Chapter Eight
Two Mysterious Fighters. Kolhotz High's Finest!
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Furinkan High School was experiencing a day of unexpected tranquility. Kuno was absent, Ranma was keeping his mouth shut; there was simply no reason for violence on that fine day.
It couldn't last.
Kari smiled as she chatted amiably with Akane, Sayuri, and Yuka. The threesome of Akane, Sayuri, and Yuka quickly became a foursome with the addition of the young ninja. They had begun to do things together after school. Kari could scarcely believe that a week had gone by without incident, since that incident with the Golden Pair. She had been having a wonderful time.
"Are we going to go out for ice cream again?" Sayuri asked. School had just ended, and it was Wednesday. The question needed to be asked.
"Of course," Akane replied. "Why wouldn't we?"
Kari laughed. "Because the last time we were there, I shattered the guy's front window."
The statement gave Akane pause. "Oh, right." She smiled. "Well, I'm sure he'll realize we didn't mean any harm."
"If you say so," the ninja replied, unsure.
"You'll see." Akane skipped toward the classroom door. "Come on, guys."
Kari nodded. Turning her head, she gave a shout to the back of the classroom. "Ranma, Ryoga, I'm heading out. I'll be back to the Tendo house in two hours or so, okay?" Not waiting for a reply, she sped out of the classroom, catching up with her three friends.
"She's been hanging out with us less lately," Ranma mentioned once Kari was gone, swinging his legs over to the desk across from him, using it as a foot rest. Only a few students were left in class, nobody would care.
Ryoga grinned. "Yeah, but it's also the first time she's had friends besides us, I think. And she hasn't forgotten us, or anything." He couldn't bring himself to blame Kari for having friends.
"I guess," Ranma mumbled.
The lost boy stood up. "Hey, I just remembered something I need to tell Kari. I'll be back in a sec." Saying so, he took off out the classroom.
For a moment, the pigtailed boy sat quietly. Then a realization came to him. "Ryoga just ran off on his own." He sighed. Ryoga would show up in a few days, if they were lucky. But he wouldn't be coming back to the classroom for Ranma, at least any time this week, and chasing the lost boy was futile. He'd learned those lessons many times over in the time he'd known the boy. Deciding to make the best of the situation, he decided that the wisest course of action was just to head back to the Tendo house.
As Ranma stood to leave, a voice called out. "Yo, Ranma, leaving already?"
"Yeah, Daisuke," was the reply. "Figured I might as well." He turned and gave Daisuke a grin. "See you tomorrow."
"Later, man." Daisuke gave Ranma a wave.
Ranma took the quick route out of the classroom, out the window.
Several students gaped. They'd seen it before, numerous times, but they'd never stop being impressed. Other students, however, had actually grown used to it and didn't pay the event any mind.
Ranma watched the ground rapidly approach before he landed with practiced ease. Throwing his school bag over his shoulder, the martial artist walked leisurely toward the school gates. There was some guy standing there, waiting for somebody, but Ranma paid him no mind, walking around him.
"Hold it."
Ranma turned his head, looking at the boy, who appeared a year older than he was. He looked familiar. He was tall, about as tall as Mr. Tendo or Kuno, maybe an inch or so taller. He had on a long-sleeved blue shirt, with a white bandage around his right arm. The shirt was made to be buttoned, but wasn't, instead the boy simply had a black shirt underneath the blue. His black pants completed the ensemble.
The sex-changing martial artist didn't recognize the older boy, though he was sure he'd remember a guy who looked so much like Ryoga. Just like Ryoga, the unnamed boy had messy black hair, also tied back with a bandana, though this bandana was black.
After Ranma had looked over the boy for a few moments, the unknown boy spoke. "Don't tell me you don't remember me."
"Can't say I do," Ranma replied evenly. "I supposed to?"
"I remember you very well," the other boy continued. "You and your friend, Ryoga Hibiki."
He knows Ryoga too? Ranma narrowed his eyes. Why did he...
That's when realization hit. "I remember you now. Ryo, wasn't it?"
Ryo smiled, though it wasn't a nice one. "That's my name. Ryo Sakegachi. So glad you could remember."
Ranma couldn't say he was pleased to see the boy. He remembered him as being cruel, and also an all-around jerk. "What the hell are you doing here?"
The older boy looked serious. "Your friend gave me the only loss I've ever suffered. You two aren't better than I am, and I just intend to make sure the world knows it."
