********
Running forwards, I burst through the underbrush to see. . .
Well, I saw him sitting on top a pile of about four humanoid creatures
of about chest height. A large bump was on the back of their heads as
they lay there in a pile of unconscious flesh. Their piggish faces
frozen in various stages of shock and startlment. The red spirit looked
at me and hopped off them, curiosity in his eyes. "You sure you didn't
want to handle them?"
". . ."
"*Sniff, Sniff,* Looks like another batch is coming down the
road. Do you want to handle them?" he said looking at me expectantly.
". . . Sure." I said a little dazed. "These are goblins?"
I walked into the bushes a little to the side of the road and
squatted down. Drawing my sword, I peeped out the bushes and waited.
Soon, four Goblins appeared. One heavier goblin, maybe about shoulder
height, was armed with a sword and buckler while the other three just
had crude spears. As they started to pass me, I charged forwards
through the bushes swinging my sword out in a deadly arc of steel to
claim the large one's life. I spun around and prepared to meet them
head on only to see them fleeing in the opposite direction, screaming
in fright.
"HEY come back here and fight!" I shouted at their retreating
figures. Suddenly, a couple of rocks flew past my head and hit each of
the goblins on their heads, knocking them down and out.
". . . You really don't know much about Goblins do you?" he
said as he popped out of the bushes behind me.
**************
Well, there are a couple of different types of goblins. There are
the puny little goblin soldiers like those we handled a while back.
They're just minor monsters or cannon fodder in times of war. They
don't fight alone unless it's against a weaker opponent. Even then,
they are cowards. Then next up is a goblin sargent. They are slightly
braver and heavier set than the normal ones. They keep the Goblins
under them in line with treats of violence and retribution. You take
him out and many times, the others will flee.
Now, the next more powerful person in the goblin chain is the
goblin captain. They are just about man size and much stronger than a
normal Goblin. The next one up the line is the shamans. They don't have
a actual line in the Goblin Hierarchy but are more in the sense advisors
and assist the Captains in their jobs and the chieftains above them.
Getting all of this so far?"
"I think so . . ."
"Good because the next line is pretty important. It's the
chieftains. The Goblin community is broken up into separate villages
who are all accountable to the king of the Goblins and his Henchmen.
Usually the biggest or the best warrior of all the goblins becomes King
whenever there is a dispute over the kingship. It's most likely that
it's a Large grunt who want to be king. But usually the Shaman he has
at his side does most of the controlling. In any case, the King has the
power to call upon the Goblin warriors throughout his realm and the
four warriors that come with the post. They are the four warrior
generals of, the fire stalker, the Ice maiden, the Iron goblin and the
Water walker.
"So what does that have to do with me?"
"It's easy. You have to find a way to defeat or get around the
four Generals before you can even fight the king. Then if you actually
defeat the king. There is about one year in which the Goblin ranks are
thrown into turmoil before they find another king. Allot of upheavals,
deaths from fighting between villages, riots and all that. In any case,
if you kill the four Generals, then the goblins will just fall into
squabbling tribes since they are the ones who give the position any
authority."
"Oh... How do you know all this?"
"... I'm 500 years old. I know these things."
"Oh... So what's the problem?"
"Each of the Generals can take out a small army."
". . ."
"In any case, it seems I'll have to train you or I'll never learn
the secret of fire from you."
". . . Just one question before we start. How did you knock out
the goblins?"
"That's easy, you just throw stones at them. If you hit the back
of their heads they most likely pass out. If you hit the forehead, it
just bounces off so you need to aim for the neck. It's that easy."
". . . so how do I kill the Generals?"
"*Gin.* Now that is another question altogether but first, I've got to test you first. *heh, heh,
heh.*"
***
"WAHHHH!"
"Stop screaming. You'll never be able to beat the goblins if you
don't get powerful enough." With that, he released another boulder,
sending it scuttling downhill at me as I frantically dodged out of the
way.
"Stop sending boulders at me!"
"Hey! Anticipate the boulders as they come and either move out of
the way, or block them unless you want to get hurt.
****
"Swim you fool! Just because you are in full armor doesn't mean
you can just flounder around like that!"
"glub glub"
****
"Yikes!" I leap away dodging a virtual hail of stones.
"Hey stop running away! Dodge or parry these stones. You said you
didn't want to play with boulders didn't you?"
"Yes! But what's the difference?" I called out, dodging a rock
that was just a little smaller than my head.
"You can parry these rocks." he said, sending a fresh volley at
me.
"Aurgggg!"
***
"Let's see, you can't swim, you aren't very quick, you aren't
really that strong, you don't know enough about fighting with a sword
to defeat or even last two minutes against me. . . Just how were you
going to beat the Goblins again?"
"I was going to kill as many as I could before I died."
". . . Just like that huh? Well if I'm not mistaken, you'll get
to the fourth one before you get killed and only if you're lucky."
