Finally! This one took one heck of a long time, but here it is. Let me
know what you all think, and any suggested changes, major or minor.
Thanks to prereaders Chris McNeil, Matt Posner, and Adrian Wong for
their comments and suggestions.



		      HEARTS AND MINDS PRELUDE SIX
		           SHAN PU: BIE LIAO

		       Ranma 1/2 manga fanfiction
			     by Gary Kleppe

	The characters of Ranma 1/2 are the creation of and rightful
property of Rumiko Takahashi. They are used here without permission.
This story may be freely redistributed, but it should not be altered
substantially or used for profit in any way.

	SERIES NOTES: This is a prequel to "Hearts and Minds", a series
taking place five years after the end of the Ranma 1/2 manga. There will
be ten of these, each centering on a particular character or two. They
lead into the main series that will be written eventually, but are
intended to stand alone as "continuation" stories.

	For more info on the series, read the Info post I sent to FFML
(archive # 40384), or see the section for this fic on my web page,
http://www.execpc.com/~kleppe/comics#ham. The previous part can be found
here as well.

	This will probably be my longest and most ambitious series ever.
All C&C and feedback will be welcomed, seriously considered, and
responded to. Public response is preferred, but private is also
appreciated.

                                 ______


	"Air China flight 69 for Tokyo and San Francisco is now ready.
At this time, we would like to begin by boarding passengers in rows one
through six."

	Hundreds of people rose from their seats in the airport lounge
and crowded into the small gangway tunnel.

	Shan Pu remained quietly seated in the small plastic chair. She
could have easily pushed all of the people out of the way, but there was
no reason to do so. She could get in the plane after all of the others
had boarded.

	She was on her way to see Ranma and Akane. On behalf of her
Amazon sisters, she needed to ask for their help. They might very well
refuse her, but the situation was desperate and she needed to try.

	It had been difficult keeping in touch with Ranma over the years
from her Amazon village. She and Akane had exchanged a few letters, but
mail always came slow to the Amazons when it came at all. According to
what she knew, Ranma and Akane now had two children, Hikaru and Ririko.
Someone had said that Ririko wasn't really Akane's child, only Ranma's;
Shan Pu was curious as to whether there was any truth to that.

	Back home, the elders would be making plans, discussing how to
deal with the brewing crisis. Shan Pu would have been summoned to their
meeting had she been there. As the most skilled fighter of her
generation, she was being prepared for a place among the village's
leaders.

	That was a place that she did not want. Shan Pu had always good
at tactics, at figuring out how to achieve a goal. But she had no real
interest in being the one to decide *what* goals should be pursued. That
was something that she had always left to others -- except once. Once
she had thought that Ranma was actually a girl, and that Amazon law
therefore required her to kill this outsider who had defeated her in
combat. Something inside her made her refuse to do this. Of course Ranma
was really a boy, and her love for him led only to disappointment.

	Kuno Tatewaki had gone ahead to Japan, to bring together
whomever he could to help the Amazons. Shan Pu knew that Tatewaki was
attracted to her. Whether she wanted to pursue a future with him, she
could not say. Perhaps she needed to know him better. Perhaps she could
no longer trust her own heart, after the pain that loving Ranma had
brought.

	Life in the old days was so much simpler. Shampoo wanted Ranma
to be her husband. Amazon law and Great-grandmother were on her side,
and she carried out whatever plan seemed like it would help her reach
her goal. It seemed like things would stay the same forever.

	Until it all came crashing down....

                                 ______


	Great-grandmother was dying.

	The thought of losing a loved one might have been devastating to
a lesser individual. But Shampoo was an Amazon warrior. Not just any
Amazon warrior either, but the strongest of her generation. No matter
what adversity or hardships she faced, she would carry out her duty
without failure.

