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 Four:  Beginnings End

Doctor Tofu looked Zhu Shu over critically.  "Well, well, you've certainly 
managed to pull these muscles good."

Zhu Shu nodded glumly.  "Zhu Shu not do katas this day.  Wish could have 
avoided.  Not have choice."  She winced as Tofu straightened her neck, then 
sighed in relief.

Tofu nodded.  "You should be ok.  That tea will help you restore your ki, 
and this salve will help those strained muscles.  But just what style do you 
fight that would pull _those_ muscles?"

Zhu Shu blushed.  "Not all pulled in fight."

Ranma moved over and dropped his bag down almost on top of the photo.  "What 
happened?  Did someone pick a fight with you?"

Zhu Shu gave him a sidelong glance.  "Ranma could say that."

"Must have been a tough fight to bang you up like this."

"They not lay hands on.  Zhu Shu very fast.  Not warmed up though.  
Overextend self."

"They?  Were you ganged up on?"

She nodded.  "Deal with three before chi gone."

"Three?  I hope you taught them a lesson."
Shadows haunted Zhu Shu's eyes for a second and she looked away before 
answering.  "They learn lesson.  Never bother again."

Ranma nodded, distracted.  Zhu Shu's eyes narrowed.  He was up to something.

Doctor Tofu finished rubbing the salve into Zhu Shu's lower back, then 
proceeded to put her spine back in place as Ranma bent down to pick up his 
bag ....

And a photo he was rather covert about picking up.

He quickly palmed it as Doctor Tofu finished with her back.  "There you go.  
All your bones are back where they should be!  You should be more careful 
though."

Zhu Shu nodded as she stood, the examination gown she was wearing billowing 
slightly.  She held the back closed with one hand as she stretched and bowed 
without pain.  "Thank you."

Ranma, too busy looking over his shoulder to make sure no one had seen him 
pick up the photo, put his foot down on the soapy brush Tofu had been 
cleaning the floor with when Zhu Shu had arrived.  His footing went out from 
under him and he landed on the bucket by the brush.  Soapy water splashed as 
books and photo went flying.

Akane dived for the photo, and snagged it, but as her foot came down into 
the soapy water, she skidded.  She slid headlong into Zhu Shu, knocking them 
both down as the photo fluttered into the air again.

"Humm?  What's this?"  Doctor Tofu asked as his fingers closed on it.  He 
reached to adjust his glasses to look at it...

The door slid open as Kasumi looked in.  "Hello Doctor.  Is Zhu Shu okay 
now?"

The photo dropped unlooked at from nerveless fingers as the Doctors glasses 
steamed instantly.  Nabiki snatched it from mid-air as the Doctor stuttered. 
  "K-K-Kasumi? Imagine meeting you here of all places!"

Kasumi laughed.  "But Doctor, this is your office."

"Oh yes!  Imagine that!"

Kasumi looked around the room and uttered a single "Oh, my!"

Ranma was on her knees, her white top soaked to near transparency.  Zhu Shu 
was lying on the floor, her examination gown up around her shoulders.  Akane 
was straddling her, not noticing her hand was firmly planted on Zhu Shu's 
right breast.  Nabiki was holding the photo, looking at Kasumi with a pale 
and wide-eyed expression on her face.

Silence held for a long second before Doctor Tofu held up his skeleton.  
"W-well Kasumi!  As you can see, Zhu Shu is back to perfect health!"

Kasumi looked to the Mandarin girl, who had a quixotically amused 
expression, and smiled.  "Why, yes.  I can see that."  She beamed at Akane.  
"I'm so glad to see you all getting along so well."

Zhu Shu giggled.

Akane looked down and noticed where her hand was.  "I ... uh ... I tripped!"

Zhu Shu giggled harder.  "Not mind.  Maybe Akane trip like this more often."

Akane blushed all the way down to her shoes.  She quickly got up and 
straightened her school dress, too embarrassed to say anything.  Zhu Shu 
continued to giggle as she drew her gown down.

"Yes!"  Doctor Tofu said.  "Akane and Zhu Shu were becoming great friends!" 
He addressed the skeleton again.  "Weren't you Zhu Shu?"

"Zhu Shu over here!"  The Chinese girl called from her seat on the floor, 
still giggling.

"Ah yes!"  He scurried over to Ranma.  "Oh!  _Ahem_... It seems I've 
developed X-ray vision!"

"That Ranma!" Zhu Shu laughed.  She looked to where Kasumi was hiding a 
smile.

Tofu double blinked.  "Oh.  My.  Ranma?  I'm afraid I'm completely out of my 
depth here.  You'll need to see a psychologist about this transvestite 
problem ...."

Ranma rolled his eyes.  "Gee ... Thanks ...."

