Disclaimer: I still don't own Ranma1/2.

Summery: At Jusenkyo, Ryouga Hibiki, hit his head when he fell down from the cliff and had his fall altered. Landing in the spring of Drowned Musk Girl, he has lost all memory, and now calls himself Ryona. Tricked by Genma, into getting lost by going the wrong way when chased by an angry Shampoo, Ryona is currently tracking her only friend Ranma Saotome across China.

[Sign]

(Thoughts)

*SOUNDS*

*************Scene change

++++++++++Flashback

Chinese

Once again, thanks goes out to K.M for the help on this story. Also, thank you for the help with part 2. A thank also goes out to Dan Inverse for reading through the story and commenting on it.

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An Unexpected Turn

Part III

China blues

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Ranma Saotome stood proudly, with the sun behind him, on a rock and stared across the rice fields towards the west. His eyes held a

look of determination as he looked down on the worn map in his right hand. A small sweat drop traced it path across his forehead. "Okay, Pops. You may have knocked me out last night. But I know we have followed this road and crossed that field over there."

Genma smirked and sipped his tea before he looked up at Ranma. "I can't believe you boy," lowering the tea cup, he looked ominously up at his son,

while his glasses glowed faintly in the sunlight. "Why can't you just forget that girl. I'm sure she's fine."

Ranma looked down at his father before whapping him with the map "Shut up old man, what is your problem anyway. Evertime I try to go back and find Ryona you…" Anything else Ranma would have said was drowned out as Genma dumped a bucket of water on him.

Genma looked at his son, now turned daughter, as he clenched his fist. Slowly his head turned to face the heavens. "I can't believe that fate has given me such a weak son. Just one look at a girl, and he's ready to abandon his father in his time of need and give up the art. Oh the tragedy, to have such an unmanly son."

Ranma-chan clenched her fist before drop kicking Genma in a nearby pond. "Who are you calling unmanly?" Pulling the panda out of the water, she

growled "And since when has it been unmanly to care about a friend?"

[Behind you boy] Genma-panda pointed with his furry paw, as he held the sign up in the other.

"Yeah right pops" Ranma-chan snapped as she tightened her grip, "I won't fall for that trick, old man."

*Twip*

Ranma-chan looked at the small arrow lodged into the ground next to them. Looking behind her, she spotted a rather determinate purple haired Amazon running towards her holding a thin bow in one hand and pulling another arrow out of the quiver strapped to her back. Several farmers looked at the red haired girl and the large panda as they ran past them that day. Both wore backpacks with arrows sticking out of them.

**************

Ryona sighed for the tenth time that day, as she looked left and right. Trees rose high into the sky around her and rustled gently whenever the wind

played with their leaves and branches. She had managed to follow the smell of Ranma and Mr. Saotome this far, but now she had lost their scent a few hours ago and now faced a crossroad. Kneeling she sniffed the ground and looked up. The smell of humans was strongest to the left while the right told of lesser use. Finally she settled for the left path and followed it further into the forest.

It was 2 hours later that the forest gave way to large rice fields. Several women and men went about the fields and tended the plants to ensure that there wasn't anything wrong with them.

Wandering down the sometimes mud filled dirt road, Ryona munched on a small apple that she had found the other day. Passing one water filled rice field after another had rapidly gotten old and boring. It wasn't until she nearly stumbled into a large stone, that she started to pay attention to where she was. Near her an arrow was sticking out of the ground next to several footprints in the ground. Sniffing the air, she dropped the apple as she

finally found the smell of her friend again.

The farmer nearby shook his head as the pretty girl he had been staring at started a victory dance, before she dropped to her hands and knees and

sniffed the ground. It came as no surprise to him that she started to head in the same direction as the other three weirdo's had taken four hours earlier.

[Ranma, I'll find you. No matter what.] Ryona stopped in her tracks as she felt the first raindrop hit her. Looking up she saw the first thin gray

clouds moving in from the east, behind them came the heavy black thunderclouds. "Not again."

You there Came a dry old voice from behind her.

Turning, Ryona spotted an old women leaning on a cane. "Y… Yes?"

