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All original Ranma1/2 Characters and Backstory Copyright
Rumiko Takahashi, and are used without permission.

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Coutuva.


The Princess Bride - V1P5
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	She was tired.  More tired than she had been in as long as
she could remember, and it was just time for the evening meal.
	Her afternoon had been filled with a dizzying exploration
of the city, and she had seen, done, felt, sampled and examined
more than she could possibly remember.  Lin had also tried to tell
her the Japanese words for everything she had encountered, but she
found that there were simply too many to place.
	It was no wonder her forehead ached dully.
	However, she had also enjoyed the experience far more than
she would have thought possible.  Perhaps, it had been the challenge
of trying so many new things; perhaps it had been the fact that she
was feeling more comfortable in her new surroundings.  Perhaps it
was just the fact that she had spent the afternoon laughing and
giggling like a child, with a very good friend at her side.
	She could still feel the euphoria in her body and the glow
on her cheeks -- right along with the soreness of her jaw an
afternoon of laughter had caused.
	Knowing it would be a while before Lin completed their
dinner, which the girl had insisted on preparing, she reached down
into her bags and withdrew four balls of coloured twine she had
acquired on their sojourn, and set them before her.
	Drawing the leads from each, she began to braid herself a
lanyard, to replace the one that had adorned the hilt of her
long-lost sword.  The lack of one on her new weapon was
disconcerting, a condition she wished quickly remedied.  As well,
she hoped it would distract her from thoughts of the morning's
events, which had not been far from her mind all day.
	She had only managed a small amount before a presence
approaching interrupted her progress.  Knotting off temporarily,
she looked up to determine who had arrived, only to be surprised at
who it turned out to be.
	"Nihao, Liang Ju Yue," the black-haired girl greeted
cordially, bowing suitably.
	Yue couldn't stop herself from blinking.  The difference in
the girl's comportment was akin to night and day.
	"" she smiled back, dipping her
head.
	"" the girl asked, choosing her
words carefully.  Yue was impressed.
	"" she replied, gesturing
toward a chair adjacent.
	"" the girl smiled, again bowing.  As she
seated herself, Yue set aside her task, intrigued by her guest.  It
was apparent that the girl had invested considerable effort in
refining herself, which was something Yue could respect.
	""
she opened, gesturing toward the pile.
	"" the girl replied, folding her hands in
her lap -- in a very Kasumi-like manner.  "" she attempted, but apparently couldn't
find the word.
	Yue smiled at her.  Her face was too sore to try laughing
off the girl's difficulty politely, so she opted for diplomacy.
"" she supplied, holding up the
completed section.  "" she continued,
thinking that if she offered a topic, the girl might relax.
	"" the girl nodded, happily.  A
moment later, she drew a long breath, apparently building up to
something.  Yue looked back at her encouragingly, not wanting to
intimidate her by seeming impatient.  The girl glanced up briefly,
then her face seemed to calm slightly.  ""
she stated, sheepishly.  "" she stammered, wrinkling her nose at
her mangling of the language.
	"" Yue smiled back,
speaking slowly.  Her guest seemed to appreciate it, looking as
if she hung upon each word.
	"" the girl
stammered, then, likely without meaning to, looked back at her
searchingly.
	Yue couldn't stop herself from chuckling, but forced
herself to when she saw the mortified look on her guest's face.
"" she retracted, fighting to school her
features.  "Is not easy to do thing, yes?" she followed, flashing
Lin's famous grin.
	The girl immediately brightened, then chuckled herself.
"Iya...  It really isn't.  I've been trying for two days and
nights," she puffed, shaking her head.  "I'm sorry I'm still not
very good," she added, sheepishly.
	"You okay, Tendou-san.  No worry self.  Lin try teach me,
but still I long way have to go, too," she confessed, shrugging.
She was, however, pleased to note that the girl seemed much more
at ease, now that the conversation had shifted to her language.
	"You're doing a lot better than me.  I just can't seem to
make it work," the girl noted, frowning slightly.  "But I'll keep
trying.  I really want to learn it," she stated, her face
determined.
