made a few changes.
The Druid
Chapter 2
Disclaimer: I do not own any rights to Ranma, Sailor Moon, or the Slayers. Nor do I own any rights to Grimus, the privilege belongs to someone else.
Ranma and his mother stepped in the circle; there was a flash of light. They got transported to another circle surrounded by trees. Very similar to where they were before, but instead of Izanami, they were met by a man in a white cloak. As he took off the cloak, his skin looked like that of stone, though his hair looked soft white snow.
"Hello Ranma, I am Zelgadis. And I will be your tutor to train you in the ways of mystic arts."
Zelgadis looked to the older woman next to his charge. "L-lina? I saw you die!"
Just then, it started to rain. Zelgadis looked at his new student as he transformed into a she. Zelgadis promptly fainted.
"Well, that never happened before, commented Ranma-chan.
Ranma-chan and Nodoka quickly revived Zelgadis. "I'm sorry, you just reminded me of someone I lost a long time ago." Apologized Zelgadis. Nodoka watched the pained expression on his face. "I was only expecting one person."
"No, Zelgadis. I'm sorry. I'm not this Lina person that you know. I am Nodoka, I am Ranma's mother."
Zelgadis looked back and forth between mother and newly changed daughter. "The resemblance is uncanny. Nodoka, you look just like Lina the last time I saw her. Ranma, you look like Lina the first time I met her. Though, your eyes are different, and your chest is bigger." Zelgadis just shook his head. "Come, we got a short journey to make to get you settled." Nodoka and Ranma-chan both noticed Zelgadis' expression, telling them a story of loss and loneliness. But explanations were nonforthcoming, so they didn't try push at any rate, for now in the least.
The three traveled for the greater part of the day. Not much being said after their initial meeting. Soon it grew dark and they decided to break for camp. Ranma left to go hunt for some food while Nodoka and Zelgadis waited at the campsite.
"Zelgadis-san?" said Nodoka.
"Yes Nodoka?"
"Who is this Lina?"
"If you don't mind Nodoka, I'd rather not talk about it."
"Well, actually, I do mind. It seems that you have something bottled up inside of you for too long a time. It might help if you talk about it."
There was pregnant silence before Zelgadis spoke, "There was this girl by the name of Lina Inverse. We met as enemies, but soon we developed a bond. More then comrades, really, we had many an adventure. More then once we saved this world from utter annihilation. Whenever things got at their worst, we all could depend on Lina to see us through the day. But it was that last time, that last time where everything came to boil, literally. See, there was this other girl that we traveled around with," this was the most Zelgadis ever said in a long time, but for some reason he couldn't stop. It had been inside of him for way too long.
"Her name was Amelia. When she was young, she was quite clumsy but her heart was always pure. But when she grew up, she became powerful and graceful, and her heart purer still. Amelia was the princess of a powerful kingdom, but she always found the time to help her people, and her people loved her for it. But one day, a powerful evil corrupted her. We never figured out how, but we think it was during one of her customary touring parties, where she traveled around talking with her subject. She knew these excursions were unsafe, but it went against her nature to do otherwise. We think a dark priest of the Mueltz order gave her the Amulet of Tork. It's an amulet where the Greater Overdaemon Lor Xu'tai was imprisoned. The amulet corrupted her.
"Where she was once good and pure, she became cruel and sadistic. She killed her own father one night and crowned herself Queen of Saillune. By the time we got there, it was too late for her. Although, Lina wouldn't admit it, she was quite fond of her. Amelia also had a sister, Nagha of the White Serpent. She was a bit crazy and the two never really got along, but deep down, Nagha did love her sister. We all faced her off together with Lina's husband, Gourry Gabriev. We tried to break her of the spell, but she was just too powerful for us, and we retreated to the outskirts of the kingdom, but we did face her again. The night before the battle, Lina came into my room. She said that if anything happened to her and her husband, Gourry, she wanted me to take care of her son, who was at the moment with her sister. She also confided with me something else. She was also pregnant with her second child. But she didn't want me to say anything. It was almost as if she knew what the outcome was going to be. I think she just told me so at least someone could tell the story. She told me of dreams she had the night before. She feared that she and her husband would not survive the confrontation.
"The battle was waged once again, it took all of our combined magic, as a focus into the most devastating spell our world has ever known, the Tera-Slave. It was a force of power that has never before been seen. When I woke up, all I could see for miles was just gone. No forest, no buildings, no towns or even hills. The province of Saillune was completely desolate. As for the rest of my companions, they were just gone. No bodies to even bury." Zelgadis was now openly weeping as he was talking, Nodoka was his captive audience. "I don't know how I survived. By all rights, I should have joined my friends in the afterlife, but I lived on. I didn't feel as if I had any right to live with all my friends' dead. I wandered for days. There was nothing to eat, nothing to drink. I finally passed out; hoping that death would take me to my friends. Instead, I woke up to find myself in the Kataart mountain range." Zelgadis' face grew dark, "in the home of the last person I thought would help me."
Before Zelgadis could elaborate, Ranma entered camp with some fish and a dead fox in hand. "Well, it's not much, but this should be enough for dinner." Ranma looked at his mother with her arm around Zelgadis. She didn't even remember when she put her arms around him to comfort him. Ranma looked at Nodoka questionly. Nodoka gave the "not now, I'll tell you later" look and Ranma went about mixing some herbs he had gathered to put on the fish for dinner. He already decided to jerky the fox so they would have something to eat as they traveled. As the fish were cooking, he dug a hole to begin smoking the fox meat.
---
It was late at night, when an old withery woman approached the Nekohan. The door creaked as she opened it and she went inside. She looked around the restaurant to find the person whom she was looking for, sitting at a small table sipping some tea.
"I've been expecting you, elder Lo Xian."
"It was expected that you would be, elder Ko Lon." Lo Xian slowly approached her fellow elder. They met with a kiss, two old leathery lips fell upon each other as saliva drooled down their wrinkled chins.
"It's nice to see you again, Lo Xian, I'm afraid I got bad news to report."
"Oh, and what is this bad news, and how is my grandson Mousse doing?"
"I'm afraid that Mousse is just as obsessed in Shampoo as he ever was, though his skills are improving quite a bit. He's too blind on his obsession to notice though. However, Shampoo's mission seems to be a failure. It turns out that Ranma belongs to the Pythion Sect."
"A druid? Most interesting indeed, we haven't heard anything from them in ages. This complicates matters quite a bit. The agreement between the Pythion Sect does negate the Kiss of Marriage, but it doesn't mean that Ranma and Shampoo can't marry out of love?"
"But Ranma doesn't love Shampoo, every plan I had to bring them together just seems to draw them apart more. Ranma isn't even around at the moment, he's off on a training trip with his mother."
"I suppose that Shampoo isn't taking it very well."
"No, she's been moping around for the last couple of days. Mousse, to his credit isn't acting in his usual manner, and is taken to comforting her ailments. But I think it's time that we tell them."
"Tell them?"
"Yes, they are old enough, they've been old enough for a while. We can't let our own pride get in the way of them knowing their true relationship to each other."
Lo Xian nods in agreement, as Ko Lon goes to summon her two wards.
Mousse and Shampoo came down from their rooms into the restaurant section of the Nekohan.
"GRANDMOTHER!" shouts out Mousse as he gives her a big hug.
"Greetings, elder Lo Xian," greets Shampoo as she bows to the elder. Her eyes are all red and puffy as if she's been crying a lot. She hasn't taken the news of losing her husband to be too well.
"Shampoo, Mousse, as you both know, because of an ancient treaty, Ranma is no longer to be engaged to Shampoo," started Lo Xian. "Because of the ancient treaty, your honor shall remain intact. Though, there is something both of you should know."
Shampoo and Mousse leaned in a little closer. "Many years ago, a great warrior entered the village. Both Cologne and me were guarding the outpost to the village when he approached. Both of us seeing the opportunity to strengthen our bloodline, we both challenged him and lost. As per custom, the first Amazon to give him ceremonial glomp would get to be his wife. As it turned out, we both gave it to him at the same time, making up the Amazon Double Glomp, the first, but now forbidden Amazon technique. That night, we all shared the same bed as the warrior. By him, we both had child, Shampoo, your great grandmother, and Mousse, your great-grandfather." There was a gasp by both the young Amazons.
"But that is not where the story ends. That very night, while both Ko Lon and I were in bed, the great warrior left our bed-chambers." Lo Xian and Ko Lon shared a glance, "and while we were sleepily enjoying each other's embrace, he went out into the village and stole many an Amazon treasure, not to mention many an Amazon's panties."
Shampoo and Mousse felt a little dizzy and nauseous, not only were they related, but if what they suspected was true...
"He he, what a haul what haul!" Happosai said as he barged into the Nekohan with a large bag full of women's undergarments. A grin appeared on his face. "Well Lo Xian, it's nice to see you again! I'd like to stick around and chat about the old days, or perhaps relive some old experiences." Happosai winked his eyebrows up and down, "but I'm afraid I got a mob after me," he said as he ran out the back door. Just then a hoard of angry women of all ages, shapes, and sizes ran through the Nekohan after the dreaded Happosai.
Shampoo looked at the two elders in a state of shock. There was an awkward pause between the four of them before Ko Lon broke it by saying, "No! Not him, it was another perverted master!" With that, Shampoo and Mouse fainted. Just the thought of another Happossai out there was enough to make anyone pass out.
But before Moouse could faint fully, Lo Xian grabbed him, "Not yet, boy, there's another surprise for you."
With that, all color drained out of Mousse's face, "No."
Old withery lips curled into a grin, "yes."
Just then another Amazon crashed through a wall in the Nekohan, and promptly glomped onto Mousse.
Mousse stuttered, "Ta-ta-ta... TAMPON!" and then fainted-
Ko Lon shook her head, she had to remind Tiem Pon that you don't crash through walls of other Amazon's restaurants.
-----
Night fell over Ucchan's Restaurant, Ukyo and Konastu were busily cleaning up the kitchen when Ukyo heard the chime for the door dingle.
"Sorry! I'm afraid we're closed for the ni-SHAMPOO!"
"Shampoo know closed, Shampoo came to talk," she said as she held up a bottle of sake as a peace offering. Ukyo narrowed her eyes, "what is this about? And why me?"
"Is about ex-arien, and why you, because you better then kitchen destroyer or stupid Mousse. Kiss of marriage called off because of stupid loophole." Ukyo saw the hurt in Shampoo's eyes as well as a desperate loneliness.
"I'll tell you what shuga, I'll open late tomorrow and we can have a nice long chat tonight. Hell, let's just have a good old-fashioned slumber party! However, that's not gonna last for too long!" Said Ukyo pointing to the bottle of sake. "Konastu, would you mind finishing cleaning up here and then bring a couple of more bottles of sake up before you join us?"
Konastu blinked, "Lady Ukyo, do you think that's a good idea? After all, I am not really a girl and I think this situation..
"This situation calls for Shampoo not being alone tonight," Ukyo turns to Shampoo, "you don't really mind if Konastu joins us tonight? I know it's supposed to be like a girl's night or something, but who knows more about being a girl then Konastu? Besides, I hate to admit it, but I've never really been to a slumber party myself, and I'm at a loss of what to do."
Shampoo was less then more surprised at the development of the situation, she paused for a moment to think it over, "Shampoo no mind if sissy boy come over slumber part, Shampoo never go to slumber party either. It usually boy thing in Amazon Village."
Ukyo scowled, "You know, I don't care much you calling me Spatula Girl, or Akane Kitchen Destroyer or Pervert Girl, or even Uncute Fiancée, but please, Konastu has a name, and I do not appreciate it you calling him sissy boy!"
Both Konastu and Shampoo were taken back by Ukyo's over protectiveness of her employee, ninja, and friend. But Shampoo just smiled, "Ok, Shampoo no mind if Konastu come over slumber party."
"But Lady Ukyo, I still don't think"
Ukyo turned back to Konastu, "You know, shuga, maybe that's your problem. Anyway what Shampoo needs tonight are friends, please Konastu?"
Konastu sighed, on one hand, he'd do anything for his Lady Ukyo, even kill if the situation ever arises. But there was this awkwardness of the situation that he just couldn't fathom. "As you wish, Lady Ukyo."
Ukyo smacked him over the head, "At least for tonight, just call me Ukyo, ok, Shuga?"
Ukyo led Shampoo up to her room, "We can change into some nightclothes when Konastu is finished, besides, I don't really have anything to wear to a slumber party myself. This should be quite an interesting night for the both of us."
