Chapter 25

Ranma just sighed as he walked around the park. He was not really feeling that good today. The reason was because his plans had hit a little bump. A week ago, he had said his good-byes to his teachers at the Aikido dojo and the Boxing studio. They understood why he left and were cool with it. They all wished him well with his style. Since then, he began to look for a teacher that would teach him Muay Thai Boxing with very little success. He did his research about the style and knew that it originated in Thailand. There weren't many schools in Japan that taught the style. It was a disappointing search.

Ranma really wanted to learn the style, finding it a very powerful art. Still, he couldn't travel such distances to study it, especially since he had to help Happosai with his students. He wondered what he was going to do. That's when he saw a couple of kids looking at something with awe on their faces. He took a few steps to see what they were looking at. There he saw a middle age man throw some kicks at a hanging ball. What was really amazing was that this guy was doing several kicks, at several angles with one leg. After a while, he dropped his leg and bowed at the kids who all cheered.

Ranma was interested and made his way over to the guy who was taking down the ball.

"Excuse me." Ranma said, catching the man attention. The man turned to face him. "Hi my name is Saotome Ranma and was interested in what you were just doing."

"Oh, my name is Tae-Hyun, South Korean native. I was just practicing the art of my home country." He explained.

"Your country's art? I've never seen kicking like that. What is your art called?" Ranma asked.

"It is called Tae Kwon Do."

XXX

"Tae Kwon Do, huh? That is actually a much better choice that Muay Thai for you." Happosai said. Everyone was sitting at the dinner table eating. Ranma had just informed the short man that he had just gotten a man to teach him the art.

"You think that it's better?" Ranma asked him.

"So far, you have studied Aikido and Boxing. You are creating a style that allows you to be evasive but to attack with power and speed. Tae Know Do will further increase this with your style. Those who practice this style are known for aerial combat, which you still show from time to time." Happosai explained.

"Well, I'm glad you think that it's great. While I would have liked to learn Muay Thai, I think that this Tae Kwon Do will work out fine." Ranma said. Akane suddenly scoffed at him. Ranma just sighed and ignored the girl but he knew that she was going to talk anyway.

"I think that it's a waste of time to learn so many things. You should be happy with what you know and just improve it." Akane said.

"And that is why you will never increase as a martial artist. The Musabetsu Kakutō Ryū (Anything Goes Martial Arts) means what it says. You do anything and everything to grow as a martial artist. Your father and Ranma's father were taught that philosophy. Ranma is just doing the same and is doing it well. If you believe that your current level is enough, then I am very glad that Ranma will be the future of the Musabetsu Kakutō Ryū." Happosai said.

"Master, that was uncalled for. Akane is a skilled martial artist." Soun said in defense of his daughter.

"If you believe so, then that is you. I, on the other hand, do not. If she wishes for me to respect her skills, then she must show me that she is just as dedicated as Ranma is." Happosai said and continued eating. Akane was not happy about what Happosai said but she did not comment or make a move. She would make the little perverted troll eat his words that she promised.

XXX

It was a pretty dull month and half in Nermia. Happosai continued to train teenagers, which had grown by two. Nabiki was pleased with it and kept putting the word out about the dojo being used. She did let it be known that Happosai was teaching and not her father, which made the man cry. With a steady flow of money coming in, Nabiki kind of reduced her many rackets. With Ranma and Happosai working, she really didn't need the money to keep the place up. She still did it when she needed some money of her own. Akane was picking up her training as well, hoping to teach both Happosai and Ranma a lesson. She did the same katas and the same exercises that she was always doing.

Ranma was having a time learning Tae Kwon Do. Tae-Hyun was a harsh taskmaster but he gave good and clear instructions to help him. He was glad for the Boxing training because his stamina was high. He would need it for all he would need to do with all the kicking exercises that he was doing. Tae-Hyun had made comments that he was a very quick learner and becoming a little better at the art. Ranma just continued to learn. He had also been spending more time with Shampoo and Kodachi outside martial arts. He was still very new to this stuff but both girls were patient with him. He was also very confused because they were both cool with it. From what his friends told him, things were going to get worst for him if he didn't make a choice. So far, nothing was happening.

Today, things did get a little interesting. Word got around that there was a Dojo Destroyer going around town and taking dojo signs. Everyone was wondering who this guy was. What many did not know was that the rumor of the Dojo Destroyer was coming from two people, Tendo Soun and Saotome Genma.

"This is a brilliant plan my friend." Soun said.

"Yes, with this plan, we can bring your daughter and that ungrateful son of mines together." Genma stated. Soun jumps onto Genma's shoulders and they covered themselves in black robe and black mask. The two came up with this plan when it looked like that Ranma was enjoying his time with the two other girls. They saw that this pissed off Akane and assumed that she was jealous. They felt that this would bring the two closer and that Ranma would begin to see Akane in the same light.

"Our plan will not fail." Both men said. Suddenly, a shadow fell over the two. Both men were confused and turned to see who it was. They were wide eyed at what they saw.

XXX

Ranma and his friends were eating lunch when Genma and Soun came running into the school yard. They were covered in Band-Aids and looked very beat up.

"What the hell happened to you two?" Ranma asked.

"Ranma, the Dojo Destroyer has taken the sign!" Soun said.

"I thought you guys made that story up just so Akane and I would get closer?" Ranma asked with a smirk. Both men paused and looked at him with surprise. "You guys should never drink when you're planning something stupid. That's probably how this 'join the schools' thing came about."

"Enough of your disrespect boy, this is a serious situation!" Genma shouted.

