Middle school-2 years before the story starts...
"Ranma!" The pigtailed boy waited patiently as he saw his challenger coming into the empty lot with breathless form. Ryoga stares with determination and rage.
"Yo Ryoga. Four days late but I am still here. You ready?" Ranma asks as he yawns from the sleepless days. All the more willing to end this match.
"Always. You will pay Ranma!" Ryoga meets his opponent. The staredown was intense. Both boys were waiting for the first move.
Impatient and eager to beat him into the dirt. Ryoga let out a howl before charging with his arm winding back. Ranma saw it coming.
The tired teen leaned to the right, Ryoga swing was too strong, his balance off.
Catching himself, Ryoga looked at Ranma with a glare but didn't see the incoming kick. Ryoga was in the air, his cheek broken and his body sent flying. Hitting against the concrete wall surrounding the empty lot. The impact created a web of cracks that broke the bricks instantly.
"Gah!" Ryoga's form crumpled underneath the bricks.
Ranma looked on with disappointment, expecting this to be more challenging. "C'mon Ryo. Didn't you say you would beat me into the ground?"
"Just... wait. I will make those words come true! Prepare to lose!" Ryoga roars out of the debris. His body was heating with battle rage. Charging with newfound speed and resolve. His fist was cocked back before being thrust towards Ranma's face. Ranma didn't see the attack coming and took the hit unexpectedly. His body skidded back a few inches. He looked at Ryoga with an unimpressed expression.
It was his turn, Ryoga was met with a fierce hook kick. Now starry-eyed, Ranma connects a quick combination of kicks making the fanged-teen kneel. Delivering the last kick making Ryoga's face causing his neck to snap sharply to the right before flipping over and landing on the ground.
"Ugh." Ryoga groans as he pushes himself back up. The strength in his lower body was gone. He took some hard blows to the head and body. His arms were his only method of continuing movement. He crawled after his opponent who looked at him with disappointment.
"Ryoga, you will never catch up to me. Instead of relying on your strength alone, try training. It did wonders for me." Ranma handed some advice from the begrudgingly patient teen.
"I...will..." Ryoga was losing strength, his eyes so heavy.
"Ranma! It's time boy. We need to continue your training." A man lands in the vacant lot the boys fought in.
"Yea I'm coming pops. Later Ryoga." Ranma departs the seething teenager with ease. The father-son-duo left the vacant lot, leaving an unconscious teen.
Minutes later after Ryoga woke up...
"Damnit!" Ryoga slams the ground with frustration. How could he lose?! He was second best to Ranma in terms of speed but his strength was his greatest asset. What did Ranma have that he didn't? Those attacks were more refined, he knew how to take hits. Compared to him, Ryoga was just swinging until his knuckles landed on their target. There was no form or technique.
"Marital arts..." Ryoga felt a hard reality settled in. It makes sense, compared to Ranma, Ryoga was just some thug with strength and endurance that he obtained from surviving in the wild as a by-product of his illness. However, those traits were outdone by the skill of his rival.
Getting up from the ground, Ryoga felt his odds against him. Besides, how was he going to get training? With his directional ailment, he couldn't do much.
"But wait. Ranma did mention he was going on a training trip, what if I went on one myself?" At the time, it sounded like a wonderful idea. To be able to train and progress in the arts more than ever.
"But mom and dad…" His parents wouldn't want him to aimlessly wander around the world. To ignore school and friends. To be fair, Ryoga had very little of the latter and he could hardly get to school by himself without spending a few days in the wilderness. Sighing while scratching his head, the young thug was overthinking this. Instead of picking the more complex answer, he decided to go with the simpler one.
"Time for my training journey!" Ryoga exclaims with his fist to the sky and fanged grin showing. This caught the attention of bystanders and on-lookers to see the excited teen.
Turning red from the attention, he bowed and apologized to everyone present before running off in any direction allowing his spatial illness to take effect. It must have been the fatigue from fighting because somewhere during his run cause had he blacked out...
