And here's the third edition of COB.  This was probably the best of the 
first three as I did most of this in one sitting.  This is my own opinion of 
course but I have a strong feeling that this did get more votes than the 
previous two simply because I wouldn't have even voted for my own stuff the 
previous month.

Anyways this should catch everyone up to the episode I posted recently.  If 
you already deleted it, well, it's my fault for not posting it without 
posting these first.  All my fics are available at 
http://www.geocities.com/violetdimall/fiction.html

Any response is better than nothing.

-----

The couple stood on the pier waving to the burly captain in farewell.
It was early morning of the third day since they boarded the boat.
The mists hung heavily over the water, awaiting the sun to rise and
disperse the fog.  The scene was picturesque.  Almost.

"If you change your mind, you know where to find me, Ryouga," the
captain called cheerily from mid-air.  At least that's what it looked
like.  The captain simply stood above the waters, drifting further
away into the fog.  There was no sign of the boat as she had promised.
After a few moments, there was no sign of the captain either.

The pair turned away from the sea and with hand in hand, walked
steadily down the wooden planks to a path on shore.  There were no
signs of a village nearby.  The captain had assured them that the path
would lead to a road that they could take north to Nagasaki when she
handed him the rest of the payment for his services.

'At least I don't have to smell that wretched shark stench,' Cas
thought positively.

"Um, Cas, where are we?" Ryouga asked sheepishly from her side.

Cas regarded her companion and took back her hand, hoping the fog
obscured any blushing she might be doing.  A little voice taunted her
actions while she valiantly justified them by how easily she'd lose
Ryouga if she didn't keep a hold on him.  "We're south of Nagasaki,"
Cas answered curtly.

"So, we're in Japan now?"

"Uh, yeah.  That's what we paid the man for," Cas said in a tone that
ridiculed him for being such a simpleton.

"Oh ok," Ryouga muttered.  He pawed at the ground absently with his
foot, not looking at her.

Cas suppressed the urge to say something rude.  She sighed, pressing a
palm to her forehead.  "Is there anything else you'd like to ask of me
before we continue?"

"Well ..." Ryouga began, but paused.  He continued his ministrations
to the rubble at his feet, his eyes studying a bush with an intensity
that could make any sentient being self-conscious.

"Ryouga," Cas murmured.  "Just ask away.  I promise that I will give
an effort not to belittle you."

Ryouga kicked a stone that struck soundly into her shin.  She winced
and nearly called him every horrible word he had taught her, but kept
her tongue.  It was not like he meant to.  He was too busy examining
the bush to even notice what he absently had done.

"Where'd the boat go?" Ryouga asked, abruptly turning to face her.
There was a challenge in his eyes.  It was a challenge daring her to
go back on her word.

Seeing this, Cas decided to toy with him instead of calling him a
name.  "It went back out to sea."

Ryouga furrowed his brow in frustration.  "No, I meant, what happened
to it?" he rephrased the question.  "When we came out of the storage
this morning, the boat was gone."

"I turned the boat invisible last night," Cas explained.  "It was part
of the agreement to help our captain avoid contact with the Japanese.
I suspect he is a smuggler of some sort and probably wanted in Japan.
It would explain why he knew of this pier that is conveniently distant
from any towns."

"But the boat was there when we woke up," Ryouga started, confused.
"I could see the wood clearly.  But once I got atop the stairs, it all
was distorted.  It was like I couldn't focus on it."

Cas thought about Ryouga's confusion for a second, trying to
understand what he didn't grasp.  "I cast a spell on the boat," Cas
repeated slowly.  "It will stay that way for a whole day's time
without further negotiation.  That is unless I decide to ask it to
stop."

"But the boat was there this morning," Ryouga reiterated, frustrated.

Cas's eyes sparked for a second.  "Oh!" she said, smacking herself in
the head.  "Ryouga, do you know why you can see me?"

Ryouga looked at her nervously.  He was obviously thinking this was
some sort of trap by the look on his face.  "Um, because you're
there?"

She moved her wrist to give him a 'sorta' gesture.  Seeing he didn't
get the gesture, she explained.  "You see things because light bounces
off an object and then strikes the lens of your eye," Cas stated.
"Your brain then interprets what that light is showing it."

Ryouga cocked his head, visibly thinking about her words.  "So ... why
doesn't everyone have perfect vision then?" he asked.  "Is there
something wrong with some people's brains?"

