Disclaimer: Ranma 1/2 characters property of Rumiko Takahashi. Sailormoon 
characters property of Takeuchi Naoko. Ah! My Goddess characters property of 
Fujishima Kosuke. Other characters who may cameo are property of respective 
owners.  All are used without permission. I did not write this for profit, 
but for practice. Will be removed at request of original creators or 
authorized rep.

Zhu Shu (who shoo),  Tao-Ching, Xi'an Chi (zy-an chee), and Clans' Dragon 
and Skorpion are mine, and may be used so long as I am asked before hand.


Book One: The Mandarin

Chapter Two:  Unexpected Meetings

Ranma was running down the street being chased by Genma.  Under normal 
circumstances this might have drawn some attention; a raised eyebrow, or 
perhaps a second look.

But, since it was raining....

Needless to say, a cute redhead being chased by a giant panda drew more than 
a little notice.  People dove out of their way as Ranma skidded to a halt in 
the middle of the street.

He'd been following Genma to a friend's house just a few minutes earlier, 
and had actually been glad to get back to Japan and away from the backwaters 
of China.  He'd gotten so tired of having to build fires just to warm water 
that he'd given up several weeks ago and spent the rest of his time in China 
as a female-- it had just become too much effort to try and avoid the 
constant drenchings that seemed to come with the curse.  He'd no sooner turn 
male than something would happen to get him wet again.  Even dealing with 
periods was better than being wet all the time.

Besides, it had seemed like every time they stopped to rest, Shan Pu had 
almost caught them.  The Amazon had been nearly impossible to dodge.  Sheer 
luck, and a convoluted trail had kept him from having to face any of the 
slow agonizing deaths the Guide had painted for him at Shan Pu's hands.  The 
Guide had seemed oblivious to the effects his stories had on the pair of 
them as he droned on and on to pass the time while traveling.   Ranma had no 
idea how much of his confusing ramblings were true or due to embellishment, 
but he had more than one nightmare about the bloodthirsty girl during the 
two months she had chased them around China.  Genma had refused to head back 
to Japan until they were sure they had lost the girl for good.  Then he'd 
taken a few days in a seaside village on the west coast of Honshu just to 
make sure she hadn't found them again.

After all of that, Japan had seemed like a haven.  He'd looked forward to 
spending most of his time as male again.  Zhu Shu may have taught him enough 
about being female that it hadn't been that bad being one full time in 
China, but he was male and wanted to stay that way.

He'd even looked forward to meeting the Tendos- friends of Genma's that they 
were going to stay with for awhile....

Then Genma had told him he was going to have to marry one of them.

It had been the last straw!  A curse, a homicidal Amazon, and now ... a 
betrothal!  Enough was enough!

He faced the panda across the rapidly emptying street, then Genma lunged and 
he launched herself over the massive paw.  "Yo! Cut that out!!'

Ranma's return kick sent Genma flying.  Ranma set himself as the panda rose 
in front of the muttering crowd.  "Your move!" he called.  Genma responded 
with a flurry of blows which forced Ranma to duck furiously.

"Well, I still say," he dodged a fast moving paw, "this whole thing sucks!"  
Ranma snagged the paw before Genma could pull it back.  "Picking my fianc�e 
for me," Genma flipped and hit the ground with a loud TWHOOOOM as Ranma 
finished, "without even asking!!!"

The panda lay there like he was unconscious as Ranma pushed the braid he had 
taken to wearing back over his shoulder.  Homicidal Amazons were better than 
this!   And maybe if he could find Zhu Shu, she could help him search for a 
cure.  "I'm going back to China!  So suck on that, old man!!!"

He picked up his pack and shoes, then started trudging back down the street. 
  Behind him, Genma sat up, casually grabbed a street sign, and whacked him 
across the head with it.  Ranma's triumphant thoughts fled before a tidal 
wave of darkness.

* * * * *

Rain is supposed to be a cleansing, a refreshing of the Earth as it washed 
down the dust and fed thirsty crops.  All of her life, Shan Pu had liked 
rain.

Until she came to Tokyo.

Now, it was just another sign of the depression she had sunk into.  She had 
never thought any place could ever be as huge as Tokyo.  Nine days of 
searching high and low had revealed not a single clue to Ranma's 
whereabouts, and she had only explored a small part of the city.  It was far 
worse than she had anticipated, and she had not counted on the problems she 
had encountered as a girl alone in Tokyo.  While she had been safe enough 
from the one mugger she had met, she spoke poor Japanese, and what little 
money she had had soon been gone.  Nothing in her life as an Amazon warrior 
had prepared her for a place like this insane city.

At present she was setting in the rain on a low railing, overlooking one of 
the city's drainage canals and feeling like she would never redeem her 
Honor.

After losing Ranma  in China, it had been logical to suspect he had finally 
returned home, so they had come to Tokyo by boat. It had seemed like such a 
smart suggestion for her and Zhu Shu to split up and search the city for 
him.  In retrospect, it had been anything but.  She had come no closer to 
finding her groom, and had not seen her blood-sister in days.  Now, to top 
it all off, she'd been caught in the sudden rain and was stuck as a cat till 
she found hot water.

She growled in aggravation, once more cursing the arrogant prince who'd....

"Why, hello there, little one."

The voice coming from so close behind her nearly made her jump out of her 
skin.  She warily turned to look at it's source, ready to run in a 
heartbeat....

But there was no need.  The woman may have been dressed a trifle oddly by 
her standards, but the smile on her beautiful face held no malice, only a 
kindly warmth.  The tattoos on her forehead and cheeks didn't even look 
strange; on her, they just seemed to belong, like she would be incomplete 
without them.

"You poor dear, you must be freezing with that wet fur.  Won't you come in 
to dry by the fire?  I'll get you a bowl of warm milk ...."

Shan Pu allowed as how that would be nice, given the fact she was, in fact, 
rather cold, but she didn't know the tall woman and she'd escaped from a 
couple of nasty situations which had started as innocently.

The woman nodded and her smiled widened.  "I can certainly understand that, 
but you need have no fear.  I am Belldandy, of the Goddess Relief Office, 
and I'm here to help you.  I can assure you, only safety lies within...."

Shan Pu decided she believed her.  She was so kindly looking and exuded an 
aura of such caring and peace that not trusting her seemed foolish.  Shan Pu 
followed the woman into a warm and cozy room before she realized she hadn't 
even meowed.  She turned to look back at the door she had entered, debating 
about bolting, but instead of the cold alley, she saw a walled courtyard and 
a shrine.

The shrine reassured her, because it gave her the clue to identify why she 
wanted to trust Belldandy; she felt like a priestess.  Feeling more 
confident, she tasted the bowl of thick cream Belldandy set on the floor and 
let the beautiful girl comb out her wet fur.

"You're welcome to stay the night if you like, or longer.  Keichii is away 
visiting his mother and won't be back till next Monday, but I don't think 
he'll mind you staying for awhile.  We have a nice guest room you can stay 
in and Skuld must have some clothes that will fit you after your bath.  You 
are welcome to rest here for as long as you wish before resuming your 
search."

Shan Pu gave her a startled glance over the rim of the bowl, examining 
Belldandy's still ever so kind face.  How could she know so much and speak 
the Amazon dialect so well?

A small touch of a blush touched Belldandy's cheeks as one hand went to her 
lips in an unconscious gesture.  "Oh, well, I'm a Goddess First Class.  It's 
just one of those things we do ... like granting wishes to people who truly 
deserve them."

A goddess?  Shan Pu blinked at the tall woman.

Belldandy nodded, "Yes, Shan Pu."

Shan Pu shook her head, the small bells on either side of her head chiming.  
She'd never heard of a goddess granting wishes.

Belldandy smiled.  "It's what Kami-Sama created the Goddess Relief Office 
for.  My sisters and I find out what our clients wishes are and aid the 
ultimate force in accomplishing them."

Like her wish that her relationship with Ranma would work out happily for 
everyone concerned?  She shook her head.  How could she be sure of that when 
she couldn't even find him?  It would be foolish to even utter a wish like 
that to someone who had been so kind.

She broke off her musings as the tattoo on Belldandy's forehead flared into 
light.  Shan Pu found herself floating in mid-air in front of the goddess as 
electricity seemed to fill the air.  Wonder filled her eyes as small objects 
swirled around the room and Belldandy floated off the floor to slowly spin 
in the center of the room.  Her head tilted back as her tattoo glowed ever 
brighter, then a shaft of argent light rose from her forehead to pierce the 
ceiling.  Time seemed to freeze for an instant as everything settled to the 
floor.

Belldandy opened her eyes and smiled at Shan Pu.

"Your wish has been approved."

* * * * *

Zhu Shu had to admit she was lost.

She hated having to admit it; it was too close to admitting defeat, that she 
had failed in her quest to find Ranma as badly as she had failed in her 
quest for a husband.  In the two months since she and Shan Pu had left the 
Amazon village on the husband hunt they had repeatedly almost caught up to 
the pair only to have them slip away in the chaos that seemed to follow 
them.  They had succeeding in tracking the pair all over China to a small 
seaport, only to find they had escaped by swimming to Japan.

She'd agreed when her blood-sister had suggested they split up to search, 
and since had learned how insane the idea had been.  She still fumed at the 
idiot boy who had stolen her panties.  Yes, it had been an accident that 
he'd knocked her down when running from the lightning bolt throwing girl who 
was chasing him.  But to get his hands stuck in her panties as she tried to 
extricate herself, rip them off of her as he tripped her, then land face 
down between her legs....  The boy either was the most skillful letch she'd 
ever met, or cursed with incredibly bad luck.  Then to have the girl throw 
lightning bolts at her because she'd knocked the boy unconscious!

At least she'd been friendly enough afterwards.  She'd made friends with Lum 
and had let a slightly crazy priestess, Sakura, examine her curse.  She'd 
even allowed Lum to talk her into staying in her saucer while another friend 
hired investigators to search for Ranma.

Today, they had finally tracked down a story of a red haired girl fighting a 
panda to a Ginza in Nerima.  She had gone there and tried searching an ever 
widening spiral, but had quickly gotten turned about.  Now, after wandering 
through the mazes the locals called streets for hours, she had climbed to 
the top of a shrine in hopes of seeing a landmark, anything that looked 
vaguely familiar....

She surveyed the Tokyo skyline over the cherry trees that surround the 
hilltop shine in resignation and sighed.  Nothing.  She raised an eye to the 
lowering clouds overhead, noting the signs of rain scattered across the 
city.  She needed to find shelter soon or she was likely to spend the night 
soaked.

Without warning, a beam of light pierced the heavens, so bright it had made 
the night seem like a stark black and white drawing.  As it faded, clouds 
swirled around the hole the beam had made in the sky.

Zhu Shu blinked, trying to clear her eyes from the blaze of light.  She had 
never felt a surge that strong.  It had ripped through the night like a 
hurricane, leaving her senses reeling and raw and her consciousness 
teetering on the brink of the abyss.  She closed her eyes as she sought her 
center, slowly regaining her equilibrium as the aftershocks faded.

