Insertion

 

 Part 76

 

 Chinese Connections!

 

++++++++++++

 

 Ryoga Hibiki was having a bad day; his life in general had sucked 
recently. Unfortunately, this wasn't something he could blame Ranma for. Well, 
not technically anyway. Almost all of the women were in a foul mood, and he was 
beat up yet again. Fortunately, Usagi had saved him from death at the hands of 
her parents.

 

 He had been hoping to sneak out of the room early, before the adults 
woke up, but found himself staring right at Yohiko as he walked out of the room. 
The woman had cracked her knuckles and frowned at him. Running proved fruitless 
as Carrot stepped out of the room as well. He was somewhat sympathetic, but 
wasn't about to get in his lover's way.

 

 She had caught him easily and started to pound him with in an inch of 
his life. Usagi had come out, and the woman had yelled at her. A few moments 
later, Plum and Ukyo came out of their room. Neither of them was in a good mood 
either, and he wasn't sure why.

 

 To make a long story short, the Musk would have to rebuild that 
hallway. In the end, Usagi had come to his rescue. She shifted the blame to Ukyo 
and Plum. The woman reluctantly accepted the explanation, but kept giving him 
dirty looks.

 

 The two girls somehow thought he had conspired against them in 
something that he couldn't figure out. His life was hell again.

 

 Naturally, Ukyo had been somewhat amused when she'd discovered his 
relations with Usagi after her mother told everyone within earshot about it in 
her angry ranting. Still, everyone was leaving him alone now, and that suited 
him fine.

 

 They were now walking through the forest again, with Herb in their 
party now. Carrot was scouting ahead of them a short distance away. He wished he 
could as well. Everyone around him was female, and not one of them was very 
friendly at the moment. Usagi was avoiding him, Yohiko was giving him nasty 
looks, Plum and Ukyo were plotting revenge for supposedly tricking them into 
that room, and Herb was generally disgusted with her situation in general. He 
was tied to a line that Plum was holding and following at the rear.

 

 "Why are you a girl anyway?" asked Yohiko as she turned to look at 
Herb.

 

 "I didn't bother changing when we left," replied the girl irritably. 
"I've found that outside my home, I can rarely keep my male form for 
long."

 

 "Well, I suppose it is a curse," replied Yohiko with a small 
shrug.

 

 Ryoga didn't like the sound of that one bit. He kept quiet though and 
continued to follow. 

 

 "How much farther is it?" asked Usagi as she glanced back at him for 
a moment.

 

 "Not very," replied Plum. "A few more miles at most."

 

 "I can see it," said Carrot as they caught up with him. He was 
standing on a hilltop looking into a valley just below them. He pointed and they 
all noticed several small plumes of smoke rising into the air. The village was 
still hidden by the terrain, but it wasn't very far at all. "We should make it 
within an hour or two if we keep this pace.

 

 "Can we just fly?" asked Usagi.

 

 "I don't think it would be a good idea for you to use those wings of 
yours right now," said Herb. "Especially given our current situation. They may 
know of what's going on already. They would have found out before us if 
something happened."

 

 "He's right, it's better to walk," agreed Yohiko. 

 

 "Man," grumbled the girl as she hung her head.

 

 "We should be careful, I don't want to end up like Ranma did when he 
came here," said Ryoga as he narrowed his eyes.

 

 "You and me both," agreed Carrot.

 

 "We have it worse than you do," commented Herb lazily.

 

 "Oh really? How many Amazon wives do you have in your village?" 
snorted Carrot.

 

 "None, they don't make good wives," replied Herb with a small 
snort.

 

 "I'd take being female over that any day," said the boy as he looked 
at the village again.

 

 "Shampoo wasn't that bad," muttered Ryoga.

 

 "No? Wait until we get closer and you see how men are treated around 
here," said Carrot as he smirked at the boy.

 

 The group started forward again and walked towards the village.

 

+++++++++++++

 

 Herb stood in front of them, staring at the two young girls in front 
of them. "They're telling us to stop," she translated.

 

 "I know, I speak Chinese," said Carrot calmly.