Cas had to suppress a fit of laughter.  He was off topic but at least
it was humorous.  "No, no, silly," she said with a grin.  "Usually
it's the lens of the person's eyes that are damaged.  In fact, I had
to undergo eye surgery when I was twelve.  My eyes were damaged so
badly that I was legally blind.  Now I can get by with a weak
prescription of contact lens."

"Oh," Ryouga offered with a shrug.

Cas threw him a puzzled look.  "Why did you ask that?"

"Well, there's this guy I know, Mousse.  I think I mentioned him to
you," Ryouga explained slowly.  "Anyways, he's blind as a bat.  I was
thinking that maybe it was due to him being hit in the head too many
times or being born that way."

Cas shook her head, smiling in disbelief.  "Back on subject though,"
she redirected, "the reason why you could see the boat was because we
were under the deck.  When I 'negotiated' with the light to not
reflect from the boat, I did so for only the surfaces viewable from
without.  There was no reason to do so for the storage room, the
cabin, or for the crew."

"Well why couldn't I see the storage room from outside?" Ryouga asked,
confused.

"Because the boat is still there, Ryouga," Cas said.  "I did not make
the boat transparent.  I made it obscured."

"Wouldn't that make the spell useless then?" Ryouga ventured.  "You
couldn't use it in a city because it would be obvious that something
is there."

Cas was slightly taken aback by Ryouga's declaration.  She would have
been even more shocked if she hadn't already come to the same
conclusion beforehand.  "You're right, Ryouga," she said with a smile.
"There would be a visible distortion, an obvious absence of
something.  However this works quite well on the sea.  There is a more
powerful version of this spell that allows the light to pass through
the object, thus making it transparent.  But that spell takes constant
supervision, much like the Haisupo-do.  The invisible object would
become visible the moment I tried to cast another spell."

"But you could fight invisible?" Ryouga asked, his tone bearing some
excitement.
Cas thought about it.  "Yes," she drawled, "but we already know I'm
not that competent of a fighter."

"But you can cast it on, say, someone else?" Ryouga ventured.

Cas's eyes lit up in understanding.  "Yes, I could make you invisible
so you could beat Ranma," Cas promised.  "It will take some time to
convert my Akari katawa to a full blown Fukashi."

'Trying to impress him again,' a thought chided her.  However on
closer inspection, Cas feared her words had scared Ryouga.  He wasn't
moving.  "What did I say?"

Ryouga blinked and then began to laugh nervously.  "Um nothing," he
continued to laugh.

"Okay," she whistled, worrying about the sanity of her companion.
"Well, first thing's first.  I need to get some water.  This body is
really annoying the hell out of me."  She grabbed Ryouga's hand and
led him down the path.  He was still laughing.

* * * * * * * * * * * * *

People milled about the streets in a bustle that threatened to carry
the companions off in separate directions.  Ryouga held onto her,
afraid that if he let go, he'd never see her again.  Or at least he
wouldn't see her for a very long time.  It did seem that despite his
annoying ability to get lost a moment's notice, he eventually found
his way back to his friends.

Cas was a girl again, fueling his embarrassment at the situation.  He
was being pulled around by an undeniably attractive, foreign woman
through a strange city that he hoped was Nagasaki.  He desperately
hoped nobody he knew saw this.  It would be his luck if Ranma and
Akane had coincidently decided to go here for spring vacation.  Ranma
would make fun of him and Akane would think he had a new girlfriend.

Cas snatched a flyer from a booth at curbside.  She whirled and handed
it over to him.  Her eyes were flashing with excitement, though he had
no idea why.  Ryouga eyed the flyer curiously, supposing this was the
cause of her happiness.  All it advertised was food at a restaurant.

"It's only food," he said nonchalantly.  His stomach growled in
protest.

Cas shrugged with her eyes closed.  She opened her cool blues and
tilted her head to the side.  "We are practically out of money and we
need a place to stay," she began.  "I don't know about you, but I have
no intention of spending my first day in civilization on the ground
somewhere."

Ryouga nodded, though he really didn't care.  He had spent so many
nights out in the wilderness, that another one wouldn't hurt him.  But
he knew better than to argue with her.  It was easier to have her with
a good mood.  "What's the plan?"

"Do you know anything about Nagasaki?" Cas asked in return.

Ryouga flushed, realizing they were still holding hands.  He freed
himself and looked somewhere up and away.  "Not really."

"No tourist attractions?"

Ryouga looked down to her, her eyes pleading.  "I suppose there is a
tower somewhere," he said absently.  He knew several cities in Japan
had towers for tourists.  Maybe Nagasaki had one too.

