Beginnings End
[ Up ] [ The Fall ] [ Unexpected Meetings ] [ Catalyst ] [ Beginnings End ] [ Twists, Turns and other Convolutions ] [ Black Rose, and Thorns ] [ Hearts on the Line ] [ Ceremonies ]

Chapter Four:  Beginnings End

Doctor Tofu looked Zhu Shu over critically.   "Well, well, you've certainly managed to pull these muscles good."

Zhu Shu nodded glumly.  "Zhu Shu not do katas this day.  Wish could have avoided.  Not have choice."  She winced as Tofu straightened her neck, then sighed in relief. 

Tofu nodded.  "You should be ok.  That tea will help you restore your ki, and this salve will help those strained muscles.  But just what style do you fight that would pull _those_ muscles?"

Zhu Shu blushed.  "Not all pulled in fight."

Ranma moved over and dropped his bag down almost on top of the photo.  "What happened?  Did someone pick a fight with you?"

Zhu Shu gave him a sidelong glance.  "Ranma could say that."

"Must have been a tough fight to bang you up like this."

"They not lay hands on.  Zhu Shu very fast.   Not warmed up though.  Overextend self."

"They?  Were you ganged up on?"

She nodded.  "Deal with three before chi gone."

"Three?  I hope you taught them a lesson."
Shadows haunted Zhu Shu's eyes for a second and she looked away before answering.  "They learn lesson.  Never bother again."

Ranma nodded, distracted.  Zhu Shu's eyes narrowed.   He was up to something.

Doctor Tofu finished rubbing the salve into Zhu Shu's lower back, then proceeded to put her spine back in place as Ranma bent down to pick up his bag ....

And a photo he was rather covert about picking up.

He quickly palmed it as Doctor Tofu finished with her back.  "There you go.  All your bones are back where they should be!   You should be more careful though."

Zhu Shu nodded as she stood, the examination gown she was wearing billowing slightly.  She held the back closed with one hand as she stretched and bowed without pain.  "Thank you."

Ranma, too busy looking over his shoulder to make sure no one had seen him pick up the photo, put his foot down on the soapy brush Tofu had been cleaning the floor with when Zhu Shu had arrived.  His footing went out from under him and he landed on the bucket by the brush.  Soapy water splashed as books and photo went flying.

Akane dived for the photo, and snagged it, but as her foot came down into the soapy water, she skidded.  She slid headlong into Zhu Shu, knocking them both down as the photo fluttered into the air again.

"Humm?  What's this?"  Doctor Tofu asked as his fingers closed on it.  He reached to adjust his glasses to look at it...

The door slid open as Kasumi looked in.  "Hello Doctor.  Is Zhu Shu okay now?"

The photo dropped unlooked at from nerveless fingers as the Doctors glasses steamed instantly.  Nabiki snatched it from mid-air as the Doctor stuttered.  "K-K-Kasumi? Imagine meeting you here of all places!"

Kasumi laughed.  "But Doctor, this is your office."

"Oh yes!  Imagine that!"

Kasumi looked around the room and uttered a single "Oh, my!"

Ranma was on her knees, her white top soaked to near transparency.  Zhu Shu was lying on the floor, her examination gown up around her shoulders.  Akane was straddling her, not noticing her hand was firmly planted on Zhu Shu's right breast.  Nabiki was holding the photo, looking at Kasumi with a pale and wide-eyed expression on her face. 

Silence held for a long second before Doctor Tofu held up his skeleton.  "W-well Kasumi!  As you can see, Zhu Shu is back to perfect health!"

Kasumi looked to the Mandarin girl, who had a quixotically amused expression, and smiled.  "Why, yes.  I can see that."  She beamed at Akane.  "I'm so glad to see you all getting along so well."

Zhu Shu giggled.

Akane looked down and noticed where her hand was.   "I ... uh ... I tripped!"

Zhu Shu giggled harder.  "Not mind.  Maybe Akane trip like this more often."

Akane blushed all the way down to her shoes.  She quickly got up and straightened her school dress, too embarrassed to say anything.   Zhu Shu continued to giggle as she drew her gown down.

"Yes!"  Doctor Tofu said.  "Akane and Zhu Shu were becoming great friends!" He addressed the skeleton again.   "Weren't you Zhu Shu?"

"Zhu Shu over here!"  The Chinese girl called from her seat on the floor, still giggling.

"Ah yes!"  He scurried over to Ranma.   "Oh!  _Ahem_... It seems I've developed X-ray vision!"

"That Ranma!" Zhu Shu laughed.  She looked to where Kasumi was hiding a smile.

