Notes: This is a _very_ rough draft and outline for what I have
plotted out for my elseworlds idea (where the outline stops is where I'm
terminally stuck).  I _think_ I can flesh out the outlined portion of the
story by the time I unsubscribe for Christmas on Sunday evening, but I'll
give you what I thought up anyway so you can comment on it.
	If possible, CC any response to me personally since the FFML seems
a tad buggy and I don't know when or if it will show up there.

HTG
_________________________________________________________________________
Mid-Afternoon; Joketsuzoku Village; Somewhere in the PRC: 
 
     Shampoo ached all over. 
     She was having trouble seeing out of one eye, favoring her left knee,
and tasted blood on the inside of her mouth.
     She felt great. 
     Every year, her village had a contest of strength and skill among all
but the oldest and most powerful of their women; and for the past 3 years
she had defeated all comers with increasing ease (not bad, considering she
was only sixteen).  This year, she had scarcely worked up a sweat as she
sent the closet thing to compitition flying in the final match.
     #What else is there?# she wondered as she hopped off the suspended
log where all battles took place, #Great-Grandmother has trained me to the
utmost, to the point where almost nobody could defeat me, and for _what_? 
Everybody my age... everybody _twice_ my age either thinks of me as a
challenge to overcome or some sort of idol to look up to, but nobody
(except for that blind, grovelling, pathetic shmuck Mousse) _talks_ to me!
     #If this is the price of being the best, then I could live with being
second place, or even having some decent competiti-eh?#
     Then she saw them. 
     The traditional banquet set out for the victor that was normally on
this table, a heathy feast which she usually ended up sharing anyway, was
all but gone; and at the table were a _severely_ embarrassed man in the
garb of the Communists, a large panda(!?!) patting it's belly with a
satisfied look on his face, and a short outland girl in an odd white
outfit looking around at the hostile stares with some confusion.  The man
blushed even more and began to sweat as he pointed out the sign on the
table and said something in a language she had never head before to the
two companions.  More than a little annoyed at this intrusion, she decided
to make her displeasure known to them and slammed one of her chosen
weapons on the stripped table.
     "<Hey you! The girl with the panda!>" she yelled as the stone table
shattered under her bonbori, "<Why did you eat the prize!>"  When the girl
continued to blink in confusion after the guide told her something Shampoo
assumed was the translation, she narrowed her eyes imapatiently and
continued, "<This is a yearly martial arts competition, I just won, and
that _was_ the first prize.>" 
     She then waited as the two had a brief exchange in... whatever they
were talking in, and finally the man turned to her and said; "<She
challenges you, if she defeats the champion, then the prize is her's.>"
     Shampoo sized up her opponent, taking in the borrowed or cast off
clothing that obviously belonged to a much taller male, the diminutive
form, and the slightly off-center stance which made her seem unused to
walking with breasts. 
     Her conclusion: cakewalk. 
     Shampoo heasitated briefly, questioning whether the girl actually
_knew_ what it ment to challenge a maiden of the Joketsuzoku, but she then
shrugged; not a month goes by without someone shows up on the road from
the city that the Communists called the 'district capital' to challenge
one of the attractive village girls and, as an outland male defeating her
in single combat, be taken as a bridegroom.  Invariably, such contests
resulted in the man limping, crawling, or being carried down the same road
before the sun sets (assuming the woman he picks is not sufficiently
besotted at first sight to throw the fight).
     Shampoo raised an eyebrow as the smaller girl managed to match her
leap onto the log, rather than clambering up tho the 'field' of combat.
She thought for a moment, then nodded, a simple charge should unsettle her
opponent enough for her to be pushed off without much harm (the kid had
spunk, she did not _really_ want to hurt her).
 