"Ok then," she quipped happily.  "Here's what we'll do then.  This
tower will probably have a phone so I'll call my father to see if
he'll be willing to help me out here.  However, I don't want you to
count on that happening.  I want you to look about for inexpensive
lodging for the night.  If you can get something free that would be
great.  Preferable even."

"But, but ..." he stammered.  He paused and took a deep breath.  When
he opened his eyes, she was calmly waiting for him to speak.  He was
slightly startled she had let him continue uninterrupted.  "Um, won't
you lose me if we split up?"

Cas flashed a knowing grin.  "Can I have your bandana?" she asked
mischievously.

Ryouga narrowed his eyes.  "Why?"

"I need something that you cherish," Cas said with a smile.
"Something that you always carry, that I could carry."  She let her
eyes wander to the umbrella to stress the point that the object
couldn't be something he considered 'light'.

Ryouga sighed and untied his bandana.  He handed the yellow cloth with
black spots over to her.  "I still don't understand what you need it
for," he remarked.

"Well, if I had scissors, I'd take a lock of your hair," Cas disclosed
to him conspiratorially.  "You know I was studying the book as we
walked here."

He nodded absently.  It was terribly boring to have a travel companion
who spent most of her time with her nose buried in a book.  He had
tried several times to start a conversation.  Despite his shyness,
even he couldn't bear the silence of a six-hour walk.

"I noted a spell, though sadly it is spiritual, but on the good side,
it allows me to track anybody so long as I have something from their
person or something they value," Cas explained.

"Oh," Ryouga said, realizing she didn't need his bandana after all.
He snatched it from her hands, ignoring her protest of 'Hey!'  With a
single swipe of his bandana, he severed a lock of his hair and handed
it over to her.  She stared dumbfounded as he pressed it into her
hand.

"What did ...  How did you ..." she rambled off in amazement.

He snapped his bandana out to straighten it and then hastily tied it
back around his head.  "I guess I'll be off then," Ryouga declared to
the sputtering girl.  "I'll be seeing you then."

Cas's face turned grim with determination.  "Wait," she demanded.  "I
want you to stop moving the moment you find something, ok?"

Ryouga was puzzled.  "Um ... ok."

"And please, do not leave the city," Cas pleaded.  "The moment you hit
countryside, turn around and walk back into the city.  I don't want to
traipse half of Japan."

Ryouga nodded and shook her hand.  "I'll try."  Cas nodded in reply
and turned on her heel.  She smoothed the wrinkles out of her pants
and stalked off into the crowd.  He watched her move skillfully
through the people, her walk betraying how familiar she was in large
cities.  Her hair, which she had pulled back into a long tail, bounced
with her motions as she disappeared around a street corner.  He was
alone.

* * * * * * * * * * * * *

Cas regarded Nagasaki Tower with appreciation.  It had taken only a
few questions to bystanders to get her here.  Most of the people were
friendly enough to help her, despite her being foreign.  She suspected
that had much to do with her ability to speak Japanese fluently.

She gazed at the structure appreciatively.  She loved cities.  She
loved the tall buildings.  Man's defiance of nature stood proudly
before her, stretching towards the sky.  She respected this conquest
of steel, concrete and glass that through careful calculations and
construction defied the laws of gravity.

She tore her gaze from the tower to look for a phone.  'Business
first, pleasure later,' she reminded herself.  She really didn't look
forward to calling her father but she didn't see any alternatives that
didn't further put her on his bad side.  This wasn't the first time
she'd be calling international so she wouldn't have to go through that
embarrassment again.

She strode purposefully towards the lobby having caught sight of a row
of phones.  She exaggerated her gait to glide between the people.  It
was something she'd been doing for years back home when she was
allowed out into the city.  She imagined eyes watching her
appreciatively, studying her every move.  It made her feel alive, feel
like a part of something more important than her isolated life.

The feeling was short-lived, arriving at the phone.  She picked up the
receiver dread setting in.  What could she say to him?  It wasn't like
they were on speaking terms since her declaration.  Usually just the
traditionally formalities were exchanged.

Her fingers punched the buttons.  The phone asked her to state her
name.  "Cassidy," she said evenly and began to play with her bangs
with one hand while pressing the phone to her ear with the other.
Silence ensued.  She hoped he'd accept the call.  She couldn't afford
to call him with her own money.

"Hello," a bedraggled voice spoke to her.

"Hello Gre ..." she began.  'Better not start out disrespectful,' she
thought.  "Hello father."

"Cassie, what are you calling for in the middle of the night?" her
father spoke gruffly.

