Disclaimer: I do not own PoT. The springs of Jusenkyo were simply borrowed from the idea that Ranma ½ applied and were researched in the net please RnR if you have the time, thank you -LadyStrife914
"Spring of Drowned Dreams"
China, Asia's 'Sleeping Dragon', from the misty façade that of the mythic beasts' breath and the fiery lights that illuminated the streets at nights, who would've thought that this peaceful and cultural place would be the choice training grounds for Coach Sumire Ryuzaki's Tennis club. After all, the city of the chosen warriors was situated in the said country, sports, typically martial arts were fancied here. But it wasn't the bustling streets and top facilities that were to their liking, it was none-other than the infamous, yes not famous but INFAMOUS, (Not to anyone's knowledge though), Springs of Jusenkyou, located at a remote mountain.
Coach Ryuzaki rode a bike as she followed her team, doing laps on Mountain side, "Everyone!" She spoke on the Megaphone, "10 more laps and we'll proceed to your balance practice!"
"Yes Sensei!" The replied.
The climate was favorable, it wasn't sunny and it wasn't that much dim either, everything was silent, except for them. Their breaths were that of smokes as they panted and spoke.
"Keeh! Another set of laps?" Momo's jaw dropped and his eyes turned wide. "She just can't do that! She just can't!"
Ryuzaki overheard him, "Momoshiro! That's an extra 3 for you!"
Momo was startled, "Y-yes."
Kaidoh ran a pace ahead of him, "Fushuu… you're so slow. Quit whining."
"What did you say?" He tried to catch up, "Want to go at it ah?"
Fuji who was at the second frontier ran along side Ryoma and Taka, he remained composed and quite enthusiastic, "Hehehe, looks like everyone's enjoying themselves."
"Taka nodded, "You picked quite a good place for us."
Ryoma agreed, "Sou sou (Yupyup)"
"You think so too?" Oishi joined in.
"Hoi! Hoi!" Eiji gave a wide smile. "And I just cant wait till we hit the hot springs nya!"
"I know what you mean" Fuji added.
Tezuka ran passed them, "Refrain from talking and don't get left behind!"
"Looks like captain's still in for the competition." Ryoma stated.
Taka winced, "I can see why…"
"Huh?" Everyone wondered and turned to face the direction of Inui who was holding out a see-through mug of "Special Inui Chinese herb Special juice" It was a neon green color.
"Alright men!" Coach announced once again, "You see that there?" She pointed to Inui's disgusting tonic, "If you fall behind, that's you're price." She smugged.
Not a single one of them even gave an effort to listen to their coach talking, at the sight of their 'prize' all of them doubled their pace!"
Taka voluntarily held up his racket "Burrrnnning!"
"Oi taka senpai! That's cheating!" Momo huffed and tried tp catch up to both him and Tezuka already leading.
"Nyan!" Eiji jumped and landed in front of Oishi and Ryoma, he looked backwards and gave out a peace sign, "Vui! Warui-nyan but I'm not going last!"
"Che! That's dirty!" Ryoma complained.
"Eiji! I wont lose as well!" He followed.
"What do you say Ryoma, should we go at it as well?" asked Fuji.
"Sure senpai."
"Mada hayaiyo! (It's still too early to win against me!)"
"Mada Mada dane?"
Morning practice was over, luckily no one had to drink the juice, Coach Ryuzaki summoned them to the spring's entrance, in which, a stubby middle aged man, who looked very round wearing all-green clothes stood waiting for them.
"Nihao!" the man raised one hand to greet them clearly he was Chinese.
"Oh, you must be our guide, everyone this is Mr. Chen"
Everyone greeted him with a bow.
He smiled at them, "Nice to see Seigaku tennis team a? Me so thankful you come to Jusenkyo" He gave a grin.
Ryoma whispered to Momo, "He talks funny Hehehe"
Momo covered his laughter, "You got that right!"