	Great-grandmother had sent her to find Ranma, to bring him to
the Nekohanten so that they could speak one last time. Why this was so
important, Shampoo did not know. But the reason didn't matter. Cologne,
eldest of the Amazon tribe, had given her a task to do; possibly the
last one she would ever give. It was one last chance for Shampoo to
prove her worthiness, to at least partly make up for past failures. She
would carry out this task.

	She ran quickly through the streets. Ranma followed closely
behind, with Akane beside him. They were married now. Ranma, who Amazon
law and wisdom said rightfully belonged with Shampoo, would now never be
hers.

	Ranma didn't love her. If there was ever any doubt of that, it
had been erased at the wedding less than an hour ago. She had told him
how important it was that he come with her. He refused to believe her.
When the others accused her of being there just to disrupt the wedding,
he stood with them.

	Yes, it was clear now. Ranma didn't love Shampoo. Didn't trust
Shampoo. Maybe... maybe didn't even like Shampoo.

	How good it was to have the strength of an Amazon warrior.

	"Shampoo!" Mousse ran alongside the Amazon. She had forgotten
that he was there until he spoke. "I know what you must be going
through. Tell me how you feel! Let it out, you'll feel better!"

	"We need hurry." Shampoo didn't think Mousse really cared how
she felt. He had certainly never cared before, when she had wanted him
to go away. He was trying to get her to open up to him so that she would
trust him, in hopes that that trust might lead to something more between
them. He was trying to be nice, but his niceness carried a hidden price,
one that she was not willing to pay.

	"I'll always be here for you, Shampoo." Mousse sped up, trying
to stay in her field of vision. "I'll go back to China with you, if
that's what you want."

	"Mousse... you think now that Great-grandmother soon gone, we
can be married? That what you think?"

	"Well... I... er..."

	"You just not get it. Not Great-grandmother who not let us be
married."

	"Then who..."

	"It me. I not love you, Mousse. I not want marry you. Years and
years I try tell you, why you no listen? Your ears bad as your eyes?"

	"I... I'm sorry." Mousse fell into a silent sulk.

	Shampoo also said nothing for the remainder of the trip. She
felt sorry for Mousse, but being harsh with him seemed like the only way
to get her message through. She didn't love him. She wasn't lying when
she said that. But deep in her heart, though she didn't want to admit
it, she did like him. Hopefully he would get over her and find someone
else.

                                 ______


	The four youths climbed the stairs leading to Cologne's room and
slowly opened the door.

	Inside, a television announcer's voice droned on. "As you can
see, the President of the United States is shaking the hand of the new
Chinese Premier. Clearly this is a historic occasion, a promise of
continued peace and co-operation between two powerful nations."

	"Greetings, Akane." Cologne spoke with obvious difficulty, as if
forcing the words out was a chore, as she pushed the button on the
remote to blank the screen. "Greetings, Ranma." She looked up from her
bed at the young martial artist. "I shall not call you son-in-law."

	"Old gh--" Ranma cleared his throat noisily. "Cologne. You...
you're..."

	"I'm dying," she replied. From the way Cologne looked, it was
obvious that she was telling the truth. Her hands and arms trembled as
they moved. Her gaze moved slowly and often seemed to lose focus. Where
she had merely worn the mask of age before, she was now truly elderly.

	"I-- I'm sorry," Akane said, her voice displaying genuine
sympathy along with unease.

	"No need to be sorry for me. I've lived a good life for more
than a hundred years. I've been on borrowed time for quite a while. Now
that time is up."

	"Is there..." Ranma tried to think of something useful to say.
"Is there anything, y'know, that we can do for you?"

	"As a matter of fact there is." A slight smile crossed Cologne's
lips, her voice suddenly firmer.

	"Uh... wait a minute here... you're not gonna ask..." Ranma eyed
Shampoo suspiciously. " ...for something weird, are you?"

	"Have you ever wondered why I am here? Why the eldest and --
until now -- greatest warrior of the Amazons has been running a ramen
shop in Tokyo?"

	"Well, now that you mention it...."

	"There are many in this modern world who view our Amazon village
with hostility. To them we are a threat, an opportunity, or both.

