Episode #02: The Blue Thunder of Furinkin High Strikes Again!
Juni exited the bathroom in a pair of boxers and a T-shirt and walked over into the guest room and sat down where his sleeping bag had been laid out, probably by Kasumi he thought. He sighed softly to himself thinking about the situation he was in. Engaged to someone he just met today. He certainly hadn't expected this to happen. He sighed and grabbed his glasses from where they sat on top of his nearby bookbag and put them on. He ran a hand through his hair and yanked his bookbag over and began to root through it.
"No sense in getting all worked up. I'm sure Ranma can help me get out of this. Wait a minute. I did promise Mr. Tendo I'd help him if I could and he then brought up the engagement. That means he needs me to be engaged to Nabiki in order to help him. And I promised I would. Damn.", Juni said to himself with a sigh. He rooted a bit more in his bookbag and dug out three small colored balls. He sat back and began to juggle them his eyes following the balls intently. A few moments later Ranma walked in looking victorious and glanced to Juni as he sat down.
"What ya doing?", Ranma inquired.
"Juggling.", Juni answered glumly.
"I can see that but why?", Ranma asked a little annoyed.
"It helps me relax.", Juni said and sighed a bit.
"Whatever. Listen I talked with Pop. I couldn't get him to change his mind but I got Mr. Tendo to agree that if you call off the engagement he will too. So that means all you gotta do is go and tell them you don't want to be engaged to Nabiki and you won't be!", Ranma said with a grin. Juni stopped juggling and sighed.
"It's not that simple Ranma. I mean....I made a promise to Mr. Tendo I'd help him. I promised and I always make it a point to never ever break a promise. You understand?", Juni asked and glanced over to Ranma.
"Yeah. I understand. Don't worry. We'll find another way out of this.", Ranma said and lightly patted Juni on the back.
"Thanks Ranma. Anyways I'd better get some sleep. I got school tomorrow.", Juni said tossing the balls back in his bookbag and moving to get into his sleeping bag.
"Yeah me too. Oh hey! Wait a minute. There's a few things you'll need to know about for school tomorrow and it's best you hear them first before they take you by surprise.", Ranma said.
"Oh? What kind of things?", Juni asked raising a brow.
"Well let's see. I might as well start at the beginning I guess. It was a little over a year ago when Pop and I first got to Nerima and.....", Ranma began to tell his life story from their arrival in Nerima, editting out the obvious parts like him seeing Akane naked, Ryouga being P-chan, as well as a few other choice incidents. About two hours later he finished his story and looked to Juni, who was sitting there mouth hanging open in shock.
"You're kidding me. Right?", Juni asked incredilous.
"Nope. Fraid not Juni. It all happened.", Ranma said with a sigh.
"Wow. And you turn into a girl when you get hit by cold water? Uncle Genma turns into a panda? You have four fiancees? Man. I'm lucky. I only got one!", Juni said with a small laugh.
"So far. Keep an eye on Pop. He might sell you for more, but I doubt it. That'd be pushing it for even him and yes I turn into a girl. It's all Pop's fault for taking me to that stupid training ground in China.", Ranma said with a growl.
"Yeah. Jusenkyou.", Juni said with a strange tone of voice, almost as if he was familiar with the name.
"Uh-huh. Wow. We've been talking for hours. We'd better get some sleep.", Ranma said with a yawn and lay back.
"Huh? Oh yeah right. Sleep. Thanks for telling me all that though. At least I'm prepared now.", Juni said and laid back himself yawning and settling in for sleep.
"No problem Juni. See you in the morning.", Ranma said and then quickly drifted off to sleep. Juni glanced over and sighed softly to himself. He turned around and closed his eyes thinking to himself, {Jusenkyou. Ranma has a Jusenkyou curse. Maybe....maybe I should have told him. Told them all. They're going to find out soon enough right? Oh well. I'll tell them....in a few days. Let them get used to me first. I mean I can't just expect them to accept me this curse I have ....can I? I'll give them a few days to get used to me first, then I'll tell them.}
***************************
Morning fell over Nerima and the sun rose. Along with the sun rose the people of Nerima who began to go about their daily lives. At the Tendo Dojo the residents there were doing their normal daily activities. Kasumi was cooking breakfast. Soun was reading the morning paper. Nabiki and Akane were getting ready for school. Ranma and Juni were sparring in the front yard while Genma sat back and watched the two. It was obvious almost immediately who was the better fighter. That was Ranma. It was a very strange match as the two combatants lept and attacked each other but not a blow landed on either. This was strange because of the fact that Ranma was much farther ahead in fighting skill than Juni.
