Title: A legend reborn
Author name: Trugeta

Disclaimer: This story is based on characters and situations created and owned by Rumiko Takahashi and VIZ as well as Akira Toriyama and Funimation. No money is being made and no copyright or trademark infringement is intended. Note further that I don't own any of the other trademarks mentioned in this story.

This story takes place after Movie 10 of Dragonball Z and at the beginning of the Ranma series. It's an AU, and reviews are welcome and appreciated.


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Chapter 2: Aftermath


Outside the spring not more than a minute had passed. Genma and the guide were standing some distance away from the spring, which had started bubbling after Ranma had fallen into said spring. When Ranma had hit the pool Genma had expected that the boy would leap from the pool in the blink of an eye and would hurl insults at him like always. But after he had approached the spring there had been no sign of the boy. Not so much as a single bubble had been visible.


The still pandafied Genma was now worried, but as always not for the safety and well-being of his son, but for his own. What would Nodoka do to him should he return without their son? He remembered her tendency to chase him with that damned katana of hers with dread, and the 'chats' that had followed each time he'd stepped out of line were still vivid in his remembrance.


Hmm, maybe that was the reason why he had... umm, stepped a bit out of line here and there during their trip. There had been no Nodoka to keep him in line, and he had enjoyed this freedom. Now he feared that he'd end up as a panda fur-rug if he returned to Nodoka without Ranma. And it was all the foolish boys fault! Hadn't he taught him how to swim under great personal sacrifices? He had missed lunch two times back then!


And what about all the work he had invested in making Ranma into the best martial artist under great personal engagement and a great deal of sacrifices? He'd made the worthless boy into a monument to the Art, into his legacy! How dare the stupid boy drown and die?


Meanwhile the guide alternated between cursing and praying to the Kami above. Whatever happened down there, the guide knew it was important. Few people knew, but he was actually connected to the magic that permeated Jusenkyo.


That was why he knew what had drowned in the several hundred springs, and what the particular pools did to his customers. The spring the young Mr. Customer had fallen in was the worst of all. The guide had sensed it as soon as the victim of the pool had drowned, and ever since then the magic of Jusenkyo had tried to get rid of the evil space-alien.


Now the occasion seemed to be there, and the guide prayed that the young customer was strong enough to survive the encounter he was sure to have in the spring. The magic of Jusenkyo would not have drawn the boy to the pool had he not been up to the challenge, but that did not change that the guide was extremely worried. It was a great risk, and so many things could go wrong.


Suddenly a green-yellow gleam was emitted from the ground of the pool, and seconds later a body landed on the ground with a thud. Genma-panda growfed in surprise, and the guide surveyed the figure that had been ejected by the pool with wariness. Seconds later the magic gave him an 'update' and told him that everything was alright, and all of a sudden he could have sworn that he could hear the scream of a man.


Now the guide broke into a smile, while a changed Ranma Saotome slowly came to. The evil presence had been banished from Jusenkyo and was now on its way to King Yemma to be judged. Untold what could have happened had the evil space alien stayed trapped at Jusenkyo.


Had someone like the fat fool, who was currently standing beside him as a panda, fallen into the spring, this planet might have faced certain destruction. But everything had turned out for the better, and now the guide allowed himself to relax.


In the meantime a growfing Genma surveyed his son in annoyance. The boy was spitting out water like a beginner. Hadn't he instilled into him that a true martial artist was prepared for anything? True martial artists didn't swallow water when they fell into springs or lakes all of a sudden. Stupid boy!


But on a second look Genma-panda noticed something different about his son. All of a sudden he seemed to have grown quite a bit, and had he suddenly filled out? Was the legend of the training grounds of Jusenkyo true after all? All the legends had spoken of the terrible power of Jusenkyo, but what was so terrible about it if his son had been so… suped up?


