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Part 11:The family mantle
----------------------------------------------------------------
Ranma walked away from the Tendo dojo angry. Soun had refused to
allow him to speak to Akane. When he arrived home his mother looked at
him with tearful eyes, but said nothing. His father walked into the room
quietly. �So, did you apologize to that slut?� he asked.
�No. I�ll see her tomorrow.� said Ranma calmly. �The stupid jerk
doesn�t even know that he could have screwed up the very thing he wants
so badly.� thought Ranma bitterly.
�No you will not you will come with me tomorrow and uphold your
family honor.� said Genma coldly.
�And what of her honor?� said Ranma.
�It is of no consequence to us.� said Genma with a small smile.
�It is of no consequence to you old man. It is the most important
thing to me. I love her.� said Ranma.
�Ranma your young you don�t know what love is.�said his mother
trying to look cheerful.
�How old were you when you married dad? Eloped as I recall.� said
Ranma.
Nodoka looked at her husband with pleading eyes. �Don�t do this.�
she said �not to my son.�
Genma ignored her �Then it is a challenge.� said Genma. Ranma
looked in shock at his father, he had not been expecting this. �If you
lose you will be a Saotome no more.� said Genma.
�And if I win?�asked Ranma.
�That will not happen.� said Genma with a stern look.
Ranma looked across the Saotome homestead�s yard at his father
who was in a battle ready stance. �This day you are my son no longer.�
said Genma angrily. Ranma sadly looked at his father, his eyes burned
with the tears he fought back, to show weakness now would be a mistake.
� I have to tell him.� he thought �this isn�t a game for me
anymore.� He was about to open his mouth when Genma�s foot stopped him.
He stood there and looked at his father who was wide eyed and stairing at
his son as his blows seemed to have no effect on the boy. Ranma staired
at his fathers rage in silent wonder. �He can�t hurt me. The breaking
point...� he thought. Ranma grabbed his Father and threw him to the
ground. Genma forced Ranma�s arms out and punched his son in the chest.
�Pop. stop it.� said Ranma.
Genma was nothing but a blind rage. He had not even been able to
even move his son. He saw his son�s arms vanish and pain exploded all
over his body. �I�m sorry but, I won�t stop seeing Akane.� He heard
Ranma say with obvious strain in his voice. Then the world became black.
Genma woke a few hours later with a terrible head ache and his
feet and hands were sore and bruised as if he had been hitting stone. �I
had the most terrible dream.� he said feeling for his wife next to him.
He found her sitting up next to him with a warm towel pressed against his
head.
�It wasn�t a dream dear.� she said sadly looking at her husband.
Her words were sad but she looked somewhat relieved.
�Where is my son?� he asked.
�In his room, he won�t come out.� she said quietly.
Ranma looked sadly at the picture on his dresser, it was his
family together when he was very young. �Only half of me remembers this.�
he said sadly. �He looked at his father in his younger years. �Stupid old
man why did you make me do that?� he asked aloud. Ranma had never really
fought with his father before, he had sparred and had some pretty
physical arguments with him but never like what had just happened to him.
never like that. He looked disgustedly at himself, it had been to easy,
he should never have been able to beat his father so easily.
�Its your own fault. Your far too powerful, you�ve changed
everything and made your future uncertain.� said the voice in his head
that was not really him with a small laugh.
�Shut up.� he said to it.
Genma opened the door to his sons room and looked at him proudly.
He�d never admit it but, he was proud his son had surpassed him so
quickly, and now the school belonged to his son, he was relieved of the
burden, and his promise to his old friend would now go unfulfilled. he
stood tall as he entered his son�s room �Ranma we have to talk.� he said
quietly.
A few hours later Genma exited his sons room feeling both humbled
and proud. Ranma had taken his responsibility in stride refusing at first
and eventually accepting The Saotome anything goes school. �He�ll break
up with that girl sooner or later, and then Tendo and I can arrange a
little meeting.� he laughed at his own cleverness. �Or better yet sooner.
