InuYasha Fan Fiction / Ranma 1/2 Fan Fiction / Sailor Moon Fan Fiction ❯ Crossover ❯ The Path of a Martial Artist ( Chapter 2 )

Chapter Two

The Path of a Martial Artist

-----

"So let me get this straight." Daisetsu was gently caressing his right temple with two fingers. "The five of you have all arrived here from parallel dimensions with absolutely no idea how you got here?"

There was a general nodding of heads from the other five teenagers gathered.

Daisetsu nodded and smiled brightly at the gathered teens. "I see. Well since this has absolutely nothing to do with me, I wish you all luck with your lives." With that, he started to walk off into the night.

"What? You can't just abandon us like this!" Gin couldn't believe this guy wasn't falling over himself trying to help her out. Most of his `type' were suckers for damsels in distress and unlike so many times in the past, she actually qualified this time out. A plaintive whine escaped her lips. "We need you!"

That caused the boy to pause momentarily in his trek. Something was telling him he'd regret getting involved with these people.

Tatewaki Kuno wasn't concerned. "Fear not princess. All we have to do is find this world's version of myself. My generosity is beyond measure. Surely we will be taken in and given all we should need."

Gin did some quick mental calculations. She had never taken Kuno for the generous sort, more like a fool and his money. Still, for her purposes any fool would do. So would any Kuno for that matter. And given a choice between one that was penniless and one who had the Kuno fortune at his disposal… well there really wasn't any choice at all. "Why Kuno, how absolutely brilliant of you. That's just what we should do."

Daisetsu continued walking again. Let them be the Kuno's problem.

"But what about us?" Kari was suddenly uncertain about the future. The idea of having no one to turn to in this world was scary. It wasn't much, but so far this little group was all that she had that was familiar to her. "Are Ryoga and I going to just live on the streets or something?"

Again, Daisetsu paused. The boy's comment had struck a cord from his past. He knew that Ryoga could handle it but it was not sort of a life for a young boy. The Ronin-errant clenched his fists.

Ryoga comforted his best friend. "What about your dad Kari? Maybe he exists in this world as well. I'm sure once you demonstrate your family's form he'll be willing to take us in. At least help us out."

That seemed to reassure Kari. Her dad could be a bit of a flake at times but he had a good heart. "You're right Ryoga. I'm sure that's all we need to do." She even managed to smile. Things weren't so bad. "Yeah, so thanks for nothing buddy." She shot at Daisetsu's back.

`That's right,' thought Daisetsu, `they're not my problem so I don't need to get involved. All I have to do is walk away.' His feet seemed unwilling to comply however. Finally he sighed and turned around. "Look, if things don't work out for you guys, I'll give you my number. I should be able to help you work out something." He reached into his coat for a small pad of paper and a pen. He wrote out his number on two sheets of paper and gave one to each of the two departing groups. He sincerely hoped neither group would need to use it.

-----

Kari watched as the scenery flashed by. She couldn't get much looking by, as the bullet train was going at speeds close to 300 kilometers per hour. She had a seat on the Yamabiko bullet train, running from Tokyo to some other city. She really didn't care what the ending point was; her only concern was with the stop at Sendai.

Her home was there. So was Ryoga's, as a matter of fact.

To be more precise, her home was in another Sendai. A Sendai of another dimension. It didn't sit well with her, that she was separated from family and friends by far more than even a million miles.

It had happened to her once before, of course. Ever since her wish, she had been living in the world of Ranma 1/2. Back when she had been a male fan of anime at the lowest point of his life. But her new life had been better, in most ways.

She stole a glance at Ryoga. Her bandana-clad friend was watching the scenery go by as well. He seemed to take things... so much better than she did. He took them in stride, and she was struggling inside to not break down. To adjust.

Why did these things happen? It had been an ordinary day...

But then things were turned around. Her life had been thrown around, and, like a passenger on the Titanic, she found herself in cold, unfamiliar, and unbearable waters with only a single life preserver, her friend Ryoga.

She shook her head. Her father would also be there for her. Even if she didn't exist here, which she was sure she didn't, he would believe her story. She could have a father and her friend, bar all else.

"It's only a little longer," Ryoga commented, startling Kari a bit. The train car had been completely silent, as a single girl, busy reading the latest shoujo manga, was the only other occupant.

"Yeah," the ninja replied. It was only a 100-minute trip from Tokyo to Sendai, and it had been an hour and a half, give or take a few minutes.

The oldest of the pair sighed, wishing he had brought his umbrella, or at least his pack, with him. He didn't voice his worries, but if Shinzumaru, Kari's father, wasn't where they hoped he would be, then they would be out on the street. And, without his pack, they weren't in much shape for that. Heck, they had spent half their money just for the train tickets.

