>From reading the thread, I think I see part of the problem.  Might be a
mistranslation, but I'm not sure.  I haven't read the manga in Japanese.

People have been talking about the "Law of the Amazons", when it might be
better to call it the "Code of the Amazons."  The character, i.e. Shampoo, is
a member of an organization, i.e. The Amazons.  This organization has a set
of by-laws, i.e. "The Code of the Amazons."  Any person wishing to maintain
membership in the afore named organization must abide by the by-laws, or else
face the punishment required by the by-laws.  The by-laws can and do contain
regulations concerning treatment of nonmembers under specific
circumanstances.  The by-laws further define correct treatment of nonmembers
based on gender.

Is Ranma bound by the by-laws?  No, of course not.  He is not a member of the
organization.  Is Shampoo?  Yes.  If she wishes to maintain her membership in
the organization, she must abide by the by-laws.  On her first trip to Japan,
she violated the by-laws on two accounts:  1.  She failed to return with
Ranma as her husband.  2.  She failed to kill Akane after delivering the
notification of terminal action, i.e. "The Kiss of Death."  The punishment in
this case was the retraining of the said member, and a return to Japan under
the supervision of an superior in the organization to oversee compliance.

Is any of this legal in Japan?  Of course not.  Is any of this legal in
China?  Of course not.  Do the Amazons care?  Of course not.  They abide by
their customs and traditations and ignore the rest of the world unless
absoluty neccessary.

And now on to the next part...

The above may cause you to wonder why Shampoo and Cologne didn't just killed
Akane and kidnapped Ranma straight from the outset.  I see the following
reasons:

1.  The murder and kidnapping of Japanese citizens by Chinese nationals would
create a diplomatic incident with probable military backlash against the
Amazons.  Dispite the prowess in battle shown by the Amazons, I doubt whether
they can succed against 100,000 screaming Chinese armed with AK-47s, rocket
artillery, helicopter gunships, and jet fighter/bombers.  Note that is just
one division.  Consider several million in the whole Chinese military.  "Ah!"
you say, "What about Jyusenkyo!"  "Ah!" I say, "Who's uniform is the guide
wearing?"  They know all about Jyusenkyo and are quite prepared to go around
it.

2.  Ranma.  At the end of Shampoo's first trip to Japan, Ranma clamed to be a
girl in order to save Akane from the Kiss of Death.  He showed Shampoo by
splashing cold water on himself to trigger the change.  Problem.  How close
is the Amazon Village to Jyusenkyo?  Do you think that Shampoo doesn't know
about it?  I don't think so.  Shampoo probably recognized the Jyusenkyo curse
immideatly.  Why did she attack?  How would you feel if you just found out
that someone would rather be dead then married to you.  Me think she was
slightly pissed.  Then why did she stop?  He wasn't defending himself.  He
was willing to die for Akane.  I think that his sacrifice so moved Shampoo
that she was willing to break the code and let him go.  Either that or
there's a plot hole that you could sail the Titanic through and still have
room for the iceburg that sank her.

Ok, but in the second visit you ask?  They've been trying to trick Ranma
instead of the bash and run technique.  Of course.  They know that Ranma is
already a skilled fighter and he seems to pick up new techniques faster than
Nabiki picks up loose change.  If they did do the bash and run, what they got
back to China with wouldn't be much use as breeding stock.  And why else
would they have that "beat by male, marry male" rule.  They have to either
break up Ranma and Akane or trick Ranma into marrying Shampoo.  And that's
why they're still there.

Oh, reason 3?  It would ruin the plot line.

And lastly...

A few other thoughts about the Amazons:

Why is Cologne raising Shampoo?  Where are Shampoo's mother and grandmother?

The startled reactions of the Amazons when Shampoo gives Ranma the Kiss of
Death tends to make me think that that isn't the normal solution to the
problem of superior outsider female fighters.  After all the rules seem to be
to make the Amazons the greatest female fighters.  Wouldn't the superior
solution be to make Ranma an Amazon?  Then the Amazons could benefit from her
training.  Sounds like a case of wounded pride on Shampoo's part to me.

Why on earth do the Amazons have Instant Spring of Drown Man Bath Salts?
 Especially if they're only one shot?  Doesn't sound like a useful recipe to
me.  Now if they where permanent that would make sense to me.  After all what
would be a worse punishment to a Amazon Woman then to be turned into a man?
 Why didn't it work on Ranma & Genma?  Anicent Curse.  Bath Salts.  Which
sounds stronger to you?  (BTW, did any one else think that the dog/boy looked
a lot like Ataru from UY?  What wont he do to get a camo?)

That "girl" (and I use the term loosely) Shampoo was fighting before Ranma,
looked awfully like a guy.  Do they have Instant Spring of Drown Girl Bath
Salts too?  (If not, the "girl" just looked awful.)

Well I've taken enough of your time and memory.  I'll be going now.

StarFurie@aol.com

Time is the best teacher.  Unfortunately it kills all its students.