(Scene:  Scott's apartment, which has been decorated for 
Christmas.  Scott and Mousse are seated at the low table, drinking hot 
chocolate.)

Mousse:  You know what your problem is, Jamison?

Scott:  Um, no, what?

Mousse:  You've bought into the myth.

Scott:  Which myth?

Mousse:  "`No' means `no'."  Your Western society has brainwashed you 
into believing that rubbish, so when a woman turns you down, you just go 
away and stop bothering her. 

Scott:  Well, of course.  If a woman doesn't want me, why should I make 
her hate me?

Mousse:  (smacks himself in the forehead)  That's just what I'm talking 
about!  Look, the only way you're ever going to get a woman is to just 
pick one and go after her, no matter what.  When she says "no", what she 
really means is "try harder".  

Scott:  And if she hits me with her bonbori, or slaps a restraining order 
on me?

Mousse:  That means she's weakening!

Scott:  In America, we call that "stalking", and it's illegal.

Mousse:  Nonsense!  I've seen your movies, and persistence worked for 
Dustin Hoffman in "The Graduate", didn't it?

Scott:  Well...

	(He's saved by the door opening.  Ranma, Akane and Shampoo enter, 
all wearing heavy winter clothing.)

Shampoo:  Shampoo love bright lights!  Holidazzle parade real pretty.

Mousse:  Darling Shampoo!  

	(He rushes towards her, and she casually clotheslines him.)

Shampoo:  Stupid Mousse.  You just lucky it season of forgiveness, so 
Shampoo treat you nice.

Mousse:  *gurk*

Akane:  Say, Scott, isn't it time for a chapter of "Twilight Existence"?

Scott:  Um...yes...

Ranma:  Actually, you're a few weeks overdue. 

Scott:  Okay, why don't you fill Mousse and Shampoo in on the plot.

Ranma:  Okay, this story takes place in an alternate universe where the 
Jyuusenkyo springs affect the mind as well as the body, so my female form 
has a separate personality who calls herself Ranko.

Shampoo:  Brrr...Shampoo not like thought of being cat that way.

Akane:  Despite this, Ranma and I are still engaged.  Ranko isn't 
entirely sure how she feels about this.  She seems to be falling for 
Shinnosuke.

Mousse:  *caff*  The one who has the memory problems?

Ranma:  Nah, this one is Ryouga's cursed form.  As far as we can tell, he 
fell into the Spring of Drowned Boy.

Akane:  Shampoo came to town looking for a husband--

Shampoo:  Yay!  Shampoo finally get Ranma!

Akane:  Nope.  Shampoo get *Ryouga*.  But she doesn't want him...

Ranma:  And on with the show!

				TWILIGHT EXISTENCE
				By Scott K. Jamison
				  Chapter Twelve

	The next day dawned foggy, but the mist soon burned off in the 
summer heat.  I was still a bit stiff and sore from the previous day's 
fight, and was grateful that Ranma and I share a habit of healing 
quickly. 
	The festivities were to be a bit different today.  Instead of the 
fighters having to defeat Shampoo, they'd have to take on Ryouga for the 
privilege of being the Amazon's groom.
	Shampoo wasn't idle, however, warming up in the backyard.  She 
nodded to me as I went to clean the dojo.  Her stance was very ferocious, 
and her bonbori nearly ripped the air as she went through the katas.
	Mousse was standing on the dojo's porch, his glasses over his 
eyes, watching Shampoo.  I could see a longing there.  Could it be, he 
was in love with her?
	"She's very good," I said.
	"Yes.  The finest warrior of our village.  And the most 
beautiful."  He sighed.
	"You like Shampoo a lot, don't you?"
	"Yes.  Her name is my first breath in the morning, and her face 
my last sight at night."  Mousse tore his gaze from Shampoo and looked at 
me. 
	"Have you told her?"
	"All too often, since we were children.  And every time, she hits 
me.  She has always wanted a strong husband, and I wasn't him.  Now, 
perhaps, she will have this Ryouga, who is nothing if not strong."  His 
face darkened with anger.
	"Will you challenge Ryouga?" I asked.
	"Why?  I am a member of the tribe, and cannot win Shampoo in 
combat.  The most it would do is negate his engagement."
	"What if I told you Shampoo doesn't want to marry Ryouga?  She's 
doing this because her great-grandmother insisted."
	"And what of the man?  He freely chose to challenge Shampoo, 
knowing the consequences.  Thus, he desires the marriage."
	"No, he was goaded into the challenge.  Ryouga isn't good at 
thinking through the consequences of his actions.  A lot like Ranma."  I 
began to sweep.  "Why don't you ask Ryouga his intentions?  I don't think 
he quite understands what a matriarchy is."
	"I will do that, Ranko.  Thank you."  Mousse walked off towards 
the house.
	I had just finished sweeping when Cologne and Shampoo came in, 
quickly followed by the two younger girls.
	"You finish now, challenge begin soon," declared Shampoo 
haughtily.  She was clearly into her role as "princess."
	I left the dojo and changed into some nicer clothes.  On my way 
back down the stairs, I saw Mousse coming through the house, looking 
grim and with his glasses on the top of his head.
	"Well, Mousse?"
	He turned and address the coatrack.  "The news is not good, Miss 
Saotome.  The fool Ryouga admits he is not keen on marriage or living in 
Joketsuzoku, but will not agree to cede his position.  And as I saw him 
fight yesterday, I know his skills are close to mine, if not superior."
 	"It's still worth a try, right?" I said, turning him towards me. 
	"If I defy the matriarch by challenging the groom, I must 
win...or suffer the consequences."  He shuddered.
	I thought carefully.  Finally, it came down to my selfish 
desire.  "Ryouga has a weakness..."

