Chapter Two: Why You Have to Read the Fine Print!
Zero, Hiead, Yamagi, Roose, and Clay marched down the road to Jusenkyo.
Zero was in high spirits, excited at the prospect of a new world. Wow, a real horizon and sky. No VICTIM, no hamster wheel, no Azuma raking me over the coals. Mother Kannon, thank you.
Yamagi watched Roose from the corner of his eye, and grabbed the taller Candidate's hand. "Hey, we'll be all right, man. I promise."
Roose squeezed his hand, and smiled. Thanks Chibi-chan.
Clay studied the landscape along the way, making mental notes. Something's going to go wrong. I just have a really, really bad feeling about this whole situation.
Hiead sulked, stalking after Zero. Damn you, Zero, you had to push the buttons, didn't you? Well, payback is a mofo, and it's your turn on the receiving end.
The silence broke, as a slightly off-key voice burst into song: "Oh, the wonderful thing about Tiggers, is that Tiggers are wonderful things! Their tops are made out of rubber, their bottoms are made out of springs! They're bouncy, jouncy, jouncy, bouncy, fun, fun, fun, fun, fun! But the most wonderful thing about Tiggers is I'm the only one, oh I'm the only one!"
Hiead cuffed the back of Zero's head. "Birdbrain! We're going goddess- knows-where, no knowing what we'll find---and what are you doing? Singing, like the idiot you are!"
Zero flipped off Hiead, with a scowl. "Maybe I ought to be more like you, then. 'Life sucks, and so do you.' You're a regular inspiration, dude."
Clay stepped in, trying to keep the two at bay. "People, we're in a totally strange land, probably in another time, and the last thing we need is for you two to start fighting. Save the adrenaline for a really dangerous situation."
"Okay," Hiead replied. "I'll leave the brat alone."
"I'll refrain from fighting," Zero said.
So they continued down the road.
Had Zero read the entire sign, he might have had second thoughts.
"JUSENKYO: Legend has it that the springs of the training grounds are accursed; each spring carries a specific curse. Whoever falls into a spring will emerge, cursed with the form of the person or beast that fell into it. Travelers are advised to avoid the training grounds at all costs."
They reached an inn around midday. A young woman with black hair and eyes, in a green dress, met them at the door.
"Greetings, young ones. Welcome to the inn at Jusenkyo. I'm Mimosa. Please, come inside, and we'll get you some food and drink. Will you require rooms?"
The five sat at a low table, exhausted and relieved. "Perhaps the gentlemen would like to bathe before they dine?" Mimosa guided the Candidates to a bathhouse, with green floor tiles and a mural depicting the mountain villages of the region. She handed them robes, bath towels, and soap. "There is a pool fed by a hot spring inside. You can relax there, and enjoy tea. As for clothing, we can secure a change for you." She turned away.
Zero peeled off his uniform, and sat to wash. Hiead did likewise.
Yamagi shrugged, as he undressed and began bathing.
Roose blushed as he undressed. Please don't let me react---I don't need to have anything funny happen here.
Clay stripped last, while the others washed, splashing each other as they rinsed off. You can cut the tension here with a butter knife. Why did I come on this trip? I should have stayed behind. Eh, I can stand a bath. He soaped up, and washed himself, being as abrupt and businesslike as possible.
Once all five were washed, they went to the pool, easing their bodies into the water. A tray with five cups of green tea, and fresh fruit, floated across the pool's surface.
"I call dibs!" Zero shouted, as he raced toward the tray, grabbing a drink and a black plum.
"You are such a child," Hiead said, as he removed a cup and a few lychees. Oh, Mother Kali, save me from this blue-eyed brat, with his perpetual smile.
Roose passed a cup of tea to Yamagi, then to Clay, before taking the last one. They relaxed, in a reasonable silence, as the water coursed over their limbs.
Once the tray was cleared of contents, each Candidate made his way back to the changing room, where they found five sets of clothing: flat black slippers, black trousers, high-collared, sleeveless shirts, and black jackets.
