Disclaimer: All characters portrayed in this story are owned by their
respective owners and creators. I don't own any of them.
This story draws ideas from anime and manga of all the series
involved.
A mix of the Street Fighter arcade continuities will be used, but
mainly from the Alpha series and takes an alternate route from SFIII.
This is part of my Life and Times crossover series. This is the sixth
chapter to the First Knight arc.
C & C welcomed.
First Knight 6: Journeys Beginning and Ending
Shampoo ignored the pair of eyes that followed her around as she
wiped the tables down. She endured the mocking gaze only out of
respect to her great-grandmother. However, that didn't mean she had
to be happy about it. ""
""
"" Taro replied without looking away from Shampoo,
knowing how much it irritated her to be babysat.
"" Cologne muttered as she entered the restaurant.
Shampoo's mood lifted as she caught sight of her great-grandmother.
"" Cologne commanded as dignantly as she could
muster inside her great-granddaugther's arms like some rag doll.
"Sorry, great-grandmother," Shampoo replied meekly in japanese.
"Don't give me that. I heard you speaking Chinese just now. You're
getting lazy. Perhaps going back to China will do you some good."
"About that... Shampoo not want to go back. Want to wait for Ranma."
"We've been over this a dozen times. He won't be coming back to
Nerima for at least two years."
"Ranma might come back to see Ak... Shampoo," she muttered.
Not for the first time, Cologne wondered if her great-granddaughter
knew truly how far she was from Ranma's heart. "I've seen the boy
recently. No, he didn't know I was there. I could tell he is
determined. And besides, it's about time, I prepared you for the test
of the council."
Shampoo stared in shock at her great-grandmother. Mousse broke the
chair he was mending at Cologne's words. Even Taro stopped in his
effort to annoy his two wards. Cologne may as well have given her
death pronouncement.
* * * * *
Ukyo sighed as she signed the rest of the papers. She would miss her
restaurant. She now knew why her father insisted on doing business
with the yatai. Staying put in one place for almost a year caused one
to develop feelings for it. It made it all the more harder to leave,
which her style of okonomiyaki demanded. Their family creed, if there
was such a thing, she supposed would be to have all of Japan taste
its wonders. And with Ranma gone, she had no reason not to fulfill
her dreams of being Japan's best okonomiyaki chef.
The thought of Ranma caused her look towards the boarded up
Nekohanten. She never thought she would actually miss the Chinese
bimbo. As long as Shampoo was here, it meant Ranma was here. Two
years, she thought to herself. They would renew their chase in two years.
It still stung her to know that Ranma left without resolving the engagement
mess, but it hurt more because she never got a goodbye.
* * * * *
Kuno panted, his bokken hanging limply in his hands. "Vile cur! You
remain to haunt me despite my best effort to be rid of you. Your
sorceries rival those of Saotome."
"Uh...," the young man started awkwardly, "you attacked me. And you
asked me to stay here. Really, it's no bother. I can leave if you want me
to. I really didn't mean to sleep in your backyard and hurt your
crocodile. It was just so big and so dark out, I thought I was
sleeping out in the open."
"Trick me not, demon. I know you were sent to test me in Saotome's
absense. You will not leave until you are made to leave by my bokken,
the Blue Thunder has spoken!"
Soujiro Seta sighed and nodded. He would stay and guard this
backyard until the crocodile was better. It wouldn't be so bad if
this buffoon didn't try to attack him every once and a while. That
sister of his with her hostile looks was no better, even if she had
every right to be since he hurt her pet.
He barely needed to move from his spot as Kuno's bokken sliced
through the air once again. The boy did have talent, Seta had to
admit. He stamped out the idea of taking the boy on as a student. He
swore he would not take on another after his fourth student died by
his sword. *If only the succession technique did not result in death
for either the master or the student...,* The man thought, thinking again
of his master Hiko.
* * * * *
Akane didn't know why she took this road to go back home. In the
past, it meant dealing with a whole load of trouble that she didn't
want. Now, walking past Kuno's mansion, the Nekohanten, and Ucchan's was
like a stroll in the park.
Each of them had been to see her after Ranma disappeared. After they
realised she was not lying about him being gone or hiding him
anywhere, they each had gone back home quieter that she expected.
Their reactions were varied, with Kuno's being the strangest of them
all. He had came back to ask about the tournament that Ranma was training
for. His response after gave her some comfort in that he wasn't going
totally crazy. He gave her his promise that he would defeat Ranma
there and then come back to reclaim her hand.
