Just so you know…To sum it up, Shampoo was the first Amazon to ever fail to marry the man that defeated her. This shamed her into banishment, but it also brought shame on the whole tribe. Mascara is young and doesn't really understand the contempt the rest of the tribe feels towards Ranma for breaking their centuries of tradition. But (As the Amazons can not see) this tradition is dated and doesn't really work in the current world they live. It's like the island nations in the real world who are cut off. The rest of the world continues to evolve in technology and culture while they stay the same as they were hundreds of years ago. This marriage tradition is from a time when hardly anyone ever came to that part of China and certainly not anyone who could defeat a highly trained Amazon. But as you can see, that is no longer true. Even so, as you will see soon in the story, Cologne thinks the reaction of the Amazons is radical. Perhaps there is ANOTHER force driving these negative feelings! Anyway I'm getting dangerously close to spoiler territory. Just trust me in that there is a reason, but it may not be revealed as of yet.

Me: Thank you brain! You may go back to your secluded corner now!

Brain: Grumble, grumble

CHASE SCENE

"GET HER!"

"AAAAAHHHHHHH!" Makoto and Iikiba took off running. The whole Amazon tribe was chasing them away from the village. And they were gaining on them.

Then a particularly large Amazon woman jumped over Makoto and Iikiba's heads and landed in front of them, blocking their way. She was carrying a staff with what looked like brightly colored beach balls on the ends. The rest of the tribe was closing in.

"Get out of the way!" Makoto screamed. Iikiba screeched to a stop and grabbed Makoto's arm to stop her too. The Amazon women swung her staff. Iikiba jumped up and Makoto ducked as it swung by. Makoto took the opportunity to grab hold of the Amazon. With tremendous effort, she picked up the woman and threw her back at the rest of the tribe. That slowed them down a little, but they were still coming.

"Bring it on!" Makoto yelled as she took a fighting stance. She was filled with anger and adrenalin. Who did these people think they were?

"What are you thinking?" Iikiba yelled. "Run you idiot!"

Just then arrows started to fall from the sky. They were shooting arrows! One landed right next to Makoto's foot and she jumped back in surprise. "Ah!" Makoto took off running with Iikiba right behind her.

They reached the edge of the forest and kept running. It was more difficult for the large group of Amazons to follow them through the dense forest. After what felt like a long time they didn't see anymore behind them.

"W-what the hell was that Makoto?" Iikiba panted as he held a stitch in his side. "What happened to being sneaky?"

"I got you out didn't I?" Makoto said between deep breaths. She sat down on the ground right where she stood, she just couldn't run anymore. "Why did they get so angry anyway?"

"They don't like your dad here." Iikiba said, remembering what Mascara had said. "Shampoo failed to marry him, so it shammed their tribe."

"How is that my fault?" Makoto asked angrily. "This sucks. Are you ready to go home yet?"

"I've barely done any training at all!"

"So you want to wait around for Mascara to show up again?"

"Iikiba!" Mascara was running towards them through the trees.

"Speak of the devil." Makoto groaned. She stood up and got in a fighting stance, glaring at Mascara. "Go back home!"

"Iikiba, come back with me!" Mascara called, ignoring Makoto.

"Uh……" Iikiba just stared at her, not sure what to say.

"For heaven's sake! He's not going to marry you!" Makoto yelled.

"Let him decide!" Mascara snapped.

"Fine!" Makoto turned to Iikiba. "Well?"

"Hey…hey wait! I'm not getting sucked into this trap!" Iikiba said angrily. "I choose neither!"

"That's not an option!" Makoto yelled.

Mascara just looked shocked and hurt. "So…you really do not like me?" She asked.

"Yes. I mean no! ...I mean…It's just…well I…you're very pretty." Iikiba stuttered.

"Iikiba!" Makoto snapped. Mascara looked ecstatic.

"Wait! That didn't come out right! What I meant was…uh…" He could practically feel Makoto's piercing glare on him. Mascara was looking at him hopefully. Iikiba could feel the panic level in his brain rising. So he froze, a self preservation technique.

"If he was going back with you he would have said something by now!" Makoto said angrily to Mascara.

"You are just jealous." Mascara said smugly.

"Jealous? There's nothing to be jealous OF!"

Mascara smiled at Iikiba. "You are going to choice me, right? You can marry me and leave this crazy girl behind."

"You have not seen crazy yet!" Makoto yelled.

Mascara glared at her. "And I suppose you think he will marry you?"

"Well…someday."

"But he hates you. He likes me much better."

"You know, it doesn't matter what you say! Iikiba is not marrying you now or ever!"

"Yes he is!" Mascara shouted defiantly.

Makoto snapped and threw a punch at her. Mascara dodged by jumping back. They glared at each other, each standing in a fighting stance. But then something distracted them. Iikiba was gone.

"Iikiba!" Makoto called.

"Where did he go?" Mascara asked.

