lost1

Part One     It was dark and slightly cold but that was okay because he was used to the cold and his eyes had become acustomed to night travel years ago. He found himself passing a graveyard and stopped short as his sharp hearing detected a fight sounding within the depths of the cemetary.
    Curious he neatly flipped over the high fence, landing softly on the other side he ran in the direction of the noise.
    He was shocked by the scene he came apon. A dark-haired man lay, groaning, at the base of a tree and a blonde haired young woman was facing off against four demonic looking men.
    Always ready to lend a hand he stepped forward, out of the shadows as he cleared his throat and spoke in fluent English (one of many languages he'd learned through his travels). "Excuse me, but if you're planning on dancing. I'm going to join you." His arms were folded across his chest and he watched them through half-lidded eyes, not once letting them know of his alertness.
    Without a word all of them stared in his direction, even the girl stared at him as if he were crazy. But a few seconds later a couple of them charged full force at him from different directions. Deftly he deflected their blows, not letting them touch him, he was remotely amazed that only two had chosen to engage him while the other two had remained facing off against the young woman.
    Using his Breaking Point Technique he broke a tree trunk in halp and it tumbled down directly on top of her two opponents. Slipping his umbrella from it's resting place he brought it down on his foe's shoulder with a sound crack and swung it solidly at the other's knee, watching in satisfaction as they fell to the ground.
    But he was completely taken by surprize when the blonde ran over and shoved a stake into each's heart, and both turned to dust before his eyes.
    Binking, he slipped the umbrella back into place, "Wh-what... What is going on here?" As before he spoke in English.
    The girl flipped her dirty blond hair over her shoulder. "I don't know who you are..."
    He interrupted her, blushing and giving her a small bow. "I am sorry miss. My name is Hibiki Ryoga."
    "Hibiki?" The girl's voice held a not of laughter in it, which only caused his blush to deepen.
    "Forgive me. Hibiki is my last name. My first name is Ryoga."
    The young woman grinned openly, putting her hands into her coat pockets. "Well, I'm Buffy Summers and sleeping beauty over there is Xander. Welcome to Sunnydale, I guess..." Her gaze wandered back to her fallen friend and she walked over to him.
    Quickly Ryoga beat her to her destination, gently stopping her actions by laying a hand on her shoulder. "Allow me to carry your friend, that is, if you would lead the way to where it is you wish to go?"
    A brief suspicion flickered in her blue eyes but was gone before he could be sure. With a shrug of her shoulders she backed up. "If you think you can lift Xander... but I'll warn you Ryoga, he's not as light as he looks and you already have a heavy backpack..."
    Her voice trailed off as he easily swung Xander over his shoulder with one arm, his face remaining stonily solemn, "I think I can manage Buffy. If you would please lead the way?"
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    Buffy lead him to a high school, right to the library. As soon as he entered she pointed to an office behind the 'check out' desk. "Put him on the sofa in there."
    He noticed a couple of other people as he did what he was told and gave them a slight nod as he walked by. Carefully he laid the unconcious boy on the couch. Walking back out the talking that had started when he left stopped abruptly as five sets of eyes turned to him.
    It was a blonde man who spoke next, quiet and to the point. "Hey, are you a vampire?"
    Ryoga's eyes widdened and a hand unconciously went to his lips as he shook his head. "No, I'm not... I mean I know I have longer teeth than most but... Not even Saotome whould accuse me of such a... I mean a Demon..." He stopped, having dropped his hand before he'd begun to talk, and swung his uncertain gaze to Buffy. "That's what we were fighting in the cemetary, right?"
    Buffy nodded slowly and a middle-aged man stepped forward, cleaning his glasses. "Yes, but tell me, who is Saotome?"
    Before he thought his answer through he spoke, crossing his arms over his chest defensively. "A friend back in Japan." As he replied he nearly choked as he realized what he'd said but managed to keep his face calm and cool.
    "I'm not sure I believe you aren't a Vampire." This came from a black-haired man who appeared about twenty-two but something about him set Ryoga's nerves on edge.
        "Well he did break a tree in half with a single hit. If he's not a Vampire he could be a Demon of some king." This comment came from Buffy's lips. "What do you think Gilles?"
    The man with the glasses, Gilles, Ryoga surmized, answered. "I don't believe he's a Vampire or a Demon. Ryoga, do you study Martial Arts?"
    "Of course I do."
    "Did you use a special technique on that tree?"
    "Yah, I , uh, used the Breaking Point techinique."
