Chapter 11: Chapter 11: Anything Goes Martial Arts
Emma checked the time to see it was still 8 am. The hotel they checked into last night was decent, but they had to hurry to make it for breakfast at Atsuko's place. Her honey bear kept complaining about the food choices at the hotel, her son didn't seem to care much though.
"Son, I want you on your best behavior today. These people you're about to meet could be considered your godparents in a sense."
"Like your father just told you, sweetie, these people are super close to us. I don't want to see any of your usual chaos while we are here."
"Fine, I'll play nice if they do the same, and what's this about some Ranma guy being a martial artist."
"Son, I know in these last few months you've grown stronger than before, but you're still no match for Ranma. He's been training since he was three, he is very proficient in the anything-goes martial arts style."
"I'll be the judge of that dad, that ramen noodles guy... whatever can't beat me anyways. No matter how long he trained it won't be enough. My power, and especially my knowledge is far beyond anything that ramen fool could ever understand. Stop comparing me to him anyway, you guys have been doing that since we got here."
James & Emma looked at each other with a sly knowing smile as Lucas kept going on and on about him being better than Ranma.
. . .
Knocking sounds could be heard outside what looked to be a traditional Japanese building with a large courtyard, a walled-off area with a large reinforced wooden gate. The architecture of the building seemed reminiscent of Japanese buildings built in the 1890s. The entire style seemed to follow a traditional style that minor nobles in that era often had.
Before long, the knocking stopped and was replaced by the sounds of shifting gears and chains being moved around.
"James, nice to see you took my advice to heart, and finally came with your entire family this time." A man in a white martial arts outfit with a white bandana said aloud. The man who opened the door had a dark tan with black circular glasses and walked barefoot.
"Genma, stop talking like you were here during that time. While we understand the situation is complicated, you and Ranma weren't even here during that time."
Lucas and his mother stood by watching James and Genma talk for a while until Atsuko Urameshi brought them inside.
The lady's hair was dark brown hair, but 20% of it was pure silver every so often. Her hair reached her shoulders, she had dark brown eyes, and her skin had a very light tan. She was wearing a traditional Japanese kimono that was light blue with silver lotus patterns all over it. The inner second layer could barely be seen from the outside, it was white. She also had a kind of wooden or woven kind of Japanese sandal. She was a rather beautiful lady and her inviting smile as she led her guests inside only served to make the aura around her grow brighter.
. . .
After talking for a few hours a boy with a sleepy expression came downstairs to see his family eating with a bunch of strangers.
His younger brother Yusuke was still sleeping after the brutal training from their father last night. The bruises had already healed, but his fighting spirit was going strong. He saw his parents talking at the dinner table with three people.
The older woman looked to be the mother, and the Viking next to her was probably the father of that mini clone next to the mother. Both mother and daughter looked almost exactly alike, the main difference being the daughter being shorter with a younger appearance and longer hair. They both had light brown hair and eyes.
Speaking of the daughter, she looked to be around my age. Did my father marry me off once again like that Akane girl in the city? I'll admit this new girl is somewhat pretty, but the question is can she fight like that Akane girl?
"Mom, pass me some eggs, I need some grub in my stomach. Dad going overboard once again on the training was taxing as hell. Make sure to add extra food on my plate Mom."
"Ok Ran Ran, your mommy will make that special scrambled egg snowman with sausage arms, a baby carrot nose, and his signature ketchup eyes and smile. Isn't Mr. Eggfighter your favorite, and don't you love it when I make him his eternal rival Mr. Eggkiller?" Atsuko Urameshi left the table to make her son's favorite breakfast meal first thing in the morning.
"MOM, STOP EMBARRASSING ME. I'M A MAN ALREADY, I DON'T EAT THAT CRAP ANYMORE." Ranma wanted to eat his favorite meal, but strangers were currently inside his home. How could he say he was a real man if his mother made that kind of meal around others? That girl was even watching me with a smug expression. I think she even stuck her tongue out at me like she was making fun of this situation.
