Hunters

Ryouga Yagami

Ranma 1/2 belongs to Rumiko Takahashi

"Where are the bandages? I need more water too!", Ukyo yelled as Ranma tried to look for what Ukyo was asking him. Ryoga was leaned on the wall outside the restaurant, his arms crossed, since his lack of sense of direction could drive him away. His mission was to keep any black cat away from the restaurant.

Ukyo wasn't in best conditions to take care of anyone too. But she had to make some effort to help her friend that was having a hard way trying to breath, "Akane..."

SHOWING FEELINGS

After everything done, Ukyo lied down on the floor and Ranma guided Ryoga inside. They sat on the floor near Ukyo. Ryoga looked at her, but she was still trying to avoid him. He sighed and turned his attention to Ranma. He was looking down, his hair covering his eyes and was trying to fight the sobs, all the sadness he was feeling. Suddenly he punched the floor, but didn't say a word. He stood up, then sat down again and looked at Ryoga.

"I preferred that you killed me. I don't know what to do if she dies", Ranma said.

"This is all my fault, Ranma. If I didn't try to attack you, Akane would not get into the fight. She thought that I was going to kill you, but all I wanted was to put you unconscious. She was just trying to protect you", Ryoga said. All the time, Ranma didn't move, just looked at his hand and tried to organize his thoughts.

"What the hell was that?", Ranma looked at Ukyo.

"Who is this guy, Ryoga?"

Ryoga looked at Ukyo who seemed annoyed. He was waiting her to introduce herself, but she kept in silence, "It is a girl, Ranma. Her name is Ukyo... she is my... she is from the same village as I"

"A girl?", Ranma asked surprised, as the person in front of him was dressed as a man, 'I didn't know Ryoga liked the tough ones'

"What is the matter?", Ukyo demanded.

"Nothing, nothing. I need to say thanks for your help, Ukyo"

Ukyo looked at Ranma, then closed her eyes, "She is my friend, friends are for it", she looked at the room Akane was, "Well, what was that?", Ukyo asked again.

Ranma seemed annoyed by the insistence of the question, but after what happened, he thought that they had the right to know about what happened.

"Everything began when I was a child. My father trained me and another boy from the village. One day he came with a new idea he got from an old book..."

Kusanagi, years ago

"Ranma! Souji! Come here you two!", Genma Saotome said to his two students. The boys stopped their training and went inside the dojo.

"We are here. What do you want?", Souji said.

"What's up, pop?", Ranma asked. Each one earned a punch.

"More respect to your master!", Genma warned. Then he adjusted his gi, "Well, I have a new training for you, boys"

"New training?", the boys said in unison. And earned a new punch each one.

"Do you train to be stupid or you just were born that way?", Genma walked to a door, "What are you doing? Come here!", he ordered.

The boys walked kind of scared. Both boys were very arrogant and fought constantly about who was the best fighter of Saotome Martial Arts School. But it wasn't the first time they would have a 'special' training. The first 'special' training, they had to survive the perils of a forest. Genma just forgot to explain that the forest was a sacred one, full of monsters and sacred animals of the God of Fear. The boys needed some days to recompose themselves from what they had to face there.

Other training was on a river. But the leeches and the carnivorous fishes were a big problem...

And there was time Souji and Ranma had to train in a cave. Everything would be fine if the map of the cave Genma gave them was of the cave they had to train. They were lost for almost a month.

And once...

"Ranma, we understood what you passed", Ryoga interrupted.

"Oh... it's that these things are..."

"We know, unbelievable", Ryoga and Ukyo said together.

Ranma sweat dropped, "Well, then...

Kusanagi, years ago

"What are you doing? Come here!", Genma ordered.

Ranma and Souji looked at each other. Then Souji took the first step and walked to the door, 'It will not be a stupid training that will stop me now', he thought and stopped by Genma's side.

Genma smiled, "Well, Ranma, my boy?"

Ranma sighed. He actually had no choice as the heir of the style, "Good boy!", Genma said when Ranma walked to the door. "Now, wear this", Genma handed his students two shirts smelling fish. The boys were about to complain, but Genma didn't give them time for that. He opened the door, kicked his two students inside and closed the door again.

"Stupid old man!", Ranma yelled.

"Stop complaining, Ranma", Souji said and stood up. The room was dark. They couldn't define when they had their eyes opened or not. Ranma stood up as he felt something coming to attack him.

"MEOW! MEOW!"

"Cats? Pop wants us to fight cats? This is...", then Ranma punched a cat that came in his direction. Even on a place so dark his instincts worked well, "Why are they attacking us!"