******
 
     Ranma could not believe this. 
     She had initially assumed, despite considerable evidence to the
contrary, that this conflict over the food that she and fur bearing
companion (once father and son, now furball and d-d-daughter thanks to
those DAMNED SPRINGS!) had consumed could be solved by simply knocking the
girl off the log and being on their way. 
     The bloodied nose, _very_ sore elbow, and swollen eye she bore had
long since proven her wrong. 
     Saotome Ranma never liked fighting girls: all his life he believed it
to be unmanly to harm those weaker than he; and since girls were weak, he
should never fight girls (logical, ne?).  As the taller lavander-haired
girl charged in while leaving herself wide open, she decided that a
comparatively gentle kick would send her off the log and to the ground
without hurting more than her pride.  She was half right, but had not
counted on her managing to snag one of the ropes from which the log was
suspended with her weapons on the way down.  With a swing and a flip
Ranma's opponent was back on her perch and eyeing her with a strange
combination of anger and... something else. 
     As the fight began in earnest, Ranma initially pulled her punches
somewhat, assuming her opponent would soon stagger back or fall off.  Not
only did Shampoo fail to return the consideration, but she acted as if she
did not even feel them and did not even bother to block.  Within about
five minutes of the beginning Ranma noticed that her opponent was actually
beginning to bother trying to block, counter, and avoid her blows and
absently realized that she had stopped holding back; and the attractive
barbarian was actually giving as good as she got. 
     That was roughly 25 minutes ago. 
     Ranma finally managed to break the handle of one of those 'Lollypops
from Hell' Shampoo wielded against him, but spotted the other one as it
closed in on her head.  #I'mnotgonnamakeitI'mnotgonnamakeit# she thought
as she bent away from the weapon. 
     #I made it!# Ranma thought, genuinely astonished as the club did no
more than muss her bright red hair, #I _am_ faster now!# She sprung up and
delivered some downright punishing shots to Shampoo's torso, only to have
her stagger back and deliver a powerful kick she barely managed to block. 
     #She's 'bout strong and tough as I... used to be,# Ranma observed as
she stumbled back, #and got moves I ain't even seen before... I'm-#
 
******
 
     #-_impressed_!# Shampoo observed as she stepped back and brought her
guard back up.  She had not had this close a fight in two years, either it
was a matter of Great-Grandmother pounding her with consumate ease, or
herself doing much the same to almost anyone else who challenged her.  She
would have liked to adopt the twerp as blood-sister on the spot (a
practice not unknown among villagers unwilling to kill and unable to
defeat their outland opponents) but it would be impossible if the girl
didn't know enough chinese to understand the oaths or instructions. If
Great-Grandmother was not on one of her many journeys, she would probably
ask that the elder invite this stranger into the tribe no matter what the
outcome, but as it were....  Still, she could not help but smile somewhat
crazily as she beckoned her opponent closer with her free hand. 
     The redhead blinked, nodded, and accepted the invitation by charging
in.  She suddenly ducked and rolled preparing to get inside her guard. 
Unfortunatly, Shampoo rapidly backpedaled and thrust out with the
remaining bonbori as her opponent stood.  With her usual speed, the
smaller girl bent over backwards to escape and did a handspring kick to
eliminate the last weapon.  She did not even realize that Shampoo had kept
moving forward until she saw the fist centimeters from her stomach.
 
******
 
     "iie." 
     WHAM
     "Ahhhhhhhhhhh!!!!!!!" 
     SPLASH 

******
 
     Shampoo fell too her knees as adrenaline hangover, fatigue, and all
of her aches and pains slammed into her simultaniously. 
     "I... won." she said quietly, not as a boast as she normally did, but
as a statement of a fact that she was not sure she believed.  She simply
kneeled there, seriously concidering collasping where she was and taking a
nap for the next day or three until she heard the commotion coming from
the direction of the warm springs that served as the village hot-tubs. 
     #No!# she thought as she hopped to the ground and limped quickly
towards the crowd, #Nothing but solid rock over there, she could have
split her head wide....#
     Finally, the crowd parted and she took in the sight before her; 
laying half in one of the larger springs was a muscular, black-haired,
downright handsome boy about her age.  Shampoo's eyes then widened in
shock as they examined the clothing, hairsyle, pattern of bruses and cuts,
and face; for she easily recognised them all.
     "I thought the curses of Jusenkyo were only a legend." she muttered
as she thought back to the stories Cologne told her about the legendary
and forbidden training ground. 
 
******
 
     The old woman sat on the rooftop unnoticed.  She had returned to the
small village in time to see the last minutes of the battle and she was
both genuinely suprised and pleased by the closeness of the battle. 
Shampoo had been showing signs of disintrest in continuing her training,
and an equal alongside which to compete would be more than benificial. 
Then she saw what had happened when the Japanese 'girl' landed in the hot
spring, and a smile spread across her wizened features as a more intricate
plan began to take shape. 
 