Tofu double blinked.  "Oh.  My.   Ranma?  I'm afraid I'm completely out of my depth here.  You'll need to see a psychologist about this transvestite problem ...."

Ranma rolled his eyes.  "Gee ... Thanks ...."

* * * * *

Kasumi finally herded Tofu away long enough to allow Zhu Shu to go and get changed and Ranma, Akane and Nabiki to escape outside.  As they left the clinic, Akane turned to a visibly relaxing Nabiki and demanded "Ok!   Now what was so important about that photo!"

Nabiki showed her.  

All Akane managed was a strangled "Urk!" as extreme shock set in.  Ranma's jaw dropped.

"Oh my!  Someone took a picture?"   Kasumi plucked it out of Nabiki's hand.  "How wonderful!  I must get this framed for Zhu Shu.  It will make a wonderful apology for causing her to pull those muscles this afternoon!"

Nabiki blinked as Akane and Ranma stared wide-eyed.

"I suppose I should have known better, exhausted as the poor dear was, but I thought she would enjoy it, and I did want to thank her for saving me from those thugs...  This will make such a lovely memento!"  She smiled as she turned back towards the Dojo, humming happily.

Staring after her, Akane murmured, "She ... she ... Kasumi?!?"
Ranma turned as Zhu Shu came out of the clinic, back in her usual dress.  "Zhu Shu?"

"Yes Ranma-chan?"

"Y-y-y-you and Kasumi?"

Zhu Shu raised and eyebrow, then smiled her mouse who got the cheese smile.  "Why Ranma want know?  Not Zhu Shu place tell."   She sauntered past the trio, and right before she turned the corner, she threw a look back over her shoulder.  "All Zhu Shu say.  Shiatsu can be wonderful thing."  She cocked her hip jauntily as she swung her hair back over her shoulder, then vanished.

Still frozen in the pose she had been in when Kasumi took the photo, Nabiki fainted again ....

* * * * *

Dinner at the Tendo house that night was a little quiet.   Zhu Shu sat quietly, eating little.  Akane and Nabiki gave sidelong glances at both Zhu Shu and Kasumi.  Ranma watched all of them, but finally started watching Zhu Shu most of all.  Despite her flippant attitude earlier, something was wrong.   She was barely touching her meal and was avoiding looking at anyone directly.

Kasumi merrily told about the day she and Zhu Shu had spent, telling her family about meeting Rei, and their visit to Chinatown.  She described the fight as an attempted mugging, but the way she watched Zhu Shu carefully while telling about it made Ranma think there was more to it than either one was saying.   By the end of dinner, Akane had noticed too.  She looked at Kasumi questioningly, but got a shake of the head for her reply.

After dinner, Zhu Shu went out to the garden.  She sat under the tree by the bank of the Koi pond and assumed a meditation pose.  After a few minutes, Ranma came and sat beside her.  Several minutes passed before he spoke.  "There's something you're not saying."

Zhu Shu sat motionless for a long moment.  Finally, she nodded.

Another long moment passed before Ranma spoke again.   "Something about the fight."

Again, Zhu Shu nodded.  A single tear escaped her closed eyes and rolled down her cheek.  A slight tremor was all the sign she gave that inside she was screaming ....

For once, Ranma saw it.  He moved and there was the sound of a hand dipping in water, then the wet haired girl gathered Zhu Shu in her arms.   "You had to kill someone didn't you."

Zhu Shu nodded again as more tears fell, but she refused to break.  She had been trained to deal with this!  She was a bodyguard as well as a servant!  It was a duty like any other!

But the images of death had refused to leave her mind.   For all her fights, she had never had to kill.  Memories of the shock that ran along her arm as she cut into the assassins, of the hot bloody spray that followed the path of her blade, they haunted her.  Kasumi had tried to help, had tried to distract her by getting her to demonstrate a few dances, but the pulled muscles she had developed had only served to remind her of why she had them. 

And she damned herself for feeling this way.  She had been trained to kill in defense without remorse.

But inside she was still crying ....

Ranma wasn't done turning the tables yet.  She held the Mandarin girl to her and spoke. "You've been trained all you life to care for others, but what of you?  Can't someone care for you?"  She pulled Zhu Shu tighter.  "You don't have to be steel for me.  I know I can be a jerk, and an idiot, but a very wise person once told me everyone needs someone for whom there are no masks."  Zhu Shu shook slightly as Ranma quoted her from one of their fireside talks in China.  "You can see beyond my masks better than I can, and if you say I am in love with Akane, I have to believe you, but what of you?  Why can't I be the one behind your masks.  The one who is allowed to see the girl instead of the sword?"

