Author's Note: This is…chapter five. I'm going to make this chapter a little bit heavier than the rest, so watch out. Also, there will be fight scenes in this chapter so…as always, read and review people!

Chapter Five: The Sparring Partner, and the Return of the Kid with Fangs

"Jigo?" asked Ranma. "Who's Jigo?"

"Your new sparring partner. He will train you and try to toughen you up for when you finally decide to become a member of the pack. Of course-" said Chloe playfully as she runs a finger down the bridge of Ranma's nose, "I'll be there, watching your every move as you do those sexy katas…"

"Urk…" was all Ranma could say.

3 days later…

Knock knock.

The sound of the door woke Ranma up. Chloe's prediction was correct, and Ranma's feet were healed and ready for action. He sprang out of bed and got out of his room, to find Chloe letting in a middle-aged man wearing a brown leather jacket. (Think Chow Yun Fat in the movie "Bulletproof Monk") He had close-cropped hair, and exuded an aura of peace and tranquility.

"Hi, Jigo! Come on in and have breakfast with us!" said Chloe cheerfully.

"Later, Chloe. Where is Ranma Saotome?" said Jigo.

"Right here." Said Ranma, stepping forward.

"You're Ranma? Okay then, follow me." Jigo motioned Ranma outside.

"O-Ok…" said Ranma as he went out.

"I'll have breakfast ready when you get back." Said Chloe.

Ranma followed Jigo into the woods until at last they came to a clearing. Jigo stopped and motioned Ranma to come closer.

"All right. Kobold told me to teach you some stuff and get you back to fighting shape. So, I will begin by teaching you a technique I have found to be quite useful. Now, attack me." Said Jigo.

"What?" asked Ranma dumbfounded.

"Attack me. Are you deaf? Come on, slowpoke. Hit me with your best shot." Jigo taunted.

"Okay, whatever you say. Yaaaaah!" shouted Ranma as he aimed a lightning-fast punch at Jigo's face. To his surprise, Jigo dodged it easily.

"Is that all you've got? My grandmother's faster than you!" Jigo said, annoying Ranma. He launched a kick, aiming for Jigo's midsection. Jigo bent backwards almost parallel to the ground. (Think Matrix ) Jigo stood up. Ranma started a barrage of attacks, Jigo dodging and deflecting every punch and kick. Finally, Jigo caught Ranma's fist and bent it backward, eliciting a cry of pain from the pig-tailed martial artist. Jigo then grabbed Ranma's head and slammed it into the ground. He then stepped back and waited for Ranma to stand, which he did after about ten seconds.

"What the heck was that?" said Ranma.

"That was a technique known as 'Bullet Time', where the warrior raises his ki such that time slows down for him, enabling him to easily dodge the attacks made by his opponent. Let's see you do it." Answered Jigo.

"On you?" asked Ranma.

"Nah. On him." Jigo pointed behind Ranma. Ranma turned around to face a ninja with blazing eyes and a fanged mouth. The ninja was floating upside down. Ranma backed off quickly as the ninja righted himself and glared at Ranma.

"What is that? I know it's not human." Said Ranma.

"You're right. He's a Darkstalker. A skilled assassin, created by Dracula for round-the-clock protection. They can survive during the day, but are at their best at night. He moves and attacks at very high speeds, but if you can use the 'Bullet Time' technique, you can dodge his attacks easily." Said Jigo matter-of-factly.

The Darkstalker hissed. In a flash he was beside Ranma, giving him a kick that sent the boy flying. Before he even landed, the Darkstalker was behind him and was kicking him in another direction, this time into a tree. Ranma slammed into the tree, breaking the poor plant in half. Jigo strolled over to Ranma.

"I thought you were good, kid. Are you going to let him just kick you around like a soccer ball or are you going to use the technique?" Jigo asked Ranma.

Ranma stood up. "Nobody kicks me around like that and gets away unhurt." Ranma took a deep breath and exhaled slowly, his eyes closed. His battle aura flared up for a moment, and then settled down into a light-blue haze around him. He opened his eyes. Ranma looked at the Darkstalker.

"Come and get me."

The Darkstalker rushed forward and aimed a kick at Ranma's head. Ranma saw the kick coming in slow motion and dodged it easily. Confused, the Darkstalker started attacking Ranma from different directions, hoping to blindside him. Ranma blocked and evaded every move. Ranma then grabbed the evil ninja by the arm, focused his energy, and-

"KATCHU TENSHIN AMAGURIKEN!" The Darkstalker froze in place for twenty seconds, and then keeled over backwards.

"Well, I'll be an alley cat's uncle. He did it." Said Jigo in disbelief.

