Sorry it took so long to write chapter 2. In all honesty, I had no intentions of making any chapters this long. I may start writing smaller chapters to get them out faster, plus they're easier to edit. Unlikely to happen, but I'll try doing so after chapter 3.
"Talking"
'Thinking/quoting'
Emphasis/Techniques
Foreign Languages (This will always be done to languages foreign to the current setting)
'Song/book titles/foods'
"Happosai's handwriting" (I am so sorry)
Ranma ½ characters and settings belong to Rumiko Takahashi.
Odyssey of the Four Artists
It was a new day, the rain had already dried from yesterdays' shower, and the sounds of the surrounding forest were in full swing. The birds sang their songs freely while the wind rustled the leaves. With not a cloud in sight, the overbearing heat of the sun shined down. Warmth from the sun blanketed the ground like a bed covering. It was tranquil.
This serenity would not last as one of two teens began to awaken from the peaceful slumber that kept him from wreaking havoc.
The first of the two to regain some of his consciousness was young man with large canines, Ryoga Hibiki. His dark, hunter green, hair was mussed and matted from sleeping on the stone ground. He sat up and began to stretch out the kinks in his back, neck, and limbs. Subconsciously, he moved his arms to get the sleep out his eyes. While using his left arm to clear away the gound in his eyes, the fanged boy finally noticed what was off about his action.
He was in his human form. While he does prefer this body as opposed to his other one, Dr. Tofu told him that he needed to stay in his cursed form to heal properly. That was another thing he noticed. He could move his arm without feeling any pain. Looking down at his left arm, the young man saw that even the heavy bruises were gone.
'What the?' The bandana clad boy thought.
He remembered that the good doctor advised him to stay in his cursed form for week. This was so his arm and leg would heal properly. Thinking of his leg. He looked down check to see if his leg was also healed. It was in perfect condition.
In doing so, the fanged boy finally noticed that he was outside, and nude. Supremely embarrassed and red in the face about his public indecency. He looked around the area for anything to cover himself. To him the surrounding courtyard seemed hazily familiar, as if something happened here recently. Unable to actually remember anything, he brushed it off, figuring that he had more important things to worry about.
It was not long until Ryoga spotted his travel pack laying under a ponytailed teen about his own age. The fanged boy knew exactly who this was. Ranma Saotome, the young man who practically saved his life at the Tendos' yesterday.
He would be lying if he said that the idea of flinging Ranma off of his stuff did not dance across his mind. But the fanged boy knew he was in debt to him for what he did the other day. It would not sit right with his conscience to just fling him around. No matter how satisfying it would be.
Ryoga tried, in his honest opinion, to move Ranma as gently as he could. The lack of control he has over his great strength triggered Ranma's Sleep Fu. The technique the ponytailed boy developed to protect himself from those who would assault him while he rested. Using a combination of instincts and reflexes, this technique can discern friend from foe based on the aura they gave off. Though it seems that his father, Genma Saotome, and ex-fiancée, Akane Tendo, have found ways around the technique. Most people have no clue how to get around it unscathed.
Ranma's body sensed the fanged boy's desire to harm him, so it retaliated with a warning. A quick jab was launch at the fanged boy's face.
It was a dull punch, for someone as strong Ranma. Though the jab was powerful enough to knock most nonmartial artist out cold. The 'potential attacker' the sleeping boy hit was far from a nonmartial artist. And the 'imminent attacker' was now ticked.
Seeing the sudden attack as a rejection of his generosity. The bandanaed boy gave in to his desire to fling his rival off his stuff.
Gripping the knapsack on the bottom of the pile. The well-muscle young man flung the sleeping boy off his stuff. Ranma's arms slipped free from the other boy's pack and he was sent flying.
Ranma, felt the familiar sensation of sudden momentum. Having trained in, the now defunct, Saotome School of Anything Goes Martial Arts. His daily training in midair combat, along with oddly catlike agility, would have guaranteed a graceful landing. If he had been fully awake.
Ranma's Sleep Fu was amazing for self-defense against people who would try and attack him in his sleep, but it was terrible for anything delicate, like landed. His body, moving on instinct, tried to position itself to land feet first in a crouch. In a plain, flat area it would have worked, but his body could not detect the incoming wall fast enough. The aerial prodigy struck the barrier with a dull thumping sound.
A nonreinforced wall would normally crumble under such a hard impact. The force was equivalent to that of a small car accident, but beautifully constructed barrier did not even sport crack.
Dazed, but awake, Ranma unsteadily stood up from his position on the ground. Believing his father simple threw him out of Tendo's guest room window, he fell into his normal morning routine. Positioning himself to spar with his father, he spoke. "Damnit pop! When I'm done with ya, you'll…huh?" He was taken aback. He expected it to be his father who threw him, as per usual.
Looking around, the raven-haired boy's memories from the previous night began come back. In his mind's eye, he began to run through the events from the previous day.
As Ranma was remembering coming to a stop at the weird forest. His recollections were halted by the boy who threw him.
While adjusting his shirt, Ryoga ask. "Hey Ranma. What is this place?" The perpetually lost boy asked, now fully dressed. He wore a baggy, pale yellow, tunic that showed signs of sun bleaching. The loose cuffs were rolled up so as to keep from getting in the way of his hands. A black sash was tied around his waist to act as a belt. His midnight blue, drawstring, pants were fastened at the hems with yellow legs ties, similar to that of a ballerina, and he wore yellow socks with his black kung fu slippers.
Ranma was not sure what here was exactly. He only knew it was a few hundred miles North of Tokyo. "Dunno know. But the old freak did lead us here for some reason." He said with a shrug.
The ponytailed boy then fully noticed his non-piglet companion. "Ryoga, aren't you supposed to be a pig for a week or somethin? And how'd you heal so fast?"
The young Hibiki could only shrug in response. He had no idea how he healed, and was just as much in the dark as Ranma was about this.
Ranma grabbed his pack and walked towards Ryoga. "Glad see you're healed anyway." Pausing, he took a closer look at Ryoga's face. "Mostly…"
When Ranma said 'mostly,' Ryoga became visibly puzzled about what that meant. He never cared too much about his looks, but even he had some pride in his facial features.
"What's wrong with my face?"
Already walking towards the main entrance of the palace, Ranma gave a blasé response. "Hm? Oh, don't to worry about…I hear they add character."
Ryoga did not know how to feel about that. He would have kept pressing the issue further, but Ranma had already begun to knock the palace door. Ryoga figured if he was not making fun of him for it, it could not be too bad.
They stood there waiting for someone to answer the door. Nobody came. Ranma stretched his senses to feel if anyone was nearby, but he could not sense anything beyond the large wooden door.
"Maybe nobody's here?" Questioned Ryoga. Though the lost boy himself did not believe the entire palace was empty. It was too big, and too well maintained, to be completely void of residence. He had been to enough palaces and castles in his globetrotting travels to know that.
While the well-traveled Hibiki was looking around for someone with a bright red coat and a tall fur hat. Ranma simply tested the door and found it was unlocked. As he was about to enter the palace, Ryoga halted him. "You can't just barge into a palace!"
"Don't you remember? The old lech said that he needed to see me." Ranma paused, and recalled the last bit of what Happosai said. "And, that I could bring my new pet." The raven-haired boy added some mirth onto that last part. Knowing how Ryoga would react to such a tongue-in-cheek comment. Ranma ran inside to try and avoid the piglet cursed boy's wrath.
"Why you!" Ryoga gave chase. He was not going to let that bastard get away with insulting him like that.
After a few seconds of running, Ryoga's anger was steadily being eaten away by the breathtaking sight before him. This did not deter the lost boy's desire to beat Ranma into pulp, but what they thought was a palace, was actually a secondary gate. The fanged fighter was in awe.
Passing through the large gate house, the boys were met with a massive decent of gradually expanding stairs. From the stairway, the path led to a Neo-Edo style city.
From where they were, Ranma and Ryoga could see both an eastern and a western gate that mirrored the one Ranma and Ryoga ran through. From each of these gates was a main street that went through the center of the small city. From these roads, smaller pathways, streets and alleys branched off to connect the rest of the buildings. The top of the stairway was high enough above the city that anyone standing there would have been able to see across the entirety city.
Where the northern gate would have come from, a massive castle complex stood. Moated off from the rest of the city, the modernized castle complex appeared to also act as the cities upper class district. The castle itself was designed as a hirayamajiro, hilltop castle. The main keep was well over 20 meters taller than its 5 subsidiary keeps. A total of 75 meters tall, excluding lower walls that acted as a both a foundations and basements.
In the city square, where all the main roads led to, was a slightly raised Olympic sized field of raked, grey sands, held in place by finely worked stone. Though it was far from ugly, the grey field was less than stellar to look at compared to rest of the city. Even the poorer looking areas had a sort of humble charm. The oddest part about the city square was that the buildings were designed to give a good view of the sand field.
Ranma, amazed at what he was seeing, paused at the top of the stairway. Just as he was about to verbalize his amazement. Ryoga slammed into him at full speed. Resulting in the duo flying forward, down the 800-step stairway. With a combination of luck and skill, the tumbling martial artists managed to keep their travel packs in between the steps and their bodies. After the first few hundred steps Ranma and Ryoga were stuck a dizzyingly fast spin that was increasing in speed.
Nearing the bottom of the steps, Ryoga, in frustration, tried to halt their spin by suddenly extending his limbs, but his attempt only caused them to go airborne. With their speed and Ryoga's strength they were in for a nice flight.
Ranma, now in familiar territory, and fully awake this time, tried to alter his trajectory for a smooth landing. His plans were soon smashed by Ryoga's endeavor to right his only flight. Their combined movements countered each other and only served to grant them a rough landing in a four wheeled wagon. The force of their landing broke the antique transportation from its locking braces.
Two dazed martial artists and an old wagon were now speedily flying down main street, heading straight for the vacant city square.
Upon crashing into the lip of the raised platform. The wagon flipped forward, throwing the two passengers forward into the grey sands.
The martial artists were met with a very unceremonious landing, but it was Ranma who ended up crushed under both of their travel packs. Effortlessly, he threw the heavy weights off of himself. Fully awaken, if not a little dizzy, Ranma wanted to give Ryoga a piece of valuable advice.
"Watch where you're going next time, moron!" The raven-haired boy insulted. Knowing full well that he was antagonizing Ryoga into a fight. Buy hey, Ranma needed his morning workout from somewhere, and there was a serious lacking of panda shaped punching bags nearby.
Ryoga stood up, taking his weighted umbrella from his travel pack. He knew what Ranma was trying to do. Make him mad, piss him off, humiliate him, etc. All so he would get mad and attack.
Ironically, the more he thought about the blatant manipulation, the angrier he got. He charged, yelling his trusted call to arms. "Ranma! Prepare to die!"
Just as Ryoga took his first step. The grey sandy material began to move and change. The two material artists had little trouble keeping their balance, but the sensation was very odd to them. It was akin to standing on solid waves.
Gradually, the ground began to change colors and texture. The grey material began to shape into grassy hills. Trees began to form from the ground and sparsely dotted the new landscape. Once the plants were molding into existence. Scorched craters began to appear as if hit by a massive artillery strike recently struck. Some of the larger crater clusters began to flood with water. Trenches and bunkers started to manifest at the opposite ends of the field. Water then started to flood some of the lower and more damaged structures.
When the ground stopped moving, Ranma and Ryoga found themselves at the two opposing ends of a Great War style battlefield. Though they were confused. Neither were put off from the prospect of having their very own battlefield to fight in.
Both fighters looked around for any people to tell them off, or get them to stop, but there was nobody. The city was silent.
Ryoga, still positioned to launch forward, shrugged, gave a tigerish grin and launched across the field. His powerful strides tore up the soil. "Hehe," He chuckled. 'A battlefield? fitting.'
