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 14
"Could it possibly be? Did we finally make it?" Ranma asked as the train pulled into the station.
It had been one remarkable trip for sure. Ranma had never ridden in a plane before, and taking a flight across the better part of the Eurasian landmass was one heck of an initiation. All things considered, he would have preferred swimming across the Sea of China again; at least he got to keep himself plenty active when he did that.
The torture had not ended there however. No, first they had to take a train from the airport through most of western Germany. Akane and Kasumi thought it was all quite neat, if a little exhausting, and Ryoga was all too happy to please them with stories about his past (involuntary) visits to the country. Ranma on the other hand was left to stew with Mousse and Nabiki for company, not his idea of a fun time in even the best of circumstances.
Now however it seemed they really had arrived. Their destination was a sleepy little town, located in a sleepy little district named Breisgau-Hochschwarzwald. Ranma had no idea how to even pronounce that monstrosity of a word, let alone what it meant, and he did not care. It was there, in a small valley tucked away from human settlement that the tournament was being held. It was a really weird choice in his opinion, but then again it seemed like isolated mountains were magnets for elite martial artists and overpowered freaks; Ranma of course saw himself in the former category.
"Fahrgäste, die den Zug verlassen möchten, bereiten sich bitte auf das Aussteigen vor. Danke sehr."A male voice called over the speaker system in a loud but even tone.
Ranma turned over to Ryoga, who was already on his feet. Good thing they had one person in their group who knew some German.
"Does that mean what I think it does?" Ranma asked.
"Yeah, grab your stuff and get ready to move. This is our stop."
Ranma pulled his travel bag out from under his seat and quickly scooped up Akane's as well. The whole group began to quietly make their way through the central row out through the exit. They were quickly joined by many others, many of whom seemed to be foreigners as well. Presumably they were tourists who had come to witness the tournament in person.
Stepping out onto the station platform, Ranma took stock of what was around him. Not much, the green hills surrounding the town dominated the landscape. To be fair though, a small town in a rural community could never compare to the hustle and bustle of Nerima. Besides, it reminded him a little of when Genma used to take him for training in the Japanese countryside when he was a young boy. It was nostalgic.
"So what do we do now?" Akane asked as she made it out of the train after bumping into someone else.
"I don't really know. I guess we walk it." Ranma replied.
"Walk it? Do you even know what direction to go in?"
"Let's ask Ryoga. The direction he says we should go… we'll go the exact opposite."
"I heard that Ranma! You think you can just go and mock me?" Ryoga's fangs flashed as he yelled.
"Can you prove him wrong Hibiki?" Mousse smugly mocked the other man.
"Don't think you can talk bad about me and get away with it either Mousse! I'll break you in half!" Ryoga locked eyes with the male amazon and looked like he was about to charge him.
Kasumi looked on with concern. "Oh my, things are certainly going downhill very quickly are they not?"
Nabiki yawned. "You were expecting these goofballs to keep their act together after being forced to sit down for almost a day?" She whistled loudly at the boys. "Hey boys, maybe we should just follow the other people who seem to be here for the tournament? Preferably before they leave us all behind?"
"Yeah, will you guys stop acting like a bunch of idiots?" Akane complained.
Nabiki gave her younger sister an annoyed look. "You're not helping me here Akane."
And then it started.
"Na wunderbar. Noch verrücktere Leute."
"Aber nicht ganz so verrückt wie die letzte Gruppe. Sind das auch Teilnehmer des Turniers?"
Very soon a crowd of onlookers had surrounded Ranma and his companions and were giving them questioning looks.
"Uh, why are they looking at us like that?" Ranma looked around nervously.
"Great, now they think we're nuts!" Ryoga grumbled. "Ranma this is…"
"…all my fault. Yeah I know already. Can you go one day in your life without blaming me for everything that goes wrong?"
Bickering as they were, the pair was oblivious as a new figure approached them. He was an elderly man dressed in a plain but very sharp grey suit, his face framed by a fine silver mustache and a pair of piercing blue eyes which gave him a look of strength and vitality despite his bald scalp and stooped posture.
"Excuse me sir, you would not happen to be Ranma Saotome?"
"What is it?" Ranma asked rudely as he snapped to face this unwelcome guest in his affairs, it then dawned on him that a strange foreigner would normally not know his name.
"Ah good, you look exactly the same as from the photo I was given. I assume that man next to you is one of your teammates?"
"What's it to you old man?" Ryoga spat out curtly.
Unfazed, the man introduced himself. "My apologies, I am Egermann. Miss Bernstein sent me here to escort you to the complex. Follow me please; a car is waiting for us. We have little time to spare, so let us depart immediately."
Nabiki cocked an eyebrow. Well "Miss" Bernstein certainly went out of her way to be accommodating to her guests now didn't she? That was the one thing that had bothered Nabiki the most during the whole time before the trip. No matter how hard she tried to uncover information on the sponsor, she found nothing but vague references to past tournaments. It was almost like Rose Bernstein had not existed until about a year ago, but that was impossible. No woman that rich and well-connected could have just popped out of thin air… right?
