++++++++++++++
Ranma vs. The world 5
The eagle and the bird.
+++++++++++++++
Ryoga stood and glared at his opponent. Guile. He faced him and
frowned.
"Tell us who you're working for. I want names," demanded the American.
Ryoga stopped and relaxed his stance. "Working for?"
Guile punched him while his guard was down and sent him to the
pavement. Ryoga stood immediately. "What the hell are you doing
jerk?!" he cried and charged at the American. Guile side stepped and
Ryoga passed him and spun into a back kick that took Guile in the jaw,
causing him to slam into the brick wall. Ryoga pressed his advantage
and swung at the man, who simply sidestepped again.
"What the hell?" thought Guile as Ryoga pulled his fist out of the
wall. The damage he had inflicted was unbelievable. "I can't let this
guy get his hands on me." He charged and backhanded the boy in his
face causing him to stagger back.
Ryoga turned and smiled at his opponent. "You're pretty strong, I
actually felt that punch."
Guile stepped back and growled. "Shit, I'm gonna have to go all out."
+++++++++++++
In the alleyway Ranma dodged Chun li's attacks as fast as she could.
The woman jumped up and kicked at the redhead, who ducked and shifted
out of the way. Chun li landed and flipped on her hands. "Spinning
bird kick!" she cried as she spun at her opponent.
The pigtailed girl stood and blocked as best as she could only to be
knocked into a pile of trash nearby. "Damn, she's fast."
Chun li flipped onto the wall and hoped off it towards Ranma. She
twisted into the air into an Axe kick as she neared her opponent. The
red head jumped out of the way and punched out at the angry Kempoist.
Chun li grabbed her arm and threw her into the ground hard. Ranma
twisted and rolled, throwing her as well as she landed. She stood and
looked to see Chun li climbing out of the garbage pile with
determination burning in her eyes.
"I will make you pay for that girl. Then I will find your boyfriend
and teach him what it means to be a criminal in my city."
"Boyfriend?" said Ranma momentarily surprised.
Chun li leapt at Ranma again and kicked at her head. Ranma ducked and
rolled away. She turned and jumped at Chun li in a counter attack
aimed at her head and Chun li smiled. The Chinese woman jumped at the
girl in an almost vertical spinning kick that hit her several times in
the chest. Ranma fell to the ground hard and groaned in pain. She
stood as Chun li walked towards her. The girl was forced into defense
immediately.
+++++++++++++
Guile jump kicked Ryoga in the chest sending the boy staggering back
again. Ryoga punched at him and he ducked. Guile smiled as he kneeled
and shot up into the air in his infamous flash kick. The lost boy
stepped back barely in time and was thrown back from the sheer force
of the kick as it ripped his shirt wide open.
Guile frowned as his attack missed and noticed the boy glancing at
Chun li and his friend.
"You should pay attention," he said to him as he punched him in the
head.
Ranma was walking the spiral and Drawing the angry Chun li into the
nexus of the blast. He finally entered the center and...ducked away.
"Idiot," grumbled Ryoga as Guile sent his fist into his head. "Can't
you see I'm busy?" he said rubbing the spot as Guile staggered back
from the kick back of the blow. Ryoga swung at him and frowned as
Guile leapt over his head. Ryoga did a back kick and felt it connect.
Then he turned and saw no one behind him. "Wha?" he said in surprise.
"You coward! How dare you run from our fight!" he yelled and went off
in pursuit.
+++++++++++++++
Guile jumped over Ryoga's head and was taken by his back kick in the
face. He was sent to the ground hard and browned out for a moment. He
saw the boy turn ninety degrees and look around confused before
saying. "You coward! How dare you run from our fight!"
He was about to go after him and he stood to his feet. The task proved
more difficult than he had anticipated and he fell to the ground
unconscious.
Ranma turned after being hit to the ground again by a kick and stood
against the wall. His leg burned and began to feel numb. Chun li
charged and kicked at her. "Yayayayayayayayayyayayayayaaa!" she cried
and unleashed her lightning kick on the hapless Ranma.
Ranma desperately blocked and stood her ground. Chun li intensified
her attack and the girl intensified her own. Then Ranma's arm gave out
again. "No! I still haven't healed from that old man's fight!" she
thought as Chun li's attack began to get through. She felt a few of
the kicks and faltered letting her guard completely down. "No!" she
thought tensing herself. Then Chun li stopped and frowned, she was
breathing hard and glaring at her.
"You're good girl I'll give you that," she said bitterly.
Ranma grit her teeth charged at her shakily. "I have to take her out
now while she's winded or I never will."
"You're good...but I am the strongest woman in the world!" cried Chun
li as she put her hands up in front of her. Ranma felt something
familiar in the air, but this was much larger in scale. "Sho Kocho!"
cried the woman as a huge burst of Ki appeared before her.
"That's it!" thought Ranma as she felt the blast engulf her.
+++++++++++++++
A few minutes later Ranma awoke and was surrounded by heavily armed
men in uniforms. Chun li rested against a wall nearby with a badly
bruised Guile standing next to her. He had a black eye and his cheek
was beginning to swell.
Ranma frowned as she was forced to stand. She tugged at her hands and
felt that they were cuffed. She was put into the back of a police van
marked 'Interpol' on the side. She sighed and allowed herself to be
taken.
"What happened to you?" said Chun li looking at Guile in surprise.
"Got hit by a truck," said Guile without flinching. "How are you?"
"Fine I guess. She is one hell of a fighter for someone her age," said
Chun li in answer. "To bad she didn't choose her sides better. Looks
like her so called friends abandoned her."
Guile only nodded.
++++++++++++
A few miles away...
Ryoga walked on. He had stopped his search for his opponent a while
ago and simply wandered. He didn't bother looking where he was going
because he knew it didn't matter. He just wandered. "Who needs Ranma.
I'll find Ryu on my own," he thought as he walked on.
In the shadows a familiar looking outline watched and waited as Ryoga
walked by several times, seemingly unaware that he was being followed
or even that he was going in circles.
"Damn he's on to me," thought the figure as he stepped out in front of
Ryoga finally.
The lost boy stopped and regarded the new figure for a moment before
he started walking on.
"Stop," said the man. His Identity still obscure from the shadows
surrounding the buildings due to the hour.
"What? Wait, I remember you," said Ryoga looking at the figure for a
moment.
The man smiled, it would be good if he already feared him and his
skills.
"You were watching us spar this morning!" said Ryoga completely
oblivious.
The man face faulted for a moment and frowned deeply. "Did you come
from under a rock or something? You may have escaped my friends but
you won't get away from me," said the figure getting into a ready
stance.
Ryoga followed. "I'm in no mood for this," he warned the man as he
threw his bag to the ground. "Interesting," he commented noting the
man's stance his eyes narrowed as he lifted his fist to confront him.
"Let's go," replied the man.
+++++++++++++
Ranma vs. The World 6
Captured and the Dragon strikes...
+++++++++++++
Ranma sat in the chair as the men in the room with her walked in
circles around her. She smiled as one of them punched her again. Her
face was not in good shape, it was covered in bruises and she was
bleeding from her mouth and nose. Her right eye was almost completely
red. The man who had been asking her questions in Chinese hit her in
the stomach yet again with his rifle.
Tell us what we want to know and maybe the judge will go easy on
you! screamed the man.
"What?" asked Ranma again.
It earned her yet another round of punches and kicks from the men. It
did not matter to her; she had had much worse in her life, but still,
they were starting to annoy her.
+++++++++++++++++
In the next room Chun li looked at the interrogation indifferently.
"She is a tough one."
"I don't like this, if my country finds out I was involved with this
interrogation I may be pulled from the case," said Guile as he
watched.
Chun li smiled. "Then leave, no one is keeping you. This is how some
things are done in my country."
"You know I can't do that," said Guile as he watched. "I want him too
badly."
Then Ranma turned and looked at them through the one way mirror. "You
could at least have someone who speaks my language in here," she said
calmly to the pair. One of the men uppercut her in the jaw with his
rifle and knocked her too the floor.
Chun li pushed the button for the intercom. "That's enough. Clean her
up and put her in a cell, we'll continue this tomorrow," she said in a
frustrated tone.
++++++++++++
Meanwhile...
Ryoga stood and watched his opponent as he moved slowly towards him.
The man frowned and rushed him suddenly. "Whoooooo!" he cried as he
jumped straight up and caught Ryoga's chest with a powerful kick. The
boy was sent flying into the air and screamed in pain as flames
erupted all over his body. He hit the ground rolling and put them out.
Steam rose from his scorched body as he stood. "Rekka ken!" screamed
the man as he charged.
Ryoga was still not recovered from the first blow and was hit with
several lightening fast blows. He fell to the ground and clutched his
jaw.
"That's pretty good," he commented painfully.
"No one can stand up to Fei Long's attacks," said the man confidently.
"Ya know, you remind me of someone," said Ryoga as he stood and smiled
at the man.
"I should hope so," grumbled Fei Long.
He had only made thirty movies, most of them were at least reasonably
popular and his last five had practically made him a household name.
"His name is Ranma and I really don't like him. I think I'll take it
out on you," said the boy as he got into his battle ready stance once
again. This time he also had his umbrella in hand.
"Well, you've obviously seen fist of steel two; but if you remember I
defeated him and his invincible umbrella attacks," said Fei Long
looking annoyed.
"What are you talking about?" yelled Ryoga as he swung at Fei Long
with his weapon. The movie star blocked and was thrown into the wall
hard. Ryoga pressed his assault and jabbed at him again.
Fei long jumped up over the second strike only to get knocked out of
the air and into another wall by the lost boy. "Damn, what the hell is
that thing made of?" wondered the movie star as he rubbed his arms
where Ryoga had connected.
"I'll show you," said Ryoga in answer as he opened it and flung the
umbrella at him like a boomerang. It sailed by missing Fei Long's neck
by inches and carved a deep gash in the wall next to him.
"What the hell?" said Fei Long as he looked at the wall. Ryoga stood
calmly and caught the umbrella in his hand as it returned.
"Impressed?" asked the boy in a dangerous tone.
"Very, Maybe this fight will get even more interesting," said the man
with a smirk. The two men charged each other.
++++++++++++++
Ranma was thrown into the small, dank cell roughly. She hit the floor
and turned to see the other three inhabitants looking at her coolly.
She stood shakily and faced them.
"Look at what we have here," said the largest of the girls. Ranma
simply slumped against the bars; she could take another beating. She
wasn't in the mood for another fight with a girl. Especially since the
last one had gone so well.
The large woman and her skinny companion walked over and pushed her
face up. "You took it pretty bad," she said with a smile. "Got a
name?"
"Ranma," she answered.
"Well c'mon in, Welcome to the foreigners block. We'll get you cleaned
up." said the woman. Ranma blinked in surprise and walked to the back
of the cell with her. The woman on the other side of the cell stared
at her with a gaze of ice. Ranma felt unnerved but ignored it. The
woman just sat and stared, nothing more.