Blinking, the old women shook her head and mumbled something in Chinese before regarding Ryona again. "Not good at speaking Japanese, you

understand yes?" She spoke slowly, clearly not used to having to speak in Japanese. At Ryona's nod the old women smiled. "You help me carry

this please?" At Ryona's uncertain look she held out a hand. "Please, you can have a meal and a place to stay overnight in return."

"Uh," A distant thunder clap cause her to wince, "Okay." Ryona slowly reached out and picked up one of the baskets, before following after the old

lady to a wooden house near the center of the town.

**************

Ranma Saotome was not happy, in fact he was very unhappy. After having spent all day trying to slip away from the old man, (and) avoiding a

vengeful Amazon girl with sharp weapons, he now found himself with another curse. Forever would he be forced to wear his hair in a pigtail.

Maybe he shouldn't have eaten that soup after all, it hadn't been his, then again Shampoo had destroyed the restaurant and made him miss half the meal they had ordered there.

Fingering the braid he now wore, he glared at a human Genma sporting a black eye as late thanks for dragging him off to China. "So old man, are you ready to go look for Ryona now. After all, we lost Shampoo back there," Ranma declared before opening the main door of the cheap inn they were staying at overnight.

Genma-panda looked at his son as they both transformed from the rainwater blowing in through the door, [Can't you wait until after the storm breaks off boy?] The sign-wielding panda caused several persons to double check the drinks in their hands. They were just drunk right? They hadn't just seen a panda leading a conversation with a girl.

Ranma-chan banged her head against the wall and clenched her fists, "Shut up old man!" Looking through the door at the rain and wind swept darkness outside, she signed and closed the door again. {First thing tomorrow, I go back to look for her. No way am I leaving a friend behind!}

**************

Ryona crawled deeper into the bed and stifled a yawn. It may not be the best bed she knew, but she didn't complain. After all she was inside a warm hut, instead of out there in the storm. Playing with a strand of hair, she wondered if she was ever going to find her friend again. "Why did I have

to get lost. It's not fair." Looking out the cracked window, she winched at a loud thunder boom almost above them, followed by the loud hammering of rain on wood. "I'll never be able to find them now." Ryona sniffled a little before closing her eyes. It would be better to worry about it

tomorrow. Still, she couldn't help but let a few tears fall.

Ryona awoke to the sound of birds singing outside and children laughing. Rolling over she came face to face with a small girl. Puffy black hair fell

around the shoulders of the girl as she smiled before running out laughing. Swinging her legs out from the bed, she briefly wondered where she

was. Pulling on her clothes she remembered what had happed the day before.

Following the smells in the house, and the sounds, she found herself in a larger room. Sitting on the floor in front of her was a group of girls

from the age of six up till her own age or above. Some were sitting at a pottery wheel and making jars, while others were mending or making

clothes. A group of children at the age of five were playing in or outside the hut.

"Oh, your awake."

Ryona looked to the left and saw the old lady from before pulling a row of jars out from a small oven. "Yes, thank you for letting me stay."

The lady chuckled at Ryona's bow, Now this one show the proper respect, remember that girls, Her reward came as a snort or a chuckle from the

girls, turning back to Ryona she grabbed her hand and pulled her outside. "We go to nearby city today to sell clothes, jar and other stuff. Would you

like to come with us? It will spare you from walking alone the long way there."

Ryona nodded, "Yes please. I think my friends went there. I can always ask around for them."

"Fine." Stopping next to a small bench she lifted her staff and bonked the girl sitting on it, Wake up Mai. Pointing a the grumbling girl she

looked at Ryona, "This is Mai, my granddaughter. She's in charge of looking after the children today. Would you help her until then?"

Ryona looked at the 15 or so children fighting or playing in the center of town. "Sure"

"Good." And with those words the old lady turned around and went back into the house.

Mai raspberried the old lady as she walked away before looking at Ryona. "I'm Mai"

"Ryona," sitting down next to Mai, she looked around the village. She leaned back and looked at the other girl "How come you know

Japanese?"

Mai shrugged and turned to look at the children. "My father was from Japan." Jumping up she suddenly marched across the square and grabbed a

young boy with short hair and another one laying on the ground, Mifu, Hota. Stop it right now!