The gender-changing boy almost laughed. "Jeez, that was in junior high! You can't tell me you're still mad about that!" It seemed kind of silly, really. He ignored the fact he'd likely be just as irritated with a loss. "You can't be serious."
Ryo decided to show Ranma just how serious he was with a fist to the jaw. Ranma didn't even see it coming, and was launched out away from the school into the empty street. The older boy launched himself after Ranma.
-----
On the other side of campus, near the bordering woods, Ryoga was wondering just where Kari had run off to. Well, he knew that she'd gone out for ice cream, but she hadn't been gone that long... he had been sure he could catch up to her. As it was...
"I'm lost!" Ryoga cried, not even realizing he was still on Furinkan High's campus.
"That sounds like a problem," a voice said from behind Ryoga.
The voice was quiet, but startled Ryoga with the proximity. It came from right behind him. Spinning around, Ryoga landed in a defensive stance by instinct.
The boy who spoke had odd black hair, longer in the front than in the back. He also wore a large white coat, only coming down to the hips like a normal coat, but with a large collar that obscured half of the boy's face. He also wore dark blue pants, with white bandages around his left leg and a small black pouch over the cloth. He looked to be the same age as Ryoga, and about the same height as well.
Ryoga recognized the boy almost immediately. "You were Ryo's partner in that tournament."
Unlike Ranma, Ryoga remembered the tournament very well. His fight with Ryo had been one of the toughest he'd ever had, and he genuinely didn't like the boy. He remembered grudges very well, and though he had paid Ryo back by beating him (officially,) he'd never forget the boy.
"My name is Nanashi Machiho," the boy replied. "You and your partner... defeated me."
"Yeah," Ryoga replied casually. "What, are you out for revenge or something?"
Nanashi's reply was simple. "Yes." He disappeared from sight, reappearing in front of Ryoga with an open-palm strike to the chest. Ryoga went flying straight through the chain-link fence separating Furinkan from the woods. Nanashi disappeared from his spot again, heading after his opponent.
-----
Ranma leapt backwards, avoiding Ryo's punch. He'd already taken one, and wasn't too keen on taking another. The punch felt like one of Ryoga's, and they hurt quite a bit. However, Ryo seemed intent on getting in another hit as he leapt right after Ranma. They exchanged blows in front of an electronics store, several cameras pointing outside catching footage and relaying it through the television sets inside. The store witnessed a good deal of punches being thrown, though every one was blocked or dodged, up until the very end where Ryo got in another hit, sending Ranma flying backwards and out of the cameras' sight.
"Good program, it almost looked real," one patron said.
"Please, that was obviously staged," said another.
Ranma only wished the blows were fake as he skidded across pavement and into a more busy street. He used his hands to launch into a backflip, getting out of the way of oncoming traffic and onto the sidewalk across from where Ryo had hit him. He looked around, franticly trying to spot the boy, but the traffic blocked his view of the other side of the street.
"Looking for somebody?" a voice asked.
Ranma leapt to the right, avoiding Ryo's kick as the boy dropped from above. The kick shattered the concrete where Ranma had been standing and the pigtailed boy wondered if, maybe, Ryo's kicks would be even worse than his punches.
Such thoughts quickly fled as the battle took priority. The elder boy had quickly closed in and was throwing a flurry of punches, all of which Ranma found himself hard-pressed to avoid. He leapt up to give him some space, rebounding off a street lamp and onto the top of a nearby three-story building. Quickly spinning around, Ranma caught sight of Ryo leaping after him. The boy prepared himself, sinking into a low defensive stance before Ryo arrived.
When Ryo was in front of Ranma, the elder threw out a vicious kick that Ranma ducked under. Ranma quickly spun around into a vicious heel kick that was supposed to take Ryo in the ribs, but the other boy was able to leap back to the very edge of the building, avoiding the blow. Trying to press the offensive, Ranma leapt forward with a punch. The older boy simply leaped over Ranma as he went forward and landed behind him, lashing out with his own kick.
Ranma wasn't able to dodge in time. He felt a horrible pain all across his back and he flew forward, letting out an eloquent "Gah!" that summed up his situation rather well. He had been on the edge of the building, and the kick was more than enough to propel Ranma forward and into a concrete telephone pole across the street. The pole cracked, but didn't break, and the martial artist fell about ten feet onto the ground.
As Ranma tried to clear his vision, he noticed a pair of black sneakers in front of his eyes. "You're pathetic, definitely no match for me."