A footstep behind her caused her to turn quickly, swords in hand.  Green 
fire flickered fitfully along the edges, a sign of how shaky her chi control 
was following the wild surge, but she forced herself to focus.  She'd heard 
no sounds of approach, and she'd found that in cities, stealth usually meant 
trouble.

But the fires died as her concentration was shattered at what greeted her 
eyes.

The girl who stood behind her was wearing a variation of the typical school 
uniform that Zhu Shu had seen all over Tokyo, yet it looked far different in 
major ways.  White gloves covered her arms to her elbows, form fitting and 
trimmed in red.  Her top was fitted so closely to her torso that Zhu Shu 
figured it couldn't just be cloth.  Her red pleated skirt was so short that 
it barely passed her hips, and a large red bow adorned the back.  A ruby 
heart held the center of a large blue bow on her breast and a tiara of gold 
made a V above her blue eyes.  Her long shapely legs ended in a pair of red 
high-heeled shoes.  Her waist length black hair framed a pretty face that 
was currently occupied with a puzzled look.

"Well, you don't look like a Cardian, but what are you?  I felt you the 
moment you entered the temple's grounds, and those swords fairly screamed 
with energy a second ago, but now you feel like a normal girl."

Zhu Shu returned the puzzled look.  "Zhu Shu is Zhu Shu.  Is only girl.  Not 
know what other things is."

"She doesn't seem to be radiating any negative energy right now, but her 
signature is really weird this close up.  Similar to Ail and Ann's," another 
voice chimed in.  Zhu Shu spun to see another girl in a sailor outfit, 
similar to the first, but in blue and white, who was looking at her through 
a set of lenses.

"So is she a left over Cardian?  I thought Ail and Ann took all of them with 
them," asked a third, this one with two long blonde ponytails and round 
odangos.

"I don't know," Blue replied.

Zhu Shu counted five girls surrounding her and cutting off any direction of 
escape.  Her senses were still too raw from the aftereffects of the wild 
surge for anything remotely resembling clear sight, but she sensed too much 
energy for them not to be prepared to attack.  Chi began to flicker along 
her blades again.

"She's spiking again!" Blue cried.  "That weird biosignature is getting 
stronger!"

The red suited girl stepped in front of the orange and green suited girls as 
they took stances.  "Hold it!  Hold it!  I really don't want to start a 
fight on top of THIS shrine!"

The other girls stepped back as Zhu Shu said, "Zhu Shu want know who girls 
and why threaten?!"

All five of the girls looked shocked.

The blonde with the red bow in her hair recovered first.  "Who- who are 
we?!" she asked unbelievingly.

"Yes!  Zhu Shu just stands here!  No look for fight!  Who girls want fight 
Zhu Shu?!"

The twin pony tailed girl stammered "W-w-w-we're the Sail- Sailor Senshi!  
Don't you know who we are?!"

Zhu Shu shook her head.

"But, we're famous!  We're in every paper in Japan!"  The red-bowed blonde 
protested, "I've even got a Manga!"

"Zhu Shu not read Japanese.  Zhu Shu Mandarin."

The red sailor laughed, "Serves you right, Sailor Venus.  It seems your fame 
isn't quite as universal as you thought."  The orange clad girl looked 
crestfallen as the odangoed blonde stuck her tongue out at her.  The red 
suited girl kicked her in the shin, "Sailor Moon!"

"Wha-" the blonde started, straightening up.

"Don't you think we should introduce ourselves?"

"Oh ... yeah ...  Right!"  The blonde stepped back and struck a pose.  "For 
Love and Justice, I am the pretty sailor suited soldier, Sailor Moon!  In 
the name of the Moon I ... um ... greet you?"

Sailor Venus broke out in a mad fit of giggles.  Sailor Moon glared at her, 
"What?!  I'm used to introducing myself to bad guys right before I blast 
'em.  Give me a break!"  At Venus' continued giggles, she crossed her arms 
and pouted.

The blue suited girl went next, "I am the pretty sailor suited soldier 
Sailor Mercury!  For the element of water, I greet you!"  She ended with a 
sweet and friendly smile and added, "And maybe we can figure out why you 
keep spiking on my sensors...."

The orange suited blonde continued, "For the planet of love, I am the pretty 
sailor suited soldier, Sailor Venus!  I shall deliver love's heavenly 
vengeance!"  She gave Zhu Shu a wink, "Or at least I shall to those who 
deserve it." she finished as an aside, then looked at the red suited Sailor.

"For the element of flame, I am the pretty sailor suited soldier, Sailor 
Mars!  In the name of Mars, I will destroy evil!"  Mars finished her speech 
and turned to look at the tall girl in green.

"By the element of lightning, I am the pretty sailor suited soldier, Sailor 
Jupiter!"  She looked around at the other girls, "And we are the Sailor 
Senshi."

Zhu Shu stifled her laugh at all the posturing, then bowed, "Song Zhu Shu, 
of China."  She looked around at the Senshi, "Still not tell why want to 
attack."

Just then, the still swirling clouds overhead let loose with a light gust of 
rain.

"Energy spike off the scale!"  Mercury shouted as the other Senshi looked on 
in amazement at the suddenly blonde, animalistic girl.

"Possession!"  Mars cried, "She is a Cardian!"  She began to chant as she 
pulled out an ofuda. "Rin, pyou, tou, sha-"

Zhu Shu recognized the scroll as part of a spell even though it was in 
Japanese and her swords flared as she moved to stop the girl's casting.  As 
she stepped forward, ribbons ready to tangle Mars' hands, Mercury cried out 
"Shabon Spray Freezing!"

Zhu Shu launched herself straight up over the spray of bubbles that sprang 
from Mercury's hand and coated where she had been standing in ice.  In mid 
air, she crossed her swords and focused, "Dragon Tail Whip!"

The ribbons of Zhu Shu's swords streaked down towards Mercury and at full 
extension launched a small ball of green fire at the blue clad Sailor.  It 
struck the girl in the chest in a small explosion that knocked her backwards 
several feet.

Zhu Shu grimaced.  The girl should have been knocked out at least.  She 
angled for a spot on the roof away from the girls.

"Crescent Beam Shower!" the blonde called as she launched a shaft of golden 
light at Zhu Shu.  Zhu Shu's ribbons flashed into a spiral dance around her 
as the beam split into dozens of shafts of light and arced towards her. Her 
ribbons deflected the barrage, but the impacts threw off her landing and she 
came down badly on her ankle, twisting it as she hit the roof.  Through the 
pain, she sensed the ionization of the air and Lum born reflexes tried to 
move her away as Jupiter called, "Supreme Thunder Dragon!"

Her ankle betrayed her as the lightning dragon's jaws closed around her 
back.  Her world went black and white, then only black....

* * * * *

Ranma sat in the Tendo's bath, listening to the crash of distant thunder and 
wondering what his dad had gotten him into now.

Three Tendo girls, and he was supposed to select one.  How was he supposed 
to chose?

Kasumi was nice and all, but she exuded such a sisterly aura it would be 
unnerving to actually marry her.  He'd feel ... incestual.

Nabiki was cute enough, but she seemed far too ... mercenary.  He'd 
constantly fear she'd trade him in for a new car or something.

Then there was Akane:  "Let's be friends!"  Could she still be friends when 
she found out he was a boy?  She had been so ... vehement about them after 
their sparring match.

But, she'd been so nice to him ... Like Zhu Shu had.  In the months since he 
had left the Chinese girl, he'd learned what loneliness really was.  Akane 
had, for just that little while, made the loneliness go away....

Would she still treat him that way when she found out?  Finally deciding 
that there was only one way to find out, he stood up, muttering, "I may as 
well go out as I am."

In mid-step, the door opened and a fully nude Akane stared at him, too 
shocked to even cover herself with her towel.

Just as shocked, Ranma stood frozen as Akane's eyes traveled down his body, 
then she took a step backwards and slid the door closed.

He heard the sound of her putting on a robe ... then her sandals ... 
Finally, he heard the outer door click closed and her leaning on it to draw 
a breath ....

"AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!"

In the dining room, Soun and Genma looked up at the scream and the sounds of 
Akane's approach.  Kasumi and Nabiki, just starting to bring out dinner, 
stared as a still yelling Akane ran past them to grab a large stone ornament 
from the garden.

"I'll weigh him down! I'll drown him in the tub!!!"

Curious as always, Nabiki was the first to ask, "Akane, what is it?  What's 
that for?"

"There's a pervert in the bathroom!!!" Akane yelled.

"Why don't you just kill him with your bare hands?" Nabiki asked, ever 
logical.

Never logical, Akane could only say, "Because I'm afraid!!"

With a worried look, Kasumi added, "That's odd.  Ranma was in the bath just 
now."

Just then, Ranma appeared at the end of the hall.

Akane glared as Kasumi started, "Who ... who....  "

"Who are you?" Nabiki finished

Even more embarrassed than the first time, Ranma could only stare at the 
floor.

"I'm ... Ranma Saotome."  He scratched the back of his head.  "Sorry about 
this...."

All three girls just stared in shock....

* * * * *

The five Sailor Senshi stood around Zhu Shu's unconscious body as Mars 
finished her exorcism.

"That was weird."  Sailor Moon said as Mars carried out the last few chants. 
  "How could she be able to deflect Venus's attack like that and not be able 
to handle Jupiter's lightning bolt?  And why did my healing have no effect 
at all?"

As her chant concluded, Sailor Mars looked puzzled as well, "She should have 
changed back to normal and the Cardian forced out of her if it was 
possessing her."

Mercury tapped her computer, "That's not the weirdest part.  Now that she's 
unconscious, all traces of that bioenergy are gone, but I've still got 
massive traces of the other kind.  She's definitely one of the sources we've 
been tracking all week, but it's wild.  It's almost impossible to detect 
from any kind of distance, except when it spikes, and then it's too quick to 
triangulate.  I've gotten three other spikes since we got her, but I can't 
get a lock on any of them.  And those swords ...  I can't make heads or 
tails out of the readings on them."  She sounded frustrated.

"It's okay, Ami."  Mars said from where she sat with her hand touching the 
ofuda on the unconscious girl's forehead.  She looked over the prostrate 
form.  "Now that I've had a chance to get a really good look at her, I think 
I know what your readings are.  I'm so used to fighting evil villains that I 
wasn't thinking like a priestess," she sounded upset.

"Rei?  What's up?"  Sailor Moon looked worried.  When Mars was upset, it 
usually meant that _she_ had screwed up.

Rei stood, "Usagi, help me get her down to a bed in the shrine.  I'll 
explain inside."

Sailor Moon nodded and moved to help pick up the unconscious girl.  Venus 
bent down to pick up the pair of fallen swords and just for an instant, the 
faint dragons etched on the blades flared brightly.

Ami dropped her computer and ripped the visor off her eyes with a cry of 
"Ouch!"  She rubbed her eyes.

"What happened?"  Venus asked, looking at the swords in askance.

Mercury picked up her computer, "Silver Millennium energy spike off the 
scale.  It almost overloaded my computer."

