Last time Bloom and the others arrived in orbit around Earth. She, Stella, Sky, Brandon and Helia beamed down to Tokyo, Japan. They met up with Bloom's friend Kodatchi Kuno, as well as Kodatchi's brother Tatewaki. Bloom told Kodatchi the situation and asked her for help. Kodatchi admitted that she doesn't have the antidote that Flora needs, but does know who has it; another relation from Bloom's past on Earth. Meanwhile Ryoko and Sasami met up with a friend from their past as well. On with the show!
Chapter 13: No Need for a Life Debt
Fifteen minutes later Kodatchi returned from her room dressed in tan slacks and a white blouse. "Cat Café isn't that far," said Kodatchi as she, Bloom and co. walked down the streets of Tokyo, "So tell me, how do you know Cologne and her granddaughter, Shampoo?"
"Well," said Bloom, "After my mom finished her study of plants in Japan, we then went to mainland China. As you know, the two of us were with a tour group that was studying rare Asian flowers, and China has some pretty rare flowers of its own. One day we were camped by a river near the mountains when I heard someone screaming. My Chinese wasn't that good back then, but I know when someone's yelling for help. I looked and saw a girl of about my age being swept down the river.
"Without thinking I jumped into the river and swam towards her. As I reached the girl, I then realized that the current was too strong for me to swim back to shore, but I tried anyway. On the way back to shore I cut my right shoulder pretty bad on a rock."
"I didn't know about that," said Stella. "You didn't?" asked Bloom, "I guess I never showed you my scar," she raised part of her shirt to show the back of her right shoulder. A long scar ran almost half way down. "Damn," said Brandon, "That must have hurt."
"It did," said Bloom as she lowered her shirt, "But I didn't care at the time. All I was thinking about was getting the girl to safety. Somehow we made it back to shore and I passed out from exhaustion. When I woke up the girl was taking care of my shoulder. Through a translator I learned her name was Shampoo of the Amazon tribe. According to the law of the Amazon tribe, because I saved Shampoo's life, she was honored bound to serve me until she can save my life in turn.
"Once my shoulder was healed my mom and I escorted Shampoo back to her village. On the way we became fast friends. She told me that the only reason she was in that river was because she tripped on a rotten plank on a rope bridge and fell into the water. Once we saw Shampoo to her village I told her that I had no need for a servant. It took some convincing from the village matriarch, Grandmaster Cologne, but Shampoo agreed to stay with her people. Before my mom and I left, Shampoo promised me that if I ever need her, she'd be there to help me. She then gave me The Kiss of Friendship, thereby making me an honorary Amazon."
"When you said 'The Kiss of Friendship,'" said Sky, "What do you mean by that?" "I mean," said Bloom, "She kissed me on my right cheek." "Better your right cheek than your left," said Kodatchi, "That side of your face is reserved for The Kiss of Death." "An when an Amazon kisses a man on the lips," said Bloom, "That is The Kiss of Marriage."
"We're here," said Kodatchi as they reached a restaurant with the words 'Cat Café' written in Japanese on a large sign. They went inside where a tall young man of about Sky's age was sweeping the floor. He had long, straight black hair, blue pants and a white silk shirt with very wide sleeves.
"Hey, Mousse!" exclaimed Kodatchi to the waiter, "Is Cologne in today?" "Is that you, Kodatchi?" asked Mousse as he squinted at the doorway. "You forgot to put your eyeglasses on again," sighed Kodatchi, "That's Mousse," she said to Bloom and the others, "He's a male Amazon. A good fighter, but blind as a bat without his glasses." "You keep talking, Kodatchi," said Mousse as she made his way towards Kodatchi, bumping into several tables on the way, "I'll find you."
Just then a very short, old woman with long white hair and a very wrinkled face jumped over the counter that separated the kitchen from the dining area. She carried a long wooden staff in her hands "Idiot boy!" exclaimed the woman as she bashed her staff on Mousse's head, "I told you once, I've told you a hundred times, don't forget to put your glasses on in the morning!"
"Forgive me, Grandmaster," said Mousse apologetically, "I'll go get them right now." "You do that," said Cologne as Mousse went into the back of the restaurant, bumping into several more tables. Cologne then set her sight on Bloom. "So we meet again," said Cologne, "It has been many months, yet I haven't forgotten how you saved the life of my great-grandchild."
"It is an honor to see you again, Grandmaster Cologne," said Bloom as she bowed. Stella and the others bowed as well, Kodatchi only nodding her head; "Is Shampoo here today?" asked Bloom, "It's very important that I speak with her."
"She's in the kitchen," said Cologne, "I'll go fetch her." She then 'pogoed' back into the kitchen. About thirty seconds later Cologne returned with a girl of about Bloom's height with long purple hair and green eyes.
