Chapter 2 Learning Old Techniques
Morning rolled around in the village of Joketsuzoku, located in the wilds of China. Ranma was awakened by the sound of her father's angry voice coming from the main room. Shaking the sleep from her eyes and her mind, she realized where she was and that it wasn't all a weird dream inspired by Akane's cooking. Rising from her bed, Ranma threw on a silky robe she found hanging in the closet, and strode into the main room, where she found an angry Genma staring at a servant. The male servant was standing between Genma and a tray full of food. When the servant saw Ranma, he bowed deeply to her.
"Shut up Pop! He's just doing his job. He knew I was here and am supposed ta be fed first," Ranma said angrily, "Besides, there's a good chance he doesn't understand a word your saying anyway." Turning to the servant, she said, #I apologize for this unworthy person. When he is hungry, my father loses all of his manners. In fact, I'm afraid that he only thinks with his stomach.#
The man widened his eyes in surprise and unsuccessfully tried to hide a smile. Then he pointed to a bundle of clothing sitting on the table. He then bowed again and left. After glaring at her father some more, Ranma relented and allowed him to sit at the table and they ate silently. Genma tried once to steal some of the food from Ranma's bowl, but Ranma snapped her father's chopsticks with a blow from her hand. "Pop, I'd like ta start eating like a civilized person, and actually taste my food. The next time ya try that, I'll drive my chopsticks through your hand," she growled angrily.
Genma stared wide-eyed at the girl in front of him and snapped, "I can't believe you're acting so girlish, Ranma. I need ta get ya away from here before ya go soft."
Ranma's eyes grew cold, as she stared at her father. "Pop," she said ominously, "Just because I'm tired a putting up with your bull, doesn't mean I'm getting soft. If ya don't believe me, I'll take ya outside and toss your lazy ass around for a while. Or ya can shut up and eat your breakfast. Your choice."
Genma stared at her and gulped as he realized that the person sitting across the table from him had changed somehow. Ranma wasn't the same, easy going, martial arts obsessed person. Instead, Genma saw a young woman exhibiting a newfound maturity, confidence and self-assurance that he had not seen in his son. Then Genma realized what had eluded him in his panic yesterday. This Ranma had the same air about her as his wife Nodoka and that scared him. Genma finished his meal in silence, wondering how the tables had been turned and he was no longer in charge. He began wondering to himself, 'Now that Ranma knows about the engagement, will he even allow me to take him to the Tendo's home? What's he gonna do to me now that he does know about the engagement?'
Ranma finished her meal, welcoming the chance to savor the food she had eaten and glad she had decided to end the ridiculous sparring match Genma had insisted on as speed training and situational awareness training. She said softly, "I'm gonna get dressed Pop; then ya can use the bathroom ta clean up. Make sure the water in the shower is hot enough so ya don't change. I wouldn't want ya ta get stuck in the shower. Oh yeah, use plenty of soap, too, ya need it." She picked up the clothing from the table and headed into the bedroom to change.
Ranma recognized the outfits as leggings and blouses in the same style that Shampoo had always worn around Nerima. Quickly changing into the outfit, after putting on a fresh pair of boxers, Ranma winced at the tightness of the blouse across her chest. 'If these are Shampoo's, no wonder she always looked like she was trying ta bust out of her top,' Ranma thought, 'either that, or I'm built bigger than she is.'
Ranma left the bedroom and waited for her father to clean himself up. After waiting for what seemed like forever, Genma finally reappeared, though he still hadn't changed his gi. Grimacing at the thought of how it would look, Ranma finally shook her head in disgust. "Pop, why didn't ya change your clothing? When was the last time ya wore something else?" she asked. Getting no answer, Ranma sighed wordlessly and then led the way outside where she found that the tournament had already begun. The common area was filled with Amazon women of all ages, most them gazing intently at the two warriors battling on the challenge log. Many men were there as well, some talking to the women, others looking on with interest at the fight, and some dressed as servants bringing food out to the table where there was a sign in Chinese saying 'Grand Prize.' Ranma eyed her father warily and said, "Don't go near that table. It's the first prize for the winner of the tournament. If ya touch any of it, I'll present her with a panda-skin rug." Genma gulped and edged slowly away; avoiding the odd looks he was getting from the women.
