PART 3: THE MERCENARY, HER SISTER; THE PANTY THIEF, 
HIS PAWN; THE AMAZON, HER AI REN; THE LOST BOY, 
HOME AGAIN. 

	
FURINKAN HIGH SCHOOLYARD
1:15 P.M.	

	The clouds had begun to grow dark over the city of Nermia.  
To the average person this would have seemed odd since most of 
today had been bright and sunny.  However sudden and random 
outbreaks of rain were not uncommon in this town.  Indeed, it 
seemed to rain there at least once a day, every day, 365 days a year.  
The storms could last from a few minutes to a few weeks.  It was 
odd but to them it was a simple fact of life.

	On this cold gray early afternoon, two combatants squared 
off against one another.  Both of them warriors, both of them trying 
to see through the other's eyes.  Then one of the warriors, dressed in
a green leotard and welding a gymnast's ribbon stepped forward....	
  
	"DEFEND YOURSELF!"

	The voice was high pitched and full of cold malice.  Then
another voice responded in kind, full of pride and determination, 
belonging to a purple haired girl with the blood of the amazons 
and 300 years of tradition flowing through her veins.

	"Shampoo defeat you now!"
	
	A loud rumble made itself heard, it was only the sky, 
thunder,	threatening rain, proclaiming the battle begun.

	Kodachi unleashed a flurry of clubs at Shampoo who expertly 
dodged them and rushed at Kodachi with both of her Maces.  Kodachi 
backflipped away to avoid Shampoo's attack while using her ribbon to 
wrap around and wretch one of Shampoo's maces out of her hand.  
Kodachi, then attacked, using Shampoo's own mace against her but 
Shampoo ducked underneath and screamed....

	"DRAGON SKY KICK!!!"

	Shampoo leapt forward onto her hands and then used her 
body to leap upwards, lashing out with her right foot, smashing it 
into Kodachi's jaw.  Kodachi fell backwards and hit the ground hard 
while Shampoo landed on her feet like a cat and smirked down at 
Kodachi.

	"Was that too much for Psycho girl?"  Shampoo said, 
contempt evident in her voice.     

	Kodachi spat out a gob of blood and smiled.   Then, without 
warning, she tossed a bouquet of black roses directly into Shampoo's 
face.  A moment later, the roses emitted paralysis gas.  Shampoo 
quickly threw the roses away but was unable to prevent a small 
amount of the gas to seep into her lungs.  Then Kodachi leapt to her 
feet and thrust a spike covered club at Shampoo.  Normally Shampoo 
could have blocked it with time to spare but the gas had begun to 
slow her down, dulling her reflexes and decreasing her response 
time.  As a result, the spikes tore into Shampoo's left side, causing 
her to gasp in pain.  She retreated, holding her left side, which now 
had several puncture marks dribbling slightly with blood.

	"The hunt is not finished until the quarry's heart has been
ripped from it's chest and eaten."  Kodachi sneered at the injured 
amazon.

	Kodachi threw a razor hoop at Shampoo who caught it with 
her free hand and tossed it back at her in one smooth movement.
Kodachi also caught the hoop effortlessly with one hand while 
tossing a medicine ball at Shampoo with her other.  Shampoo caught 
the ball only to have it explode in her hand.  Shampoo involuntarily 
cried out and held her burnt hand under her armpit to stop the pain.
Kodachi laughs as she admired the injuries she had inflicted.  Then 
she walks over to her, idly twirling her ribbon, satisfied that she had
made her point."
  
	"You fight well....for a bimbo....but the ultimate victory is
mine."  The smile faded.  "Now you will leave here and never 
return.  Ranma-Sama is MINE."

	Kodachi laughed again, unaware of the blue aura beginning
to surround Shampoo.  She had made a fatal mistake.  She had 
underestimated her opponent a great deal.  Although Shampoo may
not have been the brightest person in the world, she was one of the
best fighters in the world, even Ranma knew that, and soon Kodachi
would know as well.   

	"NOW....YOU....MAKE....SHAMPOO....MAD!!!

	Kodachi blinked in surprise as Shampoo assumed her 
combat stance, ignoring the burning pain in her hand, ignoring the 
sharp pain in her side, ignoring all as she leapt at Kodachi.  Kodachi 
recovered quickly, tossing a storm of clubs in front of her to act as a 
shield only to have them bounce off Shampoo's arms as Shampoo 
spin-kicked Kodachi right across the face.  Kodachi stumbled back,
off balance now as Shampoo followed up by smashing her remaining
mace deep into Kodachi's stomach.  Kodachi doubled over, the wind
painfully taken from her lungs only to be yanked back up by her 
ponytail.  Kodachi looked into Shampoo's eyes and saw the true 
vengeance of heaven as Shampoo finished her with a brutal uppercut
that sent Kodachi spinning head over heels to crash chinfirst onto the
ground.  

