Alternatives -- Chapter 10

Ranma 1/2 and all of its' characters are the property of Rumiko
Takahashi and all of the companies who have licensed it.  I don't own
any of it.  I do not have permission to use her characters or ideas.  I
am writing solely for pleasure.  Don't sue.

All comments, flames, MST's or other responses are welcome.  Let me know
what you think.

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The moon's silvery light filtered into the room, filling it with an
almost pearly luminescence.  As the dark shapes of clouds raced across
the sky, its illumination waxed and waned in strength from the
brightness of the full moon to the weak yellow glow given off by a
lantern's wick after the light had been blown out.  At times, had any
cared to watch, the display resembled nothing less than a glimpse into
the Faerie realm.  The shadows sometimes danced like nymphs to the
sounds of satyrs' piping, showed Titania transforming a man into a
donkey, or most fearfully of all, raged to the mighty wrath of Oberon,
King of Faeries.  The otherworldly show continued until the setting of
the moon, unnoticed by the three residing in it.

Two of the room's occupants were completely unaware of the beautiful
by-play of shadows and light within their room; they slept.  One
embraced her slumber as one would a lover, letting the exhaustion of the
previous two days flow from her.  The other dozed fitfully, her
conscience still worrying whether she had abandoned her friend.

The third quietly sat on a bedroll, sometimes staring at the first
sleeper as if afraid that she would disappear, and at other times her
gaze would lose focus while she wandered, lost in her thoughts.  From
her vantage, she watched over everything within the room: the two twin
beds sitting parallel to and abutting the east facing window, the
matching wooden wardrobes placed across from the beds, the vanity and
mirror with two seats and the doorway into the hall on the north of the
room.  The floor, which she knew to be wooden, seemed more like black
marble as the moonlight played across it.  Similarly, the walls, a
pastel green during the day, flashed between black, sepia and pewter.
Her pack, a shapeless mound rising darkly from the obsidian floor, sat
in the corner opposite her.

The window was open and the curtains swayed gently in the night wind.
Smelling the sweet scent of the day's rain on the breeze, she rose,
carefully and quietly shutting the window.  Standing between the two
sleepers, she studied the first, marking all of her features.

Ranko lay sleeping on her back, her left arm wrapped around her head,
while her right fell by her side.  Her normally crimson locks framed her
face in a velvety black halo, with occasional stray moonbeams
highlighting it with a starry twinkling.  Her mouth, open to the world,
made her cute face even more impish.  The bed sheets covered her up to
her armpits, yet even so, the watcher, or guard as she thought of
herself, could easily identify the impression the sleeper's breasts,
small waist, and full hips made underneath.

Returning to her guard position, she spared Ukyo, the other sleeper, a
quick glance to verify that she too was safe and snugly asleep.  As she
lowered herself into her post, Ryouga began recounting the previous
day's events.

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Cologne surveyed her guests.  On her left sat Nodoka Saotome, a woman
she was proud to have adopted into the tribe as her own daughter.  Shima
and Kodachi occupied the next two seats.  Shima seemed intent on eating
as much as he could.  He must be trying to regain his strength faster
she mused.  Kodachi demurely ate, occasionally offering the pig-tailed
boy beside her a particularly nice delicacy.  Sitting ramrod straight
next to his sister, Tatewaki tried to maintain his noble bearing while
staring at Ranko with adoring, lust-filled eyes.  The eldest Tendo
daughter sat nervously between the kendoist and Ryouga Hibiki.  With a
slight frown, Cologne let her gaze pause on the pretty young woman.
Afraid that Kasumi was retreating ever deeper into her safe shell of
denial, she decided that she must do something for her.  Resuming her
review, she skipped the empty spot where Genma had been.  At the foot of
the table, Soun ate his food, looking ill at ease without a newspaper to
hide behind.  Her eyes now roving back up the table towards herself,
Cologne spotted Nabiki also mentally reviewing everyone at the table.
With an acknowledging tip of her head, she continued on.  She spied
Ranma and Akane eating and casting loving looks at each other.  With a
brother on either side, Ranko slowly ate while she seethed in fury at
her father's actions in telling Happosai of her mother's letter to the
guide.  Luan Ma sat on his sister's left watching her with worry on his
face, while Shampoo shamelessly held him in a tight embrace.  Which
brought her back to herself.

Deciding that it was time to get the day started, she said, "There is
much to be done today.  Please, eat quickly so we can get started.
Ranma, you need to go to Jusenkyo and be split one final time."  Cologne
paused with obvious sympathy for him written on her face.  Her features
hardening, she spoke again, "Ranko, I will begin your training for your
upcoming challenge with Myrrh.  As a Musk warrior, he is almost equal to
Herb in skill, his strength surpasses Ryouga's, and he is very adroit in
defending against chi attacks.  He cannot to be taken lightly and you
must train hard to win.  You must win for both your and Ryouga's sake."

