Disclaimer: I do not own Ranma, I only rent him.

Chapter 22 Wo ai ni

Ling over looked the simple town of Nerima. She had heard stories of it and the warriors that lived here. Right now there were only two here that really mattered to her. One was her Amazon sister Shampoo, the other was the warrior Ranma Saotome. She actually hoped that Shampoo had failed to capture Ranma's heart because that would make things harder on everyone.

Ling wiped her eyes, adjusted her dress, and prepared to go and meet with Shampoo. Her plan was simple enough. She would visit Shampoo, claiming that she missed her sister, and would observe this Ranma Saotome. She would watch for two days and then meet with the elders and give her report.

Ling walked to the address of the Cat Cafe that was apparently the home away from home for Amazons. She stood outside the door and watched as the patrons entered. After a moment to gather herself, she walked in.

"Sister-Shampoo! I'm-"

Ling froze. Shampoo froze. Ling just stared at the friend she hadn't seen in over a year. Shampoo's hair was gone. It had been removed. Shampoo had been... banished? When?

"Ling..."

Ling noticed Shampoo's eye move towards the back of the cafe as if looking for someone. There was no one reacting to her search. Ling walked over to Shampoo and lightly ran her fingers over Shampoo's head. She looked at the ribbon that Shampoo was wearing, almost as if she was actually proud of this.

"Shampoo, what happen?"

Shampoo turned and looked into Ling's eyes.

"You should no be here now. Shampoo is exiled."

"WHY? Who did this Sister!"

Ling's voice took on a hint of malice as she asked her next question.

"Was it Ranma?"

Shampoo's eyes widened as she heard the hatred in Ling's voice. She tried to calm her down.

"It no was Ranma. Shampoo like this because Shampoo-"

"Because of me."

Ling and Shampoo both turned to the voice. It was Mousse. He stood there in his robes and glasses with a look of contempt on his face.

"Mousse what you do-"

"Quiet slave."

Shampoo's lips froze. Mousse was looking at her without the love that she had known all her life. What was he doing, why? Shampoo was about to ask again, when she caught Chu Li's eyes. The elder actually seemed to be smiling. Shampoo was confused, but calmed when she saw the elder mouth two words. "Trust him."

Then it hit Shampoo what was bothering her. Shampoo watched as Mousse walked over and understood. She decided to listen to Chu Li and play this game out.

"Shampoo sorry master."

Ling watched with horror as Shampoo lowered her head. Shampoo was the greatest warrior of their generation. Ling couldn't understand what was going on.

"What you do to Sister Shampoo Mousse?"

"I have beaten her in a freedoms challenge. She is now exiled and my slave while I am here. I am glad that you have come here. It saves me the trouble of sending for you. My brother was a fool to think he could ever have you, but I would never take away his dreams. Now that he is gone I can take what I have always truely wanted. You, Ling Pi."

Ling Pi stood there in shock. The brotherly love that had always been seen between Wing and Mousse was the stuff of legends in their village. Their's was a farming family, but Wing had taken up all of the chores so that his older brother could train and chase Shampoo. Wing was beloved in the village, by everyone. He was the kindest, most caring soul in the world. He had deserved better than to die.

Now Mousse stood here discracing his brother's memory. Ling felt the tears fall from her eyes, but she found herself being filled with a rage that she had never known before.

"DIE!"

Ling launched herself at Mousse and was shocked to see him sidestep her. His speed was better than hers. Ling drew her sword and slashed only to be blocked by a sword in Mousse's hands.

"You've gotten faster Ling Pi. Good. You'll make a fine wife for me."

"Ling never marry Mousse. Ling kill you and free Shampoo."

Mousse smiled.

"I have made a challenge of marriage in front of an elder and a witness. You will either marry me or kill me."

Ling firmed her stance. After a moment she nodded and accepted her fates as they were offered. She only hoped that Wing's soul would forgive her when she killed his brother.

