Founding Fists
Chapter Three – Reality Bites

Standard Disclaimer
See last chapter. (Or rather the Prologue)

Story by Omega Point and Immortal Wanderer

"Found it, it's coming back to Japan" Nabiki called a note of victory
in her voice. Tofu and Ranma paused in their sparing, Ranma had
been putting Tofu through his paces trying to improve his speed and
hitting power, especially that of his hands. Tofu's fingers may have
been deadly when hitting pressure points even lightly, the training was
improving the force at which his strikes hit making them devastating.
Ranma put down the punch pads that had been reinforced with steel to
allow Tofu to practice with out running the risk of permanent injury to
Ranma.

Heading into the sitting area, or the hub as it had started to be called,
Ranma was reminded once again just how much influence Nabiki
wielded, glancing around at the equipment he relished that despite all
the comments on Nabiki's mercenary habits were unjustified as she
had been restraining her inclinations if this was any indication. He
shuddered at what she could have put him through if he hadn't have
been living in the house. Ranma and Tofu moved near the computers
and waited for Nabiki to elaborate.

"There were reports of a large hybrid on the Californian coast, but the
reports ceased quickly I assume because he started wearing clothes."
Pausing for a moment to let the connotations settle in. "we did pick
him up boarding an international flight to brazil, but he was there less
than and hour before I received a report of a very large exchange of
golden items for an immediate charter jet to fly to Japan. They are due
in the Country in about four hours."

Ranma and Tofu each headed to get anything they needed, Ranma
heading up to change into cleaner clothes after training. Tofu went to
his current quarters having moved into Genma's living area, as
Ranma's father was not expected to return anytime soon. Tofu had
placed a sign on his surgery's door indicating that he had retired. It
had been five days since the first appearance of the guardian, Tofu
was a much darker person not inclined to laugh or joke at all, his eyes
had a haunted look about them that warned all and sundry that you'd
better have a good reason to interrupt any activity he was doing.
Ranma also was a lot more sullen and seemed preoccupied with a
problem that wasn't being shared.

In Tokyo Ryoga is asking for directions to Nerima, "So I follow this
road until I see a sign?" immediately starting to walk in just that
direction before listening to the response.
"No that way!" an exasperated farmer exclaimed pointing with his hoe
the opposite direction.

Several hundred kilometres away, at a high altitude the guardian is
cursing many things not the least of which is his current inability to
take a human form. *Me be wishing me had power enough to use me
human form, then me be having much less problems.*
Pausing in it's thoughts *me be too hot in this accurst robe.*
*Stupid human me be being annoyed, teleporting, me be glad teleports
only work every three days, but bearer disappear more often. How?*
Ryoga chose this instance to walk under a bucket of water being
tipped out of a window.
*He done it again!* frustration visible to the pilot who was seriously
wondering why he took the gold and just refused to carry whatever
that passenger was he really did not want to know what was under that
hood.

Back in the Tendo Residence everyone was prepared to start moving.
"Can we get there in time?" Ranma demanded of Nabiki.
"Only if you people get moving."
"We coming, Tofu you're driving" Ranma called across the top of the
van Nabiki had hired with some of her contingency funds.
"You going to call back up, Ranma?" Nabiki queried, Tofu adding, "It
might not be a bad idea."
"And like who are we going to call?" was Ranma's reply
"Cologne for starters."
"That old ghoul, get real this is our fight not hers."

In accordance with the summoning principle, more commonly known
as 'Speak of the Devil' Cologne appeared. (Unbeknownst to Ranma
Colognes true name, was actually that of 'Old ghoul' thus causing her
appearance.) A gnarled wooded staff hit Ranma on the head. "Who are
you calling and old ghoul? Get moving." Shampoo and Cologne pile
into the back of the van.
"Just go." Ranma commanded Tofu, glaring menacingly at the
Amazons.

************

A few hours later …

"Your lucky that I have friends in air control" Nabiki quipped as the
van pulled into the car park.
"Friends or people you could blackmail." Ranma thought aloud..
"There's a difference?" Nabiki flashed her most innocent smile, a
scary and intimidating sight for any that knew her. "Look we going to
catch this thing or not? They can only hold it in a holding pattern for
so long."
With that the group moved with a purpose, making it to the private
arrival gate with time to spare. Small children staring at cologne and
more than one adolescent male had run into other people gawking at
shampoo.

Nabiki spotted the creature clearing the customs point first, "I wonder
how much he had to pay for a passport?" there was no way in that he
could pass as human. Seven and a half foot feline humanoids can't be
that common, regardless however the security guards let him though
customs without fuss. "I really would like to have seen how he
managed that." Curiously most of the adults in the airport were
jumping to one of two conclusions. Either it was a person in costume
for a movie or it was a figment of their imagination.

Following the guardian was not difficult as it stood a good foot or two
above most of the people present. It headed out to the car park, though
it seemed unlikely that it was going to be able to drive. Deciding that
the car park was relatively unoccupied, Ranma decided to make the
confrontation here. Tofu didn't get much choice in the mater when
Ranma called out attracting the guardian's attention. Turning to the
noise source the guardian let out an internal groan *Not these again,
don't they be knowing they no chance. *

"Murder, prepare yourself." Ranma declared, preparing to enter battle.
Tofu rested a hand on Ranma's shoulder.
"First I will know your name and why you killed Kasumi." Tofu
tensed his muscles.
"And Akane" continued Ranma.
"My sisters" declared Nabiki.