	"Why?  City other Chinese have?" she asked, wondering
genuinely.
	"Hai.  And I'd like to make you feel more comfortable
than I did this morning.  Oh; that reminds me; the reason I came
to see you is that my family has a training room.  I wanted to
invite you to come over and try it out," the girl responded,
looking back at her expectantly.
	Yue smiled.  That was definitely something she could
understand, and appreciate.  "Hai!  Would like too much.  You
fighter?"
	The girl smiled proudly.  "Hai.  I am a Martial Artist;
the only one in the family other than my Dad.  He taught me," she
indicated, which brought a certain soft smile to Yue's face.  She
was starting to like her new friend just a little more.
	"Father teach me, too.  Say girls no different boys; need
know.  When want me come?" she asked, actually looking forward to
the opportunity.
	"How about tomorrow morning?" the girl proposed, happily.
"About ten o'clock?"
	Yue shook her head.  "Not good.  Lin want show me town
more," she stated, frowning slightly.
	"That's okay.  You can come whenever you have the chance.
Just let me know," the girl replied, smiling.
	This time, Yue nodded.  "That good; sword I bring?"
	"Sure!  I'd love to watch you do your workout, and I'm
sure Kasumi would like to see you again," the girl stated, then
rose from her chair and bowed.  "Arigato...  And I'll see you as
soon as you can come," she smiled, then turned and headed out
the door.
	She smiled back as she watched the girl leave, shaking her
head slightly.  It was apparent that this Tendou Akane was trying
very hard to be nice, and in a way she considered it flattering.
However, she could not understand why, particularly in view of
how determined and serious the girl seemed.
	Sighing, she moved her twines back into place and resumed
her task, thinking that she would likely find out soon enough.





	Lin seemed shocked.  ""
the girl repeated, setting down her sticks.
        "" she smiled back, rolling her eyes.
	"" Lin noted, tapping her chin
thoughtfully.
	"" she explained, only to blink at the look Lin
was giving her.
	"" the girl abruptly quipped, snickering.
	"" she smirked back, flicking a
fish cake at the still-sniggering Amazon.  ""
	"" Lin
countered, still snickering.
	Yue narrowed her eyes.  ""
	Lin stopped laughing and smirked.  "" she shot back,
leaning across the table.
	For a long heartbeat, they simply glared at each
other -- until Lin broke out laughing, and Yue joined her.
	As they returned to their meals, neither of them noticed
that they were being observed from the kitchen, even though the
observer was being less than discreet.  In fact, he was leaning
on the prep counter and staring at them through the pass-through.
	More accurately, glaring at one in particular.  He had
liked her since they first met, but, given how things had gone so
far between them, he never figured he stood any kind of serious
chance.
	Now, however, his choice had been made for him, and it
jeopardized everything he had worked so hard for.  He knew that
it would mean she'd be exposed again; vulnerable.
	But only if things went according to plan.
	His eyes narrowed as he considered that, knowing that all
he had to do was remain aloof; disinterested; at least long enough
for Cologne's plans to fall apart.  Since she was an Elder, and
such things were her responsibility, he couldn't overtly cross
her.  But, if the girl gave up on her own, then everything would
return to normal eventually.
	At least that was what he kept telling himself.





	Yue gathered her twines and partially completed strands
together, now too tired to concentrate on the intricate work.  As
Lin was still away completing some task assigned her by the Elder,
she decided to submit to her body's insistent demands for sleep.
	Rubbing her eyes, she picked up her bags and started for
the passage to the stairs, already envisioning herself snuggled
in bed.  As she rounded the corner at the base of the stairs,
however, her eye caught a movement in the shadows of the yard,
visible through the open door nearby.
	Hanging the bag on the stair post, she stepped to the door
to determine what she had seen, only to gasp at the sight of Kuan
working on a collection of weapons.
	Licking her drying lips, she checked herself quickly and
started into the yard, not wanting to waste the chance.
