Here it is people. C&C welcome as usual.
Of course, I'm not overly happy with how this monster turned-out,
but then, action-fics were never very easy to write in the first
place (then again, the last time I did one it was okay, wasn't
it?).
Well, yeah, you COULD call it a crossover, if you want.
----------------------------------------------------
#14: Team Ranma in the King of Fighters '96
The Wheel of Fire, part 5: Full Circle
Written by Razorclaw X (spiceoflife@hotmail.com)
http://www.crosswinds.net/anaheim/~slythe/ranma/ranff.html
Disclaimer: Ranma 1/2 and characters belong to Rumiko Takahashi. And
all that other good stuff. Proper licenses belong to respective
properties and characters. The manga has precedence over material in
the anime.
This file can be freely distributed so long as it appears in its
complete form and proper credit. No part may be reproduced for
monetary gain without permission from the author. (to which the answer
is probably "no")
Fanart inspired by this story may be found at:
http://www.crosswinds.net/anaheim/~slythe/ranma/ranfa.html
Author's note: This series takes place after the final manga story,
Vol.38, after my previous fics, "Moments of Transition," "Team Ranma
vs. the Orochi Assassins," "End of the Beginning," "Descending
Spiral," "Specters," "The Law of Amazons," "Doco in the Battle of the
Bands," "Doco in Hawaii," "The Past is Prologue," "Treasure of the
Musk Dynasty," "Enter the Shadows," "Face of the Enemy," and "Rising
Star." Knowledge of the previous stories helps in understanding the
minor details of the story (see "Plot Points").
This story takes place in the new year, 1996, starting in January.
The second story in the 'Full Circle' part of the series.
Plot Points (from previous stories)
==================================
1. Ranma and Akane are married. Ryoga and Akari are married.
2. Doco (Ranma, the Tendo sisters, the Kunos, Shampoo, Mousse,
Ling-ling and Lung-lung, Ryoga, Akari, Ukyo, and Konatsu) goes
semi-professional.
3. Nodoka insisted that Ukyo join her family to remove her past
dishonor. While Ukyo accepted, she opted to retain her name for duty
to her family.
4. Mousse has reached an understanding with both Shampoo and Cologne.
After being kicked out of the tribe for a while, he's gain new insight
and wisdom, but he still blindly-follows Shampoo.
5. Kodachi and Tatewaki reached an understanding. Both hate their
parents and Ranma. They know Ranma is the pig-tailed girl. Family
honor has been restored since Ranma recently saved Kuno's life.
6. Kodachi, Ukyo, Akane, and Shampoo have reached an understanding.
They treat each other like old friends, as there's no reason to fight
anymore.
7. Ling-ling, Lung-lung, and Shampoo's father work at the Nekohatten.
8. Kodachi and Pantyhose Taro admit an affection for each other. Part
of Kodachi's reason is so she can win her bet against Asuka the White
Lily, but Taro is actually flattered about it.
9. Ukyo discovers she can manipulate chi, but as of yet it manifests
only in her okonomiyaki. With proper training she could become more
powerful than Ranma, according to the minions of Orochi. She briefly
studied under Herb.
10. Kuno has devoted himself to mastering every technique of the
Chinese Phoenix Sword. With what he knows now he becomes a match for
Ranma. The Phoenix Sword consumes the power of one's soul.
11. Mousse is learning to fight without his sight, relying on his
hearing.
12. Ukyo, Ryu, and Akane are training in unarmed combat under Ranma.
13. Taro has returned to Nerima, having completed his quest. He now
stays at the Kuno estate with the Kunos.
14. Seiryu, the future self of Ukyo, warns the Nerimans that Ranma
must die in order to save the future. It was she who was behind the
dreams of Kuno and Ranma. Ranma discovers that it is he himself who
will kill everybody, but the day of judgment has yet to come.
------------------------------------------------
Opening: Us After This (Doco OAV opening)
(Ranma, Akane, Shampoo, Nabiki, Kasumi)
[Set: Ranma and Akane running out the door; Ryoga brushing teeth,
Ukyo flipping okonomiyaki, Kodachi feeding Midorigame, etc.]
(Akane) If I were to hug you closely in a dream [ ] (R S K)
It's become that I can't see your face, isn't it? [Why is that?]
(Nabiki) Words which I can't speak are stirring in my heart
You peeped innocently, but ...
(Kasumi) The wind blowing over the river's edge
[I must return home already] (R A N)
Good-bye [I'll get scolded]
(Shampoo) Your smiling face and bright gestures
One by one asking questions
(All) Besides both of us are friends, aren't we?
Only that I said "love", right?
(Ranma) What can I do? After this
(All) What kind of things can be spoken that are good
Between you and me...
[Set: Ranma vs. Pantyhose Taro, neither seeming to have an edge.
Taro throws water on himself, and his shadow casts over Ranma]
(A S N) Bought on the roadside, but [a beautiful red rock] (K)
If it was a ring, it would be an engagement ring
[it fits perfectly]
(Ranma) For you ... it's a promise
These feelings are miserable, but
[Set: Ranma vs. Ryoga. Rocks fly everywhere, Ryoga jamming his
finger about. Finally, the ultimate Shishi Hokodan....]
(All) You are also now bewildered
It's not true love yet and
(Nabiki) It's only that I don't dislike you, right?
(All) There's only love and happiness
>From you...
[Set: Vs. Mousse. Dodge several kicks, flips back, and leaps
into the air: a storm of chains assails our hero!]
(Akane) Holding hands together
Found warmth and the ring on my finger
[Set: Vs. Kuno! Flames bathe him in a hellish light, fire leaps
from swordpoint, then a column of annihilating flame, the
peak forming the shape of the phoenix, wings outstretched.]
(All) Besides both of us are friends, aren't we?
Only that I said "love", right?
(Shampoo) What kind of manner and change
(All) Because this can't happen frequently
You and me.
* * * * *
In a hidden, underground compound, a lone figure, dressed in a
blue uniform and a flowing black cape, stood before a strange altar.
Hanging above the altar was an ancient tapestry, depicting the head
of a large dragon most prominently. Springing from the large dragon
head were smaller, more serpentine dragon heads, seven in all,
running in different directions apart from the larger head.
To each side of the altar stood two pedestals each, each holding
a lit candle and a single totem. To the left of the man were the
totems of lightning and wind; to the right were the totems of earth
and fire. Standing at the opposite end of the chamber, behind the
man, were four more pedestals, two to each side of the large iron
door that served as the entrance to the chamber. The pedestals only
bore candles, but only two of them were lit: the two candles to the
left of the man. The two candles on the right seemed to have burned
out, or, as the man knew, were never lit.
"The time of the Reunion draws near, Child," a voice boomed
throughout the empty chamber.
The man nodded. "Everything is being set into motion. Even now
our enemies work to accomplish our goals, though they know it not
themselves. I have informed the other three Masters of my
accomplishments in your name."
"Has a suitable host been found?" the voice asked.
"Unfortunately, no," the man replied, then added, "and we've yet
to locate an eighth female descendant of Kushinada. Rest assured,
even if we don't find a maiden by the Reunion, the life energies of
our enemies will fuel your power, and surely one of our enemies will
serve as a suitable host for your emergence."
"Be warned, Child," the voice began, "fail to bring us a suitable
host, and your life will be forfeit. Make sure that our chief enemy,
the Guardian, is taken care of. No matter what happens, the Yata seal
must be broken!"
The man bowed. "When the time is right, Master, I will deal
with the Yata seal personally. The time draws very near, the time
the world's greatest warriors gather. The life energies these
warriors produce: aggression, anger, and hate, will serve to weaken
the seal. It will only be a matter of time before the seal is
removed entirely."
"Excellent," finished the Speaker of Orochi. "We leave you now,
Eldest of our Children, for it is your capable hands we place the
Reunion in!"
Early 1996
It was morning in Nerima. In the house the Tendos and Saotomes
lived in, Kasumi prepared breakfast in the kitchen. In the dojo, two
people sparred, throwing punches and kicks back and forth, neither
landing a hit. It went as such as Akane watched her husband, Ranma,
try to land a hit on Ukyo in hand-to-hand combat.
Months ago it was Nabiki who pointed out to Akane that Ukyo was
a very defensive fighter; the okonomiyaki chef would continuously
dodge attacks until she found the right opening. Then, and only then,
would she attack, it seemed. Apparently, Akane thought, Nabiki was
right.
Ukyo, instead of dodging Ranma's next punch, caught it in one hand.
With her other hand, the okonomiyaki chef grabbed Ranma and threw him
into a spinning flip. Ranma crashed to the wooden floor with a loud
*THUMP!*
Ukyo offered her hand when Ranma came to. Accepting it, Ranma got
up. Rubbing his sore back, he said, "You're getting good at this; I
couldn't lay a punch on you this time!"
"Serves you right for what I had to go through for the last four
months," Ukyo replied sarcastically. If you didn't want to get hit,
you learned how to dodge. That part of the lesson came easy; learning
to dodge was another thing entirely. For a martial artist, it had to
be instinctive.
Oh, sure, blocking was easy, but it's far more preferable to avoid
an attack entirely, especially since some attacks, as the throw,
couldn't be blocked effectively.
Four months ago Ranma offered to teach Ukyo how to fight in
unarmed combat, after Ukyo realized there were some situations where
she'd be without her giant spatula or bandoleer. At the same time
Ranma was also teaching Akane. Therefore today the two were much
better at unarmed combat than four months ago, as Ranma proved to be
a patient teacher.
Of course, just last month, Ranma accepted Ryu Kumon as a student
as well. The man who wished to carry on the Kumon dojo only knew how
to fight using the forbidden art of the Yamasenken, the way of the
noisy thief, devised by Genma long ago. Since the art was sealed
away, Ryu has been searching for techniques from other masters to
use when he revives the Kumon dojo.
On the side Ukyo learned to conceal small weapons on her person,
with the help of Mousse. Sometimes it helped to have an extra weapon
handy, yet the only weapon she bothered to conceal were a pair of
ordinary folding fans.
Akane handed a bottle of water to Ranma, who accepted it
graciously.
"If I didn't know any better," began Ranma, "I'd say that you were
a pro at unarmed combat."
"Stop it," Ukyo said, waving away the praise. "You don't really
mean that, Ranchan."
"Sure I do!" Ranma insisted, shaking his adopted sister's shoulder.
"You've gotten better than ever," praised Akane.
At that point Kasumi chose that moment to enter the dojo. "Oh,
Akane," the elder sister began, "we have guests who would like to
see you!"
Akane walked toward Kasumi with curiosity in her eyes. "Who?"
Kasumi smiled. "They asked me not to tell. It's better if I took
you to them."
Interested, Ranma voiced, "Hey, I'd like to see these guests, too."
Kasumi nodded, leading Akane, Ukyo, and Ranma to the Tendo living
room. Akane and Ranma stared in surprise as they recognized the two
girls that sat there, two who visited the Tendo household almost a
year ago. One dressed in a sailor suit, and had a red ribbon tied
in her hair. The older of the two wore loose blue pants and shirt,
her hair tied up high in a pony tail. A long pole was strapped to
her back; at one end several looping belts hung like a wire frame,
resembling the head of an egg beater.
Natsume and Kurumi stood up from the floor.
"Natsume! Kurumi!" Akane exclaimed. "What a surprise!"
Natsume nodded. "It has been too long, Akane."
"We've missed you, Akane!" added Kurumi.
"Who're these two?" Ukyo whispered to Ranma.
"Oh, right!" Ranma said out-loud, flustered. "You don't know each
other. Ukyo, this is Natsume and Kurumi; both practice the Anything
Goes style. Natsume, Kurumi, this is Ukyo Kuonji, my adopted sister,
and my best pal."
"No I'm not!" Ukyo whispered in response, but loud enough for
the others to hear. She certainly didn't think she was Ranma's best
pal, at least.
Natsume nodded. "A pleasure."
Kurumi, deciding it might not be a good idea to bring up the fact
that she recognized Ukyo from one of the restaurants she stole food
from, simply said, "Nice to meet you."
"So," Akane started, "What brings you two back in the neighborhood?
Come for a rematch?"
The elder of the two sisters shook her head. "We did part with the
promise to return to challenge you for the right to carry on the
dojo, but that is not why we are here now."
"Actually, that can wait until later," Kurumi interrupted. "Kasumi
tells us that you and Ranma are married."
Akane smiled, nodding in confirmation. "Very happily married."
"And I've already got the dojo," Ranma added.
Natsume nodded. "As it must be, I suppose. Your exploits are
known to us, even if we haven't had a decent spar."
Ranma loosened his collar as he started to sweat. Oh yeah, these
two don't know about my curse....
"Ranma, I thought you were at the dojo," someone called from down
the hallway. He stepped into the living room, dressed in military-
style clothing, complete with combat boots, probably relics from
the second World War.
Ryu Kumon made his entrance. "I mean, you can't...."
He froze, noticing the two new arrivals standing before him. Ryu
regained his composure, and turned back to Ranma. "Aren't you going
to introduce me to our guests?"
"Oh," Ranma said flatly. "Ryu, these two are Natsume and Kurumi,
practitioners of the Anything Goes style. You two, this is Ryu Kumon,
my newest student, who wants to start his own dojo."
Natsume, seemingly a bit dazed, shook her head, then offered her
hand to Ryu. "The pleasure is... all mine."
Ryu accepted the girl's hand and shook. "Definitely a pleasure."
Kurumi forced a cough, as if trying to get Ryu and Natsume's
attentions. "Hello, remember me?" She waved her hand between the
two impatiently.
Ryu shook his head. "Oh, sorry. Kurumi, right? Nice to meet you."
"Thanks," Kurumi replied. What's with that guy, anyway? Not only
that, what was with Natsume?!
"Well," Soun started, entering the living room, "now that all of
you have gotten the chance to meet each other, would you care to
join us for breakfast?"
"It is generous of you to welcome us into your home, Mr. Tendo,"
thanked Kurumi graciously, between bites of her breakfast.
"Well, you two are always welcome in our home," replied Soun.
"I'm glad," Natsume said. "Since our search for our father had
taken a turn for the worst when we last parted, we've devoted
ourselves to bettering our techniques to challenge your students
for the right to carry on the dojo. However, it appears that you
have cemented your heir's position, both by marrying him to your
daughter, and by allowing him to take on students."
"Um, yes, I believe so," agreed Soun, looking at Ranma.
"So," Ranma started, "what brings you two back here?"
Natsume replied, "We've come to ask Akane to join us in a
world-wide fighting tournament."
Kurumi produced a roll of paper and unrolled it, revealing an
advertising poster. "This is the first year this one's going to be
televised. It's the King of Fighters tournament."
"What's that?" asked Akane. "I've never heard of it before."
"Don't you know anything?" Nabiki said coldly. "I've heard of it,
from one of the participants, actually. I hear that it involves
threesomes fighting each other."
"That's correct," confirmed Natsume. "Kurumi and I are only two.
We wish to represent the Tendo School in the tournament."
"Wow...." was all Akane could say.
"What?!" Ranma cried in surprise. "Why not me?!"
Kurumi turned to the young Saotome. "Quite frankly, we don't
know you, and you're not part of the Tendo School."
Ranma looked about ready to tear his hair out. Tendo School?!
"So, what do you think, Akane?" asked Natsume.
"Well, I don't know," Akane said, unsure of what to do. "I'm
really not as good as either of you two, and Ranma...."
"I think you should accept," Nodoka added. "It is an honor to
represent your school in the world."
Ranma would've been a better choice, Akane told herself. "Oh, I
don't know.... Well, okay, I'll do it."
"SHE GOT PICKED OVER ME?!" Ranma yelled. He got up to his feet
excitedly, pulling at his hair, and ran.
Kurumi's eyes followed Ranma's path curiously. She turned back to
Akane, and asked, "What's the matter with him?"
"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!"
The maddening scream Ranma shouted over the rooftops of Nerima
echoed throughout the morning, traveling far and wide, catching the
attentions of those who didn't want to care.