 

 "You do?" said Usagi in shock. She looked at the girls in confusion. 
They were wearing light armor, and had spears in their grasps. Neither one of 
them looked particularly clean.

 

 "Yes, I know Mandarin as well," agreed Yohiko.

 

 "That's a big help," said Ryoga with a small sigh.

 

 "It makes things easier," agreed Ukyo.

 

 "You never said anything," said Usagi as she looked at her mother for 
a moment.

 

 "I never needed too," replied Yohiko.

 

 "Yggdrasil is a wonderful thing sometimes," commented Carrot.

 

 "What?" asked Herb in confusion.

 

 "Inside joke," said Carrot as he jerked his thumb at Yohiko.

 

 "Oh," replied the king with a small sigh.

 

 "You! You're trespassing!" said one of the girls as she stepped 
forward and pointed her spear at Carrot. She was still speaking Mandarin, and 
the three Japanese teens in the group had no idea what was going on.

 

 "I've got business here," replied Carrot calmly. "Where is Elder 
Cologne?"

 

 The girl frowned at this and stepped back. "What do you want with 
her?"

 

 "Do you have any idea who it is you're speaking too?" snarled Herb 
angrily.

 

 "Please don't tell me you're going to tell them you're a king when 
you look like that," said Carrot as he turned to face her. He sighed and turned 
back towards the girls. "Tell her that some old friends from Japan have come to 
see her with distressing news."

 

 "What news?" snapped the girl. She had backed off somewhat 
though.

 

 "Don't say it," grumbled Yohiko.

 

 "Now that, is a secret," replied Carrot calmly.

 

 "Why should I?" replied the girl indignantly.

 

 "This could take a while," said Plum with a small sigh to Ryoga, 
Ukyo, and Usagi.

 

 "What's going on?" asked Usagi. "She looks mad."

 

 "She's being...difficult," said Plum as she frowned. 

 

 "What should we do?" asked Ryoga.

 

 "Maybe we should be difficult," growled Ukyo as she fingered one of 
her throwing spatulas for a moment.

 

 "Do you want to attack them?" snorted the girl as she turned her gaze 
on him. "Remember what happens if you beat them."

 

 "Not really," said the lost boy with a nervous swallow.

 

 Ukyo reluctantly relented and put her hand back down to her 
side.

 

 The adults were quickly growing annoyed with the guards, but had so 
far restrained from any physical confrontation.

 

 The girl smiled at Carrot and pointed at him. "If you want to get by, 
you'll have to beat me!"

 

 "Right, like I'm that stupid. I'm not here to play 'trap the man' 
with you little girl. I've got important news that will endanger your entire 
tribe if you spend all day playing around with me."

 

 "Just tell her and be done with it!" snapped Herb. 

 

 "No," said Carrot as he turned to glare at the two women. "I don't 
like her attitude. If she wants to fight, fine. I'll just kill her and we'll be 
on our way. I doubt Cologne will be very angry with us when we tell her what 
this is about."

 

 "You're probably right about that," agreed Herb honestly.

 

 This caught the two girls by surprise. "What?"

 

 "Enough, stop teasing them," said an amused sounding voice from the 
bushes.

 

 "I was wondering how long it would take you to show your face old 
bat," said Carrot cheerfully.

 

 "How dare you!?" snarled one of the two girls as she stepped 
forward.

 

 "Stop! Leave them be! They are too dangerous for the likes of you," 
snapped Cologne as she hopped out in front of them and eyed them both coldly. 
The old woman switched to Japanese and faced the group with a smile on her face. 
"So tell me, what brings you and the King of the Musk here?"

 

 "Jusendo, and Mount Phoenix," replied Yohiko as she stared at the 
woman seriously.

 

 "So, it's that time is it?" said Cologne with a small sigh.

 

 "Yeah, we've come to beat up Saffron," said Carrot cheerfully. "Isn't 
that nice?"

 

 "You'll be killed," responded Cologne.

 

 "Maybe," replied Carrot with a small smirk.

 

 "You know something though, don't you boy?" asked Cologne.

 

 "How did you know we were here?" asked Yohiko as she interrupted the 
pair.

