JediKasumi09

Jedi Kasumi

By
Jim R Bader
&
Brandon Kelley

(Inspired by the works of Rumiko Takahashi and George Lucas)

Chapter Nine.

Rendezvous with Ranma!



Having thwarted the
villainous attempt of Kuonji
Ukyo to kill her hated rival, Tendo
Nabiki, the Amazon warrior named Shampoo
reveals that she is clan-brethren to both Ranma and
Kasumi and is there to warn them about Mousse, a boy
from her village who has gone over to work for the Dark Side
as an apprentice to the evil Sith Lord, Dark Purge, mortal enemy of
the Jedi Knight, Trieste, Kasumi's mentor...

Kimiko Tendo, mother to
the Tendo sisters, contacts Nodoka
with the intent of uniting her former friend
with her long-lost son and husband.  However,
Genma Saotome reveals the existence of a "suicide"
pact that obligates Genma and his son to commit Seppuku
should Ranma fail to become "A Man above Men."  Hoping to
avoid this dire fate, Ranma appears in female form and learns to his
dismay that her mother's definition of "Manliness" includes being 
sexually
attractive to multiple fiancées...not only Nabiki and Kasumi but also 
Ukyo thus
qualify as proof of his "Manly" behavior...

Frustrated in her quest
for vengeance, Ukyo learns
that one of the Tendo sisters named
Akane is less than thrilled about having
Ranma living in the same house, and that she
is subject to frequent irrational rages, which make her
seem vulnerable to the influence of the Dark Side, and with
her Master's approval goes in search of Akane to learn if she can
be "turned" against her sisters...





Akane trudged home feeling somewhat moody and dejected, a feeling 
becoming all too common with her of late, ever since a certain "not to 
be named" BOY had come to live in their house, taking the normal 
pattern of daily existence with the Tendos and turning it solidly on its 
eardrums!

It was not---as she would have heatedly insisted---that having a boy 
around at all would have been this objectionable, but to have such a 
conceited, stuck-up, uncouth and downright RUDE specimen of the   
male sex living under the roof was wholly intolerable, especially one 
who clearly had designs on both of her older siblings and who had 
somehow managed to ingratiate himself into even such a hard-headed 
sort as Nabiki was simply unfathomable to Akane.  Add to this the fact 
that the pervert switched genders with a dash of water and you ran into 
a recipe for total confusion, at least insofar as Akane had so far come 
to figuring that BOY out.

Akane knew what people said about her behind her back at school, that 
she was an out-and-out Lesbian and only cared about spending time 
with other women.  This was, like most rumors, only partially accurate 
as she did prefer girls over boys, but she was NOT (as she once again 
would have insisted) a "Bull Dyke with raging hormones."  In truth 
she did like the male gender...in a generalized sense...but as for that 
crop of oversexed DROOLERS who constituted her "Fan Club" of the 
month-FORGET IT!  She much preferred the girls in her school 
because they were (mostly) far more level-headed and sensible about 
most subjects (except when it came to BOYS, of course, in which case 
some girls could be total ninnies!), and besides...she had fun around 
girls and accepted the fact that girls affected her in a different way to 
which few boys could even hope to compete.

There was, however, one male member of the set who could bring a 
sigh to her lips, and he was an older man who barely even knew that 
she existed.  Akane had been drawn to him since she was a little girl, 
but never once had he seemed to take notice of her as a young and 
promising woman...a fact that frustrated her all the more knowing how 
the guy in question could go bananas in the presence of Kasumi!  Then 
he would be a hopeless basket case, little better than the boys in her 
classes.  In a way she felt sorry for him because she knew her sister did 
not return his unrequited affections, but there was always the hope (in 
her heart of hearts) that one day she might be able to pick him up on 
the rebound.

Of course until that day happened she was hardly going to wait around 
and pine for him forever!

Akane sighed...this was hardly a subject that could perk her up after 
the last two days of near-constant aggravation.  Kasumi's return from 
her yearlong sojourn as Sensei Trieste's Padawan would normally be a 
time for rejoicing, but instead the experience was tainted by the near-
simultaneous arrival of Ranma and his deadbeat father.

Upon first being greeted by an attractive-looking girl, Akane's hopes 
of a new friendship were nearly instantly dashed with the discovery 
that the girl was in actuality a BOY and (worse by far) one who was 
engaged by an honor arrangement to either herself or one of her 
sisters.  That by itself had set her teeth on edge, but then the boy went 
and defeated her in the martial arts...even when Akane had resorted to 
her Force training to "even things out a bit," and it had galled her to 
even admit that she had been forced to resort to her "advanced" 
training in the first place!

Subsequent to this was Trieste's announcement that Ranma would be 
taken on by her as a new apprentice, which naturally prompted in 
Akane a "What did he do to deserve this?" reaction.  Oh, she knew the 
boy was good (she had studied his fighting style against both herself 
and her two sisters) and it was clear that he knew some rudimentary 
Chi techniques, but learn the ways of the Force?  Now that made no 
sense to her whatsoever!

Akane knew that mastering the Force took a special kind of mindset, 
one that neither she nor Nabiki truly possessed in sufficient measure.  
Kasumi could handle the demands of full Jedi training because her 
mental discipline was the strongest and she lacked any sense of 
outward aggression.  She was not subject to fits and moods such as 
Akane often suffered, nor was Nabiki all that spiritual in her leanings, 
so both had been ruled out for full apprenticeship and had only been 
taught by Trieste to the level that was considered "sufficient" to their 
abilities.

But in one day Saotome Ranma comes along and it begins to look like 
Kasumi is going to have some competition!  Kasumi was a heroine to 
Akane, a role model and someone to look up to, while this...guy...had 
none of the qualities she so admired in her oldest sister.  He was wild 
and out of control, headstrong and impulsive with barely any manners 
at all and some of the worst communications skills that Akane had 
ever experienced in a boy her own age.  Making him out to be a rough 
diamond worth cutting into something fit and polished would likely 
take more work than seemed worthwhile to Akane's understanding of 
the matter, and the possibility that the Boy might be tempted to the 
Dark Side was never to be discounted.

(So what does Trieste have in mind for him?) she asked herself in 
silence, adding in brief undertone, (And what does he have that I'm 
lacking?)

All at once her senses felt a prickling along her spine, like a cold 
breeze blowing down her back, and Akane halted in mid-stride, 
glancing around and feeling her surroundings for the source of the 
disturbance.  She made out a presence slightly off to one side and 
called out, "Who are you...and what do you want?"

"Pretty good," came a familiar response, "Not many people can detect 
me that easily.  You are pretty good...for someone who walks on the 
Light side."

"U-Ukyo?" Akane turned to stare at a shadow that detached itself from 
a copse of nearby trees, and sure enough the figure became instantly 
recognizable as the dark-clad Sith girl whom she had encountered on 
the previous morning.

