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-- Attached file included as plaintext by Ecartis --
-- File: Shampoo'sChance1.txt

[fic][Ranma][Shampoo's Chance Spirit of the law]
Disclaimer:  See prologue
All previous chapters as well as the most recent copies of my other 
works may be found at fanfiction.net


Shampoo's Chance:  Spirit of the Law

Chapter 1


       *CHRING*  Those who lived between the Cat Cafe and the Tendo 
Dojo had long ago come to dread that particular sound which sent them 
instinctively diving for cover.  Shampoo paid them no mind as she 
zipped down the street, humming a pleasant ditty that was quite in 
contrast to the panicked screams of those scrambling to avoid what the 
locals referred to in terrified whispers as "The Bicycle of Death."  Even 
the motorists went out of there way to avoid the purple haired cyclist; 
for those who dared to challenge the bike's right of way, confident that 
it would yield to their superior size, had discovered themselves the ones 
totaled in the resulting collision, and the bike miraculously unscathed.  

      Shampoo smirked at the rabbles panic.  However unnecessary it 
was, it helped heighten the thrill that made biking so enjoyable.  In 
truth, she was the cyclist who posed the least inherent danger to these 
cowardly commoners (indirect danger, from panicking pedestrians and 
vehicles, was another matter entirely).  Her bike and her were like one 
organism in perfect harmony.  It's every movement was a perfect 
reflection of her will.  No one would be hit, unless, that is, she intended 
to hit them.  Speaking of which, she had reached the Tendo Dojo.  And 
on the other side of the wall she could hear the angry yells of Akane as 
she demolished defenseless bricks.

      Smirking even more, Shampoo carefully aimed her bike toward her 
target and sped straight toward the thick brick wall at what appeared to 
be a suicidal speed.  But Shampoo did not splatter against the wall.  
Instead, in apparent disregard for physics, the wall exploded before the 
exuberant amazons charge.  Akane heard the wall give way behind her, 
but she knew that meant it was to late to do anything but flinch and 
extend her pinkies/index fingers.  

      All she felt was something brush quickly through her hair... and then 
nothing?!  It took a moment for Akane to realize she hadn't been hit.  
"Wha...?"

      "Hehe.  Akane should seen face.  Shampoo make flinch good!"  
gloated the Amazon, hands on the handlebars that she'd turned to the 
side at the last moment.  

      "Why you little..." growled Akane as she advanced angrily toward 
Shampoo, then let out an EEP!  as the Amazon popped a wheelie that 
came within a hair width of taking off her nose.  

      "Shampoo gottcha'gin.  Akane never learn it seem," laughed the 
Amazon as she teased her hyperventilating rival.    

      "I'm going to kill that bike!"  screamed Akane as she attempted to 
introduce Shampoo's bike to her mallet (her anger level having just 
reached the critical mass needed to summon it).  All she hit was air of 
course, the veins popping up all over her head had given Shampoo 
plenty of advance warning.  And now Akane had taken the first serious 
swing, which made her fair game;  if anyone asked it could be excused 
as self defense.  Or rather bike defense.

      Shampoo's flip sent the back wheel of the bike thudding into the 
back of Akane's skull and knocked her flat on her face.  To add insult 
(and more injury) to injury, Shampoo landed the bike on top of her 
fallen foe.  "Akane should no threaten bike, even bike fight better than 
Akane.  Way to go bike!  You teach violent girl lesson good," crooned 
Shampoo as she patted the handlebar with mock affection.  

      Whistling a little victory tune, Shampoo started to walk over to the 
house, then stopped as she felt someone staring daggers at her back.  
"D-don't... think... I'm... beat... yet..." snarled Akane as she rose slowly 
to her feet.

      "Hmmm.  Shampoo give you credit.  Akane tougher and dumber 
than me think.  When you learn no can beat Shampoo?"  Akane knew 
Shampoo was right, but there was no way in hell she was going to hear, 
or accept, it from that bitch. Her fingers curled up into a trembling fist.  
All she asked for was one clean hit.  She'd gladly get the crap beat out 
of her if she could just deck that arrogant Amazon's smirking face.  
With a desperate battle cry Akane launched herself at Shampoo.  