They heard someone yelling further ahead and took off after it.

NOT TOO FAR AHEAD

"AAAHHHHH!" Iikiba was running away as quickly as he could. He couldn't take the pressure! This whole situation had him scared to death but he couldn't figure out why. His hands were shaking and he was covered in a cold sweat.

"Why am I such a wuss?" Iikiba asked no one in particular. I got to get a hold of myself. I don't want to marry anyone. But Mascara is…ARRGH!

Then Iikiba suddenly remembered something, it was like a flash.

He was sitting in at a table at an after school day care. The counselor was giving direction on how to do the craft they were working on. Then she ran over to stop Jatsuma from eating glue. A little girl asked Iikiba to pass the glitter. He did so and the little girl went back to work. A few minutes later she showed him the cutout picture of a kitty she had made. "You can have it if you like." She offered and handed him the picture. "Thanks!" Iikiba said. Right then he was hit in the back of the head and his face slammed down onto the table and splattered glue and glitter in his face. He lifted himself up and Makoto shoved her own picture in front of his face. "You can take my picture!" She offered. "I don't want it!" Iikiba yelled. The little girl started crying because her picture was destroyed and the councilor came over and put Iikiba and Makoto in a time-out.

Flash

Iikiba was about ten now. He was chasing Jatsuma because he had thrown sand from the sand box in his face. Makoto was chasing after the two of them, yelling because they had destroyed her sand castle. Iikiba looked back at her so he could say something mean. But he tripped and landed in front of the slide and a girl who was sliding down landed on his back. "Oh my gosh! Are you okay?" The girl asked. She pulled Iikiba up and brushed some sand off him. She was very pretty. "I…I'm fine." Iikiba stuttered. Just then he was hit in the head with a sand pail. Makoto was glaring at him. "Ah! What was that for? Are you okay?" The girl shouted in dismay. "Great." Iikiba said. Makoto stomped over and grabbed Iikiba by the ear and dragged him away.

Flash

Iikiba took a deep breath. He was only a few years younger than he was now. He was holding a hand made valentine and looking at his sixth grade teacher. She was writing their homework assignments on the board and everyone else groaned. The bell rang for school to end and everyone scrambled out of class. Iikiba slowly made his way to the front of the classroom where the teacher was packing up her briefcase. "Do you need something Iikiba?" She asked in a friendly tone. Iikiba blushed and looked at his shoes. "I…I," He held out the valentine. "Made this for you." He said sheepishly. The teacher looked a little taken aback but then she smile and took it from him. "That's so sweet. Thank you." Iikiba smiled. "It…it was nothing." Just then Makoto kicked him so hard that he flew into the chalk board. The teacher stared in alarm. "Iikiba you're such a jerk!" Makoto yelled and held up a large pile of valentines. "And after I went through the time to make you these!" She pulled him off the wall the dragged him out of the classroom.

Iikiba screeched to a halt. He wasn't shaking in fear anymore. He was shaking in anger. "MAKOTO!" He turned and ran back the other way.

"Iikiba!" Makoto called. She could see him running towards them. "I knew you would come back!"

"He has come for me!" Mascara said angrily.

Iikiba stopped in front of them. He was radiating angry energy waves and his left eye was twitching. "YOU!" He pointed at Makoto. "YOU DID THIS!"

"Huh? What are you talking about?" Makoto asked.

"Don't play dumb! You…you ruined my chance at romance!"

"What? When I saved you from those crazy Amazons?" Makoto asked angrily.

"No! You made me scared of romance!" He accused. "You did it on purpose didn't you? Well not this time!" he turned to Mascara.

"Ah! So you will marry me now?" Mascara asked excitedly.

Iikiba froze for a second then took off running again. Makoto grabbed hold of his shirt so she was carried along for the ride. "No! I'm still scared even though I know why!" Iikiba cried.

"Calm down!" Makoto screamed as she grabbed hold his shoulders so she wouldn't fall off. She looked back and saw Mascara chasing after them.

"Come back with my husband!" Mascara yelled. She took out her swords. "You will not get away!"

Mascara jumped forward but Makoto kicked her away. "That'll show ya!" Makoto laughed.

Just then Iikiba came to a sudden stop that almost sent Makoto flying but she managed to hold on. "What did you stop running for? She's going to catch us!"

"Look at this." Iikiba said in awe.

Makoto let go of him and looked. They were standing at the edge of a steep cliff. But what really caught your eye was the valley below. It was almost completely covered with crystal blue ponds that were sparkling in the sun. Large sticks stuck out of the water. It looked like a training ground for midair combat.

"It's beautiful." Makoto whispered.

"You know what this place is, don't you?" Iikiba asked with a nervous tone in his voice. "Jusenkyo Springs."


GASP! HOLY MOLY BATMAN!

P.S. Yeah, Yashi, I know I sent the author's notes to you in the reply. But it came out so well that I decided to put it in this chapter too.