After watching this set of contestants for several minutes, Ranma smiled to herself. 'This must be the very preliminary rounds. Those fighters wouldn't last five minutes against me,' she thought with disdain, 'Shampoo would take them out in ten. Shoot, even Akane when I first met her could beat these clowns.' A servant came up with a tray of meat rolls and offered her a selection. Ranma smiled politely and selected a few, more out of politeness than real hunger. After all, she had eaten the lion's share of the breakfast this morning.
#Ranma, there you are!# Xian Pu said as she approached her through the crowd. Today, she was dressed for combat, with a leather vest covering her blouse, and bracers on her arms. She hugged Ranma briefly in greeting and continued, saying, #I don't fight for several hours, and so great grandmother suggested I find you. She wanted to talk to you some more and give you your Amazon name.#
#That sounds good. Do we need to do anything about Pop? Is it safe for him to wander around without a keeper?# Ranma asked with a smirk.
#Probably not. Though I can't imagine anyone being that desperate, I suppose someone might challenge him in order to lose to an outsider male,# Xian Pu replied.
#Even though he's already married?# Ranma asked in surprise.
"She not here, she not count," Shampoo retorted.
"Tell ya what, why don't I teach ya how to speak Japanese better. Right now, you sound a little backwards because of some of your word choices," Ranma offered.
"Shampoo like that," she answered eagerly.
"That would be, 'I'd like that' Shampoo," Ranma said as she followed Shampoo through the crowd, pausing long enough to grab Genma by the arm and drag him, protesting, in her wake. "The Elder wants ta talk ta me, and if ya think I trust ya out of my sight, your dumber than I thought ya were," Ranma said, ignoring her father's outburst.
Genma snarled, "Ya wound me, Ranma!"
Ranma smirked and replied, "No, I know you, Pop."
As they reached a small dais near the challenge log, Ranma saw Cologne surrounded by several other old women, whom Ranma supposed were the rest of the Amazon Elders who made up the ruling council. Hopping over to them on her staff, Khu Lon smiled and said, #Good morning, Ranma. Or should I say, Xiao Mei.#
#Good morning to you as well, Elder,# Ranma said politely, #I see you have excellent weather for your tournament. How many warriors are entered?# 'Hm, how do I get Pop to call me by my Amazon name. If Ryoga shows up, it wouldn't be good for him to hear Pop call me Ranma. That baka would spill the beans and let the Amazons know I'm really a male,' she thought. Suddenly an idea popped into her head.
#We have fifteen of our best warriors. As last years champion, Xian Pu doesn't fight until the second round,# Khu Lon replied, #Xiao Mei, tomorrow, after Xian Pu and I wake up, the three of us will go train you in some of the techniques that I promised you. I'd like to see you spar against Xian Pu first, because that will give me an idea of your ability and show me where you need to improve.#
#I appreciate that, Elder. I look forward to training under your instruction,# Ranma said with a brilliant smile, #I must warn you though, I learn things relatively quickly.# 'Especially if I already know them,' she thought.
#Then I definitely look forward to having you as my student,# Khu Lon replied calmly.
#Xian Pu, I need your help. I'd like to fit into the village while I'm here. Thanks to your gift of clothing, I look the part, but I want Pop to call me by my Amazon name. I'd like to tell him that your traditions require that. When I do that, would you scowl at him please? Also, if you hear him call me Ranma, scowl at him then,# Ranma asked.
Xian Pu looked puzzled. Khu Lon cackled and replied, #You want us to put the fear of the Amazons in him, do you, Xiao Mei?#
Ranma smiled and replied, #Yes Elder. You honored me by adopting me into your tribe and giving me a new name. It only seems proper that I use that name while I am here.#
Khu Lon smiled evilly and said, "Genma Saotome, while you are here in our village, you no longer have a daughter named Ranma. We have given her a proud Amazon name of Sho Mei. It would be best for you to remember to use that name in this village when talking about your child. Do you understand me?"
Genma cringed at the menace in the old woman's voice and nodded wordlessly.
