Genma was in the process of setting up camp when a rotund man in a PRC worker’s uniform came up to him. “Nihao.”
Genma Saotome may not have been the best at languages, but he was pretty sure that that was some sort of greeting (if it had been a curse word, it would have been shouted). “Um, hello.”
“You Japanese?”
“Uh, yes, as a matter of fact, I am.”
“Tourist?”
“Not exactly. My son and I are martial artists; we’ve come to China on a training mission.”
The man suddenly looked concerned. “I see… and why you come here?”
“Well, I was told that there’s a famous training ground nearby—Jusenkyo, or something like that.”
“Yes, Jusenkyo nearby. I am official guide.”
“Really? Well, if I’d have known you were coming by, I wouldn’t have sent my son to make sure we were in the right place. At least now we can be certain we’ll be training in the right place.”
This brought a panicked look to the guide’s face. “But sir, you not want to train there.”
“Why not?”
“Jusenkyo springs are cursed. Many people and animals drown there over years, and now when someone fall into spring, take form of first thing that drown there!”
“Really?”
“Yes. Follow me—must stop Mister Costumer’s son before something bad happen!”
“I’m sure you’re overreacting—Ranma wouldn’t do anything rash that would get him turned into a… what did you say people turned into?”
“Depends on spring, might be cat, or duck, or piglet, or girl, or…”
As the guide droned on, Genma simply stared in disbelief—he couldn’t believe that someone could be this superstitious. The very idea of his boy being turned into an animal or a girl—Wait. Did he just say girl? Suddenly, Genma didn’t quite feel like taking chances with the supernatural. “Enough explaining, we need to get to those springs!”
It’s not that bad, Ranma. Artemis was having a hard time consoling his rather disappointed friend. They were sitting beside the spring that Ranma had originally thought was the Spring of Drowned Wildcat, but had turned out to be a bit more benign. Really, I don’t mind being a normal cat. Of course, he did mind being a normal, wet cat, but beggars can’t be choosers.
I know… but I was hopin’ for somethin’ more… aggressive, ya know? In case we—I mean you—had ta get inta a fight or somethin’.
Ranma, I’d think that you of all people would know that ordinary cats are perfectly capable of aggression.
Can’t argue with ya there, Ranma conceded as images of the Catfist training briefly returned. He changed the subject a bit. So, what say we make sure that we can turn back inta a human?
Artemis?
Hello?
Earth to White!
Huh? Oh, sorry, Ranma. I was just staring at my reflection.
Like that Greek guy? Narcolepsy?
His name was Narcissus, and no, I’m not staring because I’ve suddenly become so vain that I think Carly Simon wrote a song about me. It’s just that I noticed that mark on my forehead…
What? Oh, yeah, I see it. Hey! It kinda looks like a moon! What are the chances of that?
Rather high, I’d say, since my original body had that mark—but that’s something that you just won’t find on an ordinary housecat. It’s a distinctive marking found on all Mau.
So, what yer sayin’ is that we don’t turn inta an ordinary cat at all? We’re the really special kinda cat that you were?
I’m not sure, but I think so.
Any way to know for sure?
Actually, yes. The white feline took a deep breath. “The hail in Wales falls squarely on the snails.” Yup. This body is Mau.
Wait a minute—you can talk?
Of course I can talk. What did you think we’ve been doing all this time?
I didn’t mean that. I mean that I didn’t know ya could talk out loud. I thought ya were basically a normal cat, except smarter.
Ranma, I think you’ll find that the Mau are much more than “smart” housecats.
The mooncat’s mental passenger decided to take him at his word. Besides, his original concern hadn’t been addressed yet. Okay, I guess it’s good that ya got yer original body back, since it seems it can do some cool stuff, but that doesn’t really explain why ya zonked out on me back there.
Well, I’ve told you how a lot of my memories from the Silver Millennium are a bit fuzzy, right?
Yeah…
Well, for a while there, I thought one was coming back.
Oh. Ranma felt a bit guilty about interrupting his friend’s thought processes; every bit of information that he could recall would help their cause. Sorry about that.
Don’t worry about it. I’m sure I’ll have more chances to remember what I need to know to complete my mission. Besides, you did have good point—we need to make sure we can transform back.
Sounds good ta me. Just then, a thought came to Ranma. Um, Artemis? Where are we gonna get hot water?
Artemis didn’t have an answer for this, but then, he didn’t need one, since at that moment someone splashed them with hot water from behind, startling the living daylights out of them.
That someone turned out to be Genma, who was now a good fifteen minutes into his reprimand to his son for his foolhardy actions (which suddenly originated from Ranma once again). Ranma mostly ignored him, only keeping an ear out in case his father deviated from his well-established standard of chastisement. The younger Saotome was not surprised to hear his father yammering about honor and the importance of not being a girl. He was just about to block out the conversation entirely when Genma turned to the guide. “Is there any way to fix this?”
“Yes. Mister Customer only need to get splashed with water from Spring of Drowned Man.”
Oh no! This was not good; in order to properly help Venus, they would probably need their mooncat body. What’ll we do? What’ll we do? Ranma was becoming uncharacteristically panicked—he couldn’t think of a reason not to get cured that his father would accept.
Why give him a reason at all?
Huh? What do ya mean?
Well, since you don’t know how to deal with this problem now, perhaps you should deal with it later….
What? That still doesn’t make any— Oh. Wait. That.
Right.
“Come on, boy, what are you waiting for? We have to get rid of that curse of yours.”
“Face opponent and…”
“What’s that? What are you muttering? Speak up!”
“Fast break!” Ranma shot off down the hill towards their campsite, perfectly executing the Saotome Secret Technique and thoroughly confusing his father. Said father was stunned for a few minutes before he took off in active pursuit of his son.
The Jusenkyo Guide snorted derisively. “Tourists.”
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(Posted Thu, 09 Mar 2006 10:51)
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