Chapter 3.

2 years later

"Ranma, explain to me again how you thought this was a good idea?

"Ah, shut your hole, Konatsu." Ranma sighed. He looked down at the map in his hands again, but he knew they were hopelessly lost. China was a big country, and right now, the two of them were lost smack dab in the middle of it. "When we find this village, you will thank me. They are supposed to have incredible techniques we could learn."

"We've been looking for a village for two days, moron. I am so going to make you suffer later."

"Hey, you know life is suffering. Your desire to arrive is what's making this such a trial for you."

"You start pulling that Buddhist shit on me and I will kick your ass."

"You wish...You ain't ever been able to kick my ass." Ranma looked around. Glancing back at the map, he looked at the compass he was holding and checked their bearings one more time. It was a pretty meaningless act. They were lost in the middle of a densely wooded area, and with out some sort of geographical feature to obtain bearings from, Ranma had no idea where on the map he was.

"Give me that map." Konatsu grabbed the map from Ranma's hands. "Where do you roughly think we are?"

"Here." Ranma pointed out the spot on the map.

"What and we are headed north-east, right?"

"Right. I hoped we would see the ridgeline by now, but these damnable trees are blocking everything." Ranma growled in frustration, and kicked the nearest tree as hard as he could. The trunk shattered violently, sending birds scrambling to take to the air and showering the pair with leaves. The tree crashed to the ground, sending up a cloud of dust and debris.

Konatsu coughed out, "Well, that was productive. Feel better, Ranma? Besides, what did that tree ever do to you? You're just piling up bad karma."

"Shove it. Let's keep moving. That village of Amazons has got to be around here somewhere."

Konatsu sighed.

Ku lon sat on the roof of the guard tower that stood over the main entrance to the Amazon village. Taking a slow drag on her pipe, she swept her gaze over the valley that harbored Jusenkyo, past Jusendo to the woods just beyond the village. A flock of startled birds took to the air just beyond the edge of the forest. She watched as a small cloud of dust swirled up into the new hole in the forest canopy. "Hmm... Wonder what caused that." Ku lon tapped her pipe out on her shoe, ground the embers to dust, and hopped off the roof to the platform below. Ku lon continued to stare off to the woods as she motioned to the gate guard. "Ring the bell and warn the guards, I have a feeling something is coming this way."

"Right away, Elder."

"Shhh... Konatsu, you hear that? Sounds like... Like a temple bell! I think we might have found the village."

"'bout time. How far away you figure?"

"Maybe two, one and a half kilometers. Feel like a little jog?" Ranma grinned wickedly.

"You know what, I do... Tag, you're it!"

"Why you little... Hey! No fair, you can't use the split body technique! I haven't learned that yet! Come back here!"

"Make me!"

"You asked for it!" Laughing with glee, Ranma leapt to battle.

Ku lon wasn't very worried about the disturbance from the forest. From her vantage point of the guard tower, she could feel two strong battle auras off in the distance. While not insignificant, they could be easily handled by assembled warriors below. All of a sudden, a tree at the edge of the forest exploded. Out of the cloud of dust two young boys emerged, trading furious blows. "Interesting..."

"Ranma?" Konatsu unconsciously dodged a lighting fast combo that would have incapacitated him had it connected. He lashed out in turn.

"What?" Ranma leaned to the side, letting the blows slide by, watching for the feints and follow up blows.

"Don't you think we better wind this down? We seem to have assembled a crowd. We don't want to scare anyone or start a fight unnecessarily..."

"Hmm... Well, shit. And I was just getting warmed up, too."

"Break?"

"Break." With a nod, the two combatants jump away from each other, keeping a careful eye on the other, lest either use the break in concentration as an opening. The two stopped short when several arrows landed in the space they had previously occupied. Ranma turned to Konatsu with a raised eyebrow. "Well, at least we know they are friendly."

"It appears so, Ranma. Perhaps they are upset we forgot to bring them a present?"

Ranma chuckled. "Well, let's go apologize for wrecking their trees."

Ku lon bit off an oath as a few of the younger guards let loose with a flight of arrows. "Hold your fire, you stupid imbeciles. Don't shoot unless I give the order!" Grumbling under her breath, she hopped off the tower platform to the ground. "Aa von, Per fum, come with me. The rest of you, hold tight. I'll go knock these two whelps around a bit and we can go back to our soap operas." A few of the amazons chuckled.

Ku lon headed through the gate to where the two boys were waiting.

"Hey look, seems like someone is coming to meet us."

"Thank you, Captain Obvious. Ranma, let me do the talking."

"Yeah, sure, what ever."

The Amazon party approached confidently. Leading the party was a shriveled old woman balancing on her cane.

"Can you feel the power radiating off that woman, Konatsu? It's incredible."

"Shh. They are getting near."