******
 
     The Panda that was Saotome Genma sat worridly in the midst of the
crowd of men and women around the springs.  His son was unconsious at the
moment, but he had taken harder blows than that fall in stride and was
already being seen to by a the local healers so that was probably Not A
Problem. 
     But now he had to worry about paying for that banquet. 
 
******
 
Early Evening; Joketsuzuko Village: 
 
     Saotome Ranma stubbornly clawed his way into consiousness... and
immediately regretted it.  His head was screaming bloody murder, his body
felt like it had been worked over with concrete beach balls, and his
jumbled memories were filled with images of terrifing transformations. 
Reflexively, he focused past his pain to sense his surroundings.  He was
on a cot with a blanket drawn across his (thankfully flat) chest, and
there was an older man sitting quietly next to him.  With a sigh of relief
Ranma relaxed and opened his eyes. 
     "Man, Pop." Ranma began "I just had the weirdest... dream?" 
     "You are awake, Honored Customer?" asked the guide he had met at
Jusenkyo. 
     Ranma tried to sit up in amazement as he realised that he was
stripped naked and bandaged in an unfamiliar hut, but the pain in his head
and a hand on his chest prompted him to lie still. 
     "Be careful!" the guide warned, "You hit head very hard. Village
Healer say you must rest." 
     "What hit me?" Ranma asked half to himself as he wondered were his
father disappeared to. 
     "Village Champion hit you many times, then side of hot spring hit
once on head." the guide said, reminding Ranma of the transitory nature of
his reversion to normal. 
     "I... lost?" Ranma said as the battle came back to him.  He frowned
angrily as he realized that this was the first fight he decisively _lost_
since early childhood.  He was in the middle of vowing to win the rematch
when someone limped into the room over what sounded like an older woman's
vehimient objections. 
     The woman he recognised as his opponent peered at him through one eye
(the other being swollen shut and discolored) with a curious expression as
Ranma winced at the sight of such beauty marred by bruses and cuts. 
Without a word she hobbled over to the side of the bed and sat down to
stare at him for several seconds. 
     "<What is your name, shapechanger?>" Shampoo asked at last. 
     "Huh?" Ranma noted, looking her in the eye at last.  Shampoo sighed
in annoyance and pointed at herself before the guide asked her to repeat
herself. 
     "Sham-poo." she said slowly, as if to an idiot.  Then she pointed at
the outlander, "<You?>" 
     "um... Ranma." he finally said, "My name's Saotome Ranma... err... 
I'msorry'bouthittin'you." 
 
******
 
     "<He... I think he is apologising for injuring you ma'am.>" the Guide
said, having long since learned to err on the side of overkill in the area
of politeness when speaking to the Joketsuzuko. 
     Shampoo's brow furrowed as she tried to understand how the warrior
before her could possibly think he had done anything wrong.  Suddenly she
recalled the frightened, will-less women that occasionally fled into the
village from the lowlands and the displeasure of their husbands.  These
cowardly males sometimes came up after the women, once in a blue moon they
even escaped with thier lives.
     #He... he's comparing himself... to _those_ animals!?!# Shampoo
thought incredulously as she stared at the shamed boy with her good eye
and the concept sunk in. 
 
******
 
     "BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAH!!!!!!!!!!!" 
     Ranma turned to look at the girl as she broke into a bout of near
hysterical laughter.  "What'd you say to her, old man?" he asked as he
tried to get the joke.
     Finally, Shampoo caught her breath and looked Ranma in the eye with a
bemused expression.  "<I guess you consider beating women dishonorable,
right?>"
     "Uh, yeah." Ranma said reluctantly upon reciving the translation. 
     "<Then you should remember that; a) I am a warrior who freely
accepted your challenge and b) _you_ are in worse shape than _I_ am!>" she
responded, emphasising the last words with pokes to the bruses on his bare
chest. 
     Ranma didn't understand the words, but the meaning was clear as he
rubbed his chest and glared at her.  "You got lucky." he glowered, his old
embarrassment replacing his shame.
     "<Lucky?!?>" she asked the guide turned interpeter seconds later
before turning on Ranma. "<LUCKY!?!>" she repeated more vehemiently, "<You
had best heal quickly outlander, _then_ we will see how 'lucky' I can
get!>" she said with a predatory smile. 
 
