Ten Months In Tokyo An Original work by Josh Heistman 2001 Script G Productions Chapter Three: Close Calls… Part One! Disclaimer: I, Josh Heistman, do not own Ranma 1/2, its characters or locations. The abovementioned entities are the intellectual and creative property of Rumiko Takahashi and Viz Communications, Inc. (and not me). I do not claim ownership of the abovementioned entities, nor will I be profiting from the use of them. Please, please don't sue me! Thanks. At the breakfast table the next morning, Ranma inspected the mysterious letter, while the others watched, waiting to find out what it was. Ranma looked up at them all. "It's a challenge letter… from Kuno. I'd recognize one of these anywhere." He announced, gravely. Akane cocked her head to the side, confused. "What are you so worried about, Ranma? You could beat Kuno any day of the week…" Ranma shook his head. "It's not for me, it's for Don…" his eyes shifted to the American. "He wants to fight you in the park at five o'clock this afternoon. I may be able to beat him in my sleep, but that's because I know how he works… when I first started fighting with him, I had a few close calls…" Don only laughed. "I think that I'm more than a match for that joker…" Kasumi frowned, confused by the situation. "But why would Kuno want to fight with you, Don? He usually only fights with Ranma, and you seem like such a sweet boy." "Oh, and I'm not…" Ranma mumbled under his breath. Nabiki looked up from her breakfast. "I can answer that, Kasumi… Don got Kuno in a lot of trouble with Mr. Natsushita yesterday… and you know how dramatic Kuno-baby can be." "Well," said Don, with a nod. "I say Kuno can bring it on. If he thinks he can beat me, well, let him come after me. I'll prove him wrong…" "Well, son…" Soun yawned. "You'd do best not to underestimate Kuno… despite appearances, he is very much a serious martial artist. And he'll be trying to hurt you, if not kill you. When that boy is holding a grudge, he very rarely lets it go…" Ranma nodded at Soun's comment. "I can vouch for that. Don, as long as you can avoid his bokken, you should be fine. The guy's all about kendo." Just then, Akane came running into the dining room. "I hate to break up your little war room, but we're going to be late…" The six teens burst out of the house in a rush. Kasumi frowned. "Oh, dear… they didn't even finish their breakfasts…" ____________________________________________________________________ "'Scuse me! Pardon me! Out of the way!" shouted Ranma as he led the way through a crowd of people in the market. Shouts of anger and gasps of shock ran through the crowd like a wave, tracing the path that the six of them took. They all finally exploded out the other side, happy to be alive. A busy intersection lay ahead of them. Ranma looked back at the others. "Come on! If we hurry, we can make it through while the light is still red!" And with that, they all made a mad dash for the intersection. Ranma, Akane and Alex made it across with plenty of time to spare, but the lights going the other way were turning yellow just as Don and Mike reached the opposite side. Suddenly, they heard a shout from behind them. Don and Mike spun to see Nabiki lying in the street, clasping her ankle. Don quickly sprung into action, speeding back toward her before Mike could even react. A car crossing the intersection, whose driver was yelling angrily into a cell phone, was speeding toward Nabiki. She threw her arms over her face with a scream. Suddenly, she felt herself being lifted off the pavement and carried to the sidewalk. She opened her eyes to see Don had scooped her into his arms. The driver, totally oblivious to the situation, drove off. Don set Nabiki down before collapsing to the sidewalk, gasping for breath. A crowd of people began to form around them. "Did you see that?" "He saved her life!" "Amazing!" The rest of them crossed back over, once the light was red again, to see if their friends were all right. They all were wearing looks of wonder and amazement. "Are you all right, Nabiki?" Akane asked, kneeling beside her sister. Nabiki winced with pain. "I think I sprained my ankle pretty badly…" "Come on, Nabiki. I'll take you to Dr. Tofu's. He'll fix you up." Akane said, helping her sister up, and supporting her to keep the weight off of the ankle. Nabiki looked back at Don, who was just getting to his feet. "Don…" she said, quietly. He looked up to see her smiling back at him. "…Thank you…" Rumors of the fight and of Don's heroics that morning spread through Furinkan High like wildfire that day. This was made apparent by the multitude of kids waiting for Don in the park that day. They held signs that said things like 'Hero' and 'Do it for Nabiki!', but Don wouldn't let it go to his head. No, he needed to keep his mind focused on the fight. He was a little disappointed that none of his friends could show, but he wouldn't let that bother him, either. Don looked at his watch. 