"Dad, did you marry me off again without asking me? How many secret marriages do I even have at this point." Ranma sighed at his fate, all caused by his father's mismanagement.
"WATCH YO...YOUR MOUTH NOODLE BOY. I'M A GUY NOT A GIRL, SO WATCH YOURSELF." Lucas's rage was visible to all who saw it.
"Dad, where do you even find these girls, why is this girl a tomboy like the last one as well? She's also feisty like the other one."
"Keep talking dude, the grave you're digging will only get bigger the moment I beat your butt."
"Son, I know I didn't believe it either at first, but young Lucas here is a boy, not a girl."
"Shut it old man, when will you people get your eyes fixed and understand I'm a guy not a girl."
"Dad you sure, this girl is just as emotional as the others on TV."
"That's it, Ranma... Mom, what's his full name again?"
"Sweetie it's Ranma Saotome, but to follow their culture you say Saotome Ranma. Family names go first before given names, unlike American Lucas. Depending on the circumstances it can be a little different." She replied with a calm tone.
"Tha...Thanks, Mom." Lucas blushed a bit at his ignorance just before reigniting his previous rage.
"Saotome Ranma, I Bellaster T. Lucas challenge you to a duel in 2 hours in the courtyard, after you finish eating your kid's meal little boy."
A vein grew on Ranma's forehead, as his voice also became evident with rage.
"You're on, little girl, don't go crying later on when I beat your sissy butt. Remember I don't use my full strength against women. So when you inevitably lose, just remember you're just that much weaker than me."
"Eat my socks, you noodle boy."
'Can't even curse right now, this is a fucking scam. If my parents weren't here, that Ranma bitch would face the full wrath of my unfiltered vocabulary. Why do they care so much about me cursing or not in front of others.'
"Tomboy says what." Ranma said with a sly smile.
"What did you say about tomboys Ranma kid?" Lucas paused remembering what Ranma just said a bit ago.
"Your dead noodle boy, you hear me, you're dead!"
"You're a tomboy, plus you fell for the oldest trick in the book. Maybe you're a stupid tomboy if I had to be specific about it."
. . .
Ranma and Lucas kept going back and forth with the insults as both parents on both sides kept quiet as they watched on as they secretly talked amongst themselves.
Ranma's mom even made him his special meal. Ranma ate it up without a care in the world, he didn't care what the tomboy thought of him anymore. Lucas went for the more nutritional foods instead of the tasty meals on the table he had eaten earlier before challenging Ranma.
Ranma's appearance was rather unique in Lucas's eyes. The hair of the left side of his down the middle by the root was pure silver. Even his left eyebrow was silver with his left eye. The other side was black with his right eye and eyebrow. His skin had a light tan just like his mother's.
Ranma's clothes consisted of a Chinese long sleeve button up tunic. The shirt was light red with yellow buttons, white cuffs for his sleeves. His pants were a mix between blue and grey. He didn't wear shoes inside, but the small black shoes at the door were probably his.
'This dude's appearance with that half-and-half style was insane. Just like the Gojo clan dad talked about on the plane three months ago. The Gojo clan had pure white hair, and Ranma had silver instead.'
Yusuke the little brother was still sleeping like usual. The ruckus going on downstairs caused by both boys didn't affect him in the slightest with him particularly sleeping like a dead man in his grave.
*"Testing 1 2 3, can everyone hear each other."* James asked openly with the spell going on.
*"I got to hand it to you pal, your wife's casting ability is pretty good."*
*"Are you trying to say your lovely wife's magic ability is inferior to Emma's? You know between the two of us I'm the stronger witch in terms of firepower and total magic potential."*
'Genma being Genma still managed to fuck up once again with his comment sparking another flame within his wife. Doesn't he know the saying, Happy wife, happy life?' James thoughts while trying to hold himself back from laughing at Genma's expense.
The arguments between Genma and Atsuko cooled down after five minutes. It only truly ended with Emma stepping in to help mediate between both of them. Mediate was a stretch with her mostly taking Atsuko's side and leaving Genma out to dry. The secret marriage comments must have ticked her off.
