The question mark on the title means (of course) it's a temporary
title.  It's all I could think of that seemed to fit.  I'd also like to
note it has 15 chapters now, but I don't know if I should go any
further.  It ends on a sad note (sorry to spoil it), and I kind of like
it that way.  Of course, I can always change that. ^_-

If you want to see the fic in its formatted state (which should make
reading easier), please check the site:

public.carleton.edu/~tsaie/fanfix.html

for more stuff.  C&C is always appreciated (I hate having English as my
second language).


As usual, Ranma and Co. are the property of Rumiko Takahashi. 
Distribution rights are owned by large companies that could effortlessly
wipe the floor with me in a legal battle.  This is not meant in any way
as an offense to anyone.
The characters introduced are those of my own making and are actually
copyrighted to me.  Hopefully, I'll be able to put out the original fic
that puts everything together.

I'd also like to note that the characters may be acting OOC, but this is
my interpretation of things after volume 38 of the manga.

Happy reading!
------------------------------------------------------------------------
[part 2]

	"I guess she'll be fine.  It's as if a great deal of her ki was drained
in the attack.  How odd."  Dr. Tofu adjusted his glasses.  "Akane, you
just rest for a little bit and you should be perfectly fine in an hour
or two."  Everyone in the room sighed in relief.  Soun Tendo stopped
crying.  Kasumi was strangely absent.  "As for you Ranma, I wouldn't
disturb those bandages.  You suffered some electrical burns.  I'm
amazing you weren't hurt more seriously, from the way everyone describes
your fight." Dr. Tofu continued.
	Ranma groaned.  His muscles were sore and stiff and he had a pounding
headache.
	"Great.  Thanks.  Now how am I supposed to enjoy my day off from
school?" Ranma moaned.
	"Dr. Tofu, what are you going to do with that strange man over there? 
He attacked Ranma and he could've killed him." Akane said.
	Dr. Tofu grunted in assent and nodded his head.  He looked at the
unconscious figure on the floor of the dojo, deep in thought.
	"Well, whoever he is, he's lost a great deal of blood.  I don't know if
he's going to be much trouble to you in his injured state."
	"Tofu-sensei, he still managed to put up a good fight even though he
was injured." Ranma noted.  Dr. Tofu turned to looked at Ranma evenly.
	"From what I'm told, Ranma, he was beating you quite easily before he
lost consciousness.  Moreover, it appears he lost consciousness from his
injuries from last night."
	Ranma laughed nervously.
	"Yeah, I guess you're right."
	Dr. Tofu looked at the figure once more.
	"Perhaps we should ask him for ourselves?"
	Everyone turned to look at him in shock.
	"Tofu-sensei, are you sure about that?  Isn't that a little crazy?"
asked Nabiki.
	Dr. Tofu shook his head. 
	"By hitting the correct point on his body, I can restrain him from
doing any more damage."
	Ranma stared at him in disbelief, but nodded dumbly in agreement.  Dr.
Tofu looked over the prone figure and poked at a point at the base of
the neck.  The stranger automatically twitched, and his eyes shot open. 
There was the same wild look in them and his eyes darted from person to
person.  He emitted a low growl .	
	"We aren't here to hurt you," spoke Dr. Tofu calmly.  "Calm down,
please.  You will accomplish nothing by attempting to hurt others here. 
Please do not fight."
	"He still looks like a caged animal Tofu-sensei."
	Nodoka calmly walked up and kneeled next to the figure stretched out in
front o her.
	"This obviously requires a more feminine touch."  She turned to the set
of wild eyes in front of her.  "Shhh.  No one here will hurt you." she
whispered.  Every bit of her shouted 'motherly love.'  "There now, let
your mind relax, dear.  That's it.  Let your mind and body relax. 
There, there..." she cooed.  The wild look in the stranger's eyes died
down and he closed his eyes.  His breath came out in a slow 'whoosh.' 
	"There, you see?  That was easy enough.  So now what do you do Dr.
Tofu?"
	Dr. Tofu pushed up his glasses and shook his head in amazement.  There
were still some things medicine wouldn't explain or teach.
