Not that it would totally work, but then, nothing was perfect.
"Hey! He just hurt our friend!" snapped another man.
A third nodded. "This isn't a time to be commenting on his techniques."
"It's time to teach him not to pick fights he can't win," growled a fourth as he moved to rush him. "Let's see how you handle this!"
With a simple twisting touch, Ranma sent the man crashing to the sand.
"Get him!" the first one to speak called out, with his companions bellowing out an affirmative.
There were eight thugs in total, and they all were clearly the type of fighter who had learned through experience. They were brawlers, but through constant fighting, they'd learned how to deal with a good number of fighters. If they were put up against the run of the mill trouble, they'd be able to deal with it quickly.
Ranma was avoiding them with simple single step dodges, and his attacks were nothing but touches.
So, when an attacker came after him, he sidestepped the blow, and jammed a finger into the man's spine, sending the would be combatant tumbling down with his hands clutching at his spasming back.
A crowd of onlookers had grown up around the fight at that point, and impressed murmurs came from those watching.
"He almost looks like a martial artist," whispered one boy.
The portly man that Ranma had been speaking to smiled. "That's because he is a martial artist.
"Really?"
"I'd say so, and I'm a martial arts master, to tell the truth."
"You are?"
"I am. Genma Saotome, master of my school of the Art. You can check."
"Then you mean to say...." the boy trailed off.
"Yes, I do. He's a skilled martial artist. I should know."
His words started a whole new set of comments from those standing nearby. Each of them looked at the fighter with a new sense of respect, and knew that they were seeing something special. This wasn't something that one would keep to one's self, so they discussed it amongst themselves, and were aware that they'd be talking about it with the people back where they lived.
Ranma's reputation for being a formidable martial artist was being set.
However, even as the last of the would be 'toughs' fell to the ground, there was something that could even handle his level of strength.
"Ranma!" Hotaru called out, putting her hands on her hips after she walked up to the scene. "I came out of the water to see why you weren't where I thought that you were, and I find you fighting!"
"But I did not start it...." Ranma began.
She waggled a finger at him. "Remember what I told you. No beating up people who don't know better. They aren't tough enough for your power, so you should just leave them alone."
"I apologize for that."
"I understand. At least you didn't do anything that'll last too long. Come on before they want to make more trouble...."
The crowd watched the really strong boy get taken off to the side by the small and sweet looking girl that he obviously doted on, and came to a simple conclusion. He might be the sort of guy who got scolded by his little sister, but that only showed that he was someone who had personal rules. As a result, his quiet acceptance was perfectly understandable.
Of course, neither Ranma nor Hotaru knew that at the moment, while:
(Posted Sat, 03 Jun 2006 13:35)
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.