Well, here's a major change.  Long ago and far away I planned to have Zhu 
Shu fighting the cheerleading squad, but dropped it because the chapter was 
far too long.

Now, with DB Sommer's permission I've readded it.  Ai and crew met Zhu 
Shu...

Let me know what you think
************************************************************************


Disclaimer: Ranma 1/2 characters property of Rumiko Takahashi, Shogakukan, 
Kitty, and Viz Video.  Sailor Moon characters property of Takeuchi Naoko, 
Koudansha, TV Asahi, and Toei Douga, and DIC.  Ah! My Goddess property of 
Fujishima Kosuke, Kodansha, TBS and KSS films; AnimEigo, Studio Proteus, and 
Dark Horse Comics.  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 beforehand.

(And of course Ai Konjou is DB Sommer's creation.)

************************************************************************
Book One: The Mandarin

Chapter Five:  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 forms 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.  Zhu Shu try show off how 
flexible is.  Not good idea after 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."  A faint hint 
of sadness tinted her voice.

"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."  Zhu Shu shrugged.  Ranma was too distracted to notice the 
haunted look in her eyes.

"They?  Were you ganged up on?"

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

"Three?  I hope you taught them a lesson."

Shadows covered Zhu Shu's eyes and she looked away before answering.  "They 
learn lesson.  Never bother again."

Ranma nodded, his eyes darting to the photo.  Zhu Shu noticed the furtive 
look and her 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.  Zhu Shu made a note to 
ask him about it later.

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,  Nabiki and even Akane had noticed too.  
They looked at Kasumi questioningly, but got a shake of the head for their 
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.  "I 
ain't real good at this, Zhu Shu, but even I can see there's something 
you're not saying."

Zhu Shu sat motionless for a long moment as Ranma's eyes searched the 
shadows that hid her eyes.  Finally, Zhu Shu 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.  The single tear glimmered in the darkness.  At a 
loss, he struggled to think about what could bother the unshakable Chinese 
girl, and when the answer came he felt himself grow both as cold as a block 
of ice and a hot as the sun in rage.  His hands curled into fists 
momentarily as all he wanted to do was demolish whoever had caused Zhu Shu 
this pain.

Then a second tear fell beside the first and the rage fled before concern 
for his friend.  For long seconds he stood at a loss, unsure how to comfort 
her, and then some instinct told him what she would respond to.

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. "I know you've been trained all you life to care for others, 
Zhu-chan, but what about you?  Can't someone care for you?"  She pulled Zhu 
Shu tighter.  "You don't have to be steel all the time.  You don't have to 
hide from 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, but what of you?  
Why can't I be the person you allow behind your masks.  The one who is 
allowed to see the girl instead of the sword?"

Zhu Shu sobbed silently, her hands clenched but she still fought the tears.  
Ranma felt her throat tighten as she tried to think of ways to help her.  
Desperately hoping something would work, she just started talking.

"Look, you know I'm no good at this kinda stuff.  I mean, I know I can be an 
idiot, and well, this bit about you being attracted to girls kinda threw me, 
but it doesn't matter to me anymore.  You're my friend, and I ain't got so 
many of those.  I gotta care for the ones I have, right?"

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 starting to see how much of a friend you are to me, 
but you need a friend like you too.  I donno if I can be that  good a 
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 mysteries 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 a friend."

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 Ying Ying, 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 by them since.  
But think they tong.  Zhu Shu learn not tell people her clan.  Not want 
people think she tong."  She brought her knees up and curled her arms around 
them.  "Thought had escaped danger when leave cities in China.  Did not 
think would follow to Japan.  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.  I'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.  She had no time to take it easy 
on them.  As it was, she barely got to the gunman in time."

Akane was speechless.

"That's why Kasumi kissed her on the train.  To thank her.  For saving her 
life.  I donno if they did anything else, but in retrospect, I just don't 
care, except to hope that if they did, they both enjoyed it.  I feel like a 
complete jerk for reacting the way I did at the doctor's 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 him 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 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, a calculating look in her eye as she glanced between Ranma 
and Akane, still studiously avoiding looking at each other.  "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, before leading 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.

