Thanks for those who took the time to review chapter 1, chapter 2, and my prologue. It is time to introduce one of the main villains. Hooray! I have also changed the Chinese thing so it is easier to read. Sorry for the long wait. Due to events out of my control they should be expected from now on.
(Since it is something that is needed) Disclaimer: The characters and general story (except what are mine) all belong to Ranma ½.
Chinese
[Panda sign]
Steam in Nerima
Chapter 4
Visitors
Sachi groaned and sat up on her futon. It had been six days since she had met Urya, Ryoga, Akane, and the panda, but for some reason it felt like a lot longer. She knew so much about them, after only a few days. She got up off her futon, dressed in her traditional chinese red shirt and black pants, and then went to the bathroom to brush her teeth. She watched out the window as Urya and Ryoga sparred before breakfast. They were both fairly good, but she was sure that she could beat them. She finished up and went down the stairs were the smell of some interesting concoction wafted from the kitchen. Sachi plugged her nose and walked outside into the fresh air. According to Ryoga, Akane had gotten much better at cooking. They only fainted about twenty five percent of the time. Sachi waved at the panda sitting on the porch.
"Good morning." she said to him.
[A very good one indeed.] the panda signed back. They spent the next few minutes watching the fight in the backyard when the panda signed something to her.
[Would you like to try?]
"Why not. It will give me an appetite." The panda walked out in front of the koi pond and took up a battle stance, Sachi followed and set up her own. Ryoga saw the two set up and motioned Urya to stop. They both took seats on the back deck and watched the two. Akane wandered out and was about to say something when Ryoga waved her to silence, and pointed at the two in the yard. Akane quickly sat down beside him and watched as well.
[Are you ready?] the panda signed at Sachi.
Sachi responded by charging the panda, and striking him in the stomach with her fist. As the panda went flying into the wall she shrugged and said,
"I guess so."
The panda got out of the dent in the wall, and growled. He jumped the few feet that separated the combatants and started throwing a complex series of punches and kicks. Sachi dodged a fast right jab and somersaulted over an outstretched left leg grabbing it as she went over, and flipping the panda hard. The panda retaliated by grabbing her legs and pulling her down. Then he stood up and put his foot on her chest. Sachi punched the panda in the unmentionables and quickly flipped back onto her feet, as the panda howled in pain and lifted his foot. Sachi backed up and took an attack stance. The two began to circle each other, until the panda howled and charged at her. Sachi quickly jumped over the angry bear, and then fired a large ball of ki at the panda. The panda had been taken by surprise at the jump and was just readjusting his direction when the ki ball hit him. The panda went flying back at high speed before crashing into the wall again. Ryoga groaned at the giant dent in the wall. Then the panda crawled out of the crater. Sachi took an attack stance as the panda approached. But the panda stopped in front of her and held up a sign.
[You win. I submit. Now let's eat before I starve to death!]
Sachi smiled and bowed to the panda. "It was fun sparring with you elder." Then she wandered inside where the smell of breakfast was overpowering. When she walked in everyone around the table cheered.
"Great work their Sachi!" Ryoga said walking up to her and putting his hand on her shoulder. "If you ever want to spar, I'm sure we could use you in the dojo. We've had a lot more challengers lately and I'm getting tired of beating them senseless." Sachi looked up at the martial artist. Then smiled happily and shook her head eagerly.
"Yes. It's the least I can do for you putting me up like this." Ryoga smiled wider and said happily.
"Great! I have a few challengers today actually if you want to watch and learn how we do it."
"Why not." Sachi said. She was happy that she had made friends with these nice people and was going to pay them back for helping her.
" Let's get started then! Ryoga said and lead her out to the dojo." Akane stood up angrily.
"Not before you eat something!"
"Oh well. Worth a try." Ryoga sighed and sat down at the table. Sachi grabbed a spoonful of the breakfast and put it on her plate. It was strange, she thought, to put fish in with egg and rice. But food was food, and she happily took a bight. She promptly threw up. It tasted like rotten egg mixed with salt! Akane sighed.
"Oh well. At least somebody tried it this time." She put away the dish and brought out cups of instant noodles. They ate in silence. The panda looked at the strange girl who had entered their home. She looked and fought a lot like someone else he knew. But that couldn't be, that person was dead. The panda made a mental note to watch the girl carefully.
The rest of the day went by without incident. A woman introduced to her as Nabiki arrived later in the afternoon, and she and Akane were sitting in the main room talking. Sachi thought that Nabiki looked very business like; she had even entered the house in a suit. Nothing else happened till later that night. The door bell rang, and Ryoga and Sachi went to answer it. Two men dressed in complete black were standing outside. Their hands were stuffed into their pockets and they wore hoods that made it impossible to see their face through the shadows. The strange thing, Sachi thought, was that you could see their breath, even though it was a warm night. Then the figure on the right spoke. The voice was cold and flat.
"We want to challenge your dojo." The strange figure said.
"I'm sorry but we are closed tonight. Come back in the morning."
"WE WANT TO CHALLENGE YOUR DOJO." The other figure said. Akane and Nabiki appeared in the doorway. "IF YOU WON'T FIGHT US THEN WE WILL KILL YOUR WOMAN!" the figures proclaimed and grabbed both women forcing their arms behind their backs and holding them captive. "WILL YOU FIGHT NOW!"
NEXT TIME
Ryoga punched the figure in front of him as hard as possible, and then Sachi fired the ki ball. There was a loud explosion and a cloud of hot white smoke. When it cleared Ryoga noticed the hole in the figures chest. Then he felt the grip of a cold metal hand around his neck.