"Shampoo agree, Shampoo always wondered what boys do during slumber party. Shampoo and friends use to sneak over to peak when young," Shampoo said as her face turned slightly red and led out a giggle. "Once saw boys practice kissing on each other through window!" Shampoo said in a conspiring whisper.
A grin went over Ukyo's face, "Oh really, did you see anything else?"
Shampoo pouted, "No, got caught by Village guard, got sent home to mama and papa. Mama was mad but papa asks if Shampoo enjoyed what she saw and mama promptly whacked him on the head. Mama grounded Shampoo for two weeks, no martial arts practice and no patrol."
"So, was it worth it?"
Shampoo grinned evilly, "It worth it!" The two girls broke out in a fit of laughter as Ukyo opened the door to her room. They went to a small floor table where they sat on a few pillows around it. Ukyo opened up the bottle and took a swig of it before passing it to Shampoo.
"So, what brings you here of all places, Shampoo?"
Shampoo takes a drink as well and replies, "Like Shampoo say, kiss of marriage null, ex-arien's part of something that Shampoo no understand. Shampoo no longer honor bound to stay in Japan, but Shampoo no thinks she ready to go yet. Shampoo just get taste of world outside village, and no think see enough yet."
"So you're going to have to go back to China soon now that the kiss of marriage is void?"
"Shampoo no know, no decision yet. Shampoo hope not, Shampoo hope to see Ranma again." Shampoo smiles and blushes.
"So, Shampoo, when did you actually fall in love with Ranma," asked Ukyo.
A sheepish grin came over Shampoo's face, "Shampoo have little little confession to make, Shampoo no love Ranma. Marry yes, but love no sure." Shampoo swoons,
"Ranma no like any man in Amazon Village, boys follow Shampoo like puppies, but scurry and hide when I turn back to look, others just boring. Shampoo like excitement," she says with a smile that's genuine.
"Well, I gots'ta admit! Being around Ran-chan's never a dull moment!"
"Yes, and look too too cute naked!" Shampoo says slyly.
"YOU SAW RANCHAN NAKED?"
"Shampoo sneak into bath when Shampoo come back to Japan. Also Nabiki sell photos."
Shampoo then takes a stack of photos where Ranma (male, I hope I didn't need to clarify this) is in various states of undress.
Ukyo looked indignant, "How come she never sold me any?" Shampoo just shrugs as she takes another swig.
"Ranma defiantly preferable to any Amazon male, but Shampoo no know love," sighs Shampoo. "In ancient Amazon lore, it speaks of love being like magic. It force that drives two people crashing towards each other, it is irresistible and insatiable. Shampoo feel force that bring to Ranma, but Ranma no feel force to bring to Shampoo. Shampoo want force to go both way. Shampoo confused now though, Shampoo always thought she marry Ranma, Shampoo no mind. Now Shampoo no know future."
Ukyo takes another sip, "Join the club, honey. My whole life I have been hunting down just one person. My life was singular with one purpose and one purpose only. The hunt consumed my life, it's objective focused my entire being. Then in one moment my whole life crumbled into the very raging sea I use to practice against. With just two words from my very prey's lips I fell apart, 'you're cute' he says. Suddenly my whole purpose to living crumbles, with a single thoughtless phrase. My whole being powders to dust to be swept up and reformed. I must have him, I had to have him. I used honor a lot but in my head, I thought, honor be damned, no matter how I must get him, I had to get him! He called me his cute fiancée, finally I had an identity I could accept, I didn't have to be a boy any longer, because I was now the 'cute fiancée'." Ukyo starts guzzling down the sake now, "But I could never figure out how to make him mine. Every time I moved closer, he'd pull away. Whenever I didn't do anything, he'd stroll on in and act as if we were the best of friends! I don't want to be friends, damnit! I want to be your wife and lover!" Ukyo shouts out to an invisible person while clutching the raised bottle in her hand, she takes a melancholy sip and speaks quietly now, "I rejected whom I was for so long, I didn't know how to be me anymore."
Shampoo takes the bottle from Ukyo, "Shampoo no think you blame self, Ranma is mystery, he no behave like anyone else. Shampoo think you can have any man you desire," she finishes the sentence with a little drink.
Somehow, the two now found themselves leaning back against the white panel wall of Ukyo's bedroom. "So, what is to become of us now shuga?"
Shampoo shakes her head, "Shampoo no know, is mystery."
Just then Konastu walks in with two more bottle of sake, "I finished cleaning up, I hope you don't mind if I take a shower before joining you two?"
Ukyo and Shampoo were broken out of their stupor, "That's a great idea! We'll all have a shower before we change into something to sleep in, do you have anything for us to sleep in?"
"Well, I got some nice nighties, some baby dolls, I got a couple of these really cute spaghetti strap chemise that cuts just about the belly with matching silk shorts ..."
As Konastu keeps on rambling about his nightwear wardrobe, Ukyo shares a conspiring eye with Shampoo. "Ok, it's settled, TO THE FURO," yells out Ukyo and Shampoo as the both grabbed either side of Konastu's elbows and dragging him to the bathroom.
"WAIT! I'm really a guy! It just isn't proper Lady Ukyo!"
"I asked you not to call me LADY UKYO," she says as she starts tearing off his clothes and forces him down on the stool as Shampoo starts sudding him up. This never happened whenever Lady Ukyo drank before! He's had dreams like this before, which he fully enjoyed, but cold reality sobered him up even though he didn't get a chance to drink yet.
A little while later...
Ukyo, Shampoo, and Konastu were relaxing in the furo, passing a bottle of sake to each other. Konastu was at first embarrassed (not to mention bare assed) at the exposure, but now he was a little disappointed that all they were doing was taking a bath, just like when he would bath with his sisters. A soggy Konastu was sitting quietly while Ukyo and Shampoo were just talking about things. It seemed to him that they both had things to say, but nary an outlet to say them to before. A pressure release valve was released and talk seemed to be steaming it's way out. Konastu shifted from boredom, to wide-eyed fascination, to utter shock as Shampoo and Ukyo hopped from one conversation to another, sometimes not even stopping to takes breathes before the leap.
"So, now Ranma out of bound, who next on list?" asked Shampoo.
"What about Mousse?" asked Ukyo.
"Shampoo been running from him for long time. Besides, he has too too small penis!"
"You don't say!" giggled Ukyo.
"Actually Mousse has a pretty big penis." Both girls turn to Konastu. "We both go to the public baths together, it's not as if we try to hide from each other." After that comment, the conversation digressed to comparing penis sizes.
"Well, Ryoga isn't really that big, but he has a lot of, girth." Konastu felt guilty, sure he abandoned his masculinity, but he felt as if he was breaking some unwritten rule among men. "Tsusaba is really small, he's got a 5 year's old dick." But at the same time, the stares the girls broke him as if he were a twig. "... and Kuno seems to have a 24-hour erection. That probably explains why no blood ever gets to his head. Even in the public baths, it's just there, floating around..." Konastu didn't mean to talk as much as he did, really, but for once he just felt accepted, felt loved. He never had this at home, and when he first got here no one really bothered to ask him how was his day. "The biggest dick I've seen so far probably goes to Hiroshi, that guy is just hung like a..." Besides, how would they ever know that he was talking about them?
Hiroshi sneezed. He hoped he wasn't coming down with a cold.
After the bath, they all walked down the hallways in single file wearing bathrobes and towels over their heads. They first stopped at Konastu's room to get something decent to wear, though decency was the last thing going through the two girls minds.
"Shampoo like!" She says as she holds up a white satin and black lace chemise. She turns around and drops the towel and bathrobe to the floor and wiggles into the chemise.
Ukyo settled on a turquoise set of silken shorts with a half-sleeve button collar shirt and Konastu puts on an indigo babydoll.
---
Ukyo wakes up with a pounding in her head; she promises herself that she's never going to drink ever again, and this time she really means it. Then she realizes it is the door. Ukyo stirred from where she passed out on the floor in-between Shampoo and Konastu and starts to feel this stirring in her stomach.
Ukyo immediately races to the bathroom just in time to vomit into the toilet bowl. It keeps coming and coming with no end in sight and that damn banging is still at the door and Ukyo can taste acidic bile dripping out of her nose.
She just stopped vomiting, but she is sitting on the floor next to the toilet just incase it wasn't the last she heard from last night. She opened her eyes to see a withery old figure standing on a cane by the door to the room. Ukyo immediately turns over so her vomit goes in the bowl. Cologne merely frowns.
When Ukyo was finished the second time, Cologne says, "I just wanted to thank you for being with Shampoo last night. She was in a miserable state and she needed someone to talk to."
Ukyo mutely nods to Cologne as she scoops up Shampoo and heads over to the Nekohan.
---
It had been six months since Ranma and Nodoka came to live in Zelgadis' home. And Ranma has been a most apt pupil. He already had the basics of Earth, Fire, Spirit, and Wind spells down. But Ranma seemed to excel on the water spells. He even figured out how to cure the Jusenkyo curse. Though, by this time he grew accustomed to it, and even figured out the advantage of keeping it. It saved his neck countless times before. It was more then that though. The curse was apart of him now. To get rid of it meant that he'd kill a part of himself that he was only starting to appreciate. All the months gone, though, he missed Akane terribly. He dreamt of her at night, the scent of her hair, the rare times that she actually smiled at him, all the times he saved her. He knew now that he really did love her, the uncute fiancée. It's kinda funny, you don't really appreciate someone until they're gone. But Ranma had every intention of going back to her. His mother, on the other hand, he never really learned to appreciate until he found her again.
"Dare Brando" cried Zelgadis. The ground underneath Ranma suddenly erupted, and Ranma was blasted into a large boulder. "Damnit, Ranma, you have to pay attention to the fight at hand! You can't be caught daydreaming during a fight or you might end up dead!"
Ranma grinned, "Oh yeah? Visfarank!" Ranma's hands began to glow with magic,
"Kachuu Tenshin Amagurikan!" Ranma's hands blurred with chi and augmented with magic delivering the spell that Amelia first made up into a deadly combination. Zelgadis was unable to defend himself from Ranma's superior fighting ability and was knocked back.
Zelgadis smirked, "That was good, but it still doesn't excuse you for your earlier lapse! For the rest of the day, I want you to meditate to clear your mind of all distractions!"
Ranma just groaned, but complied with what his sensei's ordered.
----
Akane sighed. This was supposed to have been one of the happiest days of her life. But Ranma's been gone for 2 months already and he missed her graduation. The Baka was probably trying to prove himself manly for his mother by chasing a bunch of girls.
"Akane!" Nabiki approached her younger sister after the graduation ceremony and gave her a hug. "Congratulations on graduation! Here, I got a gift for you, come with me to the dojo!" The two sister ran merrily to the family dojo, Akane opened up the training hall to find a Kawasaki motorcycle in the middle of the dojo. Akane turned dumbfounded to her older sister, who was smirking at her while holding up a set of keys to the bike. "What can I say? Business has been good for me. It's time I've been good to my family. This is also an apology for the way I treated you in high school. It's not the best bike on the market, but it's a pretty good bike to start up on."
Akane didn't know what to say, so she just grabbed her older sister in a bear hug and haphazardly dragged her around like she was a rag doll. "A-a-akane, I can't breathe!" whimpered out Nabiki. Akane eeped and dropped her sister to the floor.
"Anyway," continued Nabiki as she dusted herself off, "I heard you got accepted to Juuban University, congrats, sis. I hear they have a good liberal arts department. So, have you figured out what you're going to be majoring in?"
"Ummm, yeah, I'm going to major in acting with a minor in Phys. Ed. I already got my room assignment too! My new roommate is named Michiru Kaioh. We talked earlier on the phone to get to know each other. She's a music major, but she also is interested in Literature so we might have a couple of classes together this first semester.
Nabiki grinned; it wasn't her usual, "I know something that you don't know that will eventually cost you a pretty little yen" grin. It was an honest and playful grin, "Hey Akane, what do you say we take this baby out for a spin?"
Akane returned her grin, "Ok, sis, but I get to drive!"
---
"Ranma." Said Zelgadis, "you have been here for a year and a day already, you have already proven yourself to be a very gifted sorcerer. How ever, there is only so much I can teach you. You have to go out in the world. Think of it as, an extended training trip. During that time, I want you to devise some spells on your own. I also know your fondness for those chi attacks that you do. They are quite impressive, though I think you should be able to refine them to a degree where you can combine your magic with your chi. So far, you've been using your magic and your chi together, but separately. I am unsure if there is a way to combine them together. If there is a way, though, I'm, sure you'll find it."
"But what about my mother?"