Okay, so he himself had been turned into a panda. But that was a minor set-back and surely temporary. If Jusenkyo could do that to his son, it could do it to him too! Greed awakened in him, and he practically glowed at the perspective to make this place into a Mecca for martial artists who wanted to get the body of a great martial artist. All under his control and distribution of course.


Meanwhile Ranma groaned and propped himself up on his arms. As a martial artist Ranma had a great sense of self-awareness, and he knew his body down to the little toe. His body was his temple, but somehow this temple seemed to have changed massively!


Aside from the general feeling of difference, Ranma also felt some internal differences, mainly in his ki. Not a bad difference, far from it. Only that he suddenly seemed to have an impressive amount of ki. Looking a bit closer at it Ranma could not help himself; in comparison his old ki-reserves looked like a puddle compared to an ocean.


Surveying his body for the first time since he had been flung out of the spring Ranma noticed that he was much broader built than before. Where he had been athletically built before he now had the physique of a bodybuilder. A bodybuilder who lifted the really heavy weights to boot. His chest and shoulders were much broader than before, and in flexing his muscles and watching them move the Saotome youth noticed that his arm- and leg-muscles had increased in size. Massively.


Slowly and wearily Ranma pushed himself to his feet, only to nearly fall over again from the sheer difference in balance. Genma and the guide watched as Ranma slowly stabilized his position, using his arms as a balancing factor. Once more he looked down at himself, and from the way how his pants were only reaching down to a few inches above his knees Ranma concluded that he had also grown a great deal.


Cautiously, so as not to fall over, Ranma walked over to the spring he had fallen in and looked at his mirror-image in the pool. Yes, there was no doubt. He was indeed taller. And a great deal at that. Looking at the still water surface Ranma estimated that he was nearly 6' 1''. And there were a few more differences. His hair!


Slowly Ranma moved his right hand through a mass of unruly hair which seemed to consist mostly of spikes. It was somehow thicker than before, but it also felt soft at the same time. Weird! And those spikes sprang back up as soon as his hand had left the specific area. Really odd!


Ranma closed his eyes and breathed deeply to become aware of his new body. Using a few Tai Chi techniques he had learned from a master he scrutinized his own body, and he was nearly shocked in face of the difference in power. The power he possessed now was immense!


He opened his eyes again and slowly flexed his new muscles under the watchful eyes of the guide and one panda. Ranma noticed how his gi-top protested and strained at the movement, and the youth stared in wonder at his new muscles.


He cautiously threw a punch, and Ranma was very surprised at the speed and strength of this simple move. Damn, he would have to try out this new body of his much more seriously. As soon as possible! The Saotome youth had no idea how it had happened, only some vague memories that pertained a fight, but this was sure grand. His speed and power had increased immensely, and also his toughness seemed to have gone up several notches.


Suddenly Ranma noticed something that had escaped his notice up till now, and when it announced its presence the Saotome youth nearly fell flat on his face. Before it had obviously been curled up around his waist, and Ranma had mistaken it as the belt of his training gi. But apparently it had now reacted to his state of agitation, and was now merrily waving it him.
"What the hell!" Ranma exclaimed, and both the guide and the panda sweat dropped.


Disbelievingly Ranma surveyed his new appendage, and for a moment he was tempted to write it off as a hallucination. Yes, everything that had happened had been one huge dream, and soon he'd wake up. And it was so easy to prove it. He'd just have to pinch…
"YEOW!" he suddenly exclaimed when he had executed his thought.


What had happened is easily told. Ranma, thinking this was all a dream, had grabbed the new appendage of his, a brown, furry tail, and had pinched it rather hardly. Too bad for him that this was anything but a dream, and thus Ranma learned, that tails are darn sensitive…
"Damn it ta the deepest hell! Why the fragg do I have a stupid tail?" Then his eyes turned on Genma, and the panda could have sworn they turned… teal?... for a moment.


Genma-panda big sweated and slowly moved backwards. Remembering that his son had somehow been suped-up by the spring behind him the Saotome patriarch saw his only salvation in jumping into the very same spring his son had nearly drowned in. And when the spring had transformed him he could deal with the insolent boy.


