>Ryoko yawned as she practiced in the restaurant's backyard for the
>contest that morning. *Stupid jerk. Woke me up with his damn
>screaming. What the hell is wrong with him? And who the hell is
>Pat?* She stopped for a moment to rub her eyes. "Man, I didn't get
>half as much sleep as I needed." She sighed and began striking out
>at a target on a wooden post buried in the ground with her yo-yo.
>"The tournament is less than two hours away..."
>"What tournament?" Ryoko jumped, startled at the voice. She spun
>around.
>"Oh. It's you." The man dressed in black walked forward and sat on
>the grass.
>"Yeah, it's me."
>"Ranma was able to get out from marrying Shampoo, luckily. No
>thanks to you. But now we have to enter this tournament. The prize
>for winning the tournament will be the moxibustion chart and this
>thing called a Chansey."
>He raised his eyebrows.
>"A Pokémon?"
>"What's a Pokémon?" He furrowed his brow.
>"Don't tell me you don't know what a Pokémon is."
>"Well, I don't," she said, glaring at him. He sighed and took a red
>and white ball that hung on his belt. He tossed it to the ground.
>"Scyther, come out."
>"Scyther!" A large creature with menacing blades for hands stood in
>front of Ryoko. Ryoko swallowed and dropped her red yo-yo. Scyther
>noticed the red object and screamed. "Scyther!" It immediately
>struck out with one blade, shattering the yo-yo. As soon as the
>yo-yo's pieces disappeared into the grass, Scyther calmed down.
>"M-my yo-yo!"
>"Sorry about that, he doesn't like the color red." Ryoko sighed.
>"That's the second yo-yo you've destroyed. Now I've got to go get a
>new one. And quick. The tournament isn't too far away."
>"You've got two hours."
>"But I want to practice my ki attacks." The man shook his head.
>"You shouldn't do that, you'll waste your energy."
>"Oh. I hadn't thought of that. Thanks." Ryoko smiled for once at
>him. But then the smile turned into a frown as she looked behind
>him.
>"Uhoh."
>"What?" A shadow soon covered him and the stranger sweat-dropped as
>he felt the nearness of a bright aura.
>"It's you!" The man slowly turned around to see an enraged Ryouga
>glaring down at him. "You're the one that attacked me!"
>"I'm glad you're awake, Ryouga," chirped Ryoko nervously. "I.. uh..
>I've got to go get a new yo-yo. See you later!" Ryoko quickly
>pushed past the angered man. The stranger swallowed.
>*This is not good. Without my strength... I'll get slaughtered in
>this guy's anger...* Ryouga's aura was impressive. To anybody that
>hadn't been in Nerima since the Saotomes had moved in, that is.
>Ukyou calmly walked up to the lost boy and rammed her spatula in his
>face.
>"Calm down, sugar. He thought you were an assassin." Ryouga peeled
>himself off of the giant spatula.
>"Oh. That's different." Ryouga's aura disappeared and he
>extended a hand toward the stranger.
>"I'm Ryouga Hibiki."
>"I have no name," replied the stranger, taking Ryouga's hand.
>Ryouga frowned and glanced at Ukyou. Ukyou shrugged. The
>stranger paid no attention to the looks he was receiving from
>Ryouga and returned his Scyther. Ryouga blinked.
>"Oh yeah, I was meaning to ask," said Ukyou suddenly. "What was
>that?"
>"My Scyther. A Pokémon."
>"A Pokémon?"
>"_Yes_ a Pokémon. Same as the Chansey that's the prize for the
>tournament tomorrow." Ryouga brightened.
>"A tournament? If Ranma's going to be there, I've got to enter!"
>Ryouga started to run off, but then paused. "Wait a second.
>Where's the tournament going to be anyways?" Ukyou sighed.
>"Ryouga, even if we told you, you wouldn't be able to find it
>anyways."
>"Yeah, I could!"
>"No, you _couldn't_!"
>"Just tell me where it's going to be!"
>"Fine. Furinken Highschool."
>"Right. Okay, see you there then!" Ukyou shook her head as Ryouga
>ran off.
>"Ukyou, what's with that gu-" began the man without a name.
>"Shh," interrupted Ukyou. "3... 2... 1..."
>"WHERE ON EARTH AM I NOW!!" The man without a name blinked as one
>of the walls surrounding Ukyou's backyard crashed down. "I could
>have sworn Furinken Highschool was this way... huh?" Ryouga blinked
>as he watched an angry Ukyou storm towards him. "Uhoh."
