Cat Fist Fury Disclaimer: Well here we go again. Rumiko Takahashi is? blah, blah, blah? < >: Thoughts <" ">: Chinese language Chapter 17 The Long Road Ahead A flash of white passed by him. Then another. Then yet another. Every time Ranma saw that flash of white light, he would flinch. Then he saw red following the white. For every white streak, a flash of crimson would follow. He could see a pair of gold eyes staring at him from behind the colors, looking at him with hungry intent. Then suddenly, more eyes appeared. Dozens of eyes gleamed against the gray background. Ranma did not know what was going on, but he began to experience a sensation that he had not felt in over a year. Then, the recurring nightmare that had plagued him since he was six, returned with a vengeance. He could see himself once again being thrown into that pit. Dozens of claws were tearing into his flesh. The smell of blood was heavy in the air. However, unlike the previous recollections, this one had a definite alteration. As he was being savaged by the attacking felines, his eyes widened as he saw a huge tiger with white fur leapt at him with claws bared, and teeth glinting in the shadows. It came at him like a bolt of lightning and Ranma only caught a glimpse of its eyes as it tore into him. Those same gold eyes? "AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGHHHHHHH!!!!!" Ukyo dropped the tray she was carrying when Ranma suddenly sat up from the bed screaming. Without hesitation, she ran to Ranma's side as he was hyperventilating and sweat was running down his furred brow. "Ran-chan! Calm down! It's okay!" Ranma looked over to his side and saw Ukyo. Recognizing his friend, he started to take deep, calming breaths. As the okonomiyaki chef placed a hand on his right shoulder, the Neko Ken fighter began to take in his surroundings. "W-W-Where am I?" At that time, Kai, Shang, and Kosho rushed into the room. "What happened?" Shang asked. "Is Kojiro okay?" Kai asked. Ukyo looked at the three and nodded. "It's all right. Ko-Chan here just had a bad dream, that's all." She turned to her fianc?e. "It was just a dream, right?" Ranma slowly nodded as he looked at his friends and noticed that they were gazing at him with awe. He then looked down at himself and saw that his injuries were tightly bandaged. He also realized that he was still in hybrid form. He then returned to Ukyo and gave her a questioning look. Ukyo nodded and said, "They helped me bring you here to my restaurant and bind your wounds. I had to tell them about your? condition." Ranma took in the information, then after a moment's contemplation, nodded. He then turned his attention back to the three boys. "So you guys know about??" Kosho replied, "After we saw you turn into that tiger, Shang told us about Jusenkyo. Though we didn't know that you could turn into this." Shang nodded. "We try to change you back with hot water, but not work. Then Ukyo tell us that water no cause change. She says you can change on own." The transformed martial artist sighed as he regarded Ukyo. The brown-haired girl gave him a slight nod and replied to his unspoken question. "I'm sorry Ko-Chan. I had to tell them some stuff or they wouldn't have helped me. They were too scared of you after what you did to Happosai and that other guy. I had to tell them something." Ranma was about to protest, but then decided that it didn't really make a difference at the moment. She did raise a valid point. He had gotten pretty scary when he tore apart that lecher and Chinese boy. His friends did deserve an explanation and it would be good for him to get some things off his chest. With a deep sigh, he began focusing his chi and shifted back into his normal form. The transformation was a bit painful as his body shrunk down into his more compact, human shape. All three boys gasped as they saw the change. For a long moment, the room was silent. Then finally, the silence ended, but the tension remained. Then, to Ranma's relief, his friends began to smile at him. "That was? SO COOL!" Kosho said as he and the others slowly moved toward the bed. "You're a werewolf?" Kai asked. "How you do that without water?" Shang asked. "Just who ARE YOU?" All three said simultaneously. Ranma bowed his head and let off another sigh. This was going to take some time. Sometime later? "So after I got back to Jusenkyo, I found out that my Pop had sold me out to over a dozen families, by engaging me to their daughters, including Ucchan here. When I found out about him leaving Ucchan behind after stealing her dowry when I was six, not to mention those other engagements, I decided that I had my fill of him and deserted him. I spent the next year or so trying to make a new life for myself and later came here to Japan. I guess you can dope out what happened then." The Neko Ken warrior frowned as he finished his tale. All three boys nodded as they were stunned beyond belief. They couldn't believe that Ranma's father could be so stupid. "He engaged you to a dozen girls?" Shang said incredulously. "He sold you out for a fish, a bowl of rice and two pickles?" Kai couldn't believe someone could be such a poor