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

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Coutuva.


The Princess Bride - V1P5
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	She was tired.  More tired than she had been in as long as
she could remember, and it was just time for the evening meal.
	Her afternoon had been filled with a dizzying exploration
of the city, and she had seen, done, felt, sampled and examined
more than she could possibly remember.  Lin had also tried to tell
her the Japanese words for everything she had encountered, but she
found that there were simply too many to place.
	It was no wonder her forehead ached dully.
	However, she had also enjoyed the experience far more than
she would have thought possible.  Perhaps, it had been the challenge
of trying so many new things; perhaps it had been the fact that she
was feeling more comfortable in her new surroundings.  Perhaps it
was just the fact that she had spent the afternoon laughing and
giggling like a child, with a very good friend at her side.
	She could still feel the euphoria in her body and the glow
on her cheeks -- right along with the soreness of her jaw an
afternoon of laughter had caused.
	Knowing it would be a while before Lin completed their
dinner, which the girl had insisted on preparing, she reached down
into her bags and withdrew four balls of coloured twine she had
acquired on their sojourn, and set them before her.
	Drawing the leads from each, she began to braid herself a
lanyard, to replace the one that had adorned the hilt of her
long-lost sword.  The lack of one on her new weapon was
disconcerting, a condition she wished quickly remedied.  As well,
she hoped it would distract her from thoughts of the morning's
events, which had not been far from her mind all day.
	She had only managed a small amount before a presence
approaching interrupted her progress.  Knotting off temporarily,
she looked up to determine who had arrived, only to be surprised at
who it turned out to be.
	"Nihao, Liang Ju Yue," the black-haired girl greeted
cordially, bowing suitably.
	Yue couldn't stop herself from blinking.  The difference in
the girl's comportment was akin to night and day.
	"<Greetings, Tendou Akane,>" she smiled back, dipping her
head.
	"<May I...  Sit with you?>" the girl asked, choosing her
words carefully.  Yue was impressed.
	"<Please.  I welcome the company,>" she replied, gesturing
toward a chair adjacent.
	"<Thank you,>" the girl smiled, again bowing.  As she
seated herself, Yue set aside her task, intrigued by her guest.  It
was apparent that the girl had invested considerable effort in
refining herself, which was something Yue could respect.
	"<Please forgive the clutter.  I was entertaining myself,>"
she opened, gesturing toward the pile.
	"<I do not mind,>" the girl replied, folding her hands in
her lap -- in a very Kasumi-like manner.  "<I see you are...
Fixing...  A...  Uhm...>" she attempted, but apparently couldn't
find the word.
	Yue smiled at her.  Her face was too sore to try laughing
off the girl's difficulty politely, so she opted for diplomacy.
"<A lanyard...  For my sword,>" she supplied, holding up the
completed section.  "<Have you ever made them?>" she continued,
thinking that if she offered a topic, the girl might relax.
	"<Yes...  For my sack,>" the girl nodded, happily.  A
moment later, she drew a long breath, apparently building up to
something.  Yue looked back at her encouragingly, not wanting to
intimidate her by seeming impatient.  The girl glanced up briefly,
then her face seemed to calm slightly.  "<Please...  Forgive
errors mine...  I...  Only speak Mandarin...  For short time,>"
she stated, sheepishly.  "<I wanted...  Ap-ol-o-gise...  My face
in morning.  I was rude,>" she stammered, wrinkling her nose at
her mangling of the language.
	"<You need not worry.  In truth, I felt strange as well;
this is all very much a new experience for me,>" Yue smiled back,
speaking slowly.  Her guest seemed to appreciate it, looking as
if she hung upon each word.
	"<I still...  Had to say.  Uhm...  I...>" the girl
stammered, then, likely without meaning to, looked back at her
searchingly.
	Yue couldn't stop herself from chuckling, but forced
herself to when she saw the mortified look on her guest's face.
"<Forgive me; that was rude.  I was simply recalling my attempts
to learn your language,>" she retracted, fighting to school her
features.  "Is not easy to do thing, yes?" she followed, flashing
Lin's famous grin.
