The End of the Beginning
By
Lady Mystra
Language Key:
Chinese
() English
[] Radio
Chapter 2: Price of Vengeance
Lost as in a Dream
I seek the shadow
Of one who has swirled away…
Abandoning Friends.
Abandoning Humanity.
What awaits us all is the path to Emptiness.
Knowing my Heart.
The Flowers Weep,
And the Wild Birds Cry.
Makie Otono-Tachibana (Blade of the Immortal)
Ryoga walked down the stairs with his hand bandaged, Cologne close behind him.
Ukyo sees his bandaged hand and goes to see what has happened.
"Ryoga what happened?"
"Don't worry the cut is not deep."
"Are you sure?"
"Yes."
Ryoga turns to Cologne looking like he is waiting for something.
Cologne pulls out a scroll and hands it to him.
"This will show you the way, be cautious, the journey is treacherous."
"Thank you honored elder, I will not fail."
Ryoga bowed before Cologne and he and Ukyo left.
-------
Mu Tsu, Xian Pu gather everything, we will be heading home now?
Great grandmother what about Ranma?
He will be dealt with later, for now we will go home.
Very well great grandmother.
Mousse begins packing, while Shampoo wonders what Ryoga and her great grandmother where talking about after Ryoga made the pact with her great grandmother.
-------
(How is your English blood son?)
(Good, what is it you want.)
(I want you to go to the village after your training.)
(To bring me before the council.)
(Yes.)
(Very well, I will go to the village after my training.)
-------
"Well Ryoga where are we going?"
Ryoga opened the scroll and read it.
"Mongolia, where going to Mongolia."
"Mongolia, have you ever been there before?"
"Yes, I stayed with a clan for a little while."
"Learned how to ride a horse."
"That must have been fun."
"Heh, heh." "Not if you saw me."
"That bad sugar."
"Yes that bad, damn horse bit me."
Hahahahahahahahahaha.
"Its not that funny Ukyo."
"Sorry sugar."
Heh, heh.
"That's alright, I guess it was funny now that I think about it."
--------
Ukyo opened Ucchans and her and Ryoga went to the grill.
Ukyo started cooking some Okonomiyaki for them.
"What now, Ryoga."
"We will need to gather some supplies."
"I want to leave as soon as possible."
"Why so soon?"
"The sooner we leave, the better, Cologne, Mousse and Shampoo are already leaving as we speak."
"Why?"
"When we finish training were going to meet them at the Amazon village, I have some unfinished business there."
"Does this have to do with your cut hand there, sugar?"
"Yes, you could say that."
"What happened between you and Cologne?"
"Don't worry I'll tell you later."
"You better sugar."
"Wait, what about my shop?"
"Can't you turn it over to Konatsu for a while?"
"I don't know…"
"Konatsu can take care of the shop for you, I'll even loan you some money, just in case anything goes wrong."
"I don't know sugar, I don't like to borrow money from people."
"I understand, but this is only for emergencies in case anything goes wrong."
"Maybe…"
"Here this is what I'll do, I give Konatsu enough money to last a year."
"If he doesn't use it when we get back, just give it back to me, ok."
"I guess, but what if something happens."
"Then we'll figure out a nice fair payment plan."
Heh, heh, heh…
"What's so funny?"
"Oh nothing just thinking of you in my debt that's all."
Ukyo raised her spatula to hit him, when he stopped it in mid-swing.
"What did you do that for, jackass."
Ukyo looked Ryoga right in the eye and stopped.
What she saw sacred her, cold hate and much pain was staring right at her.
Ukyo stepped back from Ryoga.
"Ryoga what's wrong?"
Ryoga took a deep breath and closed his eyes and then looked back at her.
"Nothing, now get packed and I will tell you later, we need to get going."
Ukyo decided to wait and not push it and went upstairs to pack.
-------
Konatsu went up to Ryoga.
"If anything happens to her, I will kill you."