	This time, I was present for the challenges.  Father frowned at 
this, he would have preferred Ranma to be there, but it was my day, and I 
now had a personal stake.
	Shampoo stopped before me just before the event began, and said 
"Ranma fight well.  Lan Ko should be very proud."
	I nodded.
	Kunou was the first to challenge Ryouga, pushing his way to the 
head of the line.  I realized this was the first time I would see the 
upperclassman fight, since most of his battles were against Ranma, and 
I'd never gone to any of the kendo team's matches.
	"Bid me luck, fair Ranko, beautiful Akane, as I do battle to win 
the lovely Shampoo."
	"Um...Upperclassman, are you aware that if you win Shampoo, you 
have to marry her?"  Akane seemed almost concerned.
	"Your point being?"
	"You have to move back to her village and obey orders from women." 
	Kunou struck a pose.  "The Blue Thunder will not let mere 
obstacles stand in the way of his inevitable victory!  If necessary, I 
will find an exemption to the rulings of silly old women."
	This earned him a glare from Cologne, and rolled eyes from Akane. 
	Ryouga was escorted to the center of the training hall by 
Shampoo's father, who'd been detailed to keep an eye on the lost boy.  
Kunou met him there.
	Kunou spouted some very nice poetry which I forgot to write down, 
and Ryouga replied with "so's your old man", and the fight was on.
	Akane tells me that Kunou tends to hold back against female 
opponents, and it seemed to be true, since he lasted considerably longer 
against Ryouga than he had against Shampoo the previous day.  But soon 
his face was below the floorboards, and despite the upperclassman's 
protests that he wasn't done yet, Kunou was declared the loser.
	As the floorboards were repaired, I took the opportunity to talk 
to Ryouga.
	"How are you doing?"
	"Oh, fine.  This is a piece of cake.  Nobody here is even as good 
as Ranma, and I'm better than him."  Ryouga grinned with those cute fangs 
just showing.
	"I hope you'll be careful.  I've grown fond of--"
	"M-me?  Really?!"  He blushed.
	"Actually, I was going to say Shinnosuke.  How's he feel about 
going off to Joketsuzoku?"
	"Don't know.  Don't care.  He's just a parasite on my life 
anyway." 
	I nearly slapped him.  "Ryouga!  Shinnosuke is a part of you!  A 
good part!"
	"Well, jeez, you don't hafta get all upset--"
	"Time for the next challenger," annouced Mousse in a cold and 
formal voice.
	The line of challengers was much smaller today, Akane assured 
me.  Those who had challenged Shampoo as a lark were gone, leaving only 
the good fighters, or those that really wanted to marry an Amazon.
	None of them were a match for Ryouga.  I winced every time one of  
them fell, still not used to this level of violence.  Perhaps it would be 
better if I did not marry a martial artist.  Assuming I would ever be 
allowed to have a choice.
	After two hours, the line of challengers was exhausted.  Shampoo 
looked a little sad, then conferred with Cologne.  Rearranging herself on 
the ornate chair, Shampoo sat straight up and said something in Chinese.  
Mousse nodded.
	"If there are no more challengers, then Ryouga Hibiki is declared 
the final champion."  He paused for a moment; no one responded.  "There 
is one last challenger."
	Everyone except Mousse and me looked around to see who the 
challenger was.  When they looked back at Mousse, he'd stepped into the 
fighting area.
	Cologne nearly had a fit.  She said something in Chinese; I had a 
pretty good idea of what it was, and her tone of voice was chilling.
	Mousse replied, drawing himself to his full height, and dropping 
his glasses to his eyes.  
	Shampoo looked surprised, and confused.  She turned her head from 
her translator to her great-grandmother, then back.  Neither was breaking 
their glare.  The Amazon warrior finally broke the stalemate.
	"Mousse will fight Ryouga.  If Mousse win, Ryouga no groom.  If 
Mousse lose, he no longer..." she trailed off, apparently not sure of the 
Japanese for what she wanted to say.
	"If I lose, I will no longer be a whole man," Mousse finished for 
her. 
	Every man in the room winced, including Ryouga.  I think for 
the first time, the stakes were real to him.
	"Don't do it, man.  I can't go easy on you.  It ain't worth it." 
	"It is worth it to me, Hibiki.  For what I feel for Shampoo, it 
is an acceptable risk."  Mousse raised his hands in a salute, and Ryouga 
bowed.  They began.
	Mousse's style was Hidden Weapons.  There was an armory concealed 
within his robes, his hair and places I don't even want to think about.  
To this day, I still do not know how he managed to walk with that much 
weight on him, let alone fight.
	It was a truly impressive sight, but Ryouga was equally 
impressive.  Not only did he have his own weapons skills, but he could 
use many of the weapons Mousse was producing.  And he was strong enough 
to break the chains Mousse kept wrapping him in.
	Mousse was faster, and had a range advantage, but Ryouga was able 
to withstand a lot of damage, and did more with each punch or kick he 
landed.
	After nearly half an hour, they were still at it.  Both of them 
were bleeding, Mousse had been forced to replace his glasses twice, and 
Ryouga was limping pretty badly.
	"Time to finish this!" Ryouga roared as he used a claw hand to 
rip away Mousse's outer robes.  They fell to the ground with a metallic 
clatter.
	Mousse pulled something from behind his ear, but Ryouga brought 
his foot around even faster and smashed that arm.  Then he lifted Mousse 
up and was about to throw him--
	--when Mousse hit his own leg and a gush of water came out.  
Ryouga was drenched, as those who knew what that meant gasped.  
	Shinnosuke blinked and asked, "What th--" before Mousse 
coldcocked him.    
	Mousse fell at the same time, but got to his feet first.  "It 
would appear...I am the victor."  He began to sway.
	Shampoo jumped up and ran to him, as I and Akane went to see to 
Shinnosuke.  "Stupid Mousse!  Why for you do that?"
	"Why do you think, Princess?"
	She said something in Chinese, softly.  I hoped it was good 
news.   
	Shinnosuke came around as I applied a cold compress to his 
forehead.  "What happened?"
	"You didn't get married.  Now just lie back until Dr. Toufuu can 
get a look at you."
	He looked confused, then groaned.  The pain made him forget his 
curiousity. 
	Cologne thumped her staff against the floor twice.  "This 
exhibition is at an end!  Everyone go home!"  And everyone did who 
could.  

