CHAPTER TWO

SPLISH SPLASH..
Akago and Ryoga returned from their traipsing a short while before the other children were to get home from school. Akago was a little tired, but mostly disappointed by not seeing even one panda in the busy city streets. Ryoga thought he had a very high endurance, but he was exhausted. He had practically flown over the rooftops after his Sensei; he couldn't believe the speed! He panted now and tried to conceal just how bushed he was.
"Heh, take five, ok?" Akago noticed. "I'm gonna take a shower."

Genma strolled out of the bathroom door just as Akago was going in. He didn't acknowledge the young man's presence, but Akago stopped and stared. 'Who's that?', he thought, then shrugged and continued on his way.

Gosan loped along next to Nabiki as they rounded the corner on their way home. She tried to weasel information out of the younger Son, but Gosan was glib and gave her hedged answers that told her no more than she knew already.
Akane shook her head and mumbled something negative under her breath. Ranma poked her in the ribs to get her attention, winked and started walking backwards. He leapt up onto a guard wall silently and jumped off this into the water below.

Akago stripped off his clothes for the first time. He removed his pants with his eyes closed. Finally naked, he stood in front of the mirror and opened his eyes. He sighed pathetically. The steam from the hot shower billowed around him.

Ranma was waiting for them when they finally came up on the dojo. She leaned against the door and crossed her arms. "So, Gosan. Have a nice day a school?" she asked contemptuously.
"Well, it was ok. Good thing there's only two more days of it!"
"Yeah, soon you'll have plenty of time to spar all day long!"
"I can't wait!"
"Great! Then how 'bout right now?!"
"Oh brother," Nabiki moaned. "When I heard about the Kuno incident I knew Ranma would be P.O'ed."

Ranma lead the younger Son brother through the hallway, fists clenched, ready to try to take him on a second time, furious he had to do it in his girl form. He should have thought ahead! Damnit! As they were about to enter the actual dojo, Gosan's ears perked up.
"Hang on! I'll be right back!" he ran out and back down the hallway.

Akago was in hysterics, in the shower and in the buff, but Gosan had seen this enough times that it didn't faze him. What did was that she looked the same as she ever had!
"Go-Chan! What happened?!"
"I dunno! I'm cured! Gosan, I'm cured!!"
The siblings did a little dance in the slick-bottomed tub. Gosan got carried away (as usual) and slipped a little. His elbow hit the faucet and cold water came shooting out on them both. Akago stopped dancing.
"Ha ha ha ha..oh." Gosan sobered. "Woops."
"What the hell is going on?" he hissed through his teeth.
Gosan blinked and examined the faucet. He turned it to hot. His sister re-appeared. "Whoah. So that's it. Hot water makes you a girl again," he turned it back, "and cold makes you a boy!"
"Would you stop doing that!" The young man barked.
Suddenly the door opened and Soun appeared wearing a bathrobe. Akago pushed his fully clothed brother in front of himself. Mr. Tendo raised an eyebrow, but didn't move.
"Akago.. stubbed his toe..?" the boy offered.

SCHOOOOOOL'S OUT FOR SUMMAH!..
The four students came tearing thought the streets hooting a hollering with glee after their last day of school. Summer Vacation had begun. Nabiki went straight to her room to clean out her notebooks and her wardrobe. Akane, Ranma (changed cleverly back into a girl) and Gosan were greeted by the other 'men'. Ryoga turned and lined up with the others. Soun addressed them, flanked by Akago and Genma.
"Today," he began, "You will embark on a mission."
Akago motioned for his brother to join him. He did so grudgingly.
"Akago and Gosan Son will lead you on that mission. We have never even qualified for the Tenkaichi Boudokai. You are to go where they will take you and do as they ask; anything to become good enough to place in this competition. They are your Sensei. We relinquish our authority over you to them."
Genma grumbled a bit as Ranma made faces at him.
Soun bowed and said no more. Tears were pouring down his face.
"Alrighty then." Akago folded his arms. "Let's get a move on. The contest is at the end of August! We got a lot of work to do."
Gosan nodded. "Everybody hurry up and pack. Remember, we won't be back here until the competition is over."
Akane whispered to Ranma, "Do we know where they're taking us?"
"Nope."
Ryoga offered no insight, but bowed to the Sons and adjusted the straps on his pack.

