(Low Reviews as of late. Oh well It's been a while since I updated I know. Sorry! I don't like doing this but there are parts in this extreamly long chapter that need this. I'm also happy to announce that I have FINALLY set in stone the EXACT course for the rest of this fic. Enjoy! One more thing. In most of my fics I am going to begin writing 30 to 50 kb chapters. Is this good? I think so.)
- Writing inside these marks represents the creator of the Jusenkyo springs speaking.
- Writing inside these marks represents an unknown person who will be made known later.)
Chapter 13: Of Omens and Lost Fiances.
"And that's my story." Ranma finished.
"Wow... that sure was a long story. What time is it? 8:30?" Aaron said looking at his watch.
"It must have taken you forever to make all that up! The only other conclusion is that it's real. Which is simply insane!" Jess rationed.
Popcorn bowls lie scattered about the room. A few photo albums Ranma happened to have in his back pack with the picture taken at toma's island.
Ranma had no pictures of her original girl form and decided not to let them worry about that subject. She preferred her taller blonde form to the short redhead anyway. Of course she'd rather be rid of them both but that wasn't the point.
"I wish I had a way of proving it to you but all I have is my word." Ranma told them.
"So your telling us that you are a guy. And that you have come here, hoping for magical aid in helping you return to your original form?"
"Honest, though. Nothing I said today has been a lie in this." Ranma said once she had sobered up.
"Then." Luc said, speaking for the second time since he had arrived, "Ranma, if your telling the truth then we will help you in your quest to become male again but... if not were going to let this out!
He smirked.
"Hey! Would these baby blues lie to you!" She said pointing at her eyes.
"...I dunno. They did about your name." Luc said.
A sweatdrop crawled down the back of Ranma's head.
"SHAMPOO! I CHALLENGE YOU!" The cry erupted somewhere in the middle of Cambodia.
"Mousse You... you challenge? Wait..." Shampoo walked up to the man that had suddenly appeared from the bushes. She waved her hands around his eyes. He looked down at her.
"Stop that will you? It's really a little bit mean, Shampoo." He said calmly.
"YOU CAN SEE!?" She shouted.
Suddenly and old woman jumped between the two.
"For the right to challenge Shampoo you would need to face me, you lazy child." Cologne told him. She aimed her staff for his head but he dodged.
Mousse glupped. He was MUCH better with his full eyesight... but... the elder of the amazons was almost indestructable. If anyone could have beaten her it would be Ranma... but... he was gone. Mousse didn't want to fight her. He stood no chance. 300 years is a lot on 17.
But then he thought of Ranma. It had been around a year since he had left. If Ranma were in his position... If Ranma had to fight the old ghoul, even to the death for his girl, he wouldn't hesitate. But mousse would... Well. Not this time.
"Bring it on Ghoul!" Mousse said in a very Ranma-like way.
"Mousse?" Shampoo asked confused.
A chain ball flew out of Mousse's sleave.
Cologne dodged.
"Shampoo help me. You don't want to end up marrying this buffoon do you? It seems however that he has finally grown a little backbone?" Cologne said.
Shampoo jumped beside Cologne.
"Hey two on one! Not fair!" Mousse shouted.
"Mousse I will see to it that you never have Shampoo's hand. Your an idiot for thinking I would ever let you challenge Shampoo, Mousse." Cologne told him.
Mousse temper rose but he kept it down.
"Great-grandmother?" Shampoo asked. "Mousse have right to challenge. Stupid duck boy not beat me. Why you interphere?"
"Xian Pu were going to have to continue your training. You may have been able to beat Mousse easily before but with his eyesight and a year's extra training, I think he is beyond your limits Xian Pu. And If you can't see that your training will definantly need to be brought up." Cologne replied.
"Hmph! Mousse never beat Shampoo before and he no win now! I fight!" Shampoo cried.
"Xian Pu... do you want to chance being forced to marry Mousse?" Cologne said softly.
"Shampoo not run from challenge. I no hide behind you great-grandmother. Shampoo show you!" Shampoo cried. She jumped in front of Cologne and looked at Mousse.
"Mousse why you do this? You never win!" Shampoo shouted.
"I've copied a strategy that I think will give me an edge. And keep me from needing to hurt you." Mousse said calmly.
His calm scared Shampoo. But she didn't show it of course.
"If this is what you want Shampoo. Fight. Don't lose." Cologne told her.
They walked to a nearby clearing.
The wind blew the amazon's hair back.
Shampoo and Mousse squared off.
"Ranma... this had better work..." Mousse thought.
"BEGIN!" Cologne shouted.
Shampoo launched herself at Mousse swinging her bonbori in feirce combinations. Mouse dodge most of the strikes. He didn't attack. He just kept dodging. He realized her attacks begining to slow after almost twenty minutes of constant siege and onslaught.
"Stupid Mousse stand still so I hit you!" she cried.
Mousse smirked.
"SHAMPOO! STOP THIS!" Cologne shouted on the sidelines. Fortunantly for Mousse, Shampoo didn't hear this.
Shampoo stopped her onslaught. She kept her gaurd up and began to breath. Trying to refill her energy fast enough to keep her attacking.
Cologne began shouting again but it went straight through Shampoo's ears.
She charged again.
This time Mousse blocked.
"You try to keep Ranma from Shampoo! Mousse, You no can win!" She shouted each word being another strike.
Suddenly her bonbori cracked. A yo yo string had wrapped around it and cut the ball clean off the end.
Shampoo suddenly threw her other bonbori directly at Mousse's head. It his him right between the eyes.
Mousse went flying into a nearby tree.
"Mousse, Shampoo told you you can not win!" Shampoo cried.
