The characters of Ranma ½ and Pokemon are not mine. Nor do any of the other known characters that may appear in this story.

2 B a Master by Lioconvoy

Chapter 6: The Lost Boy and the Ghostly Girl.

The first town in Kanto was Viridian city. Ryoga had been there once or twice with his grandfather. Before carrying on the work of his great grandfather, Shigeru Okido was the town's Gym Leader. The lost boy often wondered if maybe his grandfather could have found someone better to take over the gym instead of the strange guy dressed in island clothing. Returning from memory lane, he looked around and was quite sure he wasn't in Viridian city. "Where in the world am I now!"

"This is Violet City. The first gym of Johto is here. Who knew that the Dark Cave and Tohjo Falls were connected?"

"Well I did have to smash a few walls…" When he started this journey he was alone, but now he had Hikaru with him. He had hoped her sense of direction was better than his, but she let him lead the way. The lost boy frowned he was in the wrong region. Ranma was beating the Kanto Gym Leaders, and he would have to settle for the Johto Gym leaders. However they shared the same Elite Four, so he could run into Ranma at Indigo Plateau.

"Let's go to the Pokemon Center." Hikaru cracked a small smile. She hoped the Akane fan site had updated. It had taken some time for the spirits to answer her call, but now her guide was with her. Ryoga would lead her to the promised land. She would meet Akane, and he would fall in love with her.

"Sure, Charmeleon looks pretty tired too. All those Zubats, Geodudes, Golbats, and Gravelers were really annoying." Not as annoying as the fact Hikaru didn't help him at all. Following his companion Ryoga wondered just what was up with her. Most people looking at her would see a skinny but cute paled skin boy. Her face was feminine, but the male school uniform she wore hid her figure. The two Gastly that always hovered over her shoulders probably kept people form getting too close to her. If not for the fact he had seen the ravened haired girl naked he'd probably think she was a boy too.

-v-One Week Ago-v-

Ryoga was lost. He had no idea where he and his Charmeleon had ended up. Maybe he shouldn't have entered that cave….

"Char" It was so sad his master had no sense of direction. It didn't help that spending so much time with Ryoga had dulled the fire lizard's own senses. Still Ryoga was a great trainer and made him strong.

"I wish I had some understanding of what you're saying. Ranma and that pigtailed girl could understand their Pikachus." It was kind of lonely just traveling with his Pokemon, they could have conversations, but he couldn't understand his Charmeleon, and he wasn't sure the Pokemon truly understood him.

"Mel!" Water, the Charmeleon heard water. Maybe if they followed the water they could find there way out of the cave. Pointing in the direction of the sound he hoped his master would understand.

"What is it guy?" His Pokemon was pointing somewhere, was it the way out? Quickly he went in the direction his partner pointed and within a few minutes they had found an underground waterfall. Looking at the falls Ryoga blushed bright red; there was a naked girl sitting underneath the waterfall meditating. Two Gastly stood guard and upon seeing him, they started circling around him and his Charmeleon.

"Anubis, Osiris, what disturbs you?"

The girl now had her eyes open and was looking at him. Her voice was cold and emotionless, which added to her scary stare, made him very worried. "…I didn't mean to…. Me and Charmeleon are lost…. Um I'm sorry I saw…."

"My body is for Akane alone."

Ryoga watched the girl get out of the waterfall and headed towards a small pile of clothing. The two ghosts left him and his partner and started hovering over her shoulders. He probably should have closed his eyes, but he was afraid the girl would send her ghost Pokemon after him if he showed the slightest sign of fear.

"Who are you?"

Ryoga shivered, he noticed the girl had four pokeballs; it was possible that like Ranma none of those Pokeballs belonged to the two ghosts over her shoulders and that each was filled with more powerful Pokemon. He gulped and made sure to give her the truth. "I'm Ryoga Hibiki, I'm from Pallet town and I got lost in this cave…"

"From Pallet town, in Kanto?"

After getting dressed the girl walked over to him and started looking him over. He was very uncomfortable with her gaze. Ryoga gulped again before answering the question. "Yes."

"The spirits have brought me a guide. You shall take me to my destiny."

-v-Present Day-v-

It wasn't until later that Hikaru finally introduced herself. Well he wasn't lonely anymore, but ghost trainer was a little creepy, still he kind of liked her. Just like the redhead he didn't stand a chance with her, since she started traveling with him and his partner he learned Akane was a gym leader in Pewter City and she only had eyes for him.

