Ranma 1/2 was created by Rumiko Takahashi and its characters belong to her, and her alone. I'm just kinda borrowing them. A few others are mine. The story below is for entertainment purposes only, and not to be used commercially. ...Obviously.

"Learning Curve"

Part XVIII (v1.3)

by: J. Wagner

"Look at these people, Mint. I can hardly believe Lord Herb would sup with these half-Musk."

"That's not very nice, Lime." Mint crossed his arms, but didn't feel like directly contradicting his friend and partner. Lime was his elder by a few years, and had vouched for him when an older boy, Basil, had challenged his standing as Imperial Bodyguard. The Tiger-Blood warrior was nothing if not loyal to those he knew.

"It's not supposed to be very nice." Lime snorted in disdain.

"They're not Blood-Musk, but they are our cousins... they're still family."

"Backwater family," Lime growled, and bowed curtly as one of the subjects in question approached and passed by on his way to the banquet hall. Lime was silent far more often than not, but when he spoke and expressed his thoughts, right or wrong, he was as intractable and immovable as he was physically. Mint knew mere words, or probably even actions, would never change Lime's engrained view of the world.

"That was Prince Toma, right?"

Lime grunted.

"He looks like an all right guy." It was nice to see another high-ranking warrior Mint's age, but the younger Musk kept that to himself. Mint also kept an appraising eye on Toma's two guards. The first was a large man, a good deal larger even than Lime. His eyes seemed somewhat vacant, and oblivious of his surroundings - odd traits in a bodyguard. He sported some fairly heavy looking mundane armor, and it was obvious he was Toma's display of Togenkyo muscle. The second of the two was a thin man, sporting a red and black mask over his face, and a crop of feathers from behind his turban. He moved with a sort of wary grace, as if naturally on edge. He turned, slightly, noticing Mint's interest, and the younger boy looked away quickly.

The two walked on, following Toma, who quickly engaged in conversation with a vivacious and mysterious young woman named Lychee, who had arrived earlier, on the heels of Prince Kirin's representatives. It was the three from Togenkyo that Mint paid the closest immediate attention to. The Island was once a colony of the Musk, centuries ago, built on a Cursed Spring, one of the oldest, if what Mint had learned was true. They still carried on many Musk traditions, though their practice of directly turning animals into men, and marrying them to normal women was somewhat of a reverse of what the Musk Traditions demanded.

Lime saw it as a corruption of the Musk way, but Mint understood that their traditions had been forced to change and adapt to a different environment after the collapse of the Eighth Dragon Dynasty so long ago. The animal traits that gave all Musk their more than human attributes, to varying degrees, all fade over time. They are always strongest in the first generation, and slowly start to dilute with the introduction of ever more human blood. Tradition dictated that the bloodlines needed to be strengthened every ten generations. Needless to say, Musk genealogies were well kept, and public knowledge. Mint, himself, and his brother, were both three generations removed from their last animal-mother.

Lime was two.

It explained more than a few things, really, when it came to Lime. Most living Musk were actually five or more generations removed, while Herb... well, the Dragon Dynasty was something in and of itself. But the Togenkyo sect of the Musk had adapted by allowing animal-fathers every few generations, and, he'd heard, by breeding like rabbits.

Still, 'backwater' was a cruel term.

Adjusting his feet slightly, and more than a little uncomfortable in his formal and inflexible attire, Mint found his mind and eyes wandering the room. He thought back to yesterday, just after Sumac's match. Mint's brother was handling things well enough - Sumac was nothing if not a perfectionist and a show off, and had finished toying with his opponent, when Herb had given that strange order, in Japanese, for Sumac to finish the match with a killing blow. It had only been an exhibition fight, not really serious, but still Sumac had been ready to follow through with the order, when that... woman had jumped in.

Herb seemed happy that she had, but when he walked up to her, she punched him.

Why?

Mint hadn't even seen a woman until recently, when he had officially come of age, and they were still strange creatures. Oh, he knew OF them, obviously, and what they did for the Musk, birthing the next generation of warriors, but he had never seen one up close until just a few days prior. Women were kept in the Female Quarter of Sach Khandu, far from the Barracks, the Training Halls, or any of the other areas where the males came and went. Mated Musk, when they wanted to, simply visited them in the Female Quarter, did their business, and came back. Contact was minimized, even then, and before the actual mating interview, totally forbidden.

Mint had seen a picture of a woman before he saw the girl that hit his Prince. It was different in real life. It had been hard to see that girl's breasts, because of her clothes, but he had been trying to get a mental picture of them, and consequently had failed to defend his Lord. Herb hadn't minded, really... or he didn't seem angry with either him or Lime, after he had ordered the woman taken to her room, and sulked around for a while. Mint suspected that Lord Herb, despite being much older, didn't know much more about females than he or Lime did.

Of course, he would never actually say that out loud.

Regardless, Mint found himself, suddenly, thrown into a room with more than a few obvious females, one of the prime examples of which came from the nearby Princedom of Nekonron. On the far side of the room, standing next to her bearded consort, Bishamonten, who Mint had seen a few times before, was the beautiful Monlon. Her fingers moved lovingly over her lute's strings, and Mint's keen ears could appreciate the soft music she was making for the small group of men and women that had gathered around them.

