Disclaimer: Ranma ½, its character's and situations are the intellectual property of Rumiko Takahashi. No copyright infringement is intended, no profit is being made from this fic, and it's for entertainment purposes only.
Bonds.
Chapter 2. The Mysterious Bandit.
Ryoga woke up at the smell he had grown quite accustomed to in the last months. With his eyes still closed, he smiled and still half-asleep, he got up and out of his tent, letting the smell guide him. Ryoga might not have a sense of direction at all, but there was nothing wrong with his sense of smell. The sunlight hurt his eyes, blinding him momentarily, but he had other senses to use. Aside from the smell, his ears were guiding him to a familiar buzzing sound.
"Good morning," a female, again familiar, voice greeted him happily. Ryoga finally opened his eyes and saw Ukyo cooking some breakfast for both of them.
It was unbelievable, but it was true. As true as the fact that Ranma and Akane had married over six months ago. As true as the fact they had gone on their honeymoon for three weeks. It was also true that Ryoga had frequently seen Ukyo in the weeks following the wedding, but it was uncertain when he had fallen for her. Surely, it must have been during those days he lived at Ukyo's house, helping her with the restaurant.
They had lived like that for nearly six months, until Ryoga felt the call of the road again. This time, however, he made sure the trip was the best he had had so far. He had invited Ukyo, it hadn't been easy to convince her, but once he agreed to take the okonomiyaki cart and help her cook, they were on the road in no time.
It was their 37th or so day on road. Ryoga had lost track of time because he was enjoying each day so much. Sometimes, back when he had been… uhm, traveling, sometimes he had wish for company, on other occasions, though, he had been happy to have privacy so he could sulk… er, be wistful until his heart was contempt.
Being with Ukyo was perfect, not only he had the best company he could think of, but she was also the one he felt so natural around. Besides, one could never deny the joy of covering her skin with kisses in the middle of the night, in the middle of nowhere…
CLANG!
"Hey! What was that for?" Ryoga jumped, rubbing his head. Sometimes, he had wished she left her spatula back at Nerima.
"Your breakfast is getting cold. What are you doing staring at emptiness anyway? You've been doing that a lot recently."
That's because I was thinking of when we… never mind. "Sorry, I guess I'm still half-asleep." And he began to attack his delicious yakisoba enthusiastically.
"Anyway, on other issues, guess what? There will be a fair tonight in the next town." Ryoga looked up and met her smiling face, a sight that got a smile from him every time as well.
"Yeah, that sounds like a nice time to…"
"Can you imagine what the income will be like? We need to get ready soon for the breakfast rush, and then pack up and move on so we can install there early."
Ryoga laughed while chewing. It didn't matter the situation, the business woman in her never surrendered.
Ryoga swallowed his bite, straightened in his seat and stared at her eyes. "Ukyo, I was thinking we could have a nice time at the fair, as in a date. Don't you agree?"
Ukyo looked at him, looking surprised. However, she finally giggled and nodded, her cheeks a little pink. Ryoga felt very proud of himself, he knew his girl well… or maybe she knew him very well and managed to make him do whatever she wanted, and made him believe it had been his idea… oh, what the hell!
"Okay, sugar. But for now, get the cart ready for the customers."
Ryoga smiled inwardly and, after finishing his meal, started to hang the banners that read 'Ucchan's Okonomiyaki'.
That night, Ryoga walked with Ukyo by his arm. The lights of the fair made her hair shine in hypnotic patterns. Ryoga felt marveled at the thought that, even after so much time together, the feeling of her cheek and her tiny hands around his shoulder still gave him shivers.
Ukyo yawned as they walked, after all, they had worked all morning, then packed in a hurry, then worked during the afternoon as well; that's what it had taken to get Ukyo happy.
"Tired?" he asked.
Ukyo didn't respond out loud. She merely nodded while yawning again. Ryoga smiled wickedly and lifted from her feet. Ukyo looked surprised for a moment, but almost immediately she threw her arms around neck and cuddled against his neck. Holding her in his arms, Ryoga started to walk to the place they had left the cart and his backpack.
They were nearly by the last tent of the fair, which had been set on the top of a small hill, when Ryoga saw two persons running down below.
"Thief! Someone stop him!" The yelling one was a very old man, with a white, long beard who was chasing a younger man who was gaining ground quite fast, looking to lose his chaser in a mass of trees.
"Ukyo," Ryoga shook Ukyo gently, waking her up. "Wait here, I'll be right back."