It will be so much easier if they are friends first...� Genma went to
sleep happily plotting away. �Mabey Tendo and I can finally settle that
shougi thing. I have lots of spare time now...� he thought happily dozing
off.
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part 12:Mending wounds
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Ranma waited patiently outside the Tendo Dojo. �I hope she�ll
listen.� he said nervously. Nabiki was the first to emerge from the home.
�What do *you* want Ranma?� she asked bitterly.
�To talk to Akane.� he answered.
�She doesn�t want to talk.� said Nabiki.
�I don�t care, I do.� he said flatly.
�Nabiki wai--� said Akane as she ran out side. �What do you want?� asked
Akane angrily when she noticed Ranma standing next to her sister.
�We need to talk.� said Ranma to her.
�Why should I talk to you?� asked Akane trying to look indignant.
�Because you don�t have any idea whats going on.� said Ranma.
�WHAT??!!� said Akane looking furious.
�Why do you think that was an insult?� asked Ranma.
�Go tell it to your fiancee.� growled Akane.
�I�m not engaged.� said Ranma.
Akane looked at him and sighed. �All right we�ll talk *alone*�
she said the last part looking directly at Nabiki.
Ranma sat with Akane at a small cafe that was between the school
and the Tendo home. �Thanks Akane.� started Ranma.
�Shut up and start talking.� said Akane spitefully, however she
failed to hide the hint of hope in her voice.
�You do care.� said Ranma with a smile. Akane started to get up.
�My father tried to force me into an arranged marriage.� he stated
simply. Akane sat down again. �Akane you have no idea what I�ve been
through in the past few days.� he said suddenly looking very tired and
worn. The look of confidence gone from his eyes and the strain on his
body showing clearly now.
�R-Ranma? you look terrible what happened?� said Akane looking
worried and more than a little guilty.
�Its not your fault. Mostly Moose and Reiraku�s.� he said trying
to comfort her.
�Who?� she asked.
�Chinese martial arts group very dangerous.� said Ranma with a
smile. �Plus my father and this engagement thing, I was almost disowned
over this.� he said with a humorless laugh.
Akane gasped �Ranma you did that ...�
�over you?� finished Ranma. �Yes.�
�But we just met and...� said Akane embarrassed and astounded.
�I understand and I think you should know it was as much
principal as my feelings for you.� he said wincing. Ranma prepared for
the worst, �I shouldn�t have said that.� he thought.
�Ranma I-I�m sorry!� cried Akane as she threw her arms around him
in tears. �I�m sorry I didn�t listen� she said.
�Akane.� said Ranma �I..� Akane kissed him before he could say
anything more.
�I have to admit I like Akane�s attitude allot more that I would
if I�d just let things happen.� thought Ranma as he walked towards the
school with his arm around her. Akane quickly moved away from him as they
walked into the gates. �She�ll come around.� he thought with a smile.
Every boy in school glared at him with distaste, Ranma found he didn�t
care.
�Knave how dare you place your hands on the fair Akane Tendo?!!�
yelled Kuno as he swung his bokken at Ranma.
�When did you get out of the hospital Kuno?� asked Ranma
cheerfully as he kicked him in the face.
�You dare place your vile hands on Akane Tendo?!!� he said from
the ground.
�Haven�t you heard? Akane and I are dating!� said Ranma with a
little too much cheer.
�WHAT??!!� said Kuno in shock. Every boy in the schools face
fell. It had been only a rumor up till now, they had hope. They started
to cry...all of them. Ranma cheerfully walked to Akane who was stairing
at him.
�WHA? Ranma I, I...� she stammered.
�Are you embarrassed by me?� he asked.
�No but who said we were..?� she stammered turning bright red.
�Who said we weren�t?� asked Ranma matter of factly. Akane looked
at him but didn�t say anything.
Ranma grinned. �Besides that was to much to pass up.� he said
laughing.
Akane turned to look at her daily attackers, and laughed also
�Your right.� she said with a smile.
