The Dark Bow

Ina, Akane, and Mia were having lunch together again like the day before.

"Akane!" shouted a young man's voice. All three turned to see a young man wearing a usual school uniform, black hair, and a bandana that was yellow and had black stripes on it rushing towards them.

"Ryoga!" Akane shouted. Mia's eyes widened for an instant.

"Friend of yours?" Mia asked.

"Yes," Akane said happily, "this is Ryoga."

"Nice to meet you," Ryoga said happily, "and you are?"

"Mia Tome," Mia introduced herself.

"I'm Ina," Ina said happily.

"Where were you?" Akane asked, "lunch is almost over."

"I-I kinda of got lost," Ryoga said with embarrassment. Ina laughed.

"How can you get lost on school grounds?" she asked.

"He doesn't have that great sense of direction," Akane explained, "please don't be too hard on him."

"I can understand that," Mia stated, "after all, I know someone who has the same condition as you Ryoga."

"You do?" Ryoga asked.

"Yeah," Mia replied, "although, I haven't heard from him in a while. I hope he's okay." The other three looked worried.

"I hope he's okay," Akane stated.

"Me too," Mia said as she stood up, "if you'll excuse me, I need to go to the little girl's room." Mia packed up her lunch remains and left the group.

"I can't wait for the day to be done," Ina stated.

"Have plans with someone?" Akane asked with a sly wink.

"No," Ina replied, "I'm single."

"What you need to do is find a boyfriend," Akane stated.

"H-Hold on," Ina said with a little panic, "I don't think I'm ready for that." She then looked at Akane and Ryoga.

"Don't go getting funny ideas," Ryoga stated, "we're just friends."

"Then," Ina replied, "who is your boy friend." Akane's face shift from happiness to sadness.

"Akane," Ryoga said with a depressing voice. Then, an arrow whooshed by them and hit the tree. All three of them stood up.

"Whose there?!" Ina shouted. In the distance, they could see a young man wearing black pants, shoes, shirt, gloves, he had black hair, and he carried a black bow.

"Darkness is everywhere," the young man said as he approached Akane, Ryoga, and Ina, "it spreads with great speed to consume the light. I merely help it along. Goro Suzuki is my name." Everyone stared at him.

"Well watch where you practice!" Akane shouted, "what if you had hit one of us?"

"Then," Goro stated, "you'd be hurt." Akane, Ina, and Ryoga looked at him with shocked faces.

"That's a given!" Ryoga shouted.

"eh," Goro grunted, "don't worry. I will not be in this town long. I'm only here for the archery contest."

"Archery contest?" Akane and Ryoga asked.

"There will be a contest of archery held here soon," Ina stated, "I think it's in two weeks. It's for those from schools of Archery Martial Arts."

"Archery Martial Arts?" Akane and Ryoga asked curiously.

"Yeah," Ina replied, "there are plenty of schools that specialize in Archery Martial Arts. My guess is that Goro here is from the Abyss School of Martial Arts."

"You are correct," Goro stated, "I am. What about you? You seem to know a lot for a non-archer."

"My father trains me," Ina stated, "I'm with the Ichisano School of Archery Martial Arts." Goro stared at her for a little and started to laugh.

"There is no such school," he said while laughing.

"He just started it!" Ina shouted.

"A school just starting out has no chance of beating the Abyss School of Archery Martial Arts," Goro stated. He simply walked away laughing. Ina had formed a fist and it was shaking.

"Are you okay?" Ryoga asked softly.

"I'll show him," Ina said angrily and an evil aura, "I'll show everyone that a school that is just starting out can be just as good as a advanced school." Akane backed away a little.

"That's the spirit," Ryoga said nervously.

"Am I scaring you two?" Ina asked.

"A little," Ryoga and Akane said together.

******

Mia causally walked into the girls bathroom and stared into the mirror.

I can't believe that he's going to this school now, she thought, Akane and Ryoga. I wonder if they are together? I don't blame her looking for someone else to love. The train of thought was broken when some other girls came into the bathroom.

"Did you hear?" one of the girls asked Mia.

"Hear what?" Mia replied.

"Ina is going to enter the Archery Contest in two weeks," another girl stated, "people are already talking about it." The girls went about their business leaving Mia alone in the bath room. The school day ended and Ina was walking home.

"Ina!" Mia's voice shouted. Ina turned around and saw Mia running towards her.

"Mia?" Ina stated in confusion. Mia caught her breath when she caught up to her.

"I just heard that you are going to enter the Archery Contest," she stated, "is that true?" Ina nodded her head.

"Yes," she said seriously, "I'm going home to practice with my father."

"Is he your teacher?" Mia asked.

"Yes," Ina replied, "Sho Ichisano."

"Do you want any help?" Mia asked curiously.

"I don't think you can," Ina replied, "I appreciate the offer but unless you know martial arts then no."

"I know a thing or two," Mia said modestly, "so I might be able to help." Ina looked at Mia.