******
 
     Cologne quietly listened in on her great grandaughter from outside
the building.  She had been considering how to get her heir and protoge
married off for some time now and, upon witnessing her narrow defeat of
the Jusenkyo-cursed japanese boy, was tempted to manipulate thim into a
formal re-match.  The conversation she was hearing however, for all it's
bravado, had the ring of the posturing of a pair of friendly young
warriors and care would certainly be needed if she could steer that
towards romantic feeling on either side.  As the boy's father approached
apprehensively in his human form, the unpaid debts the outlanders owed
sprang to mind and a slow smile spread across her shriveled features. 
 
******
 
     "Greetings, Outlander." 
     Ranma's head whipped around at the unfamiliar voice speaking perfect
japanese and started at the sight of the unbelievably whithered old woman
perched atop a gnarled cane as she led his father into the room. 
     "<Great-Grandmother?>" Shampoo asked, "<What's going on?>" 
     "<With any luck child,>" Cologne reponded, "<you'll have ample
oppurtunity to demonstrate your skills to this boy.>" 
     "As for you child," she continued, "you and your father have cost us
considerable time and effort both in preparing a meal that should have
gone to the victor of our contest _and_ seeing to your injuries.  In
return, it is only correct that we demand payment of some sort." 
     "er... Ma'am?" Genma muttered nervously, "I'm afraid that I don't
have any yuan at the moment.  Could you by any chance accept an IOU?" 
     "No." Cologne deadpanned without even looking at him. 
     "Fortunately, our harvest this year seems to be rather bountiful." 
she observed after a moment, "Perhaps we could use an extra pair of hands
in the fields for a few months." 
     "Excellent!  Ranma, you report to this woman the _instan-OW!"  Genma
said as Cologne cut him off with a sharp blow to the head. 
     "Wrong, Outlander." Cologne said, increasingly irritated by the man's
laziness and dishonesty, "I shall give you mornings to train your boy and
yourself, but you are to be in the fields at High Sun for six days a week. 
Understood?" 
     "Yes ma'am," Genma muttered, more than a little cowed, "but what
about Ranma?" 
     "The boy will be given over to my great-granddaughter to use..." 
Cologne explained, chuckling inwardly at the flushed faces and wide eyes
of the males, "... as a sparring partner." 
 
******
 
Early Afternoon, Joketsuzoku Village. 
 
     Ranma watched curiously as Shampoo finished the smooth, graceful
katas and tested the knee she had sprained at the tournament before
turning to him.
     "<Don't stand there and stare like a frog Ranma, come here!>" 
Shampoo yelled as she beconed him to the center of the practice grounds. 
     Ranma looked confused for a moment (the crash course in chinese the
Guide had given him over his three-day convalesence not having covered
insults), then shrugged and headed over to face her. "<We fight now?>" he
said quizzically.
     "<Not fight, _spar_.>" Shampoo corrected, "<If we actually fought
seriously, I'd have to send you back to the healers when I finished with
you.>"
     *hmph* Ranma snorted, managing to recognise enough words to be
offended as he set himself into a combat stance and prepared to defend
himself. 
 
