Here's the revised Prolouge. Thank you for the commentary and please let me
know if this works better. I will be making a list of those of you who have
volunteered for beta reading, and will hopefully be sending out the revised
chapter one later this week. It's going to require a lot more revision than
this one. I apologize for the RTF format, but plain text strips out all the
italics and line breaks.
Disclaimer: Ranma 1/2 Characters property of Rumiko Takahashi. Sailormoon
Characters property of Takeuchi Naoko. Both are used without permission. I
did not write this for profit, but for practice. Will be removed at request
of original creators or authorized rep. Prologue: The Fall
Day broke over the bowl shaped valley, and turned the morning fog to gold.
Birds began their morning rituals of greeting the sun as the warmth began
dissipating the mists, revealing a landscape dotted with numerous pools.
Bamboo poles stood among the pools like silent sentinels over the strangely
still valley. No animals came to the water to drink; no birds flew down to
bathe, only the wind played over the pools. The wind, and a lone figure
thatdanced from pole to pole as she flowed through her katas.
Casually balancing on a pole as her twin Tai Chi swords flashed through a
complicated form, she effortlessly moved through the air to land on another
pole. She stood motionless in the final stance, a sculpture of leashed
energy frozen in time, radiating an aura of vibrant life even in her
stillness.
Zhu Shu had come to Jusenkyo a week earlier, hoping the training ground
wouldtest her skills, yet she had found none of the monsters, vengeful
spirits, or any of the hundred other dangers the storyteller had claimed
could be found there, only the silent pools and the wind. Even the small
guides' hut had been empty. She had set her small camp by a freshwater
spring on the cliffs overlooking the valley and explored the area, but had
found nothing to explain the training ground's evil reputation. The cliffs
her grandfather had trained her on were far more deadly than the bamboo
poles, and they had nothing as soft as water to land in after a fall.
So she had started her practice on the morning of her second day, finding
thequiet valley a perfect place to reflect on the quest she had embarked on.
She had found the solitude and the daily rituals calming after the last
year�s stresses. She carried out her exercises automatically as she allowed
her mind to drift into memory.
* * * * *
Zhu Shu was Mandarin Chinese, the sole heir to the ancient Clan Dragon's
traditions and school. She had been raised by her aunt and her grandfather,
her parents having died in one of the occasional fevers that sprung up in
thecold winters of their mountain village in Qinghai province. It wasn't
ZhuShu's fault her father had died young and her aunt had proven barren,
leaving her, a female, as the Clan's sole heir. Nor was it Zhu Shu's fault
that her husband, whoever that might be, would inherit her Clan's sole
remaining wealth, the inn she had grown up in, and the family's shrine, but
her aunt had seemed to treat her as if it were. No matter how hard Zhu Shu
tried to please her, nothing ever seemed good enough. It hadn't stopped her
from doing her best to excel, if anything, it had ingrained the need to do
her duties faultlessly deep into her. No matter how hard her training had
been, she'd striven to not only do well, but to exceed the standards her
aunthad set, desperately trying to earn the slightest bit of approval from
the stern and bitter woman.
Her ancestors had once served the Imperial family in every capacity from
cooks to chamberlain, and Zhu Shu had been trained from birth in all the
duties of an imperial servant. Her aunt had been a harsh taskmistress as
shetaught her niece all the arts of serving, but at last had admitted to her
father that Zhu Shu could serve the Emperor without bringing shame to the
family, however much she disapproved of her niece in other ways.
Zhu Shu could still feel the bitterness her aunt had felt at having to give
that approval and the sad look on her grandfather's face at his daughter's
behavior.
Zhu Shu's other failure had only confirmed her aunt's opinions.
Her grandfather had been kinder and far more accepting of Zhu Shu, if no
lessdemanding. Over her aunt's protests, he had accepted the fact that his
only heir would be female, and had given her all the training he would have
imparted to a grandson, teaching her the Art of the family�s techniques,
lestthey be lost for all time. As hard as she trained to learn the domestic
arts from her aunt, she strove even harder to please his exacting standards.
Because of her grandfather's care, Zhu Shu had spent her childhood fairly
happily, despite her aunt's resentment. She had learned her duties from her
aunt as she helped in the inn, practiced with her grandfather in the
evenings, fought occasionally with one of the twin girls from a neighboring
village, spent the occasional free afternoon listening to the wandering,
blind storyteller from the Amazon village, or just got into mischief with
herbest friend, Cherry Blossom.
In truth, the only bane of her existence during childhood had been Sung Li,
the son of the local magistrate. His father, Sung Po, was the sole
representative of the communist government in the region, and spent much of
his time away from the village, keeping the Communist government from prying
too much in the village�s affairs. Her grandfather had often praised Sung
Pofor keeping the communists from disrupting their province too badly, but
asa result, Sung Li had spent too much time fending for himself. He had
taken for granted that Zhu Shu would be his wife and treated her
accordingly. All Li could seem to see Zhu Shu as was an inferior, a woman
worth only his baser desires. As they had gotten older, his attitude had
only gotten worse. Despite her mothers dismissal of her complaints as
unbecoming, Zhu Shu found his attitude degrading and hated him. When
pubertygave Zhu Shu a figure more like an American model than a normal
Chinese girl, she had had to defend herself more than once from his too free
hands. Her only escape had been when she could get away from village with
Cherry Blossom to their private cave in the cliffs above town. Sung Li was
much too lazy to make the climb, and safe in their haven she and Cherry
Blossom spent hours talking.
Then, when Cherry Blossom had had to move, she had been numb, the happiness
in her life gone like a snuffed flame. In time, she had learned to hide it,
but Sung Li's continued attentions became even more of a torture. Only in
the Shrine was she safe.
But when she had found out her aunt had begun making arrangements to marry
her to Sung Li, Zhu Shu had been a little desperate. She had approached her
grandfather...
* * * * *
The small pagoda was ancient; the oldest building in the village, but few
people used it beyond Zhu Shu and her grandfather. Most of the village was
Buddhist and went to the temple on the slopes outside, but Zhu Shu had
followed the ancient family beliefs and the Shrine of the Dragon felt more
like home than the inn. Whenever she was here, she had always felt like her
family's guardian deity surrounded her and watched over her. She prayed he
was with her today.
She bowed to the carved doors before entering the shrine, her bare feet
making no noise on the intricately tiled floor. She stopped silently at the
edge of the Dragon Mandala that filled the center of the single room and
waited until the elderly man at the altar finished his meditations. He
looked up shortly and smiled.
"You are early for your lessons, Little Mouse."
Zhu Shu bowed. "I have come to ask a question, Revered Grandfather." She
hoped the butterflies in her stomach did not show.
Her grandfather raised an eyebrow. "So formal, Grand-daughter?" He folded
his hands into the sleeves of his robe. "It must be important indeed if you
feel the need to approach as a supplicant." He bowed at her. "I will hear
you, Grand-daughter."
