Valley of the Wind Productions presents...
Power
A Ranma 1/2 Fanfic by Intrasonic

> brackets denote Chinese speech

Part 3

"Thank-you for buying Cat Cafe."
Shampoo accepted the generous tip given to her by the house's owner, deliberately ignoring the murderous glare the owner's girlfriend was giving her. Was it her fault that she was so much better-looking? If the girlfriend wanted to go through a lifetime of Amazon training, she was welcome to it. But for her, physical fitness was only a small benefit of the lifestyle she had been born into.
Unburdened of her late afternoon delivery, it was a simple matter for her to toss her bike into the air, leaping up after it. A quick twist, and the bike had been set upon the fence, with her as its rider, effortlessly maintaining the required balance. Travelling by fence-top was faster and eliminated the danger posed by numerous stray water sources. It was also a small source of practice during her otherwise mundane workday.
Despite her calm and carefree appearance, she was anything but. She had deliberately taken a slightly longer route back to the restaurant. One that happened to take her close to Furinken High School, incidentally. But for once, she wasn't looking for her beloved. Certainly it would nice to see him. To admire his beautifully sculpted body with its graceful yet impossibly rugged nature. To gaze upon his face, one that hadn't a care in the entire world. One that extruded an air of confidence that dictated that no matter what opposition he went up against, whether he _would_ triumph would never be an issue, only the matter of _when_ being a variable.
But she resigned herself to delaying that for another time. Today, she was looking for someone else entirely. She still hadn't understood why her Great-grandmother had grilled her last night on the codes of the Amazon warrior.
An Amazon does not run away. An Amazon does not admit defeat. An Amazon does not surrender. An Amazon never yields to an inferior. An Amazon fights to her last breath.
It was the code that she had grown up on. She believed and lived it with all her heart. And she _had_ been tested on occasion. Amazon-to-Amazon fighting rarely went to such extreme, but the wilderness of China had brought her close enough to dying on occasion before, especially when she was younger and more brash. She was forced to admit that while she was probably no less heedless now, she was much more capable of taking care of herself.
Did her Great-grandmother doubt her now? Shampoo honestly wasn't sure. She loved her Great-grandmother with all her heart, and didn't doubt the return of that love. But she was sometimes forced to admit that the workings and the schemes of the old woman's mind were beyond her. There had been numerous instances in the past where Cologne had deliberately gone against her. Shampoo had matured from those instances, and could now admit that they had been in her best interests. But they were _never_ predictable. Like now, perhaps.
Which was why she was looking for Akane Tendou. Why she was supposed to encourage the girl to get in a fight was beyond her. Did her Great-grandmother doubt her to the point where she thought even _Akane_ could beat her? Shampoo shook her head, absent-mindedly turning the fence corner with a graceful ease that defied what a bicycle was ever meant to do. If that was all Cologne was worried about, Shampoo would set her mind at rest soon enough.
As soon as she happened to run into Akane, anyway.

"See? You shouldn't have missed yesterday's classes."
"Well, I had to train!"
"Is that all you think about?" Akane asked in disbelief. "There's lots of things besides training, you know."
Ranma shrugged. "I had to train."
Akane bit her tongue. Honestly, Ranma was so stubborn sometimes. Why couldn't he just accept his defeat? He could beat everybody else, couldn't he? Was it that hard for him to accept that there was one person who was capable of beating him?
Ranma sucked in a breath. "Hey, Akane?"
"Yes?"
"I was wonderin'-"
"Hey Akane!"
Akane turned to face one of her friends. "Yuki?"
"You still want to go see the movie?"
Akane's face registered mild surprise. "I forgot about that!"
"Well? Are you coming? The movie starts in ten minutes."
Akane glanced at Ranma. "Catch up with you later?"
"Uh... sure, no prob," he agreed. "Catch ya later."
"You can come watch it with us if you want," Yuki invited. "Right, Akane?"
Akane felt her throat close up as she struggled to come up with a reply. She knew that her friend was deliberately trying to set something up.
Ranma was already answering. "T-that's okay, Yuki. I gotta get home for training. Uh... enjoy the movie."
"Well, okay," Yuki agreed, still smiling. "Don't train too hard, right?"
Ranma waved goodbye as he headed back to the dojo.
"I can't believe you!" Yuki exclaimed in disbelief. "You could've had the cutest guy in the world escorting you to the movies! But you went silent on me!"
"It's nothing like that!" Akane protested. "Besides, he hates those kind of movies! All he likes are martial arts movies!"
"It's different when a guy sees a romantic movie with his girlfriend! It's a perfect excuse to cuddle up together!"
Akane flushed. "We're not like that! Just because he's finally started acting civil to me..."
"So why can't you act civil and invite him to a movie?"
"Give it up, Yuki. We'll be late if we don't get moving. I don't want to get stuck with a bad seat."

"Thank-you for buying Cat Cafe."
Shampoo accepted the generous tip given to her by the apartment's owner, expressing hope that he would enjoy his supper. As the door closed before her, she was already leaving at a brisk pace. Disdaining the slowness of the elevator, she instead
exited at the nearest fire escape and jumped the four stories down to land beside her bike.
Over the handlebars of her bike, a sign was draped over it, reading, "Belong to Shampoo". An effective anti-theft deterrent, really. Anybody who even remotely knew of her would think twice before laying a finger on something that belonged to an
Amazon.
It irked her that she hadn't yet found Akane. How was she supposed to pick a fight with someone she couldn't even find? It was not unlike her experiences when chasing Ranma's female form at first. The redhead and her panda's trail would disappear for days on end. In retrospect, she knew it was because they had managed to find hot water, but it had been incredibly confusing for her at the time. So where was Akane now?
Shaking her head, she headed back to the Nekohanten, hoping that the next delivery would yield fruit for her search.