Grinning to himself the panda jumped merrily into the pool. Ranma looked at his stupid father dumbfounded while the guide smacked his forehead.
"Too too stupid Mr. Customer! Mr. Customer is very lucky that spring is now uncursed. Great harm befall those who too too stupid and jump into different pools. Now only thing stupid Mr. Customer is, is wet."


Ranma first looked at the guide, then at the water-treating panda. Finally he collapsed in helpless laughter.
"HAH HAH HAH HAH! Ya look like a doused poodle, pop! Serves ya right for getting me cursed! HAH HAH HAH!"


The guide, who was standing beside Ranma, shared the young Saotome's merriment.
"Young Mr. Customer is indeed right. But now you better come out of pool, stupid Mr. Customer. Don't want pool of drowned too too stupid panda." he said, muttering the last sentence.


Genma growfed and growled as he made his way back out of the pool, while Ranma still snorted in amusement because of Genma's predicament. Served the stupid old man right to be turned into a fat, lazy panda. Maybe there was the chance that he could sell him to a local zoo? Aww that would probably be too much luck. Turning back to the guide he asked what was on his mind other than the fate of his pop.
"Mr. Guide, what can ya tell me about the pool I fell inta? Ya said that the pool is now uncursed. What exactly did ya mean by that?"


The guide nodded. A nice, long explanation was in order, and maybe they could enjoy some tea at the same time. But he would have to do something about the communications problem. It was just too bothersome to talk Japanese all the time, at least in this form…
"All explained will be, young Mr. Customer. Now follow this one, please."


Ranma shrugged and followed the retreating figure of the guide, now very careful as not to get even close to the springs. They should have listened to the locals who had warned them, one part of his mind said, but another, equally strong part argued, that the outcome for him was anything but bad. He was now faster, stronger and tougher than before, so it was no bad deal. Maybe his pop had, for the first time, done something good to him. Even if totally unplanned.


Whistling a merry tune the pigtailed martial artist followed the guide to a small hut, which obviously served as his home. The guide was a few steps ahead of him, while Genma-panda was trailing behind. The portly Chinese man opened the door and waved Ranma inside.


The Saotome youth did just that and entered the hut, instantly taking in his surroundings. Odd. His senses seemed to have been sharpened too. He could swear that he heard and smelled things much better than before. Hmm, it seemed he really had to make a field-test to try his new body out. But first things first. Now he wanted to learn exactly what had happened to him and why. And it seemed as if the guide held the answers.


Said guide went over to a rack and extracted something that looked like a package of something. Then he opened said package under the watchful eyes of Ranma and one panda, which had just now joined them in the hut. Ranma and Genma-panda watched as the guide filled the contents of the package into a small wooden bucket. Subsequently he added water to it and filled the bucket to the rim.


The next thing he did surprised both Saotomes. For the guide suddenly upended the bucket over his head and doused himself in the process. Genma-panda and Ranma looked at each other, and both had the same question in mind: what the heck did the guide need a shower for?


Even more surprising was what happened next. The guide turned around, and his appearance was somewhat different than before. He was a bit taller and not as portly as before, other differences were minimal. Then he opened his mouth, and instead of speaking in broken Japanese that happened:
"This will surely be better for our conversation, dear customers." he stated in perfect Japanese.


Both Ranma and Genma boggled, and only Ranma was able to articulate it.
"What the hell?" he asked bluntly and right to the point.


The changed guide smiled and sat down on a chair.
"I figured that it would be much better if you could understand what I was saying. This is why I cursed myself with a package of Drowned Translator. It is the very tragic story of a translator who drowned here twelve years ago. Now I can understand you and you can understand me. Any questions before I begin with the explanations?"


Ranma nodded weakly and sat down too. His tail curled up around his waist automatically.
"Ya… ya cursed yerself? Outta yer own free will? Are ya outta ya mind or sumthin?"