One would think that as Ranma was the better fighter that he would be winning easily but this proved not to be true. Ranma was the better fighter, by far, but one also must take into account that Juni was by far, the better defender. All of Juni's blocks or dodges were expertly timed and coordinated. Not one of Ranma's blows landed on Juni. In stark contrast to his defense all of Juni's attacks were, in comparison to Ranma, easily avoidable. Even as only an observer, Genma could tell exactly what attack Juni would make before he made it. He was, not intentionally, telegraphing most of his attacks. Kinma had done an excellent job in training Juni to be able to defend himself but his offensive skill needed serious training.
Ranma and Juni lept at each other again and traded various blows, none of them scoring a hit. The two landed near the koi pond in stance ready to continue.
"Stop.", Genma said calmly and rose from his sitting position.
"Yeah Pop?", Raqnma said relaxing a little.
"I've seen enough. Juni it is obvious where your problem lies. You have little offensive training against an actual opponent. Your defensive skills I doubt I could improve upon. My brother has taught you quite well there but it is your offensive skills that are sorely lacking. Starting tomorrow we will begin to build them up. With any luck in a years or two you'll be at Ranma's level of skill. Also Ranma. Seeing Juni's skill at defense I believe I will be redirecting your training towards that area more. You have room to improve there as well.", Genma said and nodded decisively.
"Okay Uncle Genma.", Juni said with a small smile.
"Defense? If you say so Pop.", Ranma said with a casual shrug. He walked over and clapped Juni on the back a bit and continued, "You're a bit of a challange Juni. It's gonna be fun having you around."
"You too cousin. You too.", Juni said with a smile.
"You know that's the first fight I've seen Ranma in where no one ended up in the koi pond.", Akane said from where she stood over on the porch, having been watching. Juni blinked a bit and looked to Akane.
"Uhhh...the koi pond? Really?", Juni said a little nervously.
"Yup. I thought something didn't feel right.", Ranma said with a grin and grabbed Juni on the back of the shirt and whirled hurling him towards the koi pond laughing.
"AHHHH!! NOOO!!!", Juni shouted as he saw himself falling towards the water. He quickly readjusted his body weight and held his cane out. The cane landed with a small splash in the water, straight up as Juni balanced precariously on the top, almost horizontally over the middle of the koi pond.
"That's....amazing.", Akane said quietly.
"Hey Juni?! You okay? It's only water!", Ranma called out walking over to the edge to look at Juni. He blinked as he saw the fear of the water just below him in Juni's eyes.
"Breakfast is ready. Oh my. How exciting.", Kasumi said stepping out onto the porch and seeing Juni balancing. She smiled as only she can and clapped a bit.
"What's going on? Oh. It's only him. Showoff.", Nabiki muttered as she stepped out to see what was going on. Soun, seeing everybody watching something out in the yard also joined in watching Juni. Juni, meanwhile swallowed hard feeling everybody watching him. His grip was beginning to slip. With a deep breath he adjusted himself slowly and began to used his cane like a pogo stick and began to hop towards the edge of the koi pond.
"Juni what are you doing? It's almost like your scared of getting wet.", Ranma said with a small laugh.
"It's not that I'm scared. I just really don't like getting wet. That's all.", Juni said nervously continuing towards the edge slowly.
"Well yeah I mean neither do I but that's just because.....because......Juni. Have you been to....Jusenkyou?", Ranma asked getting a sinking feeling. Juni froze and swallowed.
"Uhhhh...Jusenkyou? Ummmmm.....maybe.", Juni said meekly.
"Are you cursed....to turn into something when you get wet?", Ranma asked hoping it wasn't true.
"Cursed? Uhhhh.....maybe.", Juni said hoping to avoid the question.
"Well there's only one way to find out.", Nabiki said with a smirk and walked over to stand beside Ranma. She reached out and placed a finger on Juni's forehead and pushed backwards slightly. Juni's face paled as he felt himself slowly fall backwards. Too late he tried to stop himself flailing his arms.
"Why me?!", Juni cried out as he felt himself splash down under the surface of the water and the inevitable change sweep over his body. The surface of the pond slowly stilled as everyone watched. Slowly bubbles formed at about the middle of the pool and suddenly a small splash as a form sat up in the pool, shedding water. Juni sat up and blinked looking exactly as he had before he fell in the water except now he was wet. He was appearently unchanged. Ranma blinked a bit, in unison with everyone else who was watching.
"You didn't change.", Nabiki stated.
"Juni I thought you had a Jusenkyou curse! How come you didn't change?!", Ranma asked. Juni sighed and ran a hand through his wet hair.
"I do have a Jusenkyou curse and I did change.", Juni said simply and then noted everyone just staring at him.
