On Her Own
By Kevin D. Hammel

A Story Inspired by Jeff Hosmer's Amazons.

Episode 01: Where am I? In the Village.

Ranma 1/2 is property of Rumiko Takahashi. Publishing rights are held 
by Viz in The US and Shogakukan in Japan. My purpose is to honor the 
creator and her works. No infringement intended.

=======

Dwarfed by the cliffs and fortress towering above her, an injured girl 
picked her way through talus at the base of the escarpment. She wore a 
torn white garment, a dress, perhaps, and sandals on her feet. Her red 
hair was matted with blood, mostly dried. She was not sure where she 
was, but knew she had to get away from here or fate would be far 
crueler to her than it already had. She heard a faint noise, and dove 
into a crack between two of the boulders, trying to hold absolutely 
still. She heard footsteps and the men shouting at each other in a 
language she did not understand. She would wait several agonizing 
minutes, knowing they would hear her pounding heart and haul her back 
inside.

After she was sure the men had gone back to the fortress, the 
frightened girl crawled out from between the rocks. Only 5 more meters 
down, and she was on the valley floor. She made her way silently 
through the shadows away from the area.

Some distance from the fortress, the valley opened up to reveal 
several pools on the side of the road. Behind her, she heard shouts in 
the same language she had heard at the fortress. They saw her! She 
ran. Her head was pounding, and her vision was growing darker, but she 
made it across the clearing where the pools were.

The shouts she heard behind her were being answered by voices on this 
side of the springs. She noticed the light from a watch fire in the 
distance. She ran even faster. Fire from her exertions began to burn 
its way up her legs, but she ran on. The fire began to burn her 
lungs... the bonfire was getting closer, but she would not reach it. 
She saw a purple flash before fire consumed her consciousness.

=======

A procession of images flew throughout the unconscious girl's mind. A 
woman's face, her mother's. Travel with... her, no HIS father. Endless 
Martial Arts training. Finally, the valley of springs... Waking up in 
the castle.  The Musk, that's who those bastards were! Being one of a 
group of girls splashed by water using a ladle and a strange bucket. 
Climbing 10 meters up the wall to a window. Making her way down. Her 
flight from that horrible place to the lights...

=======

The girl groaned and regained consciousness. "Why are the lights so 
bright in here?"

She heard excited conversation in the language of the... Musk, and 
bolted upright, to waves of nausea and pain. "No, No! I escaped from 
you!" She sank despairing back on the bed, drifting out of 
consciousness again.

The girl felt cool moisture on her head, opened her eyes, and saw a 
tiny elderly woman, who smiled at her.

"Good morning! You are clever and resourceful to have escaped from the 
Musk. Who might you be?"

"My name is... Saotome Ranma. My memories ain't too good right now."

"That would be expected after suffering the head injuries you did in 
getting here. Drink this, you need to rest."

The liquid filled her with warmth, and Ranma drifted back to sleep.

Ranma was awake again, but the nausea was replaced by pangs of hunger. 
Her guards summoned the old lady in the Musk language again. 
Strange... She didn't remember seeing any women in the castle, other 
than her fellow captives.

"Well, do you feel better? You slept for another day. I imagine you 
are hungry."

"Yeah, I'd like to eat." The pounding headache and nausea were finally 
gone. Ranma was glad someone had replaced that horrible dress with a 
bathrobe and some sort of silk pajamas.

The lady issued a command in the Musk... no... Mandarin language, and 
one of Ranma's guards hurried from the room.

The woman returned with a tray of rice and fruit, which the hungry 
girl nearly inhaled.

"That was good, bring on more!" The girl exclaimed happily.

"You need to take it a little slower, Ranma. Could you tell me a 
little more about yourself?"