Tofu and Ranma looked at each over in shock and then not so politely
told Nabiki to get out of their way. Looking at their auras starting to
appear and more importantly at the guardian's physique and decided
maybe they had a point and stepped back. Cologne was actively
restraining Shampoo from joining figuring he future son-in-law was
better to do this himself if he was to ever come to trust herself or
Shampoo. The ghoul was also concerned about shampoo's safety, as
she couldn't pick the level of skill of the creature due to its magical
nature.

"Names me know not, the females died as one had received that which
can't be given, and the other be being in my way." The monster
declared its voice deep and menacing, the totally casual way that at the
deaths of their loved ones appeared inconsequential to the guardian
had only increased their rage. "Me be being Eonneh guardian of the
curse, guardian of that which was not to be given."

Ranma broke free of Tofu's restraining hand and charged into battle,
Eonneh turned looked at Ranma square on and threw back his hood,
Ranma's momentum didn't change but his mental state certainly did.
*I saw that happening* was colognes thoughts to herself, as she watch
the transformation take place. A now snarling Ranma dove forward to
slash at Eonneh only to hit empty air, the feline had been gaining more
and more strength (and speed) as body anchored it self to this plane.
Tofu entered the fray doing his best to be in a position to hit the
guardian as it landed, but most of his strikes were ineffective, as
Eonneh would move just enough to prevent Tofu hitting his targets.

The combination of both Ranma and Tofu fighting simultaneously
was having an effect, the guardian was restricted in movements,
having felt the force of Tofu's near misses Eonneh had no desire to
feel the increased force hit any of his pressure points. Ranma loosed a
roar that would've mad a lion run Ranma went through a series of
slashes and cuts that caused the guardian to jump, Ranma was too
committed though and reduced several cars to scrap. Tofu rolled under
the descending form of Eonneh, standing to get a clear shot at the
guardians back. Tofu struck multiple times finding that the creatures
back was far less human than the front, causing a few spasms but
nothing more. Tofu instinctively leapt back as Eonneh turned claws
out stretched catching Tofu across his front leaving great gashes in his
clothing but only fine lines of blood on his stomach.

Ranma's form was given an opportunity that it had been waiting for
and slashed in a downward motion that should've cleaved Eonneh in
at least two. Unfortunately Eonneh chose that moment to take a step
backwards catching Ranma's for arm across the shoulder, on feeling
the impact turned it's head and bit Ranma's arm. Ranma started to
loose quantities of blood that he didn't really have to spare. Shampoo
broke away from her great grandmother who was too busy analysing
the fighting styles to pay too much attention, and leapt into the fray,
promptly ending up being used as a projectile by Eonneh against Tofu,
so as to allow the guardian to concentrate on removing Ranma from
combat, permanently. Tofu seeing Shampoo's form hurtling towards
him moved to take some of the impact of her fall, a move which gave
Eonneh a few good seconds to refocus its attention. Shampoo while
saved from major injury had still hit head first and was too dazed to do
anything.

Cologne still analysing *Maybe she'll learn to think before acting like
a future matriarch should. * Then refocusing on the battle cologne
noted that Ranma now very hard pressed while Tofu was picking
himself back up, Ranma didn't have the speed to land any real blows
on the guardian, but due to his mental state and techniques Cologne
could teach would be no use as his can form couldn't use it, speed was
what Ranma needed. But then there was the Amaguriken. It was
primarily just faster attacks after all.

Tofu re-entered the fray allowing the injured Ranma to ease off a bit
despite the fact that he was only using his second hand occasionally
he'd only suffered a few more scratches on his arms and a nasty
looking one across his right cheek Tofu rebalanced the fray a bit but it
was still in Eonneh's favour. Tofu's technique would be improved if
he could be in multiple places at once, the thought of Splitting Cats
Hairs crossed her mind, but could she justify teaching it to one who is
unlikely to be a member of her tribe.

Elsewhere in Japan…
P-Chan had just finished heating a kettle of water over his portable
burner and transformed back to his true form, causing a reaction back
at Tokyo airport.

"I be being gone now, must hunt bearer" Eonneh spat annoyed that his
first decent work out in several centuries was being interrupted, but if
he didn't start moving now his target would either disappear again
(still hasn't worked out how) or he could teleport again anytime after
tomorrow, plus there was the small mater of the compulsion laid on
him during the curses creation. Cursing (very quietly in case she was
listening) the priestess that laid the curse for not having laid a clause
to remove the rest of the affects when the contract was broken.
Eonneh turned and started to run, *I be thinking me be seeing them
again. Shame be being stronger next time not as much challenge, *

Tofu was in shock but injured enough not to seriously consider giving
chase, he moved over to Ranma who was crouched inspecting is arm,
Tofu knocked him out and bound his arm to stop the bleeding. Nabiki
brought the van over to the injured people. As they where loading
Ranma onto the van they heard the sounds of police sirens
approaching.

"I realise we have done nothing wrong but do you really want to
explain this?" Nabiki moved her hand to indicate the wreckage of
several cars, a few slashes through the ground to the next layer of the
car park, and finally the injuries suffered primarily by Ranma and
Tofu.
"Agreed." Cologne nodded in agreement with the practical Nabiki.
Realising also that Nabiki would have be under the legal driving age,
"Tofu, are you up to driving, my stature makes such things difficult."
His weary agreement conveyed to all it was possible but only just.

Nabiki and Cologne started to have a discussion which the other
occupants of the car, could only make out the odd word or two,
"Training", "Out matched", "Only amazons", "Ranma" and "Tofu"
being the repeated ones.


***************
Authors end note
Thanks to those who have given me C&C, it's all appreciated as it's
all been constructive, Yes Ranma and Tofu are going to learn some of
the Amazonian techniques but there is still a few things to happen
before their styles start to become "Truly Distinctive"