"Wait a minute, are you telling me that there really is a Dojo Destroyer? And you two lost? What the hell is wrong with the both of you?!" Ranma's voice grew. The two started to cower a little at his growing anger. "How in the hell did two masters lose to one man?!"

"What is going on here?" Akane asked. She had seen her father and Ranma's father cower in his presence.

"Your father and mine just lost the Tendo Dojo sign to the Dojo Destroyer." Ranma said with a mocking tone.

"I thought that was a made up rumor by them?" she asked.

"It was but apparently there was a real Dojo Destroyer and these two morons lost the sign." Ranma said with sarcasm.

"That's enough of your mocking boy. We have scheduled a rematch in order to get the sign back. It is up to you to get the sign back and clear the name of our failure." Genma said.

"It's now my responsibility to clean up your mistakes? Aren't you two the masters of the Musabetsu Kakutō Ryū? Are you admitting that you're not as strong as you claim to be?" Ranma asked with a mocking tone. It greatly angered Soun and Genma.

"It is your duty to the school! You will help get that sign back!" Soun shouted.

"Shouldn't it be a Tendo's duty since it is the Tendo sign?" Ranma asked calmly.

"The pervert is right. I will get the sign back." Akane added.

"No, it is Ranma's duty to help the schools and he will do it now!" Genma stated loudly. Ranma sighed as that dismissal would not go over well with Akane. As he predicted, Akane whipped out her mallet and drove Genma into the ground like a pike. She looked at Ranma with a glare but he did not say anything to her.

"I'm going to handle the Dojo Destroyer. Just don't get in my way." Akane said. Ranma nodded to her and she stomped off to get ready. Ranma just sighed and made his way off to class.

XXX

Akane was in her gi as she faced off against the Dojo Destroyer. The tall and large man had the signs that he took from each school around his neck like a chain. Ranma, Genma, Happosai, the four students and the Tendos stood on the sidelines to watch. Happosai made it pretty clear to the Dojo Destroyer that if the first student lost them he would fight the second. The man agreed with a confident smirk. Akane got into her stances and readied herself. The man stood tall and waited. The fact that he didn't put up any type stance, pissed her off. It was just like when Ranma did with her. Akane was the first to attack, taking to the air to attack with a flying side-kick. With surprising speed, the man pulled out two of the signs and caught Akane in mid-air. She was able to block but she winced at the force behind it.

She dropped to the ground and tried to attack with a punch. The man brought the Tendo sign out, which made her pause. He used this to kick Akane away. He then pulled out some signs that were tied with a rope. Using it like a whip, he caught Akane in the side with it. Akane winced again but was quick to recover and charge forward. She again reared her arm back with everything she had. Again, the man used the Tendo sign to stop her. Akane growled and tried to kick him but again she was forced to stop as he used the sign as a shield. The man then grabbed her and threw her toward the wall with some force. Akane gasped as she hit the wall and slid to the ground.

She struggled to get back to her feet and faced the large man. She growled and charged at him again. The man had a small smile and dodged her punch this time. He grabbed the back of her gi and tossed her back to the wall. He threw three sign at her and pinned her to the wall. Akane struggled to get free but she could not. Because of this, she was declared the loser of the match.

"It isn't fair! He cheated by using the sign!" Akane complained.

"The match was an 'anything goes' match. It means that he has the right to use everything in his arsenal to win. Do not embarrass yourself any more than you have now." Happosai said. With that said Ranma stood up and made his way to face the large man. The man saw that he would not be as easy as the girl and looked like he would be taking him seriously. When the match started, Ranma was quickly inside his guard and blasted the large man with a spinning side-kick. The power of the kick surprised the man and stunned him. Ranma was not done and started launching several kicks from several angles. The kicks were hard, fast and difficult to anticipate.

The Dojo destroyer managed to get out of the way and threw several signs at Ranma. Ranma duck and dodged out of the way of the projectiles and was right in his guard again. He attacked with his fists, hitting him with three, four and five hit combos. He then used the Kachū Tenshin Amaguriken, hitting him with several punches to the chest and stomach. He jumped into the air and finished it with a spinning hook-kick. The Dojo Destroyer was sent to the ground with swirls in his eyes. Happosai checked him over and declared Ranma the winner.

Everyone cheered for Ranma's victory as the pig-tailed boy retrieved the sign and handed it back to Soun. Everyone was happy to have the sign back. The only person who was not cheering was Akane. She was angry, very angry. Kasumi turned to see her fist clenched and turning white. She tried to place a hand on her but Akane shrugged it off and took off running from the dojo. Everyone was confused by that action. Ranma sighed and knew that this could be a problem in the future. He didn't know how right he was.

Away from everyone's eyes, Akane released a loud screech of frustration and anger. She kicked and punched anything and nothing around her. She couldn't believe it. How could she have lost so badly to that cheater? She was stronger than him and she felt that the Dojo Destroyer knew it. It was the only reason he would use the sign. It didn't matter if it was an 'anything goes' match. She should have won and showed everyone there that she was still one of the best martial artists in Nermia. But that did not happen and Ranma got all the glory again.

Why was he so much better? Why was he the one that everyone came to when there was trouble? He got all the praise, all the training and all the attention. She hated it. She hated how she got thrown to the wayside for that jerk. She hated that he got so much more respect from people who should be respecting her. She was getting sick and tired of it. There was going to be change and it was going to happen now. She made her way into the house and made her way to Genma's room.

She wondered what Ranma would do when he was confronted by his mother? She bet that it wouldn't be a happy reunion.

XXXXX

Authors' Notes: Sorry that this is late but I was busy with my classes. Learning how to use Adobe Flash Professional is a bitch. Anyway, enjoy the new chapter.