Disclaimer: All elements from Ranma ½ belong to Rumiko Takahashi.

Obstacles and their Merit

….

Puzzled, her mouth firmly shut, Akane looked left toward the new comer at the gate. She had felt Ranma's low growl above her and wondered what had caused it. Evidently the little boy on her back felt it too; he shifted a bit in his sleep.

What she saw surprised her. Shampoo was framed by the gate to the Temple compound but something about her seemed different. The woman at the gate had a dark glint in her eye that Akane had never seen before.

Akane watched as the Amazon walked forward on the path toward the Temple stairs with steady steps, to stop just in front of the shisa. There Shampoo stood solidly, obviously waiting impatiently for a chance to talk to the Godling.

The young mother by the Godling quickly and awkwardly cleared her throat, "Great One, thank you for your assistance, my son and I will be leaving now." She briefly looked for her son before spotting him on the shisa. Walking over to them she bent down to pick up her son, "Honorable One, I mean no disrespect but…why are the shisa placed so strangely?"

Akane inwardly winced in embarrassment.

The puppet made no response at first. Eventually He commented, "It unnerves the dark spirits when the shisa are unexpectedly placed."

Apparently the mother accepted this and gently picked up her son. Akane silently sighed as the boy's weight left her shoulders. She couldn't wait until she got the chance to stretch her neck muscles. Meanwhile the mother glanced wearily at Shampoo and hurried down the path out of the Temple compound.

For a moment no one moved as Shampoo mutely stared at the Godling who impassively looked back. Akane could feel the mounting tension in the air. Surprisingly, she could also sense the rising apprehension in Ranma but didn't quite know what to make of it.

"It is time, Husband. Marry Shampoo. Bring strength back to the tribe."

The puppet slowly stepped down the stairs of the Temple onto the path. He replied simply, "I cannot."

Shampoo narrowed her eyelids, "Why not?" She questioned in a menacing tone. Akane jerked, thinking she saw the Amazon's shadow darken and twitch unnaturally.

The wind whipped a leaf from the tree behind the shisa past the two opposing figures. The Godling simply walked down the path to stand opposite the Amazon, just out of her reach. There He impassively stood while Akane glanced back and forth between the two individuals in front of her. Ranma let out a low rumbling growl.

Unexpectedly the puppet's mouth twitched, "One of the shisa seems rather upset at you."

A worried look flickered over Shampoo's features, but her defiant gaze returned quickly enough, "What Shampoo care about statues? Stop playing games, Ranma, and marry me."

"I am not Ranma." He looked toward the shisa and commanded, "Move."

Akane was more than a little peeved at the Godling for ordering them around, but she pushed her resentment aside for the moment when Ranma immediately launched himself at Shampoo. She couldn't help wondering why Ranma was upset at the Amazon as she watched the two of them dance around the yard.

As Akane watched, the shadow under Shampoo darkened and the Amazon drew her sword to begin trying to slice Ranma up. As a rancid smell hit her Akane jerked in surprise; it was another evil spirit!

While Ranma skillfully dodged, Akane took the opportunity to creep around to the other side of the Amazon and let out a challenging growl. The shadow shuddered and briefly assumed the shape of a bat-winged woman with curved horns before reforming itself back into Shampoo's image.

Akane saw a flicker of understanding in Ranma's eyes and knew he grasped the implication. She had little time to dwell on it however, as Shampoo switched targets and began slashing at her. Akane began frantically dodging and blocking and momentarily forgot about her shisa form. Trying to kick the sword out of Shampoo's hand she jumped with a hind leg extended and twisted her body to send her foot toward the arm holding the weapon. A lion-dog's limbs are nowhere near as long as a young woman's leg and Akane missed Shampoo's wrist by a considerable amount. Instead her hind claws hit the flat of the blade and with an ear-splitting screech scratched the sword. Landing badly, Akane expected a retaliating blow but Ranma had chosen that moment to bite into Shampoo's leg.

The Amazon let out a shriek as the shadow deserted her and she collapsed where she was in front of the gate. The dark mist formed into the winged woman with demon horns. The spirit wasted no time and rushed at the puppet, still standing on the path in the middle of the yard. Her target calmly raised His hands in front of Him, and with utter confidence performed a flawless Pride of the Fierce Tiger Blast.