"Foreigners block?" asked Ranma.
"Yeah, this is where the police send all their out of country scum.
They just chuck us over to Interpol cause it's to much paperwork
otherwise," laughed the older woman. "Me and Shinko here are from
Kyosho, not sure about blondie over there, she don't talk."
The woman in question simply stared at Ranma with her cold blue eyes.
"What ya in fer?" asked the skinny girl.
Ranma looked at her for a moment and thought. "Not really sure, They
think I'm some sort of collector or something; for some guy named
Shadowlaw."
The woman across the cell stood and glared at Ranma even harder. "They
think you are a collector for Shadowloo?" she asked in heavily
accented Japanese.
"Yeah." answered Ranma warily.
"Humph, I don't know you. You're not Shadowloo," said the woman with
an angry looking stare.
"Yeah, I know that, they don't," retorted Ranma curtly.
"And how would you know little miss brit?" asked the large ugly woman
standing to her full height.
"Because I was an assassin and collector," she replied. The large
woman sat down and kept her mouth shut.
+++++++++++++++
Ryoga slammed his fist into Fei Long's gut and got kicked in the face
for his efforts. "Heh, your almost as fast as Ranma," he said as he
staggered from the blow.
Fei Long was on his knees and clutching his stomach. "I think I'm in
trouble. This guy hits like a truck!" He kicked at Ryoga's feet and
was met half way by the umbrella.
"Give it up, that guy I beat up earlier could take you on easily.
You're too weak to hurt me," snorted Ryoga.
"I'll show you weak!" yelled Fei Long as he charged Ryoga. He punched
at his chest with his Rekka ken and Ryoga went flying into a wall. He
slumped down and the wall crashed in around him. "Heh, I showed you
who was weak," spat the man as he turned away.
Then the ground exploded from under him. Fei Long turned and looked
back in horror as Ryoga began to laugh. "No way," he whispered.
"Ha, You call that strong?!" sneered Ryoga as he stood from the pile
of bricks. Fei long put his fist up again. "I'll show you real
strength!" yelled Ryoga as he charged.
The Chinese man jumped in the air and kicked the boy in the back of
the head as he passed sending the boy into the side of a dumpster.
Ryoga nearly crushed it flat against a wall. Fei Long was beginning to
think that he was in serious trouble.
"No wonder he walked away from Guile. This guy can't be human!"
thought the man.
"I've got to get this guy down," thought Ryoga to himself. "He's a lot
stronger than Ranma is and almost as fast, I won't be able to take
another of those Rekka ken punch combos, if he gets one in its over."
Fei Long knew he had to get this fight over with soon. He had one
attack left.
Ryoga got himself ready as the man prepared his next attack. "I won't
lose." he thought angrily as he positioned himself.
Fei Long charged.
+++++++++++++++
Ranma stared at the woman and frowned. "What?"
"I don't repeat myself luv," said the woman frowning.
"Tell me what a collector is exactly. Miss...?" said Ranma sitting
down next to the woman.
"White, Cammy White, I think. And to answer your question, Basically a
collector is someone who collects fighters as recruits for Shadowloo."
"Well that doesn't help me much. What do they care about some
recruiter anyway?" said Ranma.
"I don't think you understand the concept of collecting. It isn't
voluntary. They take you by force and brainwash you. That is what
happened to me, except for the past three years I have no memory,"
said Cammy quietly.
"I'm sorry," said Ranma sympathetically.
"What made them think you were a collector anyway?" asked Cammy.
"I'm looking for a man named Ryu. I think it had something to do with
that, but I'm not sure, I heard the woman mention it when I was
caught," said Ranma thoughtfully.
"Ryu? The street fighter? What do ya want him fer?" asked the large
woman.
"Sho ryu ken," said Ranma with a far off gaze.
Cammy looked at her blankly. "What?" she said dumbly. "What's a Sho
ryu ken?"
"Its a technique. I have to learn how he does it," said Ranma calmly.
"Why?" asked the skinny girl.
"Its a guy thing." said Ranma simply.
A guard walked to the door of the cell and looked at his clipboard.
"White, Cammy."
Cammy stood and walked to the door she stood with her back to the
guard and stuck her hands through the hole so she could be cuffed for
transport.
"Looks like my turn." she said smiling slightly at Ranma.
Ranma watched her being led away and frowned.
"Boy she got talkative," commented the large woman.
"I'll say." agreed her companion.
+++++++++++++++
Fei Long charged at Ryoga. "Rekka shin ken!" His fist became a blur as
he struck out at the lost boy.
Ryoga braced for impact he set his feet apart slightly and thrust his
hands forward. "Hado shi shi houkou dan!"
They slammed into each other hard. Ryoga took a punch that sent him
flying into one wall and into a pile of garbage bags. Fei Long took
the full blast and was shot through the wall opposite Ryoga leaving a
gaping hole. After a moment Ryoga stood shakily. He looked and saw Fei
Long's unconscious form lying on the floor on top of the rubble from
the blast. He turned and staggered away clutching his face. "Damn, I
didn't even get paid for this. This is all your fault Ranma..." he
said out loud.
Then he remembered he was alone. He laughed to himself. He was so used
to having Ranma around after a fight over the past month that he had
forgotten he had been arrested only hours before.
+++++++++++++++
Ranma smiled as she sat in the middle of the floor in a meditation
position, she had realized what she felt when the woman gave her the
final blow in her fight. Now she understood it. She stood and looked
at the wall in front of her. "I'm leaving."
"What?" said the large girl sitting up suddenly. She wiped the sleep
from her eyes and looked at Ranma who just stood there.
"What are you talking about girl?" she slurred sleepily.
"What floor are we on?" asked Ranma.
"The second, but I still don't understand," said the woman.
"Good, I'd stay here if I were you. This may get rough," said Ranma as
she concentrated. "Hadou Moukou Takasishi!" she cried and blasted the
wall away leaving a huge hole. She ran and jumped from the hole to the
ground. She charged as sirens blared around her and she made her way
to the outside wall after jumping several fences. The searchlight was
pointed on her and she smiled as she felt the lights concentrate on
her. It wasn't much but it was enough, barely.
She heard the men in the nearest tower point their guns on her and
yell at her in Chinese and English to give herself up. She smiled and
stood still, All she could do was hope one of the men was not trigger-
happy. She pointed her fist at the searchlight suddenly and smiled
wider. "Hiryu shouten ha revised! Diagonal distraction blast!" she
cried as the tornado force winds shot from her body to the tower
blowing it away. At the last moment she threw herself into the blast.
She felt herself being thrown into the air as the winds tore and beat
on her already beaten body. She was shot over the wall and ran to
safety into the night as the confused guards tried to figure out what
happened.
++++++++++++++
Cammy sat at a table and waited for Chun li to return to the room. The
door opened and Chun li entered casually. "Black coffee right?" she
said with a smile.
"Yes, thank you," said Cammy politely.
"What did you find out?" asked Chun li calmly as she turned on her
tape recorder.
"Nothing really, I don't think she is a collector. She didn't
recognize me and I don't remember her. She didn't seem to know what I
was talking about."
"What does she want with Ryu?" asked the Chinese woman impatiently.
"Why is it so important luv?" asked Cammy coolly.
Chun li blushed. "I'm sorry, it's just that he's an old friend," said
Chun li catching herself.
"Act like that and I might be compelled to with hold important facts,"
said Cammy curtly.
"Your superiors said you would cooperate Miss White," said Chun li.
"If this girl would not suffer I would walk out now Miss li," said
Cammy angrily.
"Tell me," said Chun li sitting in her chair calmly.
"She is looking for something called the Sho Ryu Ken. Does that mean
anything to you?" asked Cammy.
"Shit," muttered Chun li bitterly as she slumped into her chair. "The
poor kid was just on some sort of training trip."
"I take it you gave her a full interrogation?" said Cammy calmly.
Suddenly the alarms were blaring.
+++++++++++
A few moments later in the hall...
"Our friend," said Guile as he met Chun li and Cammy halfway to the
cell that had once contained Ranma.
"I thought so. How far did she get?" asked Chun li as a lump formed in
her throat.
"All the way. The guards still don't know what hit them. No one was
injured seriously but she gave a couple a good scare," said Guile as
he walked with her.
"Good, She isn't Shadowloo," said Chun li as she walked.
"It was a good idea to send Cammy in, how did you know she would take
interrogation?" asked Guile casually as they approached the cell.
"You weren't there for the strip search. That girl has seen a lot of
combat. That's why I was so sure," said Chun li.
"And wrongly so luv," commented Cammy.
"Let it go," said Guile flatly.
"Sir," replied Cammy reluctantly.
"What's her story?" asked Guile ignoring the girl.
"Apparently a training voyage. She wants to learn from Ryu. That's
what I could gather anyway. I should have known right away really. Its
been a while but I've seen this before, it didn't end well for her,"
said Chun li as she looked at the hole in the wall.
"...Light came from her hands and she shouted Hado something..." said
one of the prisoners as they were lead by the group, on their way to
their new cells.
"That sounds familiar. Looks like she can use Hado ken," said Chun li
calmly as Guile inspected the hole.
"It's a fairly common technique these days in one form or another,"
said Cammy.
Chun li blushed. "What are you saying?" she said angrily.
"I didn't say anything about you luv. You did that on your own," said
Cammy as she turned away. "I have to go write a report now if you
don't mind."
"Little girls," said Guile as he smiled to himself. "So what do we do
about this?"
"I see no point in chasing her, She could be held responsible for the
damages, but she didn't really do anything to get put in here in the
first place. I should have investigated more. We let her go," said
Chun li as she turned away.
+++++++++++++
Ranma looked at the prison on a hill from a few miles away. She had
been running for some time now and sat down to rest. She had not
traveled well over the past few hours as her injuries were extensive,
if only minor, every part of her body was sore and some parts were
beginning to bleed again. It was very uncomfortable to sit, but even
more so to stand. She thought back to the escape and the blast she had
used to bring down the wall.
"Something didn't feel right when I did that. It wasn't Hado ken yet.
What am I missing?" she looked at her hands thoughtfully. "I will get
this, I have a feeling I'll need it for the Sho ryu ken," thought
Ranma as she stood and began to walk again.
+++++++++++++++
Ryoga Hibiki sat on a hill that overlooked Hong Kong. He looked at his
fist and frowned. "I still can't get it right. What am I doing wrong?"
he muttered as he thought. "I will master the Sho ryu ken. I won't let
Ranma beat me this time!" he thought as he poked at the fire.
