Disclaimer: Ranma 1/2 is the property of Rumiko Takahashi and all associated licensers. The King of Fighters and it associated series are the property of SNK-Playmore and all associated licensers. This is not a work for profit. I claim no rights to the characters. This is a work of fiction.
Continuity for Ranma is mostly derived from the manga, with some of the anime sprinkled in for good measure. Continuity for the King of Fighters is a modified form of the current story, how that is should be explained in story, but I am willing to explain for those with further questions.
Enjoy!
Chapter 8
It was closing time at Ucchan's Okonomiyaki. Konatsu was busy sweeping up the floors and cleaning the kitchen, merrily humming a song as he did his work. In the corner Ryoga was sitting by himself, quietly watching the ninja work while he thought about his next plans.
What was he still doing in Nerima at this point anyway? He should be back at Akari's farm, spending time with his girlfriend and enjoying a quiet life in the countryside. Of course it would probably take him months to get there with his lousy sense of direction, but did that not really mean the sooner he went back the better?
Still, his lingering affection for Akane Tendo and his concern for his friend Ranma had kept him planted in Nerima for the time being. Well it was more his concern for Akane at this point, since Ranma had been such an unbearable ass lately. Okay, he was always an ass in Ryoga's eyes, but the past week had taken the cake, and relations between the two had dipped to their lowest point in months.
How could Ranma have been so reckless? Going off to challenge some professional marital artist he barely even knew? It was absurd! But maybe what hurt the most was that Ranma had not even asked Ryoga for help, not once during the whole ordeal. The most he had been able to get were those training sessions, and even then Ryoga had to suggest them first.
If Ranma wanted to do something crazy like that alright, but Ryoga wanted in on the action too! He really thought that Ranma had more trust in him than that, despite all the differences between them. And the less said about Ranma's behavior when Ryoga tried approaching him after the fight the better. That old, nasty, murderous rage began to build up deep in Ryoga's gut after that encounter. He had been spending most of his time since then at Ucchan's, living off of Ukyo and Konatsu's goodwill. It just made Ryoga even more miserable to think that someone else had to go out of their way on his behalf.
"Hey sugar, how are you feeling now?" Ukyo said as she came over to Ryoga's table. She had finished checking the day's profits from the cash register and was content to let her slave… er, 'paid employee' handle the rest of the grunt work.
"I guess I'm better."
"Look Ryoga, I know you well enough at this point to tell when you're lying about something."
"Well to be fair, I'm an awful liar."
Ukyo laughed. "That too, you do tend to wear your heart on your sleeve."
"What am I supposed to feel though? Things are terrible right now. I might as well just wander off until they blow over."
"You could, but you would be running out on your friends, and I think you're a better man than that."
Ryoga flashed with anger. "Can I even call Ranma a friend? I wonder sometimes. He's a first-class jerk, and he expects me go out on a limb for him while I'm supposed to sit around and put up with his crap."
"Your relationship isn't that bad. I know Ranchan would gladly do just about anything for you. More importantly then that, you might be the one person he puts absolute faith in when things are down." Ukyo put a hand on her cheek as she went off in her thoughts. "I wish Ranchan would believe in me as much as he does you. I sometimes wonder how I'm ever going to win over his heart."
Ryoga was still not satisfied by what he was hearing. "You seem to be giving Ranma a lot of leeway here. Didn't he act up around you at school today? You can really just let it go like that and forgive him?"
For just a moment, Ryoga could have sworn he saw Ukyo's eyes grow teary, but it seemed to pass as quickly as it came. "I can. That's the way Ranchan has always been for as long as I've known him. He can be really callous sometimes, and he does hurt the people around him because of that. But deep down I know he regrets it more than anything, and in the end he tries to make good on his mistakes. He just needs time to come around."
"Can it really be that simple?" Ryoga said through clenched teeth, his fangs showing prominently, making his expression look even more severe than it would have on a normal person.
"You know I've been thinking about why Ranchan has been so angry. I think I may have even figured it out." Ukyo said.
"Really? What's your take on it?"
"It's simple. You've beaten Ranchan in a fight before, right? I know of at least a few instances."
"Yeah, I've beaten Ranma before. When I first learned the Shishi Hokodan, I managed to knock him out in one blow. There was also the 'Mark of the Gods' incident. The other times… it wasn't so easy."
