Suggested changes: {before : after}
On Tue, 10 Sep 2002 13:49:55 -0400 "L.S McGill" <lsmcgill@hotmail.com> wrote:
Across the city, in another temple, a goddess looked out at a lonely Shan Pu
practicing her katas, a sad smile on her face for how long it was taking her
older sister to grant the poor {girls : girl's} wish. Said sister was currently
groaning with a hangover after a night of finding out that Ke Lun could
apparently drink an infinite amount of saki.
"{We get : We'll get them}." Genma said, a determined look on his face.
Still, he had to admit Akane was looking really nice lately. The sessions
she spent helping Zhu Shu train her friends had been toning her already
athletic body along Zhu Shu's curvy lines. She was beginning develop the
sword {dancers : dancer's} rounder figure, and when she wasn't being angry or tomboyish,
she could be pretty cute.
A very pretty female in an expensive uniform from a private {girls : girls'} school
stood surrounded by three people dressed in non-descript gray outfits and
swathed in bandages, and holding gymnastics clubs. The girl they surrounded
had jet black hair pulled into a ponytail on the side, and held herself as
if she was completely confident of her safety.
His hesitancy made her blush again. Only a true gentleman could act so.
_Oh, the gray dreary life of a {girls : girls'} school!_ she thought. _I had given up
hope of finding a man to love! To think that such a wonderful encounter was
awaiting me!_ He couldn't be like the others who had taken their pleasure
of her then left! He couldn't be! He was the One! Her romantic god upon
his white steed come to bear her away to bliss!!!
{Days : Day's} end finally arrived and Zhu Shu decided to give Ranma and Akane some
time alone. She meandered over the rooftops in no particular hurry as she
approached the Dojo, but mid-way there, her senses tingled and she barely
had time to draw her swords and block a lightning swift attack from a gray
blur.
"Will you deny yourself {love child : love, Child}? There can never be any good to come from
that. And what of your tests? Did you set them only to insure your failure?"
"{No child : No, Child}. You are no more cursed to be what you are than any woman. Surely
you can not hate men so much as that. There is no shame in love Zhu Shu, so
long as it is true."
A rustle of cloth hitting the {ground : floor} was the only indication of Akane's
motion until she laid an arm across Zhu Shu's shoulders. "I'm so sorry. I
... didn't know."
"I am ... restricted in direct action. But a mortal may do that which the
Kami will prevent an Oni from accomplishing. Direct action on my part
towards this mortal can be thwarted by the goddess who watches over this
{ones : one's} companions, but she cannot block what one mortal may do to another."
Akane entered, a curious look on her face, but wearing the Indian dance
outfit that Zhu Shu had left for her in the dressing room. She started to
ask about it, but stopped when she saw Zhu Shu dressed in a matching outfit.
{ :}When Zhu Shu didn't move, she nodded, and came to sit across from her in
the same pose.
"And Ranma was stupid enough to get himself in this position." She sighed.
"Oh well. I guess I'll deal with her when she shows up. One {Fianc�e : fianc�e} at a
time. I can't say I'm thrilled at the thought of a mystery {fiancee : fianc�e}, but-"
She smiled at Zhu Shu. "-I had contemplated the idea of sharing him. Just
not with an Amazon." She looked around the dark dojo. "I guess it's a good
thing Ranma's guarding the door. A fine sight we must look huddled on the
floor like this." She stood and bent to kiss Kasumi on the forehead. "Thank
you ... for being a wonderful big sister." Kasumi blushed as Akane turned
to Zhu Shu. "I- I think I know now why you said no. You're in love with me
aren't you?"
Zhu Shu looked away
"You're afraid you wouldn't be able to let me go afterwards. I understand it
now." She offered her hand to the Chinese girl and helped her to her feet.
"If you want the truth, Zhu-sama... " she whispered gazing into her eyes,
"I'm not sure I could have let go afterwards either. I don't know if I
could have been able to chose between you or Ranma. I might have ended up
breaking both of your hearts. Why do you think I've thought about sharing?"
{ :}She looked at the ribbons lying on the Dojo floor where they had fallen.
"That's why it got out of hand isn't it? When our ki touched, neither of us
wanted to let go ... we bound ourselves so close I have some of your
memories ... I know now how to recognize love from your memories of it ...
and my feelings for Ranma and you." She hugged Zhu Shu close. "I will find
a way to repay you for all you have given me, I will find a way to allow you
the happiness you deserve ... I swear I will. And I'll try to accept
Shampoo. For you."
Zhu Shu shook her head. "I am a fool. I should have seen this would happen.
{ :}Akane's a complete novice in chi manipulation. When we blended ... we
couldn't unblend ... We- we're sisters now in the same way Shan Pu is my
sister. Our chi is bonded, but where only a small part of my chi is bonded
to Shan Pu, much more has been bonded between us. I did not expect that.
When Sarhia taught me the Dance this way, nothing like this occurred."