"That was _soooo_ romantic!"
"I wish I had a boyfriend like that."
"It doesn't happen in real life. That's why we have to go to movies to see it."
"I bet Ranma would come close..."
Akane burst out laughing after a moment.
Yuki looked mystified. "What?"
Akane was still giggling. "The idea of Ranma... doing _that_!"
"What's so strange about it? Just imagine it... 'Akane, my love, my soul could never hope to live apart from your sweet presence...'"
"Whatever!" Akane mocked. "It would probably sound a little more like, 'Uh, Akane, you're um, pretty swell and all...'"
Both girls laughed at her imitation of Ranma's voice.
"Just the same, wouldn't you love to hear that?"
"I don't know. Maybe I'll stick to going to movies."
"You're just saying that because he hasn't said it yet. So when are you and Ranma going to go on your first _real_ date?"
"Maybe never."
"You can't fool me. You're thinking about it, aren't you?"
Akane flushed a little. "Maybe. But there's no sense in rushing things. He's been acting really nice. I'm not going to hurry things up. If it's good, then it's good."
"You shouldn't act too timid. What with those other fiancees..."
Akane smiled. "That reminds me. I've got to deal with Shampoo."
"With _her_? But she'll..." Yuki trailed off.
"Ranma can beat her. And I can beat Ranma," Akane reminded her. "Once she understands who's on top, I won't have anybody interfering with me."
"You mean, with you _and_ Ranma, right?"
Akane smiled thinly. "You know what I mean."
"Speak of the devil..." Yuki whispered, pointing.
Akane looked down the street, her eyes narrowing. "Shampoo..."
"What's she doing down this way? I didn't think the Nekohanten delivered in this part of town."
"Well, no time like the present," Akane decided, picking up a stray rock on the ground. "I think it's time to _deliver_ something to the Nekohanten..."
With that, she wound up and heaved the rock at the bicycle riding Amazon. It was a good throw, reminiscent of her track-record in baseball. With an audible thump, it bounced off Shampoo's head, knocking both her and her bike for a loop.
Shampoo was barely able to grab the edge of the fence, swinging her and her bike around to land on the dry ground. By the time she had landed, she was already looking around for the source of the rock.
Akane smiled to Yuki. "See you tomorrow at school?"
Yuki was looking a little nervous. "Uh... yeah. Tomorrow."
"Hey, some things you just have to do if you want some peace and quiet, right?"
The other girl smiled at that. "Some peace and quiet with _Ranma_, you mean."
"You know what I mean."
The girl nodded, turning off. "Tomorrow. Have fun. Don't be too rough with her, right?"
Akane didn't reply as she approached the Amazon. It was payback time.

The instant the rock hit her in the head, Shampoo had already begun to react. The first concern was to avoid falling into the drainage ditch and getting wet. A firm hold on the fence top let her swing herself around, her feet holding the bike so that she didn't have trouble retrieving it later on.
Touching down on the ground, she noticed the rock out of the corner of her eye. Rather large. Whoever had displayed the nerve to throw such a rock... she'd pound their face into the concrete and maybe break the arm they'd used to throw it too!
The thrower hadn't made any secret of who they were. Shampoo's gaze quickly focussed on another girl coming towards her with a smirk on her face. Akane. Shampoo blinked to make sure that she wasn't mistaken. Akane had just picked a fight
with _her_?
No matter, Shampoo decided. At least it saved her the trouble of picking a fight with Akane. It was really too bad for Akane that an Amazon _never_ ran away from a fight.
"Violent-girl have good reason before Shampoo make eat ground?"
Akane laughed quietly. "I was just a little tired of seeing your ugly face around town, that's all. And I think that Ranma needs a break from you. Good enough for you?"
Yes, Akane was definitely picking a fight, Shampoo decided, cracking her knuckles. "Violent-girl have bad memory? She no touch Shampoo last time. She lucky Ranma save her."
Akane looked around. "Oh dear, it looks like Ranma isn't around. Too bad for you, because that means he won't be able to save you. Before I knock you senseless, just let me warn you that I won't be so nice if you come bothering me or Ranma a second
time."
Shampoo briefly looked around, but saw no one nearby to back Akane up. "Violent-girl's head in clouds? Shampoo bring down to ground again."
Akane just laughed. "Then just try it, you bimbo."
Well, that made it official.
Akane wasn't even prepared for the attack. Shampoo lunged forwards, fist already aiming for Akane's face. Akane's eyes opened wide in surprise.
Then Shampoo felt an impact in her stomach, knocking her sideways. Rolling, she got to her feet in time to see Akane withdraw her fist. How had... she stood up, deciding that it was time to take the challenge seriously. Akane shouldn't have gotten even _one_ hit in, let alone that had knocked her down.
"Tsk, tsk," Akane taunted. "You're really slow today, Shampoo? Something wrong?"
"Violent-girl not walk for week when Shampoo done with!"
"Just try it, Amazon!"
Shampoo tried.