"Well what would happen after that? After he would lose I mean."
"What happened?" Ryoga seemed confused by what Ukyo was asking him. "Ranma always figured out a way to counteract my new abilities. I would lose… again."
"Exactly!" Ukyo said, her voice becoming excited. "You see, Ranchan's not angry about losing. He understands that's all part of being a martial artist. It more the fact that he feels he can't do anything to correct it. I mean, the guy who defeated him is probably back in America at this point."
"I think that's right."
"So it's not like Ranchan can just challenge him to a rematch and try to avenge his defeat."
Ryoga's eyes grew wide as he began to understand Ukyo's words. "I get it! Ranma wants to be able to prove himself against that guy."
"Yeah, Ranchan just feels the whole thing is incomplete. Like a story with no ending to it."
"But Ukyo," Ryoga grew worried as another thought occurred to him. "If it is like you say, and Ranma does want to fight that guy again, and he can't, then won't he just go on being angry?"
Ukyo nearly fell out of chair at that point. She really had not considered the consequences of Ranma being stuck in a rut without any end in sight.
"Well, maybe it will all work out for the best." she said hopefully. Ukyo and Ryoga both stared at one another for a moment, and then sighed deeply.
Konatsu continued to joyfully hum as he completed his work.
Ryo Sakazaki prided himself as a martial artist who tirelessly trained his body and mind to be ready for any kind of enemy attack. He was not however, ready for a very petite young red-headed girl with seemingly unnatural strength tackling him and then gloating about how she would get even. Honestly, he had enough weirdoes gunning for him as it was; he really needed this like a hole in the head.
"You thought you'd come here and humiliate me in my home, huh? I'll show you up good Sakazaki!" The redhead gloated.
"Do I know you Miss?" Ryo asked, feeling very uncomfortable that the girl was still straddling him. "If you have a problem with me fine, but at least let me get back on my feet before I accept any challenges."
Akane was appalled, which to be fair happened just about every couple of hours when it related to Ranma's behavior. The bonehead somehow found out Ryo was at their house, yet despite getting himself changed into a female, lacked the common sense to turn back again before coming home! Even worse, he was so excited he seemed oblivious to it even now. He had gotten enough public exposure over the last week, did he want to blow the cover on his curse and become even more of a spectacle? Akane had to think of something and fast if she was going to get Ranma out of this mess. Thankfully she remembered an old ploy that had worked once before.
"Ranko!" she yelled as she planted her fist squarely in Ranma's face. "How dare you treat a guest to our home so rudely!"
Ranma was knocked off of Ryo by the force of Akane's blow. Robert and Ryo gazed on in horror. They had seen plenty of female fighters duke it out with one another in their time, they had even fought many of those fighters themselves, but the sheer violence of the scene before them seemed way beyond the pale.
"Woah, woah, woah there ladies!" Robert intervened as he pulled Akane back. "I don't know what's going on here, but I don't like it one bit." He managed to pull her back (carefully, as he was a gentleman after all) and separate her from Ranma. It all happened so quickly the other Tendos had no time to react. Soun in particular took notice of Robert's movements. He possessed incredible reaction time and self-control. It was clear to Soun that this man was a master in his own right, despite not yet having seen him fight.
Meanwhile, Ryo got back onto his feet, and feeling concerned for the red-haired girl, walked over to check on her.
"You okay there Miss? That was quite some blow you took there. You're one tough cookie if I say so myself." Ryo said as he reached his arm out to help Ranma back up. Ranma had not yet shook off her daze from Akane's blow, and seeing Ryo's hand in front of her, grabbed it instinctively. After helping her up, Ryo looked her over.
Nope, I don't know this girl from anywhere, he thought. Regardless, he did have a vague sense of déjà vu about her, as if she reminded him of Ranma in some way. Were they related?
By now Ranma had reclaimed her wits, and realizing just who had helped her up, jumped back defensively. She gazed over Ryo carefully, preparing herself for the battle to begin at any moment.
"Ranko! Get a hold of yourself!" Akane pleaded. By this time, Robert had let her go, confident that she would not do any more violence. He scratched his head in confusion at just what was going.
"Who is this girl Miss Akane? Another one of your sisters?" Robert asked. As far as he knew, Soun only had three daughters, but you could never be too sure about these things.