Idly, he gripped the sheet of paper Daisetsu had given him. It was folded in the right pocket of his pants, and its feel reassured him.

Maybe they wouldn't be in such bad shape.

----

Kari pointed to the building. A large sign in the front read "Akimachi School for Boys." She was smiling as she said, "Bring back any memories?"

Ryoga snorted. "Too many, if you ask me." It's where he had met Ranma for the first time. He hadn't met Kari there, though the day after their meeting she had started attending under the guise of a boy.

He had also met his true rival there, a boy by the name of Ryo Sakegachi. He idly rubbed a rib where Ryo had hit him with that blasted technique of his last week.

Kari began to walk ahead, away from her old school. "Come on, Padfoot, we got a ways to go."

"Not if we go by rooftop," Ryoga replied. He leapt onto the top of a building across the street.

The young girl nodded. "Good point." Leaping up after him, she did have something to add, though. "But it'd be nice if we went the right way."

Ryoga rubbed the back of his head. "Hehe... right."

The two made their way at a fast clip toward Kari's home, or at least where her home was in their original dimension.

"Hold up a second," the girl said, stopping atop a roof and glancing at the building across the street.

"What is it?" Ryoga asked, stopping behind his companion.

Kari waved her hand toward the building across the street. "That was my father's forge."

The martial artist looked over. Instead of seeing a forge, however, he saw a toy store, as advertised by the colorful sign out front. "Is your father a toy maker in this dimension, maybe?"

For some reason, Kari doubted that. Without saying a word, she bounded off toward her home, just slow enough for Ryoga to keep up. She was extremely anxious now, but not to the point she'd leave Ryoga alone to get lost.

They made it to the house quickly. Landing easily in front of the modest two-story home, Kari stepped forward to knock on the door, rapping it with the back of her hand.

After five minutes, they tried the door.

"It's locked," Kari muttered.

"Step back," her companion said, his voice firm. He was stepping forward, fist cocked back.

"I think not," the ninja replied. Reaching into a pocket of her military pants, she pulled out a small pin. "I'm a ninja, remember?"

The boy grinned sheepishly. "Well, how was I supposed to know you brought it with you?" It's almost as if she was prepared to be sucked into an alternate dimension.

"A ninja is always prepared," Kari said, taking one of her father's old comments in training. Within a few moments the door was open and the two made their way inside.

It wasn't what either expected. Kari expected her home, albeit without some touches she had herself made. Ryoga expected an abandoned house, or possibly somebody else's home.

It was definitely Shinzumaru's house, though, judging by the fact the man was sleeping soundly on the ground, a bottle of beer clutched in a hand. He had a rather sizable beard that came from having not shaven in quite some time and a bit less of the muscular frame Kari was used to.

The house itself was a wreck. The furniture was all ruined, stained, or broken. Pizza boxes and beer bottles littered the floor and piled high on the kitchen table, which had a broken leg held together with duct tape. The entire place reeked, too, a mix of various stenches, none of which seemed healthy.

Kari did the first thing that came to mind. "Oh my God!" she cried, launching herself onto her father like an Amazon onto her husband, though with less nuzzling and more grieving. "Dad, what's happened to you?!"

The eldest Umikage opened his eyes. "Eh? Wuz goin' on?" His voice was slurred from alcohol, though he still knew enough to feel the girl latched onto him.

Ryoga looked away. "Kari..."

The young girl had tears in her eyes as she hugged her father. "Is this what happens without me, dad?"

The man seemed to sober up a little, looking at the girl with her arms around him. "Who... are you?"

"I think it's best if we go, Kari," Ryoga muttered, looking at his friend.

"I can't just leave him like this!" the girl cried, shaking her head so violently she actually caught her father several times with her long blue hair.

"Look, kid," the man said, getting Kari's arms and pushing her away from him. He sat up, looking her in the eyes. They shone with intelligence, not like the eyes of a drunken man throwing his life away with booze. "You can't judge the way I live my life. I can live it as I choose, so don't feel pity for me."

Ryoga could see the hurt in Kari's eyes, seeing her father like this. "He won't be able to help us, and we can't help him."

"I'm beyond that," the man said, lying down on the ground. He turned over, putting his back to the two teens. "You found your way in, you can find your way out, too."

The two made their way reluctantly out of the elder Umikage's home, Kari more reluctantly than her companion.

Ryoga pulled out a folded piece of paper from his pocket. He'd get to a payphone on his way back to the bullet train. They had just enough money to get back to Tokyo.

It'd be up to Daisetsu to help him and Kari, then.