"Father," she said, steeling her nerves.  Her fiddling with her bangs
hadn't ceased.  "I'm in Japan."

"Really," her father stated without interest.  "What happened to
China?"

"Oh, well, I actually got separated from the group and got lost," Cas
explained.  Her father didn't say anything, the silence prompting her
to continue.  "This young man found me but was only able to help me
get to Japan.  Nagasaki, Japan."

"And you're out of money, huh," her father concluded for her.  "I've
already told you that when you're money ran short you were on your
own."

"Father, I'd prefer you to help me than taking matters into my own
hands," Cas said honestly.

"You must or you wouldn't be calling me father," her father returned
sharply.  "It's been awhile since you bothered with such civility."

"Look, father," Cas started, her voice rising.  "I didn't call to
start another fight.  We both know I don't need to go to you if I want
money."

"Glad you remembered that, dear," he spat into the phone.  "Why don't
you just dip into your funds then?  You don't need my permission for
that.  Now if you don't mind, I would like to return to my rest.  I
suggest you wait a few hours before calling the bank.  I doubt it's
open at this time."

There was a slam and then silence.  Cas bit her lip, as the tone in
the phone sounded out in repetitive blares.  She hung up the phone
slowly, nervously toying with her bangs again.

'Yep,' she thought, 'handled that well.'  She sighed and leisurely
made her way to the elevators.  She had to escape the situation and
there was no better way to do that than to have some fun.

"Excuse me, miss," a person near the elevator said as she approached.
The man was dressed in what was probably staff garb.  "You have to pay
for pass to go up to observation deck."

"It's not free?" Cas spoke aloud, slightly startled.

"Please pay for a pass at the counter," the man said, gesturing across
the lobby.

Cas pouted as she spun on her heel.  She seriously doubted she'd have
the money.  What little yuan she had left was probably not usable
here.  She cursed herself for being silly enough to think it'd be
free.  Nothing was free anymore.

'Failed with father and now at even having a little fun,' she thought
scornfully.  'This is just one long day of disappointments.'

She bumped into somebody and fell back onto her bottom, hard. She
grimaced in pain, looking angrily up at her antagonist.  He was a
tall, young man with black hair and a simple white headband.  He was
dressed in a black tank top and fatigues.  It was not the decor she'd
expect from a local.

"Hey watch where you're going!" she yelled at him.  He looked down at
her without the slightest look of remorse.  He offered her a hand.
She pulled herself up, noting he did not stagger under her movements.
She freed herself of his hand and dusted herself off needlessly.

"Are you going to apologize?" he asked simply.  Cas threw him a glare.
  "It's not like you were watching where you were going."

"One does not apologize to a wall when walking into it," Cas answered
curtly.

"Neither does the wall," he returned just as quick.

Cas flashed him a smile.  "I don't suppose you'd be willing to
accompany me up to the observation deck," she started, trying to
capitalize on the situation.  "I consider it a small reward in
compensation for the small harm you did."

The young man smirked at her.  "I see no harm in that," he replied.
"I assume I am to pay for your pass as well as my own."

Cas nodded.  "If it is no trouble of course," she amended.  "I find
myself short of funds."

"Yes," he agreed, motioning to the counter.  "Shall we?"

Cas followed the young man to the counter where he bought them both
passes.  Without another word, he escorted her to the elevators.  Cas
studied him intently, wanting him to break the silence or show some
signs of discomfort.  His behavior was very different from all the men
that she usually 'ran' into, including Ryouga.  He was calm and
direct.  And he also didn't seem the slightest bit interested in her.

A ping sounded their arrival at the observation deck.  He made a
sweeping gesture for her to go first.  She rolled her eyes, knowing by
his grin that he was mocking this.  She made a beeline to the edge and
gazed out over Nagasaki.

Her companion joined her, but she hardly noticed.  She was busy taking
in the view.  Everything was beneath her.  Everything was so small.
The people milling about on the ground resembled ants, mindlessly
working day in and day out to no end other than survival.  Up here Cas
felt there was a difference.  Up here she could detach herself from
the big world to see how small everything really was.  And knowing
that it all was small was a comfort in itself.  For how could anything
small be of importance?

'All my troubles,' she thought, 'all my failures, all my
accomplishments, all my life.  It's all my small little world that
doesn't change anything.'

"You look quite contemplative," her companion spoke, forgotten at her
side.

"Oh," she said, snapping out of her liturgy.  "I'm sorry.  I just love
the view up here.  It reminds me that there is a totally different
aspect towards life."