"Well, she commented the other night about how her magic training has been lax for so long. I asked her if she wanted me to retrain her and she accepted. You don't have to worry about your mother. Even if I wasn't around, the skill with that sword of hers is almost frightening!"
Ranma nodded. He remembered all the times he had to hide from his mother because of his baka oyaji. He later learned that his mother knew all along, something about a mother always knowing her child, even if there was a curse on him. She just played along because she knew that he felt uncomfortable with that little seppuku contract hanging over his head. Besides, sometimes it was just so funny to watch.
---
"Hello, Michiru, I'm Akane Tendo, it's nice to finally meet you!" Akane greeted her new roommate. "Need any help moving your stuff in?" Akane was already moved in. She even had a stuffed piglet doll. Whatever happened to P-chan anyway?
"It's nice to meet you as well, Akane Tendo," smiled Michiru. "And any help you might give would be a greatly appreciated," puffed Michiru as she carried some bags.
---
Ranma-chan set out on her own for the first time. She felt it was safer setting out in her female form, considering her curse still attracted a large amount of water. A whole spectrum of emotion ranged through Ranma-chan's head. She felt anxious, nervous, and a little scared too. But the overriding emotion was excitement! She was finally going out on her own. She hasn't really been out of Zelgadis's home, which consisted of a large house surrounded by a large stonewall. He kept to himself on the most part, the only time Ranma went out was to get supplies from a nearby town called Lemoire. Which is a city in the middle of the country of Raltegue. Yes, she had a whole new world to explore.
"Damn, I wished I learned Mousse's hidden weapon technique when I had the chance," mused Ranma-chan. She still had the same pack she carried with her all over Japan and China, though it was old, it was still in good condition, as long as she didn't pack any heavy weights in it. She carried some rations with her as well as clothes for both forms. She also carried some money with her, Zelgadis explained that about 50 years ago, all the kingdoms in the Northern Sub-continent agreed on a standard money currency, something having to do with inflation. Ranma didn't really care about that stuff, but she had a whole bag full of it. It'd last her a good 3 months of city living. Though, on the road, it could last her up to 9.
"Where to go where to go?" Ranma-chan murmured to herself. She didn't have a clue. She decided to take a cue from her father. Close her eyes, spin around in a circle for a bit, and point to a direction. Wasn't too scientific, but she didn't have any other means to go by.
Ranma-chan frowned. She pointed to the same direction where she started. So she tried again. "North it is!" she smiled. Zelgadis never did tell her what Saillune was like after the Tera-Slave. She might as well go to check for herself. Ranma-chan hopped it wasn't too far.
~~~
"You were so funny in class today, Akane. Just staring blankly at Micheru's face." Remarked Sakura.
"Akane likes Micheru, yea?" Added in Risuke.
Akane blushed slightly, "Don't, don't be silly."
"Yeah, but you have to admit that Michiru is pretty ideal, for a man or a
woman." Replied Risuke.
"It's as if we don't even have any chance with her here," teased Misato.
"I don't feel that way, really," said Akane, but not as loud as she would have a few months ago.
"Well, let's just say that Akane really does have a chance," added Sakura.
"I don't like her, besides, I already have a fiancé!" Said Akane, with a little bit of anger.
"Relax Akane, besides, we were only teasing you." Said Misato as Akane's cheeks turned red with embarrassment.
"Hey Akane, have you decided what clubs you wanted to join?" Sakura asked trying to change the uncomfortable conversation.
"Well, I think I want to join the theater club and karate club, of course. But I also think I wanna join the school's racing club as well!"
"Oh really? I was planning on joining the racing club too," added Misato.
Risuke suddenly got a little nervous, "You, in the racing club?"
"Yes, me in the racing club. What? You don't think I can do it?" answered Misato.
"Oh, it's not that you can't do it. I just fear for the safety of all the other drivers in the club."
"You don't think I'm a good driver?"
"Oh, I think you are a very good driver, as long as there are no pedestrians or any other driver there that you might accidentally hit!"
As the two continued to argue, Sakura looked to Akane, "isn't it time to get to get to our next class?"
Akane looked at her watch, "yeah, but what should we do about those two?"
"Never mind them, they go like this all the time, besides, I don't want to be late!" So Akane and Sakura left the two still in heated discussion.
---
Ranma-chan was walking down a road. She looked around, miles and miles of cornstalks. Must be farm country. Ranma lazily grabbed a cornhusk and started ripping off the husk, and munching on the corn lazily. "Gee, this sure is much better then sparring with Zelgadis, or even mom," grumbled Ranma-chan. Though Nodoka wasn't as good as Ranma, she still managed to surprise him once in a while. Hmm, she sure could use a fight with Ryoga right about now.
"How goes your travelings, my dear wanderer?"
Ranma-chan turned around to see a cloaked figure on the fence. He wasn't there before, Ranma was sure of it. He also wasn't getting much of an aura off of him. Magic or otherwise, whoever he was, he was really gifted at hiding it, she'd give him that. "You know, you look very familiar." Said the stranger as he tapped his temple. "Oh well, I don't suppose you could use the company on your way to Saillune?"
"How'd you know I was going to go to Saillune," asked Ranma-chan as she narrowed her eyes, trying to look menacing.
"How did I know you're going to Saillune? Hmm, how did I know you were going to Saillune?" The stranger tapped his chin as if he was in deep thought, "That, is a secret."
Ranma-chan growled, "WHO ARE YOU?"
Who am I?" asked the stranger with a smile. And music started singing out in the woods
"Please allow me to introduce myself
I'm a man of wealth and taste
I've been around for a long, long year
Reduced many a Ryozuko's life to waste."
Ranma looked around and saw a troll on a drum kit
"And I was 'round when Lina Inverse
Had her moment of doubt and pain
Made damn sure that Ruby-Eye
Washed his hands and sealed her fate
Pleased to meet you
Hope you guess my name
Ranma looked around and saw another troll on guitar, it's name was Keith.
"But what's puzzling you
Is the nature of my game
"I stuck around Saillune
When I saw it was a time for a change
Watched a once great and powerful empire
Turn into a ball of dust and grain.
Horns blared out of nowhere, Ranma turned towards the noise to see an Orc horn section, with another Orc on an upright bass.
"I played a few pranks
Held a general's rank
When human wars raged
And the bodies stank
"Pleased to meet you
Hope you guess my name, oh yeah
Ah, what's puzzling you
Is the nature of my game, oh yeah
Ranma was positive that none of these creatures where here earlier. Yet here they were.
"I watched with glee
While your kings and queens
Fought for ten decades
For the gods they made
I shouted out,
"Who killed Heroes of Old?"
When after all
It was you and me
"Let me please introduce myself
I'm a man of wealth and taste
And I laid traps for the troubadours
That got them burned on the steak
Pleased to meet you
Hope you guessed my name, oh yeah
But what's puzzling you
Is the nature of my game, oh yeah, get down, baby
Pleased to meet you
Hope you guessed my name, oh yeah
But what's confusing you
Is just the nature of my game
"Just as every cop is a criminal
And all the sinners' saints
As heads is tails
Just call me the Trickster Priest
'Cause I'm in need of some restraint
Realization of the stranger's identity hit Ranma like a bowl of Akane's teriyaki.
"So if you meet me
Have some courtesy
Have some sympathy, and some taste
Use all your well-learned politesse
Or I'll lay your soul to waste, um yeah
"Pleased to meet you
Hope you guessed my name, um yeah
But what's puzzling you
Is the nature of my game, um mean it, get down
More monster came out of nowhere, this time it was a pack of werewolves with microphones singing backup.
"Woo, who
Oh yeah, get on down
Oh yeah
Oh yeah!
Tell me baby, what's my name
Tell me honey, can ya guess my name
Tell me baby, what's my name
I tell you one time, you're to blame
Ooo, who
Ooo, who
Ooo, who
Ooo, who, who
Ooo, who, who
Ooo, who, who
Ooo, who, who
Oh, yeah
What's me name
Tell me, baby, what's my name
Tell me, sweetie, what's my name
Ooo, who, who
Ooo, who, who
Ooo, who, who
Ooo, who, who
Ooo, who, who
Ooo, who, who
Ooo, who, who
Oh, yeah"
"Xellos." Zelgadis warned Ranma about him.
"In the flesh!" Said Xellos, as if it was something to be proud of.
"I'm going to pound you," exclaimed Ranma-chan!
Xellos just laughed in her face. "My young druid, why would you want to pound on me?"
"Because you're evil!"
Xellos looked almost hurt by the comment. "Why, I'm not evil, I'm just merely misunderstood, my dear boy. After all, I am merely an artist in my craft, some people just happen to resent me for it! You of all people should understand about being misunderstood!"
"But I didn't do nothing I was ever accused of!"
"Doesn't matter, there's a stigma branded on the likes of us. People seek us out because of something lacking in them. The only exceptions I've ever had were perhaps Lina and Zelgadis. Athough, Lina was easily manipulated through her greed, there was something special about her that I always liked."
"What do you know about Lina?"
"What do I know about Lina Inverse? What do you know about Lina Inverse for that matter? Besides, I'm not here to talk about Lina Inverse. I'm here to talk about you!"
Ranma-chan just smirked, "You'd never get the chance!"
"Ranma, you're confidence is something that is quite attractive to me, but let's be serious here. Right now, you simply aren't strong enough, I'm ten thousand times as powerful as I was when Lina Inverse was around, and you're not as powerful as her yet. You don't have any light sword or any other artifacts to focus your power through, and besides, as a druid, you shouldn't attack me unless I am disrupting the balance between good and evil. Which I am not, besides, I got something that would probably help out your friend, Zelgadis!"
"What about Zelgadis?"
"Well, as you know, Zelgadis isn't human anymore. He's part golem, part chimera, and part demon. Throughout most of his life, he's been seeking a cure for this curse. And, my friend, I know where that cure is!"
"How do I know you're telling me the truth," asked Ranma?
"Ranma, my boy, have I ever lied to you?"
"Not that I know of, but we only just met."
"You hurt me through your accusations! Besides, I don't lie. I may not tell you everything, or an altered version of it, I might even embellish things at time, but I don't lie."
Ranma-chan seethed, she didn't like being so close to someone of his nature.
"What is it?"
Xellos just smiled, "The Claire Bible, I know where it is!"
That stopped Ranma-chan. She knew of what it was, it was suppose to be some book that contained everything that ever was and ever will be. "Then why don't you just get it yourself?"
"Because, Ranma, I have no need of it!"
"What do you mean you have no need of it?"
"What do you think I mean? Of what purpose would I want it? It takes all the fun out of causing mayhem.
"Where is it?"
"I must warn you, the trip is quite dangerous, and trouble looms everywhere!"
"Heh, I eat trouble for breakfast, and danger is my middle name!"
"Oh? I thought it was Ko? But that's beside the point. The Claire Bible is just beyond the Desert of Destruction to the south, in the capital of the Goblin King. Go to Solaria, there will be a caravan there that will take you to Dorr, the southern-most city of Elmekia. It'll go through Saillune so you'll even get a chance to see the once powerful kingdom. I'll also suggest you find some companions, it's not easy wandering through the desert alone."
Ranma looked southward. He turned back to Xellos but he was gone. Well, on to Solaria, and Ranma-chan headed north again.
----
Akane and Michiru stumbled into their dorm room late once evening. To say that they were inebriated would be like saying that an earthquake is a slight adjustment of the earth's plates. They were just returning from a frat party where they partnered up in a game of beer pong. They may have won 15 games in a row, but the victory came at a heavy price as Akane raced to pray to the porcelain god. Michiru was right behind her, rubbing between Akane's shoulders and the small of her back trying to comfort her sick friend.
Akane dry heaved for a few minutes before she sat on the floor with her back leaning against the bathtub. She could still feel her stomach cramping.
"Are you ok, Akane?"
"I'm feeling surprisingly good."
"That usually happens after you puke up all the alcohol!"
"What about you? Do you feel any urges to purge yourself of that vile brew?"
"I'm doing ok at the moment, but you sure are a mess!"
"Yeah, maybe I should shower before I go to sleep."
"Do you know what? I feel pretty scummy myself, mind if I join you?"
Akane turned red, but it was probably from the alcohol, "I don't know."
"Oh, come on Akane, it isn't that much different from the bath houses, and besides, in case one of us falls, the other will be there to pick her up!"
Akane couldn't argue with that logic, "Ok!" And they both started undressing and they entered the shower when the water got warm.
"Akane, do you mind washing my back for me," asked Michiru as she turned her back away from Akane. She then stroked her hair over her left shoulder revealing her naked back to Akane.