**SMASH**
Shampoo gagged as she staggered to her feet again. She didn't understand what was happening. The stupid, slow, temperamental girl that she had always been able to dance circles around was... winning.
_An Amazon does not admit defeat._
No, Akane was not winning. She merely had the advantage right now, Shampoo corrected, facing off her opponent. Her entire body was screaming in pain now. Several gouges and cracks in the pavement attested as to the reasons.
"Still standing?" Akane laughed.
"You never beat Shampoo!"
"That's what I'm doing now, isn't-"
Even while Akane had been replying, Shampoo had taken advantage of the distraction. Ignoring the protests her body sent her brain, she darted forwards. Skirting around just outside Akane's reach, she flipped forwards, planting her hands on the ground and using the leverage to whip her leg around.
Akane, who had moved her gaze to follow Shampoo's hands, never saw the kick coming for her head. It struck solidly, knocking her back a step. But that was it.
She shook her head and regarded the Amazon with distaste. "Is that the best you can do? That didn't even hurt a bit!"
Shampoo allowed herself to feel a small amount of worry. Even someone like Ranma would have been sent reeling from such a kick. But Akane had only been knocked back a step. How on Earth...
"Give it up before I really have to hurt you," Akane suggested.
_An Amazon does not surrender._
"Shampoo not beat yet!"
"I'm getting bored of this," Akane decided. "Time to put you down for good!"
Shampoo never even had a chance to dodge. In the blink on an eye, Akane had crossed the distance between them and dealt a hard blow across Shampoo's face that sent the Amazon reeling.
Shampoo got to her feet again, only to receive another hit to the stomach that staggered her backwards. Another hit to the shoulder. Her body was screaming in pain. How was Akane so fast and strong? An uppercut to the chin. It wasn't possible...
_An Amazon does not yield to an inferior._
The next blow struck her just above the chest, knocking her right off her feet, hard enough for her to leave an impression in the wall behind her. Shampoo began to slump to the ground, only sheer will enabling her to stop the descent and stand up again, using the wall for support.
Akane closed the distance between them, looking the Amazon in the face, her expression clearly mocking. "Well? Not so smart now, are you? Ready to give up yet?"
Shampoo could taste blood in her mouth. She swallowed, her jaw aching beyond description, yet only a shadow of what the rest of her body was feeling. Her vision was getting blurry...
Akane's left hand pinned Shampoo against the wall by her neck. "_Well?_ Say 'Akane, I give up'. Go ahead... say it."
_An Amazon fights to her last breath._
Shampoo tried to make her mouth work, but it didn't want to respond to her demands. Her entire body was in a similar state.
"I can't hear anything," Akane growled, drawing back her right hand in a fist.
Finally, her mouth obeyed her commands. Taking a deep breath, Shampoo opened her mouth.
Akane recoiled as something wet splashed over her face. Touching it gingerly, her hand came away red. That... Amazon had just spit _blood_ on her, she realized, her face growing red.
Shampoo smiled mockingly, ignoring the pain the motion ignited in her. "Am-zon... ne-ver... su-ren-der..."
"Be that way," Akane agreed, her right fist beginning to move...
Mercifully, the last spike of pain that Shampoo felt also brought darkness with it.
Akane sighed in mock-disappointment, letting the body slump to the ground. "Not so tough now, are you, you stupid bimbo?"
Without another word, she turned and left for home, pausing only to wipe her face clean. Now that Shampoo had gotten the message, she would be free to take things with Ranma at her own pace. Things were just peachy these days, she decided.

Even as she rounded the corner, a small figure landed noiselessly on the ground next to Shampoo. Looking the unconscious and bleeding girl over with a careful eye, a grunt of satisfaction was emitted.
"Well done, Great-granddaughter. Well done, indeed."
Without another word, Cologne hefted Shampoo's inert form over her shoulder and began to head back to the restaurant.

"I'm home!"
"Hello, Akane," Kasumi greeted. "How was the movie?"
"It was really good. By the way, I cut myself today and got some blood on my blouse."
"Oh my," Kasumi observed, taking Akane's jacket. "Are you okay?"
"I'm fine," Akane assured her older sister.
"Nasty cut, I'd say," Nabiki observed, suddenly behind and looking at the blood stain on Akane's school uniform. "What did you do? Lean on a knife?"
"None of your business."
"You've got some blood on your face too," Nabiki pointed out.
Akane's eyes opened wide as she quickly wiped her face.
Nabiki raised an eyebrow. "Ah ha! So there _was_ blood on your face, I see."
Akane realized that her sleeve had come up dry. "Why you-"
"So who'd you beat up?"
"That's none of-" Akane's eyes narrowed as she saw her sister's widening smile. "I mean, what makes you think that I-"
"I thought so. So who'd you beat up? Shampoo?"
"I didn't-"
"I thought so."
Akane glared at Nabiki. "Do you mind?!?"
"I'm just asking how your day went, little sister," Nabiki protested innocently. "Are you telling me that you're _ashamed_ or something...?"
"NO!!!"

NO!!! >
Cologne regarded the surprisingly defiant individual. No, _what_? >
The bruised and ragged figure in the bed regarded her stonily. No, you will _not_ tell Ranma!!! >
Why not? >
Shampoo's fists clenched, accidentally shattering the cup of juice she had been drinking. Because I'd sooner DIE than let him see me like this! >
Tsk, tsk. So you lost miserably to little Akane Tendou. What's so bad about that? >
Cologne ducked as the remnants of the glass flew over her head to shatter further against the far wall.
I'll kill her! I'll tear her limb from limb! >
Cologne shook her head. But why? You weren't this mad before you left to chase after Ranma's female form. >
That was different! He-she... was a good fighter! But Akane... >
What about her? >
The life seemed to seep from Shampoo as she slumped down under her bedcovers, all her injuries complaining anew to her. How can I face Ranma after this? Me, a proud Amazon warrior, defeated by that little... _upstart_.>
Cologne sighed, laying a hand on Shampoo's arm, careful not to touch any of the bandages. "Come now, Great-granddaughter. I watched you face down Akane with resolve that would make our ancestors proud. To the very end, you refused to back down. Where is that determination now?"
Shampoo said nothing.
"Do you love Ranma?" Cologne asked.
A nod.
"What do you love about him?"
"Everything."
"_Everything_? Even though he's an insensitive jerk who doesn't care about others?"
"_THAT A LIE!!!_"
Cologne smirked. "Prove it. I'm going to let Ranma know about this. If he's as you seem to think..."
Shampoo glowered. "Great-grandmother wrong! Ranma very nice!"
"Well, since you seem so sure of it, see you later."
"WAIT!!!"
Too late, Cologne had already left the room. Shampoo sunk down even further, face already beginning to burn with shame. She would kill her Great-grandmother for this. She couldn't even move out of the bed right now. Her hair was still matted with blood and her entire body was lined with gashes and bruises, each one aching to the point where she couldn't even move. Apparently she had a few fractures in her legs, so she didn't dare try to walk anywhere. And she had been completely undressed to tend to the wounds, so there was no way she could leave the restaurant. And to have Ranma see her this way...
She would make her Great-grandmother pay for this, she vowed.