Souji kicked some cats, "Are you stupid or what? It's this shirt!", Souji yelled and tried to take his shirt off, but...

"That old man put glue on the shirt...", he said in a small voice.

From outside, Genma waited more ten minutes. Then he thought it was enough and opened the door. Seeing the mess they did inside and the dead or unconscious black cats on the floor, he laughed, "Now that's a good training hahahaha!", but when his students didn't answer he got a little worried, "Hey, didn't you like?", there was a moment of silence and Souji attacked Genma. His nails were larger and Genma escaped at the nick of time. Then Ranma attacked him too and Genma ran outside the dojo. Souji followed them, but as he got out of the dojo, he ran away from the village. Ranma was going to do the same, but Genma managed to knock him out and dragged his son inside, "Now I have to look for that fool", he said.

Radatos, present

"Well, that's what happened. And since then I have the Black Cat Berserk", Ranma finished.

"And what happened to Souji?", Ryoga asked.

Ranma shrugged, "How would I know? We didn't find him after that"

"What kind of master is your father? He just let a student go away like this?"

"Now that you say about that..."

"Ranma, have you ever thought about this Souji before?"

"Well... no?"

Ryoga just let out a sigh, "I give up on you, Ranma"

Suddenly Ukyo stood up, "Where are you going?", Ryoga asked. Ukyo just ignored him and went to Akane's room. Ryoga sighed and looked down.

"Hey, pal, don't give up", Ranma said, "Akane... told me about her before... before..."

Ryoga sighed again, "So, Akane knew Ukyo... I should have guessed. The okonomiyaki she did that night was very similar to Ukyo's special"

"Ryoga, I have a favor to ask you", as Ryoga stayed in silence, Ranma continued, "Next time I go berserk, please, protect Akane and if things get desperate..."

"What?"

"Kill me"

Silence.

"I'm sorry, I can't do it. I don't want another girl crying because of me, Ukyo is enough", he said and stood up, "Besides, I owe you one by that time with Kodachi. I can't kill you"

Ranma looked outside. It was better for them to sleep, "Thanks, Ryoga"

Inside the room, Ukyo sat on a chair and looked at Akane still sleeping. 'At least she will be ok', she thought and looked at the bandages on her arm. When Ryoga thought he would not find a city, he stopped and took care of her injuries. Ukyo complained, but he kept in silence.

Akane winced in pain. Ukyo was going to call Ranma when Akane got her by the shirt. Ukyo turned to Akane and could see that Akane was ok, just tired. Ukyo sighed in relief and sat down again, "I'm glad you are here, Akane", she said and squeezed her hand.

Akane smiled and closed her eyes, "It's been a long time, Ukyo"

"Yeah, a long time", Ukyo smiled, "I can see you found your friend. He was very worried about you"

"And I can see you found... Ryoga. And that you keep this boyish style of yours", the name Ryoga made a shadow pass by Ukyo's face. Akane did not know what happened, 'But whatever it was, it got her'

"Yeah... after almost two years chasing that jackass I find him in the middle of a forest. I... I confess that I didn't even try to fight him"

"Does this mean that you still love him?"

Ukyo blushed, "No, of course not. And even if I loved, I can't just forgive him for what happened so easily. And the jackass is wanted in a lot of places. He's a criminal nowadays"

Akane looked at the ceiling, "You know, I met him just some days ago and I feel that he is a good person. He has a lot of problems like his directional sense and Ranma told me that he's kind of depressive and has another curse, but..."

"Akane, please stop", Ukyo asked and Akane did as she asked. Ukyo had her hair covering her eyes, "I know him very well... Even if I don't see him in two years he didn't change that much..."

Akane looked at Ukyo. She seemed to be fighting against her own feelings and Akane would not interfere in her thoughts. She knew Ukyo was strong and would get her own answers alone. Then a doubt came in her mind, "Where are Ranma and Ryoga?"

"They are outside, talking. Ranma told us about the Black Cat Berserk"

"Oh... is he alright?"

"Yeah, he is fine. Now rest, tomorrow you will be better"

"Thanks, Ukyo"

At the same time, outside Radatos

A girl ran as fast she could. Unfortunately for her, the girl that was pursuing her was faster.

"You can't escape from me, miss Hattori", Sylen said and jumped in front of Minari Hattori, "You have something that mistress Licia needs"

Minari stopped, she had to fight, 'I don't know what happened, but she is faster than me now. Some days ago I was able to escape easily, but today...", she got her whip and prepared to fight.