Zero picked up a deep blue shirt; Hiead, a scarlet one; Clay found one the color of a tawny amber; Roose slipped on a teal shirt; and Yamagi donned a purple shirt.
Fully dressed, they went back to the inn, sitting at a table with dim sum laid out.
After they ate, Mimosa escorted them to their rooms. Hiead, Zero, and Clay walked into a room decorated in reds. Roose and Yamagi found themselves in a room decorated in sky blue tones.
They lay down on low beds, and napped.
Zero woke up an hour later, restless and bored. There's got to be something else to do around here. He left the room, and prowled the grounds. He came across a scene that made his heart skip a beat: a series of small springs, with tall bamboo poles in and around each one, beckoned.
He ran toward the springs, and leaped onto a pole, teetering an instant before regaining balance.
Hiead woke up, looking around. Don't tell me. The boy has decided to explore. He glanced at Clay, and then left the room, in pursuit of his rival. Just remember, Enna: I can mop the floor with you, any day.
Clay woke up an hour later, groggy and a little dazed. Damn, it's quiet. Too quiet for my liking. "Zero? Hiead? Guys, where are you?" He received no reply. "Come on, you two jokers, show yourselves." He gave a look, and then ran to Yamagi's room.
"Yamagi! Roose! Get up! Zero and Hiead peeled out. You have to help me find them."
Roose stumbled out; Yamagi followed, muttering under his breath.
"I don't see why we have to look for those two. They can handle themselves, man."
Clay gave Yamagi a cold look, saying, "We're not at GOA, remember?"
The three took off, looking for signs of Hiead and Zero.
Roose spotted something red, and called out, "I think they might have gone this way! Come on!" He sprinted ahead, picking up a red shirt. Yamagi and Clay followed, stopping at the rows of bamboo jutting up from the springs.
Hiead and Zero exchanged blows and kicks, flying across the tops of the bamboo poles.
Yamagi whistled. "Hey! Cut me a slice of action, man!"
A hand caught him, just as he got ready to shinny up a pole. He turned to face Roose.
"Don't get hurt, Chibi-chan."
Yamagi gave him a fierce grin. "You just watch me pound these nimrods." He made his way up a pole, and joined in the fray.
Clay wandered among the bamboos, shaking his head. This is not good. Not good at all. I do not like the look of the situation---whoa, look out! He lost his footing, and fell into a spring.
Roose moved below, trying to keep an eye on the sparring, when he heard a roar. "Clay? Where'd you go?" The roar grew louder; Roose looked back a second, to see a large Siberian tiger, fur still damp, approaching him. He ran, fully panicked. "Yamagi! Hiead! Zero! I can't find Clay!"
"Forget it, man, he probably headed back to the inn. Come on, I'm about to take Zero down!" A swift kick sent Yamagi tumbling into a spring.
"Hiead! Zero! Come on, it's not safe here! I saw a tiger, and I think he ate Clay! We have to find Yamagi, and go." The tiger continued to follow Roose, who panicked, diving into a spring.
The tiger paused at the spring. A paw, covered in grey fur, emerged. A wolf clambered out of the spring, shivering with cold and confusion.
The tiger cocked its head, rumbling. {Roose, what did you do that for?}
The wolf's eyes widened. (Clay? That you?}
{No, it's Elvis! Yes, it's me, and I was trying to warn you about these waters. What the hell were you thinking, jumping in?}
Roose whined. {I thought you were going to hurt me.}
{Yeah, well, it doesn't matter all that much now.}
{Where's Yamagi?}
A panda shuffled up, nibbling on a bamboo stalk. {Anyone here care to tell me what happened?)
Roose bounded over to the panda, paws forward. {Chibi-chan! You're alive!}
Clay rumbled, amused. (You're a panda.}
Roose yipped. {Uh, guys, something's going on up there.}
Hiead landed a roundhouse kick to Zero's side. "Watch it there."
Zero retaliated with a series of jabs. "Yeah? Well, I'm going to take you down!" He sent Hiead flying from the pole with a scissoring kick.