"SHAMPOO!" Cologne shouted.
And it hit her. A chain wrapped around her and began squeasing. Mousse lifted the chain and swung it into the sky.
Unfortunantly the tree the Mousse was under had a low branch and Shampoo hit it instead of her inteded target, Which was the sky. (Not to be confused with Low earth orbit. Aka LEO)
She fell to the ground a few feet from Mousse unconcious.
"...Good fight... Son-in-law." Cologne muttered.
Mousse smiled.
And then felt the annoyingly painful feel of a wooden staff impaling his head.
Stupid Mousse.
"I search. That's all I do now. I've broken my engagement to Akari. Akane hates me, I think. I deserve it too I think. But that's not my purpose anymore. I seek him. If I were to actually marry Akane... I still think I would seek him... He was my first friend. He knew some of my pain. He helped me home back then even though I didn't remember because of my blind hate at him for skipping out on the duel. And inside, I know I'll never be with Akane... She loves Ranma. Surely. She told me herself. I can't stand it. So I've tried to leave Nerima, but I'll wind up there anyway. With my luck I alway's wind up where I don't want to be. If Ranma stays away from Akane... That's why I would search for him... To make Akane happy... That is my goal in life.
Signed Ryoga
Sometimes I wonder why I write these things down on paper. I just end up keeping them in my bag and never seeing them again.
"Did Ryoga send this to me? By you, whiskers?" Akane asked the dog. She pet him. Then she began to write.
"Ryoga... maybe... maybe he's not just a pervert. Even so... I think back now. All those times I called Ranma a pervert and Ryoga a nice guy. Really, it was the other way around. But maybe not even that. Maybe... both of them WERE in compromising circumestances. Ha ha. Just picturing Ranma's face if, no, when he comes home and I tell him that is priceless in itself let alone actually seeing it... I want him back..."
"I find myself losing thought of him. I am slowly forgeting him. Forgetting about him. He's leaving me and in his place is a whole that I can't fill. Or at least, couldn't fill. But even that is filling. I'm forgetting him... I want him back..."
Signed Akane Tendo
Oddly enough... she also didn't notice the dog tear the entry from her diary...
Flashback.
"Ok. P-Chan! Settle down! Stop squirming! P-Chan!" Akane cried as she tried to get the squirming pig to settle down so she could give it a bath.
Considering the pig was in a naked girls arms it should, technically, have feinted by now. But seeing the dire circumstances It couldn't focus on her.
"Akane? What are you doing?" Nabiki asked as she walked into the bathroom.
"I'm TRYING to get P-Chan to cooperate! But he won't!" Akane cried.
Suddenly Nabiki knelt down right by P-Chan and stared directly at it's face.
"5000 yen!" Nabiki suddenly said, smiling like no tommorow.
"Nabiki! What are you... ? Huh?" Akane asked.
The pig had begun to nod it's head up and down viciously.
Nabiki smiled.
"Akane... this pig is afraid of hot water. Can't you tell?" Nabiki said calmly.
"But what...?"
"NEVERMIND! Just draw him a cold water bath and he'll be fine!" Nabiki told her.
"Really?" Akane asked skeptically.
"No doubt about it." Nabiki replied.
So Akane emptied the hot water from the furo and drew cold water. Akane was amazed at how well the P-Chan began to behave.
"Wow Nabiki. How did you know that?" Akane asked as she got out of the furo.
"Lucky guess." Nabiki replied.
Nabiki left.
About twenty minutes later Akane got out of the furo. She got dressed and put picked up P-Chan. She opened the door out into the hallway just as Nabiki tripped and spilled hot water all over her.
Akane stood holding a naked Ryoga.
"Ryoga!" Akane said surprised.
"Akane.. eh heh..." Ryoga replied. "Funny meeting you here Akane?"
Nabiki watched Akane as the gears began to turn. The lightbulb flickered on. Watched her as she saw the light. Watched her mind beginning to slowly comprehend. Watched her as she... stopped watching her and ran for her life.
"All those times... and when Ranma... you...and you, you used me! Ryoga! You! YOU!!!!! YOU PERVERT! RYOGA NO BAKA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!(huff huff)!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!(whew!)!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!(Finally!)
"Uh... Akane?" Nabiki asked. "You ok?"
"5000 yen, eh?" Akane asked venomously.
"Eh... heh heh! Gulp"
"Nabiki... I think it's about time we start back up on your Martial Arts training, eh?" Akane said calmly wrapping her arm around Nabiki's shoulder.
"...uh.... heh... 40,000 yen?" Nabiki whispered.
"Nice try."
...
Moaning came from Nabiki's room for the next month.
At the very peak of the mountains on the western side of the Jusenkyo valley, two beings sat talking. One was somewhat transparent as if he were a ghost. He was dressed in equally transparent clothes that looked somewhat like the popes. Long golden robes and a tall gold and white hat with an odd symbol on the top. The
other was a glittering white figure. Dressed completely in white robes of the most perfect conditions. He wore a white mask that was more of a simple piece of perfect silk draped across his face.
I just don't understand why you did that. Letting Ranma have her memory back is just slowing down the process. It would have been completed in almost a week had you not done that! The white cloaked man said.
Firstly I don't think it's fair.The ghost-like man replied.
Second there is the possibillity that Ranma would become cure of the Amnisia and then have a nervous breakdown considering the fact that she had willingly done whatever... things she may have done.
And Last, There... is a slight problem with the Blessing.
When I manipulated the waters of the Dragon Pheonix Tap to create the Jusenkyo springs, I made a serious flaw. I didn't hide the secrets of the water. The pheonix people found it. When it was found that the noblest of the pheonix could use the hot water tap to transform into godlike creatures of immortality and light, I could do nothing to stop it. The Pheonix Tap or, cursed hot water, manipulated the pheonixes.