"Heeh, we're going to the springs already? Yatta!" Eiji cheered out.
"I don't think that's what we're here for though" Oishi placed a hand on Eiji's shoulder.
Tezuka pointed to the Far left, "Over there, that's where we'll be training"
"Hm?" Kaidoh scanned the place Tezuka pointed to, it was just a small land mass with mini-springs scrunched up together, giving only a few centimeters of difference, beside each, contained a sign with Chinese characters painted on the wooden blocks.
"You will train ah?" The guide asked Ryuzaki, "Then me will give you some pointers." He cleared his throat and out of nowhere brought out a board with some guidelines.
"Where'd that come from?" taka questioned and Fuji just shrugged his shoulders.
The guide started, "Jusenkyo Springs are very unique. It is a common place foh mahtial ahtists to train. They usually go and skip or jump to other mini-springs to enhance their balance and speed. Very difficult but very rewarding!" He smiled.
Ryuzaki sweatdropped, "Th-thank you for the information, now if you'll excuse us… Team?"
Everyone began to walk through the entrance.
"Ah! Of course!" He exclaimed, "Just follow the path straight ah? And me should warn you not to fall to the springs! Water not good, especially this wetha!" He pointed at the ominous sky.
Everyone gave out a snicker. Momo reassured the guide, "Don't worry gramps! We can handle ourselves!" He teased.
"Sou 'ssume" Ryoma added and everyone went in along with his senpais.
The guide made a worried face, "You do that ah?" He began to walk away, "I guess it best to not ell about the curses…" He sighed and stopped. "I guess they read the sign first before training ah? That be good enough" He wandered off.
At the sight of the mini-aligned springs, everyone stopped to take a good look first of their location. Pretty much everything looked normal, the water was really clear and the only thing that stood between them was the cold breeze that circulated.
"Looks like things gonna be interesting" Fuji knelt down to read the huge sign that was hammered to the ground, "Take a Dip and You'll be a Whole New Person" He grinned, "I wonder if its true."
"Can you read what's written Fuji?" asked Ryuzaki.
"Not really, I just read the one with the translation.
Inui still peered around the springs, his senses were disturbed, "Funny… I think I know this place" His brows crossed, "I suddenly have a bad feeling about this."
"Alright everyone! Gather!"
Coach Ryuzaki commenced their training, they were instructed to skip the springs back and forth 4 times by pair and the align at the center for balance. This time no punishment was given as consolation. Fuji and tezuka were the first ones to go. Fuji went through the course smoothly.
"Hehehe" He gave a grin. "Mada hayaiyo Tezuka"
He won the race, Tezuka nodded and instructed the others to prepare, Kaidoh and Momo were next.
Momo stood at the starting line, "Ne Mamushi, don't fall behind now." He mocked.
Kaidoh snubbed him.
"Oi I was talking to you!"
Inui signaled the start with his whistle and the 2 moved, his thoughts were far from their practice.
"Sensei, excuse me for a while, I'll just go and get my towel at the cabin" Fuji asked permission.
"Heeh? That's going to be a long way back, hurry up now or you'll catch the rain!"
"Yes Sensei" He started to leave but then turned to Inui, "Are you ok?"
Inui was sweating, "A-ah, yes, just a little distracted."
"Oh, alright then." Fuji gave out a normal smile as he left and then opened his eyes, "I wonder if its true… One way to find out…" He looked up the cloudy sky and grinned as he walked away.
Things back with the others were getting complex, Kaidoh almost slipped because of Momo intervening in his way.
"Oi! Watch it!" Kaidoh yelled, it was lucky that he was near their starting point.
"Ora ora!" Momo approached him and placed his hand on his shoulder, "Calm down, it was just a mistake!" he grinned.
He shrugged Momo's hand off, "What did you say?"
Kaidoh grabbed Momo's shirt and Momo did as well, Ryoma and Oishi tried to stop their fight but the two were pushing each other around so much that they all lost balance and fell on different springs.
