"Akane there's a letter for you," Kasumi called up the stairs to Akane's room.
"Ok, I'll be right there," Akane called back. A scraping of a chair slidding back along the floor was heard just before Akane showed up at the top of the stairs.
Akane grabed and opened the letter Kasumi handed to her. A look of confusion passed Akane's face which Kasumi didn't miss. "What is it Akane?" Kasumi asked.
"Hmm? Oh it's nothing it's just that it is written in english and I will have to translate it." Akane then in a thoughfully slow walk returned to her room and Kasumi went back into the kitchen.
In the guest room Ranma lay on his back on his futon staring at the cieling, contemplating the events of the day.
Before he left for school Akane handed him his lunch. Their fingers touched accidently and Ranma felt electricity flow from where they touched straight to his heart, making it beat faster and him breath heavier.
Akane must have felt the same thing because she blushed slightly and very quickly excused herself. And all during school he couldn't stop thinking about Akane and occasionaly found himself comparing all of his fiances to Akane.
Akane, in her room, was thinking along the same lines as Ranma while she translated her letter. She had been thinking about him alot lately and the incident this morning only reaffermed her growing affection for him. just thinking about him at the wrong time could bring a blush to her face.
Kasumi was beginning to cook diner when a loud scream echoed down the stairs. Everybody rushed to where the scream originated-Akane's room. Ranma was already in the door way and when everybody else arrived they found Akane at her desk holding a piece of paper and her face was white with fear.
"What is it Akane?" Ranma asked. Akane didn't respond. "Yo, muscle head. What's up?"
The jibe brought Akane back from whatever dream world she was in and slowly turned her head to look at Ranma.
"Dad do you remember that one student you had, Matthew was his name?" Akane asked, short of breath.
"Matthew?...Matthew?" thinking to himself. Soun Tendo thought the name over and over. Then the six year old boy returned to his memory. "Oh him, he was quite a remarkable boy
"Yes he was, considering he took over some of your classes for you, and at age six no less." Nabiki said.
"But what does this Matthew have to do with your apparent feelings of fear?" Ranma asked.
"He has issued a formal challenge to the Tendo dojo. And he'll be here in two days."
Ranma's reaction was typical; Eagerness. Ganma wasn't to sure, he had guessed from the rest of the family's reaction that this "boy" was some one not to be taken lightly. Genma grabbed Ranma by the collar. "Come boy. We're gonna train for this fight."
"Wait up. I'll train with you," Akane said and shooed the family out of her room.
Soun, since he knew Matthew the best, went to help Ranma train. Nabiki disappeared into her room and Kasumi disappeared into the kitchen. For the next two straight days sounds of sparing and training came from the dojo.
"Anybody home?" A voice came from the front gate.
"Oh my, we have a visiter," Kasumi said and stood up to greet the person.
"Hold Kasumi. It may be our challenger," Soun said and the rest of the family stood.
All fighters, Soun, Genma, Raqnma and Akane stood in front of the gates as Kasumi and Nabiki opened them. A large man stood before them, a man that stood seven to eight feet tall and had four foot wide shoulders. He walked up to Soun Tendo and bowed slightly.
"Greetings sensei. It has been a long time," Matthew said.
"Uh...uh. Greetings. Why have you challenged my dojo?"
"To test myself. I keept hearing about a Ranma Saotome and how he is the best fighter in Nerima. I couldn't resist."
"Well shall we get it over with," Soun said.
"How about we visit and catch up on old times first? Besides I loved that tea your wife made."
Soun immediatly struggled to keep the teers from coming. Kasumi approached Matthew causiously.
"Matthew. She passed away shortly after you left."
"Oops. Sorry. I didn't know. I'm sorry."
"It's alright Matthew," Soun said in a suprisingly steady voice. "Let's have some tea."
Shortly after, everyone was sitting at the table waiting for the tea Kasumi was preparing in the kitchen.
"So Mat what have you been doing these past eleven years?" Akane asked.
Matthew smiled at Akane's nickname for him. Akane had been the first person to call him "Mat" and years after he insisted people call him "Mat" after they met. Then Matthew recounted his travels and experiances. He told them of his marriage and the inevitable divorce. When he was done Soun, with occasional comments from his three daughters, told about the eleven years that Matthew was away. When Soun mentioned the engagement of Ranma to Akane, Matthew couldn't help but glare at Soun and Genma as he had been through this situation as well. When all story telling was done Matthew sipped the last of his tea and stood.
"I you wish we can complete my challenge. Who will I be facing?"
"Ranma and Akane," Soun said proudly.
"Dad!? You told us we could decide," Akane complained.
"Akane its for the sake of the dojo," Soun whined.
"I know but you could hear us out first. Besides we planned to fight together anyway."