Hiead landed on another pole, regaining balance. "You're going down, Enna." He lunged at Zero, sending him spilling into the water below.
A golden dragon emerged from the spring, and flew up to continue fighting Hiead. He narrowed his eyes. Great. Just great. Where did that come from?
The dragon hovered, beating its wings.
Hiead fell into a spring, chilled to the bone.
He swam to the surface, coughing and sputtering. "What the---"
The dragon looked at him. {Hiead, can you hear me?}
Hiead looked up, dazed, clambering out of the water. {Zero? Care to explain what's going on?}
{Take a look at yourself. And find your shirt!} The dragon looked away.
Hiead glanced at the reflection, and did a double take. "Oh, Mother Kali! Tell me someone drugged the shumai!" The voice, although low, was distinctly female. Hiead ran a hand along the face, down to the chest area. Oh no, I've got breasts. The hand wandered lower, pausing at the groin. No penis? This is not happening.
Hiead heard a rumble, and turned to face a panda, a tiger, and a wolf. {I regret to inform you, but it is happening.}
"Clay," Hiead said, approaching the tiger, "how did this happen?"
"I can answer that for you," a baritone voice rang. A man in an olive drab jacket and trousers walked up to the others, a pipe in hand. "The accursed springs of Jusenkyo are treacherous, and those who train here do so at their own risk."
The man extended a tunic to Hiead. "Your comrade's right. You do need to cover up."
Hiead put on the top, eyeing the man. "Tell us what you know."
"Each spring carries a specific curse---whoever falls into a spring, will emerge with the shape of the person or the beast that drowned there."
He pointed to Clay. "You, young man, fell into the spring of the Drowned Tiger. A Siberian tiger, some 3000 years ago, drowned in that spring."
The man lifted the pipe to his lips, inhaling tobacco smoke. "You, young man," he said, addressing Roose, "fell into the spring of the Drowned Wolf, who perished 500 years ago."
He then walked over to Yamagi, chuckling. "This one fell into the spring of the Drowned Panda. A panda drowned here, 2000 years ago. And this one is the second I have seen fall into that spring."
Lifting his head to the sky, he continued. "That one has fallen into the spring of the Drowned Dragon. The dragon that fell into the water, 5000 years ago, was a powerful creature."
He fixed his gaze on Hiead. "And you have fallen into the spring of the Drowned Maiden, where a young woman drowned, 1500 years before."
"You mean---you mean I'm a girl?!"
Zero landed, closing his wings. {Bingo! Give the man-sorry, the little lady, a prize.}
Hiead grabbed the man by the collar. "There a cure?"
"The spring of the Drowned Man. Sadly, that spring is not available."
"You mean, we have to stay this way? You stupid, son of a---" He turned to Zero. "We should never have listened to you, you sorry nimrod."
The man cleared his throat. "The curse will last all your life. But you can return to your original form. If you will let me go." He pointed to a cabin, a distance away. "Come with me."
Hiead walked behind the man, still cold, and stunned. The others followed.
The man came out with a kettle of hot water. "Hot water, as you see, will return you to your normal form." He splashed the water onto Yamagi, Roose, Hiead, Clay, and Zero. "See for yourselves."
"Dude! I'm me again!" Zero laughed. "And you are a welcome sight," he said, clapping Hiead on the shoulder.
"Have you forgotten something, Enna?"
"Huh?"
"You're naked."
"And you make a really hot babe, what's your point?"
The man brought out tunics and trousers. "Here," he said.
Zero and the others dressed. "Thanks for the help."
"This region is one with many traps for the unwary traveler," he said. "I acted as a guide for a martial artist from Japan, years ago. He and his son shared your fate. They might tell you more about the curses than I can."
"Where are they?" Clay asked.
"They live in the Nerima district of Tokyo, at the dojo of one Soun Tendo."
Zero's eyes lit up. "What are we waiting for? Let's go!"
Hiead cuffed him. "You got us in a mess when you said that last time."