Zhu Shu took a deep breath as she straightened. "I have heard my aunt
talking to the revered magistrate."
He nodded. "Go on, Little Mouse."
"Sung Li is unworthy of me." She said, head bowed.
"He is the son of the wealthiest man in the village. His bloodline is pure.
His father is honored at the thought of joining his house to Clan Dragon.
How is Sung Li unworthy?"
Zhu Shu took another breath to calm herself and hoped her grandfather would
be willing to listen. "He is lazy and lustful. He has treated me as if I
amalready his and has laid hands on me in familiar ways. I despise him."
"It is not necessary for you to love him to do your duty. What would you
have me do, Little Mouse? He is the only eligible boy in the village. Had
your father left you a brother, you would be free to follow your heart, but
you are the last Dragon. You must bear an heir."
Zhu Shu reddened in shame at her grandfather's implied disapproval, but
forced herself to go on. "I would quest for a husband who is worthy of me,
Grandfather."
Her grandfather looked at her for what seemed like an eternity. "You have
been listening to the Amazon storyteller again, haven't you?"
Zhu Shu bowed.
"Would you quest as they do? Seek a husband who can defeat you in battle?"
"I would."
"And would you insist that the man who defeats you marry you as they do?
Whether they wish to or not?"
"No, Grandfather."
"Then what would you desire, Little Mouse?"
"A husband who loves me."
Her grandfather strode across the Mandala to cup her chin in one strong hand
as he searched her jade green eyes for a long moment. Finally he closed his
eyes and in a barely audible whisper spoke. "So, it has finally come, as
shesaid it must." He turned away without explaining the remark.
"This quest may break your heart, beloved Little Mouse."
Zhu Shu said nothing.
He sighed heavily and looked at the scarlet and gold dragon that formed the
altar. "A suitor who can best you in combat would indeed be worthy of the
name Song, and a husband who loves you would treat you as the treasure you
are, Little Mouse..." The tone of resignation in his voice surprised her.
"Iwould see you happy, Grand-daughter. Perhaps it is true that only in this
way may it be found..."
He turned to her again. "Go. Fulfill your quest. I will pray that the
Dragon guides you to the happiness you will not find here..."
Zhu Shu bowed and turned to go, but as she was leaving, she caught a glimpse
of her grandfather before the shrine doors closed. The joy she felt at the
approval of her quest was tempered by that glimpse. Her grandfather had
always been the strongest man she had ever known, always full of life and
vitality despite his white hair. Age had never bowed his shoulders...
Yet for that brief instant, he had seemed... old and frail...
* * * * *
Her Aunt had been furious of course, but could not deny her with her
grandfather's permission. Sung Po had even wished her luck after he had
talked with her grandfather, to show he had no ill feelings.
Unfortunately his son had not been so gracious. Li had demanded her as his
due and her grandfather had told him calmly that if he could pass Zhu Shu�s
two tests, he was welcome to request her hand. He had swaggered confidently
into the challenge ring; sure no "girl" could possibly beat him, and wanting
to put Zhu Shu "in her place". But in a formal challenge, Zhu Shu had not
had to be polite and had returned the years of humiliation with interest.
After Zhu Shu showed him exactly how little chance he had of besting her, he
had left the village, swearing he would return to claim what was rightfully
his. Zhu Shu had considered it good riddance, and on the morning of her
sixteenth birthday, had set out on her quest.
That had been just over a year ago. Since then, she had traveled the length
and breadth of China. She had fought more opponents than she could
remember,and her skills had increased immensely, yet her quest was still a
failure. She was wiser in the ways of the world and had learned how little
the traditions she cherished meant to the more "civilized" population of the
cities, but had found no-one worthy of her hand. Many had sought to bed
her,and she had had to forcefully dissuade a couple, but love had been
elusive. Nor had all of her matches been purely in a formal challenge ring.
Some had sought not just her body, but her life, and she had learned to be
wary of revealing too much of herself outside of her own province...
It had been after another of her "suitors" had tried to be too forward that
she had begun wandering back towards Qinghai province. She had failed, and
as much as she hated it, she had been on her way home in disgrace, when the
white haired storyteller in a small village on the edge of the province had
told her of Jusenkyo...
* * * * *
Bringing her thoughts back to the present, she finished yet another form as
she contemplated what she should do. The thought of returning home a
failureburned deeply, but there was nowhere in China she had not searched.
Starting a new kata, she leapt to another pole, her hair streaming behind
heras she flowed through the air to land softly on a pole ten feet away, the
sole of her purple shoe making no more noise than the whisper of her swords
as she moved through the Opening Fan and into Summer Raindrops. Her short,
tight, sleeveless cheongsam clung to her like a second skin, leaving no
loosefolds of cloth to catch her arms or blades. The short skirt left her
legs free to propel her into a leap that, after a twist in midair, landed
heron yet another pole forty feet deeper into the grounds. The long ribbons
trailing from her sword hilts danced around her like living snakes, their
coils never touching or getting in the way as her swords flew through
Hummingbird Kisses the Rose.
A faint echo from the far end of the valley caught her attention. A voice.
After a week of solitude, someone else had entered the valley.
Curious as to who else would travel to such an out of the way training
ground, Zhu Shu moved towards the sound. Dancing from pole to pole, she
crossed the small valley. As she drew near, she heard a Chinese voice
speaking in Japanese little better than her own.
"And now we come to Legendary Training Ground of Accursed Springs..."
* * * * *
The speaker was a chubby Chinese guide in the standard issue Communist
uniform, leading two Japanese tourists in gis. The taller of the two was
rather heavyset, and was wearing a bandanna around his head. Strings around
his ears held a pair of round glasses in front of his eyes. His aura showed
him to be a strong martial artist; however, there were signs of moral
weakness as well.
The young man with him though...
Zhu Shu stopped on top of a pole to study him more closely. He moved
casually, yet with the assurance of a master martial artist. His aura was
equally as strong as the older man's, yet there was strength of character in
him that the elder lacked. It wasn't obvious, and his pride outshone it,
butit was there.
Intrigued, she watched as they dropped their packs and jumped to the pole
tops as easily as she could. Over the protests of the guide, they assumed
stances on poles not far from Zhu Shu, seemingly oblivious to her presence.
She hopped a pole closer as they challenged each other, then watched in
approval as they met in mid air and traded a volley of kicks and punches.
She barely heard the guide warn, "Is very bad you fall in pool!" as she
hopped to another pole for a better vantage. The older man went flying with
a splash into the pool at Zhu Shu's feet.
The young man landed on a nearby pole and they both watched as the water
settled. The young man called, "Hey Pops! We done already?"
At the edge of her consciousness, Zhu Shu heard the guide moaning. "Oh no!
You fall in Spring of Drowned Panda! Tragic legend, very tragic..." The
rest faded as to Zhu Shu's shock, a giant panda erupted from the pool
straight at the young man. Too stunned to move, she watched as it batted
theyoung man right at her. Stepping back, her foot found only air...