"You remembered," Ukyo's smile was flinty, "I'm flattered."

Akane did not relax her posture, but she made an effort to stand more 
at ease as she said, "Come here to pick a fight with me?"

"That all depends," Ukyo replied, "Are you looking for a fight?"

"Maybe," Akane smiled back in a knowing sense, "If a fight is what 
you're after."

"Actually...I thought maybe we could talk first," Ukyo said as she 
hopped down onto the sidewalk, "Fighting's such heavy business, I 
like to get to know the people I fight first...if you have no objections?"

"None at all," Akane smiled all the more.  This was better than she 
would have hoped for.  Fighting was something she actually enjoyed 
doing, but if given the choice to talk...well...this girl certainly looked 
like the might be interesting company, even if she was a Sith 
apprentice. "What would you like to talk about?"

"I just wanted to sound you out about something," Ukyo inclined her 
head and said, "This morning you seemed pretty down about 
Ranchan..."

"Him again?" Akane's frown crushed out the pleasure that had so-
briefly been upon her features, "What about him?"

"I take it you're not exactly his biggest fan, Sugar?" Ukyo lifted an 
eyebrow.

"If you mean do I like the jerk, why should I?" Akane flared, "He's an 
obnoxious pig and he's nothing but trouble, and according to you he 
was just the same way ten years ago, so what reason would I have to 
like him?"

"Oh, I don't know," Ukyo studied the other girl's aura and confirmed 
that she was being on the level, "He is kind of handsome, and your 
sister did seem to be taking a real liking to my...fiancée.  I guess 
maybe I kind of overreacted there myself, but you've got to admit that 
she and Ranchan were being real chummy..."

"Nabiki's gone out of her mind if she thinks that guy's worth the 
trouble," Akane said, "She used to be so practical and level-
headed...then HE comes waltzing into our house and BANG!  
Whatever sense she had has just gone right out the window!  I don't 
understand that that guy has that makes him so attractive!  Most of the 
girls in school couldn't even stop talking about him and they were 
bugging me about where he went after lunch recess..." Akane paused 
and added, "Where did you go, for that matter?  I was looking for 
you..."

"You were?" Ukyo blinked.

"Sure," Akane said with a straight face, "You were the new girl in our 
school today, and you created quite a stir yourself.  More than a few 
guys were turning their heads to look at you in our early period...I 
thought a couple of them were going to give themselves a case of 
whiplash."

"I'm not sure how to take that," Ukyo honestly admitted.

"Well," Akane smiled slyly, "Considering that you dress like a boy and 
can kick most of their butts without half trying might have something 
to do with it, although I think they just felt that you're a pretty girl that 
they'd like to know better.  Too bad you've wasted ten years of your 
life chasing after a real creep, you might actually have noticed."

Ukyo was more than a little unsure about where this conversation was 
headed, and it made her feel somewhat...confused as she found herself 
drifting off her original focus.  With an effort she said, "It ain't a 
matter of romance, Sugar...it's an affair of honor.  I owe that Jackass 
for humiliating me and causing me to lose face in front of my own 
father.  I can't really be a woman at all until I put what's between us in 
the past..."

"I know," Akane said sympathetically, "And I can't really blame you 
for feeling like that.  It's just such a shame that you're doing it over that 
Baka."

"Ah..." Ukyo definitely knew that she was drifting WAY off topic and 
she fought to keep control by falling back on the burning knot of 
Anger that was always threatening to boil over to the surface, 
"Well...one day I'm going to have my vengeance, but for now...you 
know I'm going to do everything I can to pay him back."

"I guess you have to," Akane sighed, "That must be the way of the 
Dark Side."

"Yeah?" Ukyo sniffed, "And what would you know about I?"

"Absolutely nothing," Akane admitted, "I was trained in the way of the 
Light and warned against the Dark Side.  What I know about the Sith 
are just stories...stories about how you guys destroyed a great 
Republic, or something like that..."

"Stories told to you by your Master," Ukyo pointed out, "The Jedi 
Knight called Trieste?"

"Exactly," Akane answered, "She says that the Sith love nobody and 
no one, that they're totally steeped in evil and hate the world in 
general...but...you don't really seem to be at all like that."

"WHAT?" Ukyo reacted, "W-Whatever gave you that idea?"

"Just an impression I have," Akane said, "I'm usually pretty good 
about reading people I've just meat and...well...aside from the 
Vengeance thing, you don't really seem all that evil.  I mean...I don't 
want to insult you or anything, but do evil people really stop to talk to 
their enemies?  I'd expect you to jump out at me or try and take me 
hostage, force Sensei Trieste or my sisters to take some kind of action, 
maybe even wait in ambush and attack them without warning.  
Instead...well...you're not all that bad to talk to."

Ukyo felt her confusion growing as her emotions swirled in turmoil 
over the calm way in which the other girl was stating her observations.  
On the one half there was her anger, which INDEED was an ever-
constant thing and caused her to feel a generalized disdain towards 
other people.  On the other hand there was a sense of familiarity, 
almost a feeling of shared kinship that tentatively made her like this 
other girl, in spite of ever reason she had not to feel such positive 
emotions.  Here was a girl who honestly seemed to care and 
sympathize with her, a girl with whom she seemed to have a lot in 
common.  It definitely did not mesh well with her initial game plan to 
sound the girl out then bring her (kicking and screaming, if necessary) 
to deliver before her master for possible conversion.

"How do you know that I'm not about to kidnap you?" Ukyo 
challenged, "I could be seeking to turn you over to the Dark Side."

"You could try," Akane smiled gently, "But how would you know that 
I won't try to do the same thing in reverse?"

"You mean...turn...me?" Ukyo was shocked by the very notion.

"Are you saying it's not possible?" Akane pouted, "What a pity, and I 
was honestly starting to like you."

"Like...me?" Ukyo blinked, then suddenly she felt an urge to shout, 
"Hey, don't you know I've been trying to kill your sister?"

"Have you been able to so far?" Akane asked.

"Ah...no," Ukyo admitted with some reluctance.

"I knew you hadn't," Akane said, "I'd have felt it if anything really bad 
happened to either Nabiki or Kasumi, and so far all I've felt is this 
annoying twinge in my shoulder.  Cropped up during Gym class, 
almost caused me to take a spill on the balanced beam.  I take it you 
couldn't do it?"

"I was prevented," Ukyo said almost defensively, "Some bimbo came 
out of nowhere and stopped me."

"Maybe you wanted to be stopped...did you ever think of that?" Akane 
suggested.

"Now you're just full wishful thinking!" Ukyo snorted and prepared to 
turn away, only to be stopped by the other girl's next statement.