There were no more words after that. Ling and Mousse kept circling and striking. Ling would occasionally catch a glimpse of a couple wires coming from Mousse's robes, but they weren't doing anything accept laying on the ground. Ling noticed that Mousse seemed to actually be gaurding his head more than his body, yet no matter how hard she tried she couldn't take advantage of this fact.

Finally Ling came to the realisation that she couldn't beat Mousse. It was impposible to believe, but it was the truth. She decided that if she couldn't win then she would force Mousse to kill her. Ling began to attack with a berserker's rage. Finally it seemed that she had the advantage since Mousse seemed reluctant to make lethal blows.

Then with a shout, the end began. And it was Mousse who shouted.

"Dagger's Rain!"

Dozens of Daggers flew from Mousse's robes. Many of them flew towards Ling, but most just scattered around the room. Ling backed up and observed what appeared to be a worthless attack. Without waiting for Mousse to try again, Ling jumped into the air.

Time slowed down for everyone in the room who had been observing the fight. They saw as Mousse slowly lifted his hand. The saw the wires in his hands. They watched as he tugged on them and pulled the wires tight. With the daggers holding key wires in place at key places, the wires seemed to spring to life as they filled the air. It was over in a moment. Ling had been captured in the air. She slowly developed a look of horror as she realised that she had been beaten.

"Well done. I see our training payed off. I told you that you were most likely ready."

Ling turned her head to the voice. Her eyes widened as she saw Mousse enter the room and move to stand beside Shampoo. Ling saw as Shampoo smiled and glomped onto Mousse. It didn't make sense, if Mousse was there then who had just defeated her?

Ling turned to the person she had been fighting to see tears in his eyes.

"I'm sorry Ling Pi. I knew that this was the only way we could do this. I needed you to fight me with everything you had."

Ling felt the tears come again as she watched the person she had been fighting remove the fake glasses and the wig he had been wearing. Her heart couldn't belive that he was here, that he was alive.

"Wing Tsu..."

Ling watched as Wing leaned towards her face. She barely heard his words his words before they kissed, but they healed the pain she had felt since his death. It had forced her to admit how much this young man had meant to her. They were only four little words, but they gave her soul a strength she had never known before.

"Wo ai ni, Airen."

Shampoo and Mousse quietly sent the remaining customers away and closed up the cafe. Then they began to clean up the mess from the fight. Finally they went to the kitchen to make dinner.

After they had brought the food out Mousse walked over to his brother.

"Wing, I'd like my other robes back please."

Shampoo giggled as she saw Ling try and remove the robes on Wing's body. Chu Li started laughing like she had never laughed before when Ling tried to remove hers as well. Wing hadn't completely given all the wires slack yet and she was still being held in the air. oh, and they had yet to stop kissing for the last two hours.

"Alright grandson, that's enough for now. You have dinner."

Wing made no move to, well, move. Chu Li then used a tried and true amazon elder technique, she hit him in the head with her staff.

"Great Grandmother!"

Chu Li raised and eyebrow and smiled. The outburst had come from the now released Ling Pi.

"Dinner first child. We have much to tell you before the others arrive."

This brought Ling up short.

"What others?"

She tried to act as if she knew nothing. She had actually forgotten her mission. Her Great Grandmother was going to be pissed.

"Child, I know the other's are coming. I don't know who, or how many, but I know why. They are coming because of Chi."

Ling got a confused look on her face that she hadn't been fast enough to hide.

"I know you were told about Ranma, but Chi is the reason their hand has been forced. He is the reason they're coming to try and force the marriage between Shampoo and Ranma."

Ling got a look of fear and terror on her face. Her voice was a whisper as she spoke.

"Not marriage, kill. Elders say Ranma destroy Amazon Nation. He kill everyone if not stopped."

Ling was shocked again as she looked around the room. It wasn't the fact Shampoo's and Chu Li's faces paled. It was the battle aura that was suddenly surrounding not only Mousse, but her new Airen as well. It was Wing that spoke first.