The boy's trailing foot caught her already off balance as he flew by to land
in a pool about fifteen feet away. She fell towards the clear surface of a
spring, and as the water closed over her, she heard the guide lament, "You
fall in Spring of Drowned Young Girl..."
The water was far colder than she expected and deeper than it had looked.
She experienced a strange surge of dizziness that made her lose her bearings
for a second, and then her head broke the surface. As she opened her eyes,
she saw the panda run by, being chased by a buxom redheaded girl, in turn
being chased by the guide. She blinked in confusion. They had the same
auras as the older man and the boy. They disappeared into a swirl of fog,
and as she turned to dive after her swords, she heard a yell and another
splash.
It took her nearly five minutes to find her swords among the rocks at the
pools bottom. As she came up for the final time, a low growl from behind
made her turn and freeze.
Two large feline eyes looked at her from over a pair of canines a good nine
inches long. She floated frozen for a few seconds until she realized that
the huge cat didn't look hungry, but wet and disgusted.
And if anything, she'd swear it was leering.
It looked her up and down, then shook its head and turned to pad off with a
sound suspiciously like a chuckle.
Stranger and stranger. Zhu Shu watched as the enormous catlike creature
disappeared into the fading morning mist before swimming to the edge of the
pool. She grimaced as she realized the knots securing the front of her
dresshad come undone and as she pulled herself up onto a rock, she pulled it
closed...
Or tried to... It didn't want to stretch enough to cover her bosom. Her
fingers found torn cloth where the knot-work had ripped free. She looked
down and froze as she caught sight of her hands.
She had three fingers and a thumb, with no sign she had ever had a fourth
finger. Then she noticed her raven black hair was now sun gold. Momentary
confusion gave way to the sudden memory of the guide's voice, "Now whoever
fall in pool take form of panda..."
In shock, she raised one of her swords and looked in the long narrow mirror.
Her normally oval face was now more heart shaped, and her normally jade
greeneyes were a luminous emerald with a more pronounced tilt. They
dominated her face and the slit pupils recalled the eyes of her guardian
deity. Ebon lashes swept out to frame those dragon eyes, and spun gold,
upswept eyebrows gave that face a nearly unearthly, exotic beauty that her
pointed, almost animalistic ears only accented. The pointed upper and lower
canines added to the wildness of her appearance. As she stood, she realized
she had gained nearly a foot in height and had filled out enormously. Her
expanded bust had ripped the ties free on her dress, and the skirt had
riddenup several inches.
Strangely, her shoes were only a little tight. Beyond the lost fingers and
that exotic face, she was still human looking. Remembering the panda, she
figured she was extremely lucky. She had no idea what she was, but at least
it wasn't completely an animal.
She took off the dress and wrung it out, then did the same for her
underwear;damp was better than soaked. She rigged a way to tie the dress
closed and redressed just as her ears caught the sounds of distant combat
from the cliffs above. She sprang towards a pole to investigate, and
narrowly missed falling into another pool as her altered size threw off her
reflexes. Opting for the safer course of running, she sprinted towards the
distant noise.
* * * * *
Several minutes later, she was on a ledge partway up the cliff when she
caught the sound of a lone hiker above her. The sounds of the panda and the
girl were fast approaching too, and as she was trying to find a way up, the
pair passed by and a large object came over the cliff towards her.
She dived to the side as the shadowy form plummeted past, realizing too late
it was another poor victim of the duo, a fairly nice looking boy with a huge
pack. She winced as he landed in a pool below her with a huge splash.
Zhu Shu hurried back down the path from the ledge, not trusting her jumping
ability. It took several minutes to get back down to the edge of the pool.
She was too late, the panda had already snagged the small black piglet that
had crawled out of the pool, half drowned. He skipped away with the piglet
as Zhu Shu drew up to the edge of the pool. She snagged the unfortunate
boy's pack with one of the ribbons on her swords and dragged the incredibly
heavy thing out of the pool. She left it at the water's edge and snapped
theribbon dry as she followed the panda's trail.
She arrived at the guide's hut just in time to see him holding the piglet
over a large cooking pot and called out to him, "Don't cook that pig!"
It was too late; even as the guide turned towards her, his eyes widening,
hishand had released the piglet and it was falling towards the boiling
water. Zhu Shu dived to rescue him from the scalding water, but as her hand
and the piglet hit the hot water, two things happened simultaneously...
Zhu Shu lost her balance as she suddenly lost a foot of height and about
thirty pounds; and a naked boy replaced the piglet... Zhu Shu couldn't stop
herself as she crashed into him and they both fell over the stove to the
floor, followed by the pot of water. The boy scrabbled wildly to avoid the
water and gallantly tried to push Zhu Shu out of the way as well, but his
hand met the already ripped ties and with a loud rip, the dress and Zhu Shu
parted ways...
She landed in a sprawl with a bruised rear, clad only in her panties. The
boy on the other side of the puddle of steaming water looked at the shredded
dress in his hand, then at Zhu Shu. A gout of blood poured from his nose as
his eyes rolled up into his head and he fainted.
For a few seconds, there was only stunned silence, then the guide spoke.
"Sosad. Now have no pig to cook nice for lunch..."
* * * * *
Zhu Shu fled the hut long enough to retrieve a new dress from her campsite
before returning, but found the pig boy had gone while she was gone. The
panda had obviously availed himself of the hot water as well, since the
olderman had replaced him. She noted he gave her an appraising look before
bowing, like he was checking her for visible weapons.
"Hello, young lady. I am Genma Saotome of the Saotome school of Anything
Goes martial arts, and..." he waved over at the table where a once again
maleteen sat eating ravenously from a big bowl of noodles, "this is my
son..."
"Ranma." He said around a mouthful of ramen.
Zhu Shu bowed and assayed her broken Japanese. "Song Zhu Shu, Song school
ofSword Dance." She noted the nod from the boy as well as his appraising
look. She glared up at the father. "Zhu Shu upset with panda man. Knock
inspring. Not look where throw son. Careless!" She put real venom in her
look.
"See Pops! You've ruined more than just my life!" Ranma chimed in.
"Um...err...well..." Genma grinned sheepishly. "I - I don't suppose a
simple apology would be enough?" he asked hopefully. Zhu Shu shook her
head. Genma eyed his son rather appraisingly, then asked, "Um... Do you
think we could discuss this... err� privately?" His eyes darted towards the
door.
Zhu Shu noted his look, and the fact that his aura was betraying a
duplicitous nature, but curiosity won and she nodded, wanting to see what he
planned.
She followed Genma outside to a stand of trees out of earshot of the hut and
asked him, "What you up to, panda man?"
"Well, as you can see, we are but poor wandering martial artists, and I
possess nothing with which to repay you for the unfortunate accident you
suffered, unless... May I ask you why you are in Jusenkyo?"