* * * * *

Kasumi finally herded Tofu away long enough to allow Zhu Shu to go and get 
changed and Ranma, Akane and Nabiki to escape outside.  As they left the 
clinic, Akane turned to a visibly relaxing Nabiki and demanded "Ok!  Now 
what was so important about that photo!"

Nabiki showed her.

All Akane managed was a strangled "Urk!" as extreme shock set in.  Ranma's 
jaw dropped.

"Oh my!  Someone took a picture?"  Kasumi plucked it out of Nabiki's hand.  
"How wonderful!  I must get this framed for Zhu Shu.  It will make a 
wonderful apology for causing her to pull those muscles this afternoon!"

Nabiki blinked as Akane and Ranma stared wide-eyed.

"I suppose I should have known better, exhausted as the poor dear was, but I 
thought she would enjoy it, and I did want to thank her for saving me from 
those thugs...  This will make such a lovely memento!"  She smiled as she 
turned back towards the Dojo, humming happily.

Staring after her, Akane murmured, "She ... she ... Kasumi?!?"
Ranma turned as Zhu Shu came out of the clinic, back in her usual dress.  
"Zhu Shu?"

"Yes Ranma-chan?"

"Y-y-y-you and Kasumi?"

Zhu Shu raised and eyebrow, then smiled her mouse who got the cheese smile.  
"Why Ranma want know?  Not Zhu Shu place tell."  She sauntered past the 
trio, and right before she turned the corner, she threw a look back over her 
shoulder.  "All Zhu Shu say.  Shiatsu can be wonderful thing."  She cocked 
her hip jauntily as she swung her hair back over her shoulder, then 
vanished.

Still frozen in the pose she had been in when Kasumi took the photo, Nabiki 
fainted again ....

* * * * *

Dinner at the Tendo house that night was a little quiet.  Zhu Shu sat 
quietly, eating little.  Akane and Nabiki gave sidelong glances at both Zhu 
Shu and Kasumi.  Ranma watched all of them, but finally started watching Zhu 
Shu most of all.  Despite her flippant attitude earlier, something was 
wrong.  She was barely touching her meal and was avoiding looking at anyone 
directly.

Kasumi merrily told about the day she and Zhu Shu had spent, telling her 
family about meeting Rei, and their visit to Chinatown.  She described the 
fight as an attempted mugging, but the way she watched Zhu Shu carefully 
while telling about it made Ranma think there was more to it than either one 
was saying.  By the end of dinner, Akane had noticed too.  She looked at 
Kasumi questioningly, but got a shake of the head for her reply.

After dinner, Zhu Shu went out to the garden.  She sat under the tree by the 
bank of the koi pond and assumed a meditation pose.  After a few minutes, 
Ranma came and sat beside her.  Several minutes passed before he spoke.  
"There's something you're not saying."

Zhu Shu sat motionless for a long moment.  Finally, she nodded.

Another long moment passed before Ranma spoke again.  "Something about the 
fight."

Again, Zhu Shu nodded.  A single tear escaped her closed eyes and rolled 
down her cheek.  A slight tremor was all the sign she gave that inside she 
was screaming ....

For once, Ranma saw it.  He moved and there was the sound of a hand dipping 
in water, then the wet haired girl gathered Zhu Shu in her arms.  "You had 
to kill someone didn't you."

Zhu Shu nodded again as more tears fell, but she refused to break.  She had 
been trained to deal with this!  She was a bodyguard as well as a servant!  
It was a duty like any other!

But the images of death had refused to leave her mind.  For all her fights, 
she had never had to kill.  Memories of the shock that ran along her arm as 
she cut into the assassins, of the hot bloody spray that followed the path 
of her blade, they haunted her.  Kasumi had tried to help, had tried to 
distract her by getting her to demonstrate a few dances, but the pulled 
muscles she had developed had only served to remind her of why she had them.

And she damned herself for feeling this way.  She had been trained to kill 
in defense without remorse.

But inside she was still crying ....

Ranma wasn't done turning the tables yet.  She held the Mandarin girl to her 
and spoke. "You've been trained all you life to care for others, but what of 
you?  Can't someone care for you?"  She pulled Zhu Shu tighter.  "You don't 
have to be steel for me.  I know I can be a jerk, and an idiot, but a very 
wise person once told me everyone needs someone for whom there are no 
masks."  Zhu Shu shook slightly as Ranma quoted her from one of their 
fireside talks in China.  "You can see beyond my masks better than I can, 
and if you say I am in love with Akane, I have to believe you, but what of 
you?  Why can't I be the one behind your masks.  The one who is allowed to 
see the girl instead of the sword?"

Zhu Shu looked at Ranma, her eyes brimming.  She stared into the redhead's 
eyes and understanding dawned.  "She send you, yes no?"  She whispered.