	"We try to talk to him." he said simply.
	Nodoka turned to the figure on his back in front of her.  He seemed to
be sleeping peacefully.  He actually looked at peace lying there.  She
hated to disturb him, but some things needed to be explained.
	"Young man, please wake up.  We need to speak with you." she said
quietly.
	His eyes opened and he turned his head to look at her.  He turned and
looked down at his body and then back at Nodoka quizzically.  Nodoka
turned to the doctor.
	"I believe it is time to allow him to move."
	Dr. Tofu was about to object, but the firm look in her eyes told him
there was no other choice.  He pressed the appropriate point, and the
stranger was back soon sitting up and slowly moving his arms and
kneading sore muscles.  There was a quiet cough, and a few grimaces from
him; but it seemed Nodoka's calming effect on him had worked.
	"Now young man," Nodoka continued, "do you speak Japanese?"
	The stranger looked at her quizzically again.
	"Japanese?" Nodoka questioned slowly.
	He raised an eyebrow.  He leaned over and pointed to the symbol
embossed on the front of the armor.  Dr. Tofu looked over and his face
blanched slightly.  Nodoka looked at him, puzzled by his reaction.
	"What is it, Tofu-sensei?"
	"Saotome-san, that's the Mandarin symbol for doom.  I can't believe I
hadn't noticed until now."
	Nodoka paled slightly.  She turned to look back at the stranger, who
looked at her as if waiting for something.  He repeatedly pointed at the
symbol.  Everyone looked ill at ease.  Suddenly he pointed at the
bandages, and raised his eyebrows.  All heads turned to Dr. Tofu.
	"Tofu-sensei did that." Nodoka replied, while pointing at Dr. Tofu. 
The stranger reoriented himself to sit cross-legged in front of Dr.
Tofu.  He pointed at the armor again and then pointed at Dr. Tofu's
head.
	"I think he's asking if you know what it means." Nabiki kibitzed.  Dr.
Tofu nodded.  The stranger immediately began speaking, freeflowing
phrases leapt off his tongue.  Dr. Tofu was suddenly swamped as he tried
to keep up with the speech.  He motioned with his hands to slow down. 
The stranger bowed slightly and began again.
	"So you speak Mandarin?" he said in Chinese.
	Dr. Tofu nodded.
	"Do you speak English?" he asked again.
	Dr. Tofu shook his head, but turned to the rest of the people in the
room.
	"Do any of you speak English fluently?" he asked.  Nabiki smirked.
	"Fairly well.  I have to know it for most of the business transactions
overseas.  Does he want to start some small talk?" she asked.  Dr. Tofu
nodded, turned to the stranger and pointed to her.  The stranger turned
as Nabiki kneeled in front of him.
	"So you speak English?" he asked.
	"I speak a little English.  Not well." Nabiki replied.
	"I am very impressed.  You speak better than those I know at home. 
Your accent is flawless." he said with a small smile.  For some reason
Nabiki blushed slightly at the compliment.  Nabiki tried to look away
for a second, but found herself looking at the stranger's muscled body. 
He wasn't built like Ranma, in fact he was a little more slender than
Ranma, but just as defined.  To Nabiki, there wasn't anything but skin
and muscle.  She noticed that she could easily see his muscles move
beneath his skin.  She quickly reoriented her gaze to his face.
	"Thank you."
	"What is your name?" he asked.
	"Tendo Nabiki." she replied.
	"Pleased to meet you, Nabiki.  I must ask what language you speak
here.  As you can tell, I am a foreigner here."
	"This is Japan.  I speak Japanese." she slowly responded.
	"Then I must ask a favor from you." he said.
	"A favor?" she asked.
	"I don't speak Japanese.  I don't understand it at all.  I only know
Mandarin Chinese and English; but I can learn it easily if I can have
access to your mind."
	Nabiki reeled.  She couldn't understand everything he said since he
said it so fast, be she did make out that he wanted her mind?  She shook
her head violently.  Everyone in the room became apprehensive.  The
stranger chuckled.