Ranma took her arm and went into the school with her. His
thoughts were not as light, �This can�t last.� he thought.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
part13: a turn for the worse.
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Cologne looked at Reiraku with disgust. �How could both of you
lose to that boy?!� she scowled at the two bandaged men. �If you do not
succeed soon Shampoo will be forced to marry him, I have no wish to force
her into that.� she swore under her breath.
�I *will* kill him.� said Mousse angrily.
�But what if another defeat her?� asked Reiraku gazing sideways
at Mousse.
�He must also be able to defeat the groom. At any rate such a
defeat would be...questionable at this time.� said Cologne.
�I ask to use the ancient sealed techniques of my family.� said
Mousse.
�The ones banned from the village, and sealed away?� said Cologne
with a narrow look.
�Yes.� said Mousse.
�You know these techniques Mousse?� she warily asked him.
�Sealed is not forgotten honored elder.� responded Mousse.
�I shall have to have a little talk with his father when we
return.� thought Cologne dryly.
�Very well.� she said.
�But you must obey the laws surrounding them as well. We are not
a clan of ninja Mousse, no matter how tempting you should not forget
that.� said Cologne with a warning glance.
�As you wish, honored elder.� said Mousse compliantly.
�You realize that your family will suffer for this boy, those
techniques were to be sealed and forgotten after World War 2.� she said
warningly.
�Only Shampoo matters to me.� he responded.
�Mousse?� said Reiraku quietly in shock.
Ranma looked at Ryoga and waited for his answer. �You want to
train *me*?� he asked.
�Yes, I see great potential in you, and I need to for my own
reasons.� answered Ranma.
�And what are those?� asked Ryoga cautiously.
�I need some one to train with who isn�t out to kill me. Your the
only one good enough to do that that I know, that fits that category.�
Ranma answered with a small grin. �But let me warn you this isn�t normal
martial arts training, its really going to hurt and possibly kill you. I
promise you�ll be allot stronger when I�m through. Besides I gotta start
my school some where.� he looked at Ryoga and waited for a response.
�All right I�m in.� said Ryoga with a stern look.
Kasumi looked at the young girl in the doorway and called to her
sister. �Akane your little friend is here.� Akane smiled as she saw her
'new best friend' smiled in greeting.
�Ranko what brings you here?� she asked cheerfully.
Nabiki frowned she didn�t trust Ranma�s kid sister at all. �Is
that delinquent of a brother you have around?� asked Soun cheerfully as
he noticed the young girl.
�Nope.�she beamed.
Soun returned to his paper he liked the girl she was always
cheerful, but the boy, the boy must die.
Akane walked off with her friend as Nabiki frowned at them.
�RRGH! I can�t find any dirt on that girl!� growled Nabiki.
Ranma walked along side Akane and chatted cheerfully. �Ah my
lovely Akane, I see you doth partake on a stroll this fine day with your
friend, the lovely Ranko, charming sister to that ruffian Saotome. Ranma
grit his teeth and smiled sweetly at Kuno.
�Hiya cutie!� he said feeling his stomach turn. He had figured
out a while ago an important formula for Kuno. GIRL+BEAT THE CRAP OUT OF
KUNO= KUNO LOVES GIRL, and as a result had been very careful in front of
the Kendoist.
�Very well I shall leave you to your day as I have pressing
matters with the vile Nabiki Tendo. Else I would gladly escort you this
fine day, but alas I must take my leave of you.� and with that he walked
away.
�That was close I can�t stand acting like that. Ugh!� said Ranma.
�I can understand my family but why Kuno?� asked Akane.
�If I beat him up he�d fall in love with me or something.�
replied Ranma.
�Oh,� said Akane still unsure. �What did you want?� she asked
cheerfully
�I wanted to tell you about my trip. I�m taking Ryoga on a
training trip in a few days and I just wanted to tell you. We could be
gone a while.� said Ranma looking sad.