Egermann guided them a few blocks west of the station where sure enough a car was waiting for them, a huge black and silver limo that gleamed in the midday sun.
"That's our ride?" Akane asked, feeling slightly embarrassed, "Seems a little much, huh?"
"You are free to walk to the complex if you wish young lady." Egermann looked at her playfully. "But I would not recommend it. Besides, you are attached to Mr. Saotome's team, correct? That makes you an honored guest, with access to services like this one."
"I could get used to that." Nabiki mused.
"You would." Ranma muttered under his breath. He turned to Akane "Stop worrying. This is what you wanted, right? Then let's do this. No regrets, okay?"
Feeling bolstered by his confidence, Akane's doubt vanished, replaced by a great smile. Egermann opened up the side door to the limo, and she entered the vehicle first. After they had all settled in, Egermann ordered the driver to start off.
The ride was very smooth and comfortable. Despite the fact that this was the third time in the course of a day that he had been stuck traveling, Ranma found this experience to be far more pleasant then the plane or the train.
"We shall arrive at the complex in less than thirty minutes." Egermann informed them. "At that time, Mr. Saotome must take his team into the Main Hall for official registration. All other guests may check in at the Visitor's Lodge to receive their rooms. Afterwards you can head down to one of the food courts for a meal."
"Main Hall, Visitor's Lodge, Food Court?" Mousse looked confounded. "Just how large is this place?"
"It is a brand new facility built specifically to host this tournament." Egermann replied. "Miss Bernstein spared no expense in its construction."
"A little over the top though don't you think?" Ryoga asked, genuinely curious. "Martial arts are serious business, but this seems to be taking it to a new level. Just what sort of woman is Miss Bernstein?"
"I cannot say much with any certainty." The older man said cautiously. "I have worked for the Bernstein Foundation for nearly a decade now, and yet have never met any members of the family in person. I can tell you one thing however; when she wants something… she gets it."
"Well that's not at all ominous." Nabiki said as she crossed her arms. Maybe she should have thought twice before pestering her dad to come along?
"I would not worry too much. After all Miss Bernstein did hold a tournament last year that went very smoothly from what I hear. Many of the participants from that one are returning to compete."
"Would that include Ryo Sakazaki?" Ranma asked hopefully. Kasumi perked up when she heard Ryo's name. She had been staying out of the conversation because she did not understand much English, but she wondered in what context Ryo had been mentioned in.
"I would not know that Mr. Saotome, as I am not responsible for those details. However you will be able to meet the other fighters at the Main Hall before the competition begins in earnest tomorrow. I am sure you can find out then."
Ranma sunk back into his seat. Now he felt a little uncomfortable. Just who (or what) would be waiting for him at this Main Hall? A while back he had boasted to Akane about how he was going to take out all of his competition, but that had just been a lot of hot air. In truth Ranma was very concerned about how he, Ryoga, and Mousse were going to fair among these other martial artists who were supposedly the best of the best. He had also made a promise to himself to uphold the honor of his school at all costs this time around. It was a heavy burden he had put upon himself, and Ranma had no idea how he was going to pull this one off. Happosai's advice seemed more and more reasonable by the second, and that was a scary thing for Ranma to accept.
But there was no turning back now…
"So now everything is set into motion."
Mukai looked upon the numerous giant TV screens with great interest, his eyes somehow able to track each of the images effortlessly. He took note as each team arrived at the Main Hall, studying their individual members, trying to gauge their strengths and weaknesses. It was such a diverse group, culled from many nations and representing nearly all of the major schools of combat. Humans really did show nearly unlimited potential, and that was why he could respect them despite their glaring flaws.
It was a shame that this would be their last hurrah before the end came.
Yes, it was cruel that the humans had to be wiped out, but necessary. That was the cycle of life and death that all beings, even one such as Mukai had to acknowledge. Nothing in this universe was eternal, but the promise of something even greater arising from the ashes of destruction gave all of the suffering meaning, and the New Age that was approaching would be glorious indeed. Mukai was certain however that humanity would put up a magnificent resistance before they finally succumbed, he expected nothing less.
There was one human in which he was particularly interested in. K', the boy who had been made into the shadow of another and yet relentlessly fought to break away from his wretched fate, his potential stood out even among the other humans. Mukai had challenged K' to a battle in a previous tournament, and while the Herald could have easily crushed his young opponent to dust if he had felt like it, he instead allowed K' to have a small measure of victory and a challenge to grow even stronger. The boy had predictably stepped up to that challenge and spent the time given to him to develop his powers to new levels. What would he be able to accomplish now? Had his hard work paid off, or was it a hopeless effort? Mukai intended to find out personally at the appropriate time.
"Enjoying the show Mukai?" a female voice called out from behind him. It was Botan; she had snuck into the viewing chamber with typical ease. Even a being like Mukai, who senses were far beyond that of any mortal creature, had trouble detecting her when she made it a point not to be noticed.