4:57. He sure hoped that Kuno was going to show up. The idiot hadn't been at school. Rumor was that he was training for the fight, and judging by how fanatical Kuno seemed to him, Don was willing to believe it. "Donald Fournier!" came a shout from behind them all. Don turned just in time to see the crowd part, making way for Kuno and his diminutive manservant Sasuke. Kuno sneered at Don. "Prepare to meet thy doom…" Don stepped back a few feet, raising his guard, but Kuno raised a hand to Don. "Not yet, Fournier, there is yet something that must be done…" Don dropped his guard as Kuno moved his head frantically about, as if he were looking for something. "Sasuke! Sasuke?" The diminutive man looked up at the boy samurai with a wince. "I'm right here, Master Kuno, there's no need to yell…" Kuno glared at the man. "Of course there is need to yell… it makes me sound more commanding. Now, get thee up yonder tree, and be sure to get this all on film, for it shall be my greatest victory yet." "I shall not fail you, Master Kuno!" Sasuke assured him, as he climbed up into a tree. Kuno raised his bokken. "All right, Fournier… your days end here!" Mike sat alone in the room he shared with the other Americans, listening to obviously American hip-hop music, and bouncing a tennis ball off of the wall. He was very upset by Don's decision to accept Kuno's challenge, despite Mike's advice to him at school that day… (Lunchtime, that day…) Mike walked toward the table Don was sitting at, carrying a tray full of food with him. He sat down in the place across from Don, who looked up at his friend with a smile. "Hey, Mike. What's up?" Don said with a grin. But his cheerfulness was met by a hard, solemn stare from Mike. Don's smile turned to a frown. "What's wrong?" he asked, concerned and curious. Mike shook his head. "You're not really going through with fighting that guy, are you, Don?" he asked. "There are other ways to settle this…" Don got angry at the mere thought of trying to reason with that buffoon Kuno. "No way, Mike… it's only been a couple of days, and that guy's already driven me to the brink. If I back down, there's no telling how much worse its going to get. I'm not going to take his bullshit any more… it's time someone put him in his place." Mike sighed, shaking his head again. "If I can't talk you out of it, then I suppose I'll have to wish you luck. But don't think that I'm going to be there to support you. Physical action should only be taken-" "-When acting in self defense?" Don interrupted. "Yeah, Mike, I know you don't think fighting is the answer to anything, but you've got to understand… this is a matter of pride." Mike half-grinned at Don, catching him completely off-guard. "Somehow…" he said, standing, "I think this is about something much more…" (End Flashback) A knock at the door broke Mike's train of thought. Catching the ball off of a rebound, he looked up. "Come on in." Kasumi opened the door with a smile. "Mike, Ukyo is here to see you." she said, cheerfully. Mike scratched his head, wondering how Kasumi could be so sweet all the time. "Thanks, Kasumi. Send her in." he said, trying to return the smile, but wondering what Ukyo could be doing there when she was supposed to be working at Ucchan's… A smiling Ukyo peeked in the doorway. "Hiya, M-chan!" she said with a cheery smile as she stepped into the room, looking around. "So, this is your room, huh? Cozy…" Mike leapt to his feet, trying not to get too nervous. "Hey, Ukyo… what are you doing here? And what the heck is M-chan?" Ukyo gave a slight laugh. "M-chan is my name for you. I call Ranma Ranchan and now you're M-chan. And I closed up shop early today so that maybe we could hang out or something…?" Mike's eyes widened. Was Ukyo asking him out on a… date? "S-sure, Ukyo! I'd love to… hang out with you…" he replied, in disbelief. She took his hand, smiling. "Come on, I'm gonna show you Nerima, Ukyo style!" A drop of sweat rolled down the forehead of Don Fournier. Kuno wasn't as easy as watching Ranma has made him out to be. No matter how he tried, he couldn't get in close enough to attack effectively without putting himself in danger of the bokken. Kuno, for once, looked like he was going to win a fight. "You fool!" he shouted. "You should have known that a knave such as you could not defeat a true warrior such as I!" "Don't listen to him, Don…" said a boy standing behind him, placing a hand on his shoulder. "You can take him. He ain't nothing… do it for Nabiki!" Don just rolled his eyes. "Well…" Kuno sneered. "are you going to come after me, or am I going to have to finish this myself?" Maybe that was a good idea, Don thought to himself. Let Kuno make the first move, and, potentially, the first mistake. Don stood his ground, moving his arms into a defensive position, preparing for an attack Kuno might have for him. Scoffing a bit at Don's tactic, Kuno raised his bokken. "All right then, fool, prepare to face the wrath of Tatewaki "Blue Thunder" Kuno full on!" Kuno shouted. He pulled the weapon back behind his head and charged. As Kuno got close, he swung the bokken straight down. Don leapt backward quickly, avoiding the attack. He looked up just in time to see a wave of energy approached him. It struck him full-force in the chest. He flew backward, toward the crowd, which cleared a spot for him to land. Kuno laughed haughtily as Don wobbled his head, dazed from the attack. "Give up, you weakling! You haven't the mettle to defeat me." Kuno boomed. Don, determined not to lose to the braggart, slowly