	Kodachi didn't move after that, except to breathe.  Shampoo
was only breathing heavily while clenching her injured hand and 
pressing her arm against her side.  Shampoo's face was flushed with
the thrill of combat and before she knew it an amazon cry of victory 
escaped from her lips.  Then she looked down at Ranma, her prize, 
the man she had protected, her ai ren....

	"Ranma all Shampoo's now."
	  
 	Shaking with excitement and adrenaline, Shampoo knelt 
before Ranma, who had remained unconscious throughout the fight,
and ripped his shirt open, running her fingers over his chest, and 
draping her hot, sweaty body over his as she leaned forward to enjoy 
her prize to the fullest....

	Then Shampoo felt it. A single drop.  Shampoo's eyes 
widened with horror as she looked up and felt another drop splash
on her face....and then another....

	"NO!  NOT NOW!!!"  Shampoo screamed upward to the 
heavens.

	The sky answered her cry by releasing it's tears upon the 
town.  Shampoo quickly morphed into her cat form while Ranma
changed into a female, leaving Shampoo-Neko sitting on 
Ranma-Chan's chest.  Then Ranma began to wake up with the rain
and glanced down to see Shampoo-Neko sitting on her chest and
staring at him with wide eyes.

	"Meow?"  Shampoo says curiously

	"ARRRRGGGGHHHHHHH!!!  GETITOFF! GETITOFF! 
GETITOFF!!!"

	Ranma-Chan took off like a rocket towards the school, 
determined to put as much distance as she could between her and 
Shampoo-Neko.  Shampoo-Neko meowed with alarm as she 
followed the fleeing Ranma-Chan, unwilling to lose her chance 
yet again....

	Meanwhile the rain continued to fall, soaking the prone 
body of Kodachi as a small figure approached her.  He tapped her 
body a few times, making sure she was out cold and then laughed 
as he effortlessly picked her up and carried her away from the 
school, his intentions unknown to all but him....


*	*	*	   
 

NABIKI TENDO'S CLASSROOM
1:30 P.M.	

	The rain continued to pour outside as Nabiki tried in vain to 
hold in yet another yawn.  It wasn't that she was lazy, she was an
early riser, but today she was bored, bored enough to play a practical
joke on Akane to keep herself going, a practical joke that failed since
Akane failed to rise to the challenge.  Sometimes she wished she was
a junior again so she could be in Akane's classes.  Things were rarely
boring when she and Ranma were around.  The only person in this
class that was even remotely profitable was Kunou but even he was
concentrating intently on the lecture, either that or thinking up some
new poetry to recite to Akane, probably the latter.  Yep, it looked like
it was going to be a long....

	"Hold on a second, Is that Ranma I see?"  Nabiki thought to
herself as she spotted a redheaded girl, running towards the school at
top speed.  "Hmmm...."  Nabiki quickly but quietly started to write on
a piece of paper.  Then when she was finished , she waited until the
teacher's attention was elsewhere and then she threw the note at 
Kunou.  It bounced off his head, causing him to look up in surprise 
and see Nabiki frantically gesturing at his desk.  Kunou looked 
down to see a message to him.  Kunou quickly began to read it, 
knowing Nabiki only sent him news of the utmost importance.  Then 
Kunou promptly raised his hand.

	"Yes, Mr. Kunou?"

	"Sensei, I request a leave of absence to deal with a personal
matter that needs attending to immediately."

	The teacher sighed, normally he wouldn't have allowed it 
but since this was the principal's kid....

	"Very well Mr. Kunou.  But don't forget to hand in your 
homework this time, Monday!"

	Kunou's tone became indignant.  "Are you suggesting that I, 
Tatewaki Kunou, the rising young star of the Kendo fencing world, 
would not perform all of the duties required of a high school student 
of the highest moral fiber?!" 
 
	The teacher sighed again  

	"No, Mr. Kunou.  You may go."

	Kunou quickly departed the classroom as the teacher was 
about to return to the lesson when another hand went up.

	"What is it, Ms. Tendo?"

	"My stomach hurts.  May I go to the nurse's office?"

	The teacher raised an eyebrow in surprise.  Usually Nabiki 
was one of the only students he could keep in his class for any long
period of time.  For her to request leave, she must have truly been 
ill.