"Oh no, Mr. Garcia! Ranko is my cousin! She's staying with us along with Ranma." She walked over to where Ranma and Ryo were still staring each other down.
"Ranko, I'm sorry I hit you like that," Akane began, trying her best to subtly cue Ranma to follow along with her story. Unfortunately, to an outsider it just looked like her face was going into spasms. "I know you're angry that Ranma lost to Mr. Sakazaki, and that as a friend you want to avenge him, but this is not the way to do it. Mr. Sakazaki came here in peace. He just wants to talk to Ranma, not have another battle! So please… clam down!"
As Ranma digested Akane's words, a strange thought poked into her head. Talk? What would Sakazaki possibly want to talk about? Ever since he first arrived in Nerima, Ranma Saotome had yet to meet the martial artist who merely wanted to have a "talk" with him. If some fighter showed up, it always boiled down to a confrontation. That was true even with his small circle of friends, let alone strange foreign martial artists.
"Miss Akane is right Miss… Ranko was it?" Ryo said, trying his best to sound conciliatory. "I'm only here to talk. And I'm sorry if I offended you over the fight with Ranma, but this is important. You wouldn't happen to know where Ranma is?"
"He's outside." Ranma said defensively. She hated lying, but it was an evil necessity in this situation. Come to think of it, that tomboy Akane had saved her from blowing the lid on his/her secret, and Ranma did appreciate that. She just wished Akane could have been less violent about it. Akane had been getting better about that, and now she had to go and ruin it.
"Well is he going to come in?" asked Ryo, sounding a lot harsher than wanted to.
"I'll go get him." Ranma said as she walked back out the door. Unbeknownst to Ryo and Robert, Ranma snuck around the side of house to get into the bathroom, so that she could use the hot water to change back. By this point in her life, Ranma was so efficient at such changes that she was done in less than a minute, and the now male teenage was back at the front door as if he really had just walked across the street.
"Hey there Sakazaki," Ranma said coolly, trying to act as differently from "Ranko" as possible to not further elicit suspicion. "I heard you had "business" with me. So what do you want?"
"Where's Akane's cousin? She's not coming back inside?" Ryo asked.
Ranma scrambled to come up with an excuse. "She said she didn't want any more to do with you." Ouch. That came out a lot harsher than Ranma had hoped it would. Maybe he would end up fighting Ryo this day, but he did not want it to be because he stuck his foot in his mouth again.
"Fair enough, but next time you see her, tell her that I have no hard feelings."
That was a far more diplomatic response than Ranma had been expecting. Ryoga would have been breaking the furniture by this point. Others would have been bringing the house down, literally.
"So, like I said Sakazaki, what do you want?" Ranma tried to turn the conversation back to focus.
"Just a few words with you, kid. Nothing more and nothing less."
"Fine, but we'll have this conversation in the dojo. Like real martial artists." In truth, Ranma wanted some privacy. If Sakazaki came to gloat or something moronic like that, Ranma did not want the Tendos or his dad to see it. And if things did come down to a fight, well there was no better place to have it than the dojo.
"Robert, cover me on this one." Ryo called out in English as he followed Ranma to the dojo. His friend nodded his head in affirmation, and when the others tried to follow the pair to try to listen in, Robert was there to stop them.
"Sorry to do this people, but I think it's best for those two to settle things alone. Too many cooks spoiling the broth and all that. Come on, we'll wait back in the living room. I'll regale your lovely family with stories about life in the Tuscan countryside."
"But Mr. Garcia, do you think Ranma… I mean Ryo will be okay in there?" Akane asked, her natural snoopiness mixing with badly concealed concern for her fiancé.
"Give Ryo some credit. He may not act like it, but he's an adult, he can handle it." At least I hope he can, Robert mentally tacked on. Still, the younger Tendo's concern for the boy was cute, even if she tried to hide it.
Ranma remained quiet the whole time it took to walk to the dojo. Ryo tried to make small talk, but was completely brushed off by the younger man. Ranma simply could not understand why this guy was acting so friendly to him. A few days ago Sakazaki had been doing nothing but trash talking during their whole fight, belittling Ranma's skills and experience as a martial artist. Now he was acting like it was nothing at all! Was it because he was an American? Genma had always told Ranma that Americans were strange fellows when it came to battle, their concept of honor being incomprehensible to the Japanese. Ranma had never taken it all that seriously, because Genma was typically worthless when it came to judging people's character, but he was starting to have second thoughts in this case.