"Silver Millennium?"  Rei looked at her, "From the swords?"

"I can't tell.  It was too quick a flash."

Jupiter looked from the swords to the unconscious girl, "What is she, Rei?  
Is she a Cardian?  I've never seen one so quick."

"She's not a Cardian, Mako-chan."  Rei said as they jumped down and entered 
the shrine.  "And as a Shinto priestess, I should have known,"  She looked 
down at the strangely beautiful face of the changed girl, "It's my fault we 
nearly killed this poor girl.  Her only crime was trying to defend herself 
against the five of us."

"Hey," Ami called, "The readings on her are much clearer in here.  She 
almost glows."

Rei nodded, "I thought that would be the case."  She nodded down at Zhu Shu 
as Minako and Makoto slid back the doors of a spare room.  "This girl is 
probably perfectly human, and I suspect she's under a spell of some sort."  
She settled Zhu Shu onto the bed and removed the ofuda, "I should have 
known.  Close as we were, I felt the spike when she changed, like that huge 
bolt that occurred just before we got to the roof.  It could only have been 
magic."

She pulled out her wand and transformed.

Back in her normal garb, Rei continued, "I'm a priestess.  I should have 
recognized it immediately.  I suspect the surge you keep reading is the 
spell which transforms her."

Ami nodded and started tapping away at her keyboard.  Minako closed the door 
to the room and asked, "But what about that weird green energy she hit Ami 
with?  Or that flash from her swords?"

Rei closed her eyes and sighed, "I don't know.  Some other kind of magic I 
guess.  It almost feels like ki, but on a level I've never heard of."

"Just plain old ki?"  Makoto asked.  "She'd have to be some kind of super 
Martial Artist for it to be that.  I've never seen anyone who can manifest 
enough ki to even be visible, much less anything else she did."

Rei shrugged, "It's doesn't feel 'magical' that way the transformation spell 
does.  Anyway, it's my fault she's like this ...  I'll take care of her till 
she's awake."  She laid a hand along side the scorched girls cheek.  "She's 
a hell of a lot tougher than we had any right to expect for a simple human, 
even a cursed one.  She'll be okay, but we were lucky this time."

Makoto nodded, "Yes.  We owe her a big apology when she wakes up.  I'll cook 
dinner for her."

Usagi suddenly got a big grin.  "I know!" she said, her finger held up to 
indicate her great idea.  "We can take her to that new okonomiyki restaurant 
in the Ginza!  That'll make a great apology!"  She beamed in happiness at 
the thought.

Rei nearly kicked her.

* * * * *

Ranma awoke lying face down on a sleeping mat, a wet cloth over a bump on 
his head and a memory of having smugly told Akane he was better built 
rattling around in his skull.

"Ah! She's awake!" Kasumi called out next to him.  Ranma's head popped up, 
then pain hit,  "Ooooooooooooo ...." Ranma said.

Kasumi leaned over, concerned, "Are you okay? Don't think badly of Akane," 
she pleaded, "She's really a very sweet girl ...  She's just a violent 
maniac."

"Oh, good Kasumi.  That makes lots of sense." Nabiki said from her seat next 
to Kasumi.

Ranma shrugged.  He thought they were all crazy.

A few minutes later, after assuring Kasumi that he was alright, Ranma 
stumbled down the steps towards the bathroom feeling the bump on the back of 
his head.  It still smarted.  What kind of girl was Akane anyway?  Zhu Shu 
had been much nicer. Hell, even Shan Pu had at least been understandable!  
What was Akane's problem?

Friends, she'd said!  So much for friends when she found out he was a boy!

He stripped in the outer room and thought again of Zhu Shu.  It would have 
been nice to have another friend like her, but it didn't look like that 
friend would be Akane.

He was reaching for the door to the tub room when it slid aside.  A once 
more completely nude Akane stood there.

Ranma was taken aback, and tried to think of something to say as Akane 
stared at him getting madder and madder.

"Why ... you ... you ... YOU ..." Akane growled, then she slapped him ... 
Hard.

"So she's got spunk," Genma said after Ranma had finally gotten his bath, 
"That just makes a fianc�e cuter!"

"Cute is not the word." Ranma growled.

Behind him in the dining room, Nabiki was discussing the incident as well.  
"But you were both girls, right?  That makes it okay!"

Akane refused to be mollified, "Okay is not the word!!!"

* * * * *

Following Usagi's comment, Rei chased the other Senshi out of the shrine, 
then returned to her patient.

"Whoever you are, I hope you can forgive us," she whispered as she knelt 
beside the bed with a bowl of warm water and a washcloth.  She looked over 
the scorched girl, taking careful stock of her condition.  Her clothes were 
charred and useless, as well as her pack, but surprisingly little damage had 
been done to her body.  Rei thanked her ancestors for that.  Gently, she 
rolled the unconscious girl over to check her back, where the lightning bolt 
had hit.

Most of the back of the silk dress had been charred to ash, coating the 
girls skin with black smudges, but here and there, faint metallic gleams 
caught Rei's eye.  Reaching for her small first aid kit, she took out a pair 
of bandage scissors.  With enormous care, she began to cut away the rest of 
the ruined dress.  Afterwards, she took the washcloth soaked in warm water 
and began to wash away the soot.

At the first touch of the warm water, Rei jerked her hand back as the 
unconscious girl shifted back to her original form.  She watched carefully 
for a few moments, but there was no other reaction, so she resumed.  
Cautiously, she wiped away the ash....

The first stroke revealed a brilliant pattern of red and gold scales picked 
out in metallic ink along a sinuous form.  Gently, Rei washed more of the 
ash and soot away from the rest of the tattoo, revealing an elegant Imperial 
Chinese Dragon.  Golden eyes seemed to watch her as the girl's breathing 
seemed to make the Dragon writhe.  It's long serpentine form crawled across 
her back from her right shoulder in spiraling coils down to it's tail just 
above the joint of her left leg.  Enwrapped in those coils was a long golden 
staff that Rei found hauntingly familiar, yet could not place.  In overall 
appearance, it vaguely resembled an old fashioned key topped by a large 
ruby.

In one of its four claws, the Dragon gently held cupped a pink flower, a 
cherry blossom, so exquisitely drawn as to almost seem real.  A single 
dewdrop traced down a petal, almost like a tear.  As she touched it, Rei 
sensed an enormous sadness, and an almost unbearable sense of loss.

She looked away, not sure if the feeling was hers.  Her "feelings" were 
never predictable, or controllable, and she wished she understood them 
better.

Another claw was reaching out towards a tiger as beautifully drawn as the 
flower.  It seemed as if the Dragon yearned to reach the tiger, but it was 
just beyond reach.  Rei had a strange sense of connection, however, as if 
the Dragon and the Tiger were in some way a part of each other in a way she 
could not describe.

She shook her head and moved on to the next claw.  The symbolism was 
puzzling to say the least.  This claw gripped a sword identical to those 
born by the unconscious girl, complete with the long ribbons, but those 
ribbons twined about an object that Rei had to look twice at to be sure of.  
It appeared to be an oversized spatula.  The ribbons twined around the 
object in a tight spiral that tied the two together as one.

The last claw also held a sword, this one's ribbons wrapped around a 
throwing star.  The four objects made a complimentary spiral down the girl's 
back, from the flower on her left shoulder opposite the dragon's head down 
to the star on her right cheek, they formed a double helix around the golden 
staff.  Rei was reminded of a DNA helix.  The artistry throughout was a 
master's handiwork, and surely, to have spent such a long time detailing the 
individual items, they must possess a significant meaning to the unconscious 
girl, but Rei had no clue as to their purpose....

As she cleaned the last of the soot away, a final detail emerged.  At the 
base of the long staff, just above her coccyx, a group of golden symbols 
circled a gold ring with a dot in it's center.

Rei's breath caught at the sight of those symbols, and her hand reached out 
involuntarily to the uppermost one....

Her symbol ...  For Mars....

As her fingers brushed the sign, a feeling of an electric shock coursed up 
her arm and images formed in her mind...  A pink haired girl with sad eyes, 
waving goodbye, a black haired Japanese girl holding twin tiger-head 
pommeled swords, a flash of golden cat-slit eyes glowing in the darkness, a 
flash of fire followed by a vision of a girl dressed in a boy's outfit, 
holding out an okonomiyaki with a heart on it, replaced by a female in a red 
ninja's gi, holding a fan and a spray of darts ...  A flash of light 
illuminated one of the dragon etched swords, a golden fire burning along its 
blade as the dragon blazed like the sun ...  As the light faded, the ring 
with the dot burned in the darkness, then drew back to assume its spot in 
the center of the ring of nine before darkness covered them all.  In the 
darkness, those golden eyes opened again, then as the dragon's face appeared 
around them, it drew back to form the heart of a burning mandala.  Rei felt 
a surge of power throw her backwards, and she lost contact with the tattoo.

As quickly as it had come, the vision passed, leaving her no wiser than 
before.  Shaken, Rei dropped her cloth into the basin and willed her heart 
to stop racing.  She looked at the still form of the Chinese girl and 
whispered.

"You become more of a mystery yet."

Finally getting a hold of herself, Rei finished the sponge bath, then tucked 
the girl into the bed.  Taking the girl's swords to her room with her, Rei 
sat and started to polish the soot off of them, humming a song that was 
running in her head, then softly singing the lyrics.

It never even occurred to her to wonder that they were all in Chinese.

* * * * *

Zhu Shu woke up in a place far softer than she'd thought she'd be after the 
lightning dragon had bit her.  As her eyes opened, they focused on a vase of 
flowers that sat on the table beside the bed she was tucked into.  She 
stretched under the blankets, and, reluctant to leave the warmth of the bed, 
felt gingerly along her spine, where she remembered a burning sensation 
before blacking out.  Her skin felt fine, but the explorations confirmed she 
was nude under the blankets.  She looked around the room.

A cheongsam hung above a Japanese sword stand where both her swords were set 
with honor.  They had been cleaned and polished, and shone brightly, the 
tattered remnants of her ribbons replaced in red silk.  A small meditation 
mat had been set before the swords, and Zhu Shu smiled at the 
thoughtfulness.  She peeled back the blankets and stood, her ankle giving 
her barely a twinge.

She stepped over to the mat and sat on her knees to begin her exercises.  
She opened her chakras first and purged her channels of the chaotic energy 
she'd absorbed from the lightning and the huge surge as she began to 
re-establish her normal flows.  She was surprised that her environment 
seemed to be free of the typical disruptions she was used to dealing with in 
cities.  The local energy was clean, almost purified, which could only mean 
she was in a shrine.  It took her less time than anticipated to clear the 
wild energy out.  Calm again, she reached out to re-link with her swords.  A 
strong surge swept back through her channels as her hands touched the hilts 
and a wave of dizziness washed over her.  She shuddered, and shook her head 
to clear it.  Apparently, the bolt had left her farther off center than she 
had thought.  She closed her eyes and sought her center, grounding herself 
before she placed the swords behind her back.