******
 
     #Wow,# Ranma thought as he blocked a jab and absorbed a kick to his
side, #she _is_ good!# He had, more out of habit than anything,
consentrated entirely on avoiding her blows rather than attacking only to
find the former as hard if not harder than the latter.
     "<THAT'S IT!>" Shampoo screamed in fustration as she halted before
the boy, "<I don't care a thing about your blasted taboos Outlander, but
if you do not quit acting like a practice dummy I'll gut you, stuff you
with hay, and _use_ you for one!  Now quit standing there and _ATTACK_
ME!!!>"
     For several seconds Ranma stared into Shampoo's angry, insulted eyes. 
     Then he moved. 
     *THUD*
     Shampoo stared up from the ground as Ranma rose from the foot sweep
and smiled at her. 
     "<Was good attack, yes?>" he grinned. 
     Reflex alone enabled Ranma to hop up as Shampoo's arm tensed and her
legs shot out.
     Unfortunately she had been expecting this and aimed high enough to
trap his shins between her own and bring him down. 
     "<It's a start.>" she grinned. 
     Ranma's subconcious suddenly screamed a warning and he sat up just in
time to avoid the knife that embedded itself to the hilt in the packed
earth.  Shampoo released his legs and back-flipped away even as his
assailant landed on the ground nearby. 
     He was a tall, lean boy wearing voluminous white robes, loose black
trousers not unlike Ranma's, and a pair of inconceivably thick spectacles
on his handsome face.  "Saotome Ranma!" the new arrival announced in
clear, if accented, japanese, "I Mousse!  I challenge for Shampoo!"
     Ranma thought he understood perfectly, but seeing as he could not
easily protest the innocence of his intent he tensed for battle anyway. He
was assuming Mousse would rush at him or maybe visibly pull another knife,
but instead he flung his arms forward and unleashed a barrage of weighted
chains Ranma could barely dodge.
     "MOUSSE!" 
     The sharp bark of command froze both combatants in place as Ranma
prepared to counteratack.  He simply stood there and stared dumbly as
Shampoo strode up to the taller boy and drew back a fist as she whipped
him around to face her with her free hand.
     "<How *WHAM* many *POW* times *SLAP* do *BONK* I *CRUNCH* have
*SMACK* to *THUD* tell *STOMP* you *BAP* that *CRACK* I *WHAM* AM *WHAM*
NOT *WHAM* YOUR *WHAM* _BELOVED_!!! *WHAMWHAMWHAMKICK*>" Shampoo yelled as
she beat Mousse like a rug and booted him halfway across the village. 
     "<It's bad enough that he bugs me about being his Only True Love(tm)'
every chance he gets,>" Shampoo grumbled under her breath, "<but jumping
on someone for having the guts to spar with me is the....>"
     "<Hey!>" Ranma said once the shock of the brutality he witnesseed
wore off, "<Was my fight!>"
     "<Un?>" Shampoo said half to herself. "<Oh, sorry Ranma.  I should
not have interfered, but he had no right to challenge you for my hand
anyway.>"
     Ranma's brow furrowed for several moments before he could piece
together the meaning of the warrior's words and actions. 
     "<Shampoo no like Mousse?>" 
     "<*sigh* Boneheaded Outlander.>" Shampoo muttered as she rolled her
eyes and fell back into position.

******
     "OOF!" 
     "Daijobu... You allright?" 
     "<What are you... Warrior's _Oath_ outlander, I'm not made of
glass!>"
     #He is skilled.# Mousse thought as he observed the pair spar.  Despte
his hesitance, the boy from Japan had proven himself at least a match for
Shampoo and it was equally obvious that the woman respected, even admired
him for that. 
     #If Japan produces warriors that can impress Shampoo,# Mousse mused
as he saw the two come to grips again, #them perhaps _I_ should seek
training there.....#

******

Night, Cologne's Home: 

     *sigh* #Curse my complacency,# thought Shampoo as she dug through the
training scrolls and tried to ignore her aches and fatigue,
#Great-grandmother was right, I have been getting lazy with these easy
wins at the tournaments.  Good thing that shapechanger wasn't used to
fighting in female form, otherwise I'd either be dead or chacing him all
over the world.#
     "<Child,>" Cologne noted as she peered into the storage room, "<you
do have chores and practice in the morning.>"
     "<Forgive me,>" Shampoo replied as she looked over a set of stamina
exercises, "<but I must study these more carefully.>"
     #As I've been hinting at for the past year.# Cologne added silently. 
"<Very well then,>" the old woman continued, "<take some of those to your
room and remember to get some sleep tonight,>"
     "<Yes Great-Grandmother.>" she said as she bounced up and gathered
the more durable scrolls before bowing and running off. 
     As she reached her spartan chambers and stacked the study materials
in a convinient corner, Shampoo noted a knife imbedded in the doorway and
unwrapped the note tied around the hilt
     #'My dearest Shampoo,'# she read, #'By the time you read this I will
be well on my way to the homeland of Saotome Ranma.  This day I could not
help but wonder if it was merely the outlander's prowess and skills that
caused the adoration I saw in you eyes.  So if I must refine my abilities
so far from home in order to gain your respect and admiration, so be it.
Know that you shall always be in my thoughts and my heart.  Mousse.'#
     Shampoo merely stared at the note for several long minutes.  Then
without a word, she clenched her fist and slammed it through the wall
before her.
     "<Stupid Mousse.>" she whispered. 