Ryoga looked Konatsu in the eye.
"If anything does happen to her, that just means I'm all ready dead."
"Konatsu I will take care of her, so you have nothing to fear."
Ryoga went up the stairs to Ukyo's room.
-------
Knock, knock.
"Come in."
"What is it sugar."
"Are you sure you want to do this, because once you leave here there is no turning back."
Ukyo paused to consider.
"For ten years I trained to defeat Ranma when I thought I was ready I challenged him, and he defeated me without really trying, then he tells me I'm cute just because he thinks that is what I wanted to hear, and I fell for it."
"He didn't love me, he just wanted to appease me."
"Then what really makes me mad is the time he asked me if I loved him just to stroke his ego, because Shampoo turned her back on him instead of falling all over him like she usually does."
Ryoga knew she was crying and went over and put his hand on her shoulder to comfort her.
Ukyo turned around and hugged him.
"Why did he do that, why did he play with my feelings like that."
"Because he is a spoiled little brat that likes to be the center of attention."
"And he is someone who really isn't your friend."
Ukyo looked up at Ryoga and saw a grim determination in his eyes.
She continued.
"Then after the failed wedding he got mad at us and told both Shampoo and I off."
"He had no right to yell at you Ukyo."
"What do you mean?"
"If it was me and Akane up there to get married would he of acted any different then you or Shampoo."
"No I guess your right about that, he would have gone crazy too."
"You see Ranma is not innocent and he is not the center of the world either."
"What you did was a mistake, that is all."
"Thanks, sugar."
"For what?"
"For being here and being my friend."
Ryoga smiled.
"No problem."
-------
Ukyo was finishing packing her pack as well as getting her spatulas ready.
"Hey, Ryoga how are we going to take my spatulas with us."
"Don't worry were going by a private plane."
"I know a guy he will give us a ride to Mongolia."
"I will need to call him."
"Where's your phone Ukyo?"
Ukyo showed Ryoga where the phone was.
Ryoga dropped his pack and pulled out an address book.
-------
Tokyo Airport (Haneda):
Ring, ring, ring, ring.
A hand reached for the phone, underneath a blanket.
"Hello."
"Hey, Isamu you up."
"Yea, who is this?"
"It's Ryoga, you still got your plane."
"Yea."
"I need a ride to Mongolia."
"When do you need me?"
"As soon as possible, within the next hour or two."
"What! That soon."
"Yea, man I need to leave fast."
"You in trouble Ryoga."
"No."
"But I need you to get me into Mongolia, can you do it."
"Yea, I guess, you going to pay me and not get lost like last time."
"Yes, I'm taking someone with me."
"Is there any problem with that?"
"No shouldn't be."
"Ok I'll meet you in two hours."
"Ok two hours, don't get lost and leave me hanging."
"Don't worry."
"Bye."
"Bye."
Isamu turns around to the girl sleeping next to him.
"Hey????"
Isamu started snapping his fingers.
"Rei, yea that's it."
"Hey Rei I got to leave in little while can you get."
"Sure baby."
"Ah that's great."
An attractive woman got up from the bed and wraps the sheet around her.
"You going to call me next weekend?"
"Sure babe, I'll call you."
"You better."
"Have I ever lied to you?"
"Don't answer that."
Isamu got up and went to the bathroom.
Rei got dressed and knocked on the bathroom door.
"I'm leaving, you better call me."
"Yeah, yeah I'll call."
Isamu started taking his shower and got ready.
-------
Ucchans:
"Hey, Ryoga can you check my pack and see if I need anything else."
Ryoga went to the pack and checked it.
He pulled out her stuff.
"Hey, what am I going to wear if I take out my stuff, Ryoga?"
Ryoga looked over her things and put half her stuff back in.
"You will not need most of this stuff, and you can get some clothes at the place where we are going to."
"What is this place your talking about anyway?"
