Disclamer: ok, i'll say it again, nothing that comes from Rumiko Takahashi is mine, okay ? is that enough?
: thought
author's word:
sorry i was long to update, i just had the cegep (school) and couln't keep up with work so i often could not writte much..
howerver, the last rewiew i received motivated me to finish this chapter, i hope you guys like it
good reading!
What if Soun was not a crybaby anymore…
( chapter 3)
The next morning, When Soun woke up, he was at the base of a mountain. He had no idea how he got there but still... one thing came up in his mind. That's when he looked a few meters next to him and saw a young boy with fangs and a bandana sticked to his head.
The young boy was looking at him with intense eyes. He did not stare back and stared to make coffee with what he found.
"Hello Ryoga-kun, good morning, how are you?"
"Would you like some coffee, I'm not as good as my dauther kasumi but coffee is about all I can do about cooking, it was a must, and if I may say so myself, I manage myself pretty good."
"Oh well! .. hey since I am making the coffee, would you mind making breakeast, I don't trust my cooking skills anymore since my last accident hahaha...
what is wrong Ryoga-kun?"
"... Could you... untie me please?"
"!... ha... haha...hahaha..."
"So could you please tell me why you tied like sausage and abducted me?"
"Hahaha... well, I... ummm now that I think about it... I don't really know... I wanted to do something and you showed before me and since you are always out... it made me think that maybe I should make a little trip..."
"... Aaaaaaalright... but more importantly, how did you know that I was P-chan?"
"What? You don't remember?Well let me tell you a story then. You see, one night before that young woman... kodachi the purple rose I think it was,..."
"The black rose..."
"Yes! Thank you, anyway, a little before she attacked my daughter, Akane was training for the gymnastic-martial artis contest, and of course, she was not getting anywhere and Ranma was not really helping either so I went to take a bath to relax myself. The bath was very hot and very relaxing but at one moment, a small black piglet entered in the room. I looked at him impassively but he did not seem to notice me and jumped into the hot bath..."
"And what did I see? Surprise! A young man with a bandana getting out of the bath naked. Sure it took me a while to realize it but in my state at that time... it took me about one week to realize it."
"So you Are not THAT blind... damnit... ranma... its all your fault... so now, why did you get away from your home, its not like you were not comfortable in your big house living with ease while your daughter worked."
"Well.. you see, that is exactly one of the reasons why i wanted to get out, first because I was feeling like I was becoming a slime because of my laziness, second because I needed some time to think a little and finally, it surely would do me some good to do some training to help me getting in shape."
"But why did you want ME, it could have been anybody else, Mousse would have liked to go on a training with the man who MAY know the weaknesses of his ennemy.
Sure, I could have taken him, but its you who gave me the idea of a training trip, since you are always out to train."
"Not like I have any choice, damn directionless curse..."
"Anyway, I know that even if by some chances, you learned some of ranma's weaknesses form me, you wouldn't use them since in your warped sense of honor, you never tried to sneak behind him to backstab him, that's why you always yell "RANMA PREPARE TO DIE!", right, that's your way to give him a moment to prepare for the iminent combat."
"Anyway, since you always seems to pop out of nowhere, I figured it would be easy to travel somewhere whitout too much trouble hahahaha!"
"... ... ... one last thing, why do you answer all of my question without reservation?"
"Well since we are going to be travelling mate for a little time, I just thought it would be fair that you know my reasons and everything."
"Right! Why do you want to travel?"
"Hmmm? I thought this was your last question? Ho well, alright , this is the last question then we start our journey, I figured I needed changes in my life and travelling seemed to be a good idea."
"But what kind of chang..."
"I said this was the last questions, now lets pack thing and move out, we need to get as far of nerima as possible."
"What?"
"Alright! Let's go!"
Having finished to pack his things, Soun gave Ryoga his pack and started to head toward Nerima( he figured that with ryoga's direction's sense, heading toward the direction they do not want to go would get them anywhere but there for a good time.
A few hours later, Soun realised that his predictions was right, they were nowhere near Nerima, but on the other side he had no idea where he was.
he looked around him but all he saw was big mountain rising up in the sky. The air was getting colder the further they were advancing. Less and less vegetation was showing itself. People would start to get rarier. About two days since the begining of ther journey, they had too chnages clothes for warmer's one.
"why are we heading toward okinawa?"
"We seem to be heading toward hokkaido ryoga-kun."
"Nonsense, everyone knows thats okinawa is cold and full of mountains."
"Ryoga-kun... look at this."
"What is i... huh?... ! damn you ranma!"
The thing that surprised Ryoga was just a plain tourist's magazine. There, it confronted everything that ryoga tought he knew about Japan.
"Sorry young one, we are heading toward north, not south."
"I'ts impossible! Where did you get that?"
"... Ryoga-kun, I took it while packing my things up at home. And sorry but everything in that magazine is true, though the information be a little old, I don't think that japan turned upside down so that Okinawa is north."
"Damn it! Damn you Ranma."
The "damn you Ranma" was starting to get on the nerves of Soun, he lost count around 200 times. And it was only for the first morning! First thing to do , find a way to help Ryoga with his complex, for Ryoga's sake... and his before he turned mad!
