Chapter 33
Ranma scored with a kick to his opponent. They resettled and waited for the referee. When he gave the signal, Ranma's opponent attacked him. Ranma dodged easily before connecting with a punch to the gut. The ref ended the match and awarded Ranma the win. This was the finals, which Ranma easily reached. Bowing to each other and shaking hands, Ranma made his way back to his sensei. While he wasn't challenged, Ranma did have fun at this tournament.
He entered the events that the other students entered only this was for those with advance skill. In the physical fitness event, Ranma blew the competition away. He did triple the amount as anyone else. In the forms event, Ranma used the two forms that Happosai taught him and the one form the he created. With his win in sparring, Ranma made a clean sweep of his events. After receiving his trophy, Ranma walked to the bleachers where everyone was waiting for him. Shampoo and Kodachi congratulated him with a hug and a kiss.
Both girls did well too. In the forms event, Kodachi beat out Shampoo and her fellow Amazon, Ling. The judges just found her form more graceful than Shampoo. It was something that Kodachi gladly rubbed in her face. In sparring, Shampoo and Lilac easily made it to the finals. Their match was the talk of the female division. It took nearly twenty-five minutes to determine a winner. Everyone was impressed and intrigued by the Amazons. In the end, Shampoo was the victor with a well-placed kick combo. Like before, Jade won in the beginners' level in sparring. Ling won the weapon forms event, showing incredible skill with a three-section staff while Lilac won for strength, destroying twenty bricks with her finger. It was a very eventful day for everyone.
Happosai and Cologne faced the group.
"We are very proud of all of you. You did your best and fought with honor. Be happy about your performance." Cologne said.
"I'll say. I was very impressed with your group." A voice said. Everyone turned to see a man with two men in suits flanking him. The fit looking man had brown hair and brown eyes. He wore a black gi that was tied by a tiger striped sash. He wore a pair of red fighting gloves with all the fingers cut off. On one of the sleeves of the gi was the symbol of the sun. "Still, I wonder if this tournament was really challenging to some of them, especially the pig-tail boy." he then looked at Happosai who was white as a sheet. He just smiled at him. Date and Shinto were in shock at who was standing in front of them.
"Holy shit! You're Kusanagi Saisyu, head of the Kusanagi clan and father to Kusanagi Kyo!" Shinto exclaimed.
"It is an honor to meet you sir." Date said with a bow. Ranma and the Amazons were confused but everyone else was in awe. They all bowed to the man who smiled at them. He faced Happosai again.
"It's been a while Happosai. The last time I saw you, I nearly burnt you to a crisp." He said with a tone. Happosai gulped and looked very fearful of the man. That's when his body expression relaxed. "However, I notice a change within you. I still know that you are very perverted but you seemed to gain some maturity." He then looked at Ranma. "Is this you student?"
"Not exactly. His father has taught him much but he is looking to create his own style. He has studied under several martial arts masters to create his own branch of the Musabetsu Kakutō Ryū (Anything Goes Martial Arts)." Happosai explained.
"Is that so? His frame leans more toward aerial combat but he uses Boxing and Aikido. There are great styles for the ground. If I may make a suggestion to you son, I would recommend that you study some Wing Chun. It would help you a lot if you wish to fuse your styles." Saisyu stated.
"Uh, thank you Saisyu-sama." Ranma said respectfully. Cologne then faced the man.
"So Saisyu-dono, you did not just approach us for nothing. Did you wish to ask us something?" Cologne asked.
"Like I said before, I was very impressed with a few in your group. I would like to give those few a challenge, bigger than this. I'm curious to see what you can really do." Saisyu said.
"What do you mean?" Ranma asked.
"I am holding a tournament in six months at the Kusanagi compound. I am inviting you and your Amazons elder to participate. What do you think?" Saisyu asked. Ranma was shocked but before he could answer, Happosai stepped in.
"Ranma will be ready for this tournament." Happosai said.
"I have two others who would like the challenge. I will be there as well." Cologne said.
"Splendid! Well, I must be going. I will see you in six months." With that Saisyu and his men left the group. Everyone was surprised that Ranma got an invite from Kusanagi Saisyu. Soun and Akane walked up to the group and looked surprised as well.
"Was that Kusanagi Saisyu? What did he want?" Soun asked.
XXX
"So, you groped his wife and he almost kills you for it?" Ranma asked with a sigh. Everyone was on the bus that Nabiki rented for them to travel. While everyone was in the front, Soun and Akane sat more toward the back. They were listening to the conversation that they were having.
"She was a very attractive woman with a nice little butt. What was I supposed to do?" Happosai asked with innocence. Everyone groaned at the man's attitude. Ranma them faced Date and Shinto.
"So, what can you tell me about this guy?" Ranma asked.
"Really? Have you never heard of the King of Fighters tournament?" Date asked.
"Ah, I know of that tournament. They always hold that in Hong Kong." Shampoo said.
"While Saisyu-dono is well known, his clan did not get the attention until his son, Kyo, represented Team Japan in the tournament." Kodachi stated.
"Saisyu-san is also the guy that helped Hakari Geo become the person he is." Shinto added.
"This guy trained Geo?" Ranma asked with surprise.
"Yeah. The Kusanagi clan is skilled in the art of pyro kinesis. When Geo discovered his ability, the Kusanagi clan helped him control it. You should be really honored Ranma. While Saisyu-dono is pretty cocky, he can back it up. If he is showing you praise, he must see some real skill in you." Date said. Ranma smirked at him. Maybe he should consider participating in this tournament. Seeing his face, Happosai got serious.