Zhu Shu looked at Ranma, her eyes brimming.  She stared into the redhead's eyes and understanding dawned.  "She send you, yes no?"  She whispered.

"Kasumi?  Yes.  She stopped me after dinner and sent me after you.  She said sometimes, people need a friend instead of a sister."  She reached out to pull Zhu Shu's head against her again.   "I want to be that friend Zhu Shu.  I think I'm only just beginning to see how much of a friend you are, but you need a friend like you too.  I don't know if I can be that friend, but I want to try."

The weight of secrets tore her heart.  She tried to pull away, guilt at what she had hidden driving her to run, but Ranma wouldn't let her go.   "You not even really know Zhu Shu." She protested weakly.

"Your mysteries don't matter to me Zhu Shu.  I know enough to treasure you as my best friend."

"My secrets can kill Ranma!"  Zhu Shu sobbed.

"I don't care!  Zhu Shu, you're my friend.   That's all that matters!"  Ranma raised Zhu Shu's face to look into her eyes.  "You're my friend.  You want to see me happy, I want to see you happy."

She wanted to tell her.  She wanted to let her know about Shan Pu, about her quest, her plans, but as she opened her mouth to tell her everything, Ranma place a finger on her lips.  "Don't speak.  Don't be Zhu Shu the Sword.  Don't be the Imperial Servant.  Just be Zhu Shu -- my friend, and a girl who had to do something more dreadful than she should ever have had to do to save the life of someone she cares about."

She stared into Ranma's eyes and saw only concern. Within her, the iron wall broke, and for the first time since the loss of Cherry Blossom, she gave in to the tears ....

* * * * *

Ranma held her throughout the crying fit, and listened as Zhu Shu told her about the fight.  Zhu Shu had to admit that this was not the first time she had had to fight these thugs, and that there was someone in China that had sent them, but that she didn't know for sure if the attackers had been sent by the same person, or who that person was, or even if any others would come.  All she had known was that someone in a dark cloak had asked if she was Clan Dragon, then demanded her swords.   When she refused, she had been attacked.  Like last time, they had tried to capture her, and if they had not tried to kill Kasumi, she could have defeated them again without killing.  Ranma nodded.

"I would have done the same, Zhu Shu.  A challenge is one thing, but they were trying cold blooded murder.  Why didn't you ever tell me this?" he asked

"Zhu Shu not thinks be danger outside Peking.   Not attacked since."  She brought her knees up and curled her arms around them.  "Thought had escaped danger when leave city.  Did not think would follow.  Did not think would be danger to friends."  She finished sadly.

"You're not Zhu Shu.  There's no way they would have known where you were if you had stayed out of  Chinatown.  And you're not alone here.  We'll protect you too."

Zhu Shu nodded sadly.  "Thank you."

Ranma rose.  "Will you be alright now?"

She assayed a weak smile.  "Is okay.  Ranma help."

The redhead nodded.  "If you need anything ...."

Zhu Shu nodded.  "Just one thing." she said as she stood, wiping her eyes and giving Ranma a haunted look.

"Yes."

"Try, once, listen Akane same way."  She smoothed the hem of her skirt.  "Zhu Shu want Ranma and Akane be happy, but not much time be alone as couple."  She disappeared before her heart betrayed too much, leaving a wide-eyed and very puzzled Ranma looking at the vacancy she had left behind.

* * * * *

"So why did you send _him_ to talk to her?"   Akane asked, looking up from her cup of hot chocolate.

Kasumi finished up with her preparations for breakfast as she answered.  "Because she's his best friend.  He knows her better than anyone."

"But he's hopeless!  He can't seem to ever say the right thing!" Akane protested.  "He'll make a mess of it!"

"I don't think so.  He has a good heart Akane.   He may not be all that great at showing it, but I think that might have to do with the fact that he's your fiancé."

"What would that have to do with anything?"   Akane grumped.  "He treats her way better than he does me!"

"I think you make him nervous, Akane."   Kasumi washed her hands and sat down for a cup of tea.  "He's just more relaxed around her, is all.  She's his friend.  You are much more, at least potentially."

"That's a wonderful reason to insult me all the time."

Kasumi shook her head.  "You intimidate him, Akane.  I think you'd be surprised at what he might be like if he didn't think he had to prove anything to you."

"I don't want him to prove anything to me!   Except maybe that he's not a jerk!"

"Have you told _him_ that?"

Akane looked at Kasumi oddly.  "Well, no."

Kasumi rose and placed her teacup by the sink to wash up in the morning.  She stopped at the door just before exiting and looked at Akane.   "Maybe you should."