"We gotta gather everyone. Now. I'll get the Saotomes"

Ling watched as Mousse, Shampoo, and Chu Li disappeared from the room. Wing turned to his beloved with a look of sorrow in his eyes.

"I'm taking you to meet Chi, and Ranma."

With that he stood and waited to see if she would follow. After a moment, she stood and nodded.

OOOOO

Nabiki was in pain. She was sweating. She looked across the room to where her opponent looked at her and waited for her next attack. Nabiki raised the bokken she held and charged again. It was over quickly. Nabiki was disarmed, bound, and beaten. She was also smiling.

Kodachi held her injured arm and smiled. She ignored the tear in her outfit that revealed her... upper assets. They were both girls there after all.

"You're getting better quickly Nabiki. Tatchi is going to be furious when he hears that you've training like this with me and Mousse."

"Tatchi-chan can kiss my adorable ass, repeatedly. I am a member of a Martial Arts Family, and I will learn to guard his back if it kills me. I don't want to ever not be able to be at his side. His cute little butt is mine to cover."

Kodachi released her friend and smiled. She started to take off the ruined leotard.

"Good blow at the end. I'll need to get rid in this. I wonder if that strike will work on Ryuu's pants?"

Suddenly the doors to the Kuno gym burst open. Ryuu ran in yelling before his eyes registered the sight.

"Kodachi, Shampoo's here. She - urk!"

Nabiki smirked asshe watched Kodachi drop the new leotard Kodachi had picked up and then swayed her hips as she walked towards her beloved.

"Hello lover. You've caught me between rounds... and outfits. I think I could use a good stretch before we continue."

Nabiki walked out of the room and called over her shoulder.

"I'll see what Shampoo wants. I'll leave a note if I leave and won't be back for a few hours."

As Nabiki closed the door, she could hear clothes ripping and Kodachi saying something about a matching set of clothes now. They would be busy for a while.

Nabiki walked into the den where Shampoo was sitting. She was drinking a cup of tea that Sasuke had given her. This caused Nabiki to raise an eyebrow. Sasuke only gave someone tea if asked to, ordered to, or they really needed to calm their nerves. It wasn't his fault, he just forgot. She knew it wasn't an order, and Ryuu's urgency, before Kodachi's lust, implied nerves. Something was up.

"Hello Shampoo. What's going on now?"

"Elder's scout arrived. It was Ling Pi."

This caused Nabiki to raise an eyebrow. Thatwas the girl Wing had left China to train for.

"How did it go?"

"He won. Gave kiss of marrige for two hours."

Nabiki saw Shampoo's smirk. Eveyone had been hoping for the best from Wing. Every one of the Saotome's had taken a turn training him, Akane included. Ranma and Genma had both been truely harsh, but had actually used some healing techniques no one else had known about.

It was well known that if you push your body too hard you'll do more damage than good, but Ranma and his family seemed to not have that apply to them. The harder they trained, the stronger they got. It was because of a hidden Saotome healing technique that Genma had learned from his grandfather, and had been using on Ranma all his life. It was the secret to why Ranma only got stronger.

When Genma had gotten the family scrolls from his father, he had unsealed the hidden techniques of his family and shared them with anyone who wanted to train. Nabiki herself had been going through a couple treatments and felt like she was as strong as Akane, at least when Ranma first arrived.

"So everythings going about on scheduel?"

"No. They no want to make Shampoo marry Ranma. They want to kill him. They think he destroy Amazon nation."

"SHIT!"

Nabiki turned around and grabbed a vase full of water. She ran back to the gym and threw the water on the couple. Kodachi was pissed, she had been so...

"NABIKI!"

"The Amazons are coming to kill Ranma , not force a marriage. I think they saw Chi's future and got things wrong."

Ryuu and Kodachi looked at Nabiki. Finally they seperated and moved to get dressed. When they were done they went to the den to join Shampoo.