>"You jackass! Of all the walls you have to break, it would have to
>be mine!"
>"But-"
>"And I _told_ you you'd get lost! You stubborn *wham* hot-headed
>*bonk* pig-headed *bam* hopeless *donk* jerk!" She swung her
>spatula back for one last hit. "You jackass!" Ryouga cowered as
>the mega-spatula came flying high speed towards him. The man
>without a name winced as Ryouga became as flat as one of Ukyou's
>Japanese pizzas.
>*That musta hurt...*
>
>*****
>
>Ryoko took a few practice swings with her new yo-yo as they walked to
>Furinken Highschool, where the tournament was to be held. They were
>all walking together, the man in black walking a little in front of
>them.
>"I wonder who'll be at the tournament," voiced Ryouga. He had
>decided to follow along with them instead of trying to find it
>himself, due to a little persuasion from Ukyou. He rubbed his sore
>head and glared at Ukyou who stuck her tongue back out at him.
>Ryoko shrugged.
>"Don't ask me. Ranma might, seeing as he likes to prove his
>strength and skill. But then again, he doesn't really have a
>reason." Behind her, the man without a name muttered something.
>"Other than help Mr. Noname," added Ryoko.
>"He's got to be in the contest!" shouted Ryouga. "If he's not, I
>won't be able to humiliate him in front of everybody when I defeat
>him!"
>"When you _try_ to defeat him. Sugar, you and I both know that you
>don't have a chance at beating Ran-chan," said Ukyou.
>"Who says?"
>"I do and so does your past record of fights with Ranma-honey. How
>many times have you beaten Ranma in a fight?"
>"There was that anything goes obstacle-"
>"A real fight, sugar."
>"That's a real fight!"
>"You didn't knock him out, then."
>"..."
>"See?"
>"..." Suddenly, the man dressed all in black stopped, forcing them
>to run into his back. At first they didn't notice since they
>immediately knocked him over and trampled him. Then Ukyou frowned.
>"Wait a second. Wasn't he walking in front of us?"
>"Yeah," replied Ryoko, scratching her head. "Where'd he go?" They
>scanned the area.
>"There!" pointed Ryouga. His finger was aimed towards an extremely
>flat black spot on the ground. Ukyou trotted over to him.
>"Sugar, are you okay?" she asked, attempting to peel him off the
>pavement.
>Ryoko poked at the flattened figure with her pointer finger.
>"Looks like road kill," commented Ryoko. Ukyou glared at her younger
>sister.
>"That's not nice to say, Ryoko." Ryoko sighed.
>"Okay, I'm sorry." The stranger grunted and got up slowly.
>"Ouch..."
>"It's your own fault. What are you doing stopping in the middle of
>the road?" scolded Ryoko. The stranger was silent and looked
>straight ahead.
>They turned and they saw a man in a suit walking towards them. Then
>their eyes glanced at the gun he held in his hand. "Who-?"
>"Umbrella assassin," hissed the stranger. Ryouga protectively
>stepped in front of them. The assassin stopped walking and looked
>at the people who surrounded his target. Then he glared at the
>weakened man.
>"Fool. You can't hide behind your circle of bodyguards for long.
>Now, I'll let you live for a few minutes more. But don't be a
>coward like you are and run from the tournament. I better see you
>as one of the contestants!" The man turned and began walking away.
>The stranger narrowed his eyes.
>"You can't enter the tournament!" protested Ukyou. "You'll be
>slaughtered! You're too weak!"
>"I've got to..."
>"What? Is this all about your foolish pride now? Because he called
>you a coward? That's no... Ryouga talk to him! You're a guy.
>He'll listen to you!" Ryouga shrugged.
>"It's a challenge. Real fighters don't back away from challenges..."
>"That didn't help at all," muttered Ryoko.
>"But..." trailed off Ukyou. She watched as the man silently got up
>and began walking towards the school which they could see in the
>distance. She sighed. "You're going to get yourself killed,
>buster..." she muttered to herself as she followed.
>"I'll make sure he won't get slaughtered by that guy," murmured
>Ryoko to herself. Ryouga looked at her. "What?"
>"Did you say something?"
>"No, I _didn't_." Ryoko began trotting to catch up to her older
>sister, Ryouga not too far behind.