"Why?"
"Perhaps, if I know the nature of your quest, I can aid you in some manner
torepay my debt."
His aura showed he was stalling, but Zhu Shu answered anyway. "Zhu Shu seek
husband."
Genma's eyes lit up as he saw an apparent easy way out. "Then nothing could
be simpler. My son is nearly finished with his training and must soon seek
awife, a martial artist of equal skill. You appear to be such a godsend. I
offer you Ranma's hand in marriage."
His aura said he was sincere, but she could see it was only for the moment.
As soon as he could slip away, he would. He would only honor those
commitments he was forced to.
But, Zhu Shu recalled that buried streak of nobility in Ranma's aura.
And... his curse was... intriguing. How would he handle it?
It was better than returning home in shame. The consequences of that were
too horrific to contemplate.
"Zhu Shu tells you what do. Panda man visits training grounds, yes, no?"
"Yes."
"Zhu Shu travel with. See what kind of husband Ranma make. If like, will
betroth. If not..." In a lightning fast move, she pulled her swords from
behind her back and caught the surprised man against a tree, her crossed
blades just touching Genma's Adams apple. "Zhu Shu takes payment out of
panda man's backside..." She grinned at Genma's uneasy swallow.
* * * * *
Zhu Shu retrieved her small pack from her camp and returned to the guide's
hut to find the Saotomes sparring again. She watched them, and had to admit
Genma had trained Ranma well. His style was unorthodox, a blend of so many
schools that Zhu Shu could identify barely a dozen moves. She had sparred
with many masters of various schools in the last year, yet she was unsure
shecould beat Ranma in a challenge. His very unpredictability would give
himan edge. She had at best a fifty-fifty chance without calling on her
clan's secret techniques.
She was thoroughly annoyed at the loss of her best practice dress. It had
been the only one she had that could stand up to the contortions of her
dailykatas. The rest would survive a normal fight well enough, but she was
out of luck for practice. Early morning katas seemed her only option. She
found a good spot to continue watching the pair as she began to alter her
remaining dresses to accommodate a sudden dousing. As she sewed she studied
Ranma out of the corner of her eye, observing his various moves and style.
She was definitely intrigued. She smiled as she put the finishing touches
onher last dress and put it away, returning her gaze to the ongoing brawl
just as Ranma landed in the pond next to the guide's hut yet again.
Now seemed as good a time as any to begin feeling Ranma out.
The now female redhead emerged from the pool to find Zhu Shu standing in
front of him with wooden practice swords point downward in her hands. He
flung the long ponytail back over his shoulder. "Whadda you want?" he
grumped
"Zhu Shu is honored Ranma spar?"
He gave her an appraising look and shrugged halfheartedly "Yeah, I guess so.
Hey Pops! I'm gonna spar with Zhu Shu!"
The panda grunted and wandered back into the hut.
Zhu Shu stood by politely as Ranma stripped off his shirt and wrung out the
water, his rosy pink nipples erect from the cold pond. "You've been
watchingme. I saw you while Pops and I fought."
Zhu Shu nodded, a slight smile on her face.
"Studying my moves, right?"
"Yes."
"What ya think?" He asked, cocking a hand on one hip jauntily as he slung
the shirt over his shoulder.
Zhu Shu smiled. "Ranma very good. Unpredictable. Against opponent who
never fight before, Ranma probably win quick."
"You think you could beat me?" The challenge in the redhead's eyes was
unmistakable.
"Zhu Shu sees." She raised the twin swords. "Zhu Shu face many in last
year. No-one beat."
"I ain't just anyone," Ranma grinned. "And I never lose."
Zhu Shu tilted her head at the boy-turned-girl. "Zhu Shu sees." She gave
Ranma a warm smile.
Ranma put his shirt back on and assumed a stance. "Whenever you're ready."
* * * * *
They sparred most of the afternoon, Ranma learning quickly that Zhu Shu was
too fast not to take seriously, even though she had decided not to use any
ofher families secret techniques. He had proven too adept at adapting, and
until she had decided if he would be her husband, she didn�t wish to teach
him the arts of Clan Dragon. A few good hard smacks had gotten him over
trying to hold back, with out her having to resort to anything beyond purely
physical skills. By early evening, they had begun feeling each other out as
friends, deciding they actually liked each other.
He certainly liked her cooking.
They talked while Zhu Shu was cooking, and afterwards while doing dishes.
Genma had spilled the dish water on Ranma after that, and Zhu Shu had made
the panda clean up the mess, secretly enjoying the grin on the redhead's
face. It made her feel good to know Ranma had appreciated the support.
That night brought the first test of the budding friendship.
Around midnight, Zhu Shu woke to a scream. A quickly lit lantern revealed a
horrified Ranma standing in the middle of the hut staring at the trickle of
blood running down his legs. Zhu Shu shook her head, her heart going out to
the newly female Ranma. She'd been horrified her first time too...
The Panda grunted, holding up a sign that Zhu Shu couldn't read. She waved
him away. "You go sleep. Zhu Shu deals with. You no can help."
"What's wrong with me? Why am I bleeding?" a plaintive wail came from the
frightened redhead.
"Nothing wrong. Ranma be okay. Is female thing."
Genma grunted, then went back to his mat. The Guide turned beet red and
dovefor his bed as well.
Zhu Shu paid them no mind as she drew her small brazier out and blew the
coals back to life.
"How can I be ok?!! I'm bleeding to death!!!"
"Ranma be silly. Not bleed to death. Is only female cycle. Happen every
month." Zhu Shu said matter of factly.
"Every MONTH!!!!" Ranma whimpered, his eyes huge.
Zhu Shu nodded "Every month."
"You mean I'm going to bleed like a stuck pig every month?!!" He sounded on
the verge of hysteria.
Zhu Shu set a kettle on the brazier and looked at Ranma patronizingly.
"Ranma be okay. Zhu Shu knows. Zhu Shu have cycle too. Stop whining."
Ranma recoiled, but anger replaced the near panic in his eyes. "I am not
whining!"
"Are too. Cycle fact of life. Accept."
"I'm a guy!! I don't have to get used to it!!"
"Ranma is girl now. Must deal with fact of life."
"Only until that water's hot!"
Zhu Shu shook her head. "No. Water not for change. Ranma stay girl until
cycle done."
"Like hell, I will!!"
Zhu Shu put her hands on her hips and glared at the redhead. "Idiot. Many
waterfalls near. Much rain. Many ponds. Ranma cannot stay boy. Will
change many times. Cycle is there each time. Blood on clothes unless use
pad. Will use many pad. Zhu Shu not has many. Cannot waste or Zhu Shu
havenone for her cycle. Ranma stay female. Get over cycle. Use fewer pad.
Not waste!"
"But this is ridiculous! I'm bleeding everywhere, and I'm cramping!!!"
Zhu Shu rolled her eyes. "So? Zhu Shu does same every month. Ranma not
getsympathy. Stop whining."
