Chapter II

Ukyo's neck suddenly seized up on her and Ryoga was quick to help. He pressed his hands against the back of her neck and kneed the flesh. She didn't resist, expressing bliss. Then just as quickly, she gasped, and pushed Ryoga way. Her face went beet red.

Ryoga stumbled back and crashed into a set of baked goods in a corner.

"I knew it!" Ranma said. "There is something going on between you two. Ha!"

They both denied it categorically. Especially Ukyo, who said, "You have it all wrong, Ranma," she said, stumbling over her words a little. "Ryoga is a practitioner of massage therapy now. He said he learned the art from a village doctor."

Ryoga dusted himself off. "And he taught me a few other things. He said I can use it as a defensive technique, too. He told me his brand of medicine was developed form an ancient martial arts. A form of pressure point technique, not unlike my Bakusai Tenketsu. I can break rocks and large structures with a single finger, but this technique can shatter hard substances, like bone."

"You never told me that," Ukyo said shocked.

"He only showed me once," Ryoga said. "Someone in the village had accidentally fallen into a bog and the material had hardened around his knee. With a few strategic points, the doctor was able to release the man without harm. But he said his technique was only for medicine."

"Oh, great! And he showed you?" Ranma huffed. "You may be dumb, but to show you a dangerous technique like that—even once—is a recipe for disaster."

Ryoga shook his head. "Unlike my other techniques, I haven't perfected it yet," he said, but then produced an evil grin. "But I would make an exception with you. Come practise with me, Ranma. And I'm sure I can pick up quickly. Ha-ha-ha!"

"No way," Ranma said, picking up his order. "I'm not letting you anywhere near me with that. If I ever need an adjustment or a massage, I'll go to Dr. Tofu. " And Ranma left.

Ukyo turned to Ryoga. "Are you telling me the truth, Ryoga? Can that technique the doctor taught you kill someone?"

Ryoga shrugged. "I don't know," he said. "'The Hellfire Technique', he called it."

She asked why. And he told her.


As Ranma walked through the streets of town on his way back to the Tendo Dojo, graciously being used for a convention hall for the medical doctors in town, he wondered about Ryoga's new technique. He knew about pressure points, but could they used as weapons against someone to destroy instead of heal? He didn't want to find out.

Along the way, he heard the familiar ding-ding of a bicycle bell. Shampoo came wheeling from behind him, nearly running into him. Ranma jumped out of the way of being hit.

"Why you no come to Cat Cafe to order, Ranma?" she asked. "You go to Ukyo for Okonomiyaki instead? Cat Cafe much better food than that hussy."

"Hussy?" Ranma said. "You're one to talk, Shampoo." He stood on the railing to the canal with the two boxes of Okonomiyaki in hand. He could see she was on a delivery, but she obviously wanted to pester him about his choice in food. "For your interest, I'm on official business, and this is a legitimate order for the Tendo Dojo, who is, as I speak, catering to a medical conference of doctors who are in town. After this, I was going to the Cat Cafe for an order."

"You is?" Shampoo's mood brightened. "What conference? Herbal medicine much better. My village have cure for almost anything. Including new cream for curse of Jusenkyo."

Ranma's heart skipped a beat. Then he eyed her. "Oh, right…just like that waterproof soap you ordered that washed off almost as soon as you applied it. Not buying it, Shampoo," he said. "Now, if you excuse me, I have to get back before the food's cold."

"Not lying, Ranma," Shampoo said, and she produced a tube of cream from her basket. "Instructions on tube. Claims to be one-hundred precent effective if done right."

Ranma jumped down. He took the small tube of cream from Shampoo and read the label. "Apply thoroughly all over body, no misses, water proof 100% against effects of Jusenkyo curse. Made in China." He turned it over. "That's it?"

"Got from reputable salesman who was travelling through town," Shampoo said. "Haven't tried."

Ranma sighed. "Give it to me, I'll give it a try," he said. "But what does it mean: 'no misses'?"