But that was because they were allready in the form to be manipulated. The form of a pheonix. Now I have made another flaw. Ranma. The Dragon Tap is affecting him... her. I think the Jusenkyo waters along with the touch of the Gekaja made it possible for the Dragon tap to affect her in light ways like very slight increases in strength and extreamly small manipulation of water.
I well know the effects of the waters of the Dragon Pheonix tap in more than one way. But I couldn't have predicted the result of the water being used in so many various ways on a person. I have no idea what will happen when the blessing is fully administered. Considering that the hot water tap makes Saffron able to burn with fire, I would think the cold water tap would do the opposite but I am not certain.
Your saying Ranma will become a water goddess?
Eehh.... possibly?
PLEASE DON"T SEND ME TO HELL!
...For a 7000 year old being you would think you would have more backbone, Archbishop.
For a godly messenger, one would think you would have a little more compassion.
Hmph.... that was not a gift bestowed upon me. My job is to make sure the springs are destroyed. My job isn't to make sure the people who do it come out in the same state of mind.
....
The Messenger turned towards the Archbishop. It then switched the subject back to Ranma
This still leaves a problem though. Why would these affects happen only to Ranma while the others who have touched all the waters, like Ryoga and Mousse, have had no odd circumstances?
Well... as far as we know they do. If the blessing had chosen one of these members of Jusenkyo's victims nothing says that it wouldn't be affecting them in the same way. It could also be a cause of the natural chaos that seems to follow Ranma. H... She is a prodogy. Her name fits her... almost too well. But there is nothing that says that Ryoga and Mousse couldn't have that slight control over water.
As long as you rid the world of the springs you left upon it, I have no quarell with you. You've gotten better at refering to her as a her.
Thank you.
Then is this all?
Uh... Just one more thing... there is a problem.
Oh?
Saffron has his complete form. He is searching for Ranma.
...
Heh heh
Then shouldn't you be working on a way to help Ranma, maybe?
Heh heh.. uh...yeah... heh...
Perhaps moving this blessing faster would let Ranma gain the abilities of the Dragon Tap Transformation?
...But!... But she'll become a goddess! Well, maybe!
Whats wrong with that?
Uh... she'll... be mad?
...
Right... I'll... get right on it...
"I'm sorry for the trouble I have caused you in needing to reraise me Kiima." Saffron said.
"No trouble at all my lord. You grew abnormally fast. I'm wondering why?" Kiima sighed.
"I have a revenge to plot." Saffron told her.
"Revenge? For who?" Kiima asked.
"I've remembered everything, Kiima. I think you can guess who." Saffron said in a much lower tone.
"Ranma." Kiima said plainly.
"Ranma will not live through this. I will find him and I won't rest untill he is destroyed." Saffron told her.
"If that is your wish my lord." Kiima said as she bowed.
"We leave for Japan." He ordered.
"As you wish. But my lord.. What of Akane? Of the girl?" Kiima asked.
"... What girl?"
BOOM!
Kiima's face ached for several hours as the pheonix people believe in stone floors.
"Ukyo-sama. Did you really have even the slightest belief that I wouldn't follow after you?" Konatsu told the chef.
"No...no I didn't Konatsu."
"Ukyo-sama. I love you. Please... just give up on him! Has he ever even thought of offering you anything but slight friendship?" Konatsu cried.
"I've given up on Ranchan, Konatsu." Ukyo stated.
"YOU HAVE! But... then why would you leave me? I had to search for six months to find you!" Konatsu shouted.
"I wanted to get away from everything... I wanted to see what it would be like in a town that knew nothing of multiple fiancees and gender changes."
"... I understand Ukyo-sama. Gomen Nasai." Konatsu said suddenly soft.
"Konatsu... Why do you follow me around like this?" Ukyo asked.
"Because... I want you to be as happy as you made me." Konatsu told her.
Awkward silence reigned. And was shot down.
"I think I'm gonna go for a while." Ranma said suddenly.
"Huh? What do you mean? Go where?" Shannon asked.
"On a training trip. I need to perfect this new art I'm developing. Plus who knows if those, uh, Black V people will attack again. I need to be better prepared." She replied.
"Where are you going?" Jess asked.
"I think i'm going to go to the mountains I passed over on the way here." Ranma said..
"Would you mind if I went along too?" Luc said breaking another awkward silence.
"What would you go for?" Ranma asked him.
"I want to train under you if that wouldn't be too much to ask." Luc said.
"Uh... well I've never actually trained someone before..."
"I'm confident that you'll do allright." Luc replied.
"Well... I'm leaving tommorow. Be here at 5:30 if you wanna come. A minute late and I'll be half way through Nevanda." Ranma said.
"It's Nevada." they all chorused.
"Whatever!" Ranma sighed.
Ranma stood. She walked over toward the bathroom.
"Damn hair." She mumbled. Lately she had been thinking about cutting her hair. However she had never needed too in the past because the dragon's whisker had kept it from growing. After that event all she had to do was cut off a little on the pig tail and a few bangs in the front and it would be fine. But now she had hair that hung to about her waist. She could cut it herself but she was lazy and happened to have money to burn. Granted not near enough to pay back the some odd hundred thousands of yen she owed Nabiki but it was starting. Especially since she wasn't LEGALLY aloud to work.
She pulled some money out of a wallet that had been laying on the sink.
"I'm going to get a hair cut. Anyone know where a barber lives?" Ranma asked.
"I do but they're all closed right now. It's late. 10:12" Jess said looking at his watch.
"Oh... well I'll get one tomorrow after I leave." Ranma said.