	"Our warriors are strong, but none of us would be able to defend
against a full-scale assault with modern weaponry, myself included. We
could be wiped out to the last woman. On the other hand, with me here in
Japan, should anything happen to my home I would remain. It would not be
difficult for me to determine who was responsible and to take painful
revenge against them. With this known, our village has managed to remain
intact.

	"My passing threatens to change things. Sometime in the future,
our village will be in great danger. I do not know when, or because of
whom. I do know that when it happens Shampoo and her sisters will need
your help. Your fighting skills, as well as your leadership ability."

	Ranma was incredulous. "Leadership ability? ME?" Akane appeared
to have a similar reaction; this made Ranma a bit upset for some reason.

	"Though it has not been developed, the potential is within you.
Think about your ability to turn foes into allies. Take Mousse here, for
example. Like so many others, he was hostile to you when the two of you
first met. Nevertheless, he went with you into battle twice, against
Herb and later against Saffron.

	"I had originally hoped that you would marry Shampoo and lead
your friends into combat as her husband. It is now clear that that isn't
going to happen."

	Ranma and Akane glanced at each other, some odd unspoken
communication passing between them. They were married now; even Cologne
respected that. The old games that they used to play were over. But what
would take their place?

	Cologne looked Ranma directly in the eyes. "I want your promise
that when my great-granddaughter calls on you for the good of the Amazon
people, you will answer."

	There was no question in Ranma's mind what his response would
be. To use his skills to protect those in need... it was what he had
quite literally spent his entire life training for. "I'll do everything
I can."

	"So will I. You can count on both of us, Shampoo." Akane
extended a hand toward the young Amazon. Slowly, hesitantly, they shook
hands.

	Ranma tried to remember what that TV announcer had said. A
historic occasion, a promise of peace and co-operation. That was what he
was seeing. It was something that ought to be on TV.

                                 ______
 

	Hikaru Gosunkugi listened through his headphones to the voices
coming onto his tape recorder. Ranma, Akane, and Mousse were making
their goodbyes, about to leave Shampoo alone with her great-grandmother.

	Gosunkugi had snuck into the Nekohanten a few weeks ago and
bugged it. It was an enormous risk. If any of them had caught him....
Now, as he stood and listened in an alley two blocks from the
restaurant, he wondered whether it had been worth it.

	All he wanted to do was to help Akane; to be her protector and
save her from Saotome the heartbreaker. He expected to catch Ranma with
Shampoo there. For once he was going to play the hero, to show the woman
he admired how unfaithful the man she was marrying was.

	Now Ranma and Akane were married; Gosunkugi shuddered at the
thought of them... together. Then Ranma came to the Nekohanten, but not
to cheat on his new wife; rather, to help the Amazons. It was Ranma who
was going to be the hero, in a situation that was far beyond the ability
of a scrawny voodooist-wannabe to do anything about.

	Gosunkugi removed his headphones. He stashed his small receiver
unit and tape recorder behind a garbage can, with the tape still
running. For now, Cologne was dying. He had only met her a couple of
times while eating at her restaurant. Nevertheless he felt he ought to
say goodbye. It was all he could do. Maybe he would listen to the tape
when he returned. Maybe not.

                                ______


	Shampoo was with Great-grandmother. From down below, the sounds
of more people arriving were heard. She could make out the voices of
Genma and Soun. There were others she couldn't hear well enough to
identify.

	She had just talked with Great-grandmother about her feelings
toward Ranma. It hurt less knowing that someone else could understand
what she was going through and not condemn her for her failure.

	"Shampoo, listen to me," Cologne said. "While we are still
alone, there are some things you must be told."

	The young Amazon leaned forward in her chair, listening
intently.

	"There is a special cask of water in the bottom shelf of the
basement cabinet. It is something that can be of no benefit to any other
than myself, but it could cause great harm in the wrong hands. You must
make sure that this is not allowed to happen. Pour it into the ocean."