"Sure," replied Akane, as took the soap and started rubbing her roommate's back with it. She felt the gravity of her friend pulling her closer and closer as she rubbed up and down Michiru's back. She tried to stop herself but all she could think about were the delicate curves of her back or the smoothness of Michiru's small but tight shoulders.
"Thank you," replied Michiru as she suddenly turned around. There was a slight grin on her face as she broke the spell she put on Akane. There was less then an inch apart when Michiru asked, "Do you want me to do your back as well?" She asked coyly as she lightly caressed Akane's hip.
It didn't look like Akane was going to reply anytime soon so Michiru turned her around and started massaging the soap into her back. "Do you know what, Akane?"
"Wha-what is it," stammered Akane.
"I've been having dreams about you, have you been having dreams about me too?"
"No," answered Akane as she tried to pull away. She was unsuccessful and she
answered again, "Yes," she said quietly, but Michiru heard it. She was now rubbing Akane's lower back, while rubbing up against her backside.
"We... we were in a big castle together, you were"
"I was your queen and you were my king." finished Michiru.
"Yes! Yes, how did you know?"
Michiru whispered into her other ear, "I've been having the same dreams, Akane.
I think it's a sign."
"What kind of sign, Michiru?"
Michiru's hands darted around her waist and hugged Akane tightly. "I think they mean that we were meant to be together," answered Michiru.
"But, what about Ranma, I've always known, I mean I've always thought we'd be together."
"But didn't you say that Ranma always treats you badly? He never eats your cooking and he never spars with you. He likes to hang around all these other girls and he's always calling you names. He's a jerk Akane, you've always said it yourself. Besides, how long are you suppose to wait for him? He's probably out having the time of his life while you are here sad and alone." Her right hand was slowly moving up the left side of Akane's ribs. "Anyway, I've seen you staring at me in class," she purred. "I know you think about me, do you think about Ranma? Do you love Ranma? Do you even know what love is? After all, this Ranma was your first boyfriend, right?"
"Yes!" answered Akane, trying hard not to squeal in pleasure as Michiru started massaging her left breast.
"Yes? Yes to which question?" Where Michiru's right hand headed upwards, her left hand slid downwards, just edging to the upper tip of Akane's inner thigh.
Akane lost all sense of self-control, any will power that she could muster suddenly just crumbled along with all the soap suds and grime down the drain. She tried to resist, but it was a futile gesture as she turned around and kissed Michiru full on the lips.
---
Ranma was in male form as he entered the small town. The town was called Phoenix because it had risen from the ashes of a great fire, which had completely destroyed the earlier and much larger city called Phoenix. Nobody knew why that city was called Phoenix, but it was a small town now.
He was thinking about getting something to eat when a little girl of about 12 ran into him. "Oh, sorry about that!" He said.
"You should be! You should watch out where you're going!" She said as she kicked him in the shin and ran away.
Emily ran down the street and turned into the alleyway. She stopped for a moment to catch her breath before she pulled the pouch that she just took from her clothes. She opened it up to find that she was quite wealthy, at least for her standards.
"You know? That wasn't very nice." Said a voice behind her. She turned around to find the pigtailed guy she just stole from laying lazily against the alleyway wall. She gasped and tried to run away when she ran right into a wall. Well, she thought it was a wall at first but it turned out to be the very same pigtailed guy.
She greedily grabbed her pouch and said, "You can't have it! I stole it fair and square!"
"Oh, then maybe I should just call the town guards and let them settle this matter?"
Emily's eyes widened in fear, "you wouldn't!"
The guy just smiled, "Don't need to!" He said as he held up his pouch before her very eyes. She looked down at her own hands to find that it was terribly lacking in stolen pouches.
Just then her stomach growled, Ranma sighed. "Come on, let's go get something to eat, I'm starving! By they way, my name's Ranma, what's yours?"
Emily didn't know what to do, after all, she's never been in a position like this before. But her stomach won the argument. "E-emily."
"Well, Emily, where are your parents? I'm sure they'd like to know what you've been up to?"
"I... I don't have any parents." She said sadly. Ranma could tell that she wasn't lieing.
"Well, Emily, I've had a long day of traveling, so I'm looking forward to getting a nice bite to eat before going to the inn, what do you say?"
"Sure?"
"Well, ok then! I'm new to this town, is there any place good to eat? It's starting to get late, so I'd like to get to the inn before it gets dark."
Emily worked herself out of her stupor long enough to work out a little plan of her own. She smiled a coy smile and said, "I'll be happy to be your guide, for a small fee of course!"
Ranma returned her smile with a smile of his own, and said, "sure, just lead the way to the food!"
Ranma and Emily entered the Lucky Dragon tavern and inn. After consuming mass quantities of food, Ranma paid the bill. Emily looked at him, "So, where's my fee?"
"Don't worry, you'll get your money. But first, lets go get some sleep." Ranma said as he yawned. "Besides, you wanted to me to hire you as a guide, well, it just so happens I need a guide to Solaria. And since you already offered your services..."
"No! That wasn't part of the agreement! You said if I show you to a place where you can get something good to eat, I'd get some money!"
"That was not the agreement, you said for a small fee, that you'd be my guide. I want you to guide me to Solaria." Ranma leaned close to her, "Besides, you need a bath!"
"I'm not the only one!" snapped back Emily.
"So we're in agreement," said Ranma cheerfully. "Tonight we take a nice long bath before we go to sleep before we head out tomorrow. Just stay here while I go get a room," said Ranma as he went over to the counter to rent a room.
---
Akane and Michiru are outside Tendo home, it's fall break. Akane walks into the Tendo home to be greeted by...
"AKANE!" screams Soun, who promptly starts crying. "Oh, my baby girl has returned home to me!" He says as he greets her with a big hug.
"Hello, daddy, this is my roomate, Michiru."
"Well, hello there, Michiru. It's nice to finally meet you, Akane's told us so much about you. I hope my Akane isn't getting you in too much in trouble!" Soun says with a playful smile.
"Oh daddy-"
"Oh, if only Ranma was here so you two could get married! Oh happy day!"
"Daddy?"
"Yes Akane?"
"Where's Nabiki?"
Soun suddenly got solemn. "Poor dear, she's been in her room ever since she caught Hiro sleeping with one of those sorority sisters of hers. She seems ok though. Perhaps you want to talk with her?"
"Sure daddy. Come on Michiru, I'll show you my room then where you can put your things then we'll go see how Nabiki's doing."
In Nabiki's room. Nabiki wasn't crying or anything. No, not at all. Nabiki doesn't cry. She is the ice queen of Furnikan High after all. She was just numb. Just like the day her mother died. Not that the situation was even half as bad, but the pain that she was trying to hide from herself was just as deep.
She thought that he was the one. She thought that she found someone that would always be there for her, just like what Ranma was to Akane. It wasn't fair. She sacrificed her very soul for her family's well being. She's done things that have been of a questionable nature, sure. But that was to keep food on the table and the land in their name. Regrets? Sure, she had a few but the ends justify the means, don't they? Where was her reward, where was her Ranma? Why the hell was she thinking of that lughead? She knew why, because she knew, when it came down to it, Ranma Saotome doesn't lose. She lost though, she felt like she lost big time.
"Nabiki?" Her musings were interrupted as her sister Akane walked in.
"Hi Nabiki, how are you holding up?"
"I don't know, Akane. I just don't know. I know I should feel something inside, but there's nothing left. By the way, how did you find out?"
"Kasumi called me up late last night."
Nabiki's eyes widened. "How did Kasumi find out? Isn't she still on her honeymoon with Tofu?" They've been in Okinawa for over a month already. How could Kasumi know something was wrong, and so fast?
"I don't know, she just knew." Nabiki finally notices the young girl with Akane
"Oh, sorry sis, this is my roommate, Michiru."
"Pleased to meet you, Michiru."
"Yeah, sorry we couldn't meet under better circumstances," replied Michiru.
Akane suddenly did something Nabiki never expected. Akane grabbed her sister in a big hug. Nabiki was frozen for a few moments, then she lowered her head onto
Akane's shoulder and she suddenly started crying. Akane patted her older sister on the back. After a few minutes Nabiki stopped crying. Rubbing her tear-stained bloodshot eyes Nabiki said, "Sorry, I don't usually lose it like that, especially in front of a stranger."
"It's ok, Nabiki, it was a long time coming. I can't even remember the last time I saw you cry.
"Yeah, lucky you, you got Ranma. He'll always be there for you, just as soon as he comes back. Remember the letter that Nodoka brought when she served uncle panda the divorce papers?"
Nabiki gave a tearful chuckle. It seemed that Nodoka knew all along of Genma's treatment of her son. Why she waited so long to act on the knowledge was a mystery to her. Maybe it had to do with that Ranma thought that Nodoka would put him to death if she ever found out about the curse? Living with the fear of death coming from one's own mother was something that Nabiki could just not understand! Nodoka came in like a rage, took the Saotome family blade and broke it into right over Genma's head. She said that the Saotome family had no honor to deserve a blade, and Nodoka gave him the papers finalizing the divorce on grounds of child abuse and abandonment. She also mentioned that there are various agencies that would like to talk to Genma when he had the chance. That was the last time any of the Tendo line would see Genma.
Nabiki was sure that the Saotome-Tendo pledge would have been voided, but Ranma was there to save the day again, even though he wasn't really there. He wrote a letter to Akane, from the way he sounded it was as if he had been away for years instead of just 4 months. He finally proclaimed his love for her, even though it was in a letter. But at least it was written down. And he said as soon as he returned he'd like to marry her! She also found out that Ukyo and Shampoo got letters of their own. She wasn't able to find out what Shampoo's letter said, because the old ghoul and her lover kept everything shut in very tightly. But she did get a chance to read Ukyo's.
He said that he did love her, but not the love that a man and a woman share, but that of two siblings. He said he'd do anything he could to help her satisfy her honor without resorting to marriage or death. There was more to it then that, and even she had to admit that it was a nice letter, but she remembered what
Ukyo was like after the letter. Thank goodness for Konastu. He was there for her atleast. They aren't going out or anything like that, but it is obvious that they have grown closer. To her surprise, Shampoo and Ukyo were getting along great now as well. She wasn't sure what happened, but along the line they forged a strong bond to each other.
"Ummmm, Nabiki, I don't think I'm going to marry Ranma."
"What do you mean? Ranma loves you, you love him, what could be the problem?"
"Nabiki, I don't love Ranma. The nerve of him, thinking that I'd marry him at the drop of the hat just because he proposed! How long does he expect me to wait for him anyway?" Akane turned away from her sister's eyes, "besides, I found someone else."
"Who is it?
"I'd rather not say."
"Oh my gosh, it's not Kuno, is it?"
"No, but he somehow still finds the time to bother me. It's not Kuno though. I'd
just rather not talk about it now, sis."
"Ok, I'll leave it for now. You and me. The Dojo. After breakfast. Understand?"
Akane mutely nods before her and Michiru left Nabiki's room.
In Akane's room, Akane and Michiru were getting ready for bed. "I thought you were going to tell her about us?"
"I couldn't, not right now. She's been through a lot already, I just didn't want to add stress to her right now."
"You are planning on telling them about me, right Akane?"
"Yes, of course I am! I just want to wait for everything to cool down first, ok?"
Michiru smiled, "Ok!" Michiru then crawled on her hands and knees toward Akane on her bed. "How about a little goodnight kiss."
"Mmmmm, I think that might be a good idea!" Michiru's lips gently touched Akane's as her hand grasped the back of Akane's head so they could kiss deeper as Michiru leaned in on her. Akane fell back on her bed with Michiru on top of her as their legs became intertwined.
"Akane, I just wanted..." Soun eyes became wide as he saw his youngest daughter in a lovelock with her so-called 'roommate' from school. Akane and Michiru suddenly scrambled to fix their clothes.
"Daddy, I just-"
"Don't daddy me, what have you to say for yourself, what about Ranma?"
"But daddy, I-I don't love Ranma, I love Michiru."
"You will marry Ranma, and that is that! It has to do with family honor!"
"But Mrs. Saotome dissolved all of the engagements."
Soun's demon head rears it's ugly head, "You will marry Ranma or you will leave tonight and never return to the House of Tendo!"
"Fine."
"Good girl, now-"
"I'll pack up and leave tonight."
"What?"
"You heard me, I love Michiru, I don't know what I'd do without her."
Soun fainted from shock. When he woke up, his baby girl was gone. "Gee daddy, you really messed up big this time," said Nabiki.
"MY POOR BABY, I DIDN'T MEAN IT!" Souns water works started full blast.
