Alternatives -- Chapter 10 Ranma 1/2 and all of its' characters are the property of Rumiko Takahashi and all of the companies who have licensed it. I don't own any of it. I do not have permission to use her characters or ideas. I am writing solely for pleasure. Don't sue. All comments, flames, MST's or other responses are welcome. Let me know what you think. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ The moon's silvery light filtered into the room, filling it with an almost pearly luminescence. As the dark shapes of clouds raced across the sky, its illumination waxed and waned in strength from the brightness of the full moon to the weak yellow glow given off by a lantern's wick after the light had been blown out. At times, had any cared to watch, the display resembled nothing less than a glimpse into the Faerie realm. The shadows sometimes danced like nymphs to the sounds of satyrs' piping, showed Titania transforming a man into a donkey, or most fearfully of all, raged to the mighty wrath of Oberon, King of Faeries. The otherworldly show continued until the setting of the moon, unnoticed by the three residing in it. Two of the room's occupants were completely unaware of the beautiful by- play of shadows and light within their room; they slept. One embraced her slumber as one would a lover, letting the exhaustion of the previous two days flow from her. The other dozed fitfully, her conscience still worrying whether she had abandoned her friend. The third quietly sat on a bedroll, sometimes staring at the first sleeper as if afraid that she would disappear, and at other times her gaze would lose focus while she wandered, lost in her thoughts. From her vantage, she watched over everything within the room: the two twin beds sitting parallel to and abutting the east facing window, the matching wooden wardrobes placed across from the beds, the vanity and mirror with two seats and the doorway into the hall on the north of the room. The floor, which she knew to be wooden, seemed more like black marble as the moonlight played across it. Similarly, the walls, a pastel green during the day, flashed between black, sepia and pewter. Her pack, a shapeless mound rising darkly from the obsidian floor, sat in the corner opposite her. The window was open and the curtains swayed gently in the night wind. Smelling the sweet scent of the day's rain on the breeze, she rose, carefully and quietly shutting the window. Standing between the two sleepers, she studied the first, marking all of her features. Ranko lay sleeping on her back, her left arm wrapped around her head, while her right fell by her side. Her normally crimson locks framed her face in a velvety black halo, with occasional stray moonbeams highlighting it with a starry twinkling. Her mouth, open to the world, made her cute face even more impish. The bed sheets covered her up to her armpits, yet even so, the watcher, or guard as she thought of herself, could easily identify the impression the sleeper's breasts, small waist, and full hips made underneath. Returning to her guard position, she spared Ukyo, the other sleeper, a quick glance to verify that she too was safe and snugly asleep. As she lowered herself into her post, Ryouga began recounting the previous day's events. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Cologne surveyed her guests. On her left sat Nodoka Saotome, a woman she was proud to have adopted into the tribe as her own daughter. Shima and Kodachi occupied the next two seats. Shima seemed intent on eating as much as he could. He must be trying to regain his strength faster she mused. Kodachi demurely ate, occasionally offering the pig-tailed boy beside her a particularly nice delicacy. Sitting ramrod straight next to his sister, Tatewaki tried to maintain his noble bearing while staring at Ranko with adoring, lust-filled eyes. The eldest Tendo daughter sat nervously between the kendoist and Ryouga Hibiki. With a slight frown, Cologne let her gaze pause on the pretty young woman. Afraid that Kasumi was retreating ever deeper into her safe shell of denial, she decided that she must do something for her. Resuming her review, she skipped the empty spot where Genma had been. At the foot of the table, Soun ate his food, looking ill at ease without a newspaper to hide behind. Her eyes now roving back up the table towards herself, Cologne spotted Nabiki also mentally reviewing everyone at the table. With an acknowledging tip of her head, she continued on. She spied Ranma and Akane eating and casting loving looks at each other. With a brother on either side, Ranko slowly ate while she seethed in fury at her father's actions in telling Happosai of her mother's letter to the guide. Luan Ma sat on his sister's left watching her with worry on his face, while Shampoo shamelessly held him in a tight embrace. Which brought her back to herself. Deciding that it was time to get the day started, she said, "There is much to be done today. Please, eat quickly so we can get