Not wanting his rival to gain too much ground, Ranma decide to meet Ryoga half way. Using his superior speed, he would easily make it to the center first. 'I don't this is going to be a simple spar…"
Ryoga saw that Ranma took up a defensive stance at the center of the field. Deciding not to let a still target slip through his fingers, he stuffed his umbrella into the sash on his waist. The fanged martial artist jumped. While forcing Ki into his legs, Ryoga launched himself over 100ft into the air. He grabbed handfuls of bandanas from his head along the way up. While spinning the cloth, he purposefully drove too much Ki into them. The once limp fabric was made rigid, sharp, began to glowed an unstable shade of red.
Recalling what he saw at Mount Phoenix, Ryoga threw the cloth bandanas at Ranma's general area. "I'm not going easy on you Ranma! I know what you're capable of! Bakuhatsu shuriken issei shageki!" (Exploding Shuriken Fusillade!)'You're not the only one who can come up with new tricks!'
Ryoga then waited to see where his archrival would dodge to. He knew that Ranma would do his best to avoid that attack. It was just a matter of where will avoid to.
When Ranma began to moved out of the way. The fanged fighter took his umbrella into his hands. Pushing more Ki into his parasol, he aimed for the closest breaking point to rival's new position.
Ranma saw the glowing barrage of tiger striped bandanas close in on him. 'How many bandanas does he have!?' He moved from ground zero, but he was not unscathed.
Individually the enhanced bandanas were sharp enough to cut through poor quality steel, and their new explosive quality could shatter a foot-wide slab of concrete. The ponytailed boy was scratched by three of them. Though the total damage was minor. Ranma was knocked sliding on his side.
Sensing that something dangerous was coming. The agile fighter used the momentum from his slide to spring away. Whatever Ranma was sensing could ruin his chance at winning. If it did not take him out of the fight right away.
Readying a Mōko Takabisha, (Fierce Tiger Domineering), Ranma held onto it until the timing was just right.
Descending from his 10-story jump, Ryoga finally came up with a decent name for his newest attack. He smirked, before yelling, "AKA SUISEI FUNKA!" (Red Comet Eruption)
When Ryoga made his impact. The force of his landing alone was enough to rupture the land 45 feet in every direction from ground zero. Originating from the epicenter, the faults in the ground began to alight with red energy. Like a giant version of the Bakusai Tenketsu (Breaking Point),the ground lifted up and exploded outward. Dirt and sharp stones were flung in all directions at dangerously high speeds. Ryoga himself took a noticeable amount of damage from his new, imperfected, technique.
Not even the Bakusai Tenketsutraining was not enough to harden his body to the point where he can withstand all of the projectiles of his new technique. Though the damage was only a few scrapes and gashes. His body was hard enough to withstand most things short of a tanks' cannon. That new attack of his was more powerful than he expected.
Ryoga's sixth sense kicked in telling him that he was in danger. Following his senses, honed from his life as a wanderer, the lost boy turned to his right. "There you URF!" The Ki blast he sensed came from the left...
Again, Ranma was just within range of Ryoga's newest attack, but he was prepared. His Mōko Takabishawas originally developed because of his rival'sShishi Hōkōdan (Lion Roaring Bullet)technique. This Ki blast was created by civil engineers to escape cave-ins. That means the Mōko Takabishastill maintains its earth clearing capabilities.
Ranma had jumped into the air to get a better angle at where he saw Ryoga land and fired his technique. It sailed on through the dirt cloud and shrapnel without trouble, but the shockwave from Ryoga's attack still knocked him back a bit.
The major weakness of the Mōko Takabisha is the fact that it is made of 'lighter' Ki, Confidence, assurance, and/or ego. The Shishi Hōkōdan is made from 'heavier' Ki, anger, passion, and/or depression. Simply put, the Shishi Hōkōdanhas more weight behind its punch.
The shockwave pushed Ranma past his initial landing point. He turned his head to see where he would land. He was not overjoyed with what awaited him. A flooded crater.
"Not good not good not good!" The gender cursed martial artist verbally panicked. Using his mastery of aerial maneuvers. Ranma tried to adjust his landing. He knew it was useless. His Jusenkyo curse turned him into a water magnet. No matter how much he has tried to. He is unable to avoid getting splashed with water, but Saotome's were nothing if not persistent.
Ranma did not want to turn into a girl right now. His female form was faster and even more agile, yes, but he has noticed that Ryoga has started holding back against him when he is a girl.
Ranma was so focused on avoiding the crater that he was completely blindsided by a flying umbrella.
The parasol struck him in the stomach, carried him over the crater, out of no-man's land, and into an up-hill sloped, communication trench. The trench that connected the frontline and support trenches.
Painfully, Ranma thought, 'Small mercies I guess...ow.' Relieved that his reach, strength, and speed were unhindered. Though he would be the first to say that he could live without the pain in his gut.
Ranma looked around his general area. He took up Ryoga's multi-ton umbrella with ease and tested its balance. "Hmm?" 'Similar to a jian in balance.' He thought. Ranma could not help but smirk. "Perfect."
During the 15 years Ranma trained with his father. He was taught the basics of most traditionally esoteric ranged and melee weapons from East Asia. This was so he knew how to defend himself against them and similar weapons. He was no master by any means, but the knowledge has been more than useful. Especially in the time he stayed in Nerima.
Ranma's plan was to use the Taijijian 32 Sword Formsmixed withChángquán (Long Fist)jian and umbrella techniques. He reevaluated his plan when he remembered that Ryoga has been using this parasol as a weapon for much longer than him. The ponytailed fighter rationalized that Ryoga would most likely know at least Chángquán. He was going to have to mix and match a few styles to make this work out in his favor.
Angered by his self-misdirection earlier, Ryoga followed the path of his throw. Once he reached were his rival landed. He saw Ranma was wielding his umbrella like a sword. The fanged fighter smiled at the declaration of a sword fight.
Ryoga never saw Ranma wield a blade with any more skill than a novice. Confident that his own skill with a sword was superior to his rivals'. Ryoga undid his sash and infused it with Ki. Turning his 100in sash into a razor-sharp blade. Lightly, he dropped into the trench and stalked towards his prey.
Baring his fangs with a questioning smile. "Heh, you're making this way too easy."
Aiming to make Ryoga mad, Ranma replied. "Confidence doesn't look good on you Ryoga. 'Sides, you're just my fat panda for today." He finished off with a superior smirk.
"How dare you compare me to a fat panda!" Ryoga charged attempting to bulldoze Ranma's defenses and chop him into pieces.
Their sword duel in the Trenches of Saotome began.
Using his greater reach. The fanged fighter appeared to have the upper hand in the conflict with Ranma being drive back further into the trenches. The greater reach of Ryoga's sash was substantially more than that of his umbrella. He used that fact to great effect, or so he thought.
Ranma saw it better to fight defensively until he saw the best opportunity to strike back. Whenever, or if it ever comes.
The seemingly lopsided altercation left the wooden floors damaged. Sheet metal walls were shredded to scrap. Sand bags were cut and punctured causing them to leak sand. This damage was mirrored throughout the entirety of the support section of the WW1 style trenches.
The tight structure of the trenches reduced the effectiveness of Ryoga's swings. The only attacks that Ranma had to work hard to avoid taking damage from were overhead slashes.
Ranma dodged, weaved, parried, and deflected Ryoga's attacks with moderate ease, yet he was still being pushed back. Until an opportunity had finally presented itself.
Their fight carried them to the entrance of an underground HQ Dugout. From a slight glance. Ranma was able to see that the structure was about 3m deep. More than enough to forced Ryoga off his feet.
Ryoga was getting frustrated with not being able to hit his target. His movements became more and more projected as the duel went on, and Ranma used this to his advantage. When Ryoga over extended with a particularly powerful slash. The speedy martial artist closed the distance and delivered a strong plunge to his rival's stomach using the blunt tip of the umbrella.
Knowing full well that, that attack was not enough to hurt Ryoga. Ranma followed through and pushed him down into the dugout.
Ryoga was discombobulated from the sudden attack and fall. So much so that the Ki in his sash was harmlessly released.
It was Ranma's turn to go on the offensive.
Using a unique combination of sword, umbrella, and kicking techniques. Ranma finally had the upper hand in this fight.
The bruises were stacking up, and his breath was becoming heavier. Ryoga knew that if he did nothing he would lose. He could not think of a way to turn the tide of this fight. So, he decided to just act.
Ryoga let Ranma hit him with his umbrella one last time. Quickly, he wrapped his arms around it. Using his greater strength, the Hibiki boy yanked his parasol out of Ranma's hands. The overwhelming force of the pull messed with the agile fighter's balance.
Seeing the opening for an attack. Ryoga grabbing and lifted Ranma up by his face. He yelled the name of his attack. "Shishi Hōkōdan!"The powerful Ki blast forced Ranma back and up. Imbedding him deep into the dugout wall.
Ryoga did not want to let his momentum go to waist. "Take this!" He fired a second Shishi Hōkōdan. The second Ki blast pushed Ranma up through the earth and back out into the open
Ranma, now flying through the air again, ended up crashing against a concrete, pillbox style, MG nest.
"Fuuuck…" He eloquently articulated through the pain. Ranma knew he needed to turn things back in his favor. That last hit to the body was nothing to sneeze at. Ryoga had just powered through his attack, and that had him concerned. 'Damn it, how tough is his body?'
"So, I can't get close to him. I don't got enough Mōko Takabishas in me to finish this. And, there's not enough hot Ki here for a Hiryū Shōten Ha (Flying Dragon Ascension Blast)." He had to improvise some way to even the playing field.
Sudden inspiration struck. Ranma grabbed an armful of small pebbles and stones from the ground, and he strained himself to get up so he could make his way inside the stone pillbox. He positioned himself at the windows and waited for Ryoga to show himself.
Ryoga was very satisfied with that last attack. Now that Ranma was not within sight of him. The bandana clad boy kneeled down. Though it was only ten seconds, Ranma managed to land a few thousand strikes of his body. He gripped his sides and felt the bruises. This caused him to let out a hiss of pain. "I really need to stop underestimating that bastard." He said himself while retrieving his stuff. Once set, he left the dugout.
Looking around, Ryoga was unable to find his rival. Angered at the thought that Ranma ran away he yelled. "Damnit Ranma! Where are you hiding!?"
*boink*
A little peddle bounced off his ear.
The lost boy turned in the direction of were the pebble came from. He saw Ranma inside a small, windowed, concrete box about 20m away. "There you are!"
"Hey Ryoga!" Ranma called "Catch!"
"Huh?" Replied Ryoga.
Two more pebbles flew from the pillbox, and with great precision too. Both of them went up Ryoga's nostrils.
The sensation of the pebbles being thrown into his nose caused Ryoga to jerk around and dance like a lunatic. When he finally got the pebbles out. The fanged fighter was met with the guffaws of his archrival.
Ranma could not help but laugh at the ridiculous dance Ryoga was doing. "Bwahaha! You look like an idiot! Bwahaha!" Ranma could not help but think, 'where's Nabs with that camera when you need her?'
By the time Ranma regained his composure. Ryoga, red in the face, was barrel on his position in mad dash. The ponytailed boy was having second thoughts about his ingenious plan. Just to get rid them, the Ranma threw the rest of the pebbles, and hunkered down.
Ryoga was closing in on Ranma's position at high speeds. He was not going to let someone humiliate him like that, and get away with it. Once he was within reach of the pillbox, he was too angry to actual say the name of his attack. He roared and threw a Ki infused finger forward. Using Bakusai Tenketsu, the concrete bunker exploded into shrapnel. Sharpened pieces of concrete flew in every direction. The lost boy himself, was unfazed due to the training required to use the technique, unlike the Aka Suisei Funka. But, Ryoga forgot one thing.
