The Road Not Traveled
Story by Ricardo Garza

Part 1 Everything changes to stay the same

 It is Friday before dawn. Another summer day is starting at the 
Saotome dojo, a summer twelve years into the future.
 Akane, Ukyo, Ranma and Shampoo put on their lounging robes and 
choose some clothes before going downstairs to take a bath. Ukyo 
looked at Ranma's and her cloth drawers before choosing something 
to wear. Ranma stops a moment in the laundry before entering the 
bathroom.
 "Mhh, still no sign of beard or mustache. I'm glad I could obtain 
another dragon hair." Ranma thinks as he checked his face in the 
mirror. Then he enters the bathroom, the girls had already soaked 
their bodies with water. Ranma soaks his body with cold water. 
Ranma had almost forgotten the days when cold water would trigger 
his curse. Shampoo started to clean Ranma's back while Ukyo did his 
chest and Akane his legs. 
 "How are your aerobics classes, Ranma?" Said Ukyo.
 "They are fine, but Nabiki is a very strict boss." Ranma answered 
in a self-defeating tone.
 "But you are the one that wanted some extra income." Scolded 
Akane.
 "Yes, you know that with the income from Ucchan's, The Nekohanten 
and The dojo we were doing just fine." Added Ukyo.
 "Yes, but I am the man of the house and I am supposed to cover all 
the house expenses." Replied Ranma.
 "Sure miss Ranko Kuonji!?" Said Ukyo with grin on her face as she 
swiftly fills a small bucket with hot water from the bathtub and 
pours it over Ranma. Ukyo then pokes Ranko's breast.
 "Hey stop that!" Was all Ranma could say in her defense. Shampoo 
pours some water on her to clean the soap from her back and Ranma 
changes back into a man.
 "How is Aneko carrying out in school Akane?" Asked Shampoo.
 "Your daughter is doing fine, she still has troubles with 
mathematics." Answered Akane.
 "I suppose it is genetics, neither you or Ranma ever have great 
skill for math." Replied Ukyo.
 When they finish cleaning Ranma's body he enters the bathtub. 
Shampoo unties Ranko's pig tail and starts to give her shampoo and 
conditioner. As usual she cleans her hair and does again her pig 
tail in less than ten seconds. It was rather unnecessary but Ranma 
felt more comfortable if Shampoo did it as fast as she could. Then 
Akane and Ukyo started to rub Shampoo's body with the soap bars 
they had in their hands 
without pouring any water over Shampoo.
 "I forgot to mention it; Yesterday I spoke with Nabiki over the 
phone." Said Akane.
 "What does Nabicorps Inc. wants this time?" Growled Ranma, 
distrust echoing in her tone of voice. She still remembered well 
enough all the times that she had blackmailed her.
 "She just wanted to come to the house to chat over dinner." 
Answered Akane.
 "I hope she isn't up to something." Replied Ranma.
 "Could you please cook more food for our guests?" Asked Akane to 
Shampoo.
 "No problem Akane." Answered Shampoo
 "Thank you Shampoo." Said Akane.
 Ranma left the bathtub and Ukyo dried her with a towel.
"Sometimes I envy you Akane, this breasts have become really 
annoying. When they were size C they were managable, I don't know 
how Shampoo can manage." Pouted Ranma while binding them with a 
cloth stripe.
"Because she is a REAL amazon." Answered Akane implying with her 
tone of voice that somehow Ranma wasn't as good as Shampoo.
"What do you mean I am not a R... HEY!" Ranma answered to a 
giggling Akane.
 Ranko then wore a black and red leotard and went to do some 
morning exercises in the dojo. Then Akane and Ukyo soaked Shampoo 
and finished cleaning her up. The moment they poured water over her 
head her body changes radically, But she no longer became a cat 
when doused with cold water. Shampoo now transformed into some sort 
of combination of human and cat. Her skin grew cat like white fur 
all over her body; except on her face, chest and tummy. Her hands 
and feet became paws; she became taller than everyone at the dojo 
in this form since the arc of her feet enlarged like those of a 
cat. Her eyes developed slits, which allowed her to at night like 
if it was full daylight. Her canines could be clearly seen when she 
smiled and a long tail grew from the base of her spine. Shampoo 
entered the bathtub and she instantly transformed back into her 
human form.
 Meanwhile Akane started to cleanup Ukyo's body. Ukyo entered the 
bathtub after Akane finished cleaning her up. Shampoo exits the 
bathtub. Akane dried her body and then Shampoo started to clean 
Akane's body. When Akane is clean she entered the bathtub with 
Ukyo. Shampoo then wore a Chinese style dress and went to the 
backyard to do her martial arts training.

 Shampoo does some warm up exercises before starting martial arts 
training. After finishing those, she stands beside a steel beam 
encrusted in a cube of concrete in the floor. Wood had proven too 
fragile to practice some of the special martial arts techniques she 
and Ranma have learned and perfected thru the years. She takes a 
deep breath and jumps up until she is beside the top of the bar. 
For a second she is suspended in midair as gravity just starts to 
pull her down.
 "BAKENEKO KASHI TENSHIN AMAGURIKEN" Shampoo shouts as her hands 
become a blur and the steel beam starts absorbing the blows. An 
experienced observer would notice that she isn't actually touching 
the steel beam. Her hands are covered with a fiery blue aura in the 
form of cat claws that slash when close to the metal bar. Cologne 
had taught her a long time ago that to master any technique based 
in the internal ki she had to somehow master her own ki. One way 
was using a very strong emotion.

	*	*	*	*	*	*	*	*

 We see a very young Shampoo. A group of much older girls are 
bullying her. Shampoo tries to fight back but she is still too 
young and uncoordinated. A boy from a nearby village sees this and 
runs towards them. 
 "Stop!" Shouts Mousse as he places himself between Shampoo and the 
girls.
 "So, it looks like Shampoo needs a BOY to defend her!" Says one of 
the girls. The girls beat Mousse to a pulp. Then they leave behind 
Shampoo and an unconscious Mousse. Shampoo had never felt so 
humiliated in her young life. She had not only been unable to 
defend herself, but someone had to her rescue, and that someone was 
a boy. She hates being weak. She even felt pity for Mousse. If she 
had been stronger, those girls would not have beaten him instead of 
her. She drags Mousse to her house where her 
mother give him some first aid. When Mousse recovers consciousness 
Shampoo beat him some more for humiliating her that way. 

	*	*	*	*	*	*	*	*

 A piece of the steel bar falls to the ground as Shampoo stops her 
special attack and gravity finally starts to pull her down. She has 
a look of satisfaction in her face. Indeed no one could argue that 
she is strong, very strong.

