Ranma the Tenth Hakkeshu or Ranma’s Cousin Iori

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Disclaimer:  I do not own Ranma ½.  That is property
of Rumiko Takahashi.  I do not own The King of
Fighters is property of SNK.  I do however suggest you
look up information on these two properties.  You
won’t be disappointed.

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Note:  This takes place after the Ranma ½ manga and
little while after the King of Fighters ’97.

(------)

Ranma the Tenth Hakkeshu Chapter 5:  Kunoichi of Love
Mai Shiranui… and Andy

It’s been a long trip for Ranma.  He now has a partner
with him on his search.  The young commander of the
Ikari Team Leona.  Not that Ranma minds of course,
it’s just harder to concentrate on the task at hand
when he’s got a girl he likes (a lot) by his side. 
Ranma and Leona have been traveling around Tokyo for a
few days.  Like before, no one has seen Iori since the
last King of Fighters Tournament.  But Ranma carries
on, hoping to find his lost cousin.  Ranma’s search
takes him to another nightclub, The Cat’s Claw Club. 
Ranma searches places like this since, Iori was known
to frequent them often.

Ranma (Angry):  Dammit!  Where the hell is he?  He
couldn’t have just dropped of the face of the earth. 
Could he?

Leona (Shrugs her shoulders):  I don’t know.  But I
know for a fact if you give up, you may never find
him.

Ranma (Inward sigh):  Fine let’s go.

Ranma and Leona walk up to the front of the line. As
usual, the bouncer in the front doesn’t like people
just cutting in line, especially, if he feels they
aren’t fit to enter the club.  Also as usual the
bouncer taunts Ranma and ends up on the wrong und of a
Katchu Tenshin Amaguriken.  Ranma and Leona casually
step over the fallen behemoth.  The only thing
different this time is someone watching them from the
shadows.

Man (Smiles):  So I finally found you… Ranma Saotome. 
(The man pulls out a cell phone, dials a few numbers
and is answered by a male voice).

Male voice:  What is it this time?

Man:  I found Ranma like you asked.

Male voice (Pleased):  Excellent.  Follow him and
study him.  I want you to find out as much information
as possible.  Don’t fail me this time Billy. 

Billy:  Don’t worry Geese, I’ll get you your
information, or my name isn’t Billy Kane.

Geese:  I prefer a report as soon as possible.  Keep
in touch.  <Click>

As soon as Geese hangs up, Billy turns off his cell
phone and puts it in his coat pocket.  He promptly
steps over the fallen bouncer into the bar, only to
see… a huge swarm of people.

Billy (Annoyed):  Bloody hell!  This will be like
trying to find a needle in a haystack.

Billy quickly steps into the shadows and keeps his
eyes peeled for Ranma, all the while thinking…

Billy:  What is Leona doing with him?

(------)

Ranma and Leona walk through the club asking people
they come up against, or seen Iori Yagami.  Most
people have the blood drain from their faces, reply in
a negative fashion, and quickly leave.  Ranma and
Leona do this for a while until Ranma notices a couple
on the dance floor.  The woman looks to be in her
early twenties, has long reddish brown hair, brown
eyes, is wearing a tight red leather dress that comes
down mid thigh, and black leather boots that come up
to her knees.  The man also appears to be in his early
twenties.  He is wearing a khaki colored suit, a black
shirt, and brown shoes.  He has blond hair and blue
eyes.  A lot like Terry’s.  Ranma listens to them
argue.  Leona recognizes the two and says nothing,
waiting to see what will unfold.

Woman:  Andy you promised to dance with me.  Come on,
dancing won’t kill you, ya know.

Andy (Looks around):  I’m sorry Mai; I don’t have time
for this.  I’m looking for the guy that beat my
brother.  He must be a powerful fighter to have
accomplished that.  I must see him for myself.  Terry
met him in a place like this; perhaps he’ll be here. 

The gears in Ranma’s mind turn as he makes a
realization.  This must be Terry’s younger brother. 
More importantly, he said he was looking for Ranma. 
Ranma turns to Leona for confirmation.

Ranma (To Leona):  Is that Terry Bogard’s younger
brother.

Leona:  Yes.  That is Andy Bogard.  A member of the
Fatal Fury Team and Terry’s younger brother.  The girl
he’s with is his long time pal Mai Shiranui.  She is a
member of the Woman’s Team and a Student of Shiranui
School of Ninjitsu.  Both are accomplished fighters.

Ranma (Concentrates on the two):  Yeah, I can see it
now.  They have pretty good auras.  I didn’t sense it
before because there were so many people around.

Leona (Surprised):  You can sense a person’s aura? 
Haw can you do that.

Ranma (Smirks):  It’s a little trick you gain from
training in martial arts since the age of 5.

Leona (Nods her head):  That I believe.  Considering
what you’ve gone through.  I’ll introduce you to them.
 I know Mai a bit, and I’m sure Andy is just dying to
meet you.