Upon opening his awareness, he awoke to the sound of honk of a vehicle horn. Stopping short of breath, Ryoga looked around. He was in a city by the looks of tall skyscrapers and the urban environment. He founded himself confused as the people looked Japanese like him but spoke something else.
"Where the hell am I?"
"You are in Korea boy, Soul to be exact."
Another voice got his attention as it was a woman who looked to be in a hurry.
"Korea?! There is no way I ran from Japan to here."
"Well, this is Korea child. You seem to speak the language just fine. Are you lost? Do you have an emergency contact to get in touch..."
Ryoga tuned out her voice. What? No, he never being taught how to speak Korean before. As far as he knew this was his first time learning the language but this lady was saying otherwise.
Feeling a grasp on his shoulder, he looked up at the woman. "I am taking you to the police station."
"What why?"
"You don't seem to have anyone to come get you and look very lost. Until then, let's go."
"Now wait a moment ma'am. I am fine."
"Not buying it. Let's go."
Ryoga could only flinch under the woman's gaze as she took him to a nearby police station. It was like having his mother there to deliver firm discipline. Funny enough, while he remembers her voice, Ryoga forgot how she looked or old she was. It made it all the sadder realizing that he may never see her again nor his father.
"What's your name kid?"
"Ryoga Hibiki, ma'am." The teen says with certainty causing the woman to look at him with raised eyebrows.
"Japanese, so you weren't lying. I am Hyeong Young."
"Nice to meet you, Miss Young."
"Just Hyeong works."
With curtsy, Ryoga nodded and allowed himself to be taken by the older woman. The pair soon stopped by a high-class hotel with confusion, Ryoga asked her about the police station.
"We need to stop here first, you are a mess." Hyeong gestures at the teen. Realizing the state of his attire, Ryoga only winced at the smell of his blue tank top and sweat pants. It was in tatters from the fight with Ranma and most likely his unconscious travels from Japan to Korea.
"You smell horrible and it looks like you haven't bathed or eaten in days. We will stay at my place and when you are presentable enough we will go to deliver you to the police station."
"Sorry..."
Once they both went into the hotel. Strange, there was no receptionist or any staff members that he could find. Accompanied by the fact that everywhere they went, it was only met by silence. This feeling of being paranoid wasn't new to the teen as surviving in the wild does that to a person. Which he had many experiences due to being lost for days on end. Once they arrived in the room, Ryoga breaths a sigh of relief from the thought of cleaning up and getting something to eat. The woman showed Ryoga where all the appliances are from kitchen to bathroom.
"Thank you," Ryoga says as he enters the bathroom.
"Good, I am going to a nearby clothing store and once I come back we will eat."
"Thank you so much!" The teen bows.
"No need for that. Just get cleaned and have a towel wrapped around you. I can't stand to smell you anymore ."
Blushing in embarrassment, Ryoga closes the door and faintly hears the woman leave him in the hotel room. Taking off his clothes, he saw how dirty his clothes were. Removing the bandana that his father gave him. He set the clothes on the countertop by the sink and stepped into the shower. Turning on the water too hot, it took less than thirty seconds before the cool rinse turns into a warm bath. Washing his hands over his body, he thinks about this journey he set upon.
Most of his being was scared. Scared of being lost and to forever be lost. His parents were remotely the ones to care but they were always together. He didn't have someone to share that same struggle with. Ranma, though kind enough to guide him from home to school every day did not face the same problems as him. He was the closest person to be called a good friend, despite Ryoga's aggression towards him.
Back in Japan, he at least had the comfort of his culture, family, and friend.
This time, he was alone, in a stranger's hotel room taking a shower because the lady was kind enough to show pity for the teen.
"What had I gotten myself into?"