    Now it was Gilles' turn to be startled. "But that's a..."
    Ryoga finished the sentence for him. "...Chinese Amazon trick. Yah, I know. Cologne taught me, the old ghoul told me it'd allow me to defeat Ranma and then I find out it doesn't work on humans."
    "Cologne? She's still alive?" This was said by the man giving Ryoga bad vibes. "She's have to be..."
    "300 years old." Ryoga finished locking eyes with the other. Dawning entered his mind as he did. "You're a Vampire, aren't you?"
    The man stared at his feet but it was Gilles who spoke. "Angel's a Vampire who's had his soul returned, he's not a Demon any longer."
    Ryoga's nerves went tight. "And a tiger can change it's stripes." He didn't miss the hurt and shame that flickered through Angel's dark eyes and he felt suddenly sorry for what he's said. "Look I didn't mean... " It was the same for him and turning into P-chan. "I know that there are some things in a person's nature that can't be controlled or rid of no matter what the individual wishes." There was a strong not of dispair in his words that he couldn't seem to mask.
    "It sounds like you really understand what my curse is like."
    Ryoga couldn't meet his eyes and focused on his boots as his face heated. "Each of us has a curse. Some are just... worse then others. I think yours is probably more tragic than mine."
    "And your's would be?" Gilles asked curiously.
    "Not worth talking about."
    The older man must have realized how uncomfortable the topic was making him so he changed the subject. "What brings you to the United States, all the way from Japan?"
    Surprize crossed his face. "The United States? I didn't think... oh well, I suppose I should have known that's where I ended up what with the accents and all..."
    It was the red-haired lady who seemed spurred to speak from shock. "You mean that you didn't know you were in America?"
    Ryoga smiled lamely, "Well I was on my way to Tokyo but... I have a really bad sense of direction. I can't even walk around the block without getting lost." He had to choke the words out.
    Buffy stared at him a moment before speaking, "You're kidding, right?"
    "I wish I was... I was looking for Tokyo for two weeks and now I just want to go back to Nerima and forget about Tokyo."
    "You've been traveling for two weeks?" It was the red head who asked the question sitting a little straighter in her chair.
    Ryoga shook his head. "No, I think it's closer to a month now. Speaking of which, I should be going. If I want to get to Nerima within another month..." He sighed, fixing his eyes on the wall. "If I'm lucky."
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    Buffy could seense his hopelessness and her heart went out to him. She found herself speaking before she could think. "Well why don't you stay here in Sunnydale for a while. I mean, I'm sure Angel or Gilles will let you stay at their place tonight and you can join us in school tomorrow..."
    His dark green eyes lite up at the offer but the brillance dimmed as he looked at the two involved. "No, I- uh wouldn't want to be a burden."
    She opened her mouth to assure him and was slightly taken off guard when Angel beat her to it. "No problem. You can stay with me if you like."
    A look seemed to pass between them and a mutual respect seemed to enter their faces. "Thanks Angel, I really appreciate that."
    Smiling Buffy cleared her throat, "Oz, Willow, Xander and I will stop by on our way to school and you can attend classes with us or visit Gilles in the library, okay?"
    A tiny, almost cocky, smile appeared on his lips. "You learn quick. Some people would've forgotten about my misguided sense of direction by now. Thanks."
    Buffy felt herself bush slightly at the comment but hid it as the group dispersed.
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    Ryoga walked beside Angel as he lead him to his house. A cold wind cut through his cloths but he didn't allow himself the luxuary of shivering.
    They entered the elderly building and he was surprized at the elegant, cozy feel to the inside.
    "Make yourself at home, I'll just grab some extra blankets and a pillow for you."
    "Thanks." As Angel disappeared further into the building her removed his backpack and gently lowered it beside the arm of the sofa. Light was given off by numerous candles and the sofa was so white he was fearfull of dirting it. In the end he sat cross-legged in front of the coffee table, only moments before his host returned and set the blankets on the couch in a neat pile.
    And a slightly uncomfortable tension fell between them until Ryoga decided to break it. "Why don't you tell me about yourself?"
    Angel's eyes widdened a fraction but he sat down opposite him on the floor. "Well, uh, what do you want to know?"
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    Angel watched the boy's deceptively relaxed posture as he spoke. "Well why don't you tell me how you ccame to be part of that little group?"
    "I was told by someone to find and help Buffy. It took a while before they trusted me but well, now they do."
    He nodded his dark head and there was a pausse before he spoke next. "Is there anything you wanted to ask me?"
