Chapter Five – The Encounter
Somewhere in the Mountains…
Kyo sat with his back to a tree, brooding over his last encounter with Yuki. The damn rat had beaten him with contemptuous ease, and it rankled. He had tried so hard, damn it, and Yuki hadn't even had the decency to take his challenge seriously.
He would change that. A week training in the mountains was just the trick. Upon his return, Yuki would be forced to take him seriously. He could do it. He WOULD do it! Determination surged through him. Springing to his feet, fists clenched he yelled "This time I will defeat you, Yuki!"
Kyo was startled, when at the same moment, another voice close by shouted almost exactly the same words, although they were vowing vengeance on someone named Ranma.
Ryoga had been going over the last fight with Ranma in his head. The pig-tailed martial artist had disappeared after only a few blows (read as: Ryoga had taken off in the wrong direction and had been unable to locate Ranma.) He had trained hard, and was sure it would pay off in the next time he fought Ranma – he if could simply find Ranma to fight of course. He was stronger now, and faster. This time he would show Ranma. This time he would avenge himself! "This time I will defeat you, Ranma!" He yelled to the heavens – just as another voice nearby proclaimed its desire to defeat Yuki.
Kyo cautiously peered around the tree he had been leaning against. He had been certain that he was alone in the forest, but this clearly wasn't the case. He saw another boy about his age with black hair held out of his eyes by a yellow and black spotted bandana, wearing a yellow shirt. A pack lay against a nearby tree, and the boy was looking in completely the wrong direction, muttering "I was sure I heard someone over there…"
Kyo, never one to waste time on pleasantries demanded "Whoever you are, get lost." The other boy jumped in surprise, and whirled around, fists flying into a defensive position.
"I already AM lost, idiot!" Ryoga snapped back without thinking.
Kyo shrugged and sneered "Well, go find yourself somewhere else. I need to train."
Ryoga shook his head "I'm trying to find that coward Saotome, who fled in the middle of a man-to-man fight!" He explained.
"So find him and beat him." Kyo suggested, bored. He didn't have time to listen to some one else's problems. Not when he had enough of his own.
"I CAN'T find him! You can't even begin to imagine the horrors I've endured, the pain I've experienced during my long search! But this time… This time I'll show him! I've trained hard. I know I can do it… I know I can beat him!" Ryoga ranted. Taking a deep breath, he continued "I WILL defeat him! I'll avenge my pride and punish him for the suffering his cowardice has put me through…" he trailed off, chest heaving with emotion. "CURSE YOU RANMA!" He roared, and slammed his fist into the nearest tree… which splintered into a million pieces.
To say Kyo was surprised at this display would be an understatement. Thunderstruck would be closer to the mark. He had never seen someone display such raw strength before – not even his Master, who focussed on style as the path to victory, not brute strength. Even Yuki fought with grace and style more than strength. That's not to say Yuki was weak. The damn rat held back on him, if the beating Kyo got from the half awake Yuki was any indication. But with this technique … Kyo's heart began to pound. If this technique could be taught, he would win for sure!
"Can you teach me to do that?" he blurted out.
Kyo's question jerked Ryoga from his pleasant daydream of defeating his arch-rival and pounding him into a pulp. He'd forgotten for a moment he'd had an audience for his display. "I thought you didn't want me around?" The lost boy said scathingly.
Kyo was now regretting his rude outburst earlier. "Look. I need to defeat that damn rat – my cousin - and take my rightful place among" he almost said the Jyuunishi, but stopped and said instead "My family. I, too, need to avenge my pride. If you help me, I'll help you."
"How?"
"You teach me that technique, and I'll help you find this Saotome guy, and make sure he stays until the fight is over this time."
Ryoga considered this for a moment, sizing up the boy in front of him. While he looked strong, and was obviously a competent martial artist, Ryoga wasn't sure if this person could be taught his Bakusai Tenketsu technique… but then he looked into Kyo's ruby eyes. He could see the determination in those eyes – the quest to prove one's self, to assert your self worth, and defeat your opponent no matter what it took. Ryoga recognised it, because he could feel the same flame burning in his heart. This boy was a kindred spirit. Ryoga made up his mind.
"It's a deal."
The two boys shook hands.
On the way to their respective homes, Yuki and Ranma sneezed.