Paling a little at the thought of once again swimming in the agony of
the Spring of Drowned Twins, Ranma shivered in involuntary revulsion, "I
think I'm starting to hate this more than I'm scared of c-c-cats.  The
only thing worse than jumping in that pool would be to fall into the
Spring of Drowned Cat."

"Don't worry, Ranma," Kasumi comfortingly said.  "We'll be there for
you.  Won't we?"

Akane gave Ranma a quick hug, as she murmured into this shoulder, "Don't
be such a baby, Ranma.  I'll always be there for you."

"I, too, shall be there, my son," Nodoka proudly said.

With a glance towards Ranko, Ukyo hesitated, seeking approval on her
friend's face.  Seeing it, she smiled and said, "Of course, I'll be
there for my Ranchan!"

Nabiki, Soun, Shampoo, Kuno, and Kodachi, all had politely waited upon
Ukyo's answer before nodding their assent.

"I'd go too, Ranma.  But I really don't want to see the Musk soldiers
again," Ryouga said, squirming a little as he spoke.  With a look
towards Ranko, he asked Cologne, "If there's anything I can do, I'd like
to help Ranko train."

Luan Ma and Shima spoke last.  With a look at each other, Luan Ma nodded
towards the other and Shima, with just a trace of self-pity in his
voice, said, "Sure, we'll be there for - our brother."

Tatewaki, upon hearing Ryouga's words, whipped his head around to glower
at the fanged boy.  "Methinks it best that thou hast not hope of winning
the heart of mine beautiful red-haired angel, base one," he growled in
warning.  "That mighty conflict hath been fought and victoriously won by
the one man virtuous and humble enough to claim such a divine goddess,
myself."

"Kuno, you are so wrong."  Ranko sighed as she resignedly put her head
in her hands.

A small glimmering of a battle aura began to glow around Ryouga.  "How
dare you claim her heart!  Any idiot cold see she's not in love with
you!"  He angrily pushed back his chair, preparing to face Kuno's
challenge with his fists.

Nodoka said in a stage whisper just loud enough so that everyone could
hear, "Isn't it exciting Ranko?  You've been a woman only a day and
already two men are fighting over you!"  She beamed proudly at her
attractive and soon to be feminine daughter.

Ranko's only response was to put her head on the table and groan, "Why
me?"

"Hold," Cologne ordered from the head of the table.  "Since I've adopted
Nodoka as my daughter, Ranko, as my granddaughter is now an Amazon.  If
either of you two consider yourself worthy of her, you may challenge for
her hand in marriage after her upcoming victory over Myrrh.  If you
should win, then by Amazon law, she would become your bride.  If you
lose, you must give up your claim."

"Hey!  Does that mean I'm Shampoo's uncle?"  Luan Ma wondered with a
smile.

"Yes, but since you defeated her while still an outsider, you must still
marry her," Cologne answered authoritatively.

"Oh."  Luan Ma squeaked out as Shampoo's embrace had tightened
considerably at his question.

"Ranko, Ryouga, are you ready to begin training for Myrrh?"

"Yes!"

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The mid-morning sun shone dully through the gray and black rain clouds
which loomed low over the training grounds.  The field, full of women
exercising and practicing, lay hard-packed and brown from the constant
use the Amazons put it to.  Staggered evenly around the edge of area,
man-sized poles stood firmly placed into the ground.  Rope wrapped the
areas corresponding to where the head, chest and lower legs would be on
an opponent.  At each post, a warrior drilled working through her
disciplines, while another watched carefully critiquing the other's
efforts.  Occasionally, the two would swap positions, allowing one to
rest while the other worked on her skills.  One quarter of the field was
taken up with the ceremonial challenge log, which hung suspended on
crude chains several meters above the ground.  A line of fighters waited
patiently in line for their turn to spar on the log.  The rest of the
field held women practicing against each other honing their skills in
live combat.

As the two women and one man entered the area, a ripple of disbelief
tolled forth, stopping all action on the field.  It had been years since
Cologne had visited this field.  Even whilst training Shampoo, she had
disdained using these facilities by claiming that they were too crowded.
Now returned from Japan, she was bringing an adopted woman and an
outsider male to train on the sacred field.  Slowly, and with curious
looks towards the trio, activity resumed.

