From: Luis Majluf 

********************The Legend of  Lujen********************


A Ranma Fanfic
by Luis Majluf and Jennifer Yi
Notes and Info at bottom.

Prologue

"Be Careful, child, or you will burn yourself with the fire."
"But I love fires, grandma!"
Little Daisuke sat next to the fire, captivated by the dancing flames. He
squealed in delight as they twirled and battoned around, rising and falling
to their own special beat. The Old woman, on the other hand, was pretty
worried about the child. *Why isn't he more like his sister Hikaru?* she
thought.
She looked at the little boy, and the girl who sat couple of feet behind
him, who was watching her brother.
"What must I do to keep you from burning your little hands?" she finally
asked.
The two children lifted their heads and sat pensive for a moment. Finally
something clicked in their eager little minds, and they cried in unison,
"Tell us a story, grandma, tell us a story!"
The old woman smiled at the precocious little children, and said, "Very
well. Hhhhmmm.... what shall I tell you?"
"Tell us the story about the Dragon Slayer!" cried small Daisuke.
"No, grandma! Tell us the one about the prince who rescued the beautiful
princess!" countered Hikaru.
>From then on, it turned into a fight to see which story got to be told.
The gnarled woman chuckled.
"Calm down children, calm down. You will overwhelm this old woman if you
keep it up!"
The two little souls promptly fell quiet.
"Better. Now listen carefully, for what I am about to tell you actually
happened."
"Really?"
"Yes, really, children. It happened not very far away from here, if memory
serves me well. A story of brave warriors and beautiful maidens!"
Both children beamed at this.
"This is what I call the Legend of Lujen... Listen carefully now... it all
started way, way back, when I was young...."



Chapter 1: A Sword for Salvation

Ranma was woken up unceremoniously by a rough shove. Having had his dream
perturbed, a voice reached the young man's ears, "Wake up, Boy! No time for
slouching!"
He knew that voice and wished the body that acompanied it would go far, far
away, where it could not bother him. He rolled around in his sheets and
said, "Aw, pops, don't bother me. Come back later, when I'm less sleepy."
"Boy, I told you to get up!"
An even rougher kick pushed Ranma's rump unto the cold stone floor. Straw
fell along with Ranma's body from the bed, littering the floor.
"Yowch! You didn't have to do that!"
 Genma looked at his son with a disaproving look, "Stop whining, boy. Why,
when I was your age, it was sheer luxury to sleep in a bed! It'sunep
already, anyways."
Even in his semi-comatose state on the floor of the room, Ranma decided it
would be better to get up rather than to listen to one of Genma's sermons,
so he rubbed his eyes and groggily picked himself up. He stretched, and
started heading towards the door.
"Ok, Ok, I'm up."
"That's the spirit! Now go outside and start your practice, or you'll never
become a good warior."
Still sleepily, Ranma answered, "Yeah, pops, whatever you say."
Ranma grabbed his sword, which was resting beside the door, and exited the
room.

CLANG! CLANG! CLANG!
The blades struck each other with might, as the fighters battled each
other. The fighters were both young men clad in leather armor, sweating
heavily. They each took a step back and eyed each other. They were both
tired, and their chests were heaving from the physical exertion of lifting
the heavy swords. One of them spoke out, "You're sloppy, Saotome!"
"You wish, Marcus."
They were both inside a clearing,, filled with young lads similarly
attired, practicing their swordmanship. Nearby was a quaint medieval-type
village. Encompassing everything were forrests of tall, green firs, and
towards the horizon, white-caped mountains. Yet the most imposing sight was
that of the stone castle which lay a few hundreds of meters away; a stamp
of power of the german king who governed it.
A horncall was heard over the mock battlefield, and everyone lowered their
swords and stopped fighting - practice was over. The young
knights-in-training had held one of their common sparring practices,
prerequisite to becoming a knight of King Kruger's army.
"I wonder when we will end all this bull and do the real thing," Ranma
thought, "After all, I am the best in the class. I'm sure I could probably
take on most of the guys out there who call themselves pro- easily."
Ranma walked towards his opponent, Marcus, and shook his hand.
"Your parries are getting better, Marcus," Ranma said.
"I suppose you ain't half as bad, Saotome," Marcus answered.
Ranma just laughed. They both knew that even though Marcus was among the
top students, Ranma was the best. They each stood beside their swords.
Their weapons were almost as tall as they were. Marcus preferred a
longsword, but Ranma used his double-edged broadsword.
"Actually, Ranma, your slashing technique is great. I can't believe how
fast you are able to swing that thing."
"Did I just hear a compliment coming from the unbeatable Marcus Haffler?"
Ranma teased.
"I suppose so. But how can you manage so well that monster?"
"It runs in the family, Marcus. Why don't we start heading back, or we'll
be late for breakfast."
They slung their swords over their shoulders and started walking to the
castle, alongside the other warriors-to-be. They continued to chatter.
"Did you watch Herr Gabriel's scorkscrew technique?"
"Yeah, that looked unblockable."
It was as they were nearing the castle that the boulder hit. Ranma was
thrown back by the impact and the loads of dirt as the huge rock fell on
boy scant feet away and killed him. Throughout the clearing  huge boulders
the size of small men started falling, killing anyone who was unlucky
enough find himself beneath them.
"We're under attack!" the Instructor bellowed, "run towards the castle! Run
for your lives!"
Ranma was still stunned from the blast, and raised his head to see the the
boy dead, below the boulder. Still gasping for air, he turned his head
again to see a sea of men, armed, marching towards them, ready to plunge
their swords into the defenders of the castle. And behind them, the
catapults, the brown towers guilty of this destruction. His classmates fled
around him, seeking the security of the thick castle walls. Ranma couldn't
believe his eyes- his people under attack? Strong hands helped him up and
said, "Come one, Saotome, run!" Marcus exclaimed.
The boys dropped their heavy swords and fled towards the castle, with a sea
of warriors at their heels.

Ranma was crouching quietly beside the door in the darkness of the night.
The attack from the kingdom of Larsstuff had been brutal and unexpected.
Even now the sounds of the invaders trying to defeat the heavy wooden door
to the castle and the clashing of iron against iron could be heard in the
background. Ranma stole a look into the room he was spying on: The main
hall was a tall room made of stone, with tapestries depicting deeds of
brave warriors adorning the walls. In the middle was the large oaken table-
King Kruger sat at the head, with a stout countenance. Around him were his
generals and advisors, among whom was his father, Genma. The war council
had recently started, and the air was thick with concern and seriousness.
"Will they be able to take this castle, Wold?"
"No Majesty- we are pretty well prepared to repel their attack. They should
be pushed back by tomorrow noon. We are in no immidiate danger as of now..."
"But?"
"The counties of Shtauffen and Warclor have fallen, lord, and the others
are hard pressed."
"I see. It seems this war will be a difficult one for our people. We'll
need a miracle..."
*A miracle, huh? So it IS that bad...* Ranma thought.
Ranma had heard all he had to hear, and quietly stole away into the
darkness of the castle.

Ranma was sitting down in his room. Alone. The talk of the day among all
his friends had been the recent attack of their kingdom by the nieghboring
kingdom of Larsstuff. They had mourned for the unlucky few who had perished
in the initial attack, and talked excitedly about the upcoming war in which
they could possibly have a role in. Even though they had all been bragging
about how they would beat them back, and do this and that to them, inside,
barely skin-deep, they were all scared. Nobody had told them what the
current situation was, but they could see it in the guard's faces. And it
was no good.
        *I guess I'll get to test my fighting skills after all* he thought.*What
must it feel like to be in actual battle, where a slip of the sword does
not mean a point towards your opponent but bloody death?*. He frowned and
his eyebbrows dipped in heavy thought. Unfortunately, though, his mind
started to wander in typical ranma fashion. *I wonder how it would be to
fight without sword and armor...haha, what a thought! Going into a battle
barehanded, with no weapons? I think pops once told me of such fighting...
"Martial Arts" he called them... said some eastern goofballs practiced
it..." Ranma realized he was wandering again, and mentally reproached
himself, *Concentrate at the matter at hand, you fool! Musn't divagate...
What can I do to help. Our situation is bad... Damnit, what can I do? The
kingdom is in trouble. I know I must do something, but what??? We need
something to tip the scales...something which , unfortunately, I can't
provide. I know I'm good, but an extra man on the fields won't make a
difference. What if... naw, how could I ever think of such a thing. It's
just an old wive's tale. But if such a thing were to be true... man, we'd
give them hell! As I see it, it is our only hope...*
A little part of his mind, the one which handled reality, asked, *Are you
crazy or did you just drink too much grog tonight?*
The other, larger part of his brain, answered, *It ain't as crazy as it
sounds. It actually did exist- there are records of it. I just have to find
it. I must try,even if I may not succeed...*
His thoughts were interrupted by the creaking of the wooden door. A crack
of light entered the room with the figure that came in.
"How did it go, pops?"
"Not good, son. We will be having a hell of a fight," Genma answered as he
sat down.
"I see..."
Genma was one of the king's mlitary advisors. In his youth he had been a
great soldier, although several wounds had made him leave the battlefield,
in body even if not in soul. Still, he had taught his son Ranma all about
the art of Sword Fighting.
Genma noticed that his son was unusually pensative. This in itself was
extremely strange, since as the word went around, Ranma usually used his
sword to think, and not his head.
"Hhhmm... What's on your mind, son?"
Ranma looked up. "Huh? Uh, nothing!"
Yet as he said that, Genma identified the determined look of the Saotomes
in his son's eyes. *He's up to something...*
"Uhm, I gotta go, pops. I have to do something, with Marcus."
*Barely four hours before sunup? Something with Marcus? My arse!*
Still, he let him go. "Very well. But be ready for your morning practice,
son!"
"Don't worry, I will."
As Ranma started to leave through the door, Genma said, "Son!"
Ranma stopped in midstep.
"Yeah?"
"Whatever you do, make the Saotome School of Indiscriminate Sword Slashing
proud."
*Has the old geezer read my mind?*
"Uhm, yeah pops. Bye!"
"Goodbye, son."
Genma watched his son leave through the door, and wondered what would
become of him.