But like all things they had their reasons. Even Genma taking Ranma away when he was three years old and essentially abandoning his wife and unborn son had their reasons. I mean he did come back every summer with Ranma, starting when Ranma had already turned eleven by that point in time. It was a start at the very least.
That pesky ancestor shared between Atsuko, Yusuke and Ranma had been the source of all this chaos. I can't even say his name without catching his attention. Genma must have used those marriages as a way to protect his family somehow. Not sure about the entire story though with Emma not telling me everything, and Atsuko and Genma trying to keep it a secret.
*"James, Genma, and Atsuko, what are we going to do about our sons wanting to fight in two hours?"*
*"Boys will be boys, just let them fight Emma, when Ran Ran beats your son I'll buy them both ice cream afterward."* Atsuko said.
*"Atsuko, Lucas will lose no doubt about that, but my son isn't a weakling, the boy ain't going down without a good fight."* James replied.
*"Glad to see you understand I'm the better teacher here, James."* Genma being Genma tried starting fights like usual out of nothing.
*"I wouldn't go that far, but Lucas has only been training for three months, while your oldest son has been training since he was three years old."*
*"Exactly, Atsuko our son will lose, but only because he hasn't been training for long. Not because James and I are bad teachers."* Emma responded.
The secret conversations kept going between all the parents at the table while the kids were none the wiser. Lucas and Ranma were at the stage where they were long past the witty and childish insults. Now they were preparing for the final countdown to the issued challenges. At 1 pm the fight in the courtyard would officially begin.
Soon enough two hours flew by in a hurry. The time was now here, Lucas and Ranma were now just staring each other down on opposite sides of each other. There laid a three meter gap between both of them in this large courtyard. Emma and Atsuko both cast their versions of the same spell type to stop those outside the house from seeing what was going on.
James and Genma could be seen inside the house both playing bets on how fast Lucas would lose. Gemma said his boy would destroy Lucas in less than a minute. James said his son wouldn't lose that fast. James put ten thousand dollars on the line saying Lucas would last longer than a minute, Genma put forward his favorite cup which turned water into any kind of normal wine available.
Genma didn't think this though, since all the information he had about both boys told him Ranma could easily destroy Lucas in a single move. He didn't have much in terms of cash on him since his wife controlled their entire financial assets and more. His terrible history with money made her have the final say in all matters involving money. Genma heard his wife tell him straight to his face one time that if he had the amount of control she did over their assets, he would put them all in financial ruin in less than a week.
Emma and Atsuko were on standby to stop any serious injuries and provide any emergency healing for either boy. None of them expected anything besides a minor brawl to happen since both kids were responsible to a certain extent.
"Ramen, you ready to get your butt handed to you on a silver platter"
"The names Ranma, Ranma Saotome. Never forget it since this dude is going to rock your world. You won't even be capable of standing after I'm done with you."
"Your butt is grass Ranma, get ready."
Both boys looked towards their moms as they both started the countdown in unison. With the sun overhead, the wind blowing a nice summer breeze, and the almost cloudless sky. Today truly was a wonderful day for a fight given the perfect conditions going on with the weather.
"Three... Two... One... START!!!" Both Atsuko and Emma yelled in unison.
Ranma stood still as a rock all the while Lucas took off running head first towards Ranma. Lucas started the fight by aiming for Ranma's knees with a right kick. His father told him when facing an opponent you didn't understand, going for the knees of their legs was a decent strategy for a fighter. If they can't move they will be more open for future attacks.
The kick missed its mark by a long shot as Ranma did a backflip easily avoiding Lucas's kick. This didn't phase Lucas, he kept charging in trying to punch or kick Ranma when he saw he could. All his hits didn't land even once, Ranma kept dodging the entire time making sly remarks pointing fun at Lucas's terrible abilities.
"That's it, Ranma you're going down."
Lucas broke his self imposed rule, and started using his mana the same way his father used his cursed energy to reinforce and strengthen his body. This spell wasn't taught to Lucas, but was his very own self made creation made with the idea of following the very same principles of his father's ability.
