Ranma ½

A Scary Thought:

What happened last time: Shampoo and Ranma ended up challenging the martial arts dancing pair of Rippa and Kitsui Buyou.

Chapter 41

Ranma placed a small portable stereo player on the floor of the dojo and turned it on before moving to the center of the room. Off at the side, Shampoo sat attentively as Ranma went through what seemed to her to be a fairly normal kata, only in time with the music. As he did so, he began to speak.

"Dance has a lot of importance in history, particularly to the history of the martial arts. In fact, you can pretty much say that dance and fighting had the same origins. It may seem initially odd, but it's true, and I'm not just talking in Japan either. All of the so-called martial arts in the world are controlled a large amount by their country's culture... their rhythm you could say. In fact, nearly every culture in the world has had a longer tradition of dance than martial arts. Just think of all the terminology we use. Things like 'shuffling feet' or 'spacing' all originated in dance, not martial arts. So, in a very real sense, you could say dance is the parent of martial arts. And, in a sense you could even say, one that has mastered dance, has mastered fighting," Ranma concluded as he took up a neutral posture. "Or, at least that's what a martial arts dancer would say," he amended with a weak smile.

"Okay then, let me give you a little demo. I want you to attack me. I won't attack back, just come at me," Ranma instructed. Nodding, Shampoo got to her feet, prepared herself, and then rushed onto the attack. As she did, Ranma entered a strange dance, dodging by her early punches as if he knew where she would attack. Undeterred, Shampoo pressed on, adding kicks and low sweeps in, attempting to throw him off balance, but still he seemed to effortlessly predict her every tactic and avoid them all. Before frustration could set in, Ranma raised his hand and stopped her. "I think you get the point."

"What you doing? Is no like normal dodging," Shampoo asked as she returned to a casual posture.

"Reading your rhythm," Ranma explained, but this seemed to only confuse Shampoo. "Remember what I said, martial arts could well be seen as just a dance of a different sort, and no matter how hard you try to hide it, that dance has a rhythm to it. Think of the katas you preform. They are little more than a honed set of attacks and counters that you've practiced endlessly, but they are also a dance.

"Reading that rhythm is at the very core of martial arts dance. Knowing your opponent's rhythm is like being able to read their mind. You know their every tactic, and plan ahead to counter and avoid them. Everything in martial arts dance is built upon this. Two fairly equally match martial arts dancers can fight for hours, both trying to deceive and trap the other, and all the while it looks just like they're dancing."

Shampoo nodded, finally understanding. "Why you no use this technique before?"

Ranma frowned and looked off to the side. "Like I told you earlier, martial arts dance generally needs music. The beat of the music acts as a timing mechanism. It gives you a reference by which to operate and without it, your timing slips. Not much, but when you're reading someone's rhythm that is trying to mask it, that little bit of slip is all that is needed to render the technique useless. Beyond that, I'm still not able to pull it off without the setup. It takes me nearly half a minute to get ready, which is no good in an open battle.

"That's most the reason I actually chose a dance match over a normal one. Since Rippa doesn't need the music anymore, he would actually have an advantage in a situation where we don't have it. You're going to need to know this to go toe to toe with them. If we don't have it, they'll read our rhythm, we won't be able to touch them, and they'll pummel us."

Shampoo frowned as the magnitude of the challenge before them became that much clearer. "Shampoo understand."

"Good," Ranma replied with a smile. "Fortunately, we're not interested in style here. I challenged them to an endurance match, which is much more straight forward. In a style match... frankly we wouldn't have a prayer, but it's more about appearance than actual combat anyway so don't sweat it. Endurance matches are were the real fighting is.

"Now, while endurance matches involve fighting, it still isn't the central purpose of the fight. Each side will start the match with one hundred points. When a side loses all its points, they lose. Simple as that."

"How you lose points?"