Shampoo and Ukyo followed, saying they would be leaving Nerima, but
that they would be back in two years. While Shampoo seemed reluctant,
Ukyo was eager to get back on the road, mumbling something about
maybe seeing him while she traveled around Japan. Akane was surprised
later, when the Shampoo came back to her, asking for a favor. She asked
that Akane let her know if Ranma came back to visit.
Akane looked up at the familar sight of her home. She had made it
all the way back without one incident. Nothing to remind her of him,
that he had been a part of her life. Tommorow she would take the same
route home and the day after that, and the next one, and so on.
* * * * *
Ryoga was happy. The seemingly permanent cloud of anger and
depression that was always over him was gone. With its departure, came a
clarity of mind that he never thought possible. No longer did he
train to beat a certain pigtailed boy. He trained now simply because
it was what he liked to do.
He looked up from where he meditated. Three of the giant sumo pigs
nudged at him. Was it feeding time already? He could have sworn he
just sat down a minute ago. The concept of time seemed to be lost on
him these days. Getting up, he made his way towards the house where
Akari would be waiting for him. He didn't even notice that he didn't
get lost once on the way back.
Happosai moved out of the forest to stand in the spot that the Hibiki
kid had sat upon. A wave of tranquility and power wafted in the air.
Never would Happosai have thought that Ryoga would reach this point before
Ranma. The girl that the boy was seeing must be an amazing woman.
* * * * *
Ranma slung his pack over his shoulder, feeling oddly sad as he
tipped his head towards Genkai, "Thanks for all the help and stuff."
It took him a full minute to say that... he's improving, Genkai
marveled. "I'm afraid, I didn't get the chance to prepare you for the
tournament as much as I would have liked."
"I'll be fine with what I got from you here. My control will be a
lot better when my," he faltered, not sure of himself, "ki recovers."
Genkai noticed his hesitation and took his hand into her own. "I had
been aiming for this ever since you came here. For the first time,
your conditioning will not help you here. Your body will be your
greatest enemy as you fight against it, to overcome this hurdle. I
just wish that you could have remained here while I guided you past
it."
"I'll be fine. I'm Ranma Saotome," he mumbled gruffly before taking
his hand back and turning away suddenly. "I'll see you."
Genkai turned to go back home. She had thought he would stay a
little longer before the Makai tournament in two years. Would he be
able to reach S class in two years without her help? Hopefully, what
little she did give him would provide him with enough insight on what
areas he needed to improve on.
* * * * *
Ranma ducked, not believing his bad luck. Apparently, his
description was already posted everywhere, and the minute he walked into
town, he was challenged by five street fighters in succession. While he was
sure the rules must say something about not needing to fight every
challenge, his own code refused to budge and so he ended up taking on
each person that wanted a try at the rookie class "A" fighter.
Fortunately, none of them were ranked above "C" level, as his ki had
not yet recovered and his strength and speed were those of a regular
human. "See, I told you I didn't need any help," Ranma gloated at the
three little concerned faces.
"Than what do you call this?" Mini-Urd asked as she poked his ribs
where one guy had managed to land a kick. That earned her a gasp.
He gasped again as Mini-Moiraine touched his arm where one of five,
wielding a knife had slashed. Mini-Usagi found the whole thing funny
and started to prod at every point he was injured.
"Okay, enough already," Ranma moaned as he doubled over in pain.
"You take too many chances, Ranma," Mini-Urd scolded as she and the
other two did their best to apply bandages all over his body. With
Ranma's ki depleted, their magic power was only enough for them to
manifest themselves. "You better be still in one piece the next time I
come out. I need to rest. This lack of ki is starting to give me a
headache." With that, the three parts of his soul disappeared.
Ranma grimaced, knowing it to be true. Genkai had said, he would
realize many things about his weaknesses during this time. Already,
he could see several. He knew he could be a little careless
sometimes, if it meant he could get a hit in. By the third fight of
the day, he thought maybe taking a punch in the face to trip a guy up
wasn't always such a great plan. He found himself reluctant to divert
much in his usual hit and run tactics no matter how great the opening
by the start of the last battle. The result was a much longer fight,
but one where he did not get hurt as much.
The other thing he learned was just how correct Genkai was. Never
before in his life did he reach the brink of exhaution where his body
could not recover from. It was a battle just to get through his
regular regimen, let alone the new training practices he acquired from
Genkai. This situation was much like his ten year training trip, he
thought surprised.