"You should watch this as well, to understand what we are dealing with. Look there for instance," Mukai pointed at the screen on the far left side of the room. "That is the Saotome boy who the Master asked for specifically. A very interesting young man, or should I say lady?" he chuckled as he thought about the Jusenkyo curse. Such a silly thing, but the hardships it had put upon the boy… perhaps it had allowed him to grow stronger as well? Was he another candidate for the New Age?
"I know full well who that fool is. You sent me on that mission to manipulate him remember? It was hardly worth the time in my opinion; he is far too young to be of any use."
"Perhaps, or maybe it will be his youth that will provide him with an extra edge. As I have stated to you so many times before, a blossom's life is brief, but still has value."
"Humph, well I guess there might still be some entertainment to be found in it." Botan lips curled into a wicked smirk. "The Master did entrust you with keeping track of the competitors after all. I have my own duties to attend to at any rate. I'll see you later then Mukai." She then departed as silently as she had appeared.
Mukai continued to watch Ranma as he entered the complex with his team. Yes, much potential lay in that one, it just needed to be properly developed.
"Now show me what you are made of young man! Rise, or sink into oblivion!" he lapsed into a bout of maniacal laughter that shook the very walls of his chamber.
"It's even larger than I imagined!" Akane gasped.
"They really did put a lot of thought into this." Kasumi concurred with her younger sister. "This Ms. Bernstein must be a very ambitious woman."
"Kasumi, that might well be the understatement of the millennium." For once in her life, Nabiki had no idea of what to make of the sight in front of her. In Nerima she had to deal with the bizarre on a daily basis, but this… what word could used to describe it? Sublime? Awe-inspiring? Magnificent?
Outstretched before them was a collection of buildings that in scale would not have been out of place in a large city like Tokyo. They were all made of light, cream colored stone and steel painted in a glistening white. All of them were dotted with hundreds of large glass windows. At the center of it all was a massive domed stadium that nearly blocked out the sun in the sky, its long shadow casting down on every person who was currently in the valley.
Egermann, who had already pointed Ranma, Ryoga, and Mousse in the direction of the stadium, was now escorting the girls to their living quarters.
"Yes, you ladies will be housed in the North-Western suites. That is where all the friends and family of the competitors are to be housed. It is a little bit of a walk, but I doubt it will be too much of a problem however."
"We appreciate all of your help Mr. Egermann." Akane smiled warmly at him. "If I may ask, what are you planning to do during the tournament?"
"I'm not quite certain yet. I have been instructed to report to Miss Bernstein for a special meeting with other members of the Foundation's staff, but beyond that I have no assigned duties."
"If you do have any spare time, would you watch any of the matches?"
Egermann chuckled. "I see where you are going Miss Akane. Yes, I would be proud to cheer for Mr. Saotome and his team if I have the opportunity. At any rate, I hope they do well."
"Thank you! It means a lot to us."
"I just find it wonderful that you support your boyfriend with such loyalty. That kind of commitment is rare these days."
"Bo… Boy… Boyfriend! No way!" Akane said frantically, waving her arms up and down. "You don't understand! He's a jerk, and a pervert! Why would anyone like that bastard? Oh, Ranma I'll get you for this!"
"Did I say something wrong?" Egermann looked on at Akane's tantrum with no lack of astonishment.
"Why is Akane so upset?" Kasumi asked Nabiki. "What did he say to her?"
Nabiki shook her head. "Oh, nothing much, just the same thing Akane always gets mad about: That she fell in love with a guy she can't stand."
"So we finally made it. I'm going to show them that just because you beat me once doesn't mean anything."
"I know. I want to show what I've got as well"
"Enough, let's just get this done with already." The other men nodded in agreement with their companion and walked forward.
"The Sports Team is going to win KoF this year for sure!" Lucky Glauber yelled out at the top of his lungs.
Ranma Saotome looked on at their display with no little amount of amusement. Two seconds after he entered the Main Hall he already encountered some weirdoes.
"Those guys are huge." Ryoga noted. "But what's up with the football motif on that guy on the left? And the purple windbreaker on the other one, does he actually fight while wearing it?"
"I sure hope we don't have to fight those guys." Mousse said with mock anguish. "I might die of laughter before I can beat them into a fine pulp."
Ranma turned serious. "Hey, let's not try to underestimate any of our opponents here. They could be capable of anything."
"Oh of course my glorious leader, how could I ever ignore your sage advice?"
At that moment Ranma truly regretted the no fighting policy present in the hall.
"You know, I just thought of something. Do we have any idea of where the signup station is?" Ryoga asked his companions.
"Didn't the old dude say it was straight ahead?" Ranma replied.
"But there's a fork in front of us."
Ranma looked in front of him. Sure enough the hallway broke off into two directions. No signs were present to clarify the situation. He scratched his head.
"Look at that, for once Ryoga is right when it comes to directions."
"The end of the world must be soon at hand." Mousse started snickering again.
With great effort Ryoga contained his anger, even though a vein prominently bulged from his forehead. "Hey guys, here's an idea. Maybe we should, I don't know, find out where we should go before we run out of time?"