Ignoring the other Amazons on the field, Cologne walked over to a neatly
folded stack of armor and padding.  She motioned for Ranko and Ryouga to
come over next to her.  As they got closer, she told them, "You will
need to wear this for the next two weeks.  The Musk fight dishonorably
and you must protect yourself from their blows.  In addition, Myrrh will
be in full battle dress and you must be prepared."

"I don't need no armor."  Ranko dismissed the thought of armor with a
wave.  "It'd just slow me down.  If he's in armor, I'll beat that jerk
senseless before he can even move."

Her eyes slotted in irritation but with some humor in her voice, Cologne
asked, "What if he hits you here?  Or here?"  As she spoke, she lightly
rapped Ranko's breasts with her cane.

"Augh!"  As the pain registered in her brain, Ranko instinctually
protected her breasts with both arms.

"Hmm, tell me how you'll beat him when you're cowering in pain?" she
innocently queried her victim.

"That hurt!  What'd you do that for?"  Ranko watched Cologne closely as
she brought her arms down and into a ready position.

"To try to put some sense into that head of yours, child."  Cologne
shook her head.  "I barely hit you.  Myrrh would hit you as hard as he
could.  Do you think you'd still be able to fight after receiving a real
blow there?"

"Yeah," Ranko replied with some bravado, failing miserably to impress
either onlooker.  "I'd still be able to fight."  With as little grace as
possible, she backed down and allowed, "Since you are trying to help me,
I guess I can humor you."

"Very good, granddaughter.  Let me show you how to wear this
protection."  Cologne smiled as she picked up a very thickly woven white
cotton vest.  "You'll need to put this on first.  This will protect you
from getting pinched or bruised too badly in any one spot."

As she put it on, Ranko grumbled, "Jeez, this thing's heavy!"

"You'll think it as light as silk once you put this on," Cologne laughed
as she motioned Ranko towards her next piece of armor.

As Ranko looked at it, she decided that she wanted nothing to do with
it.  It looked like nothing so much as the emptied out shell of a
deformed tortoise.  In actuality, she was viewing a boiled leather
chest-plate attached via adjustable leather straps to a matching back
brace both shaped to fit a female form.  "What am I supposed to do with
this?"

"Put it on, child.  I will even help you this first time."  Cologne
moved forward and matched action to her words.

Ryouga watched until they were finished.  When Cologne stood back, he
took a critical look at Ranko.  She didn't look too hampered.  The armor
covered her torso down to her waistline with the vest falling to just
below her bottom.  From what he could see, it encumbered neither arm nor
hip movements.  It was functional, but the brown of the leather and the
dirty white of the vest clashed with black trousers and lime Chinese top
she wore.

"Hit her as hard as you can in the chest, Ryouga."  Cologne instructed
Ryouga as he finished his review.  "She needs to get used to the feel
and weight of the armor."

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There was no wind within the valley.  The pools of Jusenkyo reflected
the rain-laden clouds as if they were silver-backed mirrors, instead of
pools of magically cursed water.  The bamboo poles reaching out from the
various ponds broke the perfection of the reflections with their own
bony shadows.  The surrounding jungle waited quietly for the rain to
begin as the Japanese tourists helped two teen-aged boys as they
recuperated from their dunking.

"I hate this place," Shima said to Luan Ma.  Shima sat on the left of
Luan Ma.  He had on a black silk shirt that matched his black pants.
His brother was in the identical outfit, except his shirt was a light
mauve.

"Me too, bro," was the dispirited answer.

They sat outside the pavilion set up beside the Spring of Drowned Twins.
Ranma and their new brother Ranchan lay unconscious and were being
tended to by their respective fiancees.  Kasumi and Nodoka provided
oversight to the care given as they had the previous two days.  The
others sat behind the pavilion, ready to help if called.

Unknown to each other, they both watched Akane as she gently wiped
Ranma's face with a cool rag.

"Ya know, I knew coming here that I'd make some copies of myself but I
always expected to be the one that got Akane.  It sucks knowing that I'm
one of the copies and he's going to marry her," Shima murmured.  "I'm
supposed to be Kodachi's boyfriend.  ...  At least ... I don't have to
marry her."

"Yeah, I love her, too," Luan Ma whispered, glancing over his shoulder
back towards Shampoo.  "It could be worse; we could be stuck as girls.
Two days ago, you were holding Akane while I was Ranko.  That sucked.  I
feel sorry for Ranko because Mom really likes the idea of having a
daughter.  Compared to Mom trying to make me into her little princess,
being Shampoo's husband won't be too bad.  At least, she can cook unlike
Akane."

"Now I know how Ryouga always felt."  Shima tried to laugh
deprecatingly, but the loss was too fresh and visible.  "I swear if he
ever does anything that hurts her..."