"Yeah, My name is Saotome Ranma, I am... was... a sixteen year old boy 
who came to China with my dad, Genma, on a Martial Arts training 
mission. Though they told us not to, we tried to spar in some cursed 
spring place. Pop fell into a spring, and I think he turned into a 
panda, I fell in one and... Became a girl. Pop had read about it in a 
guidebook. He should have burned that one! Anyways, I woke up in a 
dungeon of some kind, tied up a whole bunch of girls. They came by 
with some kind of bucket, and splashed water on us with some kind of 
ladle or something, laughing and saying something in Mandarin. One of 
'em even knew a little Japanese, and told us we were the property of 
the Musk Dynasty. I decided I had to get out of that crazy place, but 
I had to wait until the time was right. That night, when the guards 
fell asleep, I broke the rope they tied me up with, climbed up the 
wall of the dungeon to a window, and escaped. After sneaking around 
for a while, I ran across the valley at the spring place, and ended up 
here."

"My name is Cologne. I am the leader of this village. Though the 
Jusenkyo curse can usually be reversed by hot water, listening to your 
story tells me that might not be the case for you."

Cologne gave a command in Mandarin to one of the guards. In a few 
minutes, the guard returned with a teapot.

"Ranma, could you stand up?"

Ranma stood up, and looked in a nearby mirror. Though her head wounds 
were still healing, she thought the girl in the mirror would have been 
beautiful, if it wasn't her. The woman in the mirror was fairly short, 
with bright red hair, and quite well built. "At least my eyes are 
still the same, blue as ever!" She watched as one of the guards poured 
the water over her head. "Hot" she said. Nothing happened.

Cologne closed her eyes for a moment, seeking composure. "It is as I 
feared. Ranma, the Musk are a truly terrible people." She opened her 
eyes, trying to offer compassion for the stricken girl with her gaze. 
"They use an artifact on victims of the 'Spring of Drowned Girl'. This 
horrible bucket, the Chisuiton, forever traps the spring's victims as 
women."

Ranma just quivered between rage and horror. "So... I'm a weak, silly, 
GIRL now FOREVER?" She closed her eyes and buried her head in her 
hands.

Cologne freed the young woman's chin from her hands, gently lifting 
it. "Be glad you're here, Ranma. The women created by the Musk are 
used to the strengthen their gene pool."

Concern still on her face, Ranma looked a little puzzled. "What's a 
pair of pants gotta do with a pool?"

"Women created in the 'Spring of the Drowned Girl' become their wives, 
and are used to breed new Musk warriors. A beautiful young martial 
artist like you would be highly prized as a wife."

Ranma swallowed hard, then looked like she was going to be sick. "So 
those other girls..."

Cologne shook her head sadly. "Were either men like you or strong 
animals who the Musk thought would make good breeding stock."

At last Ranma thought of someone other than herself. "I wish I'd a 
been able t' save some of 'em."

"Because you were able to escape and tell me what happened; I will 
send a raiding party over to try to rescue some of them."

Ranma realized her duty as a martial artist had been fulfilled. She 
almost smiled. "Thanks, I don't feel as bad about it now!"

"Ranma, if you had tried to escape with all of them, none of you would 
have made it out. Your bravery has given all of them a chance to 
escape."

Ranma felt a lot better... until she thought of her situation. "But 
I'm still a girl." She couldn't keep tears from falling. Being a girl 
now, she really didn't care about acting unmanly.

"Yes. There is another artifact, the Kaisuifuu, which can unlock the 
curse, but its whereabouts have been lost. The curse itself has no 
known cure. A cursed individual takes their original form when 
splashed with hot water, and cursed form when splashed with cold. I am 
truly sorry."

All of the food she ate, the discussions, and the shock of her 
situation were catching up with Ranma..."uhhhhhh, I think I need t' go 
t' sleep again." The girl crawled back into bed and soon cried herself 
to sleep.

