Founding Fists
Chapter Three - Reality Bites (Rewrite
Standard Disclaimer
See last chapter. (Or rather the Prologue)
Story by Omega Point and Immortal Wanderer
"We found it, it's coming back to Japan" Nabiki called a note of victory
in her voice. Tofu and Ranma paused in their sparing, Ranma had
been putting Tofu through his paces trying to improve his speed and
hitting power, especially that of his hands. Tofu's fingers had been proven
effective even when hitting lightly, the training was aimed at improving the
force which Tofu could apply his strikes making them devastating and
hopefully
more effective against the Cat's regenerative power.
Ranma put down the reinforced punch pads that had steel blocks instead of
the
normal padding allowing Tofu to practice on a moving target with out the
risk
of permanent injury to Ranma.
Heading into the sitting area, or the hub as it had started to be called,
Ranma was reminded once again just how much influence Nabiki
wielded, glancing around at the equipment he relished that despite all
the comments about Nabiki going to any length to make money were total
unjustified, she had obviously been restraining herself. He
shuddered thinking what she could have put him through if he hadn't
been living in the house. Ranma and Tofu moved closer to the computers
and waited for Nabiki to elaborate.
"There were reports of a cat-like monster on the Californian coast, but the
reports ceased quickly as I assume because he started wearing clothes, and
paying bribes." -Pausing for a moment to let the connotations settle in.-
"we did pick him up boarding an international flight to Brazil, but he was
there less
than three hours before I received a report of a very large exchange of
golden items for an immediate charter to fly to Japan. They are due
in the Country in about two hours."
Ranma and Tofu each headed to get anything they needed, Ranma
heading up to change into cleaner clothes after training. Tofu went to
his current quarters now having replaced Genma sharing Ranma's living area,
as
Ranma's father was not expected to return anytime soon. Tofu had also
placed a sign on his surgery's door indicating that he had retired.
Five days since the first appearance of the guardian, Tofu was a much darker
person not inclined to laugh or joke at all, his eyes had gained a haunted
look about them that warned all and sundry that you'd better have a good
reason
before interrupting him. Ranma also was a lot more sullen and seemed
preoccupied
with a problem that wasn't being shared.
Elsewhere in Tokyo Ryoga was asking for directions to Nerima, "So I follow
this
road until I see a sign?" immediately starting to walk in just that
direction before listening to the response.
"No that way!" an exasperated farmer exclaimed pointing with his hoe
the opposite direction.
Several hundred kilometres away, at a high altitude the guardian is
cursing many things not the least of which is his current inability to
take a human form. *Be wishing be having power enough to use a
human form, then be having much smaller problem.*
Pausing in it's thoughts *Be too hot, this accurst robe.*
*Stupid human be being annoyed, teleporting, me be glad teleports
only work every few days, but bearer disappear more often. How?*
Ryoga chose this instance to walk under a bucket of water being
tipped out of a window.
"Bwee"
*He done it again!*
Frustration was plainly visible to the pilot who was seriously
wondering why he took the gold, but hen money was money and refusing
to carry whatever that passenger was may have been detrimental to
his health. He really did not want to know what was under that hood.
Back in the Tendo Residence everyone was prepared to start moving.
"Can we get there in time?" Ranma demanded of Nabiki.
"Only if you people get moving."
"We coming, Tofu you're driving" Ranma called across the top of the
van Nabiki had hired with some of her contingency funds (Actually depleating
it considerably as Nabiki hadn't been planning on needing such large amounts
of money in such a short period of time. (No needs to get professionals
curious as to the size of her deposits after all.)
"You going to call for backup, Ranma?" Nabiki queried, Tofu adding, "It
might not be a bad idea."
"And like who are we going to call?" was Ranma's reply
"Cologne for starters."
"That old ghoul, get real this is our fight not hers."
In accordance with the summoning principle, more commonly known
as 'Speak of the Devil' Cologne appeared. (Unbeknownst to Ranma
Colognes true name, was actually that of 'Old ghoul' thus causing her
appearance.) A gnarled wooded staff hit Ranma on the head. "Who are
you calling and old ghoul? Get moving." Shampoo and Cologne pile
into the back of the van.