-v-v-v-v-v-v-v-v-v-v-v-v-v-v-v-

While Ryoga was getting his partner looked at, Hikaru borrowed one of the center's computers and logged on to the Akane fan site. As she had hoped Akane was still undefeated. Well, a few males had earned badges from the rock leader's gym, but no girl had won his heart yet. Going from the records page to the gallery she envied the photographer; he or she got to see Akane and all his glory on a daily basis.

Someday, maybe not too soon, Akane would be hers. She prayed, and cleansed her body, and the gods rewarded her with a guide. A guide with a bad sense of direction; but she would have faith, Ryoga would someday take her to meet he destined love. Until then he wasn't that bad to look at, he was handsome, but no comparison to Akane's glory.

There was no doubt in her mind her plan would succeed. No girl had ever defeated the Pewter city Gym Leader, but Ryoga was strong, he would beat Akane, and with her true love's Pokemon weakened she would claim a victory of her own. Destiny would bring her and Akane Tendo together and nothing would stand in her way.

"Hey Hikaru, show me where the gym is."

"Coming." The ghost trainer frowned. Ryoga would lead their overall travels and bring her to Akane, but in the towns, maybe it was for the best if she guided him. They could be here for a month looking for the gym otherwise.

-v-v-v-v-v-v-v-v-v-v-v-v-v-v-v-

A Flying Pokemon Gym, this should be an easy battle. Ryoga smiled, this would be his first gym battle and his first victory. "Any tips before I beat this gym."

"Fire-type Pokemon are not strong or weak against Flying-type Pokemon. You have no advantage or disadvantage." Judging from what Hikaru saw underground the lost boy's partner was at a very high level. Ryoga's confidence might not be displaced, but the bandana clad boy did have one weakness; he only had the one Pokemon.

"Um, I knew that." Ryoga sighed, yes this was his first Pokemon Journey, but unlike his rival he knew a lot about the world of Pokemon. He didn't pay to much attention to gyms and gym leaders since his mother was just as afraid of him taking a Pokemon Journey as she was of him going on a martial arts journey with his father. Still he knew about Pokemon, types, and weaknesses.

"Did you also know Hayato, like his grandfather he is named for, possesses a 'flying' Dodrio?" The Ghost-type trainer didn't know her companion that well yet so what he did and did not know was unknown to her. Still, he didn't know who Akane was, so she assumed he wasn't too knowledgeable about the Pokemon world. Who in their right mind didn't know who Akane Tendo was?

"No, I didn't." He had heard a story from Ranma's mother once about her father beating a strong bird trainer with his Charizard. If his grandfather's rival could beat the previous Hayato, then he could beat the current one.

-v-v-v-v-v-v-v-v-v-v-v-v-v-v-v-

Hikaru watched from the sidelines; before being allowed to challenge the leader Ryoga had to beat two of the gym's trainers. He didn't seem to have many problems, but his partner only used moves that a low level Charmeleon would know. As tough as the lost boy's partner was, there was no way his levels were that low. Her guide was smart; after watching the battles, Hayato would underestimate him.

"Okay Hayato, I'm ready for you." Ryoga was more than ready. His partner was warmed up and now he'd get his badge.

"You sure you don't want a rest?" Hayato was ready to take on the challenger, but he wanted to be fair. The boy only had one Pokemon.

"I'll beat you here and now." The lost boy wouldn't beat Ranma if he didn't challenge his partner. "Are you ready Charmeleon?"

"Char." These birds weren't hard; they were slow compared to the Snorlax that took him down.

"Unless you're the one you're afraid of losing, let's get this over with."

Ryoga was overflowing with confidence. Hikaru, praised the gods, her guide would truly make her dream reality. In a few months after the lost boy had beaten all the leaders in Johto, they would travel to Kanto and then, Akane would be hers. Turning her attention back to the fight, she watched Hayato summon his Dodrio.

"I'll be nice and make this a one on one battle. I'll let you have the first hit." Hayato didn't want people thinking he was picking on a weak trainer.

"Charmeleon, dig!" This would throw the birdbrain off guard. Ryoga would make this his signature move, it set things up that no one would expect.

"You can't touch Dodrio if he's in the air. Fly!"

Ryoga smirked, the bird leapt into the air, it had powerful legs, but it couldn't really fly. "Charmeleon, uppercut!

The fire lizard came out from underground and jumped high, but not high enough. What Hikaru couldn't understand was why an uppercut. It wasn't even a Pokemon move. As the lost boy's partner came down so did the Dodrio.

"Dodrio, Aerial Ace!"