In Nerima, he had relied on his ability to heal, and when it wasn't
there for him anymore, he found how much he had taken it for granted.
While he didn't exactly slack off while he lived with the Tendos as
he still trained with his pop, occasionally going on training trips,
it was not on the same level as his training before reaching Nerima.
Thinking back, he recalled how he had resorted to doing everything in
the extreme, such as balancing along the fence or jumping over
rooftops as opposed to walking normally on the ground. Even then, he
must have been trying to make up for the lost day-in day-out training
he used to have.
Nerima had given him a chance to drastically improve with all the
new techniques he had learned. However, every growth had been in spurts
rather than the steady climb he had with his pop. Though, he
admitted, the growth was not anywhere near as impressive as in the city.
If anyone had told him that Genma had coddled him, he would have
laughed in their face, but as he trained with Genkai, he couldn't help
but wonder if his father could have taken it one step further.
His thoughts turned to the Nekoken, and he got his answer. His
father had tried, but after that incident, the training had become
less intense. Genma stopped each time he had thought his son
couldn't take anymore so as to not have a repeat of the Nekoken
incident. His body became better without ever having known truly
debilitating fatigue.
Ranma checked his surroundings. He had suddenly found purpose.
How could he get to Unryuu Akari's farm from here?
* * * * *
Ryoga and Akari looked towards the door as a shadow fell over them.
"We're just about to eat. Pull up a chair," Ryoga said.
* * * * *
There is something different about him, Ranma thought as he limbered
up. The other boy was missing his usual scowl whenever they were together.
As for himself, Ranma didn't want to let Ryoga in on his 'injury' just yet.
"I heard from Akane that you left Nerima, Ranma. I though I had left
her in good hands," Ryoga said. "I guess I was wrong."
Ranma winced at this. He didn't know if he should be more worried
that Ryoga was mentioning this before their fight or that this was
said without any anger at all. The only thing he could read in his
long-time rival's face was determination. "I had something I needed
to get done before I could do anything else."
Ryoga nodded, accepting this answer. Since the last time they met,
he knew something was different with Ranma. A hunger or rather a
need. One that needed to be filled or it would consume him. He
recognized it because it was the same look he saw everyday in the
mirror. "Let's begin."
* * * * *
Ranma touched his neck, and muffled a groan. Ryoga had managed to
graze him with that last pass. Without his ki to enhance his speed,
he had been forced to rely on pure reflexes to barely dodge at the
last second each time. It didn't help that each of Ryoga's attacks had
been precise and not at all wild even after he attepted to distract
the guy with various insults, all having to do with pork byproducts.
Ryoga rocked on his heels as Ranma managed to stand his ground.
It was a different fight from their previous ones in that Ranma was
not jumping all over the place as per his usual tactic. His jibes at
Ranma's femininity fell on deaf ears as did his feignts at leaving
various parts of his body open to counterstrike. Every attack Ranma
_did_ make was uncounterable aimed at vulnerable spots such as his
kidneys. However, Ranma seemed to have no strength as his punches barely
even tickled. Could it be that Ranma lost his strength again? Ryoga
decided to take a chance and test the theory.
Ranma was slammed to the ground as Ryoga gave up on holding back and
went head on. A tactic Ranma had been hoping Ryoga would not use
as the both of them were used to holding back just a little in case
the other guy had an ace up his sleeve. Ranma barely had enough to
gather his senses before he had to roll to the side to escape Ryoga's
fist. Ranma followed up by using his legs to sissor Ryoga's legs and
tripping him up. Rolling backwards, Ranma got back into his defensive
stance just as the other boy kipped up.
Ryoga relaxed his stance. "Your strength is gone again. What did
you do to Happosai this time."
However, Ranma did not relax his. "Something like that, but it
wasn't Happosai. It was me. I've overtaxed my body and my ki is
'injured'. Unlike the last time, a moxibustion treatment won't fix it. I
was told some rest could help me, but I don't have the time to wait."
At Ranma's fierce look, Ryoga got back into a battle stance. "I take
it, the other way to get back your power, is to do it yourself? I
don't like to fight weaklings, but I guess I could make an exception
for you."
Before Ranma could say his thanks, the other boy launched himself at
him again. Ryoga was merciless and now that he knew his opponent wasn't
bluffing, he went all out. Ranma felt his head bounce on the ground,
and it was only instinct that let him use this momentum to twist his
neck to avoid being smashed to the ground again.