"Lets get on home.Most of our parents don't know where we are anyways." Aaron said.
"Speaking of that... what are you peoples family names?" Ranma asked suddenly.
"????"
"Uh... last names?" Ranma said tentatively.
"Ah..."
Ranma pointed at Shannon.
"I'm Shannon Leorbec!" Shannon cried.
She moved her finger.
"Leah Jinkins."
"Aaron Len."
"Jessie Clarks."
"Lucas Scyasha."
"Uh... say that again?" Ranma asked him.
"Sigh-Ya-Sha" Luc pronounced.
"... Does it mean somethin?" Ranma asked curiously.
"Not that I know of." Luc replied.
"Oh... Ok. If you guys are gonna head on out of here now.."
"We were just leaving." Leah interupted. "Goodnight, Rank...er Ranma,"
"Goodnight."
She closed the door. She walked over to her refridgerator and got out a package of instant rice and ramen...
Meanwhile...
"Summer is coming soon! Ah, I love the summer! Beautiful busoms to come flying into my open arms everywhere! ... Er... at least on the beach. Hmm... Well. I've had enough of this rusty old Dojo and with Ranma gone I have no fun anymore! I want to go to the beach where even the most modest girls turn into bikini clad goddesses!
So the question is, where to go to for vacation!?
Pulling out a travel manual, the old demon, formally known as Happosai, began to scope out a suitable place to go for a vacation.
"Aw... I"m so sick of this Island! All the girlys in Japan know me too well! I need somewhere new!"
"England... China... Russia... Brazill... Oooh! That's looks nice... but no... Ah... California! Look at all the silky darlings to liberate from the vicious women who hold them captive! I MUST GO THERE!"
...
Unknowingly Japan became abnormally happy for the next few days. They actually almost felt like something was missing though.
...
Ranma broke her chopsticks on the rice.
"... A bad omen?... NAH!" Ranma smiled and pulled out some more chopsticks...
After the third time the chopsticks broke and after the rice bowl smashed on the table, she decided she would cut her dinner short for the night.
"5:30... why in the world did she choose this ungodly hour?" Luc thought as he met her out in front of the appartment complex.
"So were going to the mountians in Colorado?" Luc asked.
"Uh huh." Ranma said drearily.
"Are you ok?" He asked.
"Didn't get a very good sleep last night. Kept gettin these bad omens... Oh well nevermind." She replied.
"Ok".
"Luc... I need to ask you something. Your coming along with me to learn from me correct?" Ranma asked.
"Uh.. yeah.." He answered.
"Your ready to face the challenges of my training? After all I haven't ever trained anyone REALLY before." She said.
"MmHmm." Luc said firmly.
"Any injuries you may have during the training aren't my problem?" Ranma asked suddenly.
"Uh... Mm... hm." Luc said now less firmly.
Ranma smiled. "Thats good."
"Oh Ranma... how exactly are we going to get to Colorado?" Luc asked.
"We'll go the second your ready."
Ranma's smile crooked into an evil malicious smile.
"Why we'll be going by The Anything Goes Airborne Martial Arts Airlines of course!" Ranma said quickly as she rounded up.
HERE'S THE WIND UP AND THE PITCH! ..... OH BAM! THAT BALL IS OUTTA HERE! LOOK AT IT GO FOLKS! THAT ONES GONNA HIT PETER PAN ON THE HEAD!
Luc was sent flying. Considering that he was several hundred feet from the ground wasn't even an option considering the increadible pain he was in at being punched so far in the chest. But the worst was yet to come. It was a miricle he'd managed to hold onto his bag.
Suddenly a blond spec zoomed straight toward him and punched him, again, directly in the chest area sending him up another hundred or so feet.
When she next closed in on him he had recovered somewhat.
"This is how were gonna build up your strength!" Ranma shouted and delivered another punch. However fortunantly, Luc was ready for this one. He sent his chi to his rib cage and kept it as a wall to the air jumper's punches. It stilll sent him flying... it just didn't hurt.
"Good your catching on!" Ranma shouted from behind.
Two days later they made it to a spot that Ranma considered suitable.
Luc was secretly impressed. For the past two days all he'd thought that this had been was A: a way for Ranma to vent her anger and B: a way to get into the mountians.
But when she decided not to hit him and let him fall to the earth and create a human sized crater, he realized that he had become unusually stronger. Slamming head first into concrete SHOULD hurt a LOT right? To him it felt like a minor injury.
Unfortunantly for Luc he didn't actually have time to think about this. Considering both of them had been poping their ears at high alltitudes with no food for either of them (To Luc's knowledge) They were both extreamly hungry. Fortunantly a fast food restauraunt lie just infront of where Ranma had positioned Luc to land.
The food was decent. Considering they ordered half the menu and then some they got to find out what most of it tasted like. It was a mexican Restaurant. Quant and simple. Oddly unexpensive as well.
"Ranma... uh... well thanks. I, didn't think that you punching me around would help me at all but... I, uh.. guess it did!" Luc stuttered.
"I told you so!" Ranma said loudly with a piece of chicken in her mouth. "You feel loads stronger now, right?"
"Uh huh! It's amazing!" Luc told her. "I feel like I could punch through a brick wall!
"Why couldn't you?" Ranma asked.
"Well... uh... I dunno? It'd hurt?" Luc said sarcastically.
"Americans.... well. Your training begins in two hours. It begins on the top of that mountain. Hike up there. Don't be late." Ranma said firmly.
"But what are you gonna do?" Luc asked as they stood and walked to the cashier.
"I'm going to train." Ranma said.
"Ah..."
