Disclaimer-Ranma ½ belongs to Rumiko Takahashi. The characters are hers,
not mine, and I'm just borrowing them for a story that will make no profit
in any way. Non-Ranma characters belong to me and will stay that way.
A quick note; I have no idea what Herb looks like so I made up a description for him. I do hope no one's offended by this as the description's probably wrong. Maybe someone could tell me what he looks like?
A note on languages; I'm not going to have different symbols for every single language. Assume if it's in China they speak Chinese, if they're in Japan, the speak Japanese, etc. etc..
Cry for the Children Prologue #2
In which several more characters are introduced. A village is destroyed and alliances are made with consequences for the young people involved.
China, ruins of Joketsuzoku village, January, 1994.
The warriors of the Musk dynasty, now the Musk Empire, celebrated long into the night among the burnt-out shells that had once been huts in the Joketsuzoku Amazon village. The survivors of the war against the Amazons had already feasted for six days after the final battle ended with the near extermination of the Amazons. The survivors of the once proud Amazon people fell into two groups. First were the men they had 'liberated' who would be inducted into Musk society once they had adjusted. Second were the women, mostly children, who had been taken as slaves. This was to be the final night of feasting, after which the warriors would return home to a hero's welcome.
Around the banquet tables once used by the Amazons, friendships were renewed, as were rivalries, tales of courage were told, and the dead were mourned. Most often talked of were Lime of the tiger clan and Mint of the wolf clan; two brave, mighty warriors who had fought and died with honour in the last battle. Two twelve-year-old warriors in their first battle, the two had been companions to Prince Herb until hostilities with the Amazons flared and the two enlisted, eager to prove themselves, while the Prince was forced to stay behind. No one envied the poor sap who would have to tell Herb about the deaths of his friends. The Prince's rages were legendary among the troops.
Emperor Li Fu banged his great fist on the table for silence and immediately all was quiet. The eldest of the dragon clan raised his arms, moonlight shining down on him and making him appear to be as a magnificent being, wild and powerful. "My brothers-and yes, you are my brothers this day-we have won a great victory. We have fought together and shed blood together. We have laughed and cried, eaten and drank, celebrated and mourned, together. This final victory over our ancestral foes shall be remembered throughout history as our greatest triumph." Here, the Emperor waved his hand towards the Amazon prisoners; the males unchained, though under guard, and the females chained hand and foot. "Once these were our greatest foes. Your fathers told you tales of their ferocity in battle, of their wickedness, of their cruelty. Look at them now! See, they are broken! Your families need fear them no more!" The Emperor again motioned dramatically, this time towards several long poles that stood like grim, bare trees against the night. Atop each pole was the head of an elderly woman, their vacant eyes staring sightlessly forward. They had already begun to decay. "See! There sit the heads of their elders, the greatest among them. They fell before our power, our might!"
The cheers were deafening, but again the Emperor held up a hand for silence. "Alas, this victory has not come to us without great cost. Many brave men of all ages perished in the fighting, including my son's dearest friends, Lime and Mint. But my friends, do not mourn forever. They are dead, but their courage, their skill, shall live on eternally in song and story. We will not forget!"
The soldiers roared and the Emperor sat down and went back to his meal. The skulls of the dead elders watched in silence.
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Among the captured amazon girls, Shampoo grieved. Her village was destroyed. Those few of her people who escaped capture had scattered. Her parents...she did not even know if they were alive or dead. Her grandparents who had always been so kind and her great grandmother who had taught her so much were dead. She had seen her grandparents' bodies left for the scavengers, and her great-grandmother's head adorned a pole near where the triumphant Musk ate.
She wanted to cry, but she did not. Warriors did not cry, and she was a warrior. Her mother had told her so. At nine years of age, she was already better than some fighters in their teens. She had won all the contests and tournaments for her age group and her entire family had told her how proud they were.
Again she nearly cried, so she looked for a distraction, anything that could take her mind from the endless waiting. She found one. Amidst the group of males stood another boy her own age, gazing back at her with concern. Through parched lips, Shampoo whispered "Mousse..."
The boy nodded, as though he could hear her. Shampoo felt relieved. Mousse, at least, was safe. Not, of course, that she felt any misguided affection for the shortsighted, bespectacled boy. No, she was just pleased because he was a childhood friend, that was all.
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Mousse had been watching Shampoo quietly for some time. He'd heard rumors of things-horrible things-that the Musk did to female captives. He vowed that Shampoo would not be harmed while he was there.
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Li Fu held up a hand again for silence and the cheers were immediately stilled. He braced himself, for he knew that the announcement he was about to make would be unpopular, at best. "The survivors are not to be harmed, especially the women! You are not to touch them!"
Angry murmers came from the victorious soldiers. They had won a great victory. Were they not entitled to the spoils of battle? Several of the more intoxicated soldiers leapt to their feet, shouting angrily and some even drew their weapons.
A bright red aura burst into being around Li Fu, making the night seem to be day. The Emperor's face was contorted in fury and many of the men shrank back in terror. Those who had drawn their weapons immediately threw the offending objects to the ground and began gibbering in fear. Li Fu simply held out a hand. From his hands leapt blue flame that swept over the cowering soldiers. When the light faded, all that remained of those who had dared to draw their blades against their lord were several piles of ash that drifted away in the wind. The glow around Li Fu faded and the remaining soldiers were instantly silent. The emperor's gaze swept over the bulk of his army and spoke in a deep, rumbling voice. "I said they are not to be harmed. I am your Emperor and master, and you will obey me. If you disagree, step forward and face the fate of the fools who dared to draw weapons against their sovereign lord."
Li Fu waited a few moments, just in case anyone else wished to challenge his authority. No one did. "We take them to our citadel when we depart tomorrow. Anyone I catch harming the prisoners in any way will wish he had been among those who died tonight."
After that, the banquet began to break up as soldiers hurried to their tents, suddenly deciding that the party was surely over.
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Shampoo found that sleep did not come that night, and when she awoke it was to the prodding of a soldier's boot. "On your feet girl. We've a long march ahead of us and you'd best not slow us down."
For a moment, Shampoo considered resisting, telling this outsider that she would rather die as her great-grandmother had, but she bit back the impulse. Getting to her knees first, she slowly rose on wobbly legs. The soldier reached out a hand to steady her but she stepped away quickly.
With a laugh, the soldier pushed her forward. Shampoo stumbled and nearly fell but she gritted her teeth and fought to stay standing. 'I'm an Amazon warrior. My people may be beaten and enslaved, but our spirit has to survive.' She managed to maintain her balance and looked back at the soldier with a hateful glare. He simply laughed.
Shampoo stepped into line with the other prisoners and, by chance, found herself walking next to Mousse. Glancing about to make sure that no guards were watching them, she moved closer to him and spoke quietly. "Mousse, are you alright?"