******

Two Weeks Later; Practice Ring, Joketsuzoku Village: 

     Ranma dodged, blocked and counterattacked as he swore under his
breath.  He had been practicing for the bulk of his stay here as hard or
harder than he had in his life, yet his sparring partner was never more
than a step behind him.  Even worse, she (it was still a stretch for him
reconcile her gender with the fact that she was almost; repeat, _almost_; 
a match for him) had begun to watch him more carefully, learning some of
his tactics and forcing him to be increasingly unpredicable.  Most
afternoons when one or the other didn't decide to call a halt it took all
of Ranma's skill to put her on the ground... and she had managed to catch
him napping and drop him more than once.
     This was not one of those afternoons. 
     "<You slow now.>" Ranma observed as he looked upon his fallen
opponent, "<What wrong, you sick?>"
     "<I'm alright Ranma.>" Shampoo said, failing to take the bait as she
stared at the sky, not even bothering to get up, "<It's just that... 
*sigh* I'm worried about Mousse. OK.>" 
     "<But Ranma think... Shampoo like Mousse?>" Ranma asked as he knelt
down beside her and blinked in confusion. 
     "<Not _that_ way!>" Shampoo protested as she sat up, "<It's just
that... since we were small kids, he was the only one in the village aside
from Great Grandmother and some of the elders that would ever just sit
down and talk to me, like we're doing now.  It's only when he started
going on about being my husband and loving me for eternity that I *ahem*
chastised him>"
     "*piku* <What mean chastis-> *bop* HEY!" Ranma inturrupted
     "<Like that, only a lot harder.>" Shampoo explained as she set the
bonbori down, "<Sad thing is, he never got the hint and he got worse about
courting me when pub- *sigh* a few years ago.  Then again, even unwanted
declarations of love were better to listen to than 'Shampoo, I challenge
you!' and 'Wow, you're _so_ strong!!' over and over and...  what's so
funny?!?>"
     "<You make funny face.>" Ranma chortled before he could calm down
enough to attempt to mimic the 'fierce challenger' and 'starry-eyed
admirer' looks Shampoo demonstrated, sending her into her own round of
giggles. 
     "<Mousse Shampoo's only friend.>" Ranma sighed after the laughter had
died down. 
     "<Yes... at least until you showed up.>" Shampoo noted with a grin
which Ranma lost no time in returning.  Then she stared towards the source
of the advancing shadows with a thoughtful look in her eyes.
     "<Mousse be OK.  He have much skill.>" Ranma said in an attempt to be
reassuring.
     "<It's not that,>" Shampoo said softly, "<It's just... I hope he
finds someone out there willing to give him the kind of love he wants.>"

******

Night; Nerima District, Tokyo, Japan: 

     Tendo Akane halted to catch her breath as she glared at the battered,
whimpering forms of her would-be assailants.  Her day had started off as
bad as usual (#STUPID BOYS!!!#), and had gotten considerably worse when
she finally gathered enough courage to tell Dr. Tofu her feelings that
afternoon.  To his credit he was exceptionally kind and gentle, explaining
that she was at best a close friend and allowing her to cry herself out on
his shoulder.  In some way's that made his rejection hurt even more. 
     All she wanted to do now was take a nighttime jog to blow off the
last of her steam when a half-dozen thugs tried to blindside her and carry
her off... emphasis on the word _tried_.
     #Wait a minute!# Akane thought as she did a quick body count, #One's
missi-#
     Her body was already pivoting to meet the pipe-wielding opponent
before her concious mind totally registered his presence.  She immediately
prepared to avoid and counter his next move only to hop back with a bleat
of suprise when he stiffened and fell over unconcious.
     "Who...?" Akane said as she carefully stepped around the mugger
towards the figure in the shadows.
     "I am only... wanderer." said the tall figure in white robes as he
stepped out of the shadows.  Then he promptly fainted. 
     Akane quickly moved to the side of the man slumped against the wall
and examined him for injuries.  She found nothing resembling a recent
wound, but his garb was rather theadbare and he looked like a man... no a
boy who hadn't had a full night's sleep or a decent meal in weeks.  She
bent over to pick up the ridiculously thick glasses and then took another
look at his face.  Suddenly all thoughts were driven from her mind except
for a single word
     #K-kakkoi.#

******

Tendo Dojo:

     Mousse felt odd as he awakened with the wet cloth on his forehead. It
was not as if unconciousness was a new state of being for him, but he
rarely entered it as non-violently as he did this evening. 
     "That's funny, you never brought your victims home before." 
     "Nabiki that's not funny.  He just fainted after helping me against a
bunch of muggers." 
     "Why didn't you take him to Dr Tofu then, hmm?" 
     "Sh-Shampoo?" Mousse finally rasped. #No,# he realized even as he
opened his eyes, #she couldn't know any japanese that _he_ didn't teach
her.#
     "You're awake!" the blue-black topped blur half-yelled as she
appeared to turn toward him. 
     "Who...?" Mousse inquired. 
     "I'm Tendo Akane," the blur stated almost eagerly, "and this is my...
wait, you might need these." 
     As Akane placed the glasses over his face her image resolved into a
small, muscular, rather attractive young woman his age with long
blue-black hair and a concerned look on her face. 
     "As she was saying," stated a lean woman with short brown hair and a
gambler's face, "her name is Akane and mine's Nabiki.  Who, pray-tell,
might you be?" 
     "I am Mousse, of the Joketsuzoku people." he said in noticeable
accented Japanese, "I come to this land to... greaten my fighting skill. 
I thank you, but I must go." 
     "Go where?" inquired Nabiki as she raised an eyebrow. 
     "Nabiki!" Akane yelled sharply before blushing and turning back
toward her guest, "She means, to you have a place to stay?" 
     "I make camp where there is a good empty place.  I know no one here." 
     "Oh my." an older woman with ber brown hair in a ponytail noted as
she walked in, "It's not healthy to spend the nights on the street. You're
welcome to have dinner with us and stay the night at least Mousse-kun."
     "Oneechan's right." Akane said, "This is a dojo, a place for martial
arts training so you can train here." 
     Mousse glanced around at the sturdy old building for several moments,
then at the worried face of Tendo Akane. 
     "Yes." he said tersely with a nod. 

******

	(Ranma and Shampoo are halted in mid-kata by Cologne, who decides
to begin instructing them in the 'advanced' techniques.)

******

	(Mousse notices that Akane has a talent for his hidden weapons
style and agrees to begin teaching her.  Meanwhile Nabiki begins a new
series of pinup photos for the ladies of Furinkan. ;)

******

	(Shampoo and Ranma end a drawn out running fight nose to nose in a
hot spring.  Shampoo seriously considers making advances toward Ranma but
his obvious nervousness gives her second thoughts and she halts out of
fear of ruining her much valued friendship with him.)

******

	(On the way home from the market, Kasumi picks up a lost black
piglet and decides to take it home and search for an owner.  Nabiki and
Akane already dub the pig P-Chan before Kasumi decides that it needs a
bath.)

	"Don't worry P-Chan," Kasumi said in an attempt to soothe the
struggling piglet, "it's just water.  I wouldn't let you drow-OH!"
	Fortuneately for the piglet, he finally managed to squirm out of
her grip.
	Unfortuneately he was right over the kitchen sink.
	"BWEE!!!!"
	*SPLASH!*
	"...."
	"Oh my!"

******

	(Shampoo digs up an old map of Jusenkyo in her mothers storeroom
and brings Ranma up to the cliffs above the training ground.  She throws
him into the correct sping just as the guide shows up to inform her that
he saw a hooded form casting a powerful spell an few nights ago and now no
spring will affect an already cursed individual.  By this time Ranma has
leapt into several pools with no effect and is near panic, finally
breaking down and crying in Shampoo's arms.)

******

	(Mousse is 'convinced' to start attending classes at Furinkan by
the local truant officer.  He allows Akane to begin charging the 'fan
club' (which _still_ haven't gotten the hint in spite of Akane
demonstrating her new skills on Kuno nore than once) but is suprised when
said club is trampled by a mob of young women clamoring for Mousse's
autograph, touch, body, hand in marriage, etc.

******

	(Cologne decides to test Ranma and Shampoo herself and the two of
them actually make her work up a sweat before she gets serious and puts
them both down.  She elects to dismiss the Saotomes on the spot and Genma
is happy to go.  Ranma leaves with some reluctance and sets up camp an
afternoons hike away from the village only to wake up with Shampoo next to
him.  Her alleged reasoning: "<I can't let the closest thing to
competition run out on me>")

******

	(Nabiki's latest scheme is seen through and foiled by a young
transfer student from the south of Japan.)
	"Who- who do you think you are!" Nabiki said to the boy with the
spatula.
	"Kuonji Ukyo." he said quietly as he glanced over his shoulder.
	"Oneechan, what happened?" Akane asked as Nabiki stared at the boy
heading into the sunset.
	"I... I think I'm in love." Nabiki muttered.
	(Author's Note: Yes, I know this is contrived.  Anybody have a
better Idea or should I dump it entirely?)