The Druid
Chapter 2
Disclaimer: I do not own any rights to Ranma, Sailor Moon, or the Slayers. Nor do I own any rights to Grimus, the privilege belongs to someone else.
Ranma and his mother stepped in the circle; there was a flash of light. They got transported to another circle surrounded by trees. Very similar to where they were before, but instead of Izanami, they were met by a man in a white cloak. As he took off the cloak, his skin looked like that of stone, though his hair looked soft white snow.
"Hello Ranma, I am Zelgadis. And I will be your tutor to train you in the ways of mystic arts."
Zelgadis looked to the older woman next to his charge. "L-lina? I saw you die!"
Just then, it started to rain. Zelgadis looked at his new student as he transformed into a she. Zelgadis promptly fainted.
"Well, that never happened before, commented Ranma-chan.
Ranma-chan and Nodoka quickly revived Zelgadis. "I'm sorry, you just reminded me of someone I lost a long time ago." Apologized Zelgadis. Nodoka watched the pained expression on his face. "I was only expecting one person."
"No, Zelgadis. I'm sorry. I'm not this Lina person that you know. I am Nodoka, I am Ranma's mother."
Zelgadis looked back and forth between mother and newly changed daughter. "The resemblance is uncanny. Nodoka, you look just like Lina the last time I saw her. Ranma, you look like Lina the first time I met her. Though, your eyes are different, and your chest is bigger." Zelgadis just shook his head. "Come, we got a short journey to make to get you settled." Nodoka and Ranma-chan both noticed Zelgadis' expression, telling them a story of loss and loneliness. But explanations were nonforthcoming, so they didn't try push at any rate, for now in the least.
The three traveled for the greater part of the day. Not much being said after their initial meeting. Soon it grew dark and they decided to break for camp. Ranma left to go hunt for some food while Nodoka and Zelgadis waited at the campsite.
"Zelgadis-san?" said Nodoka.
"Yes Nodoka?"
"Who is this Lina?"
"If you don't mind Nodoka, I'd rather not talk about it."
"Well, actually, I do mind. It seems that you have something bottled up inside of you for too long a time. It might help if you talk about it."
There was pregnant silence before Zelgadis spoke, "There was this girl by the name of Lina Inverse. We met as enemies, but soon we developed a bond. More then comrades, really, we had many an adventure. More then once we saved this world from utter annihilation. Whenever things got at their worst, we all could depend on Lina to see us through the day. But it was that last time, that last time where everything came to boil, literally. See, there was this other girl that we traveled around with," this was the most Zelgadis ever said in a long time, but for some reason he couldn't stop. It had been inside of him for way too long.
"Her name was Amelia. When she was young, she was quite clumsy but her heart was always pure. But when she grew up, she became powerful and graceful, and her heart purer still. Amelia was the princess of a powerful kingdom, but she always found the time to help her people, and her people loved her for it. But one day, a powerful evil corrupted her. We never figured out how, but we think it was during one of her customary touring parties, where she traveled around talking with her subject. She knew these excursions were unsafe, but it went against her nature to do otherwise. We think a dark priest of the Mueltz order gave her the Amulet of Tork. It's an amulet where the Greater Overdaemon Lor Xu'tai was imprisoned. The amulet corrupted her.
"Where she was once good and pure, she became cruel and sadistic. She killed her own father one night and crowned herself Queen of Saillune. By the time we got there, it was too late for her. Although, Lina wouldn't admit it, she was quite fond of her. Amelia also had a sister, Nagha of the White Serpent. She was a bit crazy and the two never really got along, but deep down, Nagha did love her sister. We all faced her off together with Lina's husband, Gourry Gabriev. We tried to break her of the spell, but she was just too powerful for us, and we retreated to the outskirts of the kingdom, but we did face her again. The night before the battle, Lina came into my room. She said that if anything happened to her and her husband, Gourry, she wanted me to take care of her son, who was at the moment with her sister. She also confided with me something else. She was also pregnant with her second child. But she didn't want me to say anything. It was almost as if she knew what the outcome was going to be. I think she just told me so at least someone could tell the story. She told me of dreams she had the night before. She feared that she and her husband would not survive the confrontation.
"The battle was waged once again, it took all of our combined magic, as a focus into the most devastating spell our world has ever known, the Tera-Slave. It was a force of power that has never before been seen. When I woke up, all I could see for miles was just gone. No forest, no buildings, no towns or even hills. The province of Saillune was completely desolate. As for the rest of my companions, they were just gone. No bodies to even bury." Zelgadis was now openly weeping as he was talking, Nodoka was his captive audience. "I don't know how I survived. By all rights, I should have joined my friends in the afterlife, but I lived on. I didn't feel as if I had any right to live with all my friends' dead. I wandered for days. There was nothing to eat, nothing to drink. I finally passed out; hoping that death would take me to my friends. Instead, I woke up to find myself in the Kataart mountain range." Zelgadis' face grew dark, "in the home of the last person I thought would help me."
Before Zelgadis could elaborate, Ranma entered camp with some fish and a dead fox in hand. "Well, it's not much, but this should be enough for dinner." Ranma looked at his mother with her arm around Zelgadis. She didn't even remember when she put her arms around him to comfort him. Ranma looked at Nodoka questionly. Nodoka gave the "not now, I'll tell you later" look and Ranma went about mixing some herbs he had gathered to put on the fish for dinner. He already decided to jerky the fox so they would have something to eat as they traveled. As the fish were cooking, he dug a hole to begin smoking the fox meat.
---
It was late at night, when an old withery woman approached the Nekohan. The door creaked as she opened it and she went inside. She looked around the restaurant to find the person whom she was looking for, sitting at a small table sipping some tea.
"I've been expecting you, elder Lo Xian."
"It was expected that you would be, elder Ko Lon." Lo Xian slowly approached her fellow elder. They met with a kiss, two old leathery lips fell upon each other as saliva drooled down their wrinkled chins.
"It's nice to see you again, Lo Xian, I'm afraid I got bad news to report."
"Oh, and what is this bad news, and how is my grandson Mousse doing?"
"I'm afraid that Mousse is just as obsessed in Shampoo as he ever was, though his skills are improving quite a bit. He's too blind on his obsession to notice though. However, Shampoo's mission seems to be a failure. It turns out that Ranma belongs to the Pythion Sect."
"A druid? Most interesting indeed, we haven't heard anything from them in ages. This complicates matters quite a bit. The agreement between the Pythion Sect does negate the Kiss of Marriage, but it doesn't mean that Ranma and Shampoo can't marry out of love?"
"But Ranma doesn't love Shampoo, every plan I had to bring them together just seems to draw them apart more. Ranma isn't even around at the moment, he's off on a training trip with his mother."
"I suppose that Shampoo isn't taking it very well."
"No, she's been moping around for the last couple of days. Mousse, to his credit isn't acting in his usual manner, and is taken to comforting her ailments. But I think it's time that we tell them."
"Tell them?"
"Yes, they are old enough, they've been old enough for a while. We can't let our own pride get in the way of them knowing their true relationship to each other."
Lo Xian nods in agreement, as Ko Lon goes to summon her two wards.
Mousse and Shampoo came down from their rooms into the restaurant section of the Nekohan.
"GRANDMOTHER!" shouts out Mousse as he gives her a big hug.
"Greetings, elder Lo Xian," greets Shampoo as she bows to the elder. Her eyes are all red and puffy as if she's been crying a lot. She hasn't taken the news of losing her husband to be too well.
"Shampoo, Mousse, as you both know, because of an ancient treaty, Ranma is no longer to be engaged to Shampoo," started Lo Xian. "Because of the ancient treaty, your honor shall remain intact. Though, there is something both of you should know."
Shampoo and Mousse leaned in a little closer. "Many years ago, a great warrior entered the village. Both Cologne and me were guarding the outpost to the village when he approached. Both of us seeing the opportunity to strengthen our bloodline, we both challenged him and lost. As per custom, the first Amazon to give him ceremonial glomp would get to be his wife. As it turned out, we both gave it to him at the same time, making up the Amazon Double Glomp, the first, but now forbidden Amazon technique. That night, we all shared the same bed as the warrior. By him, we both had child, Shampoo, your great grandmother, and Mousse, your great-grandfather." There was a gasp by both the young Amazons.
"But that is not where the story ends. That very night, while both Ko Lon and I were in bed, the great warrior left our bed-chambers." Lo Xian and Ko Lon shared a glance, "and while we were sleepily enjoying each other's embrace, he went out into the village and stole many an Amazon treasure, not to mention many an Amazon's panties."
Shampoo and Mousse felt a little dizzy and nauseous, not only were they related, but if what they suspected was true...
"He he, what a haul what haul!" Happosai said as he barged into the Nekohan with a large bag full of women's undergarments. A grin appeared on his face. "Well Lo Xian, it's nice to see you again! I'd like to stick around and chat about the old days, or perhaps relive some old experiences." Happosai winked his eyebrows up and down, "but I'm afraid I got a mob after me," he said as he ran out the back door. Just then a hoard of angry women of all ages, shapes, and sizes ran through the Nekohan after the dreaded Happosai.
Shampoo looked at the two elders in a state of shock. There was an awkward pause between the four of them before Ko Lon broke it by saying, "No! Not him, it was another perverted master!" With that, Shampoo and Mouse fainted. Just the thought of another Happossai out there was enough to make anyone pass out.
But before Moouse could faint fully, Lo Xian grabbed him, "Not yet, boy, there's another surprise for you."
With that, all color drained out of Mousse's face, "No."
Old withery lips curled into a grin, "yes."
Just then another Amazon crashed through a wall in the Nekohan, and promptly glomped onto Mousse.
Mousse stuttered, "Ta-ta-ta... TAMPON!" and then fainted-
Ko Lon shook her head, she had to remind Tiem Pon that you don't crash through walls of other Amazon's restaurants.
-----
Night fell over Ucchan's Restaurant, Ukyo and Konastu were busily cleaning up the kitchen when Ukyo heard the chime for the door dingle.
"Sorry! I'm afraid we're closed for the ni-SHAMPOO!"
"Shampoo know closed, Shampoo came to talk," she said as she held up a bottle of sake as a peace offering. Ukyo narrowed her eyes, "what is this about? And why me?"
"Is about ex-arien, and why you, because you better then kitchen destroyer or stupid Mousse. Kiss of marriage called off because of stupid loophole." Ukyo saw the hurt in Shampoo's eyes as well as a desperate loneliness.
"I'll tell you what shuga, I'll open late tomorrow and we can have a nice long chat tonight. Hell, let's just have a good old-fashioned slumber party! However, that's not gonna last for too long!" Said Ukyo pointing to the bottle of sake. "Konastu, would you mind finishing cleaning up here and then bring a couple of more bottles of sake up before you join us?"
Konastu blinked, "Lady Ukyo, do you think that's a good idea? After all, I am not really a girl and I think this situation..
"This situation calls for Shampoo not being alone tonight," Ukyo turns to Shampoo, "you don't really mind if Konastu joins us tonight? I know it's supposed to be like a girl's night or something, but who knows more about being a girl then Konastu? Besides, I hate to admit it, but I've never really been to a slumber party myself, and I'm at a loss of what to do."
Shampoo was less then more surprised at the development of the situation, she paused for a moment to think it over, "Shampoo no mind if sissy boy come over slumber part, Shampoo never go to slumber party either. It usually boy thing in Amazon Village."
Ukyo scowled, "You know, I don't care much you calling me Spatula Girl, or Akane Kitchen Destroyer or Pervert Girl, or even Uncute Fiancée, but please, Konastu has a name, and I do not appreciate it you calling him sissy boy!"
Both Konastu and Shampoo were taken back by Ukyo's over protectiveness of her employee, ninja, and friend. But Shampoo just smiled, "Ok, Shampoo no mind if Konastu come over slumber party."
"But Lady Ukyo, I still don't think"
Ukyo turned back to Konastu, "You know, shuga, maybe that's your problem. Anyway what Shampoo needs tonight are friends, please Konastu?"
Konastu sighed, on one hand, he'd do anything for his Lady Ukyo, even kill if the situation ever arises. But there was this awkwardness of the situation that he just couldn't fathom. "As you wish, Lady Ukyo."
Ukyo smacked him over the head, "At least for tonight, just call me Ukyo, ok, Shuga?"
Ukyo led Shampoo up to her room, "We can change into some nightclothes when Konastu is finished, besides, I don't really have anything to wear to a slumber party myself. This should be quite an interesting night for the both of us."