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 
before returning to give the girls their lessons.

Zhu Shu felt the cat's eyes upon her the entire time, making token attempts 
to appear as if she was washing whenever she or Akane 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 burning 
green 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 wands 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.  Zhu Shu was very glad the Dojo was so 
isolated from the main house, or a major disaster might have ensued.  She 
felt 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 wand, 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 
....

* * * * *

Saturday afternoon found Nabiki going over the school schedule with Zhu Shu.

"Now, I managed to get you put into my homeroom, so I can help you get 
adjusted, and we can work out a deal for me to help you get up to speed on 
your schoolwork.  However, it's only fair to warn you that most of the boys 
at our school are hentai, and were rather fixated on my little sister.  They 
may have claimed to have given up on her since she's engaged to Ranma, but 
that just means they're looking for a new target."

Zhu Shu sighed.  "Zhu Shu understands.  She spend week at Tomobiki.  Have 
deal with Hentai squad."

Nabiki shrugged.  "I'd almost suggest letting your preferences be known, but 
that might cause you more problems.  One, it'd get you labeled as a pervert 
while not neccessarily keeping the boys from chasing you, and second, it 
might make you a target for Ai."

"Ai?"

"The head of our cheerleading squad.  She's been fuming since Akane's the 
only girl in Furinkan who can beat her, and with Kuno's proclamation, she 
lost her place as the focus of the school's Hentai Squad.  And to top it 
off... she likes girls as much as she likes guys.  There's no telling if 
she'd ask you for a date, or a duel."

"Zhu Shu sees."  She shrugged.  "Zhu Shu no can change.  Tomobiki boys not 
leave alone, even when Zhu Shu hides.  Give her many presents."

Nabiki raised an eyebrow.  "Oh?  Like what?"

Zhu Shu smiled.  "Rei supposed to bring today."

The doorbell rang.  Nabiki raised an eyebrow in the general direction of the 
door.  "My, what coincidental timing."

There was the sound of Kasumi opening the door and starting to say hello, 
but it was replaced by a suprised squeal and a rumble, followed by silence.

Zhu Shu was down the steps followed almost as quickly by Ranma, then Nabiki 
and Akane.  At the front door, they found a sheepish Rei helping Kasumi dig 
herself out of a pile of stuffed animals.  The pile completely filled the 
doorway to a height of a couple of feet, and the pile grew larger outside, 
where a large delivery box had given way from the pressure of the stuffies 
within.

Rei saw Zhu Shu and gave her a apologetic smile.  "I guess I shouldn't have 
tried to put them all in one box."

Kasumi finally regained her feet, a Mokona stuffie poking out of her apron 
top.  "Oh my!  Where ever did you come by such a collection?"

Zhu Shu lowered her eyes.  "Boys at Tomobiki give as gifts.  Try to get Zhu 
Shu to date with them."  Zhu Shu grabbed a huge pikachu and held it against 
her.  "Zhu Shu think are cute." she said defensively at the raised eyebrows 
from the Tendo sisters and Ranma.

Ranma surveyed the massive pile of stuffed animals.  "An we gotta take these 
upstairs?  Ah man, that's going to take all day."

Zhu Shu gave him big pleading eyes.  "But they cute!"

Nabiki couldn't hold in the laughter anymore...

* * * * *

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 Ying Ying 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 
bounced 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 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"...

And all the while, she was the subject of intense scrutiny by five sets of 
eyes...

* * * * *

The tall busty blonde watched as Zhu Shu disappered into the girls changing 
room and gave a slight frown.  This new girl was formidible, possibly even a 
match for her, and the way the Hentai Squad was chasing her irritated her.  
She was going to have to teach the fools who were still the beautys of 
Furinkan High.

"She's kind of cute." said the red-head next to her.  "And she's got that 
gymnastic figure you like.  Thinking of asking her out?"

The blonde looked over.  "Maybe later, Megumi.  Once we've shown her who's 
in charge around here.  I think she needs to be shown what's acceptable at 
Furninkan."

