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All original Ranma1/2 Characters and Backstory Copyright
Rumiko Takahashi, and are used without permission.

Please Enjoy!
Coutuva.


The Princess Bride - V1P3
----------------------------------------------------------------



	Kasumi moved wordlessly from the slipper step to the
kitchen, noticing immediately that no one had made any effort to
do the dishes.  That observation would normally have resulted in
an annoyed huff, but this time, she made no sound.
	As she ran the water to start the task, she heard Nabiki
enter the room and walk up behind her.  She sighed.
	"Oneechan?  Dad tells me you went to meet her...?"
	"Hai.  I met her," Kasumi began, picking up a dish and
starting to wash it.
	"And...?"
	Kasumi set down the dish.  "I...  Like her.  Very much,"
she confessed, lowering her face.
	"Kuso...  I knew it had to be something; you never stay
out past nine o'clock, and it's almost eleven thirty," Nabiki
huffed, frowning so deeply Kasumi *heard* it.
	"We were talking, and I lost all track of time.  She's a
wonderful, charming, friendly girl, and so polite and well-spoken.
I completely forgot who she was," she explained, shaking her head.
"Her personality is nothing like any of the other times this sort
of thing has happened," she added, reflectively.
	Nabiki sobered.  "You're not telling me what I want to
hear, neechan," she intoned, apparently trying not to sound as
exasperated as she looked.
	"If you mean how she and Shampoo are getting along, I
think 'of a mind', describes it best.  They have much in common,
and each respect the other totally.  Shan Lin seems just thrilled
to have a friend that truly understands her, and Liang Yue feels
the same way," she stated, looking back at Nabiki evenly.
	"Shan Lin?  Liang Yue?  I won't ask," Nabiki responded,
rolling her eyes.  "Did you at least get us an opening?"
	Kasumi eyed her younger sister cautioningly.  "I mentioned
the family to her, and told her who the people were that found
her.  She's coming by tomorrow to meet everyone, and to express
her appreciation for everyone's concern," she stated, then turned
to face Nabiki fully.  "I do not want you to mention whose body
she has, Nabiki.  She's such a wonderful, caring young woman that
I honestly believe it would devastate her -- which I'm certain
is why nobody has told her yet.  And should I find out that she
learned of it from any of us, I would be most perturbed," she
advised, meeting Nabiki's eyes in a telling glare.  "And I would
like you to mention that to your sister, as well," she added,
tilting her head slightly and raising one eyebrow.
	Nabiki blinked.  "Hai, Kasumi-oneechan," she responded,
her tone far more conciliatory.  "But...  What about Ranma?" she
asked, tentatively.
        "Nabiki...  We...  Do not know if bringing Ranma back is
even possible...  Yet.  And until we do, I will not condone
hurting Yue.  I can't imagine her living with the guilt I am
certain she would feel, especially if it turns out...  That we
can't bring Ranma back.  And if you take the time to think about
it, sister, I am sure you will agree with me," she explained,
taking her sister's hands and smiling gently.
	"I...  I guess you're right," Nabiki conceded at length,
apparently having actually thought it over.  "But I'm going to do
everything in my power to get him back," she added, defiantly.
	Kasumi looked her in the eye again.  "Nabiki-chan...  I
wouldn't be foolish enough to think you'd do otherwise," she
stated, smiling knowingly.