	The girl immediately brightened, then chuckled herself.
"Iya...  It really isn't.  I've been trying for two days and
nights," she puffed, shaking her head.  "I'm sorry I'm still not
very good," she added, sheepishly.
	"You okay, Tendou-san.  No worry self.  Lin try teach me,
but still I long way have to go, too," she confessed, shrugging.
She was, however, pleased to note that the girl seemed much more
at ease, now that the conversation had shifted to her language.
	"You're doing a lot better than me.  I just can't seem to
make it work," the girl noted, frowning slightly.  "But I'll keep
trying.  I really want to learn it," she stated, her face
determined.
	"Why?  City other Chinese have?" she asked, wondering
genuinely.
	"Hai.  And I'd like to make you feel more comfortable
than I did this morning.  Oh; that reminds me; the reason I came
to see you is that my family has a training room.  I wanted to
invite you to come over and try it out," the girl responded,
looking back at her expectantly.
	Yue smiled.  That was definitely something she could
understand, and appreciate.  "Hai!  Would like too much.  You
fighter?"
	The girl smiled proudly.  "Hai.  I am a Martial Artist;
the only one in the family other than my Dad.  He taught me," she
indicated, which brought a certain soft smile to Yue's face.  She
was starting to like her new friend just a little more.
	"Father teach me, too.  Say girls no different boys; need
know.  When want me come?" she asked, actually looking forward to
the opportunity.
	"How about tomorrow morning?" the girl proposed, happily.
"About ten o'clock?"
	Yue shook her head.  "Not good.  Lin want show me town
more," she stated, frowning slightly.
	"That's okay.  You can come whenever you have the chance.
Just let me know," the girl replied, smiling.
	This time, Yue nodded.  "That good; sword I bring?"
	"Sure!  I'd love to watch you do your workout, and I'm
sure Kasumi would like to see you again," the girl stated, then
rose from her chair and bowed.  "Arigato...  And I'll see you as
soon as you can come," she smiled, then turned and headed out
the door.
	She smiled back as she watched the girl leave, shaking her
head slightly.  It was apparent that this Tendou Akane was trying
very hard to be nice, and in a way she considered it flattering.
However, she could not understand why, particularly in view of
how determined and serious the girl seemed.
	Sighing, she moved her twines back into place and resumed
her task, thinking that she would likely find out soon enough.





	Lin seemed shocked.  "<She invited you to their Dojo?>"
the girl repeated, setting down her sticks.
        "<If you mean their training room, yes.  I am looking
forward to it.  I have never trained in one; only in my courtyard.
Our Palace did not have one, as it was first built by some pompous,
overstuffed former Emperor that knew not even how to hold a
sword,>" she smiled back, rolling her eyes.
	"<I see.  So then Akane must have learned more Mandarin
to be able to ask you that,>" Lin noted, tapping her chin
thoughtfully.
	"<She did, but not much.  I took pity on her and used the
Japanese you have been imparting to me; she fared better in her
own tongue.  She was trying so hard that I could not let her
suffer any longer,>" she explained, only to blink at the look Lin
was giving her.
	"<And you don't call having to listen to your Japanese
'suffering'?>" the girl abruptly quipped, snickering.
	"<She did not find it so,>" she smirked back, flicking a
fish cake at the still-sniggering Amazon.  "<In truth, she said I
was doing well.>"
	"<She was trying to butter you up, trust me,>" Lin
countered, still snickering.
	Yue narrowed her eyes.  "<You realize, do you not, that
the proficiency of the student reflects the ability of the
teacher.>"
	Lin stopped laughing and smirked.  "<And you realize that
there are some people that just can't be taught,>" she shot back,
leaning across the table.
	For a long heartbeat, they simply glared at each
other -- until Lin broke out laughing, and Yue joined her.
	As they returned to their meals, neither of them noticed
that they were being observed from the kitchen, even though the
observer was being less than discreet.  In fact, he was leaning
on the prep counter and staring at them through the pass-through.