"Oh. Sorry. I fell in the Tsuniichuan....", Juni began when suddenly another form emerged from the water right beside him. Everyone blinked in total shock as a second Juni sat beside the first, both of them identical to each other, even wearing the same clothes.
"....The Spring of Drowned Twins.", the second Juni stated and quirked a little smile.
"Surprise.", the first Juni said with a little laugh.
"Great! Now I'm engaged to _two_ people. Brilliant work Daddy!", Nabiki said and turned walking back into the house.
***************************
A few minutes later Juni had pulled himself back together and was heading to school with Akane and Ranma.
"So how did you get cursed Juni?", Ranma asked glancing down from the fence where he was casually walking.
"Oh....well it happened about a month after me and Pop left you and Uncle Genma. Before heading home Pop said he wanted to check out a training ground he had heard about from Uncle Genma. After a few weeks of travelling we finally got there. It's quite a beautiful place to look at, but like you know it's dangerous. We were looking around when the guide came out to tell us aobut the place. He was talking to Pop in chinese I think and I went exploring. I was kneeling by one of the pools and looking at my reflection when Pop found out what the training grounds actually do. He shouted at me to get away from the pool. I did but I backed up right into the pool behind me and fell into it. I came out two people. Me and Pop got me back to normal with some hot water and went home after that. I'll tell you Mom was not pleased with Pop one bit. I'm surprised she let him live. That's about it really.", Juni said and laughed a bit.
"Wow. So you've been cursed for....twelve years then?", Akane said looking over to Juni.
"Yup. Since I was five. The kids at school found out after a while. I managed to keep it a secret for a few years though.", Juni said and paused a bit as they reached the school's gates. He glanced up at the school's clock tower and smiled a bit glancing around.
"Well this is Furinkin High Juni. What do you think?", Akane said with a smile.
"It's....big. I think I'll like it here.", Juni said with a smile.
"You haven't met Kunou yet!", Ranma said hopping down from the fence to stand beside Juni.
"Ah Akane my love how good of you to come to me on this fair day and allow me to date with you.", Kunou said as he emerged from behind a tree. Akane glared while Ranma just groaned. Juni blinked a bit and looked over to Kunou and then to Ranma.
"Kunou?", Juni said to Ranma.
"Yup. Excuse me.", Ranma said cracking his knuckles.
"Wait! Allow me.", Juni said as he suddenly got an idea. He turned and headed over towards Kunou getting in his way as he was moving to Akane.
"You sir! You block the path of Tatewaki Kunou, the Blue Thunder of Furinkin High. Remove yourself from the way I am embarking on lest I remove you myself.", Kunou said brandishing his bokken before Juni.
"Forgive me Upperclassman Kunou but I just had to meet you. I have heard of your exploits and as I am a new student here I felt I should greet you first.", Juni said with a smile and bowed a little. Kunou blinked and then nodded haughtily.
"Of course you have heard of me! My name is no doubt spoken through all of Japan and feared by the likes of those of the foul sorceror Saotome! You seem to have me at a disadvantage though sir. You know my name but I know not yours.", Kunou said. At last someone who respected him and revered him and his position.
"Oh please forgive me then. My name is Juni. Juni Saotome. Cousin to Ranma Saotome.", Juni said with a wry grin.
"What?! Saotome?! You are related to the spawn of evil that dwells among us in the form of the foul sorcerer Saotome!? That enslaver of women!?", Kunou shouted in disbelief.
"Yeah. Ranma's an enslaver of women?", Juni asked a bit and glanced over as he watched Ranma and Akane heading for the school while he distracted Kunou.
"Yes! He has already ensorceled the lovely and vivacious Pig-Tailed Girl against me and he has captured the strong and beauteous Akane Tendo. I know of two others he has under his spell and he no doubt has many more. He is a coward, the basest of all beings! He is no man! He is a creature! An honorless cur staining himself and his blood all through time!", Kunou ranted out while Juni stood and listened. At the last sentance Juni blinked a bit a small frown entering his face.
"Excuse me. Did you just....insult my family?", Juni asked hoping he had misheard.
"What? I insult Saotome and his so called honor! It is a terrible burden your family must endure to have him born into your folds. Such an honorless cad.", Kunou said and lowered his head. Juni frowned more not liking Kunou's implications.
"Upperclassman Kunou please. Stop saying those things about ranma and my family. I am not an unreasonable man but I do take my family's honor very seriously and your words and getting very close to slighing that honor. Ranma is not honorless and he is far from an enslaver of women.", Juni said in a calm voice.
"But I have seen him and his black magic at work! He is a sorcerer and enslaver! I have seen it with my own eyes how he drives women from me, especially those of my two true loves.", Kunou said back. Juni sighed and shook his head.