started. Ranma, you need to go to Jusenkyo and be split one final time." Cologne paused with obvious sympathy for him written on her face. Her features hardening, she spoke again, "Ranko, I will begin your training for your upcoming challenge with Myrrh. As a Musk warrior, he is almost equal to Herb in skill, his strength surpasses Ryouga's, and he is very adroit in defending against chi attacks. He cannot to be taken lightly and you must train hard to win. You must win for both your and Ryouga's sake." Paling a little at the thought of once again swimming in the agony of the Spring of Drowned Twins, Ranma shivered in involuntary revulsion, "I think I'm starting to hate this more than I'm scared of c-c-cats." "Don't worry, Ranma," Kasumi comfortingly said. "We'll be there for you. Won't we?" Akane gave Ranma a quick hug, as she murmured into this shoulder, "Don't be such a baby, Ranma. I'll always be there for you." "I, too, shall be there, my son," Nodoka proudly said. With a glance towards Ranko, Ukyo hesitated, seeking approval on her friend's face. Seeing it, she smiled and said, "Of course, I'll be there for my Ranchan!" Nabiki, Soun, Shampoo, Kuno, and Kodachi, all had politely waited upon Ukyo's answer before nodding their assent. "I'd go too, Ranma. But I really don't want to see the Musk soldiers again," Ryouga said, squirming a little as he spoke. With a look towards Ranko, he asked Cologne, "If there's anything I can do, I'd like to help Ranko train." Luan Ma and Shima spoke last. With a look at each other, Luan Ma nodded towards the other and Shima, with just a trace of self-pity in his voice, said, "Sure, we'll be there for - our brother." Tatewaki, upon hearing Ryouga's words, whipped his head around to glower at the fanged boy. "Methinks it best that thou hast not hope of winning the heart of mine beautiful red-haired angel, base one," he growled in warning. "That mighty conflict hath been fought and victoriously won by the one man virtuous and humble enough to claim such a divine goddess, myself." "Kuno, you are so wrong." Ranko sighed as she resignedly put her head in her hands. A small glimmering of a battle aura began to glow around Ryouga. "How dare you claim her heart! Any idiot cold see she's not in love with you!" He angrily pushed back his chair, preparing to face Kuno's challenge with his fists. Nodoka said in a stage whisper just loud enough so that everyone could hear, "Isn't it exciting Ranko? You've been a woman only a day and already two men are fighting over you!" She beamed proudly at her attractive and soon to be feminine daughter. Ranko's only response was to put her head on the table and groan, "Why me?" "Hold," Cologne ordered from the head of the table. "Since I've adopted Nodoka as my daughter, Ranko, as my granddaughter is now an Amazon. If either of you two consider yourself worthy of her, you may challenge for her hand in marriage after her upcoming victory over Myrrh. If you should win, then by Amazon law, she would become your bride. If you lose, you must give up your claim." "Hey! Does that mean I'm Shampoo's uncle?" Luan Ma wondered with a smile. "Yes, but since you defeated her while still an outsider, you must still marry her," Cologne answered authoritatively. "Oh." Luan Ma squeaked out as Shampoo's embrace had tightened considerably at his question. "Ranko, Ryouga, are you ready to begin training for Myrrh?" "Yes!" ------------------------------------------------------------------------ The mid-morning sun shone dully through the gray and black rain clouds which loomed low over the training grounds. The field, full of women exercising and practicing, lay hard-packed and brown from the constant use the Amazons put it to. Staggered evenly around the edge of area, man-sized poles stood firmly placed into the ground. Rope wrapped the areas corresponding to where the head, chest and lower legs would be on an opponent. At each post, a warrior drilled working through her disciplines, while another watched carefully critiquing the other's efforts. Occasionally, the two would swap positions, allowing one to rest while the other worked on her skills. One quarter of the field was taken up with the ceremonial challenge log, which hung suspended on crude chains several meters above the ground. A line of fighters waited patiently in line for their turn to spar on the log. The rest of the field held women practicing against each other honing their skills in live combat. As the two women and one man entered the area, a ripple of disbelief tolled forth, stopping all action on the field. It had been years since Cologne had visited this field. Even whilst training Shampoo, she had disdained using these facilities by claiming that they were too crowded. Now returned from Japan, she was bringing an adopted woman and an outsider male to train on the sacred field. Slowly, and with curious looks towards the trio, activity resumed. Ignoring the other Amazons on the field, Cologne walked over to a neatly folded stack