"Yes." said the tall raven haired girl on her other side.  "After all, every 
one knows only we're allowed to dress that sexy.  Right, Ai?"

Ai nodded as the other blonde girl in the group gave a huff from where she 
was watching the unconscious boys being hauled off the feild.  "You'd think 
from their behaviour, they think she's prettier than me!"

"But she is prettier, Kaede.  I saw her up close in the lunch room.  And she 
has a better figure." the last girl spoke up.

"Shut up Kyoko!"

"But it's only the truth-"  The short girl with curly chestnut hair broke 
off as as Ai turned.

"Enough.  I'll decide who's prettier later.  Maybe I'll even give her a 
collar.  But first, we're going to show Little Miss China her place."

* * * * *

The school day finally ended and a still damp Zhu Shu met Nabiki by her 
locker.  "Zhu Shu seriously think tell boys she only like girls."  The 
Chinese girl said in frustration.  "Then maybe Zhu Shu get through day in 
dry dress.

"Well, I could have prepared you a little better if you'd told me about your 
curse."  Nabiki replied. _And had a camera ready at lunch._  she thought.  
Her pocketbook had already gained a pleasent weight from the few pics she 
had gotten during lunch and at gym.  Kuno had paid triple for the wet tee 
shirt pics.  Zhu Shu was going to be a gold mine.  The only worrisome part 
was that Ai had bought one of the wet tee shirt pics too.

"Zhu Shu has grown used to. Forgot."  She shrugged.  "Zhu Shu just need 
remember not wear white dress."

Nabiki watched the students hurrying to the front of the school and sighed.  
She had figured this was inevitable, and had told her factors to handle the 
bets, but for once a guilty conscience nagged at her.  As they approached 
the front doors, Nabiki stopped Zhu Shu.  "Wait."

Zhu Shu looked at her.  "Yes?"

"Give me your books.  And... and be prepared to get in a fight when you go 
out those doors."

Zhu Shu tilted her head curiously.  "What Nabiki mean?"

"The rumor mill's been going all afternoon, ever since your gym class.  You 
remember I warned you about Ai?"

Zhu Shu nodded.

"I think that she and the rest of the cheerleaders are waiting for you out 
there."

Zhu Shu nodded.  "Challenge." she said quietly.  Nabiki nodded.

Zhu Shu handed her book bag to Nabiki, then reached behind her back and drew 
her swords.  She detached her ribbons from the pommels and returned the 
blades, drawing out the wooden practice swords she used to spar.  After 
tieing the ribbons back in place, she nodded at Nabiki.  "Zhu Shu is ready."

The large entrance area had already had the crater left from that morning 
repaired, and as Zhu Shu and Nabiki stepped out of the building, they saw a 
crowd had gathered to either side.  Ranma and Akane stood off to the side of 
the door, Ranma's fists clenching and unclenching as he looked at the blonde 
girl waiting in the center of the cleared area, surrounded by the other four 
girls of her squad.  When he saw Zhu Shu he stepped up and growled.  "Those 
girls said they were waiting to challenge you."

"Zhu Shu knows."

"All five of them."

Zhu Shu nodded.

"That's not right.  Five on one isn't fair, even if they are girls."

Zhu Shu raised her eyebrow.  "Ranma."

"Yeah?"

"Zhu Shu not say this often, but please to shut up."  She stalked forward, 
her ribbons lashing.

"What I'd say?" Ranma asked, looking puzzeledly at the annoyed Chinese girl.

Nabiki gave him a amused look.  "Offhand, I'd say you insulted her with that 
remark."

Zhu Shu paid the spectators no further attention as she approached the 
blonde girl in the lead, examining their matching blue tops, yellow skirts 
and black shoes with white socks.  The word Furinkan was written in Kanji 
across their chests, and their hands were concealed inside fluffy blue and 
yellow pom poms.  Their stances were not typical martial arts, but she could 
tell they held themselves ready to move in any direction.  Their leader 
almost oozed confidence.

Individually, Zhu Shu would rate them decent martial artists, though not a 
challenge to her skill.  Togther was something else.  She had no way to 
gauge how well they may work as a group.  She stopped in front of the leader 
and gave a half bow before raising and meeting her opponents gaze.