"So you don't mind turning into a girl every time it rains?"
"At least I'm still human!"
"I'd say that's debatable."
"Idiot."
"Psycho chick."
"Take that back!"
"Make me!" Zero and Hiead took a fighting stance, when Clay and Roose charged forward.
"Grow up, you two! We're not going to get back to GOA, or get any solution to the problem, while you fight. So shut up and think. I will not be the only one frying my brain cells here."
Yamagi stared at the scene. Whoa. Clay just read them the riot act---and they didn't cream him. And what's this with Roose?
Roose walked over to the violet-haired boy, a feral glint in his eye, as he grabbed Yamagi and kissed him. The gleam passed, replaced by a gentle smile. {I've waited a long time to kiss you, Chibi-chan, or should I say, Panda-chan?}
Hiead spoke up. "When shall we leave?"
Zero replied, "I think we should get some sleep, and see about leaving in the morning."
The guide asked, "And where are you staying?"
"At the inn, where Miss Mimosa is."
"Very well. I will accompany you there, and speak with her."
Hiead, Zero, and the rest followed the guide back to the inn.
Author's Notes
Hello all! And thank you for reading.
Anime Cat: Hi there! Here is the next chapter. Do let me know what you think. Aurani: Welcome! And thank you for the kudos. I shall continue. I promise.
UE: tovarishch---thank you so much for the encouraging words---you do me great honor. *Bows*
Rumiko Takahashi is one of the first manga artists I remember reading. I love her style, her humor, and the attention to details in her stories. Amazing. A resource I found, writing this story, is a Ranma FAQ from the UK (www.wot-club.org.uk/RanmaFAQ). I recommend this for any Ranma fanfic writer, or the newcomer to Takahashi-san's work.
Coming up: The Candidates hit the road, heading to Nerima. Will they make it through China without landing in trouble? Will Hiead kill Zero? And what are the odds that a panda and a wolf can find a fine romance? Stay tuned.
As always, I welcome your comments, large, small, and all.
Thank you all!
Antoinette (poetisa)
Zero, Hiead, Yamagi, Roose, and Clay marched down the road to Jusenkyo.
Zero was in high spirits, excited at the prospect of a new world. Wow, a real horizon and sky. No VICTIM, no hamster wheel, no Azuma raking me over the coals. Mother Kannon, thank you.
Yamagi watched Roose from the corner of his eye, and grabbed the taller Candidate's hand. "Hey, we'll be all right, man. I promise."
Roose squeezed his hand, and smiled. Thanks Chibi-chan.
Clay studied the landscape along the way, making mental notes. Something's going to go wrong. I just have a really, really bad feeling about this whole situation.
Hiead sulked, stalking after Zero. Damn you, Zero, you had to push the buttons, didn't you? Well, payback is a mofo, and it's your turn on the receiving end.
The silence broke, as a slightly off-key voice burst into song: "Oh, the wonderful thing about Tiggers, is that Tiggers are wonderful things! Their tops are made out of rubber, their bottoms are made out of springs! They're bouncy, jouncy, jouncy, bouncy, fun, fun, fun, fun, fun! But the most wonderful thing about Tiggers is I'm the only one, oh I'm the only one!"
Hiead cuffed the back of Zero's head. "Birdbrain! We're going goddess- knows-where, no knowing what we'll find---and what are you doing? Singing, like the idiot you are!"
Zero flipped off Hiead, with a scowl. "Maybe I ought to be more like you, then. 'Life sucks, and so do you.' You're a regular inspiration, dude."
Clay stepped in, trying to keep the two at bay. "People, we're in a totally strange land, probably in another time, and the last thing we need is for you two to start fighting. Save the adrenaline for a really dangerous situation."
"Okay," Hiead replied. "I'll leave the brat alone."
"I'll refrain from fighting," Zero said.
So they continued down the road.
Had Zero read the entire sign, he might have had second thoughts.