She turned and left just as Ranma entered, his shirt still damp from comforting Zhu Shu.  He saw the hot chocolate Akane was drinking and asked "Is there any more of that?"

Akane nodded to a kettle on the stove.  "Help yourself."

Ranma did so, and settled into the chair opposite of Akane, a subdued expression on his face.

"What's wrong with Zhu Shu?"  She asked.

Ranma stared into his cup for a long time before answering.  "She ... She'll be okay."

Akane glared.  "That's not what I asked."  

Ranma looked up.  "I'm not sure I should tell you.  I don't know if she wants you to know."

"Oh.  I see how it is.  I'm not enough of a friend."  Akane crossed her arms and slumped sullenly.

"That's not-"  Ranma started, then shook his head.  "Think what you want." he said disgustedly.  "You're only looking for an excuse to fight anyway."

"I am not!  Just because you and her have your little secrets means nothing to me!"

"Why do you have to be angry all the time?" Ranma asked.  "She's my friend and I just went to comfort her because I saw she wasn't feeling happy.  I don't want to fight!"

"Oh.  So you care more about her feelings than you do mine!  Some fiancée _you_ are."

"Yes, I care about her feelings!" Ranma growled, leaning over the table.  "She had to kill three people today to save _your_ sisters life!  And she's feeling bad about it!  I think that's a _little_ more important than your fit of jealousy!"

Akane stared in shock.  "What?"  she whispered.

Ranma sat back down, his fury suddenly spent.   "She had to kill those muggers.  They were trying to shoot Kasumi."

Akane was speechless.

"That's why Kasumi kissed her on the train.  To thank her.  For saving her life.  I don't know if they did anything else, but in retrospect, I just can't seem to care, except to hope that if they did, they both enjoyed it.  And I feel like a complete jerk for reacting the way I did at the doctors office.  So Zhu Shu likes girls.  Big deal.  She's my friend, and I care about her.  Nothing else matters..."  He hung his head between his hands.   "And all she wants is for _us_ to be happy with one another.  After all the crying and the tears, her last words to me before going to bed were to ask me to listen to you the way I listened to her.  That's why I came in here."

Akane looked down into her cup.  "I- I'm sorry."

Ranma shrugged.  "What does it matter?   Whatever I do, it makes you angry."

Akane looked up, stung, and glared.  "That's because you go out of your way to aggravate me!"

Ranma looked at her for a second, then lowered his eyes and stood to leave.  As he passed through the door, he stopped and looked back at Akane.  "Nabiki fainted because I asked her where you'd have fun on a date.   Now, I don't know why I bothered."

Akane sat and looked out the door after her for a long, long time...

* * * * *

Back in her room, Zhu Shu shut the door and leaned back against it.  She hoped she had not said too much, but for the first time since losing Cherry Blossom, she had lost control of her emotions.  Her feelings were a storm of chaos inside her that raged unchecked, but quixotically, for all the pain and despair, she felt more alive than she had in years.  She didn't want to analyze the feelings, to sort them and categorize them and tuck them back in their niches, not now.  They were still too raw for that.  Tonight she simply wanted to forget ....

She drew a deep breath.  Kasumi's scent was still heavy in the air, a light floral fragrance that reminded her of spring.  She'd been in the room recently.  She looked around the room, her eyes finding a small silver frame placed artfully so a beam of light from the street outside illuminated it.  She stripped out of her dress and panties, folding them by the door, and moved over to the bed to look at it.

The photographer had gotten the best possible angle, showing the kiss Kasumi had given her on the train.  A light outside the train window had been passing as the shot was snapped, and a trick of the light made it look like a halo ....

She lay down on the bed and let the happiness of that memory drown out the sadness, her eyes locked on the photo until they just couldn't stay open.

* * * * *

On a rooftop several houses away, a black figure had observed Zhu Shu's preparations for bed.  As she drifted off to sleep, the figure made it's way around the dojo, occasionally crouching on all fours as it seemed to sniff the ground.  After several circuits, it seemed satisfied and slinked away into the shadows to report.

* * * * *

Friday dawned bright and clear over Nerima.  Kasumi hummed happily at her work as she prepared breakfast.  Nabiki sat and laid odds on who would go into the Koi pond first. As Ranma once more landed in the pond, Akane came down to breakfast.  Kasumi brought out several trays as Ranma wrung out her shirt, studiously ignoring Akane.  Akane looked at Ranma with a strangely subdued expression as she sat down at the table.  Nabiki watched both of them curiously.