The other, closer, example was a woman named Lychee. Dressed in a long gown, matching the color of her wave of hair, Mint couldn't help but admire her... feminine features. They were just there, and impossible to ignore. Let Lime say what he wanted about Prince Toma's bloodline, it took a great deal of self control, or possibly desensitization, to carry on a conversation with that woman without staring at ...them.

"That's a nice set of breasts, she's got there," Lime said, breaking the silence between them.

"Huh?" Mint blinked a few times. "Who?"

"That female in the dress-thing." Lime scratched his head, and cracked his neck. "Hey, when is Lord Herb going to show up? I want to move around."

"No idea." Mint sighed, and went back to staring. A bit of curiosity came, and he focused his hearing, trying to pick up some of the conversation.

"I simply don't see the concern. Why should we get involved in a mainland concern like Saffron?" Toma took a long sip from his glass. "It may sound callous, but my business is the future of Togenkyo, first and foremost."

"Kirin's people say the same thing, of course... and yet they are far closer to the problem than some." Lychee's voice was melodious, and teasing.

Or perhaps testing.

"The Dragon and the Phoenix... we distanced ourselves from that dance a century ago. I am not eager to return to it. And then there's the logistics of moving a small army, through totalitarian China, without drawing attention... no, Herb will have to stand alone here, or not at all."

"A pity then. The Society, of course, will offer what aid it can to keep trouble from spreading, but I do hope Prince Herb isn't too disappointed. Our business is the study and care taking of Jyusenkyou... we simply cannot afford a confrontation with the Phoenix people, or their allies in the Joketsuzoku."

"Oh?" Toma chuckled. "I've heard much of the ability of the Muscle Sword and Wind Sword Clans under your influence..."

"A small group maintained for self defense." Lychee leaned in, conspiratorially. "We work and live in a dangerous area. It helps to have powerful friends, Prince Toma."

***

"What is wrong with you, woman?" The Lord of the Musk didn't yell, but his voice was far from its normal emotionless conceit.

"You have to ask? I'm a prisoner here... did you honestly expect me to simply stand there and accept it?"

Herb snarled, fists balled, frustration burning in his chiseled features. "I don't know what's wrong with you! I beat that man you were with...!"

"And that's another thing!" Ukyou didn't have her weapons, but she had her fists and feet, if it came to that. Brandishing the former, she would easily have been enough to make most men tremble in fear. "What were you doing attacking poor Mousse like that?!"

"He was in the way. He was in MY way." Herb didn't even blink at the angry woman's display. "And he was an Amazon. I hate Amazons."

"Yeah, that's real reasonable." Ukyou rolled her eyes. "So why am I still here? I'm no Amazon!"

"No... you're here because I... I, er..." Herb backed off a bit, and looked away from her. "You're here because..."

"Because?"

"Because I want you." He said, quickly. Too quickly, perhaps - Ukyou quickly raised her fists and got into a fighter's stance.

"Yeah, well, don't think I'll make it easy for you!"

"No! Not like that!" Herb's hands came up, defensively. "Well, maybe eventually... I mean: I want you to be with me."

"Just what the hell are you talking about?"

He tilted his head to one side as he looked down at her, amusement spreading across his face, and added, "I like you."

"You're kidding?" Nothing in her voice appeared derisive, just suspicious. "But we literally just met five minutes ago. How can anyone 'like' someone so quickly?"

"Musk males get very serious very quickly once they decide they're interested in someone," herb told her, frankly.

One corner of Ukyou's mouth twisted.

"I'm not in the mood to be anyone's 'mate' at the moment."

"I wasn't either, until I saw you. I'm..." He shook his head. "You already know that. I was on my way to Jyusenkyou to get ready to understand women, so that I could conduct interviews to find a worthy mate."

"The monkey?" Ukyou's hands lowered, slightly.

"Yes... the Guide picked it out, so that I could dunk it and... er... get more comfortable seeing the female body... so as not to make a fool of myself. When I saw you, though, I was struck, like an arrow. I saw the Amazon, and defeated him, and then you, to prove my strength and see if you were a powerful warrior or not. I was impressed... and I'm not easily impressed, so I brought you back with me to make you my mate."

"Well, you'll have to find someone else!" Ukyou crossed her arms, stubborn streak in full force. "I've got things to do, places to see... a life to live. And it starts with me getting out of here, finding my friend, and leaving this... this primitive hole in the ground as far behind me as possible."

"Easier said than done." Herb smiled, dangerously. He pointed to the closet in her room. "Pick something from the selection there. I'm hosting a very important reception, and I want to show you off and impress others."

"Why you...!" Ukyou flustered. "What do you think I am?"

"A female." Herb's brows lowered. "And a very comely specimen at that. Play along. You're more likely to be... let loose if you get on my good graces."

There was a strange flicker in her eyes, before she sharply answered. "Fine."