 Akane relaxed in the bathtub. She closed her eyes for a moment, 
She could clearly hear Shampoo and Ranma training. Then The wind 
carries thru the window the voices of one of the neighbors 
children. Akane opened her eyes and assumed a more rigid position.. 
Ukyo could see in Akane was a little down and she knew why.
"I know what you are thinking, you wish you could give Ranma a 
son."
"Yes. But you know what Dr. tofu said."
"Yes I know, because of Ranma's curse we can only give him 
daughters."
"Well Akane, if he really wants to have a son he can have it 
herself." Akane smiled.
"Maybe we should ask Ryouga to help him." Answered Akane while 
giggling a little.
"You know he is a REAL animal."
"Stop it."
 Then Ukyo started making pig-like noises with her nose. Akane 
couldn’t resist and started laughing. Ukyou smiled, the kind of 
smile one does when someone cheers up a friend.
 After a few more minutes Akane and Ukyo left the bathtub and took 
turns drying each other. Akane puts a very simple dress, like the 
ones Kasumi used when she lived with them. Ukyo dons a suit and 
gathers most of her hair over her head using the white ribbon she 
always wears over her head, creating the illusion short hair. She 
was after all a man in the eyes of society and has to look like one 
whenever she was outside her home. Then Akane and Ukyo moved to the 
kitchen to prepare breakfast. After years of practice and lots of 
patience from the rest, Akane had become quite a descent cook. Ukyo 
had also learned to make a lot more than Okonomiyakis. Akane still 
required some supervision to make sure she didn’t made little 
mistakes.
 When Akane and Ukyo arrived with the food, Ranko, Shampoo, and 
Happosai were already at the dinner table awaiting breakfast. Akane 
started to serve the food. Happosai looked very weak, he sees Akane 
isn't giving him much attention and jumped towards her.
 "Let me rest in your bosom Akane dear!" Yelled Happosai.
 "Oh, no you don't!" Said Ukyo as she sent Happosai into the 
backyard wall with her giant spatula.
 "Thanks Ukyo." Said Akane.
 "No need to thank me, I enjoy keeping Happy at bay." 
 Everybody continued eating without paying much attention to the 
little incident. Akane went to the kitchen to prepare the lunch 
boxes for her daughters. As soon as they finished breakfast almost 
everybody left the house. Ukyo went to open Ucchan, Shampoo went to 
help Cologne at the Nekohanten, Ranma went to work in Nabiki's 
health spa. Akane carried the dishes to the kitchen and then went 
to wake up her daughters. Akane had only one daughter but she 
considers all of them as her own.
 "Aneko, Sumire, Pan, wake up!" Akane Said out loud as she climbed 
the stairs.
 "Cooooming..." shouted Pan, the youngest daughter, only seven 
years old. She was a bit chubby, had short chestnut colored hair 
and blue eyes like all of Ranma's daughters. 
 "One more minute." Yawned Sumire, the rebel middle sister. She was 
the image of how Ranko would have looked had she ever been nine (as 
a matter of fact she once did but that is another story), only she 
wore a pony tail instead of a pig tail in her long red hair.
 Aneko didn't answered Akane's calling. She was the oldest 
daughter, eleven. She had long lavender hair like her mother but 
what made her stand out in a crowd was that her eyes have slits 
like the ones of a cat.
 "She is a heavy sleeper, just like her father." Thought Akane as 
she entered Aneko's room. Aneko was sleeping in fetal position with 
a big smile in her face and purring softly.
 "OK sleepy head, time to wake up." Said Akane but got no response.
 "Aneko, wake up!" Said Akane as she shook lightly Aneko's body. 
Aneko slowly opened her eyes. She placed her hands and knees on the 
bed and relaxed her body like cats do. She then jumped with feline 
agility over Akane and landed behind her.
 "Good morning, mommy Akane."
 "Good morning Ani, let's go."
 Aneko quickly puts on her school uniform and runs downstairs to 
join her sisters.
 "If Ranma had to wake her up every morning I'm sure that he'd get 
goose bumps when he heard her make purring in her sleep." Said 
Akane smiling as she walked downstairs behind them. 

 Aneko, Sumire and Pan took a bath while Akane was washing the 
dishes in the kitchen. Then Akane, Aneko, Sumire, Pan and a still 
sleepy Soun ate breakfast. Soun had streaks of gray hair on the 
sides of his head, probably due to years of stress generated from 
living with Ranma, Akane, Ukyo, Shampoo and Happosai. After 
finishing breakfast Akane carried the dishes to the kitchen, Soun 
let the house as every Friday and went to visit Genma and the girls 
went to school. When they are outside the house they stop and 
opened their lunch boxes.
 "Is there any funny stuff in your lunches?" Asked Aneko.
 "No, Why do we have to check our lunch boxes?" Replied Pan.
 "Dad said we better check them out since he can no longer do it 
himself." Explained Aneko.
 "But why did he have to check them out?" Asked Sumire.
 "I dunno, he said something about her food being toxic, go 
figure." Said Aneko
 "If you ask me, Dad has some screws loose." Said Sumire. Then the 
three of them continued their way to school.

 After Akane finished with the dishes she started to clean the 
house. She eventually ends up in the dojo; where they have the 
family shrine where Akane's mother ashes rest. She looked outside 
with a sad face.

	*	*	*	*	*	*	*	*

 A very young Akane is in the school with her lunch box open before 
her. She is sitting very far from all the other children with a 
very sad look on her face. She is about to eat the food Kasumi had 
prepared for her when two older boys approach her.
 "Well, well, well, isn't she the cry baby that has been crying 
here alone the whole week?" Says one with a cynical tone.
 "Akane wants to cry, Akane wants to cry!" Says the other.
 "Leave me alone!" Replies Akane, trying to control her tears.
 "If you aren't going to eat it, better give it to us." Says one of 
the boys as he takes Akane's lunch box. Akane doesn't move at all.
 "Ha, it looks like Mrs. Tendo must have been a pretty lousy woman 
to rise such an ugly and meek son!" The other boy says, mocking 
Akane as they start to eat her lunch. Akane suddenly feels anger 
boiling inside her like she had never felt before . She couldn't 
stand that they stained her mother's memory. She could have taken 
anything but that. She wouldn't allow it. After thinking that, the 
only thing she remembers is one of her teachers restraining her. In 
the floor were the two kids badly beaten. She tried to feel sorry 
for them but couldn't since they received what they deserved.

