Disclaimer: Nihao! No own this product, but wish K-Dog did.
( ) = Actions during speech
= Character thinking
[ ] = Author's opinions
{ } = Character speaking in Chinese
# # = Sound Effects
The Unknown Family: part 2I can't believe this. thought Nabiki Tendo as she ate her dinner with her family in peace, while she slowly kept track of the time. It was rare to have dinner without their fathers, but Mr. Saotome had gone on a trip to check out some possible training sites & Mr. Tendo had decided to go with him. [Their probably trying to come up with new ways to try to hook up Akane & Ranma anyway.]
It was currently 7:49 & in less then eleven minutes, Cologne & the amazons would be here to hold the ceremony. If she hadn't found that diary this wouldn't have happened. She could have kept the whole thing covered up, but secrets don't last long in Nerima so she decided it was better to bring it to Cologne's attention now then have her find out later.
Almost eight o'clock. thought Ranma who, unbeknownst to Nabiki, had followed her to the Cat Café earlier today, & thought that Nabiki had been bribed to trick him into marrying Shampoo after overhearing the last part of Cologne & Nabiki's conversation, the only part spoken in Japanese as they talked the whole time in Chinese.
I'll marry Shampoo over my dead body! thought Ranma as he ate some fish cakes.
"Nabiki, I was wondering what that diary you found earlier said?" asked the kind voice of Kasumi.
"What diary?" asked the voice of the hot headed Akane curiously.
What diary? thought Ranma. I didn't,…Oh wait! That must be that book she was lugging around!
"I guess I better clue you in." said Nabiki as she finished her rice. "Cologne is coming over at eight. What it's about pertains to the diary. What it's about I can't tell you."
"I can." Ranma angry. "Their coming to perform some ceremony."
"What!?!" exclaimed Akane.
"Oh my!" said Kasumi as she got up. "I'd better get some tea ready for our guests."
"So you followed me Ranma?" said Nabiki upset that he had. Bet he thinks they bribed me to trick him into marrying Shampoo.
"You bet. I don't care how much they are paying you, I ain't marrying Shampoo." Ranma announced.
"It's not about that Ranma." Nabiki said chuckling at how predictable he'd become. "I'd tell, but Cologne told me not to."
"I don't want that Chinese hussy in my home!" exclaimed an angry Akane.
"Too late." Nabiki said pointing to the clock on the far wall, which read 7:59. "They'll be here soon."
"Sooner then you think." A voice said in the back patio.
They all looked through the back sliding doors & there stood Cologne, Shampoo, & Mousse, all dressed in ceremonial clothing. [Picture anything you might think they'd wear from the mangas. I'm not quite sure how to describe some of the ceremonial clothing I've seen them in.]
"I knew it!" Ranma yelled. "They are planning a wedding! I ain't marrying Shampoo you old ghoul!"
"Quiet down Ranma!" ordered Cologne. "The business we are on does not concern you!"
"What?" exclaimed Ranma in shock. It's not about me!?!
"This concerns only the Tendo sisters!" Cologne continued. "If you three would follow me to the dojo, then we can get this over with."
"Might as well." Nabiki said getting up.
"Coming." Kasumi said cheerfully.
"This better be good." Akane said as all three of them followed the three amazons into the dojo. Shampoo then closed the door before Ranma could follow.
"Hey!" said Ranma as the door slammed in his face. "Let me in there!"
"Ranma!" said Cologne's voice behind the door. "What goes on in here is amazon business! If you come in here we will be forced to kill you!"
"O…okay." exclaimed Ranma who decided to see if anything good was on television.
The three Tendo sisters watched as Shampoo & Mousse watched the door, while Cologne set up four small torches surrounding them. She then pulled out a small dagger from her sleeve & set it on the floor in front of them. Finally, she put out a small bowl with Chinese writing all over it on the floor.
"Now let me begin by telling you why I am here tonight." Cologne as the sisters listened on. "This afternoon, Nabiki brought to me the diary of your great, great, great, great, grandmother. It was written in Chinese & talks about her travels before settling down in Nerima & building this dojo."
"What Nabiki found in the diary that surprised her were two things." Cologne continued. "The first was mentioning family in a tribe of amazons in China."
Kasumi, & Akane gasped at this amazing revelation. Nabiki however already knew this & sat back to listen.
"The second was her name." Cologne said. "Kun Diz Nor!"
"Conditioner?" said Akane trying to pronounce it.
"Correct." Cologne said nodding her head. "She was one of the greatest warriors in the tribe of our tribe. She single handedly defeated over a hundred Musk warriors in the battle of Xuan Pu, for which my grand daughter is named after."
"Wait!" said Akane. "If our grandmother is the same person at this battle, then that means,…"
"Yes child." Cologne said. "You, & you sisters are amazons."
"Holy $%#@$!!!!" exclaimed Akane as the blood drained from her face.
"Oh my!" said Kasumi shocked.
"That's what I couldn't tell you." Nabiki said.
"Now, since you are amazons then that means that you fall under the rules of our tribe." Cologne said. "But only if you accept this induction ceremony we are about to perform."
"Would this mean you'd have to train us to fight?" asked Kasumi concerned. She didn't really like violence.
"Yes. All the techniques known to amazon females would be taught to you." Cologne said.
"I'm in!" said Akane who jumped at the chance to learn new techniques & become as good as Shampoo.
"Me too." Nabiki said. "In my business it would probably be a good idea to know how to defend myself."
"This could be kind of fun I guess." Kasumi said deciding that she might as well join in to watch over her sisters. "I would like to know more than house keeping."