As Kasumi brought out the last of the breakfast dishes, Zhu Shu came down as well.  She was smiling her usual smile, and only a small hint of sadness behind her eyes betrayed the last traces of yesterday's stresses.  Akane watched her wide eyed as she came and sat down.  Zhu Shu's gaze flickered between Akane and Ranma, and a small sigh escaped her lips.

Kasumi noted all of this and tried to ease the tensions by starting a conversation.  "Did you sleep well last night, Zhu Shu?"

A real smile came into Zhu Shu's eyes as she turned to Kasumi.  "Yes, Kasumi-san.  Zhu Shu sleeps well.  Have pleasant dreams."  The sparkle in her eyes left little doubt what those dreams had been about.  Kasumi blushed slightly.

Nabiki looked up.  "Zhu Shu, I was wondering when you would be starting school.  You and I can go together.  Do you need your transcripts sent from China?"

Zhu Shu considered.  Grandfather would need a reason for why she would need to go to a Japanese school, and an explanation for why she was in Japan.  But it would make guiding Ranma and Akane to a happy relationship easier.   She weighed the advantages and disadvantages, then decided it was worth it.   "Yes.  Zhu Shu will need send to home village."

Nabiki smiled.  "Wonderful.  Now I'll have someone to walk to school with again.  If you will write the message, I'll take you to where you can send it."

Zhu Shu nodded, noting Kasumi's happy smile.  Akane and Ranma both looked surprised, but happy about it as well.  Soun just beamed and cried at how happy he was that his new "Adopted Daughter"  would be starting school.

So Friday began.

* * * * *

Zhu Shu spent several hours composing her letter to her grandfather while Akane and Ranma were in school, then helped Kasumi clean house until they got a visit from a well to do reporter by the name of Tsukino who spent several hours looking over the dojo and talking to Soun before deciding that it was okay for his daughter and her friends to attend Martial Arts classes.  Why his little Usagi wanted to learn martial arts was beyond him, but he approved of the idea of her getting some discipline.  Soun wept for joy again when the man handed him the check for the girl's entire first year ....

Following school, the five girls showed up for their lessons, and ran to hug Zhu Shu.

"We've missed you!"  They chorused.

Zhu Shu gave hugs all around, then led them inside to be introduced to Ranma and Akane, who she had talked into being sparring partners.  She frowned at the cat Usagi was carrying, but Usagi swore Luna would behave herself.   Zhu Shu nodded, but made a note to watch and make sure the cat wasn't distracting the girls.  She followed them into the dojo.

But it wasn't the moon marked feline who caused problems.   Ranma took one look at the girls, screamed, and fell over twitching.  Luna jumped down and walked over to the prostrate boy and meowed worriedly.

Genma came running into the dojo following Ranma's scream, but was quickly pelted out again when he started yelling about how his son was such a failure and began calling him names.  Zhu Shu and Akane finally took the unfortunate boy up to his room to lay down and recover from whatever it was.  Then they returned to give the girls their lessons.

She felt the cat's eyes upon her the entire time, making token attempts to appear as if she was washing whenever Akane or Zhu Shu looked directly at her, but by the end of class, Zhu Shu had studied her aura enough to know she wasn't an ordinary cat.  She sent the girls out to shower and get dressed, but shut the door on the cat when she tried to follow them out.

"Wha-uh- Meow?"  The startled cat said as the door closed in her face.  She turned to look at Zhu Shu, then backed up hastily at the sight of a green burning sword an inch from her little nose.

"Not fool Zhu Shu.  Not cat!  What?!" the annoyed Mandarin girl asked.

"Meow?"  Luna tried.

"No good.  Heard start to talk!  Watch Senshi too close!  You spy?"  Her eyes narrowed.  "Maybe Zhu Shu should kill!"

"Me-uh- oh no!  Wait!"  The bemooned cat cried as Zhu Shu's sword sank into the floor a whiskers width from a paw.  The she jumped as the other blade descended.  "I AM NOT A SPY!"  She yelled desperately.

The blade stopped a fraction of an inch from Luna's nose.   Zhu Shu looked down the glowing length.  "Why watch Sailor Moon so close?   Answer good!  Zhu Shu have no patience with lie."

Luna looked at her wide-eyed.  "Y-y-y-you know she's Sailor Moon?"

"Zhu Shu ask questions."  She tapped Luna's nose with the point of her sword for emphasis.

Luna clapped both paws over the sensitive organ.   "I'm her Guardian!"  She yelped.

Zhu Shu tilted her head.  Her aura said she was telling the truth.  She nodded and put her swords away.  "Humph!   Should have said so.  Why no have girls trained?  Lucky no-one kill yet!"