	*	*	*	*	*	*	*	*

 Akane smelled wet soil in the air. She realized that it was 
starting to rain. She ran to close all the windows. Akane then 
continued with her daily routine of cleaning and maintaining 
everything in order. She even gave herself time to practice her 
martial arts skills at the dojo. She probably wasn't the strongest 
fighter in the house, but that wasn't a reason to forget her 
training.
 While practicing at the dojo Akane heard a familiar bell. It was 
Shampoo on her bike landing in the backyard. She was carrying 
several take-out boxes AND an umbrella. Frightened customers didn't 
give tips (sometimes they didn't pay) nor they ordered from the 
Nekohanten again.
 "Nihao Akane, enjoy!" 
 "Thanks Shampoo, see you tonight." 
 "Bye!"
 Ranko arrived shortly thereafter still wearing her leotard. She 
was smart enough to have an umbrella in her locker at the spa in 
case it rained. It would be embarrassing for Ranko to change back 
while wearing a leotard.
 Then the door bell rang. Happosai was closer to the door and went 
to see who was it. It's Nabiki and her husband Tatewaki. Happosai 
couldn't do other anything but to stare at Nabiki's figure. No one 
knew for sure how she had done it without surgery, but her breasts 
were bigger than those of any female that Happosai had personally 
meet. Maybe she had deceived everybody, but no one has managed to 
make her say how she had done it. If you add the long slim legs 
that her dress clearly exhibited one would certainly come to the 
conclusion that she was her own woman; with the brain, the cunning 
and the body to do whatever she proposed herself to do.
 It seemed she had indeed; since it was common knowledge that she 
had already reached the billion yen mark. Nabiki and her husband 
were wearing the latest in European designer cloth's. She looked so 
young, like if she was still eighteen. It was also rumored that she 
went to Europe every now and then to get the latest in rejuvenation 
treatments. Kuno hadn't changed much but he did represent his age. 
Happosai jumped towards Nabiki but was stopped by Kuno's wooden 
sword.
 "Don't you dare touch a hair of Tendo Tatewaki's wife, you dirty 
old man." Yelled Nabiki's husband. It had cost Ranma dearly to keep 
Saotome as his Family Name. Since Akane was the first one to marry, 
Soun wanted Ranma to take the Tendo family name. Nabiki proposed a 
deal to Ranma. She would make her husband take the Tendo family 
name if Ranma agreed to sign a life long contract as a model for 
her. She even offered Ranma a percentage on any income generated 
from the photos. Even though he knew he was going to regret it 
someday, he accepted. Nabiki had no problem convincing Kuno to make 
the change.  
 Even though it always appeared that he was very proud of his 
family name, the truth was that he had no respect for his father 
lineage, but couldn't find an honorable way to change his family 
name.
Akane and Ranko entered the room and immediately Kuno grabbed them 
both.
 "Akane, Pig tail goddess, please be my concubines!" Said Kuno 
instants before Akane and Ranko punted him sky high.
 After marrying Nabiki, Kuno had become stronger, but oddly enough, 
today Kuno seemed to lack his normal strength so Ranko and Akane 
punted him effortlessly sky high.
 "And you were calling Happosai a dirty old man. Oh well. Hi sis, 
hello Ranma."
 "I never understood why you married that jerk Nabiki." 
 "Isn't it obvious Ranma? He is handsome, he is rich, he is easy to 
manipulate and besides, you know that even nowadays a business 
woman isn't seen with good eyes in the business world, so I do the 
business and let Kuno have all the glory. I would say that is a 
fair deal." Said Nabiki in an unusual display of sincerity.
 Ranko went to the bedroom to change into a more manly attire and 
to the kitchen for some water. Akane changed her yellow martial 
arts uniform for the dress she was wearing before. Aneko, Sumire 
and Pan returned from school starving (as usual). They entered the 
dinning room and sat at the table.
 "Wow auntie, your dress is cool, can I touch it?" Exclaimed Sumire
 "Go ahead, I might buy you one in your birthday." Answered Nabiki 
to tease Ranma. Nabiki knew that Sumire admired her and that she 
had a little resentment towards Ranma for not marrying Akane only. 
Sumire loved Shampoo and Ukyo, but she thought it was unfair for 
Akane to have to share the man she loved, specially since it was 
his fault.
 "I'm organizing a picnic this Saturday morning Akane, you are all 
invited." Said Nabiki.
 "Who else is going?" Asked Akane.
 "I have already invited Kasumi and Dr. Tofu, but you can invite 
anybody you want."
 "It is a shame that Ukyo and Shampoo can't go." Said Akane.
 "Yeah, they always have more customers on weekends." Replied 
Ranma.
 "Ranma, why don't we invite Ryoga and Akari?" Asked Akane.
 "Do you miss P-chan Ak.." Answered Ranma as Akane placed her fist 
on his cheek.
 "If you had told me before I would never have forced Ryoga to 
sleep in my bed." Said Akane.
 "Forc.... ,sheesh, anyway, it might be fun!" Replied Ranma quickly 
recovering from the blow.
 "We should also invite Genma and Nodoka." Said Akane.
 "Akane dear!" Yelled Happosai as he jumps towards Akane's chest, 
but is punched outside of the house by Ranma.
 "Yeah, Pops always likes to play with his grandchildren."
 "And children always love to play with pandas, don't forget to 
bring daddy Akane." Added Nabiki.
 After they finished the meal Nabiki leaves, she found her husband 
unconscious on the sidewalk 
 "Oh Taki, you are pathetic, but you are MY kind of pathetic." Said 
Nabiki to herself as she dragged him inside the car.
 Ranma took his daughters to the dojo to give them their martial 
arts training. When they're done Aneko, Sumire and Pan go to the 
dinning room to do their homework while Ranma stayed at the dojo to 
give his kempo classes. Akane made some phone calls to invite 
people to the picnic and then went to the to help her daughters do 
their homework.
 "Damn those three bitches, if they wouldn't burn all my precious 
panties and bras every time I collect them I wouldn't be so weak!" 
Thought Happosai as he walked towards Tofu's clinic to receive 
treatment for the multiple injuries he had sustained during the 
day.
 After the treatment, Happosai didn't leave the clinic and managed 
to sneak into Kasumi's room, where he saw what he was looking for. 
Hanging near the windows were Kasumi's panties. Happosai let a tear 
escape his eyes. 
 "Beauties, you will soon be with someone that truly appreciates 
you."
 Happosai grabs Kasumi's underwear, placed it in a little bag and 
jumps from roof top to roof top until he deemed he was far enough 
not to be discovered. Happosai grabbed the bag and was about to 
pull out one of Kasumi's panties when he felt the tire of Shampoo's 
murderous bike hit his bald head. Shampoo puts aside the delivery 
she was carrying and grabbed Happosai.
 "Don't ... dare ... to ... do ... this ... again." Said Shampoo 
with her eyes gleaming red as she gave Happosai her patented 
hundred slaps before punching him sky high. Happosai landed right 
in the middle of the carp pond in the Tendo's backyard.
 "I think I will rest, her..." Said Happosai as he crawls out of 
the pond and loses consciousness.
 "Looks like Mom beat Happosai again." Said Aneko without moving 
her eyes from her homework to see what had landed on the pond.
 "It seems like he will never learn." Replied Akane shaking her 
head a little.

---------------------------------------------------------------
    Writer: Ricardo "Do I ... know you?" Martinez Garza
    Editors: Jose Antonio "Smiley" Chavez Espejo
             Shannon "Ukyou" M. Richmeyer
Unsuspecting Cultural Advisor: Hitomi "Ranma-chan" Ichinohei
                                       
 I also wish to thank Lee Ginther and Darren Demaine for their
initial feedback.

 This fanfic started originally as a lemon fanfic. But since:

a)The lemon scene is just another scene of the fic (and it isn't
a requirement to read it part to understand the story)

b)Some people are offended by lemon scenes. Therefore I have
removed the lemon scene from the fic. Anyone interested in it
need only to send an e-mail to ftp@ranma.net for
information on how to get it.

As usual any feedback is welcome at:
rgarza@colunga-eliana.evermann.indiana.edu

Ricardo Martinez Garza

Part 2 Once upon a plan...

Friday noon

 Shampoo is working at the Nekohanten. She has a photo of Ranma 
besides the counter. She stares at it for a moment, remembering the 
day he finally became Shampoo's man. 

	*	*	*	*	*	*	*	*

Cologne and Shampoo (still in her teens) were talking in the 
kitchen. 
 "...we will not lose more time here in Japan. You haven't trained 
properly for too long and even though I would like you to marry 
Ranma we cannot waste your youth in a hopeless pursuit."
 "Great grandmother, no, I love Ranma!"
 "But you haven't been able to win his heart. I'm sorry child but 
we are going back to China in a week."
 "Please, let Shampoo try one more time!"
 "I will accept, but this is your very last opportunity. If you 
fail you will return with me to the village."
 "But if Shampoo returns without Ranma then Shampoo would have 
failed twice. Shampoo would be in disgrace then and any village 
man, even Mousse could marry Shampoo if family gives approval."
 "And I assure you that I will convince your mother that Mousse is 
the perfect husband for you. After all he is a hard worker, 
obedient and is the only man in the village that isn't afraid of 
you."
 "Shampoo accepts, this time Shampoo won't fail." Said Shampoo in 
with a very serious look in her face. Meanwhile Mousse had been 
hearing all the conversation outside of Cologne and Shampoo's view. 
 *This is my chance. If I can get thwart any plan Shampoo has to 
marry Ranma then I will become Shampoo's husband.* A wide smile 
appeared on Mousse face as he daydreamed about how happy he would 
be with Shampoo as his wife when he felt water soaking his body.
 "Shampoo knows what Mousse is thinking." Said Shampoo standing 
beside him with an empty glass in her hand.
 *Shampoo doesn't really hate Mousse, but now more than ever 
Shampoo won't allow anyone to stand between Ranma and Shampoo.* 
Shampoo thought as she grabbed Mousse and placed him in a metal 
cage with a big lock.
 