(If you paid REALLY close attention you'll have noticed that I never brought up Happosai in the prologue... bwahahahahaah! As for the plot? Yes... if finally is unravelling. Plus hope you like the longer chapters! (Even though this one still wasn't as long as I wanted it to be!)
- Writing inside these marks represents the creator of the Jusenkyo springs speaking.
- Writing inside these marks represents an unknown person who will be made known later.)
Chapter 13: Of Omens and Lost Fiances.
"And that's my story." Ranma finished.
"Wow... that sure was a long story. What time is it? 8:30?" Aaron said looking at his watch.
"It must have taken you forever to make all that up! The only other conclusion is that it's real. Which is simply insane!" Jess rationed.
Popcorn bowls lie scattered about the room. A few photo albums Ranma happened to have in his back pack with the picture taken at toma's island.
Ranma had no pictures of her original girl form and decided not to let them worry about that subject. She preferred her taller blonde form to the short redhead anyway. Of course she'd rather be rid of them both but that wasn't the point.
"I wish I had a way of proving it to you but all I have is my word." Ranma told them.
"So your telling us that you are a guy. And that you have come here, hoping for magical aid in helping you return to your original form?"
"Honest, though. Nothing I said today has been a lie in this." Ranma said once she had sobered up.
"Then." Luc said, speaking for the second time since he had arrived, "Ranma, if your telling the truth then we will help you in your quest to become male again but... if not were going to let this out!
He smirked.
"Hey! Would these baby blues lie to you!" She said pointing at her eyes.
"...I dunno. They did about your name." Luc said.
A sweatdrop crawled down the back of Ranma's head.
"SHAMPOO! I CHALLENGE YOU!" The cry erupted somewhere in the middle of Cambodia.
"Mousse You... you challenge? Wait..." Shampoo walked up to the man that had suddenly appeared from the bushes. She waved her hands around his eyes. He looked down at her.
"Stop that will you? It's really a little bit mean, Shampoo." He said calmly.
"YOU CAN SEE!?" She shouted.
Suddenly and old woman jumped between the two.
"For the right to challenge Shampoo you would need to face me, you lazy child." Cologne told him. She aimed her staff for his head but he dodged.
Mousse glupped. He was MUCH better with his full eyesight... but... the elder of the amazons was almost indestructable. If anyone could have beaten her it would be Ranma... but... he was gone. Mousse didn't want to fight her. He stood no chance. 300 years is a lot on 17.
But then he thought of Ranma. It had been around a year since he had left. If Ranma were in his position... If Ranma had to fight the old ghoul, even to the death for his girl, he wouldn't hesitate. But mousse would... Well. Not this time.
"Bring it on Ghoul!" Mousse said in a very Ranma-like way.
"Mousse?" Shampoo asked confused.
A chain ball flew out of Mousse's sleave.
Cologne dodged.
"Shampoo help me. You don't want to end up marrying this buffoon do you? It seems however that he has finally grown a little backbone?" Cologne said.
Shampoo jumped beside Cologne.
"Hey two on one! Not fair!" Mousse shouted.
"Mousse I will see to it that you never have Shampoo's hand. Your an idiot for thinking I would ever let you challenge Shampoo, Mousse." Cologne told him.
Mousse temper rose but he kept it down.
"Great-grandmother?" Shampoo asked. "Mousse have right to challenge. Stupid duck boy not beat me. Why you interphere?"
"Xian Pu were going to have to continue your training. You may have been able to beat Mousse easily before but with his eyesight and a year's extra training, I think he is beyond your limits Xian Pu. And If you can't see that your training will definantly need to be brought up." Cologne replied.
"Hmph! Mousse never beat Shampoo before and he no win now! I fight!" Shampoo cried.
"Xian Pu... do you want to chance being forced to marry Mousse?" Cologne said softly.
"Shampoo not run from challenge. I no hide behind you great-grandmother. Shampoo show you!" Shampoo cried. She jumped in front of Cologne and looked at Mousse.
"Mousse why you do this? You never win!" Shampoo shouted.
"I've copied a strategy that I think will give me an edge. And keep me from needing to hurt you." Mousse said calmly.
His calm scared Shampoo. But she didn't show it of course.
"If this is what you want Shampoo. Fight. Don't lose." Cologne told her.
They walked to a nearby clearing.
The wind blew the amazon's hair back.
Shampoo and Mousse squared off.
"Ranma... this had better work..." Mousse thought.
"BEGIN!" Cologne shouted.
Shampoo launched herself at Mousse swinging her bonbori in feirce combinations. Mouse dodge most of the strikes. He didn't attack. He just kept dodging. He realized her attacks begining to slow after almost twenty minutes of constant siege and onslaught.
"Stupid Mousse stand still so I hit you!" she cried.
Mousse smirked.
"SHAMPOO! STOP THIS!" Cologne shouted on the sidelines. Fortunantly for Mousse, Shampoo didn't hear this.
Shampoo stopped her onslaught. She kept her gaurd up and began to breath. Trying to refill her energy fast enough to keep her attacking.
Cologne began shouting again but it went straight through Shampoo's ears.
She charged again.
This time Mousse blocked.
"You try to keep Ranma from Shampoo! Mousse, You no can win!" She shouted each word being another strike.
Suddenly her bonbori cracked. A yo yo string had wrapped around it and cut the ball clean off the end.
Shampoo suddenly threw her other bonbori directly at Mousse's head. It his him right between the eyes.
Mousse went flying into a nearby tree.
"Mousse, Shampoo told you you can not win!" Shampoo cried.
"SHAMPOO!" Cologne shouted.
And it hit her. A chain wrapped around her and began squeasing. Mousse lifted the chain and swung it into the sky.