The Jusenkyo guide smiled once more, and his smile showed that he was not insulted in the slightest.
"It's only an Instant package which lasts for twenty-four hours. Or until I would splash myself with warm water. These products are distributed by a local company, the Jusenkyo products ltd. And no, what you two have come in contact with was no Instant curse water. The curses you acquired are quite permanent and will be with you for the rest of your lives. And no, there are no cures for your curses. The Jusenkyo curses are all permanent, and the magic of Jusenkyo holds its victims in an iron and unbreakable grip. Should you hear of miracles cures, they're all fake, and the feeble attempt to lure stupid and gullible people into their trap."


The young Saotome nodded while Genma-panda growfed.
"Oh yes, I have nearly forgotten you." he said. "You must know that the curse is activated by cold water. So any time you come into contact with cold water, you will be changed into your cursed forms. The usage of warm water will turn you back into your original state. But make no mistake, only as long as you don't come in contact with cold water. And you will come into contact with cold water, for that is another factor of the curse. It turns the victim into a water-magnet. That is meant literally. Cold water will try to reach you at all events, and even staying in your cursed forms will not help. The effect will simply reverse itself, and the curse will try to bring you into contact with warm or hot water. Here, I will demonstrate it." he said and started to heat a kettle.


Few minutes later the water was sufficiently warmed, and the guide waved at Genma-panda to follow him. The pandafied Saotome affirmed this with a growf and trudged outside. Ranma followed on his heels; this he did not want to miss. Soon Genma was in position, and the guide upended the full kettle over Genmas head.


Nearly instantly Genma Saotomes humanity was restored, and the Saotome patriarch exclaimed a satisfied "Ahh!"


The guide nodded satisfied. A visual demonstration was always much better than only telling the boring theory.
"As you can see, warm water will turn you back. But it is no cure, and you will be turned back into your cursed form when you're hit by cold water again. Now to you, young Mr. Customer."


Ranma nodded and got to one knee to allow the guide to pool the warm water over his head. Moments later the guide did just that, but Ranma got the surprise of his life (again) when no change occurred. He still felt powerful, and he still had his tail. What the heck had happened?


With confusion and curiosity the Saotome youth looked at the guide. But the man seemed to be at a loss too.
"This is very strange, young sir. Normally warm water will turn you back, and I am sure that it was warm enough. The only explanation I can give you is, that the curse you are under became somehow permanent. I haven't heard of a case like that in quite some time, but the spring you fell in was indeed special."


Now Genma spoke up.
"Special? How? What did it do to the worthless boy?"


Said 'worthless' boy barely suppressed a growl. Genma had been much more to his liking when he had been a panda. As a panda he had at least not been able to sprout his usual annoying nonsense. Ranma shuddered to imagine what would have happened should he have fallen into the Spring of the drowned girl or something. Had that happened, he would not have lived to hear the end of it. His father would probably have chewed on his ears as long as it would have taken him to drive him, Ranma, insane.


But should he continue to annoy him in this way he would have to 're-evaluate' his fathers skills. Certainly all this sitting around on his fat butt while munching on snacks had made him weak. And Ranma would love to show him who was the better one, and his ole man deserved a good dressing down. Swallowing his irritation at his father he concentrated on what the guide had to tell them.


Said guide gave his pop a stare that told the fat man exactly who was worthless and who not.
"This is not described in haste. Let us get inside and enjoy some tea while I tell you what I know. Maybe the magic of Jusenkyo will also be able to tell me why you didn't change back, young Mr. Customer."


Ranma nodded and followed the guide, while Genma followed his now much taller son. As Genma surveyed his son the stray thought that it might be advisable to stop provoking and taunting his son in face of so much power crossed the Saotome patriarchs mind. But this thought was instantly kicked out of the metaphorical window as Genma thought about how much fun it made. And insulting the boy had never done any harm. His resolve reaffirmed, Genma followed the others inside the hut.