That same afternoon Shampoo lured Ranma with the promise of free 
food to the Nekohanten.
 "Hey Shampoo, where is everyone?"
 "Nekohanten is no longer in business Ranma."
 "WHAT?!, are you serious?"
 "Yes, we are returning to China."
 "Then you no longer want to marry me?"
 "Shampoo does, but Great grandmother wants Shampoo to return to 
China and Shampoo can't disobey her."
 "Then we are never going to see each other again."
 "No, this is why I have made an extra special meal so you will 
always remember Shampoo."
 "Yum, where is it."
 "Wait here, Shampoo will be right back."
 Shampoo goes into the kitchen and returns carrying lots of dishes 
with exquisite looking food
 "Eat as much as you like."
 A little voice inside Ranma’s head started to yell "MORON!, stop 
before you eat some mind altering herb". Ranma used his brain (an 
action he did once in a while since he preferred action to 
thought), grabbed an egg roll and placed it in front of Shampoo’s 
mouth. Shampoo ate it without thinking it twice. Ranma stared at 
Shampoo to make sure she didn’t had any symptoms one could relate 
to love potions. Shampoo only smiled back at him so he decided to 
obey his original impulse and started to stuff his mouth with food.

 About fifteen minutes later Ranma finished another bowl. 
 "Shampoo, I'm stuffed, it was delicious, but I can't take another 
bite."
 Shampoo takes a look at the clock and starts to examine Ranma, she 
looks sad.
 "Shampoo, what is it, do I have cream on the face?" Said Ranma as 
Shampoo started to cry.
 "Shampoo, what is wrong? Was it something I said?"
 "It isn't fair, Shampoo is going to lose the man she loves."
 Ranma is moved by Shampoos tears, he stands up and hugs Shampoo.
 "Everything is going to be okay Shampoo."
 Shampoo places her arms around Ranma and with a swift movement of 
her right hand touches Ranma's neck. Ranma's loses control over his 
body from the neck down. Shampoo grabs Ranma before he falls to the 
floor and lifts him in her arms.
 "What are you doing, Where are you taking me?" Asked Ranma as 
Shampoo took him upstairs.
 "Ranma is going to become Shampoo's man."

	*	*	*	*	*	*	*	*

 Ranma was at the Saotome dojo teaching a group of about two dozen 
teenagers. After many years of working hard building the reputation 
of the dojo it had become one of the most respected dojo’s in 
Japan. 
"...first made themselves unconquerable in order to await the 
moment when the enemy could be conquered. Being unconquerable lies 
with yourself; being conquerable lies with the enemy. Thus one who 
excels is able to make himself unconquerable..." Quoted Ranma from 
one of his favorite books. He was teaching them the importance of 
not lowering their guard one second. He remembered clear as the 
sunlight what can happen if you leave your guard down.

	*	*	*	*	*	*	*	*

 It was one week after Shampoo’s intimate encounter with Ranma. 
Cologne and Shampoo went to visit the Tendo's, everybody except 
Happosai was at dinning room. Cologne started to talk about the day 
Ranma meet Shampoo and everything that had happened since then in 
Shampoo’s life. It wouldn’t very polite to say immediately the 
reason behind their visit. She finally said "Finally last week 
happened what was bound to happen from the start" in a rather 
conclusive tone.
 "What do you mean?" Asked Soun knowing it couldn’t meant anything 
good. 
 "Ranma finally had his way with my great-granddaughter and because 
of that she is now pregnant."
 "Oh my." As usual Kasumi was a rock; after all the crisis she had 
been since Ranma’s arrival it would require more than this to shake 
her. But there was little she could at this moment.
 Genma looked Ranma searching for a sign that it wasn’t true, but 
he didn’t find it. Ranma tried to say something in his defense but 
with everybody looking at him all he could do was move his lips. 
Besides there was really nothing he could say that would change 
things a bit. Shampoo probably was really pregnant with his son and 
if he asked them for a blood test he would be helping to place the 
last nail to his coffin.
 Soun looked at Cologne, his right eye twitching and his hands 
clenched in fists over the table. She definitively wasn’t joking 
and was too smart to lie about a thing like this. He then gave 
quick glances to Shampoo, Ranma and Akane.
 "My poor Aka..." he muttered as his eyes rolled over and lost 
consciousness.
 "If you excuse me I will carry my father to his room." Declared 
Nabiki before grabbing her unconscious father out of the room 
effectively removing herself from dinning room before a fight 
started.
 "You have a lot of nerve to come here to say such lies, right 
Ranma." Said Akane as she turned her face towards Ranma. Ranma is 
looking down and playing with his fingers.
 "Ranma, it isn't true, right Ranma." Said Akane in a less 
confident tone. 
 "Well, err."
 "RANMA YOU PERVERT." Shouted Akane as she punched Ranma with her 
fist. 
 "Hey, it wasn't my fault, she raped me!" Said Ranma still with 
Akane’s fist in his cheek.
 "Sure, I'm supposed to believe you did it against your will." Said 
Akane as she pulled her fist from Ranma’s face. 
 "Well, err, yes."
 "RANMA NO BAKA." Akane felt her bicep bulge right before she 
punched Ranma sky high. Ranma landed near Ucchan's. He decides to 
enter and chat with Ukyo to forget about the whole deal. But Ukyo 
saw the bruises in his head (the part of his body he uses most of 
the time to land after his short flights) and asks him what 
happened. Ranma decided to tell her himself before someone else 
does. Ranma took her inside Ucchan’s, out of the customers hearing 
range and told in a few words to an increasingly shocked Ukyo what 
had happened that day at the Nekohanten. 
 "My poor Ranma honey, raped by that savage, it must have been 
horrible."
 *I wouldn't put it that way.* 
 "You should go to the authorities." But Ranma had already thought 
in what would happen if he went to the police.

 We see an scene from a TV newscast. There is a photo of Ranma with 
his name below, but they misspelled Ranma so instead of saying 
"wild horse" it says "wild demon".
 "We have just received this, Ranma Saotome of the Saotome school 
of martial arts pressed charges against ..."
 Meanwhile we see still pictures of Ranma beating the tar out of 
Kuno, Ryoga, Mousse, etc. provided by an undisclosed amateur 
photograph.
 "... an immigrant from China called Shampoo."
 We see an Shampoo in over-cute mode saying "Shampoo don’t care 
what Ranma did, Shampoo loves Ranma".
 "Authorities are right now searching for Ranma Saotome on charges 
of rape, if you have any information leading to the arrest of this 
perpetrator please call to the number on your screen."
 