After a few hours of walking, the duo stopped i a little restaurant to eat a little and maybe ask direction.
"excuse me waitress, could you tell us where is the nearest town or village?" Asked Soun.
"Hmmm? Hmmmm... well if you head nort and then turn east on the next exit, you could reach Mibu¹. Are you martial artist?"
"Yes,... well in fact it is more of a journey to... let's say... a journey to find a new self."
"A journey to find a new... oh well I'll try not to understand, people are so wierd but if you since you said you and your boy said you were martial artist i'll ask you to pay your note as soon as you have ordered."
"Huh? And why not when we are about to leave like any other customer?"
"Well usually, it would be that way, but we've been carefull wiht martial artist since that man with his son ... and that old pervert... ran off without paying their bill."
"What? Who could do such... thing? Ho no..."
"Do you know something about them? Mister? Are you alright ?"
When soun realized who that women was talking about( and i'm sure you guys figured it out by now) he turned pale and started... no he tried to keep himself in line and took control of his emmotion... barely..
"Tendou-san... are you alright?" Asked Ryoga.
"Ha? Huh... yes I am alright ..."
"Really?" Continued the waitress, "well since that time, the manager has been edgy withthe martial artist lately. But if you pay now there should be any problems... you do have money right?"
"Yes please, I will have some ramen and ... ryoga what woul you like?"
"Anything that doesn't have pork in it."
"Very well, that will be two Ramen."
"Of course mister i'll your order right away."
After recieving their food, Soun and the fanged boy eated eagerly their food. Ryoga still remained silent but at least he behaved himself. Soun could not help himself to notice how
Ryoga seemed to be like a normal boy ... except for his fangs... and only if ranma was not in the conversation. after a while they finished eating their ramen and watched the waitress taking their what was left of the food... namely the bowls.
"excuse me mister, but since you told me you were on a journey, I was meaning to ask you , do you intend on going to Mibu for the Shinsengumi festival?."
"The shinsengumi festival?"
"Yes, this is a popular holiday, descendant form shinsengumi are going to go across the village to show their skills and after, there will be a great tournament between many peopel from japan. The winner get to fight against the direct descendants of the shinsengumi and if they win, it is said that they may get their and on an authentic sword from the shinsengumi squad..."
"What? A real sword from the shinsengumi? Is this the real deal?"
"Yes, it is said to have been the property of hajime saito, one of the best of the shinsengumi... though i wouldn't get your hopes too high, it has been many years since that "festival started and so far nobody has been able to win a single round against our champions.
"Hmmmm really? Well what do you think Ryoga-kun? Should we go see that festival, we might even get to learn something from these man?"
"Whatever... i'll surely get lost as soon as i get out of this restaurant anyway..."
"Then it is decided, let's go."
After paying for their meal, our duo headed straigh for Mibu and , no, Ryoga did not get lost. He did not get lost because Soun had tied his wristle with ryoga's... much to the lost boy's embarrasment.
Upon their arrival, they saw that many fighters had gathered at the central square of the town. There, inscription were taken and that's when they heard a familiar voice arguing with a man behind the inscription counter..
"BUT THOU DOST NOT UNDERSTAND, THIS SWORD IS MINE BY RIGHT! IT CAN ONLY BE THE PROPERTY OF A TRUE SAMOURAI!"
"Look sir, I am sorry but if you really want that sword, make yourself a team and enter the tournament, now get going, there are many that wants to enter the tournament."
"Fine, I shalt enter this tournament as Tatewaki Kuno, master of the blade, the rising star, the blue thunder or furinkan highschool. And prove that noboby but me deserve that blade".
"Fine, and who shall be your partner?"
"My partner? I have no need for partner, my sword alone is enough."
"Ugh... listen find yourself partner of come back next year ok? Now get lost."
"But you dost not... Argghh "
People were getting pissed off at kuno's speech and were getting impatient so they pushed him of to the their inscription. Kuno, taken by surprised got knocked out. Upon seing this, Soun decided to go see if Kuno was alright. Much to his relief, and to ranma's future torture, kuno was alive and started to come to his senses.
"Owwww my head... huh? Tendo-san? And ... ho yes the foul's sorcerers friend."
"I am NOT Ranma's friend! Responded Ryoga while crackling his knukles."
"Please young men, do not start a fight right now." ( sheesh why can't he keep his cool at the mention of Ranma-kun)
Instantly, Ryoga calmed down at Soun voices, He did not wanted to get on his bad side... if he didn't, he could certainly hope to date Akane.
"So Kuno-kun, you tried to enter the tournament?"
"Yes Tendo-san, unfortunately, these knaves won'T allow me to enter the tournament unless i ...get..." For once, Kuno's mind worked and saw his opporutunity, " two teammates and i have found them, thank you very much tendo-san, Saotome's second, i'll go inscribe us right away!"
"Hey! Wait a minute Kun..."
"Hey I am NOT Ranma'S sec..."
Unfortunately, kuno had already rushed to enter the tournament leaving his two partner alone.
"So what do we do now Tendo-san?"
"I guess we have no choices but to enter the tournament, who knows, maybe it will be fun, and we may yet be able to learn something from the participant."
"... If you say so..."
to be continued...