"Kasumi?  Yes.  She stopped me after dinner and sent me after you.  She said 
sometimes, people need a friend instead of a sister."  She reached out to 
pull Zhu Shu's head against her again.  "I want to be that friend Zhu Shu.  
I think I'm only just beginning to see how much of a friend you are, but you 
need a friend like you too.  I don't know if I can be that friend, but I 
want to try."

The weight of secrets tore her heart.  She tried to pull away, guilt at what 
she had hidden driving her to run, but Ranma wouldn't let her go.  "You not 
even really know Zhu Shu." She protested weakly.

"Your mysteries don't matter to me Zhu Shu.  I know enough to treasure you 
as my best friend."

"My secrets can kill Ranma!"  Zhu Shu sobbed.

"I don't care!  Zhu Shu, you're my friend.  That's all that matters!"  Ranma 
raised Zhu Shu's face to look into her eyes.  "You're my friend.  You want 
to see me happy, I want to see you happy."

She wanted to tell her.  She wanted to let her know about Shan Pu, about her 
quest, her plans, but as she opened her mouth to tell her everything, Ranma 
place a finger on her lips.  "Don't speak.  Don't be Zhu Shu the Sword.  
Don't be the Imperial Servant.  Just be Zhu Shu -- my friend, and a girl who 
had to do something more dreadful than she should ever have had to do to 
save the life of someone she cares about."

She stared into Ranma's eyes and saw only concern. Within her, the iron wall 
broke, and for the first time since the loss of Cherry Blossom, she gave in 
to the tears ....

* * * * *

Ranma held her throughout the crying fit, and listened as Zhu Shu told her 
about the fight.  Zhu Shu had to admit that this was not the first time she 
had had to fight these thugs, and that there was someone in China that had 
sent them, but that she didn't know for sure if the attackers had been sent 
by the same person, or who that person was, or even if any others would 
come.  All she had known was that someone in a dark cloak had asked if she 
was Clan Dragon, then demanded her swords.  When she refused, she had been 
attacked.  Like last time, they had tried to capture her, and if they had 
not tried to kill Kasumi, she could have defeated them again without 
killing.  Ranma nodded.

"I would have done the same, Zhu Shu.  A challenge is one thing, but they 
were trying cold blooded murder.  Why didn't you ever tell me this?" he 
asked

"Zhu Shu not thinks be danger outside Peking.  Not attacked since."  She 
brought her knees up and curled her arms around them.  "Thought had escaped 
danger when leave city.  Did not think would follow.  Did not think would be 
danger to friends."  She finished sadly.

"You're not Zhu Shu.  There's no way they would have known where you were if 
you had stayed out of  Chinatown.  And you're not alone here.  We'll protect 
you too."

Zhu Shu nodded sadly.  "Thank you."

Ranma rose.  "Will you be alright now?"

She assayed a weak smile.  "Is okay.  Ranma help."

The redhead nodded.  "If you need anything ...."

Zhu Shu nodded.  "Just one thing." she said as she stood, wiping her eyes 
and giving Ranma a haunted look.

"Yes."

"Try, once, listen Akane same way."  She smoothed the hem of her skirt.  
"Zhu Shu want Ranma and Akane be happy, but not much time be alone as 
couple."  She disappeared before her heart betrayed too much, leaving a 
wide-eyed and very puzzled Ranma looking at the vacancy she had left behind.

* * * * *

"So why did you send _him_ to talk to her?"  Akane asked, looking up from 
her cup of hot chocolate.

Kasumi finished up with her preparations for breakfast as she answered.  
"Because she's his best friend.  He knows her better than anyone."

"But he's hopeless!  He can't seem to ever say the right thing!" Akane 
protested.  "He'll make a mess of it!"

"I don't think so.  He has a good heart Akane.  He may not be all that great 
at showing it, but I think that might have to do with the fact that he's 
your fianc�."

"What would that have to do with anything?"  Akane grumped.  "He treats her 
way better than he does me!"

"I think you make him nervous, Akane."  Kasumi washed her hands and sat down 
for a cup of tea.  "He's just more relaxed around her, is all.  She's his 
friend.  You are much more, at least potentially."

"That's a wonderful reason to insult me all the time."

Kasumi shook her head.  "You intimidate him, Akane.  I think you'd be 
surprised at what he might be like if he didn't think he had to prove 
anything to you."

"I don't want him to prove anything to me!  Except maybe that he's not a 
jerk!"

"Have you told _him_ that?"

Akane looked at Kasumi oddly.  "Well, no."

Kasumi rose and placed her teacup by the sink to wash up in the morning.  
She stopped at the door just before exiting and looked at Akane.  "Maybe you 
should."

She turned and left just as Ranma entered, his shirt still damp from 
comforting Zhu Shu.  He saw the hot chocolate Akane was drinking and asked 
"Is there any more of that?"

