Warrior Class
By Ozzallos

II.

"Oh God."

These were the first words out of Ranma Saotome's mouth as her eyes cracked open, admitting blinding needles of sunlight to stab at her eyeballs as consciousness slowly found its way to the forefront of her brain. Beyond the pain of her overwhelmed eyeballs was more pain, this batch in the form of a pounding headache beating at her brain like a Taiko drum demanding attention.

As the elder had mentioned, the celebration hadn't been half bad. It was mainly comprised of dancing around bonfires, back slapping, ritual matches and alcohol. Lots and lotsof alcohol. The honeyed mead that the Amazons had insisted on imbibing took no prisoners and none of their number had escaped unscathed, as evidenced by the rusty spike of pain trying to drive its way through the redhead's eyeballs. It was such a distraction that she almost didn't notice Akane Tendo on top of her as she pushed up, her own body apparently having served as the Tendo's futon at some point last night.

Ranma froze momentarily but was unable to form the customary blush at their mutually compromising position, lacking sufficient empathy to care in the face of the blossoming hangover. Instead, the groggy redhead pulled her hand from the girl's cotton clad breast with barely a thought to her own self preservation... not that there would be much the fiancée could do to add to the redhead's pain. Akane Tendo snored like a buzz-saw and the scent of fruity alcohol decayed by the night's stagnation wafted around the martial artist, prompting her to redouble her efforts to pull away. Ranma shluffed a tangled arm away from her person and stumbled to her feet, squinting at her surroundings.

The room was more or less the way she remembered it; that is to say the last time she was actually conscious. A table was upturned and sitting on its side near the center, though pitchers of ale were studiously arranged around it, apparently having been spared a similar fate. The chairs were likewise scattered across the room, one having taken its structural damage limit. As if to assure her that no shenanigans had occurred with Akane in lieu of actual memory, Ryoga laid sprawled out on the floor in one of the corners. An Amazon with a short crop of teal hair lay curled around his left leg, causing the Saotome brief pause as she considered the sight. After a brief moment, she simply shook her head and stumbled for the door... and hopefully some form of hot bath.

Ranma slid the room door open, bathing herself in yet more of the blinding glare of natural light while prompting a groan from somebody still in the room as she stumbled out. Another Amazon, this one quite sober and wearing full ceremonial silks snapped to attention just outside their small hut, her hand falling to her sword... and if Ranma didn't know any better, the slightest hint of a knowing smile on her face. Instead of addressing it, Ranma merely cast a bleary eyed stare at her.

"Bath."

"Village square, turn right, Honored Warrior." The smile disappeared from the woman's face; any trace of her playful demeanor gone now as she outlined Ranma's path in broken Japanese. "Second building blue. Have steam come out."

Ranma barely nodded and turned down the cobblestone street where the occasional male was found bearing food or linen along her route. Occasionally she would see another Amazon female, but they appeared to be in a similar state as to herself: Red eyes, barely coordinated movements and all but dead to the world. The redhead suspected if she got closer to any one of them they too would reek of alcohol, but was content to instead receive the barest of respectful nods as she passed. Ranma turned at the village square which seemed to be slightly more alive with sober activity but paid it little mind as she trudged toward her destination, eventually finding the blue building with steam pouring from various vents and piping. The light smell of sulfur drifted to her nose, all but assuring her that it was a naturally fed bath house and just the thing to wash the previous night of revelry away.

There was just one itsy-bitsy problem.

This particular bathhouse was quite obviously the female side as evidence by the comings and goings of minimally clad Amazon women ducking in and out. Across the street was a ruddy gray structure that also gouted steam where the males conducted their business. Ranma frowned, eyeing the alternative with an increasing amount of disdain while realizing that no good could possibly come out of what she was about to step into: Wash with the effeminate guys or bath with nude Amazon women warriors. Principles and pride clashed briefly in an attempt to resolve the dilemma before pride called ego for reinforcements, further muddying the waters.