Ranma just lowers his head and walks along, accepting
fate at this point.  Unbeknownst to either of them,
Billy has caught sight of them.

Billy (Thinks):  He’s going over to Andy and the Ninja
girl?  This should prove… interesting…  Ha ha ha ha
haaaaaaaaa. <WHACK>

Billy is made unconscious by a blow to the face from
an oncoming drink tray.

Waitress:  Oh, I’m so sorry.  Are you all right?

Billy just lies there twitching.

(------)

Mai:  Please Andy; you spend all your time training
and fighting.  Can’t you for once just have fun for
cryin’ out loud?

Andy:  I’m sorry Mai, my mind is made up.  You can go
and dance, I’m not stopping you.

Mai is about to tear Andy’s head off when she notices
a couple walk over to them.  She recognizes the woman
as Leona.  She doesn’t know who the teenager is, but
she thinks he’s cute.  Especially the pigtail and
Chinese outfit he’s wearing. Mai decides to play 20
questions with Leona.

Mai (Happy):  Hi Leona!  Long time no see.  How’ve you
been doing?  Who’s the cute guy?  Is he your
boyfriend?

Leona (Blushes):  Well, Mai; I’ve been doing okay,
this is Ranma Saotome, and no he’s not my boyfriend.

Mai (Eyes brighten):  Well if he’s not your boyfriend,
may I dance with him?

Leona, Ranma, and Andy:  WHAAAAAAAT!?

Mai (Looks towards Andy):  What’s wrong?  Leona said
he’s not her boyfriend, and you told me you’re to
busy, so I’ll dance with this cutie Leona brought with
her.  (Leona Grabs Ranma by the arm and drags him to
the dance floor).

Ranma (Pale):  But Mai.

Mai:  But nothing.  I came her to have a good time and
you’re here, so why not?

Ranma doesn’t know what to say he looks towards Leona
with anger in her eyes, directed towards Mai.  Andy’s
eyes are the same, but are aimed towards him.

Ranma (Thinks):  I’m in deep shit aren’t I?

(------)

On the dance floor Mai is impressed with Ranma.  He
has trouble getting into it, but now, he dances like a
pro.  Billy finally regains consciousness and looks
towards the dancing pair and laughs about how Andy
must be extremely jealous if he’s watching this. 
Leona stands watching with a stone cold stare,
secretly jealous it’s not her with Ranma out there. 
Andy looks like he’s about to tear Ranma limb from
limb.  He looks towards Leona and asks her a question
when realization hits him.

Andy (To Leona):  Hey, Leona!  What’s that guy’s name
again?

Leona:  Ranma, Ranma Saotome.  (Sees steam coming out
of Andy’s ears)  Andy, what’s wrong?

Andy (Rushes towards Ranma and screams an all too
familiar phrase):  RANMA SAOTOME PREPARE TO DIE!!!

Ranma stops dancing, expecting to see Ryoga come for
revenge for what he did.  Instead he sees Andy coming
at him head on.  Andy does the Hisho Ken, a small chi
blast from his hand.  Mai and Leona gasp in horror,
but are then amazed as Ranma just move to the side and
just smacks Andy in the side of the face.  Andy stands
startled but easily recovers and does his Sho Ryu Dan
maneuver.  The attack flies over Ranma.  Andy curses
Ranma for being too close and having the maneuver just
fly over him.  Andy tries the Hisho Ken again, but as
before, misses Ranma.  Ranma can’t take any more of
this and does the Katchu Tenshin Amaguriken.  Everyone
marvels at the speed Ranma moves.  When he’s done,
Andy falls to the ground.  Ranma looks around.  He
sees everybody that was watching applaud him for what
he did.  Even Leona and Mai are impressed.  Billy
stands there, his eyes bulge out and his jaw drops to
the floor.

Billy (Thinks):  Damn!  He took out Andy like he was
nothin’.  No wonder Geese wants me to follow him.  The
skill and power radiating from him is enormous.

Ranma (Looks around):  What do you people expect.  I
am Ranma Saotome, heir to the Saotome School of
Anything Goes Martial Arts.  I am a man among… (The
waitress that hit Billy trips again and sends cold
drinks flying towards Ranma, who transforms into a
girl on impact in front of everyone).

Ranma-chan (Voice now barely above a whisper):  Men?

Everyone stares at Ranma, now a girl.  Ranma-chan lets
out a long sigh and moves over to Leona.

Ranma-chan (To Leona):  Let’s go.  Iori obviously
isn’t here.

Leona:  Alright.

Ranma-chan and Leona leave the stunned onlookers.  Mai
quickly follows them with Andy in tow.  Billy stands
there in shock by what he just saw.  He pulls out a
bottle of tequila from his coat breast pocket and
takes a long look towards were the group left and back
towards the bottle.

Billy:  That’s it, never again.  (Tosses the bottle,
it smashes and we hear a cat scream off screen).