 

 "A man came and told us of you," said Cologne. "A friend of yours? He 
was a powerful sorcerer. Scared the council half to death when he appeared in 
the middle of our weekly meeting. I imagine many of them would have gotten 
themselves killed if he hadn't managed to get our attention so quickly."

 

 "Told you about Jusendo?" asked Carrot.

 

 "Yes, among other things," replied the old woman with a small 
shrug.

 

 "So you already know then," said Carrot as he shook his head and 
sighed. "That idiot Xellos."

 

 "Yes, that is the name he gave us," replied Cologne. "Who is he? What 
is his relationship to you? Many of my sisters are still quite upset. A male in 
the council chambers is unheard of."

 

 "Xellos? He's, not exactly human," said Carrot in Mandarin.

 

 "What?" asked Usagi as she looked up at her parents. "What's this 
about Uncle Xellos?" It was the only word she had understood in what her father 
had just said.

 

 "She doesn't know?" queried Cologne in her native tongue.

 

 "No," replied Carrot calmly.

 

 "I see. Come, we'll talk in the village," said Cologne as she 
motioned for them to follow.

 

+++++++++++++

 

 Ryoga sat on the dusty floor with Usagi and Plum just outside the 
room where the adults were talking. They were in Cologne's home and it was 
starting to get dark.

 

 "I wouldn't wish it on my worst enemy," muttered Ryoga dumbly.

 

 "What's with him?" asked Usagi.

 

 "I dunno," replied Plum.

 

 Ukyo looked at them from the far corner and said nothing. She had a 
pretty good idea what he was upset about, but remained distanced from them. she 
turned her head away and leaned against the wall.

 

 Ryoga looked at them for a moment and shook his head. "Ranma, even 
you wouldn't deserve this place! I don't see how Mousse could stand it!" His 
respect for the blind martial artist had risen enormously. Everywhere he turned, 
he had seen the men of the village. They were doing things that were considered 
women's work by Japanese standards. Not that it was all that bad, but some of 
the other things he'd seen disturbed him. There was a whorehouse with male 
prostitutes. Slaves pulling carts, following women who ruled over them with 
fists, as nothing but property, cattle.

 

 Outwardly it didn't appear all that bad. However, someone as 
experienced as he was in the art, and as familiar with depression as he was. The 
signs were all around him. Men were nursing injuries that were neglected and 
ignored, the eyes of dead men staring at him from all around him. Many of them 
were once fighters like himself. They moved like broken men, but also men 
trained to fight. There were a few well-treated men as well, but it was also 
easy to see that most of them were kept in line by force.

 

 "Usagi," he said softly.

 

 "Yes?" she asked as she turned to look at him.

 

 "Promise me, no matter what happens, you won't let me get lost in 
this place."

 

 The girl blinked in surprise and looked at Plum for a moment. "Um, 
sure. I promise."

 

+++++++++++++

 

 "This place disgusts me," said Carrot as he stood staring out a 
window at the village.

 

 "Hmmm," said Cologne calmly as she sipped at her tea. "This Xellos, 
tell me about him?"

 

 "He's a monster," said Yohiko calmly. "An old acquaintance of ours. 
He shouldn't be trusted."

 

 "Oh?" asked Cologne as she arched her eyebrow. "He told us to trust 
what you had to say."

 

 "He's got his own agenda. He's a strange one, he won't lie to you, 
but he won't tell you everything either," said Carrot. "He's actually not all 
that bad as monster's go."

 

 "He was strong, but a monster?" snorted Cologne.

 

 "We're here to help stop a Phoenix God, is a Monster that much of a 
stretch?" replied Yohiko. She was sitting across from Herb at the table on 
either side of Cologne.

 

 "We don't have time for this," snorted the King irritably.

 

 "We have more than you think, I doubt if they've even made it back 
yet," said Carrot calmly.

 

 "What makes you say that?" asked Yohiko.

 

 "Because, I just felt them pass by about two miles north of us. I 
wonder what took them so long. They flew here." Carrot was looking off towards 
the north at a wall.

 

 "You can feel them?" asked Cologne.

