Ranma vs. The world 4
The assassin and the bird.
Ranma stretched and stood in the room he and Ryoga had stayed in the
night before. The room was small but comfortable and cozy. The hotel they
were in was a nice middle class vacation type hotel and it had a small
gym. He and Ryoga decided that since they were in the city that it would
be better to stay indoors rather than seeking shelter in a park or an
abandoned lot like Ryoga intended originally. Besides they could afford
it. Ranma and Ryoga had made a surprising amount of cash in their battles
in Japan, especially the last few. Ranma walked over to the window and
pulled the curtains open to look out at Hong Kong. They were only on the
third floor but the view was still impressive.
Ryoga snored loudly and scratched his head in his sleep. Ranma smirked
and walked over to him. "Hey, P-chan wake up," he said giving him a hard
kick. Ryoga muttered and kept snoring. "C'mon Ryoga we gotta practice you
dope." Ranma was getting irritated at his companion's reluctance to wake
up. A smile formed on his lips. He walked into the bathroom and pulled
one of the small plastic cups from the sink and filled it with water from
the sink.
"What are you planing to do with that?" said Ryoga from directly behind
him causing Ranma to start and splash the water all over himself. Ryoga
poked Ranma in the back of the head causing her to fall face first into
the sink. "You let your guard down."
"You jerk! I was thirsty!" cried Ranma
"Yeah right, That's why I heard you giggling to yourself all the way
over here. Besides, you aren't thirsty now."
About an hour later in the gym Ranma and Ryoga had attracted quite a
crowd during their sparring match.
Ryoga jumped up at Ranma and punched at his gut as Ranma kicked off his
chest and blocked. "Hey, ease off P-chan we're only sparing."
"Quit your whining and fight," sneered Ryoga. "How dare you call me
P-chan in front of all these people!" he roared and leapt at Ranma again.
The boy dodged and weaved around his blows.
"Ryoga you dope, they don't know about that. Besides most of them can't
understand us anyway," said Ranma casually.
"That's no excuse!"
"Here it comes..." thought Ranma tensing himself.
"Hado shi shi houkou dan!" said Ryoga as he shot his blast at Ranma. He
took it in his side and was shot across the gym and into the wall. He
stood and groaned in pain.
"Damn, I still haven't figured it out," muttered the pigtailed boy
painfully.
Ryoga stood and looked at Ranma as he stood up shakily. "I have to be
careful about that, if I use it on him to often he'll figure it out." he
thought to himself. "That's enough practice for today Ranma. Let's go
find this Ryu guy."
"Ryoga you dope that goes to the pool!" cried Ranma as he chased after
him.
In the crowd someone frowned. "What do they want with Ryu?" he wondered
and turned away.
Ryoga stood and watched the amateur punks beat the crap out of each
other in the alley way behind a restaurant and frowned. "You say Ryu went
through here?" he asked some of the men. The pair had run into a group of
men who spoke very passable Japanese, one of them was even from a place
near Nerima.
"Yeah, a few days ago. He beat the hell out of Billy here," said a man
pointing to a heavily bandaged man nearby.
"Did he say where he might be going?" asked Ranma.
"Well, he didn't say much, but he asked where the Golden dragon pan
was," said another of the men.
"The what?" asked Ryoga.
"Golden Dragon pan' damn good food, a bit expensive. Maybe they can
help?" said one of the better-dressed punks.
"Thanks," said Ryoga shoving the group a few bills.
Ranma turned to walk away but was stopped when he nearly ran into an
elderly man in Chinese robes. "You want to find Ryu?"
"Yeah, you know anything about that?" asked Ryoga.
"No, I know he is a very capable warrior, but not much else. It has been
a few years since I've seen him. I am in search of another," said the old
man. "One who escaped me."
"Well, I'm afraid we can't help much old man," said Ryoga as he started
walking away.
"Perhaps not, however...I need my skills to be in top form when I face
him again. Perhaps you can help me with that?" said the man pointing
directly at Ranma.
The boy caught on quickly. "How much is it worth?"
Ryoga gave him an odd stare. It was unusual for Ranma to worry about
money that way.
The old man pulled out a bag and set several gold coins on a trash can
lid. Ranma smiled and placed a large bundle of money next to them. "Stay
here and guard the cash," he said to Ryoga.
The punks all watched wide-eyed. Ranma wasn't totally stupid, he and
Ryoga had set up an account at the bank of Japan before they left and put
most of their money in the bank soon after receiving it. However the
amount they had amassed coupled with his and Ryoga's savings was
substantial and Ranma carried a good bit around with him.