	"I won't hurt you.  I need you to think of the Japanese alphabet and
everything you know of in Japanese."
	Nabiki was confused.
	"Think in Japanese?" she asked.  He nodded.
	"Yes." she said.  The stranger reached out and opened both hands and
placed outstretched palms on each side of her head.  He spoke a few
words in a language she didn't understand.  Suddenly her mind was
swimming, and she felt like she was going to lose her balance.
	"Now." he said.  She responded by first thinking of the Japanese
alphabet and then everything she could think of.  Everything form things
in the house to stock market terms.  It felt like her mind was thinking
of a thousand things a minute.  It started to make her nauseous.  It was
if the stranger knew what she was thinking, because he immediately
removed his hands and then everything was normal again.
	"Thank you, Nabiki," the stranger said in perfect Japanese.  "I
appreciate your help.  Allow me to apologize for this infringement, and
any damage I have caused."
	Everyone was stunned.
	"You're speaking normally!" exclaimed Ranma.
	"Yes, I'm speaking Japanese.  Is there something wrong with that?" he
asked.  Ranma couldn't think of a reply before the stranger continued.
	"If I have caused any serious damage, please allow me to attempt to
repay for those damages.  I was not wholly well from my previous
battles, and reacted out of instincts to defend myself.  I will perform
any service you find reasonable, as penance for the disruption."
	Nodoka smiled.  
	"He's such a gentleman." she said.  She turned to the stranger.  "You
have inflicted some harm upon my only son, Ranma.  For that, I am
angry."  
	The stranger winced noticeably.
	"However," Nodoka continued, "you may atone for these things by first
telling us who you are and why you are here.  Second, you must ask for
forgiveness from my son.  It is up to him what your punishment will be."
	The stranger reached for his armor.
	"Perhaps I should begin with this." he said.  "I am an Avatar.  I am a
warrior chosen to embody particular spiritual ideals or spirits.  We
call these particular spirits Ethereals.  As you can see from the armor,
I represent particularly unsavory Ethereals.  It is difficult to
explain, but suffice it to say that the Chinese symbol of doom is an
accurate reflection of what I am chosen to represent."
	Everyone shifted uncomfortably.
	"Do not worry," he continued, "I'm harmless, unless provoked into
battle.  I truly apologize for my actions before.  I was disoriented,
and still believed myself to be captured.  I recently followed an enemy
during a duel of honor into your world when he attempted to flee."
	"You're from a different world?!" interjected Ranma incredulously.
	"Yes.  I am from another world from you; and before you jump to
conclusions, allow me to explain everything to you.  As I said before, I
am a wandering warrior.  I ended up here after a particularly grueling
fight with a rather unsavory fellow by the name of Brutus.  It was a
duel of honor, and honor would not be satisfied until one of us died. 
I'm lucky to have survived."
	"Brutus is dead?" asked Akane quietly.  The stranger sighed.
	"Yes.  I had to kill him before he killed me.  Please believe me when I
say I did not enjoy doing it.  If I had one wish, it would be to undo
every wrongdoing I have done in my entire life, including having to kill
people in defense of honor."
	Ranma nodded his head in assent.  This was a warrior whose conduct he
could understand.  The stranger continued.
	"After defeating Brutus, I was rendered unconscious by an individual I
did not see.  When I awoke, I was in a storage area of some sort.  I
broke out of imprisonment and ended here in my attempt to find a source
of ki to heal myself.  Apparently this dojo has had some turbulent times
since the ki here is unusually high."
	Ranma and Akane nervously coughed.
	"It has helped me a great deal.  Hopefully,  I'll be able to take off
these bandages in an hour or so."
	Ranma looked at him skeptically.
	"Right.  I haven't seen anyone recover from those injuries that fast
before."
	The stranger looked at him evenly.
	"As I said before, I'm from another world.  In your terms, I'm
immortal."
	Ranma reeled in shock.  Nodoka gasped.  Dr. Tofu pushed up his glasses.
	"Immortal?!" Nabiki gasped.  "You must be lying!"
	The stranger shook his head.