=======

Ranma woke up the next morning feeling much better. As the sun had not 
come up yet, the village was washed with a dim gray light. It had a 
while since she had done it, but Ranma stepped outside the house and 
began a simple kata. Now, she was truly alive again. She began a much 
more complex kata with her eyes closed; she did not need to use them 
to know where she was. When she was done, she opened her eyes, and saw 
a beautiful sunrise. She heard a noise to her right. Turning, she saw 
a girl about her age. The girl was pretty, which long purple hair. 
Ranma's expression perked up; the young Amazon held some sort of 
Chinese maces in her hands, marks of a martial artist.

The girl reflected Ranma's hesitant smile. "Ranma good Martial Artist. 
My name Shampoo.  Shampoo also Martial artist." the girl said, her 
expression happy, but still guarded.

Ranma's smile became broader in anticipation. "Hey, Shampoo, wanna 
spar with me?"

Shampoo's finally showed a little of the happiness she felt at meeting 
a girl her own age to spar with. She gave a brief bow before replying. 
"Yes, Shampoo like that. Shampoo not go easy on Ranma because Ranma 
sick."

The redhead assumed her battle stance.

The match began. As usual with a new opponent, Ranma observed Shampoo, 
trying to discover her attack strategies and power levels. Shampoo 
repeatedly attacked Ranma, who dodged every blow. Finally, Shampoo 
feinted with one of her maces, and landed a solid blow with the other.

"You're pretty good... for a girl!" Ranma said to her opponent with a 
smile.

"Thank you!" Shampoo happily replied, then the comment registered. 
"Ranma girl too!"

Pleasantries out of the way, it was time to fight in earnest. Ranma 
continued to dodge Shampoo's blows, then suddenly unleashed a flurry 
of fists. One of Shampoo's maces was knocked out of her hand. A flip, 
kick and a punch removed the other. Ranma leapt back. "You fought 
well." She bowed to her opponent.

Shampoo was excited at the prospect of training with her new friend. 
"Shampoo train with you?"

Ranma thought of home for a moment, putting a damper on her spirits. 
"Well, Shampoo, I'm not sure how long I will be staying here..."

"You can stay as long as you like, Ranma" Cologne spoke from the 
portal of her home, then hopped over to the girl's side. "I would 
welcome you as a member of our tribe."

"Thanks, I guess. But I'm from Japan, ya know! I'd really like to 
go... home."

"As you wish. You'll need to recover and prepare for your journey, so 
stay with us as a guest. Perhaps you can train our warriors. That 
should be a fair trade." Cologne smiled and offered Ranma her hand. 
"Deal?"

Ranma shook the withered appendage. "Deal! I'd like t' train your 
fighters. Those Musk are gonna be sorry they ever got ahold a me." 
Said with confidence, then bowed deeply. As she got up, tears began to 
form in, then fall from, her eyes. She ran inside.

=======

Shampoo entered the room where Ranma had been sleeping. She found the 
girl weeping. "What wrong, Ranma?"

Ranma didn't even look up. "My pop raised me t' be a man. He always 
said that girls were weak, they distracted men from the Art. Now look 
at me. I'm just a weak little girl. Girls can't even really be... 
martial artists. And that's all I was, now I ain't nothing."

Shampoo struggled not to yell at the silly girl. "Ranma, Shampoo best 
warrior in village. Ranma beat Shampoo even though sick. Ranma strong 
warrior, not weak. Woman can be strong fighter if want to."

Ranma began to sob again. Shampoo left the room; maybe her great 
grandmother would know what to do.

=======

Cologne looked thoughtful in response to her great-grandchild's query. 
"Shampoo, perhaps we can help Ranma accept what she now is using some 
of our hair care products. Let me see... We can make her forget she 
was ever male... We can erase her memories..."

Shampoo returned a look of pleading determination. "No, great 
grandmother. Please let me try to save Ranma without destroying her. 
She's a brave and skilled warrior, and I like her. Her memories will 
only make her stronger."

Cologne looked at the child with pride. "Well, granddaughter, as an 
heir to leadership, you must learn to make difficult decisions. She 
can be your little project. My method would take only a few seconds, 
but I'll give you a month."