"Honored friend!" exclaimed Shampoo, "Shampoo is happy to see you again." "I'm glad to see you too, Shampoo," said Bloom, "I wish I were here just to say hello, but it's a matter of life and death that I've come for your help." "Anything," said Shampoo, "What you need Shampoo to do?"
"Her grammar needs work," whispered Stella to Brandon. "Don't be rude," Brandon whispered back.
"A friend of mine has been poisoned," said Bloom, "And I'm told by Kodatchi that you have the only antidote. Do you still have the Purple-Star Lotus flowers you won from her?" Shampoo and Kodatchi both glared at each other before Shampoo answered, "Yes, Shampoo does have Purple-Star Lotus. I go fetch." She left the dinning area to find the flowers.
"I sense that you don't like her," said Stella to Kodatchi. "You ain't just whistling Dixie," said Kodatchi, "I will never forgive Shampoo for trying to steal my one true love." "Don't make me laugh," said Mousse as he came back into the dinning area, now wearing a pair of very thick coke-bottle glasses, "What you and Shampoo both have is nothing more than a petty rivalry between women."
"We're over here," said Kodatchi, for Mousse was talking to a mop and bucket. He cleaned his glasses then looked in the general direction of Kodatchi. "Oh," he said, "there you are." "I believe what my assistant is trying to say," said Cologne, "Is that Kodatchi has a crush on the man Shampoo is honored bound to marry."
"My love for Ranma isn't a crush!" exclaimed Kodatchi, "You stupid old hag!" "What gymnastic girl say about Shampoo's great-grandmother?" raged Shampoo as she came back into the dinning area, a large potted plant with purple star-shaped flowers in her hands, "If gymnastic girl insult Shampoo's great-grandmother, then Shampoo will teach gymnastic girl lesson she never forget!"
"Don't drop the plant!" exclaimed Cologne, "Now," she said to Bloom as Shampoo handed the Purple Lotus plant to Stella, "How many Purple-Star Lotus blossoms do you need?"
"I don't know," said Bloom, "Washu didn't tell us how much was needed." "I'll take the whole thing back to The Night Rider," said Helia as he dialed the ship on his cell phone, "Hello, Beauregard, beam me back up in about ten seconds, and tell Washu I have the flowers she needs for the antidote." Stella then handed the plant to Helia and he was beamed back up to The Night Rider.
"That takes care of that," sighed Bloom, "Let's hope Washu can prepare the antidote in time." She then noticed that Shampoo and Cologne were staring at her in shock, while Mousse was looking in the opposite direction. "Was it my imagination," said Cologne, "Or did that boy just teleport into outer space?" "Forgive me, Grandmaster," said Bloom, "I should have told you."
And so for the second time that day, Bloom told her story. "When you saved the life of my great-grandchild," said Cologne, "I sensed then that you were no ordinary human girl. Yet I never suspected as far that you are a fairy princess from another planet." "There are times when I need to remind myself that this isn't all just a dream," said Bloom, "But this is really happening."
"These witches," said Mousse, "Icy, Darcy and Stormy, are they as dangerous as you say they are?" "They were ready, willing and able to take over the entire universe with an army of living rot once," said Sky, "Now we believe they've joined The Shadow Riders."
"Those Shadow Riders are more dangerous than any number of witches," said Cologne, "I know, I've been to many places in my 300 years of life. Believe me, Bloom, you have already begun a challenge greater than any you've faced before. You must rely on your friends and loved ones if you are to survive what's coming."
"If Bloom fight Shadow Riders," said Shampoo, "Then Shampoo will fight by her side." "Where you go," said Mousse to Shampoo, "I'll go. I know you don't think much of me, Shampoo, but I care deeply about you enough to want to fight with you."
"I don't mean to sound rude," said Brandon, "But what can you do to fight The Shadow Riders?" "What can I do?" asked Mousse, "I happen to be a master of Slight-of-Hand Martial Arts. Illusions and deceptions, along with multiple bladed weapons attached to chains; that is my specialty."
"I'll come too if you'll have me," said Kodatchi, "And I'm sure my brother would be more than happy to come as well." "I fear it will take more than three martial artists and one swordsman to help you defeat The Shadow Riders, young Bloom," said Cologne, "In this conflict you'll need all the help you can get. You need Ranma Saotome."
Meanwhile…
"And that's is in a nutshell, Tenchi," said Sasami as she and Ryoko finished explaining the situation to their friend, Tenchi, "So will you help us fight The Shadow Riders?" "You never need to ask me for my help," said Tenchi, "Anything for you, for Ayeka and Jurai. So, when do we leave for space again?" "Just as soon as we hook up with a few friends back in Tokyo," said Ryoko, "Then we're on our way." "Wait," said Sasami, "Has anyone seen Ryo-Ohki?" "She's in the carrots again," said Tenchi, "I'm sure of it."
The end of chapter 13. Next chapter, Bloom and the others meet 'the child of chaos,' Ranma. See you next time!