It was still dark. A figure crept through the darkness of the underground
hall, with a pack strung to his back.. Suddenly, a light shone on the
figure's face.
"Where do you  think you're going?"
"Marcus!"
Ranma pushed away the lantern which Marcus had shoved into his face.
"Yes, it's me. Where are you going?"
" I've gotta do something, Marcus. I-uhm... need to go to the outhouse."
"In the middle of the night?"
"Hey, when you gotta go, you gotta go!"
"With a traveling pack strung to your back?" Marcus asked incredously.
"Traveling pack? What traveling pack?!?"
Marcus looked at him with a you-ain't-fooling-moi face.
"The one you have on your back, perhaps?"
"Oh, that! It's just my.. outhouse literature, you know. It can take a long
time, sometimes..."
"And your sword as well? To shave your inexistent beard, I presume..."
"Uhm... not a very convincing excuse, huh?"
"Not at all. What are you planning?"
"I have to do something. To help our people."
"What are you talking about?"
"I overheard the war council earlier. Times are bad, and they think we'll
last a couple of months, max."
"And what do you think you can do about it? Go out and fight their whole
army?"
"No, Marcus, of course not. I ain't crazy. Listen, have you ever heard of
the sword... Souledge?"
It took Marcus about a second and a half to fully register what Ranma had
said.
"I could've sworn I heard you say 10 seconds ago you weren't crazy, Saotome."
"No, I am not. If what the legends say is true, that sword will make any
warrior invincible. Imagine what would happen if we had its magic power on
our side! We could turn the outcome of the war!"
"Aha," Marcus said, playing along with his obviously out-of-his-mind
friend, "And you say you were commissioned by our king to find this sword?"
"Uhm.. actually... no."
"Just as I thought! Now, GO back IN!"
Ranma seemed determined. "Sorry. I can't."
"You won't be able to sneak away. You'll be killed by the enemies that
surround the castle!"
"Don't worry about that, I know a secret exit."
"Big deal! Then you'll be slaughtered a mile away from here. I will not let
you go off into a suicide mission! If you go one step further, I'll yell
and warn the whole castle!"
Ranma seemed determine to press his point, but after a while of reasoning
his features gave way from determination to acceptance. *Maybe he has seen
the foolishness of his quest* Marcus thought.
"Yeah, you're probably right, Marcus...let's go back." Ranma said. His
voice was less vibrant and and less stronger than before.
"I'm glad you are reasoning, Saotome. A good change for that hard head of
yours."
Marcus turned around and started to walk when something hit him on the
head. Hard. The last thing he heard was Ranma's voice, seemingly very far
away, saying, "Sorry, but I have to  do this..."
Marcus' last thought, on the other hand, was, "When did Saotome learn to
lie so well?"



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


Author's Notes

Hiya! Welcome to the Legend of Lujen, our newly created fan-fic. Actually,
it's our first ever, either individually or in conjunction. "What the Hell
is happening???" You might ask.  Well, it's kinda a crossover between our
well-known and loved anime Ranma, by Rumiko Takahashi, and a very popular
and exciting 3d fighting game a la Virtua Figheter (but 50 MILLION times
better, I assure you) called SoulEdge (It was released in the US as
SoulBlade, for those who don't keep up with the outside world). We wondered
what if- what if Ranma was Sigfried? If Shampoo was Taki? What if their
stories intermingled and it was the Ranma characters who were looking for
the legendary sword, and not the original game characters? The basic plot
was taken from SoulEdge, although individual stories and the way they
interacted had to be changed radically (we couldn't have Ranma assasinating
Genma in cold blood, now could we?).

You could basically define it as a very loose crossover. For those who are
wondering, when the heck is this taking place, the answer is somehere
around the 15th century AD (more or less)

Chapter 2 should come out within a day or two. Others are still in planning
stage. You should see what we have in store for the other characters...

Hhhmmm... what else? One little thing: English is not my native language,
so if you find an extremely stupid grammatical or ortographic error please
forgive my ignorance. I'd like to say the same about Jennifer, but nobody's
truly sure which language she started speaking first, as she seems to have
more fluency in English than in her own so-called native language.

Oh, yeah, I almost forgot: If you lay your eyes upon this story... please
tell us how we did! Even if you think it sucked and couldn't have been
wrose, email us! Without your comments we will never know what to change
and get better. Take it as our fee, if you will.

Ranma and characters are property of Rumiko Takahashi, and SoulEdge
characters and story of Namco. Everything else is ours, ours ours...
Please don't rip us off, and please don't sue us...

P.S. Sorry about the sucky german names. In my limited frame of mind, I
could think of no better. So I lack imagination. So shoot me.

P.S.S. We are very open to suggestions. Please tell us your ideas. No
matter how stupid they may seem, trust us, ours are worse.

Luis Majluf
<98lmajlu@amersol.edu.pe>
Jennifer Yi
<98jen@amersol.edu.pe>

For updates, extra info, etc, visit this story's homepage at:



Luis Majluf

El Nodo de Anime -

Administrador Lista de Anime de la RCP







****************************The Legend of Lujen****************************


By Luis Majluf and Jennifer Yi

Chapter 2: A Sword for Marriage

"I don't want to," Ukyo said flatly, watching the okonomiyaki fry, the
steam forming a cloud 
around her. An apron kept the grease from staining her green tunic dress.
Her long locks tied 
up in a high ponytail to avoid the grease as well.
"It is not a matter if you wish to or not, you will," Ukyo's father said
sternly.
"Hogwash," Ukyo muttered, watching the grease splatter on the wall.
"That is no way to talk to your father, apologize immediately," Ukyo's
mother rebuked.
"Pardon me, oh gracious father, for my impertinence" Ukyo muttered under
her breath as she 
delicately traced symbols on the okonomiyaki.
"You will marry Kuno, And that is my final word." Ukyo's father dictated.
Both parents turned 
around and were exiting the kitchen when the okonomiyaki landed on Ukyo's
father's head.
"Yes father" Ukyo replied.

As Ukyo prepared another okonomiyaki she thought about her father's
so-called final word. 
*That pompous, machistic, insensible, peanut-brained coward* Ukyo thought.
*How do the women in 
this tribe stand the machistic tribal code, which quite conveniently for
men, says, 
that WE have to marry the man other MEN choose??? Senseless idiots!* The
okomiyaki began to 
cook, the grease beginning to splatter all over. *Tatewaki Kuno could not
have been a worst 
choice.* She unceremoniously dumped some vegetables on top of the
okonomiyaki as she fumed 
*But I won't marry. Not even a pack of wildhorses would drag me to the
altar... naw, that would 
be too painful. Oh no, marry that asshole. I can probably envision life
with that one: "Ukyo, 
if it weren't a problem to you, could you possibly arrange for the
confection of another 
okonomiyaki?" He probably hates okonomiyakis anyway. There is no way I'll
marry* Ukyo sniffed 
the air and looked at the now-burnt okonomiyaki. She said: "Perfect. Kuno
deserves this one."

"She is being quite rebellious. I do not understand her strange behavior,"
Ukyo's father humbly 
explained to Tatiwaki Kuno.
"Never fear, gracious father-in-law. Once I, Tatewaki Kuno, Blue Thunder of
the Outer Mongolian
Highlands, speak to her, she will be more than desirous to become my
bride," Kuno said smugly. 
Ukyo's father bowed his head to Kuno in relief. "Where is she so she can be
enlightened with 
the wisdom of my words?"
"In the kitchen. It is not necessary for your exalted self to go there. She
will come here and 
speak to you." Ukyo's father replied, rising quickly on his feet.
"I shall be here waiting." Kuno solemnly said. Ukyo's father departed
rapidly. Kuno stood up, 
and smothered his imported blue silk kimono. *These blue japanes inventions
are wonderful, that 
peasant garb the commoner wears was not fit for my exalted figure* he
thought. His sandaled 
feet made no noise as he paced across the matted floors. "Truly," he mused
aloud, "Ukyo is the 
most beautiful maiden in our tribe, and is lucky to have been designated by
our tribe chieftain 
as my bride. I will have to commend my father for his good taste."
A okonomiyaki landed on the back of his head.
"Forgive my clumsiness Kuno," Ukyo said, her eyes twinkling with mischief.
"Insignificant detail," Kuno said gallantly, as he futilely tried to get
the gloppy okonomiyaki 
out of his otherwise perfectly coiffed hair. "Truly such a mishap shall not
mar my opinion on 
your culinary dexterity. I am sure that okonomiyaki was delicious. A pity
that only my hair go 
to taste it."
"Undeniably a pity," Ukyo assented mockingly.
"Nevertheless, I have not come to talk about okonomiyakis. I have come to
talk about our 
future." Kuno changed the subject.
"What future?" Ukyo asked with a raised eyebrow.
"Our impending and glorious marriage. Imagine! You shall become the
glorified and exalted wife 
of Kuno. Do not underestimate the honor that has been bestowed upon you.
Our wedding shall be 
sung about for centuries! The marriage of the brave and courageous hero
Kuno to the okonomiyaki 
princess Ukyo." Kuno rambled on.
"Not if I can help it asshole," Ukyo muttered.
"Pardon me? What did you say?" Kuno turned around and faced Ukyo.
"Nothing, " Ukyo said, smiling sweetly at Kuno.
"I am pleased to see you agree with me. Your father seemed to be slightly
preoccupied that you 
were apprehensive about our marriage. This will dispell all his fears.
Should we start to set 
the wedding date? Perhaps in the autumn of this year would be the right
time, it would give you 
enough time to prepare and.." Kuno babbled on.
"Kuno... I think there's a little detail you're forgetting..." Ukyo
interrupted Kuno's 
ramblings.
"Did I forget something?" Kuno asked puzzled. He rushed to Ukyo and placed
his hands on her 
shoulders. "Or do you want pink flowers in the wedding instead of yellow one?"
"Kuno," Ukyo's voice rising, "you haven't even asked me if I WANTED TO
MARRY YOU?"
"That doesn't matter... " Kuno smiled. A giant spatula hit him violently on
the cheek, leaving 
Kuno sprawled across the floor as she stalked away.
"I... do... believe... that... she... wants... the.. pink... flowers..."
Kuno thought aloud.

On his way to the chieftain's hut, Kuno started admiring the village...
although in his opinion 
there was nothing to really admire, expcept for his person. *These
peasants... poor ignorants, 
where would they be without my guidance?* The rice fields were just
beginning to sprout, the 
sky was the blue of the unpolluted skies and the breeze was refreshing.
*Ah... mother nature 
has truly blessed our village this year, excellent climatic conditions and
agricultural 
produce, and my long-awaited wedding* he glorified. He entered the
chieftain hut, not much 
more than a slightly more sophisticated dirt-water-and heaven's knows what
else- construction. 

