The End of the Beginning
By
Lady Mystra
Chapter 1: Way of the Beast
Though I can see to the ends of the earth.
Still I ramble down this treacherous path.
Over my shoulder I glimpse the corpses gathering.
This day I walk the Way of the Beast.
Hiroaki Samura (Blade of the Immortal)
'Will I ever win?'
'Will I ever succeed?'
'Or am I doom to be second best.'
'No, I can't think like that.'
'Maybe this package my grandfather sent me might help.'
As Ryoga opens his package a gold chain falls out with a large emerald in the center with two golden rings on either side of the emerald.
Dear Grandson
You sent me a letter not to long ago about a fighter who stole your bread, and that you could not find a way to defeat him. I may have a way to do that my grandson. The jewel and the two rings were your grandmother's and mine wedding bands. They where gifts from and old friend and a Master of both the Martial and Mystic Arts, he goes by the name of Wu Shih, but his real name is Shen Long. Find him and give him the chain and he will train you. He has never known true defeat and will teach you things that have not been seen in over 300 years. Finding him with the gem will help. It has a drop of his blood and will glow if his presence is near. Go now my grandson and be strong and skilled and defeat your enemy.
Your Loving Grandfather
Ichiro Hibiki
'Thank you grandfather I will not fail.'
-------
A man covered in shadows walked up to a pool of clear water. As he looked into it he saw it wavered and then cleared up to reveal Ryoga reading the letter.
"Does he have it?"
'Yes.'
"Is he the one?"
'Yes.'
"Good, the time is near he will come."
'We must prepare.'
'For the time is upon us.'
'Beloved.'
-------
'It is raining very fitting. I feel so alone right now.
'It's over, it's really over.'
'The rain falls in sequence with my tears.'
'It's finally over. Ranch- Ranma has made his choice and it wasn't me.'
'What a fool I've been clinging on to false hope.'
'That stupid jackass, I could kill him with my spatula.'
'But I still love him.'
'Why now.'
'I was the cute fiancé and now I'm tossed to the wind and rain.'
'What am I going to do now?'
'I wish I could just leave and never come back.'
'Leave the source of my misery.'
'Ryoga was right "the world is a dark and lonely place".'
'Heh, heh, that jackass is going to go critical when he finds out what happened.'
'Maybe that will be a good thing, Ranma and Akane blown apart by a Full Shi Shi Houkoudan.'
Heh, heh, ha, ha.'
'No I can't let that happen to Ranchan, now it's just Ranma now.'
'I wish I could throw a Shi Shi Houkoudan then all the pain I feel can be used to destroy something.'
'Why now.'
"Ukyo-sama would you like some tea."
"No, I think I need something with a little more kick Konatsu."
Walking over to some cabinets Ukyo pulled a bottle of sake from there and started pouring it into her glass.
'Ahhh, that burns.'
"Konatsu, can you close up for me please."
"I need to wallow in my misery a little."
"Yes, Ukyo-sama."
-------
It was raining hard and Ryoga was walking down a street in the rain looking for shelter.
'I wonder were I am now.'
Seeing a light in a shop he goes to ask for directions.
"Excuse me."
-------
Konatsu gets ready to close up when someone walks in.
"Sorry were closed."
"I just need directions, please."
Ukyo looks up from her glass.
"…Ryoga."
"Yes."
"Ryoga it's me Ukyo."
"Ukyo what are you doing in Kyoto."
"Baka, this is Nerima."
"Ukyo what's wrong your crying why."
This is going to hurt.
"Ryoga sit down I need to tell you something."
Ryoga walks to the table, Ukyo takes a seat opposite of him.
Handing him a cup and pours some sake into it.
"Ryoga have a drink."
Taking the drink he drinks it down in one gulp.
Sake. Ryoga was thinking, not the same kick it use to have before.
Looking at the ceiling Ryoga closes his eyes.
"Its happened hasn't it."
"Yes, they did it."
"So he has finally decided."
"Yea, the Jackass."
Ryoga looked down at his drink and started to laugh.
"Heh, heh, ha ahahahahah."
"What's so funny sugar?"
"I should have seen it coming."
"Now I have the means to defeat Ranma, but there's nothing left to fight for."
"Cold irony, no."
"Really you have a means to defeat Ran… Ranma, Ryoga."
"Yes, but I guess I can only have one."
"The ability to defeat Ranma or the ability to win Akane's love."
"I can't have both, and the decision has just been made for me already."
Ryoga went to his pack and pulled out two shot glasses and a steel flask.
"What's that?"
"Something I picked up in America."
"You went to America?"
"Yea, met some guy in a place called San Diego."
"He was in the military."
"Some kind of special program or special forces or something like that."
"Good sparing partner though."
"Gave me the flask and these two shot glasses."
"Said there from his team or unit I don't really know."
"What's in the flask?"
"Don't know haven't tried it yet."
"Said it puts hair on your chest."
"Well I don't want hair on my chest, Ryoga."
"Yeh, I don't think that would be good."
"Well let's try it ok."
Ryoga started to pour some of the liquor into the glasses. Then they raised the glasses in a toast.
"Well here's to a wedding and the end of our lives."
"Kompai!"
"Kompai!"
As they drank the liquor tears fell from their eyes.
Cough! Cough! "That's some powerful stuff Ryoga."
Cough! Cough! "Yea your right."
"What are you going to do now?"
"I wanted to go see Cologne."