"Upperclassman Kunou. I know for a fact Ranma is not what you are saying. Maybe you should look a little harder. Just because a woman refuses your advances doesn't mean she's under a spell. She might just not like you.", Juni said and shrugged a bit.
"What? Not....like....me. Impossible! I am Tatewaki Kunou....", Kunou began to rant about himself when Juni interrupted him.
"Yeah I know but not all women like guys like you. There has to some women that like other guys or else the world would be full of people like you and that would be quite a disaster.", Juni said with a smile.
".......You are correct. A world full of men of such calliber as myself would be most distressing. There would be none beneath me to look upon me with awe and wonder. You are truly a wise man, which makes me doubt your relation to Ranma Saotome. Truly you are his cousin?", Kunou asked.
"Yeah I'm Ranma's cousin. His father and mine are brothers. Well it was nice talking to you but I have to go and register before class starts. See you around Upperclassman Kunou.", Juni said with a polite smile and took off jogging into the school leaving Kunou behind. Kunou seemed like a nice guy, even if he was a little dense and full of himself. Kunou paused as Juni disappeared inside and then turned back to face Akane.
"Now Akane my love.....hmmmm. She must have been jealous that I had neglected her and left to class. I shall make it up to her by joining her for lunch today.", Kunou said to himself and then headed for the school as well.
Juni headed to the office and got himself registered as well as finding out what books and such he'd need. He also found out his homeroom number and headed there. Upon entering the classroom he stopped and just had to blink. The scene in front of him was just so....ridiculous. He watched as a small child, no more than eleven or twelve, stood at the front of the class in a yellow dress and glared angrily at all of them. No this wasn't as ridiculous as the fact that the students actually seemed afraid of her, even Ranma but there was also a look of annoyance on his face.
"Ummm....excuse me.", Juni interjected causing the whole class to turn and look at him. The child turned and blinked.
"You! Who are you?! Are you a delinquent!?", the small girl questioned pulling a coin from her pocket.
"Uhhh...no. I'm Juni Saotome. I'm a new student here. I was just getting registered.", Juni ventured.
"Oh. Well then take your seat Mr. Saotome! I'm Miss Hinako, your teacher!", Miss Hinako stated resulting in a blink from Juni. He nodded a bit and then shook himself out of it and headed down back to an empty seat, finding one close to Ranma and Akane and just behind Ukyou, who turned around and whispered.
"Hey Sugar. My name's Ukyou Kuonji. I think Ranchan told you about me. Pleased to meet you.", Ukyou said with a smile.
"Right. Ukyou. Nice to meet you too.", Juni whispered back.
"Mr. Kuonji! Please pay attention!", Miss Hinako snapped. Ukyou turned around and nodded. Juni blinked a bit wondering about that teacher and decided to ask Ranma about it at lunch. He glanced over at Ranma and Akane and then turned to pay attention until lunch came.
***************************
In a dark cave the form sits on his throne as it and the man in the white cloak watch what is happening to Juni. We see a bit more of the form now, enough to tell it is actually a person. We see the bottom part of his legs, below the knees, and one hand whose fingers are drumming silently on the arm of the stone throne.
"The second part of memory integration is almost upon us. Are you ready to send the second part of his memories?", the form says in the same low scratchy and evil sounding voice. The man in the white cloak turns and bows low to the form.
"We are ready and able. We have only to wait until the time is right and that will be very soon.", the man in the white cloak said.
"Very well. Soon Johnny. Soon you will forever leave your mark upon this universe.", the form said and then laughed as it looked to the image of Juni who was apparently staring confused at something.
***************************
Juni blinked several times as he watched Akane mallet Ranma into the ground and then blinked as even that didn't keep him from arguing with her. He shook his head a bit and then turned to Ukyou, who was having lunch with him and the other two.
"Do they always fight like this?", Juni asked a little amazed.
"Yup. Although they are going a bit easy on each other today.", Ukyou said with a light laugh. Juni winced as Ranma got punted across the yard and into a wall.
"Easy huh? I'd hate to see when they're out for blood!", Juni said and laughed a bit. Suddenly the sound of bicycle bell seemed to cut right through all the chatter about the school yard. Ranma pulled himself from the wall and groaned.
"Airen!", a cute female voice called out moments before Shampoo's bike landed in the school yard narrowly missing Ranma.
"Uhhh....hi Shampoo.", Ranma said hoping it wouldn't turn into a battle like usual.