"Understand so I do," Kuno said, frowning. "but, pray tell, how long before
they reach us?"
"A month's time. Not enough to raise an army but..." Kuno's father,
Chieftain Yoshi Kuno let 
the phrase sink in. He faced his son across the table, a map of the region
laid out. The golden 
robe of the tribal chieftain casting a yellow glow on the map. A heavy
sword rested to the side.
"But what , oh exalted father?" Kuno asked.
"But it is enough time for the Patriot Sword to be found," Yoshi informed
his son.
"Surely you must believe myself for a fool. The Patriot Sword is no more
than mere legend!" 
Kuno said disbelievingly.
"It is not. The Patriot Sword's power is legendary and if you can wield it
against our enemies, 
then victory is ours. My spy network has informed that the Sword is hidden
in the Cursed Spring 
of Jusenkyo," Yoshi whispered to Kuno."
"The Cursed Spring of Jusenkyo? Unfortunately, its existence has not come
to my attention," 
Kuno reflected.
"Very few have. I have been told that it is a terrible, accursed place.
Only the bravest are 
able to come out alive," Yoshi said.
"Never fear enlightened father. I shall return with the Patriot Sword and
defeat the infidel 
curs who are our enemies," Kuno replied, standing up.
"I have no doubt you will. When will you be leaving?" Yoshi asked, rising
to his feet. 
"After the preparations are done, which should be by tomorrow. I must go
and inform my bride 
that our wedding shall be post-poned until I return triunfantly with the
Patriot Sword," Kuno 
replied.
"It will not be necessary. Why don't you take her along with you? You might
need company," 
Yoshi suggested.
Kuno reflected for a moment, "Hhhmmmm... excellent idea, dear progenitor.
But I wouldn't want 
to impose myself on her. What if by some quirk of destiny a terrible mishap
should befall on 
her?" Kuno asked.
Yoshi answered, "Nonsense. You will be there to protect her, won't you?"
"Of course. Then tomorrow I shall depart." Kuno finalized. He bowed to his
father and kissed 
the jade ring when his father extended his left hand. Yoshi looked placidly
as his soon left.
"Finally... I hope this trip makes Ukyo change her mind about my son.
Although I don't blame 
her for not wanting to marry Kuno," Yoshi reflected. "That's why I hope
some sort of... 
understanding between them is reached."
"I never heard of the Cursed Springs of Jusenkyo, sire," Sazuke piped in,
coming from behind a 
doorway.
"Were you eavesdropping Sazuke?" Yoshi asked through slitted eyes.
"Oh no sire, just hearing the wisdom of your words," Sazuke said innocently.
"Well, its true... you probably never heard of the Cursed Springs of
Jusenkyo, for one reason. 
They're not cursed. I have heard that really they are some sort of love
springs. Whoever falls 
into one of them will fall in love with the first person they see," Yoshi
explained.
"Ah, I see. So you are sending honourable master Kuno and lovely Ukyo to
these 'love springs' 
to fall in love?" Sazuke asked.
"Really, Sazuke you are a simpleton. I just said that. There is no need for
the Patriot Sword 
and even if they were I wouldn't send Kuno for it; Kuno is just hopeless.
That's why I chose 
Ukyo as a bride; so that at least someone in Kuno's household has enough
grey matter to keep it 
running. Sazuke, you are a simpleton." Yoshi said exasperatedly. 
"And what about the Patriot Sword, master?"
"A fool's errand. Kuno couldn't even find the sea if placed under his nose,
much less the 
legendary heirloom of our people, the Patriot Sword, which we unfortunately
lost in a war with 
the warmongering people of the west."
"Fascinating plan, master! By sending of master Kuno and lady Kuonji on an
impossible errand, 
you hope to cement their relations better so as to have a successful
marriage!"
"Your head must be filled with horse dung, Sazuke, to ask yet again what
has been answered! I 
don't know why I'm even telling you all this."
"Because I asked for the wisdom of your words, oh master," Sazuke said
bowing and leaving.
"Incompetents. I'm surrounded by incompetents," Yoshi muttered.

        Early at sunrise the next morning, Kuno and Ukyo left on horseback
in search of the 
Patriot Sword. Kuno was dressed in one of his many blue silk kimonos
(traveling clothes?!?!?), 
with his proud sword by his side. Ukyo, on the other hand, was dressed in
much more convenient 
peasant's brown clothes, with her unseparable spatula slung over her back
and a hefty complement
of her spatula-shaped throwing daggers skillfully concealed in her clothes. 
        Kuno was quite pleased that Ukyo had come, although he expected
nothing less. He also 
expected that the Patriot Sword would be another of those relic things that
sort, well you know,
did the job for him and would be no trouble finding it Ukyo was planning to
ditch Kuno once 
they reached Jusenkyo, because there was no way on earth that she would
marry an egocentric, 
foolish, machist asshole. What has destiny prepared for them...well, read
on to find out.



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



Author's Notes:
Here's chapter 2 of our newly-created saga. Hope you enjoy it. As always,
please email us with 
your comments!

Ok, you're probably wondering what's happening here! Well, Ukyo and Kuno
are engaged to be 
married (however disimilar that might sound). And now they're off to
Jusenkyo for a romantic 
get-to-know-each-other. (why anyone would want to know Kuno is beyond my
comprehension). Well 
anyway... stay tuned for the next chapters.

I couldn't find Kuno's father name anywhere- I even checked Caldwell's
Ranma 1/2 universe 
(the most complete site, in my opinion), and he was only listed as
Principal Kuno. So I made 
up Yoshi. I guess it sounds ok.
 
BTW, chapter 3 is in the planning. It should come out in a few days, a week
at most. 
You should see what we have planned for Akane!

Ranma 1/2 and characters are property of Rumiko Takahashi, and SoulEdge of
Namco. 
Everything else is a creation of our demented minds. 
Please don't rip us off, and please don't sue us...

Luis Majluf
<98lmajlu@amersol.edu.pe>
Jennifer Yi
<98jen@amersol.edu.pe>

For extra info, updates and stuff visit the homepage I made for this fic at:




The legend of Lujen:

Notice: Strong swearing is used




Chapter 3: Ninja Wanderings

The moon was rising above in the heavens, and the breeze was quiet.
"Boy, go away before you get hurt," a temple guard said.
The boy answered, "I have told you there is something I need inside your 
temple. Either let me pass or be defeated!"
"Stupid brat! You won't get past us gate guards, much less the inner guards.
Leave before I decide to shred you to pieces."
The young man just smiled, lifted his sword high, and charged.
The ensuing battle was brutal. The boy frenziedly battled the trio of guards
in front of the gates of the oriental stone temple. The guard's attacks were 
fierce and violent, yet the boy managed his overgrown sword masterfully. The 
boy's skill, coupled with the fact that the guard's skimpy shields were 
pretty innefective against the mammothian weapon, defeated the guards. 
The bloodied leader, lying on the floor, hissed in his last breath, 
"You will never defeat us all."
"We will see about that," the boy countered, and stepped into the temple.