As great as his opponent was, Ranma found his body to be an even
greater one. He warred against it to give him more strength, just a
little more. His muscles strained to obey his command, only to
falter, causing him to collapse into Ryoga's fist. Still, he didn't
give up, again, usuing the momentum of his body to flip on to his
knees, not trusting his legs to keep him upright.
Ryoga fought the queasiness in his stomach as he stalked after
Ranma. He never liked picking on the weak, as it reminded him too
much of when he was P-Chan, even if it was Ranma that had always been
picking on him. This would be the last attack anyway, he figured as
Ranma couldn't even stand on his own two feet anymore.
Ranma noticed Ryoga's jawline harden. This would be the last
attack. Everything the other boy had done was full frontal with no
tricks as he had hardly needed it with him in the state that he was.
His only chance would be to hit before he got hit and with his legs
knocked from under him, it meant it would be a ki blast. "Chou Moko
Takabisha..."
Ryoga stopped in midstride as Ranma suddenly yelled out. He raised
his arms to block, but nothing happened. He lowered his guard and was
about to step forwards when he noticed his rival did not lower his
hands with his face remaining in deep concentration. It was then that
Ryoga saw a small little flickering light form between Ranma's hands.
Ranma didn't even register Ryoga's raising his own hands to form a
ki blast, as he built the little flame of ki into a smoldering ball
of heat. When the heat became unbearable, he let it loose. A white
light filled his eyes before everything became dark.
* * * * *
His eyes flickered open. He had lost. Yet, he felt no animosity
towards the other boy. Rather a deep sense of peace filled him. This
loss was just temporary. It did not mean he would lose the next
time. It just meant that at this moment, the other was better. In
the past this would have brought a rage that could not be quelled
until it was rectified. Now, all it brought was determination.
Ranma sat up to see Ryoga and Akari looking over him. "Good match.
You won."
"It isn't hard when your opponent has lost his strength," Ryoga said,
though he seemed happy for that small win anyway.
Ranma shook his head. "You don't understand. You _won_. Before I
came here, I had lost my power after I used everything I had within me
to surpass myself. In that ki blast I fired at you, was the power I
had gained. It means that even my best effort could not stop you. I
don't know how it happened. But you've gotten better since I last saw
you."
Ryoga blinked as he heard the words he thought he would never hear.
Ranma admitting that he has lost to him. "H-how..."
Akari hugged Ryoga from behind as he became speechless. She left the
room to let the two old friends talk.
* * * * *
"That energy I felt?" Genkai asked as she set a tea cup for Happosai.
"The light was glorious. A step behind and not yet the level of
enlightenment Ryoga has achieved, but Ranma is getting there."
"The battle lust prevents him doesn't it?"
"He'll probably never get over it. But at least, he is not ruled by
it anymore. I had feared if he continued to fight before achieving at
least this much, we would have another Ryu on our hands."
"It isn't your fault you know."
"I designed this art. It mirrors the Dark Shotokan. Where that was
based on killing and death, mine borders it. 'Accept any challenge'
and 'Never accept defeat'."
"You had meant for it make your students stronger, not for it rule
over their lives."
"I didn't... but it does rule them. To live by Anything Goes is to
die by it. To break free from it, both of them went to extremes. One
turned into a blubbering wreck, the other a total coward. The boy
doesn't have the benefit of being his own man before learning this
art. He was ingrained with it since a child."
"Are you going to go to him now? His current state of tranquility
won't last long. That which is white is easiest to dirty."
Happosai nodded. "Soon. Cologne has already started on Shampoo. A
bit early, but she has no choice and I don't think I have one either.
To Ranma, I give my art. It is time for him to inherit Anything
Goes. May his soul survive it."
* * * * *
"What do you mean I didn't win!? You just said I did an hour ago!"
Ryoga exploded.
"I must have been more dazed than I thought. I didn't have my
strength for most of the fight. I guess if you want to call a fight,
where one of the guys isn't in his best shape, a win, you can," Ranma
said sarcastically.
"Ranma, Die!"
Akari bigsweated and decided not to go inside the bedroom.
The End (maybe)
C&C Thanks to Ookla the Mok, Donald Lee Granberry, and DB Sommer. (
geocities.com/tokyo/ginza) (
geocities.com/tokyo)