	"Yes, Great-grandmother. I go now." She began to rise from her
chair.

	"Not yet. There is much more that I must tell you while I still
have time."

	Shampoo returned to her sitting position.

	"Ranma and his friends are skilled, but even they might not be
enough to tip the scales in our favor. There is a secret weapon,
concealed by me in the village. You must use it if you judge it
necessary. Listen closely...."

                                 ______


	"Weird."

	"What's weird, Ranma?" Akane asked. They were sitting downstairs
waiting, while Mousse busied himself with cleaning the restaurant. The
other Tendos and Saotomes had arrived on the crosstown bus, and were now
upstairs.

	"The whole death thing. Y'know, just between you and me, there
were times when I didn't like Cologne all that much. But now that she's
dying, it's like I can't think that way about her anymore. Does dying
make you a better person?"

	"I guess I know what you mean. She and I weren't exactly the
best of friends either. Maybe we should all try to be nicer to each
other while we're alive."

	"Yeah, I suppose. Sometimes it's not easy, though." Ranma smiled
inwardly. He and Akane agreed on something -- saw something the same
way. Though it surely wasn't going to happen like that all the time, it
felt good. If he were the next to die, he hoped that Akane would
remember him this way, not as the jerk who kept calling her an uncute
sexless tomboy.

	Kasumi came down the stairs. "Such a shame about Cologne, we'll
all miss her." Ranma had no doubt that she meant it. She always seemed
to see good in everyone, somehow; that was something that he rarely
seemed to be able to do.

	"Yeah, we will. I hope Shampoo's gonna be okay. This has gotta
be harder on her than anybody else. I don't even know where she's gonna
go now."

	"Yes, it's sad. Still, I'm sure things will turn out all right
for her. Maybe she'll find some nice boyfriend!"

	"Sh-- Sh--" Mousse jerked his head noticeably as he picked up a
bowl and rapidly wiped the inside of it. "Shampoo --" Kasumi didn't seem
to notice him.

	"Uh, Kasumi..." Ranma had only heard part of what Shampoo said
to Mousse on the way over; it sounded a lot like she was trying to dump
the guy once and for all. "You know, Mousse is...."

	"Why, that's right! Mousse likes Shampoo, doesn't he! I just
know that they'll be happy together. Things are as bright for the two of
them as they'll ever be!"

	The bowl slipped through Mousse's fingers, shattering as it hit
the floor. He grabbed something from under the counter and ran into the
back room. A crash was heard, followed by a shout. "Aaaaarrg! Why won't
this fit in the dishwasher?!"

	"Goodness!" Kasumi put a hand to her lip as she turned around.
"Wasn't that the fire extinguisher?"

	"Well, y'know..." Ranma groped for something to say. "His
eyesight ain't all that good." He decided to try to change the subject.
"Y'know, you always seem to have something nice to say about everyone.
How do you do it? What's your secret?"

	She smiled. "Why, there's no secret. I've always thought that if
you think good thoughts, about *everything*, then good will come to
you."

	"So, you could find something good to say about... Happosai?"

	"Oh my, yes," Kasumi answered without missing a beat. "After
all, he founded the Anything Goes School of Martial Arts and trained
both of our fathers. Imagine how much work and dedication that must have
taken. If not for the techniques that he invented, refined, and passed
along, neither of you two would have anywhere near the level of skill
that you do now. Why, if not for..."

	"Okay already!" Ranma raised his hands to his head. "I
surrender!" The three shared a short good-natured laugh.

                                 ______


	"May I come in?" Kaede poked her head through the door.

	"Please do," Cologne said. "I am glad you could come when I
asked you to."

	"Haven't I always?" Kaede smiled.

	Shampoo looked curiously at the Priestess. "You know
Great-grandmother?"

	"We met long ago," Kaede replied. "It was just after World War
Two, if I remember correctly. China was fighting a civil war. The
Nationalists were losing, and growing more and more desperate.