"Shampoo agree, Shampoo always wondered what boys do during slumber party. Shampoo and friends use to sneak over to peak when young," Shampoo said as her face turned slightly red and led out a giggle. "Once saw boys practice kissing on each other through window!" Shampoo said in a conspiring whisper.
A grin went over Ukyo's face, "Oh really, did you see anything else?"
Shampoo pouted, "No, got caught by Village guard, got sent home to mama and papa. Mama was mad but papa asks if Shampoo enjoyed what she saw and mama promptly whacked him on the head. Mama grounded Shampoo for two weeks, no martial arts practice and no patrol."
"So, was it worth it?"
Shampoo grinned evilly, "It worth it!" The two girls broke out in a fit of laughter as Ukyo opened the door to her room. They went to a small floor table where they sat on a few pillows around it. Ukyo opened up the bottle and took a swig of it before passing it to Shampoo.
"So, what brings you here of all places, Shampoo?"
Shampoo takes a drink as well and replies, "Like Shampoo say, kiss of marriage null, ex-arien's part of something that Shampoo no understand. Shampoo no longer honor bound to stay in Japan, but Shampoo no thinks she ready to go yet. Shampoo just get taste of world outside village, and no think see enough yet."
"So you're going to have to go back to China soon now that the kiss of marriage is void?"
"Shampoo no know, no decision yet. Shampoo hope not, Shampoo hope to see Ranma again." Shampoo smiles and blushes.
"So, Shampoo, when did you actually fall in love with Ranma," asked Ukyo.
A sheepish grin came over Shampoo's face, "Shampoo have little little confession to make, Shampoo no love Ranma. Marry yes, but love no sure." Shampoo swoons,
"Ranma no like any man in Amazon Village, boys follow Shampoo like puppies, but scurry and hide when I turn back to look, others just boring. Shampoo like excitement," she says with a smile that's genuine.
"Well, I gots'ta admit! Being around Ran-chan's never a dull moment!"
"Yes, and look too too cute naked!" Shampoo says slyly.
"YOU SAW RANCHAN NAKED?"
"Shampoo sneak into bath when Shampoo come back to Japan. Also Nabiki sell photos."
Shampoo then takes a stack of photos where Ranma (male, I hope I didn't need to clarify this) is in various states of undress.
Ukyo looked indignant, "How come she never sold me any?" Shampoo just shrugs as she takes another swig.
"Ranma defiantly preferable to any Amazon male, but Shampoo no know love," sighs Shampoo. "In ancient Amazon lore, it speaks of love being like magic. It force that drives two people crashing towards each other, it is irresistible and insatiable. Shampoo feel force that bring to Ranma, but Ranma no feel force to bring to Shampoo. Shampoo want force to go both way. Shampoo confused now though, Shampoo always thought she marry Ranma, Shampoo no mind. Now Shampoo no know future."
Ukyo takes another sip, "Join the club, honey. My whole life I have been hunting down just one person. My life was singular with one purpose and one purpose only. The hunt consumed my life, it's objective focused my entire being. Then in one moment my whole life crumbled into the very raging sea I use to practice against. With just two words from my very prey's lips I fell apart, 'you're cute' he says. Suddenly my whole purpose to living crumbles, with a single thoughtless phrase. My whole being powders to dust to be swept up and reformed. I must have him, I had to have him. I used honor a lot but in my head, I thought, honor be damned, no matter how I must get him, I had to get him! He called me his cute fiancée, finally I had an identity I could accept, I didn't have to be a boy any longer, because I was now the 'cute fiancée'." Ukyo starts guzzling down the sake now, "But I could never figure out how to make him mine. Every time I moved closer, he'd pull away. Whenever I didn't do anything, he'd stroll on in and act as if we were the best of friends! I don't want to be friends, damnit! I want to be your wife and lover!" Ukyo shouts out to an invisible person while clutching the raised bottle in her hand, she takes a melancholy sip and speaks quietly now, "I rejected whom I was for so long, I didn't know how to be me anymore."
Shampoo takes the bottle from Ukyo, "Shampoo no think you blame self, Ranma is mystery, he no behave like anyone else. Shampoo think you can have any man you desire," she finishes the sentence with a little drink.
Somehow, the two now found themselves leaning back against the white panel wall of Ukyo's bedroom. "So, what is to become of us now shuga?"
Shampoo shakes her head, "Shampoo no know, is mystery."
Just then Konastu walks in with two more bottle of sake, "I finished cleaning up, I hope you don't mind if I take a shower before joining you two?"
Ukyo and Shampoo were broken out of their stupor, "That's a great idea! We'll all have a shower before we change into something to sleep in, do you have anything for us to sleep in?"
"Well, I got some nice nighties, some baby dolls, I got a couple of these really cute spaghetti strap chemise that cuts just about the belly with matching silk shorts ..."
As Konastu keeps on rambling about his nightwear wardrobe, Ukyo shares a conspiring eye with Shampoo. "Ok, it's settled, TO THE FURO," yells out Ukyo and Shampoo as the both grabbed either side of Konastu's elbows and dragging him to the bathroom.
"WAIT! I'm really a guy! It just isn't proper Lady Ukyo!"
"I asked you not to call me LADY UKYO," she says as she starts tearing off his clothes and forces him down on the stool as Shampoo starts sudding him up. This never happened whenever Lady Ukyo drank before! He's had dreams like this before, which he fully enjoyed, but cold reality sobered him up even though he didn't get a chance to drink yet.
A little while later...
Ukyo, Shampoo, and Konastu were relaxing in the furo, passing a bottle of sake to each other. Konastu was at first embarrassed (not to mention bare assed) at the exposure, but now he was a little disappointed that all they were doing was taking a bath, just like when he would bath with his sisters. A soggy Konastu was sitting quietly while Ukyo and Shampoo were just talking about things. It seemed to him that they both had things to say, but nary an outlet to say them to before. A pressure release valve was released and talk seemed to be steaming it's way out. Konastu shifted from boredom, to wide-eyed fascination, to utter shock as Shampoo and Ukyo hopped from one conversation to another, sometimes not even stopping to takes breathes before the leap.
"So, now Ranma out of bound, who next on list?" asked Shampoo.
"What about Mousse?" asked Ukyo.
"Shampoo been running from him for long time. Besides, he has too too small penis!"
"You don't say!" giggled Ukyo.
"Actually Mousse has a pretty big penis." Both girls turn to Konastu. "We both go to the public baths together, it's not as if we try to hide from each other." After that comment, the conversation digressed to comparing penis sizes.
"Well, Ryoga isn't really that big, but he has a lot of, girth." Konastu felt guilty, sure he abandoned his masculinity, but he felt as if he was breaking some unwritten rule among men. "Tsusaba is really small, he's got a 5 year's old dick." But at the same time, the stares the girls broke him as if he were a twig. "... and Kuno seems to have a 24-hour erection. That probably explains why no blood ever gets to his head. Even in the public baths, it's just there, floating around..." Konastu didn't mean to talk as much as he did, really, but for once he just felt accepted, felt loved. He never had this at home, and when he first got here no one really bothered to ask him how was his day. "The biggest dick I've seen so far probably goes to Hiroshi, that guy is just hung like a..." Besides, how would they ever know that he was talking about them?
Hiroshi sneezed. He hoped he wasn't coming down with a cold.
After the bath, they all walked down the hallways in single file wearing bathrobes and towels over their heads. They first stopped at Konastu's room to get something decent to wear, though decency was the last thing going through the two girls minds.
"Shampoo like!" She says as she holds up a white satin and black lace chemise. She turns around and drops the towel and bathrobe to the floor and wiggles into the chemise.
Ukyo settled on a turquoise set of silken shorts with a half-sleeve button collar shirt and Konastu puts on an indigo babydoll.
---
Ukyo wakes up with a pounding in her head; she promises herself that she's never going to drink ever again, and this time she really means it. Then she realizes it is the door. Ukyo stirred from where she passed out on the floor in-between Shampoo and Konastu and starts to feel this stirring in her stomach.
Ukyo immediately races to the bathroom just in time to vomit into the toilet bowl. It keeps coming and coming with no end in sight and that damn banging is still at the door and Ukyo can taste acidic bile dripping out of her nose.
She just stopped vomiting, but she is sitting on the floor next to the toilet just incase it wasn't the last she heard from last night. She opened her eyes to see a withery old figure standing on a cane by the door to the room. Ukyo immediately turns over so her vomit goes in the bowl. Cologne merely frowns.
When Ukyo was finished the second time, Cologne says, "I just wanted to thank you for being with Shampoo last night. She was in a miserable state and she needed someone to talk to."
Ukyo mutely nods to Cologne as she scoops up Shampoo and heads over to the Nekohan.
---
It had been six months since Ranma and Nodoka came to live in Zelgadis' home. And Ranma has been a most apt pupil. He already had the basics of Earth, Fire, Spirit, and Wind spells down. But Ranma seemed to excel on the water spells. He even figured out how to cure the Jusenkyo curse. Though, by this time he grew accustomed to it, and even figured out the advantage of keeping it. It saved his neck countless times before. It was more then that though. The curse was apart of him now. To get rid of it meant that he'd kill a part of himself that he was only starting to appreciate. All the months gone, though, he missed Akane terribly. He dreamt of her at night, the scent of her hair, the rare times that she actually smiled at him, all the times he saved her. He knew now that he really did love her, the uncute fiancée. It's kinda funny, you don't really appreciate someone until they're gone. But Ranma had every intention of going back to her. His mother, on the other hand, he never really learned to appreciate until he found her again.
"Dare Brando" cried Zelgadis. The ground underneath Ranma suddenly erupted, and Ranma was blasted into a large boulder. "Damnit, Ranma, you have to pay attention to the fight at hand! You can't be caught daydreaming during a fight or you might end up dead!"
Ranma grinned, "Oh yeah? Visfarank!" Ranma's hands began to glow with magic,
"Kachuu Tenshin Amagurikan!" Ranma's hands blurred with chi and augmented with magic delivering the spell that Amelia first made up into a deadly combination. Zelgadis was unable to defend himself from Ranma's superior fighting ability and was knocked back.
Zelgadis smirked, "That was good, but it still doesn't excuse you for your earlier lapse! For the rest of the day, I want you to meditate to clear your mind of all distractions!"
Ranma just groaned, but complied with what his sensei's ordered.
----
Akane sighed. This was supposed to have been one of the happiest days of her life. But Ranma's been gone for 2 months already and he missed her graduation. The Baka was probably trying to prove himself manly for his mother by chasing a bunch of girls.
"Akane!" Nabiki approached her younger sister after the graduation ceremony and gave her a hug. "Congratulations on graduation! Here, I got a gift for you, come with me to the dojo!" The two sister ran merrily to the family dojo, Akane opened up the training hall to find a Kawasaki motorcycle in the middle of the dojo. Akane turned dumbfounded to her older sister, who was smirking at her while holding up a set of keys to the bike. "What can I say? Business has been good for me. It's time I've been good to my family. This is also an apology for the way I treated you in high school. It's not the best bike on the market, but it's a pretty good bike to start up on."
Akane didn't know what to say, so she just grabbed her older sister in a bear hug and haphazardly dragged her around like she was a rag doll. "A-a-akane, I can't breathe!" whimpered out Nabiki. Akane eeped and dropped her sister to the floor.
"Anyway," continued Nabiki as she dusted herself off, "I heard you got accepted to Juuban University, congrats, sis. I hear they have a good liberal arts department. So, have you figured out what you're going to be majoring in?"
"Ummm, yeah, I'm going to major in acting with a minor in Phys. Ed. I already got my room assignment too! My new roommate is named Michiru Kaioh. We talked earlier on the phone to get to know each other. She's a music major, but she also is interested in Literature so we might have a couple of classes together this first semester.
Nabiki grinned; it wasn't her usual, "I know something that you don't know that will eventually cost you a pretty little yen" grin. It was an honest and playful grin, "Hey Akane, what do you say we take this baby out for a spin?"
Akane returned her grin, "Ok, sis, but I get to drive!"
---
"Ranma." Said Zelgadis, "you have been here for a year and a day already, you have already proven yourself to be a very gifted sorcerer. How ever, there is only so much I can teach you. You have to go out in the world. Think of it as, an extended training trip. During that time, I want you to devise some spells on your own. I also know your fondness for those chi attacks that you do. They are quite impressive, though I think you should be able to refine them to a degree where you can combine your magic with your chi. So far, you've been using your magic and your chi together, but separately. I am unsure if there is a way to combine them together. If there is a way, though, I'm, sure you'll find it."
"But what about my mother?"