 

 "Yes," said Carrot as he smirked at her. "I can do a lot of things. 
I'd explain more, but we don't really have time. Like she said." He nodded at 
Herb and smirked.

 

 The girl growled slightly, but let it pass. "We should hurry."

 

 "It's late. You'll stay for the evening," said Cologne. "We have much 
to discuss."

 

 "Sending an army to fight Saffron would be useless," said Carrot 
calmly. "We're more interested in passing through your lands than asking for 
help."

 

 Cologne frowned at this but nodded. "I understand. However, it is 
late, and they won't do anything until tomorrow. They can't see well in the 
dark. If they haven't made it back yet, they will land until morning. Even if 
they do, they will not start their plans until daylight."

 

 "I don't like this place," said Carrot as he frowned at the window 
again. 

 

 "Making you uncomfortable?" asked Yohiko with a small chuckle.

 

 "I am uneasy as well," agreed Herb.

 

 "You are safe with me," said Cologne.

 

 "I'm not worried about my safety," replied Carrot as he looked at her 
again. "I'm more worried one of your women will do something stupid and get 
herself killed."

 

 Cologne arched her eyebrow at this and sighed. "It's not all that 
bad. Our men are not..."

 

 "Don't try to justify this with me Cologne," said Carrot coldly. "I 
know a broken spirit when I see one, and I've seen dozens just walking to your 
home."

 

 "Hmmm, it is our way to remain strong," she replied with a calm ease 
about her.

 

 "Yes," responded Carrot coldly. "It's mine to remain free."

 

 "What are you worried about?" asked Cologne as she looked at Yohiko 
for a moment. She paused suddenly. "Something is different."

 

 "We're stuck like this," said Yohiko with a small nod. "We aren't 
sure why just yet."

 

 Cologne's face turned into a small grin and she chuckled. "Well, I'm 
sure you'll find out soon enough. It's probably best if I say nothing."

 

 "You know something?" asked Carrot as he turned to look at her.

 

 "I do, but as I said. It is not the time for such things," replied 
the woman as she stared at him for a moment. "Your auras are different. Perhaps 
there is more to this technique of yours than you're letting on?"

 

 "That's our business," said Carrot as he turned away from the 
window.

 

 "So, we will remain here for the evening then?" asked Herb.

 

 "Not much choice," said Yohiko with a small nod.

 

 "It is early yet, there will be a meeting in a short time to discuss 
this. Until then, I offer you my home."

 

 "Thanks," said Carrot with a small sigh. 

 

 "Yes," agreed Yohiko.

 

 "You have my gratitude," agreed Herb.

 

 "Where is Shampoo?" asked Carrot as he smirked at her. "They'd never 
admit it, but I think Ukyo and Ryoga might like to see her again. Mousse as 
well."

 

 Cologne looked up at him for a moment. "I suppose they would."

 

 "Yes, it would give the children something to do besides sit around 
while we talk," agreed Yohiko with a small sigh. 

 

 "I suppose you're right," agreed Cologne. "I'll have them summoned 
and let them show the children around a bit."

 

 "Right," said Carrot with a small shrug.

 

+++++++++++

 

 Ryoga looked up and frowned as a pair of familiar faces walked into 
the room. 

 

 Ukyo had sat up at their entrance and frowned slightly. She had no 
real interest in either of them, but she knew both Mousse and Shampoo.

 

 The nearly blind martial artist had a look of euphoric happiness on 
his face as he followed Shampoo. "To think, the elders sent me with Shampoo! 
Could it be that they have finally acknowledged my love for her?"

 

 "Stupid Mousse! Shampoo bring you because you know pig boy and 
spatula girl too!" snapped the Amazon as she turned to stare at them. She didn't 
look particularly pleased to be there, but not upset either.

 

 "What are you doing here?" asked Ukyo coldly.

 

 "Pig boy?" said Usagi as she turned towards her cousin.

 

 "It's...nothing," muttered Ryoga lamely.

 

 Plum smiled at the girl and bowed as she stood up in greeting. "It is 
a pleasure, Honored Customer! I am Plum."