Mousse's spirits soared. Not only was Shampoo unharmed, but she had actually sought him out and spoken with him! He grimaced, frustrated. 'Mousse, you idiot! Now's not the time for foolishness, Shampoo needs your support.' Putting on a bold face he tried to smile at her. "I'm alright. I'm glad you're not hurt."
"I'm glad you're alright too Mousse. Nearly everyone's dead."
"I know. My parents are gone too. The soldiers surrounded them when they tried to protect me, and-."
Shampoo felt tears coming to her eyes again. Mousse's parents had been good people, just the other day they had stopped to talk with her while she was training and congratulated her on how well she was doing. Now they were dead. "Why is this happening Mousse? Why is this happening to us?"
Mousse started to reply, but then simply bowed his head. He wanted to comfort her, but how could he when he was asking the same questions himself. "I don't know, but these people are monsters, all of them."
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China, Palace of the Musk Empire, January 1994
"Is father coming back today?"
The eager, blonde-haired, hazel-eyed boy spoke with a mixture of hope and apprehension and Tai Mu smiled at his young charge. "Yes, Herb. I told you that already, remember? Just an hour ago."
"I know. I just wanted to hear it again."
The old man chuckled and ruffled the boy's hair gently. "He won a great victory you know. He's a mighty warrior."
"Will I be like that one day?"
"Not if you don't start paying more attention to your lessons." He rubbed his bald head, straightened his purple robe of office and sighed. "Honestly, you give me more trouble than any ten common children. Still, I wouldn't trade this opportunity for all the stars in heaven."
The young Prince beamed with pride at his tutor's words. The two sat comfortably in Tai Mu's private quarters in the royal palace, a set of well- appointed rooms decorated in the traditional style. They were, of course, nowhere near as fine as the quarters of the Emperor or the Prince but were still more than comfortable enough for an old commoner like himself. The two sat on plush velvet chairs before a window that had a beautiful view of the palace grounds. Tai Mu was a simple man at heart, but when the Emperor offered you something, it was not wise to refuse.
After a moment of silence, Tai Mu spoke again. "Now, how did our people come to be?"
Herb grinned; this was an easy one. Calming himself, he recited "In ancient times, before the coming of the dragon, all were one people. They ate together, worked together, and spoke the same tongue. There was peace among their houses. Then, from the west came the Amazons. They brought with them fire and the sword, sweeping the lands and enslaving the free men to their women. Some submitted peacefully rather than fight, accepting Amazon rule. Some fled elsewhere, establishing other kingdoms that fought for dominance in time. Only our ancestors chose to stay and fight, but they were few and weak while the Amazons were many and strong.
"One day, Sae Jue, my ancestor, climbed to the summit of the tallest mountain in the land and beseeched the gods for aid. He cried out to them 'My people are dying! If you are truly the gods of my people, give us the power to drive out the invaders who plague us.'.
"The gods were angry at Sae Jue for being so presumptuous as to challenge them, but they agreed that he should be given a chance to prove himself. Discusssing the matter amongst themselves, they agreed to send a divine dragon to earth to test Sae Jue's power and see if he and his people were truly worth saving.
"The dragon came down from heaven, breathing fire and rending the earth with his talons. The people were terrified, but Sae Jue convinced them to overcome their fear and do battle with the beast. The battle raged for days on end and many brave warriors perished, including Sae Jue's brothers. Finally, together the warriors brought down the dragon in a valley near here. Its fall shook the earth causing great rents and cracks in the ground. Water filled the cracks, eventually pooling into small springs.
"Sae Jue stood triumphant over the defeated dragon, who begged for his life, offering him the blessing of the gods. Sae Jue agreed to spare the dragon and the dragon spoke again, saying 'These pools created by my defeat shall be a benefit to your people now and always. The first to fall into each spring shall drown, and the every person thereafter who does so shall be cursed with the body of that which drowned within. Use these pools to the advantage of your people and you shall prosper.'
"Sae Jue, hearing this, laughed and, ordering his remaining warriors to lift the body of the weakened dragon over their shoulders and had them carry it to a pool in the center of the valley, the largest of the springs. The dragon, seeing what Sae Jue had planned cried out, reminding Sae Jue of his promise but Sae Jue scoffed, saying 'The gods have tested me, by sending you. By defeating you have I not proved myself above them? Therefore, why should I be held to any such obligation regarding weaker beings?' With that, he ordered his men to hold the dragon's head underwater until the great beast drowned. Stepping into the spring himself, he received the power of the dragon, which is how my family came to have the blood of dragons in its veins."
The Prince stopped, his story finished, and beamed at his teacher. Tai Mu nodded, impressed. "You have an excellent memory, my Prince. Now, if you would only apply yourself to your mathematics-"
Prince Herb winced at the mention of his bane. "Do we have to do any of that today?" He decided to play his last card. Widening his eyes and drooping the corners of his mouth slightly, the young Prince allowed his lip to quiver just a bit as he looked up at his tutor. "Father's coming home, doesn't that make today special?"
Tai Mu winced as the boy resorted to the dreaded 'cute puppy' look. "My Prince...oh whatever! Yes, we can skip math for today, I think that's enough lessons for now. So, do you want to go out to the city wall and see the warriors returning? They should be back any time now."
Herb nodded in agreement. "Yeah, I want to see Lime and Mint too! I bet they've got a lot of stories to tell..." His voice trailed off, remembering the argument he'd had with his father when he'd asked to be allowed to accompany the army.
He understood his father's concern for him. He was old enough to recognize the fear in his father's voice when he spoke of seeing his son in battle at such a young age-despite the fact that by Musk standards, he was old enough to fight. Despite this, he wanted the chance to prove himself against the great enemy, the Amazons whose evil deeds he had heard of since the cradle. He longed for the shouts of battle, the sound of steel on steel and the feeling of triumph as he stood over a defeated foe. His father had denied him this and a bitter, angry part of him felt that this could not be forgiven.
Tai Mu knew this and, looking at his Prince, saw a boy struggling to become a man. 'A child his age,' he thought with a rush of pity, 'should be concerned with games and laughter, not war and death. He can't know yet how horrible it is out there. He only knows what those foolish nurses of his told him about the glories of war, and what his father told him about conquest and the right of the strong over the weak. Poor child...I only hope it's not too late for him.'
He said none of this however and, taking Herb's hand, walked with him out the door and down the hall, heading in the direction of the city walls.
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The return of the Musk army was a grand event. From outlying villages, small towns, and tiny farms, the Musk people came to cheer the return of their Emperor and see the defeated Amazons for themselves. The battlements of the Musk capitol of Dragon's Reach were covered in a moving, shifting, cheering mass of people who waved flags and threw confetti into the air as the army moved through the city's great gates.