"Nabiki say you wish challenge Zhu Shu."

The blonde gave her a nasty smile.  "Challenge makes it sound like you have 
a chance.  I'm here to teach you your place.  We're the only ones allowed to 
put the boys around here in the nurses office."

"And are?"

The blonde motioned to the red head by her side, who struck a pose with one 
pom pom rasied and the other at her side as she gave Zhu Shu an apprasing 
look.  "Megumi Ohtama."

The second girl struck a pose the opposite of the one the first girl had 
taken on the leaders other side. "Ayeka Hibishi."

The other blonde in the group knelt before the red-head, her pom poms held 
out behind her in a pose that showed off her generous chest.  "Kaede 
Miyaki."

The last girl, with curly chestnut hair duplicated the blonde's pose on the 
opposite side.  "Kyoko Onamuri."

Then then leader stepped forward and took a pose that showed her figure off 
to the point that Zhu Shu had to sniff.  "And I am Ai Konjou.  The Captain 
of Furinkan's Combat Cheerleading Squad, and greatest Combat Cheerleader in 
the world!"

Zhu Shu nodded.  "Song Zhu Shu.  Clan Dragon.  Heir to Song School of Sword 
Dance."  She took a stance, watching Ai's eyes to see if Nabiki's statement 
was true.  Ai's eyes roamed over her as a lascivious smile crept across her 
face.

"Once we've punished you for the mistreatment of our men, perhaps I'll allow 
you to be my playtoy.  You'd look cute in a a collar."  Ai said as she 
finished her mental stripping of Zhu Shu.  Ayeka gave Ai a momentary forlorn 
look before focusing on Zhu Shu, hatred burning in her eyes.

Zhu Shu's stance didn't waver.  "Zhu Shu sees."

The attack came without warning as the two cheerleaders who where kneeling 
suddenly launched their pom poms at Zhu Shu.  She jumped straight up, the 
world slowing as she shifted to combat time, noting in passing the thin 
wires between the pom poms that would have entangled her legs.

However, fast as she had moved, Ai had matched her, stepping back into the 
cradle formed by the hands of Ayeka and Megumi and being launched after the 
Chinese girl.  Zhu Shu's ribbons surrounded her as she deflected the half 
dozen batons Ai launched at her, then they reached out towards the 
cheerleader as Zhu Shu sought to incapacitate her.

Ai was too slippery though, and manged to dodge the fast moving ribbons.  As 
Zhu Shu alighted,  Ai was caught by the pair who had tossed her.  She smiled 
at Zhu Shu.  "Oh you are quite the nimble one aren't you?  This should be 
fun."

Zhu Shu barely had a hint of a flash of silver before a pair of batons 
impacted her back and threw her forward.   Ai jumped up as Megumi and Ayeka 
caught Zhu Shu and tossed her up to where the Captain was finishing a mid 
air twist that planted her feet firmly in Zhu Shu's back and launched her 
face first towards the school wall.

Zhu Shu fought past the loss of air from the kick and managed to yell 
"Dragon's Egg Sheild" as she curled into a ball.  A glowing sphere of green 
energy surrounded her as she crashed into the wall, shattering the concrete 
before rolling to her feet on the other side of the wall.

Ai was dusting her hands and looking dissapointed when Zhu Shu reappeared 
above the wall.  The Chinese girl's swords burned with a green fire.  "Now 
you make Zhu Shu annoyed."

Ai smiled.  "Good, that might make this fight more of a challenge.  
Exploding Pom Pom Attack!"

Zhu Shu vanished into a green blur as the wall disintegrated in multiple 
blast clouds from the small pellets the bouncing girls were launching from 
their pom poms.  A trail of explosions trailed behind the elusive Chinese 
girl as she zig zaged across the feild, then through the gathered 
cheerleaders.  There was a cry of surprise as Kyoko vanished, to reappear 
tied to a tree a second later.  Zhu Shu stood beside the helpless girl.  
"One down, Four go." She said with a level look at Ai.