***

*My God, don't these guys ever get tired?*
        He had been fighting for well over an hour now,  battling whatever 
guards he was unlucky enough to bump into inside the small temple he had 
infiltrated. How many had he defeated so far? Seven? Nine? One hundred and 
forty five? 
        He came to an intersection and heard some voices coming from the 
perpendicular hall; *Dammit, not again* he thought wearily. He hid in the 
shadows of a doorway and waited quietly. The couple of guards ceremoniously 
attired just passed through. *Damn lucky they haven't figured out yet I am 
here. Good thing none of them was ever able to raise the alarm* 
He continued to explore the subterranean halls of the temple, where he 
thought he would find what he so ardently was looking for. After fighting 
the entrance guards and the occasional one that had discovered him in the 
above halls, he had decided to concentrate his search in the lower passages. 
*I need to find that thing fast... not much time before they find the hidden 
bodies, especially since I didn't hide them that well.*
        He walked quickly through the narrow stone passage. He tried to 
silence his approach as much as possible, but the plates of armor we wore on 
his forearms, forelegs and chest clanked as he went along. *God knows this 
outfit was not meant for espionage* he thought.
        He finally came up to a large, solid door with inscriptions on it.
*YES! Jackpot city! This looks like the treasure room.*
        He picked the lock with a dagger and stole quietly inside. His eyes 
lit up as he saw the treasure that abounded in every nook and cranny of the 
room. The two torches which dimly lit it revealed all class of weapons, 
precious items, amulets, gems, coffers, and such. In the other end of the 
room he saw an isolated chest, standing apart from other articles-
*YES! It HAS to be there!* 
        He stopped walking on tiptoes and practically lunged over to the 
chest, clanking his way there. He pawed the chest and was eyeing it with 
greedy eyes when a deep baritone voice said, "Unhand that treasure, thief!"
The young man turned around and looked up. And up. And up. 
        A huge hulk was standing in front of him, a coalition between a man 
and a monster, his sword drawn and pointing towards him.
        "What are you doing here, petty scoundrel?" the giant asked.
        "Uhm... lost my way to the outhouse?" the adventurer asked meekly.
The giant glared at him. "So, not only a thief but a bad comedian as well. 
You won't get out of this room alive."
        *Damn... he said it as if he meant it.* the boy thought, *This is 
gonna be a tough one...*
        "Very well, we'll have to fight this out!" The young man said as he 
lifted his sword.
        The giant grinned, "A challenge? I was hoping you'd surrender and die 
quietly. I guess I'll just have to kill you." He slashed his sword towards 
the intruder. The intruder parried with his own sword, and drove the slash 
back against the giant.
        "Well, well. It seems the mouse knows how to bite." The giant taunted.
        "More than what you can at any rate." his adversary answered.
        The giant laughed at this. "Ha ha ha, it seems this will be amusing 
after all. Now Die!"
        The boy, amazignly parried all of the giant's strikes, and drove 
back a powerful swing which the giant parried.
        *Dammit* the boy thought *this fucker is a tough one. The only 
thing keeping me alive is that my sword is long enough to keep him at bay, 
and my thrusts are deep. But how long will I be able to hold this?* he 
wondered.
        The giant seemed to read his mind, "Good, boy! You are better than 
what I expected. Your strength is admirable! But the length of your sword 
will not keep you alive for long!" The giant slashed again, the boy parried 
it with courage, and delivered a powerful counter strike. Had a normal man 
stopped it, he would have probably been thrown back by the sheer force of 
the strike, coupled with the weapon's mass. Unfortunately for the boy, 
this was not an ordinary man.
        "Is that the best you've got?"
        *Oh man, what can I do? Is it just me or is this sword around 
100 times heavier than a couple of hours ago? I hafta do something... but 
this man is like an imprenetable fortress! I can't go around him, and with 
this sword I can't jump over him....* It was then when an idea hit him.
        "So you think I'm weak?!" The boy yelled, "Well, take this!" He 
pointed the tip of his sword at the giant's heart and charged with 
everything he had. The giant just smiled and prepared to parry. Before 
reaching his target, though, the boy dropped to his knees and slid between 
the giant's legs. By the time the giant had realized what had happened and 
started to turn around it was too late- a large broadsword was embedded in 
his back and ripping through his chest. Ranma retrieved his bloody sword 
from the titan's back and saw him crumple to the floor, gagging 
incongruencies. He brushed his sweaty brows with his forearm and muttered, 
        "At last... all mine."
        And it was then when he heard the girlish giggles.
        The adventurer quickly went into battle position.
        "Who's that?" he asked.
        He looked around- left, right, yet saw no-one. The giggling was
louder now, and the boy noticed it came from above. He looked up and saw a 
sillouette crouching in the rafters of the room. The silloutte jumped down 
in front of him. What the boy saw was what he least expected- a totally 
black clothed figure, with a small slit in the face for eyes. She was a 
female, clearly apparent because of her voice, her small frame, and 
the pair of bulges in her chest. She had landed in a crouch without making 
a sound, and had a short sword drawn. Small wisps of purple hair could be 
seen coming out of the sides of her head, next to her green eyes.
        "Who the hell are you? Why were you spying on me?" the fiery 
adventurer asked.
        The female warrior answered, "Who Spy is not matter. Spy just watch 
because it easier to defeat one tired victor than two  strong contendants. 
But what matters is what Spy come here for. And Spy come here for SoulEdge!"
        This infuriated the adventurer, "No way! I have traveled my ass off 
and thought innumerable jerks to get it! It is MINE, whoever the hell you 
are!"
"Then we fight for it!" the girl answered.
"Whatever. Even though I normally don't fight girls, I will make an 
exception in your case."
        The girl attacked with simply amazing speed. The boy had to parry 
most of the blows with his armor-plated forearm, as his sword was to heavy 
to swing in time to parry and he was dead tired. The girl seemed to have the 
upper hand, as she was in a better condition than the warrior.
        *I've gotta best this little wench... or it'll have been all in 
vain* he thought. This made him remember all that he'd been through... the 
ardous traveling.... the sacrifices, the fighting, the fight against 
insurmountable odds... and it made him mad to think it could end all here.
*It's not gonna end here, if I've got anything to say about it!*
        Right after a strong blow from the female warrior the adventurer 
lifted his sword and slashed with fury. True to her appearance, the girl was 
able to quickly parry the blow with her own sword without much hestitation. 
Unfortunately for her, she made a little mistake. She forgot to take into 
account the simple, yet inescapable fact that the warrior in front of her was
a great deal bigger than her, and that his sword was simply larger than life.
As a result her frail female frame was thrown back a good 10 feet before she 
hit the wall, and her sword went away even further. When she opened her eyes 
she saw the tip of the already bloodied sword pointing at her face.
        *Haha!* the adventurer thought, *I did it!*
        In his elation he failed to notice the change that had overcome the 
female fighter. Therefore he was caught unprepared when she started crying.
        "Whoa- what's wrong?" he asked.
        Tears marred the beautiful girl's eyes. "You- you defeat in battle. 
Now never get sword. Never be ninja."
        "Uh? What's a neeja?"
        "Ninja be powerful black clothed stealthy warrior. Now never be one" 
she sniffed.
        "Oh" he said, not understanding much. "Uhm, what is your name?"
        "Name of warrioress is Shampoo." After thinking for a bit she asked, 
        "What is yours?"
        "My name is Ranma. Ranma Saotome."
        "Well, Ranma, thanks to you Shampoo now never ninja."
        "Uhm,  Shampoo, don't feel so bad.  I'm sure you can try another 
quest to become a nimjap or whatever it is you wanna be. Besides, it's for 
the best. Girls are not supposed to fight."
        Shampoo seemed angered at this, "No! No true! That is what men in my 
village say too. Not true! Shampoo become ninja and prove she good fighter 
as any man. That is why Shampoo need SoulEdge."
Ranma was quite lost. 
"Hhhmmm... Shampoo, why don't you tell me what your problem is? Maybe I can 
help." Ranma offered.
"Well, it start back in ninja training grounds, few weeks ago. It really all 
began when...":
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
        With lightning quickness, darting from cover to cover, Shampoo 
evaded the attacks: the fourpointed stars, the daggers, the spears. Finally 
she reached the enourmous tree and continued jumping from limb to limb, 
higher and higher, battling each foe she found in her way. She stopped on a 
limb and gazed upwards. A smug smile grinned at her, the only thing visible 
among the leaves.
        "Shampoo come to the end. Shampoo ninja."
        "Not yet, precocious Shampoo. You still have to defeat me," an 
arrogant voice informed her.
"Shampoo kill," she said as she darted upwards with lightning fastness again.
The other ninja, eluded her faster still, jumping to other trees and darting 
through treetops and then down on the ground until he finally stopped at the 
entrance of a stone temple. There he stood waiting until she had reached him.
She stopped when he stopped and approached cautiously. *Shekhan tricky.
Shampoo better. Shampoo kill Shekan and be ninja* Shampoo thought
murderously. She glared at him, eyeing him with suspision.
"Now, precocious Shampoo, the battle will end when either of us die. Or
when you die, better said even," Shekhan said.
"Shekhan die. Shampoo win," Shampoo taunted.
"Well see about that you little bitch," Shekhan snarled and assumed his
fighting position., feet crossed and arms ready to attack. Shampoo did
likewise and assumed her fighting position. They stood eyeing each other
when a voice floated over them.
"That is enough Shekhan and Shampoo. Shampoo has shown that has all the
necessary abilities and training to become a ninja."
"WHAT THE FUCK ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT?" Shekhan snarled, still eyeing
Shampoo dangerously.
"What I'm saying is that this battle is useless. AND THAT IS AN ORDER!" the
voice ordered angrily. "I will have no more of your impertinence Shekhan!"
Shekhan's tense muscles relaxed and he turned around to argue with the
person that had ordered him to stop when a shower of bonboris fell upon
him. Shekhan looked murderously at the smiling Shampoo and stodd up to
attack her when...
"Shampoo, that will be enough. I told both of you to stop," the voice
ordered icily.
"Shampoo kill," Shampoo said angrily. *He no right interfere. Shampoo kill.
Shampoo ninja.*
A ninja stepped from out of the temple, followed by two other ninjas.
The rank of the ninja was obvious, he was Tzu-Fung, prince of dragons and
the leader in the ninja get-up of the region. His face was uncovered,
his almond eyes closed, and he was perfectly serene.
"I will not tolerate any such more battles," he said.
"But it's necessary, there must be a final test to prove the ability of a
would be ninja," Shekhan protested.
"Indeed, and Shampoo will have a final examination," Tzu-Fung agreed. He 
spoke up, "Be it made known among our fellow ninjas that I, Tzu-Fung, prince 
of dragons has decreed that Shampoo's final examination will be to recover 
the SoulEdge sword and present it to me."
Shampoo looked puzzled at Tzu-Fung. "SoulEdge?"
Shekhan smiled imperceptibly.
"Yes, the legendary SoulEdge sword. Once that it is under my posession you
will become a ninja and that is my final word," Tzu-Fung said and
disappeared once again inside the temple.
Shekhan turned around to face Shampoo. "Our battle will have to wait until
your return, precocious Shampoo," he said sardonically and disappeared.
Shampoo stared into the temple and walked away.

***

"But Shampoo, finding the SoulEdge sword is impossible!" Mousse exclaimed.
"Shampoo find," Shampoo answered watching the water boil and adding in the
ramen noodles.
"Shampoo, why don't you give up being a ninja and marry me?" Mousse looked
pleadingly at her through his glasses.
"Shampoo not marry Mousse," Shampoo answered as she added vegetables to the
cooking noodles.
"But Shampoo, I love you," Mousse said pleadingly.
"Shampoo not love Mousse," Shampoo answered as she stirred the ramen soup.
"Shampoo..." Mouse said as he approached her.
"Mousse..." Shampoo said ominously and a bonbori struck Mousse in the
face and he fell backwards. "Stay still. Ramen ready," she added as she
placed a hot soup plate on his chest.
"AAAAIIIIEEEE!!!!" Mouse yelled as he jumped ten feet up, spilling soup on
the floor.
"Mousse bad. He spill soup," Shampoo chastised Mousse.
"Shampoo! You put that hot soup on my chest," Mousse protested showing her
his now-burnt tunic shirt to her.
Shampoo looked at Mousse through glassy eyes, "Mousse no like Shampoo
either?" *Shampoo failure. Soup no cook. Shampoo no ninja. Shampoo failure*
Mousse softened and reached for her hand, "Shampoo, I do like you."
Shampoo asked through glassy eyes again, "Shampoo failure?"
Mousse answered softly, "Of course not Shampoo. You've just made the wrong
choices. What you should have done is not try to become a ninja and marry
me instead."
Shampoo got angry at this. "Shampoo no marry Mousse. Mousse leave."
"But Shampoo!" Mousse protested but a shower of bonboris began to
assault him and he left running.
Shampoo's anger began to dissipate. *Mousse nice. But he wrong. Shampoo
ninja. Shampoo find SoulEdge sword*. Her determination boldened and she
thought about the SoulEdge sword as she began to eat what was left of her 
ramen soup.
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