The sign to the bathroom door had been flipped to indicate occupancy, but Nabiki pushed the door open anyway, noiselessly positioning herself on the back side of the dividing panel.
"Still been training hard, Saotome?" she inquired.
A brief choke indicated that Ranma hadn't noticed her presence before. "Nabiki? What are-"
She shut the door behind her. "You certainly seem to be putting a lot of time in training, you know."
"I already told you! A martial artist-"
"-must rise to every challenge, I know," she agreed. "You told me that already. But I seem to get the impression that you're trying to get on my little sister's good side. Why, you're so polite that I'd swear the real Ranma's been replaced by his good-
twin."
"Har har. None of your business."
"But you _have_ been rather... nice to Akane lately, haven't you?"
"So? What if I have? Just actin' polite."
"Of course. That must be it."
**SPLASH**
"Hey! What are ya' doing?!"
Nabiki raised an eyebrow as the sounds of commotion filtered through the dividing wall. What was going on?
"Good evening, Son-in-Law. I'm not disturbing anything, I hope?"
"Do you _mind_?!? I'm havin' a bath!!!"
Nabiki's face screwed up in a strange smile. My, but this was looking interesting...
"I can see that much."
"Well, GET LOST!!!"
Nabiki pushed aside the screen, entering the bath portion of the room. "Why, hello Cologne. Nice to see you."
"Hey!" Ranma protested, immediately trying to sink even lower into the tub.
"Nice to see you too, Nabiki Tendou. I wasn't interrupting anything, was I?"
"Darn right you were!" Ranma growled.
Nabiki nodded. "He's right, you know. Ranma and I have been having a secret affair for some time now. It seems that the only time we can be alone together is when he has a bath."
Ranma's eyes shot open in disbelief. "Wha-HEY!!!"
"Well, I can't say I blame you," Cologne agreed soberly. "He's certainly a... well-built young man. I wish you two the best."
"Now just a darn minute here-"
Nabiki kept her expression neutral. "Thank-you. I think it could work. But honestly, Ranma. What's she doing here? Have you been seeing her behind my back?!"
Ranma's face began to take on a sick shade of green.
Cologne took no notice. "Well, my Great-granddaughter has said that she doesn't mind sharing him..."
Ranma began to sink into the water, prompting both females to burst out laughing at him.
"You're such a tease, Ranma," Nabiki mocked.
"Indeed you are, Son-in-law," Cologne cackled.
Ranma recovered enough to leap out of the tub and wrap his towel around himself. He glared daggers at them both. "Do you two mind?"
"I won't keep you long," Cologne assured him. "I simply wanted to ask a favor of you, that's all."
"A favor?" Ranma looked at her as if she'd grown a second and third head.
"Yes, a favor. Put simply, since you seem to be on such good terms with Akane Tendou, I was wondering if you would talk to her for me. I don't quite approve of her abusing my Great-granddaughter as such."
"What?"
"Akane beat Shampoo up today," Nabiki filled in.
Cologne nodded. "I don't mind some friendly fighting between fellow martial artists, but one has to draw the line somewhere."
Ranma tensed up. "Akane... beat up Shampoo?"
"And for once, my Great-granddaughter didn't start the fight," Cologne confirmed grimly.
"Is... Shampoo okay?"
"Well... I'm afraid that Akane worked her over rather... _severely_."
Ranma's expression looked rather scared. Obviously, he fully remembered how well he'd done against Akane. "Oh man... is Shampoo gonna be okay?"
"She should be alright in a few days."
"A few _days_?!?"
Nabiki raised an eyebrow. "I thought you martial artists always healed overnight or something like that?"
"We _DO!!!_" Ranma exclaimed. "How bad did Akane..."
Cologne looked a little downcast. "I'm afraid that my Great-granddaughter never was the type to stay down after being hit..."
A rush of wind was all that Nabiki saw as Ranma rushed out the bathroom door. A moment of silence ensued between the two remaining occupants of the bathroom.
"I didn't realize that he would go look for Akane so quickly," Cologne observed in surprise.
"Go figure," Nabiki agreed. "He sure took that hard."
The slamming of the front door informed them otherwise.
"Oh dear," Cologne muttered. "Maybe he's not going after Akane after all. I don't think Shampoo is going to be in the mood for company... until later, Tendou."
"See you around," Nabiki agreed, eyes narrowing. Did Cologne take her for an naïve idiot? If there was anything she'd learned about the old Amazon, it was that _nothing_ ever surprised her. And no mention about a Kiss of Death?
She frowned, leaving the bathroom. Cologne requesting protection for Shampoo? That didn't fit with anything that she knew about Amazons and their rather over-inflated sense of pride. It was one thing when Akane made a laughingstock of Ranma.
But if Akane had actually gone so far as to pick a fight with Shampoo...
She scowled. This whole business was completely wrong. And it irked her that she didn't yet know why.