He stood alone atop the clock tower of Furinkan High, possibly the
highest building nearby, hopefully far enough away from Akane and
her 'sisters.' The nerve of those two sisters, asking AKANE, not
me?! Where the hell did I go wrong?!
"Decided that this was the time to wake the dead, Ranma?"
Ranma ceased screaming into the air, and turned to face the one
who spoke to him. "What do you want, pork-face?"
Ryoga Hibiki stood there, arms folded, his heavy backpack down
on the ground by his legs. "When you're making noises, you're not
hard to find." The Eternally Lost Boy laughed to himself, as if his
lousy direction sense were a private joke. "I was in the area."
"Well, make yourself comfortable," Ranma muttered back. "Do you
remember those two sisters that challenged me and Akane for the
dojo?"
"Yeah," replied Ryoga. "What about them?"
"Well, they're back," replied Ranma. "This time, they asked AKANE
to join them in a threesome for this worldwide, televised martial
arts tournament. They asked AKANE."
"Ha-hah!" laughed the other man. "Looks like you aren't at the
center of the universe after all."
"How could they pick Akane over ME?!" Ranma whined, staring at
his hands critically. "I'M better than Akane!"
"Except they've only seen you fight in your girl form, right?"
Ryoga pointed out. "They don't have a reason to expect that you and
the girl that fought with Akane are the same person."
"I know that!" the young Saotome cried at his friend. Suddenly,
a glazed look washed over Ranma's face, and he snapped his fingers.
"I've got it!"
"What?"
Ranma turned and grabbed Ryoga's shoulders. "I'm going to enter
that King of Fighters myself, and that'll show them!"
"I thought you said only teams of three could enter."
"So glad you volunteered!" Ranma cried. He grabbed Ryoga's arm,
and started to race off.
"W...wait!" Ryoga protested. "Where're we going?!"
"Where else?" Ranma shouted back. "We're getting ourselves a
third member!"
"Not interested," was the reply Mousse gave Ranma and Ryoga.
"Why not?!" Ranma asked, almost complaining.
"I don't have anything to prove to the world," explained the
Chinese acrobat frankly. "Unlike you, I'm very happy where I am,
and I don't intend to leave it."
Ryoga grabbed Ranma's arm. "Let's go, Ranma. He's not going to
help us."
The two men exited the Nekohatten without a word. The morning
dragged on, almost reaching noon, so the lunch crowd was just
starting to trickle in.
"So now what are we going to do?" Ryoga asked.
"How should I know?" Ranma replied defensively. "I mean, I won't
ask Ryu, 'cause he hasn't mastered enough techniques yet." He
imagined that Ryu Kumon was still trying to figure out how to pull
out the nuts from the fire. "I won't ask Pantyhose, 'cause he's a
jerk, or Kuno, either. Who else does that leave?"
"Maybe you're going about this the wrong way," suggested Ryoga.
"You're thinking of the wrong people to ask."
"So, you want me to ask Shampoo?! No way."
Ryoga grabbed the front of Ranma's shirt. He shouted, at the top
of his lungs, "Ask Ukyo, you moron!"
"U...Ukyo?" Ranma repeated in confusion. "Why her?" A GIRL?
"She's your friend; of course she's going to say 'yes!'" Ryoga
explained. "And if Mousse isn't going to help us, who will? Do
YOU know anyone that can hold their own in a fight and still want
to help you?"
"Well, not really," admitted Ranma. He shrugged. "Oh, fine! I'll
bet she's back at the restaurant by now...."
The sizzling of okonomiyaki on the grill filled the silent air
around Ucchan's Okonomiyaki. As the front door was wide-open, the
sizzling could be heard from even down the street, as well as the
mesmerizing, mouth-watering smell of fried batter and seafood! By
the time Ranma and Ryoga had gotten to the front door, both men were
hungry indeed.
Ranma ducked under the store sign, rubbing his stomach and
wetting his lips delightfully. "Mmmm, that smells great!"
Ukyo stood behind the counter as usual, flipping an okonomiyaki
on the grill. She greeted Ranma with a smile. "Hi, Ranchan!"
Ryoga walked in behind. "It's been a while, Ukyo."
"Hey, Ryoga," Ukyo greeted in return. "So, what'll it be?"
"Nothing for me," Ryoga answered.
"It's on the house," the chef added.
"Well, in that case, some fried noodles, I suppose," he replied.
"The usual," was Ranma's answer, taking a seat.
"Tee-hee... one 'usual,' coming up!" announced Ukyo, mixing some
more batter for Ranma's okonomiyaki. That usually meant, 'give me
whatever you feel like.'
As Ukyo set about working her magic, Ryoga jabbed an elbow into
Ranma's gut. He whispered, "Aren't you going to ask?"
"AFTER I eat," Ranma replied.
"What about, Ranchan?" Ukyo asked, having heard Ranma's response.
Quickly, Ranma started sweating in his seat, even though he wasn't
standing over the grill or anything. "Well, I don't know.... By the
way, where's Konatsu?" he said, changing the subject hastily.
"Oh, he went out to the market to buy more food for Snowball,"
answered the okonomiyaki chef, referring to Konatsu's fluffy white
cat. "It's great, since he found that cat; I mean, Konatsu's been
learning a good deal of responsibility out of taking care of that
little rascal." She retrieved a pair of chop sticks, and began
stirring the batter contained in a pitcher, mixing it with the bits
of cuttlefish and scallop.
Ryoga chose that moment to make himself heard. "Ranma has
something interesting to tell you about."
Ranma shot a look at his old rival, but there was no escaping it
now. "Uh, yeah. You know how Akane's joining Natsume and Kurumi in
this King of Fighters thing?"
"Yeah," replied Ukyo. "That's something I figured you'd like."
"Speaking of which, Ranma is forming his own team," Ryoga said.
"Hey, that's great!" replied Ukyo cheerily. To Ranma, she asked,
"So, who's going to be part of your threesome?"
"Well, I...." Ranma started, but faltered, as he felt kind of...
stupid, asking this of Ukyo. Hmm, well, if there's one thing Ryoga
pointed out for me, is that I hadn't thought of asking a girl to
be part of my team at all; maybe that's it! Still, to ask a GIRL?
"Ryoga's on your team, then?" Ukyo guessed.
The Eternally Lost Boy nodded in confirmation.
Ranma still couldn't find the right words. Oh, c'mon! It's not
like you're asking her out on a date or something! "Well, I was
kinda hoping you'd join us," he said finally.
"Really?!" Ukyo exclaimed in surprise. She almost dropped the
pitcher of batter in the process; some of the batter mix spilled
and sizzled on the grill.
"Well, yeah," confirmed her old friend.
"Deal!" Ukyo cried. "I can't believe you've thought of me!"
Ryoga raised an eyebrow, his eyes directed at Ranma. Well, for
one thing, Ranma DIDN'T, Ryoga thought to himself, keeping quiet.
"Ha-ha-ha-hah!" laughed Ukyo, ecstatic. She reached down below
the counter for something, and sprinkled several more meaty bits
into the batter. "This calls for a little extra in my cuttlefish
gem!"
"Well, now that that is settled," began Ryoga, "how do we go
about signing-up for this tournament?"
"Actually, I don't know," admitted Ranma. "Those two sisters have
a poster, maybe we could look at that."
"I thought so," Akane started. "I knew you couldn't stand the idea
that I was going to this tournament and you weren't."
"Then I suppose you DO know me," Ranma replied sarcastically,
reading over Kurumi's poster. "Now, where to sign up...?"
Ukyo had suggested that Ranma go back to get the poster at the
Tendo home, and Ranma did so, at least, after finishing the excellent
cuttlefish okonomiyaki. As soon as Ranma had gotten home Akane had
been following him every step of the way, even when he borrowed the
poster from Kurumi. She had no idea what Ranma was up to, but her
guess had been right; he WAS going to enter the tournament.
"So, who'd you manage to con into helping you?" Akane asked.
"Ah, Ryoga and Ukyo," answered her husband, still reading over
the poster. "Ah-hah! Here it is!"
Akane folded her arms. "My, my! I'd never thought you'd ASK Ukyo
to help you." His choice of Ryoga didn't surprise her one bit; after
all, they somewhat respected each other, after their rivalry thing.
Being such a pig-headed jerk that he is, the old Ranma wouldn't
have ever asked a GIRL for help, not even Ukyo! Maybe he IS maturing.
"Ha-hah!" cried out Ranma, rolling up the poster and lifting it
in one hand as if it were a trophy. "I'll show those sisters yet!"
Then again, maybe not.
"So, you're a traveling martial artist, too?" Natsume said.
"Yep," replied Ryu. "At least, until I came here, that is."
In the back yard of the Tendo house, Ryu Kumon sat cross-legged
next to the pond, staring into a fire he'd built earlier that day.
He gazed into the flames, as if mesmerized, and rested his chin on
his fist, trying to figure out how to get those stupid nuts out of
the fire without getting burned. At least, that's part of the idea,
Ranma had said; one must move at extremely quick speeds to pull off
this training technique. Ryu'd spent a good deal of a month just
trying to figure this one out.
Natsume sat opposite Ryu, across from the flames. She sat on her
knees, yet leaned against her belt pole as a support, though she
hardly needed it. She, too, gazed into the fire.
Kurumi sat at the edge of the pond, on the rocks, watching both
her sister and this Ryu Kumon guy with suspicious eyes. Even when
Ranma came to borrow her poster, the two never stopped looking at
the fire that burned away at the wood.
"I've spent the past few months traveling from dojo to dojo,"
continued Ryu. "And I've been studying under several different
teachers so I can gather enough techniques to rebuild the Kumon
dojo."
"Sounds interesting," Natsume commented.
"Anyway, most of the dojos I've visited had mediocre training
programs, to say the least." Ryu shifted his legs, unwilling to
allow either to fall asleep. "If I were a dojo destroyer, which I
am certainly not, I'd say I'd have racked-up quite a few signs. I
can't start a dojo based on forbidden techniques, but I also can't
do it with shoddy practices, either."
"I assume that choosing to train at the Tendo dojo has worked
out to your satisfaction," Natsume replied.
Ryu nodded. "The difference between this school and others is
that I know firsthand how well the techniques are. It is under
Ranma I train, not Soun Tendo. I practice the Saotome school style."
"It is still the Tendo dojo!" insisted the older of the two
wandering sisters, her belt pole wavering in her hand.
"Well, actually," Kurumi said, "the dojo's Ranma's, remember? It
was his since he married Akane."
Natsume shot a look at her younger sister, as if saying, "Whose
side are you on?!"
Ryu chuckled at the display between the sisters. Waving a finger,
he said, "Heh, heh, you know, I don't believe I've heard your side
of the story. About how you two came to claim the dojo for your
own?"
"The dojo should be passed to its strongest students," Natsume
started. "As we believed we were the daughters of Soun Tendo, we
took it upon ourselves to challenge the right to carry on the dojo."
Now it was Kurumi's turn to beam. What's this 'we' stuff? I
could've cared less for the dojo.
"Eventually, we were challenged and beaten by Akane and another
female student," continued Natsume. "It was then we discovered that
Soun Tendo was not our father, and, in fact, it was the deception of
an old man, founder of the Anything-Goes style, which lead us to
believe such a conclusion in the first place."
"We'd been searching for our father for so long, been wandering
for years, searching, and without a home to call our own," Kurumi
interrupted, "that we took advantage of our friends' kindness."
"Since then, we parted ways with the Tendos," continued the older
sister. "Of course, since we ARE students of the Anything-Goes
style, we promised to return to challenge them once again."
"We've gotten a lot better," added Kurumi. "Still, I think Akane
must have, as well."
Ryu nodded, absorbing all the information and filing it away in
his brain. "But you had to come back now to ask Akane to help you
win this tournament? You obviously didn't come back to challenge."
Natsume nodded. "The side effect is that we discover that the
dojo is no longer up for grabs," she said, sounding a bit
disappointed, to say the least.
"So, are you two still looking for your father?" asked Ryu. He
almost added, "Mine's dead," but thought better of it.
Kurumi shook her head. "We've ran out of leads since we were last
here. Since then, we've pretty much accepted that he might truly
be gone. Of course, part of me still wants to believe that Soun
Tendo is our papa."
The older sister nodded in agreement.
By that time the fire had dimmed, the wood turning to ash as
the conversation between the sisters and Ryu Kumon dragged-on. As
it happened Soun and Genma were sitting at the porch, playing a
game of shogi, either men sometimes staring at the three sitting by
the pond.
"I don't know what to do about those two girls," Soun announced
to his friend, shaking his head sadly. "Somehow, I feel responsible
for them." Absurd though it may be, since they almost drove Akane
away for good, Soun did care.
Genma held a finger under his chin, thinking over his next move.
"If I were you, Tendo, I'd take those two in. Don't you remember
how good they were last time they were here?"
"Saotome!" Soun beamed. "How can I take advantage of those two
like that?!"
"Well, they believed you were their father once, so why don't
you help them along and BE their father?" suggested Genma. "I know
I wouldn't hesitate!"
"And why would that be, dear?"
The attentions of both men turned to Nodoka, standing in the
frame of the doorway.
"Oh, nothing," Genma insisted, turning his attentions back to the
game. Hmmm... one more step, and....
"It would be a nice gesture," noted Nodoka. "However, I would
leave the decision up to the girls, if I were you," she said, aiming
her words at Soun.
"My daughters, or those sisters?" Soun asked innocently, unsure of
whom Nodoka referred to.
"Both," Genma's wife answered, before turning on her heels and
walking back inside, leaving Soun to ponder the situation, and Genma
to make the winning move.
Akane passed-by Nodoka on the way outside. She saw Natsume, Ryu,
and Kurumi, sitting by a fire built by the pond. Passing her father
and father-in-law, Akane waved, then called, "Hey, guys!"
That caught the attentions of the three that sat by the dying
fire. Kurumi moved over a bit, and gestured for Akane to sit down
next to her.
Accepting the seat, Akane announced, "Ranma's entering the
tournament."
"That's great," Ryu said, lacking enthusiasm. What Ranma did was
none of his business, so long as he still got training done.
Natsume turned to Akane. "I should have expected as much; he
seemed to be the right type."
"What's that supposed to mean?" Akane asked.
"Your husband lives for the fight," explained Natsume. "He seems
quite like that girl you paired with in our last battle in
attitude."
"Speaking of which," interrupted Kurumi, "where is that girl?"
"I'll explain that later," Akane assured her. "So, what do you
two think?"
"You do understand," began Natsume, "that, if fate would put
our team and his in opposing paths, then you must forget he's your
husband. Can you do that?"
Akane looked at Natsume nervously, not expecting such a
statement from her. Then again, she does have a point; I can't be
so choosy about how I'd fight in a real battle. Even my husband.
"Sure," she answered, nodding her head slowly.
"I'm just hoping it won't come to that," Kurumi added, patting
her friend on the shoulder sympathetically.
"Me too," agreed Akane.
At that point, the fire's embers were almost dead. At that point,
Ryu grabbed the roasted nuts, then threw them aside. "Well, so much
for today's practice."
The very next day Ranma, Akane, Ryoga, Ukyo, Natsume, and Kurumi
traveled to downtown Tokyo to register themselves for the King of
Fighters tournament at the local tournament center. It was there
they were informed that only the best sixty-four teams will be
allowed to participate in the tournament, which meant that a good
deal of teams would not be fighting this year. The decision was
left up to the sponsors of the tournament who got in and who did
not, but this was primarily based upon reputation of the team in
question and how well they fought in comparison to others. To that
end many of the teams would have to demonstrate their abilities to
one of the sponsors.
Fortunately for the six, they were not required to do so. The
sponsor in charge of the office was given special directions to
allow certain groups to attend by invitation; it just so happened
that Ranma and Natsume were invited to participate. The sponsor
explained that the invitations were to be sent out pending a
correction of address; in Natsume's case, she wouldn't have gotten
one at all, while Ranma's would've been received within the next
week or so.
"It's not terribly uncommon for the Chairman to invite certain
teams," explained the sponsor. "Last year's tournament alone, nine
teams were granted invitations. This year at least twelve teams
have been sent invitations."