He felt a chill go down his spine as he sat there. It was as if
someone had walked over his grave. He turned to see a dark figure
walking down the road, it stopped and was looking at him. He felt
strangely afraid and swallowed as he looked at it. It seemed to snort
in mild amusement and continue on its way. Ryoga turned away and
stared into the fire for a moment. He had never felt anything like
what he had just experienced now. "Yes I have. When Ranma was fighting
that old man." Ryoga looked at the flames for a moment more and looked
to see that the figure was long gone. "I could have sworn it was
glowing."
++++++++++++++
Ranma Vs. The world. 7
Fortunes told, reunited rivals, and the tigers breath.
+++++++++++++++++
Ryoga woke early and began to gather his things. He was somewhere in
the wilderness of China and he had a long way to go. He began walking
and frowned at the sky. "Its going to rain soon," he commented as he
began walking. "Damn you Ranma. I don't need this."
+++++++++++++
Ranma woke from her sleep and stood stiffly. She walked over to a
nearby stream and looked into the water. Her face was still badly
bruised and she could feel every joint in her body. She staggered for
a moment before collapsing to the ground again. "Damn," she said as
she felt her body give out from the strain of the past few days. She
simply sat and rested on the ground. Then a rustling came from the
nearby bushes.
+++++++++++++++
Ryoga pressed on through the woods and growled in anger as he came
upon his camp again. "I'll never find Ryu at this rate." he muttered
as he walked. Then he heard it. A voice came from nearby and screamed,
it was very familiar. What it screamed sent chills down Ryoga's spine.
"No! Ranma!!" he thought as he began to run.
++++++++++++++++++
Ranma stared in disbelief as the bushes parted. A smile crossed her
lips and she began to laugh slightly. "So this is how it ends?" she
thought to herself. Standing in front of her was a huge Bengal tiger.
"I didn't think there were any of those this far East," she thought
mildly as the beast closed in on her.
A familiar fear began to creep down her spine as it stalked towards
her. She could see its breath in the cool morning air as it breathed.
Some how in the midst of all her terror, Ranma had a thought. It was
the breath of the animal that set it off. She didn't quite know why
gut it made her think of her fight with Ryu. Her mind went spinning,
happy to any distraction at the moment. Something about his hands and
the way the animals breath looked.
A dark smile crossed her lips as the beast came within seven feet of
her. She stood and glared at it, almost freezing in the fear her
father had forced on her many years ago. "I've got it."
+++++++++++++++
Ryoga burst through the bushes and stared at Ranma as she lay on the
ground unconscious. The tiger sat motionless several yards away and
Ryoga gave it a passing glance as he walked over to her side. He saw
the smoke rising from the animal and frowned. He looked at the girl
for a moment more before lifting her and walking away from the tiger.
He had his doubts before, but now he was sure. He thought back to the
scream, it had sent chills down his spine. "Damn you Ranma." he said
bitterly.
She had done it; He had mastered the Hado ken first.
"Wait!" cried a voice from behind him.
++++++++++++++++++
Two days later Ranma woke up. He looked around and saw that he was in
the back of some sort of wagon. His vision cleared up and he stood
stiffly. The first thing he noticed was that all his wounds were
dressed and cleaned. He stretched and his back popped, he grunted in
satisfaction as the tension left it.
"So your finally awake my friend."
"Huh?" said Ranma as he turned to see an elderly man standing in the
doorway to the cart.
"So your the one who almost killed my tiger. Come along, Your friend
is waiting," said the man. Ranma shrugged and followed.
Ranma was led through a busy camp and looked around in wonder. He
smiled as a group of women walked by and giggled at him. "What is this
place?" he asked the man leading him.
"This is our camp. We are a band of Gypsies. One of the last in the
world who still live by the old ways. I must apologize for my pet, she
is quite dangerous if she doesn't know you. We try to keep her locked
up, but you know how animals are sometimes." said the man
apologetically.
Ranma nodded and followed silently to a large group of men sitting
around a campfire eating breakfast.
Ryoga stood and glared at his companion as he walked up the men.
"Ranma!" he said angrily.
"Hey Ryoga. How did you find me?" asked Ranma in surprise. "I didn't
think I'd see you again until I got back to Japan."
"Ranma...How dare you learn the Hado ken before me?!" yelled Ryoga as
he walked over to him.
"You jerk. Is that all you can say? I was in prison!" retorted Ranma.
"You finally got what you deserve if you ask me!" said Ryoga bitterly
as he grabbed Ranma and reared back for a punch.
"Stop this foolishness," said a calm voice. Ranma and Ryoga turned to
see a beautiful and exotic looking purple haired woman watching them
coolly. "Come with me."
They looked at each other for a moment and simply shrugged their
shoulders before following.
+++++++++++++
Inside a large cart the woman motioned for them to sit at a small
cramped table. "I am called Rose. I understand you seek the one called
Ryu?"
"Yes, do you know where he is!?" cried Ranma and Ryoga in almost
perfect unison. They glared at each other and turned way.
"No, all I can do is help you understand your fate," said the woman as
she pulled out a deck of cards.
Ranma looked at her in surprise. "Aw man. No one believes in that
junk."
Rose smiled. "I do. Humor me."
"Perhaps but we really have to get going. We have a long way to
travel." said Ryoga as he got up.
"You have time for this. Russia is a big place and it will take many
days to reach your destination."
"Ryoga, why are we in Russia?" asked Ranma as he gave the boy a glare.
"Uhh, I knew where we were. I got a tip he was coming here," said
Ryoga nervously.
"Yeah right." muttered Ranma.
"It is possible your friend speaks the truth. The man known as Ryu has
been known to travel as far as Moscow," said Rose coolly.
"I guess we got time then," said Ranma.
Ryoga growled and sat down again.
"That is good," said the woman as she placed the cards down. In the
center she placed two and then she placed four other cards around
them. One of the center cards had a two faced woman. "This represents
you, both of you have more than one face."
Ranma and Ryoga said nothing, but shifted uncomfortably in their
seats.
She then indicated the one above it. "Nobility representing honor and
courage. This is how you see one another."
"Pure crap," muttered Ryoga.
"It does not mean you like each other. It simply means you know you
can count on each other when the need arises. It is a very strong
bond, often only the greatest of enemies or the best of friends come
to this level," said Rose with a knowing smile.
She reached and flipped one of the cards over. "Chaos. This card
represents your past," she said to them.
"I'll say," muttered Ryoga.
"Ah, the traveler. You are on a journey. This is the present," she
said ignoring Ryoga.
"Pretty good," said Ranma coolly.
"The tower, stability and strength, but also change. This is your
fate," said the woman with a smile.
Ranma and Ryoga looked at her calmly and said nothing.
"The devil. Evil, this represents your destiny. You must face a great
power, a very strong dark force," said Rose with a frown.
Ranma and Ryoga paled when she turned the next card. "Death," she said
with a look of surprise. She smiled when she saw their faces. "Fear
not, although it may well represent the end of your lives. It can also
mean a great change. It is not necessarily a bad card," she said as
she placed another card across the top. "The arch angel. Through
sacrifice a great evil will be destroyed."
"Sacrifice?" asked Ryoga uncomfortably.
"Not necessarily by the two of you. It could be another, however it
may be your sacrifice. The cards never lie, but they can be vague,"
said the woman to him. "The last card. The ring, a complete circle of
events. A new beginning so to speak, or the revival of an old one,"
said Rose as she looked at them. "You two have an interesting future.
I wish you luck on your journey," she said to them as they walked out
of the door she indicated to them.
"Thanks, for all your help," said Ryoga as he walked out.
She watched them leave and looked at the card in her hand. 'The
devil.' "They are young to face such a destiny. I hope they will be
ready, I fear it has already found them." she said to herself.
"Indeed," said a voice on the wind. Rose felt a wave of fear course
through her. She turned and felt a powerful presence move past a few
miles away.
"God protect them," she said in fear and wonder as she fell to the
ground clutching her chest.
+++++++++++++++
One week later...
Ranma stood in the center of the lot. Various scattered construction
tools lay on the ground around the ring and men watched from an
unfinished building nearby as they drunk and shouted.
"What the hell is this?" he said looking around for his opponent. "Are
we gonna get started or not?" said Ranma in frustration. Then a long
shadow loomed over him from above. "Oh, shit," he said as he turned
slowly.
Ryoga watched from a nearby fence and smiled. Around him the drunken
Russians were shouting cheers for the muscular man. "Zangief!" they
cried.
"Well Ranma let's see how well you handle this," said Ryoga with a
smile.
Ranma jumped at the much larger man and punched him in the face.
Zangief merely swatted him out of the air to the ground. Ranma hit the
ground rolling and stood shakily. "Damn he's strong," he said to
himself. The large wrestler charged at Ranma and spun around in an
attempt to clothesline the smaller martial artist. "But he moves like
a tank," thought Ranma with a smile. Zangief smiled and dove at Ranma
with his arms spread. Ranma jumped away and the wrestler landed
leaving an impact crater.
"You not stay away forever little man," said the brute in passable
Japanese.
Ranma lifted his fist and smiled. "I don't have to!"
The wrestler grabbed for Ranma and he ducked under his massive arms.
Ranma swung at his gut once and rolled out of range of the larger
fighter's grasp and waited for a moment. Zangief rubbed his side and
fell to one knee. "You punch hard little one."
Ryoga stood and gasped as he realized what Ranma was doing. "That's
the same trick he used when I trained for the breaking point!" he
thought. Ranma was using his Chestnut fist trained reflexes to hit the
same spot hundreds of times; It was so fast that it looked like a
single attack.
Ranma charged again, this time the wrestler grabbed him. "Oh shit!"
thought Ranma as he was suplexed onto the pavement hard. Zangief
laughed and lifted Ranma by his legs. The wrestler jumped into the air
and came down with Ranma in a pile driver. The boy fell to the ground
limply.
Ryoga gasped as the wrestler began to walk away. "Ranma get up!" he
cried angrily. Ranma stayed down as the wrestler walked away. "How
dare you lose like that?!" cried Ryoga angrily.
"Ryoga you jerk. You think that would take me out?" said Ranma as he
stood and wavered for a moment on his feet.
Zangief turned slowly. "As I thought, Pile driver still needs work."
he snorted. "Come boy, you good fight I give you that."
Ranma jumped into the air and kicked at Zangief's head.
The wrestler tried to grab him again and frowned when his opponent
snaked just out of his grasp in the air.
"I can't let him get his hands on me again." Thought the boy as he
backed away.
Zangief smiled. "You see? Not beat Russian strength!" he said smugly
to Ranma.
"Oh Yea?! Hado ken!" cried Ranma as he shot a fireball at the
wrestler.
"That's it!" cried Ryoga as he stood and watched Ranma's ki blast.
"How dare you flaunt that at me Saotome!"
The wrestler smiled as the blast neared him. His hand glowed and he
swatted the fireball out of the air. It spun out of control before
coming down hard in a pile of barrels sending them flying. "You no
beat Zangief that easy. I banish fire attack with my fist!" said the
wrestler as he allowed his hand to glow again.
