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 3]

	"Cologne, make Shampoo retract her challenge to this man." Mousse said
emphatically.  Cologne turned to face Ken.
	"I will persuade Shampoo to retract her duel, but only if you are ready
to exchange information about two pieces of jewelry your companion gave
us." Cologne said evenly.  Ken's mind reeled.  Companion, he thought,
she must mean Brutus.  What could Brutus have given them?
	"Let me see what you are talking about; and while you're at it, give me
back my sword." Ken replied flatly.  Cologne nodded her head.
	"Mousse fetch him his sword and the jewels from my room."
	Mousse nodded and left, only to return with the sword.  Ken was quick
to take it from him.
	"The circlet and wristband are gone." he said in a panicked voice.
	Cologne shook her head.
	"Shampoo must have them.  She must be trying to find an excuse to put
them on Ranma."
	Mousse paled.
	"What if she gets hurt!  I saw this man fighting with his sword." he
turned to look at Ken.  "Shampoo may get hurt grievously."
	Ken turned to the door.  
	"Well, if you don't have anything to show me, I'll be heading back to
the table.  However, I will warn you that if you did obtain something
from Brutus, the man I was fighting, it will bring you nothing but
misery and chaos.  I will guarantee you that.  As for your friend,
Shampoo.  I'll try to keep from harming her." he called over his
shoulder.  When he left the kitchen he could see everyone eagerly
tucking into their food.  Rice and exotic dishes were crammed onto the
Lazy Susan in the middle of the table.  Even Akane was eagerly munching
away at her food.  When he appeared by the table Ranma looked up at him
sheepishly.
	"Uh, sorry 'bout this.  Everyone was kinda hungry, and we didn't think
you'd mind." he said through a mouth full of food.  Ranma looked at the
sword Ken had in his hand, nodded appreciatively and swallowed.  "Nice
piece of work there."
	"Thank you.  It was a gift."
	Ken smiled and took his seat, looking around at the people around him. 
It felt like family.  Ken grimaced inwardly.  Family, he thought.
	"Aren't you going to eat anything?" Akane asked.
	Ken nodded.
	"Of course.  This looks wonderful." he said.  Ken looked around for an
extra bowl and chopsticks as everyone resumed eating the sumptuous
meal.  There wasn't any.
	
	"I'm really sorry about that.  I don't know what happened.  Shampoo
really must have been out of her mind." Ranma said apologetically.
	"That's fine.  I'm sure you and your families had good intentions.  I'm
very grateful to your inviting me to eat with you, even though I was
disrespectful in attacking you this morning." Ken replied as
apologetically.
	"Would you to stop it?  You're so depressing!" Akane said with a
laugh.  Ranma smiled broadly.
	"You know, Akane's right.  We do sound pretty sad." agreed Ranma.  His
face lit up as the three of them walked alone down the street.  "How
about we hit Ucchan's restaurant?"
	Akane snorted derisively.  Ken raised an eyebrow.  Ranma had explained
his entire life's story with more than a little help from Akane when he
sat by the koi pond in the Tendo's yard.  It sounded bizarre, but Ken
could understand considering what Ranma called normal.  It was enough to
share some laughs about, but in the end it sounded like Ranma led as
hectic and twisted a lifestyle as he did.  It was something that had
sparked an instant camaraderie.
	"You mean your other fiancée's restaurant?" he asked.  Akane grumbled
something that sounded like a "yes."
	"You know Ranma, we don't have to get anything to eat on my account.  I
wasn't very hungry." Ken said.  Ranma waved a hand.
	"Don't worry.  It's free."
	Akane glared at Ranma.  Ranma put up his hands defensively.
	"Hey!  I'm just tryin' to show my new buddy all of my friends.  Nothin'
more!"
	"And get some more food out of it?" Ken asked expectantly.  Ranma
sheepishly grinned.
	"Yeah, that too." he said.
	"Well, if you really want to go there, I suppose it's fine with me. 
I'd like to meet her; but what about Akane?  I don't think she really
wants to go."  To that Akane nodded her head, rolled her eyes and let
out an exasperated breath.  Ranma looked a bit crestfallen.
	"C'mon Akane!  It won't take that long!  I'll just introduce them and
then we'll go.  How about that?  No free food."
	Akane smirked.
