Art of the Arrow Disclaimer: The characters of Ranma 1/2 and others mentioned in this story belong to their respective creators and are only being used to tell a story. Chapter One Shooting for a New Destiny A few months before Ranma's birth... Genma ran for his life. He didn't know exactly who was chasing him, but he did know that if he stood in one place for more than a half-second, then his body would become riddled with arrows before he could blink. Presently, it was taking all of his skills, (specifically running and dodging, two skills that he excelled at in his life of thievery), to avoid being turned into a human pincushion. FFFFFFTTTTTT! THOK! THOK! THOK! Genma gulped as he stopped suddenly, when a trio of arrows embedded themselves in a tree trunk just a millimeter away from his face. That slight pause was all that his attacker needed. FFFFFTTTTTT! Just as Genma made a turn, several lines of light flashed toward him. The fat martial artist found himself flung backwards as he felt something bite at his skin in various places. His back hit against another tree trunk and that was when he realized that several thin cables, which were like piano wire, were now pinning him down. He winced as he tried to move, but the cables would cut into his flesh. The strand that was pressing up against his neck was acting like a garrote. It was then that he looked up and saw his assailant emerge from behind another tree, some twenty yards away. The man was tall with long black hair that was tied in a loose ponytail. He was in his early twenties and was dressed in a simple tunic that was colored in forest green to blend in with the surrounding forest, and he also wore dark pants and boots. On his shoulders were armored epaulets. On his wrists were long bracers, which not only protected his forearms from the bowstring, but also held a few surprises of their own. In his right hand, he gripped a highly decorated longbow and slung over his shoulder was a quiver that was stacked with at least fifty arrows or so. In a way, he looked like a modern day Robin Hood, but his tunic was styled more along the lines of the samurai than the medieval archer of England. "P-P-Please! Can't we work something out?" The martial artist stuttered as he found himself trapped and staring down the point of an arrow. The archer was aiming his bow at Genma's throat. With the fat coward now pinned to the tree with no avenue of escape, the Anything Goes practitioner resorted to his ultimate technique, begging. He wasn't in a position to employ the Crouch of the White Tiger, but he could still grovel while standing up. Yusuke Yamasaki frowned as he glared at the thief who attempted to make off with his people's treasures. They had decided to help the man when he stumbled into their village, almost starved to death, and begged for food and shelter. However, no sooner had he regained his strength, Genma had then broken into the temple's treasury and tried to make off with some of their most valued and sacred artifacts. However, the School of Dragon Archery Combat was more than capable of hunting down those who would take advantage of their hospitality. As of now, Yusuke was about to play judge, jury and executioner. "Don't bother trying to struggle. That arrow I used will make certain that you won't escape. The cables are there to keep you in place and will cut you up if you move too much. Now then..." It was then that the bow wielder took on a dangerous expression. "We took you in, gave you food and shelter, and this is how you would repay us? By stealing our most sacred relics? The penalty is immediate death!" The archer took another arrow from his quiver. "You should feel honored that I will be using a very special technique to execute you. This technique is called the Thousand-Sting Arrow. It will rip you to SHREDS! (1) It's not a very pretty way to join one's ancestors." He notched the arrow and drew back the bowstring, aiming directly at Genma's heart. He then focused his ki into his weapon, making the arrow glow with a white light. "Please! Spare me! I'll give you anything! Even my first-born son!" Genma pleaded. He had recently received a message from Nodoka that she was pregnant and the baby was expected to be a boy. Of course, he had no intention of keeping his word. After all, his son was to be his ticket to a long and luxurious retirement at the Tendo Dojo, once he was married to one of Soun Tendo's daughters. Yusuke became even more disgusted at Genma, if it was possible. The idiot was even willing to sell out his own child's future to save his. The man was nothing more than scum, and if he did have a son, then the boy would be better off without this greedy idiot as a father. Genma let off one horrified scream as the archer released his arrow. Time seemed to slow down as the deadly projectile shot toward him. However, before it even crossed half the distance between Yusuke and his target, another arrow flashed in from the side and nicked the shaft of Yusuke's, causing it to veer off course. It was then that Yusuke's arrow suddenly exploded into hundreds of thin slivers, which shredded the thick tree trunk to Genma's left. The fat martial artist opened his eyes and looked to his left. What he saw caused a wet stain to appear on the crotch of his pants and run down the right leg. The tree beside the one that he was pinned to had been reduced to splinters after Yusuke's ki-energized arrow had exploded into hundreds of tiny, but deadly shards. They had struck with enough force to bore through granite or penetrate steel plating. He could only imagine what they would have done to him had they hit Yusuke's intended target. "Master! Why?" The Anything Goes martial artist looked over to the other side and saw an aged man standing some fifty feet away. He