Emperor Li Fu was the first through the city gate. He rode a black stallion through the gates and, though the horse snapped viciously at the grooms who tried to get close, it never once tried to throw the Emperor. The cheers for the Emperor were loudest of all, and he waved to the people on the wall above. He had planned to speak to the people upon his arrival, but as he looked at the smiling faces above him, he decided there was no point to it. The whole purpose of speeches, after all, was to give the pathetic, sheep-like masses something to hang on and, as was quite clear, they were eating out of his hand already. Thus, he satisfied himself with waving to the crowd as he rode toward the center of town.
"Father! Over here!"
Li turned towards the wall and smiled as he saw his only son, Herb, climbing down the ladder that led up to the city wall. Calling a halt to the procession, the Emperor turned his horse, dismounted and walked towards his son with his arms outstretched. "Herb! You're looking well, my boy. I swear you must've grown since I left."
The boy Prince beamed with pride at his father's words. Glancing about him at the proud faces of the newly-returned soldiers; Herb found, however, that he couldn't see the two faces that after his father he had most longed to see. "Where're Lime and Mint?"
Li looked at his son gravely. A part of him wished he could spare the boy this sad reality, but he crushed it ruthlessly. The boy was his blood, his heir. One day, Herb would be Emperor. Only the strong could rule, therefore Herb must be strong enough to take up the burden that destiny had prepared for him. "They will not be returning boy. They fought and died with honour that befitted their status as soldiers of the Musk."
Herb stared at his father in silence for a moment. His mouth opened and closed and he shook his head as if to clear it. "No...they're fine. You're joking, right father?"
The Emperor's voice grew firm. "I never joke about matters of war, boy. Nor should anyone else. Your friends fought bravely and were of help to our cause but in the end, they were not strong enough to survive. Remember this lesson and take it to heart. One day, you will understand."
With a cry, Herb turned and ran from his father's presence, holding a hand to his eyes in an effort to hold back tears. Li shook his head in disgust, but ignored his son's childish behavior and was about to remount his horse when Tai Mu approached, shaking his head sadly.
"Was that truly necessary, your Majesty?"
Li bit back an angry oath. He tolerated the old man's presence because he had, on occasion, been useful. This did not mean, however, that he was going to stand for the wretched old commoner defying his authority. "I don't remember asking for you, old man."
Tai, however, refused to be rebuked. "Was there no way you could have spared the boy's feelings?"
At the old man's words, Li sagged slightly. In truth, he'd wanted to do just that. He could hardly blame the old man for voicing his own secret concerns, no matter how much he disliked being reminded of them. "Not and have him become the man he must become. If there were another way, I would have taken it."
Tai nodded and for a moment, the two men stared at each other silently, each understanding the other despite their differences of opinion.
Finally, it was Tai who broke the silence. "What is it you plan to do with the captured prisoners?"
Li nodded, this was safer territory, or so he thought. "The men we will integrate into our society now that they are free from the rule of those tyrranical women. The women we shall keep as slaves that others might see them humbled and know the perils of challenging our might."
Li had thought his plan a good one and was surprised to see the old man shaking his head. "Majesty, this won't do. It will only breed resentment."
Now the Emperor did get angry. He threw up his hands in exasperation and snapped back "Very well then, old man! Advise me if you are so wise! Or would you now seek to command me...?" The last was spoken in the low, warning tone of a challenge.
Tai shook his head, hoping that his denial would calm the Emperor's anger. "Forgive me, my lord. I meant no disrespect, nor did I mean to dictate to you the policy of your empire."
Reigning in his anger, Li nodded, remembering the advice of his own father. "Pride will only get you so far," his father had said, "If you should meet one who is truly wise, listen to his advice for such people are a rare blessing."
"Very well then. What would Tai Mu advise that I do to those who have been the enemies of our people for generations?"
"That is just it! They need be our enemies no longer."
"What do you mean? Speak sense, old man!"
"The conflict between our two peoples is centuries old. Why must we continue it now? The war is over. The Amazons have lost. Why should we continue to punish them when they are no longer a threat?"
Li snorted. "And give them the chance to rise up against us? Never!"
"Treat them badly and they will rise up anyways. Treat them well and in time past wrongs will be forgotten."
Li had to admit it, he was intrigued. "And how do we accomplish this?"
"The first thing to do is to free the males as a sign of good faith. Most Amazon males are not taught the ways of battle so they should give you little trouble. Watch them and keep them under your 'protection', but within the city walls let them do as they please. Second, offer the surviving women in marriage to your warriors, or, if they are only girls, permit their adoption into Musk families. Aye, they will hate us...for now, but years will pass and in time the children will adjust. Those who are children now will grow to be adults within our culture and will, in time, accept who they are. Those who are now grown will not be so easy to convince, but their children will be another matter. Enslave them, and they and their children will forever hate you for it. Integrate them, and given time their descendants will give us no trouble."
Li nodded slowly. "Yes...yes! I can see what you mean, but there must be more still. The Amazons must have a reason to feel that I will be true to my word, that I and my descendants will not one day simply change our minds." Suddenly laughing aloud, he struck his palm with a closed fist. "I've got it! It's a perfect plan, what can go wrong?" Turning to one of his soldiers, he barked out an order. "You! Go forth among the prisoners and find a girl who is a close relation of one of their elders. Have her bathed, dressed, and brought before me immediately. Tai Mu? Go and find my son. Tell him that it is my express wish that he attend me immediately. Summon a scribe as well, I must prepare to speak with the people."
Tai nodded. "Very well...my lord?"
"Yes, what is it?"
"You have confetti in your hair."
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Shampoo held her head high as she walked into the Musk Imperial throne room. She was dressed in a gown of deep green that accentuated the exotic colour of her hair and brought out the beauty of her dark eyes. She clenched her fists against the fabric even now, trying to stop her hands from shaking. What could the Emperor, the man she hated with all the strength of a child's hatred, want with her? She thought of Mousse back with the other children and promised herself that for him, and for the other Amazons, she would not show weakness before this man she despised.
The Emperor sat on his throne looking Shampoo up and down as though he were viewing a prized mare. Shampoo stared defiantly at him, trying to force all the loathing and anger she felt into her stare but if she thought to impress him, she was sadly mistaken. If anything, the Emperor appeared amused.
"Shampoo of the Joketsuzoku, great-granddaughter of the late elder Cologne", proclaimed the herald.
The Emperor rose to his feet and spoke with a rich, warm voice. "Welcome, daughter of the Joketsuzoku, to our court. We are most pleased that you accepted our invitation."
