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Chapter Five
The companions woke to the sound of fighting in the woods. The men grabbed their weapons and headed toward the sound, the women following with theirs. They broke through a grove of trees and stopped dead in their tracks. Their mouths agape.
In the center of the glade stood Ranma doing one of his most intricate katas his eyes closed as if what was going on around him did not concern him. It was what was going on around him that shocked the newcomers. Mousse and Ryoga were dancing around him trying to attack him.
All the companions except Raistlin stared in awe at the attacks of Ryoga and
Mousse and at Ranma's adeptness in dodging them.
Raistlin watched with a keen
magical eye and was surprised to realize they weren't using magic even though
the three were overflowing with magical ability. It was raw and unfocused, he
began to wonder if the magic in them wasn't related to their curses.
His attention was drawn back to the battle as Ryoga removed several of the
cloths from around his head still leaving one there and threw them at Ranma.
Ranma never opened his eyes but dodged,
jumped and ducked out of the way. The
Krynn residences gasped when the pieces of cloth cut through some of the
surrounding trees.
Then it was Mousse's turn, he let fly a series of six chains from the hidden cavities of his robes. Three came from each of his voluminous sleeves. The companions watched in stunned as Mousse released not only chains but throwing stares and daggers. They nearly fell over when Ranma still doing his dance with his eyes closed dodged, ducked, flipped, caught or basically evaded all of the blind boys attacks.
The companions gulped their eyes widened with fear when Ryoga and Mousse
stepped up the attack. Mousse brought forth his blade claws and charged the
pigtailed martial artist. Ranma dodged,
jumped, and flipped over the blind
boy then did a spin kick into his back sending him flying into a tree. Ryoga
caught their attention as he began to glow a yellowish green.
"SHI SHI HOKOU DAN!" A ball of energy the size of a basket ball flew from the bandana clad boy and straight at the none seeing Ranma.
The men started to rush forward to try and save Ranma all but Raistlin who watched the site with excited fascination. The eight companions gasped collectively when Ranma disappeared from view and Ryoga's blast cut a swath of destruction through the trees for a hundred yards. Ryoga reached out with his senses but could not locate his nemesis. That is until Ranma fell from the sky behind him and snapped kicked the back of Ryoga's head sending him into a nearby boulder.
The Krynn fighters surged forward thinking they would be needed to tend to the injures of Mousse and Ryoga but they stopped dead in their tracks when both Ryoga and Mousse rose to their feet and charged Ranma at the same time. Ryoga using the breaking point and Mousse producing a staff with a duck shaped potty-chair.
They watched as the ground in front of Ryoga surged forward and exploded
filling the air with debris. The only problem was the target jumped over thirty
feet straight up leaving Mousse on the other side of him as the recipient of the
Bakusai Teknetsu.
Mousse was knocked back into the tree he hit before
cracking its trunk in two. He would have gotten back up for more if it wasn't
for the fact he hit himself in the head with the duck potty-chair.
Goldmoon ran over to him to examine his injuries. Ryoga looked at Goldmoon
and Mousse, then quickly started looking for his enemy only to find him standing
in the center of the devastation finishing his kata his eyes never opened. Ryoga
growled deep in his throat and charged Ranma his umbrella held high over his
head.
He swung his intention to smash Ranma's head to a pulp. He swung his
red bamboo umbrella forward only to have it stopped dead. He looked up to see
Ranma's hand wrapped around his new titanium umbrella he gulped and his eyes
widened when Ranma began to squeeze and bend the almost indestructible weapon in
half.
"Do I need to remind you that we are honor bound to a truce? Or does your honor mean so little to you since you lost it the night you started sleeping with my fiancИe?" Ranma growled his anger blazing like fire in his blue eyes.
Ryoga's anger tried to rise but the look in Ranma's eyes told him,
he was
serious. Ryoga decided he would wait for his revenge when he and Mousse left
Ranma here. Ranma read Ryoga's mind through the emotions on his face. Ranma
tossed Ryoga using the now hook shaped umbrella, he landed back against the
boulder he had hit earlier. Ranma then sat in the center of the clearing in a
lotus position. Tanis would have approached him to berate the boy for beating up
the other two. Even though neither boy was hurt badly,
but the fact that
Ranma was glowing a dark midnight blue almost black made him nervous. That and
the fact he was floating five feet of the ground.
