Chapter Six
Nabiki Tendo snuck into Ranma's room as he slept late at night and stood above the now buxom girl, laying half-naked, her sheets curled up in a ball beside her. Ranma had an incident with Happosai just before he went to bed and got splashed with cold water turning him into his other self. Ranma didn't bother showering to change back, and that was just fine with Nibiki. It saved her some time.
In Nabiki's hands was a camera. Ranma had asked her to do anything she could to make money for the ad the dojo was to put in the local newspaper to advertise for business and this was how she was going to make that money. There were a lot of horny guys at school who would die to have pictures of a sexy, young girl in her underwear, and Ranma was her subject matter. Some of his closest friends knew of his curse and wouldn't touch them, but other unknowing guys would.
There was one guy in particular that would give a king's ransom for one snapshot and Nabiki was preying on his lust and desire for the 'pig-tailed' one to buy them all. Without doing an ounce of work she could make the money to pay for the advertisement, plus make some cash on the side. She had done this sort of thing before, but this time it was for a worthy cause: cash!
She pointed and clicked, snapping a few pictures. The flash brightened the room, but didn't disturb its occupants, namely Ranma and his father. After she was finished she left the room, leaving Ranma none the wiser. It was a cold way to make the cash, but it was also very genius. Why work for the money when you could just utilize what you've got and make a crap load in one frail swoop? This was how her mind worked.
The next morning Ranma woke and took a shower, reverting back to his male image. Then went downstairs and had breakfast with the family. After that he got ready for school and left with Akane. On there way there he walked down a stretch of road that intersected with the Hiroshi Dojo. It was then that they saw the property destruction. There was a gigantic hole in the left stone wall that enclosed Oro Hiroshi's house and dojo. They could see directly inside.
Inside Ranma saw Ryoga. He was helping with the rebuilding and the clean-up. He was holding a broom and sweeping up pieces of wood and stone mortar. Ranma stepped over the rubble of the wall and went inside. Akane followed behind. "Hey Ryoga, what're doing 'ere? And what the hell did you do?" he asked curious. "You and your severe mood swings."
Ryoga snorted angry. "I'm helping rebuild Mr. Hiroshi's Dojo."
"The question is why?"
"Because I destroyed it."
"Thought the pattern of this destruction looked familiar."
"Your perception of the facts is uncanny."
"No need to get upset, pig boy."
"Don't call me that!" Ryoga spat back quickly.
"So what happened?"
"I was perfecting my Lion Roar Shot and I lost control of it, and destroyed the dojo."
"But the question still remains, why are you 'ere?"
And Ryoga told him about the relation between Oro Hiroshi and his father.
"Really? That's pretty cool actually." Ranma said.
"Mr. Hiroshi's gonna teach me how to maximum my techniques, so I'm staying 'ere for awhile."
"Any chance of a preview?" Ranma smirked.
"I haven't started yet," Ryoga said.
"Had to get the destruction outta the way first, before the training, eh?" Ranma chuckled. "You were never the slick one, Ryoga. You'll never defeat me, so why dontcha stop trying?"
"Hope springs eternal, Saotome. I'm not a quitter."
Which was true. No matter how many times he lost to Ranma he never lost his hatred of him.
"One week from today then."
"If that an official challenge?"
"Damn straight! In the vacant lot, one mile from the Tendo Dojo. . .if you can find it!"
"Accepted. You've just signed your death warrant, Ranma." Ryoga laughed.
Oro Hiroshi stepped out of the house and saw the two teenagers on his property. He was never one to push people away so he went over to greet them. "Hello," he said. "May I help you?"
"This is Akane Tendo," Ryoga said with a brightened smile. "The other one is Ranma."
"So, you two come from the Tendo Dojo," Oro Hiroshi said. "I hope your father is well?"
"He's my father, not his," Akane said.
"I just live there," Ranma said.
"Just live there, that's a joke," Akane said with a snort.
"Yeah, and if it wasn't for the situation I'd hike my way back to China."
"What's takin' you so long?"
"You know why."
"There's no need to fight you two, we're all friends here," Oro Hiroshi said, putting his hands up in a gesture of friendship. Then it hit him. The dark blue hair, the sweet disposition, the innocent school girl look. "Ah, so you're the Akane Ryoga's been talking about." Ryoga' s eyes widened with fear. He wasn't supposed to say anything about their conversion about Akane, but then again he had not said he wasn't supposed to say anything. "He's told me so much about you."
"Me?" Akane was surprised.
"Really. What exactly has he told you about her?" Ranma wondered.
"Ah--ah! Nuthing." He laughed three times short. "Mr. Hiroshi, please!"
Ranma smirked a thin smile. Ryoga saw that smile and curled his lip in a snarl. The embarrassment factor alone was enough to make Ryoga blush red.
"We've gotta get going to school or we'll be late, Ranma," Akane said.
"Comin'," he said. "Ryoga, try ta stay outta trouble and no more destruction today, 'kay? I'm sure Mr. Hiroshi's got e'nuff to content without babysitting you all day." He chuckled, making his way to the wall enclosure. Ryoga snorted angry, and snapped his broom. "Add that to his bill," Ranma said. "Oh, and by the way, Ryoga -- you owe me for the okonomiyaki you ate at Ukyo's restaurant. I want to cash in a week's time when we've got our match."
Ranma and Akane left.
Ryoga growled angry unaware that he had broken the broom.
Oro Hiroshi turned to Ryoga. "Ryoga!" he said. It snapped Ryoga out of his rage. He looked at Oro Hiroshi. "Control your anger. This is what lead to the destruction of my dojo in the first place. I will not concede to allowing your rage to rule your actions. Bury it deep down."
"He makes me so angry," Ryoga replied.
"Then use that anger to your advantage, Ryoga. Don't let it control you. There is no other emotion in the human experience that is more powerful than anger. But if you let it rule over you, it will eventually destroy you and everything you have sought to build in your life."
Ryoga heeded his words, and nodded. "I'm sorry I broke your broom, Mr. Hiroshi," he said.
Oro Hiroshi smiled. "Don't worry, Ryoga. There's another inside the house."
As Ryoga went to get the other broom Oro Hiroshi looked around his property. All the destruction and debris scattered throughout the grounds was not only shocking but also surprising. And he wondered how such a young man could have done all this damage by himself. It was perplexing. But Ryoga admitted he had done and was very sorry so he couldn't be too mad at the kid. Besides it wasn't the first time the dojo has been destroyed.
The demon inside him chuckled with a laugh.
To be continued...