>
>*****
>
>"Ladies and gentlemen! It is now time to begin the Anything Goes
>Battle of the Year!" announced the announcer.
>The group had arrived at Furinken Highschool. Turned out, it was
>being held in the back where a large tent was put up. Inside there
>were three rings.
>The announcer stood in the middle ring.
>"Many of you have come from far away to participate, and we
>Nerimians welcome you! Now, the rules are... there are no rules!
>Only, you must remain in the ring or you are disqualified!" He
>picked up a pokéball that stood by his feet. "Now, the prize for
>winning is this lovely..." He tossed the pokéball into the ring.
>"Chansey Chansey!"
>"... Chansey!" The crowd murmured a little.
>"What's a Chansey?" "Pansy?" "Panty? Where?" asked some pervert.
>The crowd all turned towards the source of the voice. The man without
>a name began glowering as he recognized the man.
>"Happosai..." he growled.
>"Calm down, hon. You can't take him in this state," said Ukyou,
>placing a hand on his shoulder. The man sighed.
>Then a voice rang out over all the rest. "Oh, it's so cute!!" The
>crowd turned to where a brown haired girl stood. She wore glasses
>over her eyes and she wore a peculiar white outfit. She wore a
>white skirt and a white shirt that had the letters TR on the front.
>Her arms were covered with black gloves that ran up to mid-bicep.
>She also wore black boots that ran up to mid-thigh. The crowd
>looked at each other then agreed with her.
>"Yeah! It's a cute little thing!" "Kawaii!"
>"Wai Wai! Sono Chansey wa kawaii desu yo!" Ryoko turned. Just to
>her right a little girl on rollerblades was hopping up and down,
>much to the distress of her partner. "Chanteclair! Chanteclair!"
>she began shouting out.
>"Azusa, quiet down," complained the man. Ryoko blinked.
>*Hey.. that's-* The man noticed her staring at him. He began
>grinning his most charming grin and walked towards her.
>"Why hello. What is this beauty doing mixed in with all the crowd?"
>Ryoko began blushing and backed up. "Allow me to introduce myself,"
>he said taking her hand and bringing it up to his lips.
>"H-hey," protested Ryoko.
>"My name is-"
>"Mikado Sanzenin!"
>"Hm?" Mikado looked up to see Ryouga glaring at him.
>"What do you think you're doing?"
>"Well. If it isn't the miscreant who harassed my beautiful
>pig-tailed goddess who swooned at my kiss." Ryoko blinked. She
>leaned over to Ukyou.
>"Is he talking about who I'm thinking about?" Ukyou shrugged.
>"It's the first I've heard about it." Ryouga took the moment to
>turn to the two girls. He grinned.
>"Yeah, he's talking about Ranma."
>"..." Ryoko's mouth opened and closed silently as she tried to
>imagine it.
>She made a face and shuddered.
>"He was in girl form." Ryoko attempted to imagine it again but
>still made a face at the thought.
>"He swooned?" asked Ukyou.
>"Not exactly. He ran off crying," answered Ryouga, smirking.
>Mikado cleared his throat.
>"What are you talking about?"
>"Nothing. Where was I?"
>"I haven't the faintest idea. But I was about to give one of my
>trademark kisses to that young lady," he said, motioning towards
>Ryoko, "before you rudely interrupted."
>"Oh that's right," said Ryouga scratching his head. Then he glared
>at Mikado. "There's no way I'm going to let you do that, you
>pervert!"
>"So is this a challenge?"
>"You're damn right it is!"
>"Well, how about this. You and her," he said motioning towards
>Ryoko again, "against me and Azusa," he finished, gesturing towards
>his partner who had climbed up within the ring and was chasing
>around the poor Chansey.
>"You got it!" shouted Ryouga.
>"I'll go tell the judges now," said Mikado. "Don't worry, dear.
>I'll be back," he said, bowing towards Ryoko. Ryoko blushed again
>and Ukyou grinned, poking her.
>"Aw.. how sweet," she teased.
>"How horrible!" interrupted Ryouga. "Man, Ryoko. I feel sorry for
>you. He's the most stubborn pervert I know... other than Ranma that
>is."
>"Who are you calling a pervert!" shouted Ranma, startling Ryouga.
>"Ranchan!" exclaimed Ukyou. "Hi!"
>"Hiya Ucchan! Hi Ryoko. Hey, P-chan. What are you all doing
>here?"
>"Ranma, don't call me that," warned Ryouga.