Raistlin however was not as nervous, Caramon shook his head as he realized
his brothers eyes only lit up like that when he was learning a new spell. He
started to follow his brother toward the floating boy only to stop when Raistlin
glared at him. Caramon stood with the other companions who where to shocked to
move,
while his brother moved toward Ranma.
"Mrs. Saotome! I am his fiancИe, I should have the right to talk to him!" Akane demanded backed up half heartily by the other two.
"What of Shampoo and Ukyo? They according to Ranma are his fiancИes also?" Nodoka watched as Akane's anger began to rise at that pronouncement.
The Amazons and Ukyo smiled at the fact that Ranma's mother acknowledged that fact they had valid claims. Only Cologne noticed the glare in the woman's eye waiting for the other shoe to drop. Before Nodoka could drop it Akane's rage broke through.
'THAT PREVERT! I KNEW HE WAS MESSING AROUND WITH THOSE BIMBOS! I HOPE HE NEVER COMES BACK HE CAN JUST STAY WHERE HE IS!" Akane glowed bright red as the other two looked at her anger filled their eyes.
"HEY WHO YOU CALLING BIMBOS!" Both girls shouted at the youngest Tendo.
"Are you saying you do not love my son nor wish to be his bride"
Nodoka
asked the young girl, her voice low and tone frosty.
"YES! WHO'D WANT A FREAK THAT CAN'T STAY ONE GENDER! I HATE HIM AND IT IS ALL HIS FAULT MY LIFE IS HELL!" Akane raged at the mother of her fiancИ, ignoring the little voice in the back of her head that she will regret it.
Ukyo and Shampoo began to glow as their anger rose at Akane for her comments on Ranma and her treatment of the anguished woman before them. Cologne stared with pride at her granddaughter for finally reaching the level of a visible aura and at Ukyo for the same feat. Ukyo had had enough of Akane's abuse of Ranma she looked to Shampoo who nodded her agreement. Cologne wondered at the silent communication between the two girls. She then shuddered at the smile that crossed their faces.
"Oh, then you mean you would rather sleep with a man who turns into your pet pig?" Ukyo asked sweetly of Akane her voice dripping of honey.
"WHAT ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT!" Akane screamed at her as she spun around her anger giving way to fear, Ukyo saw as Akane tried to hide it.
"Oh come now Akane, Kuno you are not! I know you know who P-chan is both Shampoo and I know and although we are ashamed of not tell Ranchan in the hopes his continual visits to your bed would break you up. We will not allow you any longer to cast Ranchan as the pervert when it was you all along." Akane's aura winked out and her hand shot up to her mouth as fear flowed from her as water over a fall.
"What are you girls talking about?" Nodoka asked in a low frightening voice.
"Mrs. Saotome I hope that you can forgive myself and Shampoo for not coming forward with this but our love for your son had blinded us as to how to deal with this situation." Ukyo stated respectfully as she and Shampoo bowed deeply to the Saotome Matriarch, Cologne just watched the girls and smiled proudly at their maturity.
"Akane's pet pig P-chan is a Jusenkyo cursed victim and Akane although pretending she doesn't know, does know. She not only sleeps with him but uses him to make Ranchan's life hell. Not only did she know, but her father and Mr. Saotome knew about it but did nothing hoping his jealousy would work for them. Don't get me wrong Akane loves Ranma in her own way but an abusive love is not what Ranchan needs." Akane stared at the okonomiyaki chef her eyes wide with betrayal.
"Ukyo! No!" Akane whispered but was heard by the entire room.
"I will admit that Ranchan had some fault in this because he knew who P-chan
was but he was honor bound by the promise he made to P-
chan not to tell
because he accidentally knocked him in the spring. Then the pig used that
against him and crawled into your bed." Akane backed slowly away from the
glowing chef only to back into the point of Nodoka's katana.