	Yue rolled over with a long, soft moan, stretching the last
of the sleep from her body.  It was then that she realized she had
been asleep, and gasped quietly.
	Her last memory was of sitting in the Neko-hanten, talking
to Shan Lin even long after the very pleasant Kasumi had left.
Shan Lin had gone to prepare them a small confection, and she had
been awaiting her return.
	Looking about herself, she came to realize that she was now
in a spartan room, clad only in a loose-fitting garment.  She
chuckled to herself sheepishly as she determined that she had
slipped into slumber while awaiting her friend.
	Rising to a sit, she erked at the sight of Shan Lin laying
beside her on the same mat, still deep in the throes of her dreams.
A smile replaced her shocked expression as she reached over and
moved a stray lock of hair from her friend's face.  The smile
widened as Shan Lin moaned contentedly and adjusted her position
slightly.
	"I have been awarded the grace of the Gods with your
presence, Amazon.  Were it not for you, I would surely be lost in
all this strangeness," she whispered, then quietly rose from the
mat.
	Locating her clothing, she found her way to the 'ladies',
which thankfully was adjacent to the room she had been in, and then
dressed quickly.  The sun was almost up, meaning it was time for
her practice.
	Returning to the room, she looked about for something she
could press into service as a weapon, that she would be able to
execute her full routine.  As smile crossed her face as she caught
sight of a literal cache of weapons, all stacked neatly in a
corner.
	"I would have known that you would not be without," she
whispered, casting a knowing look toward Shan Lin's reposed form.
	Selecting a two-handed broadsword from the array, she
tested its heft and huffed with satisfaction.  She was not
surprised to note it was a well-crafted example; light, agile,
yet of proper rebound.
	Upon tightening its scabbard over her left hip, she
turned and almost sprinted from the room.
	Once outside, she stepped to the middle of the large
grassy plot, then turned her face to the warming sun and smiled.
Closing her eyes, she offered a prayer to the newborn day.
	Turning again, she stiffened, then began her preparation.
Slowly, deliberately, she cleared her mind of all distracting
thought, and evened her breath.
	Upon feeling herself become inwardly cleansed, she raised
her arms before her and started her limbers, following a pattern
engrained in her memory.  It took less time than she had
anticipated to complete the routine, but she did not mind.  It
felt good to be working, and even better as she noted her muscles
becoming fluid.
	Then, despite her efforts to remain centered, she smiled
in anticipation of the event to come.  Resuming her set, she then
threw open her eyes, moved her right arm over and handed the hilt
of her borrowed weapon, accustoming herself to its feel.
	For a moment, she stood motionless, and the world seemed
to come to a stop around her -- almost as if holding its breath.
	Then, a strident strike cry utterly shattered the tension
as she exploded into motion.  Soon, a smile that rivaled the sunrise
graced her face.  The huge weapon seemed to come to life in her
hand, weaving, swooping and striking with the both the grace and
deadliness of an angry silver serpent.
	Her body became one with the sword as she advanced her
regimen, one form flowing seamlessly to the next, as if all were
in fact one.
	It was just then that she caught a movement to her side, and
without breaking form, she brought her weapon to parry.  The sharp
clang of steel meeting steel was like music to her ears.
	She was not surprised to see Shan Lin roll off the block,
twin broadswords at the ready.  She smiled gratefully and moved to
her stance, her heart pounding in anticipation.
	Shan Lin twitched; Yue lunged -- and their deadly dance
began.




	Cologne, roused from her slumber by the unmistakable sound
of a Chinese strike cry, balanced by her window with her jaw dropped
in awe.
	She had been impressed by the formidable skill evident in
the Princess's practice exercise, but what she looked out upon now
made that seem like child's play.  And by the look she could see on
the Princess's face, it apparently still was.
	With only one sword, and a large one for her at that, she
was fending off Shampoo's best attacks readily.  When she finally
went on the offensive, her strikes were blindingly fast, and her
control amazingly precise.
	So precise in fact, that as Cologne watched the contest
unfold, a wry smile spread over her aged face.
	"Three...  Two...  One," she counted out as the strikes got
in, then watched knowingly as Shampoo's right arm suddenly slumped
uselessly at her side, the sword it held clattering to the ground.
	The old woman shook her head and smiled.  "I think I like
that girl," she chuckled, then turned and hopped away.