Ranma spent the rest of the day watching the tournament. Several of the contestants were highly skilled, but still well below what she thought she remembered of Shampoo's capabilities. She smiled as she watched Shampoo dispatch the first of her opponents with a single swing of her bonborris, knocking the overmatched opponent easily off of the log onto the soft ground below. Shampoo's second opponent fared only marginally better. Shampoo actually had to work up a bit of a sweat taking her out, but in the end, the bout still only lasted a few minutes before Shampoo was once again triumphant.
Shampoo's third opponent was almost her match. Ranma vaguely remembered watching this fight the first time she came through the village. As it had happened then, Shampoo's opponent was a huge, hulking Amazon woman who towered over the much smaller Shampoo. Shampoo was using both of her bonborris to fend off the larger woman's mace. Using her speed and superior skill, Shampoo was able to successfully parry the ever more frantic blows from the mace, until finally Shampoo connected and sent the other woman soaring high into the clear blue sky.
Shampoo smiled broadly at the acclaim she received for winning the tournament again. Jumping lightly down to the ground, she beckoned to Ranma, who joined her along with Cologne and the rest of the Elders. After making sure her father was still behaving himself, Ranma relaxed. Cologne and the other Elders pronounced Shampoo the winner of the tournament and then Shampoo invited Ranma and several of her friends, including a young man, dressed in a long white robe, with long black hair, to join her at the victory table.
The next day dawned bright and clear with Shampoo visiting them by early morning to roust Ranma out of a dreamless sleep. Ranma awoke to the sound of someone banging on her bedroom door, so she groggily got out of bed and put her robe on. Staggering to the door, she opened it to find out who was making all of the racket.
Xian Pu said, #Nihao, Xiao Mei! Great grandmother is waiting to train you.#
#Just let me get dressed and talk to Pop and I'll be ready,# said the now wide-awake Ranma. She shut the door and quickly changed into the second set of clothing that Shampoo had provided the other day. Walking out of the bedroom, she glanced at her father and said, "Pop, I'm gonna go train with the Elder and Shampoo. Ya behave while I'm gone. Don't accept any challenges from any of the women, or ya might end up married ta one of them. You'd be safest if ya just stayed in the cottage; I'm sure they'll bring ya something ta eat during the day."
Genma glared at his red-haired daughter, furious that she was talking to him that way. 'That ungrateful boy, after all that I've sacrificed for him. Once I get him away from this village, I'll set him straight,' he thought angrily to himself. He nodded his understanding of what Ranma had said.
Ranma stared at him for a few seconds more and then decided she didn't have any choice but to trust him. "Okay Pop, don't make me regret this. If ya cause any problems for me, ya'll spend the rest of your time here as a panda in chains," she said. Then she followed Shampoo out of the cottage, after snatching a large handful of meat rolls from a breakfast tray sitting on the table. Eating as she walked, Ranma followed Shampoo to a small clearing in the woods outside the area the village was in. There they met Cologne who was waiting patiently for them in the middle of the clearing. To one side of the clearing was a small fire, fully contained in a fire pit.
#Good morning, Xiao Mei. First I want to see you fight with Xian Pu. That way I can judge how good you are. Do you fight armed or unarmed?# Khu Lon asked.
"Good morning, sensei," Ranma said as she bowed in the traditional sign of respect for a teacher of martial arts, "I can fight either way. The school of Anything Goes means exactly that. I've learned several different weapon styles as well as many unarmed combat styles. As a martial artist, however, I must confess that I prefer unarmed combat."
"Why that?" Shampoo asked.
"That's 'Why is that', Shampoo?" Ranma corrected. She thought for a second. "Because it's harder ta seriously hurt someone in unarmed combat. In armed combat, a single moment of inattention could kill," she replied, "While I may eventually be placed in a position where I have no choice in the matter, I want it ta be a deliberate decision on my part ta kill, not something I did due ta my carelessness."
Khu Lon cackled in amusement and said, "Your sense of honor does you credit, Sho Mei. Now, can you back up your words with your deeds?"
Ranma eyed Shampoo warily and answered, "I think so. Shampoo is very skilled. No crippling blows, I assume? This is just a sparring match ta see how good I am, right?"
Shampoo grinned evilly as she manifested her twin bonborris. "Shampoo go easy on sister. Not hurt too bad," she said cockily as she got in her stance.
"That should be 'I will go easy on my sister' sister Shampoo," Ranma corrected with some amusement, "I think ya talk that way on purpose."