"I'm not whining! I'm in pain!"
Zhu Shu folded her arms and nodded sagely. "Ah. Zhu Shu understands. Zhu
Shu stronger than Ranma. Zhu Shu not run from basic fact of life. Ranma
whine and give up." She loaded as much sarcasm into her voice as possible.
"I've never given up on anything in my life!" Ranma hissed.
"Ranma give up now."
"Like hell! If you can stand this, I can!"
Zhu Shu raised an eyebrow archly. "Ranma think can match Zhu Shu?"
"Damn right!!!"
"Zhu Shu sees." She said as she poured warm water on the towels she had
brought out. "For now, we clean Ranma and brew tea for cramps." At the
startled look from Ranma, she laughed. "Zhu Shu deal with fact of life, not
mean she like cramp."
Ranma couldn't help but laugh.
* * * * *
The next morning, Zhu Shu rose before the others and took out her bathing
supplies. Through half closed eyes, Ranma watched as she looked over her
dresses and sighed before grabbing one and heading out the door. After she
had left, Ranma opened his eyes fully and sighed as well.
Zhu Shu made him feel so strange. The Chinese girl was an absolute enigma.
She was demure, but at the same time possessed an aura of complete
confidence. She'd cleaned the hut and cooked dinner last night with
competent ease, radiating an aura of contentment and tranquility, but when
she'd made his dad clean up the mess he'd made after she had neatened up,
she'd displayed a mettle that had commanded his father's swift obedience.
Then there was their sparring match. Zhu Shu had treated him as neither a
competitor nor an incompetent like his dad did. She had simply shown him he
actually had to take her style seriously, or take hits. He had enjoyed the
challenge, since it was forcing him to push his speed, and he found he was
enjoying the way Zhu Shu treated him.
She'd simply accepted Ranma as he was. Like Ukyo always had.
Zhu Shu had nothing else in common with Ukyo, the boy Ranma had been a
friendwith when he was six, but she treated him like Ukyo had. Like... A
friend.
Zhu Shu hadn't put on any airs or condescended to him or belittled him,
she'djust been herself and let Ranma be himself...
Or herself as the case may be at the moment...
He sighed as he sat up, only mild twinges from his stomach and the heavy
odorof blood reminding him of why he was still a girl. He was embarrassed
about last night. He'd been convinced at first that he had irreparably
damaged himself experimenting, but Zhu Shu had been the calm rock in the
storm he had needed.
And he had yelled at her.
Another sigh escaped his lips. He really owed Zhu Shu an apology.
He stood to follow the Chinese girl and slipped out of the hut noiselessly.
He followed the path around the hut to the small pool with the waterfall,
then stopped to stare at the vision in the mists before him...
Zhu Shu was standing on one foot on a rock beside the pond and Ranma drank
inthe sight of her... Zhu Shu extended one leg and Ranma's' eyes followed
the long graceful arc of her calf up to her thigh and from there to the
jointof her legs, then up the soft flatness of her stomach. From the swell
of her breasts to the arch of her supporting foot, she was all smooth curves
and shapely muscle. Ranma had never seen anyone so exquisitely and
completely feminine.
She watched as Zhu Shu completed her warm up katas, and then reached behind
her back to draw forth her swords. Ranma's eyes widened... Zhu Shu was
justas nude from the rear; she'd confirmed that just seconds ago... then the
question of where Zhu Shu had hidden the swords faded from her mind as she
flowed into her sword forms.
Ranma had speed. He had skill. And until now, he had thought he had
grace... but for all the styles he knew, he had to admit he could not match
Zhu Shu's elegance of motion. Almost, he could hear music as he watched her
dance through the katas of the Song school, and he could not find any better
term for how Zhu Shu moved.
Strange emotions warred within him, causing unnatural hormones to flow as
hisfemale body began to feel flushed with warmth and unfamiliar pressures
began to build. He felt strange as the sight of Zhu Shu made him wish that
he could possess that same aura of desirability.
Ranma's breath caught when he realized what he'd just thought. Wanting to
bedesirable?!! What kind of thing was that to be thinking? Everyone would
laugh at him and his father would hold him up to ridicule in shame of a son
who had such thoughts! He had to get rid of this curse! He had to find a
way to be a male full-time again! Before this female body drove him mad!
Zhu Shu apparently knew he was there though. Ranma watched as Zhu Shu put
away her swords with a flourish, then turned to look at him standing there
limply like a fool... But the sparkles in her eyes made Ranma realize she
wasn't angry or embarrassed.
"Ah. Ranma. Come join Zhu Shu in bath. Zhu Shu smell blood from here.
Come! You wash her back, she wash yours." she said with a laugh.
Ranma stood there in shock as Zhu Shu gracefully did a back flip to dive
withbarely a splash into the pool. Then his jaw dropped further as a pale
blonde head broke the surface and green dragon eyes sought his. "Come!
Come! Zhu Shu cannot wash back by self!" the vision sang in a musical voice
that rang in his ears.
Ranma shook himself as he thought Ahwhathahell; we're both girls anyway.
It's not like the water will reveal my real body anyway. What's the big
deal? She doesn't have anything as a girl that I don't have, right?
Slowly,he approached the pool with its wet dream. His Dad had told him Zhu
Shu had been cursed, but...
"I had no idea you'd look like that in your cursed form." he finished aloud.
Zhu Shu shrugged. "No big deal. Annoying. Zhu Shu has enough men try use
her already. Only make worse."
"Use you?"
Zhu Shu gave Ranma a long look as the redhead slipped off his loose top and
shorts before gingerly removing the panties Zhu Shu given him. Ranma was
relieved to see only a little fresh blood. As he slipped into the water,
ZhuShu finally answered.
"Ranma will find pretty is not always good. Many men find Zhu Shu pretty.
Want to posses her. Think in love only because she pretty. Try to make Zhu
Shu into pet. Now she is more pretty. Make problem worse. Ranma girl now.
Will find out."
Ranma blushed "Umm..."
Zhu Shu smiled "Zhu Shu not worry about Ranma. Is friend. Zhu Shu safe.
Yes, no?" She smiled warmly, showing too-long canines.
Ranma blushed harder "I-I wanted to apologize for yelling at you last
night..."
Zhu Shu laughed. "No worry. First day hormone very bad." She held out a
washcloth and a bar of soap. "Now, is Ranma ready for female lesson?"
"Lesson?"
Zhu Shu nodded emphatically. "Lesson. Ranma have female body now. Have
much to learn about. Must take care of."
Ranma stared at her "How can you be so calm and matter of fact about this?"
He shook her head. "I mean, this must be the worst thing to ever happen to
either of us and you just shrug it off."
"Zhu Shu no can change curse. Ranma no can change curse. Could be worse."
"How? I'm a boy who turns into a girl! How could it be worse?!!"
Zhu Shu shrugged as she began soaping up her arms. "Easy. Could be pig."