�But I wanted to spend the summer break with you.� said Akane
looking disappointed.
�If pig boy doesn�t screw us up too bad we should be back in a
couple of weeks so don�t worry about us, besides �Ranko� will write you
and tell you how we are doing.� she smiled at their private joke. Ranma
looked behind her and stopped. �So, she�s here already? the pervert
hasn�t even showed yet.�
�So...Ranma has a sister.� said the girl as she watched from the
bush. as the two �girls� walked away. �Interesting.�
�Hello Ucchan, we need to talk.� said a voice form behind her.
�Its been a long time Ranma.� she said steeling her voice. �Now
prepare to die.�
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Part14:Will Ranma get another sutor?
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ranma stopped talking and looked at Akane "Someone is spying on
us." he said. "What?" Akane said looking suprised. "You go on I'll take
care of this.� said Ranma taking the thermos he was carrying and pouring
the contents over his head as he rounded the corner.
"Let me go with you." said Akane with a worried look.
"She might be an ally, and don't worry I can handle this." said
Ranma with a reassuring grin.
"She?" thought Akane as he snuck away.
Ukyo Konji looked thoughtfully at the two girls. "So,... Ranma
has a sister....Interesting" she said. Suddenly a voice behind her
snapped her back into reality.
"Hello Ucchan we need to talk." said Ranma from behind her.
"It's been along time Ranma. Now prepare to die!" said the girl
to him.
Ranma easily caught the battle spatula as the young Ukyo swung it
at him. "No. talk first." he said lazily. Ukyo growled at him but sat
down. "Now first off why are you attacking me?" he asked.
Ukyo looked at him oddly "you don't know?" she said with a rage
in her eyes.
"I know why your mad at my father, but why me?" he asked.
"You left me behind you jack ass!" she yelled at him.
"'I' left you behind? Ukyo how old was I?" said Ranma with an
amused look.
"He's laughing at me?" thought Ukyo angrily.
"Six and what does it matter?" Ukyo spat.
"It matters because I was *six*. what makes you think I had
anything to do with it? It was almost eight years before I figured out
what pop had done to you, and by then it was too late, I didn't know
where to even begin looking for you." said Ranma. Ukyo looked at him
angrily
"How dare you?!!I gave up my femininity because of you! I can
never get back my childhood!" she growled as she swung at him again.
"Not from where I'm standing." said Ranma catching the spatula
easily again.
Ukyo staired at him. "W-what?" she said dumbly.
"Look don't get the wrong Idea but your a very cute girl, you
could easily get your 'femininity back' as you put it. From what I see
you never lost it." said Ranma.
"R-Ranma?" said Ukyo in shock.
"Ukyo I won't be held responsible for my father any longer, if
you have a grudge with him fine, I won't get in your way but I won't let
you kill him." said Ranma.
`"I can only allow him to live if my honor is restored." said
Ukyo quietly.
"Meaning?" said Ranma hoping the answer was not what he already
knew it was.
"You will marry me." she said with a smile.
Ranma fell to his knees. "Then I'm sorry we couldn't work this
out." he said bitterly.
"What?" said Ukyo with rage once again in her eyes. "Your going
back on your word? your promise?" she said angrily.
"I never made a promise or gave my word Ukyo, and I am seeing
someone else,... I will not do this to her." said Ranma in a low voice.
"So be it I will kill you and your father for this Saotome."
growled Ukyo as she Prepared for a fight.
Ranma however stood silently looking at his old friend. She was
in a battle ready stance. He punched a large oak tree next to them in
frustration. "Ukyo...go home." he said and turned away.
"Why you--" Ukyo fell silent as the oak tree groaned and
collapsed. She backed away in silent horror, the tree was easily four
feet in diameter, probably more.
Ranma sighed as he walked away. "Please let that be enough to
make her give up." he said inwardly. But he knew it would not be.
Cologne stood behind Ukyo and smiled. She turned to the two boys
training in a clearing near by , their wounds almost healed. "Mousse,
Reiraku! come here." she cackled.