"Hey, I'm sorry if I offended you," Akane urged, "We could still fight 
if you'd like.  Would that make you feel better?"

Ukyo glanced back at the other girl and said, "You're weird..."

"I've been called worse things," Akane smiled, "I have to warn you, 
though, I am pretty good.  You may even be good enough to fight 
Oneechan, but I won't make it easy."

"Let me get this straight," Ukyo frowned, "You WANT me to fight 
you?  And do you know what will happen if I WIN?"

"That would be up to you, I suppose," Akane shrugged, "But there's 
always the chance that I could win.  Don't count me out until you've 
tried me."

"You?" Ukyo tried to make her voice sound skeptical, but somehow 
the word came out with more stress as a question.

"Yep," Akane nodded, "And if I win...well...then you'd owe me a 
favor.  That is...I guess Sith don't honor agreements either, huh?  Well, 
I'm sure we'd think of something..."

"And what would you really know about the Sith?" Ukyo challenged.

"Not nearly enough," Akane said, "But maybe you could show me.  I 
mean...Ukyo-san...what is it like for you...walking on the Dark Side of 
the Force?"

"I...don't really think I could describe it..." Ukyo started to reply when 
a voice called out to them both.

"I don't really think that would be too wise."

"Sensei?" Akane said in surprise, finding Trieste standing a little bit 
apart from the two girls, not really so much frowning as giving her 
student and the dark-clad Sith a curious study that betrayed little of the 
hostility one of her kind might experience normally in the face of a 
representative of their traditional enemies.

"What do you want?" Ukyo's question was more wary than hostile.

"To see to it that one of my stray charges does not wander off into 
dangerous territories," Trieste answered, "It's a poor shepherd who 
blames the lamp for getting itself slaughtered...only which of you 
should I be addressing this to, I wonder?"

"I don't know what you're talking about," Ukyo snarled, "But don't get 
in my way!  I'm coming back for Ranma and anybody who tries to 
stop me gets hurt!"

"Like you tried to do to Nabiki?" Trieste asked reasonably, "She's all 
right, by the way, in case you felt like asking.  You didn't aim very 
well with that spatula of yours, which I must say is a shocking breach 
of discipline in your training.  Should I take it up with your Master?"

Ukyo turned away and growled, "Well...try and stop me, that's all I 
have to say to you."

"I've no intention of stopping you if you want to leave," Trieste 
remarked, "But I suggest you don't try anything with 
Ranma...especially not when it showers.  You've only had a small taste 
of what he could be like if you provoke him once again into the Neko."

Ukyo turned away after shooting a murderous glare towards the Jedi 
Knight, then she vaulted into a tree and vanished from sight.  Akane 
found herself more than slightly disappointed.

"Did you have to intervene, Sensei?" she asked, "I think I was making 
real progress..."

"Akane-chan," Trieste sighed, "Did you mean what you said about 
wanting to know what it is like to talk on the Dark Side?"

"Ah...well..." Akane said sheepishly, "I'd be lying if I said that 
I...wasn't curious..."

"It is very easy to walk the path of the Dark Side," Trieste informed 
her, "You just let your emotions take over and they become the rulers 
of your life.  You give into your darker impulses and become their 
slave, and hate, greed and anger rule you.  The Sith are not more 
powerful than us, but their way is paved with the best of intentions.  
To be a Sith is to believe that you are the master of your own destiny 
when---in fact---you are only a pawn to dark and impersonal forces.  
You are not truly a master of anything...is that what you want to 
become?  Will that be the ultimate outcome of all your training?"

"Ah...well, not exactly, Sensei," Akane admitted, "But...well...it's just 
that...in the last year while you and Kasumi were away...I've been 
having...problems with my concentration..."

"So your mother tells me," Trieste replied, then turned back towards 
the dojo, "Walk with me, Akane-chan...we do have much to talk about, 
and it seems I have been negligent in your training.  My fault that I 
didn't anticipate something like this happening to you during our 
absence."

"Ah...sure," Akane said as she fell in step beside her teacher, "Have 
I...done something wrong to offend you, Sensei?"

"That depends on what you tell me about the direction your life has 
traveled in the past year," Trieste remarked, "For example...have you a 
girlfriend at the present?"

"Ah..." Akane felt her cheeks glow crimson, "Not...at the moment...not 
since I broke up with Sayuri a couple of months ago.  It's not that easy 
to find someone else...it's not like I can...advertise that I'm available."

"I see," Trieste mused, "And may I take it for granted that you are still 
a virgin?"

"Ah..." Akane halted in mid-stride, compelling her Sensei to turn an 
amused look in her direction.

"It must be difficult to be tempted," Trieste remarked, "And still 
maintain your self-image as a 'good girl,'" Trieste smiled a bit as she 
saw Akane's expression, "You know that I would never pass 
judgement on you or what you do in your personal life, but it must be 
that you are concerned about your mother finding out and 
disapproving.  Put your mind at ease on that subject...Kimiko-chan and 
I have talked and we see no problem with you...exploring your 
options...just as long as it does not interfere with your training or your 
schoolwork."

"Ah...well..." Akane shuffled a foot as she looked down at the ground, 
feeling oddly pensive, "It's not...that I haven't been thinking about 
it...but it's such an awfully big step...and I'd have to really get to know 
someone before I...could do it..."

"But this Kuonji Ukyo interests you," Trieste observed, "There is 
something about her that you sense is different from other young girls 
your age...and not just because she shares your passion in the martial 
arts, or a fledgling interest in the Dark Side that she represents."

"I wouldn't say I was...hitting on her, Sensei," Akane hesitated before 
she continued, "But...well...like you say...she's very different...maybe 
even a little exciting to be around..."

"Just so you are aware of why you feel drawn to her...and not just to 
the Dark Side," Trieste noted, "There is danger in any sort of 
relationship, but flirting with a Sith Lord, even one not fully confirmed 
as a Master...has special complications.  You know that the Force can 
have a strong effect even on those of a sound mind and body, but the 
powers of suggestion..."

"Are you suggesting that Kuonji might try something on me?" Akane 
smirked, "That doesn't seem too likely..."

"Actually I was thinking something along the lines of the reverse," 
Trieste mused, "If Kuonji is as confused as she appeared right 
now...then it is possible she might be vulnerable to manipulation.  It 
would be...enormously tempting to take advantage of such a situation."

"What?  But I'd never---!" Akane started to protest when she saw the 
broad smile on the lips of her teacher.

"It's good to see that the spirit that I've admired in you all along hasn't 
been smothered by your recent string of hardships," Trieste mused, 
"I've heard you've been under some pressure from the boys in your 
class, and I don't think I'm stepping too far out on a limb to suggest 
that there might be a connection between this and your resentment 
towards a certain house guest?"