"Like you can do so much better." I sarcastically shot back.
"Head to head? I could take out maybe twenty at once if I'm lucky
and if I use my head a little I should be able to take out much more."
"?"
"Hey, you have a head too, so use it."
"Teach me."
"What? To use your head?"
"No! To fight!"
"*Ptt* Sure, if you insist."
***
What followed in the ensuring days was a regimen to learn balance
and speed. Leaping through the forest of green, he lead me in the chase
of my life. For a few steps away he always stayed, the packs in his
possession. Taunting me with the ease he had in leaping from branch to
branch even burdened with the packs as I strove my best to keep up with
him. An annoying thing he did was throw rocks and twigs at me every now
and then and expect me to catch and throw them right back. I earned my
fair share of bruises from them. Then next exercise was just swimming.
Not the normal swimming you and I was used to but swimming across a
river in full armor. It was an experience that I would not soon forget.
I barely made it across the freezing water.
"You had enough yet?" he said as he knelt over my shivering from.
"Nn.n.n.no. I.iii Ju.j.j.jus.st st.st.st.arted."
"Well, start a fire and warm yourself up first. It looks like a
long time before you will be ready to take them on... *sigh* Idiot
human." Innu-ken muttered as he disappeared into the bushes.
Standing in the clearing, I felt the cold breeze blow through my
frozen clothes, wondering if I would even survive the training.
***
"Cut! That's it for today! We'll pick up tomorrow for the next
scene. Komei! Come over here for a moment."
"What?" I asked as I came in front of him.
"We're going to cut the edit the scenes since the movie is only
an hour and a half long but keep it up with the suggestions, it works
well with the plot."
"Thanks sir."
"err, right." he said as the extras and production crew packed up
for the day. As he moved off, a voice came from behind the director.
"Err. Do you know where the Tendo Dojo is?" the director turned
around and saw a young man behind him. "KOMEI! Did you tell one of your
friends about the shoot?"
"No sir. . . Ryouga, what're you doing here? Wait, stupid
question you're always lost."
"KOMEI!"
"Hey relax, I'll take you back but if you loose me you had better
stay put so I can find you again ok?"
"Komei. What's the meaning of this?"
"Sorry about this sir but he has the worst sense of direction of
anyone I know. It takes him a couple of hours to find the bathroom."
"Komei." came a low and dangerous voice.
"Ryouga, do you want me to take you to the Tendo Dojo?"
". . . Yes."
"Then growl at me only if I say something that's not true."
". . . Hai."
"Sorry sir, I'll be leaving now." Guo said as he took Ryouga's
hand and lead him off in the direction of the cars. Behind them, the
director set his head in his hands and groaned.
***
"Ryouga, where the hell do you think you're going?"
"err. Going to the Tendo Dojo?"
"Ryouga, why do you want to go there?"
"Because I've to Punish RANMA!" he basically screamed.
"Ryouga. By the way both of you said it. You're going to punish
Ranma for not waiting four days for you for your fight."
"But he RAN AWAY!"
"RYOUGA! STOP SHOUTING! And go this way, the car is over there."
I said, pointing to a little red Honda Accord.
"Oh, sorry."
"Ok, let's start again. Why did you start chasing after Ranma?"
"He ran out on our fight."
"Correction, he did not run out on your fight. You did not turn
up on the appointed time."
"But he should have known and waited for another day at least! He
knows that I have a bad sense of direction. he should have waited for
as long as necessary."
"Ryouga, no-one is as patient as he was. Just about everyone else
I know would have left after an hour since you didn't show. It was your
fault for not showing up on time so stop blaming him.
". . . I. . It still doesn't excuse the fact that he's made my
life a living hell! I've seen many horrors just because of him."
"Could you be more specific?" I said unlocking the doors.
"He ruined my life and cursed me to. . ."
"He didn't do it intentionally, and in any case, it was your
decision to run off after him and drop out of school. You could have
had a perfectly normal life if you had stayed at home." we got in.
"He makes the people around him miserable."
"What concern is it of yours? None of them would know you if it
wasn't for Ranma. Shampoo chases him even though he doesn't love her and
that makes Mouse blame him for something he doesn't do. Ukyou is another
one who likes him even though he sees her as the old buddy he knew than
a fiance. Akane, well, Akane is the only one he has any feelings for
and. . ."
"Akane does not love Ranma! He always teases her and makes her
angry!"
"Is that a fact?" I turned the ignition.
"YES!"
"I've heard, the people closest to you are the ones who can hurt
you the most. Why? Because you keep them the closest to your heart. Face
it, you have no real relationship with Akane. In fact, if not for Ranma,
you wouldn't even know her in the first place."
"I don't have to justify my reasons to you."
"Then justify it to yourself."
"Why should I?"
"Because even though you keep shouting that Ranma is an Honorless
Cur, he's shown more honor than you have."