"Come on kid, this is ridiculous already. I know you can talk. I know you like to talk. There's no sense in trying to play the stoic here." Ryo's comment snapped Ranma out of his train of thought. He turned towards the American, his opponent, his enemy, and for a brief moment considered issuing another challenge.
"Damn it! Why the hell are you here Sakazaki? You really came all the way here for a talk? What's the point of it? You beat me in a fight, and I can live with that. As painful as that was… I can live with that." Ranma paused for a moment to collect his thoughts. "But don't come here trying to act like a friend afterwards! We're not friends, we're rivals!"
"You say those words so seriously." Ryo seemed completely unfazed by Ranma's words. "You're still a kid and you don't yet know what's what in this crazy world. Stop trying to act bigger than you are, it's undignified."
"Stop calling me kid!"
"Why? You're a kid. You're green. It's not a bad thing, it just is."
Ranma was really furious now. If there was one thing that could raise his ire more than anything else, it was someone doubting his manhood. He was a man. He had trained too hard, suffered too much, and fought too many foes to be written off as a mere "kid" by anyone.
"I'm no kid! I'm Ranma Saotome of the Musabetsu Kakutou Ryu! I spent most of my life traveling from one part of Asia to another striving to become the best this world has ever seen. Don't go and tell me I don't know what's what. Not when you don't even know me!" Ranma was shaken after giving his speech. His throat hurt from yelling so loud, and he had probably scared half the neighborhood with his shouting.
Ryo shook his head and smiled. "Fair enough, Ranma Saotome." He emphasized the name, showing Ranma that he was ready to address him as an equal. "I'll admit I don't know you all that well, but I can tell you have a lot of potential. That's really why I came here. I want to know what you are planning to do with all that talent. Crashing news conferences just doesn't seem to be all that good a use of it."
"Maybe that was a bad idea," admitted Ranma, "but I wanted to prove to everyone that I could match Kyo Kusanagi."
"Kusanagi would have beaten you as well, Ranma. He didn't win those championships by being a slouch. On top of that, he can be pretty cruel in a fight, even if he is a good guy otherwise. With no hard feelings, he would have sent you straight to the hospital, and unlike me he wouldn't be paying you any courtesy visits afterwards."
Ranma looked down at the floor of the dojo, curling his hands into tight fists. "Was I really that off? Did I screw up that badly? I really thought that with all I've managed to accomplish these past few years, I was the man to beat."
"Look, don't sell yourself short Ranma, because you are strong." Ryo assumed the tone he used with his own students. Running your own karate dojo in a rough neighborhood of a large city gave you insight into how to give advice and perspective to headstrong teens, and that was what Ranma desperately needed right now.
"You think so? That's what I thought too. I was beating guys with powers that didn't even seem human, so I figured I could handle just about anything." Ryoga, Happosai, Taro, Herb, Saffron. They had all been formidable enemies, and there had been other worthy opponents as well. But what if they were only the surface of a greater world of which Ranma had only begun to explore? The whole idea troubled him.
Ryo shook his head. "There are a lot of guys out there with powers and techniques that seem to defy reason. I've seen more than my fair share. You beat one, and then you find out there are a dozen others who are even more powerful than that guy, all of them just waiting to take a crack at you. Still, I'll give you credit, if you had been just a little more focused and a lot less conceited you probably would have beaten me."
"It was that close?" Ranma was astonished by Ryo's comment. The Kyokugen master had managed to neutralize just about every move he had tried using.
"If I had your talent back when I was your age Ranma, my life would have been a lot easier. I was a weakling back then, at least compared to you."
Ranma could hardly believe what he was hearing. Sakazaki was actually abasing himself? "I don't believe that. No guy who could beat me in a fight could be that weak."
"I'll tell you a little story. This isn't something I share with just anyone I meet, so you have to promise me you won't go talking about it to other people."
"On my own honor, I swear I won't say nothing!" With Ranma, that was the most serious promise he could make.
"Alright then, that's good enough for me." Ryo closed his eyes as he drew back into his memories.