of armor and padding. She motioned for Ranko and Ryouga to come over next to her. As they got closer, she told them, "You will need to wear this for the next two weeks. The Musk fight dishonorably and you must protect yourself from their blows. In addition, Myrrh will be in full battle dress and you must be prepared." "I don't need no armor." Ranko dismissed the thought of armor with a wave. "It'd just slow me down. If he's in armor, I'll beat that jerk senseless before he can even move." Her eyes slotted in irritation but with some humor in her voice, Cologne asked, "What if he hits you here? Or here?" As she spoke, she lightly rapped Ranko's breasts with her cane. "Augh!" As the pain registered in her brain, Ranko instinctually protected her breasts with both arms. "Hmm, tell me how you'll beat him when you're cowering in pain?" she innocently queried her victim. "That hurt! What'd you do that for?" Ranko watched Cologne closely as she brought her arms down and into a ready position. "To try to put some sense into that head of yours, child." Cologne shook her head. "I barely hit you. Myrrh would hit you as hard as he could. Do you think you'd still be able to fight after receiving a real blow there?" "Yeah," Ranko replied with some bravado, failing miserably to impress either onlooker. "I'd still be able to fight." With as little grace as possible, she backed down and allowed, "Since you are trying to help me, I guess I can humor you." "Very good, granddaughter. Let me show you how to wear this protection." Cologne smiled as she picked up a very thickly woven white cotton vest. "You'll need to put this on first. This will protect you from getting pinched or bruised too badly in any one spot." As she put it on, Ranko grumbled, "Jeez, this thing's heavy!" "You'll think it as light as silk once you put this on," Cologne laughed as she motioned Ranko towards her next piece of armor. As Ranko looked at it, she decided that she wanted nothing to do with it. It looked like nothing so much as the emptied out shell of a deformed tortoise. In actuality, she was viewing a boiled leather chest-plate attached via adjustable leather straps to a matching back brace both shaped to fit a female form. "What am I supposed to do with this?" "Put it on, child. I will even help you this first time." Cologne moved forward and matched action to her words. Ryouga watched until they were finished. When Cologne stood back, he took a critical look at Ranko. She didn't look too hampered. The armor covered her torso down to her waistline with the vest falling to just below her bottom. From what he could see, it encumbered neither arm nor hip movements. It was functional, but the brown of the leather and the dirty white of the vest clashed with black trousers and lime Chinese top she wore. "Hit her as hard as you can in the chest, Ryouga." Cologne instructed Ryouga as he finished his review. "She needs to get used to the feel and weight of the armor." ------------------------------------------------------------------------ There was no wind within the valley. The pools of Jusenkyo reflected the rain-laden clouds as if they were silver-backed mirrors, instead of pools of magically cursed water. The bamboo poles reaching out from the various ponds broke the perfection of the reflections with their own bony shadows. The surrounding jungle waited quietly for the rain to begin as the Japanese tourists helped two teen-aged boys as they recuperated from their dunking. "I hate this place," Shima said to Luan Ma. Shima sat on the left of Luan Ma. He had on a black silk shirt that matched his black pants. His brother next to him was in the identical outfit, except his shirt was a light mauve. "Me too, bro," was the dispirited answer. They sat outside the pavilion set up beside the Spring of Drowned Twins. Ranma and their new brother Ranchan lay unconscious and were being tended to by their respective fiancees. Kasumi and Nodoka provided oversight to the care given as they had the previous two days. The others sat behind the pavilion, ready to help if called. Unknown to each other, they both watched Akane as she gently wiped Ranma's face with a cool rag. "Ya know, I knew coming here that I'd make some copies of myself but I always expected to be the one that got Akane. It sucks knowing that I'm one of the copies and he's going to marry her," Shima murmured. "I'm supposed to be Kodachi's boyfriend. ... At least ... I don't have to marry her." "Yeah, I love her, too," Luan Ma whispered, glancing over his shoulder back towards Shampoo. "It could be worse; we could be stuck as girls. Two days ago, you were holding Akane while I was Ranko. That sucked. I feel sorry for Ranko because Mom really likes the idea of having a daughter. Compared to Mom trying to make me into her little princess, being Shampoo's husband won't be too bad. At least, she can cook." "Now I know how Ryouga always felt." Shima tried to laugh deprecatingly, but the loss was too fresh and visible. "I swear if he