"Alright Ryoga, calm down." Ranma said. It was hard to believe that the Lost Boy could still be so sensitive over even a minor ribbing. "We'll just ask someone, it's as simple as that. Like that guy over there."
Ranma pointed at an unusual looking fellow standing at the entrance of the left corridor. He looked Japanese, but his attire was like nothing Ranma had ever seen before. A red chest protector covered his torso, and his loose white pants seemed all the more odd by comparison. His spiky black hair, equal to that of any anime character, was kept in place by a red headband.
"Yo dude, could you help us out?" Ranma walked over to him. On closer inspection Ranma noticed the man seemed to be carrying something on his back. Was that… a giant boomerang? A guy like this would not have been out of place in Nerima, for better or for worse.
"YOU NEED HELP!" the other man screamed out in an ear-splitting voice. Ranma was taken aback, but decided to continue.
"Do you know where the signup is?"
"GO TAKE THE RIGHT CORRIDOR, THEN TAKE A LEFT. YOU CAN'T MISS IT!"
"Uh, thanks?"
"DON'T MENTION IT! I'M SHO HAYATE OF THE FU'UN SCHOOL OF MARTIAL ARTS! AND YOU ARE!"
"Ranma Saotome of the Musabetsu Kakutou style."
"GOOD! I LOOK FORWARD TO MEETING YOU IN BATTLE RANMA SAOTOME! LET'S SEE WHO HAS THE STRONGER STYLE! UOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOH!"
"Okay? I'll be going now." Ranma quickly bowed to Hayate and left to rejoin his team, grateful but a little weirded out all the same. Yes, this fellow would be right at home in Nerima… hopefully he would never find the place; Ranma's hearing would be gone in a week!
Meanwhile, Hayate could only think of one thing.
WHAT A NICE GUY!
"Man, this is amazing!" Pepe gushed. "I've never seen so many martial artists packed into one place, it's hardcore! I just wish Pupa could have come here as well, she'd d be really freaking out!"
"Keep yourself under control José." Lynn chastised him. "You don't want everyone to think you're a rookie or something."
Lynn simply could not understand why her teammate was getting so worked up. Yeah, some of these guys were big names in the martial arts scene, but they had yet to see what she and Billy were capable of. The Ryu Zui Ken style had more than proven its strength against top-rated opponents in the past, and it would continue to do so.
"Give me a break Lynn. Look at these guys! I've been following most of them for years! You know Terry Bogard is at this tournament as well? The Legendary Wolf himself, it's so awesome! And Tizoc! Did I ever tell you I saw his first match in Mexico City back when I was still in Middle School? I'd do anything just to meet those guys. Let them call me a rookie, I don't care!"
Billy smiled. "Well you certainly have a lot of enthusiasm Pepe, but what will happen if you have to fight one of your idols?"
"Come on Billy, have a little more faith in me then that. Don't confuse respect for nerves."
"Just saying Pepe, no matter how great these guys are, we have to be ready to take any and all of them down if it gets us answers about the Black Dragon."
"Hey is that Athena Asamiya? What a babe!" Pepe tried to get a look at the elusive pop star. She was even wearing a sailor fuku, very nice indeed Miss Asamiya.
"Why do I even bother?" Billy turned around and noticed a group of young Asian men walking around the hall looking very confused.
"He said left, right?" the boy in black and yellow clothing with a matching bandanna asked his pigtailed companion the red shirt.
"No he said left, nothing about a right. I know you have trouble with this stuff Ryoga, but try to follow me here."
"Ha ha, you know what I meant Ranma."
"You idiots! Stop the comedy routine and look for the turn." The one dressed in painted Chinese-style robes barked at the other two. His choice in clothes would be fairly notable alone, but those eyeglasses he was wearing were something else. Was he even a martial artist? Billy simply could not imagine how anyone could fight wearing those oversized specs.
"Okay Mousse… right."
"Damn you Saotome!"
Now maybe they were the competition, but Billy would be damned if he did not help them out, it was just the sporting thing to do.
"You boys need help?" he called out to them.
"Huh? You talking to me?" the pigtailed boy responded. "I'm no boy, I'm a man."
"He said boys Ranma, as in plural. You aren't the only one here you know." The bandanna boy aggressively countered. "Though I'm not a boy, I'm a man too."
"You're both borderline retarded!" Glasses scolded both of them again.
It was at this point Billy had to question just what he had gotten himself into.
"Okay, so what are you men looking for?"
"The signup station." The pigtailed boy, or Ranma as his friends called him, answered Billy back. "Some crazy guy with a boomerang told me…"
"Us!" the other two corrected him.
"Alright, I get the picture here. Signup? You need to go about a hundred feet ahead before you make a turn to the left. You then go down that hall until you hit the station. Can't miss it."
"It's that simple?" Ranma said. Even Ryoga had a better than even chance of getting that right… or not.
"That simple."
"Billy, who are you talking to?" Lynn said as she thrust her hands to her hips. Why did he always find a way not to spend more time with her? Not that she would ever say that out loud, but this was the most time they had been spending together in months! And these kids were ruining it!
