Kono-Kiri Shop warriors of Nerima

Chapter 4: The Martial Arts Entrepreneur Tournament



Another day in Nerima, like any other. A person is storing weapons and disguises while selling antiques and crock pots. . .. What? Yukue was training with a carved out wooden dummy her -martial arts was pretty simple- When she noticed one of Ringo's customers -Mousse- walks out with eggs before throwing them at the pigtailed boy -Ranma- who dodged the "EXPLOSIVE EGGS?!"

She had been watching the nonsense at Ringo's shop for a while now, the pigtailed boy turns into a girl and gets free treats with it, The okonomiyaki chef was carrying a barrel, of explosive dough, an old man had blatant bombs in a picnic basket, a gymnast carried poison, And a delivery woman armed herself with a strong reinforced bike. Nothing about his storage unit was legal but officers rarely get involved in the troubles from this sort of wrecking crew but today was the day that Even Yukue's life got a bit strange.

-a day ago-

A spunky old man in a bucket helmet and a red track suit arrives a Ringo's door "Hey there kiddo do you want a break from work to do something else!" his smile was radiant and his attitude was strangely comforting all things that are part of Ringo's weakness to older people "Yes I accept" in mere instants The man won over Ringo as he hands him a flier "Have a nice day kid!" "You too sir!"

-today, again-

"It's been a while since I fought" Yukue was carrying a cart full of wood, training dummies, and training swords. where as Ringo was in bird form with crock pots full of antiques tied to his legs. "no way he can fly with that" but to her subtle surprise he could, and quite fast at that. but suddenly he is splashed by hot water -somehow- as the culprit slips back inside their house

"How unlucky my clothes are wet" in the middle of his thinking he was already -instinctively- stealing more clothes while leaving a strange antique behind. though this time he accidentally grabbed someone's training gi as he catches up to the crowd of people running with carts full of merchandise from different shops like Okonomiyaki, Takoyaki, Dorayaki, Yakisoba, Yakitori, kayak, and Yak.

 *Quack*

A duck is chasing after a girl who is towing her cart at impressive speeds on just a bike. there was nothing normal about the scene before Yukue which made here happier than she thought "Ringo? was your life always this strange?"

he sighed to himself reminiscing of the home he was forced to move from "No. it was normal back in Nakano"

Yukue looked at Ringo staring at his feather, the stolen clothes, and the crock pots he was carrying, little about him wasn't weird. She wanted to say "how did you get so many curses" but instead it was "How did you become so weird?" he sped off.

Yukue stumbled through the crowd chasing after Ringo who slipped through the crowd with a finesse that made it look like an art every person or group he slipped past Yukue bumped through "Ringo!" she looses him behind a crowd "Crap at that pace he'll be too far ahead." She knew she would have to wait until they arrived to the tournament as she walked with the crowd thinking on how to apologize.

-At the venue-

There were plenty of vending carts -just found out the name- parking in rows turning the tournament into a bit of a festival since not everyone was going to fight.

Within the festival Yukue was looking around for Ringo seeking to apologize. She didn't find him, leaving her shop to walk around the main arena "I'll just say sorry when he is home. She bumps into a person who happened to be a challenger for the tournament prize and a previous victim of her clumsiness as he looked back with a fury "It's you! You tryin to take me out before the tournament huh?!" he takes an aggressive stance which made Yukue a bit nervous. Akane and Ranma noticed the ruckus but before they could help or do anything.

 *Snap* 

Yukue reflexively punched his shoulder popping it out of place but as she bowed she accidentally headbutted the man knocking him unconscious but it seemed Yukue didn't even feel the collision as she continued to apologize "I'm sorry I hit you its just t-that I-I-"*gasp* she had finally opened her eyes bowing even more profusely.

Though Akane and Ranma could do the same thing to the man it still surprised them "What just happened" Akane asked looking baffled at the absurdity of the situation

"I don't know" Ranma walked back to the stand of hand knitted plushies made by Akane they too wanted to join in the tournament. Akane was staring at Yukue -still apologizing- as a fire lit in her eyes.

The nervous assault from Yukue was filled with an almost scary precision the moment the man pointed his finger at her ready to scold her more. Her eyes shut close as she did her own unique "flinch" reflexively palm striking near top of the shoulder with a greatly refined form. "Come on Akane the tournament is starting" barked Ranma, he wasn't excited for the matches since none of his rivals had a shop and Shampoo and Ukyo were in the girls division despite their strength Ranma considered changing forms to fight them but the fire in Akane's eyes lit furiously as she was excited so he didn't want to make her "mad". Akane complains about her gi a little small since her original gi went missing.

The tournament starts with everyone walking inside the. four arenas were surrounded by bleachers that were filled to the brim with excited people and cheers the rules were as followed.