"Well young man, shall we begin?" asked the elderly martial artist as he
took up a strange stance.
"Kung fu? Not bad old man, So-ryu right?" asked Ranma as he took up his
own ready stance.
"Perhaps, I am called Gen by the way, not old man," he replied with a
small smile.
Ranma rushed him and swung for his head. Gen caught his arm and pressed
firmly against his shoulder with two fingers. Ranma cried out in surprise
and pain. "If you try to play with me boy you will die," said Gen looking
at Ranma coldly.
Ranma shifted his weight and tore out of the painful hold. His arm hung
limply at his side and the man's stance changed. "What's he up to?" he
thought. "Now he's using Ko-ryu style..." Ranma dodged and blocked with
his good arm while Gen took the offensive. "He's trying to kill me!"
thought Ranma desperately as Gen charged again. Most of the old mans
blows could have killed him had they struck him. "Katsutenshin
amaguriken!" yelled Ranma as he charged and punched at Gen hundreds of
times.
"You are too slow with only one arm boy. Hyaku ren Ko," said Gen calmly
as he blocked Ranma's blows with his own variation of the technique.
Ranma felt something jab his side and stomach through the Chestnut fist
attack. He fell to his knees clutching his wounds as he realized what
Gen's attack was, He was using something similar to the Chestnut fist to
attack his nervous system with pressure points. He tried to stand and his
leg gave out under him causing him to fall again. Gen smiled and walked
over to Ranma.
"A good match boy but now it must end." he said and raised his hand.
Ryoga watched as Gen prepared to give Ranma the finishing blow and stood
angrily. "No one gets to kill him until I have!" he cried and moved
toward one step.
"Let it be," said a voice from directly behind him. Ryoga froze as he
became aware of a very powerful presence behind him. He quickly turned
and saw no one. He reluctantly took his seat and turned back to the fight
as Gen gloated over the fallen Ranma. He then raised his hand to strike.
Ranma snorted into the dust and grit his teeth. "I'm not done yet!" he
cried as he rolled and slammed his good arm into Gen's crotch, hard.
Gen stood motionless for a moment and turned red. Ranma kicked the
elderly man's feet from under him causing him to land on his back. He
rolled away and stood shakily on his good leg. Gen rose from the ground
and glared at Ranma. "I'll teach you about pain before I kill you now
boy!" he sneered and stalked toward Ranma. Gen became a blur of motion
and swung at Ranma from all directions shifting his forms to confuse the
desperately defensive boy. Ranma growled as blows struck him almost
causing him to lose his already delicate balance. "What am I going to
do?" he thought desperately. Then it hit him. He was already doing it.
Gen leapt at Ranma and cried 'Ouga' as he spun in the air and came down
in a kick. Ranma ducked and shifted to avoid the blow, or so it seemed to
Gen. At the height of his kick Ranma did something he wasn't expecting.
"Hiryu shouten ha!" Gen gasped as the sleeping dragon enveloped him and
shot him high into the sky in the form of a powerful whirlwind.
As the blast died down Ranma collapsed as Gen came down nearby. Ranma
stood again after a few moments and felt his leg and arm throb in pain as
he regained control over them. He stood and wobbled towards Ryoga and the
amazed crowd.
"Wait. Finish it," said Gen from the ground as he also struggled to
stand.
Ranma turned to face him. "What?"
Gen pulled out a bag that jingled with coins, "Take this its yours just
finish what you've started boy. I wish to die in battle," said Gen
weakly.
"Put that away old man. I would have fought you for free if you hadn't
had any money. I can't be bought, and I don't kill," said Ranma as he
left Gen on the ground and walked away.
"Heh, a wise choice." said Gen.
Ranma turned to see that the man had vanished, he looked down to see the
bag of coins at his feet. Embroidered on the bag was, "The only true
assassins are those who use their hands to defeat their opponents."
He picked it up and looked in the bag. He almost passed out again. In it
was a small fortune in gold coins. He pulled out a small note written
with intricate handwriting that said. "For my successor."
Ryoga stood and watched coolly. "Ranma...How dare you beat up and rob a
helpless old man like that!"
From the shadows a dark figure stood watching. "If he is good enough to
defeat the assassin... Perhaps I should watch this one more closely," it
thought.
A few hours later Ranma walked out of the 1st China bank with a huge
grin. "What are you so happy about?" growled Ryoga.
"You dope! You don't get it do you. We never have to worry about money
again as long as we live. We are set for life!" said Ranma knocking on
Ryoga's head like it was a door.