	"Sure.  I'll believe that when I see it.  Fine, Ranma.  Go ahead." she
said in a resigned voice.  Ken put a hand on her shoulder.
	"I'll make sure to keep him out of trouble, ne?" he said, and gave a
mischievous wink to her.  Akane smiled.  Ranma gave a thumbs up, and the
three of them headed to the okonomiyaki restaurant.
	When the three of them reached her restaurant, Ukyou was beginning the
process of shutting down.  When she caught sight of Ranma, she broke
into a bright smile and waved her hand to greet them.
	"Ran-chan!  What are you doing here now?  Come here to help me close
up?" she asked jovially.  She looked over to the man she didn't
recognize.  He was a little taller than Ranma, and a little thinner. He
was wearing some of Ranma's clothes, and they seemed a little baggy on
him.  She could see clear muscle definition on his arms, yet he carried
himself with a shy, yet confident attitude.  Nothing as outgoing as
Ranma, but nothing as depressing as Gosunkuge.  "Who's your new friend?"
she asked as she pointed a thumb over to Ken.
	"My name is Chai Tse-Khan.  Everyone just calls me Ken.  It's a
pleasure and an honor to meet you Ukyou.  Ranma speaks very highly of
you." Ken replied smoothly.  Ukyou blushed slightly and gave a friendly
punch to Ranma's arm.
	"Ran-chan!  You shouldn't have." she said.  Ranma pulled on his collar
as Akane glared at him.  "It's really nice to meet you too, Ken.  You
don't need to act so formal around me.  Just treat me like one of the
guys."
	Ken nodded with a smile.  This one was very different from Shampoo.  He
took an instant liking to her.  Ukyou opened the door and pulled in a
short sidewalk display.  She waved her arm into the restaurant.
	"Why don't you guys come in and take a load off your feet." she
offered.  Ranma entered as if nothing were the matter.  Akane followed
half-heartedly, and Ken after her.  Ukyou closed the door after them.
	"So why are you here, Ken?" Ukyou asked.
	"Business." Ken replied a little too quickly.  Ukyou arched an
eyebrow.  Ken felt a little embarrassed and looked the other way to
survey the restaurant.  "Uh, do you need help cleaning up.  I'd be happy
to help."
	"No that's okay.  I can handle it myself.  Thanks for offering though."
she replied cheerily.
	Ranma was about to say something, but Akane quickly cut him off.
	"Ukyou's a little busy closing up, so why don't we head back?  Wouldn't
want to be a bother!" she suggested.  Ken's eyes went wide.
	"Closing!  The Nekohanten's probably closing now.  I need to go." he
said hastily and made for the door.  Akane looked surprised.
	"What are you talking about, Ken?" she asked.  Ukyou looked surprised
as well.
	"Yeah, what are you talking about?"  Ukyou turned to look at Ranma who
merely shrugged and looked back at Ken.
	"Shampoo challenged me to a fight.  I have to meet her at the
Nekohanten.  I have to leave, or she'll think I'm backing out." he
called over his shoulder as he walked briskly out into the street.  The
sun was almost past the horizon and the sky was starting to dim into a
light blue-grey.  He turned when he heard footsteps behind him.  It was
Ranma, followed by Ukyou and Akane.
	"Hey, wait up!" Ranma called.  Ken stopped and waited for them to catch
up to him.
	"What about closing the restaurant?  And don't you need to get home
Akane?" he asked them.  Akane shook her head and Ukyou smiled.
	"I don't really need to close the shop right away, and I'm guessing
Akane wants to see this as much as I do.  Are you any good with that
sword you've got strapped to your back?" Ukyou asked.  Ken shrugged.
	"I don't know.  I've never had to really judge or compare my skill to
anyone.  I'm good enough to keep myself alive.  I guess that's all that
matters." he said as he looked to the skyline.  He shrugged again and
walked back towards the Nekohanten. Ukyou looked over to Ranma
questioningly.
	"I'll have to explain this to you later, Ucchan.  It's pretty weird,
even considering what we've been through."

	When Ken found his way back to the Nekohanten, the sky was still a
blue-grey, but streetlights were on.  He saw Shampoo waiting in front of
the Nekohanten with a set of bonbori.  She had an angry expression on
her face.  Ken could make out Mousse standing next to Cologne in the
doorway of the restaurant.