The guide and Ranma had already sat down on the chairs once more, and Genma had to grab himself the spare stool. Which he did grumbling. Once Genma was seated the guide served some tea. Ranma and Genma thanked the guide for the tea, but left it standing on the table so it could cool down somewhat. Then the guide resumed his story.
"It all started eight weeks ago. Suddenly, out of nowhere, a man landed in one of the until then uncursed pools. Just fell from the sky and broke the fence and surface protections. The man drowned, and once he had died I learned what exactly it had been that had drowned in the pool. The victim had been an alien, and an evil one at that. I know, I know, you'll say that aliens don't exist. But look at the extra appendage young Mr. Customer has gained and tell me again if you still believe that."


The Saotome youth glanced at his tail and back at the guide. Finally he nodded. Very convincing point.
"That… guy just fell outta the sky? Just like that?"


The Jusenkyo guide nodded.
"Yes, just like that. And after he had drowned, the magic told me that it wanted to get rid of him. You must know, I am connected to the magic of Jusenkyo, so that I know who or what has drowned in the different springs. I must be able to tell my customers what has happened to them, and how they have to handle their curses. But your curse, young Mr. Customer, is different. The alien who had drowned in the Spring was very powerful and dangerous, and the magic wanted to expel the spirit of the man at all costs. You know, normally the spirit of the being that drowned in a spring remains there for all eternity and does not influence the victims who fall into the pools. The original victims just serve as markers, and whoever falls into a spring gains the body it would have had had it been born this way. But the spring in which the alien had drowned was different."


Genma and Ranma were spellbound.
"Different?" the Saotome patriarch asked. "How?"


The guide sipped his tea.
"Well, the spirit of the drowned alien was so strong and insane that the danger existed that he could somehow take over the body of whoever would fall into the spring. In fact, the magic of Jusenkyo prevented three cases where it could have happened, and redirected the customers to different pools. But the influence of the alien grew, and had not young Mr. Customer fallen into the spring and emerged victorious, disaster could have befallen us. Now everything is in order, and the magic of Jusenkyo has told me that the spirit of the alien has been banished into the Afterlife. We are rid off it, and that is good so."


Ranma nodded, relieved that what he had feared had not come true. A possession was the last thing he would have needed!
"Hear hear." he said, reciting something he had heard in some bar. Somehow it seemed to be appropriate.


Genma gruffed.
"So that means that I won't get a better body here now, does it? Hmph, this stupid expedition was for naught!" he exclaimed, as always only thinking of himself.


His son seethed at his fathers' attitude, and also the guide seemed to be put out by the attitude of this particular customer. Didn't the fat foreigner care at least a bit about his son? The young man had been cursed, he had been touched by Jusenkyo! For many who were living in proximity to the springs this was the most terrible fate to befall anyone, and the tribe of the Joketzusuko even used the springs to punish warriors who had failed in an important task. But all the fat man seemed to care about was himself.


The guide hid his disgust with difficulty.
"No, sir. Jusenkyo does not exist for this purpose, and there are no springs that will help you in that regard. If you want to have a great body I suggest you train, Mr. Customer." he said. The guide noticed Genmas sidelong glance at Ranma. "No, sir, what happened to young Mr. Customer is absolutely unique in the history of the springs. He has been blessed by the magic of Jusenkyo, because he fought its battle. You, Mr. Customer, received the curse which is tuned best to your Karma." he explained.


Ranma looked quite proud at that. He did not understand what the guide meant with the Karma-bit, but neither did his father, gauging from the blank look on his face. This was easily explained: Genma thought all those foreign ideas of soul balance and meditation techniques to be nonsense, had never even bothered to learn their names.


In Genma's opinion a man who used his fists solved his problems way better than a man who had found his centre and tried to talk his way out of it. What Genma failed to realize was, that the mind was as important as the body, and that both concepts could be combined. Mens sana in corpore sano that had even been known by the old Romans.