"So?" said Ryoga sourly.
Ranma sighed and walked on. "There is just no pleasing some people," he
said to himself. Ryoga walked a short distance behind him and frowned.
"Hey Ranma. I'm bored," he said finally.
"Well what do you want to do?" asked Ranma casually.
"If I knew that I wouldn't be board would I?" snapped Ryoga.
"I'll buy you lunch I guess."
"I can buy my own," sneered Ryoga.
"Fine jeez! I try to be nice and this is what I get," said Ranma
throwing his hands into the air in frustration.
Ryoga stood and watched Ranma walk for a moment with a surprised look on
his face. "He was?" he thought before realizing that he would be lost if
he lost sight of Ranma.
"Hey, wait up!"
At the Tendo Dojo...
Dear Akane,
Guess what? I'm in China again. Now before you get all mad at me I just
want to say that I'm not in any trouble or anything, I just ended up here
after our little training trip got underway. I guess we got a little
carried away. Me and Ryoga talked about it and decided we are not going
to visit Jusenkyo. If we did we would lose sight of our goal, possibly
forever. I know I didn't explain much for you and your family. I guess I
thought this way would be easier. I am with Ryoga searching for a
technique called the Sho ryu ken. The only man we know of that knows it
is a man named Ryu. We are trying to find him, and it isn't easy. He
travels even more than Ryoga. Well I hope that clears things up a little
for you. I'm sorry I couldn't tell you earlier. I miss every one there.
Well almost.
Yes, I even miss you. You uncute Tomboy.
Ja!
Ranma.
P.S. Ryoga says "Hi"
P.P.S. Ranma's just mad cause I learned a technique first...Ryoga.
Akane clutched the postcard to her chest and smiled. She started as
Nabiki entered the room and sat down. She quickly composed herself.
"What's that?" asked the middle Tendo.
"Oh, just a post card from Ranma," she said nonchatingly.
Nabiki plucked it from her grasp and glanced at it. Akane reached for it
defensively, but pulled back at the last moment.
"That dope hasn't changed a bit," said Akane laughing nervously.
"I certainly hope not, you'd never forgive him if he did," commented
Nabiki as she handed it back.
Unryu pig farm...
Akari Unryu held an Identical post card in her hand. On the front was a
picture of Ranma and Ryoga standing in front of a large Chinese building
and smiling casually. She almost cried in joy that Ryoga remembered her
even on his voyage of training.
Dearest Akari,
I hate Traveling with Ranma, he's such a jerk. I think I'm going to kill
him. He's always such a pain in the ass. I miss you and hope to see you
as soon as I beat the crap out of Ranma for good. Ranma says to say
'Hi'. I told him to quit hitting on you and hit him. That guy is
unbelievable. I hope you are doing well.
Until we meet again.
Ryoga.
"He's so romantic. Defending my honor that way. Just like a pig would."
sighed Akari happily clutching the card to her chest.
Back in China...
Ranma stood in a park in one of the nicer areas of Hong Kong and watched
the people go by. He smiled and waved as a group of schoolgirls walked by
giggling and watching him. Ryoga stood next to him at a phone booth and
flipped through the pages of the phone book casually. He blushed slightly
as he noticed some of the girls were watching him as well. He ignored it
and continued his search. "Did ya find it yet?"
Ryoga snorted and frowned. "Yeah," he said and ripped out the page. "And
don't think I didn't notice you flirting with those girls Saotome. I
won't allow you to cheat on Akane like that." He smacked Ranma upside his
head with the book.
About an hour later Ranma and Ryoga walked into the Golden Dragon Pan
and waited as a pretty young girl walked up and greeted them. They smiled
politely and asked if she spoke Japanese. She bowed and walked away.
A short elderly woman walked up to them and smiled. Ranma and Ryoga
winced at the familiarity of the situation.
"What can I do for you boys?" she asked.
"We are looking for a man named Ryu. We understand he came here," said
Ryoga.
The woman frowned and looked thoughtful. "I can't say I remember. We get
a lot of customers from all over."
"Oh well, thanks for your time," said Ryoga.
"Sorry I couldn't help," said the woman.
The pair stepped out of the restaurant and walked back towards the
hotel. About half way there they passed an alley. Am obviously female
figure in the shadows stepped out into the light. "I understand your
looking for Ryu."
"That's right," said Ranma stepping forward.
"I've found them," she said to no one.
Another figure stepped out of the shadows. <This is them?> he asked with
a snort in English.
"These are the men my contact said were sparing in the Gym. Obviously
collectors for Shadowloo," said the woman.
