Thanks to my pre readers: David Johnston, Octavian, TonyLoco

Ranma 1/2 : Secret of the Nekoken

Created by Long Ngo
Started July 2, 1998
Finished August 22, 1998

      The battle was not going well for the Nerima group as the they faced off against a very angry Saffron. Two years after the battle at Mount Phoenix, Saffron was now seeking revenge against the young man that had defeated and ultimately killed him, Saotome Ranma. It had taken two years for his body to mature and for him to regain his lost powers. Finally, Saffron had his opportunity to repay Ranma, an eye for an eye.

      Looking around, Ranma saw that everyone that he loved and cared about were either too hurt to help or unconscious. To his left, near the wall, were Ukyou and Akane. Looking past them, through one of the various holes, Ranma could make out the form of Ryouga and Mousse. Against one of the trees laid Shampoo. Feeling a couple of new presence on the field of battle, Ranma looked to either side of him to discover Happosai and Cologne flanking him. Without even looking, he could tell that his father and Mr. Tendou were behind him protecting Kasumi and Nabiki.

      Looking into the eyes of his two would be protectors, Ranma shook his head and stepped towards Saffron. "This is my fight. Saffron came here for me and I'll be the one to send him back to Mount Phoenix. He'll pay for hurting everyone." Ranma swore. Closing his eyes, he concentrated and brought forth his battle aura. His powers now dwarfed what he had two years ago. Without making a sound, Ranma launched himself at the king of Mount Phoenix, Saffron.

      Cologne had heard the tale of Ranma's battle versus Saffron from Shampoo. She had known that Ranma had potential when she first met him, but for Ranma to beat Saffron was, in itself, a miracle and the proof that she needed to convince the tribunal leaders of their village to make Ranma an honorary Amazon, the first male in the history of the Amazon. This also gave Shampoo the option to return home without loss of honor. As years passed Cologne by, she had been in search of an heir to the arts which she held within, now looking at the back of the pigtailed youth in front of her, she knew she had made the right decision. She just hoped that Ranma could defeat Saffron a second time and live long enough for her to complete his training, "Good luck son-in-law," Cologne prayed silently.

      Throughout his years, there had been many disappointments. Looking at the youth in front of him, Happosai knew that this was not one of them. The two male figures behind him were. Through his training methods were unorthodox, it was the basis for the style known as Musabetsu Kakuto Ryuu. Unlike any of the other branches of martial arts, Musabetsu Kakuto Ryuu relies solely on the concept of adaptability to the real world and tries to learn from it rather than defeat and forget. Of everyone he had ever met and taught, Ranma had been the shining pearl within the sea. Of the new generation, Ranma was the best of the lot. He was not the strongest or maybe even the fastest, but he was the most adaptable. Looking to his left, he could see the woman that had captured his heart so long ago and also his competition for the pigtailed youth they were both looking at. If his student survived this battle, it would be fun to see which of the two masters would be able to finish training Ranma first. *I'll never be able to see Ranma in the pair of panty and bra I bought him if he dies,* Happosai thought.

      Even though Ranma could not see Saffron's battle aura, he knew that trading ki or even chi blast with him would be a grave mistake. *Can't give him a chance to throw a ki blast,* Ranma thought. In his last battle with Saffron, his opponent had shattered the entire top portion of Mount Phoenix with a single energy blast. Closing the distance as quickly as possible, Ranma launched a fierce combination while utilizing his Amaguriken training to increase the rate of his punches and kicks to astonishing speed, almost invisible to the everyone but Happosai and Cologne. After tagging Saffron over 300 times, Ranma leaped back, hoping that his opponent was hurt long enough for him to fire a ki blast because he didn't have time to pull off one utilizing chi. "Möko Takabisha Double!!! " Ranma shouted after hearing Saffron's comment, releasing two ki blast, one from each arm.

      Saffron was smiling, *Finally, I have you, Ranma.* The smile soon was replaced with a scowl as he was bombarded by Ranma's lightning fast punches and kicks which send him flying backwards through one of the walls that had not been destroyed previously. "That actually hurt, Ranma," Saffron snarled before he heard Ranma shout out his attack, 'Möko Takabisha Double!!!' and getting hit by two ki blast. *He's trying to end it as quick as possible,* Saffron thought, *Who am I to try disappoint him.* Extending his wings, Saffron took to the skies above Ranma. Before, Saffron's aura had been hidden for the sole fact of taking away Ranma's ability to perform a Hiryü Shöten Ha, now he was pissed enough that either way, it doesn't matter. Charging up, Saffron unleashed a very highly focused beam of energy at Ranma.