	More accurately, glaring at one in particular.  He had
liked her since they first met, but, given how things had gone so
far between them, he never figured he stood any kind of serious
chance.
	Now, however, his choice had been made for him, and it
jeopardized everything he had worked so hard for.  He knew that
it would mean she'd be exposed again; vulnerable.
	But only if things went according to plan.
	His eyes narrowed as he considered that, knowing that all
he had to do was remain aloof; disinterested; at least long enough
for Cologne's plans to fall apart.  Since she was an Elder, and
such things were her responsibility, he couldn't overtly cross
her.  But, if the girl gave up on her own, then everything would
return to normal eventually.
	At least that was what he kept telling himself.





	Yue gathered her twines and partially completed strands
together, now too tired to concentrate on the intricate work.  As
Lin was still away completing some task assigned her by the Elder,
she decided to submit to her body's insistent demands for sleep.
	Rubbing her eyes, she picked up her bags and started for
the passage to the stairs, already envisioning herself snuggled
in bed.  As she rounded the corner at the base of the stairs,
however, her eye caught a movement in the shadows of the yard,
visible through the open door nearby.
	Hanging the bag on the stair post, she stepped to the door
to determine what she had seen, only to gasp at the sight of Kuan
working on a collection of weapons.
	Licking her drying lips, she checked herself quickly and
started into the yard, not wanting to waste the chance.
	She saw Kuan look up from his work as she approached, then
immediately lower his gaze again.  After a heartbeat's
consideration, she decided that the act constituted being
'addressed', and then moved to a spot about a yard distant, there
to simply stand, hands enmeshed.
	"<Good evening, Qiang Kuan,>" she bowed politely, watching
his face intently -- and crossing her fingers inwardly.
	"<Good evening,>" he responded, tightly.  Not what she had
hoped for, but at least he had spoken.  Drawing a breath softly,
she threw caution to the wind.
	"<I see you have a variety of weapons...  And they seem of
the type used by 'Hidden Weapon' practitioners.  Would that
perchance be your chosen style?>" she ventured, hoping that by
speaking to his interest, she could at least open a conversation.
	To her great relief, he turned and looked up at her.
"<It is!  I'm...  Surprised you noticed,>" he responded, delight
in his eyes and the edge noticeably absent from his voice.
	She had to smile -- for a number of reasons.  "<I am
familiar with the style -- at least to know the weapons.  It has
always been a fascination of mine,>" she followed pleasantly,
fighting the weakness in her knees.  "<My father employed an
Amazon as a personal guard, and it was his chosen means,>" she
added, tearing her gaze away from his face to glance at the array
of chains, axes, maces, grapples, shuriken et al displayed before
her.  "<It amazes me that one can conceal so much, and yet still 
have them all at the ready.>"
	Kuan actually smiled at her comments, then cast her a look
she couldn't be sure of.  Just as she was beginning to worry,
however, he smiled again.  "<I can show you, if you like,>" he
offered, looking pleased at the chance.
	She felt like cheering out loud at the unexpected success
of her gamble, but instead only smiled brightly.  "<I would like
that very much,>" she nodded, happily.
	He smiled back -- she felt her heart race.
	"<This will take me a moment.  I was cleaning and
sharpening them, and to show you what I do, I need to put them
back in place,>" he indicated, taking one of the weapons and
placing it within his voluminous sleeve.  As she watched in
fascination, it occurred to her how his arms -- and chest -- had
become so muscular.
	After a few more minutes, he had them all reset, and
stood smiling with his cuffs together.  "<I'm sorry to make you
wait.  That is the less-glamorous part of the style,>" he grinned,
apologetically.  "<But this is what it enables me to do,>" he
continued, extending his arm smoothly, and in the same motion
launching a chain-tethered mace at a distant target.
	Her jaw dropped ungraciously as she watched the weapon
impact the target dead-center, even though the light was fast
dimming around them.  A barely-perceptible twitch of his arm
later, the chain retracted, once again to disappear into his
sleeve without a trace.
	"<Incredible!  You did that so easily; I can but just
lift a mace that size!>" she gasped, incredulously.