"It's an old surplus store, I go there for all my stuff."
"Hurry up and call the cab, I don't want to get lost, we have two hours."
Ukyo put here things away and led Ryoga down stairs and called a cab.
-------
Ryoga went to his pack and pulled out a pouch and gave it to Konatsu.
"Here is the money that should hold you up for a year."
Konatsu opened the pouch and his jaw dropped.
"This is…"
"Yes, enough gold to keep this place up for a year, ask Nabiki to help you exchange it for currency, ok."
"Where did you get…"
"Don't think about it just keep this place up, ok."
"Sure."
-------
Ukyo came back from calling a cab.
"Everything taking care of sugar."
Ukyo told Ryoga.
"Yes, Konatsu has the money."
"Good, Konatsu here's the dead and the books ask Nabiki for help if you need it, ok."
"Ok, Ukyo-sama."
"Don't let her charge you to much either Konatsu."
"I won't Ukyo-sama."
Ukyo went to get some tea and pour three cups for each of them.
"A toast to past life's and the beginning of new ones."
"May you both be safe on your journey."
"May the price of vengeance, be not to high."
"Nice toast Ryoga."
"What happened to you, you weren't this morbid before."
"A lot has happened after the failed wedding Ukyo not all of it good."
"You'll have to tell me later, Ok."
"I think our cab is here."
Ryoga and Ukyo grabbed their packs and headed off. Ukyo gave Konatsu a hug and wished him well.
"You take care Ukyo-sama, and you to Hibiki-san."
"Thanks Konatsu, don't worry I'll watch her back."
Ryoga and Ukyo went into the cab and wave farewell.
Ryoga gave the cabby the address of where to go and they where off.
-------
On the roof of Ucchans a figure stood up from his position.
"Where's the pig-boy headed now?"
"And who's the girl with him, maybe a friend of pig-boy's."
"That's a laugh, pig-boy with friend's."
"Need to follow them and find the necklace."
With that the figure jumped from rooftop to rooftop following the cab.
-------
They arrived at Joe's Military Surplus and Air and Paintball gun store.
At the counter was a middle-aged man sitting behind the register with his right arm missing.
"Hey Joe."
"Hey Ryoga, here for resupply?"
"Yea, and for my friend here to."
"Oh, who's the cute young lady?"
The man said, winking at her.
Ukyo moaned at that.
"Don't mind him Ukyo he's just playing with you."
"Where's the fatigues Joe?"
"This way."
Joe led them to the clothes.
"Ukyo find your size and get the desert colors."
"Joe you got any Chinese uniforms?"
"Yeah over here."
Joe led Ryoga to another section of the store.
Ukyo gather several sets of clothes and got some other things she thought she would need.
"Ukyo, come over here for a minute."
"Sure, sugar."
Ukyo went to where Ryoga was.
"See if this fits you."
Ukyo tried on the uniform in a changing room.
"Does it fit?" replied Ryoga.
"Yes it does sugar."
"Good."
"Ryoga tell me why we need the uniforms for?"
"They might save us in China if the people think where soldier's."
"Ok, give Joe the clothes and let's go get some more stuff."
"More stuff!"
"Yes, we will need food and water for the trip."
Ryoga took a box of MRE's and four 2qt. canteens and eight 1qt. Canteens as well as two 100 oz. Hydra Storm Tempest water storage systems with reserve reservoir.
"Joe you got that Enhanced Large A.L.I.C.E. Ruck Sack's here."
"You bet."
"Well need two ok."
"And the sleeping bags."
"On the right there."
"Ukyo check out some boots for walking ok."
"Sure sugar."
Ukyo walked away and saw as Ryoga gathered various items for the trip.
'How can he afford all this stuff?'
She went and picked up some boots for the trip and went back to Ryoga, as he was getting ready to pay for everything.
"Hey, sugar you want me to help pay for all that stuff."
"You don't have to, I got the
Hibiki visa card for times like this."