	"No.  I don't age at the same rate you do, and I can't be killed by
conventional weapons as easily as normal people.  I can take a lot of
punishment and recuperate at extremely high speeds.  That coupled with
the spells and potions that I've learned allow me to keep myself from
dying, even when I'm hit with the worst punishment."
	Ranma shook his head.  He would have to see it to believe it.
	"You know, you still haven't told us your name." Nodoka commented.
	"I'm sorry.  My name is Chai Tse-Khan.  My English speaking friends
prefer to call me simply by Ken.  It's easier for them to pronounce." 
He turned to Ranma.  "And before I forget, I apologize for pummeling you
soundly."
	Ranma reddened slightly.
	"Um... It's nothing I couldn't handle... Um... But you could do my
homework for next week for me!  Right!  That's your punishment.  You
gotta do my homework for the next week.  Wait, the next year!"  Ranma
smiled.  This was turning out to be a better day than expected.  He
turned and met his mother's withering gaze.
	"Um...  How about just for Monday?" he corrected.
	"Certainly." Ken replied.
	Can't win them all, Ranma thought.

	The business at the Nekohanten was brisk as usual.  The late lunch rush
there was always the busiest time during the weekends.  People would
come in to no end, and Shampoo frequently wished that the people would
just stop coming on weekends.  She never had time to visit Ranma when he
had the most time available for dates.  She couldn't even get Mousse to
work the entire time for her, and now that he was stuck as Mu-mu-chan
for the time being, there was extra work for her to do.  Sometimes she
wondered why her great grandmother didn't just hire extra help.
	"Yo!  Shampoo!"
	The voice of her fiancée-by-law stopped her in her steps.  She adored
it when he stopped by to get free meals.  She didn't even mind that he
freeloaded, as long as she could be with him.  She quickly served the
people at the table in front of her and bounded to the front of the
restaurant.  She stopped when she saw the entire Tendo household and the
entire Saotome family as well.
	"You come with family to eat?  I get table for three." she said in her
broken Japanese.
	"Um, no, Shampoo.  That should be a table for eight."
	"You invite Shampoo for dinner!  Is that date?" she squealed in
delight.  Akane fumed.  Ranma quickly noticed and tried to reply, but
found Shampoo clinging to his arm like a lifeline.
	"You take Shampoo on date after dinner, yes?"  She snuggled closer, and
Ranma felt the temperature of the room raise a few degrees.  Was it
Akane?  Or was that just him?
	"Shampoo?  Is that your name?" asked an unfamiliar voice.  She looked
up from her grip on Ranma.  The unfamiliar face looked down on her.  He
was Ranma's height, and dressed in the same wear.  The same yellow
shirt, the same blue pants.  He was even wearing the same kung-fu style
shoes.  The only difference was that his eyes seemed empty, and his hair
was cropped short, but lengthened out towards the front.  He seemed
familiar, but she couldn't place the face.  She simply nodded in assent
to the question.  	"Who you?" she shot out suspiciously.  She didn't
like this guy at all.
	"I'm a guest of the Tendo's." he replied.
	"His name's Ken." Akane shot out.  "He's an excellent fighter."
	"Ken here to marry violent girl?  You give Ranma to rightful fiancée
now?"
	"No, Shampoo-" Akane began.  Ken could almost hear her teeth grinding. 
He could feel something wrong about Shampoo; but he couldn't place it.
	"Miss Shampoo," he interrupted.  "I believe Ranma asked for a table for
eight.  If you don't mind, I think the people here would appreciate
being seated now."  It was a statement.  Not anything directly negative,
but at the same time terse and very blunt.  Shampoo unwound her arms
from around Ranma and stood up.  She muttered an insult in Chinese under
her breath.
	"I heard that." came a reply in perfect Chinese.  She turned around
shocked, and blushed deeply.  It was the new person again.  He turned to
Ranma, obviously annoyed.
	"Perhaps we should go to another restaurant?  This one seems to be
busy." he said.  Shampoo's spirits dropped instantly.  It didn't help
that Akane agreed a little too eagerly.