"Well, she commented the other night about how her magic training has been lax for so long. I asked her if she wanted me to retrain her and she accepted. You don't have to worry about your mother. Even if I wasn't around, the skill with that sword of hers is almost frightening!"
Ranma nodded. He remembered all the times he had to hide from his mother because of his baka oyaji. He later learned that his mother knew all along, something about a mother always knowing her child, even if there was a curse on him. She just played along because she knew that he felt uncomfortable with that little seppuku contract hanging over his head. Besides, sometimes it was just so funny to watch.
---
"Hello, Michiru, I'm Akane Tendo, it's nice to finally meet you!" Akane greeted her new roommate. "Need any help moving your stuff in?" Akane was already moved in. She even had a stuffed piglet doll. Whatever happened to P-chan anyway?
"It's nice to meet you as well, Akane Tendo," smiled Michiru. "And any help you might give would be a greatly appreciated," puffed Michiru as she carried some bags.
---
Ranma-chan set out on her own for the first time. She felt it was safer setting out in her female form, considering her curse still attracted a large amount of water. A whole spectrum of emotion ranged through Ranma-chan's head. She felt anxious, nervous, and a little scared too. But the overriding emotion was excitement! She was finally going out on her own. She hasn't really been out of Zelgadis's home, which consisted of a large house surrounded by a large stonewall. He kept to himself on the most part, the only time Ranma went out was to get supplies from a nearby town called Lemoire. Which is a city in the middle of the country of Raltegue. Yes, she had a whole new world to explore.
"Damn, I wished I learned Mousse's hidden weapon technique when I had the chance," mused Ranma-chan. She still had the same pack she carried with her all over Japan and China, though it was old, it was still in good condition, as long as she didn't pack any heavy weights in it. She carried some rations with her as well as clothes for both forms. She also carried some money with her, Zelgadis explained that about 50 years ago, all the kingdoms in the Northern Sub-continent agreed on a standard money currency, something having to do with inflation. Ranma didn't really care about that stuff, but she had a whole bag full of it. It'd last her a good 3 months of city living. Though, on the road, it could last her up to 9.
"Where to go where to go?" Ranma-chan murmured to herself. She didn't have a clue. She decided to take a cue from her father. Close her eyes, spin around in a circle for a bit, and point to a direction. Wasn't too scientific, but she didn't have any other means to go by.
Ranma-chan frowned. She pointed to the same direction where she started. So she tried again. "North it is!" she smiled. Zelgadis never did tell her what Saillune was like after the Tera-Slave. She might as well go to check for herself. Ranma-chan hopped it wasn't too far.
~~~
"You were so funny in class today, Akane. Just staring blankly at Micheru's face." Remarked Sakura.
"Akane likes Micheru, yea?" Added in Risuke.
Akane blushed slightly, "Don't, don't be silly."
"Yeah, but you have to admit that Michiru is pretty ideal, for a man or a
woman." Replied Risuke.
"It's as if we don't even have any chance with her here," teased Misato.
"I don't feel that way, really," said Akane, but not as loud as she would have a few months ago.
"Well, let's just say that Akane really does have a chance," added Sakura.
"I don't like her, besides, I already have a fiancé!" Said Akane, with a little bit of anger.
"Relax Akane, besides, we were only teasing you." Said Misato as Akane's cheeks turned red with embarrassment.
"Hey Akane, have you decided what clubs you wanted to join?" Sakura asked trying to change the uncomfortable conversation.
"Well, I think I want to join the theater club and karate club, of course. But I also think I wanna join the school's racing club as well!"
"Oh really? I was planning on joining the racing club too," added Misato.
Risuke suddenly got a little nervous, "You, in the racing club?"
"Yes, me in the racing club. What? You don't think I can do it?" answered Misato.
"Oh, it's not that you can't do it. I just fear for the safety of all the other drivers in the club."
"You don't think I'm a good driver?"
"Oh, I think you are a very good driver, as long as there are no pedestrians or any other driver there that you might accidentally hit!"
As the two continued to argue, Sakura looked to Akane, "isn't it time to get to get to our next class?"
Akane looked at her watch, "yeah, but what should we do about those two?"
"Never mind them, they go like this all the time, besides, I don't want to be late!" So Akane and Sakura left the two still in heated discussion.
---
Ranma-chan was walking down a road. She looked around, miles and miles of cornstalks. Must be farm country. Ranma lazily grabbed a cornhusk and started ripping off the husk, and munching on the corn lazily. "Gee, this sure is much better then sparring with Zelgadis, or even mom," grumbled Ranma-chan. Though Nodoka wasn't as good as Ranma, she still managed to surprise him once in a while. Hmm, she sure could use a fight with Ryoga right about now.
"How goes your travelings, my dear wanderer?"
Ranma-chan turned around to see a cloaked figure on the fence. He wasn't there before, Ranma was sure of it. He also wasn't getting much of an aura off of him. Magic or otherwise, whoever he was, he was really gifted at hiding it, she'd give him that. "You know, you look very familiar." Said the stranger as he tapped his temple. "Oh well, I don't suppose you could use the company on your way to Saillune?"
"How'd you know I was going to go to Saillune," asked Ranma-chan as she narrowed her eyes, trying to look menacing.
"How did I know you're going to Saillune? Hmm, how did I know you were going to Saillune?" The stranger tapped his chin as if he was in deep thought, "That, is a secret."
Ranma-chan growled, "WHO ARE YOU?"
Who am I?" asked the stranger with a smile. And music started singing out in the woods
"Please allow me to introduce myself
I'm a man of wealth and taste
I've been around for a long, long year
Reduced many a Ryozuko's life to waste."
Ranma looked around and saw a troll on a drum kit
"And I was 'round when Lina Inverse
Had her moment of doubt and pain
Made damn sure that Ruby-Eye
Washed his hands and sealed her fate
Pleased to meet you
Hope you guess my name
Ranma looked around and saw another troll on guitar, it's name was Keith.
"But what's puzzling you
Is the nature of my game
"I stuck around Saillune
When I saw it was a time for a change
Watched a once great and powerful empire
Turn into a ball of dust and grain.
Horns blared out of nowhere, Ranma turned towards the noise to see an Orc horn section, with another Orc on an upright bass.
"I played a few pranks
Held a general's rank
When human wars raged
And the bodies stank
"Pleased to meet you
Hope you guess my name, oh yeah
Ah, what's puzzling you
Is the nature of my game, oh yeah
Ranma was positive that none of these creatures where here earlier. Yet here they were.
"I watched with glee
While your kings and queens
Fought for ten decades
For the gods they made
I shouted out,
"Who killed Heroes of Old?"
When after all
It was you and me
"Let me please introduce myself
I'm a man of wealth and taste
And I laid traps for the troubadours
That got them burned on the steak
Pleased to meet you
Hope you guessed my name, oh yeah
But what's puzzling you
Is the nature of my game, oh yeah, get down, baby
Pleased to meet you
Hope you guessed my name, oh yeah
But what's confusing you
Is just the nature of my game
"Just as every cop is a criminal
And all the sinners' saints
As heads is tails
Just call me the Trickster Priest
'Cause I'm in need of some restraint
Realization of the stranger's identity hit Ranma like a bowl of Akane's teriyaki.
"So if you meet me
Have some courtesy
Have some sympathy, and some taste
Use all your well-learned politesse
Or I'll lay your soul to waste, um yeah
"Pleased to meet you
Hope you guessed my name, um yeah
But what's puzzling you
Is the nature of my game, um mean it, get down
More monster came out of nowhere, this time it was a pack of werewolves with microphones singing backup.
"Woo, who
Oh yeah, get on down
Oh yeah
Oh yeah!
Tell me baby, what's my name
Tell me honey, can ya guess my name
Tell me baby, what's my name
I tell you one time, you're to blame
Ooo, who
Ooo, who
Ooo, who
Ooo, who, who
Ooo, who, who
Ooo, who, who
Ooo, who, who
Oh, yeah
What's me name
Tell me, baby, what's my name
Tell me, sweetie, what's my name
Ooo, who, who
Ooo, who, who
Ooo, who, who
Ooo, who, who
Ooo, who, who
Ooo, who, who
Ooo, who, who
Oh, yeah"
"Xellos." Zelgadis warned Ranma about him.
"In the flesh!" Said Xellos, as if it was something to be proud of.
"I'm going to pound you," exclaimed Ranma-chan!
Xellos just laughed in her face. "My young druid, why would you want to pound on me?"
"Because you're evil!"
Xellos looked almost hurt by the comment. "Why, I'm not evil, I'm just merely misunderstood, my dear boy. After all, I am merely an artist in my craft, some people just happen to resent me for it! You of all people should understand about being misunderstood!"
"But I didn't do nothing I was ever accused of!"
"Doesn't matter, there's a stigma branded on the likes of us. People seek us out because of something lacking in them. The only exceptions I've ever had were perhaps Lina and Zelgadis. Athough, Lina was easily manipulated through her greed, there was something special about her that I always liked."
"What do you know about Lina?"
"What do I know about Lina Inverse? What do you know about Lina Inverse for that matter? Besides, I'm not here to talk about Lina Inverse. I'm here to talk about you!"
Ranma-chan just smirked, "You'd never get the chance!"
"Ranma, you're confidence is something that is quite attractive to me, but let's be serious here. Right now, you simply aren't strong enough, I'm ten thousand times as powerful as I was when Lina Inverse was around, and you're not as powerful as her yet. You don't have any light sword or any other artifacts to focus your power through, and besides, as a druid, you shouldn't attack me unless I am disrupting the balance between good and evil. Which I am not, besides, I got something that would probably help out your friend, Zelgadis!"
"What about Zelgadis?"
"Well, as you know, Zelgadis isn't human anymore. He's part golem, part chimera, and part demon. Throughout most of his life, he's been seeking a cure for this curse. And, my friend, I know where that cure is!"
"How do I know you're telling me the truth," asked Ranma?
"Ranma, my boy, have I ever lied to you?"
"Not that I know of, but we only just met."
"You hurt me through your accusations! Besides, I don't lie. I may not tell you everything, or an altered version of it, I might even embellish things at time, but I don't lie."
Ranma-chan seethed, she didn't like being so close to someone of his nature.
"What is it?"
Xellos just smiled, "The Claire Bible, I know where it is!"
That stopped Ranma-chan. She knew of what it was, it was suppose to be some book that contained everything that ever was and ever will be. "Then why don't you just get it yourself?"
"Because, Ranma, I have no need of it!"
"What do you mean you have no need of it?"
"What do you think I mean? Of what purpose would I want it? It takes all the fun out of causing mayhem.
"Where is it?"
"I must warn you, the trip is quite dangerous, and trouble looms everywhere!"
"Heh, I eat trouble for breakfast, and danger is my middle name!"
"Oh? I thought it was Ko? But that's beside the point. The Claire Bible is just beyond the Desert of Destruction to the south, in the capital of the Goblin King. Go to Solaria, there will be a caravan there that will take you to Dorr, the southern-most city of Elmekia. It'll go through Saillune so you'll even get a chance to see the once powerful kingdom. I'll also suggest you find some companions, it's not easy wandering through the desert alone."
Ranma looked southward. He turned back to Xellos but he was gone. Well, on to Solaria, and Ranma-chan headed north again.
----
Akane and Michiru stumbled into their dorm room late once evening. To say that they were inebriated would be like saying that an earthquake is a slight adjustment of the earth's plates. They were just returning from a frat party where they partnered up in a game of beer pong. They may have won 15 games in a row, but the victory came at a heavy price as Akane raced to pray to the porcelain god. Michiru was right behind her, rubbing between Akane's shoulders and the small of her back trying to comfort her sick friend.
Akane dry heaved for a few minutes before she sat on the floor with her back leaning against the bathtub. She could still feel her stomach cramping.
"Are you ok, Akane?"
"I'm feeling surprisingly good."
"That usually happens after you puke up all the alcohol!"
"What about you? Do you feel any urges to purge yourself of that vile brew?"
"I'm doing ok at the moment, but you sure are a mess!"
"Yeah, maybe I should shower before I go to sleep."
"Do you know what? I feel pretty scummy myself, mind if I join you?"
Akane turned red, but it was probably from the alcohol, "I don't know."
"Oh, come on Akane, it isn't that much different from the bath houses, and besides, in case one of us falls, the other will be there to pick her up!"
Akane couldn't argue with that logic, "Ok!" And they both started undressing and they entered the shower when the water got warm.
"Akane, do you mind washing my back for me," asked Michiru as she turned her back away from Akane. She then stroked her hair over her left shoulder revealing her naked back to Akane.