Akane wondered why it was that she could endure teaching from her 
Mentor that she would never put up with from any other human being.  
Even so she could not meet the serene Jedi's expression as she 
stuttered out a reply, "I-I guess maybe that is partly the reason...but...if 
only he weren't such a...pest around the house..."

"Are you sure he's really that bad?" Trieste asked, "Perhaps you just 
got off on the wrong foot.  If you gave him half a chance...he might 
actually surprise you."

"As if," Akane grumbled, "You know, this is really all the fault of 
that...Kuno Tatewaki..."

"Ah yes," Trieste sighed, "I had also heard that he had become 
something of a problem of late, though moreso for your sister than for 
you.  Perhaps I should pay my respects to his mother.  Hitome is 
devoted to both of her children and if there is anyone whom Tachi 
might listen to, it would be her."

"Could you...tell to make those guys at my school lighten up a little?" 
Akane sniffed, "I know getting attacked by a horde of boys from 
various sports clubs every morning could count as training, but they're 
such pathetic weaklings, and all they're doing is getting themselves 
hurt...and for what?  So they think they can try and convince me to 
change my mind about who I choose to date?"

"Some young men can be very foolish and easily swayed by people 
with much stronger opinions," Trieste replied, "No doubt the troubling 
aspects of teenaged sexuality confuses them, and you stand out among 
the peers of your age group.  Take it as a compliment to your attractive 
qualities that so many young men would suffer so much on your 
behalf.  Of course they're being ridiculous to even think that you have 
some tragic condition that needs correcting...it is the way you are, and 
that is what makes you the kind of person that you are.  If they can't 
accept you on your own terms, then their opinions about you have no 
relevance and you can ignore them."

"That's easy for you to say, Sensei," Akane sighed, "You haven't heard 
Kuno give one of his 'Let's Change Akane's Mind About Boys' 
speeches..." she deepened her voice, squared her shoulders and said, 
"The vengeance of heaven is slow but certain, and how surely will we 
be judged if we allow this flower of innocence to go without 
pollination?  Surely the heavens would weep if this pure, chaste and 
innocent maiden should waste away because she has given up upon the 
men of our generation?  Any why not you may ask?  Are we so much 
less than men that she favors the company of her own sex?  Nay!  I say 
that we must prove that we are strong, that we are virile, that we are 
men!  So I say that only the strongest among us is worthy of dating 
Tendo Akane...yadda, yadda, yadda..." Akane dropped off her speech, 
having done a passable imitation of the boy's speech patterns.

"Oh my," Trieste covered her chuckle with one hand, "Did he actually 
say that?  He wasn't on drugs or anything?  I've spoken with their 
parents on the subject of their experiments with rose extracts..."

"You haven't been around to see the kind of jerk he's been turning into 
lately, Sensei," Akane sighed, "I think he's totally obsessed with 
Kasumi, and he considers me fair practice for working his way up to 
my sister."

"I see," Trieste remarked, "Then I will definitely have to speak with 
Hitome and her husband on this matter.  It's all well and good for a 
young man to fancy one of my students, but not if he carries this 
interest to such an absurd extent that it constitutes harassment."

"Thank you, Sensei," Akane smiled, "Having you around 
again...well...you just make everything seem a whole lot brighter."

"I'm flattered that you think so," Trieste replied, "And I can see that we 
have a lot of work to do to make up for a year of absence in your 
training.  Both you and your sister, Nabiki, will each need to renew 
your training, but in your case I think our studies will need to 
concentrate on rebuilding your focus and sense of your own self.  How 
else will you manage to associate with young Kuonji without being 
lost to the influence of the Dark Side?"

"And Nabiki?" Akane asked, "She wasn't really too badly hurt by 
Ukyo...was she?"

"Nice of you to remember," Trieste replied, "She took an injury to the 
shoulder, but she will be well in next to no time.  She will have to take 
it easy for a few days, but that should give us time to work on building 
up her strength of mind and body.  From there...we will see...but as 
you progress from childhood to womanhood you will become much 
stronger in the ways of the Force, and once you learn to walk with it as 
your friend and ally, then you will be worthy of calling yourself a 
Jedi."

"I'll study hard and overcome any obstacle, Sensei," Akane promised, 
"You can count on me..."

"No," Trieste replied, "First recall that working hard has no meaning to 
a Force Master, let alone a Jedi, and you must rely upon yourself and 
not seek approval from me.  You will be your own judge when you 
know how to trust your own feelings.  Learn to be at peace within 
yourself and you will worry far less about what others think, say or do.  
Your emotions can be your strongest weapon or your greatest 
weakness.  Remember that and learn to act from the deepest integrity 
of heart, mind and body...but beware of your pride and anger.  That 
can be your ultimate undoing."

"My deepest...integrity?" Akane asked, "But...how can I guard against 
my anger if I'm supposed to be honest about my feelings?"

"That is the first step to your enlightenment, Student," Trieste replied, 
"When you have found the answer to your own question, then you will 
be worthy of the next level of your training."

With that thought in mind the two women returned to the dojo, Sensei 
and Apprentice, and all the while a pair of watchful eyes tracked their 
every movement.  A pair of wings unfolded themselves and the figure 
took to the air, careful to stay beyond the reach of even a Jedi's sphere 
of perception, grateful for what he called his "Eagle Sight," a slight 
compensation for his normally poor eyesight.

"Shampoo...somehow, somewhere I will find you," he spoke over the 
rushing winds that whipped his hair past his face, "And when I 
do...Saotome...you wretch!  You will feel the wrath of the one you 
have wronged, so help me Ancestors...!"



Shampoo sneezed then wondered why she had.  She was not one who 
was prone to natural diseases, having always had the most excellent of 
health, so it was not as if she could seriously credit coming down with 
a case of the sniffles.

She rubbed her nose and hoped that her adopted clan brother and sister 
did not notice.  It was important to create a good impression before 
them and their kinswoman, this curious warrior with the odd name of 
Nabiki who had fought valiantly (if unsuccessfully) against a Sith 
Lord's apprentice.  Her knowledge of Japanese was still not perfect, 
though considerably enhanced through long hours of study and verbal 
practice, but it was curious that any family that could produce a 
warrior like her Big Sister, Kasumi, would name its three daughters 
"Hazy Mist," "Fluttering" and "Scarlet."

She glanced towards her Big Sister, still as beautiful and capable as 
Shampoo could ever remember.  In the years since they parted 
company the older girl had grown even taller and more beautiful and 
was much stronger in the ways of the Force.  The helpful tutor who 
had shown her so much about tapping into the flow of life and learning 
to master one's heart and spirit had become herself a young Elder 
worth closer study.  In light of their past relationship she had positive 
feelings about the progress Kasumi's life had taken, especially if she 
read the situation correctly and her clan-sister was interested in 
forming marriage ties with her clan-brother...which might put her at 
odds with her natural-born sister, but then again this could prove 
interesting incentive for furthering their training.  For a surety her 
clan-brother needed strong women in his life to help tame his "Wild 
Horse" spirit, and having two this strong competing for him was bound 
to provide good motivation for training, if only from pure survival, as 
was the case when he "accidentally" incurred the wrath of Shampoo's 
cousin, the Tribal Enforcer.

