Shampoo Tendo: Duel in the Dojo [Episode 20960]

As Ranma and Akane squared off, Shampoo retreated to a corner of the dojo and glared at them both. Stupid Japanese. First this Ranma disgraces her in front of her tribe, then Akane - her sister and supposed friend - takes Ranma's part and stops Shampoo exacting her just vengeance. Hah. Let these 2 battle, once they were done she would renew her challenge and strike down a tired Ranma. In a corner of her mind, a voice tried to remind her that mother had ordered Ranma treated as a guest, while another voice noted that Ranma hadn't needed to be saved from much in the last bout.

Ranma stood loosely a little distance from Akane, who was in an aggressive stance and clearly intended to be the attacker. In spite of herself Shampoo nodded approval, it was better to be on the attack, to make the enemy react to you, not the other way around. Shampoo gave a nod to start the match, then watched it unfold.

Shampoo noted instantly that Akane was attacking, but at much less than her full capacity, however Ranma merely stood off and dodged. Shampoo's eyes narrowed, Ranma was holding back his speed, thinking about it Shampoo realised that Ranma was matching his reactions to Akane's - keeping them at a level just above her sisters speed, her sisters displayed speed.

In spite of herself, Shampoo found herself drawn into watching the bout and comparing it with her own efforts at attacking Ranma. Ranma was reading Akane extremely well, despite never having fought her before... Akane was holding back a little, but as her own memories insisted on coming forward, Shampoo realised that Ranma was holding back even more. If Ranma attacked with the speed she had used against Shampoo, Akane's defence would probably be overwhelmed before she could adjust her reactions. "She suckered me on the log", Shampoo thought sourly to herself, "I let my temper rule me, and she cheerfully set me up and chopped me down", unwelcome insight refused to be denied, "and it was my own fault... if I was truly worthy to be the champion... if I was worthy I would not have let my anger rule, I would not have charged into that blow without any idea of what my opponent was capable of."

Focussing back on the fight, Shampoo puzzled over Akane's movements. Her sister was not using her usual style, she was moving slow and carefully, minimising kicks and keeping up a steady rain of punches. Slipping into observer mode, Shampoo tried to read and predict what the 2 were up to. The red-heads bobbing and weaving gave no pattern for Shampoo to lock onto, even calling up her earlier fights didn't help, although Shampoo did have to hold back a curse as it suddenly became obvious that the dodging and weaving were meant to hide Ranma's pattern. She liked a single decisive blow, when she was ready... Shampoo focussed back on Ranma. Could she see some little sign that would give away when Ranma was ready to strike?

Akane upped the pace of her attack's, her face a serious mask as she started adding low leg sweeps to her steady barrage of punches. Ranma smiled back and upped the pace of her dancing around. Shampoo looked at her sisters face and knew Akane had a plan, and the grim expression on her face was the one she only worre when she thought she was outmatched... and was determined to win anyway. Comparing Ranma to Akane was depressing, Shampoo knew she and Akane were close to even in skill, it was difficult to say which of them would win any given fight. And Ranma was better than Akane... and had beaten Shampoo twice but Akane had taken up the challenge and didn't seem to be doing so badly.

Akane suddenly sprang her trap, without warning she went to her full speed and power and her blows had Ranma weaving her body with the grace of a dancer and a speed Shampoo could scarcely believe. Akane's knuckles came close to her opponent, yet Ranma somehow managed to dodge all the blows. Shampoo watched in fascination, trying to work out a method that would leave Ranma on the ground, a beaten wreck.

Akanes attempt failed to defeat the Red-head, although Ranma showed far more caution once Akane backed off. The burst of speed had clearly given away Akane's real capacity. And it was eqally clear that Ranma had the endurance and skill to win the fight, in its closing stages the fight changed and Ranma started pressing Akane. Moving with her trademark speed Ranma moved in on the Tendo girl... and was dodging madly as Akane managed to snap a series of kicks out. Shampoo suppressed a curse, Akane had tried to sucker the red-head again, but the slippery Saotome seemed to have been expecting something like that. It soon became clear that the sudden kicks had been Akanes last real attempt at victory, and Ranma claimed victory by managing to slip around Akane's guard and punch her lightly in the arm.

Akane made an instictive counterstrike, then sighed as realisation hit her. She raised her hands in defeat and stepped away from Ranma, smiling as she said teasingly:
"Almost had you there, with those last kicks", stated Akane to Ranma.
For a moment Ranma just stared at her then Ranma shrugged and relaxed:
"Yeah. You're the first person besides pop to come that close for a few years now."

Shampoo settled a glare on Ranma. However after reviewing her earlier fights and this one, Shampoo sighed aloud:
"Damn. I have the prize-thief in front of me... and I can't exact vengeance. I hope the village never hears of this."
Ranma and Akane turned to look at Shampoo, and Ranma blushed a little then spoke quietly:
"I really am sorry I caused you trouble. Is there any way I can make it up to you... without getting killed or beaten up?"
For a long moment Shampoo looked at Ranma, then Shampoo said...