Part One

It was an unusually nice spring morning and Nature was just starting to wake up again after a particularly difficult winter. The sunlight sparkled off of newly budding trees, collecting in jewel-like dewdrops which still adorned most surfaces, and there was a hint of early flowers in the air. It was the type of day one read about in stories, when love could happen instantly.

Ryoga Hibiki very much doubted that anything of the sort would happen to him today. In fact, he could just about predict that the warm spring morning would give way to more typical spring rainstorms by afternoon, and he would be forced to retreat into his hastily erected tent to wait them out. He didn’t relish the thought of another day spent in his own company, with nothing to do but meditate on the sound of rain hitting his tent, but since he didn’t know where he was, it seemed pretty unlikely that he would come upon any of the places that he knew he could take shelter.

He sighed heavily, turning a corner, wishing this neighborhood looked more familiar. If only the fates weren’t so cruel, if only he could look up and find the Tendo Training Hall in front of him, waiting patiently for his arrival. But when he looked up, all he found were unfamiliar houses of nice quality, well-kept yards and freshly scrubbed white stone walls. He had no clue where he was, and he had the feeling that, when it did start to rain, these were the type of people who wouldn’t look too kindly on him camping out in their backyards.

He felt his ki start to rise within him, in response to his depression, but he forced it back down. This would not be a good place to let loose with a shishi hokodan. In Nerima, no one looked twice at such occurrences anymore. Here, they would probably have him arrested. Resigned, Ryoga continued to walk. A gentle breeze ruffled his dark unruly hair, and as he predicted, it brought a hint of approaching rain with it.

Suddenly, he felt a strange tingle run down his spine and paused immediately, tensing in reaction to the as-yet unseen danger his body was alerting him to. Distantly, from behind him to the right, he heard the sound of something small and fast moving through the air. Ryoga’s ears targeted the noise and he turned, swiftly, reaching out with his hand to catch the thing that was heading towards him. His fingers wrapped around a slim metal object and he plucked it out of the air just before it could embed itself into the flesh of his neck.

Ryoga opened his hand and looked at the object laying on his palm. It was a dart, made from lightweight metal and synthetic feathers. The tip gleamed wetly, and Ryoga felt a shock of recognition go through him. Poison? Growling lowly, his fangs showing plainly, Ryoga turned, looking for the source of the deadly little weapon.

A second dart, the one he’d been distracted by the first to miss, hit him square in the front of the neck.

"No . . . " he choked, stumbling backwards, fumbling for the feathered end of the cold metal violation. The vile liquid of the dart was fast-acting, slipping into his bloodstream immediately, rushing through his body. It burned as it went, as if all of his blood ways suddenly became filled with acid, and it ruined the signals between his brain and his nerves, making it impossible for Ryoga to pull the dart free. He fell heavily, his strangled cry cut short as his forehead hit the pavement and the world began to spin crazily. He couldn’t catch a decent breath and his entire body was on fire . . .

"Help . . . " he managed to whisper as mild convulsions took control of his muscles, rocking him where he lay on the sidewalk. "Help . . . Ranma . . . "

Someone came and stood beside him, but he couldn’t look up to see who. All of the heat and fire within his body was building, roaring up into what could only end in explosion. It slammed into his head, his ears rang horribly and the inside of his skull pounded. Distantly, Ryoga was aware that he was being picked up, cradled in strong arms. Using the last of his strength and the force of his will alone, he lifted his head and made his eyes open, hoping in some screaming distant corner of his mind that he would see the one person he longed to, looking back at him.

The eyes were blue, but not the dark stormy blue Ryoga had been praying for. They were a brilliant blue, too blue to actually be real, and they held no warmth whatsoever.

Ryoga felt tears smolder on his cheeks, and then his own vision went black. He was vaguely aware of his head falling back and then he was consumed by the fire that was eating him up from within.

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

I think that Azusa has finally gone insane.

There really can’t be any other explanation. I mean, Charlotte was a pig, right? In fact, he was Akane Tendo’s pig, and between the two of them, they put up quite fuss over the ill-tempered little beast. Gah. That whole affair was rather nasty, and I really don’t care to think about it, but my little wench of a partner seems overly obsessed with it. As far as I’m concerned, the only good that came of that fiasco was that I was able to plant a kiss on the lips of that sweet little red-headed girl. Yes, now that is a pleasant memory.

Azusa doesn’t give a damn about that, of course. My conquests are barely of passing interest to her. But ever since that fateful competition, she has not stopped going on about that damn pig. Charlotte. The spoiled little brat. Its all she’ll talk about, how Charlotte is hers and she’s determined to get him back and keep him forever. The whole subject has driven me nearly insane and has pounded a wedge between us that has severely affected our performance on the ice. I can’t have that. Skating is almost everything to me. Azusa has her family’s money, but I don’t enjoy that luxury. I’ve had to work for everything I’ve got, and I’m not about to let her little insanities ruin my chances to make it.

Admittedly, agreeing to poison this poor kid probably wasn’t one of my smarter moves, but I’m willing to do anything to get Azusa back on track. Well, that combined with the blackmail makes for a hell of a motivator. She’s just got too much on me that I’d rather the general public not know. Okay, so I went and did the deed for her Highness. I just don’t understand why she wanted me to. I mean, she’s obsessed with a -pig-, not this guy, but for some reason she thinks that this Ryoga Hibiki kid is the key to her getting a hold of Charlotte. Damn it all. I don’t claim to understand how she thinks, but this is far out, even for her.

I’m not even sure who this kid is. I think I’ve seen him around now and then, usually in the company of that damned Ranma Saotome, or dear fair Akane. He’s certainly handsome enough, though not Azusa’s usual type, which confuses me a bit. She’s always gone for the more straight-laced fellows, and this Ryoga appears to be a bit of a ruffian. But hey, whatever floats her boat.

He’s pretty strong too. That dart should have knocked him on his ass instantly, but somehow he managed to stay conscious for several minutes longer than he was suppose to. Even now, while I’m carrying him, he’s only lightly unconscious and moving around a great deal. Unlucky for him. I understand that poison Azusa gave me is particularly painful and debilitating. It would probably be much better for him if he were knocked out cold. Why she’d want to use such a dangerous concoction just to get this guy to her house is beyond me. I mean, she could have just asked him and he probably would have come. He seems like a decent sort.

Wait a minute . . . now I remember. This Ryoga was that inept skater who took Ranma’s place in the competition. He paired up with the sweet little pig-tailed girl. She was so upset when I kissed her . . . I wonder if she and this kid are a couple? I suppose that would make sense.

Of course, none of this explains why Azusa wants this guy, but I guess I don’t really care. Any means to an end, and as long as she starts skating well again, I’d be willing to dart all the guys in Nerima for her, if that’s what it takes.