"Okay, children, enough banter, begin!" Cologne said.
Shampoo started forward watching Ranma warily. She was confused since Ranma hadn't settled into stance. Ranma was just standing in this relaxed position with an arrogant smirk on her face.
Shampoo closed, bringing one of her bonborris in for an uppercut to the chin. She sighed to herself, thinking, 'She's too weak. This attack will finish her before our match even gets started. Great grandmother will be so disappointed.' Then to her surprise, Ranma blocked her bonborris by grabbing it with one hand. With her other hand, Ranma punched Shampoo in the stomach. Shampoo folded over with the blow. Ranma followed up with an uppercut to Shampoo's chin, knocking her up into the air, to land hard on her back.
Angrily, Shampoo growled to herself, 'I underestimated her. She's fast.' Shampoo charged again, only to see another fighter jump in front of her, swinging a red umbrella. The umbrella connected with one of Shampoo's bonborris, breaking the shaft of the weapon with the force of the blow. Before she could react, a fist came out of nowhere, crashing into the side of her head, knocking her out cold.
"Ryoga, stop!" Ranma said, just too late, "This was just a practice. The Elder was wanting ta see how my skills matched up ta Shampoo."
Ryoga turned to Ranma and said, "Oops! Sorry, Miss. I didn't know. All I saw was you being attacked by someone with a weapon, and I guess I overreacted."
Ranma turned to Cologne and said, #I'm sorry, Khu Lon. This is an acquaintance of mine named Ryoga Hibiki. He was at Jusenkyo when Pop got cursed and volunteered to help look for him. Somehow he got lost following us to the village. Ryoga, this is Khu Lon, one of the elders of the village of Joketsuzoku. I am called Xiao Mei, by the way. The girl you knocked out is Xian Pu, the great granddaughter of Khu Lon.#
Ryoga bowed politely to Khu Lon, and said, #I beg your forgiveness, Elder. I didn't understand what I was seeing.#
Khu Lon sighed, and said, #Ryoga, have you ever heard the saying, fools rush in where angels fear to tread?#
Ryoga knelt down next to Shampoo. After pouring some cold water on his handkerchief, he placed the wet cloth on her forehead.
Xian Pu. woke up to see a strange boy staring intently at her. The boy spoke, #I'm sorry Xian Pu. I didn't mean to knock you out.#
Xian Pu looked at her great grandmother, with tears in her eyes. The Elder nodded gravely. Xian Pu sighed and kissed Ryoga on the lips. Ryoga's eyes grew wild as she broke the kiss and breathed, "Wo ai ni, Airen."
"Congratulations, Ryoga. You now have an Amazon bride," Ranma said. She giggled at the expression on Ryoga's face.
He exclaimed, "What? You're kidding me, right?" as he sprang away from Xian Pu, looking extremely confused.
Cologne cackled, and said, "I'm afraid she's right, son-in-law. Our laws say that if an outsider male defeats one of our warrior women in battle, then she must marry him."
"But I don't love her. I can't marry her, I lu…er," Ryoga stammered.
'Ryoga loves someone else. I wonder who that could be," Ranma thought.
#Xian Pu, take your husband to the village. I will train Xiao Mei without you,# Khu Lon ordered.
#Yes, great grandmother,# Xian Pu said. Then she added, "Shampoo so happy. Shampoo make Airen too good wife."
'Better him than me,' Ranma thought with a smirk. "You mean, 'I'm so happy. I will make Airen a very good wife,' Shampoo," she said. She turned to Ryoga, and added, "Help her with her Japanese, Ryoga. That's what I'm doing."
Shampoo ran over and hugged onto Ryoga, with an industrial strength Amazon glomp. Ryoga's nose began to bleed as he found himself that close to the Amazon girl's ample breasts.
Ryoga looked helplessly at Ranma and then followed Xian Pu to the village, wondering how on earth he had gotten into this mess. 'Ranma Saotome, this is all, no wait a minute, this can't be his fault, he isn't even here. I haven't even seen him since I set the fight. Maybe he didn't make it here after all.' Ryoga thought, as a major paradigm shift occurred in his thinking. Maybe there were things that happened to him that weren't Ranma's fault. Ryoga's head began to hurt, and a trickle of blood came out of one ear.