"Me too, Shima, me too."

When she had seen Luan Ma's look, the amazon decided to take the
opportunity to be with Luan Ma.  Her plan already in place, she rose and
moved forward towards the two.  Getting within speaking range, she said,
"Airen, Shampoo make too, too good lunch for Luan Ma.  You come eat
now?"  She motioned towards the edge of the forest where she had a
picnic ready, "We go be by selves, yes?"

Not wanting to take his eyes off of Akane, Luan Ma sighed in resignation
and looked at the proffered picnic.  With a defeated shrug of his
shoulders, he gave a weak grin as he said, "Sure Shampoo, thanks."

As he stood, she gave him a quick hug and excitedly led him by the arm
to where the meal was waiting for them.  Shima watched them for a few
minutes before he was interrupted.

"Shima-sama, why are you so sad?  Is there anything I can do for you?"
Kodachi demurely asked.

Ignoring the first question, he decided it was time to face his
responsibility and answered, "Yes, Kodachi, you can tell me about your
life.  I think if we're going to be friends, it'd be nice to know about
each other."

Surprised at his forwardness, Kodachi gave him a polite bow and smiled.
"What is it that you want to know?"

As she spoke, the rain, threatening since the night before, broke and a
gentle drizzle began to fall.  As light as it was, it was still enough
to force all of those at Jusenkyo under cover, forestalling Kodachi's
and Shima's time together.  Everyone made it under the tarp except for
Luan Ma and Shampoo, who were closer to the Guide's hut.

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"KiyaaAH!"  With that yell, Ryouga's full-strength punch hit the center
of Ranko's breastplate.  Not having the weight and strength that she was
accustomed to, Ranko lost her stance and fell tumbling backwards across
the brown mud of the practice field.

Rolling to a stop, Ranko slowly pulled herself out of the mud and looked
at herself.  She was completely coated with the brown ooze that the rain
had made.  Grimacing, she yelled at her opponent, "Ha, you've gotta do
better than that!  You hit like a g..."  For once realizing what she was
about to say and where, she quickly shifted to, "geisha!"

With a joyous laugh, Ryouga said, "So what?  I've got arms, legs and can
still speak to you.  I'm in the rain and I'm not a pig!  Besides, even
if I hit like a geisha, I put you on your muddy little butt!"

"Can you tell me why you went head over heels just then Ranko?"  Cologne
asked of her newest pupil.

"I wasn't ready for his strike," Ranko muttered.

Hitting her on the head with her staff, Cologne chided, "That's not
correct, try again."

"Um, I didn't expect him to hit so hard?"  she guessed.

"No.  The reason that you were knocked back is that you were defending
against the hit like you would have if you were still a man," Cologne
admonished her.  "You are not as strong as you think you are.  Imagine
that instead of Ryouga hitting you, Taro, in his cursed form, stood in
front of you."

With a shake of her head in assent, Ranko formed a new defensive stance.
This time she held her center of gravity lower and her legs spread a
little wider to help take the force of the punch.  "Is this better?"

"Yes, child, it is.  Ryouga hit her again."  Cologne restarted the
lesson at this point.

When she hit Ranko this time, Ryouga felt the strike hit and Ranko bend
with it.  Pulling back her arm, she found Ranko standing, smiling at
her.

"Much better, Ranko.  While you've fought as a woman many times in the
past and won, you always knew that you could become a man and gain the
strength of your male half," Cologne lectured her pupil.

"Yeah, what about it?"  Ranko sullenly asked, reminded again of her lost
manhood.

"In this fight, granddaughter, you shall have to rely solely on your
skill and prowess as a woman.  You cannot use the tactics that you would
use as Ranma.  You must rely on your speed and agility," Cologne
continued on.  "We will practice the rest of today on taking hits while
in your armor.  You will learn how much punishment you can take."

Turning an appraising look on Ryouga, she ordered, "Ryouga, you need to
adjust your style too.  You have no idea how to fight as a woman and
since Ranko needs a sparring partner, I will teach you.  The first thing
we need to do is to get you into some armor.  Then the two of you can
beat each other senseless."

"Hah, there's no way that Ranko could ever knock me out," Ryouga
boasted.

"I don't need to.  All I need to do is get behind ya!"  Ranko taunted.
"You'd get lost turning around and end up in Beijing!"

"How dare you, Saotome!" she yelled at her opponent.  She angrily
stomped towards the laughing redhead when Cologne stopped her with a
sharp rap of the cane onto her head.  "Ow!"

"Get your armor.  We don't have time for this nonsense," Cologne said
calmly.

