A New Challenge
-Chiba Hiro
*Disclaimer: I do not own Ranma ½ or any of its content, it all belongs to Rumiko Takahashi and Viz Media.*
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Chapter 5: Back in China
"Well, son-in-law, we're almost in China." The younger Cologne said from the seat next to him on the plane.
"What are we gonna do once we get there, Old Ghoul?" Ranma asked.
"I told you not to call me that! My name is Cologne!" Cologne snapped. "Anyway, once we get there, I will present you to the Jusenkyo chairmen, and they will judge you."
"What do you mean?" Ranma asked.
"They will try to judge you for the position they proposed to you by putting you through a series of challenges. I, of course, will be your guide." Cologne explained.
"Well, isn't that considered cheating?" Ranma questioned.
"It isn't called cheating unless you're the only one who will be doing it. I will be participating too!" Cologne exclaimed.
"Aren't you a little too old to be a Jusenkyo guardian?" Ranma asked.
"Silly child, I bothered to take on this form for the sole purpose of helping you. If I had been otherwise, I would be weak, and who knows what might happen." Cologne said.
"But, why'd you choose that form? You look no older that I am." Ranma said.
"I used the reverse age charm, it allows me to revert back to an age where I was considered at my strongest point. My strongest points happened when I turned eighteen." Cologne explained.
"Anyway, we're about to land, so prepare yourself to face the challenges." Cologne said.
"No matter what these challenges are, I'll never give up without a fight!" Ranma declared.
"Yeah, sure you are." Cologne said sarcastically.
... ... ...
Outside the Chinese Airport, they stood there, waiting for their rides to Jusenkyo. "Um, who are we waiting for? Can't we take one of those buses?" Ranma asked, gesturing to a bus that was taking the arrivals.
"No, because those buses don't go anywhere near the Qinghai province, I'm waiting for a different sort of ride." Cologne said.
"Man, we've been waiting for over an hour here, and there is still no sign of this ride of yours! Damn it!" Ranma cursed.
"Be patient, Ranma. The Qinghai province is exactly ten miles from here, and you can't expect a ride to come here just like that. It takes time." Cologne said.
"How long does it take to get there anyway?" Ranma asked.
"Three hours at the least." Cologne answered.
"Then we have to wait here for three hours?" Ranma shouted rather than asked.
"Be still, son-in-law, our ride has come." Cologne said.
"Where is it?" Ranma asked, looking around for Cologne's mysterious ride.
Cologne pointed to a yellow taxi cab that pulled to a stop in front of them.
The window of the passenger side opened, and the driver was apparently familiar to Ranma.
"What? You're the guide from before!" Ranma shouted in recognition.
The driver looked at him in puzzlement. "Um, sorry, do I know you from somewhere?" the driver asked.
"What? You mean you don't remember me! I'm the guy with a panda for a father!" Ranma shouted.
The driver wiped his forehead with his handkerchief, and a light spawned in his eyes. "Ah, now I remember! You dat kid with panda from two year ago!" the driver shouted in his heavy Chinese accent.
"Exactly!" Ranma shouted.
"Now, now, mind your manners. People are staring." Cologne cheered.
The driver looked strangely at the younger looking Cologne. "Um, who are you?" he asked.
"I'm Cologne!" she shouted.
"Cologne?" the driver exclaimed, and his jaw dropped at the sight of her new form. "It cannot be!"
"Anyway, I called you here to take us to Jusenkyo." Cologne said.
"Oh, yes! Right away, ma'am!" The driver saluted her, and they got in the car. "For you, da ride is free of charge, so you thank me later!" he exclaimed, and they drove off to their destination.
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"So, Mr. Jusenkyo Guide, why are you a taxi driver now?" Ranma asked him.
"Well, ever since I took that job of being a Jusenkyo tour guide, my life instantly became meaningless." The taxi driver said.
"What do you mean?" Ranma asked.
"I quit that job last week! Now I have job as taxi driver!" he exclaimed.
"Wow, that's cool." Ranma complimented, and sat back in his seat.
"So, did anything interesting happen at Jusenkyo in the two years I've been gone?" Ranma asked.
"Oh, plenty things happen! There have been more Jusenkyo visitors even before you come!" the driver explained.
"Wow, how many have there been before?" Ranma inquired further.
"Oh, first it was least six to seven visits a month, and now it go up to five persons a day!" the former Jusenkyo guide explained.
"Whew, that's a lot of people? So, have there been any Jusenkyo guardians before?" Ranma asked.
"Jusenkyo guardians? Well...I don't remember." he said. "Sir, I hear you become Jusenkyo guardian, dat is very good honor." The driver said.
"What does a guardian do?" Ranma asked.
"A guardian? Well, a guardian protects Jusenkyo from unwanted visitors. Like da martial artist! Oh, dat is worse visitor ever!"
"Aside from that, why do I have to be a guardian?" Ranma asked.