"A number of ways, but the 3 most important are these," Ranma explained, counting off against his raised fingers. "Number 1, stop dancing. Dancing is interpreted very liberally in a martial arts dance match, so basically just keeping on the move will suffice. Every second you are not dancing you lose 1 point. Number 2, leave the dance floor. The dance floor will be even bigger than this dojo, but still, you have to stay inside it. Leave it, even for an instant, and you automatically lose a point, and another point for every second you continue to be outside. Finally, number 3, is to leave the ground for more than a second. Naturally this means high jumps are not advisable. If it takes you more than 1 second to complete a jump, you'll lose a point. However, as long as you keep a connection to the floor, you're okay, so your partner can lift you, or you can even use your opponent as a connection.

"There is one last way to lose points, and this will cost you 25 points, and that is to break the rules. That isn't very easy considering nearly anything goes, but if one side believes the other to be cheating in some fashion, they can make an appeal to the judges. If the judges agree, the cheaters lose 25 points and must discontinue the illegal action or automatically lose. However, if the judge believe the action is legal, the accusers lose the 25 points."

Shampoo nodded. "So there be judges then?"

"Yeah, 3 typically, majority rules, and they decide when to deduct points. Don't worry, I know Rippa enough to know he won't try to rig the judging. I'm sure he also knows I wouldn't respect the match if the judging was rigged either. I got a rule book hiding in my room somewhere which will list off all the known illegal actions. I don't think any of them are much to worry about for us though," Ranma finished explaining and stopped to think suddenly, changing to a frown. "You know, actually now that I think about it, maybe this isn't the best place to learn this... Let's go out."

"Out? Where?"

"Dancing," Ranma replied and headed out the door.

"Okay," Shampoo quickly answered and followed as Ranma headed to the front door.

"I'm going out!" he called out as he put on his shoes.

"Going out? At this hour?" Nodoka called back as she came out of the kitchen.

"Yeah, and we'll probably be out late so don't wait up," Ranma added as he finished and stood up. Nodoka did not seemed pleased by this and opened her mouth to respond, but just then Shampoo joined Ranma and she changed her mind and smiled.

"Oh," Nodoka said and paused to think. "Hold on a moment." Retreating briefly down the hall and out of sight, Ranma and Shampoo were forced to puzzle over her response. A minute later she returned with a smile and approached Ranma. "You should take these," she said, discretely handing Ranma a pack of condoms.

Ranma blushed furiously at this, and quickly pocketed the condoms before Shampoo could see them. A minute later, now leaving, Shampoo looked him over curiously. "You don't want to know," is all he said in response.

XXXXX

Across town at the San Cheng-Huang, Ranko arrived to speak with Kasumi. Word had already reached her via the grapevine about Mikado's visit, although none of the details of such. So, aware that Kasumi was still in hardly any shape to fight, she had decided it best to check in. However, there was also a second issue nagging at her.

Inside, she found Kasumi in her room, busying herself with unpacking various bottles from a crate. "Hey Kasumi, what you doing?" Ranko asked as she came in.

Kasumi looked up from her task briefly to smile at Ranko in greeting. "Oh, a package came from China earlier. I figured I'd unpack it since Shampoo is busy," she replied.

Curious, Ranko walked over and picked up one of the bottles from the crate. It was generally nondescript, the label only having a simple number on it. However, after a few seconds, old memories clicked into place allowing her to identify it. "Shampoo bottles?"

"Yes," Kasumi replied. "They're for a technique she sometimes uses. She normally carries them with her, but when we went on the training trip, she decided to leave them at home. Unfortunately, they were destroyed with the old restaurant."

"Ah, so these are replacements?"

"Yes," Kasumi answered, and grabbed a book from the crate. "I was also considering learning the technique myself. The instructions are in here, but I've been thinking that perhaps it is best not to."

"Why's that," Ranko asked as Kasumi handed Ranko the book for a quick look.

Kasumi stood up and shrugged. "I suppose... Shampoo has been having some... issues lately. She's been feeling rather... umm... ineffective lately. I guess I just want to leave her a few things she better at than me."