Shampoo bowed. "Thank you, great grandmother." She left to see Ranma. 
When the young Amazon got to her room, the girl had cried herself to 
sleep and seemed to be resting comfortably.

=======

Ranma woke up a few hours later. What a nightmare! He opened his eyes, 
and saw Shampoo looking at him with a concerned expression. It was no 
dream. "Shampoo, why are you still here?"

Shampoo shook the daze that had crept up during her vigil away. 
"Shampoo worried about Ranma. Shampoo like to help Ranma be happy as 
woman."

"I never got a chance t' be very happy as a guy, Shampoo. Pop and I 
lived for the Art, ya know. Why should I be happy now that I'm a girl? 
The Art's all I got left, now. And girls are crummy at the Art."

Shampoo rose and offered her new friend a hand. "Start at beginning. 
Ranma need clothes. Come with Shampoo."

Ranma accepted the hand, and followed Shampoo out the door. It had 
been a long time since she had stopped long enough to have a friend, 
she knew she needed one now.

=======

The seamstress lived in a house similar to the others in the village, 
the only difference being the clothing displayed in the window. Inside 
she measured Ranma for her new clothing.

Ranma looked at herself in the mirror. The top of her pajamas was off. 
The first time she ever saw what a girl REALLY looked like, and it was 
HERSELF she saw in the mirror! Her face reddened and she averted her 
eyes. She thought for a moment. She couldn't even look at herself in 
the mirror! Her fear gave way to tears. "I hate myself!" she 
whispered.

In that moment Shampoo realized both how easy her grandmother's 
solution was as well as importance of the task Cologne had given her. 
She and Ranma would learn much in the coming month. She walked over to 
the softly sobbing girl. She crouched down to look Ranma in the eyes, 
speaking softly with the love she already felt for the frightened 
girl. "Ranma woman now, Shampoo sister. Shampoo want sister be happy. 
Please no cry. Look mirror. Be proud. Ranma beautiful and strong 
woman, make fine warrior. Ranma may never be man again. If Ranma not 
woman, Ranma die. Shampoo think Ranma want live. Please live. Think of 
parents. Think of sister."

Ranma looked up at the woman in the mirror again. She saw all Shampoo 
had said she was in that person, in herself. She would not be 
frightened of her reflection again. Her tears gave way to a tiny 
smile. It would be difficult to get used to, but she would, with her 
sister's help. She realized her life depended on it. "Thanks, 'sis'!" 
Ranma turned to face Shampoo, happiness plain on her face.

The seamstress came up to Ranma. "My alterations should be done 
tomorrow. I think you'll like your new clothes."

Ranma bowed. "Thank you." She was glad the woman spoke Japanese; 
though she knew that would not often be the case. Shampoo and Ranma 
left the shop.

=======

The two sisters talked on their way home.

Her tears forgotten, Ranma turned to her... sister with a small smile. 
"Shampoo, I think I need t' speak Mandarin. Can you help me learn?"

Shampoo nodded. "Of course Ranma. If Ranma live here, even little 
while, Ranma need speak language. Will Ranma train Shampoo in Martial 
Art?"

Ranma's smile broadened. "Sure, Shampoo! I'd love t' train ya."

They walked in silence back home. The rest of the day consisted of a 
few playful attempts at language lessons, which usually ended up with 
both girls laughing hysterically.

Shampoo's progress with the Japanese girl impressed Cologne. This one 
would be an asset to the tribe here or in Japan. Perhaps she should 
try to formalize the relationship between the two. A sister for 
Shampoo would prove useful in the village or across the sea. Cologne 
left to consult the scrolls on the matter.

========

Ranma finished her kata then went inside. Shampoo was finishing 
breakfast. "Good morning, Ranma. Today, we get you new clothes." 

"Yeah, Shampoo." Ranma replied, trying to muster SOME excitement for 
today's trip to the seamstress.

