It was a Tuesday in Nerima, and all was as 
chaotic as usual. Happosai had gotten mad at Ranma
again, so the crew had gathered at the Nekohanten to
try and prepare some sort of defense against whatever
weird shiatsu spot, spirit, or mystical widget that
he might throw at the pigtailed martial artist. 
In addition to the three Amazons, and Ranma, himself,
there were Akane and Ukyou present. Ryouga knew about
the meeting, and wanted to attend (since Akane was
going to be there), but got lost three steps towards
the place. This was not unusual; the fact that it 
took him three steps to get lost was.

     'Heh,' thought Mousse. 'I find out what the
old man is planning, hear how they are going to try
to stop him, then sabotage them. Then, Ranma is
finished, and Shampoo will come to see just how much
I love her, and how we are meant to be together!'

     'Heh,' thought Shampoo, in her native Chinese.
'I find out what the pervert is planning, then make
sure I ,heh, slip, at the wrong moment. It happens
instead to the kitchen-wrecker and Spatula Girl, and
I have the luscious Ranma Saotome all to myself. Hm,
maybe if I'm lucky, it'll get Mousse, too!'

     'Heh,' thought Ranma. 'I find out what the old
freak is planning, and turn it around on him!'

     'Heh,' thought Ukyou. 'I find out what the old
pervert is planning, stop him, and prove to Ranchan
that I'm the best choice for him. And if that stupid
Chinese hussy gets in the way, oh well...'

     'Heh,' thought Cologne. ' I find out what Happi
is up to, and turn it around on him. That'll get his
goat, and help pay him back for running out on me a
century and a half ago.'

     'Grrrr,' thought Akane. 'I just know he's really
here to flirt with Shampoo again! And Ukyou isn't
helping. He's hanging al over them!'

     Of course they all glanced up at each other at
that moment, to see the malicious grins on each 
other's faces. That is, except for the scowl on
Akane's face. "What?" she asked. Then she noticed she
was glowing. "Oh. Er, sorry." Her embarressment at 
being made the attention of their stares drove the
anger back down below danger level. The fact that a
good foot seperated Ranma from both Shampoo on one
side, and Ukyou on the other, helped matters quite a
bit.

     Cologne spoke up. "As I see it, the big problem
is that we do not yet know what he is planning. We 
simply have to wait, and be ready for whatever he
sends your way, Son-in-law."

     Anything else to be said was interrupted by the
arrival of another customer. He was an African-
American, rather light skinned, wearing Chinese 
clothing. In rather stilted, and extremely formal,
Mandarin, he asked, "Is the most honorable Matriarch
Khu Lon present, that this unworthy one may present
himself, and a word from this unworthy one's most 
wise teacher?"

     Pogoing over on her gnarled staff, the wizened
elder considered him. "And what is your message? I 
assume it's from young Shu Mei, am I correct?"

     He bowed. "Yes, most honorable Matriarch. He bids
me tell you that I have become a Master." He 
straightened, and grinned slightly in pride.

     Mousse relayed this to the others, prompting
Ranma to ask, "He's not here to challenge me, is he?
Or run off and kidnap Akane?"

     Apparantly the young man understood Japanese, as 
he shook his head. Cologne transfixed the visitor with
her unsettling gaze. "So, prove to me that you are now
a master, student of Shu Mei."

     The man closed his eyes, and let his knowledge of
his rank grow within him. Pride and confidence grew,
and a bluish glow surrounded him, outlining him with
the energy of chi. In the background, those with the
ears to hear it, a song began playing.

     "You are the last dragon..."

     "Oh, is that all," said Ranma. "Hey, I've seen
Kuno with a better battle aura than that."

     "Yeah. Actually, it's pretty pathetic. Heck, just
a second ago Akane was at least twice as bright, and 
she didn't even notice," added Ukyou.

     Bruce Leroy facefaulted.


- Valandar the Red