        Shampoo kept on crying on the floor with her hands upon her face, 
"Now no future for Shampoo," she said as she finished her story.
        Ranma felt bad for the girl, and knelt down and took her hood off, 
to ease her crying. Shampoo, absorbed in her crying, did not notice this 
until it was simply too late. "Heeeyaa!" she cried, "No look at Shampoo!"
She tried to cover her face with her hands, but with little success. The boy 
had already seen her- her beautiful eyes surrounded by a pristine face, and 
the long purple locks of hair that came tumbling down her head.
        "Hey, what's wrong??" Ranma asked.
        She quickly put on her hood, but after a moment of realization she 
seemed to think, "What's the point now?"
        She composed herself and stood in front of Ranma, and did it.
        What she did was completely unexpected. Had she tried to knife him, 
he would have understood. Had she slapped him, he might have expected. Had 
she broken again into tears it would have been totally acceptable, as weren't
women weak? But the pasionate kiss she landed on his lips was totally 
unexpected for him. Astonished as he was, Ranma was unable to break from the 
ninja's amorous grip. Nor was he quite willing, either. Unconciously, at 
least. After what seemed an eternity, their lips parted. 
        "What was that for?" Ranma finally asked.
        "It be village tradition, that if ninja or ninja-in-training's 
identity uncovered while in mission, ninja must kill."
        "So that kiss means you're gonna kill me?" he asked.
        "No. If person is from opposite sex, then have to give kiss of 
devout compromise." She answered.
        "Huh? What's that?"
        "People outside village call it "Kiss of Marriage"."
        "WHAT?!?!"
        "Now Ranma and Shampoo must marry by law."
        "No way! And what about you becoming a ninja? And what about 
SoulEdge?"
        "That no matter now. Since moment you defeat and see Shampoo, she at 
your mercy."
        Ranma was about to answer when he heard some faraway angry yells. He 
couldn't distinguish what they said, but he took a pretty good guess. *Shit! 
They found the bodies!* "Look, we don't have time to dicuss this right now. 
Let's get the goddam sword and get the hell out of here!" He lifted his 
broadsword and it came crashing down unto the chest's lock. It was split 
open like a nut, and Ranma hurriedly and greedily opened the chest. What he
saw did not make him happy.
"A FUCKING CRUMMY AMULET?!?!?!"
        Shampoo peered in. All she saw was a golden amulet. Beautiful, and 
very well crafted, but not at all a sword.
        "But Shampoo hear that sword be in Tibetan temple atop mount Dolai."
        "So did I!" Ranma answered, "I mean, we are in Tibet, right? I don't 
think I could miss a whole region so easily."
        By now the voices were dangerously near and snapped Ranma back to 
reality.
        "Look, we've gotta get outta here, and I fear it's gonna have to be 
fighting. Are you up to it?"
        *God knows I'm not* he thought.
        "Yes, but Shampoo know secret escape. That is how Shampoo enter 
without nobody noticing." 
        Ranma beamed, "Good! Now, where is it?"
        Shampoo pointed upwards, "In hole near ceiling."
        Ranma's jaw dropped, "How the hell am I supposed to climb up there, 
and with this?" he said as he pointed at his heavy sword.
        Shampoo shrugged, "Shampoo don't know. Shampoo not know heavy husband
come in to steal sword as well."
        "I am NOT your husband, groom, boyfriend, or anything else, got it? 
I just wanna get the hell outta here! There's a whole army coming this way!"
The shouts were near the door by now. 
        "Look! The Treasury door is open! They must be in there!" a voice 
shouted just outside the door. Ranma turned around and readied his sword as 
a squad of guards entered the room. *I'm wounded and too tired, and there's 
so many of them!* he thought, * I ain't getting away from this one!*
He turned to his newly-found ally, and saw her in a battle position as well, 
next to him. "What the hell are you doing? Escape!"
        "Shampoo no leave husband!"
        The guards had them surrounded and both outgunned and outnumbered 10
 to 1.
        "Drop your swords and surrender!" The head guard said.
        "Shampoo, get away or DO something!" he hissed.
        In an incredibly innocent manner she said, "Ok!" and grabbed into
her suit and pulled something out, which she threw against the floor in 
front of them. A screen of smoke filled the room immediately and Ranma felt 
a tug at his arm.
        "Don't breath and run!" he heard Shampoo say.
        They both darted amongst the coughing and disoriented guards through 
the door and into the hallway.
        "Why didn't you do that before?!" Ranma wheezed at Shampoo as they 
were running.
        "Husband didn't ask," she huffed.
        "Urgh! I am not your husband," Ranma shot back.
        Shampoo stopped and drew her dagger. *Now what?* Ranma thought. She 
quickly raised it and aimed it at him.
"Hey! Whoa! I didn't mean to-"
        He was cut off by the whizzing dagger she threw. To his surprise and 
immense relief, it passed right by him. He heard a grunt behind him and the 
sound of a body falling. "Husband must be more careful or sneaky guards 
leave Shampoo without groom." Ranma turned to see his dead attacker. 
Shampoo pulled him by the sleeve and said, "Let us go!". They quickly made 
it to the upper levels and safely got outside.

***

        "Excellent. The plan worked beautifully," Shekhan said praisingly.
        "Of course. That was the least to be expected," Tzu-Fung said as the 
walked through the stone hall.
        "The SoulEdge Sword, Shampoo will never find it," Shekhan said 
arrogantly. 
        "Precisely. Admit a woman into our exclusive circle? Preprosterous,"
Tzu-Fung added.
        "One question master, what if she does retrieve the sword?" Shekhan 
asked slyly. Tzu-Fung opened his eyes and smiled icily at Shekhan. 
        "Then you will have the battle you so desire." And with that the 
prince of dragons entered his chambers. The stone doors closed, forming the 
symbol of the dragon. Shekhan stared at the symbol and walked away satisfied.
*
        Tzu-Kung watched Shampoo traversing through the countryside, as he 
often had in the last few days. But now she was with a stranger. *How odd* 
he thought.*Yet it doesn't matter. She won't achieve her objective* He smiled
at the fact that Shampoo had refused that bumbling farmer's marriage 
proposition but then his smile turned angry. *Shampoo refused my marriage 
proposition. Refused to become the wife of the prince of dragons. Instead 
she wanted to become a ninja. Well then, she chose her fate. But she will 
never become a ninja* Shampoo's image disappeared from the mirror and 
Tzu-Kung saw himself reflected again.









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

Idiot's Notes

If you don't want to get bored, don't read this.

First of all, big thanks to our proofreaders, Aaron Jones and Oscar Labrador.
Thanks guys.

Second, an apology for those who have been waiting for this chapter. I know 
I posted on the homepage it would be out pronto yet lately I've been bogged 
down with work and have been unable to dedicate much time to fanfic writing.
Sorry.

I still find something lacking in the chapter. I know I haven't been able to 
put as much time into it as I would have wanted. I guess the biggest hole in 
the storyline was how the hell Ranma got from Germany to a Tibetan temple 
(presumably somewhere in the orient, right?). I'm planning to cover that in 
chapter 4, but I still think I might have given some preliminary explanation. 
But if I'd kept on editing until I came up with something really good, you'd 
be reading this chapter at least one month from now. Besides, there's still 
room for improvement later on. 

For those who are wondering why you haven't seen other main Ranma characters 
in the story (Akane, Ryouga, etc.), you'll find out why soon enough.

While writing I discovered a terrible failing: I forgot about the language 
barriers. It's a terrible goof on my part, but I'll try to fix it one way or 
another in the future (I hope)

On a brighter note chapter 4 is almost done. It is fully written, _very_
long, and in my opinion _very_ good, even more so than the first ones.
I just have to edit it. It might take some time, as it is very rough
and very long, so wait around 1 week/1.5 weeks for it.

Please, please, PLEASE give us your 
comments/gripes/ideas/suggestions/flames/etc. We love receiving them, even
if they are only one line long. Please take the time to send us something, 
ok?

Ranma ¸ and characters are property of Rumiko Takahashi, and SoulEdge 
characters and story of Namco. Everything else is a creation of our demented 
minds. 
Please don't rip us off, and please don't sue us...

June 1997

Luis Majluf
<98lmajlu@amersol.edu.pe>
Jennifer Yi 
<98jen@amersol.edu.pe>

Visit our story's page at:
http://www.geocities.com/~ollantay/lujen/lujen.html


                      Chapter 4: Unusual Travel Mates


    The grassy plains stretched  into the horizon. The sun was burning hot,
and the only outstanding feature, apart from the occasional foliage, was
the small dirt road which bisected the green praire. Amazingly enough, a
lone figure was traveling the road; a young man, 20-ish, with a head  full
of  jet black hair, carrying a traveling backpack and dressed in travelers
clothes, with a samurai sword dangling from his right hip, and a yellow and
black bandana strapped to his forehead.
The traveler seemed to be engrossed in his thoughts, walking with his head
down and a faraway look in his eyes. He probably would have continued on
like that for a few hours, had not 4 armed men spranged up from behind a
few trees and stood in his way.
    "Give us all your money, boy, and we'll let you live" the guy who was
apparently the leader said.
Amazingly, the traveling swordsman kept on walking towards the men, without
changing his attitude.
    "Hey, you deaf?" the leader said, GIVE US ALL YOUR POSSESIONS OR YOU
WILL DIE!"
The traveler kept on walking.
    "He's asking for it, boss," one of the thieves said.
    "Xalas, Gorly, give it to him!"
Two of the bandits sprang upon the traveler, their swords raised high. What
happened next was too fast for the naked eye. Incredibly, the bandits ran
past the zombie traveler, without attacking him.
    "Hey, you IDIOTS! What are you doing??"
The head thief had barely finished this sentence as they both fell to their
feet a few feet behind the traveler, blood gushing from their stomachs.
    "Wha- what the?"
    "Your friends are dead. I recommend you leave me alone before you
suffer the same fate as they did," The traveler answered ,without lifting
his head, or changing direction or pace. He just kept on walking through
the road.
    "How did you kill them? I didn't even see you draw!"
The traveler kept on walking.
The head  bandit turned to the third bandit who was something of a
mastodon, "Bolvo, attack!"
    "Yes master!" The ogre named Bolvo raised his club upon the swordsman,
and right before he brought it down the head thief could have sworn he saw
a small flash of light. Bolvo brought it down with all his might.
Unfortunately for him, all he brought down was a stub. The rest of his club
lay hacked in small, wooden pieces on the ground. The traveler kept on
walking. Bolvo, who was perplexed by this, just sat down scratching his
head, wondering what had gone wrong.
    The chief bandit was out of his mind, "Huh? Who the hell are you? How
did you do that???" *This bozo thinks he's going to best me?* The bandit
thought, *I shall have to use my secret lightning attack on him!*
 "Very well, then, die!" the thief snarled. He charged at the stranger with
unreasonable speed. The attack was lightning fast- he couldn't even see his
own slashes. Yet his sword never made contact with the stranger's body. All
he heard was the clashing of steel against steel. *How is he doing this???*
he wondered. *I'll have to redouble my efforts...* The bandit continued his
frenzied attack with even greater force and skill, driving himself to the
limits. *No way he can defend himself against this for long*
He was surprised when the stranger answered his thoughts with a perfectly
calm voice, and without the slightest indication of physical exertion,
    "Old thief, you bore me. Your attacks are too slow. Please don't waste
my time."
That said, the bandit's sword was driven out of his hand and thrown
backwards some twenty something feet by the swordsman's weapon. The bandit
himself was thrown on his back a couple of feet,  heaving and panting. The
swordsman walked up to him. "W-who are you (wheez wheez), stranger who
bested me in combat?" the thief panted.
    "My name is Hibiki Ryouga, yet I'm better known as the Wandering
Swordsman."
    "You- you are the Wandering Swordsman?"
The old thief's attitude change greatly at the mention of the legendary
name. Namely,  from antagonistic to ass-kisser. The beaten man widened his
eyes in surprise.
    "You are somewhat dull for a thief, aren't you?"
    "Oh, excuse me, your highness, please, it was not my intention to upset
your great Swordmanship," he groveled.
    "Oh, stop i,t" Ryouga answered.
    "Yes sir, yes. I will sir. Yes sir. It's just that I cannot believe
that you are the Wandering Swordsman, the fighting spirit who endlessly
walks the face of the Earth..."
Ryouga turned somewhat red for a reason. "That's enough," he told the
thief.
    "...adventurously killing all who oppose him, defeating whole armies
just to complete his supreme objective..."
Ryouga was clearly embarrased.  "Shut up!" he barked.
    "... of remembering where he lives..."
Ryouga's face resembled a beet by now.
    "...and more importantly, how to get there!" The thief concluded, "Yes
sir, the legend of the eternally lost swordsman is one of the most famous-"