	It turned out poor Shinnosuke had never even known about the 
engagement to Shampoo, as Ryouga hadn't bothered to turn back and tell 
him.  He was fairly grateful about my helping him get out of it, though 
he did say he would have preferred a less painful method.
	The Amazons returned to their village, Shampoo and Cologne 
arguing rapidly in their native tongue.  Mousse turned to me.
	"Thank you for your assistance."
	"So, will you marry Shampoo now?"
	"I do not know.  It is, in the end, her decision.  But things do 
not look so bleak as once they did."  He saluted the doorpost, and ran to 
catch up with the others.

	Ryouga was less grateful.  "Why the hell did you tell Mousse 
that!?" 
	"Because I didn't want to see you or Shinnosuke go."
	"Shinnosuke?"  he spat.  "If I have my way, you'll never see him 
again.  And I'll never let him marry a treacherous woman like you!" 
	"Marry?"
	He gave a nasty grin.  "Oh, you didn't know?  He likes you a 
lot.  Too bad for him.  I'm going back to Jyuusenkyo and getting rid of 
that creep once and for all."
	"But Jyuusenkyo isn't the cure--"  I was alone in the room, and 
Ryouga was gone.  Perhaps forever, and with him went the man...I might 
love. 

			TO BE CONTINUED


Merry Christmas!
SKJAM!
"My heart shall sing of the day you bring.
Let the fires of your justice burn.
Wipe away all tears, for the dawn draws near,
and the world is about to turn."