"You see when I was a kid I was learning Kyokugen from my dad, just as he had learned from his dad, all the way back to the beginning of our family's history. It was the responsibility of all male offspring in the Sakazaki family to learn Kyokugen, and by that time I was the sole heir to its traditions.
"I was no good at it. No matter how hard my old man pushed me, I just couldn't get the techniques down. He never said anything to discourage me, but I could tell he was worried if the school was going to be able to survive another generation the way things were going. I saw myself as just one big failure.
"Then Robert came along, and at least I had someone who I could practice with. Robert was kind of like you Ranma. He had that natural gift for the art. He would beat me in sparring matches all the time and my dad grew even more worried because of it."
"Well, you just kept on training until you got stronger, right?" Ranma wondered where this story was going. It was clear that Ryo was no weakling now!
"It wasn't quite that straightforward. You see, when I was ten, my mom died. No, to be more precise, she was murdered."
Ranma nearly gasped at that revelation. He knew how much it had hurt the Tendos to lose their mother to sickness. He could not even begin to fathom what it would be like to lose his mother after being separated from her for so many years. Hell, as much as he was loath to admit it, losing his father would be devastating as well.
Ryo could see Ranma was moved by his words. "Yeah I know, terrible stuff right? But I'm hardly the only person to ever have bad things happen to them. My mom used to say, "If you could see everyone else's problems, you'd go running back to your own." And she was right on the money about that one. I'm not telling you any of this to gain sympathy. I'm trying to make a point.
"After my mom died, my dad went after the people who had killed her. He left my little sister and I behind because he was worried that we would become targets too if we followed him. The dojo closed, Robert had to go back to Italy to live with his family, and the relatives I ended up getting sent to were nice, but very old and sick. They had enough trouble providing for themselves, let alone two young kids. After a few years, I dropped out of school and found work in construction. Even at a young age I could pass for an adult, so no one ever questioned me about what I was doing, but it was still rough times.
"When I was fifteen, I decided to start street fighting for extra money. I hadn't trained seriously in years, and the toughs and wandering martial artists who plied their trade in Southtown's underground fighting scene had no mercy for a green punk trying to make a fast buck. I got my ass kicked so many times during that period; I lost count of them after a while. The worst memory I have was when Yuri, that's my sister, found me passed out in some back alley after losing a fight. I had to reassure her that everything would be okay, and then I had to go off for another day of work.
"It was at that point that I realized something. This wasn't about me anymore, what I felt. This was about survival. My survival, my sister's survival, the survival of my family's school of martial arts, they were all in question. All because I had been trying to live up to some standard that only existed in my head. It was all self-imposed. It was just like my dad had said to me years before, "A man's strength cannot be known only by his fist." So I redefined those standards. I was going to win because at that point, losing was no longer an option; having doubts was no longer acceptable. And wouldn't you know it, I started to win. My technique improved, and people started to take notice of Kyokugen Karate once again.
"I won't bore you with all the details of the rest of the story. Robert came back to the U.S. when he turned eighteen. Not too soon after that, I was reunited with my dad, and we reestablished the Kyokugen Dojo. Along the way I met a lot of interesting people, beat up some very nasty fellows, gained revenge for my mother, and poured just about every cent I had into running my school. But most importantly of all, I survived. Everything that I was fighting for survived."
By this time, Ryo had almost gone off into a trance as he told his story. Ranma simply stood there, not really sure what to say. Finally, something dawned on him.
"What does it all mean, Ryo?"
"Heh, it could mean a lot of things. I have my own answer to life at this point, but it's only applicable to me. You have to figure out your answer for yourself. I'll tell one thing though, when you find it, you might very well become the finest martial artist of your generation. I can see it already."
Ranma did something at that point he almost never did. He bowed. He did not even realize it at first, but the reaction seemed so natural. Most of the adults he had come across in his short life had seemed to be either fools, hypocrites, or criminals, and because of that Ranma Saotome had grown to be rather cynical about his elders in general. But this man, Ryo Sakazaki… he admired him. He seemed to be the sort of martial artist Ranma wanted to grow up to be like.
"Don't bow to me." Ryo said, feeling very uncomfortable about it. "What I said wasn't all that special. You see from this point forward, we're equals, and rivals. I look forward to the day when we can next battle, Ranma Saotome. Train yourself, clear your mind, and then challenge me with your full power. We'll see who comes out on top then."