	Shan Lin couldn't hide her shock.  It looked so true and
complete that Yue actually felt guilty for what she had done.
	"<How...?  I felt nothing,>" she gasped bewilderedly,
finally stepping back to officially withdraw.
	"<Forgive me...  I became consumed by the contest,>" Yue
bowed apologetically, slipping her sword away.
	"<I don't care about that; I want to know how you did
this!>" the Amazon blurted, not angrily, but excitedly.  "<I know
your hands never left your sword!>" she added, working her numb
shoulder.
	Yue flushed.  "<You know my use of pressure points...  But
I hit them with the tip of the sword.  That is the reason I employ
the longest blade I can wield, and it is also the reason I use but
one.  I...  Have no strength with which to overpower an opponent,
so I must resort to speed -- and accupressure,>" she confessed,
lowering her face.
	A moment later, she felt a warm hand on her shoulder.
"<Never apologize for a victory; even over a friend.  Had I not
been as willing to lose as to win, I would not have challenged you,>"
Shan Lin smiled, patting her shoulder.  "<Besides -- I did not
lose; I learned something.  And that *is* the reason for sparring,>"
she added, flashing her now-famous grin.
	Yue smiled warmly.  "<Shan Lin, you are either wise beyond
your years, or a very good liar,>" she stated, shaking her head.
	"<I prefer the first one,>" the Amazon glowered back, then
smiled again.  "<If you're ready, I think the bath is open,>" she
followed, turning to retrieve her swords.
	"<I am.  Shall I assist you?>" Yue responded as she
unbuckled and removed her sword belt, then reached for Shan Lin's
dropped weapon.
	"<No, I am fine.  And you may keep that sword; you earned
it,>" Shan Lin smiled back, picking up her other one.
	Yue gasped.  "<No, Shan Lin...  I...>" she protested, but
Shan Lin shook her head vehemently.
	"<You can, and you will.  I insist, Liang Yue; to the
victor go the spoils,>" the girl countered, her tone firm.
	Yue sighed, realizing she was caught by decorum.  Abruptly,
a smirk crossed her face.  "<Very well.  I accept your gift,>" she
grinned, then bowed quickly.
	"<Hey!  No fair!>" Shan Lin complained, but Yue only
mimicked her famous grin.
	The Amazon shook her head concedingly.  As she did, she
moved the sword she held as if she was going to scabbard it behind
her back, then abruptly stopped.  "<Do you remember asking me where
I got that sword from?>" she redirected, smirking.
	"<Yes...  And you would not tell me,>" she responded,
eyeing the Amazon warily.
	"<Well, I'm going to now,"> Shan Lin grinned back, then
held her sword in front of her.  "<Watch carefully,>" she trilled,
then swung it around behind her back.  When she withdrew her hand,
Yue had to look twice as she saw that it was empty.  Before she
could comment or even exclaim, Shan Lin twirled around slowly.
	The weapon was nowhere to be seen.
	"<What manner of sorcery is this?>" she blurted, when she
finally found her voice.
	The Amazon smiled.  "<It is called 'HammerSpace',>" she
explained, obviously amused by her little trick.  "<It is a means
of having your weapons available, without carrying all of them
around.  It also comes in handy for surprise attacks,>" she added,
reaching behind her and withdrawing a bonbori.  "<I have only had
it since I became cursed...  Eep!>" she continued, dropping the
bonbori and clamping her hand over her mouth.
	"<C-cursed?>" Yue echoed fearfully, recoiling back a step.
	Shan Lin sighed, then nodded remorsefully.  "<Yes...  Come;
it's easier to show you,>" she stated defeatedly, starting toward
the door.  Yue shuddered, then followed -- but at a healthy
distance.
	A moment later, they arrived in the bath, where Shan Lin
wordlessly undressed.  "<My curse is set off by cold water.  But, it
is reversed when I am splashed with warm water...  Which I will
need you to do for me,>" she stated, filling a rinse bucket with
warm water first, then doing the same with cold.  "<And this is
what it does to me,>" she resigned, upending the bucket of cold
water over her head.
	Yue felt her knees go weak.  Where Shan Lin once was now
sat a very wet white cat, one that was looking up at her sadly.
"<Oh, Shan Lin...  This is indeed a curse.  My heart goes to you,>"
she whispered, kneeling to gently pick the animal up and hug it to
her.
	The cat only meowed loudly, then looked down at the other
bucket.  "<Oh; forgive me,>" Yue sputtered, setting it back down.
Picking up the bucket, she dumped it over the cat, and yelped out
loud as she suddenly found her face inches away from a particularly
embarrassing part of the Amazon's anatomy.
	"<So now you know my secret.  I had wanted to keep it from
you, because I know how you feel about Magic,>" Shan Lin stated,
kneeling as Yue clutched at her thudding chest.  "<Even so, you
don't need to worry -- you can't catch it from me,>" the Amazon
added, smiling assuringly.
	"<I...  Forgive me, Shan Lin...  I...  Need a moment...>"
she sputtered back, having trouble catching her breath.
	Shan Lin frowned sadly.  "<I am not the only person here
who has one.  A few others do as well, although I am not sure how
they got them.  I got mine as a girl in China,>" she explained,
flashing a small smile.  "<I have it for life, but it does not
bother me.  I like being able to be a cat; it can be fun,>" she
added, winking.
	Yue couldn't believe her ears.  "<You...  Are unconcerned?
But...  How do you...>" she began, but the Amazon waved dismissively.
	"<You get used to it,>" she stated, rising and offering a
hand.
	Yue felt herself shudder.  "<Perhaps *you* do,>" she huffed,
unable to imagine living in such a manner.  Taking the proffered
assist tentatively, she rose to her feet and sighed.  "<And I had
thought my own trials to be unfortunate.  You have my condolences,
Shan Lin,>" she stated, earnestly.
	"<Don't worry about me; like I said, it can be fun
sometimes,>" the Amazon dismissed again, winking.  "<Well, since
we're already here, we might as well get our bath.  Breakfast will
be ready soon,>" she redirected cheerily, walking toward what looked
like a tub.
	"<Huh.  Shan Lin, you continue to surprise me,>" she puffed,
shaking her head as she started to open her tunic ties.
	"<I will consider that a compliment,>" the girl grinned,
starting the water.