"I'm in trouble," thought Ranma as Zangief charged him.
He ducked out of the wrestlers way and frowned as he tried to think of
a way to get through his massive defenses. He could not take another
of the man's throws. "I've got it!" he cried as Zangief charged again.
Ryoga smiled as Ranma began to form the spiral that was so chillingly
familiar to him. "So its come to that?"
"What do you mean? He's running away!" cried one of the men near him
in frustration.
"You think so?" asked Ryoga.
"Stop running little chicken!" roared Zangief in frustration as he
chased Ranma around the ring.
"Who is running?" retorted Ranma as he stopped.
"I have you!" cried Zangief as he leapt into the air at Ranma.
"No, I have you!" cried Ranma as he punched into the air. "Hiryu
shouten ha!"
The tornado and shot into the air consumed Zangief. Ranma watched as
the wrestler was thrown high into the air and then spun to the ground
hard headfirst. Zangief stayed standing on his head for a moment and
then groaned and fell over unconscious. All around him men cried in
anger and joy as they collected or lost money.
"You were right buddy! I tripled my money!" said the man next to Ryoga
as he kissed his ticket.
"Whatever," snorted Ryoga as he walked over to Ranma.
"You knew about him didn't you?" growled Ranma as he walked up to his
companion. He was rubbing his shoulders and frowning as he popped his
neck. "That hurt."
"So? You won didn't you?" said Ryoga coolly.
"Look jerk..." started Ranma, but he was cut off by a loud laughter.
Zangief was almost rolling on the floor. "I think he lost it!" said
Ryoga. The larger man walked over and grabbed Ranma's hand.
"I thank you little man. I found inspiration! Now I can perfect pile
driver!" said Zangief with a smile.
"Uh, your welcome?" said Ranma in confusion.
"Is good fight. I hope to face again when I perfected my move," said
the wrestler as he walked off chuckling to himself. "Oh, yes. I hear
you looking for Ryu," he said as he turned to face the pair.
"You know where he is?" asked Ryoga.
"No, but I meet before; word underground say he go to India, near
Calcutta for meditation. Is just rumor but hey..." said the man
shrugging his shoulders.
"Thanks," said Ranma looking bewildered.
"Is OK now we even," said the wrestler as he walked away.
"Well let's get going," said Ryoga.
"What? Ryoga do you have any Idea how far away India is?" said Ranma
angrily.
"A few days walk?" said Ryoga obliviously.
"Arrrggghh!" cried Ranma in frustration.
+++++++++++++++
Ranma vs. The world!
Part 8: Ryoga! Master of the Hado ken!
++++++++++++++
Ranma and Ryoga stood in the dusty streets of Calcutta. They had
arrived at the airport a few hours ago.
"So, now what?" said Ranma as he watched the people walk by.
"You're asking me? I still think it was a waste of money to fly here.
It only took us three hours to fly, how much longer could it have
taken us to walk?" said Ryoga bitterly.
"Jeez, get over it P-chan." muttered Ranma as he noticed a crowd
forming in front of a nearby bar.
"Please mistress, allow me," said a voice as Ranma and Ryoga
approached the bar. A moment later three men were violently thrown
from the bar directly in their path.
"Interesting," said Ryoga as he cracked his knuckles.
Inside the bar the pair came upon a strange sight. A young girl
dressed in Persian clothing was standing off against an older European
woman. Next to them a large man dressed like a wrestler stood dusting
his hands off. "Now little one I suggest you apologize," said the man.
"Darrun, this one is mine," said the woman as she stood and removed
her skirt, she was dressed in a light blue leotard and had short brown
hair that was pinned up on the back of her head.
"Yes mistress Blair," said the man bowing to her. It was obvious he
did not like her fighting, he seemed to accept it though.
"How dare you threaten a girl like that?!" cried Ryoga angrily as he
rushed by Ranma and charged the large man.
"Oh, man," grumbled Ranma.
"What?" said Darrun in surprise as he turned to see an angry Ryoga
standing before him.
"Have you no shame? No honor?" yelled Ryoga as he fumed.
"Look little man, I got a job to do, so if you don't leave now you'll
end up like my friends here," said Darrun as he indicated the broken
window the unfortunate patrons had used to exit the bar.
"I'd like to see ya try," growled Ryoga.
Darrun swung at Ryoga. The boy grabbed his arm threw him to the
ground. The wrestler stood and charged at Ryoga with his arms spread.
Ryoga kicked him in the face and back flipped off it. Darrun was sent
to the ground again, but refused to stay down. Ryoga was growing
impatient. "If you don't stay down you'll regret it."
"A shrimp like you can't beat me!" cried Darrun as he charged again
with his arms flailing.
"All right that's it! Hado Shi shi houkou dan!!" yelled Ryoga as he
blasted the man into a wall. Darrun hit hard and left an impact crater
six feet in diameter. He glared at Ryoga and stood again.
"What is this guy made of?!" thought Ryoga in shock.
"I will not lose." spat Darrun as he charged Ryoga and grabbed him. He
lifted him into the air and fell back into a suplex. Just as he was
about to hit the ground he heard Ryoga yell.
"Bakusai Tenketsu!" cried Ryoga as the ground closed in on him. He
felt the dusty floor swell and explode sending the pair into the air.
Ryoga shifted as Darrun's grip loosened and he kicked the man in the
chest. Darrun was slammed into the ground and knocked out cold. Ryoga
was launched higher into the air and flipped clumsily as he came down
several feet away on his feet. He watched his opponent for a moment
and smiled as he stayed down. Then he heard cheering.
"Way to go Ryoga!" cried Ranma as he collected a wad of bills from the
European.
She looked disappointed but not upset. The young Persian girl smirked
"That's what I would have done to him."
"Hey Ryoga, dinner is on you tonight," said Ranma as he waved the wad
in the air. "Oh yeah, This is Brair. And Purrum?" said Ranma with a
questioning glance.
"That's Blair," said the European.
"Pullum actually, but you can call me whatever you want." said the
younger girl with a seductive look.
"Uh, yeah," said Ranma nervously.
"So why are you guys here?" Pullum with a smile.
"We're looking for someone," said Ranma as he returned her smile.
"Quit flirting you pervert. I won't have you cheating on Akane like
that!" yelled Ryoga as he hit Ranma on the back of his head.
"Ow! You jerk!" yelled Ranma obliviously. The two girls got slightly
disappointed looks on their faces, but Ranma didn't seem to notice.
"Are you looking for Shadowloo?" asked the Pullum as she became
serious.
"Huh? No, were looking for a man named Ryu; but we had some trouble
related to this Shadowloo character in China," said Ryoga with a
slightly surprised look.
"Shadowloo isn't a man, it's an organization. It's a powerful
underworld crime syndicate. I thought everyone knew that," said Blair.
"Ryu, I've heard of him, world champion street fighter isn't he?" said
Pullum with a frown.
"Yeah," said Ryoga.
"Well he's supposed to come here every few years or so to stay with
some of the holy men in a shrine outside of town," said Blair with an
amused look.
"Really? Where?" asked Ranma as he suddenly perked up.
+++++++++++++
A few hours later Ranma and Ryoga stood outside an abandoned temple.
"This can't be it, its deserted," said Ranma calmly.
"So you are the men who seek Ryu." said a voice.
Ranma and Ryoga jumped and stood back to back. "Who's there?" said
Ryoga.
A man appeared before him. He was thin and he had painted markings
that covered his face, he wore simple robes and floated in a yoga
position several feet off the ground.
"Who are you?" asked Ranma as he took up a defensive position next to
Ryoga.
"I am called Dhalsim. I will not attack you, this is sacred ground,"
said the man as he floated down to the ground.
"What do you want?" asked Ryoga.
"I might ask you the same thing," said Dhalsim calmly.
"We're looking for Ryu," said Ranma.
"Why?" asked Dhalsim in an emotionless monotone that unnerved Ranma a
great deal.
"Why should we tell you?" asked Ryoga nervously.
"Because I may choose to help you. He is no longer here, as this
temple has been abandoned, he has gone elsewhere to meditate," replied
the monk.
"We want to learn Sho ryu ken from him," said Ranma after a moment of
silence.
"I see," said Dhalsim.
After a few moments of silence Ranma spoke up. "Well? are you going to
help us?"
"No, it is a journey you must partake upon yourselves that will
release the dragon. Even Ryu himself cannot help you," said the monk.
"Do you know where he went at least?" said Ryoga with a sigh.
"Spain," said Dhalsim flatly.
"Thanks," said Ranma as he walked off.
"Yeah, I guess," said Ryoga as he followed.
"Boy, The power does not lie within you, you must learn that it is
like dragons breath. To form the flame from within would harm the
beast, you must realize this or it will destroy you from within," said
Dhalsim calmly to a confused Ryoga.
"You commin?!" called Ranma as Ryoga watched the man vanish.
"Y-yeah." answered Ryoga as he chased after him.
"Man that was weird," said Ranma as he sat across from Ryoga at a
small restaurant in the city.
"I'll say," muttered Ryoga.
"What did that guy say to you any way?" asked Ranma.
"Something about the dragon's breath. I didn't understand really,"
said Ryoga.
Ranma stared at him for a moment and sighed. "Ryoga, he was trying to
tell you how to do the Hado ken."
"What?!" said Ryoga in surprise.
"I can't explain it to you Ryoga you just have to figure it out. I'm
sure you will," said Ranma with a small grin.
++++++++++++++++
Ryoga sat quietly and watched Ranma eat in disgust. "You don't have to
eat like that ya know. Your father isn't here," he said after a few
moments.
"Yeah, look who's talkin," said Ranma as he noted the empty plates in
front of Ryoga.
"What's that supposed to mean?!" cried Ryoga as he stood angrily.
"What do you think? You pig," snorted Ranma. Then he realized his
mistake. "Wait Ryoga, I forgot really..."
"Raaannnmaaaa! How dare you?!" yelled Ryoga as his battle aura grew.
"Calm down Ryoga!" cried Ranma in a panic as the other patrons fled.
"Calm down! Calm down?! After what you said to me?!! Hado ken!" cried
Ryoga in anger.
Ranma was blasted out of the restaurant through the wall as the ball
of energy slammed into him. He landed against the wall outside and
slumped into a pile if garbage. "Jerk," he muttered as he stood and
dusted himself off.
Ryoga just stood and stared at what he had done. "What just happened?"
he said out loud as he looked at his shaking hands. He ran out the
hole and looked around. "Hey Ranma I did it!" he cried happily.
"Hado ken!" cried a voice and Ryoga was blasted into the side of a
dumpster.
"OW! Why did you do that you jerk?!" he cried as he picked himself
from the crushed metal box and saw Ranma beside him.
"Now we're even."
"I'll show you even!" yelled Ryoga as he charged at Ranma.
"Hey cut it out! Were even already!" cried Ranma as the pair chased
each other off into the night.