ever does anything that hurts her..." "Me too, Shima, me too." When she had seen Luan Ma's look, the amazon decided to take the opportunity to be with Luan Ma. Her plan already in place, she rose and moved forward towards the two. Getting within speaking range, she said, "Airen, Shampoo make too, too good lunch for Luan Ma. You come eat now?" She motioned towards the edge of the forest where she had a picnic ready, "We go be by selves, yes?" Not wanting to take his eyes off of Akane, Luan Ma sighed in resignation and looked at the proffered picnic. With a defeated shrug of his shoulders, he gave a weak grin as he said, "Sure Shampoo, thanks." As he stood, she gave him a quick hug and excitedly led him by the arm to where the meal was waiting for them. Shima watched them for a few minutes before he was interrupted. "Shima-sama, why are you so sad? Is there anything I can do for you?" Kodachi demurely asked. Ignoring the first question, he decided it was time to face his responsibility and answered, "Yes, Kodachi, you can tell me about your life. I think if we're going to be friends, it'd be nice to know about each other." Surprised at his forwardness, Kodachi gave him a polite bow and smiled. "What is it that you want to know?" As she spoke, the rain, threatening since the night before, broke and a gentle drizzle began to fall. As light as it was, it was still enough to force all of those at Jusenkyo under cover, forestalling Kodachi's and Shima's time together. Everyone made it under the tarp except for Luan Ma and Shampoo, who were closer to the Guide's hut. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ "KiyaaAH!" With that yell, Ryouga's full-strength punch hit the center of Ranko's breastplate. Not having the weight and strength that she was accustomed to, Ranko lost her stance and fell tumbling backwards across the brown mud of the practice field. Rolling to a stop, Ranko slowly pulled herself out of the mud and looked at herself. She was completely coated with the brown ooze that the rain had made. Grimacing, she yelled at her opponent, "Ha, you've gotta do better than that! You hit like a g..." For once realizing what she was about to say and where, she quickly shifted to, "geisha!" With a joyous laugh, Ryouga said, "So what? I've got arms, legs and can still speak to you. I'm in the rain and I'm not a pig! Besides, even if I hit like a geisha, I put you on your muddy little butt!" "Can you tell me why you went head over heels just then Ranko?" Cologne asked of her newest pupil. "I wasn't ready for his strike," Ranko muttered. Hitting her on the head with her staff, Cologne chided, "That's not correct, try again." "Um, I didn't expect him to hit so hard?" she guessed. "No. The reason that you were knocked back is that you were defending against the hit like you would have if you were still a man," Cologne admonished her. "You are not as strong as you think you are. Imagine that instead of Ryouga hitting you, Taro, in his cursed form, stood in front of you." With a shake of her head in assent, Ranko formed a new defensive stance. This time she held her center of gravity lower and her legs spread a little wider to help take the force of the punch. "Is this better?" "Yes, child, it is. Ryouga hit her again." Cologne restarted the lesson at this point. When she hit Ranko this time, Ryouga felt the strike hit and Ranko bend with it. Pulling back her arm, she found Ranko standing, smiling at her. "Much better, Ranko. While you've fought as a woman many times in the past and won, you always knew that you could become a man and gain the strength of your male half," Cologne lectured her pupil. "Yeah, what about it?" Ranko sullenly asked, reminded again of her lost manhood. "In this fight, granddaughter, you shall have to rely solely on your skill and prowess as a woman. You cannot use the tactics that you would use as Ranma. You must rely on your speed and agility," Cologne continued on. "We will practice the rest of today on taking hits while in your armor. You will learn how much punishment you can take." Turning an appraising look on Ryouga, she ordered, "Ryouga, you need to adjust your style too. You have no idea how to fight as a woman and since Ranko needs a sparring partner, I will teach you. The first thing we need to do is to get you into some armor. Then the two of you can beat each other senseless." "Hah, there's no way that Ranko could ever knock me out," Ryouga boasted. "I don't need to. All I need to do is get behind ya!" Ranko taunted. "You'd get lost turning around and end up in Beijing!" "How dare you, Saotome!" she yelled at her opponent. She angrily stomped towards the laughing redhead when Cologne stopped her with a sharp rap of the cane onto her head. "Ow!" "Get your armor. We don't have time for this nonsense," Cologne said calmly. Rubbing her head, Ryouga bowed towards her new instructor and said, "Yes, Sensei." ------------------------------------------------------------------------ "Why you so sad, Luan