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Story VI

This synopsis is Copyright 1993, by Steven E. Barnes. Permission
is granted to reproduce this material for non-commercial uses.

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Hokuto no Ken, chapter 2, "The Dragon and the Tiger" [5 of 6]

TV Episodes ? - ?: Raoh

Manga volumes 7 - 9

(Manga summaries)

Ken and Rei set out in search of food and transportation. On the
way, Rei asks what kind of person is this man named Raoh?

Flashback: In one of the tests for the succession of the Hokuto
Shinken style, Ken and Raoh stand in a room with a wild tiger.
Ryuken explains that the tiger will sense their intent to kill.
The tiger first approaches Ken, and bows it's head in submission.
When it approaches Raoh, it rears up to attack. However, Raoh is
able to block it's attack using nothing but his powerful aura.
In front of Ken, the tiger accepted death; but in front of Raoh,
it feared death. (Raoh had not mastered the principles of 'An-
satsuken', but created his own fearsome style)

[Raoh states ambition: the Heavens]

Ken and Rei arrive at a village which has been slaughtered by
Kenou's army. A dying survivor tells them the army has headed
west, in the direction of the village where Airi and the children
are staying. Rei rushes off to protect them.

[Toki explains that he loved Yuria, as did Raoh; for this reason,
Ken and Raoh were destined to fight]

Sitting by the fire, Toki gazes at the stars; he is able to see
the Shichosei. Shichosei is a small star next to the big dipper
constellation. It is said that those who can see it will be
visited by death within the year.

[flash back- Toki stops Raoh from abducting Yuria]

Mamiya realizes that she cannot compete with Yuria; all men who
met her soon fell in love: Ken, Shin, Toki, and now Raoh.

[mentions that she can see Shichosei

[mamiya attacked by Kenou army "seeker"; Ken saves her]

[Rei also sees Shichosei]

----------

Rei awakens to see Bat, wounded by an arrow, and stumbling thru
the desert. Raoh's army has conquered the village, and is sub-
jecting the population to a terrible ordeal. They must brand
themselves with the symbol of Ken'ou, or be burnt to death. Lynn
is captured while hiding Airi. However, she refuses to submit to
their degrading ritual; she prepares to walk on to the burning
metal plate of her own accord. Rei arrives in time to save her.

[Ken & co encounter trap with soldier disguised as old woman]

Rei confronts the commander, who prepares to exploit Rei's weak-
ness - his sister Airi. The men are ordered to find her, howev-
er, Airi joins fight, having abandoned her "mannequin"-like ex-
istence; Lynn has shown her how to fight. Soon, the rest of the
village is inspired by Lynn and Airi to join the battle.

Rei faces off against the commander, whose special technique is
to drink a barrel of gasoline, and breathe fire. Rei dispatches
him, as Raoh makes his entrance.

Rei prepares to fight Raoh, but, sensing great danger, Lynn warns
Rei not to fight. Because Ken saved his sister, Rei feels honor-
bound to defeat Ken's enemy, Raoh.

[Raoh asks about Shichousei]

[Mamiya senses Rei]

Ken arrives, but too late to save Rei.

[flashback to fight]

[battle Ken v Raoh]

Rei, having regained consciousness, intervenes by shooting a
crossbow bolt at Raoh.

Raoh reveals the Rei has three days to live. [in order to
enhance his reputation]

Raoh reveals that he fears only one thing: Toki's style. Ken has
no chance.

Mamiya and Toki struggle to reach Ken before it is too late.
Toki explains: "Now is not the time for Ken to fight Raoh." "That
which can master the rapids is calm water..."

Toki demonstrates this fundamental principal against one of
Raoh's men. Despite his illness, Toki is able to easily defeat
his opponent by flowing with his attacks and redirecting his own
force against him.

Toki explains that the styles of Ken and Raoh are like equally
powerful rapids. The projection of "Touki" (battle-spirit) is
called "Gou no Ken" (Hard style?).

meanwhile... Ken prepares to fight Raoh, but Rei knocks Ken out
of the way. "(Your skills are equal)", "In these times, you are
essential! You must continue to live, for Bat and Lynn, for
everyone!" pleads Rei. Ken: "Even if the chance of failure is
99%, if there is a 1% chance, then it is the destiny of the Hoku-
to Shinken inheritor to fight".

Kenshiro & Toki

 
As they prepare to fight, Toki arrives. "Kenshiro- now is not
the time for you to fight Raoh. You do not have even 1% chance
of victory," he states.

Pointing to Lynn, he asks: "Could you kill that girl? If you
could kill her, then you could defeat Raoh." He explains that
"Touki" is created through ruthlessness. He reveals that Raoh is
so ruthless, that he killed their father Ryuken. (violating the
2000 year old laws of Hokuto Shinken)

flashback: Since Kenshiro has been chosen as the inheritor, Raoh
has no more reason to stay. Ryuken demands that Raoh never use
the Hokuto style again, as is their law. Naturally, Raoh re-
fuses, and Ryuken is forced to stop him. Using the secret tech-
nique of Shisei Tenshin, he easily defeats Raoh, but before he
can "seal" Raoh's fists, he suffers a heart attack (stroke?).

As Ken and Toki confront Raoh, Toki paralyzes Ken. Toki reminds
Ken that it is not the way of Hokuto to fight two against one,
and that as inheritor, he should never forget the correct
behavior. Toki is prepared to die fighting Raoh, so that Ken can
learn the essence of Toki's style.

Toki Vs Roah

Unlike the battle between Ken and Raoh, Toki's fight lacks the
turbulent winds and clashes of energy. This is because Toki is
harmonizing his movements with those of Raoh, thus neutralizing
them. In desperation, Raoh pins both of their feet to the ground
with a sword. This neutralizes Toki's advantage, since he can no
longer evade Raoh's attacks. Realizing he is going to die, Toki
focuses all of his energy into one final blow, which Raoh narrow-
ly avoids. As Raoh prepares to finish off the helpless Toki, he
senses Mamiya's intention to kill him with a crossbow. Ignoring
Rei's warnings, she shoots Raoh, who reverses the bolt back at
her. Ken overcomes his paralysis thru force of will, and leaps
in front of the arrow, saving Mamiya.

-------------

[Ken and Raoh engage in brutal battle with blood spraying every-
where. The two are equally matched, so much so that they fight
to a standstill. Finally the two strike each other simultaneous-
ly]

Raoh's men, believing him killed, flee in terror. However, nei-
ther man had the strength to deliver a killing blow.

[Toki stops the fight]

"Ken- today is not the end. Today is the beginning of our bat-
tle!" vows Raoh. Refusing to kneel, Raoh forces himself to mount
his horse, despite his heavy wounds. Falling unconcious, he is
carried away.

Roah