"Under what circumstances does a team get invited?" asked Akane
curiously.
The sponsor shrugged. "As this is the first year my company is
participating in the tournament, I can't say, but I believe it
may have to do with precedence. Most of the teams that were invited
last year, for example, were invited again this year. New teams
are invited on a case-by-case basis by the Chairman of the King of
Fighters."
"Who's the Chairman?" asked Ranma.
"Well, now, the King of Fighters is usually never held by the
same Chairman, these days. In the past, it was the exclusive right
of an American businessman, Geese Howard. A couple years ago, the
tournament fell into the hands of one Rugal Bernstein, who also
held it last year. This year, the King of Fighters is being held by
a young Japanese woman, Chizuru Kagura."
"Never heard of any of them," admitted Ranma. How in the world
did I get on this Kagura's invitation list, anyway? We've never
even MET before.
"Anyway," continued the sponsor, holding out a hand for Ranma,
"welcome aboard."
"Uh, thanks," Ranma replied, shaking the man's hand.
"You'll get your notification packets in a couple of weeks, after
the Chairman and the Board sort out the lineup," finished the man.
"In the meantime, you're all set."
"Okay, was it just me, or was that just plain weird?" Ranma asked
as soon as the six left the office building.
"About what?" asked Akane.
"You know, about how me and Natsume got invitations to this King
of Fighters thing," Ranma explained.
"There's no reason for it unless they know how well we can fight
already," Ryoga pointed out. "Which means that either of you have
met this Kagura person before, or something."
"I've met many people in my travels," Natsume said, "but I don't
know of anyone named Kagura."
"Same here," Ranma said.
"Well, for all we know, she might have been around when either of
you were fighting," commended Ukyo, trying to be helpful.
"That's a lot of time," noted Akane.
"Well, whatever," Ranma decided, shrugging. "If it makes it that
much more easier to get into the tournament, then who am I to argue
with that?"
Sitting alone in the Tendo back yard once again was Ryu Kumon,
sitting cross-legged as usual by an open fire. Eyes closed, he
summoned all the power within him, breathing deeply at regular
intervals, taking in the air as if it would grant Ryu the extra
speed necessary to remove those stupid nuts from the fire.
Ryu threw his hands into the fire.
"AAAAAAAAHHHHHH!!!" he yelled into the air, his hands extremely
hot from the heat given off by the nuts he held. As quickly as he
grabbed the nuts they were discarded, forgotten, over his shoulder.
Ryu thrust his hands into the pond; he could almost see steam rising
from the cool water.
"Too hot?"
Ryu's attentions, so fixed were they on his hands, had failed to
notice the one who stood above him now. He looked up, his pained eyes
meeting that of the new arrival. "Is there any special pleasure you
get from my torment?"
"Not in the slightest," Natsume replied coolly. "This technique is
supposed to build speed, right? Looks to me, the way you're going
about it, that it's more of a time-waster than anything."
"Why's that?!" demanded Ryu, his blood boiling.
She bent down to Ryu's level. "You're going about this the wrong
way. You're trying to pull out the nuts without getting burned,
right?"
"Yeah, so?"
"Shouldn't you concentrate less on getting burned and more on
achieving your objective? If you keep the consequences foremost in
your mind, you'll never achieve your goal."
"So you're telling me I should focus on my speed, rather than
avoiding getting burned?" concluded Ryu.
Natsume nodded. "The Anything-Goes style is about the results, not
the consequences."
"Ranma tells me this is actually a Chinese Amazon trick," Ryu
pointed out.
"Nevertheless, he has integrated the practice measure into the
Saotome school," Natsume replied. "If it is his wish, then an
outside school's practice becomes part of his school's Anything-Goes
style."
"The Saotome school has more colorful techniques," Ryu said, the
forbidden Yamasenken techniques foremost in his thoughts. "It is
very adaptable."
"The Tendo school arts practice the Anything-Goes style in its
purest form," Natsume said proudly. "It is beyond me why you would
join a perverted school."
"Hah, you support the Tendo school, yet you are not a part of it!"
Ryu shot back. "I've heard your story; Tendo isn't even your father!"
"Enough of that!" Natsume hissed. "And from what I hear, your
father was foolish enough to use forbidden techniques that destroyed
your Kumon dojo!"
"Why, you...!" Ryu cried. "The only reason your Tendo dojo is so
'pure' is because Tendo is a lousy martial artist! Saotome has
devised his own arts from the parent art, and is more versatile!"
"Hey, you two!" Kurumi cried, suddenly appearing between her older
sister and Ryu. "Why are you fighting?!"
"We were discussing the finer points of the Saotome and Tendo
schools," Natsume explained to her sister, her mood unchanged from
before. She folded her arms, expecting Ryu to back down.
Ryu chuckled to himself, folding his arms, eyes closed. "The
simple problem with your art is that it isn't adaptable to change."
Before Natsume could deck Ryu, Kurumi held her fast. "That's not a
nice thing to say!" protested Kurumi. "Besides, you're just a month
in training, so what do you know about which school is better? In
fact, I've heard that Ranma's been keeping you busy on this little
practice exercise since day one."
"We've been practicing all our lives in the same style," continued
Kurumi. "You have no right to judge us. You're just trying to copy
someone else's techniques so you can use them for your own ends! You
study no particular style; you borrow from every school you can
find, just so you can rebuild your family dojo that was destroyed
by your father's stupidity!"
"You have no right to judge my father!" Ryu yelled back. "And I
don't give a damn how, but I will fulfill his wishes and restore
the Kumon dojo, one way or another!"
He turned his back to the sisters, and returned to the open fire.
Without hesitating, Ryu threw his arms into the midst of the fire.
With incredible speed Ryu plucked out nuts, one after another,
throwing them over his shoulder.
Standing up, Ryu wiped his hands, and turned to the two sisters.
"And, what will YOU do after you've proven yourselves in the King
of Fighters tournament?" With that, Ryu strode past them, and
marched back to the Tendo household, leaving Natsume and Kurumi
behind, alone, with the still-burning fire.
The two sisters merely stared at the fire, considering what Ryu
had just said.
"He's right," Kurumi said, breaking the silence.
"About what?" Natsume asked.
"What ARE we going to do after we fight in the tournament?" Kurumi
said, her eyes filled with worry. "We can't even come back and
challenge Akane for the dojo anymore."
"I don't know," admitted Natsume. "I don't know."
The days since registering for the King of Fighters passed quickly
for Ranma, Ryoga, and Ukyo. Ranma had taken upon himself the task
of trying to get Ukyo to fight better unarmed, ignoring Ryu and
Akane completely. While he didn't doubt that the Board would allow
Ukyo to use her spatulas, Ranma didn't want his old friend to get
caught in a situation where she might be disarmed. Ryoga, in the
meantime, helped Ranma get back into proper fighting shape (which
took almost no time at all).
Ryu Kumon, time and again, would practice in the back yard at the
open fire, trying his best to move even faster. That last time when
he was angry with Natsume and Kurumi he'd had to dress several
minor burns on his hands, and thus had to hide them in gloves until
they healed. The pain the fire caused his hands, however, was
negligible, compared to the biting words of the sisters. Each and
every day Ryu would remove his gloves only to pick at the nuts in
the fire, then return them to his hands, never revealing the wounds.
Natsume and Kurumi, meanwhile, would train with Akane. Akane had
no idea what bothered the two sisters, but decided it was probably
none of her business anyway, as it was between the two to settle.
If they asked for her advice, Akane had no doubt that she would
help, but only then; there was no problem otherwise. What Akane
didn't know was that, for the second time in their lives, Natsume
and Kurumi were at a loss of direction; the first time had been
when they realized that they could never meet their father. This
time, however, the two had no idea what they would do after fighting
in the tournament.
Soun's nights were haunted with the decision that hung in his
head. He had no idea what his wife would've said about this; he had
no idea how his beloved daughters would react to having adopted
sisters; he had no idea what Natsume and Kurumi would think! Genma's
wife had said that the decision was up to the girls, his daughters
and the two guests. It scared him, the possibility that his three
daughters might take the suggestion the wrong way, and decide to
hate him or something. Well, Kasumi couldn't hate anybody, but you
never know....
It was on the third day since the registration that the phantom
appeared one night at Ucchan's. He glided slowly in the familiar
hallways of the restaurant and apartment of the one named Ukyo
Kuonji, who, as of late, was of particular interest to the phantom.
He had no intention of disturbing her sleep, however; the one who
made orders insisted that he check to make sure that the taint was
still in place.
He slid into Ukyo's room, passing through the wall effortlessly.
She slept peacefully in her futon, blankets draped over her delicate
form, her head turned away from the phantom. Her hair flowed loosely
all over her pillow, free from any restraint such as ribbons or
bows, which made her, in the phantom's eyes, all the more beautiful.
The phantom shook his head. No, now wasn't the time to think of
what might have been; there was work to be done!
He simply stood there for several silent moments. He concentrated
on Ukyo's aura, trying to detect the faintest of traces of the taint.
He expected traces of dark chi, chi that radiated violet, violet as
evil itself. But, disappointingly, he could find none.
Where had it gone?! No way the taint could have been banished!
The one who called the shots would be displeased, to say the least,
but this was not great loss. The Reunion would continue, with or
without the girl; she was, after all, a human.
Only those of the Orochi deserved to live.
With that, the silent phantom of Warmage, former leader of the Cult
of Orochi, passed through the walls, leaving the okonomiyaki
restaurant behind, to report to his masters. There was much work
to be done, and this was but a small part of a larger picture.
"Well, this is an interesting lineup," commented Ranma, looking
over the contents of the information packet from the King of Fighters
tournament sponsors.
It was a week since Ranma and company had been to the registration
center, so it was a bit of a surprise that the information was in
already. Well, can't argue with fast service. All three members of
Team Ranma, as they styled themselves, sat alone in the empty dining
room of Ucchan's.
"It looks like we're going to be pitted against guys that call
themselves the 'Korea Team,'" noted Ukyo, her finger pointing to
the area of the flowchart where her team lay.
"Not to mention we've got tickets to Korea, too," Ryoga added,
holding up three airplane tickets. "We're supposed to fight them in
their own turf, I suppose."
"What I think is interesting," Ukyo began, "is that we've been
pitted against one of the invitation teams. That can only mean that
we're definitely going up against someone good."
"Big deal," decided Ranma. "We're invited, too. It doesn't mean
that they're any better than us."
"No, just that they're just as good as us," Ryoga pointed out.
"Why do you say that?" asked Ranma.
"Why would the Chairman want to invite a team that didn't stand a
chance in the tournament?" answered Ryoga. "They wouldn't."
Ukyo continued to scan the flowchart, running her finger down entry
after entry, until coming to a stop on the column opposite Ranma's
in the chart. "Here it is! It looks to me like we're going to get a
break. Natsume's team won't have a chance to fight us unless we both
make it to the sixth round."
"At least that's good news," admitted Ranma. He had no intention
of fighting Akane in an actual tournament. He was certain his wife
shared the same feelings.
"Okay, so when is it that we're supposed to fly down to Korea?"
asked Ukyo.
"Well, later this week, I guess," guessed Ryoga. "We ARE supposed
to be there by Saturday, when the fight starts."
"Okay, then, now I'm going to have to figure out what I'm going
to pack," announced Ukyo. She counted her list off her left fingers.
"bandoleer, my spatulas, fans, maybe some of my cooking supplies.
You never know when a good business opportunity comes up."
"Well, I'm just taking everything that's on my back," Ryoga
decided, indicating his usual traveling backpack.
"Humph, why bother to take anything?" shrugged Ranma. "I'm just
taking the clothes on my back."
"Good!" Ukyo replied cheerily. "Then you can help me with my
cooking supplies...."
"So, where's this place we're supposed to go?" asked Kurumi.
"Nowhere, really," replied Akane. "Our opponents are coming here,
to Japan, to fight us. We're supposed to fight them this Saturday
down at the amphitheater."
Natsume, Akane, and Kurumi sat by themselves in the middle of the
empty Tendo dojo, looking over the same information packet that Ranma
had received, only that Team Tendo, as they styled themselves, got
no tickets to Korea.
"Some guy's calling themselves the 'Mad Gears,'" Natsume said. "I
don't believe they will be a problem, if their name is any indication
of their ability."
"No one I know would call themselves that," admitted Akane. Maybe
these guys really WERE bad. Then again, you never knew until the
fight.
"I'm already waiting for the battle to be joined!" announced
Natsume, spinning her belt pole in one arm.
Kurumi stared at her older sister with a worried look, then to
Akane. "Akane, can I talk to you for a moment?"
"Sure," replied Akane.
Kurumi spared another look at Natsume. "Someplace else?"
Akane lead Kurumi out of the dojo. Both girls stood on the deck
that connected the Tendo dojo to the house. Akane shut the dojo door
behind her, leaving Natsume to her self-practice.
She asked, "What's up?"
"It's about me and Natsume," Kurumi began. "She doesn't want to
admit it, but we've found that we don't have anywhere to go after we
finish this tournament."
"You can't look for your father anymore?" guessed Akane.
Kurumi nodded sadly. "She doesn't want to admit it, but Natsume
knows that we won't be able to find him anymore, not without any more
leads. For all we know, he's dead, and our search was in vain."
"So, what you're telling me is, that you two have lost your
direction?" concluded the youngest Tendo sister.
"I don't know what we'll do, and neither does she," Kurumi
finished, now at the verge of tears. "What's going to happen to us?"
"Don't worry, we'll think of something," assured Akane, holding
Kurumi's hand sympathetically.
After having parted company with Kurumi, Akane walked through
the house, from one end to the other, to the back porch, where her
father and Mr. Saotome sat, playing shogi, as usual. Neither of
the two men paid any attention to Akane, having tuned-out the rest
of the world. Beyond, by the pond, as usual, was Ryu Kumon and his
fire.
The only thing that wasn't so usual this time was what Akane had
in mind.
"Father, can I speak to you for a moment?" asked Akane, breaking
all silence in the area.
Soun Tendo's attentions were broken away from the shogi game in an
instant. His head turned to meet his daughter's eyes. "Yes?"
"It's about Natsume and Kurumi," started Akane. "I was
thinking...."
"Actually, your father's being a bit indecisive right now,"
interrupted Genma. "If I were him, I'd adopt those two girls on the
spot."
"Saotome!" Soun cried at his friend. "Why'd you bring that up?!"
"Adoption?" Akane whispered. "Dad, are you serious?"
Soun started to sweat. "I... I don't know!" he replied honestly.
"Yep, that would be a wonderful idea," ranted Genma.
"Dad?!" Akane cried, trying to get her father to talk to her.
It was then that Soun Tendo burst into tears. "I can't bear to
make such a decision! I mean, I think it's wonderful if we could look
after them, but what would your sisters say?!"
Genma leaned over to whisper to Akane. "My wife had a talk with
him, and told him that it was all up to you girls to decide."
"Us?!" Akane hadn't absorbed the entirety of the situation yet.
"I'm sure you'll come to a reasonable solution," insisted Genma.
Already, memories of back-rubs entered his mind.
Akane had no idea what to think. Turning on her heels, she marched
back inside, and headed straight for the kitchen.
Kasumi, the eldest of the three Tendo sisters, was there, as usual,
busy preparing dinner. Noticing Akane's entrance, she turned her
attentions from the cutting board toward her sister.
"Hi, Akane!" Kasumi greeted cheerily.
"You didn't happen to hear what Father was thinking about doing,
did you?" asked Akane.
"Why, what do you mean?" asked Kasumi.
Akane took a deep breath, then said, "He thinks we can do a lot of
good by adopting Natsume and Kurumi."
"Oh," was all Kasumi could say in her shock.
"He wants US to decide for him!" continued Akane. "The problem is,
I don't know what I think about the arrangement, either! I mean, we
don't exactly have a lot of money to support two MORE mouths."
"Still, they don't have any place else to go," Kasumi pointed out.
"I know! And even still, what would those sisters say?!"
"Maybe you should ask them," suggested the older sister.
