Xinghua Chai stood ready. Her jian (chinese sword) could be drawn in less time than it took to draw a breath. She assessed her opponent's skill quickly as below her own - though more skilled than the average warrior.
Ranma stood ready. He vaguely remembered the boy, but still couldn't place him. "You weren't in the hidden ninja village, were you?"
Ryoga growled as he got to his feet. The boy was still playing games?
"No, he isn't from the ninja village," said Genma. "You remember when you stayed in that lot for three days waiting for a fight?"
"Oh?" asked Ranma. He thought about it for a minute. "Oh yeah. We were supposed to have a fight in the yard behind the guy's house."
"Right, so when I showed up on the fourth day, you'd already fled!" said Ryoga.
"No, actually Pop here hit me upside the head with something and dragged me off," said Ranma. "So this is THAT fight?"
"A mere duel cannot nearly repay the hardship I've suffered due to you," said Ryoga.
Ranma cocked his head at that. "NICE line."
"Oh? Thank you, I've had plenty of time to think a few up," said Ryoga.
"So who's the girl?" asked Ranma. "She's new."
"Xinghua Chai Hibiki," said Ryoga. "My wife."
"Wow, Ryoga, you got married? Congratulations!" said Ranma.
"Well, yeah, I guess," said Ryoga, beginning to lose his battle-groove. This wasn't going at ALL by the script he'd prepared. "Because of you, I've seen HELL!"
"Actually, I think she's very pretty," said Ranma.
Ryoga froze. "THAT WASN'T WHAT I MEANT!"
"Oh, so you meant literally?" asked Ranma. "Man, that's nasty. I remember that place myself."
"Huh?" asked Ryoga, losing the battle-groove again. "What?"
"Pop dragged me there for martial arts training once," said Ranma. "Man, what a pain THAT was."
"A true martial artist must face all manner of perils," said Genma.
"Huh?" repeated Ryoga.
"And the heat," added Ranma. "Man, don't EVER go there in summer."
"It was good training," protested Genma. "What's a little suffering if it's for the Art?"
"Excuse please?" said Xinghua, losing her own battle-groove. "Where is hell?"
"United States Southwest, Arizona I think," said Ranma. "Or was it Nevada?"
Genma went to his most solemn pose. "No distance is too far to travel, if it will further the cause of the Art."
"Ah, I think I hear of that," said Xinghua, nodding. "Is near Apache area, yes?"
"Yeah," said Ranma, "that's the place. Did ya get any souveneirs there?"
"No, husband no get any souveneirs," said Xinghua, frowning slightly at her husband.
"Uhm," said Ryoga, having misplaced his righteous rage for the moment. "Wait a minute. I think we got sidetracked somewhere."
"Yeah, I remember him now," said Ranma to Rei, "he's always getting lost."
"Is not his fault all streets look same here," said Xinghua.
Ryoga spent a few seconds trying to remember what had been going on a minute ago. "Uhm. Wait a minute."
"So, Pop, you were going to tell me what was going on with these ninja stalking us, weren't you?" asked Ranma.
"No, I'm pretty sure I wasn't going to tell you what I did that would have ninja stalking you," said Genma.
Ryoga nodded. "Okay. So you're saying that you would have stayed there in the lot to meet my challenge, except your father dragged you off? The same father who apparently did something unspeakable at a ninja village?"
"Yup," agreed Ranma. "That was just before he locked me in a barrel and sent me over Niagara Falls."
"I see," said Ryoga thoughtfully. "Niagara Falls. Slowly I turn. Step by step. Inch by inch."
"Eh?" asked Genma as Ryoga advanced on HIM.
"SAOTOME! PREPARE TO DIE!" said Ryoga as he attacked Genma.
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(Posted Sat, 24 May 2008 17:30)
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らんま1/2 © Rumiko Takahashi
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