Nightingale
Chapter 2, Inside Of A Phoenix
Author's Notes: Hey! I'm back with this story. Unusually, not much to say. I really haven't been into the writing mood lately, but the reading one. Oh well *shrugs*. You know the drill. E-mail me at silverflame_maiden@hotmail.com (c'mon people, I have no support *pouts*) Sign my guestbook (You can sign it as many times as you like, I don't mind :) ) Send me fanart (it's practically empty!). And read my stories! Okay, that's it, hope you enjoy this chapter! Peace out.
Disclaimers: Ranma 1/2 belongs to Rumiko Takahashi, not me.
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I've always tried to want too much in life...to accept what I am and what I have... but I can't...don't get me wrong, I am happy...it's just that...sometimes...I want more. I am so ambitous and I always try to be better then what I am...no one understands this...except Ucchan and Shan Pu. I think they know I'm different...just not how much...
...I can list all the people that love me...they're not that much...there's Ukyo, Shan Pu, Mr. Tendo, Kasumi, Nabiki, and Mu Tsu...all the others...they don't care...and now *him*. I don't know what it is about him...but as soon as I saw him in that Apartment building the other night...I couldn't think of anything else...but those eyes...there's something about him though...something familiar...something dangerous...and all of my instincts are telling me to stay away...
...but I can't...I mean if he's Eyes Only...maybe he can help me...help me find out...what happened to those other kids...what happened to my R-chan and- NO! I shouldn't think like this...I can't tell anyone about my secret...I told Mrs. Tendo...and look what happened to her...
This is usually the moment that I feel the prickle of tears behind my eyes...but they never come down...that's strange too...I've seen Ukyo cry...I've seen Shampoo cry...I've seen them all cry...but I don't...no, it's not another *problem* with me...it's just that I'm too strong for that...according to everyone else...I'm too cold...my sisters and friends tell me I'm not too cold...they say I'm just a little withdrawn...yeah...right...like saying New York City's just another nice town...or the Grand Canyon's just a little hole...I see it in their eyes sometime when they look at me...all those people that I care about...they look at me like...like when a cold wind past you in a closed room...you can't figure it out...and in somne way...it scares you...
That's why I need to find the others...need to find R-chan...need to find them all...but I can't do it alone...I need someone I can trust fully with my secret...and they can only be trusted when they understand...understand why I do the things I do...understand why I'm the way I am...understand why I'm so cold...and that's why I'm going to trust Eyes Only...because when I look into his eyes...I shiver like a cold wind just past me in a closed room...
* * *
The Apartment was dark, devoid of light, as the silhoutte of a figure wandered blindly and aimlessly in the dark. The girl's roommate was sleeping in her own room right now, of course who wouldn't be asleep at 3 A.M in the morning? Turning her head, the girl looked through her sweat-soaked, clinging hair to the window. The city was dark too, you couldn't see the moon at this side of New York, the vapors and pollution were too thick. Suddenly, a spasm of pain racked through the girl's body and she clenched her teeth tight before continuing to stumble into the bathroom and lock the door.
Once Akane was in the bathroom, she started shaking terrible seizures as she hit the ugly, brown bathroom mat and cold tile floors. How painful was it? Well, try imagining feeling both hot and cold at once while dozens of rats chewed at your insides. Painful? Well, Akane would give anything just to feel that way right now. It was a thousand times worse. A lesser person would have killed themselves the first time they experienced this...but not Akane ...she wasn't the giving-up type.
Once the pain eased slightly, enough to give her back what little strength she had, Akane stood up, her knees and legs shking uncontrollably as she clutched onto the bathroom sink for support and dear life. Searching through the cabinets, throwing everything this way and that, Akane grabbed with a relief onto a pack of pills. Although, Akane had gotten this off of this streets, the label did not read any drug title. Instead it read: Triptophane. Yes, triptophane...the stuff in Turkey that makes you sleepy.
Swallowing most of the pills Akane leaned back against the wall and breathed in large gulps of air. Soon, the pain subsided and Akane sagged down onto the wall with relief and happiness from the pain gone.