"I don't think we should tell them until we figure out how WE
feel about this first," replied the younger sister.
"Tell who what?" Nabiki asked, entering the kitchen.
Quickly, Akane explained the situation at hand to Nabiki in quick
detail, making sure to include the part about who would make the
decision.
"Haven't we got enough freeloaders already?" complained the middle
Tendo sister coldly. "The Saotomes are family now, yet they still
don't do anything like work." Well, Mr. Saotome sometimes worked
down at Dr. Tofu's, but not often, and not enough to make much of a
difference in the house's pool of wealth. "Then there's Ryu Kumon,
Happosai, and those two sisters. Why can't we get a stray that can
make some money?!"
"Actually, since Ukyo was adopted into the Saotome family," began
Kasumi, "and she runs her own restaurant, shouldn't that count for
something?"
Nabiki shook her head. "She lives at her own restaurant, pays her
own expenses, and doesn't live here, so we can't get money from her.
Face it, girls, my decision will be based primarily due to finances
alone, not any sort of compassion, so unless someone leaves this
place or gets a job, I'm not saying 'yes.'" She reached over to the
cutting board on the counter, and plucked a vegetable with her
fingers. Popping it into her mouth, she said, "Now, if that's all
you're going to trouble me with, I've got exams to cram for."
With that, Nabiki turned heels and walked out.
"She has a point, you know," noted Kasumi.
"What's that?" asked Akane.
"Maybe it's time some of us got jobs to help pay for our family's
expenses," suggested Kasumi. "Maybe I should get a job."
"Kasumi!" complained Akane. "You can't leave!"
"Mrs. Saotome could take care of the house, if she's willing,"
continued the older sister. "It shouldn't do for a home to have two
housekeepers around, after all."
"Even if you do get a job, that still couldn't help us convince
Nabiki to agree," Akane said. She sighed. "Maybe I should get a job,
too."
"I wouldn't go looking for a job right now if I were you, Akane,"
replied Kasumi. "You do have other obligations right now."
Akane nodded. "Yeah, the tournament."
"And we can't ask Nabiki to get a job," continued Kasumi, "since
she needs to study for the college entrance examinations. Maybe we
can get Mr. Saotome to work more often...."
Violent fighting to come again!
A new year of blood and glory!
They fight for honor and the right to be called the best in the
world! Only the strongest will survive....
In....
The King of Fighters '96!
* * * * *
Princes of the Universe (Queen)
Here we are, born to be kings,
We're the princes of the universe.
Here we belong, fighting to survive
In a world with the darkest powers.
And here we are, we're the princes of the universe
Here we belong, fighting for survival
We've come to be the rulers of your world.
I am immortal, I have inside me blood of kings.
I have no rival, no man can be my equal
Take me to the future of your world.
* * * * *
The gates to the courtyard opened for Ranma, Ryoga, and Ukyo, the
arena for their first combat in the King of Fighters tournament.
High up on the walls, the audience cheered, amidst banners and flags,
logos for the King of Fighters, and Korean spectators. A constant
stream of water flowed from the opposite end of the courtyard,
probably a broken pipe or something, Ranma guessed.
The day was Saturday, and would be the first day of the televised
King of Fighters '96 tournament. Earlier that day, Ranma guessed,
Natsume, Kurumi, and Akane fought their opponents, as Japan was
being televised first among the day's lineup, then progressing
westward across the world, following the sun. Each battle lasted no
longer than an hour, and were given no longer than an hour, to
finish. Ranma had paid no attention to how well Akane's team had
fared, but, from what he gathered, they had beaten their American
opponents. And, if rumors were true, the team completed a straight
victory; that is, the first team member, Natsume, managed to defeat
all three members of the opposing team, proving that she was better
than before, or the opposing team really stinked.
Being the third televised battle of the day (the second fight
took place with a team in Osaka), Ranma hoped to make an impression
on the world how well Team Ranma would do!
Already standing in the courtyard were the three members of Team
Korea, the team of the tae kwon do champion, Kim, and his two
criminal students, Chang, a large, burly man carrying a ball-and-
chain, which looked as it came straight from prison, and Choi, a
small man wearing a strange hat and sunglasses, armed with two
wrist razors, styling himself as the Korean 'Jack the Ripper.' All
three wore the white with blue trim gi of Kim's dojo.
Victory would be held by the team who had more members standing
by the end of the hour, or if all three of the opposing team's
members were beaten. In the cases of a tie, judges on hand will
decide which team fared better in battle, and award victory to them.
Team members cannot switch-off, as the King of Fighters was an
endurance battle as much as it was a team effort. Therefore, teams
had to choose the order of fighting very carefully to match their
opponents.
Ryoga entered only with his heavy umbrella in his hands, almost
intending on using it in battle. He had left his heavy backpack
back at the hotel, not wishing to fight with extra encumbrance
when it was not necessary.
Ukyo wore her bandoleer as usual, but she didn't wear her chef
shirt as she usually did; instead, she dressed with a long, baggy-
sleeved, white shirt, and red baggy pants, of a sort similar to
Shinto dress. Draped over her shoulders was a dark sea-blue mantle,
the sleeves dangling freely at Ukyo's sides. The only reason Ranma
could think of that Ukyo would fight that way was because she was
concealing hidden weapons-- two folded fans-- up her sleeves, both
easily-accessible to the hands by a mere flick of the wrist.
Ranma turned to his teammates. "Okay, who wants to go first?"
"Actually," Ukyo said, "I think I should go last."
"I don't mind going first," Ryoga replied.
"Good, then it's settled," concluded Ranma. "Okay, Ryoga, you're
up first."
"I would've thought that you wanted to fight first," Ryoga said.
Ranma shrugged. "Hey, I want to see what these guys can do,
first. After all, we only get one shot at this."
"Good!" Ukyo said, tapping her knuckles on Ranma's head playfully.
"Looks like you're listening to me, after all!"
The young Saotome flinched when Ukyo mentioned 'listening,' as he
recalled that was what Seiryu (and Ukyo) said was his problem in the
first place.
"You never listen," they had said.
Ryoga stepped forward, and his opponent, the large ball-and-chain
man, did likewise. The Eternally Lost Boy propped his heavy umbrella
to his leg, using both hands to reach to the back of his head and
tighten his bandanna.
Then the announcer shouted over speakers: "Ryoga versus Chang!"
At the sound of his name, Chang merely yawned.
Ryoga opened and closed his umbrella, as if shaking-off water that
clung to its surface.
"Round one.... Ready... GO!"
Chang spun the ball-and-chain overhead, then threw it at Ryoga.
Ryoga dodged, ducking under the wild swing of the prison weight. He
rolled forward, taking advantage of Chang's exposed body, and
attacked with a quick foot sweep, throwing the burly Korean fighter
off his feet.
The rolling recovery the large Korean made surprised Ryoga, who
didn't expect such speed in such a large man. Chang threw himself
back onto his feet, swinging his iron ball behind him, as if ready
to throw the heavy ball at his opponent.
In fact, Ryoga had little time to react when the chained iron ball
headed his direction with full momentum. The Eternally Lost Boy
stood fast, standing as if he were a statue, and pointed his finger
outforth before his body.
"Bakusai Tenketsu!"
Dust, shards of iron, flew from Ryoga's position, screening him
from view of the spectators and combatants alike. Chang doubled over
forward, the heavy iron ball having been relieved of his control,
his forward momentum throwing him.
Ryoga Hibiki stood amidst shards of iron, his finger still
outstretched, seemingly unharmed. He stood over Chang's fallen form
ominously.
He picked up his heavy umbrella. "Time to finish this!"
"Ryoga versus Choi!"
The short-lived battle between Ryoga and Chang over, Ryoga now
faced the second of the Korea Team: a short man, standing no higher
than Chang's waist, Ryoga guessed, wearing two wrist razors, beady
sunglasses, and a dusty-brown hat. The little man named Choi jumped
into the fray, tapping his posterior at his opponent's direction
and making faces.
"Round Two.... Ready... GO!"
"Slice!" cried Choi, throwing himself, claws-first, at Ryoga.
In response, Ryoga opened his umbrella to block the claw attack.
To his surprise, however, Choi's aerial path stopped right in front
of the opened umbrella. He then changed directions, and flew
straight up, crying "Whhheeeee!!"
"What the...?" Ryoga shouted, just before Choi changed his
direction once again, this time straight at him.
Ryoga tossed the umbrella into the air toward Choi, the spinning
projectile connecting with Choi's body, and knocking the little man
out of the sky. The umbrella was knocked wide, well out of Ryoga's
reach.
Choi landed on his feet, licking his claws lovingly. "Ya-hah!"
The little Korean man's head watched Ryoga's path in the sky, in
an attempt to do a jump-in attack.
Spinning in place, claws outstretched, Choi created a whirlwind
force, and began to rise into the air.
Too late, Ryoga saw the attack come, and his body ached in pain as
the spinning claws slashed and ripped into him. He fell, clothes
torn, several slicing wounds on his body.
Choi landed back on his two feet. "Hehehehe... kill!"
"I'm not through yet!" Ryoga shouted defiantly. Young Hibiki let
his body slide across the stone surface of the arena, catching Choi
in a sliding kick attack.
He came to a sudden stop just as he approached the stream of cool
water. "Aaaaaayyyyy!!!" Ryoga screamed, throwing himself backward.
Choi saw the opening, and took advantage of it. "Die!" he cried,
once again throwing himself claws-first. The little man's claw weapons
raked Ryoga's chest furiously, mercilessly, digging below clothes to
the skin.
The second member of the Korea Team, satisfied of his victory,
leaped off Ryoga's fallen form and spun in place. "Cut, cut, gorge,
gorge! A-hahahahaha!"
Ryoga, out of energy, whispered, "I... lost!"
The announcer cried, "Winner is Choi!"
After Ryoga was properly-bandaged by the medics on-hand, it was
now Ranma's turn to take on the short Korean 'Jack the Ripper.'
"Don't worry about a thing," he assured Ryoga, "this one's mine!"
And so, the match was announced: "Ranma versus Choi!"
Ranma shouted, "Hey, Shortie! Now that I've had the chance to
watch you, your techniques mean nothing to me!"
Choi laughed in return. "Die, die, die!"
"Round three.... Ready, GO!"
Ranma stepped to the side as Choi threw himself at his opponent,
the same manner as he had with Ryoga. The little Korean man stopped
where Ranma used to be, reorienting himself to change directions.
It was then Ranma made his move. His high kick planted itself into
Choi's face, throwing his dusty hat into the air, and the man soon
after. The young Saotome followed-up with several more left-right
high kicks, as if juggling Choi in the air with his feet.
With one last kick Ranma sent the Korean Jack the Ripper flying
high up into the air. Placing himself into a hand-stand, Ranma
tucked his knees to his chest, watching and waiting for Choi's
descending path.
Choi tumbled downward helplessly, unable to control his aerial
path now. Everything went black as soon as Ranma released his double
kick.
Ranma jumped back to his feet, Choi landing not far away. He
stood upright, and turned to the audience, and bowed.
"K.O.!" cried the announcer. "Winner is Ranma!"
Kim Kaphwan rolled-up the sleeves to his gi as he took his position
opposite that Ranma. With a loud "Let's go!" the tae kwon do champion
moved into an offensive stance.
"Ranma versus Kim!"
Ranma yawned, then settled into his own stance. Carefully, his eyes
focused on studying his enemy.
"Round four.... Ready... GO!"
Both Kim and Ranma circled each other, each in their respective
stances, studying each other, gauging each others' abilities, waiting
for the other to make the first move.
This guy looks like he knows his stuff, Ranma thought. Well, it's
your move, pal.
Kim smiled, as if he had heard Ranma's thought. "Come on and
fight!" taunted the Korean. "Or, are you really afraid of losing?"
"Ha!" spat Ranma. "I'll make you eat those words!"
With a running start, Ranma leaped up into the air. At the peak of
his jump, he sharply-angled his leg downward toward Kim.
Kim, anticipating the attack, leaped upward, throwing a near-
vertical kick that connected with Ranma's midsection, bypassing
Ranma's own leg. But the tae kwon do master wasn't through there; as
the young Saotome began his fall, Kim's vertical leg sliced the air
downward, catching Ranma in yet another blow.
The ground never felt so cruel to Ranma in his life. He rubbed his
cheeks, wiping away the dirt, and getting to his feet.
This guy's pretty fast, noted Ranma, but I'm faster!
Kim landed on his feet, then launched into a sliding kick. Ranma,
seeking to take the advantage away from the Korean master, side-
stepped from the path of the kick. Unexpectedly, however, Kim stopped
himself in mid-slide, leaping backward. Almost too fast to see, the
tae kwon do master leaped at Ranma again with another downward-
slicing kick.
Ranma barely had enough time to roll backward, narrowly-avoiding
the sneaky attack.
Tae kwon do focused its energies into powerful kicks, Ranma told
himself, dodging kick after kick thrown by his opponent. There's no
way I'll be able to get him to punch or something, as he'd favor the
kick instead. Especially since the leg has the longer reach. But,
isn't there something that has a longer reach than the leg?
YES!
Just before Kim's next spinning kick could connect, Ranma threw
his arms forward, palms outward, and cried, "Moko Takabisha!"
A ball of pure chi energy leaped from Ranma's palms, shooting
out as if the Saotome martial artist's hands were a cannon. The bolt
tore through the sky, just in time to envelope Kim's outstretched
leg. Impact threw the Korean martial artist backward.
Kim threw himself back onto his feet quickly, careful not to
put too much weight into the leg that got attacked. "Oh, so you
CAN fight!" he taunted.
Ranma snorted. "You're going down!"
He ducked as Kim's next kick flew overhead. Taking advantage of
the momentary opening, Ranma took the opportunity to sweep his leg
against the single leg the Korean stood on. Caught by surprise, Kim
let out a yelp as his face met the stone ground.
Pressing his advantage, Ranma threw his elbow down onto Kim's
fallen body. But, what he didn't expect was for Kim to move out of
the way in time, therefore Ranma's elbow greeted the stone instead.
Kim threw himself back to his feet, and retreated several steps
back while Ranma stood up. Breathing heavily, he said, "I must
admit, you're probably the best I've fought since the Bogard
brothers."
"Don't know who you're talking about," admitted Ranma, "but it's
only natural."
"Pompous!" snorted Kim. Spreading his legs apart, bending his
knees, Kim's eyes shut, his arms flexing. He rumbled in place,
gathering chi by will alone.
Oh shit! Ranma shouted in his mind, as Kim finished his chi-
building. He's going for something really major here....
A brilliant flash of light centered at Kim's closed right fist
was the signal of the attack. The Korean tae kwon do master leaped
at Ranma, bloodlust in his eyes.
Ranma stood his ground, confident that he would be able to counter
the next attack. At the last moment, the young Saotome side-stepped
Kim's desperate attack, then wheeled around into position.
Throwing his right fist into the air, Ranma shouted, "Hiryu Shoten
Ha!"
Kim's fatal mistake in this battle was in gathering extra hot chi
necessary for Ranma to pull off his devastating, final attack. The
more chi, the better. The more powerful the opponent, the better.
The more cool Ranma remained, the better.
None of that mattered to Kim as he was thrown skyward by the
resultant whirlwind.
"Announcing the winners...."
Ryoga lifted his fists into the air in triumph.
Ukyo opened a pair of fans in her hands, and crossed her arms,
then bowed.
Ranma folded his arms, and laughed. To the defeated Team Korea, he
said, "Hey, that was pretty good. But not good enough! I AM the
best!"
The Monday after the first Saturday of the tournament Akane
received a letter from Ranma. Judging from the return address on
the envelope, he had written from Korea. She had no idea what her
husband would write about, but she did know that Ranma's team had
won; after all, the event was televised live.
Standing alone on the back porch, she read to herself: "Dear
Akane... off to Hong Kong to challenge some all-girls team... can't
afford to call... be back soon."
Akane held the note to her chest, and sighed. Unlike Ranma's team,
Natsume's team didn't have very far to go; this time, the Tendo Team
would take their fight to Osaka, where another Japanese team awaited
battle.