Ranma vs. The world 5
The eagle and the bird.
+++++++++++++++
Ryoga stood and glared at his opponent. Guile. He faced him and
frowned.
"Tell us who you're working for. I want names," demanded the American.
Ryoga stopped and relaxed his stance. "Working for?"
Guile punched him while his guard was down and sent him to the
pavement. Ryoga stood immediately. "What the hell are you doing
jerk?!" he cried and charged at the American. Guile side stepped and
Ryoga passed him and spun into a back kick that took Guile in the jaw,
causing him to slam into the brick wall. Ryoga pressed his advantage
and swung at the man, who simply sidestepped again.
"What the hell?" thought Guile as Ryoga pulled his fist out of the
wall. The damage he had inflicted was unbelievable. "I can't let this
guy get his hands on me." He charged and backhanded the boy in his
face causing him to stagger back.
Ryoga turned and smiled at his opponent. "You're pretty strong, I
actually felt that punch."
Guile stepped back and growled. "Shit, I'm gonna have to go all out."
+++++++++++++
In the alleyway Ranma dodged Chun li's attacks as fast as she could.
The woman jumped up and kicked at the redhead, who ducked and shifted
out of the way. Chun li landed and flipped on her hands. "Spinning
bird kick!" she cried as she spun at her opponent.
The pigtailed girl stood and blocked as best as she could only to be
knocked into a pile of trash nearby. "Damn, she's fast."
Chun li flipped onto the wall and hoped off it towards Ranma. She
twisted into the air into an Axe kick as she neared her opponent. The
red head jumped out of the way and punched out at the angry Kempoist.
Chun li grabbed her arm and threw her into the ground hard. Ranma
twisted and rolled, throwing her as well as she landed. She stood and
looked to see Chun li climbing out of the garbage pile with
determination burning in her eyes.
"I will make you pay for that girl. Then I will find your boyfriend
and teach him what it means to be a criminal in my city."
"Boyfriend?" said Ranma momentarily surprised.
Chun li leapt at Ranma again and kicked at her head. Ranma ducked and
rolled away. She turned and jumped at Chun li in a counter attack
aimed at her head and Chun li smiled. The Chinese woman jumped at the
girl in an almost vertical spinning kick that hit her several times in
the chest. Ranma fell to the ground hard and groaned in pain. She
stood as Chun li walked towards her. The girl was forced into defense
immediately.
+++++++++++++
Guile jump kicked Ryoga in the chest sending the boy staggering back
again. Ryoga punched at him and he ducked. Guile smiled as he kneeled
and shot up into the air in his infamous flash kick. The lost boy
stepped back barely in time and was thrown back from the sheer force
of the kick as it ripped his shirt wide open.
Guile frowned as his attack missed and noticed the boy glancing at
Chun li and his friend.
"You should pay attention," he said to him as he punched him in the
head.
Ranma was walking the spiral and Drawing the angry Chun li into the
nexus of the blast. He finally entered the center and...ducked away.
"Idiot," grumbled Ryoga as Guile sent his fist into his head. "Can't
you see I'm busy?" he said rubbing the spot as Guile staggered back
from the kick back of the blow. Ryoga swung at him and frowned as
Guile leapt over his head. Ryoga did a back kick and felt it connect.
Then he turned and saw no one behind him. "Wha?" he said in surprise.
"You coward! How dare you run from our fight!" he yelled and went off
in pursuit.
+++++++++++++++
Guile jumped over Ryoga's head and was taken by his back kick in the
face. He was sent to the ground hard and browned out for a moment. He
saw the boy turn ninety degrees and look around confused before
saying. "You coward! How dare you run from our fight!"
He was about to go after him and he stood to his feet. The task proved
more difficult than he had anticipated and he fell to the ground
unconscious.
Ranma turned after being hit to the ground again by a kick and stood
against the wall. His leg burned and began to feel numb. Chun li
charged and kicked at her. "Yayayayayayayayayyayayayayaaa!" she cried
and unleashed her lightning kick on the hapless Ranma.
Ranma desperately blocked and stood her ground. Chun li intensified
her attack and the girl intensified her own. Then Ranma's arm gave out
again. "No! I still haven't healed from that old man's fight!" she
thought as Chun li's attack began to get through. She felt a few of
the kicks and faltered letting her guard completely down. "No!" she
thought tensing herself. Then Chun li stopped and frowned, she was
breathing hard and glaring at her.
"You're good girl I'll give you that," she said bitterly.
Ranma grit her teeth charged at her shakily. "I have to take her out
now while she's winded or I never will."
"You're good...but I am the strongest woman in the world!" cried Chun
li as she put her hands up in front of her. Ranma felt something
familiar in the air, but this was much larger in scale. "Sho Kocho!"
cried the woman as a huge burst of Ki appeared before her.
"That's it!" thought Ranma as she felt the blast engulf her.
+++++++++++++++
A few minutes later Ranma awoke and was surrounded by heavily armed
men in uniforms. Chun li rested against a wall nearby with a badly
bruised Guile standing next to her. He had a black eye and his cheek
was beginning to swell.
Ranma frowned as she was forced to stand. She tugged at her hands and
felt that they were cuffed. She was put into the back of a police van
marked 'Interpol' on the side. She sighed and allowed herself to be
taken.
"What happened to you?" said Chun li looking at Guile in surprise.
"Got hit by a truck," said Guile without flinching. "How are you?"
"Fine I guess. She is one hell of a fighter for someone her age," said
Chun li in answer. "To bad she didn't choose her sides better. Looks
like her so called friends abandoned her."
Guile only nodded.
++++++++++++
A few miles away...
Ryoga walked on. He had stopped his search for his opponent a while
ago and simply wandered. He didn't bother looking where he was going
because he knew it didn't matter. He just wandered. "Who needs Ranma.
I'll find Ryu on my own," he thought as he walked on.
In the shadows a familiar looking outline watched and waited as Ryoga
walked by several times, seemingly unaware that he was being followed
or even that he was going in circles.
"Damn he's on to me," thought the figure as he stepped out in front of
Ryoga finally.
The lost boy stopped and regarded the new figure for a moment before
he started walking on.
"Stop," said the man. His Identity still obscure from the shadows
surrounding the buildings due to the hour.
"What? Wait, I remember you," said Ryoga looking at the figure for a
moment.
The man smiled, it would be good if he already feared him and his
skills.
"You were watching us spar this morning!" said Ryoga completely
oblivious.
The man face faulted for a moment and frowned deeply. "Did you come
from under a rock or something? You may have escaped my friends but
you won't get away from me," said the figure getting into a ready
stance.
Ryoga followed. "I'm in no mood for this," he warned the man as he
threw his bag to the ground. "Interesting," he commented noting the
man's stance his eyes narrowed as he lifted his fist to confront him.
"Let's go," replied the man.
+++++++++++++
Ranma vs. The World 6
Captured and the Dragon strikes...
+++++++++++++
Ranma sat in the chair as the men in the room with her walked in
circles around her. She smiled as one of them punched her again. Her
face was not in good shape, it was covered in bruises and she was
bleeding from her mouth and nose. Her right eye was almost completely
red. The man who had been asking her questions in Chinese hit her in
the stomach yet again with his rifle.
Tell us what we want to know and maybe the judge will go easy on
you! screamed the man.
"What?" asked Ranma again.
It earned her yet another round of punches and kicks from the men. It
did not matter to her; she had had much worse in her life, but still,
they were starting to annoy her.
+++++++++++++++++
In the next room Chun li looked at the interrogation indifferently.
"She is a tough one."
"I don't like this, if my country finds out I was involved with this
interrogation I may be pulled from the case," said Guile as he
watched.
Chun li smiled. "Then leave, no one is keeping you. This is how some
things are done in my country."
"You know I can't do that," said Guile as he watched. "I want him too
badly."
Then Ranma turned and looked at them through the one way mirror. "You
could at least have someone who speaks my language in here," she said
calmly to the pair. One of the men uppercut her in the jaw with his
rifle and knocked her too the floor.
Chun li pushed the button for the intercom. "That's enough. Clean her
up and put her in a cell, we'll continue this tomorrow," she said in a
frustrated tone.
++++++++++++
Meanwhile...
Ryoga stood and watched his opponent as he moved slowly towards him.
The man frowned and rushed him suddenly. "Whoooooo!" he cried as he
jumped straight up and caught Ryoga's chest with a powerful kick. The
boy was sent flying into the air and screamed in pain as flames
erupted all over his body. He hit the ground rolling and put them out.
Steam rose from his scorched body as he stood. "Rekka ken!" screamed
the man as he charged.
Ryoga was still not recovered from the first blow and was hit with
several lightening fast blows. He fell to the ground and clutched his
jaw.
"That's pretty good," he commented painfully.
"No one can stand up to Fei Long's attacks," said the man confidently.
"Ya know, you remind me of someone," said Ryoga as he stood and smiled
at the man.
"I should hope so," grumbled Fei Long.
He had only made thirty movies, most of them were at least reasonably
popular and his last five had practically made him a household name.
"His name is Ranma and I really don't like him. I think I'll take it
out on you," said the boy as he got into his battle ready stance once
again. This time he also had his umbrella in hand.
"Well, you've obviously seen fist of steel two; but if you remember I
defeated him and his invincible umbrella attacks," said Fei Long
looking annoyed.
"What are you talking about?" yelled Ryoga as he swung at Fei Long
with his weapon. The movie star blocked and was thrown into the wall
hard. Ryoga pressed his assault and jabbed at him again.
Fei long jumped up over the second strike only to get knocked out of
the air and into another wall by the lost boy. "Damn, what the hell is
that thing made of?" wondered the movie star as he rubbed his arms
where Ryoga had connected.
"I'll show you," said Ryoga in answer as he opened it and flung the
umbrella at him like a boomerang. It sailed by missing Fei Long's neck
by inches and carved a deep gash in the wall next to him.
"What the hell?" said Fei Long as he looked at the wall. Ryoga stood
calmly and caught the umbrella in his hand as it returned.
"Impressed?" asked the boy in a dangerous tone.
"Very, Maybe this fight will get even more interesting," said the man
with a smirk. The two men charged each other.
++++++++++++++
Ranma was thrown into the small, dank cell roughly. She hit the floor
and turned to see the other three inhabitants looking at her coolly.
She stood shakily and faced them.
"Look at what we have here," said the largest of the girls. Ranma
simply slumped against the bars; she could take another beating. She
wasn't in the mood for another fight with a girl. Especially since the
last one had gone so well.
The large woman and her skinny companion walked over and pushed her
face up. "You took it pretty bad," she said with a smile. "Got a
name?"
"Ranma," she answered.
"Well c'mon in, Welcome to the foreigners block. We'll get you cleaned
up." said the woman. Ranma blinked in surprise and walked to the back
of the cell with her. The woman on the other side of the cell stared
at her with a gaze of ice. Ranma felt unnerved but ignored it. The
woman just sat and stared, nothing more.