Suddenly, the bathroom door was open and light flooded the room. Akane, her eyes startled by the oncoming splash of light, squinted her eyes to look up at the form of a startled Amazon.
"Akane, I heard you screaming, what's the mat-?" Shampoo began, but cut herself off when she saw Akane's sweating figure hunched by the wall and the pills on the floor. Rushing to her, Shan Pu looked at Akane's face for any hint if she was okay.
"Oh Akane! It happened again?" she asked in dismay.
Swallowing, Akane nodded slightly and gave a brief pained smile for her friend's benefit, "Yeah."
Helping the other girl up, Shampoo walked her out of the bathroom and commented in a puzzled, "That's the third time this week it happened, Akane. Usually it's only once a month at the most. Why is it happening more now? Akane, you should really go to the Doctors to get some help, those pills can't last you forever, and who knows what will happen the next time you don't have pills and I don't come. The hospital will-"
"NO!" Akane practically shouted, but seeing the hurt look in the violet-haired girl's eyes she said in a more gentle tone, "I told you fore, Shan-chan, I can't go to the Doctors. They can't find about my problem or they'll put me through all this painful surgery and stuff." The lie came smoother this time. Truth be told, Akane didn't like the hospitals and avoided it like the plgue, because as soon as she's admitted to any hospital, *they* will come and get her.
Biting her lip, Shan Pu remained silent, although she knew Akane lied. She wasn't stupid, she knew Akane had more problems then she bothereo tell. She wouldn't pressure Akane to tell, though, because she knew her best friend. Akane was one of the people that the more she gets backed up in a corner and pressured, the more she closes up and fights back. Shampoo was fairly certain Akane will tell her in her own time, when she's ready. Shan Pu just hoped that was before Akane got herself in seous trouble...
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The bar was crowded with people the next night, the usual crowd of people who either didn't want to go home to their depressing lives or didn't have a home to go back to. Akane, Ukyo, Shan Pu, and Mousse sat at a round table by the bar. Various drinks were in their hands as they joked and laughed. Mousse was a tall, once-Amazon-male who was practically blind, but refused to wear his glasses. He was the only one in their group who was actually rich. His family were the wealthy Zhu-zhus. Mousse wasn't exactly what one would called an overly handsome or macho guy, the most amaxing feature on his face being his eyes which were usually covered by thick, round glasses. People speculated why three beautiful women hung out with him...or why one of them was his love interest...but it was more then that though.
Both Ukyo and Akane met Mu Tsu through Shan Pu, but their friendships ran deeper then that and they stayed friends because they wanted to be. When Shan Pu had been adopted into the Chinese Amazon tribe, Mu Tsu was the only child that accepted her. The outsider. But that was because the other Amazon kids believed he was an Outsider too. Growing up with only Mousse as a companion and friend, Shan Pu always knew he loved her, and she him...but he was just so...annoying! When Shan Pu turned 16, she was this great, magnificent fighter with a wonderful body and she was the Matriarch's . Suddenly, everyone loved her and she was accepted without question. They still didn't accept Mouss, though and Shampoo didn't figure out why till later.
When Mu Tsu's mother died, severing all his ties to the Amazons, Shampoo found out that her friend for so many years was only half-Amazon. His mother had been a proud Amazon woman that became weak and had him after a fling with an Outsider male, though he could not beat or defeat her. When, his mother died, Mu Tsu's grandfather and father, his only living relatives demanded the teenaged boy to be returned to them. The Amazons let him go and Mousse refused to go despite how rich he would be. After al, he couldn't leave Shampoo....
#######Flashback#######
Mousse gave a side-ways glance at Shmpoo beside him at the stream. Her face was hard set and to anyone else she seemed brutal, proud, indifferent, and almost cold. Yet, Mousse knew better...Shampoo was crying desperatly inside.
"Shan Pu...I-" he began helplessly.
"Shut up, Mu Tsu. I don't want to hear it," the Amazon said as she stood up stiffly.
Standing up, Mu Tsu pleaded (Shampoo was the only one he pleaded to), "Please Shampoo, I can't stay. I want to, but they won't let me. They want me to leave!"