"What the hell are they talking about Ranma?" said Ryoga.
"Got me," replied Ranma coolly. He didn't like the look she was giving
him.
The man standing opposite Ryoga got into a ready stance and Ryoga
followed. "So you want to fight?" asked Ryoga frowning at the much larger
man He had blocked blonde hair and wore camouflage pants with a black
leather jacket. He also stood like he knew what he was doing.
Ranma had his own problems. The woman hadn't even bothered to get into a
stance. "For my father!" she cried and charged at Ranma with a kick that
sent him into the alleyway. "My name is Chun li and your kind killed my
father scum. Prepare to die!" she said and charged at him again.
Ranma stood from the puddle she was in and punched the woman in the
face. "Now that were both girls, I don't have to go easy on you," she
said as a shocked Chun li stood and faced her new opponent.
Ranma vs. The world 5
The eagle and the bird.
Ryoga stood and glared at his opponent. Guile. He faced him and frowned.
"Tell us who you're working for. I want names," demanded the American.
Ryoga stopped and relaxed his stance. "Working for?"
Guile punched him while his guard was down and sent him to the pavement.
Ryoga stood immediately. "What the hell are you doing jerk?!" he cried
and charged at the American. Guile side stepped and Ryoga passed him and
spun into a back kick that took Guile in the jaw, causing him to slam
into the brick wall. Ryoga pressed his advantage and swung at Guile who
side stepped again.
"What the hell?" thought Guile as Ryoga pulled his fist out of the wall.
The damage he had inflicted was unbelievable. "I can't let this guy get
his hands on me." He charged and backhanded Ryoga in the face causing him
to stagger back.
Ryoga turned and smiled at his opponent. "You're pretty strong, I
actually felt that punch." he sneered.
Guile stepped back and growled. "Shit, I'm gonna have to go all out."
In the alleyway Ranma dodged Chun li's attacks as fast as she could. The
woman jumped up and kicked at Ranma who ducked and shifted out of the
way. Chun li landed and flipped on her hands. "Spinning bird kick!" she
cried as she spun at her opponent. The pigtailed girl stood and blocked
as best as she could only to be knocked into a pile of trash nearby.
"Damn, she's fast."
Chun li flipped onto the wall and hoped off it towards Ranma. She
twisted into the air into an Axe kick as she neared her opponent. The red
head jumped out of the way and punched out at the angry Kempoist. Chun li
grabbed her arm and threw her into the ground hard. Ranma twisted and
rolled, throwing her as well as she landed. She stood and looked to see
Chun li climbing out of the garbage pile with determination burning in
her eyes. "I will make you pay for that girl. Then I will find your
boyfriend and teach him what it means to be a criminal in my city."
"Boyfriend?" said Ranma momentarily surprised.
Chun li leapt at Ranma again and kicked at her head. Ranma ducked and
rolled away. She turned and jumped at Chun li in a counter attack aimed
at her head and Chun li smiled. The Chinese woman jumped at the girl in
an almost vertical spinning kick that hit her several times in the chest.
Ranma fell to the ground hard and groaned in pain. She stood as Chun li
walked towards her. The girl was forced into defense immediately.
Guile jump kicked Ryoga in the chest sending the boy staggering back
again. Ryoga punched at him and he ducked. Guile smiled as he kneeled and
shot up into the air in his infamous flash kick. Ryoga stepped back
barely in time and was thrown back from the sheer force of the kick as it
ripped his shirt wide open. Guile frowned as his attack missed and
noticed the boy glancing at Chun li and his friend.
"You should pay attention," he said to him as he punched him in the
head.
Ranma was walking the spiral and Drawing the angry Chun li into the
nexus of the blast. He finally entered the center and...ducked away.
"Idiot," grumbled Ryoga as Guile sent his fist into his head. "Can't you
see I'm busy?" he said rubbing the spot as Guile staggered back from the
kick back of the blow. Ryoga swung at him and frowned as Guile leapt over
his head. Ryoga did a back kick and felt it connect. Then he turned and
saw no one behind him. "Wha?" he said in surprise. "You coward! How dare
you run from our fight!" he yelled and went off in pursuit.
Guile jumped over Ryoga's head and was taken by his back kick in the
face. He was sent to the ground hard and browned out for a moment. He saw
the boy turn ninety degrees and look around confused before saying. "You
coward! How dare you run from our fight!"
He was about to go after him and he stood to his feet. The task proved
more difficult than he had anticipated and he fell to the ground
unconscious.