The youth leaned his back against the barricade, looking at her.
"Really," he said nonchalantly.  "And what aspect would that be?"

"That we tend to forget that outside our lives, our troubles mean
little to others," she shared, her voice barely a whisper.

The youth's eyes flashed angrily for a second.  It passed as quickly
as it came, replaced by the cool demeanor she had detected earlier.
"That may be," he yielded, "but it is our lives.  If we didn't take
care of our troubles, nobody else would care to."

Cas nodded, seeing the logic in that.  However she wasn't about to let
him get the last words in.  "Even if we chose not to take care of our
problems, the world wouldn't be impacted by it," she continued.

"Sure it can," the young man returned, gazing out over Nagasaki.  "A
man driving in a car has an accident.  Obviously his life changes, but
so do the lives of the people around him.  That is how the world
works.  Every person shares a little to the whole.  It may not seem
like much.  You may feel like your small, but feeling small only
hinders you.  Feeling helpless inspires inaction.  Just do what you've
chosen to do and don't worry about the results not having a large
impact."

Cas flashed a smile, uncertain how she felt about this free advice.
"You seem rather certain of yourself," Cas noted.  "Do you have some
chosen thing to do?"

The young man nodded.  "That I do," he answered.

Cas waited for him to continue, but he seemed intent to remain silent.
She kicked at the smooth, polished floor absently.  "Well, my name is
Cassidy," she said offering him a hand.  "Most people call me Cas.
I'm heading for the Nerima District in Tokyo with a friend."  The man
visibly stiffened.  "Been there before?"

The man shot her a forlorn smile.  "Yes," he admitted.  "I suffered my
first and only defeat there."

Cas flashed a knowing smile.  "I take it you fought Ranma then," she
supposed.  He flinched again.  She was thoroughly enjoying her
advantage.

"Yes, we have our differences," he shared reluctantly.  "I haven't
gone back since my defeat.  I'm training so that one day I may return
and defeat him again so I may have the scroll."

"Scroll?" Cas asked, puzzled.

"It's a personal issue," he said, as if closing the subject.

"Isn't it always," Cas commented with a grin.  "My friend, Ryouga, has
issues with him too.  If you want you could join us."

The man shook his head, a slight smile on his face.  "I do not feel
ready without my yamasan-ken.  I knew it was a foolish decision to
make that promise but I had been so certain I would win with my goal
so close to fulfillment."

"What's the yamasan-ken?" she queried, still clueless.

"It is my technique," he answered curtly.

Cas looked at him incredulously.  "You promised not to use your
techniques if he beat you?" she asked.  "That's pretty gutsy."  Her
eyes lit up as an idea struck her.  "Hey, stick around with us.  I'm
sure I can come up with a way to get you out of your dilemma."

The man smirked, obviously doubting her words.  "I prefer to travel
alone," he stated flatly.

"Suit yourself," she said with a sigh.  She looked out over the
scenery again, not paying it any notice.  "So are you going to give me
your name?"

"Kumon Ryuu," the man said obligingly.

"Well, Ryuu," she started.  "I'm going to go look for my friend.  My
offer still stands if you change your mind."  She pulled away from the
banister and walked to the elevator without looking back.  She would
have turned back if he had said anything.  Only silence followed her
into the elevator.

* * * * * * * * * * * * *

Ryouga sat on a curb, waiting for Cas to find him.  He didn't dare
move any more than he had to.  He was completely lost as is and he
knew moving around would only get him in a worse predicament.  At
least it had only taken him a couple of hours to find something
promising for lodging.  If it had taken longer, he doubted he would
still be in Nagasaki.  Thankfully he had confirmed his whereabouts
from several passersby to assure him he was still in the city.

"There you are!" a voice declared.  Ryouga looked up to see Cas moving
towards him.  She didn't look angry.  In contrast she looked quite
happy.  He stood up to greet her.

"Hello," he said warmly.  "I see your spell worked."

"Yes, the ichi seimitsu," she proclaimed, proudly.  "Though I had
hoped you were a bit closer."

Ryouga shrugged.  He then handed her the flyer that he had found.  She
regarded it, quizzically.  "It's the answer to our problems for
lodging."

"What is it?" she asked.

Ryouga furrowed his brow.  "It's a contest," he explained.  "The
winner of the contest gets a free night's stay at the hotel that hosts
the event."

"Oh," she replied.  She flashed a wry grin at him.  "Kind of
coincidental that this happens when we arrive in town."