"So, is that all there is?" asked Ranma.

"Ummm… No. I still have to teach you the Six Shaolin Disciplines: Mighty Steel Leg, Iron Head, Iron Vest, Weight Vest, Hooked Leg, and Empty Hand. After teaching you, you will have to master them on your own. Afterwards, some basic Matrix-Fu, such as Bullet Stop and Lead Pipe Fighting. Then, a short discourse on melee, missile, and projectile weapons, and finally, we'll finish up with a quick lesson on Forest Magic and Nature Communication Skills." Replied Jigo.

"What a list. Can we have breakfast before that?" asked Ranma.

"Hmm… Let me see… Let's finish up Matrix-Fu first. You've already learned one, Bullet Time. Next one is Bullet Stop." Said Jigo as he gave a short whistle. A large group of small monkeys with war paint on their faces and carrying blowpipes suddenly appeared. Jigo pointed to himself and clicked his tongue. The monkeys immediately loaded their blowpipes with cactus needles and aimed it at Jigo. The monk (yes, he's a monk) snapped his fingers. The monkeys then fired the darts at him. As Ranma watched in amazement, time slowed down as the needles came closer to the monk, so slow the sharp projectiles seemed almost to freeze in place. Then Jigo gave a palms-down gesture, and all the needles fell to the ground.

"There. You see? It is quite easy. Now, you try it." Said Jigo. " Raise your ki level just as if you're doing Bullet Time, and then release it into the projectiles. If the amount of ki and your timing is right, the bullets or whatever should stop. Get it?"

"I think so." Ranma took a deep breath, and then exhaled slowly. "Ok. Let's do it." Jigo pointed to Ranma and gave the signal. The monkeys fired.

"EEEEEOOWWWCHHHHHHH!" Ranma's cries of pain echoed throughout the forest…

"Let me guess…" Ranma stood quivering as the points of more than five dozen needles penetrated into his flesh. "My timing was off…"

"Yes. It was. So, there's only one thing to do." Jigo snapped his fingers and the needles fell off. "Try it again." He gave the signal and the monkeys let off another volley…

"ARRRRGHHHHHHH!"

"Again."

"AAAAAAAAAAAGGGGHHHHHHHHHHHH!"

"Again."

"YOWWWWWWWW!"

"Concentrate. Focus your ki, then, release it. Time it so that the ki freezes the projectiles. Again."

Ranma took a deep breath… exhaled slowly… and then… "HA!"

The needles all shattered.

"Idiot. I told you to freeze it, not shatter it. If those needles were bombs, you would be dead by now. Again."

"All right… Sheesh… HA!"

He shattered the needles again.

"Ranma… control the amount of ki you are releasing. Strong enough to stop the needles but not so strong that you shatter them. Okay?"

"Okay… HAH!"

The needles froze in mid-air. Ranma stared in wonder. "Cool…"

"Ranma! Don't lose your fo-"

"YEOUCH!"

"-cus… Oy… Well, you've learned it, anyway… Now we just have to cover one last skill, and you'll have learned the basics of Matrix-Fu."

"What's that?"

CLANK Two lead piped fell from the sky. One onto Jigo's hand, the other on Ranma's.

"Lead Pipe Fighting."

"IS that all?" Ranma snickered. "I can do that!"

"Oh really?" said Kobold.

Meanwhile, at Castle Ordog, Transylvania…

The DBSS flew in thru a window and dropped the snoozing Ryoga onto the floor. It then approached what appeared to be a throne, with a figure sitting in it, hidden in the darkness. The DBSS bowed to it.

"Master… I bring you what I believe will be our strongest warrior yet…" said the DBSS.

"Our strongest warrior, you say?" answered the figure. The voice was deep, melodic, and had a heavy Transylvanian accent. "And just how can you say so?"

"I feel it, Master!" snickered the DBSS.

"Very well… Bring him to the our finest bedroom. I want him to be comfortable…"

"Yes, Master." The DBSS unzipped the sleeping bag. It passed its hand over Ryoga's eyes. They opened, but had a strange look in them, a glazed, hypnotized one. The figure sitting on the throne stood up and waved a hand. What seemed to be elemental particles appeared out of nowhere. They slowly coalesced into the distincy curves of the human feminine form, and soon three curvy women stood before the figure. He motioned to Ryoga.

"Take care of him, but don't kiss him…" The women giggled, lifted him to his feet and brought him out of the room.

Author's Note: ARGH! Sorry I took so-darn-long to update! I just got caught up in an unbelievable amount of schoolwork… Don't worry, though. I'm fixin' to find a lot of spare time…So the next chapters are gonna be coming soon!