None of it was familiar to him at all, and he couldn't remember for the life of him where he was or why he was there.
As a matter of fact, he couldn't remember lots of things. He knew that he was a martial artist, and that martial artists used their bodies to defend people who couldn't defend themselves, but why or how wouldn't come.
Oh well, why or how a person did noble things weren't important, right?
"Oi!" a masculine voice called out to him and he blinked, turning to the source. A blond man wearing some blue armor with a sword at his side was approaching him. "Oi, are you alright?" the man asked.
For some reason, the armor and sword struck Ranma as odd, but he mentally shrugged it off- it couldn't be any more odd than waking up in the middle of nowhere and wondering who you were.
"Yeah, I'm okay. Why do you ask?"
"Oh, I just saw a bright flash and ran to see what it was..." the man trailed off and scratched his head. "Say, what are you doing out, all alone? You look like a fighter, but you've no armor or weapon."
"Uh, I just woke up here."
"Oh, okay. Say, where are you going?"
"I dunno, really...I mean, I guess I forgot," he said apologetically.
"Oh yeah," The man said with a sympathetic face. "I know what you mean, happens to me all the time." The blond man seemed to be thinking about something. "Say, uh...what's your name again?"
"Ranma."
"Just Ranma?"
"I guess," The boy shrugged. "I can't really remember anything else..." The man nodded, his face set in a grim expression. 'I can't ignore a defenseless guy just sitting out in the middle of nowhere who doesn't know where he's going...I know!'
"Say, Ranma," He started. "How would you like to travel with me until you remember where it is you're going, and then I can take you there? I have a spare sword you can use..." Ranma thought for a moment. 'It's not like I have anything else to do,' He nodded.
"Sure, that sounds nice. Thanks...hey, I didn't get your name..."
"Oh, me?" the man blinked and pointed at himself. "Oh yeah, I'm Gourry, Gourry Gabriev."
"Nice to meet you, Gourry," "Ne, Gourry," Ranma started as he pointed to a certain tree. "I think we're going in circles. I've seen this tree before." "Are you sure?" Gourry asked confused. "Yeah, I marked that tree the second time we came by it and now I'm definitely sure." He pointed up where a single, long scratch was running down the side of the tree. "That's odd. Maybe we should take a diff-" "Shhhh. Wait a second..." Ranma held up a finger and looked around. "Do you hear that?" Gourry narrowed his eyes and tried to hear whatever it was Ranma could. He opened his eyes again and looked around as well. Both jumped behind the tree with the scratch on it and waited. After a few seconds, a group of thuggish looking men ran by, all of them carrying some kind of weapon. They both walked from linked. "What the heck was that?" "Bandits. Definitely bandits," Gourry said gravely. "They seem to be after something." "Should we stop them?" Ranma asked. "It's not really any of our business, but I am curious," Gourry nodded. The two ran the same way the bandits had and stopped when they heard some talking. They watched as one of the men from earlier raised a sword against a woman and called out for reinforcements. Soon, the thuggish men from earlier all came out from behind trees and the like. "It's not like they were very well hidden in the first place," Ranma sweatdropped. "Well, regardless of how well hidden they were, we cannot simply stand here as they prepare to attack that woman," Ranma nodded in agreement and both began running towards the group. "Halt!" Gourry called out just before the man attacked the woman. "Eh? Who's this guy?" the apparent leader of the group asked, having stopped in mid-attack. "Hey, moron, who the hell do you think you are?!" "Men like us have no names to give to filth such as yourself," Gourry declared. "What?! Why you-! Men, skin them alive!" The two waited for their enemies to converge on them. It was soon obvious how outclassed the bandits really were in going up against both Ranma and Gourry. When they were done, Gourry, grabbed the leader with one hand and tossed him high into the air before performing an impressive series of slashes that rended the man clothes-less. The poor man ran off, screaming when he fell to the ground. Ranma and Gourry surveyed their handiwork, although for some reason Ranma felt a tinge of guilt for having so mercilessly wounding them. He shrugged it off, as they were men who were planning to do much worse by the girl they'd just saved. Oh yeah, the girl they saved! "Not too shabby," Both turned to face the girl and blinked. "Are you all right?" Gourry asked as they both approached. "Ehhh?!" Gourry said suddenly. Ranma looked at him in confusion and the orange haired girl smirked. Gourry took a few steps towards the girl, eyes wide. "What is it?" Gourry sighed with disappointment. "It's a kid," He sighed again and turned around. "With everything going on, I thought it'd be a real babe. Instead, it's some wide-eyed, flat-chested kid..." He mumbled. Ranma nervously laughed and rubbed the back of his neck. "Well, beggars can't be choosers," He shrugged. After a few moments of moping, the girl looked up and smiled. "Eh, thanks for saving me!" "Eh, no problem," Ranma commented. Gourry turned back around. "In any case, you aren't hurt, are you, little girl? It's dangerous for little kids to go out on their own. Were you with daddy or something?" "No, I'm alone." "That's a bit dangerous," Ranma said. "Why don't you let us walk you home?" "Yeah, which way's your house?" "Um...I'm traveling alone. I was headed for Atlas City, wanna take me there?" "I see," Ranma nodded. "Gourry, is it alright if we take her there?" "That's okay with me," Gourry nodded."Well, now that we got that straight, let's be off! By the way, I'm Gourry, and this is Ranma," "Eh..." She sighed as Gourry led Ranma away from her. "By the way, little girl, what's your name?" "Lina," She said. "Lina Inverse," She reluctantly followed the two out of the forest. "Ne, isn't it odd, Gourry? Before, we were going in circles, but now we're right at the exit of the forest..." "That is a bit strange," Gourry agreed.
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(Posted Thu, 19 Oct 2006 01:32)
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