 

 "Who this is?" asked Shampoo as she blinked at the two unfamiliar 
faces. 

 

 "Miss Yohiko's daughter, and the daughter of the Guide from 
Jusenkyo," said Ukyo as she stood up as well. "I take it they want you to show 
us around or something?"

 

 "Shampoo told to give tour," replied the girl with a small nod. "Keep 
safe from other villagers, no worries."

 

 "I have been told to assist her as well," agreed Mousse. "I wish I 
could say I was glad to see you again, but our pasts are not the kind one wishes 
to remember."

 

 Ryoga nodded. "I'd rather sit here and be bored," he snorted 
irritably. "I've got no desire to wander around this place."

 

 "Well I don't want to wait on the adults to finish all day," snorted 
Usagi. "Anything is better than sitting in this room. I'll bet they're planning 
on staying the night."

 

 Ryoga stared at her a moment and cursed under his breath. Ukyo 
appeared to have the same mindset. Plum was indifferent. He had to go, rather 
than risk being by himself. "All right. You'd better not lose me though."

 

 Usagi shrugged and grabbed his arm. "Come on, don't be such a 
whiner."

 

 "Shampoo show market and training ground, not much else to see," said 
the Amazon with a small shrug.

 

 "Let's get this over with," grumbled Ukyo.

 

 The group walked out of the home and into the dusty street.

 

+++++++++++++

 

 "So, we're here," said Yohiko as she snorted at Carrot.

 

 "It wasn't what I expected," replied the man. They were sitting in 
the room the Amazon's had given them and waiting patiently. Soon someone would 
come to summon them. As it was, Herb was speaking with the elders. "Last time I 
saw this place was a tournament, some sort of festival. It wasn't this 
bad."

 

 "Hmmmm," agreed Yohiko. "Most of the villages around here don't care 
for them, but there isn't much that can be done."

 

 "You lived in this area?" asked Carrot as he turned to look at her 
for a moment. He had forgotten that once she had been native to this 
region.

 

 "No, I was further to the South, we knew about them though. Go a 
little farther out and no one will know what you're talking about if you ask 
them about this place."

 

 "Maybe we should visit the place when this is over?" asked Carrot 
with a small shrug.

 

 "Why? Everyone I knew died over a thousand years ago," replied Yohiko 
with a small shrug. "If it's even still there at all that is."

 

 "Good point," said Carrot with a small shrug. "Still, I don't like 
this set up. I think these women are up to something."

 

 "Working with the enemy?" asked Yohiko.

 

 "No, I doubt it. Cologne's not that stupid," replied the man calmly 
as he sat down on the small cot-like bed. "This is something else."

 

 "Life here wouldn't be that bad for me, but even I'm not cruel enough 
to put you on them," said the woman with a small snort as she looked out the 
tiny window. 

 

 "I'd kill them within a month, or die trying," said Carrot 
cheerfully. "Not a bad deal considering."

 

 "Talking like that is bound to get us into trouble," said Yohiko as 
she turned to stare at him for a moment. "You've been wagging your tongue a bit 
too much for my comfort around here."

 

 "Maybe you're right," said Carrot a little thoughtfully. "I should 
tone it down a bit around here."

 

 There was a knock at the door and a young girl walked into the room 
and bowed. "Elder Cologne will see you now, leave your male here."

 

 Carrot chuckled at this. "Her male? Jeez this place is 
backwards."

 

 Yohiko growled at the comment and started walking behind the girl. 
Once they were out in the hall, she spoke up. "I suggest that you put the word 
around not to bother him child. He's very dangerous to your kind, and he doesn't 
care much for your village."

 

 "Ha! You don't know the strength of my..."

 

 "I know it very well child. That man defeated King Herb and his Queen 
alone, with his bare hands."

 

 The girl fell silent. "I see...why are you here?"

 

 "If the elders want you to know, they will tell you. We are not 
staying long, and we will leave in the morning."

 

+++++++++++

 

 Cologne sat in a small chamber and smiled as Yohiko walked into the 
room. "Spreading rumors again?"

 

 "Carrot is edgy, that makes him very dangerous," replied 
Yohiko.