negotiator. Imagine, selling off his child for a small meal. The term of idiot didn't even begin to describe Ranma's parent. "Man! If he was my Pop, I would have dumped him a long time ago!" Kosho commented. "I wouldn't have taken half the crap he pulled on you!" "So this is all true?" Shang turned to Ukyo, who nodded. "Take it from me, it's all true. When my father and I went to Jusenkyo to find Ran-Chan, we heard about those other engagements that damned father of his made." Ranma winced when he heard the nickname Ran-Chan. "Ucchan, I thought I told you never to call me that." Ukyo nodded and said sheepishly. "Sorry Ko-Chan. Old habits die hard." "Ran-Chan?" Kai repeated, then realized something. "Hey Kojiro, that guy you fought before Happosai kept on calling you Ranma Saotome. Is? that your real name?" During his explanations, Ranma purposely left out his real name, but now he couldn't think of any way to deny it. Ranma frowned as he said, "Yeah, but I never want to be called that. Understand? And I would really appreciate it if you guys didn't say anything about it either." Kai and the others saw the anger in his eyes and knew that getting Ranma mad was definitely on their lists of things not to do. Furthermore, they all considered themselves as Ranma's friend. "Is no problem. Shang keep secret." "Fine by me Kojiro" Kosho agreed. He then gave a hard look at Kai. "What? You think I'm going to blab it out?" "For a price." Shang commented with a bit of an edge to his voice. Kai held up his hands defensively. "Hey! Now wait a minute. Don't go comparing me to that money-hungry sister of Akane Tendo's! Sure I'll admit that I've pulled some scams, but it's all small stuff and I never hurt anyone with them! I'm not into the extortion schemes like she is and I wouldn't do anything that would hurt Kojiro! He's done a lot for us and the school and I'd be crazy to jeopardize that! He's my friend. You guys are the only few friends that I have and I don't want to lose any of you. I can keep the secret." Kosho and Shang still gave him skeptical looks, but Ranma looked deeply into Kai's expression. Then Ranma waved it off. "It's okay guys. We can trust him." Kai smiled as he said, "Thanks Kojiro. You're one of the very few people who'll ever give me the benefit of the doubt. After hearing about what your father did to you, it wouldn't be right for me to add to your problems." Ranma smiled. Kai may be a hustler, but at least he was honest about it and knew where to draw the line. He had a conscience. "Thanks." Kai nodded. "You've suffered more than anyone else in the world and I can understand what it's like to be lonely. Before I met you, Shang, Kosho, and the rest of the gang, I didn't have a friend in the world. To me, that's more important than making a lot of yen." "I appreciate you're keeping quiet about all this." "Hey no problem! If I had a father like yours, then I wouldn't want anyone to know that I'm related to him. Sheesh! After what you told us about the Cat Fist training, I can understand why you don't want to teach it to anyone. That father is a total moron not to have read that last page! I can't believe he threw into a pit of starving cats!" Kai shuddered as he imagined a young boy being wrapped in fish sausage and then being thrown into a pit with dozens of hungry felines. Hoping to change the subject, Ukyo said, "So Ko-Chan, just who was that White Claw guy that beat you?" Ranma shivered as he remembered his bout with that other Neko Ken fighter. "I don't know. I've never heard of him before, but he was unbelievable. He KNEW how to use the Neko Ken, even better than I did! He even transformed! Even if I hadn't been so worn out and hurt from before, I don't think I would have been able to beat him." "No way! You would have beaten him, if that Chinese guy and Happosai hadn't tired you out." Kai said. Ranma shook his head. "No. I don't think so. I used my strongest attack against him and he still beat me. But it's not losing the fight that's really bothering me." "So what is bothering Kojiro?" Shang inquired. The Cat Fist fighter took on a saddened expression and said, "I lost control of myself three times today. In the past, I've always been careful never to let my battle rage get too far out of control. Today, I just totally lost it. You saw what I did to that monster guy and what I almost did to Happosai. I almost killed him for God's sake! If it wasn't for Shang?" "But you didn't do it Ko-Chan. That's what really counts!" "Maybe, but that doesn't change the fact that I would have done it." Ranma sighed. "I felt like I was losing myself in the Neko Ken and I couldn't stop! And when I went up against White Claw, I lost control again and went full out in my final attack. Even though it didn't work, I still saw no other way for me to win. I just thought like? an animal. No? not like an animal. I was? a monster." Ranma then brought up his knees and rested his chin on them. He then said a quiet voice, "Guys, I? really need some time to think. I? need to be alone for a while. I see you guys later, okay?" The three boys were about to say something, but then saw the despondent look on