"Miss Hattori, we can avoid stupid fights if you say where are the ring", Sylen said calmly, "Or...", Sylen moved her fingers and from the ground and four men made of dust appeared, "I'll order my dolls to take the information from you"

"Why don't you come yourself, Sylen! Afraid of me?", Minari taunted and got in fight stance as the dolls enclosed her.

"Afraid? I think this is not the right term. I just don't want to kill you. My dolls have enough energy to make you say. Last chance, say where is the ring and I'll not order them to attack"

"Fat chance of that!"

Sylen smirked, "Attack"

The dolls launched balls of dust at Minari. She jumped and avoided the first contact. But when the balls connected to each other, a hurricane was made from the impact and got Minari. She was thrown away. She thought that would be better to run, but then Sylen would catch her again. She squeezed her whip and decided to attack for real and ran to the dust dolls. She whipped the first one. The doll disintegrated as the other three. She landed after the last attack and looked at Sylen, "Now it's your time, Sylen!"

Sylen smirked, "How can you face me when you can't even defeat my dolls?"

"What?", Minari turned and saw the dust dolls ready to attack her again. A doll punched her in the back and she fell. The others kicked her on the ground until she finally couldn't move anymore. Sylen let her dolls play with their prey a little more before stop them.

"Halt!", Sylen ordered and got near Minari, "I think she is just unconscious", she stood up, got a doll by the head and lifted it, "I have to put some brain inside your heads, you almost killed her", she pressed the doll's head until it exploded. Then she kneeled beside Minari and put a hand over her head, "Now let's work on your memories, miss Hattori", she concentrated until she got the information she needed, "So, you left it with Ranma. How convenient and what a coincidence, now I can see him again", she said, dissolved the other dolls and walked away.

'So... his name is... Ranma...', Minari thought and fell unconscious for real.

Next day, Radatos

"Ranma! Table eight. Spaghetti and two beers", Ukyo put the order on the counter and went back to the kitchen. She got another order and put on the counter again. Ryoga took the plate and looked at the number Ukyo wrote on a paper.

"Akane, table 10", he said and waited Akane to say the direction he had to take.

"Ok, Ryouga, go straight, then left after that guy with a hat. It's the second table at your right"

The Lost Boy, as people in the restaurant nicknamed him (not only there, but everywhere), followed Akane's instructions and got to the table. He got another order and went back, handed to a cook and went to where Akane was.

"This work is very hard. I'm not so good"

"I think you did a good job until now, Ryoga. Of course you got lost twice, but this was expected"

Ryouga passed a towel on his forehead and looked outside. It was a very hot day. His desire was to have a nice shower, but as he remembered what would happen, he decided he could deal with a hot day.

Akane could not do much effort, so she was helping Ryoga to find his way through the tables. It was kind of hard, but after sometime Ryoga didn't get lost every time. Just eventually.

"Haishu! Table 5!", Ukyo shouted to another waiter. Ryoga sighed. Ukyo was ignoring him, but he was getting used to it.

Ranma was finishing to serve an order, "Here, ladies. Have a good meal", and was walking away when one of the two girls called him back, "Is there anything else?"

The girls giggled, "Could you tell us your name?", from the counter, Akane was glaring at the group furiously. Ranma could feel her anger and gulped, 'Have to be gentle with customers, have to be gentle with customers'. "Er... my name is Ranma and..."

"Akane, is there anything wrong?", Ryoga asked and moved away when he felt her energy explode, "Uh... I'll find table 13 by myself, don't worry"

Unfortunately, Akane didn't hear Ryoga. He looked for table 13, but couldn't find it. He had a tray on his hand and wanted to be free of that the faster possible. Then he decided to ask a man who was passing by him.

"Excuse me, sir. But would you know where's table 13?"

The man looked at him strangely, "Is this some kind of joke?"

"Uh... no, sir. I mean, I'm a waiter, can't you...", then he looked his surroundings. No tables.

No waiters. No smell of food. No plates. No counter. No... you understood.

"Damn it! Where's the restaurant?"

In the restaurant

Ranma was talking with the girls on the table. Akane was trying to control her anger, but it was useless. She would explode at any moment. From the kitchen, Ukyo noted it and went to talk to Akane.

"Hey, where is my order?", the customer of table 13 yelled.

Ukyo took a last look on Akane and then decided to do the wisest thing, 'I'll let it in the hands of the gods'. Then, Haishu came to talk to her.

"Kuonji, that boy, Ryoga, got lost again", the waiter said.

"And what do I have to do with it? Talk to Akane", she said indifferent.

"Well, I would ask Akane to look for him, but... I like to live, have a family, maybe children"

Ukyo sighed, "That guy just gives me problems", and left to look for him.

"Hey, don't you want to talk after your job?", a girl asked Ranma.

