A storm is brewing on a foreboding hill. As lightning strikes a light reflects off a rusty old sword drove into the ground at the top. The storm grown stronger and almost drowned out a voice that can be heard in the distance. "Nothing truly dies." Ranma 1/2 A Warrior Arises: Part 1# Scrap in Nerima! By: Peter Detenbeck a.k.a. Petes-kun ____________________________________________________________________________ All Ranma 1/2 characters are property of Rumiko Takahashi and all characters introduced in this series are property of me. ____________________________________________________________________________ China 1953 There was a storm that day too, only the storm was coming from a fatal battle about to commence. There were four figures standing on a hill, three side by side and one standing alone with faith and courage as his aides. "So, Maverick, you have come like we requested, the final confrontation is apon us!" exclaimed one of the three as he leaned slightly on his halberd, his tall hat and long flowing robes were in the colors of ice and snow. "How long has it been since you first fought each of us?" asked another of the three, this one wearing a cloak decorated like a stormy sky, his round straw hat tipped low enough for him to see yet his face was hidden by a shadow. "You and I fought since '49." Maverick the lone warrior replied flatly to the cloaked one whose name was Ikazuchi. "And you I fought since '50." He said to another of the three that floated 3 feet off the ground, his long hair draped over some of his face, his name was Halcyon. "And you, since '51 I believe." he said to the last one who leaned on his weapon, this one was called Kouri. The lone warrior wore a sleeveless black shirt, a red bandanna tied around his neck, and a pair of gray pants. Strapped at his side was a long well crafted samurai sword. His face showed the look of fear and determination wrapped together. His green eyes burned with hatred for these soulless warriors, who didn't care where the blood flowed from. "Just give in and make your death painless. You'll never defeat us!" Exclaimed Kouri as he started to get up from his position. "I agree, I won't win and live." Maverick said as he unsheathed his sword, light brightly reflecting off it. "So then you'll allow us to put you out of your misery?" Halcyon questioned as he looked up to get a last look at his foe. "Oh no. I said I won't do it and live. I never said anything about not being able to do it and die." Maverick said as he stuck his sword deep into the ground, he looked up and they saw a grin that would spook the devil himself. "What... Do you mean?" Ikazuchi asked rather annoyed with Maverick's arrogance. "This." Maverick started to glow brightly and the warriors could then tell that his battle aura was rising to great proportions. "Death blossom!!!" Maverick yelled as his glowing became blinding and his body felt weak. Then Maverick's battle aura grew and grew into a large semi-circle of energy that began to engulf the hill. The three could do nothing as they were like dear caught in headlights. Then suddenly the blast collapsed on itself revealing only a barren hill and a sword driven into the ground. *** China, Present day "Here sirs, we have come to the cursed hill of Xao Lin." said a guide as the two travelers who hired him climbed up the hill after him. "There very strange tale about it, happen many year ago. One day farmer saw the hill glow brightly and when he come here he only found sword. He no take out though, he think it cursed." the guide continued as the travelers reached the top. "This the sword?" asked one of the men as he bent down and examined it. "Hey this rust is flaking off! I don't recognize these letters." he said as he started to flake off more rust. "Oh sir don't do that! It..." the guide was interrupted by the other man "Yeah we know cursed, you said that about the last two places and we're still here." all of a sudden the sword became completely clear and stated to shine. "Huh, I didn't touch the rest of the rust... And where is the light that it's reflecting coming from, the moon's covered with clouds." the man inquired as he stepped back from the sword, thunder seemed to be his answer. "Oh dear." *** Japan, two days later The passengers on the boat finished gathering their things and were getting off. One lone man walking down the ramp look at his surroundings with curiosity. He wore a pair of brown pants and a large brown jacket. Slung over his shoulder was a large backpack loaded with travel supplies. "" he thought as he walked down the ramp. He picked up a news paper from a pile. The date was what he found quite interesting, 1994. *** "" thought Kuroimichi Mizu as he straitened his hat and walked off the boat. "" And with that thought Mizu, ran down the alleyway with plans that would keep him fed for quite some time... *** "So that one ramen and tea." said Shampoo as she laid out a bowl of ramen and a cup of tea on the counter. "Thanks, man I'm hungry." the customer exclaimed as he snatched a pair of chopsticks. "That be...hey what you doing?!?!" she asked as she saw the customer running out of the cafe without paying. "I'll pay my tab next time!" he yelled back as he got out the door and shoveled the meal into his mouth. "Hold it right there sonny boy!" proclaimed a small elderly lady as she stood in his way. "*snicker* You're not going to stop me are you?" he said with a smug look on his face. The old woman then swung her stick in an ark trying to hit him in the head, the guy narrowly dodged the strike. "Hah! That all you can do?" he said as he regained his footing now standing in a fighting stance, a little hint of mockery was in his voice. "Oooh, so you want a challenge eh? All right then." she chuckled as she also struck a stance. "You ready? Cause here I come!" he yelled as he