"These guys?" Billy glanced over at Ranma and company. "Yeah, who are you guys exactly anyway?"
"Well I'm Ranma Saotome of the Musabetsu Kakutou School."
"Ryoga Hibiki, a simple wanderer."
"Mùsī of the Nǚjiézú, the strongest male warrior of my generation." Mousse said as he removed his glasses dramatically.
"You can call him Mousse though, everyone else does." Ranma looked at his teammate with an annoyed glare.
"Moose?" Pepe asked, joining in on the conversation. "How did get that nickname man? You have antlers underneath all that hair or something?" He laughed.
"Was that supposed to be a joke? I can only hope for your sake that you are better at fighting than humor." The amazon put his glasses back on. "I'll remember your face for later."
"Hey man, take it easy. I'd feel real bad if I had to deck a guy with glasses."
"That's enough Pepe. " Billy got between the two teens. "I won't stand for any of that." He turned to Mousse. "Please except my apology on behalf of my friend, sometimes he can be a little insensitive."
"Very well, I accept." Mousse was impressed by the apology. As amazing as it seemed to him, some foreigners apparently did have manners.
"We dodged a bullet there." Ryoga whispered to Ranma, who nodded in agreement.
"I should formally introduce myself as well. I'm William Lewis of the Ryu Zui Ken, but you can call me Billy. The charming young lady over there is Lynn Lee Baker, who is the current head of the school. Pepe here is a friend who's helping to fill out the team."
"Your school has only two disciples?" Ranma asked.
"No, I'm currently training the next generations of disciples." Lynn said. "But with the death of my grandfather there is only one other master of the art, but he's… he's missing."
"My fool of an older brother to be precise." Billy continued on. "We're hoping that this tournament might give us some leads on where he and some other people have disappeared off to."
"Sorry to hear that. Can we help?" Ranma said. This tournament, he realized, it meant a lot of things to many different people didn't it? It wasn't just about honor and glory.
"Don't worry Ranma, we can hold our own. Maybe you'll find out for yourself during the course of the tournament… if you sign up in time."
"Crap! Sorry Billy, but we have to get going! Nice meeting you though!" Ranma nearly fell over as he realized how much time he must have already wasted. He grabbed Mousse and Ryoga by their arms and dragged them off before they could protest.
"Strange group of guys." Lynn said as she watched them depart. "They're kind of cute though in their own silly way."
"You would never guess by looking at them, but those guys are strong." Billy looked on confidently. "We better watch out for them."
"Yeah I guess so," Pepe agreed halfheartedly. "That Moosy is full of it though…" he trailed off as something caught his eye. "Woah, is that Mai Shiranui? She really does dress like that in real life! I gotta see this up close. Wait for me mi chica bella!"
Billy and Lynn could only look on with exasperation as they watched Pepe chase after yet another nubile woman.
"Who's full of it again?" Lynn asked rhetorically.
Ranma continued to drag his team through the halls like a man possessed. It was insane, he had found the hall Billy had been talking about and was following it, but it seemed to go on for miles. After awhile there were not even any other people to be seen, as if the area had been abandoned. Had he taken a wrong turn?
"Ranma, let go of us!" Ryoga yelled, his body waving in the air. "I'm going to kick your ass if you don't!"
"Not if I don't skewer him first!" Mousse added.
"Save the threats for after we sign up. I mean do you two ever quit? I'm doing you a favor here!"
"Stop carrying them around you dumbass." A new voice called out. "Do you always treat your friends like ragdolls?"
"Who dares?" Ranma answered back as he came to a screeching halt. Ryoga and Mousse hit the ground hard as their momentum carried them forward.
"I… will… kill… Saotome." Mousse said weakly as he tried to collect himself. Ryoga meanwhile dusted himself off. He would save whatever words he had for Ranma (and they would be many) for later. Right now he wanted to focus on the problem at hand. He could not see who had insulted Ranma, but what worried him was that he could not sense them either. It would be naïve to believe that it was because the person in question was a weakling with no battle aura.
Ranma grew impatient. "Hey, show yourself buddy. If you make a smart remark about how I treat my friends, you can at least say it to my face."
"Why should I give you any courtesy?" the voice challenged back. "Here I was in this quiet little corner trying to take a nap and you had to come stomping around like a drunken elephant. But I'll give you a break, and by that I mean if you apologize immediately and recognize your own stupidity, I won't put you into traction."
"Don't waste your time on him Yong. This thickhead couldn't see his own faults if you shoved them into his eyes." Another voice now entered the conversation. Ryoga grew even more concerned; just how many enemies had surrounded them?
The mysterious men then revealed themselves, appearing from behind one of the many pillars that lined the sides of the hall, three in all. The first was a Japanese teenager with shaggy hair dyed bright orange, and dressed casually in a blue tank top and track pants. His bearing was extremely causal, as if he felt completely at home with his surroundings, and that he feared nothing from the warriors he now confronted.
