Heart Of Flame, Breath Of Fire

Part 1

by Sean D'Anna

=====

Sean stood with a board expression as he typed on his computer. "I don't get it. 
I can't write worth a crap today. "I know! I'll write another self-insertion! 
That always helps! Bwahahaha ha ha haaa!" he laughed evilly as he began to type. 

Suddenly there was a flash of light and the room went black. "Great those stupid 
power grabbing morons next door have blown the transformer again. Stupid Dolby 
stereo surround big screen showoffs..." he muttered to himself as he stood and 
walked over to the closet after groping in the dark and stepping on the dog. 

After a few moments he pushed through the room and found the door. He opened it 
and began to shift around the old coats and junk. "I know I put that flashlight 
in here somewhere..." he grumbled bitterly. He pushed further in to the closet 
and eventually stepped in. "What the? I don't have a walk in closet!" he cried 
in surprise as he pushed through and found himself in a forest. Snow covered the 
ground and a small faun hopped cheerfully towards him. For those of you who 
don't know, a faun is a creature with a man's body and a goat's legs and horns, 
they are smaller than Satyrs 

"What the hell?" muttered Sean in surprise. The animal stopped and looked at a 
small blond haired girl who stepped from the woods nearby. The pair began to 
converse and Sean simply ignored them, he turned back into the woods and 
realized that he didn't know where he had come from. "Oh hell," he muttered and 
simply walked to the dark thatch of bushes in front of him. 

He came out in a large valley that was covered in various pools. He had only 
traveled twenty feet or so and it was obviously early spring now. "This just 
gets weirder and weirder," he muttered to himself as he walked. 

"Ah sir, welcome training ground cursed springs; Jusenkyo. You need guide?" said 
a voice from behind him. 

Sean smiled as he turned and looked at the guide. "You take American?" he asked 
as he reached for his wallet. He was fortunate that he had just been paid the 
day before. 

"Oh, that very good sir, I take," said the guide with a friendly smile as he 
rubbed his hands together. 

A few moments later stood with the guide over a small pool of water. 

"This is it?" he asked. 

"Yes, why you want see spring of drowned girl?" asked the guide. He was 
beginning to think that this man was a pervert. 

Sean tensed himself and prepared to jump, then he stopped. "Hey, I got a 
question for ya..." he said with a small grin. 

A few weeks later... 

Ranma stood and stretched as class ended for the day. "Man how can any one talk 
so much?" he muttered to himself. 

"I figured you of all people would be interested in this part of Chinese 
history," said Ukyo as she walked over to his desk. 

"Yea Ranma, I thought you would like the battles and such," said Akane flatly as 
she also approached him. 

"I get enough Chinese history from that ghoul," muttered Ranma as he exited the 
room. In the back of the class a lone boy sat and watched silently with a smile 
on his lips. 

"You wanted to speak to me?" asked Hinako cheerfully. The boy had entered during 
class a few minutes before it ended and simply taken a seat in the back of her 
class. He had said nothing and waited patiently for the lesson to end. 

"I need to give you this," he said and handed her a sheet of paper. She looked 
up and assessed the boy. He was about sixteen years old and six feet tall with 
short brown hair and bangs that almost covered his eyes. He also had a long scar 
across his face that went from his eyebrow to his jaw diagonally across his 
nose. He was fit, probably trained in some form of martial arts, however it was 
obvious he was not up to someone like Ranma's level, but then who was? 

"Welcome to Furinkan Mr. Ryu. I see you will be in my class," said Hinako with a 
serious gaze. The boy smiled, she was still in child form and her gaze looked 
amusing from someone so young looking. 

"I thought this was an English class," said Ryu in mild surprise. 

"Its what ever I want to teach, most of the students only pay attention if I 
drain someone anyway," muttered Hinako with a slightly sour look. 

Ryu nodded and Hinako looked surprised that he did not ask what she had meant. 

"Yes, I've heard some interesting things about this place," said Ryu with a 
respectful nod. 

"Most of it true I assure you," replied the teacher with a now comprehending 
gaze, apparently this boy was smart enough to find out what he was getting into. 
"You study martial arts," she said as she looked him up and down again, it was a 
statement and not a question. 

"I do, however I only recently became serious in the matter due to necessity. I 
really only have formal training for Kung fu, and very light training at that, I 
only achieved a few levels. I know about the rumors surrounding this place and a 
few key individuals and I assure you I have no intention of getting into a 
fight," said the boy calmly. 

"That is good. I can see you're a westerner, we'll have to teach you a little 
about etiquette in Japan I suppose. Will you be staying near the school?" 