"Way to go Zhu-Chan!"  Ranma yelled from the sidelines.  Zhu Shu spared him 
a seconds glance, glad that she hadn't yet had to yell at him to stay out of 
a personal challenge.

Ai gave Zhu Shu a look that would maim most people.  "That will cost you!"

Zhu Shu looked over the four remaining cheeleaders.  "Zhu Shu not think so.  
Take out cutest one."

"She is not the cutest one!" Kaede screamed.  "I am!"

Zhu Shu nodded her head no.  "Not to Zhu Shu.  Think little blonde girl have 
too thick waist."
"Why you witch!  I'll rip out your eyes for that!"  Kaede started forward, 
surrounded by a violet aura.

"Kaede, get back here!  She's trying to seperate us!"  Ai yelled, but the 
other blonde girl was to far gone in rage to listen.  She met Zhu Shu in a 
furious barrage of batons as they disappeared in a cloud of dust.

"Oh, fuck." Ai said, then turned to two remaining girls.  "Time to pull out 
the big guns."

The dust was sucked into a whirlwind as a furiously spinning Zhu Shu rose 
above the cloud, trailing an ensnared Kaede.  At the apex of her arc, the 
cheerleader managed to free herself with a triumphant cheer that ended in a 
pained groan as she crashed into the branches of a tree.

Ai whirled furiously, trying to find the vanished Chinese girl to no avail.  
Then a voice whispered in her ear.  "If want date, could have asked Zhu 
Shu."

She spun to find the Chinese girl standing right behind her.  "Cheerleader 
bomb!"  Ai screamed.

Zhu Shu didn't quite dodge fast enough to avoid the twin pom poms that 
landed at her feet and exploded.

"Zhu Shu!"  Ranma cried out in anguish as he started forward, but as the 
smoke cleared, he saw Zhu Shu was still standing.  Her dress was shredded 
and she was blackened with soot, but seemed okay.  She gave him a warning 
glance before smiling at Ai.  "Zhu Shu should warn Ai.  Clan Dragon very 
strong against fire."

The cocky smile was perfect, but it distracted Zhu Shu long enough for 
Megumi and Ayeka to do a syncronized "Air Kick!"  Zhu Shu was flung across 
the yard to land with a splash  in the fountain.  She emerged like a 
wrathful water dragon, her emerald green eyes burning.  The tattered remains 
of her dress had been unequal to the stress of her change though, and 
nosebleeds broke out across the crowd.

Ai found herself staring as the blonde dragon girl launched herself skyward, 
her jump seeming to reach nearly impossible heights.  Her ribbons swirled 
around her as she cried "Dragon Wing Blast!"

The glow around her swords brightened as she raised them above her head, 
then brought them down like a pair of wings and pointed them at Megumi and 
Ayeka.  A solid blast of chi slammed into the ground between the pair and a 
shockwave hurled them from their feet.

As the dust settled Zhu Shu landed between the unconscious girls and knelt, 
her breath coming in short gasps as she tried to recover from the massive 
chi blast.  Ai simply stood watching her, a small trickle of blood running 
down her upper lip .  Finally, Zhu Shu raised her head, her emerald green 
eyes fixing on Ai's blue ones.

"Four down.  Must Zhu Shu defeat Ai too?"

Ai started, and looked around at the rest of her squad, then at the 
exhausted Chinese girl.  She wiped the blood away from her lip and gave Zhu 
Shu an apprasing look.  "I'm willing to call it a draw."

Zhu Shu's head bowed slightly.  "Zhu Shu will call draw."

Ai crossed her arms.  "Another time then.  Next time, we will beat you."

Zhu Shu smiled.  "Zhu Shu sees."

Then Ranma was there with a jacket for Zhu Shu, and while Akane ran 
interference, he escorted Zhu Shu away from the cheering crowd.

* * * * *

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.  Ai and crew gave her gruding respect, while 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.

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 even mind that 
Nabiki had found her weakness.

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.  Nabiki had simply made 
sure everyone knew better than to let Zhu Shu shop alone.

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

Then Monday, things changed...



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