	Akane peered at her bedroom window through the single eye
she had grudgingly opened, groaning at the prospect of having to
wake up.  After the grueling day Nabiki's 'friends' had put her
through, and then not getting to bed until almost one in the
morning because of it, she definitely did not feel up to facing
the new day.
	Gradually, however, she did gather the ambition to rise,
and pushed herself up to a sitting position.  After a less-than-
ladylike yawn, she rubbed her eyes to try to get them both to
focus at the same time.
	It was at about the time that they did that she noticed
something wrong.  She couldn't quite put her finger on it, but
something was definitely wrong.  Getting up from the bed, she
walked to the window and looked out it intently, examining
everything in sight.
	She was perplexed to note that nothing was out of place.
The tree was fine.  The street was quiet.  The yard looked
undisturbed.  The koi pond...
	The koi pond.
	It was devoid of any of the sputtering, cursing bodies which
would normally be crawling, or even leaping out of it by this time.
Suddenly, she knew what was wrong; the house was too quiet.  With
Ranma 'indisposed', the sounds of he and his father 'training' were
gone, leaving an almost deafening silence.
	She drew a long breath to fight off the tightness that
observation brought to her chest, then turned away from the
depressing sight.  Grabbing her bath things, she headed toward her
door, hoping to make it to the bath before she started crying.