The gender-bending boy got to his knees, which alone took a good effort. He wasn't liking this fight, but he'd have to keep going. Ranma Saotome didn't lose.
-----
Ryoga scanned his head side to side, trying to spot his opponent.
Nanashi was making a fool of him, using his speed to land weak blows on Ryoga's body. They didn't hurt much, but put together he was getting incredibly sore. It didn't help that the boy was a blur to Ryoga when he moved, plus there were trees all around obscuring his vision. It was no accident when Nanashi knocked him into the forest; this was his playing field.
Catching sight of something in the corner of his eye, Ryoga leapt straight up. Nanashi's kick missed its intended target, but the ninja simply leapt up after Ryoga. The two boys each landed on thick branches in the trees, glaring at each other.
"I need to start getting in some hits," Ryoga thought to himself. "I haven't landed a single one."
The branch under Nanashi's feet shook as his form blurred, leaping toward Ryoga's position. The other boy leapt backwards, hoping to catch a branch behind him but not having time to look for one. The young ninja wasn't even phased, as he simply leapt off the branch Ryoga had been on as soon as his feet touched. He caught up to Ryoga in midair and both boys lashed out with attacks, Ryoga a punch and Nanashi a kick. Unfortunately, Nanashi twisted in midair, avoiding Ryoga's punch completely while his kick remained on target, catching Ryoga in his solar plexus with the ball of his foot.
The lost boy practically flew into a tree behind him, sending out a loud crack as the top of the tree snapped where Ryoga hit it. He fell a bit onto another branch, winded and struggling to regain his breath. He saw Nanashi land in front of him and lashed out, even without having properly regained his breath.
Nanashi easily leapt over the kick, which wasn't near Ryoga's best. Landing back on the branch, Nanashi spoke. "You're no match for me, you realize."
Ryoga growled, getting back to his feet. "We'll see." He clenched his fist tightly and threw it forward, hoping to wipe that smirk off Nanashi's face. He couldn't see it because of the boy's jacket, but he knew it was there. However, the ninja didn't have the guts to stay there and take his punishment like a man, instead opting to duck quickly, avoiding the punch completely and allowing him to lash out with a foot in a sweep.
The fanged boy threw himself to the side to avoid the sweep, catching a branch with one hand and swinging himself up onto it.
Things weren't looking so good.
-----
Kari looked over Akane as the two of them walked home, the smaller girl behind the older. Akane's long hair was being blown back slightly in the wind, and Kari's eyes followed the yellow ribbon in the mass of black. "Her hair is so long," the girl thought to herself. At least as long as her own.
Whenever the ninja girl thought of Akane, as a character of Ranma 1/2, she envisioned a cute shorthaired girl. However, this time there was no fight between Ryoga and Ranma in which Akane could get her hair cut. She looked so much better with it short, though, and she even liked it herself...
"Have you ever thought about getting your hair cut short?" Kari blurted out. She looked down as Akane turned her gaze to the ninja.
The older girl kept walking, turning her head to the front again. "Not really," she answered. "I like having it long." She fingered a long strand of hair. "And I have other reasons, too." Images of Dr. Tofu flashed across her mind.
Kari's face fell. "Ah, I see."
"Why do you ask?" the older teen asked, glancing at from the corner of her eyes.
"No real reason," the blue-haired girl replied. "Just thinking. You'd be a lot cuter with short hair, I think."
Akane blinked at the statement. "Maybe," she finally replied. "But I don't think I could ever do it." She ran a hand through her hair. "I mean, I spent a long time growing it out. How would you respond if somebody asked you to cut your hair?"
Kari glanced over to the canal along the side of their path, where a spurt of water shot up, unnoticed by Akane. She had to keep herself from responding with an answer involving violence. "Ah, I suppose it depends on who says it." That was true, she supposed. If it were suggested by somebody she didn't care about, of course she wouldn't listen. Heck, she wouldn't even get it cut for Ranma or Ryoga. Maybe somebody... more important...?
The ninja shook her head to clear her thoughts. It didn't matter. And if Akane didn't want to get her hair cut, she wasn't going to force the matter. "Hey, Akane, sorry for bringing it up."
Akane waved her hand dismissively. "No biggie," the youngest Tendo replied.
Kari laughed, putting a hand behind her head. "And I'm also sorry for getting us kicked out of the ice cream parlor." She grinned sheepishly.
Akane laughed, too. "It's not your fault." It had been a waste of time, heading to the ice cream parlor only to be kicked out. But maybe next week they would find another one to frequent.