Rubbing her head, Ryouga bowed towards her new instructor and said,
"Yes, Sensei."

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"Why you so sad, Luan Ma?"  Shampoo asked her soon-to-be husband as they
sat alone in the front room of the Guide's hut.  It was a simple room
with a couch and two straight-backed armchairs as the only furnishings
within it.  Shampoo and Luan Ma sat together on the couch.

When they ran into the house, the Guide and his daughter, Plum, left the
front of the house to their visitors.  He felt it best to keep his
distance from his young customer.

"Do you really want to know, Shampoo?"  He turned to look into her eyes
as he awaited her answer.

"Yes, it duty of wife to know what make husband unhappy and fix if can,"
she responded with loving concern in her voice.

"Three days ago, I was Ranma Saotome and I planned on marrying Akane
Tendo," he said the confusion evident in his voice.  "Two days ago, I
was Ranko Saotome, grieving over having lost my manhood and the woman I
loved.  I wanted to be the man in her life, and she was talking about
being my friend."  He paused long enough to shake his head, then he
continued as he said, "Yesterday?  I was born, named Luan Ma Saotome,
and engaged to marry you.  Do I still love Akane?  Yes, I can't turn off
my feelings for her, just like that.  Do I love you?  I-I can't say.
Shampoo, you've been my companion on several occasions.  You've been my
friend and my enemy.  The most I can say right now is that I like you."
Luan Ma finished talking and gave her a small smile.

When he told her that he didn't know if he loved her, Shampoo visibly
flinched.  "You no worry, Luan Ma.  You forget Akane soon," she said
with hope in her voice.  Trying to convince herself as much as him, she
continued, "I be good wife and Luan Ma will learn love Shampoo."
Despite her bold words, she felt as if her heart had been ripped from
her chest.  The pain of his unintended rejection brought tears to her
eyes, but she held them back by force of will.

Ashamed at himself for hurting her, Luan Ma looked at the floor.  In a
voice full of regret and loss, he said, "I hope so.  I don't want us to
be the opposite of you and Mousse.  You know what I mean?"

"That not happen, we not same!  Shampoo not even like Mousse!" she
yelled in anger at his accusation.  "Mousse only think he love Shampoo.
He really no love me.  I love Luan Ma as wife should!  You see!"  As she
finished, she shook from the surge of anger coursing through her.  His
attack cut her deeply.  Mousse stalked her and considered her a prize to
be won, she never had done that with her husband, had she?

"Like I said, I hope so, Shampoo," Luan Ma whispered to her as he lifted
his head.  "I'm going to need a friend when everyone leaves."

She was surprised to see tears on his face.  Although still upset at his
words, her love for him couldn't bear to see him this way.  She moved
over beside him and began to hug him, "It be okay, Luan Ma.  You see."
She looked up into his eyes and gently added, "Shampoo will always be
friend, wife and," she hesitated while giving him a light peck on the
cheek.  "maybe more when husband ready."

Smiling at the blessing of friendship and more freely given to him, he
hugged her back.  "Thank you, Shampoo."

They held each other quietly for a few minutes, each simply enjoying the
sensation of being held.  With a mischievous grin, he broke their
silence by saying, "I guess I need to learn how to call you wife in
Chinese, don't I?"

With a little squeal, she answered him back with a quick squeeze.
Shampoo knew that fighting his ideal of Akane would be difficult, but
she was an Amazon and Amazons never give up.  His heart would be hers
and hers alone one day, she promised herself.

"Tai Tai, Ranma.  Wife in Chinese is Tai Tai," she said, looking up at
him from where her head lay on his left shoulder.

"Tai Tai... That's pretty easy to remember."  He smiled at her and held
her close, enjoying the amazon's embrace.  He realized that the two of
them were going to have a rough time ahead in the next few months.  But
as long as they remained friends, he felt that everything would
eventually work out.

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The sun setting behind the mountains surrounding the valley of the
Joketsuzoku village marked the end of Ranko and Ryouga's first day of
training under Cologne.

The three of them were the only ones who continued training when the
rain started.  When it had stopped late in the afternoon, a crowd of
warriors and onlookers came back to the field.  They did not come to
continue their own practice; they came to watch the display of strength,
endurance, and physical stamina put on by the two mud-covered young
women.  For the two stood exchanging blows, taunting the other on her
percieved weakness the whole while.

"I'll knock you out this time, Ranko!"  Ryouga said as she spun to her
left, trying to connect with her opponents head in a spin kick.

Blocking the incoming blow on her bracers, Ranko slipped through
Ryouga's defenses and hit her with an open-palm strike to her solar
plexus. "That's funny, I thought I heard you say something.  I must've
been mistaken."