Ma?" Shampoo asked her soon-to-be husband as they sat alone in the front room of the Guide's hut. It was a simple room with a couch and two straight-backed armchairs as the only furnishings within it. Shampoo and Luan Ma sat together on the couch. When they ran into the house, the Guide and his daughter, Plum, left the front of the house to their visitors. He felt it best to keep his distance from his young customer. "Do you really want to know, Shampoo?" He turned to look into her eyes as he awaited her answer. "Yes, it duty of wife to know what make husband unhappy and fix if can," she responded with loving concern in her voice. "Three days ago, I was Ranma Saotome and I planned on marrying Akane Tendo," he said the confusion evident in his voice. "Two days ago, I was Ranko Saotome, grieving over having lost my manhood and the woman I loved. I wanted to be the man in her life, and she was talking about being my friend." He paused long enough to shake his head, then he continued as he said, "Yesterday? I was born, named Luan Ma Saotome, and engaged to marry you. Do I still love Akane? Yes, I can't turn off my feelings for her, just like that. Do I love you? I-I can't say. Shampoo, you've been my companion on several occasions. You've been my friend and my enemy. The most I can say right now is that I like you." Luan Ma finished talking and gave her a small smile. When he told her that he didn't know if he loved her, Shampoo visibly flinched. "You no worry, Luan Ma. You forget Akane soon. I be good wife and Luan Ma will learn love Shampoo." Despite her bold words, she felt as if her heart had been ripped from her chest. The pain of his unintended rejection brought tears to her eyes, but she held them back by force of will. Ashamed at himself for hurting her, Luan Ma looked at the floor. In a voice full of regret and loss, he said, "I hope so. I don't want us to be the opposite of you and Mousse. You know what I mean?" "That not happen, we not same! Shampoo not even like Mousse!" she yelled in anger at his accusation. "Mousse only think he love Shampoo. He really no love me. I love Luan Ma as wife should! You see!" As she finished, she shook from the surge of emotions coursing through her. His attack cut her deeply. Mousse stalked her and considered her a prize to be won, she never had done that with her husband, had she? "Like I said, I hope so, Shampoo," Luan Ma whispered to her as he lifted his head. "I'm going to need a friend when everyone leaves." She was surprised to see tears on his face. Although still upset at his words, her love for him couldn't bear to see him this way. She moved over beside him and began to hug him, "It be okay, Luan Ma. You see. Shampoo will always be friend, wife and," she hesitated while giving him a light peck on the cheek. "maybe more when husband ready." Smiling at the blessing of friendship and more freely given to him, he hugged her back. "Thank you, Shampoo." They held each other quietly for a few minutes, each simply enjoying the sensation of being held. With a mischievous grin, he broke their silence by saying, "I guess I need to learn how to call you wife in Chinese, don't I?" With a little squeal, she answered him back with a quick squeeze. Shampoo knew that fighting his ideal of Akane would be difficult, but she was an Amazon and Amazons never give up. His heart would be hers and hers alone one day, she promised herself. "Tai Tai, Ranma. Wife in Chinese is Tai Tai," she said, looking up at him from where her head lay on his left shoulder. "Tai Tai... That's pretty easy to remember." He smiled at her and held her close, enjoying the amazon's embrace. He realized that the two of them were going to have a rough time ahead in the next few months. But as long as they remained friends, he felt that everything would eventually work out. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ The sun setting behind the mountains surrounding the valley of the Joketsuzoku village marked the end of Ranko and Ryouga's first day of training under Cologne. The three of them were the only ones who continued training when the rain started. When it had stopped late in the afternoon, a crowd of warriors and onlookers came back to the field. They did not come to continue their own practice; they came to watch the display of strength, endurance, and physical stamina put on by the two mud-covered young women. For the two stood exchanging blows, taunting the other on her percieved weakness the whole while. "I'll knock you out this time, Ranko!" Ryouga said as she spun to her left, trying to connect with her opponents head in a spin kick. Blocking the incoming blow on her bracers, Ranko slipped through Ryouga's defenses and hit her with an open-palm strike to her solar plexus. "That's funny, I thought I heard you say something. I must've been mistaken." Ryouga, already off balance, went flying through the air and crashed into a practice pole. As the pole splintered and fell over, Ryouga stood up and rubbed her chest. Looking