"I'm surprised," she stated, "you don't look like you do."

"Never judge a book by it's cover," Mia stated, "you never know what you'll find inside."

"I guess so," Ina stated, "but this is for my father and me. All you can do to help is to cheer me on." Mia smiled happily.

"Very well," she stated, "that's what I'll do. And I'm sure that Akane and Ryoga will join in the cheering."

"We will," Akane's voice came from behind them. Ina and Mia turned around to see Akane and Ryoga walking up to them.

"We will definitely cheer you on," Ryoga stated.

"Thank you very much," Ina thanked them.

"Although," Mia stated, "I would like to know more about that Goro Suzuki guy."

"Actually," Ryoga stated, "I do recall something about the Abyss School of Archery Martial Arts."

"What do you mean?" Ina asked.

"Their top student is that Goro Suzuki guy," Ryoga explained, "and he's earned the title of Dark Bow in the school. All bows are as black as night, but that title is only given to the top student of the school. He's not going to be easy to beat."

"That's alright," Ina said with excitement, "I welcome the challenge."

"Good for you," Mia said happily.

"Hey Mia," Akane stated, "do you want to come over to my house for dinner?" Mia stared at Akane softly.

"Sorry," she apologized, "but I can't."

"Okay," Akane said happily, "but you really should come over sometime."

"Yeah," Ryoga stated, "even though she was really bad at first, Akane's cooking has gotten a lot better." Mia smiled.

"That's great," she said happily, "practice makes perfect. Now, if you'll excuse me." Mia bowed and left the others.

"I wonder what it was she had to do?" Akane asked.

"Most likely homework," Ryoga replied, "after all, we are seniors and we are getting lots of homework now."

"True," Akane agreed. Then, black arrows struck the ground in front of them. They turned to see Goro standing there laughing.

"I want to see what you can do," he said with an evil smile, "time to fight."

"Wait a minute," Ina stated, "I don't have my bow."

"That's a shame," Goro stated, "cause I'm still starting this fight." He jumped into the air and more arrows soared at them. They easily dodged the attacks. Goro landed with no one between him and Ina.

"This isn't fair," Ina complained.

"That's why you should always carry your bow," Goro said as he rushed at her. Then, something flew by at the speed of sound and broke Goro's bow. Everyone turned to the direction where the arrow came from and saw a figure on a roof.

"Father!" Ina shouted. Sho then came closer to reveal him wearing a sky blue karate gi with a white belt. He held a bow in his left hand and had a quiver on his back.

"It's shameful to see someone from a school of Archery Martial Arts to attack one that studies the same art without her bow," Sho said seriously. Goro look infuriated.

"How dare you break my bow?" he asked angrily.

"And how dare you attack an Archer without her bow?" Sho asked in reply. Goro looked frustrated, trying to search for an answer. He then jumped onto a roof.

"We'll settle this at the Archery Contest in two weeks," he said before vanishing from sight.

"Father," Ina said happily.

"Are you alright?" Sho asked.

"Yeah," Ina replied.

"You're really good," Akane stated. Sho looked at Ryoga and Akane.

"These your friends?" Sho asked curiously.

"Yeah," Ina replied, "this is Akane and Ryoga." Ina pointed to the appropriate person.

"I see," Sho stated, "nice to meet all of you."

"Nice to meet you too," Ryoga stated, "you are really good."

"I'm the first Grandmaster of the Ichisano School of Archery Martial Arts," Sho stated, "it shouldn't be a surprise."

"Dad," Ina sighed, "we are only starting out though."

"I know," Sho stated, "but we will be just fine. I've entered you into that Archery Contest in two weeks. We need to train you for it." Ina nodded her head with excitement.

"Then lets go!" she shouted happily.

"Hold it Ina," Akane stated, "why not come over for dinner first?"

"Sorry Akane," Ina apologized, "but I really want to train for this."

"I know," Akane stated, "but can you please come over for dinner at least?" Ina looked at Akane, she seemed desperate for some reason.

"Dad?" Ina asked. Sho nodded his head.

"Yes go on," he said with a smile, "we'll start training tomorrow." Sho then bowed his head and left.

"Well then," Ina stated, "where is your house?"

"Follow me," Akane said happily. Akane guided Ina and Ryoga to her house.

*Mia*

She entered her room and locked the door as she did yesterday.

"He hasn't changed," she whispered, "Ryoga still has no sense of direction." Mia took a warm shower and changed into a young man. He stared at himself in the mirror.

What kind of man are you? he asked in thought, not being able to walk up to the woman you love and tell her everything. Then again, you told her why you left in that letter. Yet, I can't be reunited with her. He poured cold water on himself and turned into a young woman. She looked into the mirror again before changing into her pajamas and crying herself to sleep like the night before.

An archery contest takes place in two weeks and Goro Suzuki is in it.

Ina decides to join to beat him and start a reputation for her father's school.

What is Mia hiding?

Find out in the next chapter of. . . .

Ranma ½

Tragic Love

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