Ryouga shook his head.  "No, this is a year-long event," Ryouga said,
thumbing the paper.  "The champion can be challenged at any time."

Cas looked confused.  "But if you win, doesn't that make you the
champion?"

"Of course."

"Well, how are you going to defend your 'title' at any time of the
year if you're not sticking around?" Cas asked.

"Oh, I hadn't thought about that."

Cas hid her face in her hands.  "Well, I guess you did find a way to
stay for free somewhere," Cas admitted.  "So who is the champion?"

Ryouga shrugged.  "Some guy name Ryuu."

Cas grabbed his collar, excited.  She pressed her face close to his.
"Kumon Ryuu?"

"Um ... yea."

Cas let go of his collar with one hand and clenched it in a fist.  She
turned her head aside with a look of victory.  "I can see how this is
going to work," she declared.  "Ryouga, where's this place?"

Ryouga staggered from her grip.  "Um ... it's at some place mentioned
on the flyer.  I don't know where it is but it's called the Enkai
Kyouran."

"Well, we'll just ask a few people for directions then," Cas said
cheerily.  "Let's get going."  She propelled him down the street,
ignoring his protests.  Ryouga could only wonder what he was getting
into now.

* * * * * * * * * * * * *

Ryuu made his way casually up to the Enkai Kyouran.  He had been
informed that another challenger had appeared today in hopes to claim
the grand prize.  That was no surprise.  The first match was always
free.  However subsequent matches came with a cost.  Ryuu had learned
early to always 'win', but never go all out to encourage contestants
to try again.  He had made the hotel a considerable sum of money over
the past months in exchange for free room and board.

He stepped through the automatic doors and strode into the lobby.  The
hotel was quite profitable without his added services.  The walls were
all stainless white as was the soft carpet.  He approached the front
counter, the attendant on duty looking up at him with a smile.

"I have a challenger," Ryuu stated.  The man, dressed in a cream white
suit nodded and gestured to the atrium on the right.  "Thanks."  Ryuu
nodded to the man and headed to the atrium.

'I hate doing this,' he thought to himself.  'No challenge in fighting
these people.  Most are tourists that have no clue what they're
getting into.'  He stepped into the atrium.  This used to be the bar,
but due to so many challenges, it had been permanently converted into
a mini arena.  There were no ropes, only a platform to mark the ring.

He didn't take much more in as he recognized the pair that was in the
room.  It was the Cas girl and from their conversation, this black
haired man would be Ryouga.  He stepped up onto the platform crossing
over to them.

"We meet again," he declared simply.

"Indeed we do," Cas quipped back.  "This here is Ryouga.  Hope you
don't mind getting beat a second time as I'm sure he'll do it."

Ryuu huffed in disbelief.  "You don't even know the rules yet."

"Enlighten us."  Cas's eyes gleamed with a certainty that made him
falter, but only for a moment.

"It's quite simple actually," Ryuu said regaining his composure.  "You
win by either knockout or by ring out.  That means by getting your
opponent off this platform.  No weapons.  This is a hand-to-hand
combat.  Also there are no blows between the waist and the knees."

"Ah, no groin shots," Cas drawled.

Both men blushed fiercely at the bluntness of that remark.  "Hey I
wouldn't stoop to ...  Hey I've never hit anyone ..." both men
protested.

Cas laughed as both boys tried to regain their postures.  Ryouga
hopped up onto the platform.  "Let's get this started," he declared.
"I'm tired and need to get some rest."

"Don't let me keep you from your sidewalk," Ryuu harassed his
challenger.  Ryuu pointed to the umbrella Ryouga was carrying.  "No
weapons."

"Oh yea," Ryouga said thoughtfully.  "Here, catch."  The boy tossed
the umbrella to Cas, who promptly stepped out of its way.  There was a
loud thud as the object struck the floor.  Ryuu suspected the concrete
floor beneath the rug had been damaged.  He regarded his challenger
with new respect.

'Maybe I won't have to pull my punches,' he thought with a tinge of
excitement.  It had been too long since he had fought someone that
could pass as a martial artist.

"Hey before you two studs start," Cas called out, "I want to establish
some real terms to the match to sweeten the pot a little."

Ryuu folded his arms about his chest and shrugged.  "Say your terms
and I'll decide whether or not I agree to them."

Cas nodded in agreement.  "If we win, we get a free stay of course,
but you also have to come with us on our journey," she proclaimed.

Ryuu had expected as much, but he doubted he'd lose.  "And if I win?"

Cas flashed a devilish grin.  "You can do anything you want with me,"
Cas declared.