Now the ghost trainer watched as the three headed bird swooped and hit the fire lizard. The lost boy's Charmeleon hit the ground hard, but…it seemed unfazed. Hikaru's eyes opened wide: the lizard's mouth opened and with the Dodrio in front of it, it released a powerful Fire Blast attack. The three headed bird was completely off guard and was hurt badly.

"I lose." Hayato was disappointed but he smiled anyway. He completely underestimated his opponent. "Congratulations, you just earned your Zephyr Badge."

"Thank you." One badge down, seven to go. After his Charmeleon made its way to him he patted it on its head. "Good job partner."

"You have yourself a strong Pokemon, but don't expect every gym leader to underestimate you as I have…." Two ghosts floated over to the young man and then Hayato blinked, between the ghosts was a young man in a school uniform. His opponent was traveling with Hikaru of the Ecruteak city gym. Next to Tabatha of Blackthorn, Hikaru was the strongest gym leader in Johto, however the ghost trainer was rarely at his gym. Ryoga was starting late, but he had a good teacher. "As well as receiving my gym's badge, I give to you my favorite TM; Aerial Ace."

"Thank you." The lost boy accepted both items, and then turned to leave the gym. It seemed like the gym leader was going to say something more, but stopped after he noticed Hikaru.

-v-v-v-v-v-v-v-v-v-v-v-v-v-v-v-

Ten minutes later they were at the Pokemon Center. Ryoga sat down at a table with Hikaru, while his partner got looked at by Nurse Joy. "Hayato looked like he was going to say something more before you joined us."

"He was probably going to say that you should not rely on only one Pokemon. I don't know why he did not finish his sentence though." That of course was a lie, Hayato probably recognized her. Hikaru was grateful he didn't mention who she was to Ryoga. The lost boy didn't need to know yet.

"Yeah well I don't know about that. Charmeleon is pretty powerful, and when I'm done training him even water-type Pokemon won't stand a chance against him." Further teaching his partner the martial arts he knew would definitely make his partner stronger than even the highest level of Pokemon. Ranma's Snorlax practiced the martial arts and it was ridiculously strong, and the pigtailed girl tried to teach her Pikachu to strengthen it. Since his partner already knew the basics of his family's style, it shouldn't be too hard to finish the training.

"Ryoga, you're forgetting about Ghosts and Psychics. Their attacks will go right through your Charmeleon's superior defense. You're going to need other Pokemon to make up for that weakness. Although most trainers choose one type of Pokemon and stick to only that type, the truly strong trainers are those that balance their types." Hikaru needed her guide to be ready. After he gets eight gym badges Akane won't be likely to underestimate him as Hayato had. "I am impressed though, I never would have thought your smashing walls was a form of training."

"Well I noticed quickly what the Bakusai Tenketsu was doing for me, so I thought it help my partner too." It had cost him a stone, but Ryoga would always be grateful to the pigtailed girl for teaching him that move.

-v-The day after losing to Ranma-v-

Ryoga finished looking through the Pokedex his grandfather gave him. It was an improved upon version his great grandfather created as it listed all the known Pokemon attacks. Nothing that a Snorlax could learn even sounded remotely similar to what Ranma's had done. Getting off of the rock he punched and it broke into several pieces.

"Wow you're strong."

"I'm a martial artist." Turning around Ryoga saw a cute redhead with her hair in a pigtail similar to Ranma's. Pallet town wasn't so big, and he didn't recognize her as a resident, but she did look similar to his friend. Maybe she was a relative of Ranma's passing through? "What brings you out here?"

"I'm trying to teach my Pikachu martial arts. I'm not having much luck at it."

"I started to teach my Charmeleon the martial arts when I first got him. My grandfather said Pokemon should learn Pokemon moves, and I stopped teaching him after that. My partner knows some pretty useful and powerful Pokemon moves now." The TM's cost him a bit of his allowance but he thought it bad been worth it, before his battle with his old friend yesterday he had never lost, and that included against his sister who had six Pokemon.

"I don't know if every Pokemon can learn martial arts, but I don't see why people only try to teach fighting type Pokemon. Who knows, if a Pikachu mastered a martial art we could see a whole new evolution."

"Any thing is possible." Was that what the male pigtailed trainer did? Had Ranma taught his Snorlax martial arts? Ryoga wondered how much stronger could his partner get if he continued what he started.

"Well, it was nice meeting you; I need to visit my cousin."

"Wait, how about a sparring match first?" He was right the pigtailed girl was related to Ranma. He lost to his friend but there was no way he'd lose to a girl.

"Sorry I don't think you'd be much of a challenge. I mean sure you're strong, but your technique is lacking."