Kasumi was not aware of the drift of her "clan-sister's" thoughts, her 
awareness being rather overly focused on another member of the group 
walking together from Tofu's clinic to the dojo.  Ranma was hanging 
in the space between herself and Nabiki, whose arm was in a sling so 
as not to put too much stress on her stitches.  Ranma seemed to want to 
support her sister and protect her at one and the same time, and he 
seemed so earnest in his endeavor that Kasumi hardly had the heart to 
tell him that her senses had assured her there were no enemies 
currently between them and the dojo.

Kasumi had to confess to herself that the presence of the boy who was 
in part her possible fiancée was affecting her in ways that utterly 
confused her senses.  From almost the moment of their first meeting 
she had been drawn to him (or her) as if he were a nagging memory or 
a thought unrealized until the present moment.  She knew him...or she 
had seen him somewhere before, either in her dreams or her thoughts 
in times unguarded.  A Jedi sometimes had flashes and moments of 
either the past or the future, so perhaps this Ranma was a part of her 
destiny...a strong part to judge by the feelings he inspired in her, 
feelings all new and strange in her experience...very different feelings 
from what she shared with her father, mother and sisters, or even...

Shampoo...a cute girl from her childhood who had taught Kasumi as 
much about life as Kasumi had taught her, and in so doing they had 
become a LOT closer together than any mere "clan-sisters."

But this Ranma was different in a lot of other ways besides the 
feelings that he inspired in her.  She could not really place why he was 
affecting her in this manner, even though he was spirited and 
handsome after a fashion, and for all his rougher qualities she found a 
rude nobility and raw courage that was admirable.  The way he leaped 
to her sister's defense was certainly cause enough to hold him in higher 
esteem than the usual rough-and-tumble martial artists of her 
acquaintance.  The fact that he affected her in ways no other boy or 
man ever had was altogether...disturbing.

Disturbing because strong emotions were something that she had been 
taught to be wary of for they could overmatch her training.  As 
someone who had never truly known the taste of fear or even anger 
before her experience with the Nekoken (and what an experience that 
was!), she was concerned that having such feelings might disrupt her 
ability to operate and remain in the placid state necessary to working 
with the Force at higher levels.  The fact that Ranma seemed more 
interested in her sister, Nabiki, was another source of great concern, 
the moreso because of what effect it had for Kasumi, feeling another 
emotion wholly new and alien to her experience...the emotion called 
envy!

By all rights she should have been happy for Nabiki in finding a 
boyfriend who quite obviously made her feel happy.  She could sense 
the chemistry building between the two young teenagers, could feel 
the way it made Nabiki's normally dormant heart take wing, and a 
lonely Ranma had found in her a peer who could actually understand 
him.  There was a different sort of chemistry with Shampoo, who 
seemed happy to regard Ranma as though he really were her brother, 
but with Nabiki...well...Ranma seemed to be unaware of just how deep 
his passions were extending towards Nabiki, who was VERY MUCH 
aware of her own deepening attraction, and for once she wasn't pulling 
away or hiding from her emotions with some clever subtlety or sly 
evasion.

This was the sort of behavior that should have cheered her for Nabiki's 
sake, but instead she found herself wanting to say something...to do 
something...but what she could not say.  It was the most bizarre 
complex of emotions that she had ever before experienced, and for the 
life of her she could not even say why she was feeling the way she did.  
After all, the boy was three years younger than herself and barely even 
mature, lacking the most basic in social skills and driven to act 
impulsively with hardly any thought of the consequences brought on 
by his actions.  He was used to verbal abuse in his training, to shutting 
down on the feminine aspects within his own nature.  His emotions 
were a jumble of disorganized mish-mash, a virtual stew of positive 
and negative feelings over which he practiced only the most loosely 
focused of disciplines, the peculiar result of his intensive martial arts 
training that allowed him to concentrate on a target or goal but left him 
vulnerable to pushing and prodding by anyone who could skillfully 
push his buttons.  Hardly the best recommendation for either a warrior 
or a boyfriend.

So why was she so interested?  It made very little sense, and 
yet...when she looked into his eyes, when she heard his voice or felt 
his battle spirits harden, or when he was ready to extend himself in 
defense of another...she could not help but feel a certain thrill, much as 
she had felt when they first sparred together, when defeating him had 
taken a bit more effort than any other fighter of her experience.  There 
was a sense of having to extend herself, of being tested beyond her 
normal limits, which excited her in a way no fight had ever inspired 
her, not even against Shampoo, with whom she had enjoyed some 
very...colorful matches.

It was as she was reflecting upon these matter that she heard the voice 
of the boy in question ask, "Ah...Kasumi?"

Surprised to be so hesitantly addressed, Kasumi turned to side-glance 
his way and said, "Yes, Ranma-kun?"

It hardly even dawned on her before she said this that she was 
speaking to him in an intimate tone of voice, or that Nabiki would 
catch the emotion of surprise and expectation her softly worded reply 
would carry, but the words were out and as loud as a declaration.  
There would have to be more words exchanged as a follow-up to this, 
especially if she was to mollify her sister's inevitable resentment over a 
perceived territorial intrusion.

"This training I'm supposed to get with you..." again a slight hesitation 
on his part, then Ranma continued, "What's it really all about?"

"About the Force?" Kasumi replied, "It will be difficult...you will have 
to learn a lot of things all over like a beginner, and the way your father 
has trained you..." for a moment Kasumi felt her resolve slip as a note 
of real anger crept in, but then she allowed that emotion to flow out of 
her like water, "There will be much that needs undoing.  You have 
been taught to fuel your actions with rage...you must learn to let go of 
such negative emotions and allow other feelings to rise to the surface.  
It will take much time, but I think you have what it takes to manage 
through the difficult portions."

"What Oneechan means is that you can't allow hate and anger to cloud 
your judgement or control your actions, Ranma-kun," Nabiki clarified 
with just a hint of wary suspicion in her voice,  "The Dark Side feeds 
on those negative emotions...it draws you in, it lures and tempts you 
with the promise of easy, quick gratification, but then you become a  
slave to these dark passions and it becomes like an addiction.  You 
have to balance the negative with the positive and free yourself of 
doubt and worry so that the Force can flow freely through you without 
resistance, the better to achieve total mind and body integration."

"Oh yeah?" Ranma said, "Then what about your sister, Akane?  If 
getting mad is such a bad thing then what's her deal?"