Ryouga and Ryuu blushed in unison again.  Ryouga began stammering
something incomprehensible while Ryuu force himself into a somewhat
calm state.  "Sounds like you're trying to set yourself up for a
win-win situation," he said with false sarcasm.

"Hey!" Ryouga said outraged.  "What makes you think she's interested?"
Ryouga then spun on Cas just as outraged.  "And what do we need him
for?  I thought we were going to Nerima!"

"We still are," Cas assured her companion.  "This guy has an issue
with Ranma so I figured we should bring him along also."

"But, but, but," Ryouga stuttered, trying to mount some sort of
defense.

Ryuu figured it was time to start the match.  "Enough chatter.  I
accept the terms," he stated.  "We fight now."

The mention of fight got Ryouga's attention.  The boy whirled on him
with a calm confidence that belied his earlier behavior.  Ryuu slowly
circled to the right.  Ryouga did the same, staring at him intently.
Ryuu searched for an opening but nothing was apparent.  He would have
to attack and see what happened.

Ryuu charged in with a half-hearted overhead punch.  Ryouga's eyes
flashed before the boy spun into him, avoiding the strike while
leading an elbow towards his gut.  Ryuu appraised the situation in an
instant, spinning out of Ryouga's reach.

Again, the pair circled, Ryuu having a better feel for his opponent.
Ryouga hadn't tried to block or fully commit to an attack, suggesting
the fighter was at least adept.  There was only one other thing to try
to determine his strategy against Ryouga.  Ryuu charged in with a fist
leading, his other held back in reserve.

Ryouga did something he didn't expect.  Ryuu realized Ryouga had
caught his forearm and was pulling him in towards a fist rushing at
him.  Ryuu threw himself backwards, sending a kick straight up.  His
kick connected with the back of his opponent's head, allowing him to
break free of Ryouga's hold.  He hopped back a couple paces, his right
arm throbbing.

Though Ryouga didn't look any worse for the exchange, Ryuu knew he had
the advantage now.  Ryouga, like so many others, didn't realize
victory could come by simply shoving him out of the ring.  Having had
so many 'close' bouts won by that method encouraged other would-be
competitors into believing he had simply been lucky.  And of course,
trying to ring him out was as possible as chasing a lion out of its
den.

Ryouga charged at him this time.  Ryuu readied his stance and took the
first swing.  Ryouga rolled out of the way by throwing a right fist up
in a crushing haymaker.  He was too close so in desperation he pivoted
his left arm to block.  Ryouga hooked it, missing his chin by inches.

Ryuu was quickly yanked forward as Ryouga hauled his arm forward.  He
stumbled and soon felt the impact of a heel on his lower back.  His
arm was released as he staggered forwards.  He tried to put some
distance between him and his opponent, but Ryouga wasn't letting up.
Ryouga hammered him twice in the back and once in the side before he
could turn around.

'Damn,' he cursed with a wince.  'All these months fighting novices
are catching up with me.'  Ryuu spotted an opening and threw all of
his weight into the punch.  He slipped between a punch that had a
telegraphed kick following it.  He smashed into Ryouga's chest.

Ryouga hopped back from him with a cough.  Short of that his opponent
looked quite capable to continue.  He resisted the urge to shake his
aching hand.  There was no point in revealing any more weaknesses if
his opponent wasn't showing any.

"All right, Ryouga," Cas cheered from the sidelines.  Ryuu grimaced.
He was used to hearing others encourage his opponents but that was
when he was pulling punches and letting them think they were winning.
This was insult upon injury.

Ryouga charged in again, this time blatantly leaving openings.  Ryuu
didn't hesitate to exploit the situation.  He landed several blows,
taking only one for every four or five he dished out.  Still Ryouga
pressed on.  Sensing he was running out of ring to back into, Ryuu
dove aside, tucking into a roll.  Thankfully, Ryouga didn't pursue.

Both men were huffing with exertion while Cas cheered and whistled.
Ryouga looked a bit flushed and embarrassed at some of the unladylike
things she told him to do to Ryuu.  Ryuu noted them, but noted more
importantly that all his effort hadn't fazed Ryouga in the least.

'Damn,' he swore for the second time today.  'Without my techniques, I
probably can't beat this guy.'  With that thought he cursed Ranma to
the farthest depths of hell, a daily ritual for him but seemed very
appropriate today.  'I have to ring him out,' he concluded.  'It's my
only chance.'

Ryouga charged in again.  This time Ryuu caught his opponent's arm and
tossed Ryouga headlong towards the rim.  Ryuu realized he hadn't been
close enough to the edge as Ryouga recovered.