'Girlie men or psycho nude amazons,' The redhead all but cried at her choices from within the confines of her mind, knowing that one or the other would be the death of her in some way, shape or form. 'Because their ain't no way in hell I'm gonna-'

"Airen look how Shampoo feel," A presence sidled up along side of her with a weary sigh, though Ranma didn't need the quick glance to tell her that Shampoo had joined her company. Surprisingly, no glomp of any sort followed as towel swathed girl fell in step along side her, nor did her voice sound like it had the energy. "Have same idea; wash party off."

While the mid length towel wrapped around the Amazon's curvy body showed enough skin to be scandalous in any other setting, Ranma couldn't help but to notice Shampoo hadn't fared any better than she had. Her self-proclaimed fiancée's normally luminescent purple hair was lopsided and frayed. Bloodshot eyes accompanied her visage and the martial artist was sure that the only reason the girl didn't reek of alcohol was because she had already discard her clothing.

"And stink too," Shampoo added with a sniff, as if to read her very thoughts. This time her arm looped around Ranma's and began to pull her toward the entrance with more purpose than Ranma's step original contained, deciding her fate by default. "Come-come. We get cleaned off."

On any other day Ranma might have protested more. On any other day, she might have balked that she was a guy and simply went to hunt down a source of warm water herself. On any other day, there weren't little jackhammers mining her brain for diamonds; allowing the redhead to be pulled along with a minimal of protest. 'But-Aww-C'mon-!' Didn't even faze the purple haired Amazon as she led Ranma through the entrance where upon the male attendant in the reception area nodded with a pleasant smile, motioning them into the next room with a polite gesture. Shampoo didn't even pay him a glance and was already leading Ranma there anyway. The door slid open easily and the pair stepped into a cloud of steam. Ranma's fate was instantly sealed as Shampoo closed the door behind her, allowing the towel to fall away even as she did so.

Ranma's only reaction was a mild twitch along her right cheek while muttering something about being so dead. She mumbled something about Akane as well, but the now nude Amazon was already fetching bath supplies from one of the shelving units along the wall. Ranma in turn, studiously kept from fixating on any one of the nude women surrounding them now while mentally insisting that she was in her girl form, so it was okay. 'And that's what they'll put on my tombstone,' the martial artist grumbled self consciously but refused to back down as Shampoo retrieved their washing supplies. It also gave Ranma a target to fixate on, even if said target was naked.

"Ya realize I'm a guy, right?" Ranma asked rhetorically, only to watch Shampoo smirk as she returned with their bathing supplies. Her unexpected touch startled Ranma. "Hey!"

The Amazon gave Ranma's breast a few light squeezes, prompting another twitch of the Saotome's cheek. "Is no guy here. Sit. Will wash back."

Shampoo's foot hooked on a nearby bamboo stool to draw it close while her arms forcefully guided the redhead to sit on it. Ranma's butt hit the wood with protest; protest that all but died the moment her tormentor began to wash and soap her back.

"Look, we can't... This is... Ah... I guess..." Lather began to form on the redhead's back as Shampoo scrubbed, effectively squashing any remaining resistance Ranma might have had concerning her predicament since it just felt good to be clean again. The scrubbing stopped after a few minutes and cold water followed, but Ranma simply sat there in relief until an arm fell over her shoulder. Ranma followed it to the hand, where it bore a bar of soap.

"Is Shampoo turn." The girl stated from behind, causing a moment's worth of confusion in Ranma before she realized that it was apparently her turn to soap Shampoo's back. Ranma glanced nervously up at the girl walking around to her side expectantly. It wasn't that she hadn't seen the Amazon naked before. That had happened far too many times for comfort. But actually touching her? On purpose? That was akin to a death sentence.

"This, ah, ain't such a good... um.." Shampoo simply shoo'd the redhead off the stool and sat down, forcing the soap into Ranma's hand.