Genma grunted while the guide suppressed a smirk. He had voluntarily lied to the fat man. There was indeed one spring in which another, powerful alien had drowned some time ago. But it was for sure not destined for this fat, self-centred oaf. The guide knew how much power the young Mr. Customer could possess if he trained his new body, and he felt that all this power was in good hands. Now to some final warnings.


The Jusenkyo guide just wanted to explain when Genma suddenly got up.
"Come, boy! We're leaving. This whole legendary training ground is one big disappointment."


Ranma looked at his father with a raised brow.
"Pop, it's already dark. Do ya think its such a good idea ta travel by night? What if we fall inta another spring?"


His father shot Ranma an angry glare.
"Are you a weak girl that you want to stay here? Do you really think some stupid springs would stop us?"


It was the guide who was about to answer, while Ranma grinded his teeth and grabbed the table in anger at the words of his father. In the past those insults had stung, but now they made him really angry. The table began creaking as Ranma's fingers exerted pressure upon the surface, and the youth didn't notice that he was creating a clearly visible handprint in the wood.


Genma did, and he barely suppressed a gulp. Maybe he should really reconsider insulting his son...
Neither Ranma nor Genma knew the reason for Ranma's increased aggressiveness, but his new body was not producing human hormones any more, but Saiyan hormones. And those were vastly different, which meant that Ranma's system would have to get used to them. This also meant that Genma was risking ending up as fried Panda, should he keep on insulting Ranma...


The guide cleared his throat, and the sound brought Ranma out of his anger. With a sheepish grin the Saotome youth noticed the deep finger marks he had left in the wood.
"Sorry ´bout this. Seems I dunno me own strength."


Genma big sweated at seeing how deep Ranma's fingers had indented the wood, but the guide waved Ranma's apology aside.
"Don't worry. You're still adjusting to your new body. And you would not believe what has happened here in the many years of my service. But now to other matters." he said as he looked at Genma. "Your son is right. It would be absolutely foolish to travel in this area by night. What some of the springs could do to you is beyond your wildest imagination and so gruesome, that I can't even talk about it. And you wouldn't only take a new cursed form, Mr. Customer. You can't jump into another pool to cancel out the first curse. The magic does not work this way. Rather, the curses combine. Would you, Mr. Customer, jump into the Nannichuan, the spring of drowned man, the curses would combine, and you would be half-panda and half-man. Not desirable, is it?" the guide asked.


Genma shuddered briefly, while the guide suppressed a snicker. It was fun to keep information from the fat man. He deserved being a panda half of the time, and did not need to know that his birth form would remain unchanged should he jump into the Nannichuan in his cursed form. Who knew, maybe the world would get lucky and the young Mr. Customer would lose his patience with his father. The end result could either be a panda fur-rug or a donation/sale to a zoo. Most desirable options, in his opinion. And gauging from his facial expression, the fat man seemed to understand.


The Saotome patriarch looked at his son with a relenting smile.
"Heh heh, boy, it seems as if it really would be a good idea if we remained here for the time being." he said while he sat down again.


Ranma still glowered at his stupid father, but suppressed his anger in face of his curiosity.
"What else can ya tell us? What happens normally ta those who got themselves cursed?"


The guide looked at Ranma with a sigh.
"You must know that we have a treaty with the tribe of the Joketsuzoku, the Chinese Amazons."


"What?" Ranma and Genma exclaimed in stereo, shortly followed by Genma, "There are Chinese Amazons? I thought that Amazons existed only in Greek mythology! What are they doing here?"


The Jusenkyo guide was tempted to say 'They're taking a vacation here'. But he had to be polite. Unfortunately.
"The tribe that lives not far from here came into this land over 3000 years ago. No one knows where they came from originally, they just appeared, claimed a part of the land and settled down. There have been great wars between them and the other parties that live in these lands, but at the moment everything is quiet. As I said before, we have a deal with them. Should anyone, and that means any male with potential get cursed, we are to send them to the village of the tribe were they are to live as the mates of those Amazons they defeated."