Glaring at the boy, her eyes filled with contempt, Shampoo spat out, "Mu Tsu, you're just like everyone else! *I'll never leave you Shan Pu*, stupid Mu Tsu! You lie!"
"Why don't you come with me, Shan Pu?" Mousse added desperatly, although he already knew it wasn't possible.
"Mu Tsu, you know I can't leave the tribe now! I'm the heir and I have to be here!"
After awhile in silence, Shampoo whispered, "Go to stupid America, then. Go and be rich and marry some girl then! Shampoo don't care!" Before Mousse could show surprise that Shampoo knew English the girl had already ran off to hide her tears...
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Cologne hopped into Shampoo's room to watch through glinting eyes at the girl weeping in the corner. Sensing someone there, Shampoo sniffed and looked away, not wanting anyone to see her weakness.
Walking over to her great-granddaughter, the Matriarch declared in a level tone, "Why are you crying, Shan Pu?"
Knowing not to lie to her grandmother, Shan Pu replied, "Shampoo...Shampoo... I'll miss him. No more stupid duck boy to be around and laugh at."
Putting her small hand on the younger's shoulder, Cologne turned Shampoo to face her as she asked with a wicked hint of a smile, "How would you like to go with Mu Tsu, Shan Pu?" Cologne watched as hope flashed through the girl's eye before being firmly squashed, "I can't do that hiba-chan. I am the heir, I must be here for the Amazons."
Cologne felt a bite of pride for her granddaughter. She knew she didn't choose wrong when she chose this girl above the others to raise. Defeat does not come to those that do not give up and Shampoo had too much pride not to gice up. She would not allow the Amazons to die out once Cologne dies.
"This is training for you child. You can not fight the new world until you know the new world. I want you to go with Mu Tsu to New York City and survive there and prosper. I do not want you back at the Amazon village before you have learned another strength other then mental or physical. This is your final training. Once you learn this lesson, then you are ready to be Matriarch," the old woman declared.
Happiness washed through Shampoo as she hugged her hiba-chan, "Oh thank you Hiba-chan, I-" then she reverted to English, "Shampoo so so happy, hiba-chan! Shampoo go tell Mu Tsu now!" Cologne smiled as she watched the girl bounce off...no, she didn't choose wrong at all...
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Before Mu Tsu and Shan Pu stepped out of the Amazon village forever Cologne garbbed Mu Tsu back into her home.
Casting a puzzled frown at Cologne, Mousse asked, "What's the matter, Cologne?"
Eyeing the boy slightly, Cologne pulled a gold medallion from her robe and placed it into Mu Tsu's palm. Shocked, Mu Tsu looked at the medallion with the Amazon symbol on it before looking at Cologne.
"Mu Tsu, what I am about to tell you is very important. You must listen carefully to me," Cologne began and for the first time in his entire life Mu Tsu saw the unbendable Matriarch nervous.
"Mu Tsu, you must not protect Shan Pu at all costs, you hear me? Shampoo is strong, but she is still innocent to the world and what it can do. I know you love her, but if you want her to survive you must let her go and fight before she can come home. You must not protect her against it, however. You must let Shampoo fight her own battles and get hit and fail. You must allow her to be able to fall and learn to stand back up against this new world, you hear me?" Cologne looked nervously into Mu Tsu's eyes as the boy gulped and nodded.
"I want you to promise me a few things, though. First, I know this is hard, but if Shampoo decides she wants to date or make a relationship with anyone else, you must allow her to. You must not attack this person or persons, okay?" Cologne asked as Mu Tsu nodded.
"You understand, already, don't you?" Cologned sneered.
Blinking back tears Mu Tsu nodded and said in a tight one as he looked away, "Yes, I understand.
Cologne smiled wistfully as she and Mu Tsu watched Shampoo say good-bye to her friends and everyone, a big smile on her face.
"I didn't know it when I took her in, you have to believe me when I tell you this. If I had known at the time what was in store for her, I would have rather have let her die in those woods then let her live and face what she has to face. I-It's hard to believe, but I-I loved that child. More so then my own children and grandchildren. She is so like me...and that is why I know she will succeed," Cologne said.