He didn't know what awaited him on this path. But he knew one thing: he wanted to be a martial artist. In hindsight, it was pretty stupid of him to go off running into the unknown letting his directionless curse overtake him. But he can't back out now, it was time to learn to take responsibility for his actions.
Once he finished his shower, he wrapped a towel to cover his dignity. He got out of the bathroom and calmed down. Despite his illness, he can make out the room. It wasn't hard to get lost in. Sitting on the edge of the bed. He waited for the woman's return. Half an hour had past and Ryoga was starting to get anxious.
The second thing he hated after being lost, was being alone.
"Calm down. Calm down." Shallow breaths followed by sweaty palms. Ryoga had close his eyes to focus on his breathing.
In and out. In and out. Deep breaths. Deep breaths-
Bang!
Ryoga snapped his eyes open to look at the door.
Bang!
"I know you are in there! Open the door! This is the police!"
Quickly, Ryoga got to his feet and opens the door. The teen saw two men in police uniforms, one holding out a badge.
"Hello kid, are you the reported child. The one named Ryoga Hibiki."
"Yes, sir I am."
"Do you have any identification? Citizenship ID or academic one?"
Ryoga shakes his head. This prompted the two men to grin.
"Good."
In a split moment, the cop attempted to tackle him but Ryoga saw it coming and dodged it but the partner was upon him.
Tackled to the ground, Ryoga gasp as his throat was being strangled. Struggling, he kicks the cops in the stomach and tries to get up before being hit on the side of the head by a baton. Turning around to see the first officer looking at him with an even wider smile.
"He's a fighter. Definitely worth a good amount."
With another strike, Ryoga rolls to the side before giving enough space to see both policemen.
"Why are you doing this?!" His fist was trembling.
"Sorry kid, it's just business." Both of them charged aiming to injure. The teen charged at them. He winded his punch, while easy telegraph, the second cop made the mistake of trying to block his face from the punch. His arms couldn't withstand the power and his face was hit.
"Shit!"
Before Ryoga could do anything else, he blocked the baton with his forearm. Leading him to grab the first cop's shirt and head-butting him.
"Fuck!"
Now was his chance to leave. He needs to go. Holding on to his towel firmly. He escapes the room, hoping his directionless illness would save him. Thankfully he managed to go down the stairs of the hotel before heading into the lobby.
"Ryoga!" The teen saw the Hyeong by the entrance.
"Miss Hyeong, we need to leave! These policemen are after me."
"What?"
"It no saves here." Ryoga runs to her, grabbing her hand. "Please we need to go."
"Okay, I know a place."
"Really?! That's great." Ryoga turns to take her outside of the hotel room.
"But it's not a place you will expect," Hyeong says as she reaches behind her pant pocket.
"What? Gah!" Ryoga could hear a zipping sound before electricity ran through his body. The numbing sensation behind his neck made him go limb before collapsing on the floor.
"Ugh..." Ryoga gurgles as saliva slips out of his mouth.
"Sorry kid. It's just business." Hyeong states.
The sound of footsteps got her attention as the "cops" came down to see her.
"What happened to you two?"
"The boy. That's what."
Hyeong got a good look at the injuries. The first cop had a broken nose and some chipped teeth from the headbutt. The second cop had a large gash across his cheek.
"How did he do that? There were no weapons in the hotel room."
"Just his own bare hands. With that kind of untamed strength, he could be worth a lot of money." The second cop says.
"He better be, the dentist isn't going to be cheap." The first spit out a few loose teeth. Then proceeds to walk over to the unconscious teen. Looking at the woman, the "officer" saw the taser she carried and used on the boy.
"Collect him. This is probably the best one yet. No identification and an immigrant. He has no close relatives or friends. Easily the best child we got." Hyeong commands the second cop who carries the unconscious boy.
The three left the abandoned hotel with the lost boy in their hands.
