Ranma vs. The world 3
The assassin and the bird.


		Ranma stretched and stood in the room he and Ryoga had stayed in the night
before. The room was small but comfortable and cozy. The hotel they were in
was a nice middle class vacation type hotel and it had a small gym. He and
Ryoga decided that since they were in the city that it would be better to stay
indoors rather than seeking shelter in a park or an abandoned lot like Ryoga
intended originally. Besides they could afford it. Ranma and Ryoga had made a
suprising amount of cash in their battles in Japan. Especially the last few.
Ranma walked over to the window and pulled the curtains open to look out at
Hong Kong. They were only on the third floor but the view was still
impressive.
	Ryoga snored loudly and scratched his head in his sleep. Ranma smirked and
walked over to him. "Hey P-chan wake up." he said giving him a hard kick.
Ryoga muttered and kept snoring.
	"C'mon Ryoga we gotta practice you dope." said Ranma getting irritated at
Ryoga's reluctance to wake up. A smile formed on Ranma's lips. He walked into
the bathroom and pulled one of the small plastic cups from the sink and filled
it with water from the sink.
	"What are you planing to do with that?" said Ryoga from directly behind him
causing Ranma to start and splash the water all over himself. Ryoga poked
Ranma in the back of the head causing her to fall face first into the sink.
"You let your guard down." he smirked.
	"You jerk! I was thirsty!" cried Ranma
	"Yea right, Thats why I heard you giggling to yourself all the way over here.
Besides, you aren't thirsty now." said Ryoga with a smirk.

	About an hour later in the gym Ranma and Ryoga had attracted quite a crowd
during their sparring match. 
	Ryoga jumped up at Ranma and punched at his gut as Ranma kicked off his chest
and blocked. "Hey, ease off P-chan we're only sparing." said Ranma frowning.
	"Quit your whining and fight." sneered Ryoga. "How dare you call me P-chan in
front of all these people!" he roared and lept at Ranma again. Ranma dodged
and weaved around his blows. 
	"Ryoga you dope, they don't know about that. Besides most of them can't
understand us anyway." said Ranma casually.
	"Thats no excuse!" cried Ryoga angrily.
	"Here it comes..." thought Ranma tensing himself.
	"Hado shi shi houkou dan!" said Ryoga as he shot his blast at Ranma.  Ranma
took it in his side and was shot across the gym and into the wall. He stood
and groaned in pain. 
"Damn, I still haven't figured it out." muttered Ranma.
	Ryoga stood and looked at Ranma as he stood up shakily. "I have to be careful
about that, if I use it on him to often he'll figure it out." he thought to
himself. "Thats enough practice for today Ranma. Lets go find this Ryu guy."
he said as he walked away.
	"Ryoga you dope that goes to the pool!" cried Ranma as he chased after him.
	
	In the crowd someone frowned. "What do they want with Ryu?" he wondered and
turned away.

