Slapping her palm onto her face, the demoness groaned. "I'm doomed. Doomed, doomed, doomed..."
Mara knew she was in deep-shit.
Ranma looked over his shoulder impatiently. "What is it now?"
Hell, the last time demonic powers and such really got into play with geopolitics and the news was back in Germany in the mid-1930's. And that caused World War II! Who knew what they accidentally caused. But hey. It was already happening now, so why bother? "Well, as the old saying goes, shit flows downhill. We can't stop it now. So we're flying!"
"And remember, Ranma," Mara said as she started to float. "All it takes is pixy dust and happy thoughts!"
"Huh?" Now Ranma was really confused. "Did you finally break down? I've heard old folks tend to do that."
Mara poked Ranma's forehead. "Get flying, Ranma. We're going to find your Kodachi."
"Right." Ranma floated up with such ease Mara was shocked. It was as if he'd learned how to fly centuries ago.
"Now, onwards and upwards!" Mara said as she took higher into the air. "We're off to Nerima!"
Ranma followed quickly. Both demons were unaware of the many shocked glances going their way from the pedestrians.
"Remember people!" Mara shouted. "Pixy dust and happy thoughts!" She laughed like a maniac as she took higher into the air.
"Yup, she lost it." Ranma muttered under his breath and sped up after the demoness.
---
A Japanese man in a white gi stood atop a cliff. His arms crossed over his chest, it was obvious he was in meditation. As a small wind picked up, carrying an errant leaf, one could have sworn a chant, a mantra, was heard from the man.
"The fight is all... The fight is all... The fight is all..."
---
"Onwards and upwards! First star to the right, and head on 'til morning!" Mara shouted as they started the cross over Mount Fuji to make way back to Tokyo.
"Will you shut up already?!" Mara was starting to really get on his nerves.
Mara laughed. Now that Ranma promised he'd fuck her, she was feeling A LOT better. "Come on, slow poke! Move it or I'll leave ya' behind and find Kodachi myself!"
Ranma growled and sped up as much as he could. He was SO looking forward to his promotion so he could shut Mara the heaven up!
The Japanese man barely noticed the two as they whizzed by him, so intent on his thoughts was he. "The fight is all... The fight is all... The fight is all..."
The pigtailed demon blinked his eyes and stopped. "It can't be..."
Mara was gaining some distance before she realized Ranma stopped flying after her. "HEY!" She called back. "What you waiting for?"
Ranma ignored Mara and turned to see if it was really him... "It is!"
"The fight is all... The fight is all... The fight is all..."
Pouting, Mara began to fly back to where Ranma was floating. "What're you waiting for? We need to find Kodachi, remember?"
"Yeah but... That can wait for an hour. This opportunity is too good to miss." With that Ranma flew down towards the man.
Mara growled in frustration. Damn it! They needed to get back to Tokyo and find that Kodachi girl pronto, before... "Wait a minute..." Mara mumbled and blinked her eyes. Why did that guy look familiar?
Hearing the sound of the grass behind him rustle as someone stepped on it, the guy's eyes snapped open. He turned his head and looked over his shoulder, seeing a pigtailed youth he didn't recognize.
Ranma stared at the man as he spoke calmly. "Are you the fighter known as Ryu?"
Ryu gave a nod of his head. Silence passed between the two for a while. Ryu was never much of a talker.
"The same Ryu that beat Sagat, the Muai Thai champ?"
Again, Ryu gave a simple nod of his head in answer.
Ranma nodded. That was all he needed to know. "I challenge you to a fight." It was every martial artist's dream come true! A chance to fight against the legendary Ryu.
THAT put Ryu into action. Turning to face his opponent, the martial artist got into his battle-stance without hesitation.
Mara groaned. "Great, another battle." The Demoness grumbled, still floating up in the air.
Ranma assumed his own battle stance and... Cursed inwardly. With his demon powers it was all but a fair fight! He'd completely cream Ryu. But what could he do?
Ryu kept his stance, his arms bouncing slightly as his body kept on the move. He was waiting for this fight to begin.
"Mara?"