The two girls turned a corner, arriving on the street of the Tendo residence. A minute later and they entered through the door, kicking off their shoes. "We're back!" they called out in unison.
Kasumi entered from the kitchen. "Oh, welcome back Akane, Kari."
"Hello, sis," Akane replied as Kari waved.
The oldest Tendo daughter put a finger to her lip. "Oh, Akane, have you seen Ranma or Ryoga? They haven't come back yet."
Kari raised an eyebrow. "That's weird, they ought to be back by now." The girl couldn't see what would hold the two up that long; everybody not in a club would have cleared out of Furinkan by now.
Where could they be?
-----
Ryoga landed with a thud on the ground, a long fall from his previous perch on a high branch. The ground, he decided, was awfully hard.
Nanashi landed without a sound next to the boy. A kick lashed out, which Ryoga avoided by rolling to the side. It was followed by another, this one too fast for the bandana-clad boy to avoid. It caught him in the chin as he tried to rise, sending him rolling along the ground for several feet before having his path barred by an unyielding tree trunk.
"Ugh," Ryoga managed to say, spitting some blood out of his mouth. Things didn't seem to be going his way. He didn't even have time to blink as Nanashi was in front of him again, lashing out with another kick. Ryoga got caught in the ribs, sending him to the side.
Nanashi wasn't even putting his all into the fight. Both of his hands were shoved into the pockets of his coat. "You don't stand a chance," he said, barely loud enough for Ryoga to hear.
The fanged boy managed to get to his feet through sheer willpower. His hands, however, simply hung limply at his side. "I'm not beat yet," he growled.
The coat-wearing ninja leapt forward, too fast for Ryoga to react. A simple front kick caught Ryoga in the solar plexus, causing the boy to bend forward.
Instead of following up with another attack, Nanashi whispered something into Ryoga's ear. "I'm not here to defeat you, not yet." He leapt backwards, avoiding the clumsy punch Ryoga mustered the strength to perform.
"What do you mean?" the directionally challenged martial artist demanded. Ryoga couldn't see where Nanashi was going with that statement.
"It's quite simple," Nanashi continued. "Ryo and I are doing this as a warning." He looked Ryoga dead in the eyes. "The real fight hasn't begun."
-----
Ryo's fist caught Ranma under the chin, knocking the younger boy backwards. "Beating you like this just isn't any fun," the boy continued with a grin. "I want a real fight, one you're prepared for."
Ranma got to his feet, looking at Ryo. "Then why are you doing this?"
"Fun," Ryo replied. "And we wanted to show you just how much stronger we've become."
"We?" Ranma asked, blinking.
Ryo smirked. "Nanashi should be finished with your other friend right about now." He shrugged. "He'll be saying the same things I am."
-----
"Ten days from now," Nanashi said, "on Saturday, we'll have our real match." He ignored Ryoga, who had fallen to his knees from the battle. "At that time, neither Ryo nor myself will hold back, even an iota."
Ryoga growled. "You're telling me that you're holding back? That's bull." He spat on the ground.
The other boy couldn't see it, but Nanashi was smirking. "Did you see any of my dances?"
That made Ryoga pause. He remembered in the match back in Middle School, Nanashi had relied on the awesome power of his dances, special ninja techniques of his clan.
"Since you seem to have difficulty remembering..." Nanashi slid into a low fighting stance. "...I'll help you to remember."
Ryoga's eyes widened as he heard the words, "Dance of the Stirring Leaves."
The ninja shot forward, three copies trailing behind, like afterimages. Each of the four Nanashi's came at Ryoga from a different angle. One came in on the boy's left, kicking him into the air. One had jumped into the air, and that one shot out a kick that sent Ryoga to a copy on the right. That one lashed out with another kick, sending the fanged boy to the final Nanashi, who caught Ryoga with a double palm strike. The final strike sent Ryoga flying twenty feet, right into a small lake nearby.
The three copies faded, leaving only the original Nanashi. The boy sighed. He had wanted to show off a bit, but he didn't want Ryoga dead. If he was knocked out, which was far too likely, then the boy would likely drown. With a sigh, the ninja leapt onto the lake, standing atop the water just as Kari often did.
Something surprised the boy, though.
Instead of seeing a bandana-clad boy floating in the water, he saw a medium-sized black dog with a bandana around its neck floating in the water. Nanashi raised an eyebrow. "Jusenkyo, eh?" With a shrug, the boy grabbed the dog by the bandana and threw it unceremoniously onto the ground alongside the lake.