Ranma turned after being hit to the ground again by a kick and stood
against the wall. His leg burned and began to feel numb. Chun li charged
and kicked at her. "Yayayayayayayayayyayayayayaaa!" she cried and
unleashed her lightening kick on the hapless Ranma.
Ranma desperately blocked and stood her ground. Chun li intensified her
attack and the girl intensified her own. Then Ranma's arm gave out again.
"No! I still haven't healed from that old man's fight!" she thought as
Chun li's attack began to get through. She felt a few of the kicks and
faltered letting her guard completely down. "No!" she thought tensing
herself. Then Chun li stopped and frowned, she was breathing hard and
glaring at her.
"You're good girl I'll give you that," she said bitterly.
Ranma grit her teeth charged at her shakily. "I have to take her out now
while she's winded or I never will."
"You're good...but I am the strongest woman in the world!" cried Chun li
as she put her hands up in front of her. Ranma felt something familiar in
the air, but this was much larger in scale. "Sho Kocho!" cried Chun li as
a huge burst of Ki appeared before her.
"That's it!" thought Ranma as she felt the blast engulf her.
A few minutes later Ranma awoke and was surrounded by heavily armed men
in uniforms. Chun li rested against a wall nearby with a badly bruised
Guile standing next to her. He had a black eye and his cheek was
beginning to swell. Ranma frowned as she was forced to stand. She tugged
at her hands and felt that they were cuffed. She was put into the back of
a police van marked 'Interpol' on the side. She sighed and allowed
herself to be taken.
"What happened to you?" said Chun li looking at Guile in surprise.
"Got hit by a truck," said Guile without flinching. "How are you?"
"Fine I guess. She is one hell of a fighter for someone her age," said
Chun li in answer. "To bad she didn't choose her sides better. Looks like
her so called friends abandoned her."
Guile only nodded.
A few miles away...
Ryoga walked on. He had stopped his search for his opponent a while ago
and simply wandered. He didn't bother looking where he was going because
he knew it didn't matter. He just wandered. "Who needs Ranma. I'll find
Ryu on my own," he thought as he walked on.
In the shadows a familiar looking outline watched and waited as Ryoga
walked by several times, seemingly unaware that he was being followed or
even that he was going in circles.
"Damn he's on to me," thought the figure as he stepped out in front of
Ryoga finally.
The lost boy stopped and regarded the new figure for a moment before he
started walking on.
"Stop," said the man. His Identity still obscure from the shadows
surrounding the buildings due to the hour.
"What? Wait, I know you," said Ryoga looking at the figure for a moment.
The man smiled, it would be good if he already feared him and his skills.
"You were watching us spar this morning!" said Ryoga completely
oblivious.
The man face faulted for a moment and frowned deeply. "Did you come from
under a rock or something? You may have escaped my friends but you won't
get away from me," said the figure getting into a ready stance.
Ryoga followed. "I'm in no mood for this," he warned the man as he threw
his bag to the ground. "Interesting," he commented noting the man's
stance his eyes narrowed as he lifted his fist to confront him.
"Let's go," replied the man.
Ranma vs. The World 6
Captured and the Dragon strikes...
Ranma sat in the chair as the men in the room with her walked in circles
around her. She smiled as one of them punched her in the face again. Her
face was not in good shape, it was covered in bruises and she was
bleeding from her mouth and nose. Her right eye was almost completely
red. The man who had been asking her questions in Chinese hit her in the
stomach yet again with his rifle. <Tell us what we want to know and maybe
the judge will go easy on you,> screamed the man.
"What?" asked Ranma again. It earned her yet another round of punches
and kicks from the men. It did not matter to her; she had had much worse
in her life, but still, they were starting to annoy her.
In the next room Chun li looked at the interrogation indifferently. "She
is a tough one."
"I don't like this, if my country finds out I was involved with this
interrogation I may be pulled from the case," said Guile as he watched.
Chun li smiled. "Then leave, no one is keeping you. This is how some
things are done in my country," she said calmly.
"You know I can't do that," said Guile as he watched. "I want him too
badly."
Then Ranma turned and looked at them through the one way mirror. "You
could at least have someone who speaks my language in here," she said
calmly to the pair. One of the men uppercut her in the jaw with his rifle
and knocked her too the floor.
Chun li pushed the button for the intercom. "That's enough. Clean her up
and put her in a cell, we'll continue this tomorrow," she said in a
frustrated tone.
Meanwhile...