The second man was a tall Asian with a cocky sneer and slicked back hair. He was dressed in a blue and yellow outfit that roughly resembled a gi. He didn't look Japanese however, and Ranma wondered where he was from and what fighting style he represented. Something about his manner was vaguely familiar to Ranma, as if he was missing something that should have been obvious.
The final man was a strange contrast to his companions. He was slim and delicate like a woman, with a face that seemed as tranquil as a secluded mountain pond. His clothing was immediately recognizable as that of a practitioner of aikido, a fighting art known for its precision and efficiency. He stood quietly behind his more brash partners; apparently content to let them do all of the talking.
"I'm Gai Tendo, master of the Total Combat System." The redhead proclaimed proudly, as if daring anyone to claim a more impressive accomplishment. "You seem to have a problem with my buddy Yong Song here." Gai gestured to his friend in the strange blue uniform. "So I guess that means you have a problem with me too."
"There's no problem here unless you want one. I'm Ranma Saotome, of the Musabetsu Kakutou Ryu." Damn, he had been saying that a lot today hadn't he? Except this time he derived no pleasure from it.
It was a bad situation. Ranma and his friends were stuck in an isolated location with little room to maneuver and some very hostile looking fellows blocking their path. He rarely shied away from a fight, but there were the more pressing concerns, like registering for the tournament before he got disqualified.
Gai meanwhile looked over Ranma carefully. A flash of recognition entered his eyes, and then he dismissively spat at the ground as he turned to his teammates.
"I remember this guy. He's the idiot who challenged Ryo Sakazaki in Tokyo a few months back. Saw it all on a local station. Got his ass kicked pretty badly for his trouble too."
Yong Song smirked and turned to Gai. "So how did he end up here? Was there a mix-up in the mail? And who are these losers he dragged along with him?"
Ranma wasted no time responding to that.
"Hey, I already said if you got an issue with me, say it to my face." He matched Gai's scornful gaze full on.
"Yeah, you can hate on Ranma all you want, but don't knock me until you've seen me in action!" Ryoga taunted. Mousse remained silent.
"They can hate on me all they want? Whose side are you on?" Ranma looked at Ryoga incredulously.
"Alright then," Gai said as he raised his hands up in the air, "I'll say it to your face and then some. You're a loser, a two-bit kung-fu wannabe. I hate guys like you, thinking you're so special. I'd take you to the mat in less than a minute and snap your limbs off until you begged for your momma to save you."
"I'd just knock his head off with a well-timed kick." Yong Song boasted
"The rest of your team looks like garbage too." Gai continued. "Snaggletooth over there should stop shooting off his mouth. As for Four-Eyes, I wouldn't trust him to cross a street without help, let alone win a fight."
"Guys, this has gone on far enough, cut it out." The slender man pleaded, breaking his silence. "This is no way to treat rivals. We must show honor to all those with the courage to compete."
"You're too nice Tak." Gai chided. "But what the hell, you're right. These losers have enough to worry about. We're done here." With that Gai and Yong Song started to walk off. "Tak" stayed behind however.
"I apologize for my teammates. I know it looks bad, but they are both well-meaning at heart. I would not have befriended them if they were not."
"Would have never guessed it based on that meeting." Ranma said.
"I appreciate your words though, you're alright pal." Ryoga added in.
"You have no need to thank me. I look forward to seeing you compete in this tournament. I am Takato Saionji; I hope that our teams can meet in battle at some point." He bowed to Ranma, Ryoga, and Mousse in quick succession. They returned the gesture in kind.
"Geez Tak, will you hurry up!" Yong Song called out from a distance. "We're going to leave you behind man!
"Sorry!" Takato called back. He bowed one last time to Ranma's team and then took off in a hurry. They stood in silence for a moment as they pondered what had happened.
"Very interesting." Mousse finally spoke. "I understand now. This really is a whole new world. The burden is on me to show my ability. If I want any respect, I am going to have to earn it one fight at a time. It's a long road ahead… but it could be a lot of fun too." He seemed to be off in his own little world, as if floored by the concept.
"For once I agree with you." Ranma replied. As annoying and obtuse as Mousse could be, he did have those occasional flashes of insight that made him effective as a martial artist.
"We should continue on, we still need to register." Ryoga said.
"Right." They pressed onwards.
Walking forward towards his destiny, Ranma now began to grasp just how much he still had to accomplish. His training, his previous victories, they meant nothing in the greater context of things unless he was ready to put them towards greater goals. To paraphrase what Ryo had said, the farther you went, the greater the stakes became.
And there were no higher stakes for Ranma Saotome than proving the power of his art.
Just a little longer, and it would all be his. It was hard to believe that after all of his plotting, the end was at hand. But Kyo Kusanagi was within his grasp, and Ash Crimson never allowed a good opportunity to go to waste. He lounged naked in his private bathtub, letting his thoughts wander as he soaked in the water. It had been so generous of Rose to install a bath for his personal quarters, not that she had much choice in the matter.