What did she mean by that? As if to explain herself the redhead went over to another rock slightly bigger than the one he had been sitting on, and with one finger shattered the rock in to millions of tiny pieces. Faster than he could blink she caught each and every piece. "What?"

"Really I'm supposed to let the pieces hit me, but my mo… my aunt would get mad at me if I come back a mess."

"Could you teach me how to do that?" There was no way that the redhead was as strong as he was so it was a technique. He didn't entirely understand the point of letting the fragments hit the performer, but there had to be some reason behind it.

"Well I guess, but what's in it for me?"

"Uh…." Ryoga searched through his pockets what did he have that the girl might be interested in? Unfortunately all he pulled out was an everstone. "You wouldn't be willing to take this?"

"What is it?"

As the pigtailed girl took the stone from his hand he noticed it glowed and then turned pink. "I thought it was an everstone, but they don't turn colors."

"So it might just be something special? I'll take it if you're still willing to part with it."

"Sure." He hadn't had much use for the everstone in the first place; he really couldn't think of anything he'd need a pink stone for either.

-v-Two days later-v-

He did it. After two days of training with pigtailed girl he mastered the Bakusai Tenketsu. She would be showing up soon to see how he was doing and he couldn't wait to show her. The last two days had really been great, part of him wished he could spend forever training with the redhead but she said would only be in town for the week. There were other girls his age in pallet town, but the pigtailed girl was the first he had such feelings for.

"Hey Ryoga how's it going today?"

"I've mastered it." He couldn't help but wonder, what did the redhead think of him? Did she think anything of him at all, in the two days she trained him she'd always change the subject when ever he asker her name.

"Really? That's amazing. It took me two weeks; I didn't think you'd be able to master the Bakusai Tenketsu before I left."

Ryoga smiled and demonstrated his mastery of the technique for the redhead. This time when the fragments hit him it didn't hurt quite as much as it had before. "Well what do you think?"

"I think you're amazing."

"Thank you, I think you're pretty amazing too." Should he ask…what if she already had a boyfriend in her home town… maybe he should just ask, it might not hurt as much if he knew. "Um, you don't have a boyfriend or anything do you?"

"What?!"

It was obvious she wasn't expecting the question, and jumped back a little in shock. The shock remained on her face as she scratched the base of her pigtail. Ryoga wasn't exactly sure what this reaction meant. "I'm sorry, it's just…."

"Ryoga, you're a nice guy and I'm sure you'll find a girl who's interested in you, but I don't… I don't feel the same way for you. Right now, I don't really have the time for a relationship anyway."

"I understand." Maybe he didn't have time for a relationship either. His parents were going away on a trip soon and he'd be in his grandfather's care. That would be the perfect time to go on a training journey of his own.

-v-Now-v-

After reflecting on the past Ryoga felt a bit of heartache and disappointment. He wished things ended differently with the pigtailed girl. While he was with her his anger towards Ranma seemed so insignificant. After spending the morning with her he got along better with Ranma in the afternoon. His rival never admitted a family relationship with the redhead, but it was fairly obvious just by looking at her.

"Ryoga, I don't know what you're thinking about, but what you should be thinking about is what kind of Pokemon you want to add to your party." Hikaru frowned. Her guide was blushing…his mind must be wandering. She needed him to remain focused.

-v-v-v-v-v-v-v-v-v-v-v-v-v-v-v-

Kyo frowned; who knew where his son was now. A training journey would do Ryoga good, but the boy inherited his sense of direction, would he ever make it home? Sighing, he felt sorry for his father-in-law.

"Father, you know how bad Ryoga's sense of direction is! How could you let him run off? Who knows where he is now!" Yuko had been so careful; ever since it became apparent her oldest child was as hopeless as his father, she made sure Ryoga never left Pallet town. She forbade her husband from taking him on a martial arts training journey and she didn't allow Ryoga to go on a Pokemon journey when he turned twelve.

"Yuko, he's sixteen and more than capable of taking care of himself. Yoiko is fourteen and goes out all the time; you have no problem with that." Shigeru frowned he had always thought his daughter was too over protective of his oldest grandchild. Ryoga deserved the chance to go out and explore the world. He wasn't alone, he had his Charmeleon with him, and he was sure the boy would make many new friends along the way.

"Yoiko didn't inherit the Hibiki sense of direction. I don't have to worry about her ending up in Orre. Who knows where Ryoga is!"

"He's in Violet City and he just earned his Zephyr badge." Ginny frowned and joined her boss's family in the lab. In her opinion the Professor's grandson had every right to go out into the world. "He just emailed me. He's not alone either he's traveling with a girl about his age."