Ryu nodded and walked out of the room after some small talk and a polite 
separation. 

"Who is that?" asked Nabiki as she turned the corner and followed the boy as he 
left class. 

"His name is Ryu, he is an American. He has no family, he recently returned from 
China and has no know connection with anyone in Japan," said one of her friends 
from behind her. 

"Is that all?" asked Nabiki with a frown. 

"There wasn't much in his records," said the girl as she shrugged her shoulders 
apologetically. 

"Right, find out all you can. I need information," said Nabiki with a sigh. 

About a half-hour later Ryu stood before the gates of the Tendo dojo and glared 
at the sign. "Here we go," he muttered as he entered. 

A pretty young woman answered and smiled at him cheerfully. "Hello? Can I help 
you?" she said cheerfully. 

"Yes, I would like to see the sensei if this Dojo," said Ryu. 

"Oh you mean father, please come in," said Kasumi. Something about this girl 
made him uncomfortable. He smiled nervously and allowed himself to be lead in to 
the home. 

"Hello can I help you?" said Soun with a smile as he placed his newspaper on the 
table. 

"I am interested in taking lessons at your dojo," said Ryu with a grin. 

"Well now, I'm glad to hear that, but we aren't really taking students right..." 
started Soun, but he stopped cold as the boy placed a gold nugget the size of 
his fist on the table. 

"I can pay quite well," said Ryu. 

"Monday, Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday, from two to four." said Soun 
cheerfully. 

"Excellent sensei, I look forward to it," Ryu gave him a cool gaze and smiled to 
himself. 

"Tell me what sort of training do you have?" asked Soun. 

"I took kung fu in the US for a very short time when I was fourteen. I was 
pretty good, I've been told that anyway. I am also no stranger to combat, that 
is one of the major reasons I came here," said the boy after a moment of 
thought. 

"Unresolved conflicts, I understand. However, I do not wish to bring any more 
trouble to my home I hope you can understand," said Soun with a frown. 

"It is nothing like that Tendo sensei. I am considered valuable by many and am 
often forced to alter people's opinions on certain matters that pertain to my 
life. I came here because I have heard many things about your particular style. 
I am most interested," said Ryu with a serious scowl crossing his face for a 
moment, it was quickly replaced by another smile. 

"This will not bring any danger to my home I hope?" repeated Soun forcefully. 

"No Tendo sensei, it shouldn't, the only danger is to my own life and even that 
is minimal in this country. You may even find my presence useful at times," said 
the boy calmly. 

"Very well, I shall see you on Monday then," said Soun cheerfully. "Come ready 
to work my boy and we'll get you into shape in no time." 

"I hope so," said Ryu with another friendly smile as he was led tot he door. 

Akane and Ranma strolled into the gates and didn't look at each other; Nabiki 
followed and shook her head in resignation. The three of them stopped as Ryu 
walked out of the home. "Hello," he said cheerfully. 

Ranma gazed at him uncomfortably. Something about the boy unnerved him and the 
way he looked at everything sort of reminded him of Taro. He seemed friendly 
enough now but, couldn't quite figure out why he felt so uncomfortable. 

Nabiki gazed at the boy coolly. He walked by and met her gaze evenly. He nodded 
to her and Akane as he walked by and continued on his way. 

"Who was that?" said Akane as he left. "He felt so...strong." 

Ranma nodded after a moment and jumped onto the wall to get a better view of the 
newcomer. His uncomfortable feeling now seemed right. "That was it, he felt 
strong," he muttered to himself. "Funny he doesn't move like a martial artist." 

"What?" said Nabiki and Akane in unison. 

"Nothin'," muttered Ranma. 

"He's who?" said the three students as they walked into the home. Soun stood 
happily staring out at the yard from the doorway. 

"I said he is my newest student. He starts Monday," said the man with a pleased 
looking smile crossing his lips. 

"You know the old freak ain't gonna go for that," said Ranma; Soun froze and 
began to cry. 

"Why not? Its not like I have time to be training some newbie like him anyway," 
said a voice from the top of the stairs. 

"Master?" said Soun in surprise as the fear drained from his face. 

"I suppose I could allow you to prepare him for the more rigorous training I'll 
give him when he's older and more experienced. Provided of course you give the 
proper payment," said the old freak with an evil grin. 

"Oh, thank you master!" cried Soun as he fell to his knees and bowed. 

"Quit your groveling and go get the good Sake!" screamed the old man in 
annoyance. 

"Yes, Master! Right away!" cried Soun in joy. 