Ukyo turned to face them "What do you want?" she looked tired
and hopeless after what she had just seen. She knew she would never
defeat Ranma.
Cologne Ignored her and spoke to the boys. "It seems you two may
have a new ally. See what she can do." said Cologne and with that the
boys rushed at her weapons drawn.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
part15:Preparations for a trip
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ukyo looked at the boys who had her pinned to the ground, the
battle had been short lasting only a few minutes. "Damn!" she thought as
the green haired boy smiled at her oddly. "What do you want with me?" she
asked cautiously not liking the looks the green haired boy was giving her
with his one eye.
"What do you think Mousse?" asked Cologne. The boy with the thick
glasses and long hair smiled.
"She has potential." he mused looking her up and down.
"She almost good Shampoo used to be." said the one eyed boy.
"Potential for what??!!!" said Ukyo from the ground suddenly
looking very worried.
"Cologne smiled. "Not *that* child." she reassured. Ukyo relaxed
a small amount.
"You wish to kill Ranma Saotome?" Cologne asked.
Ukyo became very interested in this strange woman. "I wish to end
the Saotome line." she said coldly.
"That is the mission of these two as well child, perhaps with
their help you can achieve your goal." said the old woman.
"Perhaps,..." said Ukyo cautiously.
"Mousse I leave her in your care, Make her stronger." she said as
she lept away. Mousse growled under his breath.
"May as well open a dojo." he muttered under his breath.
Ukyo picked herself off the ground "Thanks I guess I'll be
leaving now." she said as she walked away.
"You no kill Ranma alone." said Reiraku.
"He's right girl you'll need our help, we can make you strong
enough to stand a chance." agreed Mousse. "I am Mousse and this is
Reiraku, we make you no promises, but with out our help you will fail,
Saotome is much more powerful than you can even imagine, what you saw was
nothing compared to hat he's capable of." Warned Mousse.
"I sorry about great grandmother, she think it only way you
listen us." said Reiraku.
Ukyo looked at the two boys and sighed "All right I'm listening,
what can you do for me?" she said.
Ranma looked at Akane apologetically, "I can't let you come along
Akane I'd love to but..." he said as the young girl pleaded with him.
"But what I'm not strong enough?" she growled looking angry.
"Don't put words in my mouth Akane. You know your father would
never allow this." said Ranma with a sigh.
"I'm coming along Ranma. You are not leaving me behind." she said
sternly.
"Looks like she's made up her mind Ranma" said Ryoga with an
amused smile.
"Akane what will you do? this is a training trip, I won't have
time to spend with you." argued Ranma.
"I can train too, and besides I can cook for you." Akane said
with a pleading voice.
Ranma gasped, his eyes went wide with horror. "OH, shit." he
thought.
"And I can tell my father I'm going with Ranko." she said with a
sly smile.
"And when he finds out that I'm not here? Akane he hates me as it
is..." said Ranma sternly.
Akane�s face fell.
"He wont find out," said Nabiki with a grin as she walked up to
the group, "For a price" said Ranma and Nabiki in unison. Nabiki frowned.
Ranma walked over to Nabiki "I think a whole week without the
danger of Akane cooking anything is payment enough for this." he said in
a low voice.
Nabiki looked at him in suprize. "How do you know about that?"
she wondered and quickly dismissed it, they were dating after all she
must have made him lunch once or something.
"Along with the knowledge that we'll be eating it at least twice
this week." he said in a weak voice.
Nabiki smiled "Agreed." she said.
Ranma turned to face his friends "On one condition we take turns
cooking." he said to Akane. Smiled and hugged him.
Ryoga looked at him oddly. "We've got a woman coming and you want
us to cook?!" he whispered.
"You'll regret its that much..." said Ranma looking weak.
Ranma sat at his table and ate his meal in his usual manner, he
inhaled it before his father got to it. At the end of the meal Ranma
spoke up "Me and a friend are going on a training trip over the summer."
he said to his parents. His father looked at him oddly.