Ku Lon stopped just out of reach of either boy. She called out, " Why do you intrude upon the domain of the Amazons? "

Konatsu answered, " Forgive my poor Chinese, but we be two wandering artists looking to gain enlightenment. "

"Japanese?" Cologne asked in perfect Japanese.

Both boys nodded.

"So what brings two little boys like you all the way out here? You obviously aren't out here for your health."

"Well," began Konatsu, "we were hoping to train with the amazons and learn more about the Art."

Ku lon made a snort that sounded like cloth ripping. "Just what makes you think the Amazons would be willing to teach outsiders like you?"

"The Art is all we have." Konatsu nodded towards Ranma. "We are ronin. We both are wandering to perfect the Art."

"You'll never perfect it by wandering, boy. What's your name?"

"I am Konatsu Kenzan, and my friend here is Saotome Ranma. Might we have the pleasure of your name?"

"I am Ku Lon, Elder of the village. You can address me as Elder. It was a pleasure to meet you both, but I can not allow you into my village. I suggest you turn around, and head elsewhere. Don't press the issue. I do this as much for your own well being as ours."

"Elder Ku Lon," Konatsu began, but was cut off abruptly by the elderly matriarch.

"Konatsu, was it? Listen. If you come in this village, chances are you will not leave alive. I watched you two sparring. Coming into this village would be a very bad idea for the two of you. You will likely be attacked, and if you live, you most certainly will never be able to leave. If you truly wish to continue wandering, I suggest you go else where. If you have a death wish, perhaps you can seek out the Musk who inhabit the south end of the Jusenkyo valley."

Ranma suddenly spoke up. "Elder, do you know of the Neko-ken?"

Ku Lon whipped her head around, boring her eyes into Ranma. "Why do you ask, child?"

With a shrug, Ranma stated, "Because I was trained in it."

Ku Lon uttered a few choice curses in Chinese. She continued, "sorry to hear that, but why should that concern the Amazons?"

"I've been looking for years to overcome it. Everyone who had ever heard of it suggested seeking out the help of the Amazons in China. I am here." Ranma knelt on the ground, and kowtowed to the matriarch. "I ask your help, please. I killed a man, Elder. I was not even aware of it, but I woke up, covered in blood, blood on my hands, in my mouth... I need to gain control. If you can help, please don't turn me away."

Ku Lon turned to Konatsu, who was slowly shaking his head. "What about you, child? Where you trained in this technique as well?"

"No, Elder. I have been trying to work with Ranma on controlling it, but twice since I've known him, he has been seized by the Neko-ken. It... terrifies me. I have been spared because he considers me a friend – he looks at me, and runs. When I find him later, he is usually unconscious, surrounded by the remains of his last meal."

"Meal?"

"Ranma likes to... to hunt." Konatsu shuddered. "Only thing I know is that he hunts animals. The remains have been... ravaged too much to tell more that that."

"Hmm.. Your name is Ranma, right? What idiot trained you in this technique?"

"My father, Elder."

"What happened to the man?"

"He was the person I killed. I was six at the time."

Ku Lon furrowed her brows, deep in thought. Turning to her companions, she barked out in Chinese, "Aa Von, Per Fum, leave us. Go back to the village." Ku Lon watched as the two warriors took of in a loping jog towards the front gate. Turning back to the two boys, Ku Lon sighed. "You two present me with a difficult choice. If you really insist on doing this, you must be willing to kill yourselves, to obliterate completely any traces of who you were. You must give up your lives to training. You will agree to follow my orders." Turning to Ranma, she spoke very slowly, and clearly. "And Ranma, if at any point I feel my village is in danger from you, I will kill you with extreme prejudice. Do you understand?"

"Yes, Elder. I do."

"Same goes for you, Konatsu. Do you understand?"

"I do, Elder."

Suddenly, Ku Lon smiled. "First, I want you two to turn around, and head towards that valley you can see over there. You will find a small hut where the valley guide lives. Wait there for me. I will meet you there in thirty minutes. Do not go near the springs for any reason boys, do you understand?"

The two chimed in unison. "Yes Elder."

"If you two want to make it, I suggest you run. Well, what are you waiting for?" Ku Lon cackled as the two took off at a sprint in the direction she pointed.

When Ranma and Konatsu made it to the guide's hut, Ku Lon was already waiting for them.

"Take of your packs, boys." They both complied. "What do you know of this place?"

Ranma spoke first, "We were told that it is a legendary training ground, only used by the most advanced warriors. We were also told to avoid it at all costs."

"Who ever gave you that advice certainly knew what they were talking about. I'll let the guide tell you about the springs. If you would please, sir?"

The Jusenkyo guide spoke up. "Jusenkyo very dangerous training ground. Nobody use anymore because of it." With a sweep of his arms, he pointed to the multitude of pools that dotted the landscape. "Have over one hundred pools, each with own very tragic story. Each pool marks the place where something drown. Now, who ever fall in pool cursed to take shape of first drown victim."