What a wonderful sensation it was, being on the verge of absolute victory; perhaps better than victory itself. Ash wondered if it would be desirable to draw this feeling out forever, but then decided against it. Pleasure was derived from its transient nature; to take that away would make it meaningless. But what about pain? Whether it lasted only a second or an eternity, it was always undesirable. Why was it that the good things in life seemed to have far less utility than the bad things? Existence was such a detestable thing when you really thought about it.
Ah, but that was the whole point of his quest. Reality, the tenuous strands that held it together were just begging to be cut and reformed to Ash's whims, but to do that he needed power, and the Sacred Treasures of Japan could provide him with that power. They had been forged to contain and seal the Orochi, a being that lived on a plane of reality different from that of mortals. As far as Ash knew, there were no other artifacts like them left in the world, their counterparts from other cultures either destroyed or lost over the passage of centuries. He had to admit though, he liked it this way. The owners of the treasures had been an interesting bunch; he had a lot of fun toying with them.
That Kagura girl, she had been so serious about her duty, it made it easy to play her for a fool. Just even give the hint that the Orochi might have been awakening from its slumber, and she was set into a panic. And the most delicious part of it had been that when her mirror was taken from her, it really did weaken the seal on the Orochi. Those who think too much about things set themselves up for failure, hopefully that was the lesson the girl had learned.
Then there had been Iori Yagami, a more difficult nut to crack, if only because he was rather unpredictable, a wild card, much like Ash himself. But even one as formidable as Iori had his weaknesses, in this case his curse. Drawn like a moth to the flame by the events of the KoF tournament, the corrupting power of the Orochi overwhelmed the heir of the Yagami once more, activating the Riot of the Blood. Under normal circumstances it would be suicide to take Iori on in that state, but Kyo Kusanagi had been there to soften Iori up first, and with the powers of the Yata mirror, Ash took possession of the second sacred treasure, the Yasakani no Magatama.
Now it was down to Kyo Kusanagi and his Kusanagi-no-Tsurugi, the blade that mortally wounded the Orochi eighteen hundred years earlier, and the treasure that possessed the rawest power. With its power added to that of the other treasures and Ash's natural abilities, there would be nothing that could stop him from completing his goals for a new world made to his own desires…
"You seem to be taking it easy. Are you sure that's a good idea on the eve of battle?"
Ash nonchalantly turned his head towards his visitor and coldly smiled. "Oh Miss Botan, a proper old lady like you should know that it's impolite to spy on a young man when he is indecent." He shifted slightly. "Unless there is something you would like to see?"
Botan brushed off Ash's crude insult and matched his smile. "Such small things are of no concern to me. You on the other hand, have a lot to be concerned about. Do you know just how many people are out to kill you this time? In fact several teams were formed just for that purpose. Your actions were not as discreet as we had hoped."
"It warms my little heart to know you care so much about my actions Miss Botan, but remember I am allowed to do what I please as long as I steal the treasure, per my agreement with your superiors. Besides, if anything I'm proud my fan club has grown so quickly. They can have a front row seat to my triumph."
Such a conceited little man, Botan thought. Useful in a limited role, but his behavior was so erratic that he was a liability in her opinion. Why he was tolerated by her master she had no idea. Surely there were other people who could fill in Ash's role and cause less trouble?
"Just remember your responsibilities Ash Crimson, and do not fail us, or you will pay with more than just your life."
"Is that all? I would like to finish my bath now if that's okay with you." Ash waved his hand at her as if he was dismissing a servant. Botan sniffed dismissively at his gesture but then disappeared into one of her portals. Ash was left alone in his thoughts once more.
Kyo Kusanagi, former World Champion and heir to the Kusanagi clan traditions. What an interesting challenge it would be to break him once and for all. Ash could feel his power churning deep inside him, growing with each passing second. The water in the bath began to boil from the green flames that engulfed him, and it took a great deal of effort to control them. Part of the problem of his newly increased powers was keeping them properly in check. Again, pleasure was fleeting, pain always lurking in the background.
Existence really was detestable… but for how much longer?
The setting was… acceptable. He took a long puff from his cigar as he looked out of the apartment window towards the rest of the complex. The bright sun peaked over the back of the green valley, the buildings aligned carefully not to clash too much with its natural surroundings. Yes, acceptable was the right word. Germany had never held much affection in his heart, it reminded him too much of his damn father, but he had to give these bastards credit, they had managed to construct an impressive setting to hold a tournament.
And Geese Howard would know a thing or two about holding tournaments.
"Billy, is everything in place?" said as he cast a glance at his trusted English lieutenant.
"Yeah boss, you don't have anything to worry about." Billy Kane kneeled deeply before his employer and sensei. "We registered as soon as we arrived, before the Bogards or any of their allies even showed up. They have no idea where we are currently, or why we entered the tournament."
"Efficient as always Billy, excellent work." Geese noticed that Billy had something he wanted to say, but was holding back. "Any thoughts you want to share Billy?" he asked with his typical imperious attitude.