A knock sounded at the door.
Shampoo huddled under the covers. "Great-grandmother?"
"Hey, Shampoo?"
Damn. It _would_ be him, she cursed, wishing a colourful array of plagues and disasters to befall her Great-grandmother in the near future.
"Hey, you in there?"
She kept silent.
"Uh... I'm, uh, coming in, okay?"
In tandem with the declaration, the door creaked open.
An implement hummed through the air, embedding itself in the wall with an audible thump. By this time, Ranma was already bent over backwards, now staring upwards at the comb.
"Uh, I..." Having a comb thrown at you hard enough to go into the wall usually meant you weren't welcome, he mentally decided.
"Go!" the muffled voice yelled from under the covers.
"I just wanna know if you're okay!" Ranma protested.
"I fine!"
"The Ol' Ghoul said you weren't gonna be okay for a few days! That Tomboy musta done somethin' bad!"
"Go!"
"Geez, how come you gotta be so stubborn!?" Ranma muttered, coming up to the Shampoo-sized lump formed under the covers. A stray tail of blue hair hadn't quite made it under the covers with its owner. And it was covered in blood. There was also a pile of bandages and wrappings in the wastebasket, all with a sizeable amount of blood on them.
"Oh my..." Ranma's eyes shot open as the smell of antiseptic finally reached his nostrils. "WHAT THE HECK DID SHE _DO_?"
Without any further ado, he yanked the covers off the bed. "How bad are you-URK!!!"
The fist caught him straight in the forehead, knocking him off his feet.
"I'm sorry!" Ranma apologized, covering his eyes. "I didn't see nothin'!"
Shampoo could already feel tears coming to her eyes as she saw him frantically covering his eyes. She must look absolutely terrible for him to deny it so forcefully. A proud Amazon warrior brought so low... damn her Great-grandmother and her
wretched ideas...
"I didn't see nothin'!" Ranma was still protesting. "I didn't see you naked or- I mean, I didn't know that you were-I mean... I'm sorry!"
Shampoo stared at him in disbelief and looked back in the mirror. Then she began to smile. The idiot. The complete idiot. He didn't understand anything, as usual.
"_Why_ you sorry?" she asked dangerously.
"I dunno! Whatever you want me to be sorry for!"
Shampoo began to laugh quietly as she lay back down on the bed. "Ranma idiot," she whispered. "Ranma big idiot."
"Uh... okay," Ranma was agreeing, his back still turned. "Are you... uh, still mad?"
"Shampoo not mad."
Ranma sighed in relief, rubbing his forehead where he'd been hit. "Whew! That's good-URK!!! Put somethin' on!"
She hadn't gotten under the covers yet, Shampoo realized. Ranma could be such a prude in his own charming little way, she decided, slipping under the covers. "Shampoo under blanket now."
Ranma looked back cautiously. "Uh, that's good. Uh, you're not gonna hit me again? I got 'nuff problems with that from Akane."
"Shampoo no hit."
He sighed with relief, cautiously taking a step or two closer. "You okay? The Ol' Ghoul said you got it pretty bad."
Shampoo felt her shame welling up all over again. "Shampoo... lose to... Violent-girl bad..."
"No kidding. I didn't think Akane would do somethin' like that. I mean, she never went that far when she was fightin' with me. I gotta beat her quick..."
Shampoo stared at him. "Ranma... always beat Akane?"
Ranma turned red. "Uh... Akane's gotten way stronger all of a sudden..."
"Akane beat Ranma too..."
"Well, uh... kinda, yeah. But not for long. Ranma Saotome never loses a fight and he ain't gonna lose this one..." He cut his battle declaration short as he saw tears beginning to come from Shampoo's eyes. "Hey, what's wrong-HEY!!! What're ya
doin'? Stop that-ACK!!!"
Shampoo had grabbed Ranma in a bear hug and was squeezing for all she was worth. "Shampoo thought she lose! Shampoo thought she disgrace to Amazons!"
Ranma tried to pry her away, but couldn't seem to find anything safe to push on. That option extinguished, he held his hands behind him as far as he could. "Uh... yeah, I guess you didn't know that Akane's real strong now..."
"Shampoo so happy!!!"
Ranma could feel his lungs being compressed. "H-hey... don't you gotta rest?!?"
"Shampoo not care!"
"B-but... I can't... breath!"
"Shampoo not care- wait, Shampoo _do_ care Ranma breath. Why he not say before?"
Ranma sucked in several welcome lung-fulls of air as he was released. His body had been taking a lot of abuse lately, he reflected. If it wasn't being pounded on by over-powered Tomboys, it was being crushed by naked Amazons- "... put some clothes on!"
"Shampoo sorry. She just so happy now..."
"Uh... yeah."
Shampoo looked up at Ranma curiously. "Why Akane so strong?"
Ranma shrugged, just relieved that things had calmed down. "I dunno. She says that she was just hidin' it before. But she's lying."
"Akane eat Super Soba noodle?"
"Already gave her the antidote. Didn't work. But she'd got no control and she can't anticipate my moves. I've fought her a few times now."
Shampoo nodded. "Shampoo fool Violent-girl many time in fight... but she too fast!"
"Right!" Ranma agreed. "So she's got something makin' her stronger! I just gotta find out what it is and she'll be her old self again!"
_That_ was the Ranma she loved, Shampoo reflected. He'd repeatedly challenged Akane and lost, but was still expecting to win. How could she do less? "Shampoo help."
Ranma looked worried. "But you're all messed up!"
"Shampoo be good in two days, Great-grandmother say!"
"Well, I guess you can help a little... but I don't want you getting' hurt-ACK!!!"
Shampoo held Ranma firmly by his neck. "You insult Amazon? Amazon _never_ afraid get hurt! You say Shampoo weak?"
"W-well... right now..."
The hand tightened slightly. "Shampoo help! Is good?"
When an Amazon has her hand wrapped your neck, there's only one correct answer. Ranma guessed it this time. "Is good!"
"Shampoo so happy! She get better fast and help Ranma!"
Ranma nodded, massaging his throat gingerly. "So... uh, I guess I'll let you rest. I'll get working on beatin' Akane and soon's you're okay, you can help out."
Shampoo smiled. "Is good. "
Closing the door behind him, Ranma found himself face to face with the older female Amazon. "Old Ghoul."
"Son-in-Law. So you actually agreed to let my Great-granddaughter help you out. Most amazing."
Well, it was either that or lose the ability to breath, Ranma wanted to say. "She seemed okay to me. I mean, except for the blood and stuff..."
Cologne shook her head. "Adrenaline rush, I suspect. Foolish young girl. She'll feel it doubly so tonight. Based on her injuries, I surmise that Akane Tendou was none too picky about where she hit. Shampoo says that Akane attempted to execute what your style calls 'The Camel's Two Humps'."
Ranma's face darkened. The move was generally consider taboo, since it basically involved planting one's heel right in the middle of the opponent's spine as hard as possible. "Akane did _that_?"
"Shampoo has seen the move before and was able to get away with only a cracked rib."
"Shampoo's gonna be okay?"
"Fortunately, Akane Tendou doesn't use weapons. I imagine that my Great-granddaughter will get by without even a scar in a few days. Luck of the Gods, I think. But do you think you could ask her to leave Shampoo alone?"
"Maybe Shampoo should just stay away from the Tendou place. I'll, uh... find another place to practice with her."
"A wise idea. I suspect you and her should be able to do a great deal towards enhancing your skills. I'm afraid that I can't help you at this time."
Ranma sighed. "Well... keep looking, I guess. Me and Shampoo will just have to get good enough to beat her."
"I wish you two luck. I would deal with this myself, but Amazons laws prohibit me actually fighting Akane Tendou, unless she attacks me first."
"Don't even bother," Ranma declared. "Akane's just gotten way stronger and faster. Me and Shampoo are both way more skilled, and we'll take her down if it's the last thing we do!"
Cologne chuckled as the boy left the restaurant. She could never quite decide which was greater: Ranma's skill or his arrogance. But she had to admit, the combination of the two always made things interesting.
Pushing open the door to Shampoo's room, she eased over to the younger's bed.
"Great-granddaughter?"
"Yes, Great-grandmother?"
"How are you feeling?"
"More bad than before."
"That's what you get for jumping around like a fool while injured like that."
"Shampoo better in few days."
"I don't doubt it. And then you have a great deal of training to do, you realize. You are extremely good. But Son-in-Law is much better. If you want to work with him, you'll have to be willing to earn that right."
"Shampoo earn."
Are you still angry with me for telling Son-in-Law about what happened to you? >
Not anymore. >
So you take back all the curses I heard you wishing on me before? >
Shampoo flushed. You heard that? >
I heard everything. He's really is unbelievably dense sometimes. >
She laughed weakly. He is. I was overcome with humiliation over my defeat, and all he was concerned about was that I wasn't wearing any clothes. >
Any Amazon male might think of things like that. But he has a completely different mentality. That was because you had no reason to be humiliated. You could learn something from him. He's been challenging her every night without success. And
yet he doesn't even consider the idea of losing. Many Amazons thinks that a true warrior never loses a battle. Whereas Ranma simply trains harder for the rematch. >
I will take some time off from my job. >
Cologne raised an eyebrow. Isn't that a little extreme? >
Shampoo shook her head. If I am to be a worthy partner, I must catch up to him before I can keep pace with him. >
I'm glad you understand. I think this restaurant can afford to stay closed for a week. I hope you make the most of it. >