looked to about in his late sixties to early seventies. He was dressed in a simple red and black tunic with matching leggings. In his wizened hands was a longbow that was decorated like Yusuke's. Hanging from a belt was a quiver with thirty or so arrows. "Hold on, Yusuke. You shall not execute this man... just yet." The Elder said in a soft yet commanding tone. "But Master Shin!" The younger archer argued. "This man dared to take advantage of our kindness and steal from our school! He does not deserve to be spared!" "Indeed." The master bow user nodded as he approached Genma, with his weapon still held at the ready. "However, he has just offered us a unique opportunity." He stopped a couple of yards from the sniveling coward and addressed him. "Tell me, Genma Saotome. Are you actually willing to give away your son's future to us in exchange for your own worthless existence?" Nodoka's husband nodded readily, silently thinking that this old man was a fool. "Yes, of course!" "How old is your son?" "Actually, he hasn't been born yet. My wife is pregnant and told me that the baby will be a boy." Shin Natsuraga's eyes narrowed. It was bad enough that this man would so casually offer his child's life in exchange for his own, but to offer the child when he had not been born yet was deplorable. However, it was still a very good opportunity. Shin brought up his bow and fired off an arrow in less than a heartbeat. Genma didn't even have time to scream as it flew toward him and barely nicked his ear before embedding itself into the tree trunk. A small trickle of crimson began running down the side of fat martial artist's head. "So be it. The bargain is now sealed in blood. In six years time, we shall collect your son. Until then... Genma Saotome." At that moment, Genma passed out. The arrowhead had been tipped with a very potent sedative. ---------- A day later... Genma awoke to find that he was lying in a clearing. His backpack was lying beside him and to his delight, was filled with provisions. However, he found a note, which read the following: In six years time, Genma Saotome, we shall find you and your son shall belong to the School of Dragon Archery Combat. Signed, Shin Natsuraga Genma snorted, as he believed the old man was nothing but a fool. There was no way that he could ever find him again. With that in mind, he hefted his backpack and headed off toward the horizon. ---------- Shin Natsuraga, the foremost expert in the School of Dragon Archery Combat, contemplated the arrow in his hand, as he sat in his hut. The arrowhead was tipped with a small, red stain, which was Genma's blood, when the arrow had nicked his ear. "Six years... Genma Saotome." ---------- Six years later... "It is time, Yusuke." Shin said, as his former pupil was about to set off to collect on an old debt. "Are you certain that fool even has a son? Is he even alive?" Yusuke asked as he hefted a large quiver over his shoulder. In addition to his arsenal of arrows, the container also had several weeks worth of food and supplies. Like the Amazon Art of Hidden Weapons, Yusuke's discipline had discovered methods, in which to store many objects within a limited area. Shin nodded as he handed Yusuke the arrow, which still had Genma's bloodstain on its tip. The young warrior nodded as he focused his ki into the projectile while it lay on his open palm. In addition to being fantastic archers and warriors, Yusuke and others like him were also mystic trackers, with skills of divination. The arrow glowed and suddenly rose into the air. It hovered a few inches above his hand, then rotated until it pointed in a direction west of the village. By gauging the intensity of the mystic vibrations that he was getting from it, the archer knew that Genma was indeed alive and did have a son. He also knew where he was and how far he was. Yusuke nodded as he let the tracking spell fade away and placed the arrow into his quiver. He gave Shin a bow before saying, "I shall return with the boy in three weeks, Master." With that, Yusuke walked off into the dense forest that surrounded his village, heading toward Genma's location to claim what was promised six years ago. ---------- Thirteen days later, near the outskirts of Kyoto... Genma grumbled as he took another swig from his bottle of sake. Behind him was a deep pit that was covered with a large metal lid. If one would listen carefully, a person could hear the yowling of several dozen starved cats and the screams of a young boy. The fat idiot wished that Ranma would hurry up and learn the unbeatable Cat Fist already. This was his third attempt. By now, the owners of half of the cats in the pit, would be looking for their pets and Genma didn't want to get more involved with the law than he already was. Currently, the Kyoto Police was after him for seventy-three counts of repeated petty theft, sixteen for aggravated assault and nineteen for breaking and entering. His son had begun to develop a fear of cats, and the stupid martial artist had berated his offspring for being scared of a few measly felines. The best way to conquer fear was to stand up to it, right? He often bemoaned of how he had been saddled with such a weak son, who couldn't even stand a little harmless training. He sighed and raised the bottle to his lips. FFFFTTTTTT! POP! The bottle exploded into fragments as something struck it with great force, dousing the half-drunk martial artist in sake and glass fragments. Genma immediately went into a ready stance and looked about for his assailant. With his mind, senses and reflexes befuddled by alcohol, he wasn't in much condition to fight. Then again, even if he were in top form, he still would have lost to his opponent. His attacker had the advantage of striking from long range and wasn't giving Genma time to discern his