"Foreigners block?" asked Ranma.
"Yeah, this is where the police send all their out of country scum.
They just chuck us over to Interpol cause it's to much paperwork
otherwise," laughed the older woman. "Me and Shinko here are from
Kyosho, not sure about blondie over there, she don't talk."
The woman in question simply stared at Ranma with her cold blue eyes.
"What ya in fer?" asked the skinny girl.
Ranma looked at her for a moment and thought. "Not really sure, They
think I'm some sort of collector or something; for some guy named
Shadowlaw."
The woman across the cell stood and glared at Ranma even harder. "They
think you are a collector for Shadowloo?" she asked in heavily
accented Japanese.
"Yeah." answered Ranma warily.
"Humph, I don't know you. You're not Shadowloo," said the woman with
an angry looking stare.
"Yeah, I know that, they don't," retorted Ranma curtly.
"And how would you know little miss brit?" asked the large ugly woman
standing to her full height.
"Because I was an assassin and collector," she replied. The large
woman sat down and kept her mouth shut.
+++++++++++++++
Ryoga slammed his fist into Fei Long's gut and got kicked in the face
for his efforts. "Heh, your almost as fast as Ranma," he said as he
staggered from the blow.
Fei Long was on his knees and clutching his stomach. "I think I'm in
trouble. This guy hits like a truck!" He kicked at Ryoga's feet and
was met half way by the umbrella.
"Give it up, that guy I beat up earlier could take you on easily.
You're too weak to hurt me," snorted Ryoga.
"I'll show you weak!" yelled Fei Long as he charged Ryoga. He punched
at his chest with his Rekka ken and Ryoga went flying into a wall. He
slumped down and the wall crashed in around him. "Heh, I showed you
who was weak," spat the man as he turned away.
Then the ground exploded from under him. Fei Long turned and looked
back in horror as Ryoga began to laugh. "No way," he whispered.
"Ha, You call that strong?!" sneered Ryoga as he stood from the pile
of bricks. Fei long put his fist up again. "I'll show you real
strength!" yelled Ryoga as he charged.
The Chinese man jumped in the air and kicked the boy in the back of
the head as he passed sending the boy into the side of a dumpster.
Ryoga nearly crushed it flat against a wall. Fei Long was beginning to
think that he was in serious trouble.
"No wonder he walked away from Guile. This guy can't be human!"
thought the man.
"I've got to get this guy down," thought Ryoga to himself. "He's a lot
stronger than Ranma is and almost as fast, I won't be able to take
another of those Rekka ken punch combos, if he gets one in its over."
Fei Long knew he had to get this fight over with soon. He had one
attack left.
Ryoga got himself ready as the man prepared his next attack. "I won't
lose." he thought angrily as he positioned himself.
Fei Long charged.
+++++++++++++++
Ranma stared at the woman and frowned. "What?"
"I don't repeat myself luv," said the woman frowning.
"Tell me what a collector is exactly. Miss...?" said Ranma sitting
down next to the woman.
"White, Cammy White, I think. And to answer your question, Basically a
collector is someone who collects fighters as recruits for Shadowloo."
"Well that doesn't help me much. What do they care about some
recruiter anyway?" said Ranma.
"I don't think you understand the concept of collecting. It isn't
voluntary. They take you by force and brainwash you. That is what
happened to me, except for the past three years I have no memory,"
said Cammy quietly.
"I'm sorry," said Ranma sympathetically.
"What made them think you were a collector anyway?" asked Cammy.
"I'm looking for a man named Ryu. I think it had something to do with
that, but I'm not sure, I heard the woman mention it when I was
caught," said Ranma thoughtfully.
"Ryu? The street fighter? What do ya want him fer?" asked the large
woman.
"Sho ryu ken," said Ranma with a far off gaze.
Cammy looked at her blankly. "What?" she said dumbly. "What's a Sho
ryu ken?"
"Its a technique. I have to learn how he does it," said Ranma calmly.
"Why?" asked the skinny girl.
"Its a guy thing." said Ranma simply.
A guard walked to the door of the cell and looked at his clipboard.
"White, Cammy."
Cammy stood and walked to the door she stood with her back to the
guard and stuck her hands through the hole so she could be cuffed for
transport.
"Looks like my turn." she said smiling slightly at Ranma.
Ranma watched her being led away and frowned.
"Boy she got talkative," commented the large woman.
"I'll say." agreed her companion.
+++++++++++++++
Fei Long charged at Ryoga. "Rekka shin ken!" His fist became a blur as
he struck out at the lost boy.
Ryoga braced for impact he set his feet apart slightly and thrust his
hands forward. "Hado shi shi houkou dan!"
They slammed into each other hard. Ryoga took a punch that sent him
flying into one wall and into a pile of garbage bags. Fei Long took
the full blast and was shot through the wall opposite Ryoga leaving a
gaping hole. After a moment Ryoga stood shakily. He looked and saw Fei
Long's unconscious form lying on the floor on top of the rubble from
the blast. He turned and staggered away clutching his face. "Damn, I
didn't even get paid for this. This is all your fault Ranma..." he
said out loud.
Then he remembered he was alone. He laughed to himself. He was so used
to having Ranma around after a fight over the past month that he had
forgotten he had been arrested only hours before.
+++++++++++++++
Ranma smiled as she sat in the middle of the floor in a meditation
position, she had realized what she felt when the woman gave her the
final blow in her fight. Now she understood it. She stood and looked
at the wall in front of her. "I'm leaving."
"What?" said the large girl sitting up suddenly. She wiped the sleep
from her eyes and looked at Ranma who just stood there.
"What are you talking about girl?" she slurred sleepily.
"What floor are we on?" asked Ranma.
"The second, but I still don't understand," said the woman.
"Good, I'd stay here if I were you. This may get rough," said Ranma as
she concentrated. "Hadou Moukou Takasishi!" she cried and blasted the
wall away leaving a huge hole. She ran and jumped from the hole to the
ground. She charged as sirens blared around her and she made her way
to the outside wall after jumping several fences. The searchlight was
pointed on her and she smiled as she felt the lights concentrate on
her. It wasn't much but it was enough, barely.
She heard the men in the nearest tower point their guns on her and
yell at her in Chinese and English to give herself up. She smiled and
stood still, All she could do was hope one of the men was not trigger-
happy. She pointed her fist at the searchlight suddenly and smiled
wider. "Hiryu shouten ha revised! Diagonal distraction blast!" she
cried as the tornado force winds shot from her body to the tower
blowing it away. At the last moment she threw herself into the blast.
She felt herself being thrown into the air as the winds tore and beat
on her already beaten body. She was shot over the wall and ran to
safety into the night as the confused guards tried to figure out what
happened.
++++++++++++++
Cammy sat at a table and waited for Chun li to return to the room. The
door opened and Chun li entered casually. "Black coffee right?" she
said with a smile.
"Yes, thank you," said Cammy politely.
"What did you find out?" asked Chun li calmly as she turned on her
tape recorder.
"Nothing really, I don't think she is a collector. She didn't
recognize me and I don't remember her. She didn't seem to know what I
was talking about."
"What does she want with Ryu?" asked the Chinese woman impatiently.
"Why is it so important luv?" asked Cammy coolly.
Chun li blushed. "I'm sorry, it's just that he's an old friend," said
Chun li catching herself.
"Act like that and I might be compelled to with hold important facts,"
said Cammy curtly.
"Your superiors said you would cooperate Miss White," said Chun li.
"If this girl would not suffer I would walk out now Miss li," said
Cammy angrily.
"Tell me," said Chun li sitting in her chair calmly.
"She is looking for something called the Sho Ryu Ken. Does that mean
anything to you?" asked Cammy.
"Shit," muttered Chun li bitterly as she slumped into her chair. "The
poor kid was just on some sort of training trip."
"I take it you gave her a full interrogation?" said Cammy calmly.
Suddenly the alarms were blaring.
+++++++++++
A few moments later in the hall...
"Our friend," said Guile as he met Chun li and Cammy halfway to the
cell that had once contained Ranma.
"I thought so. How far did she get?" asked Chun li as a lump formed in
her throat.
"All the way. The guards still don't know what hit them. No one was
injured seriously but she gave a couple a good scare," said Guile as
he walked with her.
"Good, She isn't Shadowloo," said Chun li as she walked.
"It was a good idea to send Cammy in, how did you know she would take
interrogation?" asked Guile casually as they approached the cell.
"You weren't there for the strip search. That girl has seen a lot of
combat. That's why I was so sure," said Chun li.
"And wrongly so luv," commented Cammy.
"Let it go," said Guile flatly.
"Sir," replied Cammy reluctantly.
"What's her story?" asked Guile ignoring the girl.
"Apparently a training voyage. She wants to learn from Ryu. That's
what I could gather anyway. I should have known right away really. Its
been a while but I've seen this before, it didn't end well for her,"
said Chun li as she looked at the hole in the wall.
"...Light came from her hands and she shouted Hado something..." said
one of the prisoners as they were lead by the group, on their way to
their new cells.
"That sounds familiar. Looks like she can use Hado ken," said Chun li
calmly as Guile inspected the hole.
"It's a fairly common technique these days in one form or another,"
said Cammy.
Chun li blushed. "What are you saying?" she said angrily.
"I didn't say anything about you luv. You did that on your own," said
Cammy as she turned away. "I have to go write a report now if you
don't mind."
"Little girls," said Guile as he smiled to himself. "So what do we do
about this?"
"I see no point in chasing her, She could be held responsible for the
damages, but she didn't really do anything to get put in here in the
first place. I should have investigated more. We let her go," said
Chun li as she turned away.
+++++++++++++
Ranma looked at the prison on a hill from a few miles away. She had
been running for some time now and sat down to rest. She had not
traveled well over the past few hours as her injuries were extensive,
if only minor, every part of her body was sore and some parts were
beginning to bleed again. It was very uncomfortable to sit, but even
more so to stand. She thought back to the escape and the blast she had
used to bring down the wall.
"Something didn't feel right when I did that. It wasn't Hado ken yet.
What am I missing?" she looked at her hands thoughtfully. "I will get
this, I have a feeling I'll need it for the Sho ryu ken," thought
Ranma as she stood and began to walk again.
+++++++++++++++
Ryoga Hibiki sat on a hill that overlooked Hong Kong. He looked at his
fist and frowned. "I still can't get it right. What am I doing wrong?"
he muttered as he thought. "I will master the Sho ryu ken. I won't let
Ranma beat me this time!" he thought as he poked at the fire.