	"They had heard stories of the Amazon village, and some of the
strange treasures contained within. They weren't inclined to believe,
but as I say they were desperate. If taking control of a small primitive
village out in the middle of nowhere might help them win, they weren't
going to hesitate to do it.

	"I came to your great-grandmother's village along with some
friends of mine. With the aid of the Amazon warriors, we defeated the
invading troops and convinced both sides that leaving the Amazons alone
would be a good idea. That was when I was just learning the art. I was
young, foolish, and impudent."

	"Things have changed since then," Cologne said.

	"Yes." Kaede grinned. "Now I'm old, foolish, and impudent."

	"You did cause your share of... trouble. But your dedication to
your art was your saving grace. That and your willingness to use it to
help our people. I know of no one, then or now, that I'd rather have
around in a crisis."

	Shampoo's eyes pleaded with the priestess. "You help our village
now?"

	"Young lady, I'm sixty-nine years old, and I don't have your
Amazon constitution. I can't fight the way I did back then. But there is
something else that can be done."

	"What?"

	"As I said, I am getting... not quite so young. The time has
come for my knowledge to be passed on to another."

	"Indeed?" Cologne raised an eyebrow curiously. "Have you a
candidate in mind?"

	"Yes," Kaede said matter-of-factly. "One who is quite near at
the moment."

	"One of those in the room below? I don't believe any of them has
any knowledge of Shinto sorcery."

	"Knowledge can be taught. It is the spirit that matters."

	"DIscussion of this can wait." Cologne sat up in her bed. "I
need to explain why I asked you here. Shampoo, please excuse us. I need
to speak privately with the priestess."

	"Great-grandmother, I no want to..."

	"I will still be here when you return. Please, Shampoo."
Cologne's tone was not commanding as it often was, merely imploring.
"What I am about to do here may be dangerous."

	"Yes, Great-grandmother." With head hung low Shampoo exited,
closing the door behind her as she descended the stairs.

                                 ______


	"Shampoo! Is it true?"

	"What true?" Shampoo brushed past Mousse, disinterestedly.

	"That the Priestess wants to take me on as her apprentice. I
heard her talking from down here." Mousse took Shampoo's hand in his.
"Just think of it! The two of us can study under Kaede. Together!"

	Shampoo shot a glare at Mousse telling him to move his hand or
lose it. "She say she choose *someone* for student. Not say you. And we
NOT be together. I tell you before. NEVER! Not in million years! Not if
you last man on Earth! Understand?" She opened the basement door and
descended the stairs, not looking back.

	"Shampoo! Are you..." Mousse's voice carried down from above.
"Are you trying to tell me something?"

	She fumbled for the light switch, pretending not to hear him.

                                 ______


	"What you're planning is difficult," Kaede said.

	"I know," Cologne replied. "But between the two of us, we have
the resources to pull it off."

	"It is possible to know the future. But knowledge is a danger in
itself. What is known cannot be changed. If you foresee great disaster,
then great disaster will occur no matter what you do to prevent it."

	"My friend, I am at the end of my time. There will be nothing I
can do to change things in any case." Cologne smiled grimly. "But I will
not rest with my curiosity unfulfilled. I must know how things will turn
out."

	Kaede knew that it was useless to argue. "Very well. Let us
begin."

                                 ______


	Shampoo reached the bottom shelf of the basement cabinet to find
it empty.

	Someday, somewhere, she knew that this would mean trouble.

                                 ______


	Cologne gazed into empty space through closed eyes. Her spirit
now stretched ahead into the future.

	Kaede sat beside the Amazon elder. Her essence gripped
Cologne's, anchoring it, preventing it from losing itself in the folds
of existence. She dared not look directly at what Cologne was seeing.
For her to see the future would make her unable to change it, and that
for her would be like dying herself.

	That had always been Kaede's weakness, as well as her strength.
She loved being alive. She loved the material world, with all of its
pleasures, sensations, and experiences. Others who practiced the way of
the Kami were content to stay quietly in their temples while they
explored the spiritual planes of existence. Not so Kaede.