"Ah..." Kasumi sighed, "That is a difficult question to answer, which 
makes it a very important question."

"Neechan is a bit of a spoiled brat who's used to getting her way on 
everything," Nabiki said more bluntly, "And you showed her up big-
time, once in the field, the other time at central stage."

"You mean because she was clumsy and relied too much on that Force 
stuff she's gotta take it out on me?" Ranma countered, "I took my share 
of lumps too, and do you see me complaining?"

"But you're used to this 'rough-and-tumble' stuff," Nabiki reasoned, 
"Akane isn't, in fact she's more like a..."

"Neechan," Kasumi chided.

"I was going to say Klutz, Kasumi," Nabiki said a bit defensively, 
"Don't forget that I've been watching her go downhill the last few 
months while you were still on your training mission.  Her discipline is 
starting to erode, and for us that can be extremely dangerous because 
with great power comes great temptations, yadda, yadda, yadda.  The 
thing is, she's used to having her own way in most affairs, and when 
she doesn't get it right instantly she starts to berate herself, and then 
she becomes frustrated, and then she gets angry."

"I had no idea that she was becoming such a problem," Kasumi 
remarked, "I'll have to speak with her about it..."

"Would you, Oneechan?" Nabiki asked, "Because she's all but stopped 
listening to me.  We've got this sibling rivalry thing going on between 
us, and since she's Daddy's little Princess and I'm the family realist, I 
tend to be the wet blanket on her parade, so even when I am giving her 
good advice she'd rather bull on ahead and do things her way.  It's just 
like her efforts at cooking...Momma does what she can to carefully 
teach her, but from the way I hear it, Momma had good coaching 
herself and had to take things one step at a time.  Akane wants to jump 
ahead and improve on a recipe before she's given herself time enough 
to learn the basics."

"That don't make no sense at all," Ranma shook his head in dismay, 
"Didn't anybody ever teach her that to build a house you need a strong 
foundation?  Every martial artist has to go through the steps to master 
a new system...you just can't leap on ahead until you can execute the 
basic maneuvers."

"May this one volunteer her opinion?" Shampoo spoke up.

"Please do, clan-sister," Kasumi responded.

"This one has not yet met the person whom you are describing," the 
purple haired Amazon replied, "But it sounds much as if she and this 
one have much in common.  She too had to learn the basics and she 
was not always a very patient student, as Big Sister might care to 
remember?"

"I see," Kasumi mused, "Yes...I do think I see a parallel here.  Thank 
you for reminding me, Shampoo."

"This one is grateful that she had such a patient teacher," Shampoo 
replied, "You are clan-sister to this one, and thus your sisters are my 
sisters by adoption, so she is my sister too, and if there is anything 
which this one may do to help out..."

"I thank you for the offer," Kasumi smiled, "And perhaps I may take 
you up on this."

"You are welcome," Shampoo smiled, "Whatever this one may do to 
repay her debt to you, she will gladly accept as her challenge."

Nabiki looked from the incredibly beautiful Chinese girl in the pale 
Cheosong to her older sister and back again, feeling the radiating glow 
of mutual appreciation and lingering fondness, which of course caused 
her to lift an eyebrow then Oh-So-casually remark, "Soooo...Sis?  You 
two get along pretty well for a couple of old friends who haven't seen 
each other in a while.  What's the rest of the story here?  Were you two 
an item?"

"Neechan," Kasumi chided, but none the less her cheeks were 
flushing.

"This one does not quite understand the reference," Shampoo said, 
"But Big Sister and this one are very...good friends.  If you wish to 
know our current status, we are...detached but still friendly.  This one 
has been pursuing interests of her own since parting company with her 
clan-sister...and she is pleased to see that her Big Sister is blossoming 
nicely into new relationships that promise to yield a bounteous 
harvest."

"Ah..." Kasumi's face was now thoroughly crimson.

"Oh?" Nabiki's eyes narrowed as she murmured to herself, "We'll see 
about that..."

"Uh...guys?" Ranma blinked, glancing from one party to the next 
while clearly not having a clue about what was being discussed here.

"Little Brother is curious to know why Big Sister is shy around her 
new student?" Shampoo smirked in a more-than-suggestive manner, 
"Keep going as you are, Ranma...you will find out soon enough if this 
one reads matters correctly."

"Hey..." Nabiki's frown deepened.

"But seriously," Shampoo continued, "When it comes to learning the 
ways of the Force, you could do a lot worse than to study under 
Kasumi.  Big Sister lives and breathes the Way, and if you dedicate 
yourself---as this one has---to becoming more like her, then you will 
go far in becoming more attuned to your surroundings."

"Shampoo," Kasumi said, "I told you that you should never try to be 
like anyone but yourself..."

"Exactly," Shampoo agreed, "Many times this one has asked herself, 
'What would Big Sister do?' and always is same answer, 'Big Sister 
would do as Big Sister, Shampoo will do as Shampoo,' which means 
that we are the same and yet very different as people.  This one 
believes that to be like Big Sister she must be more like herself, at one 
with all life and hating no one.  Many times this has calmed her 
restless spirit when this one has been troubled, and this one believes 
that this has made of her a better person."

"Hmmm," Nabiki mused, "Sounds like you made quite a convert 
during your tour of China, Sis."

"Ah...well..." Kasumi blushed again, "It was a...very interesting 
time...one of many that I've had during my travels..."

"Oh really?" it was Nabiki's turn to grin, "Then can we expect more of 
your old flames to come dropping in on us in the future?"

"Ah...well..." Kasumi actually had to think about that one, "I'm...not 
really sure.  Always in motion is the future..."

"Tell me about it," Nabiki sniffed, thinking to herself that some very 
interesting times were ahead for the denizens of Nerima if this 
Shampoo character was even a sample.

"Guess I'm gonna have to get started on the basics," Ranma said, "I 
wanna learn all I can about this Force thing so I won't get caught 
napping again, like with Ucchan."

"You'll have time to learn, Ranma-kun," Kasumi said, "If you have 
patience.  You must first discard Anger, Hate and Fear, learn to allow 
those emotions to flow from you like water, leaving yourself as light 
as the air and free from earthly constrictions.  The hardest thing to do 
is to let go of the self, to allow the wall separating you from your 
surroundings to gradually fade away until it has vanished, and thus to 
open yourself to the wonders of the life-presence that exists all around 
you.  A Jedi walks freely because he or she is humble and does not 
attempt to bend the will of others to suit her own needs.  A Jedi will 
act when there is need and allow the Force to flow through them like a 
vessel but does not do so from a sense of ego.  A Jedi acts for the sake 
of life and treats life as sacred...unless the life in question is of the 
Dark Side and exists for the sole purpose of harming another."