Ryouga, already off balance, went flying through the air and crashed
into a practice pole.  As the pole splintered and fell over, Ryouga
stood up and rubbed her chest.  Looking across the thirty feet that now
separated her from the smiling redhead, she laughed and said, "Heh, that
tickled!  You gotta do better than that!  I think Kasumi could've hit me
harder!"  With no further preparation, she launched herself into the air
towards her opponent.

Ranko smiled and leapt forwards to meet Ryouga in mid-air.  When they
met, she tried to use her speed to hit Ryouga in the chest with several
hundred hits.

In a move that surprised both fighters, Ryouga blocked the punches and
caught Ranko's arms within her own.  As they both fell, she placed her
feet on Ranko's chest plate and maneuvered so that her opponent would
land back first onto the ground.  Expecting to stun her, she relaxed
upon impact allowing Ranko's legs to grab her about the abdomen throwing
her off.  Rolling with the force of the throw, Ryouga planted her feet
as she stopped and stood facing the earth-colored young woman who stood
rubbing her chest.

"Heh, that was a pretty good one, Ryouga!  When did you get that fast!"
Ranko said with a pleased smile.

Smiling at her own accomplishment, Ryouga replied, "I was wondering when
you got so slow!"

They both stood gathering their strength, waiting for the other to make
the first move when an aged voice rang out, "Hold.  That's enough
training for one day children."  Cologne smiled at the both of them as
they relaxed from their stances.

"So, I can get out of this straightjacket now, right?"  Not waiting for
the answer, Ranko began to unfasten the various clasps holding the
chest-plate to her back-plate.

Sighing just a little at Ranko's impertinence, Cologne gave her belated
approval, "Yes, grand-daughter.  You, also, Ryouga may take off your
equipment."

Ryouga started to remove her armor but found other, willing hands
already at the task.  Looking at the hands helping her, she saw that a
young Amazon warrior was attached to them.  The young warrior helping
her wore her long, straight black hair in a waist-length braid.  The
bottom braid was made of steel and looked very heavy.  As the young lady
looked into Ryouga's eyes, she saw that her helper had turquoise green
eyes that seemed to glow set as they were set in skin of alabaster
white.  Her assistant's small nose, large and full lips, and tiny chin
set off a classically beautiful face.  After Ryouga was freed from her
armor, her aide handed her a jar of hot water.

In perfect Japanese, her attendant said, "My name is Founda Xian
(Foundation).  I have brought you hot water so you can be in your
strong, male form.  Your name is Ryouga Hibiki, is that correct?"

Using the proffered water, Ryouga stammered out, "H-Hai, I am Ryouga
Hibiki.  Thanks for the water."  Trying to decipher the emotion he saw
written upon Foundation's face, he became extremely nervous as the words
greed and attraction floated to the top of his thoughts.

"I will show you the way to the men's baths.  Afterwards, I'll bring you
back to Elder Cologne's house," she spoke in a pleasing voice, but was
definitely telling him and any other listener that she was definitely in
charge.  "You are a very good, strong fighter.  You impressed me."

"Thank you.  If you don't mind, why don't we go to the bath now?  I
really need to get this mud off of me."  Ryouga decided to get through
the evening as quickly as he could.

Ranko watched Ryouga's predicament with amusement.  She noticed that
several of the women who had been watching them practice were now
glowering at Foundation and also giving Ryouga appraising looks.  "I
think you've got a fan club, Ryouga!  If I were you, I wouldn't get into
any fights unless you want to get married!"  Laughing, she threw her
armor and padding to the ground and stretched.  "It feels good to get
out of that turtle shell."

Intervening before anyone could challenge him, Cologne announced in
Chinese to the assembled Amazons, "Sisters, this one is already engaged.
The woman to whom he is affianced raises and trains sumo-wrestling
boars.  If you wish to challenge her for the rights to this man, you
will have to defeat her champion, a boar big enough to feed the entire
village for a week.  I doubt that anyone not an elder would be able to
do so."

Having heard that, there was a very quiet sigh of remorse that ran
through the crowd of on-lookers.  Foundation, however, turned to Cologne
and asked, "How did she become his fiancee, Honored Elder?"

"He defeated her champion boar."  Cologne shook her head at seeing the
fire of challenge light within Foundation's eyes.

Unable to understand what had been said about him, Ryouga stood waiting
for Foundation to show him to the baths.  Seeing Cologne shaking her
head towards his helper, Ryouga's unease heightened even more as
Foundation turned back towards him.  Grabbing his arm, she said, "Come
with me, I will take you to m-the bath."