Herb exhaled, hard, through his nose, pivoted and stalked several feet away, stopping with his back to her. He heard her breathing in frustrated little gasps that slowed as she brought her temper under control, before leaving and closing the door behind him. He was tempted to post a guard, but decided to stand and wait for her personally. Whether she came out dressed, or simply tried to escape, he wanted to be the one that caught her and see the look on her face.

She was a stubborn, crude creature - nothing like he had been led to expect. The Musk mated with other warriors, but this one, she was like... like something else entirely. She was violent, headstrong, independent and seemingly unwilling to be dominated. Maybe it was the challenge that excited him, or the vision of her standing at someone else's side, regardless, she was a conquest he was determined to make.

He did, after all, have Seventeen Imperial Generations of Musk History to uphold.

Holding out his palm, Herb slowly channeled a small amount of carefully controlled Ki into it. When he was a child, and his power had started to manifest, it burned. The human body really wasn't the best conductor of Ki, really. It needed to be trained to accept it in large amounts, or else it quite literally burned out, searing the nerves and muscle beyond repair. His dragon blood allowed Herb a greater measure of control and knowledge, but really, he hadn't been born with more Ki than any semi-normal Musk warrior, he just knew how to use it best. The fact that he'd trained for years on end, with the most learned and experienced of warriors, and studied Ki for years without pause hadn't hurt either.

As the tiny energy sphere crackled to life in his hand, Herb stared deeply into the little Ki-flame he'd given birth to. It expanded and contracted, slowly, with his breathing and moved very slightly to the rhythm of his heartbeat. Some saw the Dragon Prince as akin to a god, something closer to the immortal monster Saffron than a human being. Herb let some believe that, those that should fear his power, and educated those that were his allies, and needed to know that he, too, was mortal. Mortal enough to die, in the flames...

Closing his hand into a fist, he reabsorbed the Ki - a difficult thing, really, far more difficult than releasing it. It was, he supposed, like firing an arrow or a firearm. Once unleashed, Ki did not want to be drawn back, or recalled. It was like a living thing, born in a singular purpose, and driven to complete that purpose, regardless of any change of heart between then and now. Herb was distracted, but his attention instantly shifted when he heard the door open.

And then shifted again.

"Excuse me," Ukyou tried, softly.

"..."

"Um... excuse me?" She tried again, not so softly.

"..."

"Well then... excuse YOU!"

"OW!" Herb clutched his midsection, and looked up, eyes narrow. "What was that for?"

"You were staring at my breasts, you jackass!!"

"So? That's what they're for, right?"

Ukyou sweat dropped, and was about to say something when she caught him at it again. Deciding that physical violence wasn't working particularly well of late, she grabbed his chin, and forcibly lifted his face to somewhat eye level, given that he was more than a little taller than her. Taking a deep breath, which unfortunately caused his eyes to wander, again, she repeated the process, and cut him off with a firm voice.

"Listen," she started, voice stern. "You are not supposed to look at a lady's breasts... do you follow me?"

"But..." He frowned, obviously displeased by this revelation. "Why do you have them then?"

"They're for... they're for..." Ukyou blushed. This wasn't something she wanted to talk about right now.

"Yes?"

"They're for... you know. Biologically..."

"I follow you. But why do they stick out, if not to attract attention to themselves?"

"Okay." Ukyou gave up, on that point. "Yes, they are to ...attract attention. But you're not supposed to stare at them. You're supposed to... you know, look at them discretely."

"Discretely?" Herb considered that. "How so?"

"Like, when I can't tell that you're looking. That's when you look. ...But only if you're a pervert."

"Per Vert? What... are you talking about?"

"What I just said. A pervert does that."

"They look when you can't tell that they're looking?" Herb repeated, slowly.

"Exactly."

"And if they look and you know they're looking?"

"Also a pervert."

"Is... is that a term of endearment?"

"No! A pervert is a bad thing!"

"So looking at breasts makes you... bad?"

"Um... well... kinda." Ukyou groaned, trying to think things over and present them in a way that made the most sense. "Here's how it works. I have breasts."

"You certainly do." Herb smiled, and Ukyou had to grab his face again.

"I have them, and yes, they are there to attract attention," she repeated, starting to lose her cool. "But a gentleman isn't supposed to look at them, because he knows they're there. Maybe he looks once, very quickly, then never again."

"Never?"

"Well... unless she wants them to."

"Who to?"

"Them! He! Argh!!" Ukyou clapped her hands together. "Only look at them when you have permission to look at them. Otherwise, try and ignore them."

"I see." Herb quirked an eyebrow. "So why are you putting them on display, if someone had to ask permission to see them first?"

"To save time," she answered, perhaps too quickly. Ukyou knew how she looked. She was wearing a fairly low cut light blue gown - it had looked too good to pass up, and if nothing else, she might be able to charm her way out of things. Apparently not, but that last comment had sort have worked. Herb really couldn't think of anything to say in response to it, and there was silence.

For all of five seconds.

"Can I see them now?"

"What kind of a Prince ARE you?!"

***

"Those..."