"No-ones supposed to know who they are!" Luna protested.  "So they'll be safe!  They shouldn't have told you!"

"They not.  Zhu Shu have good vision.  See aura.  No matter if in costume."

"You can see their auras?!"

Zhu Shu sighed.  "Yes.  See aura.  How know cat not lie."

"Eeep!"

"Still no answer.  Why no train!?!"

"They're _Sailor Senshi_!  Re-incarnated warriors of the Moon Kingdom!  They _know_ how to fight!"  Luna yelled.

"That why Zhu Shu break bones and take pens away?"  She tilted her head and sighed.  A quick motion slid the door aside to let the five girls tumble in, Usagi as usual landing on her chin as the other Senshi fell on top of her.  Zhu Shu glared at Luna.  "And now raise voice in dojo with paper wall!"

Luna stared at the semi dressed girls, then raised her eyes to an Akane Tendo who was standing in only her bra and panties, the shirt she had been about to put on still held in frozen hands.

Zhu Shu nodded.  She'd heard alright.  Zhu Shu was very glad the Dojo was so isolated from the main house, or a major disaster might have ensued.  She could trust Akane and her sisters, and probably Ranma, but Genma would have been a major problem.

She looked down at the tangle of fifteen year olds and frowned.  "Usagi!  You leader of Senshi!  Should behave better!   Be example!  Not first listen at door!"

Usagi groaned.  "My chin's broken!"

"Poor bunny.  Now up!  Zhu Shu see girls dressed, in dojo, five minute!  Or else!"  She raised her look to Akane.   "Akane too!  Five minute!"  She turned to Luna, a knife and a wok appearing in her hands.

"Wh-wh-what are you doing?"  Luna said as she backed up and up.

"Zhu Shu tries remember recipe for Cat Tongue!"

"Eeep!"  Luna cried and looked for a place to run, but there wasn't one ....

* * * * *

Fortunately, Zhu Shu wasn't serious about the recipe.   By the time the girls came out four minutes later, Zhu Shu's show having been sufficient motivation for speed, she had laid out a light snack of rice and stir-fried vegetables.  She noted their apprehensive looks, but waited till they were all seated.

"Usagi.  Why keep Zhu Shu secret from Guardian?"

"Um-"  Usagi hemmed.

"Luna!  You be upset Usagi tell about Zhu Shu?" Zhu Shu's gaze caught the cat in a driving glare.

"Uh- Of course not!"

"Not tell all truth Cat!  Now know Zhu Shu.   What then?"

"Well- maybe."

Zhu Shu nodded.  "Better.  Zhu Shu meet Senshi on Hikawa Shrine.  Mistook Zhu Shu for Cardian.  Nearly kill but realize mistake.  Take care of Zhu Shu.  Zhu Shu wake, see Sailor Mars as Rei.   Recognize.  Mars decide better off if friends.  Zhu Shu have dangerous knowledge.  Good idea, yes no?"

Luna nodded.

"Zhu Shu show why should train.  Take pen, break bones.  Make point.  Senshi listen. Zhu Shu help in own way to fight evil."

"That's wonderful!"  Luna exclaimed

"Usagi!  Should have told Guardian.  Small mistake.  Understandable in young girl."

Usagi blushed shamefacedly.

"Now, must deal with consequences."  She turned to Akane.  "Know of Sailor Senshi?"

Akane nodded furiously

"Better than Zhu Shu when first meet then."   She turned to the others.  "Senshi, make up and introduce selves.   Is only polite when meet new friend."  She turned her attention to her bowl of rice.  The girls all looked at each other, then at Luna, who was apparently totally fascinated with her bowl of shrimp in a cream sauce.

Finally Rei nodded.  "She's right and we really only have ourselves to blame."  She stood.  "Rei Hino."  She brought out her pen.  "Mars Power, Make up!"

* * * * *

A half hour later, Zhu Shu waved good-bye to the cheerful Senshi.  A bemused and still slightly dazed Akane stood next to her.  _Still,_ Akane thought, _who wouldn't be.  Next to that near invasion of the world by the alien Oni, the Senshi have been the most popular news item in Japan for the last few years.  And now, I know them personally.  What's next?  Space visitors?_

A hum in the air made her look up as a tiger stripped saucer dropped down to hover over the Dojo.  She stared as a hatch opened in the bottom and Japan's Number One Famous Alien poked her horned head out.   "Konichiwa, Zhu Shu.  Have you seen Darling? He ran away again!"

Zhu Shu waved.  "Nihao, Lum.  Zhu Shu not seen Ataru.  Found Ranma!"