"HIS name is Ryoga, you might remember him." said Ranma who knew
what his father was thinking and emphasized 'Him'. "We went to school
together when I was little." He continued.
"Where are you going?" Genma asked.
"Mt.Terror I think its called, but with Ryoga along It could be
anywhere in Japan." Ranma laughed at his own joke. His parents looked at
him oddly.
"He gets lost easy." explained Ranma looking embarrassed. His
parents shrugged and went back to their meal.
Akane looked at her father happily. "You mean I can go?" she said
happily.
"Your sure he won't be there?" asked Soun warily. "I told you
daddy those two are *never* in the same place." said Akane with a grin.
Nabiki looked at her sister, she had no Idea that her sister was such a
talented liar.
Later that night Nabiki went to talk to her sister. "Akane I had
no Idea you could lie that way, I'm impressed." she said. Akane had a
strange smile.
"Who said I lied?" said Akane. "All I said was that they won't
be together." she said reading her magazine intently.
"Ranko's not coming?" Nabiki said warily. She was not happy with
the idea of her sister being alone with two guys in the woods.
"She'll be there." said Akane.
Nabiki looked at Akane. "What the hell does that mean?" she said
frustrated.
"Ranma and Ranko will be there. When Ranma is there Ranko won't
be and vice versa." she said never looking up from her reading.
Nabiki looked at her sister and walked out confused and she
didn't like it. "I'll find out what's going on Akane I swear it." she
growled.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
part16:Training on Mt.Terror
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ranma walked with Ryoga as a girl towards Akane�s home. Suddenly
Shampoo latched herself around his neck from behind. �Nihao Airen!!" she
squealed. Ranma roughly took her off
"How many times do I have to tell you I'm not interested?" he
said with a disgusted look.
"Man she's getting worse. Thats the third time today." commented
Ryoga, he had been staying with Ranma for a few days so he wouldn't
wander off before the trip.
"You ain't kidding she don't know when to quit, I'm just lucky
Akane hasn't caught her doing that yet." he sighed as they approached the
dojo.
"Hope you brought enough to eat Ryoga cause were gonna have to
sneak our meals when Akane cooks." said Ranma quietly as they approached
the dojo.
"What was that Ranma?!! How can you say that? You've never even
had my cooking!!!" said Akane from behind him as she hit him with a large
mallet.
"I should have known! That was a classic set up..." thought Ranma
bitterly.
Soun and Genma sat across from each other and concentrated on the
game before them. "My son has gone on a voyage of training with his first
student." said Genma with a small amount of shame in his voice. Soun
looked at his friend and sighed It had been difficult for his friend to
tell him he had lost the school to his own son, but also reassuring to
Soun, when Genma's son returned to marry his daughter he would defeat
that evil Ranma and free his daughter.
"I feel sorry for the young sister of that evil boy who is seeing
Akane, she is so nice, it will be a shame when your son fulfills his
promise and Akane has to stop seeing her brother." said Soun with a
slight smile.
Genma sweated a little. "Quite so Tendo." he agreed hastily.
"Its just as well as my daughter has also taken a trip with some
friends. Although I doubt a bunch of girls will get much training in."
said Soun to his friend with a laugh.
"Really where has she gone to?" said Genma with no real interest.
"I believe the place is called Mt. Terror." Answered Soun.
"Hmmmm,thats nice I'm sure they'll have a goo...Mt. Terror you
say?" Genma's attention quickly left the board.
"Yes, thats what she said." answered Soun.
"Mt.TERROR?!!" said Genma with a huge smile.
Ranma looked at his surroundings with a small smile. "Well this
is it." he said.
Ryoga looked around and snorted "This?"
"Relax Ryoga we train on the other side of the Mountain, there
is a water fall there, getting there every day will be part of the
training." said Ranma amused with the smuggness Ryoga had, "I'll wipe
that off your face soon enough Ryoga." he thought with just a tinge of
evil laughter.