"That's Shampoo, Juni. Hey! Where'd you go?", Ukyou said turning to face Juni to see he was gone. Ranma heard Ukyou and looked over to see Juni gone as well. Shampoo took the opportunity to glomp onto Ranma. Juni's head popped down, upside down, from where he was hiding in the tree they had been eating lunch under. He blinked a bit at Shampoo and sighed in relief.
"I'm up here Ukyou. Sorry about that. Force of habit.", Juni said as he hopped back down to the ground, catching his cane which followed him a few moments later.
"Force of habit? What are you talking about?", Ukyou asked a little confused.
"Uhhh....nevermind. She just startled me is all.", Juni said ducking the question.
"Ranma. Who cane boy?", Shampoo asked regarding Juni.
"Oh Shampoo. That's my cousin Juni Saotome. He's staying with us at the Tendo's now.", Ranma said slipping out of Shampoo's grasp and moving over to Juni.
"Pleased to meet you Shampoo.", Juni said with a smile and bowed a bit.
"Shampoo happy to meet Juni. Ranma! Shampoo bring too too delicious lunch! You eat yes?!", Shampoo said and then presented Ranma with a box of food. Ranma glanced to a glaring Akane and then back.
"Uhh...thanks Shampoo but...I already ate. Sorry.", Ranma said and laughed a bit nervously.
"Yeah Shampoo! So why don't you just go home!?", Akane nearly shouted out.
"Shampoo go when Shampoo feel like! Not until!", Shampoo said to Akane and turned back to Ranma glomping onto his arm and smiling.
"Let go of Ranchan you....hussy!", Ukyou said brandishing her mega spatula. Akane and Ukyou glared at Shampoo who glared back but didn't let go of Ranma. Ranma meanwhile looked like a trapped rat and then looked to Juni and mouthed "Help me out here!". Juni was about to say something when he was interrupted.
"You see, Juni Saotome, how that cur plays with the affections of these lovely ladies? How he strings them along under his spell and forces them to fight over him? I, myself, seem to be the only one able to see through his veil into his black heart and I alone shall stand against him and smite him to set these maidens and my beloved Pig-Tailed Girl free from his dark clutches.", Kunou said as he approached and then leveled his bokken at Ranma.
"Uhhh....I don't think he has them under any spell Upperclassman Kunou....unless you count love as a spell. They fight over him because they all love him.", Juni said and shrugged a bit.
"You're right I love Ranchan!", Ukyou shouted.
"Shampoo no under spell stupid sword boy! Shampoo love airen!", Shampoo stated.
"WHAT?! Me love Ranma?! Are you crazy Juni!? I do NOT love that stupid perverted jerk!!", Akane shouted at Juni.
"You see! Akane Tendo is resisting his hold over her! Saotome! the vengence of heaven is slow but sure...", Kunou said with a shout pointing his bokken to Akane when he was interrupted by something striking his bokken and knocking it out of his hands. Everyone turned and looked to the fallen bokken which had a bolo wrapped around it.
"A....bolo?", Juni asked as he leaned down to look at it.
"What fiend has attacked me from the shadows like a base coward! Show yourself!", Kunou shouted out for all to hear.
"I did!", a voice shouted from across the school yard and in a blur of motion a figure leapt from it's hiding place in the bushes and landed in the school yard about fifteen feet from the group. It was a young man of about seventeen, with calm gren eyes and a head of short tossled blonde hair. He stood about six feet tall, his arms and legs long and skinny. He was not Japanese and looked gaijin. He wore a faded brown leather jacket over a plain white shirt. He also wore a pair of brown pants and leather shoes. On his head sat a brown fedora hat. He smirked confidently and stood casually watching the group.
"You sir have made a grave mistake in attacking Tatewaki Kunou, the Blue Thunder of Furinkin High! I shall have to teach you a lesson in manners the hard way it would appear! Prepare to defend thyself coward as the vengence of heaven is upon you this day!", Kunou said retrieving his bokken from the ground and sliding the bolo off of it. He raised it to the sky as he finished speaking a bolt of lightning suddenly spliting it behind him. The young man raised a brow and smirked.
"Impressive light show but my quarrel's not with you. It's with you Juni. Thought you could run away from me did you!?", the young man said and glared at Juni who merely blinked in response.
"You know this guy Juni?", Ranma asked Juni who blinked again and then suddenly tipped to one side as if he was passing out. Ranma caught him and helped right him.
"Are you alright Juni?", Akane asked concerned.
"Yeah I'm fine Akane. Just got a little dizzy is all.", Juni said.
"Don't ignore me you coward! You aren't getting out of this by being sick!", the young man shouted getting angry. Juni looked over and blinked once more.
"Jon? What are you doing here?! I thought we were friends!", Juni said confused.