"To see if she knows Shen Long, because I don't know where to start looking for him."
"But everything's changing so I don't know now."
"What do you got left to do sugar, but to try and defeat Ranma."
"Your right, I have nothing left but revenge to keep me afloat now."
"Can you take me to the Nekohanten tomorrow Ukyo?"
"Sure sugar, hey why don't I go with you?"
"It's not like your going to find your way they're by yourself."
"Thanks Ukyo."
"No problem sugar."
"It'd probably take me years to find him anyway."
"Here you can sleep in the storeroom, ok."
"Thanks again Ukyo."
"Goodnight Sugar."
-------
The next morning Ukyo's alarm goes off
"Ohhhhhhh!" "My head."
"Ohhhhhh!" "My head."
Ukyo smashes her fist into the alarm clock.
"Owww that hurt."
"I don't want to get up."
"I want to die in peace."
Ryoga started to stir.
"Owww."
Man, that stuff I drank was strong.
Usually alcohol doesn't affect me that much.
That must have been some powerful stuff.
Getting up to go to the bathroom, he remembered something.
"Where the hell am I?"
CLANG!
"Shut the hell up."
"Owww."
"Like my head doesn't hurt already Ukyo."
"Shut jackass, my head hurts to you know."
"Come on Ukyo I need to get ready and go to see Cologne."
"Ok jackass."
"Here let me lead you to the bathroom."
-------
After getting cleaned up and dressed they hobbled over to the Nekohanten.
"Welcome to…."
"What do you want Spatula Girl?" "You come to challenge Shampoo."
"No sugar."
"Ryoga needs to see Cologne."
"Ok, Shampoo get great grandmother for lost boy."
"Does she know Ukyo?"
"I don't know."
"What is it you want child."
Ryoga bowed before Cologne.
"Matriarch Cologne I need to discuss something's in private."
Cologne spied him wearily.
"Why the formality child?"
"I need your help."
"Oh, then follow me then."
"Ukyo can you stay here, please. "
"Sure sugar."
"Thanks."
"Oh, Shampoo get our guest some tea will you."
"Yes, great grandmother."
-------
Returning with tea Shampoo takes a seat across from Ukyo.
"Did you hear about Ranma and Akane?"
"Yes, Shampoo here."
"What are you going to do now?"
"Shampoo don't know."
"Shampoo sorry she get mad at you earlier."
"That's ok, I'd probably do the same thing."
"What the lost boy want with Great Grandmother."
"He is looking for some Ancient Master so he can defeat Ranma."
"Lost boy not win against Ranma."
"Maybe."
"Shampoo, Mousse come here."
"Yes, great grandmother."
"Come on Mousse lets see what great grandmother wants."
"Be right back."
"Ok, sugar."
-------
Following Cologne Ryoga goes into a room and sits on the chair provided.
"What do you require of me lost one."
"You are one of the wisest people I know and I think you may be able to help me."
"Speak your mind young one."
"I'm looking for a person who goes by the name Shen Long or Wu Shih."
"Have you heard of this person Cologne?"
Cologne was deep in thought thinking of what to tell the boy.
"Yes, I have heard of this person."
"So can you tell me where he lives?"
"No I cannot."
"Why not?"
"Because you are not an Amazon."
"Then make me one; I will do anything to find Shen Long."
"Do you know what you are saying?"
"Yes, I will have to swear a blood oath, don't I."
"Yes, and you would have to be my blood son."
"And you are to present a gift to the Elder."
"I got something that might do it."
Reaching in to his pack, Ryoga digs out a cloth wrapped bundle and produces a jewel-encrusted dagger.
"That's the…."
"Matriarch's Dagger."
"Yes, my grandfather gave it to me in case I needed a favor of the Amazons."
"If you do this your allegiance is to me and the Amazon Nation."
"Yes I know."
"But to defeat Ranma it is worth it."
"So I see."
"Very well then."
"Stay here."
"Ok."
As Cologne leaves Ryoga begins to think if this is the right thing to do. Then he remembers all the times he has lost to Ranma and how Ranma has always tricked him, to win or distract him at a critical time.
'What really makes me mad is the smug arrogance he has.'
'He always comes on top in the end.'
'But not this Ranma Saotome when next we meet I will be the victor.'
Cologne walks in with Shampoo and Mousse close behind.
"What is it great grandmother."
"Shampoo come here."
"Mousse go over to Ryoga."
"Ryoga hold out your left hand."
"Great grandmother what are you doing?"
"Mousse hold him by the wrist."
"Ryoga is to become one of us, child."
"What?"
"What?"
"Yes, now Mousse hold his left hand, Shampoo hold my left."
With that Cologne cut her left hand and handed the knife to Ryoga and he proceeded to cut his hand drawing blood.
"Ryoga repeat after me."
"I forsake all I know to walk the path of vengeance."
"I join to be its son."
"I live to be a weapon for the tribe."
"To kill my enemy's and that of the nation is my purpose."
"I serve the house of Kun lon."
"And protect the Amazon Nation unto death."
"Arise Ryoga Hibiki blood son of Kun lon Matriarch of the Amazon tribe."
Ryoga rose from his place and went to the table where a first aid kit was and helped bandage Cologne ignoring his own injures. When Ryoga was done Cologne helped bandage his wounds. With that done Ryoga smiled a fanged smile.
"I guess, I will now be walking the way of the beast from now, honored elder."
"So it would seem blood son, so it would seem."
-------