"Is it true?"

Ryuu's question held a touch of ice.

Shampoo nodded. Nabiki turned to Sasuke only to see him getting off the phone.

"Mistress Nabiki, I have prepared a change of clothes and I have called master Kuno on his mother's cell phone. They were just leaving the opera. He was still wondering why you didn't wish to join him, but I told him nothing as you asked."

Nabiki walked over and placed her hand on the Ninja's head. She had come to understand why the Kuno's kept Sasuke around. He at first seemed to be completely unreliable, but he had always come through when needed.

"Thank you. I'll be back in a second guys."

OOOOO

Mousse landed outside the doors of the Tendo's dojo. He wasn't surprised to hear the sounds of Ranma and Akane training in there. He stepped inside and smirked as he saw that appearently Akane had just won again. It was quickly becoming a favorite sight of many of Ranma's old rivals. The fact that Ranma was actually smileing about it only added to the image.

Suddenly Ranma's smile became a smirk. Then Ranma was suddenly holding Akane down.

thud-ud-ud

The pieces of the staff that Akane had been holding fell to the ground. Mousse blinked, he blinked again.

"Saotome, what the hell was that?"

Finally Akane and Ranma seemed to notice their visitor. It was Ranma who answered as he let Akane go.

"That, my friend, was the true Neko Ken. It was the secret that my pops been trying to teach me my whole life. I finally mastered it with Great grandpa's scrolls."

Mousse was astounded. This was the potential of the Saotome's secret family arts? No wonder the Amazons were afraid. Suddenly Mousse noticed what Ranma was wearing... Mousse's robes. Mousse looked down and saw that he was wearing Ranma's clothes.

"How?"

"Inhance speed, grace, control, and complete instinctive control of all of it. Centuries of skill and training in a few short years, all for the price of selling my life to the art."

Mousse heard a touch of sadness in Ranma's voice, and for the first time realised how much of Ranma's life had always been decided for him. Then he saw something in Akane's hand. Mousse chucked.

"What's up Mousse?"

"Do you feel a draft Ranma?"

Ranma look at Mousse in confusion for a secone and them realisation dawned on him. He turned to his beloved Akane.

"Pervert."

Akane simply wiped the sweat from her brow with Ranma's stolen boxers.

"I had a good teacher Ranma."

Mousse shook his head and smile. Finally he decided it was time to get down to bussiness.

"Ranma, Ling Pi is here. She was the elders' scout."

"Shit. Where's Wing?"

Mousse smirked before he spoke.

"He is with his Airen."

"He won? I guess what ever you two were planning worked. He pretended to be you, didn't he?"

Mousse was caught off guard a bit, but realised that most anyone here could have figured the plan out. He was just amused that his own Great Grandmother hadn't caught on while they were training.

OOOOO

Chu Li was leaving Uttchan's. She was glad that she had found Ranma's sisters with Ukyo and her Fiancee Ryouga. They had mention the 'Great Wanderer', Sato Hibiki. Chu Li hoped that Ukyo liked being an Amazon, but she figure she could tell the girl after the current crisis was over with. Besides, Kuonji was a warrior of Shampoo's equal in all things it seemed.

Chu Li was about to return to the Cafe when she saw him. Happosai was standing on a roof and was appearently waiting for her. Might as well not disappoint him.

"Hello Happosai. On a panty raid?"

"Hello Chu Li. I watched Wing's fight, you must be very proad of him."

"I am. Happosai, we need Cologne. You're the only one who knows where she is. Shampoo hasn't even noticed that she's been missing."

Happosai got a thoughtful look on his face. After a moment to think, he spoke."

"Take everyone to the Tendo dojo. It has more than nough room, and it will be better suited to what needs to be discussed. Oh, and bring the ninja and his girlfriend."

"Why them?"

Happosai looked as if he wanted to explain everything here but said instead.

"Because, Chu Li, they are the reason for everything."