"Thank you for that good news, Ginny. You see, there's nothing to worry about Ryoga is just fine." The Pokemon Professor chuckled a little. When he traveled Kanto he had a squad of cheerleaders following him around. It seemed some Okido blood did run through his grandson's veins after all.

"Ryoga isn't alone?" Maybe if her son had someone with him things wouldn't be so bad. She was still very worried, but… her father was right, Yoiko got to go on a Pokemon Journey, why shouldn't Ryoga? Yuko sighed. "Where is Yoiko, shouldn't she be back from Pewter City already?"

"She returned the day after her brother left, and went after him. She assumed you'd want her to bring him back." Shigeru prepared himself for another of his daughter's rants.

-v-v-v-v-v-v-v-v-v-v-v-v-v-v-v-

Ryoga had a bad feeling. Hurrying in the opposite direction of the scream, he hoped he didn't run into who he thought had found him. His mother was bad enough, but her…

"Ryoga, what are we running to?" Hikaru followed her guide back toward the entrance of Violet city they had come through earlier. As they had exited the Pokemon Center she could barely make out some one yelling something like 'Ryoga, this is all your fault.'

"Running to?" Curse his sense of direction! Quickly turning to the opposite direction, Ryoga hoped beyond hope he could avoid her.

"Ryoga! Where do you think you're going?!"

Now the ghost trainer's guide was frozen in his tracks. In front of her was a younger girl in dirty and ripped clothes. The brown haired girl looked similar to the lost boy, and even had the same fangs. In her arms was a Spoink wearing a similar bandana to Ryoga. The girl and her partner looked very pissed. "Ryoga, who is this?"

Slowly turning, Ryoga couldn't stop sweating. He was sure he'd start shriveling up soon. "Yoiko, uh… what happened to you?"

"WHAT HAPPENED TO ME? You know mom doesn't want you leaving Pallet Town and yet you left anyway. I wanted to help grandpa by finding you, p-chan followed your scent all the way to the Kanto side of Tohjo Falls. I thought I was in luck that you'd get yourself turned around and come back out the same way you entered. I waited a half a day and when you didn't show up I went in after you. WHAT WERE YOU THINKING SMASHING HOLES THROUGH THE CAVE WALLS!" Yoiko took a deep breath. She didn't even know where she was. Unlike Ryoga she was allowed to travel outside of Pallet Town, however she never journeyed beyond Kanto. "I went through your holes and some of them nearly collapsed on me."

"So Dark Cave no longer connects to Tohjo Falls?" Hikaru wondered if that was a good or bad thing. In the end it didn't truly matter. Her guide's little sister didn't seem too happy about her question. "Welcome to Violet City."

"Violet City? You mean I only ended up in Johto." Maybe her mother's tales of her father's sense of direction were exaggerated; still, she was in Violet City? Right now she was tired and dirty. She'd pound her brother later. She'd also make him pay for the repels she used to catch up with him. "Where's the Pokemon Center?"

"Follow me"

Ryoga stood still as Yoiko followed Hikaru back to the Pokemon center. It was starting to get dark and somehow he had the feeling he was going to be occupied for a bit after his sister cleaned herself up. Ever since Yoiko returned from her own Pokemon Journey she had looked down on him for not being the man Nabiki's older brother was. She had taken care never to say the name of her friend's brother because she thought he wasn't worthy to say it. He really missed the days when she used to look up to him. Before the two girls were out of sight he hurried to catch up with them. If he lost them he would be in even more trouble.

-v-v-

Lio's Corner:

-Kyo looks like an adult Ryoga.

-Yuko, looks very much like an older version of Garry/Shigeru's sister.

-Yoiko, looks like a younger version of Garry/Shigeru's although as mentioned she has the Hibiki fangs. She also wears her hair in two braided pigtails.

-Requiem the Relentless: That's what I meant too. I though it be to silly for the human Genma to have a Pokemon curse.

-Usam :Hung Nugen's Fist of a Pikachu was an inspiration for this story. Raltz may be a later Pokemon, but maybe not for Ranma.

-Dragon Man 180: A Dratini is not impossible. Ukyo had one, she could give Kasumi and egg. However, Kasumi will be taking the gym challenges just like Ranma.

-enderverse: I'm sorry to say this story is not without uber powerful Pokemon. Genma(p) and Ryoga's Charmeleon are pretty strong. Charmeleon, know the basics of Ryoga's style and he'll be learning more. As for Ranma training a non normal/fighting of his own, well he'll need to find the right Pokemon.

-Aceina: Ranma will continue to have some problems, nothing as drastic as what he's gone through.