their friend's face. Seeing that he needed some space, they reluctantly nodded, then bid him goodbye. They each told him that they would be there for him, should he need someone to talk to. One by one, they filed out of the room and down the stairs. A few minutes later, they were out of the Ucchan's and heading home. As soon as they were gone, Ukyo came up to her fianc?e and placed a comforting hand on his shoulder. Ranma however, did not respond. Seeing this, she then headed toward the door. Before exiting, she paused and said to him, "Ran-Chan, you're welcome to stay here until you feel better. Also, I'm always here for you if you need to talk." The ponytailed martial artist nodded slightly as he continued to gaze off into space. Giving him a final look, Ukyo closed the door behind her. Several hours later? Ukyo locked the doors to her restaurant as the last customer left. She then decided to check up on Ranma as he had not come down from his room. When she came up the stairs and knocked on the door, she started to get a feeling that something was amiss. When there was no reply to her knock, she called out his name. There was still no reply. She then decided that it was time that they had a little talk and opened the door. She then stopped dead in her tracks. Ranma was gone. The bed was bare and the window to the room was wide open. She rushed over to the window and looked outside. She could see no sign of her fianc?e and began to fear for the worse. It was then that she noticed the note on the bed. She went over and started to read it. To Ucchan, Sorry about this, but I think that the only way I can sort out the mess that my life has become is to get away from it for a while. I don't know if I'm ever coming back. The fight with Happosai and White Claw has made me realize that I don't have complete control and I'm a danger to anyone who gets close to me. Until I can find a way to control myself, I'm not going to put anyone in jeopardy, especially you. Please don't try to follow me. Take care of yourself, Ucchan. Ran-Chan Ukyo's cheeks became wet with tears as she finished the note. For the second time in her life, her Ran-Chan had left her. Somewhere high over the skies over the Sea of Japan? Ranma sat in his seat as the plane made its way toward China. He hated himself for leaving Ukyo like that, but he knew that she would not let him go. This was something that he had to do on his own and it would be best if he was as far away from his problems in Japan as possible. After leaving the Ucchan's through the window, he quickly had a flight booked for China and gathered his travel bag. He also made arrangements with his employer at the coffee shop he worked at, as well as paying his rent in advance with the landlord. He then caught his flight and was already out of Japan by the time Ukyo had found his note. As his plane continued on, Ranma was deep in thought. Ranma sighed as he looked out the window at the vast expanse of the sea below him. He then saw an image of White Claw and shuddered. He had never been afraid of anything or anyone before, but just thinking about his last opponent gave him the chills. He knew his every move and seemed to be unbeatable. Ranma had thought that nothing could stop his Berserker Rage, but that Cat Fist Fury attack? He became more depressed about it and began despairing about that fact that he may never be able to beat the true master of the Neko Ken. He had been fooling himself for the past year, thinking that he was the best at the Cat Fist, the one who had truly mastered the Cat Fist. White Claw had proven him wrong, making him look like a pale copy of the Ultimate Neko Ken. Thinking of the fact that his life had lost its direction made Ranma remember of a place that he had visited during his trek through China a year ago. It was just a few weeks after he had left Jusenkyo. It had been a rough time, but the people he had met there had helped him find his path and give direction to his life. It had been a simple world and it was one of the few places where Ranma had been truly happy and content. Meanwhile, in a darkened room at a hotel in Japan, the one called White Claw was sitting in a lotus position and was meditating in his human form. The smell of incense was heavy in the air as well as? catnip? The Neko Ken fighter had a large bandage wrapped around his chest; a memento of his battle with Ranma. He was completely silent as he breathed at a regular and controlled pace. A moment later, his ears picked up the soft footsteps of someone coming to his door. "Enter." The door opened and a short, elderly man came into the room and knelt down in front of his master. "Master White Claw, I bring news." The Neko Ken fighter nodded without opening his eyes. "I know. Kojiro Shinkara has fled Japan." The old man nodded. Without looking up from his position, he then asked, "Master? May I ask you a question?" White Claw already knew what he was going to ask. "Speak." "It is the law of the Felinar Clan that all outsiders who know of the Neko Ken be dealt with. You have never hesitated before in killing all those others. Why did you not kill Kojiro, rather