"Just go." Ranma commanded Tofu, glaring menacingly at the
Amazons.
************
About 90 mins later ...
"Your lucky that I have friends in air control" Nabiki quipped as the
van pulled into the car park.
"Friends or people you could blackmail." Ranma thought aloud..
"There's a difference?" Nabiki flashed her most innocent smile, a
scary and intimidating sight for any that knew her. "Look we going to
catch this thing or not? They can only hold it in a holding pattern for
so long."
With that the group moved with a purpose, making it to the private
arrival gate with time to spare. Small children staring at cologne and
more than one adolescent male had run into other people gawking at
shampoo.
Nabiki spotted the creature clearing the customs point first, "I wonder
how much he had to pay for a passport?" there was no way in that he
could pass as human. Seven and a half foot feline humanoids can't be
that common, regardless however the security guards let him though
customs without fuss. "I really would like to have seen how he
managed that." Curiously most of the adults in the airport were
jumping to one of two conclusions. Either it was a person in costume
for a movie or it was a figment of their imagination.
Following the guardian was not difficult as it stood a good foot or two
above most of the people present. It headed out to the car park, though
it seemed unlikely that it was going to be able to drive. Deciding that
the car park was relatively unoccupied, Ranma decided to make the
confrontation here. Tofu didn't get a choice in the mater when
Ranma called out attracting the guardian's attention. Turning to the
noise source the guardian let out an internal groan *Not these again,
don't they be knowing they no chance. *
"Murder, prepare yourself." Ranma declared, preparing to enter battle.
Tofu rested a hand on Ranma's shoulder.
"First I will know your name and why you killed Kasumi." Tofu
tensed his muscles.
"And Akane" continued Ranma.
"My sisters" declared Nabiki.
Tofu and Ranma looked at each over in shock and then not so politely
told Nabiki to get out of their way. Looking at their auras starting to
appear and more importantly at the guardian's physique and decided
maybe they had a point and stepped back. Cologne was actively
restraining Shampoo from joining figuring her desired future husband.
Knowing that Ranma better to do this himself if he was to ever come to
trust herself or Shampoo. The ghoul was also concerned about shampoo's
safety, as she couldn't pick the level of skill of the creature due to
its magical nature.
"Names be knowing not, the females died as one had received that which
can't be given, and the other be being in my way." The monster
declared its voice deep and menacing, the totally casual way that at the
deaths of their loved ones appeared inconsequential to the guardian
had only increased their rage. "Be being Eonneh guardian of the
curse, guardian of that which was not to be given."
Ranma broke free of Tofu's restraining hand and charged into battle,
Eonneh turned looked at Ranma square on and threw back his hood,
Ranma's momentum didn't change but his mental state certainly did.
*I saw that happening* was colognes internal grimace, as she watched
the transformation take place. A now snarling Ranma dove forward to
slash at Eonneh only to hit empty air, the feline had been gaining more
and more strength (and speed) as body anchored itself fully to this plane.
Tofu entered the fray doing his best to be in a position to hit the
guardian as it landed, but most of his strikes were ineffective, as
Eonneh would move just enough to prevent Tofu hitting his targets.
The combination of both Ranma and Tofu fighting simultaneously
was having an effect, the guardian was restricted in movements,
having felt the force of Tofu's near misses Eonneh had no desire to
feel the increased force hit any of his pressure points. Ranma loosed a
roar that would've mad a lion run. Ranma went through a series of
slashes and cuts causing the guardian to jump, Ranma was too
committed though and ended up reducing several cars to scrap. Tofu rolled
under the descending form of Eonneh, standing to get a clear shot at the
guardians back. Tofu struck multiple times finding that the creatures
back was far less human than it's front, he caused a few spasms but
nothing more.
Tofu instinctively leapt back as Eonneh turned claws out stretched
catching Tofu across his front leaving great gashes in his clothing
but only fine lines of blood on his stomach. Ranma's form was given an
opportunity that it had been waiting for and slashed in a downward
motion that should've cleaved Eonneh in at least two. Unfortunately
Eonneh chose that moment to take a step backwards, instead catching
Ranma's forearm across the shoulder, on feeling the impact turned his
head and bit Ranma's arm. Ranma started to loose blood in quantities
that he didn't really have to spare.