 

 "Carrot?" asked the woman. "Ah, I see. Could he not be a woman as 
well if he chose?"

 

 "Our daughter doesn't know about the curses," replied the woman 
calmly. 

 

 Cologne shook her head and sighed. "I see."

 

 "That explains a lot," said Herb. "Not why there are two of you 
though."

 

 "We discovered a technique to split ourselves into separate bodies. 
Something went wrong recently, and we haven't figured out what happened 
yet."

 

 Herb snorted in surprise. "A technique?"

 

 "Yes, a technique. It only lasted a few hours at first, but we've 
been stuck like this for a few days. There is another, but he was captured by 
the enemy. Brainwashed into serving them."

 

 "Yes, I recall you mentioning that there were three of you," said 
Cologne.

 

 "It's not important right now. He is the least of our worries," said 
Yohiko.

 

 "Herb, leave us," said Cologne. 

 

 The man nodded his head and left the room.

 

 "I thought we were going to discuss some sort of plan?" said 
Yohiko.

 

 "The Amazons can do little to help you," said the old woman with a 
small sigh. "Old women like myself, and Shampoo are our strongest 
warriors."

 

 "Don't you mean Mousse?" said Yohiko calmly.

 

 "Mousse is skilled, but is not considered a warrior," replied the old 
woman carefully. 

 

 "Well trained for someone in this village, especially a male," 
replied Yohiko as she narrowed her eyes at the woman.

 

 "Indeed, Mousse's father had hoped his son would escape, where he 
could not. Unfortunately, the boy fell in love, and ruined his plans."

 

 "Heh, you won't be able to string him along forever. Sooner or later, 
Shampoo will find someone. You'll lose him, or her husband I think."

 

 "It is a delicate situation," agreed Cologne. "Still, the boy is 
within the laws so far. We can do little to stop him."

 

 "I doubt that," said Yohiko. "He's been hounding Shampoo since I met 
him."

 

 "You're smarter than I'd hoped you were. Still, Mousse has uses to 
us, when he does not, we'll be rid of him."
 
 "I see," said the 
woman with a small nod. 

 

 "I was going to return to Japan to speak with you, but you've come 
here. Very convenient for me."

 

 Yohiko blinked at this statement. "What for?"

 

 "We want you to join us. You show all the qualities of a great 
Amazon. Your intelligence and strength are great, and you would easily become a 
part of the council. Your skills as a teacher did not escape our notice 
either."

 

 Yohiko frowned slightly. "You want me to join you?"

 

 "Yes, we could use a woman like you in the village. I am working on 
updating our culture a bit. Modern life impressed me more than I had thought it 
would."

 

 "What? Running water?" snorted Yohiko roughly. "Wow, I'm 
impressed."

 

 "Among other things," said Cologne cheerfully. "There are a lot of 
improvements we can make without disrupting our society. Plumbing is one I think 
will easily become accepted. As well as a small electrical plant for a few other 
things."

 

 "Well, I'm sorry to say that I must decline. I have a family to think 
about after all."

 

 "Your daughter is already here, and she would become greatly 
respected."

 

 "I don't agree with your way of life, I'd be disruptive more than 
helpful," replied Yohiko calmly. 

 

 "Oh?" asked Cologne carefully. "Your man seems to be well under your 
control. I don't see a problem."

 

 "Carrot is hardly under my control," replied Yohiko with another 
snort. "And he isn't my man, just the father of my children. We do not get along 
well."

 

 "Herb tells me differently," replied Cologne with a small 
shrug.

 

 "Herb confuses passion with love," said the woman sharply. "Carrot 
has his own agenda in this, and I'm not sure what it is."

 

 "So, I was right all along. You are separate," replied Cologne with a 
smirk forming on her face.

 

 Yohiko frowned at this. "Not exactly."

 

 "Three minds, one body," said Carrot as he walked into the room and 
chuckled. "Well, five minds technically."

 

 Cologne gasped as she stared at him. "What are you doing here?"

 

 "Spying on you. I figured you were up to something," replied Carrot 
with a shrug. "Didn't expect this though."