Unfortunantly the tree the Mousse was under had a low branch and Shampoo hit it instead of her inteded target, Which was the sky. (Not to be confused with Low earth orbit. Aka LEO)
She fell to the ground a few feet from Mousse unconcious.
"...Good fight... Son-in-law." Cologne muttered.
Mousse smiled.
And then felt the annoyingly painful feel of a wooden staff impaling his head.
Stupid Mousse.
"I search. That's all I do now. I've broken my engagement to Akari. Akane hates me, I think. I deserve it too I think. But that's not my purpose anymore. I seek him. If I were to actually marry Akane... I still think I would seek him... He was my first friend. He knew some of my pain. He helped me home back then even though I didn't remember because of my blind hate at him for skipping out on the duel. And inside, I know I'll never be with Akane... She loves Ranma. Surely. She told me herself. I can't stand it. So I've tried to leave Nerima, but I'll wind up there anyway. With my luck I alway's wind up where I don't want to be. If Ranma stays away from Akane... That's why I would search for him... To make Akane happy... That is my goal in life.
Signed Ryoga
Sometimes I wonder why I write these things down on paper. I just end up keeping them in my bag and never seeing them again.
"Did Ryoga send this to me? By you, whiskers?" Akane asked the dog. She pet him. Then she began to write.
"Ryoga... maybe... maybe he's not just a pervert. Even so... I think back now. All those times I called Ranma a pervert and Ryoga a nice guy. Really, it was the other way around. But maybe not even that. Maybe... both of them WERE in compromising circumestances. Ha ha. Just picturing Ranma's face if, no, when he comes home and I tell him that is priceless in itself let alone actually seeing it... I want him back..."
"I find myself losing thought of him. I am slowly forgeting him. Forgetting about him. He's leaving me and in his place is a whole that I can't fill. Or at least, couldn't fill. But even that is filling. I'm forgetting him... I want him back..."
Signed Akane Tendo
Oddly enough... she also didn't notice the dog tear the entry from her diary...
Flashback.
"Ok. P-Chan! Settle down! Stop squirming! P-Chan!" Akane cried as she tried to get the squirming pig to settle down so she could give it a bath.
Considering the pig was in a naked girls arms it should, technically, have feinted by now. But seeing the dire circumstances It couldn't focus on her.
"Akane? What are you doing?" Nabiki asked as she walked into the bathroom.
"I'm TRYING to get P-Chan to cooperate! But he won't!" Akane cried.
Suddenly Nabiki knelt down right by P-Chan and stared directly at it's face.
"5000 yen!" Nabiki suddenly said, smiling like no tommorow.
"Nabiki! What are you... ? Huh?" Akane asked.
The pig had begun to nod it's head up and down viciously.
Nabiki smiled.
"Akane... this pig is afraid of hot water. Can't you tell?" Nabiki said calmly.
"But what...?"
"NEVERMIND! Just draw him a cold water bath and he'll be fine!" Nabiki told her.
"Really?" Akane asked skeptically.
"No doubt about it." Nabiki replied.
So Akane emptied the hot water from the furo and drew cold water. Akane was amazed at how well the P-Chan began to behave.
"Wow Nabiki. How did you know that?" Akane asked as she got out of the furo.
"Lucky guess." Nabiki replied.
Nabiki left.
About twenty minutes later Akane got out of the furo. She got dressed and put picked up P-Chan. She opened the door out into the hallway just as Nabiki tripped and spilled hot water all over her.
Akane stood holding a naked Ryoga.
"Ryoga!" Akane said surprised.
"Akane.. eh heh..." Ryoga replied. "Funny meeting you here Akane?"
Nabiki watched Akane as the gears began to turn. The lightbulb flickered on. Watched her as she saw the light. Watched her mind beginning to slowly comprehend. Watched her as she... stopped watching her and ran for her life.
"All those times... and when Ranma... you...and you, you used me! Ryoga! You! YOU!!!!! YOU PERVERT! RYOGA NO BAKA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!(huff huff)!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!(whew!)!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!(Finally!)
"Uh... Akane?" Nabiki asked. "You ok?"
"5000 yen, eh?" Akane asked venomously.
"Eh... heh heh! Gulp"
"Nabiki... I think it's about time we start back up on your Martial Arts training, eh?" Akane said calmly wrapping her arm around Nabiki's shoulder.
"...uh.... heh... 40,000 yen?" Nabiki whispered.
"Nice try."
...
Moaning came from Nabiki's room for the next month.
At the very peak of the mountains on the western side of the Jusenkyo valley, two beings sat talking. One was somewhat transparent as if he were a ghost. He was dressed in equally transparent clothes that looked somewhat like the popes. Long golden robes and a tall gold and white hat with an odd symbol on the top. The
other was a glittering white figure. Dressed completely in white robes of the most perfect conditions. He wore a white mask that was more of a simple piece of perfect silk draped across his face.
I just don't understand why you did that. Letting Ranma have her memory back is just slowing down the process. It would have been completed in almost a week had you not done that! The white cloaked man said.
Firstly I don't think it's fair.The ghost-like man replied.
Second there is the possibillity that Ranma would become cure of the Amnisia and then have a nervous breakdown considering the fact that she had willingly done whatever... things she may have done.
And Last, There... is a slight problem with the Blessing.
When I manipulated the waters of the Dragon Pheonix Tap to create the Jusenkyo springs, I made a serious flaw. I didn't hide the secrets of the water. The pheonix people found it. When it was found that the noblest of the pheonix could use the hot water tap to transform into godlike creatures of immortality and light, I could do nothing to stop it. The Pheonix Tap or, cursed hot water, manipulated the pheonixes.