 "Ucchan, I rather not."
 "We will see about that later, Right now you are coming with me to 
the dojo." Said a very determined Ukyo as she proceeds to close 
Ucchan’s and drag Ranma back to the Tendo's house. As they enter 
the already crowded dinning room everybody stops talking. Ukyo gave 
Shampoo a gaze so cold the room temperature seemed to lower a 
couple of degrees.
 *This is no good. I’ll have to wing it before this mess gets out 
of hand.* Thought Genma as he cleared his throat.
 "Ukyo, I am glad you are her. We have discussed this and there is 
only one way to settle this and having everybody's honor 
satisfied."
 "You are going to make me commit sepuku?" Asked Ranma to Genma. 
That was the only way he could think in that moment he could get 
out of this.
 "No, no, calm down. You are going to marry the three of them."
 "WHAT!?" Shouted Ranma and Ukyo at the same time. 
 "How I am supposed to marry three times?" Asked Ranma still in 
shock.
 "You can marry Shampoo in our village, that marriage wouldn't be 
official under Japanese law, but it doesn't bother us." Said 
Cologne slowly.
 "Shampoo no care what Japanese law says, Shampoo will be Ranma's 
wife." Said Shampoo crossing her arms.
 "But if I marry Akane I can't marry Ukyo, it is illegal."
 "Not if you marry me as a woman Ranma honey." Added Ukyo. Since 
she was in the eyes of society a male she already knew that the day 
she married Ranma, He might have to pass for Ukyo Kuonji's bride. 
She was ready to live the rest of her life as a male if that was a 
requirement to marry Ranma. Therefore the moment Ranma said it 
couldn't be done it Ukyo instantly thought of how simply and 
ironical was the solution. After she said it she realized that in 
this moment sharing Ranma with Shampoo and Akane was the only way 
of marrying him and that she was ready to accept this bizarre deal.
 "But how I am supposed to support three wives?" Said Ranma.
 "I have Ucchan as a source of income." Said Ukyo. 
 "Shampoo has Nekohanten." Said Shampoo.
Akane gave a quick look to Ranma, Ukyo and Shampoo.
 "As far as I am concerned, YOU CAN HAVE HIM!" yells Akane as she 
stands up and runs out of the house thru the front door.
 "AKANE" yells Ranma as he stands to run behind her. Cologne 
swiftly hits Ranma with her staff sending him in a parabolic 
trajectory in the opposite direction. 
 Akane leaves the Tendo dojo crying. She hides between some bushes 
in a nearby park. She clean his eyes of tears and tries to calm 
herself down and think about this bizarre situation. 

 Stupid Ranma how could he do this thing to me. His stupidity has 
put me in a situation he knows I won't accept. How am I supposed to 
accept sharing him with not one, but TWO other girls. I have no 
other option than to disobey my father. But it is so unfair. I will 
be disinherited. I don't mind that, I am not as materialist as 
Nabiki. But I will have to leave the house to never return. I will 
never be able to see dad, Kasumi, Nabiki or Dr. Tofu ever again. I 
can't even live near the dojo. Sometimes honor is so unfair. What 
did I do to deserve this. Nothing. It was dad idea to engage me 
with that thoughtless brute. I even started to think that in the 
end everything would work just fine. Then he walks right into 
Shampoo's claws. BAKA.

 After some searching Ranma finally finds her. Ranma can see she 
has been crying. 
 "Akane..." Says Ranma softly when Akane notices he is there.
 "GO AWAY, I don't want anything to do with you."
 "I want to apologize for the situation I have put you in." Said 
Ranma bowing to Akane. 
He noticed Akane was trying to ignore him. He felt some hope since 
she wasn't running from him.
 "I know I should have been more careful with Shampoo. But I can't 
change the past." 
Said Ranma as Akane continued to ignore him.
 "All I know is that..." Said Ranma. Akane looked at Ranma. She 
could see that he was very perturbed. She had never seen him like 
that.
 "...If I can't live with you I don't want to live at all." Said 
Ranma from the bottom of his heart. All his life he had been taught 
that a martial artist must live and die by his beliefs. But this 
was the very first time in his life he was willing to die.
 "WHAT!?" Said Akane.
 "If you don't come back with me and agree to be my wife I will 
commit sepuku."
 Akane could not believe her ears. He was actually ready to risk it 
all in a gamble to get her back. She new that Ranma wasn't joking 
and would indeed fulfill his word.
 "Ranma you mustn't."
 "I have already made my decision. What will be yours." Said Ranma 
looking deep into Akane's eyes, searching deep in her soul.
 "I ... accept Ranma." Said Akane as she hugged him and placed her 
head in his chest.
 "You knew I would accept." She whispered.
 "I will make everything within my reach to make you happy Akane." 
Said Ranma as he gently kissed her head and surrounded her body 
with his arms.

	*	*	*	*	*	*	*	*

 Ukyo was working as usual at Ucchan. She had a moment for herself 
and her mind noticed how much had this place changed since she 
first came to Nerima more than a decade ago. She no longer paid 
rent since she had bought the place with the money she managed to 
save. Slowly over the years she expanded the restaurant buying one 
of the nearby buildings. She know had takeout service. She even had 
built two rooms in the upper floor for certain "emergencies". She 
was very proud of her achievements. She was definitively the brain 
of the house.
 Ranma started to work in the dojo after finishing high school, at 
first giving classes to Young children only but as Ranma grew older 
the dojo started to attract older students. Shampoo was 
definitively never college material. Akane could have gone to 
college since she passed the exam to enter college; but she became 
pregnant at eighteen and by the time Sumire was born Kasumi had 
married Dr. Tofu so she decided that someone needed to take over 
the house duties and her daughter (and Aneko and some time later 
Pan) would need a full time mother. So even tough Akane finished 
high School Ukyo was the only one that went to college and became a 
business major.
 Ukyo had a photo taken the day of her marriage. She giggled every 
time she saw it since she appeared quite handsome and Ranma very 
beautiful and blushing in her kimono. She remembered that day as 
clearly as yesterday.

	*	*	*	*	*	*	*	*

 Ukyo was one of the many of the Furinkan High students at the 
reception done after Ranma and Akane's wedding. People were 
supposed to wear their work uniform at this receptions, but since 
they were students they used their school uniforms. Genma, Nodoka, 
the Tendo's, Dr. tofu, Ryoga, Akari and Kodachi were also there. 
Akari made sure Ryoga was at the wedding. That way Ryoga would 
forget Akane for good and his heart would belong to her.
 Ukyo overheard two friends of Ranma talking of him.
 "That sneaky Saotome, using his curse to marry two women." Said 
Hiroshi.
 "He always used his curse in his advantage. I heard that he also 
is going to marry Shampoo." Said Daisuke.
 "That sneaky Ranma."
 "Try not to sound too envious." Said Ukyo at a blushing Hiroshi.

 On the other side of the room Kodachi arrived to the reception. 
She had everything set to recover her beloved Ranma. This time she 
had outdone herself. She had sent Sasuke to place several 
containers with a deadly neurotoxic gas inside the room. All she 
needed to activate them was to push two buttons in a remote control 
she had in her bag. She had two oxygen masks that would save her 
and Ranma from the effects of the gas. Ranma decided to go to the 
men bathroom for a moment and then Kodachi decided to put her plan 
into action. When she moved towards Ranma she felt someone placing 
something in her wrist.
 "Who dares put a hand over Kodachi Kuno?" Said Kodachi turning to 
face this stranger. 
 "Agent Nakamura Morita from the Tokyo police department. You are 
under arrest for attempted genocide and possession of illegal 
substances." Kodachi then realized that what was on her wrist was a 
handcuff.
 "What, this is outrageous ..." Kodachi was about to knock out cold 
the officer with stun gas when she realized Akane, Shampoo and Ukyo 
were surrounding her and glowing with fiery auras. Ranma and other 
guests were also looking at her.
 "OK Kodachi, you decide, you can go with Agent Nakamura or resist 
the arrest and gives us the justification we are looking to beat 
you to a pulp." Said Akane cracking her knuckle.
 "I will make you and anyone else responsible for this pay, I swear 
it." Said Kodachi as walked to the police unit awaiting for her 
outside.
 "Shampoo wanted to beat Kodachi to a pulp."
 "Maybe another time Shampoo, I think we haven’t seen the last of 
her." Said Ukyo.
 "Do you really think so Ukyo, I would be surprised if she lives 
the rest of her life in a prison." Said Nabiki.
 "We are in debt to you Nabiki." Said Ukyo, realizing Nabiki would 
make them pay this debt of gratitude in the most profit effective 
way.
 "But how did you knew what Kodachi was planning?" Asked Akane.
 "Some people are so ... obvious, it was a matter of sending the 
right information to the right people."
 "But why didn’t you told us anything until fifteen minutes ago?" 
Asked Ranma.
 "And risk an ongoing police investigation, I don’t think so Ranma, 
Besides the gas containers were removed this morning so I was just 
a matter of making it official."
 "Anyway Nabiki, Thanks I never thought you cared so much for us."
 "Think nothing of it Ranma." Nabiki grinned as she thought *One 
obstacle less between me and the Kuno family fortune*.