charged her this time with a sword suddenly in his hands. The old woman leaped up dodging his charge and then she let loose a flurry of strikes from her stick, Maverick met every strike with a parry from his sword, he soon realized that her stick was moving faster and faster, soon he couldn't see the stick anymore and he only knew when to parry when he heard the whooshing noise it made. She then broke off and just hung on the top of the stick and examined him. "Well, aren't you going to attack?" he asked rather annoyed that she stood there just staring at him. Soon Shampoo ran up to the two stalemated fighters. "You're good, though I was going a little easy on you..." she finally said as she hopped off her stick and stood there on the ground. "Well that's what I hoped I'd be." he said, only seeming to acknowledge the part about him being good. "Listen I have a little proposition for you, if you'll accept I'll forget about the little food thing." Cologne said as she walked closer to him, she now looked like a withered 2 foot tall child closer up. "Hmmm, what sort of deal?" he said as he followed her back to the cafe. *** The Tendou household was having dinner, as usual Genma and Ranma were eating faster than the rest. Things have seemed to calm down after the whole wedding fiasco, Ryouga has left on another training trip after five times trying to find the door, Cologne seemed to stop scheming to get Ranma to marry Shampoo and there hasn't been a visit from the black rose in a while. Everything seemed calm and normal for once. Too bad that their time in the eye of the tornado wouldn't last very long. "Aaahh, that was a good meal." Ranma exclaimed as he got up off the floor and started to go to his room. "Why hello there son-in-law." said Cologne as she hopped in the room on top of her stick. "What are you doing here you old ghoul?" Ranma said as he spun around to face the 300 year old woman. "A customer was in my cafe today and he asked me to give you this." she said as she handed him a piece of paper. "Dear Ranma, I challenge you to a fight. Meet me outside the dojo at 14:00..." Ranma read out loud "Signed Maverick." "So who's this Maverick guy?" Akane asked as she got up to have a look at the note. "I dunno, maybe another guy that has "problems" like Ryouga." He said as he handed the note to Akane. "Hmmm, maybe he just heard of you eh?" Cologne said as she still stood there. "You know who this guy is don't you!" Ranma said as he lunged forwards to attack her. She hopped out of the way leaving him to fall onto the ground. "As a matter of fact I did mention your name to him." she said as her staff landed. "He said that you sounded like a great chance to dust off his skills. And decided to challenge you." she then hopped closer to Ranma. "You better save your energy for tomorrow, you'll need it." she said as she then hopped out of the house. "I'll be ready for him you just wait!" Ranma yelled as he saw her leave. "Ranma are you sure you can beat this Maverick guy?" Akane asked in a rather worried tone. "Don't sweat it Akane, he's probably just another amateur full of hot air." Ranma said but he seemed a little curious of how strong this guy is. *** "" Maverick thought as he fixed his scabbard to the belt. He took the shirt earlier and ripped off the sleeves, it suited him more that way. He also was able to find a red shirt, he took one of the sleeves and tied it around his head. " You sure he'll come?" "Oh don't worry, my son-in-law never gives up a challenge. He'll be here." Cologne answered. "Talking about me?" Maverick was startled by the new voice coming from behind him. He whirled around to see that the dojo gates were open and there on the other side stood Ranma. "So, you must be Ranma. Not very tough looking." Maverick said as he scanned him from top to bottom. Ranma was a little nervous when he saw what Maverick looked like. He had muscles slightly larger than Ranma's, his appearance seemed a little tough and grizzled, he stood over 6 feet tall, much larger than Ranma, but then this guy's name sounded American so it was expected, and after all Ranma defeated fighters much larger than him before. "And you must be Maverick." Ranma said back as he walked over to size each other up. "Now that you've both met let's discuss the terms." Cologne said as she hopped over to the two martial artists. "So this was a plan of yours then!" Ranma said rather angrily. "I'll admit that it was my idea to have you two fight, but you need the training anyways." she said calmly "Now then, Ranma if you lose you must marry my great grand daughter..." "Not that again!" Ranma interrupted. "And, Maverick will get free meals at the cafe." she finished. "All right, but I won't be held responsible if I hurt him too much." Ranma said smirking at Maverick. "Begin!" Cologne yelled and the fight began. They started to circle, staring into each other's eyes. "Hyaaa!" Maverick cried as he leaped up and went into a drop-kick. Ranma jumped out of the way and jumped up again when he landed. "Kachuu Tenshin Amaguriken!" Ranma attacked Maverick with a flurry of punches, but with equal speed Maverick blocked every attack. "Seishou bakufuu!" Maverick said as a burst of ki came from his hands from his hand, narrowly missing Ranma. "" Ranma then faked an attack, broke off and ran. "" Maverick thought as he chased after him. When Maverick finally caught up with Ranma he was standing on a fence that had a sewer line on the other side. Maverick wasted no time for his chance, he took out his sword and slashed into the air. Although the fence was out of the swords reach it still was cut in half. "" Ranma thought as he fell into the water. Maverick was putting his sword away when all of a sudden a red haired girl leaped out of the water. "What the?!" Maverick exclaimed as he now saw a girl in Ranma's clothes. He then