Shampoo turned for a moment from the pot she stirred to wink at her 
friend. "I think you like you new clothes, Ranma. You see."

=======

Again Ranma was in the shop, looking at one of her new outfits in the 
mirror. It was a simple, consisting of a sleeveless, sky blue silk 
shirt and black silk pants. The alterations had made the clothes fit 
her closely, but not tightly, though there were ties around the 
ankles. The outfit was similar to what he had worn on the day he had 
fallen in the spring... before he had changed into his gi... yet it 
was completely different. The outfit he wore was functional; this 
outfit showed off the person beneath, enhancing her beauty. The color 
was also different. His shirt had been red, but hers matched her eyes, 
not her hair. His hair had been black.

The redhead took a ready stance and looked at her image in the mirror. 
It was that of a martial artist. She was smaller than before, but her 
expression and control of same were identical. She also noticed stream 
of tears coming from her eyes. Was she upset about what he had lost or 
she had gained? It was what he had lost. She saw Shampoo's reflection 
in the mirror.

"You like?"

"Yes, I like 'em a lot, Shampoo. I have never had such nice clothes 
before. I look beautiful..." Tears swallowed her voice, as the girl 
began to cry. She could not stop the impending torrent.

Shampoo hugged the much smaller girl. "Why you sad Ranma?"

The warmth of the embrace brought Ranma back from her despair. "I've 
lost what my pop taught me to prize most, my manhood. I am a man, 
Shampoo. I have to be a man." She began to quiver slightly as despair 
increasingly became agitation.

Shampoo understood how Ranma felt, but she had to save her. "RANMA! 
You cannot be man now. You accept this body. You can still be man 
inside, but must be woman outside. You not accept, you die."

Ranma shook her head no. "But Cologne said there's a way to unlock the 
curse! Why should I give up hope?"

Shampoo let go of the girl, lifting her chin again to look into her 
tear-streaked face. "I not say give up hope! Just remember that you 
will have woman body until you unlock curse. You must accept. You must 
be woman outside. I help you, please let me!"

Despair threatened to claim the quivering girl again. "But I'm a man!"

Shampoo released the girl's chin, gratified Ranma still looked into 
her eyes. She placed a hand on each of the redhead's shoulders. The 
young Amazon spoke again, fighting to keep anger from her voice. 
"Ranma, I no want tell you this, but if you not want to be woman, 
Great Grandmother MAKE you woman. She use magic, make Ranma forget he 
man, maybe forget his life. Make RANMA dead. Shampoo no want. Great 
Grandmother see strong Woman, Shampoo see brave Ranma. Great 
Grandmother give Shampoo one month fix Ranma, then she fix Ranma. 
Ranma die. Shampoo very sad, lose sister."

Shampoo hated to use her trump card on the second day, but she felt 
something had to be done. She offered her hand to Ranma. "You help 
Shampoo prove Great Grandmother wrong, or we go now and Ranma die. It 
just like your Seppuku, but no blood. Ranma's pain end, new warrior 
happy. But... Shampoo very sad." The thought of losing Ranma actually 
brought tears to the taller girl's eyes.

Ranma thought for a while, she wanted to live. Cocky determination she 
had forgotten returned to drive out the despair. She had not chosen to 
become a woman, but she was one now. She could run away, but only from 
this place... not from what she was. Here she had a friend, a sister, 
who understood her problem and wanted to help her.

Ranma looked at Shampoo for a moment. The purple-haired Amazon was 
very beautiful. HE might have fallen in love with her, but SHE saw her 
new sister. She already loved this girl, but in a different way. Even 
if some miracle unlocked her curse, this woman would always be his/her 
sister. Ranma smiled, filled with her new love.

Shampoo showed playful concern. "What you think about Ranma? You no 
get funny on Shampoo!"

Ranma wrapped her arms around the larger woman, offering a fierce hug. 
She spoke softly in Shampoo's ear. "I was just thinking that if I were 
a man, that I might fall in love with you, but I realized that I 
already love you as my sister. Even when the curse is unlocked, I 
think you will always be my sister."