 After Ranma and Akane’s wedding reception Ranma and Ukyo went to 
the Tendo's house. Ukyo was very excited about her wedding, Ukyo 
bound her chest, placed her hair in layers over her head to 
simulate short hair and changed her school uniform for a more 
formal man attire. She went to see what was delaying Ranma and 
realized he hadn’t even triggered his curse. He wasn’t very excited 
about having to wear a dress and was sitting staring at it until 
Ukyo splashed him with a whole bucket of water.
 "Get moving young lady, we don’t have all day."
 Ranma muttered something about stupid dress, have fun who cares 
about how I feel and things like that while she started to change.
 From the Tendo's house left Ranko and Ukyo and went to the house 
of Ukyo's parents live to change their western style cloths for the 
Japanese traditional wedding outfit. Ranma didn't like the idea at 
all but there was no way around it. As Ukyo changed cloths all the 
things that had happened in the past month passed thru her mind.

 More or less a month ago Ukyo had visited her father to tell him 
about her intentions to marry Ranko Tendo. He was very surprised 
since even though Ukyo was risen as a boy he never thought that she 
would willingly marry another woman. Since Ukyo was very excited 
about her marriage his father started all the preparations for the 
wedding. Ukyo's father hired an investigator to know all the 
details about Ranko's family. This is a common practice in Japan 
and the investigator always must be very careful to do his work 
without being noticed the family he is investigating.
 Ranma had to pay Nabiki (She basically retained all the profits 
from the photos she took of Ranma for a year) for a birth 
certificate for Ranko Tendo. Ranma had to surrender his portion of 
the profits from his work as a model with Nabiki to pay her. Ranma 
also ha to endure nearly a month in his female form to avoid being 
discovered. The purpose was two fold. Since they didn't wanted the 
investigators to discover that Ranma and Genma Saotome were living 
with the Tendo's. Genma wasn't very bothered since he already spent 
a lot of time as a panda. 
 Ukyo's father was very intrigued when not one but three 
investigators found nothing about Ranko's that he didn't already 
knew. That she lived with the Tendo's, that she was female (the 
photos one of the investigators had obtained after talking 
discretely with one of the Tendo daughters left little doubt about 
it) and that her name was Ranko. But there was a register of her 
birth, but there was no register of her in any school and she 
seemed to have come out of the thin air about a year ago.
 He went to talk with Ukyo personally to learn more about this 
mysterious Ranko Tendo. When he questioned Ukyo about her fiancé 
background Ukyo refused to give him any details. She stated rather 
clearly that if he didn't gave her permission to marry Ranko she 
would do it anyway, even if this meant severing any ties she had 
with his family.
 Ukyo's father was rather surprised by Ukyo reaction. He had 
thought for some time that Ukyo was marrying Ranko to fulfill her 
role in society as a male. But apparently she really loved this 
woman. Ukyo's father decided to allow Ukyo to marry her. If there 
was a secret in her past it seemed to him that it would continue to 
that way and if she WISHED to marry a woman it simplified his life 
a bit. If Ukyo had refused to marry at all there were no of chances 
of having any grandchildren born inside wedlock. 

 Ukyo’s wedding ran smoothly until the moment the priest said "You 
may now kiss the bride". Since there was no rehearsal for this 
wedding. "Who need to rehearse the same thing twice!" were Ranma’s 
words they hadn’t anticipated this. Ranko moved her head close to 
Ukyo’s and whispered "You don’t have to do it Ucchan". Ukyo was 
about to nod in agreement when she realized that she would probably 
have to this in other occasions to preserve the illusion they were 
trying to create. She summoned some courage, swallowed some saliva, 
closed her eyes and kissed Ranko. Ranko was so surprised that she 
started to blush madly. Ukyo saw this and started to smile widely.
 Ranko was so embarrassed that even after the ceremony and in the 
reception afterwards she was still blushing. Everybody thought that 
the bride was very adorable and since Ranko never opened her mouth 
to say something to the guests that illusion was preserved. 

 For Shampoo and Ranma's marriage Cologne sold some gems to buy 
plane tickets. Cologne paid for Ranma and Shampoo's tickets only. 
But Ukyo and Akane knew that if Ranma went alone to China he would 
probably never return so they used the tickets Ukyo’s father had 
bought for Ranko and Ukyo to protect Ranma. Nabiki manipulated the 
situation for her personal gain suggesting Ukyo to sell the first 
class tickets to buy 3 second class tickets. Ukyo owed Nabiki so 
she couldn’t refuse. Nabiki had always wanted to visit China and 
she wasn’t the kind of person that would waste an opportunity. 

 Cologne guided Ranma, Akane, Ukyo and Shampoo to the adobe where 
they would while they stayed at the amazon village. Akane, Ukyo and 
Shampoo hurried inside to unload their luggage. Ranma paused for a 
moment looking at the place. They had decided they would also spend 
here their honeymoon since it was remote enough to worry about 
being recognized by a relative or a friend of a relative. Everybody 
at the village was talking about them but that didn’t bothered 
Ranma. But something (rather someone) that did bothered him and it 
was besides him.
 "At least I can use this trip to go to Jusenkyo at last and get 
rid of this damned curse." Thought out loud Ranma out loud to anger 
the old ghoul.
 "Son-in-law, did I forget to mention that Jusenkyo curses are 
permanent."
 "WHAT?"
 "Yes, the only thing you will change is that you will turn into a 
boy with cold water instead of hot water. The curses can be 
altered, but they cannot be negated short of a divine 
intervention."
 "ARGHHH. And how am I supposed to get a help from a divine 
source."
 "I don't know, maybe you know someone that has access to it." 
Cologne chuckled to herself as an angry Ranma walked inside the 
house. Cologne could hear voices inside exclaiming
 "There is only ONE bed." 
 "Well, at least it is a big bed."
 And so on they argued.

The wedding ceremony ended as Cologne said something in Chinese 
declaring Ranma and Shampoo husband and wife. She then poked 
several places of Shampoo’s body with her staff,
 *Weird ceremony* Ranma thought. Shampoo was very happy and jumped 
over Ranma to hug him. Ranma’s eyes then attempted to leave their 
orbits since Shampoo was crushing him.
 "Seems Shampoo had already get used to half her strength." 
Chuckled Cologne.
 "H  a  l  f." Ranma managed to say as Shampoo in her joy hadn't 
realized she was crushing him. The moment she heard Ranma talk she 
lessened the strength of her grip.
 "Yes son in law. The reason you were able to kick Shampoo from the 
log when you meet her and she was unable to hunt you down to kill 
you was because she had become too dependent on her superior 
strength to win her fights. Her dexterity and skill wasn’t up to 
your level. Since her strength had become a handicap for her self 
improvement I decided to used a pressure point technique to reduce 
her strength in half. I then took her to Jusenkyo to re-train her, 
what better way of knowing the importance of skill and dexterity 
than having than being a cat."
 "Damn ghoul, but why you waited until now to restore her 
strength?" Asked Ranma in an angry tone of voice. He knew what is 
was to be weak and understand what Shampoo probably felt.
 "Because men dislike women that are stronger than them and I 
wasn’t taking any chances."
 "Stronger! no way."
 "Do you think I am joking son in law? When I met you personally 
you were still weaker than Shampoo so I also had to strengthen 
you."
 "Do you really believe Shampoo is stronger than me! Please come 
here Shampoo, I want to show this old ghoul how wrong she is." 
Shampoo obeyed Ranma and interlaced the fingers of her hand with 
the fingers of his of his hands. It was basically an arm strength 
contest. Ranma started to slowly win over Shampoo but then Cologne 
gave Shampoo a disapproving glance and suddenly Ranma felt how he 
slowly but inexorably lost ground until both of his knees touched 
the ground.
 "It can’t be." Ranma couldn’t believe it.
 "Let’s do it one more time." And so Ranma lost five more times. 
Everybody (even Akane and Ukyo) got tired of it and left Shampoo 
and Ranma.
 "Huff, huff, I almost had it there."
 "Shampoo refuses to continue. Husband must save strength for 
tonight." Shampoo also left. 
 "Huff, just one more time Shampoo." Said Ranma but Shampoo had 
already left him.
 *I will become stronger than you Shampoo, you will see.* Thought 
Ranma as he stood up to join the festivities.
 *The child Shampoo will bear has the potential to become a 
formidable martial artist since she will have Shampoo’s strength 
and Ranma’s innate skill and focus.* Thought Cologne as she 
observed Ranma walking.