      "Akane?" said Shampoo, slightly concerned, as she evaded blow 
after blow.  "Shampoo thinking you taking way to serious."  

      Taking serious.  It was all some game to them, wasn't it?  They 
never took her seriously.  With each blow that Shampoo casually 
dodged, Akane could feel her anger building.  She hated it when they 
toyed with her, just to remind her how inferior she was.  Damn it, she 
used to be the Martial Arts Queen of Nerima.  Now she was just a joke.  
She'd show them.    

      "Hmmm.  You _is_ serious, neh?  Akane have warrior spirit, but 
waste to much time what with breaking bricks..." suddenly Shampoo 
slipped past Akane's fist and the two girls were face to face, "Against 
moving target need aim where going to be, not where is."

      Shampoo's words hit Akane full force and momentarily stopped her 
as she blinked in surprise.  So that was her mistake.  She could break all 
the bricks she wanted and it wouldn't do her a wit of good against agile 
opponents like Shampoo and Ranma.  Her problem was none of her 
opponents had ever required her to improve her aim.  Her dad had 
became useless for practice years ago because he couldn't fight her for 
real.  Kuno's delusions kept him from lowering himself to dodging;  
that was for cowardly lesser mortals who weren't invincible and didn't 
have a flawless opening strike that would vanquish any foe. The mob of 
boys at school had just been chaff far below her level And there had 
been no way in hell that anyone could miss the dojo destroyer.  

      But why was Shampoo... "I'm so pathetic that your taking pity on 
me, is that it?" thought Akane angrily.  "Your feeling sorry enough for 
weak little Akane that'll you'll stoop to giving her advice, neh?  I'll 
show you.  "Aim where going to be", right?"  Akane stepped back and 
launched a double fisted attack at both sides of Shampoo's head.  She 
didn't care that'd it'd leave her wide open.  All she wanted to do was 
for once hit that arrogant bitch.            

      So she was quite disappointed when her two fists landed beside 
Shampoo's face.  "Wha... No fair!  Y-you... were supposed to... try and 
dodge," sputtered an incredulous Akane at the unmoved Amazon.

      "Foooled you!"  announced Shampoo as she tapped Akane on the 
forehead with just enough force to knock the overextended girl off 
balance.  Akane windmilled her arms in a desperate attempt to right 
herself, but gravity and inertia won out and sent her crashing down into 
the dirt once again. As the dust cleared she was greeted by the sight of 
Shampoo trying (rather unsuccessfully) to hold back her giggles.

      Akane still had a dumbfounded expression on her face, but then to 
Shampoo's surprise, her lip half curled up into a smirk.  "Heh.  Okay.  
That was a good one Shampoo, but cheap.  HIYAAH!"  

      Shampoo noted that Akane was trying to track her movements.  At 
first her blows were uneven and awkward, as she tried to adjust to the 
different mindset that anticipatory attacks required, but with each 
passing moment they became more rapid and confident.  Soon Akane 
was grinning as she unleashed a torrent of fists and feet against 
Shampoo, who actually had to put some effort into her dodging.  This 
time Akane's defense wasn't full of holes big enough for Shampoo to 
ram her bike through either.

      Finally a split second arrived where Akane realized she knew where 
Shampoo was going to be.  "I've got you!" yelled Akane in triumph as 
she unleashed a full force roundhouse.