"Can't we prolong the prophecy? I mean, Shampoo is still so...naive...to face it. What if she doesn't make it? What if they were wrong and she couldn't make it?" he asked.
"She will. Shampoo is strong...all of the girls of the prophecy are strong. The prophecy said that one of the Great Ones will bring the Amazon tribe to victory...I just never knew...never knew we would have the honor of being that tribe," Cologne smiled.
Closing the flap of the tent Cologne then said in an authoritive tone, "Well, since you know the prophecy you must also not tell anyone about it. And remember, Mu Tsu, when the time comes when all abandon her, you must be there for her. You must play your part as well."
Mu Tsu nodded. He understood. He didn't know the complete prohecy, just that there will be a time when a group of people...the Great Ones...will take upon the force that humans have built for themselves...after the Change...and fight to bring a nation...a worl back up... One of these children will be an Amazon girl that will lead the Amazons back to victory ...and at one or another...all the girls will be in love with The Betrayer...the leader of the Great Ones...and that was all Mu Tsu knew.
For the first time in her life, Cologne looked upon an Amazon male with respect and said, "You'll fight for her to mae it through...I know you will...you aren't very strong Mu Tsu...and you aren't very smart...but you have more courage, loyalty, devotion, and fighting instinct then any male I ever knew. I am proud of you...son." Mu Tsu smiled. Coming from Cologne, this was the greatest honor and compliment he could possible ever get.
########End of Flashback#######
Akane looked up as the bartender called her over. Smiling she sauntered over, followed by Ukyo, Shampoo, and Mu Tsu.
Warren, the bartender, shouted out across the bar, "Hey everyone, she's about to do her trick!" People rushed over to watch.
Akane watched the bartender put the touch-tone phone on the bar and she asked, "How much this time, Warren?"
"Taking out a bowl of money from under the bar he said, "$235. Obviously, a lot of people want to see this tick."
Suddenly, a rude voice could be heard from the crowd, "Oh c'mon, Tai! I don't believe she can do that. No one can." The people who have watched Akane do this trick before snickered at that guy's stupidity.
"Ready?" Warren asked.
"As always," Akane answered.
Warren hit a button on the phone and a bunch of dite-dite-dites could be heard from the phone.
When it was over, Akane said, "The number is 96473282564."
Looking at the screen, Warren shouted out with laughter, "She's right!" making a lot of people rush over to see the number on the screen on the phone. Taking the money Akane smiled and walked away from the crowd.
Suddenly, she heard a voice behind her, "With all that money you just might be able to buy your own phoenix instead of stealing it."
* * *
I think about the life I could have had sometimes...a normal life...where there's no Change...where I lived a normal life...where I grew up in Japan...I would live in a family with a little brother or sister...I would go to school...I would have friends...I would date...get a job... marry...have kids...grow old...and die...that's nice sometimes...to think of things like that...but there is a downside to everything...because if I did have a nromal life...I wouldn't have met those other 22 kids...those strong, wonderful souls...and I wouldn't have met...her...
If I was able to feel love...A-chan would be the closest person to it...she has so much life...so much fire...and you know how they say opposites attract...but it's more then that...I want to find the other kids too...the other ones...but at the same time...I don't...I don't want them to look at their old leader now...and see what he's become...and look away in disgust...like she will...
But that's also why I want to see them again...I want them to teach me to be the boy I once was...to show me the strength I once held...and to help me fight back...they are the only ones who can...because if we don't fight back the system...the U.S will deteriorate itself into nothing in a matter of years...and the other countries will follow...
Oh...listen to me...trying to be the hero when I'm really the villain...when I'm really part of the system that I hate so much...I work for the system...but they fear me..yes it's true...I was a listake to them...because they made me *too* strong...*too* confident...*too* inhuman...the whole army couldn't take me down...an atomic bomb will wound me at best... even all the other kids combined couldn't take me down...and that's why I have to destroy A-chan...because she's the only one that can take me down...
