Characters belong to Rumiko Takahashi

In pursuit of his rival, Ryoga would have followed Ranma to the ends of the earth, but ultimately his journey led him here. The man emerged from the tree line, his eyes dark with determination, his face weathered and rough, eager to get his bearings, to study the lay of the land. In that moment, Ryoga realized that he never fully appreciated his sense of direction, or lack thereof. In fact, he hated it. Because of this, his curse, very rarely could he find where he was going, and it always seemed to lead him into trouble.

Almost casually, in spite of his growing frustration, Ryoga untied the bandanna from his hair, letting the long strands fall past his shoulders, and with it, wiped the sweat from his brow. Standing at the precipice, Ryoga heaved an involuntary sigh. The sight before him, however spectacular, served only to remind him of his curse because, after all, he had arrived here only by accident. Despite Ryoga's upset at having lost Ranma again, he was quick to remind himself that without his atrocious sense of direction, he might never have found this place, and it was truly a sight to behold. From this high vantage point, he could see the whole world around him. Only the vast mountains far off on the horizon limited his view. Directly below him were many pools, or springs of tranquil blue water, each of them inviting.

Ryoga was just about to attempt to make his way carefully down to them, with hopes of easing some of his weariness, when suddenly he heard something crashing through the underbrush behind him, and it sounded like something big. He turned just in time to see a bear, a panda no less, coming straight at him. No sooner had the threat registered in his mind, then reflex took over. Without fully realizing he had, Ryoga dove swiftly to the side of the charging bear, surprised and relieved that the animal hadn't attempted to molest him further. Unfortunately for Ryoga, he realized too late that he was still in the path of a second oncoming figure, and she, in her carelessness, nearly swept him from the cliff top. Ryoga feared he would fall, and tried frantically to grab hold of the cliff's edge, anything to keep from falling, when suddenly a hand caught his own. Ryoga looked up to see the face of the girl that had nearly killed him a second earlier. Judging by the grit of her teeth, the strain of her face, it must have been difficult for her to lift him to safety, but she managed, and soon he was back on solid ground.

Ryoga was taken aback by her at first, as the realization dawned on him that he had just been saved by a girl. Admittedly, such a turn of events proved a slight shock to his masculine pride, as he had always imagined saving damsels, never had it occurred to Ryoga that someday a woman would save him. But, he was careful to keep his pride to himself. He didn't want her to think him ungrateful, when nothing could be further from the truth.

"And what a woman she is," Ryoga thought. Judging by her appearance, he guessed that his rescuer was an irrepressible tomboy, whose father had finally given in to her desire to practice martial arts. He knew not what fighting style she practiced, but she was strong, and her figure, clothed in a white keikogi, looked the part. Then, realizing he was staring at the curve of her breasts, which were partially exposed by the opening in her shirt, Ryoga felt a sudden shame and looked away. The girl, on the other hand, was seemingly oblivious of her apparent lack of modesty, as well as to any embarrassment he felt caused by that lack.

"Baka!" she yelled at him sharply, "What were you doing so near the edge like that? You could have been killed! Or worse, you might've landed in a spring!"

Upon her initial reproach, Ryoga felt himself go red in the face. What audacity she had, speaking to him in such a forceful manner, and starting with an insult no less.

"Me?! I was minding my own business! It's you who almost killed me!"

His acknowledgement of this fact affected her somehow, it seemed to still her anger, and she became suddenly withdrawn. "I know," she replied simply, almost sadly. It's my fault. I should've watched where I was going. Instead, I almost got you killed. I'm sorry."

She sat down heavily, seemingly exhausted, upon the grass. Then, without warning, she put her face in her hands, and cried. Ryoga himself was astounded by the sudden change in her demeanor. Just seconds ago, the girl had been enraged. Now, she was in tears, showing him a completely different side of her personality. Seeing her like this, he could not help but wonder what had befallen her, to cause such a change in her. "Something tragic, surely," he thought, suddenly compelled to offer her assistance in any way he could.