across the thirty feet that now separated her from the smiling redhead, she laughed and said, "Heh, that tickled! You gotta do better than that! I think Kasumi could've hit me harder!" With no further preparation, she launched herself into the air towards her opponent. Ranko smiled and leapt forwards to meet Ryouga in mid-air. When they met, she tried to use her speed to hit Ryouga in the chest with several hundred hits. In a move that surprised both fighters, Ryouga blocked the punches and caught Ranko's arms within her own. As they both fell, she placed her feet on Ranko's chest plate and maneuvered so that her opponent would land back first onto the ground. Expecting to stun her, she relaxed upon impact allowing Ranko's legs to grab her about the abdomen throwing her off. Rolling with the force of the throw, Ryouga planted her feet as she stopped and stood facing the earth-colored young woman who stood rubbing her chest. "Heh, that was a pretty good one, Ryouga! When did you get that fast!" Ranko said with a pleased smile. Smiling at her own accomplishment, Ryouga replied, "I was wondering when you got so slow!" They both stood gathering their strength, waiting for the other to make the first move when an aged voice rang out, "Hold. That's enough training for one day children." Cologne smiled at the both of them as they relaxed from their stances. "So, I can get out of this straight jacket now, right?" Not waiting for the answer, Ranko began to unfasten the various clasps holding the chest-plate to her back-plate. Sighing just a little at Ranko's impertinence, Cologne gave her belated approval, "Yes, grand-daughter. You, also, Ryouga may take off your equipment." Ryouga started to remove her armor but found other, willing hands already at the task. Looking at the hands helping her, she saw that a young Amazon warrior was attached to them. The young warrior helping her wore her long, straight black hair in a waist-length braid. The bottom braid was made of steel and looked very heavy. As the young lady looked into Ryouga's eyes, she saw that her helper had turquoise green eyes that seemed to glow set as they were set in skin of alabaster white. Her assistant's small nose, large and full lips, and tiny chin set off a classically beautiful face. After Ryouga was freed from her armor, her aide handed her a jar of hot water. In perfect Japanese, her attendant said, "My name is Founda Xian (Foundation). I have brought you hot water so you can be in your strong, male form. Your name is Ryouga Hibiki, is that correct?" Using the proffered water, Ryouga stammered out, "H-Hai, I am Ryouga Hibiki. Thanks for the water." Trying to decipher the emotion he saw written upon Foundation's face, he became extremely nervous as the words greed and attraction floated to the top of his thoughts. "I will show you the way to the men's baths. Afterwards, I'll bring you back to Elder Cologne's house," she spoke in a pleasing voice, but was definitely telling him and any other listener that she was definitely in charge. "You are a very good, strong fighter. You impressed me." "Thank you. If you don't mind, why don't we go to the bath now? I really need to get this mud off of me." Ryouga decided to get through the evening as quickly as he could. Ranko watched Ryouga's predicament with amusement. She noticed that several of the women who had been watching them practice were now glowering at Foundation and also giving Ryouga appraising looks. "I think you've got a fan club, Ryouga! If I were you, I wouldn't get into any fights unless you want to get married!" Laughing, she threw her armor and padding to the ground and stretched. "It feels good to get out of that turtle shell." Intervening before anyone could challenge him, Cologne announced in Chinese to the assembled Amazons, "Sisters, this one is already engaged. The woman to whom he is affianced raises and trains sumo-wrestling boars. If you wish to challenge her for the rights to this man, you will have to defeat her champion, a boar big enough to feed the entire village for a week. I doubt that anyone not an elder would be able to do so." Having heard that, there was a very quiet sigh of remorse that ran through the crowd of on-lookers. Foundation, however, turned to Cologne and asked, "How did she become his fiancee, Honored Elder?" "He defeated her champion boar." Cologne shook her head at seeing the fire of challenge light within Foundation's eyes. Unable to understand what had been said about him, Ryouga stood waiting for Foundation to show him to the baths. Seeing Cologne shaking her head towards his helper, Ryouga's unease heightened even more as Foundation turned back towards him. Grabbing his arm, she said, "Come with me, I will take you to m-the bath." As he allowed himself to be led away, Ryouga took a better look at the woman pulling him along. She wore a loose fitting top and pants set colored a light lime green that accentuated her eyes. He would have imagined her to be a typical Japanese