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Chapter 2, Inside Of A Phoenix
Author's Notes: Hey! I'm back with this story. Unusually, not much to say. I really haven't been into the writing mood lately, but the reading one. Oh well *shrugs*. You know the drill. E-mail me at silverflame_maiden@hotmail.com (c'mon people, I have no support *pouts*) Sign my guestbook (You can sign it as many times as you like, I don't mind :) ) Send me fanart (it's practically empty!). And read my stories! Okay, that's it, hope you enjoy this chapter! Peace out.
Disclaimers: Ranma 1/2 belongs to Rumiko Takahashi, not me.
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I've always tried to want too much in life...to accept what I am and what I have... but I can't...don't get me wrong, I am happy...it's just that...sometimes...I want more. I am so ambitous and I always try to be better then what I am...no one understands this...except Ucchan and Shan Pu. I think they know I'm different...just not how much...
...I can list all the people that love me...they're not that much...there's Ukyo, Shan Pu, Mr. Tendo, Kasumi, Nabiki, and Mu Tsu...all the others...they don't care...and now *him*. I don't know what it is about him...but as soon as I saw him in that Apartment building the other night...I couldn't think of anything else...but those eyes...there's something about him though...something familiar...something dangerous...and all of my instincts are telling me to stay away...
...but I can't...I mean if he's Eyes Only...maybe he can help me...help me find out...what happened to those other kids...what happened to my R-chan and- NO! I shouldn't think like this...I can't tell anyone about my secret...I told Mrs. Tendo...and look what happened to her...
This is usually the moment that I feel the prickle of tears behind my eyes...but they never come down...that's strange too...I've seen Ukyo cry...I've seen Shampoo cry...I've seen them all cry...but I don't...no, it's not another *problem* with me...it's just that I'm too strong for that...according to everyone else...I'm too cold...my sisters and friends tell me I'm not too cold...they say I'm just a little withdrawn...yeah...right...like saying New York City's just another nice town...or the Grand Canyon's just a little hole...I see it in their eyes sometime when they look at me...all those people that I care about...they look at me like...like when a cold wind past you in a closed room...you can't figure it out...and in somne way...it scares you...
That's why I need to find the others...need to find R-chan...need to find them all...but I can't do it alone...I need someone I can trust fully with my secret...and they can only be trusted when they understand...understand why I do the things I do...understand why I'm the way I am...understand why I'm so cold...and that's why I'm going to trust Eyes Only...because when I look into his eyes...I shiver like a cold wind just past me in a closed room...
* * *
The Apartment was dark, devoid of light, as the silhoutte of a figure wandered blindly and aimlessly in the dark. The girl's roommate was sleeping in her own room right now, of course who wouldn't be asleep at 3 A.M in the morning? Turning her head, the girl looked through her sweat-soaked, clinging hair to the window. The city was dark too, you couldn't see the moon at this side of New York, the vapors and pollution were too thick. Suddenly, a spasm of pain racked through the girl's body and she clenched her teeth tight before continuing to stumble into the bathroom and lock the door.
Once Akane was in the bathroom, she started shaking terrible seizures as she hit the ugly, brown bathroom mat and cold tile floors. How painful was it? Well, try imagining feeling both hot and cold at once while dozens of rats chewed at your insides. Painful? Well, Akane would give anything just to feel that way right now. It was a thousand times worse. A lesser person would have killed themselves the first time they experienced this...but not Akane ...she wasn't the giving-up type.
Once the pain eased slightly, enough to give her back what little strength she had, Akane stood up, her knees and legs shking uncontrollably as she clutched onto the bathroom sink for support and dear life. Searching through the cabinets, throwing everything this way and that, Akane grabbed with a relief onto a pack of pills. Although, Akane had gotten this off of this streets, the label did not read any drug title. Instead it read: Triptophane. Yes, triptophane...the stuff in Turkey that makes you sleepy.
Swallowing most of the pills Akane leaned back against the wall and breathed in large gulps of air. Soon, the pain subsided and Akane sagged down onto the wall with relief and happiness from the pain gone.