"Friends?! HA! Not after what you pulled! Not anymore! I'm going to make you pay for what you've done to me Juni Saotome! _No one_ does that to Jon Read and gets away with it! Prepare to meet your maker!", Jon said and pulled a whip seemingly out of nowhere and cracked it in front of him getting into a combat stance and then began to almost dance around on the spot, keeping his feet constantly moving.
***************************
"The second part of memory integration is complete and successful. Your plan is going exactly as scheduled. All that requires now is the third step integration sequence to be performed before all will be set. Our chance for step three should arrive soon. Within a week I would estimate.", the man in the white cloak said and bowed low for a moment to the form. The form chuckled to itself and continued to watch the image.
"Excellent. Continue as planned.", the form said and chuckled to itself again as he watched Juni moving to engage in a fight.
***************************
Juni frowned to himself as he tried to remember what it was he could have done to Jon to make him this mad. He wracked his mind but just couldn't think of anything. He sighed and got a good grip on his cane as he moved towards Jon. He blinked in surprise as Kunou lowered his bokken in front of him stopping him.
"No Juni Saotome. He has attack my noble personage and must answer for this slight, no matter if it was not intentional. I, Tatewaki Kunou, shall teach this fool a lesson he shall not soon forget.", Kunou said and turned facing Jon. He then stalked towards him tightening his grip on his bokken.
"Uhhh...Kunou....be careful. Jon's a pretty good fighter and it was just an accident.", Juni said hoping to convince him not to fight.
"Accident or no Juni Saotome, he has slighted me and I will not tolerate it. Worry not for me for I am the Blue Thunder of Furinkin High. I shall emerge victorious.", Kunou said and continued on his way. Juni sighed and watched Kunou head off for Jon who was smirking confidently.
"Juni? Are you feeling okay? It's only Kunou!", Ranma said coming up beside Juni.
"Ranma! You shouldn't talk like that! I mean Kunou's not a bad guy, even if he is a bit dense and full of himself.", Juni said back to Ranma.
"Uh-huh. Well don't worry. After a few weeks of him you'll understand what I'm talking about!", Ranma said and then looked to Kunou and Jon.
"Well well well. Mr. Blue Thunder I see Juni is sending you to fight for him huh?", Jon said with a smirk.
"He does not! I fight for myself. Once I have smited you and you lay in defeat upon the ground you shall have time to think of your foolish actions agaist me.", Kunou said and then slipped into a stance. Jon, who never left his stance, immediately leaped forward. Kunou swung out at him with his bokken only to miss as Jon tucked into a roll and landed on his hands in front of Kunou. He quickly did the splits in that position and kicked Kunou as he began to turn about on his hands. Kunou took a couple hits to the chest before getting serious.
Moving back and then lunging forward bringing his bokken to bear thrusting it at an impossible speed at Jon, who leapt back dodging every strike by Kunou and finally leaping back five feet and smirking.
"Okay. Enough fun. I've got a battle with Juni to get to so time to end this.", Jon said and attached his whip back inside his jacket. He then began to, dance of all things, his arms and legs quickly becoming a blur of motion. Then he suddenly began to spin around on the spot the rest of him becoming a blur as well. The blur then leapt at Kunou and seemed to surround him for a few moments before leaping back and stopping. Jon and Kunou stood facing each other, Jon smirking.
"You can fall down now.", Jon said to Kunou and blew a breath of air at him. Kunou's bokken suddenly fell apart in his hands and his clothes became tattered as he slowly fell back onto the ground, unconscious. Everyone there just blinked in shock while the crowd of students who had been watching began to talk amongst themselves.
"Kunou!", Juni said moving to his side, kneeling and looking him over. He sighed a bit relieved he was just knocked out and looked up to Jon as he stood.
"Okay Jon. I don't know what it is you're so angry about but you didn't have to do that to Kunou! You're fight's with me, not him! Dragging my friends into your grudge is something I'm not prepared to take!", Juni said and took a couple of steps toward Jon and stopped getting into his battle stance.
"Quit playing innocent Juni! It doesn't work on me! You'll pay for what you did to me!", Jon shouted.
"I'm not playing! What did I do to you!?", Juni shouted back.
"Fine! If you want to play it that way... What you did to me I can never forgive you for! It was back just before you left! You remember that group of bullies who was terrorizing our school!? Well I set them up so they'd come after me so I could defeat them and what do you do?! You came charging in like some hero and beat them! They you have the nerve to leave and come to Japan!? I had told the whole school what I was going to do and then you interfere! You mad me the laughing stock of the whole school! Nobody believed me that you had just jumped in! They all thought I had gotten bested and that you 'saved' me!", Jon shouted getting more angry. Juni blinked remembering the incident and nearly facefaulted.