"If you are really going to attempt this Ranma, your training will have to be intense. I will need to speak to your current teacher to increase your training. It's time to test your limits and I mean really test them." Happosai said.
"You're not going to have me steal panties, are you?" Ranma asked with a glare.
"No, we are going to start learning how to access your chi," Happosai continued to talk about the training. In the back, Akane was starting to get annoyed. What was surprising was that Soun was getting annoyed as well. His reason was different from Akane's. While he would consider his time under Happosai hell on earth, the old troll never showed this much interest in him or Genma. He just sighed and waited for this ride to be over.
XXX
Entering the house, Akane quickly made her way to her room, stomping all the way there. Everyone heard the door slam but they ignored it. Ranma, Nabiki, Kasumi and Happosai entered later after saying good-bye to everyone. They entered with his trophies and were talking about where he was going to place them. Genma entered the room in his panda form and looked at the group and his son's trophies. Ignoring it for now, he walked up to Kasumi and pulled out a sign.
[Kasumi, you received a call. The number is on the pad.] The sign read. Kasumi thanked him and made her way to the phone. Meanwhile, Genma saw that Soun was not happy and wondered what was wrong. As they moved toward the common room, Nabiki was splitting her winnings with Ranma.
"I don't see why I have to split my winnings with you." Nabiki said with a pout.
"Hey, we negotiated a deal if you bet on me to win. Also, you lost the bet about how well Akane would do and if she would throw a tantrum. You know Akane and you should have known better." Ranma said with a smirk. As Nabiki handed him the money, Kasumi stepped out with a surprised face. Everyone sees this and wondered what was wrong.
"Kasumi?" she asked.
"That was one of the doctors at the tournament today. He was very impressed with my medical skills. He's offering me an apprenticeship and a chance to study medicine." Kasumi explained.
"Kasumi, that's great!" Nabiki exclaimed.
"But I can't take that apprenticeship. What about the household? I just can't just drop everything." Kasumi said. Nabiki looked at her sister in the face.
"Look Kasumi, you gave up a lot to take care of us. You took the role of our mother and raised us. I am very appreciative of your sacrifice sister but it is time for you to live your life. You've been given a chance here. Take it and go." Nabiki said. Kasumi looked at Ranma who nodded. Happosai nodded as well. Kasumi smiled at the three, a very genuine smile. She hugged her sister and the two males.
"Thank you guys, thank you for your support. I'm going to call the man back right now." Kasumi said and ran back toward the phone. Ranma could only smile at what was happening for Kasumi. She deserved it. As he turned to go to his room, he saw the face of Soun. It was as if someone took something important from him. Was he listening in to them when they were talking? If he was, was he actually upset that Kasumi was getting this opportunity? That just couldn't be. Soun wouldn't be upset for his daughter's happiness.
He walked up to his room, ignoring the look on his face.
XXX
An attractive woman, with shoulder-length, medium brown hair and light brown eyes sat in her seat watching the television. She wore the typical kimono of a Japanese housewife. As she watched the news, a reporter came on to talk about the tournament at the Tokyo Dome.
"On a lighter and interesting note, Kusanagi Saisyu made an appearance at the tournament today. The leader of the Kusanagi clan seemed to be very interested in a group of participants. The group consisted of those amazing Amazons who put on a show today. He also seemed very interest in a teen with a pig-tail. All we know about the martial artist was that he was representing the Musabetsu Kakutō Ryū that has a dojo in the Nermia ward. Whatever Saisyu wants with this group, might have something to do with his upcoming tournament at," the woman stopped listening but she was thinking about what was said earlier by the reporter.
'Could it be Ranma? I do believe that Genma's friend lives in the Nermia ward.' She thought. She continued to think and wonder what to do next.
XXX
Genma and Soun waited in the alley for their ally in humbling Ranma. Genma was the one spearheading this plot against his son. After hearing what Soun told him, Genma was actually excited. If his son could win this tournament, he could be set for life. He ran up to his son and told him to pack for a training trip. Ranma looked at him and actually refused his help. Genma at first thought that he was joking but Ranma told him that he did not need or want his help. Genma was angry and attacked his son. The fight was very one-sided as Ranma beat Genma.
After the fight, Genma would watch as Happosai and this Tae Kwon Do instructor train him. Happosai was showing Ranma how to use chi. The training was serious and Happosai was a tough taskmaster to Ranma. It only angered Genma more. Happosai never truly trained him like he trained Ranma. He could see that Ranma was getting stronger and more independent. What the hell made his son so much more special? He had great skill, Happosai said so himself. So why was Ranma receiving such important training that he was refused?
Was it all because Ranma wanted to create his own branch? Just because Ranma could spread the Musabetsu Kakutō Ryū? All he had to is marry a Tendo, run the dojo the way it was meant to be and take care of him. It was the reason that people had children in the first place. Who cares if he did things that would be considered wrong? It was a sacrifice that had to be made. If Ranma could not understand that, then he would make him understand.
Suddenly, the two masters were joined by their ally. It was Mousse.
"So, what did you bring us?" Genma asked.
"The answer to all our problems." Mousse said with a grin. He unrolled what he had. The three males gave off evil grins and they read the scroll.
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Authors' Notes: Sorry for the lack of updates. July has been a very busy month for me. Anyway, I hope that you enjoy the latest chapter and I will try to get more updates out.