Pleased her control was returning, she focused her chi along the side of her 
hand and began to clear her body of all the hair that had sprouted since she 
had been knocked unconscious, the exercise one her grandfather had insisted 
on to teach her fine control of the Dragon's Claw technique, now performed 
as a calming routine.  Once again hairless from the neck down, she relaxed, 
assured she was once more in control of herself.  She stood and stretched 
again before starting her katas.

Her warm-up routine took about twenty minutes, and her ankle gave her almost 
no trouble, a sign she'd been unconscious at least a few days.  She finished 
with her workout and stood in front of the mirror on the folding screen, 
examining herself.  She seemed to have no burns, and her hair had only a few 
frazzled ends.  Somehow, she'd survived the bolt almost unscathed.  Her eyes 
locked for a moment on the slit pupiled eyes of her guardian in the 
reflection of her tattoo and she smiled.  Grandfather had asked for him to 
watch over her, after all.  She closed her eyes and concentrated for a 
moment.  When she opened them, the tattoo had vanished.  Satisfied, she 
reached up for the silk dress.

A few minutes later, she stepped from the room into a hallway.  A quick 
search along the hall showed her a small bedroom piled with clothes and lots 
of thin books full of pictures and Japanese text.  A second door led into 
the main shrine area.  As she stepped into the large room, she saw a girl on 
the outer steps sweeping.  The girl looked up at Zhu Shu's entrance, "Hello. 
  It's good to see you awake."

Zhu Shu jumped back, her swords flashing into her hands.  She knew that 
aura, "Why?  Wait for second chance to kill Zhu Shu?!"

The girl looked puzzled, then alarmed, "Wha- ...  Why would I- ... you think 
I- you think I tried to kill you?"

"Zhu Shu not fool!  Not wear Sailor suit, but aura not lie!  Sailor Mars try 
kill Zhu Shu once already!  She game for rematch!!"

Panicked, the girl stepped inside and slammed the shrine doors closed.  Zhu 
Shu stepped further back into the hall, watching the girl warily, but not 
wanting to fight in a shrine.  Rei turned to her, hands up, "Wait!  Please!  
Will you accept my word as a Shinto priestess that I mean you no harm?!"

Zhu Shu blinked as her swords lowered, "Priestess!?!"

Rei nodded.  "Hai.  Rei Hino, priestess of Hikawa Shrine, Juuban ward."

"Why priestess attack Zhu Shu?" the Mandarin girl asked in wonder.

Rei looked downcast.  "I- I made a mistake,  I ... thought you were 
possessed.  I wanted to exorcise you.  We didn't know you were under a 
spell."

Zhu Shu put her swords away and put her hands on her hips, "Nearly kill with 
lightning.  Zhu Shu not build tolerance from Lum, maybe _would_ kill!"

Rei's face flamed with shame as she answered in a small voice, "I know.  I- 
I am sorry.  I didn't know."

Zhu Shu hesitated, then nodded, "Can accept.  Zhu Shu knows about Oni.  
Priestess must fight."  She cocked her head, "Beside.  If want dead, Zhu Shu 
not wake up"

Rei seemed to deflate in relief, "Thank you."  She looked around to double 
check that they were alone, then looked back at Zhu Shu, "How can you know 
I'm Sailor Mars though?

Zhu Shu cocked an eyebrow, "Rei is priestess?  Not know auras?"

"You- you can see auras?"

Zhu Shu nodded.

Rei leaned against the wall.  "That- that is incredibly dangerous for both 
of us.  Spirits help me, but I have no idea what to do about you.  I- I have 
to call the others," she looked up at Zhu Shu, "Please don't be alarmed when 
they arrive.  I- I won't let anyone hurt you, and I'd rather die than cause 
you further harm, but we must decide what we should do about you.  There are 
creatures out there who would stop at nothing to enslave you for the 
knowledge you possess."

Zhu Shu sighed as she put her swords away.  "Why not surprised.  Is okay.  
Call friends.  Zhu Shu have more important thing do."  She rubbed her flat 
belly,  "Zhu Shu hungry.  Make lunch...."

* * * * *

Rei sat on the temple steps waiting for the other Senshi a few minutes 
later, trying to figure the Chinese girl out.  She had presented mystery 
after mystery since her appearance, and Rei had a hard time getting her out 
of her mind.  There was something about her that ...  Minako's arrival 
disrupted her train of thought.  The leggy blonde looked askance at Rei's gi 
top and skirt, "I thought this was a Scout meeting?"

Rei shrugged, "It is."

"Shouldn't you change?"

Rei shook her head, "There's no point."

Minako looked at her oddly, but as Ami and Makoto arrived with Usagi, she 
refrained from any more questions.

"Hi, guys!  What's up?" Usagi asked brightly, then saw Rei, "Whoops!  What's 
going on?"

Rei looked over her shoulder at the closed shrine doors, "We have a 
problem."

"Oh, no!  Don't tell me she died?!!"  Usagi looked horrified, both fists 
pressed together under her mouth, "Wahhhh!!!  We killed her!!!!"  Streams of 
tears poured from her eyes.

"Will you dry up!!!" Rei shouted.  Usagi froze, her ponytails straight out 
behind her from the force of Rei's shout.  Rei crossed her arms and tapped 
her fingers as she growled, "Just come inside and see for yourself."

Rei stormed into the shrine, followed by the other girls, and stopped at the 
cheerful "Nihao!" from Zhu Shu.  She stared at the small grill and wok, the 
cloth laid out on the floor with full place settings, and the nearly 
complete meal Zhu Shu was cooking.  Where had Zhu Shu gotten all this?  And 
how?  She'd only been outside for ten minutes!

"Oh, wow!  Chinese!" Usagi cried.

Zhu Shu finished chopping vegetables for her stir-fry and turned the shrimp 
over on her grill before she looked up, "Sailor Rei say must talk.  Never 
talk on not full stomach.  Come!  Eat!"

Ami looked over at the priestess, "Sailor ...  Rei?!"

Rei nodded as she led the way to the table setting, "That's what we need to 
talk about ...."

* * * * *

It had been a tough two days for Ranma.  His first day of school had ended 
up being as much of a disaster as his meeting with the Tendos.  He hadn't 
even made it to school before he'd been doused, and Akane had had to get him 
some hot water from the crazy Doctor she was sweet on.

Then he'd watched as Akane plowed her way through the school's boys just to 
get in the gate.  Then he'd had a fight with the mad kendoist, Kuno.  He 
would have won if it hadn't rained.  Changing back had made him late to 
class and he'd had to stand in the hall with Akane.  Then Kuno had to go and 
attack him again.  And to top it off, he'd molested him in the pool!  And to 
add insult to injury, Kuno had gone and insulted his bravery, so he had had 
to beat him into the ground!  For most people, that would have been enough, 
but not for Kuno!  No!  He'd had to go and issue a challenge to Ranma's girl 
side too!

So here he stood, waiting in the field by the school, ticking off the 
minutes till the appointed hour, getting more and more pissed.  He wasn't 
going to settle for unconsciousness this time!

At precisely ten o'clock, Kuno appeared.  "So.  You have come, my tree borne 
kettle girl!"

Annoyed, Ranma shot back.  "You don't learn quick, do you pal?"  He looked 
around for Kuno's boken, but it was nowhere to be seen.  "Where's your 
sword?!"

"Heh."  Kuno smiled.  "I have no need of a sword."

"Yeah?  Pretty confident, I guess."

"Confident enough to give you-" with a sudden motion, Kuno threw something.  
"-THIS!!"

Ranma caught it easily, intending to throw it back, but the odd way it 
crinkled drew his attention.  He lowered it slowly, not believing his eyes.

Kuno blushed as he turned to walk away, but Ranma heard him clearly.  "I 
love you..."

Wide eyed in shock, Ranma could only stare after him...  Then his legs gave 
way and he slid to his knees, setting and holding the roses as a wind blew 
the petals away.

The only thought he could form was to recall Zhu Shu's words from the pond, 
and realize how right she had been....

* * * * *

Urd walked into the house, hunting for her sister.  "Hey, Belldandy!  Who's 
the Chinese girl practicing in the courtyard?"

Belldandy poked her head out of the kitchen, and smiled.  "Her name is Shan 
Pu, and Father said to tell you she's your next assignment."

Urd made a noise that might have been "Urk!" and froze, "Um ... Sis ...  I'm 
on _PROBATION_, remember?!"

"I know!"  Belldandy beamed, "Isn't it wonderful?  Kami-Sama is giving you a 
chance to get your license back!"

"Oh great," Urd muttered.  How Belldandy could see the bright side of what 
was sure to be a hellish assignment, she could never understand....

The phone rang.  Urd stared at it in horror.

Oblivious to her sister's state, Belldandy called to her, "Urd?  Could you 
get that?  My hands are covered in flour."

Urd looked sick.

Picking up the phone, she answered, "H-hello?"

Belldandy finished her dumplings and washed her hands, then went into the 
hall to see her sister still standing by the phone, her hair blown into 
disarray and a frozen grimace on her face.

"Urd?" a concerned Belldandy asked.

"I'm doomed," Urd croaked.

* * * * *

Shan Pu finished her practice session in the courtyard and sat at the 
entrance to the shrine to meditate.  She hadn't really meant to spend the 
last two days here, but the place just radiated such an aura of peace and 
tranquility, like Zhu Shu when she was cooking, only magnified a thousand, 
ten thousand times.  She'd found the last couple of days to be a perfect 
remedy to the depression she'd felt on arriving here.

She'd so rarely had truly quiet times like this at the Amazon village.  She 
had so much to live up to as Ke Lun's great-granddaughter, and she'd trained 
hard all of her life.  It had been the joy of her life to be Champion!  Then 
one kick from Ranma had changed all of it.

At first, it had been such a humiliation.  To have been bested so easily by 
an outsider!  A non-Amazon!  The shame of being defeated so quickly had been 
more than she could bear.  She'd been so gleeful to give her the Kiss of 
Death!

Then Zhu Shu had told her the truth about Ranma, and it had all changed 
again.

The Amazon mindset was peculiar.  Men were considered the caretakers, women 
the warriors.  For a man to possess the skill to defeat an Amazon warrior 
was a sign he would give her strong children.  The Amazons were not a 
numerous tribe and survival was very important.  She could not let a prize 
like Ranma get away!  All Zhu Shu's tales had done was increase the burning 
desire she had for him. She found her thoughts returning to the day of their 
fight constantly, the flash of blue eyes, the sun on red hair....

Despite Zhu Shu's descriptions, her mind could not conjure up a male version 
of Ranma's face.  Her mind refused to stop glorifying the image beyond any 
sort of reality.  If his female side was so beautiful, what a handsome man 
he had to be!

Shan Pu sighed and dismissed her daydream.  She believed Belldandy's 
assurance that her wish had been approved, and that now the Ultimate Force 
was at work, she just wished it would work faster.

But, then, Shan Pu really had no idea how big her wish was....

* * * * *

Usagi was so busy stuffing her face she could barely mumble, "So what?" when 
Rei told them Zhu Shu could read their auras well enough to identify them, 
but Ami realized what she meant right off.

