Notice: Sailor Moon is the property of Naoko Takeuchi and Ranma ½ belongs to Takahashi Rumiko. I DO own the little Princess Serenity, Prince Endymion, Luna, and Artemis that watch me write from on top of my computer though!
Wow! You guys are wonderful! I’ve never received so many reviews for a fic. I love you all! *grin*
I got so many suggestions for animes to crossover with. Arigatoo! I’ve decided to stick with Ranma ½ though. These are my reasons why.
DragonBall Z/GT, I’m already doing a fic that is a crossover with this anime, and I wanted to try something different for a bit. But that doesn’t mean I’m never going to crossover with DBZ/GT again! I love that show! Especially some of the guys in it. *grin*
Gundam Wing, Escaflowne, Tenchi Muyo, and all others suggested I’ve never seen. *sob* I want to so much, especially when I read some of those amazing fics out there that involve them. And here’s a little secret. I love Heero/Usagi romances too! (Hehe)
One last thing. I want to say sorry to Angel for using the same name for my fic as hers. I didn't mean to at all! I just forgot it was called that. *chuckle*
Chapter 2: Arrival in China
Shampoo balanced herself on the beam raised over the ground in the Amazon village. Her opponent gave her a small grin before whipping the ribbon she used as a weapon around, gripping onto Shampoo’s wrists with it. Startled, Shampoo felt herself begin to fall forward. She quickly balanced herself out and pulled the ribbon, dislodging it from the woman’s hands. Returning the grin she had been given earlier, she sprung forward and wiped the girl’s feet out from under her with her bonbories, toppling her from the beam. A cheer rose from the surrounding crowd as the victor rolled forward after her lunge and stood up again. Shampoo, grinning now in triumph, jumped to the ground. Accepting the congratulations of her friends and neighbors, she headed through the crowd to her prize.
Usagi stood nervously just outside the village of the Chinese Amazons, Joketsuzoku. She still didn’t know what she had been thinking when she headed this way, but it was too late to turn back now. And if anyone would accept her, the Amazons would.
~Flashback~
Usagi didn’t have enough money for a plane ticket. A backpack on her back, she had walked down to the docks. It hadn’t been incredibly hard to sneak onto a passenger boat headed for China, or to sneak off the boat again and past customs. Though it had been what got her in that position in the first place, she was suddenly very happy she had had experience slipping out of class because of her senshi duties.
She had found a market on her first day in China, and as she went to buy food, she realized she neither spoke Chinese nor did she have any Chinese money. She didn’t even know what their form of currency was! She looked longingly at the food, her mouth watering.
An old woman at a nearby stall noticed the teenage girl standing alone and appearing very hungry. She frowned faintly. Judging by the girl’s appearance, she was not poor or in need. Why did she not just buy the food?
"Young lady," the woman said as Usagi began to pass by her stand. "Are you alright?" Usagi was able to recognize that the woman was speaking to her, but she didn’t know what was being said. She shrugged helplessly, shaking her head to indicate that she didn’t understand.
Seeing the girl’s confusion, the woman frowned. She had never been known for giving up easily, and in fact, she had been called stubborn many times in her life. She picked up a meat bun, still warm, and held it out to the girl. She nodded as Usagi pointed to herself, a confused look on her face, then nearly broke out laughing as the bun was quickly snatched from her open hand and devoured.
"Arigatoo," the now happy teen said, smiling. Though the woman wasn’t sure what she had said, she guessed it meant ‘Thank you.’ She returned the girls smile and pulled out a stool that had been hidden behind some crates. She looked back up at the curious girl and motioned for her to come sit down.
"You look tired, and I believe we’ve already seen how hungry you are. Come sit, and maybe if my son returns soon, he will be able to help us understand eachother," the old woman said. She knew the girl did not understand, but she felt she needed to say something. Voice out her thoughts in a way.
Though the two women did not know eachother’s language, they seemed to already be getting along quite alright without it. For the next few hours, they communicated in their own way. Usagi also managed to repay the woman for the bun by wrapping up sales while the old woman did the speaking and handled the money.