As he allowed himself to be led away, Ryouga took a better look at the
woman pulling him along.  She wore a loose fitting top and pants set
colored a light lime green that accentuated her eyes.  He would have
imagined her to be a typical Japanese schoolgirl in her slouchy clothes,
except for the twin swords strapped to her sides and the spiked metal
wire peeking out of her braid.  He compared her to Akari and found
himself wanting to get back to Japan and his love.

The uselessness of paying attention to his surroundings learned as a
toddler, it surprised him that the men's communal bath was no more than
a simple room in someone's household.  "Er, Foundation?  Are you sure
that this is where the men of the village are supposed to wash?"

"This is where you shall wash tonight, Ryouga.  Let me help you get out
of those muddy things."  She started by taking off his shirt.  He didn't
understand why she had to keep her palm on his chest and stomach while
she did so.  He always just pulled it over his head!

When he felt his pants loosened, he quickly grabbed them and stuttered,
"T-that's okay, Foundation.  I can take it from here."  He took one hand
from his pants and gently pushed her towards where he remembered the
door to be.

In fact, she found herself being pushed towards the tub.  "I like a
strong man who knows what he wants," she purred as she picked up on his
cue and started disrobing.  "Hurry up and we can wash each other."

Unfortunately for Foundation, as soon as he saw her undressing, Ryouga
passed out from the stress as from his nose streamed a fountain of
blood.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

"Cologne?  Isn't the men's bath-house in the other direction?"  Ranko
asked as she watched Ryouga walking away with Foundation.

"Yes.  It is granddaughter.  I believe that Akari will have a challenger
for Ryouga's hand," Cologne sighed in answer.  "Ryouga can handle
himself.  Let's get you to the women's bath so we can get you clean."

Ranko's eyes got very round as she realized where Cologne wanted her to
go.  "I can't go to the women's showers!  I-I..."

"You are a woman now, Ranko.  Neither hot nor cold water can change your
form anymore.  Trust me, nothing you see or show in there will be new to
any of us," Cologne gently reminded her.

Blushing a deep red, Ranko asked, "Is there a place I can wash by
myself?  I don't think I'm ready for that yet."

"You will never be ready unless you face the truth.  Come with me."
While her words were hard, Cologne's tone and manner was as gentle as
one would use with a baby.

"Yes, you're right, grandmother," Ranko visibly stiffened to prepare for
her initiation into the world of a women's locker room.

They made their way from the training grounds and entered the bath.
Ranko was surprised and gratified to see individual showers with
curtains within.  She wouldn't have to wash herself in front of everyone
else.  Still, she quickly washed and changed into the clean clothes set
out for her.

Leaving the bathhouse with Cologne, the two women walked quietly towards
Cologne's home.  Arriving there, they found most of the group that had
marched to Jusenkyo already returned and waiting for them.  Ukyo, Akane,
Ranma and Ranchan were all in the bedroom being used as a recovery room.
A very pale Ryouga came in a few minutes later, being led by a
mischievously smiling Foundation.

Seeing that everyone was there, Cologne said, "Thank you Foundation, you
may go home now.  I thank you for the help you gave Ryouga, but I'll see
that he's taken care of now."

Foundation bowed and left without a word.  However, she allowed her left
hand to wander up from Ryouga's right hand and across his chest as she
turned and left.

Ryouga blushed as everyone stopped and stared at Foundation's forward
conduct.  "Heh, Thanks for showing me the men's bath, Foundation."
Rubbing his belly, he looked towards the dining room and asked, "I'm
hungry.  Is it time to eat yet?"

"Yes, it is, Ryouga. It's been a long day.  Please, everyone let's eat,"
Cologne smiled at Ryouga as she invited everyone to dinner.  Everyone
soon had filed in and were sitting where they had at breakfast.

After an uneventful dinner, Nodoka politely asked Cologne, "Cologne, my
children are all expert martial artists.  From what I've been told, they
defeated what amounted to a god.  Why does Ranko need to go through the
intensive training you started today just to defeat one man?"

The innocent question caught and held everyone's attention.  Cologne
smiled a little as she answered, "I was trying to decide how to explain
this to everyone, you've given me the an excellent opening.  Thank you,
daughter.  As you are all aware, Myrrh is a Musk tribesman.  What you
don't know is his history and who he is in his tribal hierarchy.  He is
more than just an officer in the Musk army; he is the Lord High
Chatelain, second only to Herb in power and prestige."