Ryoga stood and watched his opponent as he moved slowly towards him. The
man frowned and rushed him suddenly. "Whoooooo!" he cried as he jumped
straight up and caught Ryoga's chest with a powerful kick. Ryoga was sent
flying into the air and screamed in pain as flames erupted all over his
body. He hit the ground rolling and put them out. Steam rose from his
scorched body as he stood. "Rekka ken!" screamed the man as he charged.
Ryoga was still not recovered from the first blow and was hit with
several lightening fast blows. He fell to the ground and clutched his
jaw.
"That'0s pretty good," he commented painfully.
"No one can stand up to Fei Long's attacks," said the man confidently.
"Ya know, you remind me of someone," said Ryoga as he stood and smiled
at the man.
"I should hope so," grumbled Fei Long. He had only made thirty movies,
most of them were at least reasonably popular and his last five had
practically made him a household name.
"His name is Ranma and I really don't like him. I think I'll take it out
on you," said the boy as he got into his battle ready stance once again.
This time he also had his umbrella in hand.
"Well, you've obviously seen fist of steel two; but if you remember I
defeated him and his invincible umbrella attacks," said Fei Long looking
annoyed.
"What are you talking about?" yelled Ryoga as he swung at Fei Long with
his weapon. The movie star blocked and was thrown into the wall hard.
Ryoga pressed his assault and jabbed at him again.
Fei long jumped up over the second strike only to get knocked out of the
air and into another wall by the lost boy. "Damn, what the hell is that
thing made of?" wondered the movie star as he rubbed his arms where Ryoga
had connected.
"I'll show you," said Ryoga in answer as he opened it and flung the
umbrella at him like a boomerang. It sailed by missing Fei Long's neck by
inches and carved a deep gash in the wall next to him.
"What the hell?" said Fei Long as he looked at the wall. Ryoga stood
calmly and caught the umbrella in his hand as it returned.
"Impressed?" he asked.
"Very, Maybe this fight will get even more interesting," said the man
with a smirk. The two men charged each other.
Ranma was thrown into the small dank cell roughly. She hit the floor and
turned to see the other three inhabitants looking at her coolly. She
stood shakily and faced them. "Look at what we have here," said the
largest of the girls. Ranma simply slumped against the bars; she could
take another beating. She wasn't in the mood for another fight with a
girl. Especially since the last one had gone so well.
The large woman and her skinny companion walked over and pushed her face
up. "You took it pretty bad," she said with a smile. "Got a name?"
"Ranma," she answered.
"Well c'mon in, Welcome to the foreigners block. We'll get you cleaned
up." said the woman. Ranma blinked in surprise and walked to the back of
the cell with her. The woman on the other side of the cell stared at her
with a gaze of ice. Ranma felt unnerved but ignored it. The woman just
sat and stared, nothing more.
"Foreigners block?" asked Ranma.
"Yeah, this is where the police send all their out of country scum. They
just chuck us over to Interpol cause it's to much paperwork otherwise,"
laughed the older woman. "Me and Shinko here are from Kyosho, not sure
about blondie over there, she don't talk."
The woman in question simply stared at Ranma with her cold blue eyes.
"What ya in fer?" asked the skinny girl.
Ranma looked at her for a moment and thought. "Not really sure, They
think I'm some sort of collector or something; for some guy named
Shadowlaw."
The woman across the cell stood and glared at Ranma even harder. "They
think you are a collector for Shadowloo?" she asked in heavily accented
Japanese.
"Yeah." answered Ranma warily.
"Humph, I don't know you. Your not Shadowloo," said the woman with an
angry looking stare.
"Yeah, I know that, they don't," retorted Ranma curtly.
"And how would you know little miss brit?" asked the large ugly woman
standing to her full height.
"Because I was an assassin and collector," she replied. The large woman
sat down and kept her mouth shut.
Ryoga slammed his fist into Fei Long's gut and got kicked in the face
for his efforts. "Heh, your almost as fast as Ranma," he said as he
staggered from the blow.
Fei Long was on his knees and clutching his stomach. "I think I'm in
trouble. This guy hits like a truck!" He kicked at Ryoga's feet and was
met half way by the umbrella.
"Give it up, that guy I beat up earlier could take you on easily. You're
too weak to hurt me," snorted Ryoga.
"I'll show you weak!" yelled Fei Long as he charged Ryoga. He punched at
his chest with his Rekka ken and Ryoga went flying into a wall. He
slumped down and the wall crashed in around him. "Heh, I showed you who
was weak," spat the man as he turned away.
Then the ground exploded from under him. Fei Long turned and looked back
in horror as Ryoga began to laugh. "No way," he whispered.