"Salesman says, apply thoroughly everywhere, even in spots hard to reach," she said. "Only then, will cream work—for one week at a time. Cream is oil based, so water and it don't mix."

Ranma took it, said good-bye to Shampoo, and the returned to the Tendo Dojo.

The conference was going smoothly, and he retreated to his room after his delivery, closing his door with all the chatter of those attending. The house was filled with doctors.

He forgot about the Cat Cafe order and read the label off the tube a number of times. He wondered if he should tell Ryoga? Even Mousse? But he wanted to try it out first. If his curse lifted, then he'd tell the others.

Akane burst into his room. She was always angry. "Ranma, have you forgotten something? The order from the Cat Cafe? Shampoo is too busy to deliver it. You were asked to get it. Well?"

"Okay, I'm goin'," he said. "Jeez, Akane, chill out. I wasn't just taking a little break."

Ranma looked at her and she noticed what he was holding. "What's that?"

"Shampoo gave it to me," he said. "She says it's a cream to cure my curse. But I'm taking it with a grain of salt. She's promised other cures before that never panned out. But you know what they say, there's a cure for everything, somewhere..."

"Think about that later and get your butt going!" she ordered him. "This conference is generating a lot of money for the Tendo Dojo and we want it to be a success. Others many want to book the dojo for similar functions since we don't have any students at the moment."

"Why are they in the house? I thought it was only supposed to be in the dojo?"

"A lot more people showed up than Dad thought," Akane replied. "It's only for three days. They only come here for seminars, using the dojo; then they return to their hotels at night."

Ranma nodded, so it was like a convention hall, which the town didn't have.

The Tendo Dojo was renown for its martial arts, but lately, there wasn't much call for the Anything Goes School of Martial Arts, so if this conference was away to pay the bills, then he'd help out anyway he could.

Ranma passed the tube to Akane. "You keep it for the time being, Akane," he said. He winked at her. "And maybe I'll ask you to help me apply it."

Akane's eyes widened. "I beg your pardon?" And she kicked him out. "Pervert!"


Ukyo received a call. "Oh, hi Akane…Sure, no problem, a couple of more orders?" she said. "I'll send over my best delivery boy right now…" She hung up. "Ryoga, I have I job for you."

Ryoga looked up as he was busting the tables in the restaurant.


Designated as Ukyo's new delivery boy, Ryoga carried six more orders for the Tendo Dojo. He walked down a street next to the canal that ran through town.

And, here, albeit quintessentially, he stumbled upon his rival on his way to the Tendo Dojo. Ranma had an order from the Cat Cafe.

Ryoga felt betrayed, not for himself, but for Uyko.

"Traitor!" Ryoga said. "How dare he go behind Ukyo's back and order from another restaurant?"

Ryoga kicked at the order from the Cat Cafe in Ranma's hand. Ranma jumped out of the way. "Hey, man! What's your deal? The Tendo Dojo ordered from the Cat Cafe for the convention."

"Well, an order was just placed with Ukyo's restaurant for six more Okonomiyaki's. And I'm going to get to the Tendo Dojo first!" Ryoga held onto his order as he kicked sideways at Ranma. He made impact and Ranma bounced off the enclosure canal fence.

Ranma retaliated with a kick of his own and sent Ryoga's delivery high into the air. Ryoga watched it soar and then jumped to catch it before anything happened to it. If the Okonomiyaki were damaged when delivered, it would not only be his fault but it would damage Ukyo's reputation. And reputation was important to both a martial arts and a business.

Ryoga set it down carefully. "You'll pay for that!"

Ryoga charged Ranma for his hands drawn and fingers clawed. Ranma backed away. But his back hit the fence. That didn't stop Ryoga, however. His power pushed Ranma, and broke the fence. They fell into the canal and splashed into the water.

When they surfaced, Ranma took a large breath. His curse activated.

"Damn you, Ryoga!" he cursed out.

To be continued...