Genma stroked his chin.
"That does not sound too bad…" he mused and Ranma felt himself nodding in agreement.


The guide shook his head.
"But it is, dear sirs. What you must know is that the Chinese Amazons live by a set of strange laws, and the most important laws for outsiders are the Kiss of Marriage and the Kiss of Death. An outsider can challenge an Amazon to a fight for her hand, and if he wins the challenge fight he is the Airen of the Amazon, her husband. It might sound nice, but like the Amazons of Greek mythology they treat their males like second class citizens. In their village the males have to stay home, cook, care for the children and so on. And that is what we are forced to doom the curse victims with potential to. So if you encounter any Chinese Amazons, refuse any fight for a marriage challenge and state this loudly. But if you have to fight, don't, under any circumstances knock the warrior out. Your only option is to get her to tire herself out so that you can get away. The Elders, however, are fair game, as they say. They have done their duty to the tribe and have already born children, so that you won't be in danger of having to marry an Elder. However, should you defeat an Elder it is untold what the tribe might do. Be extremely cautious, young Mr. Customer."


Ranma and Genma looked at each other. That really sounded like a bunch of very crazy chicks. Where did they get their rulebooks from? From before the dawn of civilization or what? And why the heck should any male wish to challenge an Amazon if it led to a life of subjugation? That made no sense to the Saotomes.
"'kay, got it. But whaddaya mean 'bout that other law?"


The guide waved his hand.
"That is not important to you. It only applies to female outsiders. If an Amazon loses a challenge fight to a female outsider, the Amazon has to hunt the female down and must kill her. They fear that any female strong enough to beat their champions could produce offspring which could then pose a threat to their tribe. Quite exaggerated, if you ask me."


Ranma threw his hands in the air, and his tail swished in agitation.
"Ex… exe… whatever… those chicks are freakin' crazy!"


Genma nodded his head in agreement.
"How do we evade their village best?"


The guide thought for a moment.
"There is a little used pathway which leads into the mountains. You can only hope that no Amazon sentries are in the area. Else they might want to challenge you. I don't like to say it, but you are what they would consider prime breeding material. And they would not hesitate to use every unfair trick in their book to bring you into the tribe. Don't, under any circumstances hit an Amazon or render her unconscious. Even if no challenge has been issued, they will try to claim you. You must be extremely cautious, young Mr. Customer."


The Saotome youth nodded, and his mind was revolted at the thought to be considered as a breeding stock, as some kind of stupid stud. He was much more than that, he was a human being!
'Oops, not any more…' he thought with some humour as his tail curled around his waist and reminded him of the changes he had undergone.


But the same basic principle applied. No one should be treated this way, and the more he heard of those crazy Amazons the more he disliked them.
"Got it. Thanks fer telling me that, those crazy chicks sound like a real pest."


The Jusenkyo guide could only nod vigorously.
"And they're very dangerous. Their Elders are not to be underestimated, and they know a lot of secret very powerful techniques. You may be very strong, young Mr. Customer, but right now an Elder might prove to be too much for you to take on. As any curse victim, you will need training in your new form. And as your cursed form seems to be permanent you should start as soon as possible."


Genmas eyes had lit up at the mentioning of secret and powerful techniques, but at the mentioning of 'dangerous' his interest had dropped below zero. No, he was no coward (at least in his opinion), but he didn't have a death-wish. Not by a long shot. These Amazons were a big no no, and they'd get away from this area and travel homewards as soon as possible. All this insanity with curses and strange Chinese Amazons were getting on Genma Saotomes nerves. What he needed now was a supply of nice, chewy bamboo. One moment, where had this thought come from?


Meanwhile Ranma had nodded.
"'kay. We'll leave as soon as possible, and ya can bet that I'll train this new body of mine. I ain't never slacking off!" he exclaimed proudly.


