A vally somewhere in China
Ranma leapt to the tip of a bamboo pole, gently balancing on the tip. “Come on Pops, you’re the one that wanted ta come here so badly, so stop stalling.”
Nearby, a rather…large man wearing a dirty gi argued with another rotund man. “But Sir’s, this very bad place!”
Genma snorted and tossed the oft-abused pamphlet to the ground. “We are Martial Artists! Danger is what forces us to be stronger!”
Ranma’s small store of patience ran dry at that moment. He crouched and silently launched himself at Genma. Feeling a twitch in the air, Genma dropped to the ground and lashed his feet out in a mule kick. Ranma tossed his right arm out, sending his body spinning and missing the attack by a hairs breath.
Genma rolled forward in a summersault and sprung to his feet, crocodile tears flowing from his eyes. “What a pathetic attack! Why do I have such a useless son? A girl could have done better!”
Ranma rolled his eyes and dropped into a modified Kung Fu stance he had picked up a few days ago from a monastery about fifty miles back. ’The old man’s gonna be tough just using this style, but something’s not right about it. That monk seemed to use it fine, but when I try it, it seems to fall apart.’ His face set into a determined look. ’ARGG! I’ll learn this stupid style, Ranma Saotome don’t loose ta nuthin!’ “Yea right Pops, you just got lucky and we both know it.”
Genma’s face flushed red and he threw himself into an attack. “I’ll teach you to respect your elders boy!”
Ranma seemed to slide across the ground as he dodged the punch. “Pfft. You’re gonna have ta try harder than that pops, unless you’re just getting too old for this.” He could barely contain the grin that threatened to erupt on his face when Genma roared and charged. Ranma dug his feet into the dirt and braced himself. ’Pops is really gonna be ticked when he sees this throw, he kept yakking about how worthless that style was.’
Both men continued to ignore the franticly gesturing guide. “SIRS! Very bad place! Go fight somewhere else!”
Genma barreled across the thin strip of land between pools, fully intent on correcting his meal ticket son’s lack of respect. Barely blocking the punches, Ranma began to work his way into the throw. Noticing Genma overextend a punch a few millimeters, ’NOW!’ Ranma snapped his feet to the sides and grabbed Genma’s hand, yanking hard and pivoting around, sending Genma flying into a cliff.
Well, that was the plan anyway.
The instant Ranma’s feet started to move, Genma cried. “An opening!” Almost effortlessly reversing the sloppy hold his ungrateful son tried, Genma swept Ranma’s feet out from under him and a snap kick sent Ranma rocketing across the valley and into a pool of water. Genma scowled to himself, his son was getting sloppy! Maybe he should have him dodge cars on some highway to whip him into shape before taking him to meet his fiance.
Ranma cursed himself as he flew through the air. ’Damn it, I did it exactly like the old guy did, why didn’t it work? Oh well, at least I’m not gonna land on rocks this time.’ Quickly twisting his body, Ranma slammed into the water feet first, almost instantly, a searing pain speared through his back and quickly spreading across his entire body, tearing a scream out of his throat. Wildly thrashing, Ranma managed to flop onto dry land. Coughing water up from his tortured lungs, Ranma fell limply to the ground.
After an eternal moment, the searing agony suddenly vanished. Ranma slowly pushed himself upright, noticing the utter silence. Raising his head, Ranma saw the guide and his father rushing towards him, expecting another attack, Ranma groggily pushed himself up and took a shaky stance, ready to stagger into action.
Genma congratulated himself as Ranma came crashing down into the pool, but the celebration of his own greatness was interrupted by the Guide rushing past him. “Oh no! Very bad place, this one told both sirs, but they no listen!” Genma noticed the rising bubbles boiling the surface and his own, deeply buried, concern sent him rushing after the guide.
The guide turned his head and spoke as they ran. “Very tragic story of…actually, no idea of very tragic story, no one ever fall in pool before.”
Genma’s response was cut off as he watched his son pull himself out of the pool, body twitching as though in the throes of a seizure. Genma while not particularly wise, was relatively intelligent, and quickly rushed towards Ranma, intent on pulling him away from the water until the seizure passed. Genma hesitated for a moment as his eyes slid down the arms of his son and noticed the latticework of thin black and silver lines seeming etched into them.
Ranma watched as his father’s eyes hardened and struggled to force his body to respond correctly. One last intense bust of pain erupted in his eyes before his vision swam a moment before snapping to absolute crystal clarity. Blinking once in surprise, Ranma felt his shaking shut off like a light switch. The stinging insult he was about to call out died on his lips as strange symbols started flashing in front of his face. ’What the hell..’ Before he could complete that thought, his vision pulsed and giant red kanji appeared before him.
Ranma barely had time to register his surprise before his father slammed into him.
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(Posted Thu, 10 Feb 2005 00:38)
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らんま1/2 © Rumiko Takahashi
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