 

 The old woman narrowed her eyes at the man and snorted. "I suppose 
there's no harm. It seems I'm not going to persuade her differently at this 
time."

 

 "Or ever. We're schizophrenic, the multiform technique allowed us to 
split up our personalities and take a break from each other for a little while. 
Getting stuck like this was unexpected though," said Carrot as he leaned against 
the doorway. "In any case, I understand you aren't going to be much help after 
all."

 

 "We can do little against the warriors of Mount Phoenix. Their 
ability to fly would prevent us from even holding them back. They'd just fly 
over any opposition we'd set against you. Plus, we are not foolish enough to 
believe we can beat them."

 

 "You might have been useful as a distraction, but otherwise I hadn't 
expected much else," replied Carrot with a small shrug. 

 

 Yohiko blinked and turned her head. "Is that Ryoga?"

 

 "What?" said the boy dumbly.

 

 "I felt something," said Yohiko with a frown on her face. "Oh 
shit."

 

 "What is this?" asked Cologne as she turned her head. 

 

 "Hell," grumbled Carrot as he left the room and took off, Yohiko was 
right behind him.

 

++++++++++++++

 

 "Is training ground," said Shampoo as she pointed at a large open 
patch of dirt. There were several girls of different ages working on various 
wooden poles and training dummies. There wasn't a class going on at the moment 
though. The group moved through and looked around at the display the training 
girls were giving.

 

 Several of the older girls paused as the group walked through. They 
eyed both Ukyo and Ryoga for a moment.

 

 Finally, one of the larger girls walked up to the group. She was a 
little overweight, but the huge pair of maces she held in her grip told them 
that she was very strong. She said something to them and they all paused.

 

 "It's a formal challenge," said Mousse. He responded in Mandarin and 
the girl's face fell. She growled and snorted in disgust as she looked them over 
again.

 

 "You! Male! Fight me!"

 

 "What?" asked Ryoga as he blinked at her.

 

 "Not you! Him!" snapped the girl as she pointed at Ukyo.

 

 "Great," grumbled the girl as she stepped back. "Look hon, I'm 
not..."

 

 "Not turning down Amazon challenge," said Plum.

 

 Shampoo chuckled and said something in Mandarin to the girl. She 
blinked and dropped her pointing finger to her side. A huge blush crossed her 
face and she growled angrily. "Fine! This one then!"

 

 Usagi pulled Ryoga's arm a little tighter and frowned. "He's 
taken."

 

 "What?" said the boy as he looked at her.

 

 "Well, Akari right?" she whispered at him. 

 

 "Oh," said the lost boy as his face flooded with relief.

 

 "Not good idea," commented Shampoo. 

 

 "You're challenging her right," said Mousse. 

 

 "What?" said Usagi as she blinked at him.

 

 "A counter challenge," replied the boy with a shrug. "You just made 
sure we can't help you."

 

 "You're supposed to be stopping this sort of thing!" cried the girl 
as she glared at them.

 

 "If kept mouth shut, would have," responded Shampoo with a 
shrug.

 

 Usagi turned to look at the large girl and frowned. "So? I have to 
fight her?"

 

 "No! She'll get the kiss of death!" cried Ryoga as he put himself in 
front of her.

 

 "Only if win," said Shampoo. "Doesn't have to beat pig boy to have as 
husband if win either."

 

 "You're screwed," said Plum as she looked up at the boy.

 

 "Kiss of death?" asked Usagi.

 

 The Amazon girl cracked her knuckles and chuckled as she glared at 
the skinny pink-haired girl. "Break."

 

 Shampoo held up her hand for a moment causing the girl to pause. She 
frowned and backed off for a moment. It was obvious Shampoo wasn't going to stop 
this. "Is promise to hunt to ends of earth and kill. If outsider defeat Amazon 
warrior, and not male, then must be given."

 

 "What? A death match?" cried Usagi in shock.

 

 "Not exactly," muttered Ryoga nervously.

 

 "I can take care of this," said Ukyo firmly. "I never liked the 
Amazon's much anyway. After I take care of Ranma, the Musk will be after me 
anyway."