"You mean she can see through our disguises?" she asked, looking around at 
the other Senshi, still in their uniforms.

Rei nodded.  "She took one look at me and knew I was the same girl who had 
led the attack on her.  And with the speed of her reactions, I doubt I could 
have changed in time before she would have cut me to ribbons.  I'm glad she 
went on the defensive at first and gave me a chance to talk."

"Zhu Shu never attacks first.  And would not kill priestess.  Much bad 
Karma.  Only sought to stop from casting spell first night.  But can see 
would take as attack," the Chinese girl added, without looking up from her 
cooking.

Ami looked over to where Zhu Shu was chopping vegetables for a second round 
of stir fry.  The knife moved almost too quickly to see as the vegetables 
appeared to fairly fly into the wok.  Despite the aura of happy tranquility 
Zhu Shu exuded, Ami had no trouble contemplating what those knives could do 
to her before she could say "Shabon Spray" and shuddered as Makoto looked on 
jealously at the speed with which Zhu Shu was making the meal.

The gruesome thought sparked a revelation in the studious girl's mind.  She 
looked over at Rei in sudden understanding, "You didn't transform so she 
wouldn't feel threatened...."

Rei nodded, "And also because there was no point to it.  She'll recognize me 
in any disguise.  It would take years to learn how to change my ki aura 
enough for me to hide from her."

Ami nodded, noting the raised eyebrow of the Chinese girl, "I agree."  She 
took out her wand and stepped away from the table.  "Mercury Power, Makeup!"

Sailor Moon looked at her, a pair of chopsticks halfway to her mouth, 
"Whatcha do that for?  Now she'll recognize you."

Rei glared at her, "Haven't you listened to a thing I've said?!"

Usagi emptied another bowlful of stir fry, "I've listened!"

"Then what did I say?" Rei challenged.

"Um ..." Usagi thought, but couldn't answer.

Rei buried her face in her hands.

"Usagi, what Rei-chan said was that Zhu Shu can see who we are whether we 
are in Sailor Senshi guise or not," Ami sat down. "I think she has a point.  
We can't hide from her, and she already knows too much about us for us to 
just ignore her.  We should make friends.  She's far too dangerous for us 
not to.  We can't afford for her to be an enemy," she turned to Zhu Shu and 
bowed, "I am Ami Mizuno.  Juuban Junior High."

Zhu Shu bowed back, "Song Zhu Shu of Clan Dragon.  Song school of Sword 
Dance," she intoned formally, giving her full name.  They were trusting her 
with a secret, after all.

Usagi looked at them and muttered.  "Luna will be sooo pissed about this if 
she ever finds out ...."  but she took out her locket.

* * * * *

When introductions had been made all around, and the third round of stir fry 
had been eaten, the question and answers began.  Zhu Shu told about her 
quest ... (Wow!  You mean they still do things like that?  _Sigh_  That's 
sooo romantic!) (Hush Usagi!  Let her finish!) ... and the Senshi had told 
her about the fight with Queen Beryl and how they had just defeated an alien 
pair who had been stealing life energy.  Zhu Shu forgave them for thinking 
she might have been a Cardian.  She could understand the mistake, and the 
fact that the Senshi would assume she was one of those creatures in her 
cursed form.

Still, they did owe her for the destruction of her clothes, and they decided 
to take her to the Ginza and do some shopping for some ... or so they said.  
Zhu Shu found out quickly that "shopping" meant running from store to store 
trying different makeup and squealing over "cute" outfits.  She got made up 
three different ways by Usagi, Rei and Minako, and completely confused by 
Ami showing her a dozen small gadgets.  Makoto actually had her trying out 
clothes, but the only real silk panties she could find were useless, tiny 
things with string sides.  After looking at the other offerings available, 
she sighed and gave up looking.  Dresses were almost as bad.  She did find 
several silk cheongsams, but they were as poorly made as the one she was 
wearing.  With a philosophical shrug, she resigned herself to more early 
morning katas again.  Sooner or later, she had to find a real dressmaker.

Following the trip, Rei invited Zhu Shu to stay at the temple until she had 
found Ranma.  Zhu Shu thought that would be a better alternative than Lum's 
saucer.  It would certainly be safer, Makoto wouldn't throw lightning bolts 
as casually as Lum, and she'd be safe from Ataru.  A quick call had resulted 
in a visit by the Oni, and her "Darling", to deliver the few things she'd 
left in the saucer, but socializing was cut short when Lum found Ataru 
hitting on Minako and Usagi.  Makoto rated the lightning blasts at a 6.9, 
but the rest of the Senshi gave them 8's.

They spent the rest of the afternoon telling each other about their 
adventures, and Zhu Shu promised to not tell anyone about their secret.  She 
also told them a little about her style, and after several requests, 
demonstrated one of the actual dances her form was based on.  She was 
immediately besieged following the dance with pleas to teach them a few 
steps. She finally capitulated, but made them promise to learn the whole 
style, not just the dances.

Hearing them talk, she had come to realize only Makoto had any formal 
martial arts training and that they relied solely on their powers.  She got 
five eager students who promised to show up for daily lessons after school, 
providing their Sailor duties didn't interfere.

And five best friends.

* * * * *

Urd looked through the folder Skuld had given her, looking more and more 
despondent.  Kami-Sama had to be punishing her for that whole bit about the 
Terrible Master.  She'd never seen such a tangled wish!  She sighed.  Well, 
a wish was a wish, and she was a Goddess!  Second Class!

Or at least one on probation....

She slumped, resting her head on one hand as she looked down at the folder 
yet again and read the original destiny.  Poor Shan Pu was to have been 
destined to be a failure, trying time and again to win Ranma's love, but 
doomed to never succeed.  Urd could sympathize ... She had days like that 
too.  No ... let's be honest ... she'd had years like that!  In fact, she'd 
swear she was having a year like that now!

Sheesh!  She'd just been trying to help out her little sister!  It wasn't 
her fault Belldandy was such an innocent!  Or that Keichii couldn't get a 
single one of her plans right!

A rumble of thunder derailed that train of thought and she hastily went back 
to reading the folder.

Ranma.  Akane.  Shan Pu.  Ukyo.  Kodachi.  Tatewaki.  Mu Tse.  Zhu Shu.  
Ryouga. Nabiki.  Tao-Ching.  Nodoka.  Ke Lun...

Her head started to spin as she looked over the alternate threads of 
destiny.  So many people impacted by this one wish!  It was worse than her 
favorite soap opera!  And the further one got into the future, the worse it 
got!

Maybe she could get Skuld to help her out by calling future Urd and asking 
her how _she'd_ done it.  A glance up at the boiling cloud that had appeared 
over her let her know what Kami-Sama thought of that idea.  She sighed 
again.  Dad hadn't forbidden her to ask her sisters for help, after all, her 
domain was the past, but just as obviously, he wasn't going to allow her to 
cheat either.  She had to come up with a plan on her own.

It shouldn't be _that_ hard.  It was fairly routine goddess work after all.  
It's just she couldn't remember the last time _any_ goddess had been given a 
mess quite _this_ tangled....

Did she really want her license back that much?

Yes.  Yes, she did.  She wasn't cut out to be a mortal and she really didn't 
want to take the only other option open to her.  Demon, Third class, 
limited, Urd just was not a title she'd be able to bear.  Mara would never 
let her live it down!

No.  Kami-Sama had made it quite clear this was her _last_ chance to get her 
license back, and had been very explicit with the description of exactly 
what failure meant to her personally.  She imagined her face with the twin 
red slashes she'd borne as the Terrible Master and shuddered.  Maybe mortal 
life _was_ better....

She leafed through the folder again, and sighed once more.  At least there 
wasn't much she could do to make the situation worse!  It was a time bomb 
all on its own.

She closed her eyes and checked the variables with Yggdrasil, the tattoos on 
her face glowing briefly, and shook her head in disbelief.  This had the 
potential to spawn four blood feuds, one of which could lead to a major war 
that could escalate into a world war.  Another timeline led to a world 
controlled by Chaos.  A third led to a long and bloody vendetta that ended 
with all of the principle participants dead or suicides.  Yet another led to 
Shan Pu's death at Ranma's hands.

Urd shuddered, it could all get out of hand so easily.

_Face it Urd-_  She told herself,  _There is no easy solution to this one.  
You're actually going to have to work at it!_

And that, she had to admit, was probably why Kami-Sama had given it to her 
as a test.

She glared at nothing and pouted.  She felt so picked upon.  Belldandy would 
never have a test like this!

Then again, Belldandy would never get herself put on probation either.  In 
fact, Belldandy could probably solve this tangle, so all Urd had to do was 
try hard to think what Belldandy would do.

So what would Belldandy do?  Urd thought for long moments before it finally 
occurred to her.  Belldandy would try to find a way to make everybody happy.

She scowled.  It was a perfectly _obvious_ answer, the only question was 
how....

She checked with Yggdrasil again, running profiles of all of the varied 
characters in her little drama, and a germ of an idea began to form in her 
mind.  She thought and checked personalities, cross checked compatibilities, 
and all the while a smile grew wider and wider on her face.  As she finished 
laying out the possibilities to Yggdrasil, the world computer laid out 
possible courses of action.

She laughed.  She could do it!  She knew she could!

After all, she was a goddess of love, right?

She gave herself a hug of delight then exploded into a dozen chibi Urds, all 
zipping off in different directions to check on the players in her little 
game.  Behind her, forgotten on the step, the folder lay unattended, but not 
for long.  As the shadow of a tree fell across the folder, a figure emerged.

In form, she looked much like Urd, with pale blonde hair, only the scarlet 
split V on her forehead and the double triangles on her cheeks made her look 
more sinister.  She smiled, a long, slow smile that showed extended canines, 
and bent to pick up the folder.  She flipped through it slowly.

"So," she said.  "Urd has a new assignment.  How ... interesting ..."  She 
came to the final page. She looked over it for long moments, a wild light 
beginning to grow in her eyes.  She laughed maniacally, "Urd, Demon, Third 
class, Limited!"  She hugged the folder to her chest, "Now, I will be able 
to get my revenge!"  She hissed, "I will pay her back for making me her 
slave!  For trying to feed me to Fenrir!"  She dropped the folder back on 
the step, "I will make the Terrible Master bow before me!"  She stepped back 
into the shadows, her laughter now indistinguishable from sobs.  As she 
faded from view, a final whisper could be heard, "Finally, Urd will be mine 
once more ...."

With a last whisper of wind, Mara vanished back into the shadows.

* * * * *

Tuesday morning in Juuban found Zhu Shu up and performing her katas at a 
small pool behind the temple.  She was regretting more than ever that her 
travels had been so hard on her clothes.  The Senshi had been kind enough to 
buy her a few new dresses to replace the ones they'd destroyed, but the 
machine made silk just wasn't as good as the ones she had lost.  She 
especially regretted losing her new practice dresses, the gifts from Ke Lun 
and Shan Pu.  They had been her only clothes that could endure the 
contortions she put her body through in practice, which meant that once 
again, she had to do her katas in the nude.