"Is this true Akane?" Nodoka's voice showed the stress of losing her son again and now hearing this about the girl she considered her daughter.
"Auntie, I..?" Akane's voice broke when she turned and face the hard cold stare of the mother of her fiancИ the look tinged with pain and betrayal.
"She speak truth Mrs. Saotome." Shampoo stepped forward finally after only catching part of what Ukyo said, she was proud her Japanese had gotten good enough to understand most of it.
"Shampoo was with spatula-girl when we watch Akane and Pig-boy.
They hide
in park at trees and were kissing and touching. She tried to explain as
delicately as possible but her blush made the meaning clear.
"We see kitchen destroyer pour water on pig-boy activate curse"
Shampoo
said glaring at Akane.
"Ukyo want tell Airen but Shampoo stop her. Shampoo afraid would destroy Airen. Shampoo no want to admit but Shampoo know Airen love violent-girl. Shampoo know she never have Airen love Shampoo like he does her but Shampoo no want him hurt. He hurt too much in life already. Shampoo also know that Airen would be angry at spatula-girl for telling him, and Shampoo no want her to lose his friendship." Shampoo told them standing straight and tall as a warrior should but the tears gave away her true feelings, Ukyo looked at her with surprise.
She looked to Ukyo who was also crying. Ukyo walked over next to Shampoo and took her hand in solidarity of the only two fiancИes that believed they truly loved Ranma. Nodoka looked at them an eyebrow quirked, she turned her gaze to Cologne and read there what she was feeling a little pride at their belief in what they perceived as love. She also saw the truth, that their love for Ranma was more of a possessive love and not a selfless unconditional love. She also knew that when that bubble burst there was going to be an explosion.
"No! That's not true! They're lying to you!" Akane gasped out glaring daggers at the two other girls who looked at her with cold rage.
"Then why do you protect him so much Akane? He is a martial artist after all? A very good one I might add!" Cologne asked wanting all this to stop so they could go home with honor and spotting the trap the two girls had laid for Akane.
"Because Ranma is always picking on Ryoga, he is better then him and could hurt him." Akane said quietly as she looked at each of the people in the room, confusion crossed her face at the smug looks on Ranma's other fiancИes.
"Akane dear." Akane turned toward Nodoka, she stepped back at the rage glowing in her eyes.
"No one here ever said it was Ryoga. They always called him either P-chan or the pig. How do you know they meant the Hibiki boy?" Nodoka's eyes narrowed to dangerous slits as she readied her sword.
"OH, NO!" Akane screamed as she fell to her knees burying her face in her hands.
"I'm sorry I didn't mean for it to happen. Ryoga treats me so nice and I am so tired of having to share Ranma. I still care for Ranma but I care for Ryoga too." Akane sobbed into her hands as her body shook.
"You have dishonored your family and mine! Tell your father and my husband the pact between the Saotomes and Tendos is over! I will be there later today to finalize my sons release. I would have liked to have you as my daughter-in-law, but since you knew of Ryoga's curse and still allowed him access to your bed I will not have you tainting my bloodline." With that Nodoka moved to one side to allow Akane to leave.
Akane ran from the Nekohanten tears flowing down her face. Nodoka watched with some sadness as the girl left the building. Nodoka hung her head sighing deeply. She turned her attention to the others and saw as they quickly removed the gleam of victory from their faces. Her scowl showed them she saw it and both girls had the decency to look guilty.
"Elder as Ranma's mother what are my rights in your tribe"
Cologne looked
at her an eyebrow raised but thought about it.
Cologne knew she could lie to the woman and she would not know it but then again she didn't want to make an enemy of the woman. It would not take much for her to check out what she told her and Cologne knew she would verify it. Cologne pulled the Amazon law book from her robes and sat down at the table offering Nodoka a seat. Nodoka, Shampoo, and Ukyo sat down while Cologne looked through the laws of the Amazons. Cologne went to the place concerning outsiders and scanned the laws.
"I am sorry, child but as an outsider you have no rights and your son did
beat my granddaughter not only as a female but as a male.