Ranma waited until Ryoga got out of earshot and then began laughing. She laughed so hard, that tears began to come out of her eyes. Finally, pulling herself back together, she wiped the tears from her eyes and looked at Cologne, who was unsuccessfully trying to keep a large grin from her face as well. "Did you get that out of your system, finally?" Cologne asked. Ranma nodded, not trusting her voice. "Good, what I want to teach you today is a technique that requires a great deal of speed to perform. We call it Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire, or Kachű Tenshin Amaguriken. The idea is to place a handful or two of chestnuts in the fire, and then using your hands, pull the chestnuts out without getting your hands burned," Cologne said.
"There's the fire, I assume. Where are the chestnuts?" Ranma asked.
Cologne tossed her a bag, and said, "There's twenty chestnuts in there. Put them all in the fire and see what you can do."
"I hope ya have some good burn ointment, Elder. I suspect I might need it before I'm done," Ranma muttered, as she headed over to the fire. After throwing the chestnuts onto the coals of the roaring fire, Ranma closed her eyes and gathered her concentration. 'Make this look good, my mind knows the technique, but I can't possibly be fast enough yet,' she thought. Finally, she opened her eyes, and grimly began moving her hands as fast as she could. She managed to get all of the chestnuts out, but at the price of burning her hands some.
"Again!" demanded Cologne. Ranma glared at her, to Cologne's amusement, and then threw the chestnuts back in.
Two days later, Ranma and Shampoo were following the stream that flowed around the village through the woods, looking for herbs and medicinal plants. Cologne had given Ranma the morning off, muttering to herself that she hadn't expected her to learn that technique quite that fast. Ranma smirked to herself, remembering the look on Cologne's face when Ranma had suggested that another way of learning the technique was to try to pull small fish from the water without getting wet. She had suggested that on the morning of the second day that she had tried to learn the technique and had promptly walked over and begun demonstrating it in this same stream. By late afternoon that very day, she had shown Cologne that she had mastered it, first in the stream, and then later on using the fire. Ranma made a private bet to herself that Cologne would integrate that method of training.
'I wonder what the old woman is going to teach me next. If she holds true to form, it will be Hiryű Shōten Ha. We've only got a couple of days before we need ta leave, though,' Ranma thought to herself.
Ranma smiled to herself, and then asked, "What have you done with Ryoga, Shampoo? I haven't seen him since ya gave him the Kiss of Marriage." 'It's a good thing Pop never met Ryoga. I'm also glad Cologne convinced him that he needed to call me by my Amazon name in the village,' she thought.
"I keep him busy learning duties of husband. He faint too much when I hug him," Shampoo said with a pout.
"I think he's shy with women, Shampoo. Maybe you're trying too hard. Just be friendly," Ranma said, "Don't be so aggressive with him, if ya didn't hug him so hard, maybe he'd come around."
As Ranma and Shampoo returned to the Amazon village, laden with the herbs and medicinal plants that Cologne had sent them after, they ran into Ryoga who was nervously waiting outside the cottage that Shampoo shared with the Amazon elder. As was his practice, he was wearing his backpack. #Nihao, Airen!# Xian Pu said cheerfully as she saw him. She leaned over and gave him a passionate kiss, promptly turning Ryoga beet red in embarrassment.
#Xian Pu, I've asked you to stop that,# Ryoga protested, #I don't care what your laws say. I can't marry someone I don't love.#
#If you don't love me, then there must be someone else,# Xian Pu said angrily, #If I find out who it is, she's dead. After all, obstacles are for killing!#
Ryoga sweat dropped as he said panic-stricken, #There's no one else, Xian Pu. I just don't love you is all.#
#Ryoga, would you take these into Khu Lon with Xian Pu? I need to head on home,# Ranma said as she handed him her basket. Then she thought, 'And check on what mischief Pop has gotten into.'
#Sure, Xiao Mei. My pleasure,# Ryoga replied, with a bashful smile.