    "I have no need to hear it again, you bag of mold! I know I am unable
to reach my home! You don't have to repeat it!"
The thief returned to his prior groveling, "Yes sir. So sorry sir. I didn't
mean to offend your lordship. God knows one forgets many things. Even how
to find one's home. Yes sir. So sorry."
This time Ryouga just ignored him. After a while of reflection, he directed
himself again to the thief,
    "Say, what were you doing stealing here, anyways? Almost nobody ever
uses this road- why would you mug people here?"
The thief stuttered, "Uhm... ah, we're pretty stupid thieves, your
lordship. Please forgive our ignorance."
    "Really?" Ryouga asked, clearly not believing the story.
 The thief recognized his bluff had been called. "Uhm... well, actually, it
wasn't quite like that. You see, we were told that your inmense self would
travel through these parts, and we wanted to meet you in person, Great
One."
Ryouga raised his sword and pointed it at the man's throat. "Cut the bull,
please."
Amazingly, the thief seemed reluctant to talk, as if the consequences of
talking were worse than those of not talking. Ryouga applied a little bit
more strength, pushing the tip of his sword deeper into the man's throat.
    "Ok, ok! We were ordered by this man to find a lone traveler along this
lane who was carrying a magical sword- Once we found him we were to take it
from him and return it to our master."
    "Is that it, then?"
    "Of course!"
    "And what is that magical sword you are refering to?"
    "It's called the SoulEdge, your mastership,"
    "SoulEdge, huh? Hhhhmmm... could it be?" he mused.
The thief looked expectantly at him.
    "And that's all?" Ryouga asked.
    "Yes! Yes!" the thief answered.
    "Good. I have no more use for you."
    "No! No! Please don't kill me, I swear I'll be good! Please!"
    "Sorry- I already made my mind"
SWISH! SWISH! SWISH!
    After having peed on himself, the puny thief took his hands off his
eyes. He was alive! He turned his head and saw the traveling swordsman
leaving. Then he looked back at his body to check he wasn't missing any
limbs or such. That is when he noticed the two parallel lines that the
swordsman had ripped across his shirt, which were united at opposite ends
by a third, diagonal line. The thief was confused. He turned around and
yelled to the distancing figure "Why did you do that?"
Ryouga's voice, barely audible, replied, "My teacher used to do it. It just
stuck, I guess."
The thief just looked onwards at the figure of the mysterious traveler.

***

Ryouga kept on walking. How long had he been at it? Minutes? Half an hour?
A couple of hours?
His worried mind could not tell- he was too busy reflecting  on the age-old
question: *How the Hell do I get Home?!?!*
Thus he was surprised when he heard the rustling of a bush by the side of
the road.
*In the name of Buddha, don't they ever get tired??* he wondered.
"Come out now, thieves, so that we can finish this off quickly, ok?" he
said aloud to the bushes.
No one came out- they kept on rustling.
*Oh damn, so now they expect me to go get them?*
He seemed to meditate for  second or two, and said to himself, "Might as
well get it over with..."
He unsheathed his sword and advanced towards the bushes. The bushes kept on
with their rhythmic dance.
    "You won't come out?" he said, "Very well, then I'll MAKE you!"
Confidently, with his eyes closed, he attacked. His two hundred slashes
took a mere two seconds to perform. When he was done there were no bushes
left- just the cause of the rustling.
Ryouga cockily said, "Now you can't hide from me, can you?" He opened his
eyes. What he saw was not what he expected. Not thieves at all. They were a
pair, white, and well-rounded. His first reaction was to bleed profusely at
the nose. A powerful slap to his right cheek followed, and then everything
went black for him as his body shut itself down from the shock.

*

*Where am I?* Ryouga thought. The last thing he remembered was the feeling
of shock as his body fell to the ground. He looked around- it was pitch
dark.
    "Is it nighttime already?" he wondered aloud.
    "Uhm, you've got your eyes closed," a voice answered.
Ryouga opened his eyes. A pair of big, black eyes stared back.
    "AAAAAHHHHHH!" he yelled
    "Whoa! Calm down!" the newcomer said.
After his initial shock, Ryouga calmed down and looked at the person who
was addressing him. She was a foreigner, a beautiful young girl with short,
cropped black hair, big gorgeous black eyes, and a refreshing smile. He
gaped. In his view his eyes were not large enough to take all of her in. A
single thought crossed through his mind, albeit in three parts:
    *She.  Is.  Beautiful.*
It was after a few moments into his daydreaming that he noticed that the
goddess was doing something. Talking to him, actually. He was barely able
to catch the last words and all that came out of him was , "Huh?"
    "I said, are you all right?" the angel asked.
    "I, uhm, yeah, I think so," he said, checking for missing limbs and
such, "but what happ-"
He cut himself in mid sentence as he suddenly remembered. His face turned a
bright shade of red and he stuttered, "Uhm, I'm so sorry, I didn't want to
do that, I didn't want to look at you- wait! that doesn't mean you're ugly
or anything, I just- what I mean-"
The enchanting sylph just emitted a short laugh which sounded like tinkling
bells and violins to Ryouga, "Don't worry! I know you didn't do it on
purpose. I shouldn't have been changing by the side of the road in the
first place."
    "I'm really really sorry fair lady, and I- I-"
        The girl was aware this was a real big issue for Ryouga so she
said, "Look, let's just put it aside and forget all about it, ok?" Ryouga
just answered with a clumsy nod after a moment of indecision. *What a weird
character* she thought.
        Ryouga just stared at the maiden. After a moment's indecision, she
said, "I think we haven't been presented."
He quickly reacted, "Oh, yeah. My name is Hibiki Ryouga, the Wandering
Swordsman. But you may call me Ryouga."
    "Nice to meet you, Ree-oo-ga," she said as she tried to pronounce the
foreign name, "My name is Akane." She outstretched her hand. Ryouga just
looked at it. *Is she expecting to give me to give her something?*. Akane
just waited expectantly. She finally ended by taking Ryouga's hand and
shaking it, "Nice to meet you."
Ryouga experienced two sensations at that moment- one was confusion, for he
had no idea what a handshake was for. The second one was estatical bliss as
her hand touched his.
    "God's wounds, her skin is as smooth as monumental alabaster..." he
muttered.
    "What was that?" she asked.
    "Uhm, nothing...I was just wondering... uhm, where are you from, yeah,
that's it , that's what I wanted to ask, where you're from, because you
really don't look from around here..." he blurted.
    "I come from a place called Ithaca," she answered.
    "Ithaca? There's no place around here called Ithaca...Wait, that rings
a bell...isn't that in Greece?"
Akane nodded
    "I think I've been there once.... Yeah, I remember now, I was trying to
get home, it was that time I was walking alongside that really big chinese
wall thingamajig and went _West_ instead of _East_...met quite a number of
interesting characters...I wonder what became of Telemacus..."
    "Oh! So you know my homeland?"
    "Yes, I was there for awhile, I think. I often don't know where I am,
Akane."
She seemed a little disheartened at that comment.
    "What's wrong? Did I say something I shouldn't have?" Ryouga asked.
    "Oh. No , no. It's just that I was hoping you'd know where we were, as
I am positively lost," she said as she smiled sheepishly."
    "Oh, I'm not _that_ lost. I know we're somewhere in Asia, that's for
sure. I guess we're somewhere in mainland China, Akane."
Akane opened her eyes wide, "China?!? I've made it all the way to here
already?"
    "Well, now that you mention it, it is a looong way from Greece. Why
have you traveled so far?" he asked.
Akane sighed, "Well, it's a real long story, Ryouga. You probably wouldn't
believe it."
Ryouga pondered for a second, and then said, "Look, it's starting to get
dark. I have some provisions in my backpack. Why don't we settle down for
the night and you can tell me everything over dinner, ok?"
Akane quickly nodded her head when Ryouga mentioned dinner. Ryouga looked
at her questioningly. Akane looked sheepishly at her feet, "It's just that
I haven't had a nice meal in such a while... getting food around these
parts is hard, and God knows cooking is not my forte..."
Akane's confession made Ryouga more comfortable, as he had something he
could now offer this goddess, which he thought he had none before, and
laughed amiably.
    "Well, then, let's set camp!"