"Good for you. Do you agree?"
"I wouldn't take this opportunity for a challenge away from myself."
Soun didn't respond and everyone soon found themselves inside the dojo. Matthew faced off with Ranma and Akane.
"One more thing," Matthew said.
"And that would be?" Ranma asked.
Matthew indicated the array of weapons on his back. "These," that sigle word was enough to get his point across. Matthew wanted to know if he could use his weapons.
"Anything-goes," Ranma said.
"Good."
Matthew took a simple fighting stance which Ranma mirrored and Akane took her ever predictable aggressive fighting stance.
Matthew smilled inwardly, he knew that his large frame made people underestimate his speed. Ranma also knew that this man was faster than his body implied and readied himself. Matthew began to run at Ranma, fighting to keep his real possible speed secret.
Ranma threw a kick ment to take off Matt's head. Matthew wasn't there. Matthew had switched his line of travel, straight toward Akane.
Akane's eyes widened as Matthew switched direction, straight toward her. He was now moving at an incredible speed and she knew that she was lost. Matthew drove his elbow into her chest.
Akane flew and Matthew had to throw himself backwards to dodge Ranma's flying punch. Soun went to check his youngest daughter as Matthew and Ranma squared off again. Akane was trying to get up as Soun reached her.
"I'll be okay," Akane said as she struggled to her feet.
Matthew grinned. "She's strong. In body and in spirit. No wonder you love her Ranma."
"What? How could I love an uncute tomboy like her?" Ranma responded.
"RRRRRAAAANNNNMMMMAAAAA!" Akane screamed from behind Ranma.
"Opps," Ranma said sheepishly. Ranma turned and saw Akane drawing back The-Akane-Hammer-of-Ranma-Justice, ready to squash him flat.
Matthew was suddenly laughing at the scene in front of him. "Look at you two. Why do you fight with each other? You should learn to work together."
"Akane?" Akane looked at Ranma and noded. Matthew felt Ranma gathering his ki. Akane charged Matthew swinging the hammer. Matthew easily avoided the hammer and knocked Akane away and unconcious.
Ranma released the Mouko Takabisha towards Matthew and Matthew stood still and placed a hand in front of him. The blast stopped when it met a chi shield projected by Matthew.
Ranma couldn't believe it and his confidence began to ebb. The takabisha began to fade and then disappeared.
After the Takabisha disappeared Matthew looked at the palm of his hand that he used to stop the chi blast, a slight redness covered his palm. "Man that was more powerfull than I expected."
Ranma took on a defensive posture, ready for anything. Matthew charged attempting to backhand Ranma, blocked. Ranma punched with his other hand, caught. The two fighters now stood resisting each other. The arms they had used to strike and block were locked in a battle of push and give.
Ranma kicked and it was blocked by Matthew's shin. Matthew wrapped his leg, the one he blocked with, around both of Ranma's and shoved.
Ranma tried to step back but his knees buckled because of Matthew's leg. Ranma yelped in suprise as he fell backward, in his fall Ranma grabbed Matthew's clothes in an attempt to steady himself, taking Matthew with him. Ranma fell flat on his back and Matthew fell on top of him.
Matthew had expected this and put a hold on Ranma so that Ranma would not be able to have the use of his arms or legs while blocking the flow of air. Apon completing this hold Matthew said with supreme confidence, "Now we wait for you to pass out from lack of air."
SPLOOSH! Female Ranma stood up and faced Happousi. "Helllloooo Ranma." Happousi said as he jumped to nuzzle Ranma's bozom.
Ranma punted Happousi for his next lesson in L.E.O.M.A. (Low Earth Orbit Matial Arts) "I am in the middle of a challenge here."
"Gruff."
Ranma froze and turned to face a sight he was not expecting. In front of him was a gorilla, a HUGE gorilla. The gorilla stood in slightly baggy clothes that Matthew had stood in. It was obvious to everyone that he had fallen into a jusenkyou spring.
The gorilla held up a sign. I see...(turn sign)...that I will...(turn sign)... have to get...(turn sign again)...DANGEROUS! The gorilla dropped the sign and reached back over his shoulder. The sound of steel being drawen woke Akane from where she fell. The sight of the gorilla made her gasp in suprise.
It was clear thae Matthew had trained extensively in his gorilla form as he held the sword with confidence. Charging once again this time swing the sword, Ranma had no choice but to dodge. He couldn't even counter attack because the gorilla form was much faster than the human one.
Flipping over one swipe Ranma landed behind Matthew. What Ranma didn't see was that as soon as Ranma had flipped, Matthew threw the sword behind him and it was heading straight for Ranma.
Ranma turned and noticed the sword flying toward him. It wasn't too late.
SPLACHK!!!
"Ranmaaaaaa!"
"Akane!"