than let him recover? He is certainly far more skilled and may even threaten your position as kolinjar." White Claw nodded. "Indeed he does. However, what is the title for if not to risk it? I have grown bored with these pretenders to the Felinar's fighting style and I have longed for an opponent worthy to face me. Kojiro will die, but I will have him battle me at full strength! That will be a victory worth savoring!" "But Master, that will take some time." Ranma's opponent smirked as he replied, "I'm certain that I can amuse myself as I wait for Kojiro to return. Have you gotten the information that I wanted?" "Yes Master." The old man produced a folder and placed it in front of White Claw. He then was dismissed. White Claw picked up the folder and began to read it. The folder contained data about Ranma and everything that his spies were able to come up about him, including his true identity. White Claw cocked his head for a moment, then smiled evilly. He had just found some entertainment. The next day? Rumors about Ranma losing a fight began to spread like wildfire. Ranma's friends tried to keep it a secret, but the gossip was like a tidal wave and it was all over Himoto and Furikan High. Kai had kept his promise to Ranma, but Nabiki had no such qualms about it. She began making huge profits over what scanty information she had. Fortunately, most people only knew that Ranma had lost a fight and fled Japan. They did not know about his shapeshifting abilities or the exact circumstances. Kuno began having a field day with the news of Ranma's defeat. He was often seen saying some nonsense about Ranma being too frightened to face his noble blade and would say "The justice of Heaven is slow but sure. Surely the cowardly Kojiro has realized that he is no match for the great Tatewaki Kuno and has just made up this tale of losing to another, when it was really I that he feared to face!" Meanwhile at the Tendo dojo, Soun and Genma were discussing over the current situation as they played their usual game of shogi on the veranda to the backyard. They had been released from the hospital, but Happosai was going to be staying there for a while, after the wounds he had received from Ranma. "Saotome, what are we going to do? Where is that boy of yours? What about joining our two schools?" "Hmmm, I'm not sure Tendo. All I know is that a rumor has been going around that Ranma lost a fight and has gone underground. In any case, we have to find him." "Yes, the schools must be joined!" Soun said solemnly said as he moved a piece forward. "We must have Akane and Ranma married as soon as possible!" As soon as he said this, Akane's voice screamed out from the hallway as she walked in. She had just come in from school and had heard about Ranma's loss. "Oh no I'm not! I'm not going to marry that? that FREAK! I'm glad that he's gone and good riddance!" Akane had been ecstatic when she heard that Ranma had fled and hoped that her father would give up this marriage nonsense and see Ranma's fleeing as being cowardly. "Akane! It is for our family honor and you will follow through!" "I will not marry that arrogant, stupid BOY!" Akane slammed her bookbag onto the ground and turned to head to the stairs. Soun turned to her and said, "Akane, you will do as you are told! As heir to the Tendo School of the Anything Goes Martial Arts, you will follow through and marry Genma's son!" "Oh, so she's the heir to this dojo, eh?" All three turned around at the new voice and saw a stranger sitting on one of the walls of the backyard. The newcomer was casually looking down at them. He then made a graceful hop down to the ground and stood with his hands behind his back. "Huh? W-W-Who are you?" Genma asked. The stranger smiled as he said, "I am? White Claw. I have come to challenge this dojo. Since this girl is the heir, then it is she with whom I must fight with. Though from what I see, she wouldn't be any challenge at all." "What? did? you say?" Akane's temper began to rise as her voice became low and menacing. If there was one thing that could really get her steamed, it was insulting her skills as a martial artist. White Claw shrugged nonchalantly as he said, "You wouldn't even be the slightest warm up. If this is the best that the Anything Goes School has to offer, then we should just forego the match and let me have your sign. After all, it wouldn't be fair for me to fight such a weak opponent." "W-W-Weak?! You're calling me weak?!" Akane shivered with anger. "I'll show you who's weak! I accept your challenge!" "Akane!" Soun gasped. "Stay out of this Dad! You told me yourself that a true martial artist must accept all challenges. He just came in here and insulted our school and I'm not going to let him get away with it! We'll see just how confident he is when I'm through with him!" She turned to White Claw. "I'll see you in the dojo!" Soun gulped. The challenge had been accepted and there was no help for it. He began to get a sinking feeling about all this. Genma looked over the stranger and began to suspect that this person was more than he appeared to be. Ranma's father may be a sniveling, cowardly and greedy martial