 After the ceremony Ranma, Shampoo, Ukyo and Akane went to 
Jusenkyo. Ranma wished that Cologne was wrong. Even if she was 
right it would be better to have the curse reversed, since it is 
less likely to be soaked with hot water. Akane and Ukyo joined 
Ranma and Shampoo in their trip because they didn't trusted 
Shampoo.

	*	*	*	*	*	*	*	*

 Pan was walking downstairs when she heard the phone ring.
 "Hello, Saotome dojo." Said Pan with her usual confident voice.
 "Grawfa."
 "Grandpa, is that you?" Asked Pan with an excited tone of voice. 
There was a very special relation between the two of them. One 
could almost swear that pan had Panda genes in her, even tough that 
was impossible.
 "Graw, Graw, Graw."
 "Then you are going come over the house, I'm going to tell mom." 
Said Pan very excited as she hang the phone. She ran upstairs to 
tell Akane.
 "Mommy Akane, mommy Akane, Grandpa is coming home."
 Akane was a lot less enthusiastic than her daughter. She went 
downstairs to do a pair of phone calls. Then she walked towards the 
dojo. Ranma was evaluating his students when Akane entered the 
dojo. She made a signal to Ranma. He nodded and she left. Ranma 
continued to evaluate his students as his mind drifted to the 
origins of his current dilemma.

	*	*	*	*	*	*	*	*

 Ranma had thought that it was no use telling Nodoka about his 
curse since he was going to China to marry Shampoo (he told her it 
was part of her honeymoon with Akane) and he would use this trip to 
go to Jusenkyo and get rid his curse. After the trip Ranma talked 
with Genma about it. Before going into his second honeymoon with 
Nodoka Genma told her about his panda curse and she didn't seemed 
to mind; as a matter of facts there were rumors of animal noises 
coming from their suite at night. Genma was very confident that she 
wouldn't mind since she didn't carry her katana around anymore. 
That was a sign that she thought Ranma was indeed a man among man. 
They arranged a dinner in Nodoka's house to tell her. Nodoka 
prepared a delicious meal for Ranma, Akane, Genma and herself. 
During the meal Genma takes the initiative.
 "What would you think if you found out that Ranma fell into a 
cursed spring that transforms him into a girl?" Genma asked half 
joking.
 "I would have to help my son and husband to commit sepuku." 
Answered Nodoka erupting in fury drawing from one of her kimono's 
folds the family wakizashi and placing it in Genma's throat.
"You are joking aren't you." Said Nodoka as Genma started to swear 
profusely from every pore of his body. Nodoka could see the purest 
essence of fear in Genma's eyes. Ranma was also paralyzed in his 
place. Nodoka proceeded to soak Ranma with his glass of cold tea.
 "So you were joking after all, for a moment there fooled me dear. 
I didn't knew you were such a good actor." Said Nodoka.
 "Oh yeah, Next thing I will tell you Ranma also married Ukyo 
Kuonji." Said Genma before realizing he might have jumped out of 
the frying pan and into the fire.
 "You are such a joker dear." Said Nodoka. Ranma finally felt his 
soul returning to his scared to death body. 
 "Speaking more seriously I can't believe sweet Ranko married Ukyo. 
Even tough she was a tomboy." Said Nodoka
 "...As someone I know." Added Ranma dodging a punch from Akane.
 "But it is different. Akane married you Ranma, not only a man, but 
a man among man." Said Nodoka. She didn't realized the ironical 
smile Akane gave Ranma.
 "Even though I don't like that kind of marriages. If she had 
married a man that passed as a woman I could understand." Said 
Nodoka without realizing how close to the truth she was.

	*	*	*	*	*	*	*	*

 *We have somehow survived 12 years of this. Akane even had to use 
pillows when Shampoo and Ukyo were pregnant and Nodoka was around. 
Thanks goodness Aneko and Pan call Akane mommy. Aneko, Sumire and 
Pan love their grandmother, but sometimes is very stressing when 
she comes to stay the weekend since neither Shampoo or Ukyo can 
sleep at home. Thank goodness pop calls every time mother is going 
to visit us.* Ranma’s thoughts returned to the present as he 
noticed one of his students doing wrong the kata he had just taught 
them


 "OK Akane, I will carry the food, bye, bye." Said Shampoo while 
she was cleaning a thick ceramic dish. As soon as she hangs the 
phone Shampoo's face was full of anger. Shampoo places her hands 
over the opposite surfaces of the dish and starts to exert 
pressure. The center of the dish quickly crumbles into dust. 
Cologne entered the room hopping on her staff.
 "Mhh, so Nodoka is going to visit Ranma." Said Cologne. Shampoo 
nodded.
 "It is so unfair Great grandmother, Shampoo has just arrived from 
trip and now Shampoo has to sleep at the Nekohanten." Said Shampoo. 
Shampoo could sometimes be a very loving and adorable person. But 
sometimes she could be just the opposite. Shampoo's gaze could 
almost kill at the moment. But it has been a long time since the 
last time she tried to kill someone.

---------------------------------------------------------------
    Writer: Ricardo "Do I ... know you?" Martinez Garza
    Editors: Jose Antonio "Smiley" Chavez Espejo
             Shannon "Ukyou" M. Richmeyer
             Cris "AlbertCrombie" Snyder
Unsuspecting Cultural Advisor: Hitomi "Ranma-chan" Ichinohei
                                       
 I also wish to thank Lee Ginther and Darren Demaine for their
initial feedback.

 This fanfic started originally as a lemon fanfic. But since:
a)The lemon scene is just another scene of the fic (and it isn't
a requirement to read it part to understand the story).

b)Some people are offended by lemon scenes. Therefore I have
removed the lemon scene from the fic. Anyone interested in
it need only to send an e-mail to ftp@ranma.net for
information on how to get it.

As usual any feedback is welcome at:
rgarza@colunga-eliana.evermann.indiana.edu

Ricardo Martinez Garza

Part 3 "...where demons dwell and take their toll."

