Chapter 3

AN: And we have another installment! I would like to mention that I don't like bloodshed, so you have probably noticed that no, no one dies. I have to admit, I m not too sure about the legal practices in Japan, so I went with what I felt Cologne and Nabiki would do, by threat if necessary. Feel free to comment if you disagree - the chapter won't change, but future ones will be more accurate :)

"Stop!"

Nodoka's swing came to an abrupt stop mere millimeters from the girl's skin. The girl's grandmother slammed into the taller woman, knocking her away from the girl.

"What are you doing! Without a trial, this is murder! Our laws cannot be applied in life or death situations in this country!"

"Actually, you are right, Elder. That is normally the case in any reasonable diplomatic relationship. One side accepts the views of the other as a show of respect in such circumstances, as long as there is no objectionable behavior on either side. The Japanese government would have been willing to overlook some minor fights and complaints, especially considering how many tourists all the various fights have been drawing to Nerima more than made up for the property damages to local buildings and businesses – they would have responded quite strongly to Shampoo's murder attempts and in our case, helped us take our cases through the courts. However, the rules in your case have been adjusted. At your own insistence, may I add."

Everyone looked around towards the new voice. One of the lawyers, Idemo-san, was leafing through a file he held in his hand. Seeing everyone bar Nabiki stare at him with surprise, as his lithe appearance didn't at all match the voice, he rolled his eyes. "I would like to illustrate the matter at hand, if you would all kindly concentrate. Ah, here it is. It is a copy of course, but I believe your signature is at the bottom, Elder, is it not?"

Mousse and Shampoo both looked over the old woman's shoulder at the piece of paper that had been handed to her and which she help and arms length, staring at it in horror. The others didn't move, already knowing what the paper said.

At first glance it was a simple application to open a business in the Nerima ward of Tokyo. However, attached to it, was a plea by the Elder Kuh Lon of the Amazon tribe to be granted permission to live out her and her family's lives by their own laws as long as they remained in Japan. The plea had been accepted, applied to all the residents of the Cafe, and applied its entirety. This included the legal system, unless someone was killed as a result of their actions. Though there were quite a few other stipulations, Mousse could clearly see that in essence, that was the gist of it. It certainly explained why their Elder forbade her granddaughter from ever attempting to kill any of her rivals and cautioned against excessively injuring anyone if it could be avoided.

"Grandmother, why you do this to Xian Puu?"

The old woman looked up at her granddaughter, tears glistening in the teen's eyes clearly visible. For the first time, the proud Amazon stood there defeated, more so than when she realised not ten minutes ago that her minutes were numbered and she would never marry her Airen. Mousse briefly wondered if that posture and facial expression was something the others saw often on him – betrayal of those one loved the most. Ranma aside, there was no one more precious to his love than the Elder and her own father, male that he was.

Cologne looked worn and tried to pogo to her heir, but Shampoo turned her face away from the caress, eyes shut. Cologne's arm fell to her side and she whispered: "Oh child. It was to ensure that you would be able to marry Ranma. Without this, you stood no chance."

She raised a hand to caress the cheek of her descendant, but Shampoo flinched away again, this time with more violence. Instead the girl looked at Ranma's mother. "Mother, Shampoo mean lady Saotome, Shampoo believe we have unfinished business." The eyes were steely, despite the tears, looked up with conviction. "Shampoo have honour to restore, I ask Lady Saotome does it for Tribe's sake."

Nodoka looked uncomfortable before looking over at Nabiki and nodding. Just then, an entirely new voice spoke up, and it belonged to a woman.

"Enough, child. There is no honour lost by you. You do your family and people proud by accepting that you have committed a wrong, even if it did take this extreme a method for you to realise it. Shall we adjourn to the comfort of the restaurant to discuss this situation further? Hopefully without a need for weapons"

Everyone turned to look at the newcomer with surprise, except Nabiki. She had invited the woman along and knew more or less what to expect, after their phone conversation.

Mousse was the first to regain composure and immediately bowed. "Elder Lu Fa? What are you doing in Japan?"

In the entry to the back yard stood a tall, beautiful woman, with tanned skin, deep green hair and the most beautiful smile. Her body was clad in much less revealing Chinese clothes than Shampoo wore but less lose than Cologne's, and she was a little taller than Nodoka.

"I had been invited to would seem, Nephew. It seems that there is a small legal matter to attend to, one that I must see to personally to avoid any problems for our kin. Would you come inside, so that we can discuss this like civilised people?"

She led the way back inside, and sat herself at the head of a long table, waiting for everyone else to shuffle over and take a seat. It was rather telling that the Amazons sat on one side, and the Japanese on the other, with Nabiki at the other end in the other seat of power. She smiled and happily took over the meeting.

"Now, I believe we have a small conundrum. Based on what I have been told by Miss Tendo and her lawyers, I believe that Shampoo has to both marry and kill one Saotome Ranma. And yes child, if you had married him, you would be obligated to kill him immediately after you had laid with him. There is no way around it – one necessitates the other. The tribe could not force him into a marriage without also committing the other act, or it would render it meaningless. You may have been allowed to keep from killing him till after you had conceived, but by then the law's reach would have been exhausted and you would have had to murder a husband. And I would rather not have you kill a Japanese citizen, in any form. The Chinese government don't need any more excuses to attack us."

She waited for the rest of the table to catch up with her thought process.

"Do we all agree that enforcing full Amazon law in this case is dangerous, and will result in too many tears and bloodshed?"

They all nodded.

"In that case, I propose a solution. By the power vested in me as the High Elder of the Combined Amazon clans, I will dissolve the Kisses of Death and Marriage, as well as the obligation to have the Tendo clan execute Shampoo. That would mean that the laws can stay in effect regarding other aspects of your lives, but with no danger of death to anyone else. Additionally, all three of you will lend yourself to repay the Tendo family for the damages that you have caused over the last year. You young ones will remain here and gain a proper education, before returning to the tribe. Shampoo, that means you can now drop that ridiculous affectation of yours and speak normally. In your free time you will rebuild the dojo and house. Is that satisfactory?"

The two teenagers nodded, slightly dumbstruck. The green haired woman turned to Cologne.

"Now, sister, for you. You have neglected your duties as the Elder of your village. You are to return as soon as Shampoo and Mousse are settled into their new lives here. You are also to repay all the money that you have embezzled from the Japanese government and our village via our business here. Part of it can be legally used to repaid the house – the rest is to be returned either via charitable donations or some other means. I do not care which."

Nabiki looked as surprised as the others at this latest proclamation, and the young woman determined that she really would need to speak to the Elder privately before she left.

"Now that everyone is in agreement and fully apprised of the situation, may I suggest that we take advantage of these wonderful gentlemen, who I believe are very well versed in law, to help us draw up the necessary paperwork, and head down to the Tendo home to get these all signed? I would be more than happy to be accepted at our word, but considering the damage that has been done and the strained relationships, I would surmise that the Tendo's would prefer to be reassured by a legal document?"

As Mousse, Cologne, Shampoo and Nodoka were advising the lawyers of the specifics, the green haired woman leaned over to Nabiki, whom she had been standing behind while supervising the process. "You didn't really think we were all like Cologne and didn't have a university education or common sense? I did study to be a financial adviser to help my village, you know. I like to be prepared."

And with a smile and a wink, High Elder Lu Fa breezed past her to put her seal on the now completed documents.

An: We come to solve this little conundrum for good, in the next chapter :) I m hoping to post soon, but I am rather overworked trainign the person whom my job is being outsourced too. Grr. Double Grr