Grappler Baki: Way of Tai Chi

Chapter 1

This takes place after Son of Ogre and before Way of Baki, as I haven't read it yet.

Yujiro Hanma wasn't much of a man for formalities. He looked down at the casket that contained his younger brother. Yujiro didn't give any speech. He was there to pay his respects to the first man to be his rival. Yujiro had never known weakness nor defeat. However, Tatsuro Hanma had tried, and was the first to try. Tatsuro and Yujiro always fought since they were children. Neither of them giving an inch. Encouraged by their father.

However Yujiro had far surpassed Tatsuro. Tatsuro chased the demon on Yujiro's back. Tatsuro was an extremely muscular man, dressed in a suit, his hair shaved completely. He was a head shorter than Yujiro. His eyes closed and face completely content. "How did he die?" Yujiro's grumbling voice asked a thin, bowl cut, bespectacled boy. Also wearing a suit for the occasion. "Sifu was standing in the waterfall for hours. It was nothing at first, as that was just how long he trained for..." The boy began explaining. Yujiro looked down at him, hands shoved in his pockets.

He glanced over his shoulder to see Baki approaching the casket to pay respects. Before looking back at the boy. He was about Baki's height and age. "Sifu eh? Didn't think Tatsuro would take on any students..." Yujiro said with a frown. The boy adjusted his glasses. "We all kinda split off after he died, but he had students. Anyway, I went there to check, only to see that Sifu was standing there with his heart stopped," The boy finished explaining. Yujiro nodded as he watched Retsu bow to the casket in respect.

Baki's face is solemn but he wasn't super broken up about it. Uncle Tatsuro was almost a stranger to Baki. He helped teach Baki basic combat, how to properly punch and kick as a favor. Other than that, Baki never knew his uncle. Yujiro never really talked about Tatsuro. His friends in the underworld were there to show respect to Baki. Retsu surprisingly recognized Tatsuro but didn't really say anything. Biscuit Oliva had his arms crossed. Maria was propped up on a raised bed, smoking a cigarette.

"Damn, can't believe cardiac arrest of all things could kill Tatsuro," Biscuit commented. Maria glanced at the casket. "What was my Uncle like?" Baki asked while he watched Yujiro walk over to the casket. "Tatsuro was strong, The Man Who Chased The Ogre as he was called. He was always more restrained than Yujiro, more of the silent type," Biscuit recalled with a nostalgic expression.

"Initially Tatsuro Hanma was considered a national security threat. Until he went completely off the grid and no satellite could track his whereabouts. Then he suddenly keels over from cardiac arrest. That isn't right for a warrior like that, Yujiro's brother of all people," Strydum commented. Baki absorbed this information, he wished he got to know his uncle more outside of their initial training.

Retsu stared up at the casket in stoic silence. "Something up Retsu?" Katsumi Orochi asked as Retsu shook his head. "No, not anymore," Retsu replied. Baki stared at his father who was looking at Tatsuro's body. "Get back!" Baki yelled at the boy who was staring at Yujiro's back as Yujiro suddenly spun and lashed out with a back fist at the boy.

Who was sent flying into the wall. "Bullshit. Fucking bullshit! I'll tell ya kid, that's a convincing lie you came up with. Would've fooled anyone who doesn't know Tatsuro! No fucking way he would've died from a heart attack. You're his student, right? Did he teach you his special technique to any of you?" Yujiro asked as he squatted down in front of the boy. Who, outside of blood running down the side of his head, and his suit torn, scuffed he looked no worse for wear.

Baki and Biscuit ran up to Yujiro. "Hey man, settle down! It's just a kid!" Biscuit exclaimed as Yujiro looked at Biscuit in disappointment. "Have you gone blind or soft? Look at Tatsuro's chest!" Yujiro ordered, looking at Baki directly. Who went up to Tatsuro, tearing the front of the shirt open. Baki gasped as he looked right where the heart was.

There were subtle indentions in the skin. Creating the shape of a palm. You had to look really close to see it. Yet once you saw it, you can't unsee it. However there were no finger indentions and it looked like skin rashes one would see if someone had heart problems. "Tatsuro had a Death Palm Strike technique. It leaves an imprint just like that on the chest! So, how many other students did he have, boy? Which one of you killed Tatsuro Hanma!" Yujiro demanded with his hair flowing as energy surrounded him. His muscles bulging and veins pressing against his skin as his shirt was tearing.

"Dad, he's knocked out," Baki pointed out and Yujiro's rage exploded as the ogre roared. The Demon Back exposed for everyone to see. "Strydum, I want you to investigate every square inch of where Tatsuro lived. Every last fucking detail, because someone killed him. And he's gotta be strong if he killed Tatsuro. So I gotta see, if a student surpassed the master," Yujiro declared as he laughed maniacally.

Baki however looked at Biscuit Oliva who was staring at Yujiro. There was more to this, and that unconscious boy is the guy. At the demands of the angry creature, Stryden will begin his investigation. As Baki slung the boy over his shoulders. His knees buckled for a second, his body is a lot heavier than he thought for such a skinny kid.

The funeral ended as the report was filed...

Tatsuro Hanma was murdered by one of his students!