Suddenly, the bathroom door was open and light flooded the room. Akane, her eyes startled by the oncoming splash of light, squinted her eyes to look up at the form of a startled Amazon.
"Akane, I heard you screaming, what's the mat-?" Shampoo began, but cut herself off when she saw Akane's sweating figure hunched by the wall and the pills on the floor. Rushing to her, Shan Pu looked at Akane's face for any hint if she was okay.
"Oh Akane! It happened again?" she asked in dismay.
Swallowing, Akane nodded slightly and gave a brief pained smile for her friend's benefit, "Yeah."
Helping the other girl up, Shampoo walked her out of the bathroom and commented in a puzzled, "That's the third time this week it happened, Akane. Usually it's only once a month at the most. Why is it happening more now? Akane, you should really go to the Doctors to get some help, those pills can't last you forever, and who knows what will happen the next time you don't have pills and I don't come. The hospital will-"
"NO!" Akane practically shouted, but seeing the hurt look in the violet-haired girl's eyes she said in a more gentle tone, "I told you fore, Shan-chan, I can't go to the Doctors. They can't find about my problem or they'll put me through all this painful surgery and stuff." The lie came smoother this time. Truth be told, Akane didn't like the hospitals and avoided it like the plgue, because as soon as she's admitted to any hospital, *they* will come and get her.
Biting her lip, Shan Pu remained silent, although she knew Akane lied. She wasn't stupid, she knew Akane had more problems then she bothereo tell. She wouldn't pressure Akane to tell, though, because she knew her best friend. Akane was one of the people that the more she gets backed up in a corner and pressured, the more she closes up and fights back. Shampoo was fairly certain Akane will tell her in her own time, when she's ready. Shan Pu just hoped that was before Akane got herself in seous trouble...
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The bar was crowded with people the next night, the usual crowd of people who either didn't want to go home to their depressing lives or didn't have a home to go back to. Akane, Ukyo, Shan Pu, and Mousse sat at a round table by the bar. Various drinks were in their hands as they joked and laughed. Mousse was a tall, once-Amazon-male who was practically blind, but refused to wear his glasses. He was the only one in their group who was actually rich. His family were the wealthy Zhu-zhus. Mousse wasn't exactly what one would called an overly handsome or macho guy, the most amaxing feature on his face being his eyes which were usually covered by thick, round glasses. People speculated why three beautiful women hung out with him...or why one of them was his love interest...but it was more then that though.
Both Ukyo and Akane met Mu Tsu through Shan Pu, but their friendships ran deeper then that and they stayed friends because they wanted to be. When Shan Pu had been adopted into the Chinese Amazon tribe, Mu Tsu was the only child that accepted her. The outsider. But that was because the other Amazon kids believed he was an Outsider too. Growing up with only Mousse as a companion and friend, Shan Pu always knew he loved her, and she him...but he was just so...annoying! When Shan Pu turned 16, she was this great, magnificent fighter with a wonderful body and she was the Matriarch's . Suddenly, everyone loved her and she was accepted without question. They still didn't accept Mouss, though and Shampoo didn't figure out why till later.
When Mu Tsu's mother died, severing all his ties to the Amazons, Shampoo found out that her friend for so many years was only half-Amazon. His mother had been a proud Amazon woman that became weak and had him after a fling with an Outsider male, though he could not beat or defeat her. When, his mother died, Mu Tsu's grandfather and father, his only living relatives demanded the teenaged boy to be returned to them. The Amazons let him go and Mousse refused to go despite how rich he would be. After al, he couldn't leave Shampoo....
#######Flashback#######
Mousse gave a side-ways glance at Shmpoo beside him at the stream. Her face was hard set and to anyone else she seemed brutal, proud, indifferent, and almost cold. Yet, Mousse knew better...Shampoo was crying desperatly inside.
"Shan Pu...I-" he began helplessly.
"Shut up, Mu Tsu. I don't want to hear it," the Amazon said as she stood up stiffly.
Standing up, Mu Tsu pleaded (Shampoo was the only one he pleaded to), "Please Shampoo, I can't stay. I want to, but they won't let me. They want me to leave!"