"Wonderful!"  the Oni flew down to give Zhu Shu a hug.  "Is this where you disappeared to?"

Zhu Shu nodded.  "Must come visit.  Zhu Shu miss first friend in Japan."

"Ok.  But I have to find Darling!  He ran away to be with Shinobu again!"

Zhu Shu nodded.  "Understand.  Come visit!"

"I will.  Saucer!  Remember this address!"  She gave Zhu Shu another quick hug and flew up to her ship.   "Bai Bai!  See you soon!"  With a further hum, the saucer shot out of sight.

Zhu Shu turned to apologize for her eccentric friend, but a wide-eyed Akane stopped her.  "Is there anyone famous in Japan you AREN'T friends with?"

Mischievousness won.  She giggled and gave Akane a peck on the cheek.  "Zhu Shu not meet Emperor yet!"  She vanished into the house.

After all the shocks she had gotten, it was a relief for Akane to beat the tar out of Ranma when he insulted her figure after Kasumi and Nabiki dressed him in one of Akane's outfits because all of his were in the wash.  In fact, upon reflection, it was the most normal thing she'd had happen all afternoon ....

* * * * *

Monday morning was a change of pace as it was Zhu Shu's first day of school.  Her grandfather's permission had arrived on Sunday along with paperwork detailing her "schooling".  She smiled at Sung Po's signature on the paperwork.  At least it seemed the local magistrate did not hold her choice to try and not have to marry his son against her.  Her Grandfather had also sent her a letter to tell her that Ke Lun had met with him and advised him of her current quest.   She had his blessing and approval.  He also informed her that Pin Ke had showed up in town, looking for yet another rematch.  She had been irate to find Zhu Shu gone.  Lin Ke had been, as always, apologetic for her sister.  Zhu Shu had sighed at that.  One day, she'd have to deal with Pin Ke once and for all, only her friendship with Lin Ke had prevented her from paying Pin Ke back for all she and Cherry Blossom had endured from the bullying girl as they grew up.  The girl from the next village had a lot to answer for, and not just from her.  Shan Pu had had stories of Pin Ke to tell too ....

Still, she had what she needed for her current quest, so that morning found her walking to school with Nabiki.  They talked about Ranma and Akane and other topics until they arrived at Furinkan High.

Kuno was waiting.

"Ah Nabik-  Oh!  Can it be?  My beautiful Chinese Goddess!  Oh!  As the Apple tree doth shake off the snow and lift it's branches to the sun of spring, so does my heart throw off the cold snows of it's desolation at the joyous return of your beauty!  Yea, My heart doth rejoice at the happy fates which hath returned you to me, My Goddess!"  He lunged to envelop Zhu Shu.

Zhu Shu had forgotten about Kuno.  She leaped straight up as his arms closed around air and did a back-flip to land on the post by the gate, both swords coming out.

Nabiki watched from half lidded eyes.   "Interesting ...."

Kuno's boken had appeared in his hands as tears of gladness streamed from his eyes.  "My Goddess, I rejoice at your challenge for my favor!  Happily will I allow you to date with me if I, Tatewaki Kuno, should lose!"

Zhu Shu sighed.  "Zhu Shu not date Kuno!"   He was completely oblivious to her protest as he closed in.  She leaped above his attack as his boken shattered a three-foot section of the wall. She landed behind him as he whirled.  Green fire flickered along her blade as she moved to parry him and slice through the wooden blade.

Thunder rumbled as the swords connected and Zhu Shu's sword barely nicked the boken. Kuno retaliated with a super-fast blur of thrusts which Zhu Shu had to bounce away from, her momentary handstand revealing the pink panties under her short skirt, which drew a whistle of appreciation from the boys watching the fight.   She dodged another flurry of blows and leaped, her ribbons swirling in a cyclone around her.  Thirty feet above Kuno, her ribbons snapped into a tight spiral as she cried "Dragon Tail Whip."  A ball of green fire arrowed down to envelop Kuno in a rumbling explosion.

The clearing smoke revealed Kuno, his clothes in tatters, standing in a small crater, the shattered remains of his boken in hand.  Wind whistled as he blinked twice, then, like a tree, he slowly fell over, unconscious.

Zhu Shu landed at the edge of the crater and for several seconds, silence reigned  Then a buzz of conversation broke out all around...

"Who is she?"  "Gods, she's cute!"  "Did you see what she did to Kuno!"  "Humph!   Well anyone would look cute to you if they wore a skirt like that!"

Nabiki stepped up to Zhu Shu as she put her swords away.   "Well, I see you've already met Kuno.  Well, come on.  We wouldn't want you to be late on your first day of school!"  She led the Chinese girl inside by the elbow...