"JUSENKYO: Legend has it that the springs of the training grounds are accursed; each spring carries a specific curse. Whoever falls into a spring will emerge, cursed with the form of the person or beast that fell into it. Travelers are advised to avoid the training grounds at all costs."
They reached an inn around midday. A young woman with black hair and eyes, in a green dress, met them at the door.
"Greetings, young ones. Welcome to the inn at Jusenkyo. I'm Mimosa. Please, come inside, and we'll get you some food and drink. Will you require rooms?"
The five sat at a low table, exhausted and relieved. "Perhaps the gentlemen would like to bathe before they dine?" Mimosa guided the Candidates to a bathhouse, with green floor tiles and a mural depicting the mountain villages of the region. She handed them robes, bath towels, and soap. "There is a pool fed by a hot spring inside. You can relax there, and enjoy tea. As for clothing, we can secure a change for you." She turned away.
Zero peeled off his uniform, and sat to wash. Hiead did likewise.
Yamagi shrugged, as he undressed and began bathing.
Roose blushed as he undressed. Please don't let me react---I don't need to have anything funny happen here.
Clay stripped last, while the others washed, splashing each other as they rinsed off. You can cut the tension here with a butter knife. Why did I come on this trip? I should have stayed behind. Eh, I can stand a bath. He soaped up, and washed himself, being as abrupt and businesslike as possible.
Once all five were washed, they went to the pool, easing their bodies into the water. A tray with five cups of green tea, and fresh fruit, floated across the pool's surface.
"I call dibs!" Zero shouted, as he raced toward the tray, grabbing a drink and a black plum.
"You are such a child," Hiead said, as he removed a cup and a few lychees. Oh, Mother Kali, save me from this blue-eyed brat, with his perpetual smile.
Roose passed a cup of tea to Yamagi, then to Clay, before taking the last one. They relaxed, in a reasonable silence, as the water coursed over their limbs.
Once the tray was cleared of contents, each Candidate made his way back to the changing room, where they found five sets of clothing: flat black slippers, black trousers, high-collared, sleeveless shirts, and black jackets.
Zero picked up a deep blue shirt; Hiead, a scarlet one; Clay found one the color of a tawny amber; Roose slipped on a teal shirt; and Yamagi donned a purple shirt.
Fully dressed, they went back to the inn, sitting at a table with dim sum laid out.
After they ate, Mimosa escorted them to their rooms. Hiead, Zero, and Clay walked into a room decorated in reds. Roose and Yamagi found themselves in a room decorated in sky blue tones.
They lay down on low beds, and napped.
Zero woke up an hour later, restless and bored. There's got to be something else to do around here. He left the room, and prowled the grounds. He came across a scene that made his heart skip a beat: a series of small springs, with tall bamboo poles in and around each one, beckoned.
He ran toward the springs, and leaped onto a pole, teetering an instant before regaining balance.
Hiead woke up, looking around. Don't tell me. The boy has decided to explore. He glanced at Clay, and then left the room, in pursuit of his rival. Just remember, Enna: I can mop the floor with you, any day.
Clay woke up an hour later, groggy and a little dazed. Damn, it's quiet. Too quiet for my liking. "Zero? Hiead? Guys, where are you?" He received no reply. "Come on, you two jokers, show yourselves." He gave a look, and then ran to Yamagi's room.
"Yamagi! Roose! Get up! Zero and Hiead peeled out. You have to help me find them."
Roose stumbled out; Yamagi followed, muttering under his breath.
"I don't see why we have to look for those two. They can handle themselves, man."
Clay gave Yamagi a cold look, saying, "We're not at GOA, remember?"
The three took off, looking for signs of Hiead and Zero.
Roose spotted something red, and called out, "I think they might have gone this way! Come on!" He sprinted ahead, picking up a red shirt. Yamagi and Clay followed, stopping at the rows of bamboo jutting up from the springs.
Hiead and Zero exchanged blows and kicks, flying across the tops of the bamboo poles.
Yamagi whistled. "Hey! Cut me a slice of action, man!"
A hand caught him, just as he got ready to shinny up a pole. He turned to face Roose.