But that was because they were allready in the form to be manipulated. The form of a pheonix. Now I have made another flaw. Ranma. The Dragon Tap is affecting him... her. I think the Jusenkyo waters along with the touch of the Gekaja made it possible for the Dragon tap to affect her in light ways like very slight increases in strength and extreamly small manipulation of water.
I well know the effects of the waters of the Dragon Pheonix tap in more than one way. But I couldn't have predicted the result of the water being used in so many various ways on a person. I have no idea what will happen when the blessing is fully administered. Considering that the hot water tap makes Saffron able to burn with fire, I would think the cold water tap would do the opposite but I am not certain.
Your saying Ranma will become a water goddess?
Eehh.... possibly?
PLEASE DON"T SEND ME TO HELL!
...For a 7000 year old being you would think you would have more backbone, Archbishop.
For a godly messenger, one would think you would have a little more compassion.
Hmph.... that was not a gift bestowed upon me. My job is to make sure the springs are destroyed. My job isn't to make sure the people who do it come out in the same state of mind.
....
The Messenger turned towards the Archbishop. It then switched the subject back to Ranma
This still leaves a problem though. Why would these affects happen only to Ranma while the others who have touched all the waters, like Ryoga and Mousse, have had no odd circumstances?
Well... as far as we know they do. If the blessing had chosen one of these members of Jusenkyo's victims nothing says that it wouldn't be affecting them in the same way. It could also be a cause of the natural chaos that seems to follow Ranma. H... She is a prodogy. Her name fits her... almost too well. But there is nothing that says that Ryoga and Mousse couldn't have that slight control over water.
As long as you rid the world of the springs you left upon it, I have no quarell with you. You've gotten better at refering to her as a her.
Thank you.
Then is this all?
Uh... Just one more thing... there is a problem.
Oh?
Saffron has his complete form. He is searching for Ranma.
...
Heh heh
Then shouldn't you be working on a way to help Ranma, maybe?
Heh heh.. uh...yeah... heh...
Perhaps moving this blessing faster would let Ranma gain the abilities of the Dragon Tap Transformation?
...But!... But she'll become a goddess! Well, maybe!
Whats wrong with that?
Uh... she'll... be mad?
...
Right... I'll... get right on it...
"I'm sorry for the trouble I have caused you in needing to reraise me Kiima." Saffron said.
"No trouble at all my lord. You grew abnormally fast. I'm wondering why?" Kiima sighed.
"I have a revenge to plot." Saffron told her.
"Revenge? For who?" Kiima asked.
"I've remembered everything, Kiima. I think you can guess who." Saffron said in a much lower tone.
"Ranma." Kiima said plainly.
"Ranma will not live through this. I will find him and I won't rest untill he is destroyed." Saffron told her.
"If that is your wish my lord." Kiima said as she bowed.
"We leave for Japan." He ordered.
"As you wish. But my lord.. What of Akane? Of the girl?" Kiima asked.
"... What girl?"
BOOM!
Kiima's face ached for several hours as the pheonix people believe in stone floors.
"Ukyo-sama. Did you really have even the slightest belief that I wouldn't follow after you?" Konatsu told the chef.
"No...no I didn't Konatsu."
"Ukyo-sama. I love you. Please... just give up on him! Has he ever even thought of offering you anything but slight friendship?" Konatsu cried.
"I've given up on Ranchan, Konatsu." Ukyo stated.
"YOU HAVE! But... then why would you leave me? I had to search for six months to find you!" Konatsu shouted.
"I wanted to get away from everything... I wanted to see what it would be like in a town that knew nothing of multiple fiancees and gender changes."
"... I understand Ukyo-sama. Gomen Nasai." Konatsu said suddenly soft.
"Konatsu... Why do you follow me around like this?" Ukyo asked.
"Because... I want you to be as happy as you made me." Konatsu told her.
Awkward silence reigned. And was shot down.
"I think I'm gonna go for a while." Ranma said suddenly.
"Huh? What do you mean? Go where?" Shannon asked.
"On a training trip. I need to perfect this new art I'm developing. Plus who knows if those, uh, Black V people will attack again. I need to be better prepared." She replied.
"Where are you going?" Jess asked.
"I think i'm going to go to the mountains I passed over on the way here." Ranma said..
"Would you mind if I went along too?" Luc said breaking another awkward silence.
"What would you go for?" Ranma asked him.
"I want to train under you if that wouldn't be too much to ask." Luc said.
"Uh... well I've never actually trained someone before..."
"I'm confident that you'll do allright." Luc replied.
"Well... I'm leaving tommorow. Be here at 5:30 if you wanna come. A minute late and I'll be half way through Nevanda." Ranma said.
"It's Nevada." they all chorused.
"Whatever!" Ranma sighed.
Ranma stood. She walked over toward the bathroom.
"Damn hair." She mumbled. Lately she had been thinking about cutting her hair. However she had never needed too in the past because the dragon's whisker had kept it from growing. After that event all she had to do was cut off a little on the pig tail and a few bangs in the front and it would be fine. But now she had hair that hung to about her waist. She could cut it herself but she was lazy and happened to have money to burn. Granted not near enough to pay back the some odd hundred thousands of yen she owed Nabiki but it was starting. Especially since she wasn't LEGALLY aloud to work.
She pulled some money out of a wallet that had been laying on the sink.
"I'm going to get a hair cut. Anyone know where a barber lives?" Ranma asked.
"I do but they're all closed right now. It's late. 10:12" Jess said looking at his watch.
"Oh... well I'll get one tomorrow after I leave." Ranma said.
"Lets get on home.Most of our parents don't know where we are anyways." Aaron said.
"Speaking of that... what are you peoples family names?" Ranma asked suddenly.
"????"