	"Ken's right, Ranma.  The Nekohanten is rather busy.  Let's go
somewhere else."
	"But-"
	"I think it'd be a good idea to leave now." she interrupted, before
Ranma could object.  Akane was ticked, and she wanted to leave before
the Amazon could insult her further with her blatantly obvious
attraction to Ranma.
	"Great granddaughter.  Apologize to the customers immediately.  Do you
wish to put forth such an improper image before your future husband?"
	Everyone's eyes moved to Cologne as she pogoed up behind her.  Shampoo
cast her eyes downward.
	"Shampoo sorry."
	"Apologize to the Chinese customer."
	Ken waved a hand.
	"Please, don't worry yourself."  he smiled.  "It was nothing.  I can
understand her annoyance.  I apologize for putting forth such as bad
image as a guest in your gracious establishment." Ken said in Mandarin.
	Cologne raised an eyebrow, and smiled.
	"You speak the mother tongue well." she replied in Chinese.
	"Not as well as my elders.  I am still learning how to speak properly."
Ken smoothly replied, and gave a short bow.  Cologne chuckled and moved
back to the kitchen.
	"Show them their seats, Shampoo.  They are honored guests, of course."
she called over her shoulder.  Shampoo forced a smile and led them to a
large table in the rear.
	"You sit closest to kitchen.  Get food faster." Shampoo said in
Japanese.  "Shampoo wait on Ranma all by self."  Akane glared at her.
	"That won't be necessary Shampoo." she said through gritted teeth. 
Shampoo smiled deviously.
	"You no trust Shampoo?  This public restaurant.  You think Shampoo try
to scare customers?" she replied snidely.
	"Excuse me, I'm sure it's none of my business, but are you one of
Ranma's self-proclaimed fiancées?  Akane told me all about you and the
others." Ken said in Mandarin, once again.  Shampoo glared at him.
	"You don't need to know.  Why should I tell a foreigner such as
yourself?  You are a guest here and are in no position to ask
questions." she shot back in Chinese.
	"I'm sure I'm not, but I am entitled to asking for much better
service.  I don't think any of the people in our dining party
appreciates tardy service." Ken replied coldly.  The waitress, Shampoo,
was obviously attractive; but she lacked tact and manners in his
opinion.  It was clear to Ken that she was raised a warrior, and was
meant to be nothing else.  She reminded him of some of the others he had
met that were as crass and outspoken as her.  They made their intentions
clear.  Why bother hiding such things when you could always outfight
them if things went wrong?  Ken frowned.  He had a bad feeling about
this person, and the old woman; but he couldn't put his finger on it. 
He could barely remember details of his fight with Brutus, let alone
faces and places he had seen when he finally regained his senses in the
Tendo dojo.
	"You dare say that to an accomplished Amazon warrior?"  Her voice was
cold.
	"No.  I'm saying that to a waitress who's job it is to serve us." he
said flatly.  Shampoo was on the verge of bursting; but she didn't want
to scare off the rest of the customers.  People were already beginning
to look and stare, including the entire Tendo and Saotome family. 
Shampoo realized that it wouldn't behoove her to act as she was in front
of her future mother in-law.
	"If that is a challenge, then meet me here tonight, and we will see if
you dare say things foolishly to an Amazon.  Meet me in the back alley,
and I'll send you home with your tail between your legs like the dog you
are."
	"If that's what you want." Ken replied impassively.
	Shampoo turned and went into the kitchen in a huff.  Akane noticed
Shampoo's obvious distaste for the new guest in her house.  She
immediately realized she was about to make a new friend.  She turned to
him with a smile.
	"So did you challenge her to a fight?" Akane asked eagerly.  Ken looked
shocked.
	"What are you talking about?" he asked defensively.
	"Oh come on!  I could understand that tone of voice completely.  She's
challenging you in some way.  She's done that to me too.  I guess I
could hear it in her voice." she explained.
	"Yeah, she did challenge me.  I couldn't very well back down, so I
accepted." he replied in a resigned voice.  Akane nudged him gently.
	"Don't worry about it.  She challenges everybody."