Shampoo said nothing, but swept her gaze around the throne room. She stood flanked by two musk guards who stood at attention, proud to be in attendance upon their Emperor. The Emperor himself sat on a golden throne and wore a golden circlet studded with gems and forged to resemble a dragon biting it's own tale upon his brow. Next to the throne stood a boy who bore a strong resemblance to the Emperor. Shampoo looked him over carefully and, despite his youth, privately acknowledged that he was a skilled warrior from his stance, even at such a young age. But then, the Musk always learned to fight young, often becoming better than Amazon warriors of equal age. An old man, simply dressed, stood slightly behind and to the side of the throne. Probably an advisor, she decided, and ignored him.
The Emperor must have taken her silence as a sign of acceptance, so he went on. "Your great-grandmother is well known to us. Her courage and strength in battle and the wisdom of her tactics held us in awe for generations. If not for her, your people would have been lost long ago."
Shampoo stood, torn between pride at the compliments paid her family, and anger at this man who dared to speak of her great-grandmother, murdered by his own people. Finally, she spoke. "You are not worthy even to speak of her!"
For a moment, she feared she may have gone to far, but the Emperor surprised her by laughing out loud. "You say I am unworthy, yet here I live while she does not. Decide for yourself who is greater then, but in your anger do not overlook the facts."
Shampoo realized that this was a battle she could not win, so she settled for raising her head, as though making a challenge. "What do you want with me?" She asked.
"A simple enough question, and it has a simple enough answer. I wish to make you an offer, child; An offer that may save your people."
Narrowing her eyes, Shampoo listened to the Emperor's words. He was lying, she was sure of it. What did he care for her or her people? Still...she nodded slowly. "What offer do you mean? If there is anything I can do to save my people, anything at all, I will do it."
The Emperor allowed himself a small smile, knowing that the child was his...or soon would be. "I wish to grant your people all the freedoms of my other subjects, yet I also wish to be sure they will not disappoint me. I'm sure you can understand my position. I wish for no further conflict between our cultures, but I must offer your people a sign of my good faith, so that they will believe that I am sincere. I need you, child."
Shampoo gulped, nervously while trying to act brave. "W-what do you want?"
"I desire no less than your hand in marriage-"
Shampoo gaped.
"-To my son, Prince Herb."
The throne room erupted in a frenzy of shouting. Herb was loudly refusing to marry anyone, especially an Amazon. Shampoo shouted back that she would never marry the son of her most hated enemy. Guards gasped in surprise at the announcment and soon added their own voices to the argument. Tai Mu raised a hand to his head, trying to fight off an oncoming headache. The Emperor simply watched, and smiled.
"Father, you can't-"
"I'll never-"
The Emperor held up a hand for silence. "Enough! Shampoo, do you have any understanding of the position your people are in? With a word or a gesture I could sentance your people to slavery...or order them all simply killed. Refuse my gracious offer and you risk making your people too great a liability bo be allowed to run free. Accept, and your people shall live under our rule yet happier than they would otherwise. I hold absolute power here. Remember that."
Shampoo shivered. Looking into this man's eyes, she saw that he was enjoying the power that he held over her, over her people. He enjoyed knowing that he could kill them all at any time he wished. 'I am an Amazon of the Joketsuzoku. To see our culture crushed under the heel of the Musk would be a terrible thing, and yet...the other option is worse still. I have no choice. I know my duty.'
"I accept your offer." Shampoo prayed that they did not notice the tremor in her voice as she spoke. 'And may my ancestors forgive me for what I have done.'
The Emperor stood, flinging his arm out and causing his cloak of royal purple to swing about. "Excellent! You will not regret your choice...daughter. Now, is there anything...or anyone...we can get for you to make your stay more comfortable."
Shampoo was surprised by the Emperor's offer. She nearly refused, but after a moment she nodded. "Yes, I would like an attendant from among my own people."
"Have you anyone in mind?"
"Yes...father."
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When he was escorted into a beautiful palace room with a view of the imperial gardens, Mousse saw his beloved, dressed in silks, sitting on her bed and sobbing. Unable to stop himself, he ran towards her. "Shampoo! I love you!"
Unfortunately for the short-sighted Amazon, his glasses slipped off and, with unbridled passion, he stepped forward and embraced one of her bedposts. "Shampoo?"
Mousse winced, expecting Shampoo to strike him. Instead, he heard the sobbing stop and heard soft laughter replace it. "Silly Mousse. You always make me laugh."
Mousse stood and rubbed his hand self-consciously through his long black hair. He adjusted his white robes and had the good grace to look embarressed. "I'm sorry Shampoo, it's just that-"
Shampoo stepped closer and placed a finger on Mousse's lips, her lavender hair swept about her shoulders as she shook her head back and forth. "No Mousse. Don't say it. I know how you feel but it can never be, even if I loved you the way you love me."
Mousse was stunned. "What do you mean? Have the Musk hurt you? What did they do to you?"
Tearfully, Shampoo told Mousse of all that had happened within the palace walls and with every word she spoke, Mousse's fury grew. The Musk. The damned Musk. They had destroyed his home. They had killed his parents. Now, they took from him what he loved most of all. "I'll kill them! I won't let them hurt you! The Prince will be the first to die!"
Shampoo shook her head. "No, you mustn't! Mousse, if you do that all our people will die and it will be for nothing."
Mousse nodded, reigning in his anger. "What do you want me to do? You know I'd do anything for you Shampoo."
Shampoo took a deep breath, knowing that she was about to ask something very difficult of him. "I want you to be my friend. Tell them you are my servant in public, but in private, I need your strength. I...I am afraid."
Mousse nodded in understanding. Shampoo did not want his love, at least not now. She wanted a shoulder to lean on. "Shampoo", he whispered as he put a comforting arm around her shoulder. "For you, I will be strong."
They stayed that way for some time, until the guards appeared and they donned their masks of duty once more.
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Author's Notes: Bless me readers for I have sinned. It has been several months since my last posting on ff.net. My thanks for all the reviews from those who sent them, and I apologize for this somewhat abbreviated chapter. I took a bit of a break from writing over the summer while I looked for work and finally found a job. This is good for me, bad for my writing. Worse for my writing because the job is a teaching job...in China. I had hoped to finish the rest of this chapter before I left, but I'm afraid you'll just have to be satisfied with what I've written here and I sincerely hope you enjoy it. When (If) I gett he chance to continue my writing, I will continue on with this story with the promised appearance of Ukyou and the Kunous and continue with an introduction of the second (major) OC who will appear.
A couple of points I wish to make. First, the Musk. I'm a bit shaky on how Musk society works as I've never seen the episodes myself (or read the issues) so am forced to use them as I thought best. For those of you who don't like it, let me know the problem and I'll see what I can do to fix it in future chapters.
Second, names. I decided to use the Westernized names (Ranma Saotome instead of Saotome Ranma) for one major reason. I keep mixing them up if I do it the other way. Sometimes I'd do it as I meant to, but other times I'd miss one and then it would look silly. This way is more natural to me, so I do it. You've noticed that certain names have a 'u' where normally there isn't one (Tendou, Kunou, etc.). This is not a mistake. My brother took Japanese classes and assured me that this is, in fact, the correct spelling of the names.