The next day Ranma lead Ryoga to the waterfall with Akane in tow.
"Lets see this arduous Training that you don't think I'm good enough
for..." snorted Akane.
Ranma smiled and turned to Ryoga. "Shatter this boulder." he said
simply.
"Thats easy." laughed Ryoga. "I was wondering what arduous
training you were going to put me through." he said as he cracked his
knuckles. Ryoga punched it causing it to split down the middle. "How's
that?" he laughed.
"I could do that." said Akane.
"I bet you could, but thats wrong. I said shatter not split."
said Ranma to them.
Ryoga and Akane looked at him dumbly. "Wha?" they said in unison.
Ranma touched the breaking points for both boulders lightly and they
exploded. "Ryoga and Akane gasped.
"Care to learn that?" asked Ranma.
Genma looked at the group from the bushes. "So he brought that
slut of a girlfriend of his along." he mused "When Tendo finds his
daughter's camp we'll arrange a little meeting. If all goes well they'll
never even know we were here." Genma laughed maniacally at his plan.
A short time later, Ranma pulled the rope taught as he prepared
the harness for the boulder. Suddenly he felt a presence behind him.
Ryoga who was standing near by growled at the new comer.
"Well it seems Saotome has a new student." said Mousse to a
nearby tree. Ranma took up a fighting stance, and Mousse shifted his
position following the movement.
"Relax Ranma I'm training someone myself." said Mousse as he
snorted at Ranmas stance. "I thought we were alone out here and I wasn't
expecting to find *you*." said Mousse.
"What do you want?" Growled Ryoga.
"Well now that I know who else is here I'll leave you..." A small
smile crept across Mousses lips.
"Say Saotome?" he said.
"What is it Mousse." said Ranma looking cautiously at the boy.
"How about a little game?" Said Mousse.
"What do you mean?" asked Akane. "Just to see who is the better
teacher." said Mousse
"My student vs. yours?" asked Ranma.
"Yes." said Mousse, "In two weeks."
"You got it !" said Ryoga with a sly look.
"Let me introduce you to your opponent." smiled Mousse. Ranma
gasped as Ukyo stepped from the trees.
Ukyo staired hard at Ryoga. she was dressed in a kimono with a
black and gold flower pattern on it on her chest was a bandoleer of
throwing knives and across her back was a dangerous looking spear.
Ryoga face faulted "A girl?" he said dumbly.
" Ucchan." said Ranma weakly.
"I have to fight a girl?!!!" Ranted Ryoga.
"I've modified her fighting style. she is far more deadly than the girl
you knew Saotome."grinned Mousse as the two disappeared into the forest.
"You will have a formidable opponent boy."
Later that night Akane watched Ranma chan across from the fire
light. "So she was a friend of yours?" she asked softly.
"My best friend." said Ranma as he looked up into the stars.
"Its all my father's fault..." Ranma began to tell the tale of his and
Ukyo's friendship including the engagement his father made and his
betrayal of that promise.
Akane cried as he finished "Ranma th-thats terrible! how could
he do that to you two?" she said softly.
"We did what we had to survive', I told you remember? I'm not
proud but it doesn't change things." he said sadly.
Akane looked at her friend and saw the sadness in his eyes . His
father had caused his best friend to hate him, she could never forgive
that.
Ryoga looked at the sky next to them and sighed, he didn't hear
Ranma's tale. His thoughts were occupied by the girl he would have to
fight in two weeks time. "I-I can't fight a girl. especially one like
her. Shes...what?" the answer he never wanted to hear came to him "Cute."
From the bushes just outside the camp Soun Tendo watched his
daughter talk with her friend 'Ranko' as she sat with her next to the
fire. "Now to find Genma and get our children together at last!!" he was
crying tears of joy.
A few hors later he met Genma in the woods. "I've found them!"
they said in unison, they hugged and cried for joy together, Until...
"Say Tendo...where are we anyway?"
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