"I won't lose Ryo." Ranma said, having risen from his bow, his normal confident smirk back on his face. "You'll see Ryo Sakazaki; I'll beat you next time for sure!"
"Hey, don't get cocky there kid! I'm not going to slack off either." Ryo stretched a bit, as if to show he was already training. He did however concede to himself that he would have to do a lot of training if he was going to keep ahead of Ranma.
"Didn't I tell you to stop calling me kid?" Ranma yelled at Ryo. They paused for a moment, and then started to burst out in laughter.
"Well, I've said my peace. See you around Ranma." Ryo began to turn back to the dojo's exit.
"Ryo, wait! I still have to ask you one more thing!" Ranma called out.
"What?"
"Prize fighting, I know now why you originally went into it, but why do you still compete? You have your own dojo, and your pride. It seems pointless to fight for the enjoyment of others."
Ryo chuckled at the younger man's remarks. "You're looking at the thing all wrong Ranma. I don't fight for the amusement of others. It's not about the money either. In fact it's not all that profitable despite the rumors."
"Then what's the reason?"
"Because I like to go out there and see how I stack up against the competition. There's no better way that I know of to meet elite martial artists then at those tournaments, particularly the "King of Fighters" tournament."
"King of Fighters?" What kind of tournament was that Ranma wondered?
"It's the biggest tournament of them all, where only the very best fighters enter. You know those four World Championship titles that Kyo Kusanagi won? That was at the KoF tournament."
"Have you ever won one of those tournaments?"
Ryo scratched the back of his head. "Not yet. But I haven't given up. I'm sure there's another KoF tournament around the corner, and this time Kyokugen Karate will dominate it!"
"Maybe I'll join it as well!" Ranma was very excited by the prospect. He could fight Ryo again, and promote his style to the whole world at the same time!
"It's not that simple. KoF is invitation only, and you're kind of young to be entering it. I mean, I know a lot of teenagers who have competed in it, but I've never really liked the idea. Maybe after you graduate high school you can participate."
"Graduate high school? That's almost two years away! Besides, school is stupid. Why waste my time there?"
"You will stay in school." Ryo's face turned very serious for a moment. "I never had a chance to finish school, remember? Don't blow that opportunity Ranma. Running a dojo is serious business, literally. If I had been able to study and get an education, I could have saved myself a lot of heartache at times."
"You're really serious about that?" Ranma eyed the older man suspiciously. Genma had never emphasized book-learning as important, but then again look how much trouble that fat panda had landed himself in over the years. Maybe there was merit to it all.
"Yeah, so promise me you'll stay in school so you won't end up a big blockhead like me." Ryo smiled sadly as he said those words.
"Alright Ryo, I owe you that much." It would be hard though, Ranma thought. Furinkan was a crazy place, and he would have to balance his rivals and fiancées with his studying. But a promise was a promise.
"Okay then, let's go back into the house, it's getting really late." Ryo slapped Ranma on the back and motioned to return to the Tendo house. The two walked back the whole way in silence.
"Yeah Karman, I know it's a big favor I'm asking of you, but I need our luggage in the room packed before we get back to the hotel." Robert talked into his cell phone. "Why am I late? Ask Ryo, it was his idea… No Karman, I don't want you to dump him into Tokyo Bay for me… yet." It was going to be a rough night.
Akane was slouched over on the couch, feeling very tired. Nabiki was trying her best to follow along with Robert's conversation, but failing miserably as her English skills were shaky at best. She really should have been paying more attention in class. Kasumi had gone off to do some late night house cleaning (dirt never sleeps), while Soun was playing shogi with Genma, who had snuck off during Robert's storytelling to change back into a man. By the time he had made his grand entrance, everyone else had become so engrossed in other activities that they did not even acknowledge his presence. He ended up having to gain Soun's attention by smacking his over the head with a sign.
"Ranma and Mr. Sakazaki are back." Kasumi announced as she entered the room.
"About time, what could those muscleheads have been talking about for so long?" Nabiki groaned.
"Wuh?" Akane was roused from her fatigue by the mention of Ranma. "They're back? Are they okay?"