      "Heh.  Not bad," huffed Shampoo, a single sweat drop appearing on 
her forehead.  It was almost frightening how quickly Akane had 
improved during this short match.  "Akane actually make Shampoo 
need block."  Panting from exhaustion, Akane stared in disappointment 
at the low block which had countered her roundhouse.  Still, she 
couldn't help but feel a little bit of triumph.  Wiping the sweat from her 
brow,  she looked back up at Shampoo, cautiously smiled, and started 
to open her mouth, but before she could speak Shampoo grabbed her 
ankle and gave her an evil grin.  "But Akane no get too cocky," with a 
flick of her wrist, Shampoo sent Akane spinning through the air.  "You 
still no where near be hitting Shampoo."  Akane's sense of triumph and 
start of a good mood died right there in the dirt.  Her skill was still 
nothing next to that jerks!   

      "Oh.  Hello Shampoo-chan.  You came over here to play with 
Akane?"  asked Kasumi as she came out of the house.            

      "Nihao Kasumi!  Shampoo actually here for see Mom-in-law.  She 
here?"

      "Mom-in... oh.  She's in the laundry room right now."

      "Thanks," said Shampoo as she started to unload the take out cart 
from the back of her bike.  Reaching inside she pulled out a sweet bun 
and offered it to Kasumi.  "Here.  Right before me leave Great 
Grandma finish batch, so Shampoo bring some over."  

      "Thank you Shampoo-chan," said Kasumi as she took a bite.  
"Mmmhhh.  These are really fresh.  Give your Great Grandmother my 
compliments.  Was there something else I saw in there?" 
 
      "Hehe.  That surprise for Mom-in-law.  Hey Akane!  You wanting 
sweet bun?" Shampoo asked as she offered one to Akane, who was 
busy trying to brush all the dust off her gi.

      "Hell no!" snapped Akane as she slapped Shampoo's hand away.  
"Knowing you, it's probably poisoned or something!"  

      "Suit self," shrugged Shampoo as she stuffed the bun in her own 
mouth.  "Mmmhhhmmhh.  Is too to good," enthused Shampoo over her 
shoulder as she walked briskly away from Akane.  The Amazon started 
to head toward the house, but then stopped and cocked her ear toward 
her bike.  "What that?  You no want me leave out here with nasty mean 
violent girl?"  Shampoo nodded her head several times and then 
replied, "True, true, she what threatening for to kill you.  There, there, 
Shampoo no let violent girl touch you," assured Shampoo as she patted 
the handlebars.  "Kasumi, can Shampoo take bike in house?"

      "Certainly," replied Kasumi with a smile.  Then she leaned over 
toward the bike.  "Don't worry Mr. Bike, you can stay on the dining 
room deck.  I'll be right across the hall in the kitchen, keeping an eye 
on you."  

      "Not you too Onechan!" protested Akane.  "I'd expect this type of 
childish stupidity from Shampoo, but from you..."

      "Hush Akane, I can't hear Mr. Bike.  What was that?  Oh.  No, it's 
my pleasure to make sure your safe.  Yes, she does have a short 
temper.. 

      "Onechan!!" 

      "But she's really a good girl.  I hope you'll forgive her, you two 
could get along well.  Maybe you'll let her ride you some day, neh?"  
Shampoo suddenly went bug eyed.  "Oh my, did I say something 
wrong?"  

      "U-uh.  No," replied Shampoo nervously as she tried to figure out if 
there was anything hiding behind Kasumi's innocent smile.  Was this 
girl just a naive homemaker, or something much more devious?  
Shampoo hastily decided she was reading way to much into this.       

      "Honestly, treating that stupid bike like a guest," muttered Akane as 
Shampoo quickly wheeled her bike into the Tendo residence.  "I can't 
believe you'd team up against your own sister like that."

      "Shampoo's changed, hasn't she?" commented Kasumi as she 
watched the Amazon disappear inside the house.  

      "Hmph.  She's still the same old childish, arrogant bitch she's 
always been," huffed Akane as she headed toward the house.  Tire 
stains were such a pain to get out.  Best to get her gi in the wash rig...  
Akane stopped, deciding that was the last place she wanted to be right 
now.  Grumbling, she turned around and started looking for more 
concrete blocks to smash. 


End of Chapter 1
Please send C&C to caleb_david@angelfire.com     


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