Akane nodded to a kettle on the stove.  "Help yourself."

Ranma did so, and settled into the chair opposite of Akane, a subdued 
expression on his face.

"What's wrong with Zhu Shu?"  She asked.

Ranma stared into his cup for a long time before answering.  "She ... She'll 
be okay."

Akane glared.  "That's not what I asked."

Ranma looked up.  "I'm not sure I should tell you.  I don't know if she 
wants you to know."

"Oh.  I see how it is.  I'm not enough of a friend."  Akane crossed her arms 
and slumped sullenly.

"That's not-"  Ranma started, then shook his head.  "Think what you want." 
he said disgustedly.  "You're only looking for an excuse to fight anyway."

"I am not!  Just because you and her have your little secrets means nothing 
to me!"

"Why do you have to be angry all the time?" Ranma asked.  "She's my friend 
and I just went to comfort her because I saw she wasn't feeling happy.  I 
don't want to fight!"

"Oh.  So you care more about her feelings than you do mine!  Some fianc�e 
_you_ are."

"Yes, I care about her feelings!" Ranma growled, leaning over the table.  
"She had to kill three people today to save _your_ sisters life!  And she's 
feeling bad about it!  I think that's a _little_ more important than your 
fit of jealousy!"

Akane stared in shock.  "What?"  she whispered.

Ranma sat back down, his fury suddenly spent.  "She had to kill those 
muggers.  They were trying to shoot Kasumi."

Akane was speechless.

"That's why Kasumi kissed her on the train.  To thank her.  For saving her 
life.  I don't know if they did anything else, but in retrospect, I just 
can't seem to care, except to hope that if they did, they both enjoyed it.  
And I feel like a complete jerk for reacting the way I did at the doctors 
office.  So Zhu Shu likes girls.  Big deal.  She's my friend, and I care 
about her.  Nothing else matters..."  He hung his head between his hands.  
"And all she wants is for _us_ to be happy with one another.  After all the 
crying and the tears, her last words to me before going to bed were to ask 
me to listen to you the way I listened to her.  That's why I came in here."

Akane looked down into her cup.  "I- I'm sorry."

Ranma shrugged.  "What does it matter?  Whatever I do, it makes you angry."

Akane looked up, stung, and glared.  "That's because you go out of your way 
to aggravate me!"

Ranma looked at her for a second, then lowered his eyes and stood to leave.  
As he passed through the door, he stopped and looked back at Akane.  "Nabiki 
fainted because I asked her where you'd have fun on a date.  Now, I don't 
know why I bothered."

Akane sat and looked out the door after her for a long, long time...

* * * * *

Back in her room, Zhu Shu shut the door and leaned back against it.  She 
hoped she had not said too much, but for the first time since losing Cherry 
Blossom, she had lost control of her emotions.  Her feelings were a storm of 
chaos inside her that raged unchecked, but quixotically, for all the pain 
and despair, she felt more alive than she had in years.  She didn't want to 
analyze the feelings, to sort them and categorize them and tuck them back in 
their niches, not now.  They were still too raw for that.  Tonight she 
simply wanted to forget ....

She drew a deep breath.  Kasumi's scent was still heavy in the air, a light 
floral fragrance that reminded her of spring.  She'd been in the room 
recently.  She looked around the room, her eyes finding a small silver frame 
placed artfully so a beam of light from the street outside illuminated it.  
She stripped out of her dress and panties, folding them by the door, and 
moved over to the bed to look at it.

The photographer had gotten the best possible angle, showing the kiss Kasumi 
had given her on the train.  A light outside the train window had been 
passing as the shot was snapped, and a trick of the light made it look like 
a halo ....

She lay down on the bed and let the happiness of that memory drown out the 
sadness, her eyes locked on the photo until they just couldn't stay open.

* * * * *

On a rooftop several houses away, a black figure had observed Zhu Shu's 
preparations for bed.  As she drifted off to sleep, the figure made it's way 
around the dojo, occasionally crouching on all fours as it seemed to sniff 
the ground.  After several circuits, it seemed satisfied and slinked away 
into the shadows to report.

* * * * *

Friday dawned bright and clear over Nerima.  Kasumi hummed happily at her 
work as she prepared breakfast.  Nabiki sat and laid odds on who would go 
into the koi pond first. As Ranma once more landed in the pond, Akane came 
down to breakfast.  Kasumi brought out several trays as Ranma wrung out her 
shirt, studiously ignoring Akane.  Akane looked at Ranma with a strangely 
subdued expression as she sat down at the table.  Nabiki watched both of 
them curiously.

As Kasumi brought out the last of the breakfast dishes, Zhu Shu came down as 
well.  She was smiling her usual smile, and only a small hint of sadness 
behind her eyes betrayed the last traces of yesterday's stresses.  Akane 
watched her wide eyed as she came and sat down.  Zhu Shu's gaze flickered 
between Akane and Ranma, and a small sigh escaped her lips.