Ranma had already developed a defensive counter. He simply added one more ingenious step to make it an offensive counter. Throwing the shrapnel back.
Concrete shards came zipping out of the ruined MG nest. Figuring this attack needed at name, and taking some inspiration from his current position. Ranma gave his new punishing attacking attack a name. "Shubiteki Cōnterfire!" (Defensive Counterfire)
By using his speed and finely-tuned danger senses, Ranma was able to catch and throw the concrete shrapnel back at Ryoga without taking any damage himself. Though the down side was the exhausting amount of focus required to do this. He could clearly see how strong this technique could be, but he knew he needed more training.
A single shard was not going to hurt Ryoga, but there were hundreds. The damage was stacking up again. This time he had to focus all his attention of defending himself. If his guard slipped for even a hundredth of a second, he would be serious trouble.
When he ran out of fragments to throw, Ranma immediately jumped to finish the fight. Planning to put Ryoga down with a flying kick to the face. He leapt out the ruined pillbox to attempt what he hoped would be his final attack.
Ryoga's was tunic was in tatters. His arms and torso were peppered with stone flakes and shallows cuts. That last attack nearly got through his defenses.
He sensed another assault approaching. Without taking the time to look, Ryoga ducked under the kick that would have ended put him down for the count. Shooting his hands upward, he managed to grasp onto Ranma's leg. the lost boy slammed his rival into the ground with cratering results. Tightened his hold on Ranma's leg and he began to spin.
Similar to an Olympic hammer thrower the, fanged boy used the mass of his rival to increase the velocity of his spin. When he released his hold. Ranma was sent flying for the 3rd time that fight.
Now that, that annoyance was temporarily out of his hair. The lost boy could focus on getting the concrete shards out of his skin. They were starting to irritate him.
Ranma was honestly getting a little annoyed. He liked flying and all, but he wanted it to be of his own accord. Being tossed around like a ragdoll can get old very fast. He did have to thank Ryoga for throwing him so far. The damage he accumulated over the course of the fight was beginning to really hamper his ability to alter his aerial trajectory.
Knowing that the fight was nearly over, and that either of them could win at this point. Ranma made his way back to the one place that was completely saturated with hot Ki. Ground zero of Ryoga's Aka Suisei Funka technique.
From a distance Ryoga could see where Ranma was heading. Significantly slower than when he started, the fanged fighter ran to meet his archrival. He knew their fight was reaching its climax. Admittingly, that knowledge saddened him a bit.
Ryoga was not sure when it happened. He guessed it was around the time he first beat Ranma in a straight up fight. The elation he felt from finally overcoming his rival was nearly intoxicating. From then on, he savored every small triumph in their fights. To him, simply landing a heavy blow was a small victory. The bandanaed boy had eventually stopped caring about just beating Ranma. Their fights themselves were what enlivened him. That fact that Ranma enjoyed fighting just as much as him. Just knowing that they would punch each other's lights out. Ironically, it gave him a sort of, peace at mind.
Once Ryoga made his way to the edge of the massive crater he created. He saw Ranma in the center, just as roughed up as himself.
"Ready to end this?" The Ranma called up from his position.
'No.' Ryoga thought, but verbally replied. "Yeah, let's end it."
The fighting continued once more.
Ranma was calm and collected as he pushed back his emotions. The area grew physically colder as he fell into the Soul of Ice. The Saotome boy was set on dodging Ryoga's attacks while moving in a shrinking spiral.
Ryoga knew what Ranma was trying to do, but he had a plan. When Ranma is in the process of throwing his short uppercut, he leaves himself wide open. It was a gamble. The fanged fighter was not sure if he could take another heavy hit, but it was the only way.
Seeing that Ranma was nearly done with the setup, Ryoga bit down and made his move. 'Here I come!'
Like a cannonball the fanged fighter launched himself at his target. Aiming purely to disrupt Ranma's final attack and tackle him to the ground.
Just as Ranma cocked back his uppercut, Ryoga was practically on top of him. At the speed that his rival was going. He would block the punch with his body and stop the Hiryū Shōten Ha from activating.
Ranma knew one thing. If Ryoga blocked this attack he would be taken to the ground and beaten into submission. Various techniques flashed through his head at lightning speeds. Paralysis and puppet shiatsu would not stop Ryoga's momentum. He was out of position for all of his more powerful kicking techniques. His Mōko Takabisha needed to be charged up. The Kiseru/Fan throw needed an actual fan or smoking pipe. None of the goofy Saotome Secret Techniques were even brought up, and the sealed techniques were out of the question.
All he had left was the Kachū Tenshin Amaguriken (Imperial Roasting Sweet Chestnuts Over an Open Fire Fist).
Like the Shishi Hōkōdan, theKachū Tenshin Amagurikenwas not originally an attack. It was an Amazonian speed training technique. Ranma weaponized it to allowed himself to jackhammer his fist hundreds of times into a singular spot. It would destroy his opponent's defenses and break through their natural durability. The technique does sacrifice strength for speed, but the damage is almost always guaranteed against combatants slower than himself.
The attack would be powerful enough to break throw Ryoga's durability, and end the fight, but was he fast enough to throw enough punches before it was too late?
There was no more time to think.
Existing out of the Soul of Ice, Ranma converted the Ki in his arm back to its normal temperature. He attempted the technique that would win him the fight.
It did not go as planned.
Ranma, too rushed to perform the techniquecorrectly ended up throwing a single uppercut. All the Ki that he suffused into his arm was suddenly released all at once, into Ryoga's jaw. There were mixed results.
The punch connected with devastating force. An outcome that neither of them expected from a single strike. Unlike the normal Kachū Tenshin Amaguriken. This accidental technique did not waist any energy in the retraction of Ranma's arm. This alone made it twice as powerful as its parent technique, at the very least.
The downsides were pretty obvious. It was only 1% as fast the Kachū Tenshin Amaguriken. The average civilian could punch that fast with ease. Then there was the dislocated shoulder. Normally, punching something reduces the risk of dislocation to zero. The amount power that Ranma had in that punch literally launched his arm out of its socket.
Ryoga, being the one who was hit, was now limply flying through the air hanging onto the edge of consciousness by threads. He was bound to land just short of The Hibiki Trenches. Directly into a flooded crater.
Holding onto his, currently, useless right arm, Ranma made his way out of the crater they fought in. "Damnit, that's not what I was trying to do. Shit!" He exhaled.
As he made his way in the direction that Ryoga flew. Ranma tried to reassure himself that he did not murder his friend by accident. "He has to be all right. Something like that wouldn't seriously hurt him. Right? Yeah, he's way too tough…" Memories of the condition he found Ryoga in after the wedding flashed through Ranma's head. "SHIT!"
Ranma ran as fast as he could in his state.
When he reached the crater that Ryoga had fallen into, Ranma could barely believe what he saw. Ryoga was face up, and floating in the waters of the flooded crater. In his human form.
"What the…" Said Ranma, honestly dumbfounded. Broken from his slight stupor, Ranma rushed down into the crater. His curiosity was peaked. The gender-cursed martial artist wondered if he was also cured. The why, or how did not matter to him.
Ranma stepped down into the water, and waited for the familiar morphing sensation that came along with redistribution of his body weight.
Nothing.
Ryoga groaned, the sensation of cool water kept him from fully passing out. He rubbed his sore chin and thought, 'what hit me?' He thought. Never in his wildest dreams did he think that Ranma could do that to him. Pantyhose Taro, yes, but Ranma Saotome? Ryoga knew his rival was strong, but that punching power blindsided him.
wild splashing and an odd singing could be heard nearby, but he was still too groggy to really care for it. Until one of the splashes hit him directly in the face.
The cool refreshing water did not feel too bad on his sore body, so he continued float there, rubbing his chin. Rubbing his human chin, with his human hand…
Alarm bells immediately went off in Ryoga's head. His eyes shot open to look at his hand. 'I'm…I'm not a pig?' he thought. Then spoke, "I'm not a pig? I'm not a pig. I'm not a pig! I'M NOT A PIG! I'M CURED!" Elated that he was not 'bweeing' anymore, Ryoga started hopping around and joined in the singing.
The songs, "Pork No More!" By Hibiki Ryoga, and "Never Gonna Be a Girl Again!" By Saotome Ranma, were loudly sung.
The two boys were so wrapped up in their dancing and singing that they failed notice that earth was moving again. The WW1 style trenches, the craters, everything was converting back into grey sand. The two, seemingly, uncursed boys danced and sang through it all.
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Watching the odd scene from the windows of the castle were the diminutive Happosai and a classically beautiful woman. She was great in size with an above average height of 5'10ft (178cm). Her deep red hair was done up in a mimi kakushi hairstyle. A very similar style to that of Ranma's mother, Nodoka Saotome. Though the mystery woman's hair was more floral in its design and held a yellow chrysanthemum in its curls.
Her regally, pale skin was untouched by makeup, and her facial features were smooth, symmetrical, and refined. The woman's nature-green iromuji kimono did a good job at hiding the majority of her figure, but it was easy to see that she was 'gifted.' On her feet she wore modern jika-tabi split-toe boots, popular amongst the manual workers.
Had there been anyone that knew Happosai. They would have been flabbergasted at the fact that the perverted gnome was behaving himself for once. If Soun Tendo and Genma Saotome saw this? They would have been waving signs proclaiming 'The End is Nigh.' Most of the Nerima populace would actually believe them too.
"This is quite the show." The woman said while stifling her laughs. "I am quite surprised that they have enough energy to move. I was sure their little scuffle would tucker them out."
Happosai grinned at those words. "Those two could go at it for hours if left alone. If they weren't dancing right now, they'd probably be resting up for round 2."
"Really now? It is always good to see such youthful vitality." Looking back down at the two boys, she frowned. "I think you should break it up soon. That arm of Ranma's is bothering me."
"Are you sure you don't want to meet him?" The Grandmaster of Anything Goes Martial Arts questioned. "I'm sure Ranma would love to meet his…grandparent."
The redheaded vixen tightly closed her eyes and let loose a pained sigh. "If I were able to, I would have done so long ago. Until my son is free from that damnable curse, I fear my presence would only make them suffer more."
The aged master wished he knew more, but he knew that any intervention on his part could make things worse. Mysteries older than himself always peaked his interest.
She turned and started to walk away. "One more thing. If I catch you violating my grandson. You will be punished."
"Bah." Happosai scoffed. "You have nothing to worry about. Ranma walked through torii. His curse should be long gone by now." Happosai stifled a sob as he remembered the death cries of Ranma-Chan. "The last time I checked, and believe me I checked, Jusenkyo curses are not divine, sadly."
"Be that as it may. Nothing ever seems to be simple when Ranma is involved." Walking away, the woman steadily disappeared in a somber display of spectral flame.
Happosai watched the humorous display down in the field for a little while longer before deciding to go down to great the celebrating boys.
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"Ok, ok you've embarrassed yourselves long enough." Said Happosai, now mere feet from the dancing young men.
"huh?" Responded the dancing duo. They finally noticed the landscape returned back to grey sand. "Wha-?" They both said unison.
"I said you can stop hopping around like buffoons,"
Neither of the boys new what a buffoon was. Using context clues they figured it was some sort of insult. If not for being so winded from their recent fight and merrymaking. They would have done more than glare at the old gnomish man.
"You got some explaining to old man." Replied Ranma. "What the heck is this place, and why didn't you say anything about it before?"
"I will answer that question later. In the meantime, hold still for a second." Happosai said as he walked up to Ranma.
The ponytailed boy was confused about what the old man was planning. Until he felt a numbing pain in his arm in conjunction with a sickening crack of his arm being relocated back into the socket.