Konatsu and Ranma looked at the guide. "You serious?" Konatsu asked, skeptical.

Ku Lon cut in. "Oh yes boys, he is quite serious."

Ranma pointed to the springs. "So why did you bring us here? If it is so dangerous and tragic, what use is it to us?"

She cackled. "This, boys, is what will allow me to bring you into the village. Guide, where is the Nanniichuan?"

"Spring of Drowned Girl? Why Elder want... Oh, I get. I get. Just follow me, this way, please. Be very careful not to fall off path, please!" The guide carefully picked his way through the springs, stopping by a small pool with a single bamboo pole sticking out of it. "Here it is, Elder. Spring of Drowned Girl. Very tragic story of young girl who drowned in spring 1500 years ago. Now, all who fall in spring take body of young girl."

Ku Lon pointed to the spring. "Ranma, Konatsu. If you want my help, you need to jump in."

"WHAT!?!?!" Both boys exploded at once. Simultaneously, they shouted, "WHY?"

"Because it is the only way I will be able to get you into the village with out having you fight every single female who lives there. The laws of our village are not kind to strangers. If you enter the village as a boy, every single female of marriageable age will challenge you to a fight. If you lose, they will probably kill you. If you win, then, well, you end up married."

Ranma interrupted, "sounds silly. Why do you do that?"

"It's a good way of getting new blood into the tribe," continued Ku Lon. "Now, it isn't much better as a woman. If you win, they will hunt you down and kill you. The advantage is, however, that if you lose, however, they will simply ignore you. Some might even be inclined to teach you. Plus, as a female, I will be able to extend some degree of protection over you that I could not do with you male with out a great deal of suspicion."

"Is it... Is the change permanent, Elder?" Konatsu inquired.

"Reversible. Cold water changes you into your cursed form, hot water to your original for. The curse will stay with you for life, however."

Ranma joined in, "No cure?"

"None." Ku Lon grinned. "However, if you become sufficiently advance at ki manipulation, you can learn to control the curse. It requires absolute control of your ki and massive quantities of the stuff. The reason no one uses this training ground anymore is because it is nearly impossible to do." Ku Lon hopped between the two boys, patting each of them on the shoulder in turn. "The choice is not easy, but it is yours, boys. Take a swim and I can train you, or leave now, and never return."

Ranma mumbled to himself. "Right Resolve is one of the hallmarks of wisdom..."

Ku Lon started and glanced at Ranma. "So is Right Understanding, Ranma. Do you understand my reasons for this?"

"I think so." With that, Ranma, took off his back pack and jumped in the spring. He didn't feel any different when he came to the surface. "You comin' in Konatsu? Water's a little cold, but feels good."

With a sigh, Konatsu started to undress.

"Why are you undressing?"

"Unlike you, Ranma, I don't want to walk around in wet clothes," replied the ninja.

"Look on the bright side, Konatsu! Now you really can be a kuno-ichi!"

"Yeah, yeah. Move over, Saotome. I have to take a bath."

"We start training as soon as you girls get out of the water." Ku Lon walked back towards the guide's hut.

Ku Lon wasn't kidding about the training. The walk back towards the Amazon village involved balance training, which meant attempting to walk back to the village without touching the ground. The Elder gave them each a 4 foot long piece of bamboo only about half an inch thick.

"Don't break it, girls. You have to figure out how to get home on that! See you in a bit! No cheating, now. If you do, I'll know. You won't like what I do to cheaters."

Ranma and Konatsu watched as Ku Lon bounced away on her cane. "How's she doing that?"

"Looks like well have to figure it out, won't we?" Ranma put his pack back on, and climbed on the stick like he had seen Ku Lon do. With a splat, he fell to the ground. "Konatsu, I have a feeling this is going to suck."

"You said it, Ranma."

When they both finally arrived at the village, it was getting close to sundown. They had figured out how to balance after an hour or two of attempts, but the movement part had taken a lot longer. Ranma had also insisted that if they fell, they retrace their steps and start from the beginning.

Ku Lon was waiting at the gate for them. She spoke in Chinese " Took you long enough, girls. What was the hold up? "

Konatsu replied in Japanese, "Ranma insisted we start over when we fell." Suddenly, she found herself on the ground, head ringing from a solid blow to the head from Ku Lon's staff.

Ku Lon waited till Konatsu stood up, and said "This will be the last thing you will here me say in Japanese. If any female, picks a fight with you, you must lose. Do you understand? It is very important."

Ranma looked at Konatsu, who looked back at him through teary eyes.

"Do you girls understand?"

"Yeah, we do."
"We do what, Students?"

"We understand, Sensei!"
"Good." She quickly rapped both of the on the head. " From now on, you speak Chinese. Learn quickly, and save yourself some headaches. "

"Ranma, remind me to kill you for this," Konatsu murmured in Japanese, earning another rap on the head. Ranma received one too, just to make things fair.