She recalled the last battle the team took part in; Natsume alone
managed to defeat all three members of the opposing team, who
appeared to have been one of the lucky-few teams to make the
sixty-four team limit cut; for all Akane knew, the team they fought
WAS the sixty-fourth.
"Is that from Ranma?" someone asked from behind Akane.
Akane jumped, and turned around to meet with Kurumi's eyes. "Oh,
hi Kurumi! Don't scare me like that!"
"I'm sorry," Kurumi apologized. "It's nice getting letters, isn't
it?"
"Oh, yeah," agreed Akane. "Of course, I don't get them all the
time, either, so it's really a pleasant surprise."
"I've never gotten a letter in my life," admitted Kurumi. "What's
it like?"
Oh yeah, Akane told herself, nodding in understanding. She never
had a home to send letters to....
"Well," she explained, "it's like getting news from someone you
never have seen for a while. In this case, just a week."
Kurumi nodded thoughtfully. "Akane?"
"What?"
The younger of the two traveling sisters seemed ready to hold
back on what she was going to say, but somehow Kurumi summoned up
the courage to speak. "Natsume... acts strangely around that Ryu
Kumon guy; did you notice that?"
"Well, not really," admitted Akane. "How so?"
"They seem to argue a lot," explained Kurumi. "In fact, even when
Ryu gets Sister worked-up she can't be totally mad at him, not for
very long. In fact, I find it strange that she even talks to him
every day at all."
Akane chuckled. She whispered into Kurumi's ear, "It sounds like
your sister likes him."
"You're kidding!" was all the young girl could reply.
"I think Ryu likes her, too," continued Akane. "I mean, he seems
to like talking to her as much as you describe Natsume liked talking
to him."
"Th...they can't like each other!" protested Kurumi. "I mean, they
argue all the time! Ryu's a smart-aleck copycatting sponge; how can
Natsume like him? How CAN they like each other?!"
"Don't they? I mean, Ranma and I get into arguments, too. Maybe
your sister and Ryu like being argumentative."
Akane placed a sympathetic hand on Kurumi's shoulder. "Don't worry
about it, they'll be fine."
Both girls' eyes turned to gaze out into the back yard, where, as
usual, Natsume and Ryu sat by the pond and the open fire. Arguing,
as usual.
"What I don't understand," Natsume began, "is why you've started
to wear those silly gloves! There's no way they can help you with
your training!"
"And why should I be listening to you?!" countered Ryu. "In fact,
why are you even bothering me in the middle of my training? I could
have been done days ago, had it not been for you!"
"It's not MY fault you're too slow!" Natsume replied hotly. "Take
some advice and take the kid's gloves off!"
"Over my dead body you will!" threatened Ryu. He still didn't want
anyone to see the dressed burns on his hands from trying to pull off
this training technique; Ryu was too proud for sympathy.
Natsume threw herself over the open fire and tackled Ryu. "Take
off the gloves!"
Rolling away from the fire, the two wrestled in the grass of the
Tendo back yard. But it wasn't long before Natsume emerged with the
advantage, grabbing hold of Ryu's wrists. With a violent jerk, she
tore off Ryu's gloves.
"Oh... my," Natsume whispered.
The hands of Ryu Kumon were riddled with bandages, dressed burn
wounds from overexposure to fire. He... HAS been training. And
failing miserably, if these hands hold the truth.
Ryu took the gloves out of Natsume's hands. "Are you HAPPY?"
Natsume held her balled fist to her chin thoughtfully. "You're...
better than I thought. You're either very brave, or very stupid."
"Ha!" laughed Ryu. Putting his gloves back on, he tackled Natsume,
sending her sprawling on the lawn on her back. "I can be both!"
"I'll bet that's what you've always wanted!" Natsume hissed back
in a whisper.
Violently Ryu thrust his lips onto Natsume's, releasing his pin
to wrap his arms around the girl. Natsume, ceasing to struggle, did
likewise. Both allowed their attentions to focus on each other,
tuning-out the outside world altogether.
And, standing back at the porch, Akane and Kurumi both came to the
conclusion that it was time to look away.
"When I get a boyfriend," Kurumi decided, "I hope he doesn't act so
difficult, like that Ryu guy!"
Nodoka stood alone in the kitchen, by the counter, chopping more
vegetables on the cutting board when Akane stepped in.
"Hi," greeted Akane.
"Hello, Akane," greeted Nodoka, sending a smile over her shoulder.
As usual, Akane almost thought this was Kasumi she was talking to,
but since she found a job at the day care center the older Tendo
spent her mornings and afternoons away from the house. Kasumi was
really serious about getting a job, Akane decided. Still, coming
home and missing the usual face made the younger girl feel a bit
empty. She did miss seeing Kasumi, but not as much as seeing Ranma.
"So, what's for dinner this time?" asked Akane.
"I'm preparing some sukiyaki," answered Akane's mother-in-law.
She pointed to a pot that heated on the stove. "Could you watch the
sauce for me, dear?"
"Sure," answered Akane.
Taking her position at the stove, Akane peered at the contents of
the pot: the sauce that gave the sukiyaki its taste.
Turning to her mother-in-law, she asked, "What do you think about
Natsume and Kurumi, Mother?"
"They seem like nice people," Nodoka replied diplomatically,
setting-aside another stack of chopped vegetables on a nearby plate.
"They are practitioners of the Tendo art, aren't they?"
"Actually, it's the Anything-Goes style," corrected Akane, "and
if anyone trained them, it's the old geezer."
Nodoka set down her knife and waved a finger at Akane. "Now, that's
no way to talk about your elders."
"Yeah, I'm sorry," apologized Akane. Still, old Happosai still is
a dirty old man; why can't Mother see it?
"Your father believes the girls may be his responsibility, did you
know that?" continued Nodoka. Not waiting for a response, she said,
"I think your father feels this way simply because he feels sorry
for them."
"Well, so do I."
"Since this is not my house, it is not my decision. Of course,
since we are all family, it is a concern of mine. Now, should we be
obligated to take care of the students of our family's art?"
"Why not? We're letting Ryu stay with us."
"His cause is noble," Nodoka pointed out. "By training with Ranma
Ryu is working to rebuild his family's dojo, as his father wished.
Why should we stand in the way of such an honorable pursuit? The two
girls, on the other hand, have everything to gain and nothing to lose
by staying with us; they do not, after all, have legitimate reason to
remain here."
"That depends on your point of view, Mother," Akane replied. "The
old... I mean, Master Happosai, did take it upon himself to look
after Natsume and Kurumi." Even if he didn't REALLY help them out, of
course. "He guided them our way so that we Tendos may take care of
them." Well, THAT was a bit of a stretch, but it IS the truth, too.
"The master may not be the head of the household, but he is still
the master."
Nodoka nodded. "I see.... So, what you're trying to tell me is that
we should assume responsibility for Natsume and Kurumi because it is
the will of the master? Hmmm...." The Saotome woman rest her chin on
her raised fist, pondering over Akane's words.
Finally, she answered, "When you put it that way, there IS good
reason why your father wants to responsibility for them. Ukyo did
say that honor wasn't defined by any one person."
Hmmm, made a lasting impression on Mother, Ukyo? Akane thought.
She walked to Akane's side by the stove, and wrapped one arm around
the girl's back. "I'm so glad to have you in the family, Akane. It's
wonderful to have such honor-minded children in this family."
"Yeah, thanks," Akane managed to say. Now, if only Nabiki would be
easier to satisfy.
* * * * *
Dare (Stan Bush)
Sometimes when your hopes have all been shattered
And there's nowhere to turn
You wonder how you keep going
Think of all the things that really mattered
And the chances you've earned
The fire in your heart is growing
You can fly, if you try leaving the past behind
Heaven only knows what you might find
Dare - dare to believe you can survive
The power is there at your command
Dare - dare to keep all of your dreams alive
It's time to take a stand
And you can win, if you dare
Dare - dare to believe you can survive
You hold the future in your hand
Dare - dare to keep all of your dreams alive
The power is there at your command
Dare - dare to keep all your love alive
Dare to be all you can be
Dare - 'cause there is a place where dreams survive
And it's calling you on to victory
* * * * *
That Saturday Natsume, Kurumi, and Akane stepped onto the stage
platform that would serve as the battle arena against the self-
proclaimed Team Japan, otherwise known as the Kusanagi Team, lead by
one Kyo Kusanagi, who, Akane noted, bore the same name as the thunder
kami's legendary sword. Susano-O was merely a legend; however, in
the wake of coming face-to-face with Yamata no Orochi, Akane wondered
if this Kyo had some relation to the ancient myth.
The platform was surrounded on all sides by a metal railing,
distancing those on the platform to the streets below. Off in the
distance, Akane could make out several King of Fighters banners, two
big screen monitors displaying the event for people unable to fit at
the raised stage area, and a freeway in the distance, jammed with
traffic as usual. Dominating the landscape was the tall SNK building,
one of the sponsors of the tournament.
Osaka looked like any other city, Akane decided, only that the
people talked like Ukyo. The western Kansai region of the island
was known for being particular in artistic pursuits; perhaps it is
talented people like Ukyo that give these places such a reputation.
Golly, Akane, why does everything here remind you of Ukyo?
For a moment, Akane wondered what her friend was doing right now.
Gathered at the opposing end of the platform were several men and
women dressed in school uniforms, possessing rather dark colors
against white shirts. Near the group were three men, set apart from
the others; one, Kyo Kusanagi, wore a school uniform, yet wore a pair
of gloves with the pattern of the sun on them. As soon as he turned
his back, Akane could make out the same sun pattern on the back of
his shirt.
The second man, Benimaru Nikaido, a blonde with his hair standing
up vertically, dressed in tight jeans and a black tank-top, as if he
were showing-off his body to the girls present. From his appearance,
Akane guessed that this one was vain.
The third man, Goro Daimon, towered over his two companions, and,
from his dress (or lack thereof, as he wore no shirt) Akane determined
that this one was a judo practitioner. Hmm, better watch out for that
one, I suppose.
Natsume leaned against the railing, adjusting the belts on her pole,
as if such actions would give her an edge in combat. The eggbeater-
shaped weapon hardly looked deadly, but in Natsume's hands, it was
truly a weapon.
Akane walked to her side, and leaned against the railing as well.
"So, what do you think of those three?" asked Akane, indicating
the members of Team Japan.
"They seem to be confident in their abilities," answered Natsume.
"As am I!"
"Well, that much is obvious, but what do you think about their
abilities?" pressed Akane. "These might be the ones that beat us!"
"Your lack of confidence affirms caution," Natsume replied. "However,
you are right; any one of our opponents can defeat us. If you want
to know my opinion, these foes will require much work on our part to
defeat." She pointed the empty-end of the belt pole toward herself.
"I'll go first, then Kurumi, then you," she said, now pointing the
pole at Akane.
Natsume fiddled with the belts on her pole as her opponent, Kyo
Kusanagi, stepped forward, He raised his hand into the air, then
thrust it back downward into a fist. He shouted, "Let's go!"
The announcer cried, "Natsume versus Kyo!"
The leader of the Tendo School Team spun her pole in her arms
experimentally, showing-off to her opponent that she knew how to
use her weapon. Natsume shouted, "Ready, scrub?"
"Round One.... Ready... GO!"
Natsume made the first move, leaping into the air, intending to
swipe her belt pole at Kyo's face. But Kyo, anticipating the attack,
leaped up into the air as well, arms spread apart. To Natsume's
surprise, flames leaped from Kyo's arms; her opponent spun in
mid-air, creating a wheel of flames. She felt the flames wash over
herself, deflecting her attack and sending her backward, back to
the ground.
Rolling back to her feet, Natsume spun her pole about, then threw
it forth. The result was the generation of a chi-force that erupted
into a whirlwind-- the chi attack ripped forward, toward Kyo's
position.
Kyo saw the incoming attack, then dodged to the side. Flames
leaping off his arms, the leader of Team Japan thrust his fist into
Natsume's gut, then a second hit, then a third, throwing his
opponent off her feet once more.
Standing back, Kyo waved a finger. He said, "So, what have you
been smoking?"
Natsume growled, gritting her teeth in anger. "I'll have to show
you!" Raising her belt pole up high, Natsume charged.
Seemingly unconcerned, Kyo leaned back, knees bent, one fist
back, seemingly on fire. As soon as Natsume was within kicking
range, Kyo opened his fist, and slid forward. A large ball of fire
erupted in the space before Kyo as he threw his fist forward.
"Eat... this!" Kyo cried.
Pain washed over Natsume as she ran face-first into Kyo's deadly
fire attack. She screamed as she fell once more.
Kyo raised a fist into the air in victory. "This is my victory!"
The announcer cried, "Winner is Kyo!"
"Kurumi versus Kyo!"
Kurumi stepped in place of her defeated sister, her ribbon tied
up in her hair as usual. The younger sister usually preferred to
fight unarmed, and use her ribbon only when necessary. This Kyo had
proved the terrible reason why one shouldn't rely one one's weapon
in lieu of hand-to-hand techniques; he beat Natsume soundly, without
a scratch!
"Round Two.... Ready, GO!"
Kyo straightened his shirt. "Well, Girlie, I sure hope you won't
burn as much as your friend did!"
Kurumi tried to ignore her opponent's taunt, knowing full-well
that it was the reason why Natsume lost her cool, and thus, the
fight. "Come and get me, creep!" she shouted.
She threw a high kick, which Kyo ducked under. Kurumi in turn
dodged her opponent's footsweep, leaping over it quickly, then
retaliated by kicking Kyo in the face.
Kyo rolled back to his feet, then unleashed another flaming fist
at Kurumi, catching the girl by surprise. Her world exploded into
wild colors when Kyo's punch connected, chi flames exploding like
dynamite in her Kurumi's face.
Kurumi threw herself backward, flipping in mid-air and pulling
out her ribbon at the same time. With a hard lash, she threw the
ribbon at Kyo's outstretched hand, allowing it to wrap around
several times. She focused her chi energies, forcing it down the
length of the ribbon, to her opponent's arm.
"What the...?!" Kyo managed to cry, before Kurumi jerked his arm,
and the rest of his body, forward.
Kyo was thrown high into the air above Kurumi. The ribbon glowed
red, barely-noticeable against the red ribbon in the first place; the
traveling girl released her focus on her chi, allowing it to explode
on Kyo's arm.
Kurumi's opponent landed behind her, his body smoking, but not
burned, as the chi flames were not truly fire. He got back to his
feet, shaking his head.
"Fire," he muttered. "So, it's fire you want to play with? I'll
have to show you how!" Kyo bent his knees, thrusting one fist toward
the ground. Gritting his teeth, the Kusanagi fighter began gathering
chi into his body. His body glowed in a reddish aura.
Catching Kurumi by surprise, Kyo pulled-back his entwined arm,
forcing the girl closer to his person. Then, lifting his other fist
into the air, fires leaping from his knuckles, Kyo threw the biggest
flame yet-- right in Kurumi's face.
When Kurumi could not get up from the blast, the announcer said,
"Winner is Kyo!"
Kyo turned his back to his defeated opponent, and taunted, "What's
the matter? Got burned?"
"Akane versus Kyo!"
This guy must be good if he beat both Natsume and Kurumi, Akane
decided. I'm no match for him.
"Round Three.... Ready... GO!"
"You don't look so hot," Kyo taunted. "You're not as strong as your
two friends!"
"Well," Akane replied, sweating in her gi, although she hadn't done
anything yet, "we'll just have to see about that!"
Kyo threw two flaming fists at Akane's direction, but she dodged
both attacks, ducking below his waist-level. She retaliated with a
deep punch into her opponent's stomach, backing it with all her
force. Kyo stepped back in pain, allowing Akane to press her attack
further. She threw two turnaround kicks at his exposed face, sending
Kyo sprawling back to the ground on his back.
Akane kept her stance, waiting for her opponent to get back on
his feet. But, he never did.
"Winner is Akane!"
"I... I won?!" Akane whispered to herself.
"Akane versus Benimaru!"