	"Yes, but I don't like to fight unless it's someone I know I can
eliminate without any moral qualms."  Akane blanched at the statement. 
Ken noticed the slight shift in her face and the uncomfortable movement
at the table.  "I apologize.  I didn't mean to make anyone
uncomfortable.  I will not be a threat to your safety.  I am in your
debt for your kindness and hospitality.  My sword and service are at
your request.
	"Please allow me to explain myself.  I am a warrior that has recently
been disavowed from my clan.  I was shamed in front of a great audience
of people.  I am not allowed to challenge any person in a duel of honor,
or mortal combat for power.  I am not allowed that luxury.  I must only
accept challenges; even if it comes from people that know they can
destroy me easily.  Fortunately, when I was disavowed, it was
immediately after my brother and I swore an oath to protect one
another."  Ken's eyes glazed over as he continued.  "We had fought
together to eliminate the dog that executed my parents in front of my
eyes.  We hated him so much.  I could feel my brother's rage despite his
normal shield of patience and complacency.  I'd never seen him so filled
with negative emotions.  I tried to take on the burden of the guilt
myself to alleviate his pain.  When we destroyed that worthless dog, I
did not wait for him when he yielded, when he begged for his life." he
said with fire in his eyes.  They suddenly dimmed.  "I simply smote him
where he was without a second thought, even though I should have shown
mercy when he begged so dishonorably." he whispered apologetically.
	The hand on his shoulder brought him out his sad reverie.  He looked to
the side, and saw Akane and Ranma past her looking at him with concern.
	"Hey, I'm sorry, man.  I know how it feels when you think your family's
gone." Ranma replied.
	"My mother died when I was young.  I know it doesn't come close to what
you lived through; but I know how bad it must be for you to not have
your parents around." Akane said.  Ken felt a single tear run down the
side of his face.  He hastily wiped it away with the back of his hand. 
He quickly forced a smile.
	"Hey, I'm not here to ruin a nice evening.  You should have stopped
me.  I tend to start talking and then never stop." he said with a
laugh.  The atmosphere of the table lightened as Akane and Ranma joined
in with a chuckle.  It was then that Shampoo came out of the kitchen.
	"Shampoo and great grandmother make extra special dinner for special
guests.  No need to wait for menu!" she said cheerily.  She whirled
large bowls of dumplings and soup to everyone at the table without
spilling a drop.  Ken sat and watched as everyone savored the smell of
the soup in front of them.  He noticed that there wasn't a bowl in front
of him.  Ranma noticed as well.
	"Hey, why don't you take mine.  I can wait." he said.  Nodoka smiled
and nodded at the generous gesture.  Akane looked stunned.
	"Ranma!  You're giving up your food!" she exclaimed.  He shot her a
dirty look.
	"Hey!  I can be a nice guy just like anyone else!" he shot back.  Akane
was about to bark an insult in reply, but Ken cut them off quickly.
	"No, that's fine.  I'm not that hungry anyway.  If you'll excuse me for
a moment." he trailed as he stood up from his seat.  Kasumi looked up
from her bowl as he left.
	"He looks so sad."  Ranma nodded in assent.
	"Even Shampoo doesn't act like that unless she really hates them, or
somethin'." Ranma said.  Akane nodded her head.
	"She didn't even serve him something to eat." Genma said.  Everyone at
the table looked at him.  "Hey, it's true!" he said sheepishly.  Ranma
sighed.
	"You know, somethin' just wasn't right the minute we stepped in here." 
It was like some fuse got lit." Ranma muttered.
	"Hey!  She started it!" Akane objected.  Ranma shook his head.
	"That's not what I meant.  It's like Shampoo's got something against
Ken, but she isn't sayin' what."