Kasumi noted all of this and tried to ease the tensions by starting a 
conversation.  "Did you sleep well last night, Zhu Shu?"

A real smile came into Zhu Shu's eyes as she turned to Kasumi.  "Yes, 
Kasumi-san.  Zhu Shu sleeps well.  Have pleasant dreams."  The sparkle in 
her eyes left little doubt what those dreams had been about.  Kasumi blushed 
slightly.

Nabiki looked up.  "Zhu Shu, I was wondering when you would be starting 
school.  You and I can go together.  Do you need your transcripts sent from 
China?"

Zhu Shu considered.  Grandfather would need a reason for why she would need 
to go to a Japanese school, and an explanation for why she was in Japan.  
But it would make guiding Ranma and Akane to a happy relationship easier.  
She weighed the advantages and disadvantages, then decided it was worth it.  
"Yes.  Zhu Shu will need send to home village."

Nabiki smiled.  "Wonderful.  Now I'll have someone to walk to school with 
again.  If you will write the message, I'll take you to where you can send 
it."

Zhu Shu nodded, noting Kasumi's happy smile.  Akane and Ranma both looked 
surprised, but happy about it as well.  Soun just beamed and cried at how 
happy he was that his new "Adopted Daughter"  would be starting school.

So Friday began.

* * * * *

Zhu Shu spent several hours composing her letter to her grandfather while 
Akane and Ranma were in school, then helped Kasumi clean house until they 
got a visit from a well to do reporter by the name of Tsukino who spent 
several hours looking over the dojo and talking to Soun before deciding that 
it was okay for his daughter and her friends to attend Martial Arts classes. 
  Why his little Usagi wanted to learn martial arts was beyond him, but he 
approved of the idea of her getting some discipline.  Soun wept for joy 
again when the man handed him the check for the girl's entire first year 
....

Following school, the five girls showed up for their lessons, and ran to hug 
Zhu Shu.

"We've missed you!"  They chorused.

Zhu Shu gave hugs all around, then led them inside to be introduced to Ranma 
and Akane, who she had talked into being sparring partners.  She frowned at 
the cat Usagi was carrying, but Usagi swore Luna would behave herself.  Zhu 
Shu nodded, but made a note to watch and make sure the cat wasn't 
distracting the girls.  She followed them into the dojo.

But it wasn't the moon marked feline who caused problems.  Ranma took one 
look at the girls, screamed, and fell over twitching.  Luna jumped down and 
walked over to the prostrate boy and meowed worriedly.

Genma came running into the dojo following Ranma's scream, but was quickly 
pelted out again when he started yelling about how his son was such a 
failure and began calling him names.  Zhu Shu and Akane finally took the 
unfortunate boy up to his room to lay down and recover from whatever it was. 
  Then they returned to give the girls their lessons.

She felt the cat's eyes upon her the entire time, making token attempts to 
appear as if she was washing whenever Akane or Zhu Shu looked directly at 
her, but by the end of class, Zhu Shu had studied her aura enough to know 
she wasn't an ordinary cat.  She sent the girls out to shower and get 
dressed, but shut the door on the cat when she tried to follow them out.

"Wha-uh- Meow?"  The startled cat said as the door closed in her face.  She 
turned to look at Zhu Shu, then backed up hastily at the sight of a green 
burning sword an inch from her little nose.

"Not fool Zhu Shu.  Not cat!  What?!" the annoyed Mandarin girl asked.

"Meow?"  Luna tried.

"No good.  Heard start to talk!  Watch Senshi too close!  You spy?"  Her 
eyes narrowed.  "Maybe Zhu Shu should kill!"

"Me-uh- oh no!  Wait!"  The bemooned cat cried as Zhu Shu's sword sank into 
the floor a whiskers width from a paw.  The she jumped as the other blade 
descended.  "I AM NOT A SPY!"  She yelled desperately.

The blade stopped a fraction of an inch from Luna's nose.  Zhu Shu looked 
down the glowing length.  "Why watch Sailor Moon so close?  Answer good!  
Zhu Shu have no patience with lie."

Luna looked at her wide-eyed.  "Y-y-y-you know she's Sailor Moon?"

"Zhu Shu ask questions."  She tapped Luna's nose with the point of her sword 
for emphasis.

Luna clapped both paws over the sensitive organ.  "I'm her Guardian!"  She 
yelped.

Zhu Shu tilted her head.  Her aura said she was telling the truth.  She 
nodded and put her swords away.  "Humph!  Should have said so.  Why no have 
girls trained?  Lucky no-one kill yet!"

"No-ones supposed to know who they are!" Luna protested.  "So they'll be 
safe!  They shouldn't have told you!"