"_That's_ why you're so angry with me?! Well I'll give you a letter and say that I didn't save you okay? We don't have to fight!", Juni said relaxing.
"Oh no! You're not getting out that easy! I had to follow you all the way here on foot! All across the world and through China! I almost caught you at that Amazon village but you had just escaped! Well you aren't escaping now! You're going to pay for the troubles I've endured chasing you! Prepare to die Juni Saotome!", Jon shouted back and leapt at Juni lashing out with his whip. Juni leapt back bringing his cane up to defend himself. The whip cracked and wrapped itself around Juni's cane as the two landed, Jon pulling back on his whip while Juni pulled on his cane as the two faced off.
"Ladies and gentlemen place your bets place your bets! Juni Saotome or Jon Read! Place your bets! Win a bundle!!", Nabiki suddenly called out and was immediately flocked by a large group of observers who began to place bets.
"Alright that's it! I didn't want to fight you Jon but you leave me no choice!", Juni said and pulled back hard on his cane the whip uncoiling from around it. Both fighters began to circle each other warily while the crowd looked on with interest. The they both charged each other, Juni lashing out with his cane and then dodging or blocking strikes while Jon tried to kick or whip Juni while avoiding the strikes from Juni. After a few moments of trading blows with each other the two combatants leaped back and frowned staring at each other. Neither had gotten a blow through on the other.
"This fight's going to last a while.", Ranma commented to no one in particular.
"Huh? What do you mean Ranchan?", Ukyou asked.
"Well Ucchan it's simple. You see this new guy, Jon, he's pretty good from what I can. He's a better fighter than Juni but I fought Juni this morning. Juni's a great defender. We fought for a good thirty minutes and neither of us got a blow on the other. Juni's a good defender but he's not a good attacker. This other guy is good enough to block or dodge aything Juni can dish out but he's not good enough to get through Juni's defenses. We'll be here for a while unless something happens.", Ranma said and shrugged as a sudden rumble of thunder brought his attention to the quickly clouding sky.
Jon and Juni were engaged in a flurry of blows with each other and didn't notice the sky. Jon suddenly leapt back into the air and pulled his hat off and sent it arcing through the air at Juni. Juni rolled out of the way of the hat and brought up his cane letting Jon's whip wrap around it again as the two began to pull once again. The hat soared through the air with a light whistling sound passing and tree and making a u-turn around it the edge passing through a low hanging tree branch cutting it off and headed back towards Juni.
"Juni! Watch out for that hat! It's razor sharp!", Ranma shouted at Juni who glanced back to see the hat flying at him. He turned himself suddenly to the side and leapt up into the air flipping letting the hat pass under him and cut Jon's whip in half as it headed back to him. Landing on his feet he faced Jon and quickly unwound what was left of Jon's whip from his cane. Jon scowled and grabbed his hat from the air returning it to his head and tossing his whip down.
"You want to play rough huh! Fine I can play rough!", Jon said and pulled two bolos from his jacket and began to twirl them rapidly. He let one loose at Juni and quickly shot forth with several kicks jumping in twirling flips while pulling out a second bolo and spinning it. Juni ducked low dodging the bolo and then began to back away weaving out of the way of Jon's kicks. He suddenly found two bolos coming at him as Jon jumped backl and up letting both bolos loose at him. Jumping back as well Juni dodged one of the bolos and blocked the other letting it wrap around one of his legs harmlessly. He landed breathing heavily waiting for Jon's next move when another rumble of thunder from up above got his attention this time. He paled and swallowed hard cursing his luck.
Jon, seeing Juni distracted, took the opportunity and leapt forward landing in front of Juni and letting loose with a combonation of spinning punches and kicks to his head, arms and chest area. Juni took moment too late to stop the blows and desperately tried to block but not being successful as the punches and kicks landed hard beating him back, the pain shooting through him with each hit. Jon twirled around on one foot and struck out with a hard kick to Juni's stomach knocking him back into the school's wall causing it to crack lightly. Ranma growled and clenched his hands into fists preparing to step in if this went any further.
Juni fought back the strong urge to let himself pass out and groaned in pain. He looked up slowly to see Jon closing in on him. He growled low and grabbed his cane which lay beside him. The rain began to fall and Juni blinked a bit and looked up at it coming down. He closed his eyes as he felt the change sweep over him. Everyone but Ranma, Akane and Nabiki gasped in unison as Juni's form suddenly wavered and then split leaving two Juni's sitting on the ground. Jon blinked and took a couple of steps back in shock.