"Those are some very nice titties." Mint cut his partner off and gave Herb's woman a quick victory sign when they passed by on their way to the Main Hall and got smacked upside the head for his trouble. Rubbing where he'd been so cruelly hit, Mint grumbled something softly and followed a few feet behind Lord Herb. The two mingled, and when Herb and his woman went separate ways, the Dragon Prince motioned silently for Mint to switch to guarding her instead of him.

The Wolf-Musk thought about protesting. It was, in a way, insulting, having to play bodyguard to this female... but, on another hand, maybe it was a sign of trust his liege had in him. Really, Herb did not need guarding - he was by far the most powerful individual in the room, so maybe being assigned to watch over this woman was a greater responsibility.

A better responsibility.

Mint opted to see it that way, and kept near her at a discrete distance. He also tried to keep from staring at her breasts. Brushing past one of the guests, he was surprised when an arm reached out and stopped him. Turning quickly, he saw the man's face and relaxed.

"Hey." Sumac gave his brother a quick smile. "Following Herb's bitch, huh?"

Mint glowered. His brother could be crueler than Lime sometimes.

"Ah, I was just mixing words." Sumac brushed it off, and offered in silent apology. Mint nodded. His brother was a good person deep down; he just tended not to think before he said things. Or he thought about it, and just didn't care what others thought, making him come off disrespectful and rude. It was one of the reasons why, even though Sumac was an excellent warrior, one of the best, he hadn't been given a position in Herb's Court, or a high rank in the Musk Kinship.

"When did you get here?" Mint kept an eye on Ukyou, who seemed to be listening intently to Monlon's playing.

"I snuck my way in while Herb and his woman were making their gala entrance." Sumac's voice didn't hold any sarcasm, though Mint knew it was there. "I'm leaving tomorrow morning and thought I'd get some good food before I headed out."

"Is that the only reason?"

Sumac tilted his head in thought, before shrugging. "Not really. I wanted to talk to some people... and hear Herb's big speech. It'll be amusing to see him try and convince these soft outsiders to try and help in the battle with the Phoenix."

"Amusing isn't the word I'd have used." Mint adjusted his fox-cap self-consciously. "What do you think of all this?"

"What do you mean 'all this?'"

"These people. This is the first gathering I've been to where... you know... there were females."

"Eh." Sumac shrugged. "You get used to them after a while. I saw my first woman when I was your age..."

"Yes, the infamous Joketsuzoku that you took down, we've all heard it before." Mint motioned with his hands, as if portraying the image of a giant. "Seven feet tall... arms like a man's torso, blazing red hair, and enough cleavage to get lost in and never find your way out. Bled a small river... Oooo!"

"Little brat!" Sumac tousled his brother's hair, and watched him squirm to get away. It was so much fun embarrassing the little guy.

"Go on and do your stuff." Mint started to fastidiously comb over his hair with his hand, as if fixing a work of art. "I've got to keep an eye on Herb's woman."

His brother nodded and started to walk away, but paused and spoke over his shoulder, "Just don't look too closely, little Mint. Females are not something to get mixed up with at your age."

"I know what I'm doing," Mint lied, and Sumac gave a quick laugh before walking off. Walking a bit closer, perhaps emboldened by his own words, he tried to both fit in, and mentally separate himself from what was going on. It wasn't a situation he was used to, or really prepared for. As he started to feel comfortable, and inconspicuous, Monlon stopped playing, finishing her performance with a soft trailing note.

"That was beautiful," Ukyou spoke up, first... boldly, in a way.

Monlon considered her for a moment, before answering simply enough. "Thank you. Miss...?"

"Kounji Ukyou. From Kyoto, Japan." Ukyou gave a small bow.

The older man standing next to Monlon spoke first, "Bishamonten. Of the Seven Lucky Gods Martial Arts Clan, Nekonron."

"Monlon." The woman followed his example. "Of the Seven Lucky Gods Clan, Nekonron."

"Shichi Fukudoujin?" Ukyou seemed incredulous. "I thought the Seven Lucky Gods were just a legend."

"Many things thought to be legend are, in fact, quite mundane." Monlon plucked softly at her biwa lute. She had an imperious tone, but not condescending. "You're a long way from Kyoto, Kounji Ukyou."

"Yeah. I was visiting Jyusenkyou with a friend of mine when this jackass knocks him out and drags me off like some caveman Neanderthal!" She didn't sound happy, naturally. "You can probably guess who that was."

"Not really." Bishamonten inclined his head. "That could be the work of almost anyone in this part of the world."

"Well it wasn't just anyone," Ukyou said, faintly, and trailed off. "Anyway, what brought you two out here?"

"Nekonron is close by. We were invited to attend in lieu of Prince Kirin." Monlon smiled. "Our dealings with the Musk Dynasty go back many years, as does our alliance against the Phoenix god Saffron, which will, no doubt, be the subject of the day's discussions."

"What is this Saffron thing, anyway?"

"Saffron is a being of fire and flesh, nurtured and risen by the people of Phoenix Mountain. His last incarnation was... less than benevolent." Bishamonten frowned. "Two Lucky Gods were lost to his fire and rage, as well as innumerable servants, and many others not of our Clan. Many Musk died before Saffron was defeated."