When they had accumulated their belongings, the kids assembled in the same place.
"Everyone needs to help out. We're bringing some food with us, so open your packs," Akago ordered. Everyone complied. Gosan hefted large bags of rice easily into the half-empty packs.
He grinned. "Ok, let's move!"
Akane and Ranma struggled to lift their packs. "How much rice do we really need?!" Ranma complained.
"How come they aren't carrying any?" Akane wondered out loud.
"We are," Gosan motioned to two enormous packs behind him.
"Holy crap!" Ranma gasped as the young Son boy threw on his back-pack as if it were nothing.
"Damnit Ranma! Show some respect!!" Soun, Genma and Ryoga screamed at the girl.
Akago blushed furiously and waved his hands, "No nono, it's ok, I mean, it's their first day.." but was not heeded.
"The Sons are your masters, you will show them the respect they deserve!"
"Ok!" Ranma complied by pulling her eye-lid down and sticking out her tongue. She was soon pummeled by the same men.
The group headed off on foot out of the city. The rest of the Tendo household waved good-bye.
"It's gonna be eerily quiet around here this summer, " said Nabiki.
"Mmm," nodded her older sister, contemplating the much needed rest.
"Hello everyone! Miss me!?!" cried a thin voice that startled them out of their reverie.
"Happosai!"
"Hope ya didn't forget I was coming to visit for the summer!?!"
"Once again, I have spoken to soon." Nabiki hung her head, weighed down by the enormous sweat drop hovering just above it.

TAKIN' CARE OF BIZNIS...
The waves lapped up against the smooth shoreline. Ranma and Akane looked to the Sons for permission. Akago nodded with a sly smile. They dumped their packs finally and ran into the water. Gosan followed, laughing with joy. Ryoga sloughed off his pack and sat down against it. He looked out over the water, shielding his eyes with his hand.
"Uh, Sensei?"
"Yeah?"
"We're not gonna hafta swim, are we?"
"Hafta? Nah. Can if you want, though."
"I'm not a real big fan of water."
Akago had a sense that he wanted to say more, but stopped. He didn't push him. Ryoga's unkempt dark brown hair was tousled by the sea-breeze. Akago found himself staring at the boy. 'Stop it, you idiot! You're a boy! He's gonna think you're..' He shook his head quickly and stood to go through his bag. He pulled out what looked like a cigarette case.
"Need help setting up the tents?" Ryoga asked.
"Tents?" Akago looked a little mystified.
Ryoga's heart sunk. "You mean, we didn't bring any?!"
"Of course not.." He selected a capsule, clicked the cap in and tossed it inland. Ryoga fell over the back of his pack as the small house exploded from the tiny capsule. He shuddered and gawked at the magical sight.
"Oh, cool, a Capsule house! I was afraid we were really gonna rough it!" Akane dried her hair.
"I thought you guys lived in the country?" Ranma pried.
"We do," Gosan blurted, "but Trunks Briefs has the hots for our sister."
Akane was astounded. "Are you kidding? He's the richest man on Earth!"
"Yeah, well, our sister opted for someone else.. sort of.. it's hard to explain." Akago mumbled. "Ok! enough leisure! Let's get started." He put his hands on his hips in a very effeminate way. Gosan clicked his tongue and he dropped them and stood up straighter. "You ok, Ryoga?"
"How..? What.?. Where'd the house come from!?"
Ranma rolled her eyes.

Atsuko brought in a load of wash. The bright, sunny day was coming to an end. She put the basket down on a table and began folding the white, button down shirts, khaki pants and simple dresses she and her husband wore. She loved summer, but today, she couldn't wait until it ended. Sighing, she stopped folding and looked wistfully at a wall covered with photographs.
"It's awful quiet, Gohan," she whispered to her mate, who silently rounded the corner from his study behind her.
"They'll be back soon." he sat down on the sofa next to her and she laid her head on his shoulder.
"When Akiko left, I thought I couldn't stand it. One day they'll leave, too," she choked down a sob.
"Atsuko," he hugged her, "have you thought that maybe we could USE the peace and quiet?" Gohan smiled at his wife and kissed the star in the middle of her head. She snuggled in to his chest and squeezed him harder.