*

The night was well advanced now, and two figures could be seen huddled
around a fire next to a grove of trees, chatting the night away like old
friends. Akane had been open and friendly to Ryouga, which had helped to
put him at ease- after all, he'd been terrified he'd bleed again in the
company of this beautiful girl. They were enmeshed in conversation, each
eager to know each other's story.
    "So you say it was actually your god Hephaestus who sent you? Come on,
you're kidding me!" Ryouga asked.
    "No, I'm not. He appeared to me in a vision, and ordered me to find it
and destroy it," Akane answered.
    "A God appeared to you and told you to find it?" Ryouga incredously
asked, yet again.
Akane looked off into the darkness, "The gods are not dead, Ryouga. They
exist, and watch us even now. They do not have to be present for them to
exist. They probably prefer solitude, that's all."
She turned back to face him.
    "You probably believe I'm crazy, don't you?" she asked.
    "Of course not, Akane! I'd never doubt your word," he replied. After a
while, he asked, "Wasn't Hapheastus the God of Smiths? Why would he, of all
people, want to destroy it?"
    "The story is a long one, Ryouga. Firstly, the SoulEdge was not created
by him, as many say. It was made by an evil entity, some centuries back;
when, who, or where, eludes even the gods themselves. The sword itself is
evil- it corrupts and pervades its user. Throughout the centuries it has
created strife and grief."
Ryouga furrowed his eyebrows and listened attentively.
    "One of the first recordings of its existence dates back to 932, to the
taking of the city of Toledo" she continued, "by Abd-ar-Rahman III, Caliph
of what was then Moorish Spain. Of course, the Spaniards have all but
kicked them out by now, but back then he attained the fullest of powers."
     "It then passed on through different hands. We know one of its last
users was the Mongolian conqueror Ghenghis Khan, during the early 13th
century; it was stolen from his grave and the last reports of it were
towards the end of the Christian crusades, very late in the 13th century.
It was lost, then, when the Ottoman Empire took over the last Christian
settlements and the land was full of chaos. It hasn't been seen since...
until now."
    "And you say it's somewhere around here, right?"
She nodded. "They told me I had to travel east to find it."
Ryouga shook his head. "I don't understand why they sent you to destroy
it."
    "It has created enough destruction in the world, and the Gods have
decided to put an end to it. That's why they sent me."
He shook his head again, "No, that's not what I mean. What I don't
understand is why they would send a woman to do a man's job- it's way too
dangerous."
Akane's veins popped up at that comment.
    "WHAT?!"
    "I said that women shouldn't-"
    "I heard you all right!  It's that "women shouldn't do it" part which I
didn't like!"
Ryouga looked ashamed of himself *You baka* he thought, *You've angered her
now! Why did I have to put my foot in my mouth?"
    "I'm sorry, Akane. I didn't mean to offend you."
Her anger faded quickly enough, "That's okay. Besides, I'm not as ill
prepared as you think."
    "Huh?"
    "Come here, Ryouga, look at this," Akane said, as she turned around to
retrieve something. When she was facing Ryouga again she was holding her
sword in her scabbard.
    "Nice sword, Akane, but having one isn't really going to help you much.
You've gotta know how to use it."
    "Of course I know how to use a sword! My father runs a gladiator
training grounds- an old family business. But that's not it- look!"
As she said this she drew the sword from its scabbard. At first all Ryouga
saw was a plain short sword, light enough to be easily manipulated by
Akane. It was well crafted, with a handsome hilt and crossguard which had
greek inscriptions on them, but nothing out of the ordinary. After a couple
of seconds, though, he noticed it was giving a faint, blue glow.
    "Wow... how'd you do that?"
Akane smiled proudly, "It was a gift from Hepheastus himself. He gave it to
me, as well as the shield, when he ordered me on this mission."
Ryouga looked at the shield which rested by Akane's bag. It was a round
bronze-like shield, with an eagle mottif in the center. After a while he
noticed that it too gave off a faint golden glint.
    "The shield and sword's hardness surpass by far that of any common
weapon, plus, the sword posseses an fighting-skill-enhancing spell, and the
shield protects its user against magical attacks."
Ryouga whistled.
    "Wow Akane, you're loaded! You're beautiful AND well-armed!"
Akane blushed at Ryouga's comment. Ryouga quickly shut his mouth- how on
earth had he said such a thing? Ryouga was normally shy around girls, and
had never said anything like that before. *Oh man she's going to slap me
now for saying that* he thought.
    "Why... thank you, Ryouga." She finally said.
    *Fwhee...*he thought.
    "Ryouga?" she asked.
    "Yes?"
    "How come you know how to speak Greek?"
    "I speak Greek?" Ryouga asked incredulously.
    "You dummy! How do you think we've been talking since we met?!?!" Akane
said.
    "I didn't notice Akane. It's just that I know so many, I never notice
which one I'm speaking. Last count I remember I was speaking seventeen."
    "SEVENTEEEN?!?! How's that possible?!?!" She asked, bewildered.
    "I've been wandering all of my life, since as early as I can think of.
I've never stayed in once place, and always drifted from here to there.
Because I travel so much I've had to learn all those languages. It's kind
of a necessity for me. Besides, I've got a natural ability for them. I
think it's a counter-action to my direction-dyslexia problem. I can't tell
up from down, but speaking languages comes easy for me. So much I don't
even notice which one I'm speaking in," he said.
    "Wow... that's sure a lot."
    "Yeah... but hey, I've got language, and you've got you magical sword
and a holy quest!"
At the mention of her assignment her face fell a little.
    "What's wrong, Akane?" he asked.
    "It's just that... it all seems so difficult... and I'm worried about
my family..." she answered.
    "Your family?" Ryouga inquired.
    "Yes... my father and my two sisters."
    "Hhhmmm..."


*****


 The sun shone mercilessly on the grassy plains, the grass withering under
the heat. A lone figure walked through the plains, dust billowing behind
him. With a battered straw hat, and a bent back, he squinted at the
horizon. His small dark eyes widened suddenly, he seemed to perceive two
figures riding on horseback, heading his direction, but the dust made his
eyes water. When his eyes cleared, he found himself face to face with  two
riders.
     "Prithee tell, good peasant, which path yonder may  lead us to
Jusenkyo?" one of the riders asked in a haughty tone.
 The old man walked right on by.
     "My good man, let me not repeat myself, for 'tis a sin of the soul to
in wretchedness be insensible to others. Which way to the place commonly
known as the accursed springs of Jusenkyo?" the same rider asked.
 The old man kept on walking. A spatula landed in front of his feet, neatly
slicing the top of his well worn sandals.
     "Which way to Jusenkyo, old man?" a different, female voice hissed.
 The old man turned around to face them. "Who wants to know?"
     "I, Tatewaki Kuno, Blue Thunder of the Outer Mongolian Highlands,
eminent heir to the proud chieftain Yoshi, my progenitor" Kuno answered in
a booming voice.
     "Never heard from him," the old man answered.
     "You have not answered my question old man," the female voice hissed
again, piercing.
 The old man faced the other rider, who unlike Kuno, who was dressed in one
of his many imported silken kimonos, was dressed in simple farmer's
clothes. "Young lady, you shall wish you never asked that question."
     "My good man, I shall forgive thee thy insolence if you do pray tell
me which way Jusenkyo lies," Kuno interrupted.
     "Look here, am I talking to you?" the old man shot back and turned to
face Ukyo.
     "Which way to Jusenkyo," Ukyo repeated.
 The old man cocked an eye at Ukyo and there was silence before he
answered. "To the west, three turns to the right, and beyond the rainbow."
 A spatula neatly encrusted itself on the old man's straw hat.
     "Which way to Jusenkyo," Ukyo repeated.
     "Never mind the peasant. Follow me, my bride-to-be Ukyo. I shall find
the way to Jusenkyo, as to worldly matters pertain, my sense of direction
is near to flawless," Kuno said, as he started off to the east.
 "Wrong way bud," the old man muttered. He then turned to Ukyo, "Why are
you traveling with such a moron?"
     "Which way to Jusenkyo," Ukyo persisted.
     "Tough lady aren't you? Well... all right, you go west until you
encounter a river, follow the river north and when you come to a glade,
that's where you will find Jusenkyo," the old man answered.
 Ukyo started riding away.
     "Wait!" the old man exclaimed.
 Ukyo turned around.
     "Why are you going to Jusenkyo?" the old man asked.
     "To get married!" Ukyo answered jokingly, and rode off in search of
Kuno.
 The old man looked pensive, stood quietly for awhile, and started
laughing. And when his tears dried out, he started walking.

*

     "Thanks to my incomparable sense of direction, I have found the path
that leads to the forsaken springs of Jusenkyo," Kuno talked amiably, as he
and Ukyo rode across the plains heading toward the west.
     "Suuuuure. You'd probably get lost on your way to the bathroom,
asshole," Ukyo muttered under her breath.
     "Dearest Ukyo, I pray tell me, is there a matter that troubles you?
You are uncommonly quiet," Kuno asked.
     "Nothing, just thoughts," Ukyo answered absent mindedly.
*What am / still doing here?* Ukyo thought. *I could have left him in the
last village, but nooooo... I had to go back and save his hide from being
tacked onto the temple walls. How did I ever get betrothed to this
overgrown piece of puffed sexist, this pathetic excuse for a man?*
     "Ah, I understand. The melody of my harmonious voice is not to be
marred by conversation," Kuno rambled on.
     "Mhhhhmm..." Ukyo responded vaguely. *There he goes again, babbling on
and on and on,* she thought.
     "My lady, do you think we should get married upon our arrival to
Jusenkyo and spend our honeymoon there?" Kuno asked, interrupting Ukyo's
thoughts.
 Ukyo nearly fell off her horse.
     "Careful, my lady. Women shouldn't ride. They are incapable of
riding," Kuno reproached Ukyo.
     "Thanks for your concern," Ukyo said  dryly.
     "You are most welcome, my fair warrior."
 Ukyo rolled her eyes and did all that was humanly possible to keep the
veins in her head from exploding. She had had enough, she decided, "Kuno...
haven't you ever wondered if women are not inferior as you think them to
be?"
     "Ludicrous! It's implausible to think such a thought... I quite
clearly remember the teachings of a wise man of western origin... how did
it go?.... Oh, yes, 'Men are warriors, and women are warrior's playthings'
and 'when talking to women, take along your whip'... ah yes," he said
fondly, "I still remember my western philosophy classes with much ache of
heart... 'Nietzche' was the fellows' name, if I do remember correctly."
Ukyo did all that was possible to keep herself from stabbing Kuno with a
spatula. She finally muttered, "Really?"
Kuno, meanwhile, kept on blabbing his discourse, "Why, of course, really,
would I lie to thee? Now that you do mention it, the latin root of the word
also women to mind. You see, my dear Ukyo, 'man' is derived from 'Homo
Sapiens', and the vocal 'wo' is a despective adjective used in vulgar
latin, meaning usually 'stupid' or 'useless'; thus became the word 'woman',
or in other words 'stupid Homo Sapiens', or female.."
    "Ack?!?!" Ukyo exclaimed, gasping in rage *Just where did this asshole
get his education?*
    "Ah, I do remember the wise counsel my daddy used to give to my mother:
'If you want to avoid from getting whipped, obey men'. Oh, those were the
times!"
Ukyo was definitely homicidal by now.
    "I sincerely do not understand their inclination to go against the
wishes of their masters. I mean, if women have been subservient to us for
the last 50,000 years, why begin now? Right, my little pet?"
Ukyo clenched her hands, counted to ten, verrrry slowly and then... sprang
upon Kuno like a crazed wildcat, knocking him down to the floor. She held a
spatula to his throat, murder in her eyes.
    "My...my... aren't we a little playful today?" Kuno asked.
    "Kuno... darling... I'd killed you if I weren't a lady," Ukyo said
through clenched teeth.
    "Why don't you kiss me instead?" Kuno asked and immediately found
himself surrounded by spatulas.
    "I've had it buster... you shut your trap or I'll make you a woman!!!"
Ukyo hissed.
    "Now...now isn't that my job? Make you a woman...." Kuno said before he
was knocked senseless due to the gigantic spatula which fell over his
cranium.


