Suggested changes: {before : after}
On Mon, 06 Oct 2003 08:04:01 -0700 Steve Thesken
<sthesken@earthlink.net> wrote:
I'm back again.
So where's part 2? :}b
"I suppose I should be flattered you keep having this dream, Ranko,"
said Ranma Saotome dryly.
Does that mean he's not going to tell her about the dreams he's been
having with her in them? Actually, I realize there's no direct
connection between the real Ranma and this apparition.
For Mousse, that treasure, that one thing he prized above all else in
the world, was Shan Pu (or Shampoo as he had once heard an Imperial
magistrate visiting the village pronounce her name), the girl he had
adored and worshipped for as long as he could remember. For her sake
alone, he had left at age ten, leaving behind his family and his
place in the village, such as it was being a male with poor eyesight
that was not a very good fighter who lived among a group of
indomitable warrior women. To win her love, he had walked the "Path
of the Outsider," a rather obscure rite of passage described in the
village laws that would divorce him from all connections to his past,
allowing him to return after six years away and challenge any Amazon
freely for her hand in marriage, just as if he was any other outsider
male.
I guess he hasn't been watching the Arena shows lately.
His glasses fogged over slightly as he tried to imagine her and what
she might be like now, his one, true beloved. For six years he had
carefully crafted and sculpted that mental image, imagining Shampoo
as she would surely be when he finally returned home, a girl who was
both beautiful and strong. When his own {body�s : body's} strength
flagged from the hardships of his training or his resolve weakened in
the face of his trials, he had used that precious image to continue
on, pushing himself farther and harder than would have been possible
for him on his own.
"<Ah, Shan Pu,>" he murmured reverently. "<How {I�ve : I've} missed
you.>" He sighed longingly for her as he became lost in his
imaginings. He gazed out across the valley without seeing it,
feeling its ancient ambiance settle upon him like a gossamer shroud.
The tranquility of the scene put him in a reflective mood, and he
thought about the path he had followed and the irascible old man who
had taught him so much over the past five years, Master Ling.
No! he thought in horror. This wasn't possible! This wasn't fair!
Not when he was so close to finally winning Shampoo's love!
Mousse's roar of rage suddenly resounded through the valley.
Argh. Now we have to wait to find out what he becomes.
It seems odd that Herb would be hanging around so close to Jusenkyo.
If nothing else, the Security Directorate is likely to notice
eventually that someone slaughtered their entire staff there. That
will probably get their attention.
Shampoo sipped her drink and thought about how she was going to
locate the resonator signal source on this world. It wasn't going to
be easy, but she was a Joketsuzoku Amazon, and quitting was not in
her nature. Somewhere out there was the prize she sought, those who
had crafted a new development in resonator technology with such
incredible range. She would not give up, no matter where her search
took her, or to {who : whom}.
Feeling someone suddenly groping her breast and squeezing it,
Nabiki's eyes snapped open in surprise, at the exact same moment that
Ranma's were opening more slowly. She blinked once as her brain
engaged, and then her expression hardened. Her response was as quick
as it was brutal.
It must be a physical law. Any reaching hand near a female character
has to touch her breast.
He shrugged. It was probably best to avoid making any more comments
about Nabiki within her hearing, even though he still didn't have the
slightest idea why what he had said could have made her mad enough to
hit him. Maybe he would talk to Ukyo about it sometime and get her
opinion.
I'm sure Ukyo would be glad to help him get along better with Nabiki.
Not.
Miyuki grunted, having heard the same thing from countless gang kids
before, and many of them came from good families. Her opinion of the
pair dropped as she took {Ranma�s : Ranma's} proffered ID as well.
"License?"
Miyuki thought for a moment, then said, "We're going to do everything
by the book." She went back to keying in their ID numbers. {Ranma�s : Ranma's}
file came up first, and she noted that he had just been issued his
license that day, through some kind of special permit. His record
was absolutely clean of any criminal activity, without any trouble
with the authorities listed, hardly the profile of a troubled kid.
She started to input {Nabiki�s : Nabiki's} ID number, a bead of sweat
forming on her forehead from her nervousness.
Miyuki and Natsumi blinked once, and then they pulled up straight and
snapped crisp salutes to Hinako. After receiving a brief nod from
her acknowledging the salutes, Miyuki hastily handed Ranma and
{Nabiki�s : Nabiki's} ID cards over to Hinako. The pair got back in
their patrol car and drove away. Miyuki watched the scene receding
behind them in her rear-view mirror.
Her partner replied, "I don't know. But I don't think we should even
be asking. Let's just forget it. Our shift is over in a few hours,
and I think {I�ll : I'll} want a drink. Actually, I know I will."
I'm sure they're much happier not knowing.
Nabiki leaned against Ranma's back as she held him around the waist,
her expression one of worry. The woman had obviously wanted
something, and she had been entirely too friendly towards Ranma for
{Nabiki�s : Nabiki's} liking. Her grip around his waist tightened
imperceptibly.
And the threads draw closer.