"Ha, You call that strong?!" sneered Ryoga as he stood from the pile of
bricks. Fei long put his fist up again. "I'll show you real strength!"
yelled Ryoga as he charged. The Chinese man jumped in the air and kicked
the boy in the back of the head as he passed sending the boy into the
side of a dumpster. Ryoga nearly crushed it flat against a wall. Fei Long
was beginning to think that he was in serious trouble.
"No wonder he walked away from Guile. This guy can't be human!" thought
the man.
"I've got to get this guy down," thought Ryoga to himself. "He's a lot
stronger than Ranma is and almost as fast, I won't be able to take
another of those Rekka ken punch combos, if he gets one in its over."
Fei Long knew he had to get this fight over with soon. He had one attack
left.
Ryoga got himself ready as the man prepared his next attack. "I won't
lose." he thought angrily as he positioned himself.
Fei Long charged.
Ranma stared at the woman and frowned. "What?"
"I don't repeat myself luv," said the woman frowning.
"Tell me what a collector is exactly. Miss...?" said Ranma sitting down
next to the woman.
"White, Cammy White, I think. And to answer your question, Basically a
collector is someone who collects fighters as recruits for Shadowloo."
"Well that doesn't help me much. What do they care about some recruiter
anyway?" said Ranma.
"I don't think you understand the concept of collecting. It isn't
voluntary. They take you by force and brainwash you. That is what
happened to me, except for the past three years I have no memory," said
Cammy quietly.
"I'm sorry," said Ranma sympathetically.
"What made them think you were a collector anyway?" asked Cammy.
"I'm looking for a man named Ryu. I think it had something to do with
that, but I'm not sure, I heard the woman mention it when I was caught,"
said Ranma thoughtfully.
"Ryu? The street fighter? What do ya want him fer?" asked the large
woman.
"Sho ryu ken," said Ranma with a far off gaze.
Cammy looked at her blankly. "What?" she said dumbly. "What's a Sho ryu
ken?"
"Its a technique. I have to learn how he does it," said Ranma calmly.
"Why?" asked the skinny girl.
"Its a guy thing." said Ranma simply.
A guard walked to the door of the cell and looked at his clipboard.
"White, Cammy."
Cammy stood and walked to the door she stood with her back to the guard
and stuck her hands through the hole so she could be cuffed for
transport.
"Looks like my turn." she said smiling slightly at Ranma.
Ranma watched her being led away and frowned.
"Boy she got talkative," commented the large woman.
"I'll say." agreed her companion.
Fei Long charged at Ryoga. "Rekka shin ken!" His fist became a blur as
he struck out at the lost boy.
Ryoga braced for impact he set his feet apart slightly and thrust his
hands forward. "Hado shi shi houkou dan!"
They slammed into each other hard. Ryoga took a punch that sent him
flying into one wall and into a pile of garbage bags. Fei Long took the
full blast and was shot through the wall opposite Ryoga leaving a gaping
hole. After a moment Ryoga stood shakily. He looked and saw Fei Long's
unconscious form lying on the floor on top of the rubble from the blast.
He turned and staggered away clutching his face. "Damn, I didn't even get
paid for this. This is all your fault Ranma..." he said out loud.
Then he remembered he was alone. He laughed to himself. He was so used to
having Ranma around after a fight over the past month that he had
forgotten he had been arrested only hours before.
Ranma smiled as she sat in the middle of the floor in a meditation
position, she had realized what she felt when the woman gave her the
final blow in her fight. Now she understood it. She stood and looked at
the wall in front of her. "I'm leaving."
"What?" said the large girl sitting up suddenly. She wiped the sleep
from her eyes and looked at Ranma who just stood there.
"What are you talking about girl?" she slurred sleepily.
"What floor are we on?" asked Ranma.
"The second, but I still don't understand," said the woman.
"Good, I'd stay here if I were you. This may get rough," said Ranma as
she concentrated. "Hadou Moukou Takasishi!" she cried and blasted the
wall away leaving a huge hole. She ran and jumped from the hole to the
ground. She charged as sirens blared around her and she made her way to
the outside wall after jumping several fences. The searchlight was
pointed on her and she smiled as she felt the lights concentrate on her.
It wasn't much but it was enough, barely.
She heard the men in the nearest tower point their guns on her and yell
at her in Chinese and English to give herself up. She smiled and stood
still, All she could do was hope one of the men was not trigger-happy.
She pointed her fist at the searchlight suddenly and smiled wider. "Hiryu
shouten ha revised! Diagonal distraction blast!" she cried as the tornado
force winds shot from her body to the tower blowing it away. At the last
moment she threw herself into the blast. She felt herself being thrown
into the air as the winds tore and beat on her already beaten body. She
was shot over the wall and ran to safety into the night as the confused
guards tried to figure out what happened.