Twisting to watch the spirit, Akane observed Ranma's body execute one of his signature moves. She had to shake her head to dispel the memories, and realize the differences. The energy blast had never been quite that large with a metallic white hue. Nor were Ranma's eyes ever so emotionless and calculating.

The blast hit the demon woman and she dissolved into smoke and blew away. The Godling predicted, "She will be back."

Akane glanced at Ranma as he bristled and hissed, "Stop impersonating me!" She was willing to bet he was furious at the puppet for imitating his moves and reminding him of what he had lost. Well, she was angry too! That creep took everything from them and then treats them like a pair of guard dogs! Adding insult to injury He dared to flaunt what they lost! Her own angry rumble joined with Ranma's.

The Godling blinked at them. An almost thoughtful look passed over His features, before His face hardened into the emotionless mask.

Any response was halted when two Servers and an apprentice arrived from inside the Temple-Palace and the shisa froze. Turning toward them the Godling ordered, "Place a pallet for the woman in one of the guest rooms in the living quarters and take her there. Ward the room against entry or exist of spirits and keep an eye on her."

The Temple men rushed to do His bidding. As the apprentice and one of the Servers went to carry Shampoo inside, the apprentice paused to glance oddly at Ranma. "Master," Akane heard him whisper, "Why are the shisa-"

"Come on, let's get her inside," the Server abruptly cut him off and hurriedly carried the Amazon inside.

Once again the shisa were left alone with the Godling. Akane, able to move again, got up and sat next to Ranma so that both of the shisa were on the path facing the Temple yard.

"What are you planning to do with Shampoo?" Akane snarled toward the puppet. The former young woman realized that as much as she wanted to there wasn't much she could do to oppose the Godling. One of the few things she could do was try and force that emotionless face to change and make Him realize what He had done. Akane was also worried about Shampoo, would the Godling ruin the Amazon's life as He had theirs? She was rather surprised when Ranma stayed silent at her side, wasn't he suspicious and worried about their friend?

The Godling's lips twitched, "You saved her."

To Akane's right she felt more than heard Ranma's unhappy rumble. The brown eyed shisa just felt even more irritated. "Answer the question," she demanded.

"In due time," crossing his arms the puppet said, "No more delays, it is time I began teaching you two."

"Teaching us what?" Ranma challenged. He still sounded outraged, Akane thought, even more outraged than she felt. What could be bothering him so much?

"How to be shisa." At their blank looks He expanded slightly, "How to find and fight evil spirits, how to defend and protect others from those evil spirits."

Akane stayed silent. She found that she did want to learn this stuff; she only wished it wouldn't be the imposter teaching them.

Dismissing their discomfort He told them, "Follow me."

At first Akane sat watching the familiar figure walk down the path and up the stairs so that he stood in front of the doors to the Temple's main room of worship. With a glance at Ranma, Akane got up and followed Him, her curiosity and wish to learn what was going on temporarily shoving her anger aside. She sensed more than saw Ranma reluctantly follow and batted him reassuringly with her tail.

Once He saw that they were indeed following Him the Godling proceeded down the porch to the left rather than enter the Temple doors. The porch curved around the outside of the building, serving as a walkway and boardwalk of sorts. The shisa soon discovered as they rounded the first corner that the railing only surrounded the porch on the front of the building and ended abruptly at the sides.

Looking to the left Akane was mildly surprised to see the small yard filled by a narrow vegetable garden with long rows of crops. To the right several doors stood leading to a number of rooms. She glimpsed Ranma to her side scanning the area as well.

The Godling in front ignored all and continued steadily and silently on the walkway. The building bulged out to the left ahead of them and they dutifully followed the walkway around it.

Akane paused at the sight of the backyard, a tranquil garden curved around several cherry trees. At the center of the garden, a small bridge crossed a miniature stream. In front of the bridge stood two identical shisa carved out of stone. Akane pulled her ears back and growled quietly.

The Godling slid open the door opposite the bridge and Ranma and Akane padded in behind him. Inside Ranma and Akane found a large empty room with wooden floors. The walls to the left and right of them were covered entirely with shelves of books, manuscripts and scrolls.

The puppet turned towards them and spoke, "This is where I will teach you."

…

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