    Angel could almost feel questions bubbling to the surface of his mind. "Well, if you don't mind..." Ryoga's expression didn't change but he gave an almost impermissable nod. "How old are you?"
    "16 turning 17."
    Angel leaned forward, resting his hands on his knees. "How long have you been training in Martial Arts?"
    "Since I can remember."
    "You know Cologne?"
    Ryoga smirked. "Unfortunately."
    Angel smiled sadly. "She still as bad as I remember her?"
    The boy's smirk turned to a grimace. "I think she's worse."
    Angel had to laugh at that. "Somehow I can believe that. But you should probably get some sleep. The others will be here early for you." With that he got up and began to leave the room.
    Moving quickly, Ryoga leapt to his feet and grabbed hold of Angel's arm, spinning him till they stared eye to eye. Angel found it almost impossible not to show his startlement, he hadn't even heard the kid move and even if he had been able to think the look in his eyes made his words catch in his throat.
    "I don't blame you for what you are, you had no control over it. But it is not your friends or myself who you have to face but your other form. Curses such as ours can either hinder or help us. If you can't or won't accept it, sooner or later it will hurt you or someone you care about. Trust me, I know what I'm talking about, if not in anything but this." Abruptly he let go and strode over to the fire place. "Good night, Angel."
    Feeling slightly confused Angel left Ryoga and wondered what he had meant by 'his' curse.
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    Ryoga ran, from what he wasn't sure but each shadow seemed to shield it and every noise seemed to announce it's arrival. Every few seconds he cast a glance over his shoulder but he spied nothing but blackness. Facing forward once more he came to a dead stop as his eyes meet two bright red embers.
    With a carressing stroke, a voice echoed possessively in his head, "You will be mine..."

    Sitting bold upright, sweat rolling down his foreheead, heart racing in his chest he was aware that his throat was raw from screaming and he gulped in air by the lungfuls. Slowly he calmed down and only then noticed Angel sitting on the coffee table, watching him in concern. "I couldn't wake you..."
    Ryoga rubbed his head and sighed before addressing the Vampire. "I'm fine, just a nightmare. I'm really sorry for waking you."
    "That's alright... you going to be okay?"
    Ryoga nodded absently as the nightmare faded from memory. "What time is it?"
    Angel glanced at his watch. "5:30. You have about two hours before Buffy gets here."
    Slowly Ryoga pushed the covers away and stood up. "You don't have a shower, right?" At his nod, Ryoga grabbed a pot and hung it over the fire after filling it with water. He didn't pay attention to Angel who sat on the couch, his sweat pants making little noise as he did.
    Without a word he fell into his practice exercises. He worked smoothly in the quiet until Angel spoke. Even in a hushed voice the words echoed in the room.
    "What's your curse Ryoga?"
    Ryoga's focuse disappeared and he stopped unable to meet Angel's eyes.
    "You know mine, you even said mine was a worse curse than yours, but if you don't..."
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    Ryoga's voice was flat, sounding almosst dead. "I turn into a pig when cold water touches me and I can only turn back by not water."
    He'd heard of that somewhere, "Jusenkyo?"
    Ryoga didn't look up. "Yes."
    "You have my word that I won't tell anyone. I'll let you get back to your workout." Angel just barely heard a quiet thank-you and he smiled. "What are friends for?"
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    He watched the Vampire leave, wearing an expression of surprize on his face. 'Friends?' A feeling of homesickness hit him so strongly that he felt dizzy. His gaze landed on the cell phone and within moments he had dailed the Tendo's number. Numbly he waited as the phone rang and his throat closed as he heard the masculine voice on the other end.
    "'Ello? Who's this?"
    Taking a deep breath he replied. "Hello Ranma."
    There was a pause on the other end of the phone. "Ryoga? That you. What'd ya do, get lost again?"
    Ryoga ssquashed the tiny thread of rage that ignited within his gut. "Yah." To his surprize he felt tears threatening but he forced them back.
    Concern entered Ranma's voice. "Hey, you okay? 'Cause if anybody's hurt ya, well they'll regret it." His sentence ended in a growl.
    "No. I'm doing fine. Just fine..."
    "Where are ya?"
    "America, Sunnydale..." There was a knock on the door and feeling slightly guilty he cut the conversation short. "Look I gotta go. Say hi to Ak... everyone for me, kay. I'll try to get back as soon as I can..."
    "Ryoga..." With a click, anything Ranma was going to say was cut off. Replacing the cell phone he grabbed his backpack and went to the door to meet the others and go to school.