"GU-hmmm!" Ranma bit off a howl of pain. He was left kneeling down, cradling his newly relocated arm. "You could've warned me! You old fart!"
Ryoga spoke up. "Suck it up Ranma. Its not like it would hurt any less if you were paying attention."
"Actually, I could have made it completely painless with a few pain-suppressing shiatsu points." Replied Grandmaster Happosai.
"Then Why didn't you!?" Hissed Ranma. The pain in his arm, now waning.
"Didn't feel like it." The old man easily replied. Turning away from his irate pupil, he continued as if nothing was wrong. "Now follow me. I sure you two are wondering what this place is. Why I decided to bring you here now. Why your curses are cured. And so on. Am I right?"
Neither Ranma nor Ryoga could deny that their curiosity was at an all-time high. Both boys nodded.
Without turning around to see that they nodded, Happosai spoke. "Good, I will explain what you need to know later, but for now, let me give you two the general tour. I don't get to do this very often, you know."
Happosai led the boys to the edge of the arena were their packs had been moved to by the sands. A ruined wagon sat next to their belongings as well.
Without stopping to wait for the two to get their packs. Happosai had already moved on towards the western side of town.
"Hey old man, what'll we do about Ryoga? He's bound to get lost and wind up in Peru the second we leave him alone." Ranma said from in front of the directionally challenged boy.
Ryoga rewarded the rude, yet correct, boy with a thump to the head. "My sense of direction is not that bad!"
Rubbing the bump on his head, Ranma retorted. "Yes, it is." He added a little extra nark on what that last bit just to annoy Ryoga into attacking again.
This time, the easily angered boy threw a solid punch. Hoping to send the human shaped irritant through a wall.
Ranma had other plans. Jumping over the fist he knew was coming towards him, the ponytailed boy hit Ryoga's arm with a number of paralysis pressure points. Just to add some insult to injury, he landed on Ryoga's arm to use as a balancing beam.
Ignoring the commotion behind him. Happosai simply continued on with tour.
The old man pointed out a few shops, dojos, and restaurants that may interest them. Pointing out a few lingerie stores as a joke, but internally hoped that Ranma screwed up his curse removal.
After 'walking' along the main road for a little bit, they traversed through a small portion of the side roads that led to, and made up some of the smaller districts of the city. Eventually, they ended up circling around to the eastern side of the city. Not much was different, but more shops, restaurants, and inns had multiple languages on their signs. Even some dojos and schools where for foreign forms of known martial arts. The variety ranged from Ancient Greek παγκράτιον (Pankration)to American/British WW2 Combatives.
Any martial artist seeking to learn as many different fighting styles as they possibly could, would have been giddy with anticipation. Too bad Ranma was preoccupied with keeping Ryoga busy.
The short tour took the trio a little over 4 hours to complete, and they had only saw, at the most, 10% of the city had to offer. Then there was the fact that neither Ranma nor Ryoga paid any attention to the tour. Happosai then led the substantially more docile, winded, boys to the high-end district of the city. Stopping in front of one of the doors of a large two-story ryokan
"Now," spoke the aged master, "This will be where your new home."
Ranma could not shake the felling that he forgot something very important, but brushed it aside for a more pressing matter. "What's your game old man? I got more than enough reasons not trust any of your 'gifts.' I don't believe for a second that you'd give us a place like this."
Happosai visibly recoiled in faux pain at Ranma's words. Eyes watered and enlarged to a comical degree, the geezer feigned innocence. "Oh, what could a poor, old man such as my self do to earn the ire of my greatest disciple? My actions were in your best interest, I swear."
Ranma was not convinced at the master's words. "How the hell was feeling me up supposed to be 'in my best interest?'" The formerly gender cursed boy mocked in irritation.
"Stimulating a young woman's breasts will help them grow bigger." Happosai answered easily.
Unamused, Ranma took a swing at the perverted lech, but missed as the faster, and unfatigued, old gnome hopped away towards the castle. "Sorry, but I have some business to take care of. I'll meet you two at the Swedish Smorgasbord Buffet at seven. You know the place."
"He better have a good explanation for—," Ranma was suddenly, and painfully, reminded what he forgot. The pressure point he used on Ryoga only lasts a couple of hours.
"Finally!" Exhaled Ryoga. "My arm was starting to bug me."
Rubbing his jaw, Ranma said. "Good for you…You could've asked nicely you know."
"I did, you just didn't listen."
"Screaming, 'Ranma, I'm going to kill you if you don't fix this.' Is not what I call nice…" Ranma deadpanned
"It was as nice as you deserved." Ryoga said and turned to go inside the building.
Ranma followed, just to make sure that Ryoga did not get lost. He was also using Ryoga as a meat shield in case Happosai hid some traps around the place. Better Ryoga than him, he reasoned.
If this had been a normal ryokan style building, it would have easily run well over 500,000 JPY a day.
The smooth-tiled genkan connected to a rectangular 12-jo washitsu to the right. The walls in this room were mostly made up of toko alcoves for storage and decorations.
A long, 5ft wide, hallway followed forward. The intermediate styled staircase dug into the wall to the right, but followed up the hallway forward. In the hollowed-out area, underneath the staircase, an interior waterfall that fed into a small, rectangular, lotus pond.
"You really don't trust the old man too much do you." Spoke Ryoga as he headed toward the door at the opposite end of the 18-jo room.
"Being constantly groped by someone tends to erode any trust you have in them." Ranma thought back to all the times the old freak felt up his female form. He was not able to hold back the disgusted shudders such memories came with.
Whistling, "Hey Ranma, look at this." Ryoga called back.
The ponytailed boy made his way over to what Ryoga was pointing out.
Looking over the fanged boy's shoulder, Ranma saw what earned the whistle. 'Ok, that old man has a lot of explainin to do.' Ranma thought.
A finely gardened outdoor terrace with a sunken, stone, onsen in the center. To their immediate right was a fully stocked bathing station, large enough to fit six people at one time. The foliage edged footpaths were made of fine stone that contrasted well with the hardwood veranda Ranma and Ryoga were currently standing in. The veranda itself, closed off and extended around the far corner to the left. Encasing the area was a large stone and hardwood privacy wall.
Neither of the boys could believe what they were seeing. Ryoga was amazed at how nice everything was.
Ranma, grew even more suspicious. He was having a hard time trying to wrap his head around why Happosai would be so generous. 'There has to be a tricked.' He thought to himself. Deciding to vocalized his confusion. "It's nice and all, but why!?"
To the Ryoga, something like this was rare, but not rare enough to warrant any overt shock. Having been to many places on his travels, the lost boy had run into his fair share of grand places that let him stay the night. If anything was confusing to him, it was Ranma's reaction. Raising and eyebrow, he asked, "What's with you?"
"Nothing about this makes sense! That's what's with me!" Ranma began ticking off his fingers for everything that has bugged him since first arriving. "The forest, with its warding aura, the old freak being nice, that arena with the weird grey sand that turned into a battlefield, our curses are gone, 'not that I mind,' and where is everyone?"
Ryoga had to admit that some of those questions were legitimately concerning. No matter how many times he has gotten lost. He has never come across a place like this. 'Maybe he has a point.' He thought to himself.
"We'll just have to ask the old man at the smorgasbord he mentioned earlier. I'm sure he has an explanation for all of this." The fanged boy started moving over to the nearest bathing station.
"What's a smorgasbord anyway?" Ranma questioned.
"It's some type of European buffet, I think." He answered. Removing the sweaty rags that made up his clothes. Eying his ruined clothes, "Look, that fight took a lot out of me. 'More than I'd ever to admit.' I think I'll relax for a bit."
"heh, tell me about it. I was honestly expecting nothing more than a simple spar. I'll be honest, you surprised me when you went all out from the start. Little heads up next time." Ranma was said as he ran the fight over in his head. 'I Guess a dense dog can learn new tricks.'
"Yeah, I saw what you did in that fight against Saffron. Didn't feel like falling behind, you know?" Ryoga, recalled the titanic battle that resulted in the destruction of a mountain range and the flooding of the Jusenkyo Valley. He also remembered Ranma created two new variants of the Hiryū Shōten Ha. His primary inspiration for expanding his own repertoire.
Washing away the thoughts with cold water, his attention change to the feeling the liquid had on his human skin.
As good as a warm soak sounded good to Ranma, and is aching body. His curiosity, born from justifiable paranoia, urged him to looking around a bit more. "I'll join you after checking out the rest of the place." Those words earned a lazy wave from the Ryoga. The ponytailed boy was off to look at the rest of the luxury apartment.
The base floor was larger then expected. Ranma had followed down the rest of the hallway and came across an open Euro-Japanese kitchen and two large rooms linked up to it. He could guess that those other rooms were the living and dining rooms. From where he stood, Ranma was able to see that the empty rooms each had a sliding door. He figured that it connected up to the veranda outside.
The kitchen would have had Kasumi salivating. Light, walnut bamboo floors, contrasting with the darker wood cabinets and polished, torquay countertops. The island marked the edge of the kitchen while also providing seating. Like some of the gourmet kitchens, this one was fully equipped. In the island, a 10-burner stovetop sat atop a side by side double oven. A matching, triple wall oven cabinet sat next to a double basin sink.
Briefly, Ranma began to wonder why anyone would need so many stoves and ovens. Who would have a such a huge appetite?
The rest of the appliances, utensils and food storage were of equal quality and extravagance. Too bad the pantry and refrigerator were both empty of food.
Ranma headed upstairs with his stuff to pick out which room would be his. He was silently excited about the idea of finally have a room to himself. No more panda farts and loud snoring.
The upstairs hallway was shaped like a reverse L. Down the short branch of this hallway. There were two rooms with sliding doors, and a three of swing doors. The swing door located at the end of the wall led to a spotless furo and toilet room. The best part, in Ranma's option, was that the door could be locked.
He opened the two sliding doors to reveal two moderately sized bedrooms. Each room was about the size of the Tendo's guest room.
The other two swing doors led to a modern laundry room and some extra storage.
Down the long branch of the hallway two more sliding doors. Ranma, seeing a pattern in which rooms where what, guested that these two rooms where other bedrooms. Just to make sure that he was right, Ranma checked the closer one.
It was a larger version of the other two rooms he saw. Based on the number of tatami mats he saw, the room had to 50% larger than the others. From the doorway, he could see that it even had a walk-in closet.
Closing the door, Ranma made his way to the final room at the end of the hallway.
Opening the sliding door, he saw the master bedroom.
Even larger than the last room, the master bedroom had enough space to fit and extra media. The private bathroom was of the same quality as the one in the hall, and the walk-in closet was also slightly larger than the last rooms.
Ranma made his way through the doorway to get a better look at the room. He honestly liked it, but what was he going to use all this space for?
The bathroom was nice, but he had nothing against bathing with other people. The closet was huge more than enough space, but he could fit all of his clothes in a small dresser. Ranma thought about all the feminine costumes he had collected from his time in Nerima. 'Won't be needing those anymore.' He thoughtwith a smile.
After looking around a for a little while longer. Ranma dropped his stuff in the master bedroom, figuring that a little extra space never hurt. He went back down stairs to join Ryoga in the hot spring.
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"Rest of the place is pretty nice." Ranma told the young man as he, went to get ready to join Ryoga is the onsen.
Ryoga was not just sitting idly. "I've been thinking." immediately stopped to give Ranma a hard glare when he heard him snickering.
"Sorry, sorry keep going." Ranma placated his rival, and went back to removing his dragon whisker hair tie.
"I've been thinking about that last punch you hit me with. Where the hell did that come from?" Ryoga questioned.
"Oh, that? Screwed up a chestnut fist and ended up hitting you with all the built Ki." Ranma said dumping a bucket of cool water on himself.