It was early in the evening, the sun just vanishing over the treetops when a man in his mid-thirties came to the stand. A little five-year-old boy ran along beside him. As the man and old woman spoke, the boy looked at Usagi, almost suspiciously.
"Who is your young friend, mother?" the man asked as he helped the old woman pack up the stand for the night.
"I’m afraid I don’t know. She came out of no where this afternoon, looking so lost and hungry, that I just couldn’t let her go on without some food and a rest. She doesn’t seem to speak any Chinese though, so that is all I know. I was thinking you could help."
Usagi felt they were talking about her. She had managed to figure out what to do to help the two pack the small stand up, and was helping as well, but she felt their eyes on her back almost the entire time.
"You think she’s Japanese?" the man asked his mother curiously.
"Well if I thought she were Russian, I wouldn’t have asked you! Of course, what did you think I meant? Now why don’t you see if she will speak to you?" The man sighed and rolled his eyes as his mother turned away. "And don’t think I didn’t see that!" his mother said as she picked up a box and put it on the cart. Her son grimaced, silently wondering how she knew.
Usagi had watched the entire conversation from the word ‘Japanese,’ the one word that actually sounded familiar. She laughed quietly as she saw the small exchange near the end and, though she didn’t know exactly what had been said, she understood what had happened. She didn’t know how many times that her mother had done the exact same thing.
"My mother believes you are from Japan. Is she correct?" the man asked Usagi in Japanese. Usagi smiled as she finally heard something she understood and nodded.
"Hai! I’m so glad there is someone I can speak with," she said, relief clear on her face. "Your mother is wonderful, but I didn’t know how much longer I would last with no one that could understand me." The man smiled.
"My name is Brush and my mother’s name is Comb."
"I am Usagi," she replied, shaking Brush’s hand in greeting.
"Well, Usagi, what are you doing all alone like this?" Usagi sighed as she thought of how to answer his question without forming more.
"There was nothing left for me at home. I guess I thought I’d travel some."
Usagi felt almost guilty for the small lie she told her friends, but she knew that if she told them the truth, they would either send her back or laugh at her. She was invited to stay with Comb’s family over the next few days while she tried to figure out what she was going to do. She helped Comb with her pastry stall in the marketplace during the day and helped with Brush’s son, Whisk in the evenings.
The first day Usagi had stayed with Comb’s large family, she had asked about Whisk’s name.
"It came from his mother’s side of the family." Usagi didn’t ask anything else. She guessed it made sense. Whisk’s mother’s name was Ladle, after all.
~End Flashback~
It was now almost two weeks later. When Usagi began to feel that she was overstepping her welcome, Comb had told her of a village of women to the north, the Amazons. It turned out that Comb’s aunt was one of the village elders, and that they would always have a place for a hardworking woman. Which was exactly what Usagi had shown them she could be.
Usagi looked once more at the envelope in her hand. It was addressed to a woman named Cologne. ‘Well, only one way to do this,’ Usagi thought, looking back up from the envelope. ‘Ask around.’
Shampoo sat outside the hut she shared with her great-grandmother, sharing the food she had won in the competition with several of the villagers in a small feast that had been put together at the last minute. Everyone was talking and having fun. Cologne, Shampoo’s great-grandmother, was talking with a friend about the techniques that had been used in that year’s competition when a young woman came running up to the party.
"Elder," she spoke, addressing Cologne. "There is a young woman who is asking for you." Cologne frowned, trying to think if she was expecting anyone. Shaking her head, she looked back up at the woman who had come.
"Bring her here. Might as well see what she wants." The woman smiled and nodded, then turned again and ran back the way she had come.
Everyone sat silent, waiting to see whom the newcomer was. It was not often someone came to the Amazon village, and even less often that the person knew their old matron. Most visitors only stopped by after visiting the training grounds of the Jusenkyo, but even those were rare these days.
As the blond stranger was escorted to the small party, Cologne watched her carefully. There was something quite different about this girl. A hidden power that the Amazon elder wanted to explore.
Well, that’s it for chapter two. Next chapter, Shampoo and Usagi will meet. We’ll also see what’s been going on in Tokyo with the sailor senshi and find out where Tuxedo Kamen was when the problem began.
Next time, An Amazon Princess: Fitting In.
~Jade Nova