Ranko nodded in understanding as she leafed through the book. "It's strange, I sorta remember this," she said aloud as she frowned in thought.

"You probably just saw Shampoo use the technique in your world."

"I sorta remember that..." Ranko replied, trailing off as she examined the book further. Dismissing the minor mystery, she placed the book back into the crate and changed to the important subject. "I hear Mikado was by here."

Kasumi nodded. "Yes, but he wasn't here to make trouble, if that's what you're thinking... although..."

"Although?" Ranko echoed.

Kasumi hesitated for a second then sighed. "He was here to ask for help fighting a boy named Rippa. Naturally I'm in no shape to do so, so I had to refuse, but Shampoo decided she'd do it."

"You're kidding?"

"Afraid not," Kasumi said with a shake of her head, and sat down on her bed. "Now I hear she and Ranma ended up in some challenge match with Rippa and his sister. It's supposed to be a week from now."

"Ranma too?" Ranko asked, suddenly feeling a lot worse.

"Yes," Kasumi answered and noticed Ranko's suddenly swing in mood. "Something wrong?"

Ranko took a moment to answer. "I... sorta talked to Ranma earlier."

"About?"

"Oh... sorta about his martial arts," Ranko reluctantly answered. "How tough is this Rippa guy?"

Kasumi shook her head. "I don't really know. Mikado claimed that he was very strong and easily defeated him. I'm not sure what that means though."

"Yeah," Ranko was forced to agree, but quickly brightened. "I'm sure it's nothing to worry about. It's just a challenge match, so they really is nothing-"

"Actually, from what I was told on the phone, they seemed to have risked quite a lot on the fight," Kasumi replied with a worried look of her own. "Ranma even said he'd give up Anything Goes Martial Arts and join Rippa's school if they lost."

"What?" Ranko replied in shock, but Kasumi only nodded in affirmation. Oh man, did he do that because of what I said to him? she wondered with an ever growing sinking feeling. I really have to learn to keep my mouth shut sometimes, she scolded herself. Turning her attention back to Kasumi, she couldn't help but noticed that Kasumi too looked down about it. "I'm taking it Shampoo risked something equally foolish?"

"Pretty much," Kasumi replied. "I guess there is nothing to be done about it though. It seems to be what both of them want to do. I can't say I think it is a smart thing to do, but... I think I just have to let them do this."

Ranko frowned, not convinced by Kasumi's reasoning. However, she also couldn't find any good reason to argue the point. Doesn't mean I can't do something about it though, she thought and started considering her options.

XXXXX

Ranma stopped just inside the night club for a moment to take in the place. All around him the sound have heavy music was playing, people were dancing and talking, and the entire interior was overflowing with various colors and patterns of light, all setting the mood for one hell of a party. Bobbing his head in time with the beat of the music, Ranma began to remember old times with a slight smile.

After a few seconds, though, he noticed he was still standing by himself. Looking behind him, he spotted Shampoo, hesitating by the doorway. She seemed to be in shock at the sight within, and if Ranma was guessing right, maybe even a little intimidated by it. Thinking on it, he couldn't really blame her. This particular night club was very large, and even on a normal night it was packed with several hundred people, which was probably near the total population of her village. Combine that will all the sounds, sights and smells of the place, and it was probably quite unlike any place Shampoo had ever been.

Noticing Ranma looking at her, Shampoo quickly masked any doubts she was having and moved to join him. "What we do here?" she asked, nearly yelling to be heard over the noise of the room.

"Come on," Ranma replied at equal volume, and lead the way through the crowd to a nearby bar. There he ordered up two soft drinks, and handed one to Shampoo, before turning to look out over the crowd. "This is where I learned to read the rhythm," he explained.

"How?"

"Now, that is the real question isn't it. Look out there. Hundreds of people, all doing their own thing. Looks like mass chaos, but that is what makes this perfect," he answered. "What do you think is the one constant here in all this chaos?"