"There are three main things, that if enhanced through practice, can create a Boudokai contestant." Akago announced. His brother trotted off and disappeared behind a large, black, rock out-cropping. "First; strength, second; speed and third; actual skill and technique applied to strength and speed. These three things are NOTHING without dedication, truth and patience.
"You think we don't have these things already?" Besides, we only have three months!" Ranma pointed out.
Ryoga stomped on her foot. "'We only have three months, Sensei!'"
"Ryoga! Settle down! I DO want you guys to respect us, but you don't have to call us Sensei if you don't want to." Ranma made a face at Ryoga and both he and Akane stomped on both her feet. Akago cleared his throat.
"So, we start with strength. Grab your empty packs, you'll need them for weight training. You are NOT allowed to remove your packs until you go to sleep."
"More rice, Sensei?"
"Nope. That was kids stuff. Gosan?" he called to his brother.
Gosan appeared from behind the out-cropping, hefting a boulder as big as he was. He tossed it lightly up in the air and caught it several times. He eye-balled it and when it came down the last time, punched it with his other hand. The rock split it three and fell to the ground around him. He picked up the pieces and put one in each of his astounded students' packs.
"They're about fifty kilos each," he told Akago.
"Perfect. Ok guys, put your packs on and sprint down the beach."
They were silent and motionless.
"Now?" he prompted gingerly and his befuddled and shocked pupils slowly went about the task.
As they struggled away, Akago sighed. "You think I did ok?"
"Huh? Yeah! Well, you could be a little more stern maybe."
"Stern?"
"Yeah, I mean, you look older and a little bit like a badass, but then again, you look like a badass as a girl, too."
"Hey, you're right! I AM a badass! I gotta use that to my advantage." Akago faced his brother and practiced. "Ok guys, I want you to put your packs on and SPRINT down the beach, NOW!!"
"How bout, 'Ok, maggots!!'"
"I think that's a little much."
"Mmm, maybe, it was just a suggestion, heh heh heh.." Gosan grinned cheesily. He looked to the students who were plodding along at a jog under the extreme weight of the rock. Ryoga and Ranma vied for the lead, grunting and groaning as they pushed themselves.
"Next time, make Ryoga and Ranma's rocks bigger," Akago remarked loudly. "This weight's too easy for them."
They both tripped up and fell on their faces.

UH-OH, SPAGETTIOS..
At the end of the week, they were finally able to run at a full sprint. The Sons congratulated them and for a reward gave them.. bigger rocks. This process was repeated for a month. After four changes in weight, they were allowed to drop their ridiculously large and heavy cargo. They all sighed with relief.
"Ok, now sprint down the beach and back."
"Hai, Sensei!" all three were compliant and lined up to race. They took off and tore up the sand under their feet. Akane cried out with shock and glee as she rocketed down the beach. She could hardly believe that her body could carry her so fast. Ranma swung around and began to head back, her tears streaming across her face. 'I never knew this could be possible! I feel like I'm flying!!'
They threw up a wave of sand as they came to a stop in front of Akago and Gosan and began talking at the same time, expressing their feelings of appreciation to their trainers.
"Wait, where's Ryoga?" Akago furrowed his brows as he looked down the expanse of beach for a trace of the boy.
"Huh? I don't know." Akane looked perplexed.
"Probly didn't turn around to come back."
"You mean, he ran off?" Gosan asked.
"Not intentionally.."
"Oh my god, Ryoga!" Akane rolled her eyes.
"Mind clueing me in, Ranma? Why did Ryoga keep running?"
"He has the world's worst sense of direction. He gets lost very easily."
"Not THIS easily!"
"Oh yeah."
"He could be miles from here by now!" Gosan fretted.
"I'm going after him. Stay here with the troops, Bro." Akago put his shoes on.
"I think he can handle himself.." Akane didn't see what the big deal was.
"That may be," he replied, "but this is Dino country," and ran off in Ryoga's general direction.