Glaring at the boy, her eyes filled with contempt, Shampoo spat out, "Mu Tsu, you're just like everyone else! *I'll never leave you Shan Pu*, stupid Mu Tsu! You lie!"
"Why don't you come with me, Shan Pu?" Mousse added desperatly, although he already knew it wasn't possible.
"Mu Tsu, you know I can't leave the tribe now! I'm the heir and I have to be here!"
After awhile in silence, Shampoo whispered, "Go to stupid America, then. Go and be rich and marry some girl then! Shampoo don't care!" Before Mousse could show surprise that Shampoo knew English the girl had already ran off to hide her tears...
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Cologne hopped into Shampoo's room to watch through glinting eyes at the girl weeping in the corner. Sensing someone there, Shampoo sniffed and looked away, not wanting anyone to see her weakness.
Walking over to her great-granddaughter, the Matriarch declared in a level tone, "Why are you crying, Shan Pu?"
Knowing not to lie to her grandmother, Shan Pu replied, "Shampoo...Shampoo... I'll miss him. No more stupid duck boy to be around and laugh at."
Putting her small hand on the younger's shoulder, Cologne turned Shampoo to face her as she asked with a wicked hint of a smile, "How would you like to go with Mu Tsu, Shan Pu?" Cologne watched as hope flashed through the girl's eye before being firmly squashed, "I can't do that hiba-chan. I am the heir, I must be here for the Amazons."
Cologne felt a bite of pride for her granddaughter. She knew she didn't choose wrong when she chose this girl above the others to raise. Defeat does not come to those that do not give up and Shampoo had too much pride not to gice up. She would not allow the Amazons to die out once Cologne dies.
"This is training for you child. You can not fight the new world until you know the new world. I want you to go with Mu Tsu to New York City and survive there and prosper. I do not want you back at the Amazon village before you have learned another strength other then mental or physical. This is your final training. Once you learn this lesson, then you are ready to be Matriarch," the old woman declared.
Happiness washed through Shampoo as she hugged her hiba-chan, "Oh thank you Hiba-chan, I-" then she reverted to English, "Shampoo so so happy, hiba-chan! Shampoo go tell Mu Tsu now!" Cologne smiled as she watched the girl bounce off...no, she didn't choose wrong at all...
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Before Mu Tsu and Shan Pu stepped out of the Amazon village forever Cologne garbbed Mu Tsu back into her home.
Casting a puzzled frown at Cologne, Mousse asked, "What's the matter, Cologne?"
Eyeing the boy slightly, Cologne pulled a gold medallion from her robe and placed it into Mu Tsu's palm. Shocked, Mu Tsu looked at the medallion with the Amazon symbol on it before looking at Cologne.
"Mu Tsu, what I am about to tell you is very important. You must listen carefully to me," Cologne began and for the first time in his entire life Mu Tsu saw the unbendable Matriarch nervous.
"Mu Tsu, you must not protect Shan Pu at all costs, you hear me? Shampoo is strong, but she is still innocent to the world and what it can do. I know you love her, but if you want her to survive you must let her go and fight before she can come home. You must not protect her against it, however. You must let Shampoo fight her own battles and get hit and fail. You must allow her to be able to fall and learn to stand back up against this new world, you hear me?" Cologne looked nervously into Mu Tsu's eyes as the boy gulped and nodded.
"I want you to promise me a few things, though. First, I know this is hard, but if Shampoo decides she wants to date or make a relationship with anyone else, you must allow her to. You must not attack this person or persons, okay?" Cologne asked as Mu Tsu nodded.
"You understand, already, don't you?" Cologned sneered.
Blinking back tears Mu Tsu nodded and said in a tight one as he looked away, "Yes, I understand.
Cologne smiled wistfully as she and Mu Tsu watched Shampoo say good-bye to her friends and everyone, a big smile on her face.
"I didn't know it when I took her in, you have to believe me when I tell you this. If I had known at the time what was in store for her, I would have rather have let her die in those woods then let her live and face what she has to face. I-It's hard to believe, but I-I loved that child. More so then my own children and grandchildren. She is so like me...and that is why I know she will succeed," Cologne said.