	"You may."

	Nabiki held her stomach as she left the classroom, closing 
the door behind her.  She then smiled to herself as she released her
stomach and pulled her mini camera.  She quickly checked it to
make sure nothing was amiss and then she quickly walked down the
hall, her sharp mind judging where and when Kunou was likely to 
meet up with Ranma-Chan and wondering what kind of juicy shots 
she could get....

	"This could be interesting...."  she smiled to herself.

		
*	*	*


GIRL'S GYM
1:35 P.M.	

	Ranma walked towards the changing room.  She hated
to use it, but she knew the guys would try to take advantage of her if 
she changed in the guy's side.  Besides that there was no one in the 
girl's gym at the moment so this would be her best chance to change
back into a guy without anyone seeing him.

	Ranma glanced inside the change room to confirm it was 
indeed empty and then she quickly made her way inside. Once 
there, she proceeded to strip off her soaked shirt and wring it out.  
Then she grabbed a nearby towel and started to towel off her 
chest when she noticed the shower nearby.

	"Hmmm....a hot shower would be nice about now....I could 
change back to a guy and get warmed up at the same time.  No 
one's around to see me....why not?"

	Decision made, Ranma slid her pants down her legs and then 
her boxers. Then she strolled into the shower completely naked and 
smiled as she reached for the hot water spray....


*	*	*


	Nabiki couldn't believe her luck!  Not only had she managed 
to get some great topless shots of a wet and shivering Ranma-Chan 
to sell to Kunou, she could now sell Kodachi and Shampoo some 
totally nude shots of Ranma-male.  All in all, a VERY profitable 
day.  From her place of concealment, she could see everything and 
he could see nothing.  Nabiki marveled a moment at what she 
saw, Akane was luckier than she had originally thought, though 
not by much....
	
	Then Nabiki heard a soft meow and turned around to see a 
wet cat wander into the locker room.  Her eye's widened when she 
recognized it as the cursed form of Shampoo.  And it was heading 
right for the shower with the unsuspecting Ranma....

	Nabiki felt herself go light headed with the financial 
possibilities as she aimed the camera and waited....


*	*	*


	Ranma felt his tense muscles relaxing under the hot spray.
He sighed in contentment as he felt his body grow warm and giddy
with the sudden release of pressure.  Then Ranma remembered that
he was alone in the shower and could aim the other shower heads to
spray him as well.  Grinning, Ranma reached over to his right, 
adjusted the head to spray towards him and turned it on.

	"Ahhhhhh....That feels great."

	Ranma then reached over to his left and adjusted that 
shower head as well.  "This is going to feel fantastic!" Ranma 
thought as he felt for the hot water faucet....


*	*	*	
	
	
	Nabiki had to keep herself from jumping as she rapidly 
began snapping photos.... 


*	*	*

	
	Ranma frowned as he groped something that didn't feel 
anything like a faucet.  It almost felt like a....Ranma suddenly felt
a chill run through him even though he was being sprayed by two
hot showers.  Then Ranma slowly turned to see he had grasped
Shampoo's right breast with his left hand.  A completely naked and
very excited Shampoo who gave him a look that reminded him of a 
contented cat about to eat a very large fish....

	"Ai Rennnnn...."  Shampoo purred.

	"Sh..Sh...Sh....."  Ranma tried to say something.  Needless 
to say, he was NOT trying to pronounce Shampoo's name.

	"Shampoo knew Ranma loved best."

	That snapped Ranma out of his fear.  "It's....It's not like 
that....You walked in on me....!

	"What about hand?"  Shampoo gestured at his hand, still
squeezing her breast.  Ranma eye's bulge out and he tries to remove
it only to have Shampoo gently but firmly hold it in place.

	"No be shy Ranma.  Shampoo wife after all."

	"It's not like that!  Let go of my hand!  Let go of...."  

	Ranma's voice trails off when he sees the burns on the hand 
she uses to hold his own on her breast.

	"Your hand....It's burned!"  Ranma said with surprise.

	"Shampoo fight psycho girl for you."  

	"Psycho......you mean Kodachi?"  Ranma asked

	Shampoo nodded  "Shampoo protect husband while 
unconscious.  Kodachi would have stolen Ranma otherwise."

	"Pro...Protect?"  Shampoo releases Ranma's hand and 
gestures at her side.  Ranma looks closer and see the puncture 
wounds.

	"Kodachi did that to you?!"  Ranma was stunned.