      *Did I get him?* Ranma thought, when he suddenly felt a very powerful battle aura above him. Looking up, Ranma's eyes grew wide as he saw Saffron powering up for a ki blast. Seeing the beam of energy come his way, Ranma crossed both his arms in front of him while shouting, "Seishou tate!" He had to stop the beam. Avoiding the energy blast would endanger everyone near him, meaning his friends and family. As the energy beam neared Ranma, a dome of blue energy expanded from Ranma blocking Saffron's blast. As the battle progressed, beads of sweat could be seen on Ranma's face as he focused his will in maintaining the shield.

      Seeing the blast, Cologne prepared to leap away when she saw that Ranma was not attempting any such feat. *What is that boy doing, standing there?* she thought before realizing who was behind her. Even if the blast was not aimed at them, the explosion from the blast would kill them as easily as if it had hit them directly. Cologne started to perform a revised Hiryü Shöten Ha when she heard Ranma's battle cry. Looking at Ranma, her level of respect for him rose a notch. Not only had he learned to manipulate his ki in a way she could not but again he showed everyone that he was willing to die to protect those he cared about.

      Seeing how his prey had not even attempted to avoid his blast, Saffron was a little disappointed. "Thought you would put up more of a fight, Ranma!" he gloated. Just when the beam made contact with Ranma, to his surprise, a dome of blue ki expanded from Ranma, neutralizing his blast. *Interesting. I underestimated you for the second time but no longer.* Increasing the power to the beam of red ki, Saffron gathered his will behind the goal of ultimately defeating his nemesis.

      *Got to hold it,* Ranma thought as he felt Saffron increase the strength of the beam.

      Seeing the potential threat to his health, Happosai was about to leap for cover when he noticed that both Ranma and Cologne were standing their ground. Even though his instincts were telling him to run, Happosai remained. In front of him and besides him was his future and his past. Steeling himself as best as possible, he released his battle aura, he just hoped it was enough.

      Cologne started to get worried as she sensed the increase in energy of the beam and the flickering of Ranma's shield.

      Digging deep down, Ranma not only started to channel ki but also chi energy into the shield. *Have to protect everyone!* Ranma thought. The barrier around Ranma started to shrink as he uncrossed his arms.

      "No!!" Cologne shouted. *The foolish boy is going to sacrifice himself.*

      "What do you mortals call it? Endgame?" Saffron taunted.

      The barrier was now a second skin to Ranma as he absorbed Saffron's blast while launching one of his own. "MOUKO..." Two balls of energy started to form, one in each of Ranma's hand, "...TAKA..." bringing them together, "...BISHA!" the two ball of energy became one as Ranma launched his attack at Saffron. Upon hitting Saffron, it had the desired result of stopping him from continuing in his attack but it had caused Ranma to drop his own shield. The last residue of Saffron's attack sent Ranma sprawling backwards, a huge burn mark in the center of his chest.

      "Noo!" shouted Cologne.

      "Ranma-chan!" Happosai called out.

      "Hahahaha!!!" Saffron was bathing in the defeat of his enemy.

      Behind the two age old masters, Soun and Genma were weeping. Their dreams of uniting their two families died with Ranma's last breath.

      They didn't have long to weep as the ground around Ranma cracked and exploded upwards.

      Everyone who was conscious turned their heads in the direction of the explosion. What Saffron, Cologne and Happosai felt was an incredible amount of power. *Was there a new martial artist in the area that they didn't know about?* all three thought. The dust around the crater started to spiral around the edge of the hole. As the wind died down and the dust settled, a figure surrounded by a bright golden aura stood. A gasp escaped from Kasumi as she recognized the individual.

      "HOW CAN THIS BE! I FELT YOU DIE!" Saffron shouted in disbelief.

      The burnt mark on Ranma's chest was gone as was most of his clothes. His eyes burned with renewed energy and determination. Ranma's hair danced within the wind created by his battle aura and arches of energy flowing around and through his body. Without a word, Ranma settled loosely into a battle stance, both hands in front of him and knees bent.

      Cologne hissed as she realized what was going on. "One of the lost secrets of the Nekoken. Because a cat has nine lives, so does a master of the Nekoken. No one has mastered this particular technique in over five centuries, yet son in law has mastered it subconsciously." she muttered. Looking at Saffron with a smile, "Be afraid, master of Mount Phoenix, for the cat now hunts the bird," Cologne warned.

To be continued???

Author's Notes

    I've gotten plenty of good review form this one shot and I might continue this sometime in the future.  I have no plans currently.