She had heard Ranma shouting earlier, and then silence for what seemed at least a half an hour. While Akane did not want to admit it out loud, she was worried that Ranma had gotten into another tussle with Ryo and lost, but decided that she had to give both men more credit than that. Yes, Akane Tendo was once again giving Ranma Saotome the benefit of the doubt. It seemed like it was becoming a new habit of hers, and she had to admit she was growing comfortable with it.
"Look for yourself tomboy." Ranma joked as he entered the room. Akane stuck her tongue out at him, but then broke into a smile.
Robert had just finished up his call. "Geez Ryo. That took you long enough. Not that I didn't mind the company around here." Robert took an absent glance at Kasumi. "But do you realize how late it is? Of course you don't, you're not the one driving us back to the hotel you bum."
"Sorry about that Robert."
"You… You're sorry?" Robert's mouth went agape. "No clever comeback? No snide insults? Now I have to wonder if you're alright."
"Roberino, everything is fine. Let's go."
If Ryo was calling him stupid nicknames, then Robert had to concede that everything was fine.
"It really is a shame to see you two go." Kasumi frowned as her voice was unnaturally sad sounding.
"Like I said, we'll keep in touch Ms. Tendo." Ryo waved as his headed down the hall.
"Ryo," Ranma called out one last time. "Remember what I said."
"Remember what I said, kid." He called back. Ranma paused for a moment before he realized what Ryo was alluding to.
"Crap! I have to do my homework!" Ranma raced to the stairs that led up to his room. This was going to an even harder promise to keep then he first thought!
"Homework? What's gotten into the boy?" Genma asked as he raised his head from his game. Soun took the opportunity to cheat, and Genma's attention shifted from his son as quickly as it had came.
"I wonder." Akane said aloud, still confused. What in the world could those two have been talking about?
Later, after Ryo and Robert had left, Akane went up to Ranma's room to find him huddled over his schoolwork. She knew it would be rude to interrupt him while he was studying so hard (the first time Akane could ever recall such a thing), but her curiosity got the better of her.
"Ranma?"
"Yeah Akane?"
"What's going on here? I mean what happened in the dojo earlier?"
"It was nothing, just man talk. Girls wouldn't understand, even tomboys."
"Why I never! Ranma Saotome you are a piece of work…" Akane cut short her tirade when she noticed just how happy Ranma seemed. "You were pulling my chain, weren't you?"
"Yeah, sorry about that, I have to taunt you once in a while, for old time's sake."
"But really Ranma…" Akane wanted to get back on subject, but Ranma anticipated that.
"I promise I'll tell you one of these days. Just not right now, okay?"
"Well I guess. Good night then." Akane turned to the door.
"Akane? Can I ask you one thing though?"
"Okay. What is it?"
"Do you ever think that sometimes, just maybe, some adults can be cool?"
"I'm not sure I really follow you."
"It's nothing, good night."
Akane left Ranma's room even more confused than when she entered it. Still, he seemed to be back to normal, and for that much she was extremely grateful.
"So what words of wisdom did you give to the tyro?"
"Huh? Oh, it's none of your business." Ryo replied curtly.
Robert fumed over that remark. It really was a pain in the ass to be friends with this guy.
"Yo Robert."
"What? You want to tell me to stop dating your sister again?" Robert's goodwill was about all exhausted by now.
"You put up a lot from me, don't you?"
"What brought this on?"
"It's nothing. Just thanks, for all the help you gave me during this trip."
Robert sighed. "It's nothing, what are friends for?
"Though if you could stop dating my sister…"
"Don't even try it."
End Chapter
So ends the first arc of this story. I was quite pleased how this chapter turned out. Hopefully Ranma and Ryo's interaction did not come off as forced. Above all I aspire to give my characters natural sounding dialogue. Much like everything else however, it remains a work in process.
A point of interest for those who are interested in Ryo's backstory, the way it's described in this chapter is very close to SNK's version of the canon. Just made tweaks to one or two details in order make it sound more logical, nothing more. The rest of Ryo's story can be found out by playing the Art of Fighting and King of Fighters games, so there was no need to go over every point in grueling detail. I think it kind of rambled on a paragraph longer then it should have anyway.
Next chapter comes two weeks from now. I need some time off to write more and keep ahead of what I'm posting online. To make up for this somewhat, I submit to you something I found that sums up Ryo and Robert's friendship perfectly:
you tube .com/watch?v=nduWamVcNqY&NR=1
Until next time, take care!