"Don't get hurt, Chibi-chan."
Yamagi gave him a fierce grin. "You just watch me pound these nimrods." He made his way up a pole, and joined in the fray.
Clay wandered among the bamboos, shaking his head. This is not good. Not good at all. I do not like the look of the situation---whoa, look out! He lost his footing, and fell into a spring.
Roose moved below, trying to keep an eye on the sparring, when he heard a roar. "Clay? Where'd you go?" The roar grew louder; Roose looked back a second, to see a large Siberian tiger, fur still damp, approaching him. He ran, fully panicked. "Yamagi! Hiead! Zero! I can't find Clay!"
"Forget it, man, he probably headed back to the inn. Come on, I'm about to take Zero down!" A swift kick sent Yamagi tumbling into a spring.
"Hiead! Zero! Come on, it's not safe here! I saw a tiger, and I think he ate Clay! We have to find Yamagi, and go." The tiger continued to follow Roose, who panicked, diving into a spring.
The tiger paused at the spring. A paw, covered in grey fur, emerged. A wolf clambered out of the spring, shivering with cold and confusion.
The tiger cocked its head, rumbling. {Roose, what did you do that for?}
The wolf's eyes widened. (Clay? That you?}
{No, it's Elvis! Yes, it's me, and I was trying to warn you about these waters. What the hell were you thinking, jumping in?}
Roose whined. {I thought you were going to hurt me.}
{Yeah, well, it doesn't matter all that much now.}
{Where's Yamagi?}
A panda shuffled up, nibbling on a bamboo stalk. {Anyone here care to tell me what happened?)
Roose bounded over to the panda, paws forward. {Chibi-chan! You're alive!}
Clay rumbled, amused. (You're a panda.}
Roose yipped. {Uh, guys, something's going on up there.}
Hiead landed a roundhouse kick to Zero's side. "Watch it there."
Zero retaliated with a series of jabs. "Yeah? Well, I'm going to take you down!" He sent Hiead flying from the pole with a scissoring kick.
Hiead landed on another pole, regaining balance. "You're going down, Enna." He lunged at Zero, sending him spilling into the water below.
A golden dragon emerged from the spring, and flew up to continue fighting Hiead. He narrowed his eyes. Great. Just great. Where did that come from?
The dragon hovered, beating its wings.
Hiead fell into a spring, chilled to the bone.
He swam to the surface, coughing and sputtering. "What the---"
The dragon looked at him. {Hiead, can you hear me?}
Hiead looked up, dazed, clambering out of the water. {Zero? Care to explain what's going on?}
{Take a look at yourself. And find your shirt!} The dragon looked away.
Hiead glanced at the reflection, and did a double take. "Oh, Mother Kali! Tell me someone drugged the shumai!" The voice, although low, was distinctly female. Hiead ran a hand along the face, down to the chest area. Oh no, I've got breasts. The hand wandered lower, pausing at the groin. No penis? This is not happening.
Hiead heard a rumble, and turned to face a panda, a tiger, and a wolf. {I regret to inform you, but it is happening.}
"Clay," Hiead said, approaching the tiger, "how did this happen?"
"I can answer that for you," a baritone voice rang. A man in an olive drab jacket and trousers walked up to the others, a pipe in hand. "The accursed springs of Jusenkyo are treacherous, and those who train here do so at their own risk."
The man extended a tunic to Hiead. "Your comrade's right. You do need to cover up."
Hiead put on the top, eyeing the man. "Tell us what you know."
"Each spring carries a specific curse---whoever falls into a spring, will emerge with the shape of the person or the beast that drowned there."
He pointed to Clay. "You, young man, fell into the spring of the Drowned Tiger. A Siberian tiger, some 3000 years ago, drowned in that spring."
The man lifted the pipe to his lips, inhaling tobacco smoke. "You, young man," he said, addressing Roose, "fell into the spring of the Drowned Wolf, who perished 500 years ago."