	Ryoga stood and watched the amateur punks beat the crap out of each other in
the alley way behind a restaurant and frowned. "You say Ryu went through
here?" he asked some of the men. The pair had run into a group of men who
spoke very passable Japanese, one of them was even from a place near Nerima. 
	"Yea, a few days ago. He beat the hell out of Billy here." said a man
pointing to a heavily bandaged man nearby.
	"Did he say where he might be going?" asked Ranma.
	"Well he didn't say much. But he asked where the Golden dragon pan was." said
another of the men.
	"The what?" said Ryoga.
	"Golden Dragon pan. Damn good food, a bit expensive. Maybe they can help."
said one of the better dressed punks.
	"Thanks." said Ryoga shoving the group a few bills. 
	Ranma turned to walk away but was stopped when he nearly ran into an elderly
man in Chinese robes. "You want to find Ryu?" he asked amused.
	"Yea, you know anything about that?" asked Ryoga.
	"No, I know he is a very capable warrior but not much else. It has been a few
years since I've seen him. I am in search of another." said the old man. "One
who escaped me."
	"Well I'm afraid we can't help much old man." said Ryoga walking away.
	"Perhaps not, how ever...I need my skills to be in top form when I face him
again. Perhaps you can help me with that?" said the man pointing at Ranma.
	Ranma caught on quickly. "How much is it worth?" he asked coolly.
	Ryoga gave him an odd stare. It was unusual for Ranma to worry about money
that way.
	The old man pulled out a bag and set several gold coins on a trash can lid.
Ranma smiled and placed a large bundle of money next to them. "Stay here and
guard the cash." he said to Ryoga.
	The punks all watched wide eyed. Ranma wasn't totally stupid, he and Ryoga
had set up an account at the bank of Japan before they left and put most of
their money in the bank soon after receiving it. However the amount they had
amassed coupled with his and Ryoga's savings was substantial and Ranma carried
a good bit around with him.
	"Well young man shall we begin?" asked the elderly martial artist as he took
up a strange stance.
	"Kung fu? not bad old man, So-ryu right?" asked Ranma as he took up his own
ready stance.
	"Perhaps, I am called Gen by the way, not old man." replied Gen with a small
smile.
	Ranma rushed him and swung for his head. Gen caught his arm and pressed
firmly against his shoulder with two fingers. Ranma cried out in suprise and
pain. "If you try to play with me boy you will die." said the Gen looking at
Ranma coldly.
	Ranma shifted his weight and tore his arm out of the painful hold. His arm
hung limply at his side and the mans stance changed. "Whats he up to?" thought
Ranma. Ranma dodged and blocked with his good arm while Gen took the
offensive. "He's trying to kill me!" thought Ranma desperately as Gen charged
again. Most of the old mans blows could have killed him had they struck him.
"Katsutenshin amaguriken!" yelled Ranma as he charged and punched at Gen
hundreds of times. 
	"You are to slow with only one arm boy. Hyaku ren Ko." said Gen calmly as he
blocked Ranma's blows with his own variation of the technique. Ranma felt
something jab his side and stomach through the Chestnut fist attack. He fell
to his knees clutching his wounds as he realized what Gen�s attack was, He was
using something similar to the Chestnut fist to attack his nervous system with
pressure points. Ranma tried to stand and his leg gave out under him causing
him to fall again. Gen smiled and walked over to Ranma. 
	"A good match boy but now it must end." he said and raised his hand.
	Ryoga watched as Gen prepared to give Ranma the finishing blow and stood
angrily. "No one gets to kill him until I have!" he cried and moved toward one
step. 
	"Let it be." said a voice from directly behind him. Ryoga froze as he became
aware of a very powerful presence behind him. He quickly turned and saw no one
behind him. He reluctantly took his seat and turned back to the fight as Gen
gloated over the fallen Ranma. He then raised his hand to strike.
	Ranma snorted into the dust and grit his teeth. "I'm not done yet!" he cried
as he rolled and slammed his good arm into Gen's crotch, hard.
	Gen stood motionless for a moment and turned red. Ranma kicked the elderly
man's feet from under him causing him to land on his back. Ranma rolled away
and stood shakily on his good leg. Gen rose from the ground and glared at
Ranma. "I'll teach you about pain before I kill you now boy." he sneered and
stalked toward Ranma. Gen became a blur of motion and swung at Ranma from all
directions shifting his forms to confuse the desperately defensive boy. Ranma
growled as blows struck him almost causing him to lose his already delicate
balance. "What am I going to do?" he thought desperately. Then it hit him. He
was already doing it. 
	Gen lept at Ranma and cried 'Ouga' as he spun in the air and came down in a
kick. Ranma ducked and shifted to avoid the blow, or so it seemed to Gen. At
the height of his kick Ranma did what he wasn't expecting. "Hiryu shouten ha!"
Gen gasped as the sleeping dragon enveloped him and shot him high into the sky
in the form of a powerful whirlwind.
	As the blast died down Ranma collapsed as Gen came down nearby. Ranma stood
again after a few moments and felt his leg and arm throb in pain as he
regained control over them. He stood and wobbled towards Ryoga and the amazed
crowd.
	"Wait. Finish it." said Gen from the ground as he also struggled to stand. 
	Ranma turned to face him. "What?" he asked dumbly.
	Gen pulled out a bag that jingled with coins, "Take this its yours just
finish what you've started boy. I wish to die in battle." said Gen weakly.
	"Put that away old man. I would have fought you for free if you hadn't had
any money. I can't be bought, and I don't kill." said Ranma as he left Gen on
the ground and walked away. 
"Heh, a wise choice." said Gen.
Ranma turned to see that the man had vanished, he looked down to see the bag
of coins at his feet. Embroidered on the bag was, "The only true assassins are
those who use their hands to defeat their opponents." 
	Ranma picked it up and looked in the bag. He almost passed out again. In it
was a small fortune in gold coins. He pulled out a small note written with
intricate hand writing that said. "For my successor."
	 Ryoga stood and watched coolly. "Ranma...How dare you beat up and rob a
helpless old man like that!" he cried.
	From the shadows a dark figure stood watching. "If he is good enough to
defeat the assassin... Perhaps I should watch this one more closely." it
thought.

	A few hours later Ranma walked out of the 1st China bank with a huge grin.
"What are you so happy about?" growled Ryoga.
	"You dope! You don't get it do you. We never have to worry about money again
as long as we live. We are set for life!" said Ranma knocking on Ryoga's head
like it was a door.
	"So?" said Ryoga sourly.
	Ranma sighed and walked on. "There is just no pleasing some people." he said
to himself. Ryoga walked a short distance behind him and frowned. 
	"Hey Ranma. I'm board." he said finally.
	"Well what do you want to do?" asked Ranma casually.
	"If I knew that I wouldn't be board would I?" snapped Ryoga.
	"I'll buy you lunch I guess." said Ranma.
	"I can buy my own." sneered Ryoga.
	"Fine geeze! I try to be nice and this is what I get." said Ranma throwing
his hands into the air in frustration.
	Ryoga stood and watched Ranma walk for a moment with a suprised look on his
face. "He was?" he thought before realizing that he would be lost if he lost
sight of Ranma.
	"Hey, wait up!" 