A bluish glow covered Lucas's body as his hair turned dark blue, the spell was incomplete and still had side effects. One of the many, but more noticeable side effects changed his hair color temporarily.
Everyone around was shocked at the sudden change Lucas underwent, but Ranma only turned to smile in return.
"Seems we are finally getting serious now are we." A red glow covered his body and his left silver eye started to glow with joy.
A flash of blue and red light appeared as both kids vanished for a bit. Left in their place were cracks in the ground in both areas where the kids were standing earlier.
A flurry of kicks and punches were heard as Lucas had finally started to land some hits with Ranma being on the defensive. Though Ranma started to get hit he used both arms in a defensive blocking position while he held them up in response to any kick or punch. No matter how many times he was hit by Lucas he still took no damage whatsoever. Both boys were smiling throughout the entire fight as it got more serious.
Ranma while being on the defense was still controlling the flow of the fight with his experience. All his hits were directed towards the joints in Lucas's arms and legs every time he landed a hit. Lucas kept getting faster and faster as his nose started bleeding as they fought, not from any damage from Ranma's attacks, but his very own poorly crafted self made spell.
Seeing the damage Lucas was doing to himself unknowingly in the fight, Ranma decided to take him on for real for a moment. In an instant Ranma's left hand landed on Lucas's neck hitting a special pressure point to automatically make someone pass out. The fight ended after a minute and five seconds with Lucas passing out on the ground.
Emma and Atsuko both ran to Lucas's side all the while his long dark blue hair regained its former color. Both women used their healing spells while James was checking out the stop watch.
. . .
"You lose Genma, now hand over that cup." James voiced his victory while he ignored any injuries Lucas might have gotten. His senses told him his boy would be perfectly fine, it wasn't anything serious from how it seemed. With Emma being Emma, then her seeing but blood made her jump to the worst conclusions in her head. All that healing only served to heal the bruises from Ranma's strikes to the joints.
"Aren't you going to check on you kid, I mean I won so I should get that 10k. I'll be nice since my son injured your kid. I'll only ask for half of my payment." Genma tried to reach for the money only for his wrist to be caught by James's hand.
"I've known you for ages Genma your tricks don't work anymore. The agreement was if Lucas would survive past a minute, not if he would win or lose Genma."
"Stop trying to twist what has happened here in your favor. You lost, Lucas lasted for one minute and five seconds. Five seconds over the limit, so in other words, give me the cup." James's hand reached for the cup only to be met with Genma's other hand.
"You know what James, I have something worth ten thousand somewhere in my room. How about I exchange that instead of my cup." Genma replied hastily trying to weasel his way out of this predicament.
"Stop being a sore loser Genma, be a man like you constantly teach your son to be and own up to your actions." James voiced his opinion as he kept pulling on the cup with both hands at this point.
"James stop being greedy and accept my counteroffer. This goddamn cup would cost you tens of millions in the open market if it was sold hastily, it could sell for hundreds of millions if put up for auction."
"Accept it Genma, you lost. Be a man and give up my new hard-earned prize already."
. . .
Both men kept going back and forth while both wives stared in frustration at their antics. Atsuko and Emma came in and took the cup from James and Gemma as punishment. Both men were left baffled at the sudden turn of events. James was so shocked he didn't even notice Genma taking his ten thousand for himself secretly. Genma cried knowing he wouldn't see his favorite cup anytime soon in the future.
Ranma stood over Lucas's past-out body with a sly smile.
"Stand proud tomboy you were mid. Akane was a better fighter than you anyway." Ranma sighed before carrying the past out Lucas back inside and laying him on a couch in the living room.
'Did mom have to make me carry that dude back inside myself? Pretty good fight honestly. His form was rather lackluster with all the openings it had. His talent in martial arts was trash. The Vikings said they were better at magic and using axes than hand-to-hand combat. '
That dude only landed hits since his body was enhanced. The speed and strength it gave him allowed his hits to land. I enhanced my defense, he enhanced everything more or less. Nevertheless, it was pretty fun to find someone kind of strong in this city besides those in the Tendo family.