"Can't we prolong the prophecy? I mean, Shampoo is still so...naive...to face it. What if she doesn't make it? What if they were wrong and she couldn't make it?" he asked.
"She will. Shampoo is strong...all of the girls of the prophecy are strong. The prophecy said that one of the Great Ones will bring the Amazon tribe to victory...I just never knew...never knew we would have the honor of being that tribe," Cologne smiled.
Closing the flap of the tent Cologne then said in an authoritive tone, "Well, since you know the prophecy you must also not tell anyone about it. And remember, Mu Tsu, when the time comes when all abandon her, you must be there for her. You must play your part as well."
Mu Tsu nodded. He understood. He didn't know the complete prohecy, just that there will be a time when a group of people...the Great Ones...will take upon the force that humans have built for themselves...after the Change...and fight to bring a nation...a worl back up... One of these children will be an Amazon girl that will lead the Amazons back to victory ...and at one or another...all the girls will be in love with The Betrayer...the leader of the Great Ones...and that was all Mu Tsu knew.
For the first time in her life, Cologne looked upon an Amazon male with respect and said, "You'll fight for her to mae it through...I know you will...you aren't very strong Mu Tsu...and you aren't very smart...but you have more courage, loyalty, devotion, and fighting instinct then any male I ever knew. I am proud of you...son." Mu Tsu smiled. Coming from Cologne, this was the greatest honor and compliment he could possible ever get.
########End of Flashback#######
Akane looked up as the bartender called her over. Smiling she sauntered over, followed by Ukyo, Shampoo, and Mu Tsu.
Warren, the bartender, shouted out across the bar, "Hey everyone, she's about to do her trick!" People rushed over to watch.
Akane watched the bartender put the touch-tone phone on the bar and she asked, "How much this time, Warren?"
"Taking out a bowl of money from under the bar he said, "$235. Obviously, a lot of people want to see this tick."
Suddenly, a rude voice could be heard from the crowd, "Oh c'mon, Tai! I don't believe she can do that. No one can." The people who have watched Akane do this trick before snickered at that guy's stupidity.
"Ready?" Warren asked.
"As always," Akane answered.
Warren hit a button on the phone and a bunch of dite-dite-dites could be heard from the phone.
When it was over, Akane said, "The number is 96473282564."
Looking at the screen, Warren shouted out with laughter, "She's right!" making a lot of people rush over to see the number on the screen on the phone. Taking the money Akane smiled and walked away from the crowd.
Suddenly, she heard a voice behind her, "With all that money you just might be able to buy your own phoenix instead of stealing it."
* * *
I think about the life I could have had sometimes...a normal life...where there's no Change...where I lived a normal life...where I grew up in Japan...I would live in a family with a little brother or sister...I would go to school...I would have friends...I would date...get a job... marry...have kids...grow old...and die...that's nice sometimes...to think of things like that...but there is a downside to everything...because if I did have a nromal life...I wouldn't have met those other 22 kids...those strong, wonderful souls...and I wouldn't have met...her...
If I was able to feel love...A-chan would be the closest person to it...she has so much life...so much fire...and you know how they say opposites attract...but it's more then that...I want to find the other kids too...the other ones...but at the same time...I don't...I don't want them to look at their old leader now...and see what he's become...and look away in disgust...like she will...
But that's also why I want to see them again...I want them to teach me to be the boy I once was...to show me the strength I once held...and to help me fight back...they are the only ones who can...because if we don't fight back the system...the U.S will deteriorate itself into nothing in a matter of years...and the other countries will follow...
Oh...listen to me...trying to be the hero when I'm really the villain...when I'm really part of the system that I hate so much...I work for the system...but they fear me..yes it's true...I was a listake to them...because they made me *too* strong...*too* confident...*too* inhuman...the whole army couldn't take me down...an atomic bomb will wound me at best... even all the other kids combined couldn't take me down...and that's why I have to destroy A-chan...because she's the only one that can take me down...
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