Shampoo looked out over the crowd, contemplating for a long moment. Finally, she shrugged and answered, "the music?"

"Yes," Ranma replied with a nod, "but most importantly that beat of the music. It's drives everyone's rhythm in this room, whether they are really aware of it or not."

"So, what we do?" Shampoo asked as she moved to take a sip of her drink, but Ranma blocked her.

"That's not for drinking. It's actually what we're going to use. The most important part of rhythm reading is defense, and key to that is not being hit. What we're going to do is go out there, with that drink in hand, and not spill it."

Shampoo looked at him skeptically, then back at the crowd. On the main floor, those dancing we're basically shoulder to shoulder, packed so tight it didn't look like you could get a piece of paper reliably between them, let alone maneuver with a drink in hand. "Great grandmother sometimes make Shampoo do balance exercise while work... this look lot harder."

"Oh, this is the easy part. You'll probably just be using the one glass for tonight. After I work out a bit of the rust, I'll probably be doing even harder tasks," Ranma explained. "We'll probably come back here every night till the match, progressively upping the difficulty. Hopefully, by the end of the week, we should be able to walk out there, blindfolded and not spill a drop."

Shampoo frowned in consideration of that, but after just a few seconds, steeled herself and moved out into the thick of it. Ranma stood back for a moment longer as within just the first few moments Shampoo had several close calls, but managed to only lose a few drops thanks to quick reactions. She's got a good start, but this definitely isn't going to be easy, he concluded and began to follow Shampoo's lead.

XXXXX

It was some hours later when the pair joined together again to take a breather. Looking at Shampoo slightly more damp cloths, Ranma couldn't help but feel a slight twinge of superiority, having himself managed to go the whole time without spilling his drink. However, he did his best not to show such, instead trying the encouraging approach. "You're doing well," he said, to which Shampoo glared at him. "Okay, not perfect, but for your first time, it's a great showing."

"Shampoo never be ready in week," Shampoo replied. "Would take months to master."

"You don't need to master it," Ranma responded. "This isn't about us beating them at their game. It is about us just beating them. Honestly, it's doubtful we'd ever reach the point where we could be their match at martial arts dance, but ultimately it doesn't matter. It's just a martial art in the end, and that's what you have to remember. Your combat skills haven't been rendered useless here. In fact, they're vital. All we need to do is get up to a manageable level to give us that room to use our normal fighting ability."

Shampoo thought on this, then nodded in agreement. "We can really do in week?" she asked after a moment.

"Yes, I think we can... I just wish I knew more about how Kitsui fights... I've fought Rippa several times, and sparred with him dozens more. I know, in general terms at least, how he thinks and how he fights. Kitsui, unfortunately, I'm nearly clueless on. What Mikado said has me worried. It doesn't sound like she fights much like Rippa at all," Ranma said with a frown as he considered. "You may want to go have a chat with Azusa."

"Azusa? Why?"

"Because, she at least knows what happened out there to her. Knowing that may be vital."

"Why Shampoo?" Shampoo asked in confusion. "Shampoo no think want talk to stupid thief girl, and girl probably no want talk Shampoo either."

"Oh, probably true, but the reason it should be you is that you'll be fighting Kitsui," Ranma replied to Shampoo's confusion. "I know it is called a paired match, but I also know Rippa, and judging from what Mikado said, Kitsui plays by the same philosophy, which is divide and conquer. Given our history, Rippa will definitely choose to fight me one on one, and that leaves Kitsui to you. Really, think of it as a good thing. We only need to learn a few paired basics to match against them," he explained, but Shampoo seemed disappointed. "Hey, don't underestimate her. I may not of fought her, but I know her reputation. The old master thought she was just as good as Rippa. She just fights differently."

After a second, Shampoo finally nodded in acceptance of this.