Ranma started to say something, then stopped. He shook her head and
laughed. "You're right. It could be worse. Very well Zhu-Sensei. Teach
me."
* * * * *
An hour later, after Zhu Shu had finished her lesson, Ranma realized there
was a lot about females he had been ignorant of. He was glad Zhu Shu had
been willing to teach him, and that she had been so patient, and hadn't
laughed, or made him feel dumb. She'd been completely straightforward and
honest with all her answers. Ranma had blushed till his ears burned asking
some of his questions, but Zhu Shu had never betrayed a trace of
embarrassment, nor had she balked answering any of them... She'd been such
agood teacher that it wasn't until Ranma was watching her dry off that he'd
realized that he had not even thought of Zhu Shu as sexy the entire lesson.
It surprised him. He had just seen Zhu Shu in more intimate detail than
mosthusbands saw their wives and it hadn't even occurred to him how weird it
all was.
He'd just spent an hour with a stunningly beautiful girl and had just
accepted it as natural! He had to get out of this female body before it
drove him crazy!
He dressed hurriedly and went around to the front of the hut just as Genma
was coming out.
"Ah. There you are son. Prepare yourself! I won't go easy on you just
because you're a girl!!!"
* * * * *
Normally, it took two days to travel to the Amazon village, which was just
over a day's travel from Zhu Shu's' home, but the Saotomes sparred so much
and meandered so much that the journey looked like it would take closer to a
week. Zhu Shu really didn't mind as it was giving her the opportunity to
spend time with Ranma and get to know him better.
It had been three days since they had left the guides hut, and Ranma's
periodhad been blessedly brief. He had stopped bleeding on the second day
and the poor boy had been overjoyed to return to being male.
At least until the brief shower near morning.
Ranma had gone out looking for breakfast as Zhu Shu was doing her katas and
while he had returned male, he hadn't said much about where he'd found hot
water. Genma hadn't even bothered to ask, just started in with "Training",
but Ranma had been giving Zhu Shu furtive glances since then.
It was dinner time before they really had a chance to talk though. Ranma
casually volunteered to help Zhu Shu clean the dishes at the small stream a
little ways from their camp. Zhu Shu raised an eyebrow, but nodded when
Genma just grunted as he lay down to sleep.
At the edge of the stream, Ranma looked over at the forms of the two men by
the fire to make sure they weren't close enough to hear before sighing in
relief.
"What Ranma want?" Zhu Shu asked. "Been looking Zhu Shu all day."
Ranma sat down on a log. "Do you know anything about Chinese magic?"
Zhu Shu perched beside him. "Zhu Shu know herbs. Some magical. Zhu Shu
notknow much." She gave him a raised eyebrow. "Ranma need spell?"
Ranma sighed. "Maybe. I don't know. I was hungry this morning and found
aninn. The innkeeper was making porridge and it smelled so good..."
"What Ranma do?"
"I was hungry!" He said defensively. "I didn't know it was some screwy
spell!"
Zhu Shu nodded sagely. "Ranma want know if can undo."
Ranma grinned ruefully. "Yeah... I mean you're Chinese and all."
Zhu Shu rubbed her temples. "Zhu Shu Mandarin. Not mean Zhu Shu know all.
What spell?"
Ranma undid his ponytail for a few seconds, and in the time it took for him
to retie it, it had grown six inches. "It's a hair spell, and the only way
to stop my hair from growing until it's all gone is if I keep it tied with a
Dragons Hair." He held up a long strand of thick hair. "Do you think you
can fix it?" He asked hopefully.
Zhu Shu took the strand and looked at it dubiously, then at the desperate
hope in Ranma's eyes. "Zhu Shu not know. Not know the ingredients of
spell."
Ranma handed her a piece of parchment. She looked the ancient slip of paper
over and sighed. "Zhu Shu try. Not make promise." She took out her small
brazier and blew the coals to life, setting a small kettle on it to warm.
Then she pulled out her herb kit as she scanned the parchment over
carefully. Ranma watched her as her hands rifled through the kit and pulled
out various items to toss into the kettle.
"Don't you need to look for which herbs you're grabbing?" He queried.
Zhu Shu shook her head. "No. Aunt make sure Zhu Shu can do blindfolded."
Ranma nodded as Zhu Shu finished with the small kettle. "Is that the cure?"
Zhu Shu looked down at the pot. "Not know. Zhu Shu only know few herbal
charms. Healing, love, luck. This charm of reversal. Maybe fix Dragon
Hairspell." She handed him the kettle.
Ranma looked down at the mix. "I have to drink this?"
Zhu Shu nodded. "Dragon Hair was in porridge. Charm is same."
Ranma lifted the pot and gulped the potion down. He wiped his lips. "Hey,
that was pretty good! How long does it take to work?"
Zhu Shu reached up and tugged the hair holding his pony tail loose. Ranma
held his breath.
His hair just laid there.
"Yes!" He exclaimed softly as he jumped up "I'm cured!"
He didn't see the branch he stepped on that tipped up and dumped him in the
stream. He stood spluttering in the cold water. "Damn it!"
Zhu Shu handed him the hair. "Zhu Shu sorry." She said apologetically.
"Seem only fix part of spell."
Ranma looked down to see a long mass of red hair, growing longer by the
second. He quickly wrapped his hair into a pony tail and tied it off.
"It'snot supposed to grow when I'm a girl!"
They looked at each other. "Reversal," they said simultaneously.
Zhu Shu gave Ranma a downcast look. "Zhu Shu is sorry."
Ranma trudged out of the stream dragging the sodden mass of his soaked hair.
"It's not your fault Zhu Shu. I asked you to try."
Zhu Shu tilted her head. "Maybe less likely to lose hair as girl type
Ranma. Still, Zhu Shu wish had been able to help."
Ranma smiled at her. "Hey, you tried. That's what friends do..."
* * * * *
Zhu Shu looked at the wall of weapons that surrounded her and remembered
Ranma's words from that night and sighed mentally. She should have known,
should have paid better attention to the pair when they had arrived at the
Amazon village. She knew about the Amazons, but when she heard the guide
telling the pair about them, she had thought it would be okay. She had
wanted to see the tournament better, thinking the purple haired warrior was
overmatched by the huge woman she was facing. She hadn't thought to keep an
eye on the pair.
Her mistake.
Green fire rippled down her blades and a faint green aura surrounded her as
she turned to survey the hard faces that had surrounded her following Ranma
and Genma's hurried departure, but she didn't believe her clan's secret
techniques would do more than slow the Amazons down. So far, they hadn't
attacked...
A disturbance in the crowd attracted her eye and she watched nervously as
theripple moved towards her. The crowd parted and a small, wizened figure
balancing on a pole hopped into the ring, followed by the dark purple-haired
Champion that Ranma had just bested. Zhu Shu gulped and quickly grounded
thepoints of her swords and allowed her chi to drain back into her.