Somewhere in Japan-
"Hya! C'mon pops! Is that the best ya got?!" Ranma taunts his father. The man had been sent flying
"That's it, boy! You got too cocky now!" Genma leaps at him with grace but with a telegraphic punch.
"Prepare to lose." Ranma hesitantly pauses at the memory of Ryoga flashing in his mind. In the last second, he managed to dodge the punch but Genma surprised him with a kick to his chin. That follow-up was enough to make Ranma fly back into a tree.
"It's my win boy."
"Damnit, old man."
Genma laughs at his son's irritation before switching to a serious expression. "Get some rest, we will start again in the morning." Genma leaves his defeated son to his thoughts.
Ranma loses his scowl before glancing at the sky. He wondered how Ryoga was doing? Maybe he was getting lost again. That silly Ryoga. Always trying to find his way home.
"Well, nothing more than just thoughts. Gotta get something to eat though." Ranma rubs his stomach at the thought of dinner.
A day later-
Ryoga opens his eyes to the sensation of hunger. Getting up slowly to only stop at his restricted moment. Shackles at his wrist and ankles with chains binding them together. Confusion turned to fear as he looked around.
"Hello? Hello! Where am I?! Is someone there?!"
It was dark, but the cold metal meant he was in some form of confinement or room.
Naked, afraid, and chained. Ryoga was losing his nerves.
Eventually, he heard a noise, loud noise. Like people. People! Bagging his hands against the metal, his arms started to hurt. His futile effort stopped once he heard banging on the other side of the metal.
"Please someone!"
Another thud. "Shut up! Before things get worse for you."
Ryoga felt his heart sank. It was the people who attacked him and captured him. Hyeong Young, that woman. He gritted in anger. Tears formed in his eyes. He trusted her but to do this?! Why?
The metal in front of him slides open to reveal light. The chains in front of him were pulled forward much to his dismay and resistance. Once he was outside, blinded by the lights. When his eyes adjusted, he was shocked enough to be allowed to be pulled.
Hundreds of people were in seats dressed up in formal gowns.
The last tug of his chains made him look to see the woman who betrayed him.
"Hyeong Young!" Ryoga shouts with anger as he tries to attack her but was suddenly hit with a stinging pain on his back. Looking behind him, he saw a man with a cloak holding a whip.
"I'd suggest you obey before things get ugly Ryoga."
The teen flinched in pain as another lash hit him across his waist. Kneeling from the pain. He was giving in to despair.
"I present you a child fighter of Japanese descent. While he may not look intimidating. He possesses great strength. I offer him for black opal."
Hands were raised back and forth the bidding had increased each time. Ryoga tuned out the noise, only focusing on his pain and predicament. Eventually, the bidding ended with a man offering 150 Black Opals.
The next several minutes were a haze. Ryoga only remembered meeting the man. He wore a business suit, had gelled blonde hair and blue eyes.
"My name is Adam Baxter. I have purchased you as my fighter. Win my battles and I will grant you freedom. But until then, you will be under my tutelage. May I have your name?"
"I am Ryoga Hibiki, Mr. Baxter."
"Impeccable English. You are of Japanese Descent yet you speak so fluently. This makes your transition all the easier. Well then, shall we depart Ryoga?"
With a tired nod. Adam had guided the young teen towards the end of the building. They see Hyeong waiting for them by the entrance, she carries a bag.
"Here are your clothes. May we never see each other again."
Ryoga glares at the woman with all the hate in the world but I didn't faze her. Once he had enough, he follows Adam to the parking lot where he proceeds to put on the clothes he was given. A simple T-Shirt, pants, and shoes.
Adam opens the car door, gesturing for Ryoga to get in. The boy did so with reluctance but eventually did so.
"Your new life starts here Ryoga. Be sure to make the best of it." Adam states turning on the car engine and driving away from the auction warehouse.
Ryoga only listens as his thoughts were only consumed by one thing.
'I want to go home.'
Authors Note: This is my first fanfic, critique is much appreciated.