The sign to the bathroom door had been flipped to indicate occupancy, but Nabiki pushed the door open anyway, noiselessly positioning herself on the back side of the dividing panel.
"Hi, Nabiki."
She smirked. "Goodness. I must be losing my touch."
"I'm a martial artist. You're quiet, but I know how you sound now."
"Give yourself a pat on the back, Saotome."
"So what do you want now?"
"Just curious how Shampoo's doing."
"She'll get better."
"My, that sounds pretty serious."
Ranma didn't reply.
"So? How badly did my little sister work our favourite Amazon over?"
"None of your business, Nabiki. Why dontcha go ask her yourself?"
"Because I want to walk tomorrow, and I'm not stupid enough to walk up and ask that to an Amazon with a wounded pride."
Ranma sucked in his breath. "Whoa... so _that's_ why she got so mad..."
She sighed. "_Brilliant_ Saotome. Ladies' man, _my foot_."
"Hey! I got more of 'em chasing me than you ever will!"
Nabiki's smirked. "Think carefully, Ranma, about what you just said."
He coughed, evidently having realized it himself. "Uh... I mean... I got more girls chasing me than you got guys chasin' you!"
"You've also got more _guys_ chasing you, I'd like to point out."
Ranma coughed again. "Hey! That was cheap!"
Nabiki laughed quietly as she left the bathroom. "Really, Saotome! If you haven't learned better by now..."

"I'm proud of you, boy!"
"Yeah, yeah, whatever, pop."
Akane looked at the two in confusion. Aside from the relative respect being shown... "You're _still_ training?"
"That's right!" Genma agreed enthusiastically. "He's a Saotome to the core! He feels that the owes it to his fiancee to try and be worthy of her skill."
Ranma grunted and continued eating his meal.
Akane smirked. "Oh come now, Ranma, that's so nice of you. But why are you training somewhere else?"
"True training cannot be done in a dojo," Genma replied, as though bestowing great wisdom upon everyone present. "It must be done in the openness and vastness of the world. A martial artist who wishes to fight in the world must also train in the world!"
Nabiki clapped a few times. "Very inspiring, Uncle Saotome. Maybe you should have been a politician."
"I'll keep that in mind," the man promised, somehow letting the point completely escape him.
"Anyway, I gotta go," Ranma announced, standing up from the table.
"Train your hardest, boy! Make your father proud!"
"Like I'd even care about _that_!" Ranma retorted as disappeared from the room.
Nabiki watched him go. "My, Akane. He sure is trying hard to impress you, isn't he?"
Akane looked thoughtful. "You think so?"
"Of course he is!" Soun opinioned. "Such a well-meaning fiancé. You must be very happy, Akane!"
"Uh... yeah, I guess so..." she agreed, leaving the room with her dishes.
Nabiki just shook her head. Now _that_ was as conclusive as any judge and jury. It seemed that Akane really was taking an interest in Ranma. It was a pity that he seemed to have other motives.

