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.
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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.
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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!"
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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."
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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.
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"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."
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"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.
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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.
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"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 ShotenHa 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 sparing 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.
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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.
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Bye,
Mike Allenhttp://home1.gte.net/allenmk