"Sure," replied Akane, as took the soap and started rubbing her roommate's back with it. She felt the gravity of her friend pulling her closer and closer as she rubbed up and down Michiru's back. She tried to stop herself but all she could think about were the delicate curves of her back or the smoothness of Michiru's small but tight shoulders.
"Thank you," replied Michiru as she suddenly turned around. There was a slight grin on her face as she broke the spell she put on Akane. There was less then an inch apart when Michiru asked, "Do you want me to do your back as well?" She asked coyly as she lightly caressed Akane's hip.
It didn't look like Akane was going to reply anytime soon so Michiru turned her around and started massaging the soap into her back. "Do you know what, Akane?"
"Wha-what is it," stammered Akane.
"I've been having dreams about you, have you been having dreams about me too?"
"No," answered Akane as she tried to pull away. She was unsuccessful and she
answered again, "Yes," she said quietly, but Michiru heard it. She was now rubbing Akane's lower back, while rubbing up against her backside.
"We... we were in a big castle together, you were"
"I was your queen and you were my king." finished Michiru.
"Yes! Yes, how did you know?"
Michiru whispered into her other ear, "I've been having the same dreams, Akane.
I think it's a sign."
"What kind of sign, Michiru?"
Michiru's hands darted around her waist and hugged Akane tightly. "I think they mean that we were meant to be together," answered Michiru.
"But, what about Ranma, I've always known, I mean I've always thought we'd be together."
"But didn't you say that Ranma always treats you badly? He never eats your cooking and he never spars with you. He likes to hang around all these other girls and he's always calling you names. He's a jerk Akane, you've always said it yourself. Besides, how long are you suppose to wait for him? He's probably out having the time of his life while you are here sad and alone." Her right hand was slowly moving up the left side of Akane's ribs. "Anyway, I've seen you staring at me in class," she purred. "I know you think about me, do you think about Ranma? Do you love Ranma? Do you even know what love is? After all, this Ranma was your first boyfriend, right?"
"Yes!" answered Akane, trying hard not to squeal in pleasure as Michiru started massaging her left breast.
"Yes? Yes to which question?" Where Michiru's right hand headed upwards, her left hand slid downwards, just edging to the upper tip of Akane's inner thigh.
Akane lost all sense of self-control, any will power that she could muster suddenly just crumbled along with all the soap suds and grime down the drain. She tried to resist, but it was a futile gesture as she turned around and kissed Michiru full on the lips.
---
Ranma was in male form as he entered the small town. The town was called Phoenix because it had risen from the ashes of a great fire, which had completely destroyed the earlier and much larger city called Phoenix. Nobody knew why that city was called Phoenix, but it was a small town now.
He was thinking about getting something to eat when a little girl of about 12 ran into him. "Oh, sorry about that!" He said.
"You should be! You should watch out where you're going!" She said as she kicked him in the shin and ran away.
Emily ran down the street and turned into the alleyway. She stopped for a moment to catch her breath before she pulled the pouch that she just took from her clothes. She opened it up to find that she was quite wealthy, at least for her standards.
"You know? That wasn't very nice." Said a voice behind her. She turned around to find the pigtailed guy she just stole from laying lazily against the alleyway wall. She gasped and tried to run away when she ran right into a wall. Well, she thought it was a wall at first but it turned out to be the very same pigtailed guy.
She greedily grabbed her pouch and said, "You can't have it! I stole it fair and square!"
"Oh, then maybe I should just call the town guards and let them settle this matter?"
Emily's eyes widened in fear, "you wouldn't!"
The guy just smiled, "Don't need to!" He said as he held up his pouch before her very eyes. She looked down at her own hands to find that it was terribly lacking in stolen pouches.
Just then her stomach growled, Ranma sighed. "Come on, let's go get something to eat, I'm starving! By they way, my name's Ranma, what's yours?"
Emily didn't know what to do, after all, she's never been in a position like this before. But her stomach won the argument. "E-emily."
"Well, Emily, where are your parents? I'm sure they'd like to know what you've been up to?"
"I... I don't have any parents." She said sadly. Ranma could tell that she wasn't lieing.
"Well, Emily, I've had a long day of traveling, so I'm looking forward to getting a nice bite to eat before going to the inn, what do you say?"
"Sure?"
"Well, ok then! I'm new to this town, is there any place good to eat? It's starting to get late, so I'd like to get to the inn before it gets dark."
Emily worked herself out of her stupor long enough to work out a little plan of her own. She smiled a coy smile and said, "I'll be happy to be your guide, for a small fee of course!"
Ranma returned her smile with a smile of his own, and said, "sure, just lead the way to the food!"
Ranma and Emily entered the Lucky Dragon tavern and inn. After consuming mass quantities of food, Ranma paid the bill. Emily looked at him, "So, where's my fee?"
"Don't worry, you'll get your money. But first, lets go get some sleep." Ranma said as he yawned. "Besides, you wanted to me to hire you as a guide, well, it just so happens I need a guide to Solaria. And since you already offered your services..."
"No! That wasn't part of the agreement! You said if I show you to a place where you can get something good to eat, I'd get some money!"
"That was not the agreement, you said for a small fee, that you'd be my guide. I want you to guide me to Solaria." Ranma leaned close to her, "Besides, you need a bath!"
"I'm not the only one!" snapped back Emily.
"So we're in agreement," said Ranma cheerfully. "Tonight we take a nice long bath before we go to sleep before we head out tomorrow. Just stay here while I go get a room," said Ranma as he went over to the counter to rent a room.
---
Akane and Michiru are outside Tendo home, it's fall break. Akane walks into the Tendo home to be greeted by...
"AKANE!" screams Soun, who promptly starts crying. "Oh, my baby girl has returned home to me!" He says as he greets her with a big hug.
"Hello, daddy, this is my roomate, Michiru."
"Well, hello there, Michiru. It's nice to finally meet you, Akane's told us so much about you. I hope my Akane isn't getting you in too much in trouble!" Soun says with a playful smile.
"Oh daddy-"
"Oh, if only Ranma was here so you two could get married! Oh happy day!"
"Daddy?"
"Yes Akane?"
"Where's Nabiki?"
Soun suddenly got solemn. "Poor dear, she's been in her room ever since she caught Hiro sleeping with one of those sorority sisters of hers. She seems ok though. Perhaps you want to talk with her?"
"Sure daddy. Come on Michiru, I'll show you my room then where you can put your things then we'll go see how Nabiki's doing."
In Nabiki's room. Nabiki wasn't crying or anything. No, not at all. Nabiki doesn't cry. She is the ice queen of Furnikan High after all. She was just numb. Just like the day her mother died. Not that the situation was even half as bad, but the pain that she was trying to hide from herself was just as deep.
She thought that he was the one. She thought that she found someone that would always be there for her, just like what Ranma was to Akane. It wasn't fair. She sacrificed her very soul for her family's well being. She's done things that have been of a questionable nature, sure. But that was to keep food on the table and the land in their name. Regrets? Sure, she had a few but the ends justify the means, don't they? Where was her reward, where was her Ranma? Why the hell was she thinking of that lughead? She knew why, because she knew, when it came down to it, Ranma Saotome doesn't lose. She lost though, she felt like she lost big time.
"Nabiki?" Her musings were interrupted as her sister Akane walked in.
"Hi Nabiki, how are you holding up?"
"I don't know, Akane. I just don't know. I know I should feel something inside, but there's nothing left. By the way, how did you find out?"
"Kasumi called me up late last night."
Nabiki's eyes widened. "How did Kasumi find out? Isn't she still on her honeymoon with Tofu?" They've been in Okinawa for over a month already. How could Kasumi know something was wrong, and so fast?
"I don't know, she just knew." Nabiki finally notices the young girl with Akane
"Oh, sorry sis, this is my roommate, Michiru."
"Pleased to meet you, Michiru."
"Yeah, sorry we couldn't meet under better circumstances," replied Michiru.
Akane suddenly did something Nabiki never expected. Akane grabbed her sister in a big hug. Nabiki was frozen for a few moments, then she lowered her head onto
Akane's shoulder and she suddenly started crying. Akane patted her older sister on the back. After a few minutes Nabiki stopped crying. Rubbing her tear-stained bloodshot eyes Nabiki said, "Sorry, I don't usually lose it like that, especially in front of a stranger."
"It's ok, Nabiki, it was a long time coming. I can't even remember the last time I saw you cry.
"Yeah, lucky you, you got Ranma. He'll always be there for you, just as soon as he comes back. Remember the letter that Nodoka brought when she served uncle panda the divorce papers?"
Nabiki gave a tearful chuckle. It seemed that Nodoka knew all along of Genma's treatment of her son. Why she waited so long to act on the knowledge was a mystery to her. Maybe it had to do with that Ranma thought that Nodoka would put him to death if she ever found out about the curse? Living with the fear of death coming from one's own mother was something that Nabiki could just not understand! Nodoka came in like a rage, took the Saotome family blade and broke it into right over Genma's head. She said that the Saotome family had no honor to deserve a blade, and Nodoka gave him the papers finalizing the divorce on grounds of child abuse and abandonment. She also mentioned that there are various agencies that would like to talk to Genma when he had the chance. That was the last time any of the Tendo line would see Genma.
Nabiki was sure that the Saotome-Tendo pledge would have been voided, but Ranma was there to save the day again, even though he wasn't really there. He wrote a letter to Akane, from the way he sounded it was as if he had been away for years instead of just 4 months. He finally proclaimed his love for her, even though it was in a letter. But at least it was written down. And he said as soon as he returned he'd like to marry her! She also found out that Ukyo and Shampoo got letters of their own. She wasn't able to find out what Shampoo's letter said, because the old ghoul and her lover kept everything shut in very tightly. But she did get a chance to read Ukyo's.
He said that he did love her, but not the love that a man and a woman share, but that of two siblings. He said he'd do anything he could to help her satisfy her honor without resorting to marriage or death. There was more to it then that, and even she had to admit that it was a nice letter, but she remembered what
Ukyo was like after the letter. Thank goodness for Konastu. He was there for her atleast. They aren't going out or anything like that, but it is obvious that they have grown closer. To her surprise, Shampoo and Ukyo were getting along great now as well. She wasn't sure what happened, but along the line they forged a strong bond to each other.
"Ummmm, Nabiki, I don't think I'm going to marry Ranma."
"What do you mean? Ranma loves you, you love him, what could be the problem?"
"Nabiki, I don't love Ranma. The nerve of him, thinking that I'd marry him at the drop of the hat just because he proposed! How long does he expect me to wait for him anyway?" Akane turned away from her sister's eyes, "besides, I found someone else."
"Who is it?
"I'd rather not say."
"Oh my gosh, it's not Kuno, is it?"
"No, but he somehow still finds the time to bother me. It's not Kuno though. I'd
just rather not talk about it now, sis."
"Ok, I'll leave it for now. You and me. The Dojo. After breakfast. Understand?"
Akane mutely nods before her and Michiru left Nabiki's room.
In Akane's room, Akane and Michiru were getting ready for bed. "I thought you were going to tell her about us?"
"I couldn't, not right now. She's been through a lot already, I just didn't want to add stress to her right now."
"You are planning on telling them about me, right Akane?"
"Yes, of course I am! I just want to wait for everything to cool down first, ok?"
Michiru smiled, "Ok!" Michiru then crawled on her hands and knees toward Akane on her bed. "How about a little goodnight kiss."
"Mmmmm, I think that might be a good idea!" Michiru's lips gently touched Akane's as her hand grasped the back of Akane's head so they could kiss deeper as Michiru leaned in on her. Akane fell back on her bed with Michiru on top of her as their legs became intertwined.
"Akane, I just wanted..." Soun eyes became wide as he saw his youngest daughter in a lovelock with her so-called 'roommate' from school. Akane and Michiru suddenly scrambled to fix their clothes.
"Daddy, I just-"
"Don't daddy me, what have you to say for yourself, what about Ranma?"
"But daddy, I-I don't love Ranma, I love Michiru."
"You will marry Ranma, and that is that! It has to do with family honor!"
"But Mrs. Saotome dissolved all of the engagements."
Soun's demon head rears it's ugly head, "You will marry Ranma or you will leave tonight and never return to the House of Tendo!"
"Fine."
"Good girl, now-"
"I'll pack up and leave tonight."
"What?"
"You heard me, I love Michiru, I don't know what I'd do without her."
Soun fainted from shock. When he woke up, his baby girl was gone. "Gee daddy, you really messed up big this time," said Nabiki.
"MY POOR BABY, I DIDN'T MEAN IT!" Souns water works started full blast.