Shampoo returned the embrace. "That nice Ranma, I like have brother, 
too. If curse unlocked, you be both for Shampoo."

Ranma broke the embrace, happiness returning to her face, to stay. "I 
think I love my sister very much, even though I just met her. She has 
already saved me once."

Shampoo almost burst with pride as she replied. "Twice, Ranma. I carry 
you when you run from Musk and faint. I get scar from Musk spear 
carrying you. You so brave. No one EVER escape Musk fortress like 
you!" She showed Ranma a scar on her arm.

"Thank you Shampoo, for everything." Tears came again, now of joy and 
a bit of love.

Ranma took Shampoo's hand and shook it with a firm grasp. "I'll be 
damned if that mummy's gonna get rid a me! With your help, Shampoo, we 
can do this."

"Good, Ranma. I try not kill man inside, but help woman outside. I 
want brother AND sister. Let's go."

Ranma bowed to the proprietor, "Thank you, the clothes are beautiful."

"You are most welcome," the woman said. After all she had seen and 
heard, she didn't know what else to say. It was often like this with 
children of Jusenkyo. This one must be special, she had never heard of 
such leeway being giving before, but then the heir apparent had taken 
the girl under her wing.

=======

When a cheerful, almost cocky, Ranma returned with Shampoo, Cologne 
was even more impressed. It seemed that Shampoo's project was well 
ahead of schedule. It seemed Ranma would survive, though it was still 
weeks before her greatest test. If Shampoo succeeded, the rewards 
would be great.

=======

After returning to their home, Ranma and Shampoo went outside to train 
in earnest. Ranma prescribed a difficult regimen of exercises, running 
and sparring designed to increase fitness and fighting prowess. She 
had learned much in the eleven years she had spent with her father. 
They also tried to conduct language lessons all the while, and 
actually found the mental stimulation made the long workouts easier. 
It would be difficult to do this every day, but both girls were 
determined. After the first real day of training, both girls were 
winded.

Ranma stopped panting for a moment to get a few works in. "So, whatcha 
think of my training, Shampoo?"

Shampoo gave her sister a look of playful anger. "You a monster, 
Ranma! Your method make strong warrior of me, or they kill me!"

Both girls laughed.

"The same tomorrow, Shampoo?"

"Yes, same. Maybe other warriors join."

"I'd like that, Shampoo."

=======

As days became weeks, more people joined Ranma and Shampoo in 
training. Ranma could see daily improvement in the practice sessions, 
and her command of Mandarin had improved greatly as well.

Cologne had also taken it upon herself to teach the Japanese girl a 
few useful Amazon techniques 'Kachuu Tenshin Amiguriken' and 'Bakusai 
Tenketsu'. In return, Ranma had taught the Matriarch all she knew of 
her father's school.
 
=======

One day Shampoo was a little sick. She trained but seemed a little 
off. After training, Ranma wanted to talk about it. She looked at her 
sister with concern. "You seem to be a little sick today, Shampoo."

Shampoo smiled. "It happens to women once a month, Ranma."

Ranma looked concerned. "You mean I'M gonna get sick once a month?"

Shampoo laughed. "Don't worry, Ranma. It's part of making babies."

Ranma's face grew pale.

"But you still need father."

Ranma decided she didn't want to press the issue further. It was a 
complication she hadn't figured on, however.

Shampoo soon got over her 'sickness'.

Ranma dreaded the days she would have to endure hers.

=======

Ranma's sickness came and went. She was scared at first, but was glad 
Shampoo had told her about it before. What Shampoo hadn't told her 
about was all the bleeding involved. She was glad when her sickness 
was over, but she'd survive, she was a... woman, at least for now.

Cologne was surprised how well Ranma handled the hurdle she had to 
cross. Shampoo had succeeded, and the tribe was much stronger due to 
the training sessions. She was glad Shampoo had defended the Japanese 
girl. Ranma would be an asset to the tribe. Cologne would now 
formalize the relationship of Shampoo and her 'sister'.

