The day had started out normally for Saotome Ranma of the Anything-Goes School of Martial Arts; he had his morning fight with Akane, ate breakfast, went to school, stopped Happousai from stealing the girls' underwear and made it back home in time for dinner. However, today, something even more unusual was about to happen as Ranma opened the door to the Tendo Household he was allowed to live in...
Ranma simply stared at the group around the table as he entered the living room. Everyone that was usually there was there; Akane, Mr. Tendo, his father, Nabiki, Kasumi, and Happousai. But there was one other person sitting at the table, someone he had never once seen before...
"All right, who's the kid?" asked Ranma, pointing to the extra person at the table. The person was indeed a kid, but he looked very odd: He was wearing a bright-orange jumpsuit colored blue at the shoulders, had a dull gray backpack slung over his shoulders, a forehead protector on with an abstract picture of a leaf on the metal, blonde, spiky hair, and three whisker-like marks on each of his cheeks, not to mention the weird... thing on his left shoulder.
As Ranma spoke, the kid looked at him as he slurped up the last bit of some ramen in his bowl and sighed contently. Looking at Ranma, he decided to speak.
"So, you're Saotome Ranma, huh?" he said. "All right then, I-"
"You never answered my question," said Ranma as he planted a foot in the kid's face. "Who's this brat here?" The kid pulled Ranma's foot off of his face and yelled.
"Brat?! Who do you think you're calling a brat-ttebayo?!" he yelled. Ranma could feel his patience with this kid getting less and less as he looked at Ranma with clenched teeth and fist. "Well, then, if that's how you feel, I guess I should just leave."
"All right, I guess you should, then," said Ranma, moving to leave the path to the main door open.
"Ranma," said Kasumi. "Don't be rude to the young man, he came here to bring something to you specifically." Ranma looked to Kasumi and wondered what the kid would want to bring him, especially if he'd never seen him before.
"Hold up kid," Ranma said, blocking his way again.
"Uh huh... Changing your mind now that you know I have something for you, huh?" he grinned, looking at Ranma, a smug look on his face. Ranma had an intense urge to smack him right in his mouth and wipe it right off of his face, but he'd wait until he got what was being delivered to him.
"Whatever, just give me what you brought already," Ranma said. The kid rustled around in his backpack and pulled out a sealed envelope. Ranma took it and read who sent it:
"...The Interdimensional Tournament Comittee?" he read. "What the heck is that?" Happousai raised his eyebrows in intrigue.
"So, Ranma, you have finally been invited to the Interdimensional Tournament, huh...?" the tiny old man said. "Before you say anything, let me explain... You see, the Interdimensional Tournament is obviously a tournament of sorts. However, only the best, young fighters from certain, worthy dimensions are chosen to participate. I took part myself, one-hundred years ago during the last Tournament." Ranma looked at the old man with interest, wondering how the old man did.
"Tell us, Master, how did you do?" asked Genma. "I'm guessing you won, correct?" Happousai laughed boastfully, but then suddenly stopped to speak.
"I was beaten in the first round," he said, staring to the floor in sadness. Ranma couldn't believe it. The old freak, beaten so quickly? Wow, he thought. The people there are that strong?
"Yeah," said the kid. "Anyways, I just came to give that to you, so I'm going back." As he began to leave, Ranma grabbed his arm.
"Kid," he said. "...Are you taking part in this inter-whatever tournament-thing?" The young man looked to Ranma, grinned, then spoke.
"You bet I am, dattebayo," he said. Ranma released his arm and he left, as Ranma opened the envelope. He removed from the inside a letter and began to read it out loud.
Mister Saotome Ranma, we are pleased to invite you to take part in the 164th Interdimensional Tournament. You have been honorably chosen among others from seperate dimensions to fight against one another for a massive sum of currency corresponding to your dimension. In your dimension, the prize would be equivalent to one-hundred and fifty billion yen. (Nabiki's eyes widened and she almost fainted as Ranma read this part) There will also be prizes for runner-up. Should you choose to take part, we would ask you to arrive at the destination on the included map in three days' time. Your absence will last for as long as it takes to complete the tournament, but can be assured it will take no longer than one month's time- ("One of the fights lasted three days straight when I went!" said Happousai.) -and you will be provided with shelter, food, and other resources, free of charge, of course. (And now Nabiki fainted) We hope you consider joining us and taking part in our esteemed and humble tournament. ~The Interdimensional Tournament Comittee
Ranma just stared at the letter after he finished reading, and looked to his family and friends, stopping to stare at the unconscious Nabiki, and gave them a look as if he were asking for their consent.
"...I guess you should go then, Ranma..." said Akane. Genma nodded and looked proudly at his son before bursting into joyous tears.
"Do what you think is best, son," said Soun as he looked to Ranma, also nodding.
"Well, it would be a good experience for you, Ranma-kun," said Kasumi, fanning Nabiki. Ranma thought Nabiki would be shouting at him to go there and win the prize money if she weren't unconscious.
"Do it, m'boy, there's no harm in it, even if you do lose," said Happousai. "Especially since the rules forbid any lethal blows, you should be fine. After all, the strongest across the dimensions gather there, right?" Ranma nodded, but decided to go up to his room and stare at the letter, thinking, and he wouldn't come to his decision until the three days were almost up...
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(Posted Thu, 17 Jul 2008 23:16)
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