schoolgirl in her slouchy clothes, except for the twin swords strapped to her sides and the spiked metal wire peeking out of her braid. He compared her to Akari and found himself wanting to get back to Japan and his love. The uselessness of paying attention to his surroundings learned as a toddler, it surprised him that the men's communal bath was no more than a simple room in someone's household. "Er, Foundation? Are you sure that this is where the men of the village are supposed to wash?" "This is where you shall wash tonight, Ryouga. Let me help you get out of those muddy things." She started by taking off his shirt. He didn't understand why she had to keep her palm on his chest and stomach while she did so. He always just pulled it over his head! When he felt his pants loosened, he quickly grabbed them and stuttered, "T-that's okay, Foundation. I can take it from here." He took one hand from his pants and gently pushed her towards where he remembered the door to be. In fact, she found herself being pushed towards the tub. "I like a strong man who knows what he wants," she purred as she picked up on his cue and started disrobing. "Hurry up and we can wash each other." Unfortunately for Foundation, as soon as he saw her undressing, Ryouga's passed out from the stress as from his nose streamed a fountain of blood. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ "Cologne? Isn't the men's bath-house in the other direction?" Ranko asked as she watched Ryouga walking away with Foundation. "Yes. It is granddaughter. I believe that Akari will have a challenger for Ryouga's hand," Cologne sighed in answer. "Ryouga can handle himself. Let's get you to the women's bath so we can get you clean." Ranko's eyes got very round as she realized where Cologne wanted her to go. "I can't go to the women's showers! I-I..." "You are a woman now, Ranko. Neither hot nor cold water can change your form anymore. Trust me, nothing you see or show in there will be new to any of us," Cologne gently reminded her. Blushing a deep red, Ranko asked, "Is there a place I can wash by myself? I don't think I'm ready for that yet." "You will never be ready unless you face the truth. Come with me." While her words were hard, Cologne's tone and manner was as gentle as one would use with a baby. "Yes, you're right, grandmother," Ranko visibly stiffened to prepare for her initiation into the world of a women's locker room. They made their way from the training grounds and entered the bath. Ranko was surprised and gratified to see individual showers with curtains within. She wouldn't have to wash herself in front of everyone else. Still, she quickly washed and changed into the clean clothes set out for her. Leaving the bathhouse with Cologne, the two women walked quietly towards Cologne's home. Arriving there, they found most of the group that had marched to Jusenkyo already returned and waiting for them. Ukyo, Akane, Ranma and Ranchan were all in the bedroom being used as a recovery room. A very pale Ryouga came in a few minutes later, being led by a mischievously smiling Foundation. Seeing that everyone was there, Cologne said, "Thank you Foundation, you may go home now. I thank you for the help you gave Ryouga, but I'll see that he's taken care of now." Foundation bowed and left without a word. However, she allowed her left hand to wander up from Ryouga's right hand and across his chest as she turned and left. Ryouga blushed as everyone stopped and stared at Foundation's forward conduct. "Heh, Thanks for showing me the men's bath, Foundation." Rubbing his belly, he looked towards the dining room and asked, "I'm hungry. Is it time to eat yet?" "Yes, it is, Ryouga. It's been a long day. Please, everyone let's eat," Cologne smiled at Ryouga as she invited everyone to dinner. Everyone soon had filed in and were sitting where they had at breakfast. After an uneventful dinner, Nodoka politely asked Cologne, "Cologne, my children are all expert martial artists. From what I've been told, they defeated what amounted to a god. Why does Ranko need to go through the intensive training you started today just to defeat one man?" The innocent question caught and held everyone's attention. Cologne smiled a little as she answered, "I was trying to decide how to explain this to everyone, you've given me the an excellent opening. Thank you, daughter. As you are all aware, Myrrh is a Musk tribesman. What you don't know is his history and who he is in his tribal hierarchy. He is more than just an officer in the Musk army; he is the Lord High Chatelain, second only to Herb in power and prestige." Cologne paused to take a sip of water. As she did, she noticed that everyone's attention was riveted solely upon her. "If Herb had been unable to change back to male, Myrrh would have been regent until such time as Herb provided the dynasty with an heir old enough to rule." She looked at each of the people in the room before asking, "Have you ever wondered why Herb had so few retainers with him when