	Ken wandered down the hall.  He should have asked for directions to the
restroom, but he didn't feel like interrupting anyone.  He could tell
the Tendos were trying to be nice, as were the Saotomes; but he didn't
want to intrude.  Ken wanted to apologize for everything and leave, but
where would he go?  As a disavowed Avatar, he wasn't going to be going
anywhere fast.  He'd been forsaken of his only means of transportation,
the clan Oracle.  So much for being the chosen champion of the Oracle,
he thought.  She rejected me and told me she never wanted to see me
again.  I can't even find Long-tzu, he mused.  He'd tried reaching out
to find the ki pattern that matched his sword, but his mental fatigue
was too much at the time.  Since he was in the restaurant, there'd been
a nagging feeling in the pit of his stomach.  Now he was feeling ill,
couldn't find his only possession of worth, and stuck with no means of
going home.  He snorted derisively.
	"Whatever home is." he muttered bitterly to himself.  The short hallway
he had taken before the door to the kitchen was odd.  It went nowhere,
but he did hear quacking in a room to his left.  He looked around and
opened the door quietly when he saw nobody else around.  It was a
storage room.  A very familiar storage room.  A large set of crates had
been moved against a hastily bricked closed concrete wall.  A cage with
a duck with glasses sat in front of them.  Two small empty dishes were
in front of the cage.  The duck started quacking incessantly when he
entered.  Ken quickly closed the door.
	"Hey, pipe down!  Nobody knows I'm here and I don't know where I'm
going." Ken whispered.
	The duck instantly shut up.
	"Hey!  You can understand me?"
	The duck nodded.
	"So what is it you want?  More food and water?"
	The duck shook its head violently.  It pointed to the bars and the
lock.
	"You want out?"
	The duck nodded his head violently.  Ken shrugged his shoulders.  A
Mandarin duck that understood Japanese wasn't the strangest thing he'd
seen.
	"I don't know.  Even if you are intelligent, I don't think it'd be wise
for me to get in trouble.  Especially with the Saotomes and the Tendos
here."
	The duck went ballistic.  Ken thought it best to open the cage before
getting into serious trouble.  The duck instantly began jumping up and
down, flapping its wings violently.
	"Cooped up there that long?" Ken asked.  The duck quickly ran to the
door and began pointing to it.
	"Hey, before I open the door, you mind telling me where the bathroom
is?" Ken asked sheepishly.  The duck nodded and pointed to the door
again.  Ken shrugged.
	"Okay.  If that's what it takes."
	The duck motioned for him to follow.  Ken walked after the duck as it
went to the end of the hall and took a right down some stairs Ken had
managed to not see.  At the bottom of the stairs, the duck went straight
into a bathroom to the left and closed the door.  Ken stopped and was
about to knock when he heard a faucet run.  Then he heard footsteps and
a towel being used.  The door opened to reveal a thin man with long
black hair and glasses.  
	"Saotome Ranma!  You must not take any present from Shampoo!" he
shouted.
	"Excuse me, but I'm not Ranma.  Are you a friend of his?" Ken asked. 
The man adjusted his glasses and peered at Ken intently.
	"Hey!  You're the guy that Shampoo decked to the ground!"
	Ken grimaced.
	"Just who are you?  Why do you know Shampoo?"
	"I'm Mousse.  Shampoo's fiancée." the man replied.  
	Now what is this about Shampoo hitting me before?"
	Mousse shook his head.
	"You can't remember?  You really must have been hurt pretty bad to not
remember.  I guess she hit your head pretty hard."  Mousse pondered. 
"Look, I have to go and get some clothes before I warn Ranma about
Shampoo's plans." he said.
	"Wait, if you know who I am, then where's my sword?  Do you have it?"	
	Mousse looked at Ken for a second before grabbing his arm.
	"Come with me.  Let me get dressed before anything bad happens."
	Ken looked dubious.
	"Just how can this evening get any worse?  Your fiancée just challenged
me to a match and I'm going to have to kill her if it's a duel of
honor."
	Mousse instantly paled.
	"What?!" he shouted.
	"Look, calm down." Ken said.  Mousse looked livid.  "If you can get her
to retract the challenge, I won't do anything."
	Mousse dragged Ken back up the stairs to another room.  After running
in and dressing in his usual attire, Mousse grabbed Ken and dragged him
past the surprised Saotomes and Tendos into the kitchen.
	"So I see you have been freed by the newcomer, Mousse."