Ranma smiled and said, #Thanks, Ryoga. See you tomorrow, Xian Pu.#
Xian Pu hugged her and said, #Get a good night sleep, Xiao Mei. I think great grandmother has something planned for you tomorrow.#
Ranma hugged her back, and then headed back to the cottage she was sharing with her father. 'It's amazing how much nicer she is when she's not chasing you. I actually like her a lot better than before,' Ranma thought, 'I'm glad she never figured that a carrot works better than a stick. Her chasing after me like she did always turned my stomach.'
The next day saw Ranma working with Cologne in the same clearing where they had trained before. Several of the other warriors were there to train her in the technique. Cologne had drawn a spiral on the ground. She said, This technique is called Hiryű Shōten Ha, or the Flying Dragon Ascend to Heaven Strike. The trick is to draw your opponent along this spiral. The first thing you will learn is to walk the spiral, while keeping your emotions under control.
Ranma stood at the entrance to the spiral and waited. She thought, 'I need ta pretend ta have problems with this for a while. I can't learn it too quick.'
The Elder said, #Begin!#
Ranma began moving around the spiral, with the warriors throwing insults at her, usually about her appearance. Ranma smiled to herself as she deliberately stepped out of the spiral, her face showing anger. Cologne hit her over the head with her staff.
"What didja do that for, Elder?" Ranma demanded angrily, rubbing the back of her head.
"What do you think dimwit? You allowed your anger to control you. You won't master the technique if you get angry. You must keep a heart of ice and let nothing anger you," Cologne snapped back at him.
They spent the rest of the day working on the technique until Cologne was satisfied that Ranma had mastered it.# Finally, Xiao Mei. You have mastered the first level. That's enough for today. We will pick this up tomorrow.#
The next afternoon, Ranma was summoned to the clearing again. Today, the Elder had some sort of strange harness next to her on the ground. As Ranma approached her,# Khu Lon asked, #Are you ready to move to the next level, Xiao Mei? I warn you this level will be much harder than what we did yesterday.#
#Bring it on, sensei! I'm ready to learn,# Ranma said brashly.
#Then put this harness on. It will help you learn to control your anger,# Khu Lon ordered. Ranma shrugged the harness in place and then waited. #The harness reacts to your anger. The angrier you get, the tighter the harness contracts. If you want to move, you must remain calm and collected,# Khu Lon continued.
Ranma began to move around, sparring with one of the warriors that had accompanied Khu Lon. #Remember, retain your composure, Xiao Mei,# Khu Lon called. The warrior continued trying to hit Ranma, who danced out of the way of each blow. #That's right, Xiao Mei. Using this technique does not require offense, continue!# Khu Lon commanded.
Gradually, Ranma led the warrior in the shape of a spiral. She began to sense the angry battle aura growing in the warrior she was facing. The warrior was young, and inexperienced, with a great deal of strength and stamina, yet she had never landed a blow on the dancing figure in front of her, who was seemingly mocking her. As Ranma reached the center of the spiral, Khu Lon said, #Now combine her hot chi with your cold chi, Xiao Mei!#
Ranma called, "Hiryű Shōten Ha!" and struck the ground the warrior was standing on with her cold chi. The combination of the two chi's created a whirlwind-like effect, lifting the warrior into the air, and sending her some distance away. Ranma collapsed to her knees, falling into the small pit she had created with her strike.
#Excellent, Xiao Mei! The secret of the Hiryű Shōten Ha is to use your opponent's anger against her. The angrier her battle aura becomes, the more powerful the attack,# Khu Lon said, #Do you understand what you did?#
#Yes, sensei, though I'm completely wiped out now,# the exhausted Ranma said, as she thought, 'I don't remember this taking this much out of me before. I need to develop a lot more stamina.'
A young warrior came running into the clearing and bowed to Khu Lon. She began speaking extremely fast to Khu Lon, in a dialect that Ranma didn't quite understand. Whatever she was hearing did not sit right with the elder as her face grew angry for a second and then went completely expressionless. When the warrior was finished, Khu Lon turned to Ranma and said, I'm sorry. Something has come up at the village. Several valuable items appear to be missing, and I am needed to help with the search. Ranma took the harness off and handed it to Khu Lon and then followed the small party back to the village.