*****

    "Knock it off, Shampoo!"
The cute Amazon was still glomping on to him.
    "Iye, Ranma. Shampoo love you!"
    "In the name of Christ, what did I ever do to deserve this?" Ranma
Saotome muttered under his breath.
He and Shampoo were walking along a broad, crowded street in a Chinese city
they had managed to bump into. They were attracting quite a number of
stares, as Ranma was still wearing his armor pads on his arms and legs,
along with some on his torso, and Shampoo was sticking to him like glue,
with her ninja clothing still on, and trying to murder any woman who came
within one meter of her prized Ranma.
    "Shampoo," he said, not in a gentle manner, " you've got to stop
hurting other women!"
Shampoo answered, "They wish to take Ranma away from Shampoo. Shampoo no
let them!"
*In the name of Christ, what did I ever do to deserve this?* he thought
again.
Just as he thought this a scrawny young man clothed in a simple shirt,
pants, and a sword, jumped out of the crowd towards them.
    "PRETTY LADY!" he yelled at Shampoo, with his arms outstretched, "Would
you want to go on a date?"
Shampoo was taken by surprise. "Come on, Pretty Lady, date, date, date,
yes?" he yelled as he tried to grab her.
    "Haiya!! Don't touch Shampoo there, you Hentai! Shampoo only belong to
Ranma!" Shampoo shrieked as she bopped him on the head. He quickly stood
up, despite the heavy blow to his head, and kept on yelling, "Come on,
pretty bimbo, go on a date with me!"
Ranma had reacted by now. He stood between them and angrily said, "Hey,
Pal, she's with me! Get your grubby hands off of her!" The young man was
about to respond some obnoxious answer when a single word yelled throughout
the crowd put a sudden stop to him.
    "CARROT!"
Carrot's face was filled with fear, and he gulped.
A beautiful pink-haired woman stepped out of the crowd, dressed as a
tantalizing SM queen.
    "You know you shouldn't be flirting with other girls, Carrot," she said
in a deep, sexy voice. She uncoiled a whip. Carrot was terrified, and tried
to run the opposite way only to be stopped by a second red-haired woman,
also dressed as an SM queen.
"Darling, how many times have I told you that I am the only woman for you?
Now I will have to punish you!" she said as she too uncoiled a whip.
The young man panicked and ran away into the crowd, only to be pursued by
the red-haired woman. The first one turned to Ranma and Shampoo and said,
"Sorry about this," only to join the fray.
Ranma and Shampoo just blinked.
    "Pretty crazy people in this town," Shampoo said.
    "Yeah. Let's get the hell outta here before any of them return," Ranma
said, and with that they mixed themselves into the crowd again and
disappeared out of sight.

*****

The night was getting old, yet the two figures were still chatting amiably.

    "You're sure you want to go with this, Akane?"
The two of them had been chatting for hours now.  The sun was a couple of
hours away from being born.
    "Yes, I am resolved to do this."
They were quite comfortable with each other.
    "But it's... it's so dangerous."
And had become very good friends, given the short time they'd been
together.
She smiled an evil grin, "For them, sure it is!"
 Ryouga had been thinking all night. More so than what he often did while
on the road, which was a lot. The simple fact was, that he had fallen in
love with her. Each time he had gazed at her eyes, peered at her
silhouette, he had fallen into sweet ecstasy. He had made his mind. He
would go on with her, and never part her company, even if it meant death.
To hell with his home- he could always make a new one, couldn't he?
    "Akane... I, I.... I want to tell you something."
    "Yes, Ryouga?"
    "I'd like to acompany you on your quest. To help you."
She looked at him questioningly, "Really? You'd be willing to risk your
life to help me finish this wild goose chase?"
He nodded.
    "And what about your responsibilities?"
    "I don't have any- no family, no home *not any that I can find at any
rate, that is*- I'm the Wandering Swrodsman, remember?"
She smiled a huge smile back at him, "Oh, Ryouga, thank you! You're such a
great friend!"
She approached him and shyly kissed him on the cheek. Ryouga's body fell
down yet again, with blood erupting from his nose. As his head hit the
ground his last pondering was how wonderful this trip might become, given
that he received more of those.

*****

Two figures were talking in the dark. This time, though, they were not
around a campfire, and definitely not in the countryside. These particular
figures were hunched together sitting at a table in a dark corner of some
nondescript bar somewhere in a city. One was a dark-haired young man clad
in armor- the other a purple haired Chinese tart dressed in a ninja outfit.

    "So you got the location of the legendary SoulEdge Sword from an old
man selling maps on a street corner?!?!"
    "You no shout Shampoo! Shampoo think Ranma would not talk so much if
Ranma considered he got map pretty much same way." She harrumphed.
    "Hey, it wasn't my fault! Besides, I bought it in an alley, the guy
looked reputable, and I couldn't speak crap worth the language, so how
could  I have guessed that he was going to rip me off?" Ranma shot back.
    "Husband not much bright. Probably drink too much wine in Shermaly."
Shampoo responded.
    "GERMANY! I've told you it's Germany! G-e-r-m-a-n-y!"
    "So sorry. But don't have such strange names in my village."
    "For someone who doesn't have strange names in her village you can talk
pretty well my language..."
    "Me not speak language."
    "Huh?"
    She took a couple of seeds and showed them to him. "Great-grandmother
give me magic seeds. Seeds enhance communication abilities."
    Ranma rolled his eyes. Not quite believing, he said, "Yeah. Whatever.
By the way, where did you say your village is?"
    "It is a Chinese village somewhat far from here, South of Big Ko Rock."

    "South of what? Of, forget it," he said, "Wait a minute- didn't you say
that ninja was a _japanese_ technique?"
    "Yes. But that not mean it can not be used out of Japan, no?"
    "So we both almost got killed for nothing, just because we both were
stupid enough to buy the same fake map?" he asked.
    "Hai!" she answered.
    "Oh man, this isn't my day..." Ranma said.
    "Husband want a backrub?" Shampoo purred.
    "No. And PLEASE stop calling me husband! I've told you I'm not going to
marry you!"
    "That is what you say now. But later you marry Shampoo. You see."
    "Whatever," he muttered, "I don't even know why I let you tag along in
the first place."
    "Because husband is too heavy with armor to outrun lithe and gimble
Shampoo!" she answered smartly.
    "Oh, please don't remember me of that..."
    "Tsk, tsk. Husband is too slow. Maybe where you come from all people
fight with heavy armor, but here no. Ranma need to be quick. Husband is
very good, yes, but can not do much against quick, lethal warrior. Have to
find a way to fight quick, or Husband's big sword might not save Husband
for long..."
    "If it might not save me for long, then how did I kill all those guards
back there in the temple? Huh? You're not going to tell me they weren't all
bad, now, are you?"
    "Of course not. Some even mediocre-good. But winning easy for you when
fighting in close quarters of temple halls,and guards have no space to
evade big sword. But fight outside, and story be different."
    "Uhm, yeah, whatever. We'll take care of that when it comes. Right now
I'd like to know where the SoulEdge is located."
Shampoo thought for a minute, "Hhhmmm... Shampoo know of two places where
it might be- or where might get information. One is atop sacred mount of
Lai-Ting. It is rumored a wise sage who knows it all lives there. Second
option is Cursed Springs of Ju-sen-kyo. Shampoo have heard many legends of
weird stuff which come from springs. Also of knowledgeable guide who live
there, and know all about the area, and most importantly  my
great-grandmother be there, in training. She very wise woman- know a lot
about ancient lore and weaponry. She live in Amazon vilage north of here,
but practice in Jusenkyo. If still alive."
    "You mean you don't know if she's still alive?"
    "Shampoo left Amazon village few years ago to come to other village,
where they teach how to become ninja. Shampoo's village was
women-dominated, and there was no way no become ninja there. That is why
Shampoo have to travel so much to become ninja. But great-grandmother is
very strong woman- I'm sure she still alive. So, honorable husband, where
do we go?"
Ranma closed his eyes and thought. After a while he said, "Let's decide
tomorrow. Right now I just want to rest- I'm dead beat." He stood up,
"let's go to sleep- I already rented lodgings"
Shampoo's face lit up automatically, "Haiya! Husband want to do Art of the
Pillow even before wedding? Yosh!! YATTA!!" she squealed.
    "Wait a sec- no one said anything about any art of anything- I got us
SEPARATE rooms."
Shampoo's face fell. "Don't put that sad face and let's go up; I'm tired
and want to sleep!" he said as he guided a disappointed Shampoo up the
stairs of the establishment to the second floor of the building, where the
rooms were rented.



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

Idiot's (<--that's me) Notes

If you have read so far: Congratulations! I didn't think you'd make it.
Here are some assorted notes:

As always, thanks to those people who gave us feedback on our drafts,
especially our prereader Oscar Labrador.

The part at the beginning where Ryouga makes a "Z" (two horizontal
lines united by a third, diagonal line) on the guy's shirt- that's just
a red herring from "El Zorro"- a little joke, and an allusion to the
fact that Ryouga has wandered so far that he took fencing lessons from
Diego de Lezandra (or whatever his name was) in California. Of course,
that took place much, much later, but then again, I was never all that good
with dates.

The part where Ryouga sounds like Kuno (the 'monumental alabaster' bit)
was actually taken off one of Shakespeares' play (Othello, to be exact). I
just couldn't
resist.

How did you people like my language-barrier problem solution?

Historical accuracy is pretty good when describing the history of the
Souledge, yet I wouldn't bet a penny on the historical accuracy of whatever
else that might be  mentioned.

To offended readers: sorry about the Kuno monologue. It was just too funny
to leave out.

The "the-god-hephaestus-sent-me-on-a-holy-mission-to-destroy-souledge" plot
device is copied right off the SoulEdge game. Sorry, Namco.

About the weird part, where a guy starts chasing Shampoo and two SM (that's

Sado-Masochism; NOT to be confused with Sailor Moon!) Queens start
chasing him- that's from an anime show called Bakuretsu (Sorcerer)
Hunters. It's a really cool show, available only through fansubs only.
As with the Shakespeare bit, I couldn't resist.

Some may notice I have Shampoo saying lots of japanese words and phrases
(Iye, Yatta, Yosh, Art
of Pillow).  Gomen.

The reason why this took somewhat longer than expected was because we got
extremely involved in something else (Chapter 5, as a matter of fact).

PLEASE WRITE TO US TELLING US YOUR IMPRESSIONS, IDEAS, GRIPES, FEEDBACK,
ETC. ETC. ETC.

"Ranma 1/2" and characters are property of Rumiko Takahashi.
"SoulEdge" and characters are property of Namco.
Everything else is a creation of our demented minds.
Please don't rip us off, and please don't sue us...

Luis Majluf <98lmajlu@amersol.edu.pe>
Jennifer Yi <98jen@amersol.edu.pe>
Homepage-->  

June, 1997 

    Source: geocities.com/timessquare/realm/4845

               ( geocities.com/timessquare/realm)                   ( geocities.com/timessquare)