Cologne paused to take a sip of water.  As she did, she noticed that
everyone's attention was riveted solely upon her.  "If Herb had been
unable to change back to male, Myrrh would have been regent until such
time as Herb provided the dynasty with an heir old enough to rule."  She
looked at each of the people in the room before asking, "Have you ever
wondered why Herb had so few retainers with him when he came to Japan?"
She didn't wait to se if any had an answer, she simply said, "Myrrh had
no interest in allowing Herb to successfully regain his manhood.  In all
likelihood, Herb would have been forced to become Myrrh's wife," Cologne
allowed a look of revulsion to cross her face at the thought of being
the wife of any member of that noxious tribe.  "If you are wondering why
Herb didn't jump into the Twins Spring, neither the Amazon nor the
Jusendo tribe would have agreed to it."

"It would have been in the Amazons' interest for Herb to remain female.
Either he would have been forced to become Myrrh's wife, or much more
likely, he would have started a Civil War within his tribe significantly
weakening it.  But I digress, I was asked why Ranko needs to train so
hard for a single opponent."

"The Musk have been a people for as long as the Amazons have.  Unlike
us, they have always felt the need to be led by a king or emperor.  We
use a simple method of elected elders.  There have only been two
families that have sat upon Herb's throne.  Herb's family and before
that Myrrh's family.  Myrrh's family ruled the Musk for one thousand
years.  His family only lost the throne when the Musk became weak and
started augmenting their bloodlines with captured animals."

Cologne's face showed her utter contempt for any band of people who
would lower themselves to such base practices.  "When they captured the
dragon and threw it into the Spring of Drowned Girl, Myrrh's family
sensibly turned down the opportunity to mate with it.  Herb's ancestor
took the dragon and she became the mother of the new Imperial line.
Myrrh's ancestor's were deposed the very next generation.  They lost
because of the dragon children's abilities with chi.  Since then, his
family have focussed on learning ways to deflect or shield themselves
from chi-based attacks.  They found that oxen being land-based large
animals were most naturally resistant to air-borne chi-attacks.  They
threw a bull into the Girl Spring to mate with.  This gave them the
ability they seeked; it is not a full immunity, but it is enough to
drain most fighters before damage can be done.  This one ability is why
you must train so hard Ranko.  Your most effective attacks are all
chi-based and Myrrh is effectively proof against them.  You must use
your speed, stamina and agility against him.  If you attempt to match
strength for strength, you will quickly find yourself the concubine of a
Musk lord."

The listeners were all silent for a few moments before anyone spoke.

Ranko asked Cologne, "Are there any attacks that he is vulnerable to?"

"Yes, child.  He is vulnerable to any attack that has a physical basis.
The shrapnel from a Bakusai Tenketsu would hurt him, whereas the tornado
formed from a Hiryu ShotenHa wouldn't.  Our training will concentrate on
two things.  You need to be toughened, so that you can withstand more
punishment.  You also need to be taught not to fight face-to-face, like
you would as Ranma.  If you do, you will lose."

Ryouga leaned back out of the conversation as several more questions
were asked and answered.  He needed to think.  What Ranko did for him by
saving him from the Musk's hospitality was a debt that honor demanded be
paid.  He decided that his job, at least for the next two weeks, would
be to be Ranko's sparring partner and self-proclaimed guardian.  That
would mean being a girl each night so that he could share a room with
her.  After being cursed to be a pig for a year, he knew that choosing
to be a girl would be far easier.  As a girl, he could talk and defend
himself.  He picked up a glass of water and splashed his face with it,
becoming female in the process.

Luan Ma and Ranko noticed the voluntary transformation and Ranko asked,
"Ryouga? Why did you turn yourself into a girl?"

Ryouga smiled at them.  "I need to get used to my curse.  I've decided
to stay female except when Cologne tells me to change when we're
training or when I take a bath.  It's not that bad and the faster I get
used to it, the better off I'll be."

Ranko smiled, thinking she knew the real reason, "And as a girl, you
won't have Amazons hunting you down for challenges, right?"

Ryouga smiled back in answer, letting her believe what she wanted.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

Ryouga's eyes were very heavy as she leaned against the wall.  The moon
had almost set now and the shadows no longer danced along the walls of
the room.  If Ryouga had chanced to look behind herself on the wall, she
would have seen the shadows of several figures clustered around her
head.  The figures seemed to be in deep discussion over something.  One
female shadow with a regal manner motioned with an arm to another
shadow.  This shadow opened the form of a bag from which sprinkled dark
motes upon Ryouga's head.  As the motes merged into Ryouga's own shadow,
her head fell forward and she fell into a quiet, restful, and dreamless
sleep.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------


Ja ne,

Mike Allen
http://home1.gte.net/allenmk

Last, but not least, thanks to my pre-readers.