Son-in-law falls
under both the 'Kiss of Death' and the 'Kiss of Marriage'." Cologne watched the
calculating eyes of the woman in front of her and was reminded of middle Tendo
girl.
"So my son is in affect doomed under both kisses, if he doesn't marry your
granddaughter she will fall back on the 'Kiss of Death'!" It was made more as a
statement of fact then a question,
Cologne nodded a little surprised at her
grasping it so clearly considering who her son was.
"Then what about this law?" Nodoka pulled out a copy of her own Amazon law book and with a smirk watched the stunned looks of the other three.
Nodoka pushed the law book toward the elder opened to the law she was talking
about with the section already highlighted. Cologne read the passage her eyes
widening with surprise. Shampoo stood behind her great grandmother and read with
her. Ukyo could only stared and wait for an explanation as she could not read
Chinese.
Cologne helped her by reading the law aloud.
"Amazon Law 2400 Outsider Law Exemptions added 1100 AD: Paragraph 37a:
An
alliance was established with the clan Takashi, Samurais; of Japan and their
offshoot clan Morboka, Ninjas; of Japan. To honor these clans for the aid
provided to all the Amazon tribes of China, during the war with the Musk their
help prevented the fall of the Amazon nation. These clans and their descendants
are declared members of ALL tribes of the Chinese Amazons. They have all rights
and privileges.
Paragraph 37b: Added 1539 AD:
In accordance with the Laws of the Amazons
of China and all remaining tribes the clan Takashi, Samurais; of Japan and the
clan Morboka, Ninjas; of Japan. To honor them in their efforts to aid the
Amazons tribes when in their isolation many of the tribes succumbed to the Black
Death of Europe, which was brought to them by visiting missionaries. Many tribes
were obliterated from existence. This means that clan Takashi and Morboka are
all that are left of these tribes and their matriarchs have been elevated to
status of Elders in all remaining tribes. They are also the Matriarchs and
Elders of the extinct tribes and vote in their stead when a vote is needed from
ALL tribes.
Paragraph 37c: Added 1876 AD:
To ease the pain of the clan Takashi,
Samurais; of Japan and clan Morboka, Ninja; of Japan. All the remaining tribes
of the Amazons of China have declared Jusenkyo as theirs. Do to the death of the
bride Merako Takashi on her wedding night to groom Tal Kom of the Joketsuzoku
Amazons; at the hands of the Musk. When they raided the village and stole the
bride. Who was killed in the counterattack to retrieve her. The tribes of the
Amazons gave to the two clans Jusenkyo. At their request all victims will be
full blooded Amazons of all tribes surviving and extinct of the Chinese Amazons
as if born to the tribes. This gift is exempt if the victim is a female or male
of dishonorable character. This must be established by past deeds." Cologne
looked up at Nodoka who smiled evilly at them then handed her a rolled parchment
with the seal of not only her tribe but the other six remaining tribes of the
Amazons. There were two other seals Cologne did not recognize but seemed
familiar.
"What is this?" Cologne asked as she began to break the seals.
"My son's permanent release from Shampoo. He did not need it though since he is an Amazon for falling into Jusenkyo, but I felt you would not honor that law." She stated her eyes flashing with anger, as Cologne shifted in her seat.
Nodoka sat back in her chair, a vengeful smile crossed her lips when Cologne's head snapped up to her and Shampoo stumbled to her chair eyes wide with worry. Nodoka nodded her smile turning cold and angry. She leaned forward and waited for Cologne to read the parchment.
Cologne tried to stead her hand as she looked again at the parchment and began to read. She stopped and looked up at Nodoka who placed on the table two ceremonial tanto blades one with the crest of the Takashi clan and the other with the crest of the Morboka clan. Cologne's eyes narrowed as she picked up the weapons and examined them she nearly dropped them when she remembered where she had seen the crests. She then picked up her law book and compared the crests to those in both her and Nodoka's copy of the Amazon's law book.
"Great grandmother what it say? What mean little daggers"
Shampoo asked
looking nervously from Nodoka and her great grandmother, Ukyo did not know
whether to be happy of frightened at the looks the two women gave each other.