It wasn't that she really minded that; she was discovering that it was 
actually kind of refreshing to not have to pull a stretch because the cloth 
of her dress bound, but Rei's grandfather was nearly as bad a hentai as 
Ataru had been and she was having to get up at dawn to do her exercises 
before he woke, otherwise she would have had to deal with him spying on her. 
  But at dawn, she had the small pool all to herself.

She had spent yesterday helping Rei around the temple, until it was time to 
go to school, then she had searched the schools around Juuban for signs of 
Ranma.  After school, she had given the Senshi their first lessons.

She had decided to start simple and see what they already knew, so had 
started out by having them attack her.  She'd been amazed at their 
ineptness.  She had tried to tell them they had been lucky so far none of 
the villains they had fought had been as quick as she was.  They had laughed 
and Usagi responded with "We took you down didn't we?"

Zhu Shu had told them to transform and attack her again....

Two minutes later, Zhu Shu sat in the middle of the mat holding four henshin 
wands and a locket.  Groans and whimpers came from the five girls lying 
around the room in various impossible positions.  Over the noise, Zhu Shu 
had told them they were lucky no-one had attacked them before they could 
change, then given them back their wands so they could heal.  They listened 
carefully after that, memories of broken bones following a whirlwind attack 
giving them plenty of incentive.

She smiled at the memory of their clumsy attempts to duplicate her easy 
motions.  Then she let out a giggle at the thought of how their eyes would 
bug out if they could see her morning exercises!

Still, nice as the gaggle of fifteen year old girls were, she still had 
Ranma to find and a quest to fulfill.

She stopped in mid kata as she realized she was no longer alone.  She 
turned, swords ready, to face the intruder.

Standing in the shade of a cherry tree was a beautiful woman with tousled 
blonde hair.  She was dressed in an ornate outfit of black and red that 
despite it's intricacy left little to the imagination.  A scarlet split V 
tattoo adorned her forehead and twin double triangles defined her cheeks.  
She smiled and Zhu Shu saw a hint of tooth at the corners of her smile.

"Song Zhu Shu?" the sinister looking woman asked.

Zhu Shu's eyes narrowed.

The woman spent a long moment looking Zhu Shu over like she was a delicacy 
she was about to devour, then said, "If you want to find Ranma Saotome, be 
here at this time."  She walked up to Zhu Shu like a hungry cat, and stuck a 
folded piece of paper on the end of one sword.

Zhu Shu tried to move, but the woman's gaze held her frozen.  She felt like 
a mouse fixated by a snake.  The woman walked around her, looking her up and 
down, "How interesting.  You can actually sense my true nature?" she purred. 
  Zhu Shu shivered, "Usually, only priests like your fifteen year old 
defender over there can do that."

Zhu Shu heard a gulp, and the sound of hurried chanting.

The woman laughed, unconcerned, "Don't bother.  I'm only here to pass a 
message and was leaving anyway.  Besides, that charm won't have any effect 
on me dear."  She turned and walked back towards the shadows under the 
trees.  At the edge of the shadow, she turned and looked back over her 
shoulder, "Don't forget to say hi to his fianc�e for me!"  She laughed as 
she disappeared back into the shadows and faded from view.

Rei rushed up and grabbed Zhu Shu in a hug from behind, "Are you ok?  I was 
so afraid for you.  She radiated such evil she had to be a demon or an evil 
spirit!  I woke up as soon as I felt her presence and ran down here!"  She 
hugged Zhu Shu tighter.

Distracted, Zhu Shu answered.  "Zhu Shu fine, but could Rei please let go of 
breast?  After way woman look at, Zhu Shu really not in mood."

She could feel Rei's blush of embarrassment right through the girls pajamas 
as she reached to pluck the slip of paper from the end of her sword.

It had two items.  A time, and the name Furinkan.

* * * * *

A few hours later, Zhu Shu stood on the roof of an apartment building near 
the school Rei had directed her to as Ranma was pulled past by a pretty 
Japanese girl who had him by his braid.  She had debated about the meaning 
of the mysterious visitor, but it seemed she had been a godsend.  Zhu Shu 
followed Ranma, studying the girl.  Her aura showed her to be a strong 
martial artist, only she had a streak of impulsiveness she did not control.  
Beyond a shell of defensiveness and that hair trigger, there was a sense of 
potential.  She brought to mind the image of a young tiger cub, and Zhu Shu 
could only imagine how beautiful she could be if she would let herself be.

Zhu Shu stopped that dangerous line of thought.  That's how she and Cherry 
Blossom....

Her thoughts were interrupted by her quarries arrival at school.  She found 
a vantage in a tree just as the girl slammed Ranma into the wall just inside 
the gate at Furinkan High.

"Listen Ranma!  Why don't you keep your big mouth-"

"Whadda ya mean 'Big Mouth'?!"  Ranma interrupted.

"I mean about Dr. Tofu and," the girl broke off to stare at Ranma's chest 
then ripped open the front of Ranma's shirt, revealing his breasts.  
"When...  When did-???"

"I told you to wait!"

Behind them, unnoticed, a crowd of boys had gathered, dressed in various 
sports outfits.  They looked on to the scene between the two and gave a 
collective low whistle.

Ranma yelled, "Hey!  Get outta there you perverts!" as the girl whipped 
around into a defensive pose, "So-" she called, "Who's first today?"

The crowd sobbed collectively as one of the boys spoke, "Akane...  We shall 
no longer challenge you."

"Instead, we shall swallow our sobs," another boy said, "And give our 
approval to your engagement to Ranma!!"

Zhu Shu almost fell out of her tree.

"What in the name of ...." a still open shirted Ranma started, but was 
interrupted by an aside from Akane.  "Button your blouse!"  She hissed, then 
turned back to the crowd, "Now.  What in the name of ...."

"So then ..." A new voice interrupted, "You have all heard this _rumor_ ... 
this _falsehood-_"  the newcomer was a tall male who's chest and face were 
so swaddled in bandages that only his eyes were visible, "that Ranma Saotome 
_defeated_ me!"  Maniacal laughter echoed around the yard, "Upperclassman 
Kuno does not _admit_ to defeat!"

The crowd of crying boys turned back to Akane, "Kuno was the greatest 
fighter at Furinkan High!"  one said.

"Yeah!  And it's greatest pervert!" an anonymous voice called.

"Pervert!"  Kuno steamed.

"If it's Ranma you've chosen," the first speaker sobbed, "then we shall give 
you up"

Akane looked at Ranma, "they don't know a real pervert when they see one." 
she giggled

"I'll let that one slide."  Ranma growled.

The kendoist started to unwrap his bandages, "Kuno shall _not_ give you up!  
A hundred, two hundred kicks..." huge foot shaped bruises were revealed as 
the bandages fell away, "from a coward like Ranma ... do not even itch!!"

Zhu Shu watched as Ranma steamed and shook her head.  He had never listened 
to Zhu Shu about the importance of keeping his temper.

"Just who are you calling a coward?!" he asked as he stepped forward.  
"Can't admit that you lost, huh!?!"

"Watch it Ranma!" Akane called.

Kuno meanwhile had seemed to notice Ranma for the first time, "Ohhh!  It is 
you!"  He sobbed in joy, "My pigtailed goddess!"

Ranma froze.  "Urk!"

Zhu Shu giggled.  She had warned him!

"You just can't remember, can you?" Akane said resignedly.

Kuno stepped close to Ranma, "How I have pined to see you!"  Tears of joy 
dripped down his face.

"Whoa! Whoa!"  Ranma protested, "I thought you liked Akane!"

"Of course I do," Kuno replied puzzled.

"She's watching, you know!"

Kuno looked over to where Akane had deliberately turned her back, "No she's 
not."

Ranma looked at her, "Hey! Akane!  _Watch_ us already!"

"Please ... Upperclassman Kuno ..." Akane turned wide eyes towards the 
kendoist, "if you really love this girl ... I won't stand in the way!"  The 
one hand poised below her mouth gave her a look of heartbreak barely hidden. 
  Zhu Shu had to admire the artistry.

"Oh, Akane.  Akane ..." Kuno murmured in wonder as an irate Ranma called 
out, "Hey!  What gives here!?"

To thin air, Kuno emoted, "I won't stand in your way!  So noble!  So 
touching! So sweet!  Oh Akane!  How can I discard you!?!  I love you both!" 
he cried as he lunged towards the two girls and was met with a simultaneous 
kick and punch.  He went down twitching.

The crowd of boys looked on, "Well.  We've said our piece!"  They turned to 
go, "Give our congratulations to Ranma!"

Akane pushed the female Ranma the other way, "When I ...  uh ... see him.  
Sure"

Ranma said not a word as he walked off.  Zhu Shu sat back in the tree and 
thought about what had just happened.  There were so many levels to 
consider.  Shan Pu ... Ranma ... and now Akane....

She decided she was just going to have to watch them for a while and gather 
more information before deciding on a course of action.

Below her, Kuno groaned and set up.  Zhu Shu watched, approving of his 
stamina.  He might have been worthy as a possible husband candidate if it 
hadn't been so obvious he was as crazy as a loon.  He stood and looked 
around, "Oh, curse my weakness that I fainted!  My beloved's are gone!"  His 
sword lashed out to slice through  a tree.  Unfortunately, it happened to be 
the one Zhu Shu was using as a perch.  She leaped across to another tree, 
but Kuno was at the base of it too, "Spy!  Villain!  Assassin!  Show 
yourself!"  His blade hit the trunk and there were no other trees nearby.

Zhu Shu did a flip in mid air and led with one foot.  Kuno watched her 
descend, mesmerized.  He whispered, "lovely" just before her foot impacted 
with his face, and he crashed to the ground once again.  Zhu Shu landed 
lightly and frowned at the smile on Kuno's face.  She really was going to 
have to do something about panties soon.

* * * * *

At Gym class, Zhu Shu spied on Akane and Ranma as they participated in their 
separate activities, her vantage point too far away to hear what was being 
said.  The boys were apparently impressed with his gymnastics ability, but 
Zhu Shu knew he was just playing.  Ranma mostly ignored the boys, staring 
distractedly at Akane playing softball.

Zhu Shu smiled.  She knew that look.  He might fight it, he might deny it, 
he might even run away from it, and if she knew Ranma, he refused to admit 
it even to himself ... but he was hooked.  Lost.  Head over heels.  She 
should know ... Shan Pu had demonstrated that look often enough during their 
search.

She sat back and considered.  This definitely meant complications for Shan 
Pu.  She thought about several different plans, but concluded she still 
needed more information before she could decide.  She had to find out if 
Akane shared the same feelings.

* * * * *

>From her vantage in a squirrel's nest, the Chibi Urd who was watching Zhu 
Shu stared in amazement.  The Chinese girl might not have the ability to 
read minds, but she was better at untangling the conflicting array of 
emotions she could see from auras than Urd would have given anyone credit 
for.  Intrigued, she looked deeper into her.  What she saw brought a wide 
eyed look to her face and an awed "whoa."