"Ha, you can't beat me," Ryouga declared.

"Come on then," Ryuu goaded.  Ryuu gestured for Ryouga to try again,
stepping closer to the ring's edge.

Ryouga took the bait and charged in again.  Ryuu quickly sidestepped
the punch, kicking low to trip Ryouga.  He then delivered a quick
backhand to Ryouga's head to send the man staggering dangerously close
to the edge.  Ryuu spun on his heel with his other leg out, hoping to
finish this with a roundhouse.  His leg found nothing but air.

Ryuu hopped back to figure out what happened.  Ryouga was on hands and
knees, clutching at the edge with whitened knuckles.  Ryuu charged
knowing this would be the best opportunity to end this.

"Ryouga, you idiot!" Cas yelled.  "He's going to ring you out!"

Ryuu delivered a hard kick to Ryouga's ribs.  The boy tottered but
didn't yield.  There was an unmistakable look of despair on the boy's
face.  Ryuu smiled inwardly, knowing one more kick would do it.  He
wondered what he would ask of Cas afterwards.

"Snap out of it!"

Ryouga's eyes flashed.  "Shishi houkou-dan!"

Ryuu felt his body go light and lift up from the force of whatever hit
him.  He didn't feel anything when he hit the ground.

* * * * * * * * * * * * *

Cas sat alone on a bench in the peace park.  She stared up at the sky
thoughtfully.  It was quite here.  The silence allowed her to think
more over the events of the day.

The fight had been magnificent.  She'd never suspected such skill in
Ryouga.  She felt sorry for Ryuu, knowing that her new companion had
likely not utilized any special 'techniques' of his own due to a
ridiculous promise to this Ranma.  He had still not gained
consciousness when she had left the hotel to be alone with her
thoughts.

She thought of Ryouga's power.  She had never suspected him to possess
such a powerful attack.  Whatever the source for that power had been,
it was not quite the same as the source of her spiritual spells that
fed off of the life of the caster.  She would make certain to ask
Ryouga how he did the 'technique' some time tomorrow.

For Ryouga to have such an attack in his arsenal and still be unable
to defeat Ranma, spoke lots for Ranma's prowess as a fighter.  She was
now going to be traveling with two of this 'boy's' rivals.  She had
already come to the conclusion that Ranma was some kind of jerk while
with Ryouga.  Ryuu's story, though she doubted he had told her
everything, was almost enough to convince her.  She would try to get
more of Ryuu's story out of him before making any further judgments on
Ranma.

"I heard you came here," a voice said from behind her.  She turned to
watch Ryuu walk silently over to sit down beside her.  He looked very
haggard despite the lack of light.

"I needed some fresh air," she answered.  She resumed her gaze on the
stars.  "You really should get some rest.  Slave driver Ryouga will be
leading us on a trek to Tokyo, shortly after the complimentary
breakfast of course."

"Of course," Ryuu agreed with a smile in his voice.  "That is the
second time I've ever been defeated.  I suppose you'll expect me to
accompany you now, as agreed upon."

"I would have preferred you to come of your own will," Cas stated
without looking at him.  "But as you're too stubborn to, I figured
this would be the only way to get you out of this place."

"True," Ryuu agreed.  "I've never had a challenger that I couldn't
beat easily before today.  I see now that I'll never beat Ranma
training with my 'opponents' here."
Cas looked down at her hands, a slight tear slipping down her cheek.
"Your words today were of no comfort," she said bluntly.

Ryuu's confusion was apparent in his voice.  "What do you mean?"

"This place was once destroyed because one man made it possible," Cas
remarked.  "I'm sure he never intended that to happen.  You see," she
continued, looking up with tears in her eyes, "there are times when I
wish the world was a small place, where each of us can live our lives
without tearing apart each others'.  But that isn't the case.  I'd
prefer the knowledge that everything I do is unimportant, than
worrying that someday I'll do something that goes down in the journals
of 'tragedies of the past'."

Ryuu sighed and offered a thin smile.  "You worry too much over things
that may never happen," he assured her.  "I honestly say to you, that
I'm glad that I lost."  Ryuu stood up.  "Good night, Cas."

As Ryuu walked off, Cas lifted her teary, blue eyes to the sky.  Now
more than ever, she wanted the company of her father and his words to
say everything was ok.

-----

Yea, sorta weird ending for this but I'm a sucker for over dramatics.  Thank 
you for making through my hat trick.

Ciaow

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