Ryona closed her eyes and decided to let Mai handled the fight. She would have drifted off right there if someone hadn't started crying right next to

her. Looking, she saw a young girl that had tripped while chasing another girl around. Pulling the girl up she spotted another argument between two

other children and sighed. When the old lady finally came and told them it was time to leave, she and Mai felt like thanking whatever Kami would listen to them.

**************

Ranma-chan grumbled as she hid under a few baskets and chickens. Somehow Shampoo had tracked them to the local market and declared that she was going to kill her. Not wanting to upset the Amazon anymore Ranma-chan and Genma-panda had opted to run away again. Now they were hiding in the local market to avoid being spotted.

Hearing Shampoo curse nearby made her duck even further down under the baskets. Turning her head, she spotted a few wagons moving through the

ground. Sitting on the back were a few women, three girls and two boys. One of the girls had long purple hair with pink highlights. Turning her head

Ranma-chan blinked.

Across from her Genma-panda followed her gaze and stared at the girl and felt like crying. Somehow that girl had found them again, turning his furry

head he looked at boy turned girl hiding nearby. If he were smart he would keep quiet so the Amazon wouldn't spot them. If not, well they could always swim back to Japan. But they needed to return soon so the schools could be united.

"RYONA!!"

Genma-panda snapped back to attention and cursed as the boy turned girl had just stood up and was waving like an idiot. He could see the Amazon girl spin around and point her weapon at his son, clearly ready to kill, no matter what.

"Ranma die now!"

Grabbing his son Genma-panda pushed his way through the crowd and made his path towards the harbor area of the town. Behind them several people cursed and yelled loudly at them. But the scariest thing was the sound of a glaive cutting through the air behind them.

**************

Ryona leaned back against the back of the wagon she was sitting on. It wasn't the most comfortable place in the world, but it sure beat walking all

the time. And she had someone to talk to on the way for a change. She had learned a lot of China from Mai and was proud to have learned some basic words in Chinese. Currently she was looking around the rather large city they had entered.

"RYONA!!"

Ryona's head snapped around as she stood up and stared across the market place. In the distance several people were looking a commotion. Due to the large amount of chickens flying through the air she couldn't see who had yelled her name, but she knew who it was, "RANMA!!"

Jumping off the wagon she started to push her way through the fleeing crowd before spotting the one she looked for slung over Genma-panda's shoulder, "Ranma!" Following the oversized Panda through the crowd was easy. Well until someone used her head as a steppingstone. Looking up from the ground, she spotted the violent Amazon storming down the street wielding a glaive.

"Those were your friends?" Mai stated as she helped Ryona up, "I think they are headed for the harbor."

Ryona nodded before grabbing her backpack from the old lady. Strapping it on she looked at Mai, "Could you show me the way?"

"Sure." Grabbing Ryona's hand she dragged the girl after her through the ruined market place and towards the harbor. Ducking around the angry mercents, ruined stalls and broken stuff, they made their way down to the harbor.

Turning the last corner Ryona blinked as a small ship with half a dozen weapons sticking out of the back sailed out of the harbor. Standing on the

mole holding a bow and firing one arrow after another was Shampoo who cursed loudly.

Mai scratched her head, "You sure you want to be friend with those people?"

Ryona nodded and looked around, "They must be headed for Japan, Ranma told me that's were they came from."

"Don't worry, old man Shi-fuu should be heading there." Mai grinned as she dragged Ryona back towards the market, "We're sending some stuff across the ocean next week. I'm sure you can go along as well." Ryona nodded while following the ship with her eyes.

Tbc in: Together Again.

AN: To the anonymous reviewer who reviewed my story 2002-7-15.

Mr. Reviewer. I was hoping that you would have left your E-mail address so we could have discussed you review. I think you have misunderstood a few things about my story.  If you read the part of the manga dealing with the Musk, you'll notice that as soon as the male is born he is taken from his mother to avoid any female influence, while he's being trained in the martial arts. In the manga, there's even a picture with Herb sitting on a throne with two servant girls behind it. Plus from what I understand, the Must kingdom or tribe is very old. Around a 1000 years or more. And you want me to believe that in all that time, not a single girl has been born among them.

To J-Chan. You're right. There have been enough rewrites of this story, three to be precise. But don't worry. I'm perfectly happy with how the final rewrite turned out and have no intention off changing the story.