A quick note; I have no idea what Herb looks like so I made up a description for him. I do hope no one's offended by this as the description's probably wrong. Maybe someone could tell me what he looks like?
A note on languages; I'm not going to have different symbols for every single language. Assume if it's in China they speak Chinese, if they're in Japan, the speak Japanese, etc. etc..
Cry for the Children Prologue #2
In which several more characters are introduced. A village is destroyed and alliances are made with consequences for the young people involved.
China, ruins of Joketsuzoku village, January, 1994.
The warriors of the Musk dynasty, now the Musk Empire, celebrated long into the night among the burnt-out shells that had once been huts in the Joketsuzoku Amazon village. The survivors of the war against the Amazons had already feasted for six days after the final battle ended with the near extermination of the Amazons. The survivors of the once proud Amazon people fell into two groups. First were the men they had 'liberated' who would be inducted into Musk society once they had adjusted. Second were the women, mostly children, who had been taken as slaves. This was to be the final night of feasting, after which the warriors would return home to a hero's welcome.
Around the banquet tables once used by the Amazons, friendships were renewed, as were rivalries, tales of courage were told, and the dead were mourned. Most often talked of were Lime of the tiger clan and Mint of the wolf clan; two brave, mighty warriors who had fought and died with honour in the last battle. Two twelve-year-old warriors in their first battle, the two had been companions to Prince Herb until hostilities with the Amazons flared and the two enlisted, eager to prove themselves, while the Prince was forced to stay behind. No one envied the poor sap who would have to tell Herb about the deaths of his friends. The Prince's rages were legendary among the troops.
Emperor Li Fu banged his great fist on the table for silence and immediately all was quiet. The eldest of the dragon clan raised his arms, moonlight shining down on him and making him appear to be as a magnificent being, wild and powerful. "My brothers-and yes, you are my brothers this day-we have won a great victory. We have fought together and shed blood together. We have laughed and cried, eaten and drank, celebrated and mourned, together. This final victory over our ancestral foes shall be remembered throughout history as our greatest triumph." Here, the Emperor waved his hand towards the Amazon prisoners; the males unchained, though under guard, and the females chained hand and foot. "Once these were our greatest foes. Your fathers told you tales of their ferocity in battle, of their wickedness, of their cruelty. Look at them now! See, they are broken! Your families need fear them no more!" The Emperor again motioned dramatically, this time towards several long poles that stood like grim, bare trees against the night. Atop each pole was the head of an elderly woman, their vacant eyes staring sightlessly forward. They had already begun to decay. "See! There sit the heads of their elders, the greatest among them. They fell before our power, our might!"
The cheers were deafening, but again the Emperor held up a hand for silence. "Alas, this victory has not come to us without great cost. Many brave men of all ages perished in the fighting, including my son's dearest friends, Lime and Mint. But my friends, do not mourn forever. They are dead, but their courage, their skill, shall live on eternally in song and story. We will not forget!"
The soldiers roared and the Emperor sat down and went back to his meal. The skulls of the dead elders watched in silence.
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Among the captured amazon girls, Shampoo grieved. Her village was destroyed. Those few of her people who escaped capture had scattered. Her parents...she did not even know if they were alive or dead. Her grandparents who had always been so kind and her great grandmother who had taught her so much were dead. She had seen her grandparents' bodies left for the scavengers, and her great-grandmother's head adorned a pole near where the triumphant Musk ate.
She wanted to cry, but she did not. Warriors did not cry, and she was a warrior. Her mother had told her so. At nine years of age, she was already better than some fighters in their teens. She had won all the contests and tournaments for her age group and her entire family had told her how proud they were.
Again she nearly cried, so she looked for a distraction, anything that could take her mind from the endless waiting. She found one. Amidst the group of males stood another boy her own age, gazing back at her with concern. Through parched lips, Shampoo whispered "Mousse..."
The boy nodded, as though he could hear her. Shampoo felt relieved. Mousse, at least, was safe. Not, of course, that she felt any misguided affection for the shortsighted, bespectacled boy. No, she was just pleased because he was a childhood friend, that was all.
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Mousse had been watching Shampoo quietly for some time. He'd heard rumors of things-horrible things-that the Musk did to female captives. He vowed that Shampoo would not be harmed while he was there.
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Li Fu held up a hand again for silence and the cheers were immediately stilled. He braced himself, for he knew that the announcement he was about to make would be unpopular, at best. "The survivors are not to be harmed, especially the women! You are not to touch them!"
Angry murmers came from the victorious soldiers. They had won a great victory. Were they not entitled to the spoils of battle? Several of the more intoxicated soldiers leapt to their feet, shouting angrily and some even drew their weapons.
A bright red aura burst into being around Li Fu, making the night seem to be day. The Emperor's face was contorted in fury and many of the men shrank back in terror. Those who had drawn their weapons immediately threw the offending objects to the ground and began gibbering in fear. Li Fu simply held out a hand. From his hands leapt blue flame that swept over the cowering soldiers. When the light faded, all that remained of those who had dared to draw their blades against their lord were several piles of ash that drifted away in the wind. The glow around Li Fu faded and the remaining soldiers were instantly silent. The emperor's gaze swept over the bulk of his army and spoke in a deep, rumbling voice. "I said they are not to be harmed. I am your Emperor and master, and you will obey me. If you disagree, step forward and face the fate of the fools who dared to draw weapons against their sovereign lord."
Li Fu waited a few moments, just in case anyone else wished to challenge his authority. No one did. "We take them to our citadel when we depart tomorrow. Anyone I catch harming the prisoners in any way will wish he had been among those who died tonight."
After that, the banquet began to break up as soldiers hurried to their tents, suddenly deciding that the party was surely over.
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Shampoo found that sleep did not come that night, and when she awoke it was to the prodding of a soldier's boot. "On your feet girl. We've a long march ahead of us and you'd best not slow us down."
For a moment, Shampoo considered resisting, telling this outsider that she would rather die as her great-grandmother had, but she bit back the impulse. Getting to her knees first, she slowly rose on wobbly legs. The soldier reached out a hand to steady her but she stepped away quickly.
With a laugh, the soldier pushed her forward. Shampoo stumbled and nearly fell but she gritted her teeth and fought to stay standing. 'I'm an Amazon warrior. My people may be beaten and enslaved, but our spirit has to survive.' She managed to maintain her balance and looked back at the soldier with a hateful glare. He simply laughed.
Shampoo stepped into line with the other prisoners and, by chance, found herself walking next to Mousse. Glancing about to make sure that no guards were watching them, she moved closer to him and spoke quietly. "Mousse, are you alright?"
