Anything Goes Martial Arts Rock Music
Just a little random idea from a campfire and some daydreaming.
Ranma glared at Ryoga as the two faced off.
"Finally, Ranma, I've found a technique that can beat you," Ryoga called in his usual dramatic voice.
"Yeah, okay, Ryoga. What are the rules again?"
"Whoever outplays their opponent wins. Simple enough, right?"
"Sure. Let's do it."
Akane and the rest of her family looked on in sheer bafflement. Where did Ryoga learn this kind of art? Not like he could tell them.
"If I win, you have to tell Akane your little secret."
"And if I win, you give Akane to me!"
"WHAT! I'm a pawn AGAIN?" Akane screamed.
"Right, let's do this!"
Ryoga raised his hand, then struck down on the guitar strings. The amp hooked up to his bass guitar thrummed with energy.
Ranma answered with a similar strum, causing his electric guitar to give out a wail.
And with that, they began to play.
Ryoga's bass and Ranma's guitar dueled for supremacy, the strength of the bass attempting to drown out the wail of the guitar. For his part, Ranma's chords wailed out in resistance, the speed and intensity crying for attention between the bass notes.
The two guitarists glared at each other as their music filled the air. Ryoga's hands strummed with the strength of one long tortured by life, Ranma's with the power of emotion and simple willpower. The emotions cried out through song.
.Then Ranma took the time to glance at Akane, who seemed absorbed in the music. His notes changed, becoming plaintive wails of unrequited love. His emotions flowed, the notes ebbing and flowing with his mood. He caught her eyes again, speaking what he couldn't, no, wouldn't say in words through the notes of his guitar. Everyone around was drawn into the melody. Ryoga himself, instead of dueling for attention, found himself playing back-up, strengthening the electric notes with his own bass.
Out of nowhere, Ranma began strumming faster than the eye could see. His guitar seemed to catch fire with the intensity of his music and his emotion. The wails grew louder and louder, ringing out across the world. People everywhere began feeling the raw emotion of the music.
And Ranma wasn't done yet.
He continued to play, the notes taking on an otherworldly, ancient feel. He seemed to play the song of the world itself. He played harder, and louder, his notes surpassing what the amp's limits were supposed to be. He seemed to draw power and inspiration from the mists of time. The music became first a dirge of the unfairness of it all, then a celebration of the times good times roll your way.
Ryoga, by now, had ceased playing, his merely human skills being no match for Ranma's playing. Akane couldn't help but feel as if Ranma truly, deeply cared for her, despite himself, as the song played out an inner conflict. The notes spoke of a hard life where his father's insults were the only expression of love he knew. Akane understood everything. What Ranma couldn't say in words, he played out in the language of rock.
He slowly lessened the intensity of his playing, winding down to a slow ballad of hopes for the future. Akane couldn't help but stand and walk towards Ranma, standing in front of him, their eyes locked.
As he finished playing, thunder rolled, the finishing drumbeats to a song that had moved heaven and earth.
A man stepped out from the crowd that had gathered. His outfit was obviously not Japanese, and when he spoke, no one but Ranma could understand him.
"You have rediscovered the language of rock. I am the God of Rock, Val Hallen. Name your wish, and it will be granted."
"I already named my wish."
"So it shall be, then. Rock on dude."
The man walked away. Ranma turned to Akane, who had almost forgotten to breath. "I'm sorry I couldn't tell you any other way."
"I understand, Ranma. I love you too."
The bet forgotten, Ranma and Akane walked away side by side.