"I don't really get it," Ranma admitted, "But I'll try."

"Try not, young Padawan," Nabiki said with a smile, "Only do...or do 
not do.  There is no 'try.'"

"Is true," Shampoo agreed, "Live in the moment, surrender your 
doubts about the past and future, little Brother.  The present is all that 
matters...the past is the past and the future will take care of itself."

"Something I don't get here, though," Ranma frowned, "What do you 
guys mean when you keep using the word 'Jedi?'"

"Jedi is a title given to an adept who has fully mastered the ways of the 
Force," Kasumi explained, "I myself am not yet fully rated as a Jedi, 
but Mistress Trieste assures me that I am nearing my graduation.  
Once I am a fully trained Jedi Knight I will be worthy of passing along 
the flame of my knowledge and understanding of the Force...but I first 
I must endure my trials to demonstrate my abilities so that I am truly 
worthy to be called a Jedi."

"That's right, Ranma-kun," Nabiki said, "The Jedi are a pretty ancient 
order, and presently Trieste is the only one who can rightfully bear that 
title.  Akane and me are Force-Adepts.  We've learned to harness the 
power of the Force in our lives and treat it as a powerful ally, though 
our understanding of its true nature is no where as intense as with 
Kasumi."

"This one has too studied the ways of the Force," Shampoo added, 
"But she would not yet presume to rate herself as worthy of being 
called a Jedi.  Perhaps in time, when she has fully mastered all that she 
can learn from her great-grandmother...and if Elder Trieste would 
choose to share even more of her knowledge with this one, who would 
be most grateful for the guidance..."

"You've come a lot farther than you seem to know, Little Sister," 
Kasumi smiled, then added, "But don't feel disheartened about being a 
novice to this new discipline, Ranma.  You are very strong with the 
Force already and all you need is to train in its usage and one day you, 
too, may become a Master."

"How about explaining that to me," Ranma asked, "I've studied the 
mastery of Chi, but just what is this 'Force' stuff about anyway?"

"Th Force is an energy field generated by all life, Ranma-kun," Nabiki 
explained, "Grass, trees, plants, animals, even the bacteria in our 
bodies and the people who walk all around us.  It's in the very rock, 
stones and the dirt beneath our feet, it permeates everything and binds 
the whole Universe together."

"Without the Force there would be no life," Kasumi added, "In its raw 
state it exists dormant in the inanimate objects we encounter.  The 
field is alive, however, and intelligent.  If you listen you can hear its 
voice, the humming that is the music of the stars and planets.  It is 
invisible yet you can feel it within you and all around you...flowing, 
ever in motion like the tides of the seas...and without it we could not 
even be here to talk about these subjects, for the very ability perceive 
reality and discuss its myriad levels and planes of existence is a result 
of self-conscious reflection.  The Force is the reality that shapes our 
lives and destinies and it is more real to us than flesh and substance.  
Luminous beings are we, not crude matter that is dull and lifeless.  All 
life exists in a state of Flux, but it is the Force that makes it whole and 
allows us to be everywhere and in everything at one and the same 
instant."

"That does sound pretty deep," Ranma scratched behind the back of 
his head, "Can't say I get all that right now, but I'll try 
and...ah...I'll...remember what you said."

"Not bad," Nabiki grinned, "You're learning already.  You really are a 
quick study"

"Heh, a Saotome specialty," Ranma mused, "Only it seems to have 
skipped a generation with Pop..."

"Ranma?" a new voice asked, "Ranma...is that you?"

"Huh?" Ranma and the rest of the party came to an abrupt halt, having 
finally arrived at the gates of the Tendo dojo.  There standing at the 
gates were their assembled parents, chief among whom was Nodoka, 
who stood beside her now panic-stricken husband as if they were 
about to depart from the Tendo household.

His mother was looking right at him now and from the way in which 
she was studying his features he became instantly aware that he was in 
male form rather than female.

"Ah...Mom?" he hesitantly asked.

"Ranma..." it was amazing how fast a woman wearing a kimono could 
move to cover the distance between them, but all at once Ranma found 
himself embraced in the warm arms of the woman who had given him 
birth, who was sobbing into his shoulder, "Oh...my son!  My Son!  
How you have grown!  You look so manly!"

"Ah...Mom?" Ranma repeated again, very awkwardly and belatedly 
putting his arms around her to return the hug...and finding the 
experience rather more pleasant until his hand encountered the cloth-
bound object that she wore across her back.  That was a very pointed 
(he winced) reminder of the promise his father had gotten them both 
into and he swallowed very thickly as thoughts of his curse rose to the 
surface.

"Oh...Ranma...are you real?  Is this a dream?" Nodoka sighed before 
ease back to study his features, finding that her son was actually a 
couple of centimeters taller than herself, which brought a smile to her 
lips as she remarked, "You are growing up so nicely, and here you are 
with your two fiancées...how wonderful!  And...who is this?" she 
turned her head and for a moment looked puzzled before gasping, 
"Comb-san?  Is that you?"

"Kho-Hom?" Shampoo actually blinked at this, "Excuse this one for 
asking...but how is it that you know the name of this one's mother?"

"Comb is your mother?" Nodoka said in surprise, "Why...yes!  I see 
the resemblance immediately.  We met a long time ago, back when 
your mother looked much like you do...well, never mind, that's not 
important now.  The fact is that you are here in Japan, and such a fine 
young lady you are, such excellent manners and..." she paused before 
adding, "Are you another one of Ranma's girlfriends?"

"Girl friends?" again Shampoo blinked.

"Ah...Mom," Ranma swallowed, "This is Shampoo...we met in China 
and..."

"She is Ranma-kun's clan sister," Kasumi clarified, "They met and 
fought in Shampoo's village and..."

"And you defeated her?" Nodoka marveled, "Which means that you're 
now obligated to marry my son?  Oh...Ranma!  You make your mother 
so very proud!"

"H-Huh?" Ranma reacted, "W-What...?"

"To think...my son has four fiancées," Nodoka beamed proudly, "Four 
beautiful young women who are willing to compete for the honor of 
being your wife, and any one of whom would make any mother a 
wonderful daughter!  Oh, I am so happy!"

Ranma was still puzzling this one out when a less-than-pleasantly 
familiar voice said, "What has the pervert gotten himself into this 
time?"

"Akane-chan," Trieste chided as she and her youngest student arrived 
to join the gathering by the Tendo gates, "I take it you have done 
something praiseworthy, Ranma-kun?  Your mother seems very 
pleased with you indeed."

"But...ah..." Ranma was searching for a way to verbally extricate 
himself from the obvious confusion that his mother was experiencing 
as in his mind the only real engagements he had were to one of the two 
Tendo sisters, but before he could think what to say a hand clamped 
itself over his mouth and he found Nabiki leaning in close with a 
pleasant enough smile that would have sent stronger men reaching for 
their wallets.