Mousse's spirits soared. Not only was Shampoo unharmed, but she had actually sought him out and spoken with him! He grimaced, frustrated. 'Mousse, you idiot! Now's not the time for foolishness, Shampoo needs your support.' Putting on a bold face he tried to smile at her. "I'm alright. I'm glad you're not hurt."
"I'm glad you're alright too Mousse. Nearly everyone's dead."
"I know. My parents are gone too. The soldiers surrounded them when they tried to protect me, and-."
Shampoo felt tears coming to her eyes again. Mousse's parents had been good people, just the other day they had stopped to talk with her while she was training and congratulated her on how well she was doing. Now they were dead. "Why is this happening Mousse? Why is this happening to us?"
Mousse started to reply, but then simply bowed his head. He wanted to comfort her, but how could he when he was asking the same questions himself. "I don't know, but these people are monsters, all of them."
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China, Palace of the Musk Empire, January 1994
"Is father coming back today?"
The eager, blonde-haired, hazel-eyed boy spoke with a mixture of hope and apprehension and Tai Mu smiled at his young charge. "Yes, Herb. I told you that already, remember? Just an hour ago."
"I know. I just wanted to hear it again."
The old man chuckled and ruffled the boy's hair gently. "He won a great victory you know. He's a mighty warrior."
"Will I be like that one day?"
"Not if you don't start paying more attention to your lessons." He rubbed his bald head, straightened his purple robe of office and sighed. "Honestly, you give me more trouble than any ten common children. Still, I wouldn't trade this opportunity for all the stars in heaven."
The young Prince beamed with pride at his tutor's words. The two sat comfortably in Tai Mu's private quarters in the royal palace, a set of well- appointed rooms decorated in the traditional style. They were, of course, nowhere near as fine as the quarters of the Emperor or the Prince but were still more than comfortable enough for an old commoner like himself. The two sat on plush velvet chairs before a window that had a beautiful view of the palace grounds. Tai Mu was a simple man at heart, but when the Emperor offered you something, it was not wise to refuse.
After a moment of silence, Tai Mu spoke again. "Now, how did our people come to be?"
Herb grinned; this was an easy one. Calming himself, he recited "In ancient times, before the coming of the dragon, all were one people. They ate together, worked together, and spoke the same tongue. There was peace among their houses. Then, from the west came the Amazons. They brought with them fire and the sword, sweeping the lands and enslaving the free men to their women. Some submitted peacefully rather than fight, accepting Amazon rule. Some fled elsewhere, establishing other kingdoms that fought for dominance in time. Only our ancestors chose to stay and fight, but they were few and weak while the Amazons were many and strong.
"One day, Sae Jue, my ancestor, climbed to the summit of the tallest mountain in the land and beseeched the gods for aid. He cried out to them 'My people are dying! If you are truly the gods of my people, give us the power to drive out the invaders who plague us.'.
"The gods were angry at Sae Jue for being so presumptuous as to challenge them, but they agreed that he should be given a chance to prove himself. Discusssing the matter amongst themselves, they agreed to send a divine dragon to earth to test Sae Jue's power and see if he and his people were truly worth saving.
"The dragon came down from heaven, breathing fire and rending the earth with his talons. The people were terrified, but Sae Jue convinced them to overcome their fear and do battle with the beast. The battle raged for days on end and many brave warriors perished, including Sae Jue's brothers. Finally, together the warriors brought down the dragon in a valley near here. Its fall shook the earth causing great rents and cracks in the ground. Water filled the cracks, eventually pooling into small springs.
"Sae Jue stood triumphant over the defeated dragon, who begged for his life, offering him the blessing of the gods. Sae Jue agreed to spare the dragon and the dragon spoke again, saying 'These pools created by my defeat shall be a benefit to your people now and always. The first to fall into each spring shall drown, and the every person thereafter who does so shall be cursed with the body of that which drowned within. Use these pools to the advantage of your people and you shall prosper.'
"Sae Jue, hearing this, laughed and, ordering his remaining warriors to lift the body of the weakened dragon over their shoulders and had them carry it to a pool in the center of the valley, the largest of the springs. The dragon, seeing what Sae Jue had planned cried out, reminding Sae Jue of his promise but Sae Jue scoffed, saying 'The gods have tested me, by sending you. By defeating you have I not proved myself above them? Therefore, why should I be held to any such obligation regarding weaker beings?' With that, he ordered his men to hold the dragon's head underwater until the great beast drowned. Stepping into the spring himself, he received the power of the dragon, which is how my family came to have the blood of dragons in its veins."
The Prince stopped, his story finished, and beamed at his teacher. Tai Mu nodded, impressed. "You have an excellent memory, my Prince. Now, if you would only apply yourself to your mathematics-"
Prince Herb winced at the mention of his bane. "Do we have to do any of that today?" He decided to play his last card. Widening his eyes and drooping the corners of his mouth slightly, the young Prince allowed his lip to quiver just a bit as he looked up at his tutor. "Father's coming home, doesn't that make today special?"
Tai Mu winced as the boy resorted to the dreaded 'cute puppy' look. "My Prince...oh whatever! Yes, we can skip math for today, I think that's enough lessons for now. So, do you want to go out to the city wall and see the warriors returning? They should be back any time now."
Herb nodded in agreement. "Yeah, I want to see Lime and Mint too! I bet they've got a lot of stories to tell..." His voice trailed off, remembering the argument he'd had with his father when he'd asked to be allowed to accompany the army.
He understood his father's concern for him. He was old enough to recognize the fear in his father's voice when he spoke of seeing his son in battle at such a young age-despite the fact that by Musk standards, he was old enough to fight. Despite this, he wanted the chance to prove himself against the great enemy, the Amazons whose evil deeds he had heard of since the cradle. He longed for the shouts of battle, the sound of steel on steel and the feeling of triumph as he stood over a defeated foe. His father had denied him this and a bitter, angry part of him felt that this could not be forgiven.
Tai Mu knew this and, looking at his Prince, saw a boy struggling to become a man. 'A child his age,' he thought with a rush of pity, 'should be concerned with games and laughter, not war and death. He can't know yet how horrible it is out there. He only knows what those foolish nurses of his told him about the glories of war, and what his father told him about conquest and the right of the strong over the weak. Poor child...I only hope it's not too late for him.'
He said none of this however and, taking Herb's hand, walked with him out the door and down the hall, heading in the direction of the city walls.
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The return of the Musk army was a grand event. From outlying villages, small towns, and tiny farms, the Musk people came to cheer the return of their Emperor and see the defeated Amazons for themselves. The battlements of the Musk capitol of Dragon's Reach were covered in a moving, shifting, cheering mass of people who waved flags and threw confetti into the air as the army moved through the city's great gates.