Ukyou suddenly thought of something. "And Joketsuzoku?"

"They... chose not to get totally involved." The bearded Lucky God twirled the trident-spear in his right palm.

"Is that why Herb dislikes them?"

"I do not know, Miss Kounji." He became silent after that, as if remembering something in the past.

"It was a long time ago," Monlon cautioned. "And things are not always so simple and straightforward."

***



Ryouga was lost.

Not physically, but mentally. His body was walking, following those he trusted explicitly not to lead him awry, but his mind was on other things. A great many things, but a few most specifically - and they worried him. Looking to the side, he watched Ranma walk, next to Akane, one hand in hers in an open display of affection, at least for the moment. The two had alternated arguing and silently enjoying each other's company on the short train ride back to Tokyo.

What worried the lost boy was the feeling in his belly, from deep down. There was a missing fire, an always-present dislike for the pigtailed boy that seemed to be smoldering. It was a comforting feeling, his hatred for Saotome Ranma, after so long. A complex mixture of jealousy, rage, betrayal, pity, respect and admiration, it was as much a part of who he was, and who he had become, as his bandanna, or his combat umbrella, or his martial arts. But now, it was dwindling, and it was as if a hole was forming, an empty void only momentarily filled by his anger and hatred towards Taro.

Taro who he had killed, buried under tons of rock.

Taro who, like only Ranma before him, Ryouga had, at the very least, fought and tried to kill... wanted to kill. Ryouga had often thought long and hard about his actions in the last fight he had had with Ranma, and how, indeed, he had tried to kill the object of his anger. Fortunately, he hadn't succeeded, and Ranma had survived every lethal attack thrown his way. But Taro, 'Pantyhose Taro,' Nabiki had revealed his full name, and the source of his ire, had brought back that frenzy and that urge to feel pain under his fist, to hear the breaking of bone and find release in the crushing of an opponent.

A year ago, the thought would have fortified him.

Now, it scared him.

Was he some kind of natural born killer? Ryouga had accused Ranma of a great many things, most of them accurately the other boy's fault, but Ranma was no murderer. Ranma was, despite Ryouga's attempts at 'destroying his happiness' and even ending his life, a happy person, if not a very healthy individual. And he was willing to forgive. That was the most amazing thing. Would Ryouga have ever let the feud go, if Ranma had seriously tried to kill him?

Certainly, Ryouga could try to forgive, but his nature would never let him forget any injustice done against him. He remembered every face, every word, every slight and every insult in crystal clarity, and those memories haunted him every time he closed his eyes. It was another thing to envy in the Saotome boy: his ability to move on with his life. The lost boy resolved himself - he had never truly forgiven Ranma for what had been done in the past, and while he could never forget, no matter how hard he tried, he would forgive him. He would move on.

Even if it was difficult.

Even if it left a hollow pit in him a mile deep.

It was morning, already, and the sun was just starting to rise over the horizon. He felt soft hair brush against his cheek, and realized that Nabiki was starting to stir in his arms. Both Tendo girls had fallen asleep in the train on the way home, but while Ranma had opted to wake Akane up, Ryouga preferred to let Nabiki sleep. She barely weighted anything compared to the rest of the stuff he had with him, anyway, so it wasn't really a hindrance.

She was so beautiful. And unhurt.

At the very thought, the rage came and swiftly dissipated. Taro was either dead or dying. Unless he knew the Bakusai Tenketsu, or something similar, there was no way out of that landslide he had been caught in, even in his powerful monster form. A small voice reminded him then that he had known that back then, as well as he did now, and still hadn't turned to try and get him out. Maybe it was the look of panic in Nabiki's eyes, or the bruise on Akane's face... in that moment, he had done nothing. He had wanted death. He had wanted to call down punishment of the most terrible and final variety.

There was an innate darkness to him that Nabiki knew of, but probably didn't truly grasp. It was something maybe only Ukyou and Shampoo had any sort of glimpse of, or relation to. To his left, he saw Shampoo walking, by herself, apparently in thought. Slowing a bit, and distancing himself from Ranma and Akane somewhat, he gently nudged the Chinese girl, getting her attention.

"Shampoo." He gave her a friendly smile. "How are ya holding up?"

"Shampoo feel like smashed by big truck." She pointed to a long set of shallow scrapes on her left arm. "How Lost Boy doing?"

"I'm alive, Chinese Girl," he continued, in a lower voice. "I might not have been around at all if not for you, though. You really saved my ass back there."

"Is what friends are for, no?"

"You bet." He blinked a few times. "Are you ...crying?"

"Amazon womans no cry!" Shampoo quickly regretted saying it, and calmed somewhat. "Is just very late... early. Eyes get dry."

"Oh." Ryouga grinned with a sudden vacantness, or simply a lack of understanding. "It is late. Or early. Depending on how you look at it."

"Lost Boy go ahead with Airen and Tendo Kitchen Monster. Shampoo head back to Nekohanten," she spoke dryly, and backed off a few feet before waving a hand and turning around.

