Chapter 2:
Oath of Venegance.

	Before setting off on his quest, Hidoshi went to visit his teacher.  This
mysterious hermit had retreated from the world due to some secret sorrow, and
had seen no one until the day Hidoshi's mother had taken him to the hermit to
be trained in the martial arts.  The man had agreed, and from that day on
Hidoshi had trained under him.
	The sun was setting as Hidoshi approached the isolated hut.  The man emerged,
scowling mightily, and walked briskly towards him, stopping a few feet away.
	"Where have you been, boy!" he snapped.  "Neglecting your training again?"
	"Put your glasses on, you blind fool," Hidoshi snapped back.
	Fumbling in his robe, the man produced a pair of glasses and put them on.  He
jumped, startled, as he realized he had been berating a tree.  
	"I came to say goodbye," said Hidoshi, lowering his head.  "My mother is dead."
	His teacher blinked.  "Your mother?"
	"Yes."
	Dead?"
	"Yes.  A drunken driver."
	The hermit lowered himself to the ground.  "Dead.  Akari."  Mousse removed
his glasses and rubbed the bridge of his nose.  "I can't believe it.  She was
fine when she last brought you.  I still have some of the food she left. 
When... when did it happen?"
	"Three days ago.  I came straight here."
	"Poor woman.  She was... kind to me.  I shall miss her."
	"Before she died, she told me the name of my father.  Ryoga Hibiki.  I must
find him and...
	"Ryoga Hibiki!" screamed Mousse, leaping to his feet.  "That villain!  I
always thought Saotome was my nemesis, but it was him all along!  The very day
Saotome married, Hibiki made his move!"
	"What are you talking about?"
	"Your father stole my Shampoo!"
	"Big deal.  Buy some more."
	Mousse cuffed him.  "Idiot!  Listen to your elders with your mouth closed and
your ears open, instead of the other way 'round.  Once, I was in love."
	"No shit?"
	"None.  Oh, she was beautiful.  Hair like silk... wide eyes...
	"Uh-huh."
	"Sweet, soft lips...  long legs...
	"Okay."
	"Full, firm breasts..."  Mousse's hands crept up and cupped the air.
	"Will you get on with it!"
	"I loved her, but she was pledged to another.  But he didn't want her, he
wanted this other girl, Akane.  And on the day he married Akane, the day my
love would finally be free...
	"Yes?"
	"Hibiki beat her!  He forced her to marry him!"
	"He BEAT her?"
	"I never had a chance!"
	"That SLIME!"
	"And I could have done it this time, too.  I'd been practicing."
	"I'll KILL him!"
	"What?  You'll what?"
	Hidoshi stood trembling, fists clenched, nostrils wide.  "He is a monster!  A
man like that must not be allowed to live!  I must destroy him, not just for
my mother's sake, but for the sake of all women."
	"Your mother.  Yes."  Mousse fell silent, and they watched the sun sink
through the trees.
	"I still have some of her food," said Mousse at last.  "It's not much -- just
some rice balls -- but I'd like to share it with you.  We could eat it
together and... and remember her."