As she entered the cottage, she saw that her father was nowhere to be found. Shrugging, she noticed that next to the tray of food were a small box and a note. Curious, she picked up the package and opened it. The only thing in the box was a wad of cotton. From the indentation in the cotton, it was obvious that at one time it had held some sort of pendant. She picked up the note and saw that it was addressed to Xiao Mei. The note said, Xiao Mei, please accept this gift as a token of my gratitude. I want to thank you for probably saving my life. Signed Ryoga Hibiki
'That's odd. I wonder what happened to, wait a minute, where's Pop? I bet he opened the box,' Ranma thought, 'I can't believe he was that stupid. Why didn't he just throw this stuff away? I would have never known about it otherwise.'
The door opened and an Amazon warrior walked in dragging her father, who was all tied up. Her father looked much the worse for wear. Genma begged, "Sho Mei, tell her ta let me go, please? I'll give ya the pendant back; just don't let them punish me anymore."
#What did he do?# Ranma asked the warrior.
The warrior said, #The servant who brought the dinner and the present saw this man open the box and steal the contents. Being a brave male, he attacked the thief and subdued him, and brought him before the Elder Council. Since you weren't here, they sent him to me, Loh Shon for chastisement. Now that he has confessed to you, any additional punishment is for you to determine.# She handed a ruby pendant on a gold chain to Ranma.
'Ryoga gave me this? Why? This is way too extravagant for what I did,' Ranma thought. Just leave him by the couch while I decide what to do with him, Ranma said with a wintry smile. The warrior returned the smile and dumped Genma on the ground. Lotion then bowed and left. "Pop, why'd ya take this? I can't accept it from Ryoga," Ranma said.
"You don't have a choice. It's extremely rude ta reject a gift like this, especially once you've opened it. You wouldn't want to hurt his feelings after all," Genma answered, "That's why I took it, so ya wouldn't know about it and I could have sold it later."
"Yeah, then ya would have drunk up the money ya got for it. I don't think so. But you're right, it would hurt his feelings immensely if I returned it," Ranma replied, angrily, her battle aura flaring above her shoulders. She glared at him for a second and then a horrid thought came to her. She went to her father's backpack and began searching it, ignoring her father's protest. As she suspected, she found several small items that she recognized as valuable. Wrapping them in some cloth, she went in search of Khu Lon. Fortunately, the elder was just leaving her cottage when Ranma found her. #Elder, are these what you are missing?# Ranma asked, handing her the cloth-wrapped items.
Khu Lon unfolded the cloth, and visibly trembled. #Yes, Xiao Mei. These are all of the items that vanished over the last two days. Where did you find them?# Khu Lon asked eagerly.
#I'm afraid my father has abused his welcome, Elder. Ryoga had left me a gift, and Pop was discovered stealing that. I decided I better find out what else he might have lifted, and searched his belongings. I found these,# Ranma said angrily, #It's obvious that he can't be left unguarded here, Elder, so perhaps we should return to our journey.#
Khu Lon replied, #Is it your wish that he escape our justice?#
#He's not much Elder, but he is the only father I've got. I don't know exactly what your punishments would be like, but I can imagine them being severe. It's a long trip to Japan, and I'd rather not do it with him being injured, and I'm sure you don't want me to leave him here,# Ranma responded, #With your permission, I'd like to leave as soon as possible tomorrow.#
Khu Lon said tiredly, #That might be for the best, child. Are you sure you can control him?#
#Yes, that won't be a problem,# Ranma smirked.
#Very well then. I'll see you off in the morning with the money I promised you, as well as some provisions for the trip. If you'll excuse this old woman, I need to return these to where they belong,# the elder said.
#I'm sorry that he caused you so much difficulty, Khu Lon. This has been an otherwise pleasant time, I'm sorry it has to end on such a sour note,# Ranma said a bit sadly.
#As do I, Xiao Mei. I was looking forward to teaching you other techniques,# the elder said with a sigh. Then she sighed and headed back into her cottage, leaving Ranma to head back to where she was staying.
Ranma sat down at the table and began eating, pondering what she should do. After finishing her dinner, Ranma stood up and said, "I shouldn't have trusted ya, Pop. We're leaving tomorrow. Fortunately, I talked Cologne out of giving you any punishment, but don't give me any trouble or I let her have ya. Now get some sleep, I need ta pack." She walked into her bedroom and closed the door.