Emperor Li Fu was the first through the city gate. He rode a black stallion through the gates and, though the horse snapped viciously at the grooms who tried to get close, it never once tried to throw the Emperor. The cheers for the Emperor were loudest of all, and he waved to the people on the wall above. He had planned to speak to the people upon his arrival, but as he looked at the smiling faces above him, he decided there was no point to it. The whole purpose of speeches, after all, was to give the pathetic, sheep-like masses something to hang on and, as was quite clear, they were eating out of his hand already. Thus, he satisfied himself with waving to the crowd as he rode toward the center of town.
"Father! Over here!"
Li turned towards the wall and smiled as he saw his only son, Herb, climbing down the ladder that led up to the city wall. Calling a halt to the procession, the Emperor turned his horse, dismounted and walked towards his son with his arms outstretched. "Herb! You're looking well, my boy. I swear you must've grown since I left."
The boy Prince beamed with pride at his father's words. Glancing about him at the proud faces of the newly-returned soldiers; Herb found, however, that he couldn't see the two faces that after his father he had most longed to see. "Where're Lime and Mint?"
Li looked at his son gravely. A part of him wished he could spare the boy this sad reality, but he crushed it ruthlessly. The boy was his blood, his heir. One day, Herb would be Emperor. Only the strong could rule, therefore Herb must be strong enough to take up the burden that destiny had prepared for him. "They will not be returning boy. They fought and died with honour that befitted their status as soldiers of the Musk."
Herb stared at his father in silence for a moment. His mouth opened and closed and he shook his head as if to clear it. "No...they're fine. You're joking, right father?"
The Emperor's voice grew firm. "I never joke about matters of war, boy. Nor should anyone else. Your friends fought bravely and were of help to our cause but in the end, they were not strong enough to survive. Remember this lesson and take it to heart. One day, you will understand."
With a cry, Herb turned and ran from his father's presence, holding a hand to his eyes in an effort to hold back tears. Li shook his head in disgust, but ignored his son's childish behavior and was about to remount his horse when Tai Mu approached, shaking his head sadly.
"Was that truly necessary, your Majesty?"
Li bit back an angry oath. He tolerated the old man's presence because he had, on occasion, been useful. This did not mean, however, that he was going to stand for the wretched old commoner defying his authority. "I don't remember asking for you, old man."
Tai, however, refused to be rebuked. "Was there no way you could have spared the boy's feelings?"
At the old man's words, Li sagged slightly. In truth, he'd wanted to do just that. He could hardly blame the old man for voicing his own secret concerns, no matter how much he disliked being reminded of them. "Not and have him become the man he must become. If there were another way, I would have taken it."
Tai nodded and for a moment, the two men stared at each other silently, each understanding the other despite their differences of opinion.
Finally, it was Tai who broke the silence. "What is it you plan to do with the captured prisoners?"
Li nodded, this was safer territory, or so he thought. "The men we will integrate into our society now that they are free from the rule of those tyrranical women. The women we shall keep as slaves that others might see them humbled and know the perils of challenging our might."
Li had thought his plan a good one and was surprised to see the old man shaking his head. "Majesty, this won't do. It will only breed resentment."
Now the Emperor did get angry. He threw up his hands in exasperation and snapped back "Very well then, old man! Advise me if you are so wise! Or would you now seek to command me...?" The last was spoken in the low, warning tone of a challenge.
Tai shook his head, hoping that his denial would calm the Emperor's anger. "Forgive me, my lord. I meant no disrespect, nor did I mean to dictate to you the policy of your empire."
Reigning in his anger, Li nodded, remembering the advice of his own father. "Pride will only get you so far," his father had said, "If you should meet one who is truly wise, listen to his advice for such people are a rare blessing."
"Very well then. What would Tai Mu advise that I do to those who have been the enemies of our people for generations?"
"That is just it! They need be our enemies no longer."
"What do you mean? Speak sense, old man!"
"The conflict between our two peoples is centuries old. Why must we continue it now? The war is over. The Amazons have lost. Why should we continue to punish them when they are no longer a threat?"
Li snorted. "And give them the chance to rise up against us? Never!"
"Treat them badly and they will rise up anyways. Treat them well and in time past wrongs will be forgotten."
Li had to admit it, he was intrigued. "And how do we accomplish this?"
"The first thing to do is to free the males as a sign of good faith. Most Amazon males are not taught the ways of battle so they should give you little trouble. Watch them and keep them under your 'protection', but within the city walls let them do as they please. Second, offer the surviving women in marriage to your warriors, or, if they are only girls, permit their adoption into Musk families. Aye, they will hate us...for now, but years will pass and in time the children will adjust. Those who are children now will grow to be adults within our culture and will, in time, accept who they are. Those who are now grown will not be so easy to convince, but their children will be another matter. Enslave them, and they and their children will forever hate you for it. Integrate them, and given time their descendants will give us no trouble."
Li nodded slowly. "Yes...yes! I can see what you mean, but there must be more still. The Amazons must have a reason to feel that I will be true to my word, that I and my descendants will not one day simply change our minds." Suddenly laughing aloud, he struck his palm with a closed fist. "I've got it! It's a perfect plan, what can go wrong?" Turning to one of his soldiers, he barked out an order. "You! Go forth among the prisoners and find a girl who is a close relation of one of their elders. Have her bathed, dressed, and brought before me immediately. Tai Mu? Go and find my son. Tell him that it is my express wish that he attend me immediately. Summon a scribe as well, I must prepare to speak with the people."
Tai nodded. "Very well...my lord?"
"Yes, what is it?"
"You have confetti in your hair."
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Shampoo held her head high as she walked into the Musk Imperial throne room. She was dressed in a gown of deep green that accentuated the exotic colour of her hair and brought out the beauty of her dark eyes. She clenched her fists against the fabric even now, trying to stop her hands from shaking. What could the Emperor, the man she hated with all the strength of a child's hatred, want with her? She thought of Mousse back with the other children and promised herself that for him, and for the other Amazons, she would not show weakness before this man she despised.
The Emperor sat on his throne looking Shampoo up and down as though he were viewing a prized mare. Shampoo stared defiantly at him, trying to force all the loathing and anger she felt into her stare but if she thought to impress him, she was sadly mistaken. If anything, the Emperor appeared amused.
"Shampoo of the Joketsuzoku, great-granddaughter of the late elder Cologne", proclaimed the herald.
The Emperor rose to his feet and spoke with a rich, warm voice. "Welcome, daughter of the Joketsuzoku, to our court. We are most pleased that you accepted our invitation."
Shampoo said nothing, but swept her gaze around the throne room. She stood flanked by two musk guards who stood at attention, proud to be in attendance upon their Emperor. The Emperor himself sat on a golden throne and wore a golden circlet studded with gems and forged to resemble a dragon biting it's own tale upon his brow. Next to the throne stood a boy who bore a strong resemblance to the Emperor. Shampoo looked him over carefully and, despite his youth, privately acknowledged that he was a skilled warrior from his stance, even at such a young age. But then, the Musk always learned to fight young, often becoming better than Amazon warriors of equal age. An old man, simply dressed, stood slightly behind and to the side of the throne. Probably an advisor, she decided, and ignored him.