"You are very strong, my friend, that's why. In order to protect secret of Jusenkyo hidden, a guardian must prevent future victims."
"Victims? But isn't the Jusenkyo secret already out? I mean, if you say that there used to be six to seven victims a month, and now it's five people per day, don't you think that Jusenkyo is no longer a secret?" Ranma asked rhetorically.
"I...I don't know. Maybe it no longer secret, maybe it is myth, legend, or maybe it is famous! Oh no! Now your hands will surely be full!" the driver exclaimed, and then mumbled some other things, but Ranma could not quite understand them.
Just then, Cologne rolled off, and her head landed on his shoulder, then onto his lap, and Ranma realized that Cologne had fallen asleep.
"Uh, Cologne, would you get off me." He whispered to her, and tried shaking her awake, but she continued to sleep.
"Damn, she's dead asleep." He said to himself.
"Well, now is a good time to leave you two alone." The driver commented, and rolled up the visor that separated the passenger seats.
"But wait, you got the wrong idea!" Ranma shouted at him, but the visor was raised completely, and he decided to give up and let Cologne sleep on his lap.
Ranma peered at Cologne's peaceful expression, and looked down at her lips. They were a smooth pink color, and he realized that Cologne looked beautiful as a teenager.
*Damn, if she were really eighteen right now, I'd probably be the luckiest guy out there! But, this is Cologne we're talking about here! She's...ancient, but now she looks almost...cute, if that's even the right word to describe her now.* he thought.
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An hour later, the cab drew to a stop, and that awakened Cologne. "Huh, is the ride over yet?" she asked sleepily, and got up to stretch.
"Yup, I think we're here." Ranma said, looking out the window, and he looked back at her with a cool expression.
Cologne blushed, and suddenly remembered where she had slept on. "Oh no! Did I fall asleep?" she exclaimed.
"Yup. And guess where." Ranma said.
Cologne's face turned a bright pink, and she instantly turned away from Ranma to look at the scenery.
"The scenery looks great outside, huh, Ranma?" she said.
"Yup." He agreed.
Then, the visor that separated them from the driver opened, and the driver looked back at them. "Have a sweet dream, ma'am? We are here, and I'm afraid this is as far I go! Good luck to you two!" he exclaimed, and Cologne got out of the cab awkwardly, and Ranma followed her as they watched the taxi drive back the way it came.
They stood at the edge of the cliff, and there, in the distance below, the mystic springs of Jusenkyo sprang to life. "Wow, I forgot what it feels like to see Jusenkyo from up here." Ranma commented. "Aside from the cursed springs, I'd say this is a pretty nice view of the place! Don't you think?"
Cologne looked from the valley, and turned to look at the martial artist's face. She realized that they were of equal height, and her eyes left a dreamy stare to them.
"Um, Cologne, are you still there?" Ranma asked, and waved his hand in front of her face, and Cologne blinked back to reality.
"Um, yeah. Let's go meet the chairmen now." She said hurriedly, and led Ranma down the valley.
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Inside the chairmen's tent, Ranma and Cologne situated themselves in front of the three chairmen, and Joketsuzoku elder.
"So, this is Ranma now, eh?" the first chairmen spoke when he finished analyzing the pigtailed martial artist.
"Yes, he is." Cologne answered.
"I would like for Mr. Saotome to answer a few questions for us, and we'd like it if you were to leave us alone for a few minutes, Cologne?" the chairmen said (in mandarin) to Cologne.
"Yes." She responded back, and got up to leave with Ranma attempting to follow her, but she gestured for him to stay put, and he obeyed.
"Ahem, Ranma." the first chairmen said (in Japanese). "We'd like for you to answer our questions if you don't mind."
"Sure, I'll answer them." Ranma replied back.
"Ranma, why do you think we called for you to become a Jusenkyo guardian?" the first chairmen asked.
"So, I could protect Jusenkyo, I guess." Ranma answered as best he could.
"You are almost correct. In fact, we called you to become a Jusenkyo guardian in order to decrease the number of Jusenkyo curses." The first chairmen corrected him.
"Next question." The second chairmen continued. "Are you aware of our reward to you if we feel we are satisfied with your work?"
"Um, I get to have a cure for my curse?" Ranma responded with a half answer.
"That is correct." The second chairmen said. "Third chairmen, you are next."
"Ahem, Ranma, are you ready to take on this responsibility as a guardian?" he asked.
"Yes." Ranma replied with little to no hesitation.
"Good. Now, this is only the first step of granting you the position." The Joketsuzoku elder spoke. "You must now answer to me. Will you partake in three challenges to see if you are worthy of your position?"
Ranma thought for a few seconds, and then answered. "Yes."
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A/N: Well, this is another chapter for you. Please rate, comment, and review this chapter! And be sure to check in every other day to see more chapters for this story. I promise that there'll be more for you to enjoy, and in the meantime, please let me know what you all think about this story so far, as long as it has nothing to do with my grammar, and make sure it's an appropriate one. Thanks again!