Ukyo looked downhill and saw the chase. She jumped out of Ryoga's arms and holding her spatula, she jumped down the hill and began chasing the thief. Ryoga felt surprised for a brief moment, but after all, it was in her wild nature to act on impulse. He quickly followed Ukyo down the hill.
Ryoga watched as Ukyo jumped at the thief, wielding her spatula and regretted he hadn't been quick enough to get a little action for himself. Surprisingly, the thief ducked Ukyo's spatula swing and began to attack back. Ryoga quickly realized this guy knew his ways around martial arts.
Ryoga reached the thief and aimed for his head with a devastating kick, the thief saw him on time and blocked it, but Ryoga's strength sent him crashing against a nearby tree. Taking the chance, Ukyo attacked again, this time she landed her blow on the thief's head. Proving toughness aside from reflexes, the thief took the hit and still was able to trip her, then tried to run again. Ryoga used the Bakusai Tenketsu on a nearby tree to knock it down and close the thief's path, then; Ryoga focused his chi and used a technique he possibly couldn't if it hadn't been for the company of Ukyo these past months.
"Moko takabisha!"
The great sphere of chi fired from Ryoga's hands aiming for the thief. On another amazing display of ability, the thief dodged it in the last second. However, he found himself face first with Ukyo's spatula, which knocked his head to the ground, finally stopping him.
Finally, the old man reached them, panting. He leaned on a tree and barely found enough air in his lungs to thank Ryoga and Ukyo.
"Thank… you both… very much." Ukyo wrapped her spatula to her back and approached the old man.
"Are you okay, sir?" The old man couldn't answer and merely nodded. Seeing the old man was fine, Ukyo turned to Ryoga. "And are you okay, sweetie?"
"Perfect, you?"
"Just the same, thanks."
"You two…" the old man began to say "you two must be martial artists… no other way could have stopped him."
"Yeah, well…"
"You must come with me!"
"What?!" Asked both Ryoga and Ukyo.
"Please, it is of vital importance!" The old man was on his knees, fervently begging them. Shocked by the sudden reaction of the old man, Ryoga nodded before he knew what he was doing.
A while later, Ryoga and Ukyo were inside the old man's house, which was a small shack in the outskirts of the village. Before coming to the old man's house, Ryoga and Ukyo picked up their things, also, Ryoga noticed the old man made it back without any big packages or anything… in fact, the thief didn't seem to be carrying anything big or heavy… what exactly had been stolen from the old man?
"I'm very thankful you have agreed to come. However, I fear I must bother you again by asking you to lend me your help," said the old man. "Oh, but where are my manners? I'm sorry. My name is Choza, very nice to meet you."
"Ryoga Hibiki."
"Ukyo Kuonji."
"Very well. Now, let me reveal to you what that bum tried to steal from me." Choza extracted a couple of small scrolls from his robes and extended in front of them.
"This is the reason that man attacked me. This scroll contains the instructions to find Hanzo, a powerful master of martial arts. He was celebrated for his power at one time, but now he prefers living a peaceful life. However, he is a good hearted man, if you know how to treat him. He was my master at some point, but I was never a man with much potential for martial arts."
"Then, why would you go for all the problems to find him and learn from him in the first place?" Ukyo asked.
"You'll see… my village has been raided by some bandits, we tried to fight back but all of us were beaten… I wanted to help… so I looked for Hanzo. I was successful on finding him and convincing him to become my teacher… but I failed to become stronger." Choza looked sadly at the sky through his window. Ryoga looked at Ukyo and she was obviously feeling sorry for the old man, for her eyes were a little watery.
His tests were just too hard for a person with my limited talent… but you…" and the look in the old man's eyes became begging.
"You are young and talented… please. I beg you to help me, find Master Hanzo and then help my village get rid of those criminals." Choza was practically crying at Ryoga's feet as he begged for his and Ukyo's help.
Feeling sorry for the poor old man, Ryoga chose to do what he felt right.
"Please, tell us how to find this Hanzo."
Author's Note: I want to take this place to thank all those who have taken the time to read and review. Also, I'd like to announce you not to be worried, the timeline the first chapter started will be followed in chapter three, but these chapter, as well as others that will be published in the future will deal on younger Ryoga and Ukyo, since these chapters contain key facts supporting the main plot. I thank you for your patience and support and invite you to keep reading. The next chapter will be ready soon.
Sincerely yours,
The Red Jaguar.