were leather pants, boots, gloves and a hat wasn't exactly someone that wouldn't get noticed, even if he was otherwise the most normal person around. As this was Nerima, they were used to some strange folks, but the fact of the matter was that seeing this sort of guy was... odd on a whole new level.
"Where is someone who can face the beauty of Lord McCoy?!" complained the overly muscled man in white pancake makeup.
"Look no further, for no devil from outside this great nation shall attempt to make a mockery of it, as you have!" called out an imperious voice.
"Who would that be...."
"It is I, the rising star of the kendo world, captain of the kendo team at Furinkan High, and defender of the honor of this great nation, Tatewaki Kuno, the 'Shooting Star'!"
Turning to face a boy in blue robes and carrying a bokuto, Lord McCoy smiled. "Yes, this is what I so wanted! And soon you shall feel the full power of my iron beauty!"
Both of them started laughing in an attempt to show their own confidence, and mock each other.
Elderly folks started praying, children started crying, and the animal life ran away.
For a moment, a chill ran down Akane's back, but she brushed it off and turned her full attention to the boy in front of her. "Are you ready to do this?"
"Are you sure about this?" Ranma asked, turning from his musings over the dojo.
"Of course I am. Why wouldn't I be?"
"You don't mind that I'm a guy?"
"I asked you to come here, didn't I? And what's the problem with you being a 'guy'?"
"Think about it," he told her. "A guy coming to hit you, and try to beat you...."
"I see your point."
"I'd hoped so."
"It's good that you thought about it, and worried, but I know what I'm getting in to. I mean, it's not like you're going to try to beat me up to date me," she told him, wrinkling her nose.
"I'll leave that sort of crap to others."
"I'm glad. Now, if you would, I'd like to get started."
"Just so long as you don't blame me for what might happen."
"Of course. It's just a spar between you and me. And now let's get started," she told him, sliding her bare feet across the polished wood as she got into a ready position.
"Any time that you're ready."
Akane frowned in confusion at his comment, but wasn't about to complain about it. His simple stance seemed oddly dismissive to her, but she wasn't about to push his possible skill aside. It wasn't a serious fight, and it would be really with the punch that she was going to send him right... now.
Only the widening of Ranma's eyes revealed that her strike had really surprised him, but that didn't seem to matter as he ducked out of the way of it. She sent more attacks right after that surprise, but he kept on weaving around her movements like he already knew what she was going to do. Fortunately, he seemed to have misjudged her a bit, and was kept close to her, but he also was slipping around her body like it was a pole.
When he finally broke free and slid backwards to stand in front of her, her brows pinched together as she looked at him. "Why can't I hit you...."
"Because you're too slow," he idly commented.
"Is that supposed to be making fun of me?"
"No. You're focusing in on your strength, and not on your speed. That let's you hit hard, but you move slower in compensation."
"I see...."
Ranma gave her a small shrug. "It happens, and comes from the way that we fight."
"Well then, I hope that you know that this isn't the most of my power."
"I didn't think so. To be honest, you're faster than I thought."
"Good," the youngest Tendo said with a smile, while:
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(Posted Sat, 22 Jul 2006 03:55)
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