	At the Tendo Dojo...

	Dear Akane,
	
	Guess what? I'm in China again. Now before you get all mad at me I just want
to say that I'm not in any trouble or anything, I just ended up here after our
little training trip got underway. I guess we got a little carried away. Me
and Ryoga talked about it and decided we are not going to visit Jusenkyo. If
we did we would lose sight of our goal, possibly forever. I know I didn't
explain much for you and your family. I guess I thought this way would be
easier. I am with Ryoga searching for a technique called the Sho ryu ken. The
only man we know of that knows it is a man named Ryu. We are trying to find
him, and it isn't easy. He travels even more than Ryoga. Well I hope that
clears things up a little for you. I'm sorry I couldn't tell you earlier. I
miss every one there. Well almost.
	Yes, I even miss you. You uncute Tomboy.
Ja!
Ranma.

	P.S. Ryoga says "Hi"

	P.P.S. He's just mad cause I learned a technique first.
	Ryoga.
	
	Akane clutched the postcard to her chest and smiled. She started as Nabiki
entered the room and sat down. She quickly composed herself.
	"What's that?" asked the middle Tendo.
	"Oh just a post card from Ranma." she said nonchatingly.
	Nabiki plucked it from her grasp and glanced at it. Akane reached for it
defensively, but pulled back at the last moment.
	"That dope hasn't changed a bit." said Akane laughing nervously.
	"I certainly hope not, you'd never forgive him if he did." commented Nabiki
as she handed it back.

	Unryu pig farm...
	
	Akari Unryu held an Identical post card in her hand. On the front was a
picture of Ranma and Ryoga standing in front of a large Chinese building and
smiling casually. She almost cried in joy that Ryoga remembered her even on
his voyage of training. 
	
	Dearest Akari,
	
	I hate Traveling with Ranma, he's such a jerk. I think I'm going to kill him.
He's always such a pain in the ass. I miss you and hope to see you as soon as
I beat the crap out of Ranma for good.  Ranma says to say 'Hi'. I told him to
quit hitting on you and hit him. That guy is unbelievable. I hope you are
doing well.
	Until we meet again. 
	Ryoga.

	"He's so romantic. Defending my honor that way. Just like a pig would."
sighed Akari happily clutching the card to her chest. 
	
	Back in China...

	Ranma stood in a park in one of the nicer areas of Hong Kong and watched the
people go by. He smiled and waved as a group of school girls walked by
giggling and watching him. Ryoga stood next to him at a phone booth and
flipped through the pages of the phone book casually. He blushed slightly as
he noticed some of the girls were watching him as well. He ignored it and
continued his search. "Did ya find it yet?" asked Ranma.
	Ryoga snorted and frowned. "Yea." he said and ripped out the page. "And don't
think I didn't notice you flirting with those girls Saotome. I won't allow you
to cheat on Akane like that." he said as he smacked Ranma upside his head with
the book.

	About an hour later Ranma and Ryoga walked into the Golden Dragon Pan and
waited as a pretty young girl walked up and greeted them. They smiled politely
and asked if she spoke Japanese. She bowed and walked away. 
A short elderly woman walked up to them and smiled. Ranma and Ryoga whinced at
the familiarity of the situation.
	"What can I do for you boys?" she asked.
	"We are looking for a man named Ryu. We understand he came here." said Ryoga.
	The woman frowned and looked thoughtful. "I can't say I remember. We get
allot of customers from all over." she said.
	"Oh well, thanks for your time." said Ryoga.
	"Sorry I couldn't help." said the woman.
	
	The pair stepped out of the restaurant and walked back towards the hotel.
About half way there they passed an alley. Am obviously female figure in the
shadows stepped out into the light. "I understand your looking for Ryu." she
said.
	"Thats right." said Ranma stepping forward.
	"I've found them." she said to no one.
	Another figure stepped out of the shadows. <This is them?> he asked with a
snort in English.
	"These are the men my contact said were sparing in the Gym. Obviously
collectors for Shadowloo." said the woman.
	"What the hell are they talking about Ranma?" said Ryoga.
	"Got me." replied Ranma coolly. He didn't like the look she was giving him. 
	The man standing opposite Ryoga got into a ready stance and Ryoga followed.
"So you want to fight?" asked Ryoga frowning at the much larger man He had
blocked blonde hair and wore camouflage pants with a black leather jacket. He
also stood like he knew what he was doing. 
	Ranma had his own problems. The woman hadn�t even bothered to get into a
stance. "For my father!" she cried and charged at Ranma with a kick that sent
him into the alley way. "My name is Chun li and your kind killed my father
scum. Prepare to die." she said and charged at him again. 
	Ranma stood from the puddle she was in and punched Chun li in the face. "Now
that were both girls, I don't have to go easy on you." she said as a shocked
Chun li stood and faced her new opponent.
TbC...

The sparrow and the eagle

	Think Ranma was a bit OOC in that last scene? Then why was Shampoo trying to
kill Ranma when she first appeared? 
C&C to Catbert25@aol.com