"Don't say I never did anything for you," the boy muttered. He concentrated. "Dance of the Falling Shadow." Darkness swept over his form and when it was gone, so was the boy.
-----
Ranma landed in a heap, knocked out from the final blow Ryo gave. The older boy wiped some dust away from his pants. "Don't forget, boy," he said, as if Ranma could still hear him. "Ten days from now, we'll really settle this score. Kolhotz High School, be there."
It was his idea, truth be told. One time to humiliate the boys, a final time to show just how outclassed they were. It would be great. He smiled.
But next time, it'd be Ryoga who he beat.
The tall boy laughed, walking away from Ranma, who remained collapsed in the middle of the sidewalk.
-----
Kari sat quietly at the Tendo table, enjoying a cup of tea with Akane and Kasumi. Genma and Soun sat near the back, a game of Go set between the two.
"This is really good tea, Kasumi," Akane mentioned, taking another sip.
"Why, thank you, Akane." Kasumi smiled her smile, the one that caused flowers to bloom around her.
Kari sighed. "Yeah, it's delicious, Kasumi."
Kasumi frowned. "You don't sound like you enjoy it." It wasn't an angry frown, or even a disappointed one, simply a worried frown.
Kari smiled. "Oh, nothing like that. It really is delicious." She looked off in the distance, past the panda and Tendo patriarch into the back yard. "I'm just worried 'bout Ranma and Ryoga, is all."
"I'm sure they can take care of themselves," Akane replied nonchalantly. If they could take care of Kuno, they didn't have much to worry about.
The ninja sighed. "I know, it's stupid." She took a sip of tea before continuing. "I just have a bad feeling, that's all."
Before either of the Tendo daughters could further reassure the ninja, the phone rang. Akane, who was closest, picked up the phone. "Hello, Tendo residence."
Kari looked over at Akane, who had a worried look flash over her face.
"He's what?" Akane asked worriedly. "Is he okay?" A few moments passed. "That's good." A few more moments. "We'll be right over." She hung up the telephone.
Kasumi looked vaguely worried. "Who was that, Akane?"
Akane glanced over at Kari, but then turned her attention to Kasumi. "It was Dr. Tofu. He said he found Ranma in the street, unconscious. It looked like Ranma lost a fight."
"I knew something was wrong!" Kari exclaimed, getting to her feet.
Genma, too, stood up. "My boy lost? Impossible!"
"Oh, my," Kasumi intoned. "How dreadful. I hope he'll be all right."
"Dr. Tofu said he'll be fine," Akane reassured.
"Let's not waste any time," the Saotome patriarch said. "Come, Akane, we must check up on your fiancé!"
"Yeah, yeah," the girl said, following Mr. Saotome out the door. Kari, of course, trailed behind.
The trip was a short one, and silent for the entire duration. They quickly arrived at Dr. Tofu's clinic.
When the group entered, they saw Ranma sitting up in a small medical bed. He was shirtless, showing off the multitude of bruises and cuts that he had on his upper body.
Akane took a step back and Kari gasped.
Genma, however, rushed forward and grabbed his son by the shoulders. "Boy! Who did this to you?! How could you lose a fight?!"
"Chill, pop," the boy said, trying to escape his father's death grip.
"Ease up on the poor boy, Mr. Saotome." The group turned their heads to see Dr. Tofu enter, wearing a pair of spectacles rather than his usual large glasses. He was also, they noticed, wearing a Chinese tang outfit, similar to Ranma's but in a different color, green. Noticing the stares of Kari and Akane, he cleared his throat. "I was on my way back from martial arts practice when I ran into Ranma."
"I see," Kari said slowly. She turned back to Ranma. "But your dad has a point. Who did this to you? Did you and Ryoga get into a fight?"
Ranma sighed. "Nope, wasn't Ryoga." He looked over at Kari. "Remember that tournament back in Junior High?"
"Yeah," the girl replied slowly, wondering where Ranma was going with that.
"It was Ryo, the guy Ryoga fought in the finals." Ranma rubbed a rib. "The guy came back for revenge. Said he doesn't like being beat." He sighed. "He also said that the real fight would be next Saturday."
Genma nodded. "That gives you a little over a week to train, boy!" He grabbed Ranma by the arm, but Dr. Tofu's hand grasped Genma's own.
"Give him two days to rest," Dr. Tofu said sternly. "Then you can begin your training. Not before."