"Boss, I have to know something. Why did you travel here with the team? You've been evading the question for weeks now, but as your Chief of Security, I think I'm obligated to know why you've exposed yourself to so many enemies. With me entering the tournament, my ability to coordinate your protection detail will be limited. What's so important here that it needs your personal attention?"
"Billy, your concern is noted, but you don't need to know anything. Secondly," Gesse's tone turned icy cold, "Never again imply that I'm incapable of defending myself without your help."
"Of course not Boss." Billy stumbled to correct himself. "But even an emperor needs his Praetorian Guard right?"
"Heh Heh, good save Billy. Quick thinking on your part." Geese's mood noticeably lightened, as if he had never been truly angry in the first place, but merely putting on an act.
Billy could not help but wonder if his boss had been testing him again. It was hard to tell with Geese. But it was that combination of cunning and menace that had propelled him to control over the most powerful criminal syndicate in the Southern United States. To assume anything Geese said or did in straight forward terms would be to invite your own demise.
"You are dismissed Billy. Rest up for the night; you have a big day tomorrow."
"As you wish Boss." Billy rose to his feet and exited the room. Geese once more stared out of the window, taking stock of his situation.
Billy had not been wrong about how dangerous this was, but nothing valuable in life was devoid of risk. Geese had learned that lesson long ago, when he had been nothing but a homeless punk trying to survive on the streets. His power, his wealth, his organization, all had been acquired by risking his life countless times, so how was this any different?
The power of the Orochi, it was finally within his reach. For so many years Geese's plans had been frustrated by one setback after another. First Terry Bogard had thwarted him when he directly entered the King of Fighters tournament to learn more about the nature of the beast, and then Kyo Kusanagi had destroyed his operation in California where he tried to create an alternate method to tap into the Orochi's energies.
After that all traces of the Orochi had disappeared, apparently sealed away by the combined efforts of Kusanagi and his rival Iori Yagami. How those two managed to put aside their hated for each other aside long enough to accomplish that, Geese had no idea, but left him enraged at the squandered opportunity. It was good fortune for those two men that they disappeared for a while after that, for Geese had been seriously considering ordering a hit on them in retribution.
But now fortune had swung in Geese's favor once more. The Orochi's power had reemerged, and not only that, someone had developed a method for safely channeling it, something that Geese's own research had at one point deemed impossible. That maniac Rugal had killed himself trying to do so, and Geese had to admit that Rugal had at one time been the strongest man in the world. But to think that the answer to Geese's problems was now in hands of someone else, it was infuriating!
No, Geese Howard always got what he wanted in the end, always. It may take him a while, but Geese prided himself on his patience. It was why he still reigned as a crime boss after two decades while almost all of his rivals had been wiped out. Billy's team would enter the tournament, and figure out who had organized it, because it certainly was not that silly Bernstein girl. She might very well be Rugal's daughter, but she had inherited none of his ruthless genius. Whether Billy actually won was secondary, though he had been ordered by Geese to try and eliminate as many potential threats as he could, be they the Bogards, the Sakazakis, or even Kusanagi if need be.
When the true tournament organizer showed his face, then Geese would strike. He was confident that he could wrestle the secrets of controlling the Orochi's power from whoever had created them... even if he had to throttle them within an inch of their life first. In the end, it was Geese Howard who would stand above all others, as it was always destined to be.
It would be the dawn of a glorious new age for man, and no one could stop him. Who would anyway? He was about to become a god, and even the foolhardiest of men would be apt to stand down in the face of that. Really, who would stand up to him? He could not even begin to imagine what kind of fool would even try.
"So I assume you are team captain?" the elderly clerk asked Ranma.
"Of course, don't I look a leader to you?"
"Let me answer that Ranma." Ryoga said with a big mocking grin on his face.
"No, you won't."
So this was signup. Sort of anticlimactic after everything else he had gone through to get here. It was nice to be officially entered into the tournament though. There was only one problem, what they would call their team? It was optional of course, but it just did not sit well with Ranma to have his team go nameless. Of course when he had tried to name the team after himself, Ryoga and Mousse went ballistic. But what other name could he come up with?
Ranma was so deep in thought he never even noticed who was in back of him.
"You just couldn't resist playing hooky, eh kid?"
Ranma turned to find out who said that. "Whose kid is playing hooky…? Ryo!"
"Didn't I tell you to wait a few years? That's what wrong with kids today, they never listen!"
End Chapter
Another month, another chapter. Things are going a little slower then I wanted, but it would be jarring if I simply began the tournament without establishing the scene first. I still think it's working out quite well though.
Also, I know I have some German readers, so I have a request for them. Were those little bits of dialogue in the beginning correct? I double checked, but I'm not fluent in the language. It's not a huge detail, but I am a stickler for accuracy in so much that it improves the story.
Which brings me too:
LukeShaehl: Yes, I have to agree with what you wrote. I did not think of it at the time, but that passage was probably the most OOC section in my fic, and it needs to be corrected. I'll edit it over the next month or two. Thanks for bringing that to light. Constructive criticism really is a writer's best friend.
So, the next chapter is due in another three weeks, look for it. Until then, take care!