"Okay. See ya." Ryouga watched her go, and couldn't shake the feeling that he'd missed something. After a moment, he chalked it down to the weirdness of Ukyou and Mousse being gone for so long.

Which was another thing.

They'd left well over a week and a half ago, and he hadn't heard one word from them. Almost certainly they'd have found Jyusenkyou by now, given that Mousse had grown up in that region, and knew it like the back of his hand (actually a disquieting notion, considering Mousse didn't really know the back of his hand that well at all). Still, Ryouga envied them, in more than a few ways. He still felt the pull of his heart to wander, if only for a little time. A training trip to the mountains was sounding better every passing day, but he knew better than to make it appear spontaneous. A better excuse would be training to 'sharpen his skills' which wasn't really a lie, because that was the point of any training trip, but more importantly he needed to clear his mind.

He'd just omit mentioning that last part.

Nabiki wouldn't want to hear it, and he didn't really want to upset her or make her think that he was starting to feel tied down. Or that how that fact made him feel equal parts frightened and wonderful. No, he'd leave in a few days, after telling everyone beforehand. Soun would wish him luck, Kasumi would pack some snacks for his trip, Ranma would make a few snide remarks about him getting lost for half a year again, and Akane would hit him with something. Unfortunately, Ryouga couldn't really predict how Nabiki would act. Feigned indifference was most likely, and she could be very difficult to read at times.

"No matter." He steeled himself mentally. It was something that needed to be done. Everything branching from it was conditional and secondary.

"Come on, P-chan!" Ranma suddenly called out, over his shoulder. "We're almost home!"

"What the hell did you call me?" Ryouga growled back, but kept his voice low, so as not to wake the woman in his arms. Ranma broke into a run, and Akane and Ryouga were quick to follow, the former because she was excited to be back home, and the latter because he didn't want to lose sight of either of them and get lost. That would be exceedingly bad timing, given the circumstances.

They came to a halt in front of the main gates to the Tendo property. The air was a bit misty, but not unpleasant, and not enough to trigger anyone's Jyusenkyou curses. Which reminded him...

"Hey, Ranma..." Ryouga wasn't in the mood for any verbal sparring. "Check the mail. Tell me if my new issue of 'Modern Jyusenkyou' came in."

"Huh?" Ranma's eyes widened. "Oh, you mean the Jyusenkyou Products Catalogue?"

"None other." Ryouga licked his lips in anticipation. "I want to place my order for some of their new Waterproof Soaps early."

That way, they should arrive around when I get back from my little soon-to-be-announced 'training trip,' he left unsaid. Ranma rummaged around in the mailbox, but came out without anything of consequence. Ranma looked at the cover of one of the pieces of mail and 'eeped.'

"What?" Ryouga leaned over, to get a better look. "Challenge Letter? Dojo Destroyer?"

"Worse. Heating bill. No Catalogue, though." Ranma shrugged and followed Akane into the yard after she unlocked the door. Ryouga wasn't far behind.

"Ah... home sweet home!" Akane slowly opened the door and stepped inside, sliding off her shoes.

"Akane, is that you?" A voice came from the kitchen - it seemed that Kasumi was up early. ...Even earlier than normal.

"Yep! I'm home!" She answered back, following the voice. Ryouga managed to navigate into the living room, and gently laid Nabiki down on the couch. Sighing, and leaning back on the small corner he kept for himself, he just managed to catch something... someone... out of the corner of his right eye. Pivoting and looking up, he gulped.

"Hello again, Hibiki-san." Natsume stood behind the couch, arms crossed.

Bad timing indeed.

***

"At last. My training is complete. Soon... the vile sorcerer will tremble at my feet..."

Nerima was an odd place for pets of any variety. It got spontaneously wet, seemingly at random, and it was full of weird people. An example, both of the weirdness, and of the pets in the area, was one 'Mr. Green Turtle.' Now, Mr. Green Turtle was green, indeed, but he was no turtle. Mr. Green Turtle, or Midorigame, was actually an Australian Saltwater Crocodile, 'Crocodylus porosus.' A species of crocodilians commonly found many, many miles to the south, in the northern parts of Australia and the warmer parts of Southeast Asia. Obviously, he wasn't most people's first choice in pet.

"Oh hohohohoho!!"

Now, the Saltwater Crocodile has a great many names associated with it. 'Saltie', Indo-Pacific Crocodile, Singapore 'small grain' Crocodile, Baya, Buaja, Buaya maura, Gator, Gatta Kimbula, Gorekeya, Kone huala, Jara Kaenumken, Pita Gatteya, Pukpuk... Rawing crocodile, Semmukhan Muthlelei, Sea-going crocodile, Subwater crocodile, Man-eating crocodile... but never 'Mr. Green Turtle.' Unfortunately, Midorigame lacked the simple brainpower to understand how he got into such a strange situation.

Though he was ignorant, it had begun many years ago, when a young Kuno Kodachi, on a trip to Singapore with her father, brother, and mother, had seen some baby crocodiles chirping innocently in a zoo. Much screaming, whining, and ribbon tossing resulted, and a young Mr. Green Turtle had been plucked from a croc farm and shipped out to his new friend. Life had quickly become a routine matter for the humble crocodile.