Some people in car yard had started to gather, at what they deemed
a safe distance.
"Cool Costumes."
"Wonder what the movies about."
"Hey I saw the guy in the cat suit when I came thorough customs."
"This a publicity stunt or something?"
"That was my car he just split in two!"
"You sure it wasn't a prop?"
"I'm calling the police."
"Well, I'm out off here!"
Shampoo broke away from her great grandmother who was too busy analysing
the fighting styles to pay too much attention, and leapt into the fray,
promptly ending up being used as a projectile by Eonneh against
Tofu, so as to allow the guardian to concentrate on removing Ranma from
combat, permanently. Tofu seeing Shampoo's form hurtling towards
him moved to take some of the impact of her fall, a move which gave
Eonneh a few good seconds to refocus its attention. Shampoo while
saved from major injury had still hit head first and was too dazed to do
anything.
Cologne still analysing *Maybe she'll learn to think before acting like
a future matriarch should.* Then refocusing on the battle cologne
noted that Ranma now very hard pressed while Tofu was picking
himself back up, Ranma didn't have the speed to land any real blows
on the guardian, but due to his mental state and advanced techniques
Cologne could teach would be no use as his can form couldn't use it,
speed was what Ranma needed. But then there was the Amaguriken. It was
primarily just faster attacks after all.
Tofu re-entered the fray allowing the injured Ranma to ease off a bit
despite the fact that he was only using his second hand occasionally
he'd only suffered a few more scratches on his arms and a nasty
looking one across his right cheek Tofu rebalanced the fray a bit but it
was still in Eonneh's favour. Tofu's technique would be improved if
he could be in multiple places at once, the thought of Splitting Cats
Hairs crossed her mind, but could she justify teaching it to one who is
unlikely to be a member of her tribe.
Elsewhere in Japan...
P-Chan had just finished heating a kettle of water over his portable
burner and transformed back to his true form, causing a reaction back
at Tokyo airport.
"Be gone now, must hunt bearer" Eonneh spat annoyed that his
first decent work out in several centuries was being interrupted, but if
he didn't start moving now his target would either disappear again
(still hadn't worked out how) or he could teleport again sometime
tomorrow, plus there was the small mater of the compulsion laid on
him during the curses creation. Cursing (very quietly in case she was
listening) the priestess that laid the curse for not having laid a clause
to remove the rest of the affects when the contract was broken.
Eonneh turned and started to run, *Be thinking be seeing them again.
Shame be being stronger next time not be much challenge.*
Tofu was in shock but injured enough not to seriously consider giving
chase, he moved over to Ranma who was crouched inspecting his arm,
Tofu knocked him out and bound his arm to stop the bleeding. Nabiki
brought the van over to the injured people. As they where loading
Ranma onto the van they heard the sounds of police sirens
approaching.
"I realise we have done nothing wrong but do you really want to
explain this?" Nabiki moved her hand to indicate the wreckage of
several cars, a few slashes through the ground to the lower level of the
car park, and finally the injuries suffered primarily by Ranma and
Tofu.
"Agreed." Cologne nodded in agreement with the ever practical Nabiki.
Realising also that Nabiki would have be under the legal driving age,
"Tofu, are you up to driving, my stature makes such things difficult."
His weary agreement conveyed to all it was possible but only just.
Nabiki and Cologne started to have a discussion which the other
occupants of the car, could only make out the odd word or two,
"Training", "Out matched", "Only amazons", "Ranma" and "Tofu"
being the repeated ones.
***************
Authors end note
C&C is appreciated and wanted.
Thanks to those who have already given me C&C, it's all appreciated as it's
all been constructive, Yes Ranma and Tofu are going to learn some of
the Amazonian techniques but there is still a few things to happen
before their styles start to become "Truly Distinctive"
Note:
I REALLY WANT SOME SUGGESTIONS ON HOW TO TEACH SPLITTING CATS HAIRS
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Omega Point
There was no big bang only the previous omega point
http://members.tripod.com/omega_point_fanfics
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