Cologne laid the blades down on the table reverently. She looked up at the
Matriarch of the Saotome's giving her a slight nod.
Nodoka responded in kind
and the older matriarch picked up the parchment and began to read aloud. Her
voice cracked so she paused and took a sip of tea then continued. Ukyo and
Shampoo watched as her face lit up with pride.
"To all Amazon Tribes:
An amendment to ancient Amazon Law 2400 Outsider
Law Exemptions added 1100 AD: has been updated and been voted on by all seven
remaining tribes located in China. Approved by the Takashi clan and Morboka clan
as the remaining Amazon tribes.
Paragraph 37d: Added 2000 AD:
At the request of the clan Takashi,
Samurais: of Japan and approval of the clan Morboka, Ninjas; of Japan, for their
clan member's effort in his saving of the valley of Jusenkyo from the wrath and
insane efforts to destroy it by Saffron the Phoenix king and Demigod. The seven
remaining tribes of the Amazons of China have agreed that Jusenkyo cursed victim
Ranma Saotome and all his/her descendants no matter their sex will have full
warrior status. Ranma Saotome will be the first male Elder for all tribes of the
Amazons. The clan Takashi and Morboka agreed but only if Ranma Saotome agrees to
the stipulation that Ranma Saotome will sit in counsel in his female form.
In addition, since the male in question was already an Amazon at the time of his defeat of Warrior Shampoo the 'Kiss of Death' and 'Kiss of Marriage' are invalid and have been revoked. As an Elder Ranma Saotome has the right to choose his/her own mate without using the challenge.
The counsel of Amazons of China." Cologne put down the missive and looked at Nodoka her eyes showing rage, pride, and resignation. She rolled the parchment back up and began to hand it back to Nodoka who held up her hand and shook her head showing she already had a copy of it. Cologne sighed heavily then looked to her granddaughter who sat there in stunned silence, her mouth hung opened in shock.
"That means I am the only legitimate fiancИe left!" Ukyo spoke softly her voice filled with smug satisfaction.
"Actually child since Ranma was and always has been an Amazon and the son/daughter of an Amazon Matriarch as well you are not a fiancИe. You never beat him in combat. Now Akane would have the right to claim him but she lost that right by sleeping with another man and Amazon which means they are married by the Amazon law." Cologne told her with a little too much glee.
"Actually Elder Cologne Ryoga Hibiki is not an Amazon you will find another page to the missive. It states and I am paraphrasing here:
"Do to Jusenkyo victim Ryoga Hibiki's dishonorable behavior he is not deemed worthy to hold the honored status of an Amazon. His dishonor began when blaming Elder Saotome for his missing a challenge Hibiki called. When Hibiki did not show till four days after the appointed time.
"His second dishonor was when Hibiki extracted an honor pledge from Elder
Saotome not to divulge his weakness, said curse. Then used his curse and took to
the bed of Elder Saotome's intended bride. Hibiki has also shown he is no true
warrior for when attacking Elder Saotome he allows his rage over power him and
he refuses to fight with the safety of innocents in mind. He had nearly killed
many innocents in his battles with Elder Saotome,
who always tried to protect
the innocents from Hibiki.
"Ryoga Hibiki's inability to take responsibility for his own actions, thus
blaming Elder Saotome makes him a danger to the Amazons if he were to claim his
right as a Jusenkyo victim. To this end, the seven tribes of Chinese Amazons and
the Takashi and Morboka tribes have deemed Hibiki to dishonorable to be
considered an Amazon and all testimony given my him is to be
suspect,
especially concerning Elder Saotome." Nodoka smiled at the stunned
looks on the others faces, Colognes particularly made her chuckle as the old
woman looked from the missive to Nodoka.
"You knew?" Ukyo asked as she looked at Ranma's mother with shock and anger.
"No I didn't know about Hibiki sleeping with Akane or the fact that she knew about his curse. I did know about his curse as it is in the records kept by the guide of Jusenkyo. Do you all not wonder why the guide kept a list of the victims?" Nodoka asked an inquisitive look upon her face, she then continued.