Momo was the first to ascend, "Oi Mamushi! What was that about? Didn't you hear the guy telling us not to go in the water?" He pouted.
"It's just water you bone head! Fushuu…"
"Mataku…" Ryoma tried to stand up; he shook his head to get rid of the water droplets.
"Ahahahaha!" Eiji laughed out loud, "They all look funny!"
Inui didn't notice the fuss, "It's in the tip of my tongue… the data… and… Fu-"
"Eiji, that's not very nice you know" Oishi said.
"Sorry" Eiji held out a hand to help Oishi up but then, Oishi gave a grin and tugged on Eiji to fall into another spring. "Hoi? NYAAAAAA!"
"Ahahaha! Now I think it's funny too." Taka laughed.
Eiji spat out some water and stood up, he cupped an amount of water from the back spring, "Funny nya? Here!" He splashed water on Taka.
Taka was shocked and decided to pay him back, he took out his racket and changed modes, "ORA ORA ORA! YOU WANT TO PLAY BABY?"
"Eiji senpai! Now he's gonna get all of us!" Ryoma said, worried.
Taka skipped to the middle and used his racket to spray water all around them, which even made Tezuka wet.
Tezuka choked and everyone halted their laughter as they placed attention on him, his vein popped, "What are you…" He hissed.
"Buchou! Calm down!" Pleaded Momo and Tezuka started to get close.
Ryuzaki faced their direction, "Hey! What's all the ruckus?" Ryuzaki came in running to them and slipped in another spring hole. Everyone broke out a laugh, even tezuka, her eyes blazed in fury, "Do you have a right to laugh at your teacher huhhhh?"
Everyone turned to stone.
Inui sighed and approached them, "Hm?"
Everyone turned to him and etched a grimace; everyone went out of the water and circled around him.
Inui's eyes widened and he dripped in sweat, "What are you guys doing??"
The guys grabbed on Inui's limbs and arms, "PUT ME DOOOWWN!" He screamed.
"ON the count of three!" Ryuzaki said. "1, 2 3!!"
They threw him into the water and everyone burst out in laughter.
Fuji came back in the knick of time, he arrived with everyone soaked, "hehehe, looks like I missed out the fun"
"That can be arranged senpai, mada mada dane?"
Eveyone started to walk towards him. He took a step back, "Haha, I'll pass… but looks like the heavens are gonna do your job for you…"
"Hmm?" Everyone looked up.
Cold Rain stared to pour out, "It's raining nya." Eiji said holding out his arms.
Fuji looked up and then shifted his gaze at his team, "Sou da- hmm?!" Hie eyes opened and bolted up I surprised, his smile twitched, "Wha-wha… (I guess its true)"
"Is there something wrong?" asked Taka.
Inui was disturbed by Fuji's reaction, he fixed his glasses with his white wing, "Hm?" He looked at his reflection on the water, he wanted to scream but the instead of a voice, "Quack quack!" a noisy quack blurted out. Everyone turned to his direction.
"What the?! Inui??" Ryuzaki was flustered.
Eiji scanned everyone and was surprised to see, things and animals that replaced everyone he went with, he jumped out of the water on his four teeny paws, "Nya-nyaw! Meow nya!" He jumped up and down as he pointed for everyone to see their reflection.
In uniform motion they all looked down and saw, completely different forms, their jaws dropped and they were all stunned, "WHHAAAAATTT??"
Fuji turned his back on them shaking, he tried to be composed, "(You're kidding right? it's just some kind of joke… the things I've researched, the curses, if it's true then, its my fault…)" He clenched his fist. "Wait a minute… I know how to…" He glanced upon them, "But first… I'm gonna need a benefit for this… hehehe" he put on his ever sadistic smile. "(Don't let our guards down huh?)" He snickered. "This is going to be…" he turned to look at everyone else, half-fainting and running around, "Fun!"