artist, but he was a martial artist nonetheless. He knew how to gauge an opponent and this White Claw person was making him uneasy. Sometime later? Akane was standing opposite to White Claw in the dojo as her father and Genma stood by and watched. Akane took one look at the casual stance her opponent was taking and thought that this was going to be easy. She became even more irritated when her adversary gestured at her with a finger and said, "Come here little kitten and let us see if you have any claws." The way he called her a kitten drove Akane's temper over the boiling point. "AAAAAAARRRRRRRRRGGGGGGGHHHHH!!!!!" Akane charged forward. SLASH! WHAM! THUD! Genma and Soun's jaw dropped to the floor White Claw was still standing with his arms crossed, but he was now on the other side of the dojo. Behind him, Akane was sprawled on the floor, moaning in pain and her gi torn in several places. The match had taken less than a second and Soun shook his head in disbelief. He rushed over to where his daughter lay. "Akane! Akane!" Tears started flowing down like a waterfall. Genma's eyes were now the size of dinner plates at what he had witnessed. He was very familiar with that particular style. "Th-Th-That was the Neko Ken!" White Claw smirked as he replied, "Ah, you're familiar with it. Then again, since you are Ranma's father, I would assume that you were the one who tried to teach him my clan's fighting techniques." "Huh?" "Don't play dumb with me, Genma Saotome." In a flash, White Claw rushed across the room and had Genma hoisted above the ground by the throat. The fat martial artist started choking as he tried to break free. However, White Claw's strength was comparable to Ranma's and he held up the heavyset man as if he were a plastic tub toy. Soun's friend began to get blue in the face. "I have many resources at my disposal, Genma Saotome." White Claw said as he tightened his grip. "When I heard about your son's prowess in the Neko Ken, I had a little background check done on him. That is when I found out about you Genma Saotome. It seems you have gotten a long list of petty crimes over the last decade. One crime in particular, concerning some stolen house cats, caught my attention. You taught your son the Neko Ken by wrapping him up in fish sausage and threw him into a pit of starving cats, now didn't you?" "Urrr? well? I?.grrk!" White Claw tightened his grip even more. Genma's windpipe was about to pop under the strain. "Don't bother trying to deny it. There is no other way that an outsider could gain even a fraction of my clan's fighting skills. Now by all rights, I should end your worthless existence for trying to steal my clan's techniques. However?" The Neko Ken fighter casually flung Genma across the room like a rag doll. The Jusenkyo-cursed martial artist slammed into the wall with a resounding crash. As Ranma's father lay sprawled, White Claw dusted off his hands and said, "Your son has been the first person in well over ten years to have given me any considerable challenge. I defeated him, but my victory was hollow and he did not fight me at full strength. Therefore, I shall wait until he battles me once again. After I have dispatched him, I WILL return to end you miserable life." Genma gulped as he heard these words. If this man did defeat Ranma, then there was no hope for him to be able to beat him. He started sweating bullets. The Cat Fist warrior smiled as he turned to Soun Tendo, who was still bawling over the fallen form of his daughter. "As for you Soun Tendo, the dojo's sign now belongs to me. Your daughter or any other member of your school, is free to challenge me at any time if you want it back. Though I doubt you'll be able to defeat me. Only one member of the Anything Goes has been able to stand up to me, and he's not in Japan anymore. HA HA HA HA HA HA!" White Claw's laughter made the two men shiver as he leapt over a wall. A moment later, they heard something being ripped from the front of the house. Genma painfully got to his feet and staggered through the house. When he got to the front gate, his face turned pale. The sign had been pulled off and in its place was a small note. To the Anything Goes School of Martial Arts: You may challenge me at any time at the address listed below. I am feeling generous, so I shall give you a few opportunities to win back your sign. However, should you lose ten matches, then I will destroy your sign AND dojo. Better start training. Signed White Claw of the Felinar Clan. "Felinar Clan?" Genma said as he read the address listed below. He then thought back to White Claw's earlier words. He then realized as to whom he was referring to. Without the dojo, Genma would have no reason to stay at the Tendo home. He would no longer be able to freeload off his friend and then he would be on the streets. Worse yet, he would have to get a job! Then another thought crossed his mind. What would Nodoka say? "RANMA, WHERE ARE YOU?!" Genma screamed to the heavens. Somewhere in China? Ranma had just exited a port city near the coast, when he suddenly sneezed. He wondered why he felt that he was needed somewhere, then shrugged as he looked over the countryside. He saw what he wanted on a small hill that overlooked a cliff in the far distance. Nodding to himself, he began trudging toward it. By the time it was sundown, Ranma was already deep in the wilderness of China. By his estimation, he should reach his destination by the next morning. Early morning, the next day? The Shaolin priest Tung Kwai nodded as he watched his fellows continue with their work on constructing their new temple. Below the hill where the construction was being done, the fishing village began to rise to start their daily activities. It seemed that it would be just another ordinary day. It was then that he saw a young boy come running up the steps toward the half-completed structures. <"Master Tung! Master Tung!"