	Cologne's brow tightened as her mouth opened. "No... not
Shampoo. No...."

	What was she seeing, Kaede wondered? But she could not know, not
yet. She maintained her spiritual grip on Cologne's consciousness.

	The sadness in the Amazon's voice turned to desperation.
"Hurry... you must not fail...." Then she breathed an audible sigh of
relief. One way or another, it was over.

	Cologne's eyes opened as her mind returned to her body. Her
expression was difficult to read; relief mixed with regret, perhaps.
"Shampoo..."

	"I'll send her up to you." Kaede moved toward the door.
"Goodbye, honored elder. May you be at peace."

	Kaede descended the steps. Her mind burned with curiosity over
what the future would bring; but she could not know. It was a play that
she still had a role in. It was time to begin that role, if a certain
person were agreeable.

                                 ______


	Kaede paused on the stairs to listen.

	"Ranma, how do you fit that head of yours through the door? You
don't know that she meant you."

	"Ryoga, you big jerk! Who else would she wanna teach? You? You
wouldn't even be able to find her house!"

	"So who says it's either of us? Akari's worked with Kaede
already! Why couldn't it be her? Or Akane?"

	"Yeah, Ranma! Why *couldn't* it be her or me?"

	"Uh..."

	Kaede looked at Shampoo and nodded her head in the direction of
the stairs, indicating for the young Amazon to go up.

	"A-actually, it could... could be... any of us."

	"Oh yeah? Like you? You been tryin' that voodoo junk for years,
and ain't never got it to work."

	"Please! Let's all calm down! As he said, it could be anyone!"

	"Not quite anyone, kiddo. This is Shinto. You were raised by
Chinese Amazons. Different set of gods. Personally, I'm afraid I'll have
to decline. There are easier ways to make money."

	Kaede decided that enough was enough. She cleared her throat
noisily.

                                 ______


	Cologne lie in her bed, as her great-granddaughter held her
held. "Shampoo... you face great hardship ahead. I hope you will not
lose spirit. I hope... I hope you can forgive this foolish old woman for
the mistakes she made."

	Great hardships. Whatever they were, whatever else the future
would bring, Shampoo would have to deal with it. Alone.
Great-grandmother, who had wisely guided her through everything for her
whole life, would be gone. Who could she turn to for the answers she
would need?

	"Great-grandmother..." Shampoo held Cologne's hand and looked
pleadingly at her. "Please tell me what to do!"

	Cologne's only response was silence, and the blank stare of
motionless eyes.

                                 ______


	Silence. Everyone stared at Kaede, waiting for her to speak.

	"Well?" Ranma said.

	Kaede stood unperturbed, trying her best to look innocent. "Well
what?"

	"Well, who's it gonna be? Pick one of us already!"

	"I already have," Kaede said. The occupants of the room looked
around at each other. The Priestess chuckled inwardly at the tension she
was creating among the group. Rarely did she get the chance anymore to
have this kind of fun.

	Ranma seemed ready to explode. "Who is it, then?!"

	Kaede pointed at one of the people in the room. "You."

	Everyone turned to look at the designated person, whose eyes
widened in surprise.

	"Oh my!"




	CHAPTER NOTES: This part was very heavy on plot points and
"ominous foreshadowings". Let me assure the reader that this will be the
last one like that.

	Some people have asked why I'm using different spellings for
Shampers' name. Basically, I'm trying to get away from the old
"toiletries" spellings. For continuity's sake these are still used in
the flashback scenes, but in the future scenes I use the pinyin Chinese
forms, Shan Pu and Mu Si. I'm not sure what the correct one for Cologne
is, but as you've seen here it won't matter.

	As usual, I'd like to hear anything anyone has to say on this
chapter, or this series in general.


	NEXT: Mousse finds someone else.

Gary Kleppe
http://www.execpc.com/~kleppe/comics