Several minutes passed in silence between the pair. Getting slightly nervous about the silence, Ranma's mind grasped for topics to break it, but only one came to him. Finally, debating other this for nearly another minute, Ranma came out and asked, "Do you like me?"

"Hmh?" Shampoo replied, taken off guard by the sudden switch. "Shampoo... like you okay, why?"

"Uh... I mean as... Kasumi's fiancé."

Shampoo sniffed and looked off into the crowd. "Shampoo no care about that."

Ranma puzzled over that for a moment. "Don't care?" he echoed.

"Shampoo only want be with Kasumi."

"But, aren't you supposed to marry a man?" Ranma asked in further confusion.

Shampoo frowned. "Yes, is way stupid law works, but that no mean Shampoo have to like it," she replied before looking back suddenly at Ranma. "What about you? You want be with Kasumi and Shampoo?"

Now it was Ranma's turn to be taken off guard. "Um... well... I suppose..."

Once more Shampoo sniffed and looked away. However, before Ranma could form some kind of proper reply Shampoo unexpectedly said, "Kasumi would choose you."

"What?"

"Shampoo said, Kasumi would choose you... if she had choose," Shampoo reiterated, without looking back.

"But... why?" Ranma asked in shock.

"Why not?" Shampoo replied. "Who else she choose? I say no to Mousse, and she no like him that way anyway. Same with boy who get lost all time. Kasumi think he friend, not lover. Tatewaki Shampoo no think Kasumi like that much. So, only leave you and Herb, and you be one Kasumi would choose."

She'd really choose me, Ranma wondered in surprise. I really didn't think she thought of me as anything like that. I mean, sure we're engaged and all, but it was never-

"Shampoo would choose Herb," Shampoo said, suddenly derailing Ranma's thoughts.

"What?" Ranma couldn't help but exclaim. "Why in hell would you choose that pompous ass? He as much as said that you're not important to him and he's just interested in Kasumi!" he argued, but Shampoo seemed unfazed.

"Because, Shampoo know this," she replied, further puzzling Ranma. "Shampoo know Herb. Shampoo know what he want. Shampoo understand him," she explained then looked back at Ranma. "Shampoo have no idea what you want. Shampoo no understand you at all. First you make like no want Kasumi and chase Kodachi. Now, you no even do that. Shampoo no know what you about," she said, once more looking away. "At least Herb Shampoo understand."

Ranma scowled in momentary disgust. Being outdone by the Musk Prince was a seriously unpalatable concept, especially on such grounds as Shampoo described, and it left him with no response for nearly a minute. Finally though, he sorted out his thoughts and replied, "It's a lot more complicated with me. All he has to worry about is Kasumi and you. I have that, and Ukyo, and when this whole mess started there was Akane and Kodachi too."

"What that have to do with anything?" Shampoo countered.

"Akane and Kodachi, not much anymore. But, really, it's because I didn't want to marry Akane that I... umm..."

"Hmh?" Shampoo pried curiously as Ranma seemed to run out of steam.

Ranma reset himself, took in a calming breath and began anew. "Before you even got here, I was engaged to Akane, and I didn't want it. Nothing against Akane, it just felt wrong. I didn't want to be forced into it. Then Kasumi came along and she and Akane got swapped. I guess I just transferred most my dislike of the arrangement with Akane to Kasumi. Yeah, it was unfair to her, but that's what it was. It didn't help matters that she turned into a guy. Was way weird to me at the time. But... I don't think that way anymore. Ukyo though is still a problem. If I start getting close to Kasumi, you know Ukyo won't like it and-"

"Spatula girl is harmless," Shampoo suddenly said.

"What? Are you nuts?" Ranma exclaimed. "She's probably the toughest-"

"She is strong, very strong," Shampoo conceded easily, "but that no make her dangerous. Worst she do is beat you up. Shampoo no like her, but that no mean she something to worry about."

Ranma was caught by this, and took several moments to consider it. "But, still, she'd be mad."