	Akane was mortified.  "She's coming *here*?" she blurted,
gaping at her oldest sister.
	"Why, yes.  I invited her yesterday, since she mentioned
that she wanted to thank all of you for bringing her to
Tofuu-sensei," Kasumi responded, gathering a few dishes from the
table.
	"When?!?"
	"I believe we decided on ten o'clock.  I told them that I
needed some time to clean up," she answered, heading back into the
kitchen.
	"Masaka!  That's only an hour; I need to get ready!" Akane
gasped, shoving the last of her food into her mouth and then jumping
to her feet.
	"Just remember what I told you, Akane-chan.  She doesn't
know!" Kasumi called after her, then shook her head.  "Kids."
	Just under an hour later, the anticipatory tension in the
air had become thick enough to stop a thrown katana.   The family
had long since gathered in the main room, and were sitting around
the table awaiting the arrival of their 'guest'.  Kasumi looked
nervous, Nabiki looked pensive, Akane was muttering to herself, and
Soun was doing relaxation exercises.
	"Aaaany minute now," Nabiki droned, the sound of her voice
seeming amplified by the atmosphere.  Everyone looked at either the
clock or their watches.
	Then, they heard it.  The laughter.  The carefree, easy
laughter that drifted over the wall and in through the opened
sliders beside them.  It was the same voice, but everyone noticed
how different it sounded.
	Just as they all exchanged worried looks, the laughter
stopped.  Suddenly.




	Yue had to shake her head to break her mindless stare.  It
was then that she heard Shan Lin calling her name.
	"<Earth to Liang Yue -- hellooo!>"
	"<Uh; my apologies, Shan Lin,>" she began, trying to hide
the colour on her cheeks.  Even so, she could not tear her gaze
away from the splendid example of a man that approached from up
ahead.  Handsome, well apportioned and deeply bronzed, and from the
look of the pack he carried, strong as well.  Her eyes roamed his
form intently, from the spotted cloth he wore under his unruly black
hair, down on through his handmade, yet respectable footwear.
	A soft sigh escaped her before she could stifle it, which
instantly made the Amazon laugh.  "<And I would ask what you find so
amusing!>" she demanded, hotly.
	"<A Princess getting all mushy over the likes of him!>" Shan
Lin chuckled, giving her cause to blink.
	"<The likes of *him*?  Do you know this man?>" she asked,
incredulously.
	"<I do.  He is a...>" the girl began, but stopped in
mid-breath.
	Yue tensed, feeling imminent danger behind her.  Turning, she
saw the handsome man now running toward her, arms outstretched and
yelling gibberish.  "<Damn.  I had thought better of him,>" she
sighed, drawing her sword and spinning it to the ready as she took
her stance.
	Shan Lin chuckled.
	



	Akane was the first through the open gates, and the sight
that greeted her froze her in her tracks.  The girl that used to be
Ranma was in a strange, crouching stance, holding a large sword.
Ryouga was in mid-leap, reaching for his umbrella and extending his
fingers toward the unmoving redhead.
	Shampoo stood against the pillar at the side of the gate,
watching the scene bemusedly.
	"Shampoo!  We've got to stop them!  She doesn't know about
that attack!" Akane shrieked, glaring at the unimpressed Amazon.
	"Is no to worry.  Yue fix stupid lost boy, quick-smart," she
replied, jogging a thumb at the action nearby.
	Erking in disbelief, Akane looked over at them, only to see
a blur of motion between Ryouga and the ground, followed by him
crumpling onto it -- and no explosion.  Just beyond him, the redhead
was sliding her sword back into its scabbard and sighing.
	"No...  She didn't!" Akane gasped, raising her hands to her
face.
	"No, she didn't," Shampoo indicated, shaking her head.  "I
tell her no kill anyone; she only put him out her misery," she
added, flashing her pixie grin.
	Akane blinked.  "That easily?" she thought, the realization
of what had occurred starting to sink in.  As it did, she looked
over to see the redhead step over Ryouga and start toward them -- and
felt her stomach tighten.




====================================================================
END - The Princess Bride - V1P3         A Ranma1/2 Fanfic By Coutuva

Comments Welcomed, Flames Extinguished!
coutuva@vecdev.com