=======

At Ranma's last session, nearly the whole village was training. 
Shampoo was Ranma's partner in the training exercises, as she was the 
best warrior in the village. The 'sisters' would demonstrate a new 
skill, several times at different speeds, and then Ranma and Shampoo 
would walk among the warriors, helping each group of two perfect the 
skill they were learning. Looking over the mass of warriors practicing 
skills she had taught them made her proud.

=======

Ranma went back to the house where she had lived for the past month. 
Cologne and Shampoo were already there.

First, Cologne spoke "Saotome Ranma, I thank you on behalf of our 
people. Though it is unusual to make such an offer to one who is 
leaving us, I would like you to join our tribe. The world grows ever 
more complex, and our tribe would be well swerved by a sister in 
Japan. As Shampoo has already told me that the two of you consider 
yourselves sisters, I can also declare that you are sisters, if you 
wish."

A surprised, proud smile lit Ranma's face. "Thanks, Cologne. I'd be 
honored to join your band, and I'd really love to call Shampoo my 
sister."

"So be it then, welcome to our tribe Ranma. I know you will stand 
ready to help your sisters if they need you. Also know that, I our 
eyes, you share a special bond of sisterhood with Shampoo. Henceforth, 
she shall be your sister as truly as if born so."

Ranma bowed deeply at Cologne. "Thanks again, Cologne. I'll honor my 
tribe here and in Japan... and especially my sister, Shampoo." It 
seemed that unlike Japanese, she had been learned proper Mandarin.

Cologne smiled. "Ranma, please accept these gifts from our tribe, in 
partial payment for the training you have given us." indicating a 
backpack, a pair of hiking boots, and a small stack of clothing. The 
clothing consisted of gray pleated skirts, pairs of gray socks, white 
blouses, various undergarments, a dark blue sweater, a belt, and a 
long, warm jacket. The backpack contained all manner of camping 
equipment.

Ranma carefully put her 'old' and new clothes in the pack, leaving one 
new outfit, which she put on.

She looked in the mirror one last time. Her stay had allowed her 
wounds to heal, but it looked that she would probably have to live 
with a scar on her forehead. Her skirt skimmed the top of her knees, 
and her socks stopped just below. She looked almost like a Japanese 
schoolgirl. "I guess that's what I am now," Ranma whispered.

She turned from the mirror to look at Cologne and Shampoo. "Thank you, 
I really appreciate all you guys have done."

Cologne embraced her tribe's newest member. "You are most welcome, 
Amazon! Please come visit your sisters again."

After Cologne let go, Ranma spoke. "I will! Shampoo, could you walk 
with me to the edge of the village?"

"Yes, sister. I'd like that!"

The two sisters reached the edge of the village. Ranma turned to 
Shampoo. "I owe my life to you, Shampoo. You're not just a sister; 
you're almost like a mother to me. I'll write you whenever I get a 
chance; and why don't you visit when I get home? Maybe you could join 
me at school when I get back to Japan."

"Hey, Ranma, that's a great idea! I'll be sure to tell Great-
grandmother." She held a paper package, offering it to Ranma. "Please 
open this before you leave for Japan, Ranma. Goodbye, sister."
 

"Bye, hope to see you soon! You'll always be in my memories." She gave 
her sister a hug and a kiss on the cheek, which Shampoo was happy to 
return.

Ranma took off her pack and added the package. She noticed tears in 
Shampoo's eyes through her own. Putting her pack back on, she embraced 
her sister one more time, but not the last. "I love you, Shampoo." She 
whispered.

"So do I, sister." Shampoo whispered back.

Breaking the embrace, Ranma pivoted and hiked down the road. At the 
top of a small hill, she turned, and waved to her sister once more, 
then walked down the other side.

Both sisters knew they would see each other again.

======================================================================