"They not.  Zhu Shu have good vision.  See aura.  No matter if in costume."

"You can see their auras?!"

Zhu Shu sighed.  "Yes.  See aura.  How know cat not lie."

"Eeep!"

"Still no answer.  Why no train!?!"

"They're _Sailor Senshi_!  Re-incarnated warriors of the Moon Kingdom!  They 
_know_ how to fight!"  Luna yelled.

"That why Zhu Shu break bones and take pens away?"  She tilted her head and 
sighed.  A quick motion slid the door aside to let the five girls tumble in, 
Usagi as usual landing on her chin as the other Senshi fell on top of her.  
Zhu Shu glared at Luna.  "And now raise voice in dojo with paper wall!"

Luna stared at the semi dressed girls, then raised her eyes to an Akane 
Tendo who was standing in only her bra and panties, the shirt she had been 
about to put on still held in frozen hands.

Zhu Shu nodded.  She'd heard alright.  Zhu Shu was very glad the Dojo was so 
isolated from the main house, or a major disaster might have ensued.  She 
could trust Akane and her sisters, and probably Ranma, but Genma would have 
been a major problem.

She looked down at the tangle of fifteen year olds and frowned.  "Usagi!  
You leader of Senshi!  Should behave better!  Be example!  Not first listen 
at door!"

Usagi groaned.  "My chin's broken!"

"Poor bunny.  Now up!  Zhu Shu see girls dressed, in dojo, five minute!  Or 
else!"  She raised her look to Akane.  "Akane too!  Five minute!"  She 
turned to Luna, a knife and a wok appearing in her hands.

"Wh-wh-what are you doing?"  Luna said as she backed up and up.

"Zhu Shu tries remember recipe for Cat Tongue!"

"Eeep!"  Luna cried and looked for a place to run, but there wasn't one ....

* * * * *

Fortunately, Zhu Shu wasn't serious about the recipe.  By the time the girls 
came out four minutes later, Zhu Shu's show having been sufficient 
motivation for speed, she had laid out a light snack of rice and stir-fried 
vegetables.  She noted their apprehensive looks, but waited till they were 
all seated.

"Usagi.  Why keep Zhu Shu secret from Guardian?"

"Um-"  Usagi hemmed.

"Luna!  You be upset Usagi tell about Zhu Shu?" Zhu Shu's gaze caught the 
cat in a driving glare.

"Uh- Of course not!"

"Not tell all truth Cat!  Now know Zhu Shu.  What then?"

"Well- maybe."

Zhu Shu nodded.  "Better.  Zhu Shu meet Senshi on Hikawa Shrine.  Mistook 
Zhu Shu for Cardian.  Nearly kill but realize mistake.  Take care of Zhu 
Shu.  Zhu Shu wake, see Sailor Mars as Rei.  Recognize.  Mars decide better 
off if friends.  Zhu Shu have dangerous knowledge.  Good idea, yes no?"

Luna nodded.

"Zhu Shu show why should train.  Take pen, break bones.  Make point.  Senshi 
listen. Zhu Shu help in own way to fight evil."

"That's wonderful!"  Luna exclaimed

"Usagi!  Should have told Guardian.  Small mistake.  Understandable in young 
girl."

Usagi blushed shamefacedly.

"Now, must deal with consequences."  She turned to Akane.  "Know of Sailor 
Senshi?"

Akane nodded furiously

"Better than Zhu Shu when first meet then."  She turned to the others.  
"Senshi, make up and introduce selves.  Is only polite when meet new 
friend."  She turned her attention to her bowl of rice.  The girls all 
looked at each other, then at Luna, who was apparently totally fascinated 
with her bowl of shrimp in a cream sauce.

Finally Rei nodded.  "She's right and we really only have ourselves to 
blame."  She stood.  "Rei Hino."  She brought out her pen.  "Mars Power, 
Make up!"

* * * * *

A half hour later, Zhu Shu waved good-bye to the cheerful Senshi.  A bemused 
and still slightly dazed Akane stood next to her.  _Still,_ Akane thought, 
_who wouldn't be.  Next to that near invasion of the world by the alien Oni, 
the Senshi have been the most popular news item in Japan for the last few 
years.  And now, I know them personally.  What's next?  Space visitors?_

A hum in the air made her look up as a tiger stripped saucer dropped down to 
hover over the Dojo.  She stared as a hatch opened in the bottom and Japan's 
Number One Famous Alien poked her horned head out.  "Konichiwa, Zhu Shu.  
Have you seen Darling? He ran away again!"

Zhu Shu waved.  "Nihao, Lum.  Zhu Shu not seen Ataru.  Found Ranma!"

"Wonderful!"  the Oni flew down to give Zhu Shu a hug.  "Is this where you 
disappeared to?"