"Pathetic," muttered Nabiki. 

Monday... 

Ryu stood in the Dojo with Akane facing him. Ranma, Genma and the other Tendo's 
stood in the doorway and watched in mild interest. "We must test your skills. 
You will spar with my daughter Akane," said Soun. The girl just watched him 
coolly and tightened the belt on her dogi in anticipation. 

The pair bowed and faced each other, the girl stepped back into a stance and Ryu 
simply stood. "If you don't go all out you'll get hurt," said Akane with an 
encouraging smile. 

"Don't worry, I know women can be just as dangerous as men can," said Ryu. He 
was interested in how he'd do against Akane himself. 

"Begin!" cried Soun. The girl lunged at Ryu who backed away and squatted with 
his fist at his sides. Akane gasped as a bright aura surrounded him and his eyes 
went white. He rushed her and moved his body in curving motions around the few 
blows Akane sent at him. He struck out and punched at her with his hand hooked 
like a claw. His opponent gasped at the speed and force of the punch. She felt 
it knock her back just by coming close. Still she managed to dodge it and kicked 
at him forcing him to back off. He stood in a strange stance that moved 
constantly. He yelled and charged again with his body curving and writhing as he 
charged. Akane relaxed and watched him carefully. He punched at her several 
times and she dodged easily around them. He punched and caught him in the gut 
and then the chest. 

"Jeez he moves like a snake," muttered Ranma from his corner. 

"He isn't bad," snorted Nabiki. "Looks like a Kung fu animal style right Ranma?" 

Ranma nodded and kept his eyes riveted on the battle, "It's a good style but he 
isn't trained well. He's leaving a lot of openings, Akane is clearing up from 
that trick he pulled at the beginning of the match. It wasn't much more than an 
intimidation move. If he hadn't done that he'd already be on the ground." 

Ryu moved around a few more of Akane's blows and punched at her, she dodged 
easily and he was hit again. This time he staggered back. 

"I've never seen any one move like that before though, Its like a snake but not 
any Kung fu style I've seen before, it looks good but..." started Ranma. 

"No, not a snake," said a familiar voice from behind them. They all turned in 
surprise to see Cologne standing on her staff and watching the fight intently. 
"If he needed to he could defeat Akane easily, however I'd say the only reason 
he has lasted this long in hand to hand is the fact that he has remarkable 
endurance and he is relying on instinct." said the elder Amazon. 

"Old ghoul what are you doing here?" said Ranma looking annoyed. 

"Well I was hoping you'd forgotten about your girlfriend and would come with my 
Shampoo but it seems I've been distracted today. I'll leave you for now," said 
the woman as she bounded off on her staff. 

Akane stepped back from one of the blows and uppercut the boy into the air. Ryu 
hit the floor hard and shook his head as he sat up immediately. 

"Oh! I'm sorry!" cried Akane as she rushed to help him up. 

"That's all right I'm just outclassed," said Ryu with a stupid grin appearing on 
his face. 

"Your not hurt are you?" said Akane apologetically. 

"I'm fine, I've had worse. Besides I don't want to get your boyfriend over there 
jealous. He looks angry," said Ryu as he stood finally. 

"He isn't my boyfriend," snorted Akane as she blushed. 

"Yes, that's right, Ranma is Akane's fiancée" said Soun proudly. 

"Daaad!" cried Akane in embarrassment. 

Ryu laughed and scratched the back of his head. "Well, that's much different," 
he said nervously. Ranma was giving him a look he didn't like. "If I can't beat 
Akane, I don't stand a chance against Ranma right now," he thought to himself. 

"Well I must say, you are certainly more skilled than I thought," said Soun with 
a serious gaze. 

"I told you I'm no stranger to a fight. That's how I got this," Ryu pointed to 
his scar. 

"I suppose that is enough for today. I suggest you get home my boy its late and 
I understand you all have school tomorrow," said Soun cheerfully. 

"Yes sensei. Thank you," Ryu turned to leave. 

"I had forgotten how good it feels to teach," said Soun with a small smile. 

"What was that dad?" said Akane. 

"Oh it's nothing dear. Go and get washed up."

TBC... 

C&C Carrotglace@juno.com 

Well there is another self-insert going. Ah well, I have a few things planned 
for this one and it may turn into something completely unexpected. [You may 
notice I like to do that.] Just in case you didn't pick up; Ryu is Sean. If you 
haven't figured something about this fic up yet you should be shot. I think I 
did every thing but tell you. I did try to be a bit vague about it so maybe its 
OK. Still Ryu has a long way to go... 

Ja