Something about the good doctor's tone caused Genma to pause. "Er, right," the man said meekly.
Dr. Tofu let go of Genma's arm, so the father helped his boy to his feet.
"Thanks for the help, doc," Ranma said, grabbing his torn shirt from the coat rack on his way out. He threw it on, knowing it was better than walking around shirtless.
Akane bowed. "Yes, thank you, Dr. Tofu." She left after Ranma and his father, Kari trailing behind.
Dr. Tofu sighed. He had a bad feeling. Perhaps he'd best call Nabiki tomorrow, she'd know when and where the fight would take place.
-----
As Ranma, Kari, Genma, and Akane made their way back to the Tendo home, they came across a strange sight. A young girl was trying, in vain, to help a dog that appeared to be injured. A young man leaned against the fence, waiting for her.
"Ryoga!" Kari cried, rushing to the dog. She pushed Azusa aside so she could lean over her friend.
Ranma waked over with Akane, Genma trailing behind them.
"Ryoga?" Akane asked.
"Is that dog yours?" the boy leaning against the fence asked.
Kari recognized him as Mikado Sanzenin. "Yes, he is," the girl answered. She narrowed her eyes at Azusa. "He's not yours."
"I was just worried about him," Azusa whined. "Is he gonna be okay?"
Genma looked the dog over. "He'll be fine," he announced.
Akane cleared her throat. "Ryoga?" she asked again, this time louder.
"You look in pretty bad shape yourself," the male half of the skating duo said, looking over at Ranma.
"I got into a fight," the pigtailed boy replied. "Looks like Ryoga did, too."
Kari shook her head. "Come on, let's get Ryoga home."
"Since when is Ryoga dog?!" Akane cried, finally catching everybody's attention. The girl blushed as everybody turned their heads toward her.
"We kinda lied," Ranma said. "Ryoga did get cursed at Jusenkyo. This is his cursed form." He rubbed the back of his head in embarrassment.
"He's embarrassed by his curse," Kari explained.
Mikado raised an eyebrow. "What in the blazes are you people talking about?"
"None of your business, jerk," the young ninja girl replied. "We have the dog, you can leave now."
Mikado shrugged. "Not until we find what we're looking for."
"And what's that?" Ranma asked, ignoring his father, who was eager to go.
"We're looking for two people," the suave boy replied. "One is tall, wears a black bandana. The other is shorter, with a coat. Have you seen either of them?"
"That's Ryo and Nanashi!" Ranma shouted. "Ryo's the bastard who beat me!"
Mikado nodded. "I see." He looked up, staring Ranma right in the eyes. "Avoid those two, they're very dangerous."
The red-clad martial artist looked perplexed. "What?"
"We came to make sure they weren't doing anything bad," Azusa said. "Now we know why they were here."
"They're the best fighters in Kolhotz High," Mikado continued. "Quite possibly the best in Tokyo, or even Japan. I wouldn't put it past them."
"We can handle those two," Kari replied. "Thanks for the advice, you can go now." She marched off, heading toward the Tendo home. Ranma, carrying Ryoga's dog form, followed. Akane and Genma took the rear.
"Take my advice!" Mikado called after them as they turned a corner.
"Think they'll listen?" Azusa asked, cocking her head to the side.
"Maybe," Mikado answered. "I hope so. Those two..." He looked off in the distance. "They're not the kind of people to mess with."
-----
With a little over a week to train, will Ranma and Ryoga be ready to face Ryo and Nanashi in round two? And what are Akane and Kari up to while they train?
Next time: One Hell of a Week.
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End Chapter Eight
To be continued...
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Author's Notes: Woot! Finally finished! And after only three months, to boot!
So, anyway... We finally meet some decent rivals for Ranma and Ryoga! After being trounced so thoroughly, can they really make a comeback in the second fight? We'll find out soon! Hopefully before another three months go by...
Now, for an important announcement...
About a month and a half ago, a writing group which I am a part of, Differing Fools, posted the first chapter of our fanfic, simply titled Crossover. We've already completed chapter ten.
It features four SI characters, including our Kari... Oh, and Ryoga tags along, too. Anyway, it really is an amusing work, and I encourage all of you to read it.
I mean, it has more Kari!
I helped write it, so it has to be good! And I hear that Sleeping Bear guy is pretty good, too.
Search for the title Crossover in the Ranma section, the pen name Differing Fools, or simply click the link in my bio.
Happy reading.