"Is that your final decision?" asked Cologne as the sisters shook their heads yes.
"Very well." Cologne said as she picked up the knife & put a small cut into her palm. She then did the same to the sisters.
"Kasumi, place your cut against mine & repeat after me!" said Cologne as the eldest sister did so.
"By the mingling of this blood, from elders past & present, I hereby vow to protect the interests of the tribe & my fellow sister amazons, until the day I die! Now & forever more, I am an amazon, pure-blooded & strong! I am better than any man, & twice as brave! I will sacrifice my own life, my very being itself, to protect my new family!" said Cologne as she indicated for Kasumi to now repeat the line.
After she did so, the others repeated the gesture & speech. Cologne then had them hold their hands above the bowl. As drops of blood dripped into the bowl, Cologne spoke the last line.
"By this mixed blood I pay homage to our ancestors! May they watch over & protect these young girls, until the end of time!" said Cologne as they watched in amazement as the writing in the bowl glowed an eerily purple for ten minutes. Then, it stopped as suddenly as it began.
"It is done." Cologne said as the sisters bandaged up their hands. "The spirits of our ancestors have spoken. You three sister's, the last remaining family of the brave warrior Conditioner, are now amazons."
"That's good." Akane said as Shampoo suddenly came to her side.
"Shampoo sorry for all times she plot to kill sister amazon!" said the young girl. "Please forgive Shampoo."
"Of course." Akane said. "If Ranma can't hold a grudge, then why should I."
"Thank you sister!" said Shampoo near tears in her eyes.
"Now girls." Cologne said. "To begin your training I would like to suggest that you accompany us on a trip to China for one year. Then after learning all you need to know, we would return."
"Leave Nerima!?!" said the sisters in shock.
"But, I can't leave school." Nabiki said. "My grades are important to me!"
"You can continue your education in China girls. We do have fine schooling there." Cologne responded. "I just think it would be easier for you if you could train under the other elders."
"Well, I would like to see China." Kasumi replied. "I'll go."
"Why not." Nabiki said as she decided to use this chance to make some connections in China. "This could be kinda cool."
"What the heck!" said Akane. "Count me in too."
"Excellent." Cologne said. "We'll leave after your father returns, so you may say good-bye."
"Just out of curiosity, we can tell them why were leaving right?" asked Nabiki.
"Of course." Cologne responded. "You should be proud to announce that you are Amazons!"
"Phew." Akane releasing the breath she was holding. "I'd have hated not being able to tell father."
"Excuse me." Kasumi said as she realized something. "I was just wondering how this affects Akane's engagement to Ranma?"
"I am not engaged to that jerk!" said Akane angry. "Why would I want to be married to that jerk!"
"Well, this actually creates a conflict of interests." Cologne explained. "Ranma did defeat Shampoo in combat, but he also defeated Akane on the first day he was here in his girl form."
"So he's engaged to them both?" asked Nabiki.
"Technically they are." Cologne said. "But, in the interest of fairness, I have decided it would be best to end both engagements. Then the three of you can start fresh."
"Oh my!" said Kasumi. "Father won't like that at all."
"He'll have to." Cologne said with an stern tone. "Since you three are now amazons, you fall under my judgment! This really is for the best."
"If you say so." Akane said sounding a little upset at the idea at the engagement being over.
"Don't worry dear." Cologne said trying to sooth her feelings. "If you like you could pursue a relationship with the boy afterwards."
"We'll see." Akane said.
"Come now." The voice of Mousse said, whom they forgot was even in the room. "This is a night of celebration! We have three new inductees to the tribe. We should party!"
"That is the brightest thing I've ever heard you say in a lifetime Mousse." Nabiki said. "Let's do it!"
"Yes, children." Cologne said smiling. "This is a night of good fortune. Let's worry about these trivial matters later."
"Then lets celebrate." Kasumi said smiling. "Shall we party here or elsewhere?"
"Oh, Shampoo know where good place is!" said Shampoo. "Shampoo go there every night after closing of Cat Café."
"Then let's go!" said Akane.
"Invite Ranma as well child." Cologne said. "He might as well learn there's more to life then fighting."
"Good idea." Nabiki said. "He's probably outside the door, wondering what's going on."
All the amazons in the room chuckled at that thought. That is, until they heard a muffled voice from somewhere out of nowhere.
"I am not!" said a voice under the floorboards.
"Ranma no baka!" said Akane as she use the mallet of doom to smash through the floor, revealing Ranma underneath it.
"Uhhhh!" said Ranma sweating up a storm. "Hi! Am I gonna die now?"
"No Ranma." Cologne said shaking her head. "That was only an ideal threat. I take it you only heard everything?"
"Only the part about the celebration." Ranma said. "What're we partying about?"
"Come children." Cologne said as she led them all outside. "We'll tell you all about it on the way."
"Okay." Ranma said as he followed while the sisters explained what happened in the dojo & how soon they would have to move to China for training, hoping all would go well.
To Be Continued:
Author's Notes: So now you know what was in the diary! How about that? A lot of my reviewers have actually guessed at what would happen, & guessed right. Congratulations to all your good guesses. In the next installment, Soun & Genma return. How will they react to the news that the engagement is called off? [Probably not to well.] But, will they do something about it, or will they cower in fear at the feet of the amazons? Read, review, & find out!
P.S.: If you would like to read more of my fiction, go to the Yu-gi-oh! Section & read my PG-13 romance story "I'll always protect you." I promise an update in the next chapter for that one in the next couple of days.