"Airen touch only parts want," Shampoo winked and faced away from the martial artist, waiting. Ranma blushed but set her jaw with the challenge, applied the soap to Shampoo's back and began to lather. The girl coo'd under her scrubbing and Ranma couldn't help but to sympathize, encouraging the redhead to continue with less trepidation. Five minutes later, Ranma set the bar of soap aside in favor of the pale of lukewarm water Shampoo had set aside for a rinse that wouldn't activate her curse. Shampoo smiled back and stood up, taking Ranma's hand. "We go soak!"

"Are you trying to kill me or somethin?!" Ranma finally foot her foot down, staring first at the Amazon as if she had grown a second head, then the pool of hot water that she intend on leading her to... The pool full of nude Amazon women.

"Airen worry too-too much; is waterproof soap." Shampoo continued to tug at her arm insistently. The proclamation cracked Ranma's obstinacy enough for her to give a step, then another as the girl elaborated. "Is good for few soaks."

Ranma stared at the purple haired girl and gave another step as she tugged again, wondering what the girl was playing at. After another ineffectual tug, Shampoo stopped, her light hearted attitude turning oddly gentle with the glance back. "Is okay. Shampoo not try fun."

The redhead blinked at the unusual turnabout and decided to let the situation play out, letting the self-proclaimed fiancée to guide her to the edge of the spring where Ranma hesitated amongst the other nude women before following Shampoo in. Half of her expected some form of righteous indignation. She was a guy amongst naked chicks after all and they had to know it. A beat down wouldn't necessarily be unexpected by this point, but all she received as deferential and courteous nods with each step into the hot springs. Soon she didn't even need Shampoo's prompting as the seductive heat drew her further in all by itself, following the Amazon girl to a series of natural steps under the surface. Shampoo sank down to lounge on them, her face melting into relief as her body was submerged.

It was similar to the expression Ranma wore seconds later as she sat down next to Shampoo; a satisfied sigh escaping her as the water's heat penetrated her body, if not her soul. A moment's worth of attention was spared to ensure she had not, in fact, transformed, but everything after that was pure bliss for martial artist and Amazon alike.

"This too-too good," The purple haired teen purred, lounging back into the stone ledge as her body soaked in the liquid heat. "Not celebrate like that in long time, though."

"Ya mean you've done that before?" Ranma inquired absently, her thoughts drifting in and out of hot spring nirvana.

"Is so," Shampoo answered lazily, not even bothering to open her eyes. "First hunt; blooded warrior, this one. All initiates celebrate." She paused, cracking her eyes open just enough to glance at the redhead beside her. "You?"

"Like last night?" Ranma shook her head in remembrance. "Not even close. Found my old man's sake stash when I was about nine though and took it to school, though. Few of us tried it out during break and stumbled into our next period completely blasted."

The Amazon giggled at the thought of a drunk, ten year old Ranma stumbling around. Ranma chuckled at the memory as well, helping to leave her consternation about being in a hot spring full of females behind at the water's edge. She allowed herself to sink deeper to her neck, relishing the heat before cracking her eyes open again. "Y'know, this place really ain't too bad."

"Good to be home," Shampoo nodded as the warm water lapped at her breasts. She cast a speculative glance at the redhead. "Airen stay, maybe?"

Now Ranma couldn't help but to form a lazy smile. "Ya know I can't do that and even if I somehow could, you'd have to kill my old man before it was all over."

"That all?" Shampoo returned with mock seriousness in her tone, causing Ranma to snicker. "This one still have control over silly panda. Can tell jump off cliff if want."

Ranma's eyes popped open with the realization that the girl next to her was right. The fat Panda was still under Shampoo's egg-borne mind control as a matter of fact. The martial artist's expression faltered in an attempt to contain her laughter until outright failing under the weight of the ridiculous idea. The laughter was contagious and both girls suffered a full dose, prompting a few confused looks from the other bathers in attendance before the pair finally reigning themselves in. Their chortling eventually lapsed back into good natured snickers, allowing the duo to relax into the depths of the hot springs once more.