>"We're here to be in the tournament," answered Ukyou, ignoring the
>bandannaed boy.
>"Him too?" asked Ranma, pointing to the stranger who was watching as
>Azusa was dragged out of the ring by a flustered Mikado.
>"Yeah... he got a challenge by an Umbrella Assassin. Don't you
>think he shouldn't be in the fight? He'll get slaughtered!" Ranma
>shrugged.
>"It's a challenge. Real fig-"
>"Just stop," interrupted Ukyou. "Ryouga already said the same
>thing." Ranma shrugged yet again.
>"Hi guys!" greeted Akane as she walked up to them. "What's up?"
>"Uh... h-hi A-akane..." stuttered Ryouga.
>"Oh hi Ryouga!"
>"I.. uh, I forgot.. but..." He rummaged in his backpack and pulled
>out a box. "I got some pineapples for you..."
>"Oh, thank you! You're always so nice!" The stranger noticed a new
>person in the group and walked to them.
>"Oh, Akane," said Ryoko. "Akane, this is.. uh... Noname-san." The
>man raised an eyebrow.
>"Noname-san?" Ryoko shrugged.
>"She's kinda slow..." she whispered. Ukyou giggled and Ryouga
>scowled at them. The man raised an eyebrow again. Akane smiled and
>extended a hand towards him.
>"Nice to meet you, Noname-san. I'm Akane." He took her hand.
>"Nice to meet you too."
>"Hey!" shouted Ranma suddenly. "It's the old ghoul!"
>The old lady on a large staff had pogoed over to the announcer. He
>leaned down and took a piece of paper from her.
>"Oh, and the prize also includes this moxibustion chart!"
>"The chart!" exclaimed the man, leaning forward, pushing against
>Ryoko. Ryoko barely noticed his weak shoves.
>"Calm down, you jerk," she muttered, elbowing him. However, in his
>current state, the elbow knocked him back quite a few feet.
>"Ow..." Ryoko turned.
>"Oops.. sorry."
>"Alright! Everything all settled with!" shouted the announcer as he
>returned the Chansey. "Now, the battles will be listed on the
>judge's table, just walk up and look at what time you need to be in
>one of the three rings. Got it?" A chorus of 'yes's and 'no's came
>from the crowd. "Well, if you're confused, too bad! Good luck to
>all and I'm outta here!" The announcer quickly jumped out of the
>ring and ran off, depositing the prizes by the judge's table on the
>way.
>"He wanted to get out of here fast," commented Ryouga. Ranma
>shrugged.
>"Can't blame him. With all the damage YOU cause..."
>"You cause the same amount of damage!"
>"I do not!"
>"Yes you do!"
>"Guys guys!" interrupted Akane. "Settle this inside of the ring."
>"Oh, that's right," said Ryouga. "I meant to challenge you, Ranma."
>"Well, I accept!"
>"Good. I'll go tell the judges." Ryoko stopped him.
>"Better idea. You stay here with Ranma while _I_ go tell the
>judges."
>"Yeah," said Ukyou. "You'll get lost on the way to the judges."
>"But the table is only ten feet away!"
>"Exactly," chorused Ukyou and Ranma. Noname-san raised an eyebrow
>silently. He then turned towards the three rings.
>*I've got to find a way to beat that assassin. If I can't, it'll be
>my death.*
>
>*****
>
>Ryoko trotted quickly towards the judges table. *Okay. Ryouga
>wants to challenge Ranma... hmm.. better have it after our battle
>against Mikado and Azusa... don't want him to be completely beat up
>before we fight... that'll be bad...* She was so wrapped up in her
>thoughts she didn't look where she was walking and bumped into
>someone.
>"Ouch!" exclaimed the man.
>"Oh, sorry!" apologized Ryoko. "I wasn't looking where I was..."
>she trailed off as she glanced at who she ran into. He was taller
>than her and he wore a button up leather vest and baggy pants. He
>had purple eyes and had braided blonde hair.
>
>[[She's staring at you.]]
>
>*I've noticed.* "That's alright, Miss. I'll be fine." Ryoko
>nodded and continued to walk towards the judges' table. He watched
>her leave and then continued to walk aimlessly.
>
>[[I still don't understand why you want to be in this tournament.]]
>
>"It's for the money."
>
>[[The prize isn't even money!]]
>
>"I can sell the Chansey and I'll find something to do with that
>chart thingy."
>
>[[Alright then, whatever you say.]]
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