	She saw Kuan look up from his work as she approached, then
immediately lower his gaze again.  After a heartbeat's
consideration, she decided that the act constituted being
'addressed', and then moved to a spot about a yard distant, there
to simply stand, hands enmeshed.
	"" she bowed politely, watching
his face intently -- and crossing her fingers inwardly.
	"" he responded, tightly.  Not what she had
hoped for, but at least he had spoken.  Drawing a breath softly,
she threw caution to the wind.
	"" she ventured, hoping that by
speaking to his interest, she could at least open a conversation.
	To her great relief, he turned and looked up at her.
"" he responded, delight
in his eyes and the edge noticeably absent from his voice.
	She had to smile -- for a number of reasons.  "" she followed pleasantly,
fighting the weakness in her knees.  "" she
added, tearing her gaze away from his face to glance at the array
of chains, axes, maces, grapples, shuriken et al displayed before
her.  ""
	Kuan actually smiled at her comments, then cast her a look
she couldn't be sure of.  Just as she was beginning to worry,
however, he smiled again.  "" he
offered, looking pleased at the chance.
	She felt like cheering out loud at the unexpected success
of her gamble, but instead only smiled brightly.  "" she nodded, happily.
	He smiled back -- she felt her heart race.
	"" he indicated, taking one of the weapons and
placing it within his voluminous sleeve.  As she watched in
fascination, it occurred to her how his arms -- and chest -- had
become so muscular.
	After a few more minutes, he had them all reset, and
stood smiling with his cuffs together.  "" he grinned,
apologetically.  "" he
continued, extending his arm smoothly, and in the same motion
launching a chain-tethered mace at a distant target.
	Her jaw dropped ungraciously as she watched the weapon
impact the target dead-center, even though the light was fast
dimming around them.  A barely-perceptible twitch of his arm
later, the chain retracted, once again to disappear into his
sleeve without a trace.
	"" she gasped, incredulously.
	Her reaction brought a proud smile to his face.  "" he bowed, seeming genuinely grateful.  ""
	Yue smiled enthusiastically.  "" she
responded, stepping closer to be clear of the firing line.
	Kuan, meanwhile, nodded and readied himself.  She could
see subtle shifts in his shoulders and arms, even though his
hands did not appear to move under his large cuffs.  A moment
later, he became a whirlwind of motion, launching, retracting and
re-launching what seemed like more weaponry than had been
contained in her Palace armoury.
	Each and every volley found its target, with a great
degree of accuracy and surprising power.  Yue watched in
appreciative awe, literally hypnotized as she watched his face,
and the almost unnoticeable changes it underwent as he
demonstrated his formidable craft.
	She felt her cheeks heat as she imagined the workings of
his sculptured chest and powerful arms, and moved her hands to
mesh behind her back.  She was finding it ever more difficult to
keep them from confirming what her mind was seeing.
	Finally, he retracted them all for the final time, then
moved his cuffs together and smiled, despite breathing slightly
more heavily from the effort.  His smile widened as he looked
back toward her, which in turn sent a pleasant shiver down her
back.
	Suddenly, she was glad the dusk was fading.
	""
she commented, bowing slightly to him.  She immediately noticed
the manner of his response, as it did not seem to fit with what
she had just witnessed.
	"" he stated, lowering his head.  "" he added, keeping his gaze
lowered.
	"" she blurted out,
then immediately covered her mouth in horror.  She hadn't wanted
to speak her thoughts, but she could not help herself.  It hurt
her to hear him belittle his obvious skill with such conviction,
while she was fully convinced it was a lie; both to her and to
himself.
	He raised his head in shock, only to meet her widened
eyes with his own.  A long, heavy heartbeat passed as he glared at
her, then he abruptly puffed resignedly.
	"" he suddenly asked, stunning
her so much she very nearly swooned.
	"" she responded, upon finally
gathering her wits.
	He smiled back at her gratefully, then gestured for her to
join him.  To her increasing bewilderment, he said nothing further
until they had walked down the darkening streets for several
minutes, then drew a long, tired sigh.
	"" he opened, his face downcast but oddly
relieved.  "