Genma grunted in what might be approval, but nobody could tell. Probably least of all Genma, who knew no other thoughts than 'how-to-make-your-own-life-better-than-anyone-elses-in-100-easy-steps'. But obviously his guide-book had been in the wrong language. And besides, Genma and manuals had never been a good combination...
"But why did you warn us about the Amazons?" Genma asked suspiciously. "What is in for you?"


The guide looked insulted for a brief, barely visible moment, then his face was set into a neutral mask.
"Several reasons. First and foremost, the young Mr. Customer took care of a very severe problem for us and was blessed by Jusenkyo. The magic of Jusenkyo told me just moments ago, that his change of body is permanent. He can also not be touched by Jusenkyo again, which is the blessing the magic gave him. Then there is the fact, that young Mr. Customer will be quite powerful in the future, and I don't want him angry at me." he said with a sheepish smile.


Ranma smiled a lop-sided smile.
"Naw, doncha worry. I only pound upon stupid pops here."


Genma glared at him, while the guide's eyes twinkled with merriment.
"Respect your father, boy!"


The human-turned-Saiyan teen smirked.
"Ya gotta gimme a reason fer that, pop. Respect ain´t given, it is earned."


The Saotome patriarch growled.
"Oh Kami-sama, why am I cursed with such a disgrace of a son?" he lamented.


Ranma growled right back, and his battle aura started to show in the visible spectrum. It was quite a sight, and much more powerful than Genma remembered. Said father of Ranma backed away slowly.


Shaking his head the guide looked at Genma.
"It would be a good idea, if you stopped insulting your son, honoured customer. I prefer to have my hut intact, and that also after you have left."


Genma nodded vigorously. It was obviously not advisable to make Ranma angry. But how should he keep the boy in line? Insults had always worked best...


At present Ranma took some deep, calming breaths as he tried to get his sudden anger in check. It was very unusual for him to lose his cool like that. From early on he had been taught to suppress his emotions, to bury them as deeply as possible so that they were no distraction. But for some unknown reason he was hard pressed not to give in to his anger and start pounding baka oyaji flat.


Finally the danger had passed, and Genma released a breath he hadn't know he had held. Somehow he knew that he had escaped the beating of his life.
"Ehe heh, you could be right. Say, have you got a place for us to sleep?" he asked, hoping to distract his son with a change of topic.


It worked somewhat, as Ranma directed a curious gaze onto the guide. He was quite worn out after the ordeal of the day, and the occasion to sleep sounded good.


The guide nodded.
"Yes. One of you can take the spare bed, but the other will have to sleep on the ground. I apologize for the inconvenience." he said with a bow.


Ranma waved it aside.
"Aww, no prob. I'm gonna sleep here on the floor. Ain´t as if I need the luxury anyway."


The guide nodded, and Genma grinned gleefully. He had expected at least a short fight over the bed.
"Finally you're showing some respect for your elders, boy. About time."


Ranma glared in answer.
"I stopped respectin´ ya ever since I could count in double digits, old man. And now stop yer yappin." he said as he made himself comfortable on the ground. Then he closed his eyes, and moments later soft snoring noises could be heard.


With his tail curled around his waist Ranma looked like a big cat, even though he would have objected strongly to such a comparison. To be exact, he'd probably have clinged to the ceiling at the mention of the c-word.


Genma was about to start another tirade, but the guide shook his head.
"In my country we have a saying: never wake a sleeping dragon´. Be wise for once, honoured customer, and let your son sleep. You might not like the results if you wake the dragon."


Genma, for once not being his stupid self, actually listened to reason and left his son be. The guide led him then to another room and showed him his bed for the night. Without any further words the Saotome patriarch lay down, and minutes later quite loud snoring noises exuded.


The guide, who had laid down in his own bed, asked himself if the young Mr. Customer had not the better sleeping place for the night...


to be continued...


Thanks for reading. Also, thanks to everyone for helping me out with suggestions, comments, ideas and c&c in general.