	Her reaction brought a proud smile to his face.  "<Thank
you, Liang Yue,>" he bowed, seeming genuinely grateful.  "<Would
you like to see more?>"
	Yue smiled enthusiastically.  "<Yes, I would,>" she
responded, stepping closer to be clear of the firing line.
	Kuan, meanwhile, nodded and readied himself.  She could
see subtle shifts in his shoulders and arms, even though his
hands did not appear to move under his large cuffs.  A moment
later, he became a whirlwind of motion, launching, retracting and
re-launching what seemed like more weaponry than had been
contained in her Palace armoury.
	Each and every volley found its target, with a great
degree of accuracy and surprising power.  Yue watched in
appreciative awe, literally hypnotized as she watched his face,
and the almost unnoticeable changes it underwent as he
demonstrated his formidable craft.
	She felt her cheeks heat as she imagined the workings of
his sculptured chest and powerful arms, and moved her hands to
mesh behind her back.  She was finding it ever more difficult to
keep them from confirming what her mind was seeing.
	Finally, he retracted them all for the final time, then
moved his cuffs together and smiled, despite breathing slightly
more heavily from the effort.  His smile widened as he looked
back toward her, which in turn sent a pleasant shiver down her
back.
	Suddenly, she was glad the dusk was fading.
	"<Most impressive.  I would think you to be a Master,>"
she commented, bowing slightly to him.  She immediately noticed
the manner of his response, as it did not seem to fit with what
she had just witnessed.
	"<Liang Yue, you honour me; but I'm not worthy of such
high praise,>" he stated, lowering his head.  "<Were I truly a
Master, I would not be here today,>" he added, keeping his gaze
lowered.
	"<No!  You have the skill of a Master; that is most
certainly not the reason you are still here,>" she blurted out,
then immediately covered her mouth in horror.  She hadn't wanted
to speak her thoughts, but she could not help herself.  It hurt
her to hear him belittle his obvious skill with such conviction,
while she was fully convinced it was a lie; both to her and to
himself.
	He raised his head in shock, only to meet her widened
eyes with his own.  A long, heavy heartbeat passed as he glared at
her, then he abruptly puffed resignedly.
	"<Liang Yue...  Would you...  Come for a walk with me?
I...  Would like to speak to you,>" he suddenly asked, stunning
her so much she very nearly swooned.
	"<Uhm, Yes.  By all means,>" she responded, upon finally
gathering her wits.
	He smiled back at her gratefully, then gestured for her to
join him.  To her increasing bewilderment, he said nothing further
until they had walked down the darkening streets for several
minutes, then drew a long, tired sigh.
	"<I feel like an open book to you, Liang Yue.  Your
perceptiveness is amazing, and something about your eyes makes
lying to you impossible,>" he opened, his face downcast but oddly
relieved.  "<You are quite correct.  I am a Master of the Art of
Hidden Weapons.  I have yet to fall to anyone...  That I did not
want to,>" he continued, tossing a weak smile over his shoulder.
	"<I could see that, Qiang Kuan.  Your skill far surpasses
that of the man my father employed, yet you were defeated by Lin.
I...  Knew there was something amiss in that,>" she confirmed,
looking back up at his softened eyes.
	"<Yes.  I am not skilled in the use of her weapons.  And
since I issued the initial challenge, I had the option to request
the use of the broadsword and bonbori.  She defeated me easily,>"
he confessed, shaking his head.
	"<Then why did you challenge her?  If you knew you would
be defeated?>" she asked, but the look on his face answered the
question before he was able.  "<She...  Is your friend,>" she
indicated, smiling knowingly.
	"<As usual, you already know.  She is my first and only
childhood friend, Liang Yue.  I was her friend when she lost her 
father, and when she lost her mother three years later.  I swore 
then that I would make her my wife -- to be able to protect her 
from any further pain,> he confirmed, lowering his gaze.  "<Over 
time however, we grew apart as we concentrated on honing our 
skills.  She became Champion of the Amazons, and I became a Master
of Hidden Weapons.  By the way; even for you, I showed only a 
portion of my skills.  Part of being a Master is knowing not to 
ever reveal your limitations,>" he stated, his tone devoid of any
egotism.
