Sorry for the short length of this section. I wanted to get one more part
done before I unsubbed for the weekend, and I didn't have much in the way
of writing time. I'll be unsubbing for a while, at most five days, as I
move into my new apartment, and suffer the inevitable wait to get the
telephone turned on.

2:1 

	"So, you trained under Genma for a while?"
	"Yes," Rui said. "I met Ranma at an all-boys' junior high school. I was
looking for a sensei to train under, and I was impressed by his fighting
style, so I asked to train under his father. I found out they were going to
China, and I agreed to go along."
	"Your family didn't object to that?" Nodoka asked.
	"I have no family," Rui said. Everyone blinked. "I've been alone for most
of my life," he continued. 
	"Well then," Soun said, "since you have no family, and since you were
Saotome-kun's student, I think it's only reasonable that you stay here with
us for a while."
	"I wouldn't want to impose," Rui said.
	"No imposition," Soun said. "Nodoka-san, the offer extends to you to. You
shouldn't be alone at a time like this."
	Nodoka smiled at Soun. "Arigatou, Soun-kun. It's very kind of you."
	Akane turned to Rui. "Hey, you want to have a little sparring session?"
	"Huh?" the pale boy said.
	Akane smiled. "It'll be nice to have someone around here to spar with.
I'll try to go easy on you," she added, winking.
	Rui shrugged. "Alright."

	The pair entered the dojo. Akane adjusted the belt on her gi, and bowed to
the dojo as well as to Rui, before assuming a ready stance in the center of
the floor. Rui returned the bow, and stood opposite Akane, arms behind his
back, face impassive.
	<Is he just going to stand there?> Akane wondered. <Oh well, if he wants
to be an idiot...here I come!> Akane propelled herself forward, aiming a
roundhouse into Rui's gut. But suddenly, his gut wasn't there. Akane yelped
as her feet were taken out from under her. She felt strong hands grip her
shoulders, and then felt the sensation of flight for a moment before
slamming into one of the walls with a loud thud. Groaning, she rose to her
feet. Rui was in the same position as before, arms behind his back, no
readable expression on his face. However, he had clearly just thrown Akane
across the room.
	Akane didn't like being thrown across the room. With a fierce kiai, she
launched herself into the air, angling for a kick to the pale boy's neck.
He brought his hands up to deflect the kick, but instead of blocking, he
caught Akane's ankle, and used her momentum to catapult her towards the
floor. Akane hit with a loud grunt. Rising, she spun angrily on Rui. "Hey
you! What do you think you're doing!?"
	Rui shrugged. "Sparring."
	Akane growled. "Why you...!! Alright, no more kid gloves!" Akane dashed
forward, launching a powerful haymaker. At this distance, Rui couldn't
possibly dodge, and even blocked, this punch was intended to *hurt*.
	Rui sidestepped, but caught Akane's fist in the shoulder. Akane swore she
felt some kind of tingling sensation when her fist slammed into the
boy--almost painful, definitely unsettling. She overextended, and toppled
over. Rui turned back to face her. She slowly dragged herself to her feet
and looked at him. If that punch had hurt him at all, he wasn't showing it.
<What the hell *is* he?> "Hmph. I think we've sparred enough," Akane said.
She stormed out of the dojo.
	Rui blinked. "What's her problem?"

--------------------------------------------------------------------
The Eternal Lost Lurker
EternalLostLurker@worldnet.att.net
Ittai boku no peiju wa doko nan da!?