> The elderly priest, who was about seventy-five or so, nodded to the excited ten-year old as he came up to him and returned the youth's bow. <"Good morning to you, Chu. And what brings you here in such a hurry?"> <"Master Tung! The tiger is back!"> This caught Tung's attention. <"Tiger? There are no tigers near our village."> <"Some of the others saw it Master Tung! Just like the one that was here a year ago! They saw it last night near the other side of the forest, eating a wild boar!"> <"Oh? And was this tiger as big as a horse, black as night and had long teeth like daggers?"> <"Yes Master Tung. Just like the same tiger that saved me last year from that wild boar!"> <"Really?"> Tung looked away, as if in thought, then smiled as he caught sight of someone else walking up the steps. He then smiled down at the little boy and said, <"Chu, I think it's time that you went home. It seems I will be having a guest at the temple soon."> <"But what about the tiger?"> <"Do not worry young one. If that tiger is who I think it is, then you and the villagers have nothing to fear."> <"Huh?"> <"Do not be concerned with such things. Now run along."> The boy looked at the priest for a moment before bowing and started running down the steps. In his haste, he nearly bumped into Ranma, but quickly said his apologies as he ran past, not looking up at the tall stranger. As Ranma reached the top of the stairs, he bowed politely at the priest. <"Good day to you, Kojiro. It has been some time, but I knew that you would return to us."> <"Good morning Master Tung."> Ranma looked up and surveyed the monks as they continued to labor. <"I see that you have not finished with your new temple."> Tung shrugged as he replied; <"We do what we can."> Ranma gestured to where a couple of priests were using relatively primitive hand tools. <"If you're just using that kind of equipment, you're going to be doing it for a long time."> Tung made a dismissive gesture with a hand. <"We have nowhere to go. We are not in any hurry."> Ranma nodded as he said; <"It seems like I've been in a hurry ever since I left this place. Do you mind if I pick up where I left off?"> The priest nodded and bowed. <"It would be an honor."> The two started to walk together toward the main building. For a while, nothing was said. Then Tung noticed the tired look in Ranma's eyes. <"You seemed very troubled, young tiger."> Ranma smiled a bit at the reference that Tung always called him by. <"You? could say that I've had a few? troubles, Master Tung. Let's just say that certain things from my past have come back to give me? difficulties. And? now I have a problem with the Neko Ken."> Ranma paused as he collected his thoughts. <"Master Tung? I lost? to another user of the Cat Fist."> Tung stopped when he heard this. He turned to face Ranma with concern in his eyes. <"Another user of Cat Fu?"> Ranma nodded. <"But that's not really what's bothering me. What concerns me is? I lost control."> This news made Tung even more alarmed. He looked at the Neko Ken fighter in silence and finally nodded. <"Then it is clear that there is much work to be done. You can tell me all about it later. For now, let me show you to your quarters."> Ranma nodded as he followed the priest. As they entered the main building, which was also under construction, Tung decided to change the subject. <"By the way, there has been some sightings of a black tiger hunting wild boar in the forest."> Ranma gave him a sheepish grin. <"Uh, well a tiger's got to eat you know."> He looked away and saw two priests struggling to keep a large support from falling over. He nodded and rushed over toward them. With a single hand, he pushed the massive timber straight up until it was set in place. He then dusted off his hand and bowed to the grateful monks. Turning back to Tung, he smiled. <"As long as I'm here, I might as well earn my room and board."> Tung nodded and replied. <"Yes, and perhaps helping in building the temple will aid you in rebuilding your soul."> For the first time in a long time, Ranma felt content. <"I'd like that Master Tung."> To be continued? Author's notes Well, Ranma has begun on his long journey and he will eventually overcome his problems. Next time, we will be seeing more on White Claw and the Neko Ken as he stirs up trouble in Nerima. The gang will try to stop him, but it will be apparent that they will need Ranma very soon.