"Uh... I'd like it, but I have other things to do and...", 'And I'm just here to be gentle with the customers'

"And what?"

Ranma saw that a guy was sitting on a table, "Excuse me, I have to go back to work", 'At least I got away from confusion', he thought. But when he turned to go away and saw that Akane was right in front of him he changed his mind, 'Too early to be happy', "Uh... hi, 'kane. It's a pretty day, isn't?"

"It sure is", she got him by the ear, "Now, back to work, lover boy!"

"Hey, that hurts, Akane!"

The girls from the table watched the scene and sighed, "And I thought he liked the sweet ones..."

'SHUT UP!', Akane thought and kept it for herself, as it would not be good to discuss with customers. Then something wasn't right, 'Where is Ryoga?'

On the streets

'Where could that jackass go?', Ukyo turned another corner and then hid behind a barrel. Ryoga was talking to two girls, 'Jackass! He wanders off just to talk to women!', Ukyo concluded. She moved closer to them.

"Oh, you are cute", she heard a girl say.

"Uh... thanks..."

'Still the same stupid', Ukyo thought.

"Why don't you go with me on a date?", the other girl said.

"No! He is going with me!"

"Er.. girls, please, don't fight. I just need..."

"I found him first!"

"Oh, yeah? You can't find water even if you fall from a boat!"

"Er... girls..."

"What?", the girls turned to him.

Ryouga sweat dropped, "Don't... You two don't need to fight... I mean, I'm sure you will have no problem in finding someone to date. You are pretty and all"

"What did you say, jackass!", Ukyo yelled and stood from the place she was. She was glowing a dark energy.

'Uh oh', Ryoga thought, 'Time to... get lost', and ran away.

"Wait, jackass!", Ukyo yelled and passed by the girls in high speed.

The girls looked at each other, "I think that was his girlfriend"

The girl sighed, "No surprise he ran away, she looked very angry. Why do men like the wild ones?"

"I don't know, but there are other handsome guys that will love a sweet girl like me. Maybe that guy on the other side"

Silence.

"HE'S MINE!", they shouted and ran to the guy.

Three days later, afternoon

The group was ready to left Radatos. Akane still had some bruises, but they would not stop her. Ranma was meditative, he didn't know what to do with the box, 'Maybe I should open it'

"How is it? To be traveling again?", Akane asked.

"Well, it's nothing very new. Except that now we have some money", Ranma said, "But there's something that is bothering me since we left"

Everyone stopped to hear what Ranma wanted to say.

"Why is Ukyo with us?"

Akane and Ukyo punched him, "Hey, what did I do?"

"Why I'm here is not of your business!", Ukyo yelled. Ryoga sighed and thanked the gods that Ranma asked the question that was bothering him too, 'And he got all the damage', Ryouga added. Then he felt the two girls looking at him, "What is wrong? What did I do?"

"Nothing... yet", Ukyo walked away. Ryoga looked at Akane waiting for an explanation.

"She wants to... know you again. She wants to travel with us to see if you are really trying to be the best weapon fighter and if she can discover your aqua curse"

"And did you need to punch me like that?", Ranma asked irritated.

Akane smiled and walked to where Ukyo was.

"Ryoga... I have something to say"

"What, Ranma?"

"I can change to a girl, but I sure can't understand them"

Ryoga smiled, "Don't worry and don't try to understand them. It will just give you more doubts"

"Maybe you are right", seeing that the girls were distant ahead, Ranma decided it was time for other thing that was bothering him for some time, "Ryouga, what the hell is your curse?"

Ryouga flinched, "Do we need to talk about it?"

"Well... actually no, but I'm very curious"

Ryouga thought about it, "Since you are my friend I think I can tell. But don't talk about this to the girls"

"Why not?"

"Just promise that, ok?"

"Ok, ok, I promise. So, what's your curse?"

Ryouga was very nervous. He was very ashamed that he changed to a... horrible thing. He breathed and began, "I change to a..."

"RANMA!"

Ranma put his hands over his head waiting Akane to attack. Suddenly he heard footsteps, someone was running and then felt arms embracing him, "I finally found you"

Ranma opened his eyes as he recognized that was not Akane's voice. He saw a girl, the same girl that gave him the box, "What... how did you..."

"RANMA!"

Now that was Akane's voice followed by Akane's punch.

"YOU JERK!", then the girl fainted followed by Ranma after Akane's punch.

Ryoga just sighed, "I think I can't have a normal day", he looked at the girl and Ranma, "Let's find some place to stay. Later he explains this for us"

Akane was already away fuming, 'Ranma... I came all this way just to find out you have another girl'