"Plus I'm the one to in convince you to come anyway."
Ukyo shrugged her shoulders, but felt a little guilty.
-------
While Ryoga was paying for the supplies, outside a figure looked down from the roof of a building across the street.
"So the pig-boy is preparing for a long trip is he?"
The figure was wearing a black cloak that blew in the breeze.
He was going to jump down when he heard a click from behind.
"Put your hands up."
Putting his hands up he slowly turns around.
"With one hand remove the cloak."
He removes the cloak and sees that it is a blond haired woman dressed with a black tank top and tiger-striped camo pants and boots pointing a Desert Eagle pistol at him.
"What's your name?"
He looked at her she had to be about three to four years older and a westerner from the hair and green eyes.
"Tarou is my name and yours?"
"I'll be asking the questions here."
"Why are you wearing pantyhose as a sash?"
"That's my own business, woman!"
"Well my gun says different, pantyhose boy."
Tarou got mad at that comment. Dodged out the guns path and used his pantyhose to knock the gun from her hand.
Before Tarou could recover from dodging a knife came right at him. Dodging again he felt the blood drip from his wound. He saw the woman pull out a large knife about the size of a Wakizashi, serrated teeth on top and a smooth edge.
Tarou got in his Cotton Fist fighting stance and gave her an arrogant smirk.
"Nice knife."
"Interesting stance, Cotton Fist?"
Tarou continued to smirk.
"Lets get to pretty pantyhose boy."
Tarou was getting mad but kept his cool and waited for her to make the first move.
"Waiting for me I'm honored."
The woman flick some gravel at Tarou, and tried to slash at his unguarded side.
Tarou went in close and started using his 'Sticky Hands' attack, keeping her from using her knife properly.
The women snap kicked Tarou and dropped and rolled almost slashing Tarou's leg in the process.
Tarou jump and landed on the edge of the roof as the women was up and ready.
"Not bad you figured that you couldn't use your knife in my 'Sticky Hands' attack."
"Yeah, but now it is time to get serious pretty boy."
"Before we fight to the death here you mind telling me your name."
"The names Deunan, Tarou."
"What do you want from me Deunan, I don't seem to recognize you from anywhere I've been."
"No you wouldn't, I'm taking you out because were both after the same thing."
"So you want something from the pig-boy to, do you."
"Pig-boy?"
"Sorry, Ryoga."
"You could say that."
Deunan went in with a tripping leg hook that Tarou dodges and attacks with a Fore-Knuckle Fist. Which Deunan parry's with her forearm. Deunan slashes with her knife. Tarou dodges which again.
'Time to finish this before pig-boy gets lost.'
Tarou launch a fingertip attack at Deunan and managed to cut he cheek as she dodged.
"Lucky shot."
"Never confuse luck with skill woman."
"I'll have to remember that."
[Deunan the query is getting away.]
"What? Damn."
Tarou look down as a cab speed away.
"Will have to do this another time it seems."
"Yes, until the next time."
Deunan backflip onto the fire escape and went down to the street to a van waiting in the alley, Tarou poured water over his head and flew in the direction of the cab.
-------
Haneda Airport:
A cab pulls up to the old part of the field in front of an old C-47A 'Skytrain'.
Ukyo steps out of the cab and looks at the plane.
"What a piece of junk."
"We are not flying in that are we Ryoga?"
Ryoga was getting the bags out of the trunk with the help of the cabby.
"Yeah so."
"It's a piece of junk Ryoga!"
"It may not look like much but she got it where it counts."
A tall man with reddish brown hair in a flight jacket and flight suit answered.
"What?"
"Yeah, Ukyo this plane maybe old but it was built tough."
"How old is this plane Ryoga."
"Hmm, I never asked Isamu before."
"Hey, Isamu how old is this plane any way."
"It was built in the 1940's, I think."
"The 40's, Ryoga my father wasn't even born yet and my grandfather was a kid back then."