charged the girl, striking between questions "How'd you do that?" (punch) "Answer me!" (kick), little did he realize that he was chasing him in a spiral. Ranma then ducked low and gave Maverick a strong uppercut "Hiryu shoten ha!" Maverick went soaring into the sky and was soon out of view. "And don't come back." said Ranma-chan as she ran back to the dojo. *** Meanwhile at the dojo Cologne sat there waiting for Maverick to return as the victor. Suddenly something fell out of the sky and into the koi pond behind her, up floated the body of Maverick. "I take it you didn't win." she said dryly as she walked over. "What happened? One second he was a he and the next he was a she?" Maverick said as he wringed his shirt out. "If you stay in Nerima you'll find out." Cologne said as she walked away, Maverick new that she now held a lot of disgust for him. "I think I will." *** "Dinner!" Kasumi called into the dojo where Akane and Ranma were doing some more sparring. When Ranma walked into the living room his jaw nearly dropped. "What is it Ranma?" Akane asked as she walked in from behind him. Sitting there was Maverick. "Ohayo." "What are YOU doing here!?" "When he got out of the koi pond I offered him to stay for dinner." Kasumi blank mindedly said as she continued to set the table. "Hey no hard feelings eh?" Maverick said as he stuck his hand out in Ranma's direction. "Well, sure. I guess. so why are you here anyways?" Maverick picked up his chopsticks as he hungrily looked at the plate of rice and fish set in front ofhim. "That's for me to know and for you to forget." Maverick simply said and then he started to scarf down the food at an alarming rate. 'Hungry boy' Mr Panda's sign read. "What style is it that you practice?" Akane asked as Maverick stopped to sip his tea. "Well it's a combo of Tenchido and Dragon martial arts. Sort of the forgotten arts." "Tenchido?" Ranma asked. Maverick gulped down the rest of his meal and tea. "You know "the way of heaven and earth", kinda a mix of Kempo and Kendo. It originated in a ancient country that was assimilated into Japan a few hundred years ago (about 900yrs or more), too bad it was nearly forgotten if it wasn't for the last samurai of Kishoto." "How interesting." Kasumi blankly replied as she slowly ate her rice. "So, are you from America?" Soun asked, taking his part to break the silence. "Well I'm from Canada, most people mistake me for an American a lot though. By the way, Ranma what in the world was that you did to look like a girl and confuse me?" This question was unexpected and caught Ranma off guard. "Well... You see, there was this place in China..." "" Maverick thought as Ranma went through the story of how he and Genma became cursed. "...And now me and Pop are stuck with this curse. *hmpf* Going to China without knowing how to speak Chinese." "You think I was going to waste all that training time to learn!?" Genma said, trying to once again defend his mistake. "Well it's all your fault!" Maverick watched as Ranma and Genma began to fight. "" "So will you be staying in Japan long?" Kasumi asked as she put her bowl down. "I'm not too sure... I guess when Ranma lets me in on the secret of that technique of his." Maverick said grinning at Ranma. "The hiryu shoten ha??? Listen I can't teach you it, I had enough trouble trying to learn it myself." Ranma said. "Well," Maverick began as he got up. "Thank you for the dinner, and Ranma..." he said looking in his direction. "You haven't see the last of Kouryou Maverick. Good night." and with that he hurdled over the wall. *** Later that night "Hiryuu... fying dragon... It has to be the missing technique of the Dragon martial arts school." Maverick thought to himself as he set up camp in a vacant lot. "It's my duty as a student of the school, to learn it. No matter what, even if I have to get him to use it so I can figure out the secret." suddenly a gust of cold wind blew, causeing maverick to shiver. "What was that odd monk going on about earlier in that other lot? Something about a ominous shadow I recall. Wonder what it means..." *** Korea (same time) Villagers ran in fear as the tall, muscular, aged figure walked down the road. His face devoid of all expressions, and his eyes staring at some unseen subject. The ancient one has come down from the mountain after centuries of seclusion in his shrine. Though he is only known as 'Ancient one' to the younger generations, but to the elders who's ancestors before them passed down their knowledge, he is called by his Japanese name, Tekkijidai, 'iron age'. "For years I have waited for my chance to challenge you, and now the time has come... Beware young Kouryou! I shall be your down fall!" End of Part 1# =========================================================================== Next part: AWA prt.2# Maverick vs Ryouga: the Dragon martial arts final attack ============================================================================= Author's notes: July,20,1998- Finally I'm done! I've been working on this since March. (pathetic, ne?) It's a rough start, but after part 3 I'll be more "grooved" into the storyline. I'm trying my best to make Maverick' as un-Godly as possible. I don't want this to end up as one of those fics that people avoid like the plague. July,22,1998- A lot of editing was done, I had to change a bit to put more of a cliffhanger and ICness in it. How it worked... Translations: Seishou Bakufuu- Spirit Energy Blast Tenchido- I said it before "the way of Heaven and Earth" Halcyon- Calmness (it's English BTW) Ikazuchi- Thunder Kuroi- Ice Mizu- Water Kuroimichi- Dark Path Kouryou- rain dragon, hidden genius Hidden jokes: Ony one this time. It would be the "odd monk" Maverick was talking about. It's a little obvious though, it's Cherry from UY. *duh duh duh!* Please give me any C&C, all flames will be taken as criticism.