He felt a chill go down his spine as he sat there. It was as if
someone had walked over his grave. He turned to see a dark figure
walking down the road, it stopped and was looking at him. He felt
strangely afraid and swallowed as he looked at it. It seemed to snort
in mild amusement and continue on its way. Ryoga turned away and
stared into the fire for a moment. He had never felt anything like
what he had just experienced now. "Yes I have. When Ranma was fighting
that old man." Ryoga looked at the flames for a moment more and looked
to see that the figure was long gone. "I could have sworn it was
glowing."
++++++++++++++
Ranma Vs. The world. 7
Fortunes told, reunited rivals, and the tigers breath.
+++++++++++++++++
Ryoga woke early and began to gather his things. He was somewhere in
the wilderness of China and he had a long way to go. He began walking
and frowned at the sky. "Its going to rain soon," he commented as he
began walking. "Damn you Ranma. I don't need this."
+++++++++++++
Ranma woke from her sleep and stood stiffly. She walked over to a
nearby stream and looked into the water. Her face was still badly
bruised and she could feel every joint in her body. She staggered for
a moment before collapsing to the ground again. "Damn," she said as
she felt her body give out from the strain of the past few days. She
simply sat and rested on the ground. Then a rustling came from the
nearby bushes.
+++++++++++++++
Ryoga pressed on through the woods and growled in anger as he came
upon his camp again. "I'll never find Ryu at this rate." he muttered
as he walked. Then he heard it. A voice came from nearby and screamed,
it was very familiar. What it screamed sent chills down Ryoga's spine.
"No! Ranma!!" he thought as he began to run.
++++++++++++++++++
Ranma stared in disbelief as the bushes parted. A smile crossed her
lips and she began to laugh slightly. "So this is how it ends?" she
thought to herself. Standing in front of her was a huge Bengal tiger.
"I didn't think there were any of those this far East," she thought
mildly as the beast closed in on her.
A familiar fear began to creep down her spine as it stalked towards
her. She could see its breath in the cool morning air as it breathed.
Some how in the midst of all her terror, Ranma had a thought. It was
the breath of the animal that set it off. She didn't quite know why
gut it made her think of her fight with Ryu. Her mind went spinning,
happy to any distraction at the moment. Something about his hands and
the way the animals breath looked.
A dark smile crossed her lips as the beast came within seven feet of
her. She stood and glared at it, almost freezing in the fear her
father had forced on her many years ago. "I've got it."
+++++++++++++++
Ryoga burst through the bushes and stared at Ranma as she lay on the
ground unconscious. The tiger sat motionless several yards away and
Ryoga gave it a passing glance as he walked over to her side. He saw
the smoke rising from the animal and frowned. He looked at the girl
for a moment more before lifting her and walking away from the tiger.
He had his doubts before, but now he was sure. He thought back to the
scream, it had sent chills down his spine. "Damn you Ranma." he said
bitterly.
She had done it; He had mastered the Hado ken first.
"Wait!" cried a voice from behind him.
++++++++++++++++++
Two days later Ranma woke up. He looked around and saw that he was in
the back of some sort of wagon. His vision cleared up and he stood
stiffly. The first thing he noticed was that all his wounds were
dressed and cleaned. He stretched and his back popped, he grunted in
satisfaction as the tension left it.
"So your finally awake my friend."
"Huh?" said Ranma as he turned to see an elderly man standing in the
doorway to the cart.
"So your the one who almost killed my tiger. Come along, Your friend
is waiting," said the man. Ranma shrugged and followed.
Ranma was led through a busy camp and looked around in wonder. He
smiled as a group of women walked by and giggled at him. "What is this
place?" he asked the man leading him.
"This is our camp. We are a band of Gypsies. One of the last in the
world who still live by the old ways. I must apologize for my pet, she
is quite dangerous if she doesn't know you. We try to keep her locked
up, but you know how animals are sometimes." said the man
apologetically.
Ranma nodded and followed silently to a large group of men sitting
around a campfire eating breakfast.
Ryoga stood and glared at his companion as he walked up the men.
"Ranma!" he said angrily.
"Hey Ryoga. How did you find me?" asked Ranma in surprise. "I didn't
think I'd see you again until I got back to Japan."
"Ranma...How dare you learn the Hado ken before me?!" yelled Ryoga as
he walked over to him.
"You jerk. Is that all you can say? I was in prison!" retorted Ranma.
"You finally got what you deserve if you ask me!" said Ryoga bitterly
as he grabbed Ranma and reared back for a punch.
"Stop this foolishness," said a calm voice. Ranma and Ryoga turned to
see a beautiful and exotic looking purple haired woman watching them
coolly. "Come with me."
They looked at each other for a moment and simply shrugged their
shoulders before following.
+++++++++++++
Inside a large cart the woman motioned for them to sit at a small
cramped table. "I am called Rose. I understand you seek the one called
Ryu?"
"Yes, do you know where he is!?" cried Ranma and Ryoga in almost
perfect unison. They glared at each other and turned way.
"No, all I can do is help you understand your fate," said the woman as
she pulled out a deck of cards.
Ranma looked at her in surprise. "Aw man. No one believes in that
junk."
Rose smiled. "I do. Humor me."
"Perhaps but we really have to get going. We have a long way to
travel." said Ryoga as he got up.
"You have time for this. Russia is a big place and it will take many
days to reach your destination."
"Ryoga, why are we in Russia?" asked Ranma as he gave the boy a glare.
"Uhh, I knew where we were. I got a tip he was coming here," said
Ryoga nervously.
"Yeah right." muttered Ranma.
"It is possible your friend speaks the truth. The man known as Ryu has
been known to travel as far as Moscow," said Rose coolly.
"I guess we got time then," said Ranma.
Ryoga growled and sat down again.
"That is good," said the woman as she placed the cards down. In the
center she placed two and then she placed four other cards around
them. One of the center cards had a two faced woman. "This represents
you, both of you have more than one face."
Ranma and Ryoga said nothing, but shifted uncomfortably in their
seats.
She then indicated the one above it. "Nobility representing honor and
courage. This is how you see one another."
"Pure crap," muttered Ryoga.
"It does not mean you like each other. It simply means you know you
can count on each other when the need arises. It is a very strong
bond, often only the greatest of enemies or the best of friends come
to this level," said Rose with a knowing smile.
She reached and flipped one of the cards over. "Chaos. This card
represents your past," she said to them.
"I'll say," muttered Ryoga.
"Ah, the traveler. You are on a journey. This is the present," she
said ignoring Ryoga.
"Pretty good," said Ranma coolly.
"The tower, stability and strength, but also change. This is your
fate," said the woman with a smile.
Ranma and Ryoga looked at her calmly and said nothing.
"The devil. Evil, this represents your destiny. You must face a great
power, a very strong dark force," said Rose with a frown.
Ranma and Ryoga paled when she turned the next card. "Death," she said
with a look of surprise. She smiled when she saw their faces. "Fear
not, although it may well represent the end of your lives. It can also
mean a great change. It is not necessarily a bad card," she said as
she placed another card across the top. "The arch angel. Through
sacrifice a great evil will be destroyed."
"Sacrifice?" asked Ryoga uncomfortably.
"Not necessarily by the two of you. It could be another, however it
may be your sacrifice. The cards never lie, but they can be vague,"
said the woman to him. "The last card. The ring, a complete circle of
events. A new beginning so to speak, or the revival of an old one,"
said Rose as she looked at them. "You two have an interesting future.
I wish you luck on your journey," she said to them as they walked out
of the door she indicated to them.
"Thanks, for all your help," said Ryoga as he walked out.
She watched them leave and looked at the card in her hand. 'The
devil.' "They are young to face such a destiny. I hope they will be
ready, I fear it has already found them." she said to herself.
"Indeed," said a voice on the wind. Rose felt a wave of fear course
through her. She turned and felt a powerful presence move past a few
miles away.
"God protect them," she said in fear and wonder as she fell to the
ground clutching her chest.
+++++++++++++++
One week later...
Ranma stood in the center of the lot. Various scattered construction
tools lay on the ground around the ring and men watched from an
unfinished building nearby as they drunk and shouted.
"What the hell is this?" he said looking around for his opponent. "Are
we gonna get started or not?" said Ranma in frustration. Then a long
shadow loomed over him from above. "Oh, shit," he said as he turned
slowly.
Ryoga watched from a nearby fence and smiled. Around him the drunken
Russians were shouting cheers for the muscular man. "Zangief!" they
cried.
"Well Ranma let's see how well you handle this," said Ryoga with a
smile.
Ranma jumped at the much larger man and punched him in the face.
Zangief merely swatted him out of the air to the ground. Ranma hit the
ground rolling and stood shakily. "Damn he's strong," he said to
himself. The large wrestler charged at Ranma and spun around in an
attempt to clothesline the smaller martial artist. "But he moves like
a tank," thought Ranma with a smile. Zangief smiled and dove at Ranma
with his arms spread. Ranma jumped away and the wrestler landed
leaving an impact crater.
"You not stay away forever little man," said the brute in passable
Japanese.
Ranma lifted his fist and smiled. "I don't have to!"
The wrestler grabbed for Ranma and he ducked under his massive arms.
Ranma swung at his gut once and rolled out of range of the larger
fighter's grasp and waited for a moment. Zangief rubbed his side and
fell to one knee. "You punch hard little one."
Ryoga stood and gasped as he realized what Ranma was doing. "That's
the same trick he used when I trained for the breaking point!" he
thought. Ranma was using his Chestnut fist trained reflexes to hit the
same spot hundreds of times; It was so fast that it looked like a
single attack.
Ranma charged again, this time the wrestler grabbed him. "Oh shit!"
thought Ranma as he was suplexed onto the pavement hard. Zangief
laughed and lifted Ranma by his legs. The wrestler jumped into the air
and came down with Ranma in a pile driver. The boy fell to the ground
limply.
Ryoga gasped as the wrestler began to walk away. "Ranma get up!" he
cried angrily. Ranma stayed down as the wrestler walked away. "How
dare you lose like that?!" cried Ryoga angrily.
"Ryoga you jerk. You think that would take me out?" said Ranma as he
stood and wavered for a moment on his feet.
Zangief turned slowly. "As I thought, Pile driver still needs work."
he snorted. "Come boy, you good fight I give you that."
Ranma jumped into the air and kicked at Zangief's head.
The wrestler tried to grab him again and frowned when his opponent
snaked just out of his grasp in the air.
"I can't let him get his hands on me again." Thought the boy as he
backed away.
Zangief smiled. "You see? Not beat Russian strength!" he said smugly
to Ranma.
"Oh Yea?! Hado ken!" cried Ranma as he shot a fireball at the
wrestler.
"That's it!" cried Ryoga as he stood and watched Ranma's ki blast.
"How dare you flaunt that at me Saotome!"
The wrestler smiled as the blast neared him. His hand glowed and he
swatted the fireball out of the air. It spun out of control before
coming down hard in a pile of barrels sending them flying. "You no
beat Zangief that easy. I banish fire attack with my fist!" said the
wrestler as he allowed his hand to glow again.