Chu Li watched as Happosai took off and was tempted to follow. Finally she turned around and reentered Uttchans.

OOOOO

Ling was confused. She was happy, but confused. While they had been walking Wing had told her about his first meeting with Happosai. He had told her how Happosai had asked how much his love for her was worth. Wing had told her how he had decided to come train with Ranma and his family, how he had faked his own death, and how his Great Grandmother hadn't been fooled. Then he spoke of his training with the Saotomes. Ling couldn't help but her the respect and compassion in his voice.

"Finally I asked Mousse to help me decide on a plan. I honestly didn't know if you would fight me all out or not if you saw me. I'm sorry that I had to decieve you, Airen. I needed you to fight as if your life depended on it. Now no one can say that I'm just a weak farmer and try to renounce our marriage."

Ling glomped her beloved again and whispered lightly in his ear.

"I would have been happy as a farmers wife, as long as I was yours."

This brought Wing to stop in his tracks.

"You-?"

Ling took advantage of Wing's shock and returned to giving the kiss of marriage. After all, they had been interupted last time.

"Oh, that is so manly Wing-chan. Is this the lovely lady you have been training for?"

Ling heard a chuckle and looked over at the sorce of the voice. She had been interupted, again. Here before her stood a woman in a traditional Japanese kimono. The woman had short red hair and bore a remarkable resembalence to the outsider female that had defeated Shampoo. She even had a panda that was currently holding several shopping bags. Ling knew that The oustider had been Ranma's cursed form and the panda was his father, that would mean that the woman was-

"Hello Mrs. Saotome. Yes, this is Ling Pi. We have already made our engagment official. Ling, this is Nodoka Saotome and Genma Saotome, Ranma's parents."

"It is an honor. Wing has been working so hard for you. It's good to know that it paid off."

Ling was a little surprised. She was part of a war party sent to kill this woman's son because he was the greatest threat the Amazon's had ever known. How can his mother be this kind and polite. Ling glanced to the one bundle that the woman carried.

"I see that you noticed the family honor blade. I keep meaning to give this to Akane, but It's so hard to get everyone together for the ceremony. Our family is so large now."

"It is honor for Ling to meet Mother of one called Ranma."

Wing decided that pleasentries were done.

"Mrs. Sao-"

"I have told you a thousand times what to call me dear."

Ling glanced at Wing at this remark. She waited to see what this woman wanted.

"I'm sorry, Auntie."

Ling's eye bugged out a little at that. Nodoka's next words didn't help.

"The same goes for you Ling Pi."

Ling turned back to the woman and saw a... look in her eyes. This woman knew something. Ling didn't know what it was, but understood that Nodo- Auntie knew it just the same.

"Auntie, I'm taking Ling to meet Chi. I think it would be best if you were there too. I don't know how he'll react. Are you done shopping?"

"Yes dear, we just finished. I think you're right. Chi took the news of your supposed death pretty hard. I'm sure this will be emotional for him. Come."

When Auntie spoke the last word, even Ling found herself unable to ignore the pleasnt command.

They walked for a few more blocks and finally came to a house with the name Saotome by the door. Ling's ears picked up the sounds of fighting, or training. She saw nodoka nod for the panda to enter the house with their bags, and then lead Ling and Wing behind the house.

The sight that greeted her when she came around the corner was shocking. Here training in an advanced art that she had never seen before was someone that was more of a twin to Wing than his brother Mousse ever was. The only difference between this man and her beloved Airen was his hair. It was blue.

Like hers.

Wing leaned over and whispered one thing in Ling's ear, causing her to faint.

"May I introduce Chi Tsu Saotome, our son."

OOOOO

Author's notes: First I have a day off, then I get writer's block.

I'm now expecting Writer's Big Black Boulder of Death to arrive before the next chapter. I'll try to get the next chapter out before he gets here.

Anywho, I'm getting closer and closer to the scene I first envisioned when I first thought up this story Idea.

Is everybody happy and loving it yet?