 

 "No," said Ukyo as she steeled herself. "I know I can win, that's not 
the problem. I don't want to kill her though."

 

 "Weak girl not beat Lo Xian," replied Shampoo.

 

 "Don't bet on that," muttered Ryoga under his breath. 

 

 "Stupid! Fight now! No waiting!" snapped Lo Xian irritably.

 

 Shampoo shrugged and stepped aside.

 

 "Wait!" cried Usagi.

 

 The Chinese girl jumped forward with her mace extended in a 
strike.

 

 Everyone quickly backed away as Usagi reacted without thinking. She 
was covered in a black substance that deflected the blow. It slowly slid across 
her body, changing colors as it moved. After a second, she was dressed in a 
familiar fuku with dozens of long ribbons floating in the air and holding the 
unfortunate Amazon in the air above her. "Stop it right now!" screamed Usagi 
angrily. 

 

 Lo Xian was tossed aside and landed against one of the practice 
poles, snapping it in two. 

 

 Usagi growled and faced her again, ready for another attack. "Still 
want to fight?"

 

 "Aiya!" cried Shampoo in shock.

 

 "What is this?" muttered Mousse dumbly.

 

 "Calm down!" cried Ryoga as he stepped between the pair.

 

 Lo Xian stood up and stared with her jaw hanging down. She took a 
step back, and then turned around in a full sprint away from the scene.

 

 "Why not just tell Shampoo you do that?"

 

 Ukyo and Plum both pat the girl on her back. "Good job."

 

 "Yes, you did very well!" agreed Plum.

 

 "What the hell is going on?" cried Carrot as he dropped out of the 
sky and folded his wings behind his back. 

 

 "Oh, hi daddy," muttered Usagi sheepishly.

 

 "Stupid Amazon laws," muttered Ukyo irritably.

 

 "Is not stupid!" cried Shampoo.

 

 "What the hell?" muttered Yohiko as she walked up from her own 
landing just behind Carrot.

 

 "What the hell were you going to do with that?" snapped Carrot as he 
looked at Ryoga for a moment.

 

 "Huh?" 

 

 "I felt that Shishi houkoudan across the village!" snorted the man 
irritably.

 

 "I'm sorry, I got scared," replied the boy sheepishly. 

 

 "I thought you two were here to stop this sort of thing!" cried 
Yohiko as she glared at the Amazon teens.

 

 "It was a technicality, Usagi challenged her challenge. We couldn't 
do anything after that," said Mousse with a shrug.

 

 "It was an accident!" cried Usagi as she looked at her parent's 
glares. 

 

 "That doesn't surprise me, I think their entire law system is written 
around trapping men," said Carrot with a small snort. He turned around and 
noticed that there were Amazons looking at them all over the place. Most of them 
were not looking very friendly.

 

 "Where the hell is Herb anyway?" snorted Yohiko as she ignored 
them.

 

 "Right here," said the Musk King. He was male again and scowled at 
them all. "It's getting late, we should get some sleep." He walked up with 
Cologne and sighed. "This is all that stands between the world and total 
destruction."

 

 Cologne was silent. She hadn't been expecting her guests to sprout 
wings and nearly kill one of her young warriors. She was expecting the girl 
would get smacked around a bit, and she'd have to intervene and debunk the 
marriage claims. This was much more than she had expected though. 

 

 "What is this?"

 

 "Family secret," said Carrot as his wings melted into his back. 


 

 "Ryoga?" she said as she narrowed her eyes at him.

 

 "Immediate family," corrected Carrot. 

 

 "I see," said Cologne as she nodded. "It would be wise for you to 
spend the rest of the night indoors, and then be on your way tomorrow."

 

 "Yes, We've got to get to Mount Phoenix," agreed Yohiko with a small 
snort.

 

 "Come then," said Cologne as she motioned for them to follow.

 

 "Right," said Carrot as he nodded and walked after her.

 

 "Dope," grumbled Yohiko.

 

+++++++++++++

 

 TBC...

 

 Next Time: The Hot Springs Devil Strikes!

 


 

 

--- carrotglace@mindspring.com 

--- EarthLink: It's your Internet.


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