"So I flew in this plane twice of course they where both by accident, but still it flew very well for a sixty plus year old plane."
"Hey the Americans built thousands of these for the war and they where tough."
"My baby will get you to Mongolia no problem."
"You see Ukyo, no problem."
"I don't know sugar."
"Come on lets load the stuff onto the plane ok."
"Sure, sugar."
"Are we going to carry all this stuff through Mongolia Ryoga?"
"Na, well get some horses or camels to carry most of the stuff."
"Hey, Isamu all the checks and clearances done for the plane."
"Yeah, we can leave in a little bit."
"By the way you interrupted a good dream when you woke me up."
"Oh, who where you sleeping with this time Isamu?"
"Rei… That's not the point."
"Rei, this time what about Mai, or Mina, or Sakura, or Hitomi and those two Chinese stewardess."
Isamu threw a wrench at Ryoga who grabbed it before it hit him.
"Hit a nerve Isamu."
"Shut up Ryoga, and lets get going."
Ukyo loaded the plane while Isamu was getting clearance from the ground crew.
"Hey Ryoga we got to make a stop in Seoul and Beijing, is that all right with you."
"Yeah, will there be any trouble with customs."
"No, I just need to refuel."
"Ok, that's cool."
-------
Meanwhile in the back of the hanger Tarou landed.
Tarou used his hot water jug to change back. He went and found some pants in a locker.
"Now to get that necklace from pig-boy and get out of here."
Tarou stopped when he saw a minivan drive up to the hanger and saw Deunan and a large black man behind the wheel.
"Damn."
-------
"Bri, how should we do this?"
"I think we should move fast before they can react to us, Deunan."
"Let's do it."
Deunan pulled out a MP-5 submachine gun and locked and loaded it.
Briareos pulled out a Desert Eagle just in case.
He started to pull the van near the main hatch of the plane, when this big monstrosity rammed into to the van flipping it on it's back.
"Ahhhhhhh, what hit us?"
"I don't know Bri, but lets get out of the van before anything else happens."
Deunan and Briareos kicked out the windows and crawled out of the van to see a minotaur like monstrosity with tentacles.
"What the hell is that?"
"I don't know but I'm not going to wait for it to hit us again."
Deunan sprayed the area with her machine gun and Tarou flew into the air to avoid getting hit.
-------
"Kuso!"
"I got to take out that gun."
As Tarou was avoiding getting hit, Ryoga threw his bandanas and knocked the gun out of Deunan's hands.
"What do you want here?"
"It's him Bri, get him."
Ryoga saw the large back man come at him. He jumped over him and kicked him in the back of the head and sent him rolling forward.
Deunan pulled out her long knife and began attacking Ryoga who pulled out his umbrella and blocked her strikes.
Deunan got a crescent kick in and knocked Ryoga back and was about to finish him off. When a pair of metal spatulas knocked her knife out of her hands.
Deunan turned to see who threw the spatulas and saw Ukyo getting her large spatula out.
"Damn."
Deunan got in front of Ryoga so that Ukyo would have trouble throwing spatulas at her.
Ukyo was ready to join the fight when Briareos grabbed her from behind and was giving her a bear hug.
Ryoga heard Ukyo screamed and ran to Ukyo and preformed a flying jump kick that hit Briareos in the head. Sending him into the pavement.
Deunan pulled out her side arm and took aim when a dark shadow descended upon her.
"What the hell?"
Deunan turned to see Tarou slap her and her gun into the hanger wall, knocking her out.
Briareos got up and shoulder rammed Tarou outside the hanger.
As Tarou got up, Briareos kicked the back of his knees making him fall on his back.
Tarou was mad this guy was strong and was actually starting to hurt him.
Tarou used his tentacles to get up and punched Briareos in the gut. Sending him flying into the hanger.
-------
While this was going on Ryoga told Isamu to get going and threw Ukyo in to the cabin.