rose to his feet, while Kuno taunted him some more. "Oh, so you think you can take some more, eh? Well, let me show you how a real man fights!" "Bring it on!" yelled Don, stepping back into his defensive stance. He didn't want to lose to Kuno, but if things continued the way they were going… he was in trouble. "I think that you've had enough." Kuno bragged. "Face it, Donald Fournier, when it comes to defeating the great Tatewaki Kuno…" he tossed his head back for dramatic effect, "…you haven't got what it takes! And besides… did you really think that by defeating me, you could win the heart of one Nabiki Tendo?" Don narrowed his eyes. He didn't mind Kuno's trash-talk when it was just about him, but he had dragged Nabiki into it, now, and that was getting personal. "What did you say?" Kuno smiled. "I know you're not hard of hearing, Fournier… you risked your life to save that… mercenary Nabiki Tendo… would one not do that for the one that he loves?" With a cry of rage, Don charged Kuno. The pompous samurai wannabe had started this fight with a vendetta, and now Don was determined to end it with one of his own. Kuno swung at his charging opponent with his bokken, but Don darted swiftly to his side. Twisting his body, the American delivered a kick to Kuno's jaw. Kuno whirled to the side, blood spewing from his mouth. Don then placed a kick square on Kuno's back, sending him tumbling to the ground. The crowed cheered wildly. "Not bad, Fournier… not bad at all…" Kuno mumbled as he rose, wiping the blood from his lips. Kneeling down, Kuno picked up his bokken. Don cursed inwardly at forgetting to get the damned thing away from his opponent. But he had found an opening once, and was determined to do it again. Kuno swept his hair back, trying to regain his composure. "I let that attack slip through my defenses, Fournier, but know this: Tatewaki Kuno makes not the same mistake twice!" Kuno leapt at Don, swinging his bokken overhead. Without much time to react, Don threw up his arms in defense, and the bokken made hard contact. He winced and gritted his teeth, resisting his body's urge to scream. He planted a foot into Kuno's stomach and pushed the boy away. Don took a few steps back, rubbing the spot where the bokken had struck. He then looked up just in time to see Kuno make another swing, which he had no choice but to block again. The pain shot through his body like a wave. His eyes began to water. "How can he block that bokken with his arms like that?" asked one boy in the crowd, who was carrying a sign that read "Blew Thunder". "Well…" replied a boy standing beside him, "… it beats blocking it with his face…" "Good point…" the first boy conceded, before returning his attention to the fight. Kuno struck Don's badly bruised arms again with another stinging blow. Don knew he had to come up with a plan, and fast. Kuno struck again. The pain was almost too much for him to bear. He hadn't felt this badly since his wrestling days… 'Wait!', thought Don, 'That's it!' Kuno raised his bokken again, and Don made a quick, rightward motion. Instinctively, Kuno swung down and to his left. But, instead of finding his opponent there, he found empty space. The momentum of the swing caused Kuno to hit himself in the knee. He dropped his bokken, wincing in agony at the pain. "An opening!" Don shouted, as he dropped to the ground. He grabbed Kuno's ankles, pulling the samurai to the ground with a thud. Don then stood up, looking down at Kuno as the boy glared up at him from the grass. "All right, pal…" Don snarled, "… Get ready for a ride!" Don began to slowly spin around, taking Kuno with him. Kuno shouted, not used to being spun around by anyone, much less someone who he had been beating. The force of the G's was forcing the blood to rush to his head, and he was feeling a bit faint. But he didn't have long to worry about that, because soon enough, Don had released him. The errant samurai soared into a nearby tree, crashing against its trunk before landing in a nearby bush. A shower of leaves fell to the ground around Don, who had fallen to the ground, disoriented. The crowd began to clap and whistle appreciatively at Don for having 'smitten Kuno well'. A cop eating a rice ball wandered over to see what all of the hubbub was about. Don stood up, still a bit dizzy, but maybe it was more the thrill of victory than the spinning. He smiled, savoring the sight of Kuno's sandaled feet protruding from out of the shrubbery. It was a Kodak moment for sure. He turned toward the crowd, bowing. Victory was sweet. Suddenly, a rustling noise behind him caused Don to spin quickly back around. The grin quickly faded from Don's face. Kuno emerged from the bush with leaves and twigs sticking out of his hair and clothing. A chuckle rose up from the crowd. The cop almost choked on his rice ball. Kuno's face was crimson with fury. "How dare you? How dare you cast the great Tatewaki Kuno into a bush like… like common rubbish?!" the boy samurai yelled at his opponent. "I've gone soft on you, my friend, but now I shall show you no mercy! You have insulted me for the last time! This battle ends now!" Don cracked his knuckles, glaring at Kuno. "Well, at least we agree on something… I'm gonna finish you off, and quick!"