Chapter 21

Ranma stretched his muscles as he stood across from Ryoga who just had a large smirk on his face. Ranma smirked as well, mostly because he was hoping for a good challenge from someone who was trained by the old woman.

"The mummy must have taught you something for you to be smiling like that. I can't wait to see what it is." Ranma said.

"I wonder if you'll be thinking that way after I kill you. This new technique that your sensei taught me will finally bring you to your knees and make you pay for all the wrong that you're done to me." Ryoga said.

"Still blaming me for your own mistakes? You're worse than my father. Either way, let's just hope that you can last longer than a minute P-chan unlike at the fountain." Ranma mocked and got into his Boxing stance. Ryoga growled and did nothing but hold out his finger. He was confused but focused on winning the spar. On the sidelines, the Tendos, Genma, the Amazons and Kodachi were watching. Nabiki was confused about Kodachi's presence.

"How did you hear about this fight?" Nabiki asked.

"Actually, Shampoo invited me to see this. I don't know why but I am appreciative of the gesture." Kodachi said.

"As we discussed, I am being diplomatic when it concerns Ranma. Besides, haven't you ever wanted to watch Ranma fight someone good?" Shampoo asked.

"Actually, I am interested in seeing what he can do all out but do you believe that this boy can do so? While he is the son of a famous rhythmic gymnast, it will not be enough." Kodachi explained.

"Don't worry about Ryoga; he'll put that pervert in his place." Akane said with confidence.

"I'm sorry, I thought martial artist were talking?" Kodachi asked mockingly. Akane looked ready to blow a gasket but was stopped by Kasumi. Cologne stood in between the two before signaling the start of the match. Ryoga wasted no time in attacking, stabbing his finger at Ranma. Ranma bobbed and weaved around the assault before hitting Ryoga flush on the jaw. He followed it up with a front kick and then switched it to an axe kick. He finished the combo with an uppercut to Ryoga's jaw. Ryoga stumbled but caught himself and attacked again.

Ranma was confused at the same attack pattern that Ryoga was using against him. He kept trying to poke him with his finger as if that was going to hit him with his speed. Something else was bothering him. While he knew that Ryoga was tough, he was never this tough. He had hit with some pretty good combinations that would have knocked a normal person down. However, Ryoga just shook it off and kept coming. Is this what Cologne worked on?

Ranma ducked under Ryoga's attack and tossed him to the ground with a sweep, clothesline combination. Ryoga quickly got up but Ranma tossed him again with a hip throw. Ryoga was quick to his feet again and stabbed his finger at Ranma again. Ranma caught the wrist and twisted it. He forced Ryoga around before coming quickly in the other direction, making Ryoga flip onto his back. Ranma backed away from Ryoga and prepared for his attack. Ryoga growled as he scrambled to his feet before charging at him again.

On the sidelines, Shampoo watched the fight and was a bit confused by what Ryoga was doing. She turned to her great grandmother.

"Great grandmother, the training that you put Ryoga through, it was the Bakusai Tenketsu (Explosive-Breaking Point-Hole) right?" Shampoo asked.

"Very good, I was a bit worried when you said nothing about it." Cologne said.

"Well, I know that the exercise improves one's strength, stamina and gives the ability of a nearly invulnerable shield but why is he trying to stab Ranma with his finger?" Shampoo asked.

"Well, I may have told the boy that everything has a 'breaking point', including the human body, when I explained the exercise to him. He was happy about that information and tuned out everything else I explained. He believes that since he can see the 'breaking point', he can actually kill Ranma." Cologne said.

"But the Bakusai Tenketsu can't kill anyone. It's a move meant for construction and blowing up huge boulders." Shampoo said. To prove this, Ryoga drove his finger into the ground and sent some small pebbles at Ranma who dodged it.

"So are you telling me that Ryoga is going to fail in killing Ranma because he refused to listen to the rest of your explanation?" Kodachi asked. When Cologne nodded, Kodachi nearly busted a gut. How could someone be so stupid? Akane looked at Cologne with anger.

"You tricked Ryoga!" Akane exclaimed.

"How could you trick someone who didn't listen to the rest of the explanation?" Nabiki asked. Akane ignored her and faced the fight.

"Ryoga, the move that you learned, it does nothing! It does nothing!" she shouted at him. The two combatants looked at Akane after she shouted that. Ryoga looked at his finger and growled. He couldn't believe that he was tricked by that old woman. It didn't matter anyway. All of Ranma's blows weren't even slowing him down. Eventually, Ranma would tire out and he would be his. Ranma was thinking along those same lines but he was also thinking about the ability that Ryoga used. If he could blow the ground up like that, then he would be hit with the blowback, increasing his stamina and resistance to pain.

That's when it hit him. Ranma smirked and readied himself. He ducked Ryoga's straight punch and launched his attack.

"Kachū Tenshin Amaguriken!" Ranma shouted and launched a few hundreds punches into Ryoga's chest. Ryoga took the blow and caught Ranma in the jaw with a right. Ranma took the blow and spun around into kick, knocking him back. He charged at him again and launched another Kachū Tenshin Amaguriken in the same spot. Ryoga took the second barrage and grabbed Ranma's shirt. He drove a knee into his gut, making him gasp. He slammed an elbow down onto his back and drove him to his knees. Ryoga threw his finger at Ranma's back but Ranma dodged it. The ground exploded but Ranma used Ryoga as a shield. He flipped Ryoga onto his back and did a third Kachū Tenshin Amaguriken into the gut. This time Ryoga gasped as he felt those punches. He growled and kicked Ranma away. Ranma popped up to his feet while Ryoga slowly got up.