The vain blonde hugged himself warmly, then relaxed himself. Calmly,
he adjusted his hair, then settled into a Muay Thai fighting stance.
"Round Four.... Ready... GO!"
Benimaru leaped into the air, trying for a deep kick into Akane's
gut. She backed out of the way, allowing him to land. Dropping to
his hands, the vain man, his legs out, began to spin in place,
making fast and furious sweeps at Akane's legs.
She fell, the speed of Benimaru's attack barely registering into
her body, but Akane's legs ached. Forcing herself to her feet, Akane
tried her best to remain focused, but all that came was battle rage.
She threw all her weight into the next punch, aiming for Benimaru's
face.
Yawning, as if unconcerned, Benimaru thrust a fist forward, crying,
"Raijinken!"
Pulses of electrical power emanated from Benimaru's fist, catching
Akane by surprise. She caught the full brunt of the lightning attack,
crying out in pain. The chi-created lightning pulse raced off the
man's fist to Akane's body, causing even more pain.
By the time Akane hit the ground, barely any trace of the chi
lightning raced across her body, yet, she was in so much pain! She
tried to get up, but her legs and arms wouldn't obey.
Benimaru had won. He cried, "There aren't enough compliments to
praise my beautiful fighting!"
It was early Monday that Ranma, Ryoga, and Ukyo returned home to
Nerima, bags slung over their shoulders, at the front door to the
Tendo house. Nodoka welcomed the three inside, the champions of
the tournament battle in Hong Kong.
"Akane is at school right now," explained Nodoka, "but Natsume
and Kurumi are here. They're back in the dojo if you want to talk
to them."
And that Ranma did. Ukyo followed Ranma to the dojo, while Ryoga
followed Nodoka back to the kitchen for something to eat.
Sure enough, Natsume and Kurumi were there in the dojo, but not
practicing as Ranma had thought. Natsume sat by the nearest wall, her
knees tucked into her chest, her fingers running across the surface
of her belt pole, while her sister stood in the middle, seemingly
staring at the ceiling.
"Hey, guys," Ranma greeted.
Both girls turned their heads to the new arrivals.
"Welcome back!" Kurumi greeted cheerily.
Natsume merely snorted. "Come here to gloat?"
"About what?" asked Ranma innocently.
"Your victory, and our loss, of course," the girl explained.
"Why should I gloat over something like that?"
"Because you wanted to be on my team, of course. You wanted to
prove you were better than us. Well, you were right."
"That's a little hard on yourself, isn't it?" wondered Ukyo. "I
mean, it can't be THAT bad...."
Kurumi touched Ukyo's arm gently. She whispered, "It's her pride.
Come on, maybe we should leave those two alone for a while."
Both Ukyo and Kurumi stepped out of the dojo, leaving Ranma alone
with Natsume. She threw her belt pole aside in frustration, then
buried her head in her arms.
"How could I be so arrogant as to believe that I could win?!" she
cried out.
"It can't be as bad as you think," Ranma said. "Maybe this is a
way that tells you to train harder for next time."
"Next time?" Natsume repeated. "There's nothing to fight for next
time! There is no Tendo School anymore! The dojo belongs to you!"
"Hey, remember, we technically belong to the same dojo now, since
my marriage to Akane was to unite the Tendo and Saotome Schools,"
Ranma replied, trying his best to get Natsume out of her foul mood.
"You may have entered the tournament representing the Tendo School,
but, along with the Saotome School, has become one."
"True," Natsume said.
"And, therefore, I represent both schools," Ranma finished.
"There's nothing to be ashamed of."
"Bringing glory and honor to the Tendo School was all that my
sister and I had left," explained Natsume. "I failed to represent
the dojo properly by bypassing you, I suppose.... I lacked your
virtues and qualification for such an action."
"Well, maybe," Ranma said, "but let bygones be bygones; I mean, I
don't care about that anymore, you know? Let's just leave that ugly
business behind us, and look on to the future."
Natsume lifted her head from her arms, and smiled. "Perhaps you
were the right choice to carry on the dojo after all."
"That's nice to hear, even though I really didn't care to get it,
you know," Ranma replied, although the traveling girl took the
statement to be sarcastic.
"So, what are you going to do now?" Ukyo asked Kurumi.
Both girls walked around the Tendo dojo, spotting Ryu and his
open fire every once in a while. Ryu, after over a month of
practice, still couldn't increase his speed to a sufficient level.
"I don't know," admitted Kurumi. "I suppose it's all up to my
sister, really. Akane thinks we should allow ourselves to be adopted
by her father, but Natsume doesn't know that yet."
"Well, that'll make a full house," Ukyo commented. "They barely
get along well enough with who they've got already."
"That's what Nabiki said," replied Kurumi. "After that, Kasumi
went out and got a job."
"Really?!" exclaimed Ukyo. "Well, leave for a couple of weeks, and
the whole world turns upside-down!" The okonomiyaki chef threw up
her arms in frustration. "Next you'll tell me Konatsu burned-down my
restaurant."
Kurumi shook her head. "Well, my sister and Ryu kissed."
"Gee, is he really the type she likes?"
"How should I know?!"
"Well, anyway," Ukyo started, getting back to the subject, "what
do YOU think should happen to you?"
"I don't know," admitted Kurumi. "I... I've never thought about
it that way. Natsume usually makes the decisions."
"Don't you think it's time to make your own decisions?"
"I... guess so."
"Then, what do you think you should do with your life? Stay with
Akane and the others, or continue to wander around and train?"
Now Kurumi was at a loss of words. She never seriously thought
about what SHE wanted before. She had wanted to meet her father, but
that was impossible now. She never really did want the Tendo dojo.
She really didn't like traveling on the road all her life, either.
So, what DO I want? Kurumi wondered.
"Anyway," Kurumi began, changing the subject, "how was the fight?"
"Oh, the fight?" repeated Ukyo, a bit surprised that Kurumi would
ask that kind of question now. "Ranchan has problems with fighting
against girls, you know? Anyway, what the problem was that the other
team was an all-girls team."
"That's... terrible," Kurumi said, sympathetic to Ranma's problem.
"Yeah, well, Ryoga doesn't like fighting girls, either," Ukyo added.
"Ouch," was all Kurumi could say to that. "So, how in the world
did you win if both Ranma and Ryoga couldn't fight against girls?"
"I didn't say they COULDN'T fight," corrected Ukyo. "It's just that
they fight LESS WELL, you know. Anyway, Ryoga took care of the first
one, a kickboxer, but he lost miserably against the second girl; Mai,
some airheaded ninja girl, dressed in almost nothing, so to speak, so
as soon as Ryoga laid eyes on her bouncing balls he broke into a
nosebleed and almost died on the spot!"
"THAT bad, hmmm?"
"Yeah, well, Ranma went up next, and he did soundly beat her, but
just barely; the third girl, Kasumi, just finished him off. Leaving
me to clean up the mess." Ukyo whipped-out a fan, and opened it. "I
showed them how to use fans!"
"That's great," congratulated Kurumi. "So, where are you going to
fight this Saturday?"
"Down over where you guys fought on week one," answered Ukyo. "The
next team is coming to fight us."
The day had yet to dawn Tuesday morning when Natsume and Kurumi
stepped out of the Tendo yard, slipping through the gates quietly,
both carrying their sole possessions on their persons.
Kurumi gave one final look at the Tendo house before her sister
shut the gate. Turning to Natsume, she whispered, "Is this the way
things must be?"
Natsume nodded. "Until we can decide on our futures, we should be
off on a training journey. When the time comes that we shall return,
I hope to be much more worthy to represent the dojo."
"And leaving without saying 'good-bye?'"
"I know of Akane's wishes," Natsume assured her sister. "I cannot
accept that until I'm sure of myself again." She stared down back to
Kurumi. "What about you? Why don't you stay behind?"
"Because if I did," explained Kurumi, "you would be out there, all
alone. I can't abandon you like that, not after all we've been
through."
"Very well, then, we should be off," concluded Natsume.
But their journey was halted further by the sound of another voice.
"Thought about leaving without me?"
Both Natsume and Kurumi watched Ryu Kumon, duffel bag over his
shoulder, leap down from the top of the Tendo lot's wall.
"You," Natsume started, "why are you here?"
"I'm going with you, of course!" Ryu said. "I've decided that it's
probably best that I rebuild the Kumon dojo with techniques I devised
on my own, not techniques sponged-off someone else."
"Really?" asked Kurumi.
Ryu nodded. Lifting his gloved hands, he added, "Besides, I don't
think I'll ever be able to get those stupid nuts out of the fire!"
Natsume punched Ryu in the shoulder. "You're just doing this just
so you can be with me!" she accused.
"Well, why not?" Ryu reasoned. "You would've done the same. And I
don't think you really DO mind, either!"
The older sister sighed. "Oh, very well. We'll travel together for
the time being...."
Together, the three martial artists, their backs against the rising
sun, walked off under the morning light.
* * * * *
The Touch (Stan Bush)
You got the touch
You got the power...yeah!
After all is said and done
You've never walked, you never run
You're a winner
Got the moves, you know the street
Break the rules, take the heat
You're nobody's fool
You're at your best when the goin' gets rough
You've been put to the test, but it's never enough
You got the touch!
You got the power
When all Hell's breakin' loose
You'll be right in the eye of the storm
You got the heart
You got the motion
You know that when things get too tough
You got the touch
You never bend, you never break
You seem to know just what it takes
You're a fighter
It's in the blood, it's in the will
It's in the mighty hands of steel
When you're standin' your ground
And you never give in when your back's to the wall
Gonna fight till the end, and you're takin' it all
You got the touch!
You got the power
When all Hell's breakin' loose
You'll be right in the eye of the storm
You got the heart
You got the motion
You know that when things get too tough
You got the touch
You're at your best when the goin' gets rough
You've been put to the test, but it's never enough
You got the touch
You got the power...yeah!
You got the touch
You got the power! [TOUCH!]
* * * * *
The next three weeks for Team Ranma was filled with victory; the
third, fourth, and fifth rounds have come and gone for the trio.
It was the third match Ranma, Ryoga, and Ukyo were pitted against
a Japanese martial arts school-- a brother and sister, and the
sister's Spanish boyfriend. All three fought in the same karate
style, one which proved to be rather weak, as Ranma cleanly-defeated
all three of them in one long streak.
The fourth match pitted Team Ranma against a team of three
mercenaries from Brazil: a serene-looking, emotionless army woman,
and two men dressed in similar garb, but each possessing one half of
a single pair of gloves. The two men were no match for Ryoga and
Ranma, but the woman, Leona, proved to be much stronger-- her speed
and raw power seemed quite inhuman, and her chi-created wind blades
caused great pain for Ranma and Ryoga. Ukyo was lucky to finish her
off, yet it was the okonomiyaki chef who discovered the weakness in
Leona's fighting style-- the warrior woman seemed to rely too much
on attack patterns, complex though they were.
And, in the fifth week since the start of the tournament, the final
four duked it out for the right to go on to the sixth and final
battle for the prize money. Team Ranma was pitted against the
Yagami Clan's Team, while the other two contenders, the Boss Team and
the Lone Wolves Team, duked it out elsewhere. One man, named Iori,
paired with two women, Vice and Mature, made up the Yagami assassin
team. After barely defeating the trio, Ryoga noticed that the leader,
Iori, was dragging away his defeated partners to a shadowy area. One
could only guess what he was doing, but the screams from both women
proved to be more than enough evidence of what he did.
Now, the final match of the tournament was about to begin: Team
Ranma was flown to Germany to face the Boss Team, the self-styled
History's Most Evil Trio: Geese Howard, the original Chairman of the
King of Fighters, his half-brother, Wolfgang Krauser, and underworld
boss Mr. Big.
The battle arena took place on a large barge tied in the middle of
a river overlooking a German castle, belonging to House Strolheim;
the audience stands were set up at the river's edges. The three
members of each team waited on opposite sides of the barge, each
jabbing fingers and insults at the other team.
Ryoga stepped forward as usual, and Mr. Big, a bald man wielding
two black sticks, did the same.
"Ryoga versus Mr. Big!" cried the announcer. "Round One.... Ready,
GO!"
As soon as the announcer cried for the combat to begin, Mr. Big
ran both clubs toward the ground, shouting, "Raiho!"
Ryoga leaped back out of the way as a burst of exploding chi
erupted where he was standing. Rushing forward, his fists traded
blows with that of Mr. Big's two clubs, both going back and forth,
neither gaining an advantage.
"Let's dance!" shouted Mr. Big. Extending his arms outward, the
bald man began to spin in place, forcing Ryoga to duck under the
attack.
The Eternally Lost Boy threw a roundhouse kick at Big's exposed
legs, throwing him out of his spinning attack and off his feet. As
the man fell, Ryoga rolled forward, and threw his feet into the air
to connect with Mr. Big's back.
Mr. Big jumped back to his feet, obviously still game. Holding his
clubs before him, he threw himself at Ryoga, crying, "Cross Diving!"
Ryoga caught the full brunt of the attack in his chest, forcing
him backward. Mr. Big got back to his feet first, and threw another
ground blast from his clubs, sending Ryoga even farther back and
closer to the edge of the barge.
Trapped in a corner, Ryoga had no wish to tumble over the side of
the barge. The shadow of Mr. Big blotted-out his view of the sun.
The bald man tapped his clubs together in anticipation. "Are you
happy with yourself?" he taunted.
As Mr. Big stepped over Ryoga, the boy cried, "Not on your life!"
Ryoga planted both feet into Big's chest, catching the man by
surprise. With all his strength, Ryoga threw Mr. Big up and over
his head.
The *SPLASH!* Mr. Big made in the river signaled the end of the
round.
"Winner is Ryoga!" cried the announcer.
"Ryoga versus Krauser!"
Geese's half-brother, a tall, shirtless man with rippling muscles,
flexed his head back. "Let's burn it up!" he cried.
"Round Two.... Ready, GO!"
Krauser threw one arm forward, shouting, "Blitz Ball!" A chi-made
ball of force appeared in the air, and sailed in Ryoga's direction.
Ryoga dodged to the side, being used to dodging projectiles by
now. The problem was with the larger man was that he was attacking
someone much shorter than he was! Using his relatively-smaller size
as an advantage, Ryoga rolled forward.
Only to be greeted by one of Krauser's chi bolts and "Blitz Ball!"
The Eternally Lost Boy was thrown back. Getting up, he shook his
head. Well, I suppose this guy DOES know about his disadvantage.
Krauser wiped his hands. He taunted, "Give it up, loser!"
"Ha!" bit back Ryoga. With pent-up fury, he charged.
Unfortunately, he was caught fast by one of Krauser's holds. The
German fighter proved to be a wrestler, as he threw Ryoga down,
head-first, against the barge's hard surface.
"You can get up by yourself," Krauser said, turning his back to
Ryoga.
"It's... not... over!" Ryoga shouted, forcing himself back to his
feet.
Surprised, Krauser turned around to meet the onslaught of Ryoga's
furious punches and kicks, one after another, with no stopping in-
between blows. The German wrestler stumbled back, out of Ryoga's
reach.
"I'm a bit surprised," admitted Krauser. "I never expected you to
get back up so quickly, or at all!" He threw both his arms forward,
and shouted, "Kaiser Wave!"
"Wha...?!" was all Ryoga could say before the enormous chi-bolt
enveloped his body. Even as his body racked in electrical pain,
Ryoga shouted, "It... won't... end... HERE!"
Throwing his arms forward, Ryoga shouted, "Shishi Hokodan!"
Krauser stepped back in surprise, amazed that Ryoga could pull one
final attack, even under his immense pain. "Yaaaaaahhhh!!!!"
When finally both chi attacks subsided, neither Krauser nor Ryoga
stood. The announcer cried, "Double K.O.!"
"Ranma versus Geese!"
Geese stepped forward, then pointed at Ranma. "You?! Ha-hah!"
"I'll have to teach you some lessons," taunted Ranma.
"Round Three.... Ready, GO!"
Geese stood back, and waved his arm as if beckoning Ranma forward.
"Come on! Let's get this over with!"