He then walked over to Yamagi, chuckling. "This one fell into the spring of the Drowned Panda. A panda drowned here, 2000 years ago. And this one is the second I have seen fall into that spring."
Lifting his head to the sky, he continued. "That one has fallen into the spring of the Drowned Dragon. The dragon that fell into the water, 5000 years ago, was a powerful creature."
He fixed his gaze on Hiead. "And you have fallen into the spring of the Drowned Maiden, where a young woman drowned, 1500 years before."
"You mean---you mean I'm a girl?!"
Zero landed, closing his wings. {Bingo! Give the man-sorry, the little lady, a prize.}
Hiead grabbed the man by the collar. "There a cure?"
"The spring of the Drowned Man. Sadly, that spring is not available."
"You mean, we have to stay this way? You stupid, son of a---" He turned to Zero. "We should never have listened to you, you sorry nimrod."
The man cleared his throat. "The curse will last all your life. But you can return to your original form. If you will let me go." He pointed to a cabin, a distance away. "Come with me."
Hiead walked behind the man, still cold, and stunned. The others followed.
The man came out with a kettle of hot water. "Hot water, as you see, will return you to your normal form." He splashed the water onto Yamagi, Roose, Hiead, Clay, and Zero. "See for yourselves."
"Dude! I'm me again!" Zero laughed. "And you are a welcome sight," he said, clapping Hiead on the shoulder.
"Have you forgotten something, Enna?"
"Huh?"
"You're naked."
"And you make a really hot babe, what's your point?"
The man brought out tunics and trousers. "Here," he said.
Zero and the others dressed. "Thanks for the help."
"This region is one with many traps for the unwary traveler," he said. "I acted as a guide for a martial artist from Japan, years ago. He and his son shared your fate. They might tell you more about the curses than I can."
"Where are they?" Clay asked.
"They live in the Nerima district of Tokyo, at the dojo of one Soun Tendo."
Zero's eyes lit up. "What are we waiting for? Let's go!"
Hiead cuffed him. "You got us in a mess when you said that last time."
"So you don't mind turning into a girl every time it rains?"
"At least I'm still human!"
"I'd say that's debatable."
"Idiot."
"Psycho chick."
"Take that back!"
"Make me!" Zero and Hiead took a fighting stance, when Clay and Roose charged forward.
"Grow up, you two! We're not going to get back to GOA, or get any solution to the problem, while you fight. So shut up and think. I will not be the only one frying my brain cells here."
Yamagi stared at the scene. Whoa. Clay just read them the riot act---and they didn't cream him. And what's this with Roose?
Roose walked over to the violet-haired boy, a feral glint in his eye, as he grabbed Yamagi and kissed him. The gleam passed, replaced by a gentle smile. {I've waited a long time to kiss you, Chibi-chan, or should I say, Panda-chan?}
Hiead spoke up. "When shall we leave?"
Zero replied, "I think we should get some sleep, and see about leaving in the morning."
The guide asked, "And where are you staying?"
"At the inn, where Miss Mimosa is."
"Very well. I will accompany you there, and speak with her."
Hiead, Zero, and the rest followed the guide back to the inn.
Author's Notes
Hello all! And thank you for reading.
Anime Cat: Hi there! Here is the next chapter. Do let me know what you think. Aurani: Welcome! And thank you for the kudos. I shall continue. I promise.
UE: tovarishch---thank you so much for the encouraging words---you do me great honor. *Bows*
Rumiko Takahashi is one of the first manga artists I remember reading. I love her style, her humor, and the attention to details in her stories. Amazing. A resource I found, writing this story, is a Ranma FAQ from the UK (www.wot-club.org.uk/RanmaFAQ). I recommend this for any Ranma fanfic writer, or the newcomer to Takahashi-san's work.
Coming up: The Candidates hit the road, heading to Nerima. Will they make it through China without landing in trouble? Will Hiead kill Zero? And what are the odds that a panda and a wolf can find a fine romance? Stay tuned.
As always, I welcome your comments, large, small, and all.
Thank you all!
Antoinette (poetisa)