Cammy sat at a table and waited for Chun li to return to the room. The
door opened and Chun li entered casually. "Black coffee right?" she said
with a smile.
"Yes, thank you," said Cammy politely.
"What did you find out?" asked Chun li calmly as she turned on her tape
recorder.
"Nothing really, I don't think she is a collector. She didn't recognize
me and I don't remember her. She didn't seem to know what I was talking
about."
"What does she want with Ryu?" asked the Chinese woman impatiently.
"Why is it so important luv?" asked Cammy coolly.
Chun li blushed. "I'm sorry, its just that he's an old friend," said
Chun li catching herself.
"Act like that and I might be compelled to with hold important facts,"
said Cammy curtly.
"Your superiors said you would cooperate Miss White," said Chun li.
"If this girl would not suffer I would walk out now Miss li," said Cammy
angrily.
"Tell me," said Chun li sitting in her chair calmly.
"She is looking for something called the Sho Ryu ken. Does that mean
anything to you?" asked Cammy.
"Shit," muttered Chun li bitterly as she slumped into her chair. "The
poor kid was just on some sort of training trip."
"I take it you gave her a full interrogation?" said Cammy calmly.
Suddenly the alarms were blaring.
A few moments later in the hall...
"Our friend," said Guile as he met Chun li and Cammy halfway to the cell
that had once contained Ranma.
"I thought so. How far did she get?" asked Chun li as a lump formed in
her throat.
"All the way. The guards still don't know what hit them. No one was
injured seriously but she gave a couple a good scare," said Guile as he
walked with her.
"Good, She isn't Shadowloo," said Chun li as she walked.
"It was a good idea to send Cammy in, how did you know she would take
interrogation?" asked Guile casually as they approached the cell.
"You weren't there for the strip search. That girl has seen a lot of
combat. That's why I was so sure," said Chun li.
"And wrongly so luv," commented Cammy.
"Let it go," said Guile flatly.
"Sir," replied Cammy reluctantly.
"What's her story?" asked Guile ignoring the girl.
"Apparently a training voyage. She wants to learn from Ryu. That's what
I could gather anyway. I should have known right away really. Its been a
while but I've seen this before, it didn't end well for her," said Chun
li as she looked at the hole in the wall.
"...Light came from her hands and she shouted Hado something..." said
one of the prisoners as they were lead by to their new cells.
"That sounds familiar. Looks like she can use Hado ken," said Chun li
calmly as Guile inspected the hole.
"It's a fairly common technique these days in one form or another," said
Cammy.
Chun li blushed. "What are you saying?" she said angrily.
"I didn't say anything about you luv. You did that on your own," said
Cammy as she turned away. "I have to go write a report now if you don't
mind."
"Little girls," said Guile as he smiled to himself. "So what do we do
about this?"
"I see no point in chasing her, She could be held responsible for the
damages but she didn't really do anything to get put in here in the first
place. I should have investigated more. We let her go," said Chun li as
she turned away.
Ranma looked at the prison on a hill from a few miles away. She had been
running for some time now and sat down to rest. She had not traveled well
over the past few hours as her injuries were extensive, if only minor,
every part of her body was sore and some parts were beginning to bleed
again. It was very uncomfortable to sit, but even more so to stand. She
thought back to the escape and the blast she had used to bring down the
wall.
"Something didn't feel right when I did that. It wasn't Hado ken yet.
What am I missing?" she looked at her hands thoughtfully. "I will get
this, I have a feeling I'll need it for the Sho ryu ken," thought Ranma
as she stood and began to walk again.
Ryoga Hibiki sat on a hill that overlooked Hong Kong. He looked at his
fist and frowned. "I still can't get it right. What am I doing wrong?" he
muttered as he thought. "I will master the Sho ryu ken. I won't let Ranma
beat me this time!" he thought as he poked at the fire. He felt a chill
go down his spine as he sat there. It was as if someone had walked over
his grave. He turned to see a dark figure walking down the road, it
stopped and was looking at him. He felt strangely afraid and swallowed as
he looked at it. It seemed to snort in mild amusement and continue on its
way. Ryoga turned away and stared into the fire for a moment. He had
never felt anything like what he had just experienced now. "Yes I have.
When Ranma was fighting that old man." Ryoga looked at the flames for a
moment more and looked to see that the figure was long gone. "I could
have sworn it was glowing."