Compared to the intrigues of the Mandarin court Zhu Shu had been trained to 
serve in, this was fairly simple.  She understood the emotions involved and 
even had a dozen different plans for either eliminating Akane as a rival if 
she didn't love Ranma, or grooming both of them to wed Shan Pu if she did.  
She even had half a dozen herbal recipes to help sway things either way if 
needed.  She had to admire such practicality!

Away on his throne in Asgard, Kami-Sama shook his head.  Urd had missed the 
point again.  She'd forgotten to look at the one truly important thing he 
had hoped she would see:  Why Zhu Shu was doing it.�

He had not yet given up hope that his selfish daughter would learn what it 
meant to do something just because she cared about a friend.

Still, it was one of the reasons he'd given her this assignment, though it 
was the smallest one.  She still had much to do to see it through.  So much 
depended on it.

He sighed.  Sometimes, even an Almighty has to have faith.

* * * * *

Zhu Shu followed Ranma and Akane for the rest of the day, having taken a 
break during their classes to return to the shrine and leave a note for the 
girls that she would be out late so there would be no class tonight.  Ranma 
had a bandage on his cheek from where Akane had hit him with a foul ball.  
She couldn't see what went on in the doctor's office, but when Akane left 
shortly after the arrival of a tall beautiful girl with a ponytail, Zhu Shu 
followed her.  After a period of wandering, she went into a large dojo house 
combo.  Zhu Shu found a vantage point to watch as she set up a training 
session.  Akane broke brick after brick until Ranma found her.  Zhu Shu 
moved to where she could watch Akane's face as they sparred.

"Come on!  Fight back!" Akane yelled as Ranma dodged "How can I work out my 
stress if you won't fight ?!"

"Akane," Ranma said as he dodged several other blows, "Don't you ever get 
tired of being angry all the time?"

"That's my business!" she yelled as he dodged yet another blow.

"Okay, but you know, you're cute when you smile."

>From her tree, Zhu Shu smiled at the expression in Akane's eyes and aura for 
that split second before Ranma caught her with a nerve strike to the 
forehead, "Blew it!" he cat called

Zhu Shu departed her tree to the sounds of Akane's protesting, "That wasn't 
fair," and made her way to the walkway outside.  She had her answer now.  
She wouldn't have to make Ranma unhappy, even for the best of reasons.  Nor 
would she have to remove Akane from the equations.  Shan Pu had already 
given her an option.  All she had to do was find a way to get Shan Pu worked 
into the picture too, then get Shan Pu to accept Akane as a sister-wife.

Whistling merrily, she headed back to the shrine.  Tomorrow was time enough 
to get things rolling.

* * * * *

The next morning, she pretended not to notice Rei trying to watch her 
secretly at her katas, but she did do her hardest forms.  No sense in 
wasting the opportunity to show her exactly how much she had yet to learn.  
Rei's aura worried her a little, but at least it wasn't Usagi or Minako.  
Rei was a priestess, and hopefully mature enough to recognize a minor 
fascination as what it was.  She could read the swirled tangle of 
admiration, envy and desire and know it wasn't serious, however muddled 
teenaged hormones could make the situation seem.

Zhu Shu sighed.  She could sympathize with her.  Those years hadn't been 
easy on her either.  She'd had her own share of confused feelings.  She 
recalled that spring day in their cave with Cherry Blossom, and how mad her 
aunt had been at the blood on her dress.  How she had beaten her until she 
had told her what had happened.  How if her grandfather had not intervened, 
her aunt might have beaten her to death.  Nor had she forgotten one word of 
the _Lectures on Familial Duties_, or the _Duty of the Wife to Produce An 
Heir_.  That one day of innocent exploration and tenderness had led to two 
years of her aunt training her in the Marital Arts as well as her duties as 
an Imperial servant, and a further year of training in the _Duties of a 
Concubine to her Emperor_.

She'd always wondered if her aunt had been responsible for Cherry Blossom's 
family moving to another village a week after that day.  She'd stood at the 
edge of the village watching her wave goodbye from the back of her family's 
wagon, promising she'd never forget Zhu Shu.  Zhu Shu had watched until they 
were out of sight and had turned to find that miserable Sung Li looking at 
her with a grin, "Well, babe.  There goes your only competition for me!  
Guess you win by default!"

She hadn't even been able to summon the will to hit him.

Back in the present, she closed her eyes and closed off the thoughts once 
more, only a single tear falling down her cheek as she exerted all of her 
mental discipline on her unruly emotions and sealed them behind an iron 
wall.  She brought her forms to a close in a long moment of stillness, then 
put away her swords and walked over to put on her dress.  A mischievous 
impulse made her smile, and she blurred.

>From Rei's point of view, Zhu Shu disappeared, only to reappear right beside 
her.  Zhu Shu gave her a quick peck on the cheek, then vanished again as Rei 
collapsed in a heap, wide eyed and heart hammering, unsure if she was 
dreaming, and not sure if she wanted to be.

* * * * *

The Chinese herbalist had stared wide eyed at the list Zhu Shu had given 
him, written in neat Mandarin pictograms, and fingered the circular seal at 
the bottom, "Where did you get this symbol from, little one?"

Puzzled, Zhu Shu answered, "It is my clan's crest."

The herbalist blanched and a drop of sweat rolled down his temple, "I- I 
will have this order made by tomorrow, Revered One!"  He bowed and bowed as 
he vanished into the shop's back room.  Even more puzzled, Zhu Shu left the 
shop when it became clear that he wasn't coming back.  She walked down the 
street, feeling the weight of eyes all around her as the people all stared 
at her, and the air buzzed with a thousand conversations.  Unnerved, she 
ran.

On a rooftop outside of the Chinatown, She sat and tried to figure out what 
had happened, but none of it made sense.  They'd been staring at her like 
she was a goddess, a dream made real...  She couldn't understand it.  What 
did they think she was?

No answers came, and it was almost time for Ranma's school to start.

* * * * *

Ke Lun stared down the narrow trail to the the mouth of the cavern under the 
old Buddhist shrine.  She nodded to herself.  Well hidden and easily 
defended, a natural spot for hiding.  She could easily see how any 
surviviors of Clan Dragon would have veiwed the secluded village as a haven. 
  Had she not had directions from Zhu Shu, she would have had to spend a day 
or more finding the secluded mountain valley.  While it was only a few days 
from the Amazon village, it was outside of their normal territory, and 
didn't carry on much trade with it's neighbors.  Three hundred years ago, it 
likely had been as hard to find as legendary Shangrila, and even now, the 
road to the village was little more than a jeep track.  Only the fact that a 
local Magistrate for Quinghai provence lived here had rated the construction 
of a road at all.

Various paths led from the cave mouth to the Shrine, and to what looked to 
be a meadow higher up.  A small building stood at the entrance to the cave, 
bearing a Chinese flag.  Ke Lun smiled.  It looked to be about as well 
tended as the one at the PRC office in the Amazon village, though the house 
adjoining it was neat and orderly.  That would likely be the home of Sung 
Po, the magistrate, an unusual member of the Communist party in that he kept 
the PRC influence in the provence to a minimum.  He seemed to have no more a 
wish for the "benevolent" rule of the PRC than the Amazons did.

She had waited several months before coming, spending the time going over 
the old records, and studying the remains of the once proud Clan Dragon 
stronghold, discovering that a long since collapsed secret passage from the 
heart of the castle did exist.  Three hundred years ago, when the Musk had 
razed the castle, it had been undetectable.  The Amazons had come too late 
for anything but revenge, and bad blood had remained between the Musk 
Dynasty survivors and the Amazons.  The Musk had incurred a debt that could 
never be repaid, but had survived by locking themselves into that damn 
fortress.  There had been no way to eradicate them then, and little point in 
the centuries since.  The much reduced Dynasty wasn't worth the Amazon's 
time, however arrogant and skilled their prince was.

She took a deep breath.  The Amazon's had failed in their oath then, and as 
the leader in charge of the contingent that had been sent to Clan Dragon's 
aid, she had felt that personally all these centuries.  Zhu Shu had been a 
godsend, a chance to redeem one of her failures.  But there was much that 
she had sensed that Zhu Shu had not been forthcoming about.  A bitterness 
she needed to get to the bottom of, and a seeming lack of certain knowledge 
that she would have expected the heir of Clan Dragon to possess.

A tall man with long white hair and a beard stepped out of the shadows of 
the cavern and looked at her.  Ke Lun could have sworn the way he moved 
looked familiar.  He seemed to be waiting for her.  Warily, she descended 
the trail, her senses on alert.  As she drew closer, she realized the man 
had no presence, she couldn't even sense his chi.  Finally close enough to 
see his face, she realized why.  It had to be Zhu Shu's grandfather.

He bowed as she stopped in front of him, "Greetings Ke Lun.  I assume since 
you have finally found us,  my  granddaughter found her way to your 
village?"

Ke Lun rasied an eyebrow, "Yes.  I admit, I was surprised to discover the 
survival of Clan Dragon."

The old man sighed, "I would hardly call my escape with my wife and child a 
survival, Ke Lun."

"Yet you did survive.  Why did you not come to us?  We would have defended 
you."

The old man shook his head sadly, "From what we fled, no.  We escaped 
because no-one knew we survived."

Ke Lun sighed, "That does not seem like you, Shi.  I remember the confident 
man who once tried to woo me."

The old man chuckled ruefully, "Survival has made me cautious."

Ke Lun nodded, "How many generations have called you grandfather?"

The old man smiled ruefully, "Six.  Little Mouse is the last of the line.  I 
have done everything for her I can, given her as much leeway as I could 
while doing my duty, but she must marry and produce an heir."

Ke Lun nodded, "I agree.  Yet you seem saddened by this."

The old man nodded and turned to the cavern mouth, "Come. There is much I 
suppose you must learn about my beloved greatgrandchild."

Ke Lun watched the old man enter the shadows, then followed.  Life had been 
full of surprises lately, what with Zhu Shu, and Shan Pu's prospective 
husband.  The last thing in the world she had expected was Song Shi Wang, 
Weapons Master of Clan Dragon, and once upon a time her best friend.

* * * * *

Zhu Shu spent the day observing Akane, and studying the Japanese school 
system. She wasn't sure how long she would be at this, and she might have to 
enter school to keep an eye on things.  She watched as Akane talked to her 
friends about Ranma and Akane's boy troubles, and other normal topics for 
schoolgirls, and by listening, Zhu Shu came to the conclusion that Akane was 
as confused about her feelings as Ranma had always been about his.  And like 
Ranma, she was very competitive.  By the end of the school day, she'd had 
two more fights with Ranma, and Zhu Shu decided that the time had come for 
direct action.  She waited until Akane was alone in the practice yard 
working off her frustrations.

* * * * *

Akane smashed another brick with a cry of "Ranma!  You jerk!" and looked 
around for another one, but that had been her last.  Disappointed, she 
kicked a piece into the koi pond and plopped down on a bench under a tree.

"Confusing he is, yes no?"

Akane nodded, "Very!"

"Give insult, then say nice thing."

"He's such a JERK!" Akane growled.