"I'm in trouble," thought Ranma as Zangief charged him.
He ducked out of the wrestlers way and frowned as he tried to think of
a way to get through his massive defenses. He could not take another
of the man's throws. "I've got it!" he cried as Zangief charged again.
Ryoga smiled as Ranma began to form the spiral that was so chillingly
familiar to him. "So its come to that?"
"What do you mean? He's running away!" cried one of the men near him
in frustration.
"You think so?" asked Ryoga.
"Stop running little chicken!" roared Zangief in frustration as he
chased Ranma around the ring.
"Who is running?" retorted Ranma as he stopped.
"I have you!" cried Zangief as he leapt into the air at Ranma.
"No, I have you!" cried Ranma as he punched into the air. "Hiryu
shouten ha!"
The tornado and shot into the air consumed Zangief. Ranma watched as
the wrestler was thrown high into the air and then spun to the ground
hard headfirst. Zangief stayed standing on his head for a moment and
then groaned and fell over unconscious. All around him men cried in
anger and joy as they collected or lost money.
"You were right buddy! I tripled my money!" said the man next to Ryoga
as he kissed his ticket.
"Whatever," snorted Ryoga as he walked over to Ranma.
"You knew about him didn't you?" growled Ranma as he walked up to his
companion. He was rubbing his shoulders and frowning as he popped his
neck. "That hurt."
"So? You won didn't you?" said Ryoga coolly.
"Look jerk..." started Ranma, but he was cut off by a loud laughter.
Zangief was almost rolling on the floor. "I think he lost it!" said
Ryoga. The larger man walked over and grabbed Ranma's hand.
"I thank you little man. I found inspiration! Now I can perfect pile
driver!" said Zangief with a smile.
"Uh, your welcome?" said Ranma in confusion.
"Is good fight. I hope to face again when I perfected my move," said
the wrestler as he walked off chuckling to himself. "Oh, yes. I hear
you looking for Ryu," he said as he turned to face the pair.
"You know where he is?" asked Ryoga.
"No, but I meet before; word underground say he go to India, near
Calcutta for meditation. Is just rumor but hey..." said the man
shrugging his shoulders.
"Thanks," said Ranma looking bewildered.
"Is OK now we even," said the wrestler as he walked away.
"Well let's get going," said Ryoga.
"What? Ryoga do you have any Idea how far away India is?" said Ranma
angrily.
"A few days walk?" said Ryoga obliviously.
"Arrrggghh!" cried Ranma in frustration.
+++++++++++++++
Ranma vs. The world!
Part 8: Ryoga! Master of the Hado ken!
++++++++++++++
Ranma and Ryoga stood in the dusty streets of Calcutta. They had
arrived at the airport a few hours ago.
"So, now what?" said Ranma as he watched the people walk by.
"You're asking me? I still think it was a waste of money to fly here.
It only took us three hours to fly, how much longer could it have
taken us to walk?" said Ryoga bitterly.
"Jeez, get over it P-chan." muttered Ranma as he noticed a crowd
forming in front of a nearby bar.
"Please mistress, allow me," said a voice as Ranma and Ryoga
approached the bar. A moment later three men were violently thrown
from the bar directly in their path.
"Interesting," said Ryoga as he cracked his knuckles.
Inside the bar the pair came upon a strange sight. A young girl
dressed in Persian clothing was standing off against an older European
woman. Next to them a large man dressed like a wrestler stood dusting
his hands off. "Now little one I suggest you apologize," said the man.
"Darrun, this one is mine," said the woman as she stood and removed
her skirt, she was dressed in a light blue leotard and had short brown
hair that was pinned up on the back of her head.
"Yes mistress Blair," said the man bowing to her. It was obvious he
did not like her fighting, he seemed to accept it though.
"How dare you threaten a girl like that?!" cried Ryoga angrily as he
rushed by Ranma and charged the large man.
"Oh, man," grumbled Ranma.
"What?" said Darrun in surprise as he turned to see an angry Ryoga
standing before him.
"Have you no shame? No honor?" yelled Ryoga as he fumed.
"Look little man, I got a job to do, so if you don't leave now you'll
end up like my friends here," said Darrun as he indicated the broken
window the unfortunate patrons had used to exit the bar.
"I'd like to see ya try," growled Ryoga.
Darrun swung at Ryoga. The boy grabbed his arm threw him to the
ground. The wrestler stood and charged at Ryoga with his arms spread.
Ryoga kicked him in the face and back flipped off it. Darrun was sent
to the ground again, but refused to stay down. Ryoga was growing
impatient. "If you don't stay down you'll regret it."
"A shrimp like you can't beat me!" cried Darrun as he charged again
with his arms flailing.
"All right that's it! Hado Shi shi houkou dan!!" yelled Ryoga as he
blasted the man into a wall. Darrun hit hard and left an impact crater
six feet in diameter. He glared at Ryoga and stood again.
"What is this guy made of?!" thought Ryoga in shock.
"I will not lose." spat Darrun as he charged Ryoga and grabbed him. He
lifted him into the air and fell back into a suplex. Just as he was
about to hit the ground he heard Ryoga yell.
"Bakusai Tenketsu!" cried Ryoga as the ground closed in on him. He
felt the dusty floor swell and explode sending the pair into the air.
Ryoga shifted as Darrun's grip loosened and he kicked the man in the
chest. Darrun was slammed into the ground and knocked out cold. Ryoga
was launched higher into the air and flipped clumsily as he came down
several feet away on his feet. He watched his opponent for a moment
and smiled as he stayed down. Then he heard cheering.
"Way to go Ryoga!" cried Ranma as he collected a wad of bills from the
European.
She looked disappointed but not upset. The young Persian girl smirked
"That's what I would have done to him."
"Hey Ryoga, dinner is on you tonight," said Ranma as he waved the wad
in the air. "Oh yeah, This is Brair. And Purrum?" said Ranma with a
questioning glance.
"That's Blair," said the European.
"Pullum actually, but you can call me whatever you want." said the
younger girl with a seductive look.
"Uh, yeah," said Ranma nervously.
"So why are you guys here?" Pullum with a smile.
"We're looking for someone," said Ranma as he returned her smile.
"Quit flirting you pervert. I won't have you cheating on Akane like
that!" yelled Ryoga as he hit Ranma on the back of his head.
"Ow! You jerk!" yelled Ranma obliviously. The two girls got slightly
disappointed looks on their faces, but Ranma didn't seem to notice.
"Are you looking for Shadowloo?" asked the Pullum as she became
serious.
"Huh? No, were looking for a man named Ryu; but we had some trouble
related to this Shadowloo character in China," said Ryoga with a
slightly surprised look.
"Shadowloo isn't a man, it's an organization. It's a powerful
underworld crime syndicate. I thought everyone knew that," said Blair.
"Ryu, I've heard of him, world champion street fighter isn't he?" said
Pullum with a frown.
"Yeah," said Ryoga.
"Well he's supposed to come here every few years or so to stay with
some of the holy men in a shrine outside of town," said Blair with an
amused look.
"Really? Where?" asked Ranma as he suddenly perked up.
+++++++++++++
A few hours later Ranma and Ryoga stood outside an abandoned temple.
"This can't be it, its deserted," said Ranma calmly.
"So you are the men who seek Ryu." said a voice.
Ranma and Ryoga jumped and stood back to back. "Who's there?" said
Ryoga.
A man appeared before him. He was thin and he had painted markings
that covered his face, he wore simple robes and floated in a yoga
position several feet off the ground.
"Who are you?" asked Ranma as he took up a defensive position next to
Ryoga.
"I am called Dhalsim. I will not attack you, this is sacred ground,"
said the man as he floated down to the ground.
"What do you want?" asked Ryoga.
"I might ask you the same thing," said Dhalsim calmly.
"We're looking for Ryu," said Ranma.
"Why?" asked Dhalsim in an emotionless monotone that unnerved Ranma a
great deal.
"Why should we tell you?" asked Ryoga nervously.
"Because I may choose to help you. He is no longer here, as this
temple has been abandoned, he has gone elsewhere to meditate," replied
the monk.
"We want to learn Sho ryu ken from him," said Ranma after a moment of
silence.
"I see," said Dhalsim.
After a few moments of silence Ranma spoke up. "Well? are you going to
help us?"
"No, it is a journey you must partake upon yourselves that will
release the dragon. Even Ryu himself cannot help you," said the monk.
"Do you know where he went at least?" said Ryoga with a sigh.
"Spain," said Dhalsim flatly.
"Thanks," said Ranma as he walked off.
"Yeah, I guess," said Ryoga as he followed.
"Boy, The power does not lie within you, you must learn that it is
like dragons breath. To form the flame from within would harm the
beast, you must realize this or it will destroy you from within," said
Dhalsim calmly to a confused Ryoga.
"You commin?!" called Ranma as Ryoga watched the man vanish.
"Y-yeah." answered Ryoga as he chased after him.
"Man that was weird," said Ranma as he sat across from Ryoga at a
small restaurant in the city.
"I'll say," muttered Ryoga.
"What did that guy say to you any way?" asked Ranma.
"Something about the dragon's breath. I didn't understand really,"
said Ryoga.
Ranma stared at him for a moment and sighed. "Ryoga, he was trying to
tell you how to do the Hado ken."
"What?!" said Ryoga in surprise.
"I can't explain it to you Ryoga you just have to figure it out. I'm
sure you will," said Ranma with a small grin.
++++++++++++++++
Ryoga sat quietly and watched Ranma eat in disgust. "You don't have to
eat like that ya know. Your father isn't here," he said after a few
moments.
"Yeah, look who's talkin," said Ranma as he noted the empty plates in
front of Ryoga.
"What's that supposed to mean?!" cried Ryoga as he stood angrily.
"What do you think? You pig," snorted Ranma. Then he realized his
mistake. "Wait Ryoga, I forgot really..."
"Raaannnmaaaa! How dare you?!" yelled Ryoga as his battle aura grew.
"Calm down Ryoga!" cried Ranma in a panic as the other patrons fled.
"Calm down! Calm down?! After what you said to me?!! Hado ken!" cried
Ryoga in anger.
Ranma was blasted out of the restaurant through the wall as the ball
of energy slammed into him. He landed against the wall outside and
slumped into a pile if garbage. "Jerk," he muttered as he stood and
dusted himself off.
Ryoga just stood and stared at what he had done. "What just happened?"
he said out loud as he looked at his shaking hands. He ran out the
hole and looked around. "Hey Ranma I did it!" he cried happily.
"Hado ken!" cried a voice and Ryoga was blasted into the side of a
dumpster.
"OW! Why did you do that you jerk?!" he cried as he picked himself
from the crushed metal box and saw Ranma beside him.
"Now we're even."
"I'll show you even!" yelled Ryoga as he charged at Ranma.
"Hey cut it out! Were even already!" cried Ranma as the pair chased
each other off into the night.