	Shampoo nodded.  "Psycho girl fight good but Shampoo 
better!"  she said firmly.     	
	
	"You didn't....I mean....You should have woken me up...."  
Ranma quietly muttered, embarrassed that a girl had fought his 
battle for him.

	"Shampoo try but you no respond."  Shampoo replied with
wide frightened eyes.  "Shampoo protect you.  Wife protect husband,
Husband protect wife."  Shampoo smiled again and moved closer to
Ranma.  "Wife and Husband also do other things...."

	"Forget it!"  Ranma backs away out of the shower spray and
away from the naked temptress, trying to keep his voice calm.  
"Look, I appreciate you helping me out and all but I'm not 
interested!"

	Shampoo frowned and walked towards Ranma, making 
sure to keep herself in front of the entrance so Ranma couldn't 
escape on her.  "Ranma owe Shampoo.  Is take pleasure from 
Shampoo so bad?!"  

	Shampoo continued to advance on Ranma who kept 
retreating until he was against the wall.  Shampoo quickly closed 
the gap and rubbed her body up against his, trying to entice him.  

	"Shampoo!  C....Cut it out!  I said no!" Ranma yelped as 
his eyes looked for another way out, any other way out.

	Shampoo suddenly turned away from Ranma.  Ranma 
breathed a sigh of relief until he saw Shampoo was shaking with 
her head bowed.  It was obvious she was crying.  Ranma felt a 
pang of guilt and frustration as he tried to think of something to 
say.

	"Great.  This is all I need."  Ranma sighed in frustration 
as he placed his hands on Shampoo's shoulders to stop them from
shaking.  "Come on!  Stop crying already will ya!"  Ranma 
pleaded.   

	"Ranma....Ranma hate Shampoo."  Shampoo sobbed.

	"What?"  Ranma was momentarily disarmed.  "No, I...."	
	"Ranma never want see Shampoo again."

	"Look, I...."

	Shampoo shrugged off Ranma's hands and walked over to the exit.  She
paused by the door and turned to look at Ranma with
tears in her eyes.

	"Ranma want Shampoo dead?  Is that what Ranma want?
Her voice was flat, an accusation.

	"No!  Of course not!"  Ranma replied, horrified that
Shampoo would think such a thing about him.

	Shampoo's eyes softened and she took a step towards 
Ranma, new hope in her eyes.

	"Then....Ranma really care for Shampoo?"	

	"Well....yes....but not the way....I mean....I...."

	Shampoo rushed forward, wrapping her arms tightly 
around him, cutting off his air supply.  "Oh Ranma, Shampoo 
SO Happy!"

	"No!  Wait!  Get off me!  It's not like that!"  Ranma
said, his rush of words betraying his fear as he desperately tried 
to think of a way out of this situation.  The words "Saotome 
Secret Technique......Saotome Secret Technique...." repeated over 
and over in his mind but Shampoo had a death grip on him and
was still blocking the entrance.   Ranma began to pray that 
Ryouga would come through the wall and try to kill him again so 
Ranma would have an alternate route of escape.  No such luck. 

	"Shampoo!  Let go of me!  I need air!"

	"Shampoo no let go!  Ranma is Shampoo's wife!  Make 
love to Shampoo now!"

	Shampoo eyes flashed with an idea.  She maneuvered 
Ranma over towards the nearest shower spray and then she 
lifted one of her legs and got a firm grip on the cold water faucet.

	"Ranma make love Shampoo or Shampoo change form!"

	Ranma freezes solid.  He stared at Shampoo's foot on
the faucet and then at the shower head aimed right over her head.
He silently judged if he could knock Shampoo off balance and run
before she turned the faucet but although Ranma was brave, his 
intense unnatural fear of cats prevented him from taking even the
slightest risk of being in the presence of a cat sort of a life and 
death situation.  Ranma tried to look stern as he issued a warning
to Shampoo....

	"You wouldn't dare....!"

	Shampoo began to turn the faucet.

	"OKAY, OKAY, YOU WOULD DARE!"  Ranma tried to 
keep his tone reasonable.  "I'm sorry but I can't make love to you 
Shampoo.  Can't we just be good friends or something?"

	Shampoo was silent for a long moment, causing Ranma to
sweat it out until another idea came to her mind.

	"Okay.  Shampoo let Ranma go...."

	Ranma breathed a sigh of relief.  "Thank you."

	"If Ranma takes Shampoo to date.  REAL date." Shampoo 
added, remembering certain tricks played by Ranma to end their 
past dates before it even began.  "Swear on honor that you take 
Shampoo on real date and Shampoo let go."