(------)

Outside Mai follows Ranma-chan and Leona.  She asks
them if they can help her drag Andy back to her place.
 Ranma-chan says she’ll help, but only if Mai lets her
use the sink.  She agrees and the three carry Andy to
Mai’s apartment.  Once there, they lay Andy’s
unconscious form on the couch.  Once done, Ranma goes
into her kitchen.  We hear the sink start running. 
When it turns off we see a now male Ranma step into
view.

Mai (Surprised):  If you don’t mind me asking, how is
it that you can change between male and female.

Ranma once again goes into the story of Jusenkyo.  At
the end Mai is in shock, but understands it perfectly.

Mai:  My grandfather Jubei would tell me stories about
training grounds he visited.  I didn’t believe him
about Jusenkyo.  But now that I see this, I guess he
wasn’t just telling stories.

Ranma (In surprise):  Your Grandfather went to
Jusenkyo?

Mai:  Yes.  He left when he said he felt a magical
aura radiate from the pools.  He left not wanting to
know what it was, but now… I guess we know what that
power does.

Ranma:  Oh.  (Changes the subject)  Mai, do you have
any idea where Iori might be?

Mai (Thinks for a moment, then her face brightens): 
Yeah, I do.  He may have entered that battle of the
bands tournament, going on in two days.

Ranma (Confused):  Why would he be there?

Mai:  From what I know, Iori is a musician in his
spare time.  He may have entered it for the cash
prize.  He hates depending on his family’s money. 

Ranma (Smiles):  Alright, all I have to do is wait for
the concert in two days, and I may find him.

Leona:  Don’t get your hopes up Ranma; he may not be
in it.  Hell, I’m beginning to think he’s no longer in
Tokyo.

Ranma:  Well we won’t know until we try, right?

Leona:  Sigh.  All right you win.  We stay around town
for two days looking for Iori in the mean time and
after we head towards the battle for the bands concert
and….

Mai (Interrupts):  Who said anything about it being a
concert.  It’s an actual tournament.  Anything Goes
Martial Arts Music.

Ranma (Eyes Widen):  They have Anything Goes around
here too?

Mai:  Yeah.  Are you going to stay to see it?  If so,
you can stay in my place here, until it goes on.

Ranma looks to Leona.  She nods her head.

Ranma:  All right.  We’ll take you up on that offer.

Mai:  Yeah.  Leona, you can sleep on the extra futon I
have in my room.  Ranma, since Andy’s passed out on
the couch, you’ll have to sleep in the armchair.  I
hope you don’t mind.

Ranma:  Not at all.

(------)

It’s night.  Ranma sleeps in the armchair.  He can’t
sleep.  He has his mind on too many things.  He looks
over to see Leona standing outside the door to Mai’s
room.  He goes over to where she’s standing.

Ranma:  Hey Leona, what’s wrong?  Can’t sleep as well?

Leona (Startled):  What… Oh, Ranma.  Sorry, I wasn’t
paying attention.  My mind is on other things at the
moment.

Ranma:  Yeah, I know that feeling.  What’s bothering
you?

Leona (Blushes):  I… um… (Looks towards the floor).

Ranma (Makes a realization):  Oh, Don’t worry Leona. 
I don’t feel anything towards Mai.  She seems like a
nice person, but I barely know her.  So don’t worry. 
I only danced with her because she dragged me you
know.

Leona (Blush gets deeper):  I know.  It’s just that… I
wanted to… (Voice now barely above a whisper) dance
with you.

Ranma (Blushes as well):  Well… there’s nothing wrong
with that.  Have you ever danced before?

Leona (Looks down):  No…

Ranma (Tries to sound cheery):  Well, how about we
dance right now?

Leona looks at Ranma for a moment and thinks a while
before talking.

Leona:  You mean it?

Ranma (Mock hurt):  Of course I do.  What I’m not good
enough?

Leona (Blushes and chuckles despite herself):  All
right then.  But there’s no music.

Ranma:  You don’t need music watch and learn.

Ranma holds onto Leona’s waist and, almost
instinctively, Leona put her hands on Ranma’s
shoulders.  They twirl through the room well into
morning.

(------)

Billy stands on the roof of a building.  He can’t
believe he was so careless and let them walk away.  He
sees that it’s morning now.  He has to report back to
Geese.  Billy pulls out his cell phone and hear a
click and a voice on the other end.

Geese:  Billy.  What do you have to report on Ranma?

Billy (Thinks for a moment before speaking):  Boss,
you are neva’ gonna believe this…

(------)

End Chapter 5

Next Time:  Ranma heads out with Leona, Mai, and Andy
to the Battle of the Bands Tournament.  They end up
meeting Terry and Mary there.  (Mary won free tickets
in a radio contest).  There he meets three more
members of The Hakkeshu (The New Face Team) and
China’s Psycho Soldier Team, both participating in the
Tournament.  And finally, Ranma finds his cousin Iori,
only to receive a less than warm reception.  And Billy
tags along to gain more information on Ranma.

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