he came to Japan?" She didn't wait to se if any had an answer, she simply said, "Myrrh had no interest in allowing Herb to successfully regain his manhood. In all likelihood, Herb would have been forced to become Myrrh's wife," Cologne allowed a look of revulsion to cross her face at the thought of being the wife of any member of that noxious tribe. "If you are wondering why Herb didn't jump into the Twins Spring, neither the Amazon nor the Jusendo tribe would have agreed to it." "It would have been in the Amazons interest for Herb to remain female. Either he would have been forced to become Myrrh's wife, or much more likely, he would have started a Civil War within his tribe significantly weakening it. But I digress, I was asked why Ranko needs to train so hard for a single opponent." "The Musk have been a people for as long as the Amazons have. Unlike us, they have always felt the need to be led by a king or emperor. We use a simple method of elected elders. There have only been two families that have sat upon Herb's throne. Herb's family and before that Myrrh's family. Myrrh's family ruled the Musk for one thousand years. His family only lost the throne when the Musk became weak and started augmenting their bloodlines with captured animals." Cologne's face showed her utter contempt for any band of people who would lower themselves to such base practices. "When they captured the dragon and threw it into the Spring of Drowned Girl, Myrrh's family sensibly turned down the opportunity to mate with it. Herb's ancestor took the dragon and she became the mother of the new Imperial line. Myrrh's ancestor's were deposed the very next generation. They lost because of the dragon children's abilities with chi. Since then, his family have focussed on learning ways to deflect or shield themselves from chi-based attacks. They found that oxen being land-based large animals were most naturally resistant to air-borne chi-attacks. They threw a bull into the Girl Spring to mate with. This gave them the ability they seeked; it is not a full immunity, but it is enough to drain most fighters before damage can be done. This one ability is why you must train so hard Ranko. Your most effective attacks are all chi- based and Myrrh is virtually proof against them. You must use your speed, stamina and agility against him. If you attempt to match strength for strength, you will quickly find yourself the concubine of a Musk lord." The listeners were all silent for a few moments before anyone spoke. Ranko asked Cologne, "Are there any attacks that he is vulnerable to?" "Yes, child. He is vulnerable to any attack that has a physical basis. The shrapnel from a Bakusai Tenketsu would hurt him, whereas the tornado formed from a Hiryu Shoten Ha wouldn't. Our training will concentrate on two things. You need to be toughened, so that you can withstand more punishment. You also need to be taught not to fight face-to-face, like you would as Ranma. If you do, you will lose." Ryouga leaned back out of the conversation as several more questions were asked and answered. He needed to think. What Ranko did for him by saving him from being raped was a debt that honor demanded be paid. He decided that his job, at least for the next two weeks, would be to be Ranko's sparring partner and self-proclaimed guardian. That would mean being a girl each night so that he could share a room with her. After being cursed to be a pig for a year, he knew that choosing to be a girl would be fun. As a girl, he could talk and defend himself. He picked up a glass of water and splashed his face with it, becoming female in the process. Luan Ma and Ranko noticed the voluntary transformation and asked, "Ryouga? Why did you turn yourself into a girl?" Ryouga smiled at them. "I need to get used to my curse. I've decided to stay female except when Cologne tells me to change when we're training or when I take a bath. It's not that bad and the faster I get used to it, the better off I'll be." Ranko smiled, thinking she knew the real reason, "And as a girl, you won't have Amazons hunting you down for challenges, right?" Ryouga smiled back in answer, letting her believe what she wanted. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Ryouga's eyes were very heavy as she leaned against the wall. The moon had almost set now and the shadows no longer danced along the walls of the room. If Ryouga had chanced to look behind herself on the wall, she would have seen the shadows of several figures clustered around her head. The figures seemed to be in deep discussion over something. One female shadow with a regal manner motioned with an arm to another shadow. This shadow opened the form of a bag from which sprinkled dark motes upon Ryouga's head. As the motes merged into Ryouga's own shadow, her head fell forward and she fell into a quiet, restful, and dreamless sleep. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Ja ne, Mike Allen http://home1.gte.net/allenmk Last, but not least, thanks to my pre-readers.