Ryoga turned to give his rival a deadpanned stare. "So, you're saying you beat me by accident…"
Ranma shrugged. "A win's a win, Ryoga. If you want, we could go another round. And next time I won't be worried about getting splashed." He confidently said while entering the hot spring.
"Hah, you say that, but I had you running the entire time, even when there was no water nearby." Ryoga shot back.
"And who sent to you to dreamland? Face it Ryoga, I'm just better." Ranma said as he closed his eyes and laid back with arms positioned behind his head. Underneath his confident exterior, he was silently irked that Ryoga managed to catch up to him as much as he did.
Due to Genma's teachings, Ranma rarely stopped training. Minor things like walking to school and eating were turning into training. If Ryoga was catching up to him in terms of skill, he would have to find more mundane tasks to turn into training.
Insulted by Ranma's bold comment, Ryoga began to speak. "Why you, you…uh, Ranma?" But, something off about his rival stopped him.
"Hm? What's…" Ranma paused at the sound of her voice. The redhead's eyes shot open in alarm.
Looking down, Ranma was met with familiar far skin, a pair of large endowments, an hourglass figure, and missing member. As she looked down, loose scarlet strands of hair fell down in front of her eyes.
Looking up to see if Ryoga was a pig, Ranma was dismayed. Ryoga, was still human.
"What? How come you're not a pig?" Visibly unnerved, Ranma began to splash herself with the warm waters of the hot spring. Nothing happened.
Ranma was panicking at this point. Warm water was supposed change her back into her rightful body.
Ryoga did not know what was going on. He had been relaxing for almost 30 minutes in the hot spring, but nothing happened to him. He never felt the morphing sensation that came along with his Jusenkyo transformation. Then Ranma came in and was transformed about 10 seconds after getting in the onsen. That also did not make sense to the formerly piglet-curse young man. Jusenkyo curse activate immediately. They do not require extended exposure to water.
He watched as the Ranma scrambled out of the spring to get to the washing station. As she ran past him, Ryoga noticed a few differences about her body.
Ranma ran to washing station to get some cold water, hoping against hope that maybe the trigger switched to cold water. Dumping the bucket of cool on her head, nothing happened.
Bashing her fist into the ground, Ranma was mix of shock, confusion and anger. Unlike the Full Body Cat's Tongue or the Pail of Preservation, she had no clue why she was locked. She hated being locked as a girl. A week, a month if she had to, but she was just suddenly turned without warning and with no clear way to turn back.
"Uh, Ranma?" Ryoga tried to get Ranma's attention, adamantly trying to ignore her nudity.
"What Ryoga? What do you want?" Came the disheartened girl.
"Something is…different about you." Ryoga pointed out.
"Oh, golly gee, I wonder what that could be." Believing that he was talking about her transformation.
"Not that!" Ryoga yelled. "I mean your female body is different from before."
Calming down slightly, Ranma gave herself a more thorough once over. She did find somethings different that she had not notice before.
Ranma noticed that all of her scars and calluses were gone, but remembering that Ryoga's body had healed in one day, she brushed it off without giving it a second thought. Something that did draw her attention was the feeling of the cold-water puddle she was sitting in. It felt normal to her. It was not cold, nor was it hot, the water was a comfortable temperature. She could have sworn that the water was cold before when she used it as a guy. Experimentally, Ranma activated the cold water and put herself under it.
Ryoga noticing the change in the redhead's mood when she went under the cold water. "Is something wrong?"
"Ryoga, can you come here for a sec.? I want you to check something out for me."
"…Sure." Stepping out of the onsen, Ryoga made his way over to pouring facet. "What is it" He ask curiously.
"Is this water cold?" She asked.
'This better not turn me into a piglet,' He thought, as he reached in and touched the water. "It's freezing, why do you ask?" Ryoga said. As he was shaking the numbness in his hand away, he could have sworn he was smelling something sweet and creamy, but earthy at the same time. It was a pleasant smell. Something you would likely find at a high-class pastry shop.
"It feels warm." Ranma answered. "…why the hell are you sniffing me!?"
Ryoga had not realized that the scent was coming from Ranma. "Huh? Uh um, you uh…smell nice."
"…Thanks…, now back off." Ranma said, a little weirded out by her rival's behavior. She did not want another guy after her. Especially not someone as tough as Ryoga.
"Sorry, the smell just caught me off guard." Ryoga apologized.
Smelling herself, Ranma could not really smell anything more then the soap. It was alright she guessed, but nothing to act like a creep over. "Whatever, just tone down on the perv. an we'll be good."
She then went back to the hot spring to test the water again. She new how warm the spring was when she first went in it. Testing the supposedly warmer water, she noticed that it felt the same as the water faucet.
"Yeah, something's off about my body." Ranma conceded. "But that still does explain why I'm stuck like this." Motioning to her naked figure.
Gripping his nose, Ryoga turned around to face the wall. "Damnit Ranma! Stop doing that!"
"Stop doing what?"
Red in the face, he spoke. "Drawing attention to your body! I don't want to see that!"
Due to his life as a lone wanderer, Ryoga never got the chance to get used to the naked female form. No were near as repressed as the boys from the Musk Dynasty in China, but not as used to it as most young men his age.
Normally, when Ranma was either naked or dressed up, he would be too depressed, angry, or emotionally drained to pay it any mind. The time when Ranma was under the Fishing Rod of Love's curse and how she acted. That was a major sore spot for him.
Ranma was completely infatuated with him, so much to the point she would have gladly let him beat her over the head, with a shovel, until she died. Remembering how nice she was to him, even if it was not real, it only made him angry. Not angry at Ranma for her actions, but with himself for opting to murder her so he could confess to Akane, over actually looking for a way to cure his friend.
Ever sense then, Ryoga gradually started to act nicer. It was not, and still is not, an easy process, but what Ranma did for him at Mt. Horai, after he and Musu tried to betray her, solidified his resolve.
The unforeseen consequence of this was that Ryoga was finally able to notice how womanly Ranma-chan is, physically. He knew she was attractive, he had even called her adorable through his haze of rage when he first saw her. But simply knowing that Ranma is actually a guy on the inside, and that they both find the idea of being with another man, let alone each other, disgusting. That realization quelled, killed, buried and warded any thoughts greater than physical attraction.
Ranma was confused at Ryoga's reaction. "The hell's wrong with you? You're acting like it's the first time you've seen me naked. What gives?"
"Shut up, it's nothing!" Ryoga yelled, unconvincingly. "I've been soaking long enough. I'm heading off to pick a room."
As Ryoga left the redheaded girl in the onsen, she called after him. "Don't get lost!"
From behind two closed doors, she heard a muffled, "SHUT IT!"
Snickering as she climbed back into the hot spring to finish her bath, Ranma was now left alone with more pressing matters than Ryoga's weird behavior, her curse.
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Ryoga had picked out one of the smaller rooms near the bathroom. He had already changed into a new set of clothes that matched his ruined set. He had abstained from unpacking his stuff. As much as the lost boy hated to admit it, Ranma was right about his sense of direction. He just hated that the bastard always made fun of him for it.
Using this opportunity wash his mind of what he saw in the onsen, with pleasant memories from when he was younger.
His recollections ended up reminding him of the hardships that came with wandering alone in world. This depressing thought process was interrupted by a loud feminine cry from down the hall.
"ARE YOU KIDDING ME!"
Choosing to ignore the her, Ryoga went back to thinking about his family curse. For as long as he could remember, his family was cursed to get lost. They seemed to have the uncanny ability to always get to where they are trying go, which was good. The problem was that it took around a week to get anywhere, even to a neighboring house.
He often wondered what they did to earn enough money to actually buy a house. Most places normally fire people who disappear for an entire week. That was until he got lost in his family home, and ended up in the basement. That was when he found out what his father did for money. He sold handmade masterworks of his craftsmanship.
At first, he thought it was lame, but that quickly changed when he saw what his father was working on. It looking like some kind of breast plate with abs. Looking around he could see the rest of the armors and weapons. They were stored on hand carved stone mannequins That looked to be modeled after the people the armor was fitted for. There had to have been at least twenty separate works, all in different styles from different time periods.
While looking at the tools, something in him was drawn to it. Some part of him was yearning to create something, anything.
"I see you've finally made your way down here, Ryoga." A deep masculine voice spoke from behind the six-year-old.
"AH! Daddy! I-I got lost again! I—" The young Hibiki was silenced when a calloused hand patted him on the head.
He was a large man, well above 6ft tall. His short hair was the same shade of hunter green as his son. The man wore a small pair of circle rimmed glasses. His saxon-esque face was strong, yet warming, and his thick beard was long an untamed. This was mostly due to wandering around for who knows how long. A large smile crested his face. One would be able to see that Ryoga got his canines from his mother. The man's apparel consisted of a grey suit vest and white dress shirt. The shirt's sleeves were rolled up to his elbows. Black formal pants were worn with grey socks. The clothes he wore were dirty and torn, but that was common for most Hibikis.
"Hehehe" The older man let out a good-hearted chuckle "You have nothing to be nervous about, son. It was only a matter of time before you made your way down here. I'm just glad I was here when you found this place."
"What is this place Daddy?"
The other man to a few steps past his. With great pride, he answered. "The one place I know I'll make it back to son, my workshop. No matter where in the world I'm lost, I know I'll make it back here." His words were almost as passionate as the ones he to match the tone he makes when speaking of his mom. In fact, he described her as the woman who could always find him.
Ryoga was at a loss, he lacked the understanding to truly grasp his father's words. "I don't get."
"Haha, you will soon enough. But for now, how about I teach you a few crafts? If you want that is."
The sensation from before grew inside young boy's body, and with a massive grin, he answered. "Yes!"
The elder Hibiki's face lit up with pride. "Come here, and I'll teach you everything you need to know. Then we can start on something simple till you get the hanged of it."
The father son duo had worked and trained for hours on end. Neither one wished to stop, knowing full well that they would both be lost wandering the second they left the room. It was a rare bonding moment for them, something that they would both cherish for the rest of their days. But all goods things must come to an end eventually.
Forgetting his shameless housemate for the moment, Ryoga looked down at his multi-ton, battle umbrella. Every ounce of his skill went into this, his first work of craftsmanship. He looked forward to the day that he would make it back to his father's workshop.
After his brief trip down memory lane, Ryoga went back down stairs.
It was not long until Ranma came down as well. "You're still here?" Stupefied by the fact the Eternally Lost Boy had not gotten himself lost.
"What is that supposed to mean!"
Ranma waved her hands in an attempt to pacify her hotheaded roommate. "Nothing, nothing. I'm just surprise. Usually you're gone without a trace by now."
His temper cooled, but not gone, Ryoga could not help but retort with a little bit of ribbing of his own. He chose an easy target. Making it obvious that he was looking her up and down, he spoke. "Gave up on being a man already? I didn't know you were so weak will, Ranma." The fanged boy finished by mirroring Ranma's infamous smirk.
She was wearing a more feminine and tantalizing version of her favorite clothes. The red silk tangzhuang she normally wore was now missing the top portion of its decorative knot work, exposing ample amounts of cleavage. Normally the shirt would be too large for her smaller frame, but this one appeared to be made for her body. Her black cotton pants were also changed. Instead of being loose and baggy, they were tight and hugged her hips like gym leggings.
"These were normal when I put them on damnit!"
"Riiight." Ryoga said, purposely sounding unconvinced.
"I'm serious! All of my guy clothes changed when I tried to wear them!" Ranma practically yelled at Ryoga. 'Damnit what's going on!?'
It was Ryoga's turn to try and calm the irritated girl, "Calm down, I'm sure the old man has some idea of what's going on."
"NO! He'll do everything he can just to make sure I'm stuck like this!"
"Well do you have any better ideas?" At Ranma's silence to his question Ryoga reassured her "I'm sure the both of us can beat him down if he tries something."