-Each arena will have 4 fighters starting for each division 

-Only two people in each arena

-the fighter loses when knocked out or if they've given up

-The winner stays and the looser is eliminated

-Basic work "equipment" is allowed (since I cant legally say weapons)

"This represents selling during a rush hour will they be able to keep up with the demands! Or will they fall behind and lose sales! Lets find out now"

 *Begin!!!*

Almost immediately Ranma leaps in swiftly knocking out the challenger who followed him. he effortlessly took out martial artists left and right where was Ringo -asked no one- He was hesitant to join the battle even though he accepted enthusiastically but the thought of disappointing the old man inspired him to lazily tread into the neighboring arena.

It was a lot less busy since everyone was rushing to take down Ranma who hadn't slowed down a bit. though Ringo -to Ranma's surprise- took out fighters at a fairly swift pace.

In the women's division Shampoo was like the Ranma next door taking everyone down swiftly so swiftly that her near final match was Ukyo which wouldn't be a swift as the others "If I win Ranma will be mine!" Ukyo declared

"If you win" the two's eyes narrowed as they charged each other down Chui to spatula.

A single high kick two swift gut strikes here and there Akane was taking people down left and right. She was used to this silently thanking the days at Furinkan for that as she knocks another out "Who's next?"

"M-me" The sheepish answer cam from Yukue who slowly steps up to the arena.

Akane takes a stance ready for anything "I hope for a great fight.. Yukue was it?"

"Y-yes and thank you" Yukue starts with a stiff stance before breathing in and out changing into a fully forward charging position. "She's going all in?" Akane tightens her defense but rapidly Yukue rushes to her throwing a punch that tosses Akane's guard away who dodges a gut punch returning a just as fierce straight that Yukue ducks under as they part from each other realizing the match wouldn't be so easy.

On the men's side however, Ranma had just finished the last of his opponents watching Ringo take out the last three with some basic tosses. "You and me now Ringo! I'll give you credit you did better than I thought"

"I'm saying the same thing about my self it's been years since I fought" Ringo was more excited than when he started.

leaping to Ringo's arena Ranma takes his usual stance "So you say!" taking the initiative by charging first. He unleashes a heel kick but Ringo slips past it preparing a fierce counter to the gut but is forced to duck under a punch but gets hit by a follow up knee but instead of falling down from the good strike he came back with more energy. His punch got faster nearing the speed from when he was in bird form as the arena heats up from every exchange.

suddenly Ringo pulls out a relentless combination every whiffed kick added spin to his next punch every attack put Ringo into another position to attack "His style wasn't forcing multiple attacks out they just flowed together" in the moment of thought he tries to parry a feinted palm strike but when it softly touches Ranma's chest a foot lands behind his as he is put into a leg sweep that he flips out of "After all of that attacking you must be tired out!" Ranma's eyes were closed confidently before opening to se Ringo hopping around like he had tons of unspent energy while the arena heats up more "I hope not!" Ring responded chuckling excitedly charging in surpassing his own speed in bird form.

 *Zip*

Ranma has block Ringo's punch for the first time using his chestnuts roasting on an open fire technique to out speed Ringo but it just seemed that Ringo could keep pushing himself matching Ranma's pace for a while as the high speed exchange even paused the other fights.

murmurs of who the feathered boy was skittered throughout the crowd and even between current and previous fighters. Ranma gains distance again while Ringo keeps being active jumping from foot to foot "It almost seems he doesn't want to stop moving" Ranma thought which surprised him since he didn't believe there would be a challenge. "You're pretty good Ringo but its time I go all out" as Ranma got into a fighting stance he heard Ringo's breath get heavier.. and heavier.. He started to slow down his hops turned into little skips as he suddenly dropped. "What the?" it was a sentiment shared collectively throughout everyone at the tournament "Hey you okay?" Ranma crept up onto Ringo cautious and confused but as he and the referee checked on him they noticed him snoring as Cologne came in surprisingly. "What are you doing here" Ranma asked as the tournament paused

"I felt an immense heat from the shop. son in law was it you?" the faces on Ranma and everyone else's faces was a clear answer 

"I see. But his energy was nowhere near this high back when I saw him"

"Old ghoul do you know what happened to him?"

Cologne looked at the feather before touching his head "I see now. The time he spent with the feather made his energy similar becoming like a flame"

"How can you tell?"

Cologne lifted the unconscious Ringo's head up gesturing the rest to feel his hair that strangely drooped down looking natural.

"Its cold?" Ranma "what about it"

"Hair doesn't get cold on its own. his energy is depleted but it will rejuvenate soon."

Yukue decided to help take Ringo home forfeiting the match leaving the winner of the men's division Ranma and the remaining fighters being Shampoo, Ukyo, and Akane who also forfeits despite her previous excitement wanting to talk to Yukue since she was of few martial artist that weren't so far ahead of her or below her in power.

Ranma still waited for the prize money but his excitement was short lived as. instead of 150000 yen (976 dollars) its was that exact value but in coupon form though his day was satisfied by the decent fight.

-The next day Ringo is still hazy but he wakes up going downstairs to get a snack till he sees Ranma, Akane, Yukue -as usual, and "Cologne!?"


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