Punch. Kick. Twist. Jump. Kick. Jump and kick. Spin. Spin and kick and twist and leap and block and slide and chop-
Recover.
Ranma touched down on the ground, breathing heavily. Virtually flawless in execution, yet somehow completely useless against his latest opponent. He needed to be faster. Stronger. More agile. More resilient. More powerful.
Better.
And nothing short of pushing himself beyond his limits would do that. Maybe he could convince Cologne to spar with him. She would push him beyond his limits with little hesitation. Of course, she'd probably try to stick him with some deal about him marrying Shampoo, and that wasn't what he needed right now.
He still wasn't sure why he'd even agreed to work with Shampoo. The fact that she'd had a hand clamped around his neck had been the immediate reason, of course. But the heir to the Anything-Goes school shouldn't have to get other people to help them win their fights. When he beat Akane, he wanted to beat her on his own, not in a two-on-one fight.
Not that Shampoo wasn't a good martial artist. Ranma was a good enough judge to guess that she'd lay waste to any of his other fiancees in a real fight. She was probably skilled in more weapons than even he was, on account of her Amazon heritage. She was certainly far above Akane's skill level. But she was also below his level, and he needed somebody who was good enough to really make him strain. Ryouga would have been nice around now. Or Tarou. Even Happousai would be welcome as a sparring partner. But Shampoo? She just fell a little short of his caliber of fighting.
Besides, she was a _girl_. And Ranma Saotome _didn't_ fight girls.
"What you do out here?"
"Gah!" Ranma froze for a moment as the voice caught him by surprise.
"Why Ranma scared?"
Ranma spun around to face the accusation. "I ain't scareda nothing! What are you doin' out here, Shampoo?"
The Amazon still looked a mess, and walked with a visible limp. But the blood had been cleaned off of her, so she didn't look nearly as bad as she had before. "Great-grandmother say okay for Shampoo to try find place to practice. She not know Ranma already find."
"Well, 'kane doesn't know about this place," Ranma replied offhandedly. "And it's got more room than the dojo. And the trees are kinda nice for mid-air practice. A real martial artist doesn't _need_ a dojo!"
"Great-grandmother say too," Shampoo agreed. "That why Amazon never make building for practice. Ranma practice now?"
"Well, yeah. I mean, you're too messed up right now, but I gotta keep practising."
"Is good," Shampoo agreed. "Okay, Shampoo watch?"
Ranma frowned somewhat. "Well..."
"Shampoo leg very sore. Need rest before walk home again."
"Alright, alright. Go ahead and watch."
Shampoo smiled and nodded, finding a tree stump and sitting down on it. It wasn't too often that she got a chance to watch her beloved practice. What she saw mostly was him defending himself against Mousse, who was most certainly an inferior
opponent. But now, she knew that Ranma would be pushing himself to his limits
Making a rather strained effort to ignore the fact that someone was watching, Ranma positioned himself in a combat stance in the middle of the clearing. Moving his arms in a slow windmill-like pattern, he began to move forwards in a pattern which
Shampoo immediately grasped. Not complicated at all, though done with exceptional smoothness on her beloved's part.
After several moments, he began to increase the speed of his movements, yet keeping them just as precise and defined as ever. His face was still calm, suggesting that he was exerting himself only slightly beyond a brief walk. Even now, he had yet to
initiate anything resembling an attack.
Gradually, his movements began to metamorph into punches and kicks, each one possessing a formidable mixture of blinding quickness and minute precision. Yet still he continued to increase the speed at which he carried them out.
Shampoo soon found herself mesmerized by the sheer power behind his actions. At times, his arms and legs would fade into a blur of red and blue streaks as her eyes were no longer able to register the speed of his attacks. At other times, he would almost seem to slow to a statue, frozen in a position that should never be feasible. Then, as smoothly as he had halted, he would accelerate into a frenzy of chops and spins that seemed almost to keep him aloft of the ground indefinitely.
And then he would touch down, using the brief contact with the earth to completely redefine his momentum, engaging in another maelstrom flurry of fist and foot.
Unable to do anything else, Shampoo simply watched.

It was almost an hour later that Ranma came to a halt in the centre of the clearing, touching down silently upon his left foot before reverting to a more casual stance.
Shampoo sucked in a breath, the motions of the past hour still vivid in her mind. Only now was it occurring to her the magnitude of what had been done. Ranma's performance was years beyond anything she would have been capable of.
"That... much good," she whispered, her Japanese failing to provide any better adjective for the moment.
All at once, the life seemed to seep out of Ranma as he sank to his knees, panting heavily.
Briefly heedless of her own injuries, Shampoo was at his side. "Ranma okay?"
Ranma sank down until he was lying on his back. His clothing was literally dripping with sweat as he sucked in gasps of air. "F-fine... be okay... in few minutes..."
"Ranma lie?"
"Honest... just gimme... a few minutes..."
Looking doubtful, but deciding not to argue, Shampoo say down next to him to wait a few minutes. "Where you learn?"
"Learn... what?"
"What you just do."
"I dunno. Just... made it... up... as I went..."
"You make up? You lie! It look too-too good. Ranma do much practice before!"
Ranma seemed to have recovered enough to sit up. "No, I didn't! If it was a pattern, then it wouldn't be much good in a fight. A master of the Anything-Goes style has to make things up as they go!"
Shampoo realized that he was being serious. She sighed, lowering her head. "Great-grandmother teach Shampoo many thing. But she not teach to make-up practice."
"That's the only way Pop ever taught me. Besides, your style's different than mine, right? You can't expect to do something like that right away, right?" He blinked, hoping Shampoo would take the hint.
Shampoo narrowed her eyes. "No matter. If Ranma do, then Shampoo learn too!"
Ranma frowned. Shampoo obviously _hadn't_ taken the hint. "Wait a minute here! You don't have any idea what you're talkin' about! I've been practising since I was just a little kid!"
"Shampoo train since too-too little! Ranma think he too good for Shampoo?"
"N-no, you've got it all wrong..."
"Then what Ranma mean!?!"
"Well, it's just that... well..."
Shampoo stood to her full height. "Ranma think Shampoo WEAK?!?"
"That's not what I meant!" Ranma retorted, standing up himself.
"Then tell Shampoo what mean!"
Ranma met her glare. "I just mean that I'm better than you, okay?!"
"Ranma better than all fighter! If Shampoo so weak, then why Ranma so scared of her when in China?"
"Cause you were tryin' to kill me!"
"People still try kill Ranma now and he not scared of them!!! Why he not want to fight Shampoo then?"
"Cause I don't hit girls! Geez, I thought you knew that by now!"
"Shampoo think Ranma stupid! He try to hit Great-grandmother lots!"
"She's different! She's a wrinkled old mummy! She's strong enough to take it!"
"And you say Shampoo not strong?! You hit Mousse!"
"Well..."
"Shampoo much-much stronger than Mousse! If not, she be wife to him already! Shampoo say that if Ranma hit Mousse, he hit Shampoo too!"
"I ain't doin' it! I don't hit girls!"
"Then you insult Shampoo!
"I ain't insulting ya!"
"If Ranma not fight with Shampoo, then he say she weak! He insult Shampoo very much!!!"