Try and bite the loud man-person who always ran around breaking things.

Wait for the curvy creature to throw food into the water (he could always tell it was her by the annoying and loud sounds she made).

Sleep.

Wait for something interesting to pass by.... And bite it.

It was a good, life, really. Except when it got cold. Mr. Green Turtle hated the cold. And he hated weird stuff. Unfortunate, given where his owner lived. Earlier, there had been a duck swimming in the water. He didn't recognize it, and snapped at it, and had ended up cut by lots of sharp things. How had that happened?

Another time, this loud creature, similar to the one that fed him, but not quite sounding or looking the same, ended up in his pond. When it didn't look like she was going to leave his territory, he snapped at her, and tried to chase her around and maybe get a few good bites in, for good measure. Then she kicked him! It hurt a lot, and he'd ended up like that one time the man-person threw his weird tasting food in the water and Midorigame had eaten it.

"Brother, dear... what IS that in the yard?"

And then there had been this little black creature he tried to eat once. Midorigame shivered at the memory. This wasn't supposed to happen! The Saltwater Crocodile can grow up to 7 meters long. It has a large head and lots of pointed teeth. It is the largest living reptile. How does one end up in such situations?

Still, he liked mornings, and the morning sun, and the morning feeding of tidbits, so Mr. Green Turtle surfaced and gave his Empire a quick once over. Lo and behold, he saw something drinking at the edge of the pond, greedily slurping up Midorigame's precious supply of water - literally eating his home. Instincts kicked in, and he floated towards it slowly.

I am... a log.

Think like a log.

Move like a log.

Be... the log.

Sensing that he was close enough, Mr. Green Turtle hurled himself forward with much bluster and splashing, mouth wide... and then he stopped. Apparently his mouth wasn't wide enough. Just short of actually biting into his target, Midorigame had paused. As he did, the nonplussed other animal's head turned slightly, and two large eyes focused on the Crocodile.

"Snort."

Deciding to let the creature have the water if it wanted it so badly, Mr. Green Turtle went back into the water to sulk.

"That's the second largest swine I've ever seen. Truly, it must be possessed by magics most foul..." Kuno blinked, drew his legendary bokken, and then a (similarly) legendary breath of air. "Have at thee, great pink beast, and feel the bitter taste of my mighty blade upon thy flesh, for it is from this stalwart edge that all heavenly justice must surely spring to mete out punishment to those evil of heart and dark of soul and know that the taste of defeat you shall not but savor was delivered to you at the hands of the one and only Tatewaki Kuno, Blue Thunder of Furinkan High, Rising star of the kendo world and future Olympic ALL STAR!!!"

The creature just grunted.

Much pain ensued.

***

Ukyou had come to realize that she really could have picked up some Mandarin Chinese. While a fair number of people spoke and understood Japanese, most had only a cursory knowledge of it. She was also finding she enjoyed being the center of attention, which left a guilty and angry feeling behind whenever she thought about it. There had been a nice dinner, and though she expected dancing and entertainment to follow, many of the more interesting (and fluent in Japanese) individuals had left for a guarded antechamber, Herb among them.

Really, she suspected, it was her best chance yet to escape... and trek through the mountains without equipment in the vain hope of finding a village or group of people who spoke Japanese. All right, she silently admitted to herself, she was pretty well and screwed in the escaping department, even if they let her just walk out, which she doubted they would. One of Herb's personal guards, the younger one, had been following her at a small distance her entire time here.

She was about to turn and talk to him, though about what she had no real idea, when she bumped into someone her height. She was an attractive woman Ukyou's age, maybe a year older, with waves of light orange hair matching her dress. For an odd reason, Ukyou felt a little on edge around her. The other girl laughed politely in a soprano voice.

"You must be Kuonji Ukyou."

"Um... I am." Ukyou gave a quick bow. "You're...?"

"Lychee," she said, with a small mysterious smile. "Herb is making a good impression with you."

"Huh?"

"Prince Toma, certainly, finds you very attractive." Lychee closed her eyes, as if in deep thought. "They've all gone off to hear Herb's proposal, in case you were wondering. I was about to head over myself."

"Are we allowed?" Ukyou was surprised she had even asked such a thing. What did she care?

"No. But I'm sure we can charm our way close enough to listen in." Her eyes took on a mischievous gleam. "Well? You come with Lychee?"

After only a moment, Ukyou nodded. "Why not? It's not like they're going to kick me out of here or anything."

***

"How many of us remember that day?" Herb sat on his ivory throne, his brows creased in memory. "How many remember the blood and the tears of that last charge my father led? The Dragon never forgets..."

"Twenty five years ago, Saffron rose from his grave in Phoenix Mountain. Not content to enslave his own savage people, he swept down into Musk lands, killing or brainwashing any who stood against him. For a time, we alone stood between the fire and all your homes. In battle after battle, we rained arrows down on the Phoenix god, and he simply plucked them out like bee stings. Hammer blows, even the edges of the finest blades... none of these could stand against him, and even the most powerful Ki attacks could only keep him at bay, unprotected as all were from his cloak of firestorms."

