Ranma Saotome has always been confident in his abilities (to the point of dangerous arrogance, some might say). Back in Nerima, he was the best martial artist of his generation. Be it rivals, magical princes or onis summoned by perverted old masters, they all fell before him in the end. The Anything Goes school, by taking only the best moves from other styles, was the ultimate martial art. Except for a few incidents, no one on Ranma's side had come under the threat of dying. Fighting the shadowlands hordes wouldn't be any different in his opinion.
Hida Jiro had gotten his old memories back at his gempukku. His first act was to become Hida Ranma when he had to choose his adult name. And to his surprise, he had been taught a fighting style radically opposed to his own. Where the Saotome-ryu emphasized speed, mid-air combat and one-on-one fighting, the Hida way insisted on strength, toughness and battling several opponents at once (when you fight the shadowlands, you are ALWAYS outnumbered). Back in Nerima, only Akane and Ryoga fought like that so it is no surprise Ranma would suddenly disdain the ancestral crab techniques. The heavy armor the crab bushis wore was discarded since it would be too encumbering. Ranma's only compromise had been taking his swords. His teachers had successfully rammed in his head that there are creatures of the shadowlands you do NOT want to touch with bare hands.
What Ranma hadn't predicted was that his old martial arts skills were somewhat rusty. He could still use his ki to boost his body's performances though and it was what saved him. The Oni was much tougher and quicker than Ranma had estimated at first. No help was coming for now as all other crabs were engaged in the battle against Fu Leng's cannon fodder. Reluctantly, Ranma admitted to himself that perhaps, he had made a mistake.
But Ranma had redeeming qualities such as a gift for improvisation and that he fought best under pressure. A plan and new technique were devised quickly with a little catch : it would be all or nothing, the stunt he wanted to pull would exhaust him. All the while, the young warrior and the monster were still caught in a dance of death. Ranma smiled and focused his ki in his No-dachi, waiting for an opening. His only thought was : *I hope Kuno never hears of this*
*****
Hida Kisada was advancing through the shadowlands horde like a scythe in a wheat field, crushing monsters left and right with his giant tetsubo. The only thing that mattered now was reaching Ranma *That young fool is not going to get killed by an Oni on my watch ! No, it is a task I will do myself after we win !* Kisada's anger was pushing him forward and woe to those who stood in the Great Bear's way...
Suddenly he saw Ranma take an unfamiliar stance and visibly falter. The Oni entered his son's ma-ai unopposed. *NO !*
Ranma smirked. The Oni fell into his trap. "Secret technique ! The thousand pincers ! ATATATATATATATATATATATATA !!!"
Ranma's sword blurred. The Oni screamed in pain as he was struck hundreds of times in a few seconds. The fact that Ranma's no-dachi was charged with positive ki didn't help either.
Ranma took again a defensive stance. The Oni's bloody pieces fell around him in a gory rain. The battle stopped. Silence reigned for a few seconds...
Then screams of sheer terror could be heard from all over the shadowlands army. Fu Leng's minions retreated as quickly as possible.
Ranma lifted the Oni's head with his right hand and presented it to his bewildered father (whose jaw would have hit the ground if not for his helmet). The moment was broken when Ranma collapsed.
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(Posted Sun, 20 Oct 2002 11:55)
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