"He confused.  Not know how to say he love."

"Ha!  Right!  I wish I could believe that!"

"Akane confused too.  She not know how say either."

"Like I would want to!"

"Akane does.  Zhu Shu has seen way look at him."

Akane sighed, then did a double take and whirled.  A beautiful Chinese girl 
hung upside down from the tree looking at her curiously, "Akane not make 
easy for Ranma either.  Is too competitive too!"

Akane gaped, "W-w-w-who are y-you?"

The girl flipped and twisted midair to land in front of Akane.  She bowed, 
"Song Zhu Shu of Clan Dragon.  Song School of Sword Dance."  She 
straightened, "Friends call Zhu Shu.  Hope Akane is friend."

"Zhu Shu??" Akane asked.  The girl nodded, "What were you doing in my tree?"

"Zhu Shu watch Akane and Ranma.  Think Akane need someone talk to know Ranma 
well."

"You know Ranma?"  Quick surge of jealousy, "But- how?!  I've never seen you 
before!"  Ranma knew this beautiful girl?

Zhu Shu giggled, "Silly.  Ranma not just start existing on Akane doorstep!  
Zhu Shu follow Ranma since Jusenkyo."  She looked both ways as if looking 
for listeners then added in a conspiratorial tone, "Zhu Shu have to teach 
Ranma how to deal with curse.  Ranma nearly panic when have first period!"  
She laughed infectiously.  Akane had to join in, the image of what Ranma's 
reaction had to be was hysterical, and then Zhu Shu added, "Ranma thought he 
broken!"

"He must have thrown a fit!"  Akane giggled, "I'll bet he couldn't wait to 
change!"

"Zhu Shu not let!  Not have many pad!  Not let Ranma waste!"

"You mean he had to stay a girl all through it?!"  Akane had to hold her 
sides as she laughed, "Oh, what poetic justice!"

"Hey!  What are you laughing about Aka-"  Ranma froze at the door, "Zhu 
Shu!?!"

Zhu Shu waved, "Nihao, Ranma!  Zhu Shu come to Japan help with Fianc�e!"

"WHAT???"

Zhu Shu hopped over and patted Ranma on the cheek, "Of course.  Ranma not be 
trusted on own without friend to help!"

"Hey!  I'm not doing that badly!"

Zhu Shu looked over at Akane, "Zhu Shu would not have guessed!"

He fumed, "You don't know what she's like!  She acts like a guy!  Not like 
y-"  He broke off when he realized what he had been about to say.

"Not like WHAT?!"  Akane yelled as she took a step towards him.  Zhu Shu 
casually sidestepped and neither Ranma nor Akane saw her quick foot as she 
caught Akane's heel and gave her a boost.

Ranma had been prepared to dodge a punch, not the lurch Akane gave.  Before 
he could move, Akane had stumbled into his arms and her lips met his.

They both froze for a split second, then both jumped back, hearts pounding, 
looking wide eyed at each other.

"W-w-what w-was t-that f-for?!"  Ranma stuttered.

Akane blushed and turned away, "What was what for?"

"Y-you kissed me!"

"I-I did not!  I-I just...  fell!"

"Oh."  Ranma actually looked disappointed, "Well, if you had just a bit of 
grace!"

Akane's embarrassment turned to fury, "Why you- you- "  She swung a punch at 
Ranma which he started to dodge.

Again, their lips met.  Zhu Shu had caught Ranma's foot just as he had begun 
to move, and as a result, Akane's fist was straight out behind his head as 
he found himself face to face and lip to lip with her.

The frozen tableau held long enough for the sound of the wind to whistle, 
then they both jumped back, blushing furiously.

"So nice.  Ranma kiss Akane for apology."  Zhu Shu said sweetly.

"Wha-" Whatever else Ranma had been about to say was muffled by Zhu Shu's 
hand over his mouth, "How cute."  Zhu Shu continued, "Ranma all tongue 
tied!"  She smiled winningly at Akane, "He say he sorry.  Ask forgive?"  She 
gave him a nerve poke and his eyes glazed in pain, "Right?"  Ranma looked at 
the finger still at the ready and nodded furiously.

Akane looked bewilderedly from the mad Chinese girl to a Ranma who was 
rapidly turning purple and looking at her with big pleading eyes.  Her lips 
still burned with the feel of Ranma's and she felt like she was in a daze, 
"It's alright..."  She said faintly "I forgive him ...."  She turned and 
wandered into the house.  She needed to sit down and let her head clear and 
maybe figure out what had just happened.

* * * * *

Ranma blinked twice after Akane, and even after Zhu Shu's hand left his 
mouth, it took him a few seconds to remember to breathe.  He'd never seen 
Akane act like that, except when looking at Dr. Tofu.  Certainly never after 
a fight with him.  He scratched his head and looked over at the Chinese girl 
sitting on the bench.

"Two questions, Zhu Shu.  One.  Why'd you do that for?  And two.  What's up 
with her?"

Zhu Shu shook her head.  He had so much to learn ...  but it was a start.

* * * * *

Kasumi came out of the kitchen to see Akane staring off into nothing, a 
stunned expression on her face as she absently pressed her lips, "Akane?"  
she asked worriedly.

"He ...  kissed me ..." was Akane's only reply.

Kasumi beamed.  That was so wonderful!  She went back to the kitchen to get 
Akane a cup of tea, but paused, looking out over the koi pond.  Who was that 
Chinese girl Ranma was talking with?  She approached quietly to ask him and 
heard him talking to her, "But she's so angry all the time, Zhu Shu!  It's 
like she hates me!"

"Same girl who dazed by Ranma kiss?"

"Oh, come on Zhu Shu.  You know that only happened because you tripped me!"

"Zhu Shu should not have had to trip!"

"_Ahem_." Kasumi cleared her throat to let them know she was there, "Hello 
Ranma.  May I meet your friend?"

Ranma jumped, "Oh.  Hi Kasumi ... um, yeah ...  This is Zhu Shu.  She's from 
China," he seemed a little embarrassed.

The girl rose and gave Kasumi a deep bow and introduced herself formally, 
"Song Zhu Shu, of China."

Pleased at such politeness, Kasumi smiled and introduced herself , "And I am 
Kasumi Tendo.  Would you like some tea?"

"Zhu Shu would be honored," a glance and a slight roll of her eyes indicated 
she thought Ranma should have already offered, and Kasumi silently agreed.  
She invited them into the house and inquired as she led the way, "May I ask 
what brings you to Japan?"  Ranma's body language told her there was far 
more between them than a casual acquaintance.  He was far too relaxed around 
her.

"Zhu Shu comes hunt Ranma.  Abandoned at Amazon village.  Zhu Shu think 
should kill for leaving her to fight Amazons alone.  But decide too much 
friend to kill," the Chinese girl said lightly.

"_W-w-what_?!" a very taken aback Ranma looked at her in horror.

Kasumi could tell from her tone and body language that she wasn't serious, 
but Ranma obviously didn't,  "_Abandoned_!?!  Pop's said that you had asked 
us to escort you there!  I thought it was were you were going!"

Zhu Shu sighed, "Should have guessed.  Panda man big liar," Kasumi noted the 
resignation in the Chinese girl's voice and figured she had reasons not to 
like Mister Saotome much.  She was very curious, but it would be impolite to 
ask.  She got them sat around the small kitchen table and bustled around 
getting tea things together as Ranma continued.

"You mean that wasn't where you were going?  Man, if I had known that, I 
would never have left you there!  I thought you'd be safe."

"Zhu Shu nearly have to fight whole Amazon tribe.  Only fact Clan Dragon she 
did not," there was a strong hint of amusement in her voice.

"Oh man, Zhu Shu.  I am so sorry!"  Kasumi raised on eyebrow.  He not only 
sounded sincere, but actually contrite.  This girl must mean a lot to him.  
She studied her in the reflections on the kettle.

Zhu Shu was looking him up and down with a calculating look in her eye, 
"Ranma sorry?  Wish make up to Zhu Shu?"  Kasumi frowned.  The girl was 
definitely up to something.  Kasumi hoped she wasn't setting Akane up for a 
heartbreak.

"Anything!" Ranma said firmly

"On honor Saotome name?"  Zhu Shu prodded.

"Yes, Zhu Shu.  Just tell me what you want me to do!"

The small Chinese girl got up and leaned over to poke Ranma in the chest, 
"_No punish Akane for not be Zhu Shu!_"

Kasumi dropped the kettle as Ranma froze.

In the silence that followed, Zhu Shu spoke, "Ranma _not_ want Akane be like 
Zhu Shu.  _Believe_ Zhu Shu."  She turned and sat down again.

Kasumi recovered and moved to pick up the kettle, "Oh, how clumsy of me."  
She grabbed a mop to clean up the mess.

Ranma finally got his voice back, "But Zhu Shu, she's so unfeminine!  She 
acts like a boy!  Not like a girl at all!"

"And think Zhu Shu does?"

"Yes!  You act like a girl!  You're the classiest girl I know!"

"And think Akane should be like?"

"Yes!"

Zhu Shu looked away, "Really think Akane should be like Zhu Shu?  No.  Ranma 
not know what he say."  There was a strange edge to her voice.

"Yes I do.  You taught me all I know about females!  You showed me what a 
real female acts like!"

"So you punish Akane for not be like Zhu Shu?!"  Shadows overhung the 
Chinese girls face, "Maybe want Zhu Shu teach Akane be like her?!"

"Why not?" Ranma yelled, "Then she'd act like a real girl."

Zhu Shu stood, "Maybe Zhu Shu should _show_ what type of girl is.  Maybe not 
want Akane act like that."  Her voice was strained.  Kasumi paused her 
mopping to look at her.  Was she okay?

Ranma was oblivious, caught up in his rant, "But I like your type of girl 
Zhu Shu.  You're all soft and fem...a..."

He trailed off out of pure shock.  Zhu Shu had moved and swept Kasumi into 
an embrace as she planted a long kiss on her.

The mop handle bounced on the floor.

Kasumi was too shocked even to protest, and by the time she had recovered 
enough composure to act, Zhu Shu had released her, and turned to Ranma, 
"_Now_ understand?  Ranma take care!  Not treat Akane _better_, maybe Zhu 
Shu steal!"  She turned and stalked out the door.

Kasumi and Ranma stared after her, then Kasumi looked down to the small note 
that had been left in her hand.  She read the barely legible Kanji, written 
even more brokenly than Zhu Shu's speech, and blushed slightly.  Her hand 
came to her lips as she said, "Oh my!" softly and looked out the door after 
the vanished girl again.

She agreed with the letter that Ranma would not have gotten the point any 
other way, and she could forgive Zhu Shu for the surprise.

But she hadn't expected to be thanked for such a wonderful kiss.



********************************************************************

Authors Notes:  Again, tried to streamline the story flow and correct a few 
previously pointed out weak areas.  The Ranma Canon scenes are present to 
establish where other events occur in the timeline.  I personally find a 
breif re telling preferable to something like [Ranma akane meeting/bath 
scene] like one suggestion.

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