 After the wedding at Joketsozuko the girls changed their formal 
clothing for more comfortable summer clothing to go with Ranma to 
the cursed grounds.
 "Here it is honorable guests, the drowned girl cursed spring." 
Said the Jusenkyo guide.
 "This is it Shampoo, jump in." 
 "OK, Ranma." 
 "Aiya!, why did you told her to do that." Exclaimed the guide but 
Shampoo was already inside the spring. "Oh, terrible thing is going 
to happen."
 "What do you mean. Isn't this the way you reverse Jusenkyo 
curses." Asked Akane. 
 "Why didn't you tell us!" Demanded Ranma.
 "You didn't ask. Guests never ask how the cursed grounds work."
 "OK, tell us, QUICK!" Said Ranma as he noticed that the cursed 
spring started to generate a huge amount of bubbles.
 "Please listen carefully honorable guests." Said the guide as he 
retrieved a very small and very old booklet that said "Jusenkyo's 
Guide Handbook" on the cover in Chinese.
 "Okay, ... If someone cursed in Jusenkyo introduces part of cursed 
body into another cursed spring, he gets part of the new curse into 
his cursed body." 
 "That’s how Pansuto got his tentacles, thank goodness Shampoo 
won't end up looking like that freak." Interrupted Ranma in an 
anxious voice as the cursed spring had become a whirlwind.
 "... If someone cursed in Jusenkyo introduces cursed body 
completely into another cursed spring, then actual body becomes 
non-cursed form and new cursed form is that of actual cursed 
spring."
 "Then Shampoo should have entered as a cat!" Ranma interrupted 
again, trying not to panic as beams of light irradiated from the 
spring.
 "That's right, and ... If someone cursed in Jusenkyo introduces 
NON-cursed body completely into another cursed spring, then second 
curse mixes with first one." 
 "WHAT?!" Said Ranma as Shampoo jumped about 30 feet into the air 
out of the pool. It was clear that Shampoo's body was now that of 
her female self, but with many feline characteristics like a furry 
skin and a long tail that emerged from below her skirt. She landed 
besides Ranma and he jumped into Akane's arms, very afraid. Afraid 
of Shampoo's cat body and afraid of what would be Shampoo's 
reaction when she realized how she looked.
 "Sh-Sh-Sh-Shampoo." Said Ranma, unsuccessfully trying to get a 
hold of himself as Shampoo was looking at her new body. She looked 
at her paws. She looked closely at them and then nasty looking 
claws sprang from them. Ranma gasped just by thinking what those 
inch long claws could do to him. Shampoo then looked at Ranma.
 "Aiya. Shampoo likes this body. Shampoo tired of being small and 
weak when cursed. Shampoo likes it a lot more this way." Shampoo 
smiled with her eyes closed and her paws near her chest while 
everybody fell flat on their faces.
 "Err, Would you mind waiting here Shampoo?" Asked Akane afraid 
that Ranma might freak out if Shampoo was near him in her new form.
 "OK, Shampoo waits here." Answered Shampoo. Akane then instructed 
the guide to lead them to the "drowned man spring". 
 *Now Shampoo kills the other brides so that Ranma is only for 
Shampoo. But Ranma must not realize that it was Shampoo's doing. 
Ranma would never forgive Shampoo.* Shampoo thought while smiling 
to herself.
 Shampoo went to a nearby place where no one could see her. She 
waits a few minutes to make sure that Ranma and the others won't 
hear or see anything. She extracted a small piece of black onyx 
belonging to Cologne’s jewelry collection from her T-shirt pocket.
 The gem held a demon who had been imprisoned there many years ago 
by Cologne. Shampoo had heard Cologne say that demons may be 
summoned to do your bidding but were very dangerous creatures, but 
Shampoo was not afraid. She was confident that she could make the 
demon do what she ordered. She broke the gem in two with her hands 
and dropped it to the ground.
 Before Shampoo materialized what appeared to be a very strong 
looking man with black hair. His face had human features but a very 
inhuman expression and glowing red eyes. His hands ended in very 
thick and long nails. He was wearing an ancient looking red silk 
robe.
 "Stupid werecat, you think you can make me do your bidding without 
magical protection and the proper incantations?. I will give you a 
painful death." Said the demon in a guttural voice.

 "Shouldn't you carry some of this water to your father?" Asked 
Akane to Ranma.
 "Nah, he doesn't deserves it and besides, it would be very 
dangerous to carry this stuff around. Who knows what could happen 
if a bottle of this water would break by accident." Answered Ranma 
as he climbed out of the pool.
 Then everybody heard a very loud THUD from the direction they had 
left Shampoo. Akane and Ukyo ran towards the sound. They saw 
Shampoo laying semiconscious on the ground near a rock boulder 
which now had Shampoo's body outlined on it. Shampoo's body had hit 
the boulder after being kicked by the demon, even tough she had 
managed to block the kick with her arms.
 About ten meters in front of Shampoo stood the demon; his hands 
started to glow with an eerie red light as he hurled hellfire at 
Shampoo to finish her off. Ukyo barely managed to arrive in time to 
block the hellfire with her giant spatula. Even tough Ukyo never 
liked Shampoo a lot, she wasn’t the kind of person that would allow 
someone to murder Shampoo, specially now that she carried Ranma’s 
baby. Meanwhile Akane swung her hammer and managed to hit the 
demon's head but it was unaffected. He kicked Akane away from him 
the same way he did with Shampoo.
 "What is this, do you really think your pathetic weapons can harm 
me. I will slowly kill all of you." 
 "You will have to get me first." Taunted Ranma as he arrived to 
get the demon’s attention. He indeed got his attention as the demon 
suddenly materializes behind Ranma and starts to attack him with 
well coordinated series of kicks and punches Ranma barely managed 
to evade.
 The demon gives his back to Ukyo and she takes advantage of the 
situation, throwing half a dozen spatulas at him. But not even one 
of them injured him as they tear his robes, hit his back and bounce 
to the ground without slowing him down as he continued to fight 
Ranma. Then he paused for a moment to check his cloths, giving 
Ranma a moment to catch his breath.
 "So you have ruined my cloths." The demon said as he made a motion 
with his arms and powerful gust of wind blew Ukyo up in the air. 
She managed to land on her feet even tough she felt like if a human 
sized fist had punched her. Ranma didn't waste the opportunity. He 
knew Akane, Ukyo and Shampoo needed him more than ever. He couldn't 
fail. Ranma’s aura started to grow and became visible.
 "MOUKO TAKABISHA." Shouted Ranma as he released the full version 
of his special technique. The ki sphere became a beam and hit the 
demon with full force. The demon was momentarily stunned from the 
strength of the ki-blast, but was still standing. Ranma was 
astonished; he had once blown a wall of rock several meters thick 
with a similar blast. This being couldn't be human so he would not 
hold back.
 "MOUKO TAKABISHA." Shouted Ranma as he released another blast. The 
demon recovered before Ranma released the ki-blast and 
instinctively jumped into the air. He stretched his arms to release 
hellfire all over Ranma. He realized to late his error.
 Ranma had anticipated the demon’s jump and had pointed his hands 
towards the demon, not just towards the demon general direction. 
The demon was blasted by the ki-blast before he could summon 
hellfire to attack Ranma.
 A few seconds after his rough landing the demon stood full of 
inhuman rage and jumped towards Ranma. He had the firm intention of 
extinguishing the life of this mortal with a single blow. The demon 
looked at Ranma’s face to rejoice later remembering his expression 
as he snuffed the life out of him. *Why is he smiling?*
 "HIRYUU SHOUTEN HA." Shouted Ranma, one instant before the demon 
reached him with his glowing claw. The demon was thrown into the 
air. After falling to the ground it tries to raise, but falls into 
the ground head first.
 "Very well done, son-in-law." Said Cologne jumping on her staff 
near Ranma.
 "What, since when have you been here?" Asked Ranma.
 "Long enough to see your feat, very impressive. You defeated a 
lesser demon all by yourself."
 "A DEMON!? What is a demon doing in Jusenkyo?" Demanded Ranma, but 
Cologne had already left towards the place the demon was laying. 
She produced a piece of black onyx from her cloths and a piece of 
paper with some rare symbols in it from the other. She placed the 
piece of paper over the creature. The demon transformed into a mist 
and entered the gem.
 Ukyo, Akane and Shampoo had recovered enough to walk and they 
arriv