"Get started and I'll push the plane out and take care of Tarou."
Ryoga started to push the plane out as Isamu started the engines.
"Ukyo get up here I'm going to need your help."
"Ok, what do you want me to do?"
"Grab the controls and help me get this thing ready."
"Since where in a hurry here."
-------
Ryoga heard the engines rev up and went to face Tarou.
Ryoga prepared a thermos of hot water to throw at Tarou.
Tarou charged at Ryoga and Ryoga jumped and splashed hot water all over Tarou. Transforming him back to normal.
"Damn you Pig-boy."
"What do you want Tarou?"
"That necklace you got, the one that helps the wearer find Shen Long."
"Sorry it's a family heirloom."
"Give it to me, before I have to hurt you pig-boy."
"I don't think so Tarou, eat this."
"Shi Shi Houkou Dan!"
The Chi blast hit a surprised Tarou and Ryoga turned to see the plane heading for the runway to take off.
Running into the hanger Ryoga saw Isamu's Ducati motorcycle with the keys in it and started the engine. Ryoga then took off for the runway.
Deunan and Briareos both woke up to see Ryoga zoom out of the hanger.
"Briareos grab that jeep."
Deunan pointed to an aircrew jeep outside the hanger.
Deunan picked up her pistol and machine gun and reloaded the MP-5 while Briareos started the jeep.
"Hurry Bri before he gets to the plane."
Briareos started the jeep and they took off in pursuit of Ryoga.
-------
Ryoga looked behind him and saw a jeep heading right for him as a figure started shooting at him.
"Kuso!"
Ryoga popped a wheelie and took off behind the plane trying to reach the door of the plane.
-------
"Tower to flight 181 request take off clearance."
"Granted, you may take off on runway 101."
"Roger tower."
Isamu moves the plane on the runway and revs up the engines.
"Where's Ryoga?"
"He's coming on a motorcycle."
"He's being chased by some people in a jeep and their armed."
"No not my Ducati, tell me he is not riding a black motorcycle Ukyo."
"Sorry he is."
"Nooooo not my bike."
"Ukyo get in the back to help him get inside, ok."
"You got it."
Ukyo went into the back of the plane as Isamu sent the plane taxing down the runway.
-------
Ukyo saw Ryoga dodging bullets as he speed up to the plane.
Ryoga saw that he was getting closer to the plane as he dodged the bullets.
Taking one of his bandanas and opening the gas tank he stuffed the rag into it and got a Zippo lighter from his pocket. He then got ready to light it as he got near the plane.
Ukyo stretched out her arm, as Ryoga got closer.
When Ryoga was close enough he lit the rag and jumped into the plane as the bike crashed into the ground. Then it exploded in front of the jeep as the plane took off.
"Are you alright sugar?"
Asked Ukyo as she hugged Ryoga as he held onto the plane.
"I think so what a rush."
"Come on lets close the door."
As Ryoga and Ukyo closed the door Isamu went on the cabin mike and said.
"You owe me a new bike Ryoga."
"Sorry man was the only thing I could think of at the time."
Ryoga started laughing as the plane went high into the air.
-------
Yokohama: Docks
"Great grandmother why we going back with out Ranma."
"Don't worry child Ranma will be taking care of later."
"But first, you need to be ready to face the council."
"The council."
"Yes, child they are going to judge you actions in the pursuit of Ranma."
"Don't worry child, no matter what happens Ranma will learn the price of crossing the Amazon Nation."
"Mousse is everything onboard."
"Yes Elder."
"Good, lets go child."
Shampoo and Mousse look out at Yokohama as the boat pulls out of the harbor and heads for China.
"Shampoo going to miss Nerima Mousse."
"Don't worry Shampoo I will always be here for you.'
"Yes, Shampoo know that."
"Come on stupid Mousse lets get something to eat."
-------
A/N: Hope you like it and tell me what you think.