Ranma and Akane arrived a few minutes later, and stared at the devastation.

"Humm, I have a feeling that Zhu Shu is already here."  Akane said.

A drop of sweat rolled down Ranma's temple.   "Remind me not to get her mad at me.  And to get her to teach me how she does that."

* * * * *

Things went well that morning for Zhu Shu, even though she was in the same homeroom as Nabiki and Kuno.  After the second eraser, Kuno had been sent into the hall with a bucket and Zhu Shu had had some peace.  Then lunchtime had arrived.

She had been walking towards Nabiki when a student tripped because he was watching her instead of where he was going, and with unerring accuracy, the curse had brought his glass of ice water down on her thin sleeveless dress.

The dress pulled tight as she gained a foot in height and a cup size.  For a single long moment, no one moved as the blonde dragon-girl stood motionless, then a riot of conversation broke out across the lunch room. 

Nabiki arrived a second later with a kettle of warm water, and a muttered "I should have guessed," but the damage had been done.  For the rest of lunch, Zhu Shu was stared at, and finally, one of the Hentai Squad got brave enough to dump another glass of cold water on her.

After that, it was non-stop.  Every time she changed back to normal, another "accident"  would happen.  She gave up on hot water, at least till every male was gone from the lunchroom.  She was very glad her dress wasn't white, damp as it was by the end of lunch.  Then to top it off, she'd gotten very rudely snubbed by the entire cheerleading squad and told that if she was going to be such an obvious tease, she could expect nothing but trouble.  Nabiki told her to ignore them, since they were just jealous that she was prettier than any of them, but Zhu Shu still had misgivings.  Then, to make a bad situation worse, she ended up having to hold a bucket of water in the hall for being late to class because she had had to wait till everyone had left the lunchroom before she could get hot water.

Then at gym class, she had to admire the ingenuity of the "accident" that soaked her on the bench of the softball field, and she hoped the Hentai Squad had enjoyed the wet tee shirt, because she had sent most of them to the nurse's office.  And then had to knock out Kuno, now madly in love with his "Sun Gold Dragon Maiden"...

* * * * *

By week's end, it had actually become a game.  The school had written her off as the hopelessly strange Chinese dragon-girl, and ignored her curse, mostly.  The Hentai Squad had unanimously bought squirt guns, and Zhu Shu had started carrying umbrellas.  The girls and the Tendos had even chipped in to buy her a nice set of dresses with matching umbrellas.  She'd even been mischievous enough to get a white one with gold plum blossoms.

The only sore point was still the Cheerleading squad.   Zhu Shu had no clue what to make of their constantly turned up noses when they saw her.   Unless Nabiki was around, in which case, they'd turn pale and quickly walk in another direction. 

In fact, by the weekend, things had settled down into a routine both at school and home.  Ranma and Akane had their fights, and sometimes Zhu Shu would step in, sometimes she let it take it's course, which usually ended with Ranma airborne.  Nabiki was making a tidy profit from Kuno with pictures,  two sets by sneaking around to snap photos of Ranma and Akane, and a third by talking Zhu Shu into posing for "art".  Meanwhile, usually only one of the three "Beloveds"  had to flatten Kuno any given day.  Zhu Shu and Kasumi had the house so well taken care of that Kasumi actually had time to herself during the days, and Soun took to calling Zhu Shu his fourth daughter.  Things were going so well that Zhu Shu didn't notice that Nabiki had found her three biggest weaknesses.

That Zhu Shu tended to be entirely too trusting of her friends almost made Nabiki feel guilty about the pictures, but she actually thought it was ironic that given Zhu Shu's training, the Chinese girl didn't seem to be aware she was being fast talked. 

Then there was the fact that Zhu Shu  had no head for money.  Nabiki had spent hours trying to explain the Japanese monetary system, but Zhu Shu wasn't very good with it.  In retrospect though, since Zhu Shu had come from a small village where barter was more common than coin, it was understandable, as was the too trusting nature.

It was the other weakness that Nabiki found hilarious.   Zhu Shu was addicted to magic girl anime.  Rayearth, Card Captor Sakura, anything and everything that was cute and magical... By the end of the week, she had a small mountain of stuffed kawaii animals filling her bedroom, all gifts from the various boys hopelessly vying for her favor.  Nabiki couldn't help but laugh at the image of Zhu Shu and her stuffies.  It was just such a contrast to the normally controlled Mandarin demeanor.

So, by weeks end, normality, of a sorts, was restored.

Then Monday, things changed...

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