"That's your son, Saotome-san...a real stud of a guy, has to beat them 
off with a stick and all that, and he's definitely manly!"

"But..." Shampoo started to say, "This one is sworn Oath-sister and 
not..."

"You don't need to say anything more," Nodoka beamed, "I've heard 
all about those rules you Amazons live by.  Kami knows your mother 
used to throw them in my face often enough.  Ah well...Ranma, you 
choose wisely when selecting a bride.  I can see that any one of these 
girls would be pleased as punch to call you her husband...and who is 
this?"

"Who, me?" Akane blinked, "I'm not marrying the pervert!  Find 
somebody---ah...who is that?" she said as she took in Shampoo with a 
slow glance.

"Akane-chan," Kasumi replied, "This is my clan-sister from China, 
Xian-Pu of the Joketsuzoku."

"Shampoo?" Akane blinked again, unable to help wondering if the girl 
in question was for real or if she had some kind of implants...

"And you are the one they call 'Scarlet?'" Shampoo returned with a 
pleasant smile in Akane's direction.

"Ah..." Akane replied, and promptly colored like her namesake.

"Mom?" Ranma decided on a different tack after Nabiki removed her 
hand from his mouth, "Where are you and Pop going at the minute?"

"Your father and I are going back to our home," Nodoka said proudly, 
"We've made an arrangement with the Tendos to let you remain here 
for a time so that you can continue your training with Sensei Trieste.  
You'll be sleeping by yourself in the room you and your father have 
been sharing and spending time with your future fiancées.  I hope soon 
enough that you'll be able to choose which one to make official, 
though I wouldn't mind having all of them marry you, if that were still 
legal."

"M-M-M-Marry...?" Ranma blinked, then added, "All of them?"

"Oh yes," Nodoka nodded, "In Samurai days no woman had to be left 
out or disappointed, but unfortunately we live in a much different era.  
Your father and I will come to visit you as many times as can be 
practical, but I look forward to the day when you can move back to 
live in your old room at our house, hopefully bringing your bride-to-be 
with you, and I can't wait to greet them properly as my daughter."

"Sounds swell...Mom," Nabiki shot a questioning look to her actual 
mother, who smiled back with a knowing smirk that helped clarify a 
great deal for her, so like the clever girl that she was she said, "And 
that should help us all to adjust to the recent changes that have been 
made in all our lives...isn't that nice, Ranma-kun?"

"Huh?" Ranma blinked, only to see his father hold up a sign that read, 
"We've got to keep the curses our little secret for now, so just nod your 
head and agree, Boy!" to which Ranma replied, "Oh."

"Wonderful," Nodoka beamed radiantly, looking from Kasumi to 
Nabiki to Shampoo before adding, "I look forward to spending time 
with all of you to learn more about you as bridal candidates.  I can tell 
already that I'm going to love each one of you like a daughter, and it 
will be difficult to choose.  Until then be well...and take good care of 
my son.  Now...come along, Husband, we have a bus to catch if we're 
to make it home before nightfall."

"Yes dearest," Genma swallowed, taking his wife by the arm as the 
two of them walked off down the street together.

"Whew," Nabiki sighed, glancing at her mother, "Now that was fast 
thinking!"

"It was the best that your father and I come up with on our own," 
Kimiko responded, "I just hope your father can manage to conceal the 
truth about his own curse until we have time enough to talk your 
mother into accepting what you turn into."

"Indeed," Soun replied, "But I wouldn't worry too much about 
Saotome...he has the best survivor reflexes of anyone I've ever known, 
myself included...another unfortunate legacy of... the Master."

"Excuse please," Shampoo urged, "This one wishes to know how it is 
that she could be mistaken for the Airen of her own clan-brother?"

"Is that what this is all about?" Akane asked, then studied   the purple-
haired girl more intently, "You mean you're not...interested?"

"This one...Shampoo...is already seeing someone who matters very 
much to her," Shampoo replied, "Though this one does suppose that 
she should consider it an honor that Ranma's mother thinks her worthy 
of marriage status.  This one does wonder, though, of what she knows 
of this one's mother..."

"You're seeing somebody?" Akane looked crestfallen, "What a shame.  
Will you be staying here for a while then?"

"This one does not presently have a place to stay," Shampoo replied, 
"But Big Sister has offered to allow her to stay for the night in the 
dojo."

"Is that all right with you, Father, Mother?" Kasumi asked.

"Well I...suppose there wouldn't be any harm in allowing a beautiful 
girl to stay here..." Soun remarked uneasily.

"And after all, you are Comb's daughter," Kimiko grinned, "In a way 
that kind of makes you family already.  I'll tell you what...if you'd like 
to help me out in the kitchen I'll be pleased to tell you a story about 
how we met your mother when we weren't much older than you are."

"Eh?" Soun reacted, looking suddenly very nervous.

"Can this one?" Shampoo grinned, "That is a very...generous 
arrangement!"

"Well then," Trieste smiled, "With all of that sorted out, shall we go in 
and get comfortable?  It's not too much longer until dinner."

"Indeed," Kimiko smiled broadly, "Let's."

As the family file into the Tendo compound, however, a winged figure 
perched on a distant tree branch scowled darkly and said, "So that's 
where you are, Shampoo!  You're living under the same roof as 
that...Saotome!  Well, you won't have to wait much further...I'll come 
back to rescue you just as soon as I am able, and then I'll deal with the 
likes of that Ranma creep and...Kasumi..."

He breathed the latter word with infinite regret and longing, knowing 
what his Master's instructions would be for the older girl, who was 
steeped in the ways of the Jedi and thus was an enemy to be reckoned.  
He had not forgotten the girl who had stolen his Shampoo away from 
him then left her scrounging in the dirt like so much cast-off laundry, 
and yet with that memory came a certain wistful remembrance of how 
graceful and regal she had been, such a kind-hearted person and not 
the sort you would expect in a warrior even half so formidable.

With no further thought than this he launched himself into the air, 
spreading his wings wide as he caught a breeze that would easily carry 
him to the city limits, intending to make his report to his master, and 
all the while thinking dark thoughts of vengeance upon the two who 
had wronged him, only one of whom generated any real  sort of anger.  
Time would tell when he would have his day, but the thought of 
having Kasumi had his mercy would be enough to sustain him on 
many a long, cold and lonely evening yet to follow...



Continued.

Comments/Criticisms/Loose Engagements: shadowmane@ridgenet.net

Think life has gotten a wee bit confusing for poor Ranma and the 
sisters Tendo?  Read on as his training begins anew while the Sith plot 
their dark plans of vengeance in: "The Edge of Wetness," or , "How 
many Fiancées does it take to change a lightbulb?"  Be there!





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