"Our allies, our friends, the Seven Lucky Gods came to our aid, and bolstered by them, we stood one last time against Saffron. My father... memory preserve him... finally confronted the demon, personally, knowing that there would be no battles following this one, no matter which way it went. Into the cloak of flames, he charged, and locked arms with his enemy. ...Young as I was, I remember it clearly. I remember the sight of him, burning away... his Ki boiling to uncontrollable levels, and then, finally: the end. The end of both Saffron and my father, both consumed in the pyre. With their cruel master destroyed, the Phoenix savages fled into unorganized rout, and I was handed the reigns of leadership as Prince of the Last Musk Dynasty."

"I call upon all of you. I call upon the Armies of our brothers in Togenkyo, and the young Prince Toma." Herb held his hand out towards where Toma sat, in between his bodyguards Toristan and Wonton.

"I call on the mobile resources of Nekonron." His hand swept over to where Bishamonten sat, the Lucky God of War and Defense, cross-legged, smoking a pipe.

"I call on the Jyusenkyou Society's contacts, wealth and supplies..." Herb's hand became a fist as it passed by the two male representatives of the Jyusenkyou Preservation Society. "Together, we will not only prevent the rise of another Saffron, an event just on the horizon, but also prevent anything like him ever threatening us again."

"Your words are well chosen." Bishamonten, exhaled deeply, smoke billowing from his mouth. "I was there, young Dragon, when we held against the Phoenix. Two Lucky Gods did not return from that battle. What, exactly, do you propose?"

"A two pronged attack." Herb rubbed his hands together, eager to explain his plan of action. "First, and most important, we much strike at the heart and the source of the problem: Saffron himself."

Toma interrupted, "Assault Mount Phoenix? Even I know that Fortress is impenetrable. It cannot be done."

"No... impossible for a conventional army, perhaps." Herb frowned at the prospect. "However, I propose the organization of a small elite force, the finest of our warriors, myself included, to sneak in, wreak havoc, and leave with the ultimate prize - the young Saffron, himself."

There was a chorus of murmurs.

"A child," herb spoke up, sensing the cause of their discomfort. "Who even now plots our enslavement. The foundations and engines of evil that the Saffron of a quarter century ago built remain untouched, deep inside Phoenix Mountain, waiting to be unleashed. We either strike now, boldly and decisively, while we have the time and opportunity, or we wait for the gouts of flame and ash to fall on our heads and burn everything we have built to the ground!"

"I... sense there is yet more you wish to share with us." Bishamonten looked from Herb to Toma and back.

"Yes." Herb's voice turned rapidly from impassioned to cold. "There is the matter of the Joketsuzoku."

"I was not aware that Amazon women played any major part in this." Toma cleared his throat. "How many enemies do you have, Prince Herb?"

"The... Amazons," herb said the word slowly, with contempt. "Are allies of the Phoenix. No longer content to sit on their haunches and watch as others die to defend them from slavery, my sources reveal that they now openly ally... openly support a risen Saffron."

"Ah." The young Prince Toma said nothing further.

"They will have to be dealt with. And they will be... once Saffron is in our custody, and while the Phoenix warriors exhaust themselves smashing against the impenetrable defenses I have prepared for them, we shall march the bulk of our forces around the Jyusenkyou Valley, and onward towards the Joketsuzoku. We will crush them for daring to ally with the Murderers of Jusendo, and for betraying us at the Soryn Pass, and in so doing, we will put an end to three thousand years of rebellion, dishonorable raiding of Musk lands, and male oppression. Let what remains of their 'Elders' contemplate that, before they again turn against the Musk Dynasty."

"The Society... will consider this proposal." One of the representatives, a tall lanky Chinese man in a suit, stood. "After council with the Assembly."

Bishamonten was the next to rise, as others filed out. "If nothing else... young Dragon. You will have my halberd for this cause. After Soryn, I've no love of the Joketsuzoku, and never any for the Barbarians that ceaselessly flood from Phoenix Mountain."

"My thanks, noble Bishamonten." Herb crossed his arms, and bowed deeply, in respect. The elder warrior had stood by his father, King Herb, up to that fateful charge, when at last, he had been ordered to fall back. Lastly, Prince Toma seemed to hesitate in leaving the antechamber. Silently, he motioned for his bodyguards to head out by themselves, and Herb did the same, sending Lime outside, until only the two Princes stood, alone.

"I am not a fool, Prince Herb," Toma spoke in low tones. "I have not distinguished my rule, and I have indulged myself... perhaps too much. You took the Dragon Throne at the same age I took the Land of Togenkyo, even if your blood does age more slowly then mine. Know that you have my respect."

"I would prefer to have your sword in the coming storm, Toma, then your respect in my home." Herb looked down at the younger Prince, but his voice held only truth.

"You... may yet have both." The side of Toma's mouth crept into a half smile. "It has been a long time since I had a good fight. Longer still that it was for a good reason, much less a worthy cause."

As the young man left the antechamber, he bumped past two women.

One was smiling.