"Most Revered Elder, I am at your mercy. I ask forgiveness for any offense
Ihave given." she said.
The crone nodded approvingly. "You have manners at least." Her gaze rested
for a moment on the faint dragons etched on Zhu Shu's swords and her gaze
softened. "You are Clan Dragon," she stated.
Zhu Shu nodded as a murmur ran through the crowd.
"Tell me, Child of the Dragon, why do you travel with such ill mannered
fools?" The elder asked more gently.
"I am on a Husband Quest, Revered Elder. I wished to see if Ranma Saotome
would prove to be a worthy mate."
The Elder raised an eyebrow, "The girl who defeated Shampoo? Do you seek a
Husband or a Sister-Wife? Explain yourself, child."
"I would think the answer obvious, Loremaster. The child smells of
Jusenkyo." another voice said behind Zhu Shu. She turned her had slightly,
but could see only another staff from her current position. "There is no
need for forgiveness, Child of the Dragon." the second voice ordered, "You
have not offended us. Stand proud as the warrior you are. We will not harm
you."
Zhu Shu turned to face another elder who, if anything, looked even older
thanthe Loremaster.
"I am Cologne, Warleader of the Amazons, Child of the Dragon. Shampoo is my
great grand-daughter. This Ranma Saotome, he is a Jusenkyo-cursed male?"
theold woman asked sharply.
"He is, Revered Warleader."
The Elder looked her up and down appraisingly. "Have you a claim on him,
Child of the Dragon?"
Zhu Shu bowed slightly, "I am his friend, Revered Warleader."
"Friend? What kind of friend abandons his companion to face possible
vengeance for actions he has done?" The elder asked, eyebrow raised. "For
all they knew, you too could have received a Kiss."
Zhu Shu nodded. "Ranma is new to friendship, and his father controls his
actions too often. Ranma Saotome has much in him of Honor, yet it is often
overshadowed by his father's questionable actions. Genma sought to betroth
Ranma to me secretly to repay his debt to me for causing my curse. I
arranged instead to travel with them to observe Ranma's worth as a Husband
instead."
"Seek you his hand?" The Elder asked intently.
"My quest has not yet been fulfilled, Revered Warleader. I am Ranma's
friend. I claim no other ties. I am aware of Amazon Law, and I seek no
challenge for his hand. He is for Shampoo to take as Husband. And yet..."
she trailed off.
"Yes, child?" Cologne asked gently.
"Ranma Saotome is not like other men. I do not believe he can be tamed to
bean Amazon male. To try and make him such may break him."
Cologne gazed at her silently for a long moment, then waved the ring of
warriors away. She addressed Zhu Shu again. "It is said that Children of
the Dragon see much that others do not. Would you join us in my hut for
tea? I feel we have much to discuss before my great granddaughter sets out
on her hunt...."
* * * * *
Cologne interrogated Zhu Shu for hours, digging for every scrap of
information she had on Ranma. Shampoo sat by, listening, at first
jealously,but soon realizing she had no cause. She was soon laughing at Zhu
Shu's descriptions of Ranma reactions to being treated as just another girl.
Zhu Shu found her heart going out to the cute Amazon girl. For Shampoo, the
world was mostly black or white, with very few shades of gray. She was a
warrior; proud of her strength, and for her, losing to Ranma had been a
shamebeyond bearing, redeemable only with Ranma's death. Yet once she had
found out that Ranma had been male, her shattered world restored itself and
her spirit had soared. Amazons admired strength and skill above all, and
fora male to possess enough of both to defeat any Amazon on purely physical
level, let alone a Champion, made him a more desirable mate than any amount
of wealth or beauty.
It was all over her aura, Shampoo was head over heels in love.
And beneath that warrior's persona, the Amazon had the potential to be as
sweet and likable a girl as any Zhu Shu had met. It hadn't taken long for
Shampoo to decide they should be friends, and would allow no refusal. Zhu
Shu had agreed, knowing from her aura it was truly meant. In some ways,
Shampoo reminded her of Cherry Blossom.
Cologne wasn't so simple though. She was far too old to think in black and
white, and as she heard more of Zhu Shu's story, her brow furrowed deeper in
thought.
Finally, she sent Shampoo off to make dinner and talked to Zhu Shu alone.
Cologne looked at Zhu Shu intently for a long moment, then asked, "Tell me
what you See, Child."
Zhu Shu looked into her teacup. "It will not be easy for her, Revered
Elder. Ranma has... much to learn... I fear he will break her heart, and
she will have no defense against it. They have no common bonds. If she
tries to take him as an Amazon would, she will only drive him away. He
cannot be conquered; he must choose to give himself. And as yet, he has no
knowledge of the Way of Hearts. His pride and hers will clash."
Cologne nodded. "I fear I agree with you. Ranma is a worthy warrior in
combat, but there is more to a warrior than skill at arms. He is worth
cultivating. I know that to be true, else you would not be his friend.
Would you see him happy?"
Zhu Shu nodded.
"As I would see Shampoo happy." Cologne looked thoughtful. "Happy or
unhappy, he will be her Husband; there is no choice in Amazon Law in this.
Shampoo must marry Ranma, but I fear they shall both require much
cultivation. She must learn not only how to love him, but how to make him
love her. That will not be easy." Cologne looked at Zhu Shu in appeal.
"Would you aid me in achieving this end?"
Zhu Shu stood and bowed deeply. "I am honored beyond words at the request.
I will Revered Elder."
Cologne smiled. "Good. You shall leave after tomorrow's practice then..."
* * * * *
THWACK....
Shampoo's bonburi intercepted the lightning-fast thrust of the practice
swordin Zhu Shu's left hand as she just barely jumped over the blade
sweepingfor her feet. She carried the motion into a full somersault as Zhu
Shu quickly turned the sweep into a cut through the bamboo pole she'd been
standing on. She landed on another behind the Mandarin girl, but just as
quickly abandoned it as Zhu Shu's sword flickered through it as well.
Shampoo launched her own attack in mid leap, the air pressure wave
shatteringthe bamboo pole a second after Zhu Shu blurred into motion
straightup. As Shampoo landed, she had a sudden sense of danger, and barely
raised her bonburi in time to intercept the swords descent towards her
head...
Green fire flickered along the blades as they sliced through the shafts of
her bonburi like they were air. Shampoo turned her crouch into a drop down
the side of the pole, catching it just long enough to halt her momentum and
brace her feet for a leap past another pole...
The pole snapped off at its base as she snagged it in passing, splinters
trailing from the ragged end as she landed by a small boulder. She took two
steps and used the pole to vault upwards.
Zhu Shu met her in mid air, her blades blocking every move of Shampoo's
staff. Green fire twined around the sphere defined by Shampoo's spinning
weapon as she turned Zhu Shu's ribbons aside, then with a violent explosion
of air pressure, they flew apart.