Not seeing any other way, Ranma agreed. "I hope you're right. Can't imagine living as a girl for the rest of my life."
"Can't be any worse than living as a pig." Ryoga gave his two cents.
Ranma could help but agree with that statement. She was, at least, still a powerful martial artist, and her mother already declared here manly…But she was a little nervous with how her mother might react to the idea of her son being stuck as a girl, permanently.
Taking a deep breath, and pushing the thought of meeting her mother like this to the back of her mind. "Ok, so we just have to find out where the Swedish Smorgasbord Buffet is? The old freak told us to meet him there." She said, already making her way to the front door.
Ryoga follow her to the front door. When they were switching their shoes, he saw that Ranma's larger slippers shrunk in size and a strap formed on the instep. The whole morphing process was very reminiscent of a Jusenkyo transformation.
"Wow, you were not kidding about what was going on with your clothes." Ryoga conceded.
"Yeah, now let's just hurry up and find the buffet. I don't care if I have to throttle that old freak's neck first, I can't stay like this!"
Ryoga, having been cursed himself, usually felt depression and humiliation when it came to his piglet form. Personally, he felt like Ranma was blowing it out of proportion. "What so bad about staying female? At least you could do everything you could before, right?"
"It's not that I hate being a girl from time to time. I can live with that, no problem. If I had at least some control over it, even better. I just can't stand the idea of living like this for the rest of my life. Who knows how many Kunos, whale mouths, or random psychos are gonna try and get with me. That's not even mentioning Pop trying to sell me off to the highest bidder."
Due to Ryoga normally not being around to see some of the men Ranma's attracted in the past. He simple brushed it off, as her over exaggerating.
Once they made it out the door, Ranma led the way down the street out of the upper-class district.
After a few minutes of walking, Ryoga had to ask. "Hey Ranma?"
"Yeah?"
"Uh, do you know where the restaurant is?
"Nope…" She bluntly replied.
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Back in the Nerima District of Tokyo, the routine havoc that had become an almost daily occurrence, was replaced with whispers.
Everyone in the chaotic district that knew of Ranma and his 'friend's' exploits had been abuzz with gossip and speculation. Some of the rumors spawned from this ranged from fantastical to disturbing. But anything outside of the normal Nerima craziness was shot down and quickly forgotten.
News that the Tendo-Saotome engagement was made null and void quickly spread though the region. Nobody knows how the news spread so fast, but like many things involving information most people had a pretty well-educated guess.
The first people to hear the news about the end of the Tendo-Saotome engagement, after paying an expensive premium, were the… 'eccentric' occupants of the Kuno Estate. Each with their own takes on the matter.
Intensely training inside the dojo of the massive Kuno Estate was a tall young man of 6ft. Well above average for most fully-grown men in Japan. His dark brown hair, normally neatly trimmed short, was mussed and soldered at the edges. Secretly, he aspired to grow it longer, so as to put it in a more modern chonmage topknot. The version where he did not have to shave the top of his head bald.
His strong, handsome face was blackened and smudged in some places. His vivid, electric blue eyes were tinged with a hinted of instability. The uwagi kendogi kimono-like jacket was worn loosely on his toned body. His once white jacket was smudged with ash and smoke rose from the edges. The black hakama trousers he wore showed signs that they had caught on fire at some point.
Takewaki's stamina was reaching its limit after the hours upon hours of training, but he knew he had to perfect this new technique of his. Driven by the possibility that his new attack would be able to strike down the vile Saotome Ranma. His dream of freeing the fierce tigress, Tendo Akane and the pigtailed girl from the scoundrel that bound them. He believed that once the target of his ire was gone. His two loves would be free from the sorcerer's evil bewitchment and leap into his loving embrace.
When Tatewaki heard the news that Ranma is no longer to be wed to the Akane. At first, he was overjoyed, but soon he realized something truly horrifying. Saotome could now focusing all his attention on the carefree, pigtailed girl. His worst fears could be made a reality at any moment. The thought that Saotome could force himself upon his exotically beautiful future wife. It nearly drove him mad…
Tatewaki threw himself into his training to prepare himself for his righteous battle to save the fair tree-born-kettle-girl. Using his nickname, the Blue Thunder of Furikan High, as inspiration he tried to convert his bodily energies into blue lightning. With the power to wield one the gods' most powerful weapons of smiting. Tatewaki believed that he would finally send Saotome Ranma back to the depths of hell from whence he came. But there were two problems that have continuously plagued him.
His breath steadied, his bokken raised to strike, his body fueled by his mad devotion, Tatewaki was ready.
Concentrating on the feeling of electricity running through his body. A feeling he found hard to forget after being thrown into a power line when he tried to lovingly embrace Tendo Akane. No doubt due to Saotome's evil hold over her true feelings. Using the 'divine' energy that allowed him to harden his bokkens, increase his speed and enhance his strength, Tatewaki let loose his attack.
"kaminarida! (Thunder Strike!)"
As his wooden training sword came down, a sudden arch of patriarch colored lightning shot forward and resounding sonic boom thundered throughout the dojo. The pigtailed training dummy was destroyed in a glorious display of violent power. The wall behind the training dummy had a massive cut in it. But it appeared that Tatewaki was left unscathed this time.
Oddly enough, he has yet to actually feel pain or take damage from the electricity, and the shocking sensation held off his mounting fatigue. This is most likely due to it being made from his own Ki.
Falling to his knees in frustration. "Blast!" The first-born son of the Kuno family yelled. "What good is this attack if it destroys mine own blade?!" Looking at the newest smoldering target that had been blasted to pieces. "The power behind my strike is nothing to take lightly, but..." He began to contemplate about some way to remedy one of his techniques glaring problems. "I could possibly carry more swords…" Thinking about the idea of wielding two swords like the great Miyamoto Musashi. "hmm, I see no reason why I should not pursue this prospect."
"But more importantly!" Tatewaki pondered the primary reason for what is troubling him. "Why is mine lightning purple? I realize that purple denotes my nobility, but why can I not make it azure to fit my sobriquet? The Purple Lightning of Furikan High does not roll off the tongue, nor dances upon mine ear."
Tatewaki would have continued to lament his great plight, but he felt himself hunger for something to eat. He stood up to his full height and sighed. "I must have skipped lunch by misprision. Training on an exsufflicate stomach would consume my strength. That will not do me, nor my pigtailed goddess, any good." With his mind made up, Tatewaki made his to the kitchen of the Kuno Estate.
Even though Tatewaki knew his sister, Kodachi Kuno, was twisted in the head and horrifyingly sadistic, her cooking was amazing. He could never wrap his head around how her cooking was better than the helps'. Kodachi's food was almost intoxicatingly delicious, and helped keep his mind clear and drive away his horrifying night terrors.
As Tatewaki was eating what his younger sister called 'bouillabaisse,' the aforementioned girl giddily walked in.
Kodachi Kuno stood slightly above 160cm, two inches above the average height of the female Japanese population. Knowing this, only fueled her insufferable haughtiness and ego. Like Tatewaki, her face was regally pale and well-structured, but unlike her brother, Kodachi has grey eyes instead of blue. Her long black hair was restrained with a red ribbon in a nice side ponytail. Due to her training in Martial Arts Gymnastics, Kodachi's body is lithe and gives off an air grace. She wore a custom light green gymnast leotard that hugged her body and showed off her long legs. The leotard was shoulderless and was custom cut to show off her hips.
When Kodachi saw that her brother eating she decided to jovially make conversation. "Oh, there you are brother dear, I was beginning to think you would stay in the dojo all day." She said with a beaming smile.
After swallowing the delicious French cuisine, Tatewaki said, "I mustn't let my skills rust even for a moment, dear sister. The foul Saotome's magic makes short work me if I am not at my peak at all times. Now, my dear sister, tell me, what has you in such a good mood?"
Her smile grew larger at the question. "Am I really that transparent? I suppose it cannot be helped, regarding the knowledge that I know."
"Which is…?" Tatewaki asked, motioning his sister to go on.
"I suspect that the Tendo's mercenary told you about how her volatile sister finally drove off my darling Ranma-sama." Before Tatewaki could contest his sister's skewed interpretation of the information, she continued. "But unlike you, she also told me where to find that redheaded harlot's house."
Brushing away the insult to his second love, the master kendoka rushed up and clasped his sister by the shoulders. It had nearly been two years since he first met the enchanting redhead, but in all this time that he has know of her, Tatewaki never knew where her family home was. He did not even know her name. If he knew where she lives, he would be able to spend even more time with her, and have even more opportunities to thwart Saotome's attempts.
"Tell me, my dearest sister, where does my beloved live? And why was I not told of this sooner?" Tatewaki questioned.
Kodachi's smile grew sinister. "Her home is the manor that sits atop the hill near the heavily forested section of Shakujii Park. I am still surprised that such a lowly wench could belong to such a wealthy family. It matters not, but at least she is not some common street trash. Now as for your second question—" Kodachi was cut off by her brother suddenly rushing to leave the dining room. By the time that Tatewaki had left the room she finished what she had to say. "Because you left before the broker could offer you the information…"
Kodachi calmly stood up to leave the dining room to follow her brother. She made her way through the house and into the main courtyard. There she found Tatewaki laying on the ground, paralyzed.
"What is this?! Why am I unable to move my body?!" Tatewaki yelled. When he spotted his sister making her way over to him, he called out to her. "Sister! I am in need of assistance! Do you have anything to undo what has been done to me?"
"Yes, brother dear, I do." She answered.
Calming down at her words. "Thank goodness. Hurry, time is of the essence. This is clearly some type of trap devised by that Saotome to keep me from my pigtailed goddess."
"No."
Tatewaki had a pause at his sister's words. "…What do you mean 'No!?' This is not the time to be fooling around!"
"No, I will not free you, and no, it was not my Ranma-sama. It was me, dear brother." Kodachi stated as she hopped onto the privacy wall of the Kuno Estate.
"Have you gonna completely mad?! This is not time for your games! Release me this instance, so I can rescue my beloved pigtailed girl from Saotome's clutches."
"Foolish brother of mine, I can not allow you to interfere with my plans to get rid of that harlot once and for all. You shall see brother. Whatever bewitchment she has over my Ranma-sama will be ended once for all." Kodachi turned away to leave. "By any means necessary. Ohohohohohohoh!" She bounded away in the direction of the Saotome family home, laughing like a mad woman.
"No! Do not harm her! No! Nooooo!" The paralyzed fighter screamed at the top of his lungs.
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A few hundred miles North, Ranma and Ryoga had finally stumbled across the Swedish Smorgasbord Buffet. It only took them 2 hours of walking through an empty city. It would have been longer had Ryoga not been able to roughly translate some of the foreign languages.
The building was primarily of Japanese design on the exterior, but it had clear signs of Scandinavian influence with its sod roof.
Standing in front of the restaurant Ranma looked up to Ryoga and said, "Wow, looks like your terrible sense of direction can actually be good for something, nice job." Ranma rewarded her companion with one of her infamous backhanded compliments. Though to Ranma, what she said was nothing more than sincere praise.
That did not stop Ryoga, or any other person who Ranma 'compliments,' from seeing it differently.
Before Ryoga could go off on the girl for what he perceived as an insult, Ranma had already entered the building.
Inside was as minimalistic as a restaurant could be. The furniture was simple, hand carved and placed in a grid pattern, the floors were hardwood, and the tall roof exposed piping and light fixtures.
Unlike the rest of the town, this restaurant had someone from the town. A large, bearded, man dressed in a classic chef's uniform, was behind the buffet counter. His blonde beard was held together in a Viking style braid. The sleeves of his shirt were rolled up to expose his heavily muscled arms. Even though his body was in excellent condition, he had to have been in his late 40s to early 50s at least.