"What....what the hell.", Jon said as there was suddenly two of Juni. What was going on here?! Juni sighed knowing his course was common knowledge now. He opened his eyes and looked to Jon who was still in shock. Both Juni's looked to each other and nodded and then slowly rose and faced Jon.
"You wanted a fight....", Juni #1 began to say.
"...you got one.", Juni #2 finished and both of them took a battle stance. Juni #1 suddenly leapt forward with a series of cane stikes, a few getting through before Jon began to defend himself and block but then he was attacked from behind by Juni #2. Jon growled to himself as he tried in vain to block or dodge attacks from both Juni's. He finally saw an escape and took it tumbling out from between the two and rolling away. He quickly leapt to his feet and faced the two.
"Hold it! This isn't fair! There are two of you and only one of me!", Jon said with a shout.
"Well I can't help that.", Juni #1 said.
"You wanted to fight me....", Juni #2 began.
"...so you might as well fight both of me.", Juni #1 finished.
"No way! I'll only fight one of you!", Jon shouted back.
"Well I can't fight now then! When I'm like this both of me reacts at the same time.", Juni #1 said.
"You want to fight me as one person wait until another day!", Juni #2 continued. Jon growled as he looked back and forth between the two Juni's and then turned and walked over to the wall leaping up and landing on it. He turned and looked back pointing an accusing finger.
"Fine Juni! I'll let you live a while longer but I'l lbe back for you! Watch your back!", Jon said with a sneer and then turned and leapt off the wall to a nearby rooftop and then down behind it disappearing. Both of Juni sighed in relief and turned back to the group.
"I'm gonna head back home.", Juni #1 said.
"Tell Miss Hinako sorry for me. See you after school guys.", Juni #2 said and then leaning on himself the two walked out of the school yard and disappeared around the wall.
"Ranchan? What....just happened?", Ukyou asked still in shock a bit.
"Oh. Juni fell in the Spring of Drowned Twins, Ucchan. Small world huh.", Ranma-chan said with light laugh.
"No kidding. Hey. Where'd Shampoo go?", Ukyou asked suddenly noticed her not around.
"Merow?", Shampoo-cat queired from down by Ranma-chan's foot. The red head blinked and looked down at the cat her eyes widening.
"AAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHH!!!!!!", Ranma-chan screamed and then bolted across the courtyard of the school crashing thorugh a group of students like they weren't even there. Akane just groaned and shook her head.
"Things were bad enough with Ranma here! I guess with Juni here now that means things are going to get more 'interesting'.", Akane said.
"Well sis. I don't know about interesting but it certainly will be more profitable!", Nabiki said with a smirk as she casually counted a large amount of yen. Nobody had bet that they'd call of the fight for another time.
"Nabiki! How could you do that to Juni?!", Akane asked.
"Do what? I just made a little cash off a fight. It's not like I haven't done it before.", Nabiki said with a smirk.
"I know but Juni's your fiancee! You can't take advantage of him like that!", Akane said before she had realized it. Nabiki's eyes widen in shock.
"FIANCEE?!!", was the sudden shout of the rest of the student body who immediately crowded around Nabiki wanting to know all about her new fiancee. Nabiki scowled and looked to the schools front gates.
{I'll get you for this Juni. You're going to pay and pay dearly.}, Nabiki thought to herself before she composed herself and began to start the bidding on information regarding her engagement. after all just because it was embarassing didn't mean she couldn't make money off of it.
***************************
In a forest somewhere a form with a large backpack and carrying what look like two large barrels stops and sets them down. The form pulls a map and consults it briefly for a few moments and then picks up the barrels and continues on it's way.
{Soon Juni Saotome! Soon you'll be mine!}
~~End of Episode #02~~
Author's Notes:
Well this one took practically forever to get out and I apologize to those who've been waiting! Now that it's out however Episode #03 should be on it's way within a couple of weeks. Things are on their way for Juni, or should I say Johnny.*Shrugs.*Well anyways things are on their way. Jon Read has made his debut and for those who can't tell from the description he's dressed up like Indiana Jones. His fighting style in case any are wonder is called Cappoweta, if that's spelled right. It's a style I learned about from a friend of mine who this character is based on. Basically it is a highly fast style of fighting in which the fighter never stops moving. Also he is able to attack from any position, no matter what it may be. It's an interesting style. In Episode #03 we'll have the mysterious form with the barrels at the end of this episode revealed. The other mysterious form might also be revealed, I'm not sure. I hope any out there are enjoying this fic. Things will be coming to a head soon but then I'll have an anti-climax. I have big plans for Juni which will most definitely become apparent after Episode #04 or possible if I'm lucky Episode #03. Well until next time! Episode #03: Juni and Juni?! Double trouble comes twice as often! Go Back To Main Page