-----

Three teenagers found themselves standing before the gates of the Kuno Estate. Never before had these gates seemed so daunting to any of them. Never before had they stood before these actual gates.

Tatewaki had the most bravado, if not actual courage so it was he who rapped on the gates in an imperious manner.

It took a couple of moments of impatient waiting before the gates swung open to reveal Sasuke. "Master Kuno? Mistress Kodachi? What are you two doing knocking and who is this lovely young woman with you?"

"This is beyond your understanding Sasuke. Now stand aside." Tatewaki strode past the ninja and the two young women followed his lead. Sasuke was left to close the gate and shake his head.

Gin was thinking to herself. She was fairly certain that the Kuno siblings would be ousted by this world's version of them. No estate was large enough to contain that much ego and insanity. Still, there shouldn't be a problem with her getting in with this Kuno. Maybe she could shine on Kodachi as well. At least until she found a way to dispose of the lunatic.

The three teens took advantage of the private baths and then raided the kitchen to fill very empty stomachs. Between them, they'd barely had enough cash to catch a train this far. Food had been out of the question. Gin cursed the fact that all the credit cards they carried were no good here, though they had tried.

There was a strange pause to the gorging of faces in the kitchen when Tatewaki Kuno walked in. This Kendoist was slightly taller, and slightly more filled out then the one that Gin knew. And he was an older boy. This was getting better by the second.

"What is the meaning of this? Who are you people and what are you doing in my home?" The elder Kuno produced his bokuto at a speed that made it impossible to see where it had come from. All his attention and ire was focused on the one that bore his face. "You there! You must be that vile sorcerer copycat Ken. You have nerve to face me in my own home, I'll grant you that much. Let me assure you however that I have improved a hundred fold since our last match."

The younger Kuno held up his hands in protest. "You are mistaken though foul sorcery is involved. No doubt I am a victim of that Ranma Saotome. We are travelers from a parallel world and have come to seek your hospitality."

The elder Kuno wasn't having any of it. "You expect me to believe that rubbish? I'd have to be crazy. We live not in a world of fairies and oni. Such tales are the fodder of children! For insulting my intelligence and tarnishing the name of Kuno with your visage I shall punish you!"

The ensuing fight was brief with the younger Kuno being ejected unceremoniously from the estate grounds. In an uncharacteristic act of sisterly concern, Kodachi rushed out to tend to her stricken brother. Perhaps she was afraid that she would be the next to be attacked if she lingered.

Gin made her move. "Oh thank god! You valiant man! You saved me from the foul sorcery that those two had me under."

Kuno eyed her suspiciously. "Who are thou?"

The woman bowed deeply, "Please forgive my impertinence. I am Gin, a princess."

As expected, Kuno started to warm up to her. "A princess? Held by vile sorcery? It is fortune indeed that brought you to house Kuno. I will allow you to thank me by dating with me!"

A broad smile crossed Gin's curved lips. "How very noble and charitable of you. I accept."

Just then, Sasuke walked in bearing a tray holding a tea set. He tripped over some plates dropped by the recently departed Kuno's and through the tray and all its contents over Princess.

Eryn stood before Kuno in a now soaked and stained dress. He was disoriented but managed to think. `Damn, princess has been up to it again.'

"What is this?" Kuno demanded. "You are really a man? How dare you try to trick me vile deceiver?! I will never forgive you!" With a mighty swing from his Bokuto, Kuno sent the interloper flying through the roof.

Gin cursed as she pulled herself out of the pond. She was wet and angry and had just been forced to stare down a hungry crocodile. Leave it to Eryn to screw things up for her. She marched out the gates to join `her' Kuno's. "What do we do now?"

Kodachi considered. "Perhaps we should take that Daisetsu person up on his offer."

Tatewaki nodded. "He doesn't seem like such a bad sort really."

"But how are we going to get back to Tokyo?" Whined Gin.

The gates opened and an older Kodachi walked out. She eyed the trio critically for a moment. "If I hadn't seen it with my own eyes, I would not believe it."

The younger Kodachi assumed a defensive pose. "If it's a fight you want, I am ready for you."

The elder girl gazed into her doppelganger's eyes. "I remember you, even if you don't know me. I hope you do in time for I have grown to pity you greatly. I thought I hated you, but it is pity I feel." She dropped a bag at the feet of the three teens. "Here is some food. It should last you a few days at least." She handed her double a billfold. "Here is some money. It's not much but it should help you out until you figure out what to do. Please don't return here however. Whatever your origins, you are not welcome." Without a further word she turned on her heel and went back inside, the gates closing behind her.

The three dimensionally displaced teens looked at each other. They nodded as one and walked to the train station without further word.