"Arrangement now to marry Ukyo, Kasumi, and Shampoo. Arrangement all that Ukyo have. She no like it, that her problem," Shampoo replied.

Ranma frowned at this. That's a bit cold, he thought but Shampoo was correct. Currently, to be together with Ranma, Ukyo's only route was via this mess of a marriage, which included Kasumi. Although, in theory, Ranma could drop the arrangement entirely, in practice that was looking unlikely at this point. Still, isn't there a better way than just telling Ukyo, tough luck? Ranma wondered. "Somehow I don't think that's a good way to think about it," Ranma argued but Shampoo seemed unimpressed. "I bet Kasumi would agree with me," Ranma added, surprising Shampoo.

Shampoo took a moment to think on this, hanging her head just slightly, but finally nodded. "She would," Shampoo replied, giving Ranma some satisfaction.

Yeah, but this situation isn't going to solve itself today, he thought and looked up at one of the distant wall clocks and sighed. "It's getting late. We could keep going, but we shouldn't exhaust ourselves. We should probably head out and come back tomorrow."

Shampoo too looked at the time and nodded in agreement. "Shampoo come with you."

"Huh?" Ranma asked as he got up.

"Shampoo stay with Ranma till fight. Is easier that way," Shampoo replied.

"Uh... okay, if you say so," Ranma said before asking, "not in my room I assume?"

Shampoo looked at Ranma with a frown. "No."

"Just making sure," Ranma replied quickly before the two headed out.

XXXXX

End Chapter 41

Next time in A Scary Thought: Shampoo and Ranma prepares each work on their own respective angles for the match. In the meantime two meetings occur.

Quick credit where credit is due, the dance talk is a paraphrasing of the same from Tenjou Tenge which a reader kindly recommended and fits well. I've also had lots of suggestions on techniques and such for Ranma. I don't want to go too off base with Ranma as he's only got a week, anything he would have historically should have appeared logically by now, so what he does go with has be something new I'm thinking. Probably most importantly, it has to be something he can develop in the short term but utilize in the long term to grow better in his own way. I got my own idea on this which nicely fits in with various concepts I've introduced lately.

I know this is a bit of a shorter chapter. Going to go with smaller chunks for a while. They are easier to manage. Also, since I've been changing my mind every 10 minutes about how to handle things from here out, it lets me get at least this much out without even more delay.

For those a bit confused on the crossovers: Usagi, Rei, Minako, Makoto, Ami, Haruka, Michiru, Hotaru, Setsuna, Luna, and Artemis are all from Sailor Moon. Kitsune has her ties to the X-files, but only in that she's a fanatic of similar interests rather than appearing in said show. Saki and Sampei are from Sukeban Deka. You may also notice Frost borrowing a spell from here or there; in particular Gargoyles and Illusionaries are two prime targets. Speaking of Gargoyles, if you're a fan of the series you may have already figured this out, but La Bac is Cabal spelt backwards. Also Gen-U-Tech is also a business from Gargoyles. Does that mean this is a Gargoyles cross over? Haven't decided, could just be me stealing ideas ^_^. Anyway, besides that we have Chun Li, Rose, Shadow Lady, Shadow, Gill and the previously shown Karin and Sakura which come from Street Fighter series (Rose, Karin and Sakura from Street Fighter Alpha 3, Shadow and Shadow Lady from Marvel vs Capcom, Chun Li from much of the Street Fighter series, and now Gill from Street Fighter III). As for Ranko, well she's from my other major fanfic, Most Unlikely of Friends, although you can largely consider her standard Ranma trapped in female form for most purposes. And lastly comes dear old Siren who is from Dreiser's story 'Black Rose Blue Thunder'. I won't be using her much but she fits a temporary need.

I'm so far behind on my websites that I don't even feel they're worth mentioning anymore. If you do head there, consider them seriously out of date, and essentially dead.

Well, that concludes things for this chapter. Later.