"I am sure though Hibiki will still marry Akane especially after it gets out that she was sleeping with him." Nodoka's smile turned cold and hateful, Nodoka turned to Ukyo her smile becoming colder.
"I am afraid though for you dear, Elder Cologne is correct you are not my son's fiancИe he has explained it to you already, but you wouldn't listen he does not love you as a husband should love his wife. To him you are a friend or sister!" Nodoka's voice dripped with venom, but her eyes showed sympathy to the young girl.
"NO! HE STOLE MY DOWRY HE IS MINE!" Ukyo stood up pulling her battle spatula from her back.
The spatula clattered to the floor since Ukyo was pinned to the wall held there by throwing stars. Cologne looked to Ukyo as she was pinned to the wall then back at Nodoka not much surprised her but this was a new one on her. Nodoka sat there a wry smile on her lips and mischievousness glinting in her eyes.
"I am the matriarch of the Morboka and it would not do for me to hold that title if I was not trained as a ninja. Besides I was bored waiting for Genma to return with my child." Nodoka shrugged at Cologne's surprised look.
"But you have the blades from both families you are not the matriarch of the Takashi clan as well are you?" Cologne asked while Ukyo cussed a blue streak trying get down from where she hung.
"HAHAHA! No my mother is still matriarch of the Takashi clan,
though I am
the first born daughter. I am the Morboka Elder because there are no females old
enough to take that position.
There are women old enough but none chose to
practice the ninja art until I showed up twelve years ago." Nodoka's eyes
sparkled with delight at the memories of her training in the other family's
school.
"Now for you young lady!" The sarcasm was dripping from Nodoka's voice.
"My husband stole your dowry not my son. My son is not your property! Finally, having talked to your father he has agreed to disavow the marriage agreement between you and Ranma. He has also reinstated your womanhood." Nodoka told a stunned Ukyo, who landed lightly on her feet after Nodoka removed the throwing stars.
"My father would not put me threw hell for ten years just to rescind the agreement because you asked him!" Ukyo growled threw clenched teeth trying to find a way to get to her spatula.
"Oh but he did cousin!" Nodoka told her, Ukyo froze as she was about to push past Nodoka.
Shampoo and Cologne sat frozen with shock at this revelation.
They watched
as Ukyo slowly turned her face to Nodoka, her eyes narrowed with disbelief. Ukyo
stood up straight, she was almost as tall as Nodoka and looked her straight in
the eye.
"What kind of lie are you trying to weave? Ranma is my fiancИe and I am the only one left so he must marry me!" Ukyo snarled into the face of the smugly smiling woman.
"Tell me Ukyo who is Sukari Kounji?" Ukyo's eyes widened as she took a step back from the woman in front of her.
"W..Why?" She stuttered backing up against the wall she was just released from.
"Answer me child who is she?" Nodoka pressed gently with a warm smile, Ukyo gasped, when that smile triggered a long suppressed memory.
"M..momma?" Ukyo asked her voice small and frail like that of a frightened child in the dark.
"No child but close. Sukari was your mother but she was my cousin. You can call me auntie if you like." Ukyo looked at her aunt stunned her mouth opening and closing wanting to say something but nothing would come out.
Ten years of anger and frustration that was kept pent up inside the
okonomiyaki chef. She slowly slid to the floor, her tears flowing. Nodoka rushed
up to her late cousin's daughter and wrapped her protectively in her arms.
Nodoka rocked the sobbing girl, while gently stroking her hair and making soft
'shhing'
sounds. Nodoka let the girl cry herself out, as she understood her
feelings. Ten years of trying to fulfill a stupid man's obsession that was of
his own making. It was much like the life her son lived at the hands of his
father. Nodoka's arms tightened even more around the young chef as Ukyo
continued to cry.
Shampoo stared at the mother of her Airen, while she comforted the crying girl. She had just cleared the way for her to claim him as her husband. She did not care what the fake laws said, Ranma was hers and she was going to have him. Her great grandmother could figure a way around what this woman had done. Shampoo then looked to her great grandmother and gasped at what she saw in the old woman's eyes.
"Great grandmother?" Shampoo asked with some fear.