Sitting at a large table in the center of the room was Happosai, who was gorging himself on pickled herring.
Ranma, not wasting any time, stomped her way up the aged master's table intent on getting answers. Her loud, hostile footfalls on the wooden floor drew the attention of the bearded man.
Happosai remained calm with his back turned as if he didn't hear Ranma coming towards him.
"Hey old freak! What gives!?"
At the sound of female Ranma's voice, Happosai turned to see if his ears were not deceiving him. Before he could show any overt signs of surprise, a rolling pin came flying at high speeds towards the loud girl.
Ranma's danger sense went haywire telling her that the projectile was a major threat. Using both of her hands, she caught the rolling pin. The amount of force behind the kitchen implement was more than she expected resulting in her being pushed back a few feet. Her grip on the rolling pin tightened when she came to a stop causing the wooden tool to slightly crack under the pressure of her dainty looking hands. She was not in the mood to be toyed with right now.
"Hey blondie! Think you dropped this!" Ranma threw the rolling by back towards the chef, who stopped it using the palm of his hand which caused him to eliciting a grunt.
'Kraftig, she doesn't look it, but her strength is nothing to take lightly.' The bearded man thought. 'Regardless, I cannot let her blatant disrespect go unchallenged.' In heavily accented and broken Japanese he replied, "Respect elders, barn. Who you think you are use such language when address Grandmaster?"
Grandmaster Happosai, answered in Ranma's steed. "Someone who has earned the right, Severin. I would like to introduce to you the newest Master level practitioners of Anything Goes Martial Arts. Masters Ranma Saotome and Ryoga Hibiki."
"Vad/Huh/Really?!" Severin, Ryoga and Ranma called out in confusion. The 'really' came from Ranma, because Happosai declared her a master of anything goes. The 'huh' came from Ryoga, because to his knowledge, he was not even a practitioner. The 'vad' came from the Severin, for reasons that he immediately made vocal.
"Were not next masters suppose be winners of tournament on Simushir Island? If they here, how they qualify mastery?"
Happosai immediately answered. "I watched them fight each other earlier, and judged them based on their performance. In fact, they are currently more formidable than those with at least 20 more years of training and experience."
If it was anybody else, Severin would have blown off such ludicrous claims. But it was the Grandmaster saying this, not some young braggards. He was more inclined to believe that these kids were something special, even without seeing them in action himself. He nearly kicked himself for missing such a fight in person.
"Know some people not be happy about this."
"Undoubtably, but I don't that these two would consider most them a serious threat." Happosai said evenly.
"Uh, hey old man? Since when did I become a student of Anything Goes?" Ryoga questioned. He was never able to stay in one place for too long, so he only picked up a few basic moves to practice. Rarely, He did find a few unique martial arts techniques from time to time in his travels.
Looking directly into Ryoga's eye, Happosai answered. "Since the first fight I saw between you and Ranma up to today's spar. You have expanded your repertoire to cope with a practitioner of anything goes, in doing so, you became an indirect student of Ranma." Speaking to both of the teenage Masters. "Now, why don't you join me for dinner? I can tell that neither of you have eaten anything today. And Ranma?"
"Yeah?"
"How in the world do you still have your curse? I would have thought that you would have been cured." The perverted master looked her up and down then down and up, slowly. "I do appreciate your newfound sense of fashion, very feminine."
Ranma face faulted at both Happosai's ignorance and his comment on her apparel. She knew he was going to be perverted about it, there was no doubt about that. It was his ignorance that threw her for a loop. "I was hoping you'd know why…and quit looking at me like that! The curse changed or somethin, an it's screwin with my clothes."
"Hmmm get some food and we'll discuss this over dinner." 'Clothes too? Ranma always find a way to screw up in the best way, hehehe.' The old pervert thought as his imagination of what type of panties Ranma's boxers turned into.
Ranma and Ryoga went over to the buffet counter where a spread of hot and cold dishes from Swedish culture. There was a wide spread of breads, pastries, cheeses, meats, a lot of herring, salads, soups and deserts. It looked exotic to Ranma, having spent most of her life in East Asia. Ryoga saw some familiar foods, but he never knew what they were called.
Looking at the bearded man behind the counter, Ranma asked "Hey, uh, Severin, right? Mind walking me through some of the food here?"
"Ja, that is my name, and have no problem with your request." He answered with a smile. It was nice to see people eat and enjoy his food, but he preferred it if people knew what they were enjoying.
Severin went on to name and explain the basic ingredients and flavors of over 50 different Swedish dishes. From the popular stekt fläsk med löksås och potatis to the high-energy goodness that is blåbärssoppa. From there he spoke of their selection of beverages. Water, milk, and sweet soups like sockerdricka and nyponsoppa, and alcohols like vodka and glogg.
When Adolphus finished his explanations, he saw that the little redhead had already stack her plates high with food. All three of them…
"Thanks," Ranma said as she went back to Happosai's table.
'Such an appetite on that one.' Severin thought to himself. "You welcome."
Ryoga already knew what he liked, so it took significantly less time for him to get his food. He was already sitting at the table.
"Don't you have any self-control when it comes to food, Ranma?" Asked the fanged boy as he took a bite of falukorv.
"Yeah, but not when I'm actually hungry." Ranma replied as she sat down and…vacuumed her dinner. 'I feel like I got two empty stomachs.'
"Now then, I am sure you have plenty of questions. Feel free to ask me anything." Happosai said as he sipped from his glass of glogg.
Counting off her fingers, Ranma asked in quick succession. "What is this place, why does the forest have a warding aura, where is everyone, what's this about a tournament, why didn't you mention this place before, why did you lead us here now, what's with that weird arena, why did you give us a house, what the hell happened to our curses?"
"I think at sums up my questions. Ryoga, you got any?" Ranma asked returned to her food.
"Nope. You pretty much covered it." Ryoga responded.
"Very well then. We are in the City of the Kinshi Mori. This city is entirely populated by those who have the qualities needed to be a practitioner of Anything Goes Martial Arts. Most of the people who normally populate this city are on Simushir Island up North in the Okhotsk Sea. As you can tell, not everyone left to see the event." Happosai said as he gestured over to Severin who was staring at Ranma, and her strange way of 'eating.' "But as you can see, much of the population close up shop to go see the event. They should start trickling through the gates in a few on Friday."
Happosai stopped to take a sip from his glogg. "For a country in the vodka belt, the Swedish sure know how to make good mulled wine." He complimented.
"Your praise is much appreciate, Grandmaster." Severin gave a slight bow, before taking Happosai's empty plates to the kitchen.
Watching as sturdy looking man left the room. "How much did ya pay him? I don't believe second anyone'd show you respect without you threatening them." Ranma asked.
"As Grandmaster of anything goes, I also have the title of sovereign. That includes the respect the position warrants. Sadly, most people only call me 'Grandmaster' or 'Happosai-sama.' You, Ranma, may call me 'Your Lord and Master,' or 'Big Daddy' which ever one you prefer." He said with gleam in his eye.
"Not even in your dreams, ya old freak!"
"Alright alright, don't get so worked up, Ranma. Stress will wrinkle that pretty face of yours, and nobody wants that." Happosai warned.
She scoffed and said, "as if I'd care 'bout somethin that."
"Pfff," Ryoga sounded when he heard what Ranma said. "You're always wearing that purple eye makeup and pink lipstick when you're a girl. You're even more vain as a girl than a guy."
"The eyeliner has been a part of the curse since the beginning, and my lips are naturally this color." Ranma set Ryoga straight about her cursed prettification. "It's one of the first things I had to get used to about the curse. 'Sides, if I gotta be girl from time to time. I'd rather be an attractive one."
"And you wonder why Kuno's been chasing you…"
"This is a fine conversation we're having, but I think we should get back on topic. I have some business back in Nerima that cannot wait." Interrupted Happosai.
'Panty raid,' Ranma and Ryoga thought as they rolled their eyes.
Growing serious, the aged master continued to answer their questions. "Now, the reason why I never told either of you about this place is because…I didn't want to." Ranma and Ryoga nearly fell out of their chairs at such a lame answer.
"What do you mean, 'you didn't want to!?' There is no way that's the only reason!" Ryoga yelled.
Taking another bite of pickled herring, Happosai said. "Of course, there are other reasons for why I never told you about this place."
"Why wont you just tell us?" Asked Ranma.
"Because if I did, I know you." He pointed at the boy-turned-girl. "Will find a way to screw it up without even trying. It's best that I keep both of you in the dark." Happosai said. A tick mark grew on Ranma forehead when the old man said that she would screw something up.
"If Ranma's the problem, why can't you tell me?"
"because, when that boy is curious, he'll go above and beyond to get the answer. Even at the expense of his dignity." Replied Happosai
"Hey!"
Ryoga grew a smile and teased Ranma with one of her old ruses. "The old man isn't wrong, Yoiko."
Happosai's eyebrows raised at that. "Yoiko? Is there something-" He was cut off.
"It's Nothing! Just answer the rest of the questions. You said you had to go on your panty raids or something."
"I said no such thing, but thank you for bring us back on topic, Yoiko." Happosai ignored the cry of, 'don't call me that,' as he went back to answering the last few questions. "The reason for why I lead you here now instead of earlier, or at some other time, is tied into why I never mentioned it before. That leaves the arena, your house, and your curses, yes?"
Ranma and Ryoga nodded in confirmation.
"The arena in the town square is where prominent fighters go to prove that they are worthy to be considered for mastery of anything goes. Most of the time, the arena will lay dormant until at least two powerful fighters step foot on it. Once used, the arena will 'recharge' with the ambient Ki produced by the towns people. Since everyone was away, I had to recharge it myself so they you two could fight on it."
"Oh uh, thanks," came Ranma.
Happosai waved of the gratitude. "No, believe me, the pleasure was all mine. Now the reason why I gave you the house. Because, I deemed you two worthy of the title Masters of Anything Goes Martial Arts. Every master of our art earns one of those houses, but don't get too comfy. This city values merit above all else. If you do not train to maintain your skills, you will lose the house to someone more deserving. Now, as a Master, you have a discount on all goods and services within every one of the twelve cities of our practitioners reside in."
Ranma was baffled it the mention of eleven more cities just like this one. "Wait, there are twelve cities? How'd you manage to hide twelve entire cities."
"Who said I was hiding them? Nearly half of them have waivers with maps that lead directly to where they are. This is the only city without any hints to it whereabouts. Besides some unique circumstances, most people have to be led here."
"How haven't I heard about this before?" Ranma ask in genuine surprise. Considering she is pretty much a living magnet for crazy martial artists. It was a fairly reasonable question.
"The waivers are not only rare, but most countries this far east don't permit them. As far as I'm aware of, only the Australia, the Americas, and European countries have them openly. Now about your curses."
Both of the teens leaned in to pay even more attention to what Happosai was about to say.
"Skipping past the long history of these cities. Basically, most curses, hexes, spells, or any unstable magics are not allowed on these grounds. There are a few, very, rare exceptions, and Jusenkyo curses are not among the exceptions. When you two cross the torii at the southern gate. Your Jusenkyo curses should have been ripped from your bodies, painfully. Once the curses are removed from your body, they are deconstructed down to their base components leaving nothing more than pure mana. This mana is then used to heal their former victim's bodies, to an extent. I'm sure you noticed the old wounds, scars, and calluses your bodies gone?"
"Yeah, but what about scarface over there? Wasn't the mana supposed to heal that too?" Ranma said as she pointed her thumb at Ryoga.
"Scarface?" Ryoga questioned.
"That is one of two reasons why I said, 'to an extent.' The Jusenkyo curse, and what ever other magic he was exposed to, was clearly not enough to heal everything." Explained Happosai
"Seriously! Is there something wrong with my face!?"