position. FFFFTTTTT! "WHOA!" Genma desperately went into evasion maneuvers to avoid the barrage of arrows, which appeared from out of nowhere. Just as he barely managed to survive the first wave, a second, more deadly storm was launched at him. This time, the projectiles were charged with ki, and when they struck something, they exploded like sticks of dynamite. Genma twisted and turned to avoid the shots, but was caught in several explosions and thrown like a broken rag doll. As he rolled to lessen the impact, another arrow was fired and Genma felt a sense of déjà vu. Thin strands of cables once again pinned down his body, however, this time he was flat on his back. It was then that his attacker came into view from around the corner of a building. "Hello, Genma Saotome. Remember me?" Genma's alcohol-induced brain began to clear as a vague memory came back to him. "Y-Y-You!" "That's right Saotome." Yusuke smirked as he notched another arrow. "My master warned you that we would find you again. Now you didn't forget that little bargain you made with him six years ago, now did you?" "N-N-N-Now wait a minute... the boy is already promised to..." FFFFFFFFTT! THOK! "GAH!" Genma looked down at where the arrow had landed and promptly wet himself. He had been pinned down in a spread-eagled position. The arrow had been aimed for a space just a millimeter under his crotch and the shaft was still quivering a bit. "Now then, I shall take what was promised to him." With those words, Yusuke launched another ki-energized arrow at the lid, which covered the pit. In a flash of light, the lid crumbled into powder and Ranma's screams could be heard along with the cats. Running up to the edge of the pit, the archer fired another arrow that exploded in a burst of light, causing the cats to scatter. He then leapt into the pit. Since Genma was on his back and pinned to the ground, he couldn't see just what was happening in the pit. A moment later, a beam of white light shot up from the hole and into the sky, disappearing in the heavens above. Ranma's father wondered just what had happened, when he stiffened up as he heard the ominous sounds of police sirens. It seemed that Yusuke had called the authorities before making certain that Genma wouldn't be able to evade the law this time. As the police took Genma away, one officer looked down into the pit and saw only the cats. There was no sign of Ranma or the man who had rescued him. ---------- A week later... "Here he is Master." Yusuke said as he presented the boy to the old archer. During their trip back to his village, the younger archer had tended to Ranma's wounds. The boy had several bandages wrapped around his arms and torso, but fortunately, Yusuke had gotten Ranma out of the pit before the madness of the Neko Ken had permanently taken hold. ---------- Ten years later, at Furinken High... Nabiki was noted that Akane was taking a bit longer than usual to finish off the Horde of Hentai. Either she had been slacking off in her training, or the boys had developed more tolerance for pain from the repeated beatings. At that moment, she saw a newcomer appear on the scene. The boy was slender and quite well formed. He wore a light-green tunic with short sleeves. Emblazoned on the front, was a small dragon pattern that was situated just above where his heart would be. The garment molded well to his well-formed torso and the middle Tendo daughter found herself staring at his muscled arms. He was also wearing simple, black leggings and leather boots. His long, raven hair was tied up in a simple ponytail. Slung over one shoulder was a bookbag. He walked with light, but sure footsteps. As the teen casually strode toward the main gate, he seemed to be oblivious to the carnage that was happening. However, just as he stepped past the iron gates, one student went flying toward him, after being belted by Akane. FFFFTTTTT! THOK! THOK! THOK! THOK! THOK! THOK! THOK! THOK! Nabiki's eyes as well as all those who had been watching, widened to the size of dinner plates as each and every one of Akane's admirers were sent flying back and pinned to the walls of the school by a flurry of arrows. Members of the Horde of Hentai found themselves held down by their clothes, after having them punctured by the sharp projectiles. Nabiki let off a low whistle as she looked at the stranger brandishing an elaborately decorated longbow that he had pulled out of nowhere. She also noted that a quiver of arrows was now slung behind his right shoulder. Heaven knows where he had been hiding that. However, just as soon as he causally slung his weapon over his other shoulder, Akane came stomping up to him. "Hey! That was my fight! Just who do you think you are?" The teen simply replied, "The name's Ranma Saotome, Heir to the School of Dragon Archery Combat." At that point, guess who came out from behind a tree and leveled his bokken at Ranma? "You there! How dare you presume to speak with the beauteous Akane?" Ranma then faced off with the so-called Blue Thunder of Furinken High. ---------- (incomplete) For those of you who are wonder, yes there are some scenes and ideas, which I used from Tattoon Master. As for the mechanics of Ranma's new style, it is based on archery and there are some radical techniques associated with wielding a bow and shooting arrows. Here are some ideas for techniques. ARROW STRIKE A quick jabbing motion with the index and middle finger, which can punch a hole though stone when ki is focused. The movement mimics the flight of an arrow. DRAWSTRING PUNCH Cocking back the fist, as if drawing a bow, one can deliver a very hard punch while focusing ki. DRAGONFIRE ARROW Ki projectiles like Nightwolf's in Mortal Combat III. ARROW KICK Like the Arrow Strike, but one uses the foot. Ah well, just another random idea.