Zhu Shu nodded.  "Must come visit.  Zhu Shu miss first friend in Japan."

"Ok.  But I have to find Darling!  He ran away to be with Shinobu again!"

Zhu Shu nodded.  "Understand.  Come visit!"

"I will.  Saucer!  Remember this address!"  She gave Zhu Shu another quick 
hug and flew up to her ship.  "Bai Bai!  See you soon!"  With a further hum, 
the saucer shot out of sight.

Zhu Shu turned to apologize for her eccentric friend, but a wide-eyed Akane 
stopped her.  "Is there anyone famous in Japan you AREN'T friends with?"

Mischievousness won.  She giggled and gave Akane a peck on the cheek.  "Zhu 
Shu not meet Emperor yet!"  She vanished into the house.

After all the shocks she had gotten, it was a relief for Akane to beat the 
tar out of Ranma when he insulted her figure after Kasumi and Nabiki dressed 
him in one of Akane's outfits because all of his were in the wash.  In fact, 
upon reflection, it was the most normal thing she'd had happen all afternoon 
....

* * * * *

Monday morning was a change of pace as it was Zhu Shu's first day of school. 
  Her grandfather's permission had arrived on Sunday along with paperwork 
detailing her "schooling".  She smiled at Sung Po's signature on the 
paperwork.  At least it seemed the local magistrate did not hold her choice 
to try and not have to marry his son against her.  Her Grandfather had also 
sent her a letter to tell her that Ke Lun had met with him and advised him 
of her current quest.  She had his blessing and approval.  He also informed 
her that Pin Ke had showed up in town, looking for yet another rematch.  She 
had been irate to find Zhu Shu gone.  Lin Ke had been, as always, apologetic 
for her sister.  Zhu Shu had sighed at that.  One day, she'd have to deal 
with Pin Ke once and for all, only her friendship with Lin Ke had prevented 
her from paying Pin Ke back for all she and Cherry Blossom had endured from 
the bullying girl as they grew up.  The girl from the next village had a lot 
to answer for, and not just from her.  Shan Pu had had stories of Pin Ke to 
tell too ....

Still, she had what she needed for her current quest, so that morning found 
her walking to school with Nabiki.  They talked about Ranma and Akane and 
other topics until they arrived at Furinkan High.

Kuno was waiting.

"Ah Nabik-  Oh!  Can it be?  My beautiful Chinese Goddess!  Oh!  As the 
Apple tree doth shake off the snow and lift it's branches to the sun of 
spring, so does my heart throw off the cold snows of it's desolation at the 
joyous return of your beauty!  Yea, My heart doth rejoice at the happy fates 
which hath returned you to me, My Goddess!"  He lunged to envelop Zhu Shu.

Zhu Shu had forgotten about Kuno.  She leaped straight up as his arms closed 
around air and did a back-flip to land on the post by the gate, both swords 
coming out.

Nabiki watched from half lidded eyes.  "Interesting ...."

Kuno's boken had appeared in his hands as tears of gladness streamed from 
his eyes.  "My Goddess, I rejoice at your challenge for my favor!  Happily 
will I allow you to date with me if I, Tatewaki Kuno, should lose!"

Zhu Shu sighed.  "Zhu Shu not date Kuno!"  He was completely oblivious to 
her protest as he closed in.  She leaped above his attack as his boken 
shattered a three-foot section of the wall. She landed behind him as he 
whirled.  Green fire flickered along her blade as she moved to parry him and 
slice through the wooden blade.

Thunder rumbled as the swords connected and Zhu Shu's sword barely nicked 
the boken. Kuno retaliated with a super-fast blur of thrusts which Zhu Shu 
had to bounce away from, her momentary handstand revealing the pink panties 
under her short skirt, which drew a whistle of appreciation from the boys 
watching the fight.  She dodged another flurry of blows and leaped, her 
ribbons swirling in a cyclone around her.  Thirty feet above Kuno, her 
ribbons snapped into a tight spiral as she cried "Dragon Tail Whip."  A ball 
of green fire arrowed down to envelop Kuno in a rumbling explosion.

The clearing smoke revealed Kuno, his clothes in tatters, standing in a 
small crater, the shattered remains of his boken in hand.  Wind whistled as 
he blinked twice, then, like a tree, he slowly fell over, unconscious.

Zhu Shu landed at the edge of the crater and for several seconds, silence 
reigned  Then a buzz of conversation broke out all around...

"Who is she?"  "Gods, she's cute!"  "Did you see what she did to Kuno!"  
"Humph!  Well anyone would look cute to you if they wore a skirt like that!"

Nabiki stepped up to Zhu Shu as she put her swords away.  "Well, I see 
you've already met Kuno.  Well, come on.  We wouldn't want you to be late on 
your first day of school!"  She led the Chinese girl inside by the elbow...