	"So you finally made it back.  I had assumed you were running." Shampoo
said mockingly in Chinese.
	"I'm not familiar with these surroundings.  It took me some time to get
back."
	"What about Ranma and those two girls?  I'm sure they could have helped
you."
	"I felt it would be best to try to find my own way since I'm going to
be staying here for a while."
	Shampoo grimace at his last comment.
	"Are you ready to be beaten?" she asked.  Ken took the scabbard and
sword from his back.  He pulled out his katana in a fluid motion. 
Droplets of blood hit the ground.  Ken grimaced.  It wasn't a good
sign.  All eyes suddenly turned on him.
	"Uh, Ken, wh-what's that?" Ranma asked shakily.
	"Blood, Ranma.  Whenever I draw out the Long-tzu, it pulls water or
blood.  Water is a sign of good fortune, blood is a sign of bad things
to come." he said softly in Japanese.  He looked over to Ukyou as she
stood next to Ranma and Akane.  A sad look passed into his eyes as he
gazed at her.   
	Ranma looked at Ken and then to Shampoo.  He was about to say
something, but Ken beat him to it.
	"Shampoo, I don't want to fight you if it means I must kill you." he
said in Chinese.  "If this is a duel of honor, then yield now. 
Please."  He turned to face her, his sword in a ready position.
	Shampoo shook her head.
	"Tonight I will show everyone the dog you are." she replied coldly. 
Then it started.
	Shampoo was running at him at full force.  She wanted blood.  Ken could
see it in her eyes.  He had to end it fast.  Ken stood his ground and
blocked the oncoming flurry of bonbori with the scabbard and hilt of his
sword.  Shampoo was surprised that Ken had blocked so easily, but didn't
have time to think.  She suddenly felt her feet go out from under her as
she fell to the ground.  She saw Ken smoothly flip backwards three
times.  She was about the get up, but then she saw Ken's eyes glowing
unnaturally.  Suddenly, she felt a wave of bitter cold wash over her. 
She froze.
	Ken finally had his opening.  The Amazon was sloppy and put all of her
effort into the attack.  He simply blocked everything, waited for her to
blink, and then swept her feet out from under her.  Three flips away
from her gave him the position he needed to perform Ki Uchi.  Ken
twirled his sword from a proper grip to an inverted grip, pointing the
tip downwards.  He stared intensely at Shampoo and concentrated on his
feelings.  Feelings of hate and anger poured through his mind, and he
concentrated on them.  He built his rage and let it well up in him.  As
his eyes burned themselves into Shampoo's, he could feel power
generating in his chest and flowing into his sword.  A spark arced from
his knuckle to the blade of the sword.  One word passed through his
mind: hate.  He hated people that acted the way she acted.
	I'll show everyone the dog you are, she had said.
	Honorless barbarian, she'd called him at the doors of the restaurant.
	Then things took control of themselves.  Ken let the power flow
rampantly, uncontrolled, and raw.  It flowed through the sword and arced
to the ground.  As Ken felt his tenuous control on his rampant anger
slip away, he heard a voice in the back of his head.  A cold, haunting
familiar voice.
	Destroy her now, Avatar, it said flatly.  Strike!
	Ken thrust the sword into the ground with a cry of fury.  He could
imagine the shockwave.  He wanted it to strike Shampoo down without
mercy; but as he thought that last thought, he regained control of his
feelings.  He didn't want to hurt Shampoo.  It wasn't the solution.  It
only prolonged the problem.  He saw the burst of energy come up from
Shampoo enveloping her in a fury of bright blue light.  Then he saw her
go limp and lay sprawled out on the street.  Mousse immediately ran to
her side, crying her name.
	Ken stood up and sighed.  He pulled his sword out of the ground and
gave it a forceful flick of his wrist.  He sheathed the sword, and
turned his eyes away.
	"I'm sorry Mousse.  I didn't want to hurt her.  The Ki Uchi should have
only drained her of her ki.  Please don't follow in her footsteps.  I'm
tired of fighting, and I don't want to hurt anyone any more." Ken said
in a tired voice.  He turned and walked away, his head turned away. 
Ukyou thought she saw his eyes watering..
	"Ranma, "she asked, "I think you better tell me all about this."