	"<I knew that, too.  I could see you adjusting your
forms,>" she smiled, looking up at him encouragingly.  "<I would
venture that it is a technique you use often -- and for more than
just your fighting skills,>" she added, knowingly.
	He meantime, glanced down at her and smirked confirmingly,
then shook his head and picked up his tale.  She could not help but
notice that he seemed to feel great relief at being able to do so.
	"<Eventually, we both reached the age at which custom
demands we find a spouse.  It was also at about that time that Lin
was defeated by an outsider, which made him her husband.  I heard 
of it, and, since the tribe was aware of my pledge, I had to 
challenge him.  But I lost again -- of course.  He, however, 
despite readily accepting my challenge, did not honour our laws, 
and refused his place,>" he explained darkly, at which Yue 
smiled again.
	"<Which is why you remained here; to keep an eye on her,
and bolster her ego by letting her defeat you every so often,>" she
filled in, looking up at him expectantly.
	He smiled and nodded.  "<Exactly.  Lin...  Needs either a
partner she can dominate, or one that can dominate her.  Not in a
cruel way, as she would not put up with that, but her life seems
to need that 'order'.  I can give something of that to her, at
least.  And in answer to your next question -- no, I do not love
her.  Not in that way, anyway,>" he noted, shooting her a knowing
smile.
	Again, Yue was glad it was getting dark.  "<I find it
incredible that you could perpetuate such an act -- especially at
such a high personal cost,>" she responded, keeping her gaze
forward purposefully.
	He scoffed affectedly.  "<Perpetuating it was easy.  All I
had to do was act like a blind, cocky idiot.  I have been doing it
so long, it became a fact of life; at least until I met you.
You said a few sentences to me, and my carefully-crafted facade
just fell apart,>" he noted, sighing.  "<Now do you understand why
I said you were too damned charming?>" he stated, looking down at
her with a sad smile.
	"<You are a good friend, Qiang Kuan.  And a consummate
actor, I would warrant.  Not many men would make such a
sacrifice,>" she smiled back, her respect for him growing by
the minute.
	"<It is not a sacrifice, Liang Yue.  Lin has had a
difficult life, and I felt that if I could lessen that difficulty
in some small way, then it was worth it,>" he stated, firmly.
"<She did not know her father very well, as he was not home much.
But, she loved her mother deeply; the two were inseparable.  Her 
mother raised her and began her training, starting her on the path
to becoming the Champion.  When her mother passed, Lin was 
devastated.  She withdrew into herself for a long time; I feared 
she would sink too far to be brought back,>" he puffed, shaking his
head at the memory.  "<Finally, I made her so mad at me that she 
attacked me; and I saw the spark of life in her eyes once more.  My
decision was made,>" he continued, his face and eyes indicating the
strength of his conviction.
	Yue's heart ached.  The thought of such a wonderful man
putting aside his own life simply to help his friend touched her
deeply, but at the same time angered her slightly.  In doing so,
he was losing out on any chance of claiming the bright future
that still awaited him.
	She decided it was high time that situation changed.
	Without a thought to propriety, she reached out and took
hold of his arm.  "<You have been a wonderful friend and protector,
Qiang Kuan.  But do you not think the time has come...  For you to
retake your own life?>" she asked, stopping him in his tracks.
"<I love Lin as I would a sister; I also want nothing but the best
for her.  But, I cannot endure the thought that even to this date,
you deny yourself a future solely for her benefit,>" she stated, 
looking up at him beseechingly.
	He turned and cast her a look, his mouth open as if to
respond.  Instead, his face softened and his mouth closed,
followed by a long sigh.  His eyes then closed, and he lowered
his face.
	"<Perhaps...  Perhaps you are right,>" he stated, turning
to smile back at her as his hand settled over hers.




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END - The Princess Bride - V1P5         A Ranma1/2 Fanfic by Coutuva

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