Ranma and Akane arrived a few minutes later, and stared at the devastation.

"Humm, I have a feeling that Zhu Shu is already here."  Akane said.

A drop of sweat rolled down Ranma's temple.  "Remind me not to get her mad 
at me.  And to get her to teach me how she does that."

* * * * *

Things went well that morning for Zhu Shu, even though she was in the same 
homeroom as Nabiki and Kuno.  After the second eraser, Kuno had been sent 
into the hall with a bucket and Zhu Shu had had some peace.  Then lunchtime 
had arrived.

She had been walking towards Nabiki when a student tripped because he was 
watching her instead of where he was going, and with unerring accuracy, the 
curse had brought his glass of ice water down on her thin sleeveless dress.

The dress pulled tight as she gained a foot in height and a cup size.  For a 
single long moment, no one moved as the blonde dragon-girl stood motionless, 
then a riot of conversation broke out across the lunch room.

Nabiki arrived a second later with a kettle of warm water, and a muttered "I 
should have guessed," but the damage had been done.  For the rest of lunch, 
Zhu Shu was stared at, and finally, one of the Hentai Squad got brave enough 
to dump another glass of cold water on her.

After that, it was non-stop.  Every time she changed back to normal, another 
"accident"  would happen.  She gave up on hot water, at least till every 
male was gone from the lunchroom.  She was very glad her dress wasn't white, 
damp as it was by the end of lunch.  Then to top it off, she'd gotten very 
rudely snubbed by the entire cheerleading squad and told that if she was 
going to be such an obvious tease, she could expect nothing but trouble.  
Nabiki told her to ignore them, since they were just jealous that she was 
prettier than any of them, but Zhu Shu still had misgivings.  Then, to make 
a bad situation worse, she ended up having to hold a bucket of water in the 
hall for being late to class because she had had to wait till everyone had 
left the lunchroom before she could get hot water.

Then at gym class, she had to admire the ingenuity of the "accident" that 
soaked her on the bench of the softball field, and she hoped the Hentai 
Squad had enjoyed the wet tee shirt, because she had sent most of them to 
the nurse's office.  And then had to knock out Kuno, now madly in love with 
his "Sun Gold Dragon Maiden"...

* * * * *

By week's end, it had actually become a game.  The school had written her 
off as the hopelessly strange Chinese dragon-girl, and ignored her curse, 
mostly.  The Hentai Squad had unanimously bought squirt guns, and Zhu Shu 
had started carrying umbrellas.  The girls and the Tendos had even chipped 
in to buy her a nice set of dresses with matching umbrellas.  She'd even 
been mischievous enough to get a white one with gold plum blossoms.

The only sore point was still the Cheerleading squad.  Zhu Shu had no clue 
what to make of their constantly turned up noses when they saw her.   Unless 
Nabiki was around, in which case, they'd turn pale and quickly walk in 
another direction.

In fact, by the weekend, things had settled down into a routine both at 
school and home.  Ranma and Akane had their fights, and sometimes Zhu Shu 
would step in, sometimes she let it take it's course, which usually ended 
with Ranma airborne.  Nabiki was making a tidy profit from Kuno with 
pictures,  two sets by sneaking around to snap photos of Ranma and Akane, 
and a third by talking Zhu Shu into posing for "art".  Meanwhile, usually 
only one of the three "Beloveds"  had to flatten Kuno any given day.  Zhu 
Shu and Kasumi had the house so well taken care of that Kasumi actually had 
time to herself during the days, and Soun took to calling Zhu Shu his fourth 
daughter.  Things were going so well that Zhu Shu didn't notice that Nabiki 
had found her three biggest weaknesses.

That Zhu Shu tended to be entirely too trusting of her friends almost made 
Nabiki feel guilty about the pictures, but she actually thought it was 
ironic that given Zhu Shu's training, the Chinese girl didn't seem to be 
aware she was being fast talked.

Then there was the fact that Zhu Shu  had no head for money.  Nabiki had 
spent hours trying to explain the Japanese monetary system, but Zhu Shu 
wasn't very good with it.  In retrospect though, since Zhu Shu had come from 
a small village where barter was more common than coin, it was 
understandable, as was the too trusting nature.

It was the other weakness that Nabiki found hilarious.  Zhu Shu was addicted 
to magic girl anime.  Rayearth, Card Captor Sakura, anything and everything 
that was cute and magical... By the end of the week, she had a small 
mountain of stuffed kawaii animals filling her bedroom, all gifts from the 
various boys hopelessly vying for her favor.  Nabiki couldn't help but laugh 
at the image of Zhu Shu and her stuffies.  It was just such a contrast to 
the normally controlled Mandarin demeanor.

So, by weeks end, normality, of a sorts, was restored.


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

Authors Note:  Again, primarly a smoothing, and added more info on the 
backstory.



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