The next morning, Ranma walked out of the cottage to see Xian Pu waiting for her. She was standing by several boxes of food. #Elder Khu Lon is waiting to see you, Xiao Mei,# Xian Pu said as she led Ranma to Khu Lon's home.
Khu Lon's face was an unreadable mask as she approached the young girl who had learned every technique that was thrown at her. The speed at which she had learned had astonished the Elder. The fact that by mid-afternoon yesterday she had mastered the Hiryű Shŏten Ha was uncanny. It was almost as if Xiao Mei had learned the technique before. Khu Lon said, #You will always be welcome to return, Xiao Mei. I rarely have seen a student as able to learn. I am going to miss you.#
Ranma bowed politely to the Elder and said, #Khu Lon, I appreciate everything you have done for me. Though I imagine you'd prefer I leave the Panda Man at home.# Khu Lon answered with a wintry smile. Then Ranma surprised the elder by hugging her.
Khu Lon handed her a small purse and said, #As I promised, here is sufficient money to pay for your passage back to Japan, as well as a bit more. Even though your adoption was honorary, you are still a member of our tribe and we take care of our own.#
Ranma turned to Xian Pu and said, "Don't forget ta practice your Japanese, Shampoo, now that I'm gone. I'm gonna miss you."
"I'm gonna miss you, too, Sho Mei," Shampoo said, as she hugged her friend. Then she handed Ranma several small packages, saying, "These are gifts from the village Elders in thanks for returning our treasures, and then the top one is from me."
Ranma bowed and said, "I guess I'd better get going. I'm sorry again that he did what he did. Once we get home, I'll try ta write and let ya know where I am." She bowed again, and then headed back to the cottage to finish packing. 'Can't let Pop know about the money. Besides, the Tendo's are gonna need whatever is left over from the trip. I don't want to be a freeloader this time,' she thought, 'I wonder how soon it'll be safe to change back.' She entered the cottage and went into the bedroom, startling her father. "Pop, did ya think I wouldn't have the pendant with me, baka," Ranma said in disgust, "Now get out and finish eating. I need ta finish packing. There's some boxes of food outside the front door, make sure you get that packed." Her father grumbled, but left the room. Ranma looked thoughtful for a moment and then closed the door. She began opening the various boxes that Shampoo had given her. Most of them were mementos of some sort, but a few were pieces of jewelry. Then she opened the small purse. Her eyes widened as she saw the amount of money that was in it. 'That's a lot more than we need to fly back to Japan. Definitely can't let Pop see this,' she thought. She lifted her blouse high enough to open up a money belt strapped around her waist and put the jewelry and money in it, next to the pendant that Ryoga had given her. She put the mementos in her pack, and then lifted it to her back. Squaring her shoulders, she left the bedroom and gathered her father. The two of them left the cottage and headed toward the road that would lead them home.
Ranma smiled as they left the village of Joketsuzoku behind. She thought as she walked along, 'This didn't turn out too bad. I made a friend out of Shampoo and Cologne. She's not chasing me; she's after Ryoga. I feel bad for him, but still, better him than me. I've gotta week to figure out what to do when we get to the Tendo's. I can't wait to see her. I've really missed Akane. It feels like I've been gone from her forever, even though it's only been a week.'
Ryoga found Xian Pu staring at the road leading out of the village. #Xian Pu, where's Xiao Mei? I haven't seen her all day, and when I went by her cottage, it was vacant.#
#She's gone. She and her father had to leave and go home to Japan. She's only been gone since this morning and already I miss her,# Xian Pu replied sadly, a tear trickling down her cheek.
#Why'd she leave so quickly?# Ryoga asked, his heart breaking in two.
Xian Pu replied, #Her father stole several things, and when she found out, she was so ashamed by his dishonor that she felt she needed to leave. They were planning on going to someplace called Nerima soon anyway. Why is Airen so sad to see my Amazon sister leave?#
#I liked her. She was nice to me as well. I'm going to miss her, too. I just wish I could have told her goodbye,# Ryoga answered. He walked off, lost in his thoughts. When he looked up, he didn't recognize anything. "Now where am I!" he screamed.
Author's Note: Thanks for all of the reviews, all of them are appreciated. I'm glad that so far everyone seems to like it. Hopefully this chapter continues that trend.