"I had to take a couple of hits but I've finally broken that defense of yours." Ranma said.

"What the hell are you talking about?" Ryoga growled.

"Your friend Akane should have kept her mouth closed or I would have never found out about the truth of that exercise the old woman taught. Man, she knows her stuff." Ranma said.

"Don't talk about Akane like that! What the hell are you talking about?!" Ryoga demanded.

"That exercise, I bet you had to go through a lot of pain just to master it. You take enough of those painful hits, you begin to not feel them right? You're like a freaking tank but even a tank can be destroyed. Just think about Ryoga, I've hit three times with my fists in the same area and you are just now feeling it." Ranma said.

"Damn it, I'LL DESTROY YOU RANMA!" Ryoga said as he charged. He threw a punch at his head but he just ducked. He reared his arm back.

"Yashi O Funsai! (Crushing Palm)" Ranma shouted. Ryoga gasped and was standing still. He gave out three grunts and took two steps before he fell flat on his face. Ranma let out a sigh of relief and sat down in the Indian position. Akane ran to Ryoga to check on him while everyone walked up to him. Cologne gave the sitting boy a sly smile.

"So how did you like my training?" Cologne asked.

"Thanks for that." Ranma said sarcastically. He then looked at Ryoga before looking back at the old Amazon. "Are you planning to keep training him?"

"I seriously doubt that. After that stupid girl blurted out what she interpreted, I doubt he will trust me again. I am impressed with your strategy after you figured out what was making Ryoga so indestructible." Cologne said.

"Well, Boxing has made me think a little better and watch what my opponent is doing." Ranma said.

"Are you telling me that I had nothing to with it?" Genma growled.

"While I agree that your 'run away and attack when they are least expecting it' tactic works, it's not a secret technique." Ranma said with a tone. Genma growled but did nothing. He just turned around and walked off. Shampoo and Kodachi helped Ranma to his feet.

"We should get you to Dr. Tofu, just to be safe." Kodachi said.

"Sure, that elbow to my back hurts a bit." Ranma said.

"Say Ranma, are you doing something this weekend?" Shampoo asked. Ranma looked confused by the question.

"Uh, no, not really." Ranma said.

"Good, as a thank you for giving you a better challenge, you can take me out." Shampoo said. Everyone looked at the purple haired teen with different reactions. Cologne and Nabiki had a smirk, Ranma and Soun looked worried and Kodachi, Akane and, surprisingly Kasumi looked a little upset.

"Well, I, uh…" Ranma said as he was looking for an escape.

"Oh no, it isn't like that. I've realized that I've never really had a tour of Tokyo. I was wondering if you can give me that tour, strictly as friends." Shampoo said sweetly. Kodachi didn't by it but she would be a hypocrite if she said anything. Ranma looked at Shampoo and smile.

"Sure, I don't see anything wrong with that. How about we meet at ten on Saturday and I'll take you to the city?" Ranma said.

"Great, I'll see you then." Shampoo said. As they walked, Shampoo sent Kodachi a small smirk in her direction. It was a coy look to Kodachi. Kodachi return a strained smile but she was a bubble of emotions inside.

'Okay Amazon, you want to play that game huh? Game on bitch… game on.' Kodachi thought viciously.

XXX

Ranma and Shampoo were talking as they made their way back to the Nekohanten. The little date that they went on was a pretty good one. Ranma showed her several spots that he knew, including Akihabara, Meiji Shrine, the Tokyo Skytree and Sensoji Temple. He explained everything as best he could and Shampoo paid attention. He brought her treats and they had lunch. They talked and got to know each other more than they did. He even learned that he would have to thank his father from stopping him from going to the Musk Dynasty or else he would be married. Either way, the two had some fun today and they enjoyed their time together.

Shampoo hung off his arm as the two laughed at some jokes they were telling each other. They fell into a comfortable silence as they neared the restaurant. It was around this time that Shampoo decided to talk to Ranma.

"Can I ask you a question Ranma?" Shampoo asked.

"Sure, what do you want to know?" Ranma asked.

"Do you like me more than a friend?" Shampoo asked bluntly. Ranma looked at her with the snap of his head and didn't see the crack that he tripped over. He groaned from the ground while Shampoo giggled. She knelt down to him and looked at him with a smile. "Sorry, I didn't think that my question would make you so nervous."

"Did your great grandmother put you up to this?" Ranma asked.

"No, this is a question that I'm asking for myself. As I told you when we reunited, that I do like you and that hasn't changed." Shampoo said.

"Look, Shampoo, I'm flattered but my focus is on my art. Besides, I wouldn't know what to do if I was in a relationship." Ranma said as he sat up.

"I understand that. You haven't had the best of role models but I think that you will miss out on something great. Besides, isn't half the fun of a relationship is finding out what's next?" Shampoo said with a smile. Ranma didn't really have an answer for that. He tried to talk but Shampoo placed a finger on his lips. "I'm not saying that you should lose focus on your goals but don't focus on them too much. You might miss something incredible if you do and when you realize it, it could be gone." Shampoo said. She then kissed the pig-tailed boy on the cheek and stood. "Think about it." were her last words before she walked into the Nekohanten. Ranma just sat there and held his cheek. Shampoo had given him something to think of and it would be a while before he got an answer.

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Authors' Notes: I apologize to all my reviewers. I've been so busy at the beginning of the year with my class that all my stories have taken a back seat. Lucky for me, I've gotten this free time to do something. Anyway, enjoy the new chapter.