"Hey Pop?"
Genma eyed his son, noting a slightly distracted tone. "Yes?"
"How come it ain't right to hit girls?"
The older opened his eyes. "Of course! I should have realized it myself, son! The reason that Akane keeps beating you is because you're afraid to go all-out against her!"
"Well, actually-"
"It's my own fault, really. I should have seen it from the start. Time for another lesson from your father, Ranma!"
Ranma's expression was a mixture of disgust and weariness. "Oh?"
"Yes! I've always taught you the importance of not hitting women! This is because they are weaker than men! But what I never taught you is that there _are_ exceptions! Such as your beloved fiancee. She is strong enough that you don't have to worry about hurting her. In such a case, you actually _insult_ her when you don't honour her skill and strength!"
Ranma looked thoughtful. "So... it's okay to hit girls when they're martial artists too?"
"Exactly, boy! You always were a quick study!"
"But what if I hurt them... uh, in practice? 'Cuz I'm stronger than them?"
"A true martial artist doesn't have to hurt anyone to improve! You must set other challenges for yourself in the process! Why, when I trained under the Master, he would make me and Tendou fight while wearing lead weights! This kept us from injuring each other, but still pushed us to our limits! If you limit yourself, you can still effectively train with a weaker opponent!"

"Hey Kasumi?"
"Yes Akane?"
Akane was standing in the doorway to the kitchen. "Have you seen Ranma anywhere?"
"I think he's practicing at the back of the house. He was making some straw dummies before."
"Oh. Thanks."
Having been given some direction, Akane immediately set out locate Ranma. What would he want with straw dummies? She'd done it herself on occasion, to be sure. But usually it had involved pinning a pigtail to the back of it. And before Ranma had come, she had stuck a fake boken to the dummy.
She smiled faintly. She certainly hadn't done any of _that_ lately! Why, Ranma had been practically perfect lately. It really wasn't hard to understand why all the other girls were so enamoured by him. Sure, he was a little thickheaded at times, but once you had his attention...
She could hear him working out in the backyard. Peering around the corner, she saw him rapidly pummelling a straw dummy. He was in his female form for some strange reason, she noted. But the straw dummy?
Akane blinked as her attention was finally focussed upon the target. It had a crudely made wig of long hair stuck to it, and the hair was coloured... blue?
Ranma noticed her observing. "Uh, hi Akane," she greeted.
"Hi Ranma," Akane replied, still looking curiously at the dummy. Blue hair? "Practising?"
"Uh, yeah. Practising."
Was the dummy supposed to be... _Shampoo_? Akane couldn't quite believe what she was seeing. "You're... practising hitting... Shampoo?" she finally blurted out.
Ranma gulped. "Uh... well... kinda, yeah..."
Why would he do something like that? Even Shampoo made no secret of the fact that Ranma was capable of beating her hands down. And why would want to practice hitting _her_? Unless...
An idea flashed into Akane's head, but she kept silent about it. If she was right...
"Well, don't push yourself, okay? You've been training really hard lately." She smiled. "And you've been missing your sleeping time in class lately too, right?"
Ranma had the grace to look a little guilty, apparently glad for the subject change. "It's just for a short time!"
"Don't worry about it. You can use my notes to study for the tests."
"Uh, yeah. Thanks, 'kane."
"Don't mention it. Don't be late for supper. A martial needs food to keep training, _right_?"
"R-right!" Ranma agreed nervously. Why was she being so nice all of a sudden? Was it possible that...
"Anyway, don't push yourself, okay?"
"N-no! Of course not!"
Ranma watched Akane leave with a perplexed look on his face. Akane was certainly acting nice these days... was it possible she had a nice side? Or was she on to his plan? He _was_ practising hitting Shampoo. He hadn't lied about that. But he wasn't doing it to beat the Amazon up. He was just trying... well, he wasn't sure what he was trying to do, but he knew it had something do with not insulting her and the fact that it was okay to fight female martial artists who were strong. He hoped Shampoo appreciated this, because training with her was probably going to slow down his own training somewhat.
But the alternative was to have Shampoo mad at him, which tended to be unhealthy and painful as a rule. And to have her seek revenge against Akane on her own, which could be disastrous. Shampoo obviously couldn't beat Akane in a head-on fight right now, but Ranma knew that there were a lot of other indirect ways to seek revenge. And Amazons considered a few of them perfectly legitimate. If he kept Shampoo busy training with him, she would have less time to work on _other_ plans.
He hoped Akane appreciated this.

Akane flopped back on her bed with a dreamy smile. It was incredible! She never would have believed it if she hadn't seen it with her own eyes. But she had. Ranma was practising fighting Shampoo! As a girl. And there was only one possible explanation for _that_.
He planned on fighting seriously her sometime soon. And the only conceivable reason for such a fight would be on account of Ranma's failure to fulfill the engagement to Shampoo. And the only reason for him to fulfill his engagement to Shampoo...
would be because he planned on marrying someone else. And as for that _someone else_...
Akane's smile grew even bigger. Dare she even hope so? Was he really taking such a liking to her? She really _had_ tried to be nicer to him. She hadn't mentioned his losing to her for over a day now. She'd refrained from berating him about his poor class participation. She was even getting Kasumi to help her with meals so that they tasted better.
Perhaps Ranma _had_ noticed all this. And perhaps he planned on meeting her halfway after all. He _did_ have a few things to clear up, of course. Like Shampoo. And hadn't she just seen him preparing for that?
Well, never let it be said that she was ungrateful. She wouldn't stop him from training. She would keep being nice to him. And eventually, perhaps even get up the nerve to go out on a date. She might have to do the asking, since Ranma seemed rather hesitant about doing anything up front. But surely he would jump in once she asked. She would wait a few more days to make sure.
Yes, life was good. Very good.

end part 3