"Uh... last names?" Ranma said tentatively.
"Ah..."
Ranma pointed at Shannon.
"I'm Shannon Leorbec!" Shannon cried.
She moved her finger.
"Leah Jinkins."
"Aaron Len."
"Jessie Clarks."
"Lucas Scyasha."
"Uh... say that again?" Ranma asked him.
"Sigh-Ya-Sha" Luc pronounced.
"... Does it mean somethin?" Ranma asked curiously.
"Not that I know of." Luc replied.
"Oh... Ok. If you guys are gonna head on out of here now.."
"We were just leaving." Leah interupted. "Goodnight, Rank...er Ranma,"
"Goodnight."
She closed the door. She walked over to her refridgerator and got out a package of instant rice and ramen...
Meanwhile...
"Summer is coming soon! Ah, I love the summer! Beautiful busoms to come flying into my open arms everywhere! ... Er... at least on the beach. Hmm... Well. I've had enough of this rusty old Dojo and with Ranma gone I have no fun anymore! I want to go to the beach where even the most modest girls turn into bikini clad goddesses!
So the question is, where to go to for vacation!?
Pulling out a travel manual, the old demon, formally known as Happosai, began to scope out a suitable place to go for a vacation.
"Aw... I"m so sick of this Island! All the girlys in Japan know me too well! I need somewhere new!"
"England... China... Russia... Brazill... Oooh! That's looks nice... but no... Ah... California! Look at all the silky darlings to liberate from the vicious women who hold them captive! I MUST GO THERE!"
...
Unknowingly Japan became abnormally happy for the next few days. They actually almost felt like something was missing though.
...
Ranma broke her chopsticks on the rice.
"... A bad omen?... NAH!" Ranma smiled and pulled out some more chopsticks...
After the third time the chopsticks broke and after the rice bowl smashed on the table, she decided she would cut her dinner short for the night.
"5:30... why in the world did she choose this ungodly hour?" Luc thought as he met her out in front of the appartment complex.
"So were going to the mountians in Colorado?" Luc asked.
"Uh huh." Ranma said drearily.
"Are you ok?" He asked.
"Didn't get a very good sleep last night. Kept gettin these bad omens... Oh well nevermind." She replied.
"Ok".
"Luc... I need to ask you something. Your coming along with me to learn from me correct?" Ranma asked.
"Uh.. yeah.." He answered.
"Your ready to face the challenges of my training? After all I haven't ever trained anyone REALLY before." She said.
"MmHmm." Luc said firmly.
"Any injuries you may have during the training aren't my problem?" Ranma asked suddenly.
"Uh... Mm... hm." Luc said now less firmly.
Ranma smiled. "Thats good."
"Oh Ranma... how exactly are we going to get to Colorado?" Luc asked.
"We'll go the second your ready."
Ranma's smile crooked into an evil malicious smile.
"Why we'll be going by The Anything Goes Airborne Martial Arts Airlines of course!" Ranma said quickly as she rounded up.
HERE'S THE WIND UP AND THE PITCH! ..... OH BAM! THAT BALL IS OUTTA HERE! LOOK AT IT GO FOLKS! THAT ONES GONNA HIT PETER PAN ON THE HEAD!
Luc was sent flying. Considering that he was several hundred feet from the ground wasn't even an option considering the increadible pain he was in at being punched so far in the chest. But the worst was yet to come. It was a miricle he'd managed to hold onto his bag.
Suddenly a blond spec zoomed straight toward him and punched him, again, directly in the chest area sending him up another hundred or so feet.
When she next closed in on him he had recovered somewhat.
"This is how were gonna build up your strength!" Ranma shouted and delivered another punch. However fortunantly, Luc was ready for this one. He sent his chi to his rib cage and kept it as a wall to the air jumper's punches. It stilll sent him flying... it just didn't hurt.
"Good your catching on!" Ranma shouted from behind.
Two days later they made it to a spot that Ranma considered suitable.
Luc was secretly impressed. For the past two days all he'd thought that this had been was A: a way for Ranma to vent her anger and B: a way to get into the mountians.
But when she decided not to hit him and let him fall to the earth and create a human sized crater, he realized that he had become unusually stronger. Slamming head first into concrete SHOULD hurt a LOT right? To him it felt like a minor injury.
Unfortunantly for Luc he didn't actually have time to think about this. Considering both of them had been poping their ears at high alltitudes with no food for either of them (To Luc's knowledge) They were both extreamly hungry. Fortunantly a fast food restauraunt lie just infront of where Ranma had positioned Luc to land.
The food was decent. Considering they ordered half the menu and then some they got to find out what most of it tasted like. It was a mexican Restaurant. Quant and simple. Oddly unexpensive as well.
"Ranma... uh... well thanks. I, didn't think that you punching me around would help me at all but... I, uh.. guess it did!" Luc stuttered.
"I told you so!" Ranma said loudly with a piece of chicken in her mouth. "You feel loads stronger now, right?"
"Uh huh! It's amazing!" Luc told her. "I feel like I could punch through a brick wall!
"Why couldn't you?" Ranma asked.
"Well... uh... I dunno? It'd hurt?" Luc said sarcastically.
"Americans.... well. Your training begins in two hours. It begins on the top of that mountain. Hike up there. Don't be late." Ranma said firmly.
"But what are you gonna do?" Luc asked as they stood and walked to the cashier.
"I'm going to train." Ranma said.
"Ah..."
(If you paid REALLY close attention you'll have noticed that I never brought up Happosai in the prologue... bwahahahahaah! As for the plot? Yes... if finally is unravelling. Plus hope you like the longer chapters! (Even though this one still wasn't as long as I wanted it to be!)