	"That's not fair!  That's blackmail!  You're as bad as 
Nabiki!  Ranma whined to her.

	In the locker room, someone sneezed.  If either of them 
heard it they gave no sign.

	"It fair!  Shampoo save Ranma remember?"

	Ranma opens his mouth to retort but soon shut it again
as he is forced to admit she has a point.

	"Okay.  You win.   I swear on my honor I'll take you on a 
real date.  BUT...."  Ranma said in a no-nonsense tone of voice.  
No tricks from you either Shampoo!  No magic potions, No hexs or 
chants or any kind of witchcraft to get me to love you.  And no 
trying to kiss me, hug me, rub me or any other weird stuff! 
Understand?

	"Shampoo understand.  But Shampoo have right to kiss at
end of date."

	"No way!"

	Shampoo began to turn the faucet again.

	"OKAY, OKAY!!!  But ONE kiss at the end and that's it!
Got it?!

	Shampoo nodded.

	"Swear on your honor!"  Ranma insisted.

	"Shampoo swear no tricks on date with Ranma."
  
              "Okay then, Now let me go."

	Shampoo released Ranma as he quickly left the shower 
room and began to dry himself off.  Shampoo coyly covered herself 
up and walked out after him.  She grabbed a nearby towel and held 
it out to Ranma.

	"Ai ren want Shampoo to dry?"

	"No, thank you."

	Shampoo shrugged and dried herself as Ranma did the 
same.  Then Ranma groaned as he realizes he had no dry clothes.

	"Damn!"

	"Ai ren?"

	"My clothes are still soaked from the rain...."

	"Shampoo have no clothes either...."  Shampoo gave 
Ranma a come-hither look that went unnoticed.  Ranma started 
looking through the lockers for some clothes when he heard a 
familiar voice just outside the locker room door.

	"I'll be right there, I just need to get my swimsuit!"

	Ranma swallowed hard as he recognized the voice 
belonging to Uykou.  Ranma quickly opened one of the lockers and
gestured Shampoo to hide inside it.

	"Quick!  Get inside here!"

	Shampoo frowned.  "Shampoo no want to."

	"This is no time for games!  Ucchan will be here any 
second!  If she sees you naked with me...."

	"Shampoo only hide if let Shampoo kiss Ranma more than 
once on date."

	"What?!?  No way in....!"

	The door began to open.

	"Okayyouwingetinthere!!!"  Ranma frantically babbled as
Shampoo leapt into the locker and Ranma shut the door just in time
for Ukyou to walk in.  Ranma leans against the locker door with his
arms folded and a nervous smile on his face.

	"Oh h..hi Ucchan!  Long time no see!  Heh...."

	"Ranchan....!"

	Ukyou's face turns bright pink and she turns away quickly.
Ranma wonders what is wrong before he remembers he is naked as
well....
	
	"Oh man!  I'm sorry!  I forgot I was a guy now....!"  Ranma 
frantically wrapped his towel around his torso.  "I'm descent."
a blushing Ranma assured Ukyou as she turned around slowly to 
face him.

	"Ranchan, what are you doing in the girl's change room?"  

	"Oh....well....After I regained consciousness from Akane's
uppercut, I ran in here to dry off.  But I don't have any spare 
clothes...."

	"I noticed."  Ukyou replied as Ranma turned bright red 
with embarrassment.  "Wait here while I go get you some gym 
shorts...."

	"Okay.  Thanks a lot Ucchan.  You're a real lifesaver!"

	"No, Ranchan....Thank you."

	Ranma frowns at her comment as Ukyou giggles to herself 
and leaves.  Then Shampoo emerged from the locker and embraced 
Ranma from behind.

	"Meow."  Shampoo playfully whispered in his ear.

	 "YAHHH!!!  Ranma nearly jumped out of his skin.  "Stop 
doing that!  You want me to have a heart attack or something?

	"Why Ranma scared of not-nice girl?  Ranma beat her 
easily!

	"The same reason I didn't knock you out when you grabbed 
me in the shower....I don't hit girls."

	"Shampoo not so easy to discourage."  Shampoo replied 
with a smile.

	"I know....I know...."  Ranma wearily replied.  "Just please
get back in the locker before Ucchan catches you and kills me!"

	"Okay."  Shampoo returns to the locker while Ranma 
impatiently waited for Ucchan to return....


*	*	*

This part was too big to fit in one e-mail so I divided it up. 
Continued in Part 3 Page 2 of 2....