******

	(Ranma and Shampoo ar seperated from Genma during a major storm.
After changing back to normal, Ranma rescues an Oddly Familiar Looking
Woman.  After inviting her son and his companion home for a reunion,
Saotome Nodoka informs Ranma and 'Poo of her little 'agreement' with
Genma.  Shampoo tries to make a quick exit once Nodoka steps into the
kitchen, but Ranma insists that telling her everything is a matter of
honor and follows his mother.
	(Nodoka listens in shock to the whole story and finally,
tearfully, declares her son to be a better man than she feared her father
could raise and beckons Shampoo from the shadows.  During a more relaxed
discussion afterwards, Nodoka realizes two things: she genuinely _likes_
Shampoo a lot (seeing what she might have grown up like outside of
civilization in the girl), and that the barbarian and her son are very
much in love but aren't sure how to admit it to themselves or each other.
	(Nodoka plans to help the kids track down her husband in the
morning, but a midnight phone call (Authors Note: From Col. Fury or M?) 
sidetracks that plan with a summons out of the country.  At the airport,
however, she and Shampoo agree that Genma should be 'suprised' by her
return) 

******

Afternoon; Nerima District, Tokyo:

	"The zoo, Pop?  The _ZOO_!?" Ranma grumbled as the trio walked
down the street.
	"The cowards overwealmed me after I was drugged, son." read
Genma's sign, "I fear it could not be helped."
	"And zoo people have free food, yes?" questioned Shampoo with an
upraised eyebrow and a stern look.
	"Of course not" read the sign, the last word still glistening.
	"_YOU!!!!!!!_" cried a familiar voice behind them even as Ranma
drew breath to admonish his father.

******

	That's all I've come up with.
	My biggest problem is getting Ranma out of his engagements without
anyone getting disowned (yes, he and Shampoo _are_ getting together).  If
anyone knows more than I, could they speak up?
	Oh yes, I did manage to draw up a tenative relationship map for
the rest of the story in case anyone's confused:

	Ranma: Outwardly regards Shampoo as 'One of the Boys/Best Friend,
but deep down is in love with her and not sure how she'd react.
	Shampoo: Outwardly regards Ranma as 'One of the Girls/Best Friend,
but deep down is in love with him and fears she'd ruin thier friendship by
saying so.  Quickly picks up on Akane's feelings about Mousse and tries to
rein in her temper enough to play 'matchmaker', with limited results :) 
	Mousse: Totally obsessed with Shampoo and hates Ranma with a
passion (so what else is new).  Regards Akane as a friend and talendted
student, but little more.  A bit nervous about the Mousse Appriciation
Society at School
	Akane: Has fallen hard for Mousse (to the point of never taking
out her fustrations on him).  Despises Ranma and Shampoo for shattering
Mousse's kind heart and then coming in to 'ruin' her chances with him. 
	Kasumi: Seriously examining her feelings for Dr Tofu as she finds
herself falling for Ryoga, but too 'proper' to make the first move.
	Nabiki: Developing a serious crush on transfer student Kuonji
Ukyo, to the point of manipulating 'him' into dates (Author's Note: Is she
being fooled, does she care?).
	Ryoga: A Bit Peeved at Ranma over his curse (possibly conspiring
to hide it from him?) but not as severely as in OTL due to lack of
romantic rivalry.  Mousse and the Tendo's well aware of his curse.  In
love with Kasumi, but to horribly shy to do anything.
	Ukyo: Has apparently managed to conceal her true gender from
everyone save Shampoo and the Saotomes. On speaking terms with Ranma
(barely), but _really_ hates Genma.  Feeling increasingly confused and
guilty over her relationship with Nabiki and the deception inherent
within.
	Nodoka: Has no idea about Genma and Soun's 'agreement' and is
planning to give Ranma and Shampoo her blessing the instant they admit
their feelings for one another.
	Kuno: No Idea, but I cannot imagine he'd be too happy about Mousse
hanging around Akane.
	Kodachi: Ditto.  With the apparent timing Ranma would miss the
battle in OTL (Martial Arts Gymnastics vs Hidden Weapons Style, twould be
glorious!)
	Note that _nobody_ is terribly happy with the idea of the arranged
marriage save Genma and Soun (again, what else is new?).  Nabiki(?)
manages to talk them into giving Ranma and the sisters some time to get to
know each other before making any commitments. 

	I say again that this is all I have of the story.  Comments,
questions, or offers of assistance anyone?

HTG