[Ranma][FanFic] Like Laws for Amazons

A rumble of thunder shook the windows. The door to the Cat Cafe opened
and a small cat, fur soaked with rain, scurried in. Shampoo kicked the
door closed with a hind paw and leapt towards the kitchen where a
bucket
of still warm water awaited her.

Cologne hopped down the stairs. "Welcome back, granddaughter."

Shampoo did not look up immediately. She continued to fasten the
buttons
on her dress. 

"Great-grandmother... I understand now."

"Hmm?" Cologne was puzzled equally at Shampoo's use of Chinese and her
statement. "What do you understand?"

"The spirit of the rites, Great-grandmother. The Kiss of Marriage has 
taught me this."

"Yes, I can see it in your eyes. What are you going to do now?"

Shampoo picked up an umbrella. "I will go to Ranma's house. To say 
goodbye."

She paused at the door and turned back to ask Cologne one last
question.
"Is there nothing more to happiness and love than this?"

-----------------

Akane scowled. It was hard enough tracking two of Nerima's martial
artists but the rain made it even worse. That Chinese hussy had
finally come to her senses and was going back to China but that gigolo
of a fiance of hers had to chase after her.

She spotted them under a storefront awning and slowed down. She crept
forward until she could hear them.

"Decision final, Ranma. Shampoo leaving."

"But why? I mean, why now? What made the change?"

"Shampoo understand lesson from Ritual Kiss of Marriage."

"You finally realized that you shouldn't try to make someone love you
because of some stupid law?" Despite Ranma's raised eyebrow and smirk,
he seemed to be quite civil and understanding. For Ranma, that is.

"No, Ranma. Is opposite. Ritual made me love you. Shampoo learn that
now."

"Huh?"

"Shampoo chase you for two years, Ranma. When give Kiss of Marriage,
silly and idealistic. No understand Love. When Shampoo return with
Jusenkyo curse, learn that Amazon Law not easy, not..." She searched
for the word in Japanese. "Not automatic. Have to work to follow law.
Have to work for love.

"But now Shampoo learn. You no follow Kiss of Marriage, only Shampoo.
Ritual teach love to only Shampoo, not Ranma. Shampoo no understand
Love before. Understand now."

"What? The Kiss of Marriage taught you what Love is?" The whole thing
did not make a lot of difference to Ranma, but the subject matter
seemed suddenly important. "What is it?"

"No can teach-"

"But you said you understood."

"Is like martial arts technique. Can explain how to train, but to
learn, must practice."

"Practice," Ranma repeated. "Wait, I ain't doing the Kiss of Marriage
thing on nobody. I know what it's like."

"Is different ways. Tell, when woman that man love in danger, what man
do?"

"Protect her, of course." That was easy.

"When man's fiance in danger, what man do?"

"Well, protect her. Uh, it's a matter of honor or something." Ranma
scratched his head, trying to figure out where Shampoo was headed.

"When Akane in danger, what Ranma do?"

"It's the duty of all martial artists to protect the weak." Ranma
thrust an index finger in the air emulating his father.

Akane nearly stormed out of her hiding spot. Is that all that
motivated Ranma to save her? Wait, she didn't need saving anyway.
Wasn't she important to Ranma? Why would it matter anyway? She didn't
care about him. Akane's confusion and frustration kept her still for
the moment.

"Duty of martial artist is ritual. Honor of fiance is ritual Like Laws
for Amazons. It make you do things, practice things so it can teach
you deeper things."

"I don't get it."

"Try this way. When Shampoo chase you at beginning, think love you,
but no understand love. So no love you."

"Okay..."

"But after over, and over, and over again, Shampoo now love."

Ranma was suddenly defensive. "Now wait a sec-"

"Same with Akane."

"You love Akane?" Unbeknownst to Ranma, Akane shared the same fear.

"No, Ranma. You love Akane. In beginning, Ranma save Akane because
honor, because duty. Now, Ranma save Akane because love."

"Hey, there's no way I can love that macho-" Slap! Shampoo cut off
Ranma's rant.

"Be careful, Ranma. If you say that to much, it become true too. You
understand one day." Shampoo turned to leave. The rain had stopped.

"Where are you going?" Ranma asked. He wasn't sure what else to say.

"Back to China. Maybe learn to love Mousse. He blind and stupid, but
kind and good fighter."

"I thought you loved me."

"Shampoo love you, Ranma. That why Shampoo have to leave. You better
with Akane."


Akane rushed up, but Shampoo disappeared into the night, and Ranma
made no move to follow.

"What was she talking about?"

"I'm not sure." The two of them stared at the darkness for a moment. 

"Let's go home, Akane."

As they walked together, Ranma reached out for Akane's hand, and held
it tightly. Akane's face did not change, but her grip was equally
firm.

A simple ritual, Ranma thought. It meant nothing, but it meant
everything.

-----------------------

Just studied Confucius in class and was inspired to write this short
fic.

I haven't worked on Sanctuary in years, I'm sorry. Maybe I'll get back
to it. I hope you enjoy this fic in the mean time.


Sriranga Dattatreya
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
http://agnar.homestead.com/ranma.html