The Emperor must have taken her silence as a sign of acceptance, so he went on. "Your great-grandmother is well known to us. Her courage and strength in battle and the wisdom of her tactics held us in awe for generations. If not for her, your people would have been lost long ago."
Shampoo stood, torn between pride at the compliments paid her family, and anger at this man who dared to speak of her great-grandmother, murdered by his own people. Finally, she spoke. "You are not worthy even to speak of her!"
For a moment, she feared she may have gone to far, but the Emperor surprised her by laughing out loud. "You say I am unworthy, yet here I live while she does not. Decide for yourself who is greater then, but in your anger do not overlook the facts."
Shampoo realized that this was a battle she could not win, so she settled for raising her head, as though making a challenge. "What do you want with me?" She asked.
"A simple enough question, and it has a simple enough answer. I wish to make you an offer, child; An offer that may save your people."
Narrowing her eyes, Shampoo listened to the Emperor's words. He was lying, she was sure of it. What did he care for her or her people? Still...she nodded slowly. "What offer do you mean? If there is anything I can do to save my people, anything at all, I will do it."
The Emperor allowed himself a small smile, knowing that the child was his...or soon would be. "I wish to grant your people all the freedoms of my other subjects, yet I also wish to be sure they will not disappoint me. I'm sure you can understand my position. I wish for no further conflict between our cultures, but I must offer your people a sign of my good faith, so that they will believe that I am sincere. I need you, child."
Shampoo gulped, nervously while trying to act brave. "W-what do you want?"
"I desire no less than your hand in marriage-"
Shampoo gaped.
"-To my son, Prince Herb."
The throne room erupted in a frenzy of shouting. Herb was loudly refusing to marry anyone, especially an Amazon. Shampoo shouted back that she would never marry the son of her most hated enemy. Guards gasped in surprise at the announcment and soon added their own voices to the argument. Tai Mu raised a hand to his head, trying to fight off an oncoming headache. The Emperor simply watched, and smiled.
"Father, you can't-"
"I'll never-"
The Emperor held up a hand for silence. "Enough! Shampoo, do you have any understanding of the position your people are in? With a word or a gesture I could sentance your people to slavery...or order them all simply killed. Refuse my gracious offer and you risk making your people too great a liability bo be allowed to run free. Accept, and your people shall live under our rule yet happier than they would otherwise. I hold absolute power here. Remember that."
Shampoo shivered. Looking into this man's eyes, she saw that he was enjoying the power that he held over her, over her people. He enjoyed knowing that he could kill them all at any time he wished. 'I am an Amazon of the Joketsuzoku. To see our culture crushed under the heel of the Musk would be a terrible thing, and yet...the other option is worse still. I have no choice. I know my duty.'
"I accept your offer." Shampoo prayed that they did not notice the tremor in her voice as she spoke. 'And may my ancestors forgive me for what I have done.'
The Emperor stood, flinging his arm out and causing his cloak of royal purple to swing about. "Excellent! You will not regret your choice...daughter. Now, is there anything...or anyone...we can get for you to make your stay more comfortable."
Shampoo was surprised by the Emperor's offer. She nearly refused, but after a moment she nodded. "Yes, I would like an attendant from among my own people."
"Have you anyone in mind?"
"Yes...father."
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When he was escorted into a beautiful palace room with a view of the imperial gardens, Mousse saw his beloved, dressed in silks, sitting on her bed and sobbing. Unable to stop himself, he ran towards her. "Shampoo! I love you!"
Unfortunately for the short-sighted Amazon, his glasses slipped off and, with unbridled passion, he stepped forward and embraced one of her bedposts. "Shampoo?"
Mousse winced, expecting Shampoo to strike him. Instead, he heard the sobbing stop and heard soft laughter replace it. "Silly Mousse. You always make me laugh."
Mousse stood and rubbed his hand self-consciously through his long black hair. He adjusted his white robes and had the good grace to look embarressed. "I'm sorry Shampoo, it's just that-"
Shampoo stepped closer and placed a finger on Mousse's lips, her lavender hair swept about her shoulders as she shook her head back and forth. "No Mousse. Don't say it. I know how you feel but it can never be, even if I loved you the way you love me."
Mousse was stunned. "What do you mean? Have the Musk hurt you? What did they do to you?"
Tearfully, Shampoo told Mousse of all that had happened within the palace walls and with every word she spoke, Mousse's fury grew. The Musk. The damned Musk. They had destroyed his home. They had killed his parents. Now, they took from him what he loved most of all. "I'll kill them! I won't let them hurt you! The Prince will be the first to die!"
Shampoo shook her head. "No, you mustn't! Mousse, if you do that all our people will die and it will be for nothing."
Mousse nodded, reigning in his anger. "What do you want me to do? You know I'd do anything for you Shampoo."
Shampoo took a deep breath, knowing that she was about to ask something very difficult of him. "I want you to be my friend. Tell them you are my servant in public, but in private, I need your strength. I...I am afraid."
Mousse nodded in understanding. Shampoo did not want his love, at least not now. She wanted a shoulder to lean on. "Shampoo", he whispered as he put a comforting arm around her shoulder. "For you, I will be strong."
They stayed that way for some time, until the guards appeared and they donned their masks of duty once more.
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Author's Notes: Bless me readers for I have sinned. It has been several months since my last posting on ff.net. My thanks for all the reviews from those who sent them, and I apologize for this somewhat abbreviated chapter. I took a bit of a break from writing over the summer while I looked for work and finally found a job. This is good for me, bad for my writing. Worse for my writing because the job is a teaching job...in China. I had hoped to finish the rest of this chapter before I left, but I'm afraid you'll just have to be satisfied with what I've written here and I sincerely hope you enjoy it. When (If) I gett he chance to continue my writing, I will continue on with this story with the promised appearance of Ukyou and the Kunous and continue with an introduction of the second (major) OC who will appear.
A couple of points I wish to make. First, the Musk. I'm a bit shaky on how Musk society works as I've never seen the episodes myself (or read the issues) so am forced to use them as I thought best. For those of you who don't like it, let me know the problem and I'll see what I can do to fix it in future chapters.
Second, names. I decided to use the Westernized names (Ranma Saotome instead of Saotome Ranma) for one major reason. I keep mixing them up if I do it the other way. Sometimes I'd do it as I meant to, but other times I'd miss one and then it would look silly. This way is more natural to me, so I do it. You've noticed that certain names have a 'u' where normally there isn't one (Tendou, Kunou, etc.). This is not a mistake. My brother took Japanese classes and assured me that this is, in fact, the correct spelling of the names.