"You wanna list?" Ranma teased.
"That's i-!" Before Ryoga lash out at Ranma for her jest, Happosai held him in place using nothing but his kiseru pipe. The aged master did not even to have trouble hold back the fanged boy.
"Hold on, boy. At least wait until Ranma's male again before you thrash him." He commented.
"Uh, that's one of the main things I wanted to talk to you about. Something went wrong now I'm stuck like this." Ranma informed.
"Really?" Happosai questioned.
Ranma saw that the old geezer was making a stupid grin while his eyes had become glazy. Knowing full well what the pervert was thinking, the boy-stuck-as-a-girl smacked him upside the head. "Cut it out. Do you know how to fix this or not?"
Rubbing his smarted cheek, Happosai asked, "Was that really necessary?"
"Yes, and I'd be more than happy to do it again if you don't start talking." Ranma threatened.
"Is that a promise?" Happosai asked in a playful tone.
"Ugh!" Ranma sounded in disgust. "Ryoga, a little help here?" She asked.
"No, no, I think you got it handled yourself." Ryoga said with a smile, enjoying Ranma's discomfort. If he could not knock Ranma around, he could settle for watch her squirm.
Ryoga was against Happosai's lechery. Like most people, he considers the old man to be hardly more than a disgusting little gnome. A highly skilled and dangerous gnome, but a gnome none the less. The fanged boy decided that he would butt in if things became physical.
"Jerk." Ranma insulted him for not immediately helping her.
Ryoga decided that he would wait a few seconds before stepping in to a physical confrontation. So as to better access the situation…
"Bahaha, I'm just messing with you." 'For now.' "As for why you're still cursed? I have no idea. You should have been cured last night. Why, I even heard the magic being torn from your bodies."
"Wait, you where there last night? What happened? Everything's kind of fuzzy." Ryoga asked
"Yes, I was there. I suspect it would be the same thing that happens to all those who have magic ripped from their body. The magics that were currently active, as well as the residual mana from past magics that no longer effect you, but still left an imprint, were torn from your bodies and taken apart as the seams."
Ranma picked on something off about what Happosai said. "What do you mean by 'suspect?' I though you said you were there."
"I couldn't stand the idea of watching my poor Ranma-chan be destroyed like that. So, I stayed inside the gate house until the screaming stopped."
"Screaming?" Ranma asked in a questioning tone.
"Of course there would be screaming, howling, crying, wailing and a quite a few choked curses. Having your body purged of magic is among the most painful things a human can go through. The event is so traumatizing that your brain may force you to forget just to maintain your sanity."
"Well something clearly went wrong." She deadpanned
"And I happy it did! I don't know what I would have done without my precious Ranma-chan to hold me close when I have nowhere else to go."
"I ain't your precious anything!" Happosai's constant harassment was really grating on her nerves. She was having trouble finishing her fourth plate of food.
Ryoga ask. "Is there anything else we should know?"
"To say 'yes' would be an understatement, but that is all the time I have for tonight." Happosai said as he got up from the table. "I will speak to you two again in four days about your inauguration into the Hall of Masters."
"Waitwaitwait what?! Hall of Masters? Inauguration? How much haven't told us?"
"Hehehe, Quite a bit." That was the last thing Happosai said before taking a pull from his kiseru pipe and blowing a massive smoke cloud. The cloud continuously grew until it obscured the entirety of the table.
*Cough Cough*
Ranma and Ryoga waved away the smoke to reveal that Happosai was long gone. The only thing left was an empty plate of food and a note with excruciatingly horrible handwriting.
Ryoga, being closer, picked up the note and read it out loud.
"Congratulations on becoming Masters of Anything Goes Martial Arts. As much as I enjoy playing around with you two. I can not ignore the progress you two have made to become prominent martial artist. You two have officially become the youngest to be granted the title of Masters of Anything Goes, this generation. Yes, there have been younger, but they're usually killed in under a week in formal challenges. With that knowledge I have a single task for each of you that will help you both survive the first week.
Ryoga, since you're most likely reading this note first, your task to gain better control over your strength and Ki. Enough to interact with civilization without destroying portions of it by mistake. This will also cause you to waste less Ki outside of fights and spars.
Ranma, the task I have for you is very simple. Learn to fight and defend against multiple opponents at the same time. I have seen that you have the speed, precision and situational awareness to do so, but you seem to easily be overwhelmed by just two decent fighters. See that this is remedied before it's too late.
Remember, you two are unknowns to the people of this city. Use that to your advantage. Once they learn of your titles, you two will undoubtably be challenged for it. Especially by those who recently lost the tournament. Be prepared to defend your very life in this city. Though it is frowned upon by the majority, formal challenges of mortal combat are allowed against Masters. Even me.
Just try to avoid any unnecessary conflict and you should be alright.
Sincerely: Grandmaster Happosai
P.S. Ranma, I am honored to add your panties to my collection. You have fine tas-"
"You can stop reading now!" Ranma screeched as she snatched the letter away from Ryoga to keep him from reading anymore. She silently read the rest of the note to herself. Her eyes widened in disbelief. She knew Happosai was fast, but he has never shown to be fast enough to take her underwear without notice. Just to make sure, she gave her breast an experimental squeeze to check for the sarashi her tank top turned into.
"THAT FREAK!"
Ryoga could not help but chuckle at Ranma's misfortune. "Look on the bright side, Ranma. We won't see him again until Friday. Come on let's finish eating and head back to the apartment."
Putting a lid on her justified rage, but still steamed at being forced to go commando, Ranma agreed to Ryoga's proposition with a nod.
Ryoga looked down at his empty plate. "What happened to my food?" He looked up to see if Ranma had an answer. Too bad she was already up to get her 5th plate of food.
When she got to the buffet counter there was no food left. She did see Severin struggle to read a terribly written note.
Severin spoke when he noticed the redheaded girl come back to the buffet counter. "Sorry, buffet closed. Grandmaster took all food before left. Will open on Friday for after tournament celebration." He gave a broad smile. "Should be quite big party."
Initially disheartened that the little freak also stole the food. The party sounded like a good time. Ranma knew she was a big eater, but great appetite was surprising, even to her.
"Guess I'll see you guys tomorrow then." As Ranma turned to leave
"Ahem, food not free. Accord to note by Grandmaster, you pay."
"…What…"
"Grandmaster said you pay for all food."
"Hold on for just one sec." Ranma said with a nervous smile. "Ryoga!" She called. "Can you come over here for a minute?"
Ryoga made his way over to where Ranma and Severin were. "What is it?"
"It's about the bill…for all of the food." Ranma said while gesturing to the empty buffet counter.
His eyes widened at what that meant. "How much do we owe?" Ryoga asked nervously.
Severin handed him the bill. The very, Very long bill…
Ranma and Ryoga looked over the bill until they got to the amount owed. Their eyes nearly shot out of their skulls when they saw how much debt Happosai thrusted upon them.
"We don't have this kinda money." Ranma told him.
"Do not worry. It says in note they you will be ok with being waitress. You work off debt that way."
Ranma knew a few things about being a waitress, so she was in familiar territory here. But she was not so sure how Ryoga could be a waiter. 'Might as well foot the bill, not like Ryoga got to eat much anyway.' "You gotta deal, but don't think Ryoga's going to be much help."
This earned her a glare from Ryoga, who knew what she meant by that. Knowing she was right, Ryoga bit his tongue.
"Note only mentions you anyway. As long bill is paid, does not matter. So, we have deal?"
"Sure thing…" Ranma realized that all the debt was thrusted upon her shoulders, and not split between her and Ryoga.
"All right then." The large man made his way into the back room. After a minute, he returned with what appeared to be a conservative cross between a German dirndl and Sweden's national dress.
"Here you go." Severin said as he handed Ranma the costume.
"Thanks." Ranma said. Looking it over she figured it was not be the worst thing she had to wear.
The two martial artists left the restaurant to head back to the building they are staying at. The walk to the house from the restaurant was be much shorter now that they actually knew where they were going. The way both of the martial artists could not help but think Happosai's advice.
Ranma had a few ideas on how to get better at fighting multiple people at once. All she needed were a few beehives, wolves, and/or few nosey rivals. She already had one.
Ryoga was having a tougher time figuring out how to gain better control over his body. He would have asked Ranma for advice, but he was not that desperate, yet. He figured meditation would help.
When they made it back to the house, the two went upstairs to their respective rooms to get ready to go bed. The events of that day took a lot out of them. Both mentally and physically.
Inside the master suite, Ranma was deep in dreamless slumber. Before going to bed, she had tried to change into her normal boxers and tank top, but they had transformed into white sarashi chest wraps and blue lined, yellow silk tanga panties. Carbon copies of what Happosai stole at the Buffet. This reminder of the curse did not help to settle her mind.
Hours later at about 1:00 A.M. Ranma's body changed.
Bright red hair turned back into raven black. Soft pale skin tanned slightly as if kissed by the sun. Her large breasts and flat stomach changed into hardened pecs and abs. The chest wraps changed back into a tank top. It was different from the one he had originally in that it hugged his torso, outlining his lean muscled physique. The Brazilian style panties changed back into boxers. Like the tank top, Ranma's boxers were also changed into a form fitting version of themselves.
Ranma was male once more.
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Walking along a dirt road, Musu made his way into a small town. His long black hair was dirtied with mud, twigs and leaves. The secondhand clothes he 'borrowed' hid the branded chains and shackles on his body. The half-blind man guessed that he was somewhere in the Tochigi Prefecture. It was difficult to tell with his terrible eyesight, having lost his glasses defending himself against hungry hamlet people.
Making his way down the street, he came to a 24/7 konbini store. The hidden weapon master did not like what he was about to do, but he was too hungry to really care at the moment. So, he made his way inside the store.
Inside the konbini, was cashier was a young man, most likely in his early twenties. According to his identification tag, his name was Maru. He was keeping an eye on the bum that walked into his store. There was just something about him that he did not like.
Musu started looking around for something smoothie like. Due to his broken jaw, he would have a tough time eating anything else.
'Just hurry up and leave already.' Maru the cashier thought when he saw the bum got straight for the food.
The hidden weapon master perused the isles as if looking for the specific food he needed. Pausing when he saw some basic medical supplies, Musu steadily pick them up, inspected them, and put them back.
Maru was steadily growing more and more disgusted with the trash that had the audacity to dirty up the products the was to sell.
Musu continued to look around the store as the hateful eyes bore into him. Once he was satisfied that saw everything he wanted, he left the store.
Maru was seeing red. He has never hated someone so much before. He knew if that bastard came anywhere near him, he would…
The violent thoughts that flooded his mind were no more. When he looked around the bum had already left the store.
Shrugging his shoulders, Maru went back to watching the late-night news. Something about a freak lightning storm that hit Nerima's Shakujii Park.
Outside, Musu concluded what he knew about his curse. It seems to work faster on people who already view him negatively, don't know him, and that the effects will decline the further away he becomes.
The exiled boy headed North on his way out of town. North being the last direction he saw Ranma leave. The ex-Amazon knew that if anyone could/would help him in his time of need, it would be Ranma. He also knew that it took a lot to get Ranma to truly angry.
Making his way to into the forest, Musu opened his hidden weapons space to take out the food and medical supplies. He needed food, rest and medical attention, but he had no time for rest. Because of his refusal to obey Cologne's dishonorable order, his family must suffer.
Musu sat with his back against a large tree. Placing both of his thumbs in his mouth, he set to force his jaw back into its rightful position. It was a slow, painful, process, but eventually he popped his jaw back.
Feeling that he wasted enough time, Musu continued on his mission, to look for Saotome Ranma.
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Alright, That's the end of chapter 2.
Feel free to ask question if you have any.
Chapter 3 is underway.