Shampoo marveled again at Zhu Shu's speed and skill as she angled for a new
perch. The Mandarin girl had been no challenge in unarmed combat, but she
was nigh unstoppable with her swords. Cologne had even allowed her to use
the Amazon�s secret techniques, and she was still just holding her own. Zhu
Shu's style was so fast and furious it was like fighting an octopus. She'd
gone through eight bonburi in the course of the sparring match and still
wasn�t sure Zhu Shu had pushed to her maximum speed yet. She focused as she
descended and concentrated on moving faster.
She used the springiness of a bamboo pole to absorb her momentum and landed
on a nearby rock, scanning for Zhu Shu. A flicker of green from far
overheadgave her a split second warning before a bolt of chi shattered the
rock under her feet. Shampoo flipped in mid-air and began grabbing the
flying shards, launching them at Zhu Shu in a cloud.
Zhu Shu's ribbons flashed around her in a globe and pebbles flew in all
directions. Her descent slowed until she almost seemed to be floating as
shedropped down lightly on a pole top in the middle of the training ground.
Shampoo waited, catching her breath as Zhu Shu closed her eyes. Warily, the
Amazon prepared to defend.
Zhu Shu inhaled a long breath, then with a shouted, "Revealing the Mind's
Eye!" she jumped simultaneously in two directions...
Shampoo did a double take at the twin Zhu Shus, trying to figure out which
one was real, but neither sight nor sound gave an immediate cue. Zhu Shu
wastoo skilled to make any noise when landing. Shampoo looked over to where
her great grandmother watched. How could the Mandarin girl know the Amazon
technique of "Splitting Cats Hair"?
No matter, the figure on the pole to the right was too still. A light
breezerippled the skirt of the real Zhu Shu's dress. Shampoo feinted
towardsthe fake, then launched herself at the real one.
To her horror, at the last second, the illusion faded away, pole, ground,
andZhu Shu vanishing to reveal the...
Shampoo rolled through the pile of practice weapons at the edge of the
practice grounds with a clatter, rolling to her feet as Cologne called a
halt. She released her chi, the world resuming it�s normal flow as she
walked forward to meet Zhu Shu at the center of the Amazon's training
ground. Cologne hopped over on her stick.
"Very good. I would say you should balance each other out nicely." Cologne
said approvingly. "I have your supplies packed and you may leave on your
quest immediately."
Shampoo nodded as she turned to the shorter girl. "I haven't had that good
amatch in months. I almost wish you had been in the tournament."
Zhu Shu smiled. "Almost?"
Shampoo's smile widened. "Almost. You might have won, and then you'd be
marrying Ranma."
Zhu Shu's smile seemed to sadden slightly. "No," she said simply.
Shampoo cocked her head. "Why not. I can see you like him."
Zhu Shu shook her head. "Ranma is for you. He is my friend, nothing more."
Shampoo gave her a sidelong look. "You could marry him with me. I would be
honored to have you as a sister-wife."
Zhu Shu raised her eyebrow. "Sister-wife?"
Cologne interjected. "Amazon law allows more that one warrior to share a
husband as sister-wives, Child of the Dragon. We have always out-numbered
our men, so long ago, we made... accommodations."
Shampoo nodded happily. "And then you could have Ranma too!"
For a long moment, Zhu Shu considered, and looked almost as if she was on
theverge of accepting, then a shadow crossed behind her eyes, and she turned
away. "I am honored by the offer Shampoo, but I cannot. I have not yet
fulfilled my quest. I can make no decision till then."
Shampoo's eyes narrowed for a second as she thought. Then she brightened
again. "Then, if you will not be my sister-wife, will you be my
blood-sister? I owe you so much for enabling me to redeem my honor, Zhu
Shu. Please let me do something to thank you."
Zhu Shu's emerald green eyes met hers. "I have never had a sister, Shampoo.
I hope I will prove worthy of the honor."
Shampoo hugged her and whirled her around. "Wonderful! There is nothing
twosisters together cannot do!"
Cologne nodded. She smiled approvingly at Shampoo as she turned to the
Mandarin girl. �Our ceremony is simple, but binding. If you do not truly
wish this, it may be refused without shame.�
Zhu Shu smiled shyly. �No, Revered Warleader. I will accept Shampoo as my
Blood-Sister.� She replied formally.
�As I accept Zhu Shu as mine.� Shampoo added.
�Then hold forth your weapon hand.� Cologne intoned as she pulled a long
throwing dart from her sleeve. The two girls held forth their right hands,
palm up. Cologne raised an eyebrow at the faint scar in the palm of Zhu
Shu�s hand, but said nothing as she used the razor sharp tip of the dart to
slice a small cut into each girls hand. �By blood you are joined, by blood
you are bound, two families joined as one, true sisters now are found.�
Shampoo and Zhu Shu joined hands, a flash of green chi swirling around
purpleas the link was forged. As they removed their hands, only small scars
remained where the cuts had been.
�Sisters, in so much more than blood.� Shampoo said with a happy smile.
Zhu Shu nodded. �Yes.� A fondly distant look came to her eyes, as if she
was recalling some memory. Shampoo was too excited to notice, but Cologne
catalogued it, deciding she would not pry.
�Now, let�s go find my husband.� Shampoo said as she picked up her pack.
�Ifwe hurry, we should catch up to him by nightfall.�
Zhu Shu�s raised eyebrow let Cologne know she thought Shampoo was being far
too optimistic. She chuckled as she handed Zhu Shu a pack. �Here you are,
great-grand-daughter. Some dresses for your travels. I noticed yours were
atrifle worn.�
Zhu Shu blinked, then smiled as she took the present. �I am honored,
ReveredWarleader.�
�No. Great-grandmother.� Cologne corrected.
The smile on Zhu Shu�s face was enough repayment.
* * * * *
Cologne stood and watched as the questing girls vanished into the trees on
the Saotome�s trail before turning and going back to the elders hall.
"They are off?" The Loremaster asked as she entered.
"Yes." Cologne answered. "Though from the speed with which her fianc�e ran
away yesterday, it may be some time before she catches him. Still, Shampoo
is our finest young warrior. She will succeed."
"And what of the Child of the Dragon?"
"She is wise in many ways, but still a child. I'm hoping her friendship
withShampoo will temper my great grand-daughters impetuousness." She sat
down. "Primarily, I am relieved to have found that Clan Dragon yet
survives."
"Are you sure she is truly a Dragon?"
Cologne nodded. "She bears the swords. Only the true Heir would bear
them."
"She may have found them. It has been three hundred years since we last
heard of the Clan."
"No. She is the Heir. Of that, I have no doubt."
"Strange then that she seems so... unprepossessing."
"Yes. I will go to her home village and talk to her grandfather. There are
many questions that need answers. For now, she is safest with Shampoo."
"Very well, Cologne. We will leave this in your hands." The Loremaster
looked around at the nods from the other elders. "It will be interesting to
see how things develop."
Cologne nodded. "Indeed..."
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