"What?" Mara asked in annoyance.
"Is there a way to suppress my demon powers?" Ranma wanted this fight to be fair. It was the first time since becoming a demon that he wished to be human.
Mara blinked her eyes. "Why do you want to suppress your powers against another demon?"
Blinking his eyes in surprise, a first for Ryu, the man in the white gi looked towards the woman in the air questioningly.
Ranma's eyes widened as he turned to Mara. "WHAT?!"
"Yeah," Mara said. "Now I remember where I knew this guy. Ryu, Demon 3rd Class, Limited."
"I am not a demon," Ryu stated vehemently.
Mara rolled her eyes. "Please. Anyone who practices your art automatically gets a Demon Level 4 Ranking. Sometimes they go up to 3 or even Level 2."
The pigtailed martial artist turned back to Ryu and frowned. "Then how come he doesn't feel like a demon?"
Ryu continued to stare at Mara. Though one could not tell, the martial artist was confused.
Mara shrugged. "Well, he obviously isn’t using his true strength now!"
Ranma frowned. He wanted to fight Ryu badly, but on even terms. "Is there a way to make him use it?"
Ryu frowned. He did not like using the Dark Hado for any reason besides last resort. And even then he would try a million other things than use the birthright of his fighting style.
Mara shrugged. "Why ask me? Just ask him!"
The pigtailed demon stared at Ryu. "So how about it? Use your real power so we can have some fun."
Ryu frowned and looked seriously at Ranma. "Fighting is not something necessarily for fun. It is to better oneself in their chosen art."
Ranma looked back equally serious. "That's true. But if you don't enjoy the Art then there's no use in practicing it."
Ryu closed his eyes. "And I do enjoy it. However, I do not take it lightly."
"Neither do I." The demon returned and assumed his fighting stance again. "Are you up to my challenge?"
Ryu nodded his head. Perhaps, this is what was needed. A chance to try out a power he was still unused to.
Ranma smirked when he felt Ryu's power start to increase.
Not leaving his stance, Ryu closed his eyes. Not too long after, his aura began to form around him, his skin darkening in pigment as his gi started to blacken. And as it went through these changes, his aura shifted from a white-blue to dark violet. His eyes then snapped open, a complete red.
With a roar, Dark Ryu lunged at Ranma, with speeds Ranma hadn't seen from many opponents.
---
Ranma collapsed, his entire body bleeding profusely.
The Shun Goku Satsu was too much even for him.
Ryu panted, his body calming down. Sweat poured down his head as he stared at his bloodied hands.
If Ranma had been human instead of a demon he would be dead right now. As it was he was close to being destroyed, the power of Ryu's technique proving to be too much even for a demon Second Class.
Mara, meanwhile, was just finishing up her popcorn. "You two done?"
Ranma gurgled in response, chocking on his own blood.
Ryu walked over to Ranma. Kneeling beside him, he offered his hand to the downed demon. "You fought well."
Ranma weakly lifted his arm and shook Ryu's hand.
Taking firm hold of Ranma's hand, Ryu started to help Ranma to stand. He felt indebted to the boy. He so rarely got to cut loose.
The pigtailed demon didn't scream out in pain because of his pride. He felt like shit, plain and simple.
Helping Ranma to stand, Ryu let go of his hand. "I hope to see you again someday," Ryu said simply before standing back to the edge of the cliff he had been at before Ranma landed.
Mara snorted. "Talkative sort, isn't he?"
All the demoness got for a response was Ranma vomiting blood all over her before passing out.
"EWWWWWWWWW!!!" Mara shrieked. "Hild bless it, Ranma!!!"
Ryu meanwhile...
"The fight is all... The fight is all... The fight is all..."
Read the comments on this episode
(Posted Thu, 01 Jul 2004 03:36)
Questions? Problems? Suggestions?
Send a mail to addventure@bast-enterprises.de
or use the contact form.
らんま1/2 © Rumiko Takahashi
All other series and their characters are © by their respective creators or owners. No claims of ownership of these characters are implied by the authors of this Addventure, or should be inferred.
The Anime Addventure is a non-profit site.