The evil man threw himself into the air, Ranma following. Both
met in mid-air, Geese slashing the air with one arm, creating a chi
blade of force that launched at Ranma. Without a proper defense for
the attack, Ranma was thrown back to the ground, landing hard on
his back.
Ranma got back to his feet, then engaged his opponent as soon as
he landed on the ground again. He threw punches and kicks, never
repeating any set pattern in order to confuse Geese, but Geese seemed
to anticipate each and every blow, and blocked them accordingly.
The evil man's wicked grin infuriated Ranma further, intensifying
his attacks in response.
"Ha-hah!" laughed Geese, continuing to block attacks. "Soon you
will tire yourself out, and when you do...."
Ducking under one final kick, he shouted, "Reppuken!" Throwing his
left arm upward, Geese created another chi blade of force with the
air, running the chi attack right into Ranma's exposed body.
The attack hardly threw Ranma off his feet, only forcing him to
take several steps back. Throwing his arms forward, he cried, "Moko
Takabisha!"
Geese leaped over Ranma's chi attack, then forced Ranma to block
a deep one-two punch from above. Landing on his feet, the evil man
wasted no time, and cried, "Double Reppuken!"
One after another, Geese threw his arms upward, left, then right,
creating two slicing chi blades, one after another, ripping up
Ranma's body from the ground up.
This time Ranma lay on his back. He rolled backward, making a
mental note to keep his distance from his opponent. Ranma got to
his feet, and sprung back into the air.
Extending both palms outward, Ranma shouted, "Moko Takabisha!"
This time, two chi-bolts emerged, one from each of Ranma's palms,
catching Geese by surprise. Both bolts collided with Geese, forcing
him to fall to one knee.
While Ranma sailed overhead, Geese gritted his teeth angrily, then
pounded both fists into the ground, shouting, "Razing Storm!"
What happened next caught Ranma completely by surprise: several
chi blades sprung into existence from the ground around Geese,
jagging upward at an alarming speed. He could not escape the blast
in time.
Ranma screamed in pain as Geese's final attack engulfed him.
"Winner is Geese!" announced the announcer.
"Ukyo versus Geese!"
Ukyo Kuonji, wearing her Shinto dress as she had always been,
stepped forward nervously. She unstrapped her combat spatula from
her back, careful not to remove her mantle prematurely. She gripped
the weapon carefully in both hands, as if it would give her the
confidence necessary to beat a superior opponent.
"Round Four.... Ready, GO!"
Geese laughed. "Ha-ha-hah! What're you going to do with that,
beat me to submission?!"
"I just might," Ukyo shot back, reaching for her spatula-darts.
The evil man had plenty of time to see Ukyo's projectiles coming,
and therefore rolled to the side, out of harm's way. He leaped into
the air, for another air blade attack.
Ukyo saw the attack coming, and therefore threw her giant spatula
upward, the large metal weapon spinning in the air. The oversized
projectile caught Geese before he had the chance to attack, and
bashed him in the chest.
Both combat spatula and Geese landed together. Getting back to
his feet, he kicked away the giant spatula behind him, well out of
reach of Ukyo's hands.
"That wasn't a very smart move," Geese taunted. He charged.
Ukyo stepped to the side, nearly-missing Geese's furious running
attack. Dodging punch after punch, she grabbed the neck of her
mantle, and, with serene-like grace, threw it before her, allowing
the American martial artist to run into it, blinding his view.
As soon as he had exposed his back to her, the okonomiyaki
chef planted one foot into Geese's back, and kicked, hard.
"Sometimes y'just gotta improvise," Ukyo shot back.
Geese landed on the barge deck, sprawled on his stomach. Getting
up, he muttered, "This is no time to lose...."
Bashing his fists into the ground, Geese shouted, "Razing Storm!"
Ukyo threw herself backward, trying her best to distance herself
from Geese's desperate attack. She tripped as she backpedaled,
but to her surprise the attack ended right before her feet.
She slipped her arms back into her sleeves, feeling for her
hidden weapons she stored there. Up until now, Ukyo had not needed
to use those weapons, but this time, it was now or never.
As Geese lifted his fists from the ground, his eyes caught sight
of Ukyo's attack: with great speed and fury, she sliced the air
with a pair of ordinary fans, beating back Geese with each swing of
her arms.
Ukyo continued her relentless attack, batting at Geese's face like
there was no tomorrow, hurting him with the sheer speed of the attack
alone. Finally, Geese fell onto his back, and he never got up.
"Announcing the winners...."
Ukyo crossed her arms, fans open, and bowed her head. There was
nothing to say, nothing else to do. Silently, she gathered her
discarded mantle and spatulas, then returned them to their proper
positions on her person.
She won.
However, the tournament didn't end there; Team Ranma, as well as
the rest of the invitation teams, were to meet for one final battle
at a coliseum in Japan.
It was the following Monday, and Ryoga, Ranma, and Ukyo stepped
into the marble-white coliseum. A ring dominated the center, bearing
the King of Fighters logo. At one end of the coliseum there was a
large television screen set up, and a scrolling text beneath it,
reading: "Final Stage... Last Battle," and repeated, over and over.
The seating all around the coliseum was filled to the brim; balloons
and banners decorated every free space available. A panel of judges
waited to one side.
Most, but not all, the invitation teams were in attendance, Natsume
not among them, and neither were the Orochi Team. The Boss Team had
declined to join the others as well.
"Ukyo?"
The okonomiyaki chef turned around. "Athena!"
Athena Asamiya, one of Japan's many teen-idol singers, stepped
over to greet her old friend. "I've heard the news; congratulations!"
"Thanks," Ukyo replied, extending a hand which Athena accepted.
"So, you're here, too?"
The other girl nodded. "My team lost to the Orochi Team, of all
people! They were tough customers, weren't they?"
"Yeah," Ukyo agreed, nodding. "Anyway, what do you suppose this is
all about?" she asked, waving her hand all about the stadium.
Athena shook her head. "I honestly don't know. Kensou said that
Kagura was going to exercise her right to challenge the champions of
the tournament."
"So, where is she?" asked Ukyo.
It was then Ranma grabbed his friend's arm. "Ucchan, we've got to
go. We've been called to the center forum."
Ukyo turned back to Athena. "Sorry, gotta go!"
Ranma lead Ukyo through the coliseum, passed the center pillars,
and into the open area in the center. Ryoga was already there,
waiting for his partners to arrive.
"So, we're all here, right?" announced Ryoga. "I suppose the fight
is just about to begin."
"That is a correct assumption," someone announced, a voice that
echoed off the inner pillar formations.
The speaker of the voice stepped from her hiding place behind the
pillars. She dressed in a white blouse, similar to that a Shinto
priestess would wear (not quite like what Ukyo was wearing), and
black, tight pants. A white headband parted her long, flowing black
hair. From what Ranma could determine, she was just about Kasumi's
age, if not older.
He pointed a finger in recognition as Ukyo gasped. Both cried,
"You!"
"You know her?!" Ryoga cried in surprise.
"Yeah," Ukyo said. "She's the one who helped get rid of the evil
Orochi blood that tainted me!"
The stranger Ranma and Ukyo had met in Hawaii stood before them,
with the same calm demeanor as before. "Yes, I am Chizuru Kagura,
the Guardian. I thought I would meet the one who defeated Rugal,
but you are not the ones; you obviously were not in the tournament
last year."
"The Guardian?!" cried Ranma, puzzled. "What about Rugal?!"
"Since you are not the ones who have defeated Rugal, I had all the
other invitation teams come here as well," explained Kagura, ignoring
Ranma's questions. "One of them possesses the power that defeated
Rugal, and I need to borrow that power before the Orochi awakens."
"I am the Guardian of the power that seals Orochi from the Earth,"
Kagura continued. "Ten years ago, Rugal siphoned some of Orochi's
power, the evil blood that once tainted Ukyo's body. He was unable
to control it, and was ultimately destroyed by it, thus the reason
why I had to save you."
"Wow," Ukyo whispered. "You saved my life, in more ways than one!"
"The man who released the Orochi power ten years ago must be
stopped now!" the woman announced. "We need to reseal the Orochi now,
before it is too late!"
"Too late for what?" asked Ranma.
"If we do not act quickly, Yamata no Orochi will be reborn on the
Earth, and free to wreak havoc and destruction!"
Suddenly, the wind picked-up, causing everything not tied down to
blow away. From outside the circle of pillars the trio could hear
the screams of people being blown away.
"The... wind!" Ranma cried.
"He's coming!" Kagura warned.
"Who?!" cried Ryoga.
"The one who took Rugal's right eye and released the Orochi power!"
shouted Kagura.
"What's happening?!" Ukyo shouted.
Suddenly, a dark shadow blanketed the inner circle, and those
standing within it. A voice whispered, "As I thought, only mere
flies in my web!"
"Look!" Ryoga shouted, pointing to a dark man standing atop
one of the pillars.
His black cape whipped in the wind, exposing his dark blue uniform
underneath and his large, black boots. His eyes appeared to pierce
even the blackest of black, yet, glowed a mysterious purple tinge.
"I am called Goenitz," introduced the stranger. "I saw your
miserable performances, and none of you have a prayer! I'll give
you a choice: die while fighting, or be killed quickly!"
"You aren't giving us much choice!" shouted Ryoga.
"No one's threatening me like that!" agreed Ranma.
"Very well, then...." Goenitz said ominously. His eyes began to
glow an even darker purple. "It looks like all of you against me!"
"Teamwork!" encouraged Kagura. "He's much too powerful for any
of us to deal with alone!"
Both Ryoga and Ukyo glanced at Ranma questionably. He looked at
both in surprise. "What?!"
Ryoga peered at Ranma suspiciously. "Since when did you ever work
in a team?"
"Didn't we just get this far?" Ranma insisted.
"It wasn't so much teamwork as it was endurance, Ranchan," Ukyo
pointed out. "We need an attack plan."
"Alright," Ranma agreed finally.
"Pray to any god you believe in!" taunted Goenitz. "Let the battle
begin!"
Raising his right arm into the air, Goenitz summoned the power of
wind: a whirlwind sprung into existence amidst the gathered
champions, spinning the four and tossing them about.
Ryoga threw himself out of the way of the next whirlwind, rolling
to the base of the pillar which Goenitz stood upon. Raising his
finger, he shouted, "Bakusai Tenketsu!" and jabbed it into the pillar,
sending rocks flying.
He had expected Goenitz's body to tumble to the ground along with
the rest of the pillar, but the man disappeared in a rush of wind.
"What the...?!" he spat.
"Ryoga, behind you!" Ukyo shouted in warning.
Before Ryoga could act, a strong hand gripped the back of his
shirt. In his ear, he could hear the sound of Goenitz's voice: "That
wasn't smart."
Ryoga screamed in pain as Goenitz summoned another whirlwind,
this one centered on his held victim.
"Leave him alone!" Ukyo cried. Summoning her internal energies,
forcing it through her arms, the okonomiyaki chef cried, "Hydra
surge!"
Ranma's jaw dropped in surprise. "Ukyo...?!"
A stream-like energy lance, vaguely resembling a striking serpent,
flew outforth toward the Orochi Family's Master of Wind.
Goenitz dropped Ryoga, and released the whirlwind at the same time,
having his attentions being diverted by Ukyo's attack. The evil man
threw a ball of wind force at the girl, sending her flying backward.
Without waiting a moment, he vanished, using the force of the wind
to mask his presence.
"Shit, now where'd he go?!" Ranma cried.
Without warning, another deadly column of wind burst to the air
beneath Kagura's feet. She threw herself out of the way, just as the
others spied Goenitz standing not far away.
Ranma rushed toward the enemy, crying, "He's mine!"
"No, wait!" warned Kagura, leaping back to her feet.
But it was too late; Ranma was caught by another of Goenitz's wind
columns. As he was thrown spiraling into the air, he spied Kagura,
using the same illusion techniques she had used on him six months
before on the Orochi Master of Wind-- projections of the woman's
body attacked alongside her against the enemy. With Goenitz's
attentions diverted, Ranma found himself stopped in mid-air, as the
wind column ceased to exist. He started to fall.
Goenitz laughed as he grabbed Kagura, then summoned another whirlwind
to rip through her. However, he had guessed wrong, for the Kagura he
had grabbed was the illusion. The real Kagura had retreated while
Goenitz was summoning the new whirlwind.
"So," he snarled, "aren't you pathetic?"
"Listen!" commanded Kagura. "We must all attack him at once!"
"Ha-hah!" Goenitz laughed. "I dare you to try!"
A second Kagura leaped out of Kagura's body, leaping at Goenitz
with a flying punch. Goenitz dodged to the side, only to be greeted
by both of Ryoga's flying feet. The Orochi Master of Wind ducked
under the ill-timed attack.
Ukyo threw her arms forth, chi energies racing across her
outstretched fingers, generating a growing pulse in her palms.
Without waiting for Goenitz to make another move, the okomomiyaki
chef threw her chi bolt.
And, forgotten in the sky, Ranma was still falling. The ground was
getting terribly-close for his eyes. It was hot, up here, in the sky.
I've got to do something, Ranma told himself. That whirlwind really
threw me off... into a spiral. Wait a minute... hot? Up here?
Down below Ranma, Goenitz flared in anger at his three opponents.
"You dare to strike me?!" Raising both arms into the air, three
whirlwinds burst from the ground, ripping the ground beneath Kagura,
Ryoga, and Ukyo, sending the three skyward. As quickly as the three
were thrown in the air they collided with the ground, Goenitz having
relinquished his hold over the winds to allow his enemies to fall.
Ukyo, dazed, forced herself to her feet. She pulled her arms back,
then threw them forth, throwing two small balls of chi energies at
the occupied Goenitz. The bolts splashed over the man's body as if
the bolts were made of pure water, but the attacks seemed to have no
affect.
"You could've had great power had you served Orochi," Goenitz
yelled at Ukyo. "Why did you fight the taint of the Bloodseed, Jade
Dragon?"
"You...!" Ukyo murmured. "Orochi bastard! It was killing me! And
stop calling me that!"
"As if death in the serpent's service were punishment?!" he
replied.
She looked up into the sky, toward the falling Ranma. "Ranma! What
are you doing?!"
Aiming his fist toward Goenitz's position, Ranma gathered the hot
chi energies scattered by Goenitz's winds into the high air. Only
once before Ranma had used this attack, under similar conditions,
brought about when Herb turned Ranma's whirlwind against him.
His fist glowed with terrible hot energies, and Ranma sincerely
hoped that Goenitz wasn't radiating a lot of hot chi.
"Hiryu Korin Dan!" he cried.
Goenitz looked up in the air in surprise, releasing the whirlwinds
he had created. "Nooo!!!!"
Both Kagura and Ukyo, well-away from the epicenter of the attack,
shielded their eyes.
"What is he doing?!" Ukyo cried.
"He's gathered excess chi from the atmosphere!" explained Kagura.
"And he drove the hot energies downward, forcing them to mix
violently with Goenitz's cold chi aura!"
When the blast cleared, the winds had died down completely. Kyo
and the two Bogards landed unceremonially on the ground. Ranma stood
alone over Goenitz's battered body. Both Kagura and Ukyo stepped
to his side.
"What a surprise," whispered Goenitz, struggling to speak. "You
guys really do know your stuff! However, your efforts were in vain;
You will never seal the Orochi power again. Give it up while you
still can!"
"Fat chance, Ugly!" replied Kagura. "The Orochi power is as good as
sealed!"
"Vain fools," Goenitz muttered. His eyes gazed up into the sky,
beyond the three who stood over him. "Ah, a fine wind blows...."
"Thinking of escaping?!" Ranma said.
"No... I am being called... to Heaven," Goenitz corrected. A stream
of blood trailed from his lips, and all life seemed to drain from
his eyes.
Raising his hand, Goenitz disappeared in a burst of wind, leaving
no traces of his body.
"It's... over?" Ukyo asked Kagura.
"Hardly," replied the Guardian. "Goenitz was correct; it is too
late to reseal the Orochi power. His mission here was to buy his
comrades' time to make sure the seal was completely destroyed."