"Right, like what." he sarcastically sneered.
"Like not taking advantage of Akane in the form of a little black
Piglet."
". . . . _Ranma_."
"No it wasn't. I saw more than enough clues to tie you to P-Chan.
Ranma has nothing to do with this." I waited for the engine to warm up.
". . . What do _you_ want?"
"Nothing. I just want you to face the facts."
"What fact."
"That you've been blaming Ranma for things that you could have
prevented yourself. That you've been a Jerk as far as I can tell and
that. . ."
"What do you mean A JERK!"
"All right. . . Don't loom in this car. It's not mine and I don't
think you have enough cash to pay for repairs."
"Guo. I'll. ."
"What? Kill me? Fight with me? Don't be absurd. I'm being blunt
with you so you can take a long look at yourself and see what the hell
you're doing wrong. Believe me, you need it just as much as Ranma does
with his multiple fiances if not more."
". . . Drive."
"Fine. . . We're going to Juuban so I can do a little studying
first. If you stay with me I'll drive us back to the dojo after that."
". . . Just _drive_."
I sighed and released the handbrake. Perhaps this jerk will
finally think things through rather than fight. I was getting tired of
repairing the Dojo every time he came over.
A green shadow watched from within the branches of the trees.
'These humans are so strange.' it thought as a black portal opened up
behind it. Leaping into it, the woman disappeared.
***
"Hi Amy." I said as we entered the library.
"Hi Guo. . . Who's your friend?"
"Oh. Amy, this is Hibiki Ryouga. Ryouga, meet Amy. She's been
helping me with my studies."
Ryouga looked at the pretty girl before him, his eyes lightly
glazed over as he shook her hand. 'so soft...' he thought before it
registered that someone was standing on his foot.
"Ryouga, it's not polite to stare." Guo smiled grimly as he
ground his foot into Ryouga's.
"Guo. .*grr*."
"Amy, do you think we can include Ryouga for this session?"
". . . I don't see why not Guo."
"Thanks. . . Hey Ryouga. I never found out which school you are
in."
"I . . ."
"Ryouga, are you in school?"
". . ." he looked down on the ground, apparently in shame.
"*sigh* Just follow us and I'll see you home after we're done."
***
(A few hours later.)
I smiled as we exited the library. "So tomorrow I'll be picking
you up here Amy?"
"Um Hum. See you tomorrow Guo and I hope I'll see you again
Ryouga."
"Bye!" I said as I grabbed Ryouga's hand and dragged him to the
carpark.
"Um Bye." Ryouga trailed as we rounded the corner.
"Ryouga. How far did you get in your schooling?"
"err. primary five."
"H... you really d. . . How the hell do you expect to make a
living if you don't have an education Ryouga?"
"I've done fine without one Guo, some people value strength and
hard work more than an education." I opened the doors and let him in.
"Hibiki Ryouga, ran off from school at a tender age and has
messed up his life in the process of settling a grudge. Tell me Ryouga,
how would that sound as the story of your life?"
". . . *mumbles* Weren't you listening?"
"Ryouga. The first thing I will tell you is. Go BACK to SCHOOL.
I don't care where but you had better settle your affairs before you
commit the rest of your life to fighting Ranma."
"Don't tell me what to do! Ranma Made my life a living hell!
He's stolen the joy from my life and I'll not rest until he can never
be happy again."
"So you want to kill him and become a murderer."
"I. . ." he looked at me confused for a second.
"Hey Ryouga. That's the only way to assure he won't be happy
again. It'll also assure he never feels anything again. But do you want
to spend the rest of your life in Prison for that?"
"Prison?"
"Sure. I mean, if you murder someone the police will put you in
prison right? and If Nabiki has anything with the proceedings you'll be
in for premeditated Murder which has a sentence of life imprisonment
without parole, death or worse depending on the laws. Think about it
Ryouga. You'll probably never see anyone of your friends ever again,
you'll never have the chance to feel the grass under your feet or the
sun on your face. Heck if the Prison inmates find out of your curse,
most likely you'll be a pet at best or eaten at worst. Just think about
it Ryouga. . . Just think."
***
(hell of a time.)
"This is boring!" the imp screamed.
"Ah Huh. So?" the demon asked as he looked up from his typing.
"Come on! Let's torture a few souls or something, all this
monotony is dragging on my nerves."
"So your *ahem* Project is starting to bore you?"
"He's just fitting in like nothing. He doesn't fight anyone and
The clowns aren't in the screen most of the time. stupid. . .*grumble*
*Grumble*"
'Clowns?. . .' The demon looked up for the first time, taking his attention from the screen in front of him. "What do Clowns have to do
with anything?"
". . You know, the boy who gets malleted every day by the girl."
"ah. . . so what do you propose?" he looked at her with an evil
gleam in his eye.
*********
(And. . . action.)
*************
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