"What happened? What's wrong?" he asked. She looked at him then, tears rolling lazily down her cheeks, and for the briefest instant Ryoga thought he recognized her somehow. Something about her face, and especially the look in her eyes, seemed very familiar to him.

"I can't tell you," she replied, her voice fraught with panic. "Even if I did, there's nothing you could do to help me!"

Then, as if to herself, she implored, "Oh God, what will I do now? My life's ruined! Ruined, destroyed, finished! This body changes everything!"

"What do you mean?" Ryoga asked, "It seems like a very nice body to me. In fact, if I may be so bold, I'd say you are a very fit, very lovely young woman."

She scowled at that remark, and again, he saw that look in her eyes, that look so familiar. But, try as he might, Ryoga was unable to place where he had seen that look before. "Who are you calling a woman?!" she exclaimed, I'm a g--!"

She stopped herself just short of saying it, and her face turned a bright shade of red, as if embarrassed by it. Finally, she said, "Never mind," and would say no more.

She glanced up at him after a while, a look of vague annoyance in her dark eyes, and asked, "Are you still here? I've already said there's nothing you can do to help me."

Ryoga was very passionate in his response. "But I must help you," he said, "or at least try. It's the very least I can do for you in exchange for saving my life!"

He was happy to see her smile finally, though whether it was an expression of gladness or sheer exasperation, he knew not. At last, she relented, and asked him, almost hesitantly, "I don't suppose I have any other choice in the matter?"

In answer to her question, he smiled at her good naturedly, and replied. "Nope, my honor won't allow me to settle for anything less."

Finally, she shrugged, as if admitting defeat, and said, "Fine. If helping me means so much to you, you can stay, though I fear my condition may be incurable."

"Condition?" he asked, suddenly worried, "Are you sick?"

She nodded glumly. "Though you might not think so, just looking at me, this face and this body," as she spoke, she passed her hand, small and dainty, over her face as if to indicate the cause of her sorrow, "are but the symptom of that which ails me."

"I don't understand." Ryoga replied, "Are you saying you're ashamed of the way you look?"

"No! Well, actually, yes I am."

"Why?"

"I just am, okay. I won't say anymore than that, not right now. It's too painful."

"But, if I knew more, I might be able to help." Ryoga offered.

"If you knew more, you might not want to help."

"Enough!" Ryoga said, with enough force to make her jump slightly, "Stop belittling yourself. I said I'd help you, and that's exactly what I will do."

At this critical moment Ryoga realized he'd forgotten something important, and how terribly rude of him to do so. "Miss, I apologize. Here I have already agreed to help you, but you've yet to learn my name, Hibiki Ryoga, at your service."

The girl hesitated for a moment. She knew he expected her to give him her name, knew that doing so was right and proper in a situation like this, but the girl knew also that she could not give him her proper name, for fear that he would know her true identity.

Ryoga waited as she thought of a suitable name to call herself. She could sense his growing impatience as she struggled to find the right word, then noticing the trees behind them gave her an idea.

"Wood," she thought, and knew exactly what name to use. She would say it proudly, even if it was just a lie. The irony was that giving him a false name didn't bother her. In fact, it was actually preferable to her real name.

"Kinomoto Ranko," she said finally, and he seemed satisfied. However, "Ranko" was unprepared for what Ryoga did next. He knelt down next to her, and took her hands gently in his. "Ranko san," he said in a hushed voice, "I know not what has become of you, but you have shown me kindness. Therefore, I offer you this solemn pledge: I shall stay by your side, to aid you with your problem, until it is yours no longer. To this end, I give you my word as a martial artist."

Thoroughly embarrassed, yet strangely honored, Ranma could do nothing but accept Ryoga's pledge. Upon hearing it, she couldn't say no, especially not when it meant so much to him, though she worried it sounded too much like a wedding proposal.

"Uh, thank you," she said finally, bowing to him with utmost respect, yet afraid already that he might be falling in love with her.