"So now what are we going to do?" asked Ranma. "If what he said was
true, the Orochi will reemerge in this world!"
"Not exactly," corrected Kagura. "What Goenitz failed to do was
two things, in which we succeeded. One, it was his task to find a
suitable host body for which Orochi to be reborn in. Had his original
body not been defeated by your friend, Akane, the evil dragon would
not have needed to follow that step."
"Yeah, we know about that part," Ranma said, nodding. "The Orochi
Cult tried to get revenge by killing her."
"I know," said Kagura. "The second part was to gather enough
chi energies to summon Orochi. Goenitz wished to use the energies of
the tournament's fighters to revitalize the Orochi, but he failed."
"So, what's there left to do?" asked Ukyo.
"Goenitz was not the only one who would seek the return of Orochi.
There will be others. I will keep an eye on them, for now." She
started to turn to walk away, then turned back to face Ranma. "Do
you remember our last meeting?"
"Yeah, what about it?" asked Ranma.
"I told you that having faith in yourself was only the first step
to true strength," explained the Guardian. "You have yet to learn to
have faith in others, for therein lies true strength. If you fail to
learn that, then you will fail in the future."
"Hey, wait!" Ranma cried. "Tell me more!"
But, before Ranma could get an answer, Kagura disappeared, just as
Goenitz had done before, vanishing without a trace.
"Dammit!" cursed Ranma. "She always does that to me!"
"You know," Ukyo started, "I think I know what she's talking about."
"What's that?" he asked.
"This whole tournament... the whole purpose was to emphasize working
as a team, wasn't it?" Ukyo said. "If it is truly teamwork that is
the key, then that is what we must do in the future."
"The future...." Ranma repeated. "The day of judgment...."
In the following days and weeks, reporters would say that the
tournament's last battle was interrupted by terrorists, yet the ones
who fought that day knew the truth. It was to such news that Ranma,
Ryoga, and Ukyo, returned to the Tendo household, tired from their
long ordeal of the weeks passed. Quickly, the three related their
own experiences at the coliseum to the others.
Despite the disaster, the King of Fighters was a complete success.
The tournament prize money, awarded to Team Ranma for defeating
all the other teams, was split three-ways among Ranma, Ryoga, and
Ukyo. Ranma and Ukyo planned to save their shares for college,
while Ryoga had no idea what to do with his, but among the first
orders of business was hiring a taxi to take him back to the Unryu
farm in order to be with his wife.
Akane filled in the details for Ranma and Ukyo. "Kasumi no longer
has a job, however, I think she's doing more volunteer work at the
church. Anyway, I think Konatsu needs a little help down at the
restaurant, too."
"He didn't burn it down, did he?!" Ukyo demanded.
"Of course not!" Akane assured her friend. "I had to go down and
help him a few times, actually. Don't worry, it's still in one
piece."
It was then when both girls noticed that Ranma had drifted-off.
After searching the house, the two found him sitting alone outside,
next to the pond in the back.
"Hey, Ranchan," Ukyo started, "what's the matter?"
"Oh, I've just been thinking," Ranma insisted.
"About what?" asked Akane.
"If what Kagura said was true," he explained, "then I know what I
must do in order to save ourselves from the terrible future Seiryu
had shown us."
"You mean the one where I lost my eye?" asked Ukyo.
Ranma nodded. "The key is faith. Not just in myself, but in others."
"You ARE starting to listen!" the okonomiyaki chef cried, elated.
"Of course, the problem is, I have no idea where to start," Ranma
said honestly. "Faith in who?"
"Well, in us, for one thing," Akane pointed out. "It's a start."
"Whatever it is that's waiting for us, we'll all face it together,
or not at all," Ukyo proclaimed.
A single man stood alone in the dark, cavernous hallway, which was
lit only by the light of eight small, burning candles. However,
without the illumination of the candles, even in the dim light of
the hallway, no one could mistake the design of the jade statue that
hung high on the head wall, the wall which the dark man faced. Seven
serpentine creatures bundled about a single, larger creature, that
resembling the head of a great dragon. Its eyes seemed to stare down
coldly at the man dressed in the navy-blue suit and the flowing
black cape.
"Vain fools," the dark man snorted, "this was only the beginning."
* * * * *
Closing: Ballad of Ranma and Akane (Ranma, Akane)
(With interrupts from Shampoo, Kodachi, Kuno, Mousse, Ryoga, Ukyo)
[Setting: Ranma and Akane, alone, gazing into the starry night sky]
(Ranma) You're cute when you smile!
And so you become docile!
(Akane) Being obstinate, that's right,
it's the same for us both!
[Shampoo: What love have to do with marriage?!]
(Both) Although our engagement was decided
by our parents at first,
unconsciously, love
has sprouted.
[Kodachi: Is my love not good enough for you, Ranma-sama?]
[Set: The stars. Ryoga, Mousse, and Kuno, menacing grins, weapons]
(Ranma) We can't communicate well!
(Akane) We're clumsy at love.
(Ranma) Today I can't look you in the face!
(Akane) Feeling this way for the first time.
[Mousse: Soon you'll learn how it feels to have one's love stolen!]
[Set: Kasumi, Nabiki, Nodoka, and Mrs. Tendo look on approvingly]
(Both) Because we can't say the words yet,
(Ranma) Quietly, I touch your hand!
[Kuno: Who is the one that dares to steal Akane Tendo's affections?]
(Akane) It's so good when we get together.
(Ranma) I'll protect only you!
(Akane) I've waited eagerly all along.
(Ranma) Now I can't see anyone else.
[Ukyo: You'd better start talking, Saotome!]
[Set: Stars; Genma, Soun, and Happosai, look on approvingly]
(Both) Because we want to confirm gentleness
(Akane) Quietly, I touch your hand.
[Ryoga: Akane, you'll always have a place in my heart....]
[Set: Stars; Ukyo, Shampoo, Kodachi, malicious, terrible smiles]
(Men) We can't communicate well!
(Women) We're clumsy at love.
(Men) Today I can't look you in the face!
(Women) Feeling this way for the first time.
[All: Forget something, Ranma?!]
[Set: A nearby hill above Ranma and Akane. Six silhouettes stand
silently against the moon; each with arms folded, or twisted,
knowing grins. Flash character as we pan by:]
[Flash: Ryoga, superimposed over a black piglet, umbrella in hand]
[Flash: Shampoo, superimposed over a white cat, holding bonbori]
[Flash: Mousse, over a white duck, knives held like feathers]
[Flash: Kodachi, over a black rose, petals raining, ribbon snapped]
[Flash: Kuno, over a flaming phoenix, sword raised high]
[Flash: Ukyo, over jade dragon, arms crossed holding two open fans]
(Both) Because we can't say the words yet,
(Ranma) Quietly, I touch your hand!
(Akane) Quietly, I touch your hand.
-----------------------------------------------
Author's Rant
The fight/KOF scenes were designed to have the same flow as if
one were watching another play a King of Fighters '96 game. I've
spent much time watching others show-off their talents from over to
the side, so to speak (not sure if there's a term for people like me;
Watchers? Observers?). I tried my best for fast-paced battles; some
battles trailed off because the conclusions were predictable and
inevitable, and it slowed things down.
Natsume and Kurumi returned in this story to make things a bit
more interesting; this not only serves to prompt Ranma to enter the
tournament of his own initiative, but allows me to plausibly enter
Akane as well. An interesting side effect was the chemistry between
Natsume and Ryu, as well as the fact that the dojo is no longer up
for grabs, now that Ranma is firmly the rightful heir. Neither of the
sisters know about Ranma's curse, btw.
Combats for the third, fourth, and fifth matches were condensed to
ease the flow of reading; I realized that this fic was getting quite
lengthy, and I decided I'd only include the important fights only.
I added the interrupts in the Ballad of Ranma and Akane because
one of the biggest problems I have with their relationship is the
fact that BOTH of them are GUILTY of leaving hanging threads,
specifically Ryoga, Mousse, Kuno, Kodachi, Ukyo, and Shampoo. I
believe that they're as important to the relationship as the couple.
The interrupt quotes pertained specifically to the lyrics that
preceded them, a nice touch, no? In conclusion, unless Ranma and
Akane take the sixs' feelings into account, they don't DESERVE to
get married.
Forgiveness: to Queen for using 'Princes of the Universe.' To Stan
Bush for using 'Dare' and 'The Touch' (both inspiring songs from The
Transformers: The Movie, btw ;)
Razorclaw X
http://www.crosswinds.net/anaheim/~slythe/ranma/ranff.html
===================================================================
Ascii Competition Chart: (copyright 1998 Razorclaw X)
Ranma Kung Fu
|--- ---|
Korea |--- ---| Justice High
Girls | | | | Circus
|--- | | ---|
Monk |--- ---| Antarctica
Thailand | | | | Shadowlaw
|--- | | | | ---|
AoF |--- | | ---| Iceland
India | | | | Cuba
|--- | | ---|
Sports |--- ---| Boss Team
Egypt | | | | Russia
|--- | | | | ---|
Ikari |--- | | | | ---| Bermuda
Arena | | | | | | | | Hawaii
|--- | | | | | | ---|
Italy |--- | | ---| China
Spain | | | | Jamaica
|--- | | | | ---|
Fishing|--- | | ---| Kusanagi (Japan)
Austria| | | | Mad Gears
|--- | | ---|
France |------| Tendo School
Yagami (Orochi) | | England
|--- | | ---|
Germany|--- | | ---| Hong Kong
Poland | | | | | | Redneck
|--- | | | | ---|
Microsoft |--- | | ---| Austrailia
Apple | | | | | | Scotland
|--- | | | | | | ---|
Mexico |--- | | | | ---| Fatal Fury
Brazil | | | | | | Netherlands
|--- | | | | ---|
Intel |--- ---| Judo
Gateway | | Switzerland
|--- | | ---|
Compaq |--- | | ---| Wrestling
Ryu (solo) | | | | | Canada
|--- | | | | ---|
Turkey |--- ---| Singapore
Morocco | | Karate
|--- | | ---|
Andor |--- ---| Metro City
USA | | 7 Lucky Gods
|--- ---|
Psycho Soldier Kenya
_____________________________________________________________
[Ranma 1/2] DoCo * FIRST image song (1992)
Boku-tachi wa Kore Kara [Us After This]
Singer: Ranma 1/2 DoCo
Ranma * Hayashibara Megumi
Akane * Hidaka Noriko
Shampoo * Sakuma Rei
Nabiki * Takayama Minami
Kasumi * Inoue Kikuko
Lyricist: Izumi Yukari
Composer/Arranger: Kawai Kenji
(Akane) yume de dakishimeta nara [nee kamari konde] (R S K)
kao ga mirenaku naru ne [dou shita no]
(Nabiki) ienai kotoba zawameku mune
mujaki ni kimi wa nozoki komu kedo
(Akane) If I were to hug you closely in a dream [ ] (R S K)
It's become that I can't see your face, hasn't it? [Why?]
(Nabiki) Words which I can't speak are stirring in my heart
You peeped innocently, but ...
(Kasumi) kawa beri o fuku kaze ga [mou kaeranakucha] (R A N)
sayonara o isokasu kara [shikarareru]
(SHANPUU) kimi no egao ya karuishi gusa
hitotsu hitotsu ni toi kakete iru
(Kasumi) the wind blowing over the river's edge
[I must return home already] (R A N)
goodbye [I was scolded]
(Shampoo) Your smiling face and bright gestures
One by one asking questions
(zenin) futari wa mada tomodachi da ne
suki to itta sore dake da ne
(Ranma) nani o sureba ii no kore kara
(zenin) donna koto hanaseba ii
boku wa ...
(All) Besides both of us are friends, aren't we?
Only that I said "love", right?
(Ranma) What can I do? After this.
(All) What kind of things can be spoken that are good?
by me ...
(A S N) migibata de katta kedo [nee akai ishi no] (Kasumi)
yubiwa nara ENGEEJI [niau desho]
(Ranma) kimi ga ne datta yakusoku da yo
sonna kimochi ga nasakenai kedo
(A S N) Bought on the roadside, but [a red rock] (Kasumi)
if it was a ring, it would be an engagement ring
[probably a suitable fit]
(Ranma) you ... it's a promise
These feelings are miserable, but
(zenin) kimi wa ima mo toma totteru
mada honki no koi ja nakute
(Nabiki) boku o kirai ja nai dake da ne
(zenin) ai sarete ureshii dake
kimi wa...
(All) You are also now bewildered
it's not true love yet and
(Nabiki) it's only that I don't dislike you, right?
(All) only love and happiness
>From you...
(Akane) tsunagu te no hira de
nukumori to kusuri yubi no (+R * S) yubiwa o sagasu (+N * K)
(Akane) holding hands
found warmth and the ring on the ring finger
(zenin) futari mada tomodachi da ne
suki to itta sore dake da ne
(SHANPUU) donna fuu ni soshite kawaru no
(zenin) kono mama ja irenai kara
futari...
(All) Besides both of us are friends, aren't we?
Only that I said "love", right?
(Shampoo) What kind of manner and change
(zenin) because this can't happen frequently
us two
Translation by Ray Huang
Revised December 20, 1995
_____________________________________________________
Ranma to Akane no BARAADO (Ranma and Akane's ballad)
"Ranma 1/2" OAV ending theme (1993)
| Ranma: warau to kawaii yo
| dakara sunao ni nare yo
| Akane: ijippari na toko wa
| sou yo o-tagai-sama yo ne
(Ranma) You're cute when you smile!
And so you become docile!
(Akane) Being obstinate, that's right,
it's the same for us both!
| Both: oya no kimeta iinazuke
| saisho wa sou demo
| shirazu-shirazu aijou wa
| mebaete ita ne
(Both) Although our engagement was decided
by our parents at first,
unconsciously, love
has sprouted.
| Ranma: umaku tsutaerarenai ze
| Akane: futari koi ni bukiyou
| Ranma: kyou wa kao ga mirenai ze
| Akane: konna kimochi hajimete
(Ranma) We can't communicate well!
(Akane) We're clumsy at love.
(Ranma) Today I can't look you in the face!
(Akane) Feeling this way for the first time.
Both: kotoba ni wa mada dasenai kara
Ranma: sotto te ni fureru yo
(Both) Because we can't say the words yet,
(Ranma) Quietly, I touch your hand!
Akane: futari aete yokatta
Ranma: omae dake o mamoru ze
Akane: zutto machi-kogarete ita
Ranma: ima wa dare mo mienai
(Akane) It's so good when we get together.
(Ranma) I'll protect only you!
(Akane) I've waited eagerly all along.
(Ranma) Now I can't see anyone else.
Both: yasashisa wo tashikametai kara
Akane: sotto te ni fureru wa
(Both) Because we want to confirm gentleness
(Akane) Quietly, I touch your hand.
| Men: umaku tsutaerarenai ze
| Women: futari koi ni bukiyou
| Men: kyou wa kao ga mirenai ze
| Women: konna kimochi hajimete
(Men) We can't communicate well!
(Women) We're clumsy at love.
(Men) Today I can't look you in the face!
(Women) Feeling this way for the first time.
| Both: kotoba ni wa mada dasenai kara
| Ranma: sotto te ni fureru yo
| Akane: sotto te ni fureru wa
(Both) Because we can't say the words yet,
(Ranma) Quietly, I touch your hand!
(Akane) Quietly, I touch your hand.
[Ranma] [Akane]
[Ranma] [Akane]
[Ranma] [Akane]
[Ranma!] [Akane!]
[Ranma!] [Akane~~~!]
Singer: Ranma & Akane
Composition: Ranma-teki kagekidan bungeibu
Composer: Kawai Kenji
Arranger: Nakamura Nobuyuki
Translation: Theresa Martin (January 17, 1994)
______________________________________________________
<!-- End File -->
"That's my story and I'm sticking to it."--JMS, creator of Babylon 5.
"If you go to Z'ha'dum, you will die."--Kosh, Babylon 5.
"Understanding is a three-edged sword."--Kosh, Babylon 5.
"Never show your hand until the end."--me, being profound.
--Razorclaw X