They lounged in companionable silence for several minutes before Shampoo broke it softly. "Shampoo not have chance does she?"

Ranma's eyes blinked open once more to consider this girl, still lounging back in the waters without opening her eyes. She harbored a resigned smile as her purple locks floated like a veil around her body. The pointed observation stole a full minute from the redhead before she could finally come up with her own answer to the question, sinking back down into the water herself.

"I... Maybe under different circumstances..." The Saotome stumbled through her hesitation, picking and discarding justifications on the fly. Shampoo merely opened her eyes to watch Ranma pick through her explanation. "I mean, between my old man, the other girls..."

The purple haired teen rose just far enough out of the water to put a single finger to Ranma's lips, startling her into silence. "Hush. Think understand. Not easy, but think understand."

The finger pulled away and Ranma stared with wide eyes. "You... You do?"

She would be the first to, after all.

"Talk with Great Grandmother; see things," Shampoo nodded with the slightest of shrugs. "First meeting, chase, other girls all not go well."

"Story of my life," Ranma sighed, feeling bad for the girl next to her now. "My fault for not bein' as eager as everybody around me, I guess."

"Airen fault for eating tournament prize." The Amazon rolled her eyes, attempting to lighten the drama unfolding between them.

Ranma stared at her mock disdain for a moment before trying for the humor angle herself. "Well if you hadn't a left it out where just anybody could eat it..."

"Too stupid girl!" Shampoo's look turned into exaggerated irritation. She reached over and bopped the martial artist in question on her damp red hair. "Ranma, I kill!"

"Ow!" Ranma rubbed the nonexistent knot on her forehead furiously, glaring back in righteous indignation. "Whaddya do that for?!"

Both stared at one another before bursting into more laughter seconds later. Shampoo bopped Ranma over the head again, only to cause their mutual laughter to renew. Ranma was about to poke more fun back at the girl, but was interrupted as a dull rumble began to permeate the humid atmosphere of the bathhouse. Conversation stopped amongst the other bathing woman and it was then Ranma notice the water's surface. It was beginning to vibrate.

"What the hell?"

Shampoo glanced down at Ranma running her finger across the increasingly jostled water, then turned her ear back to the omnipresent rumble filling the bath house room. "Where noise come from?"

"Ain't sure but I'm thinkin' we need to find out," Ranma nodded and began to wade to the edge of the water and back onto the tile, mirroring the activities of the other Amazons in her company. The variously nude women went unnoticed as the rumbling gained intensity and Ranma grabbed a towel from a nearby rack to don before stepping quickly outside. Shampoo followed behind and both were greeted by an impossible sight as their eyes drifted to the sky like the crowd already watching from the street.

Streaks of fire blazed across the heavens; incandescent while hot blobs trailing smoke in lines that cut through the morning's cloud speckled sky. Nor was it simply one. Ranma counted no less than seven tracing across the sky before they disappeared amongst the mountainous terrain that surrounded the Amazonian village with more following. Most were fairly high in altitude as indicated by the clouds they cut through. One was much lower, sending its menacing roar to shake the very earth at Ranma's feet.

"Aiyah, what is?!" Shampoo gawked with the redhead, her eyes following the closest fireball yet. Nothing looked like it was going to hit them- 'Yet,' Ranma amended mentally -but the sight of fire from the very heavens themselves was foreboding in its own right. Shampoo shook her head and stepped away, tugging Ranma's arm. "Think need to find Great Grandmother right now!"

Ranma took one last look at the burning rain threading its way through the blue sky before nodding. "I'm thinking you're right."

Author's Notes:
A few of you may recognize this intro. I originally had one featuring Akane the night of the great celebration, but it was too terse of a lead-in for what I have in mind. I ended up cannibalizing the intro of a stillborn version of a Ranma/Nanoha fic I'm holding in reserve.