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All original Ranma1/2 Characters and Backstory Copyright
Rumiko Takahashi, and are used without permission.

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Coutuva.


Yue - Part Five
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	She was tired.  More tired than she had been in as long as
she could remember, and it was just time for the evening meal.
	Her afternoon had been filled with a dizzying exploration
of the city, and she had seen, done, felt, sampled and examined
more than she could possibly remember.  
	Lin had also tried to tell her the Japanese words for 
everything she had encountered, but she found that there were 
simply too many to place.
	It was no wonder her forehead throbbed in a dull ache.
	However, she had also enjoyed the experience far more than
she would have thought possible.  Perhaps, it had been the challenge
of trying so many new things.  Perhaps it had been the fact that she
was feeling more comfort in her new surroundings.  
	Perhaps it was just the fact that she had spent the 
afternoon laughing and giggling like a child, with a very good 
friend at her side.
	She could still feel the euphoria in her body and the glow
on her cheeks -- right along with the soreness an afternoon of 
laughter had caused.
	Knowing it would be a while before Lin would serve their 
dinner, she reached down into her bags and withdrew four balls of 
coloured twine.
	Drawing the leads from each, she began to braid herself a
lanyard.  One had adorned the hilt of her long-lost sword, and its
absence from her new weapon was disconcerting.  
	As well, she hoped it would distract her from thoughts of
the morning's events, which had not been far from her mind all day.
	She had only managed a small amount before the approach of 
a familiar presence interrupted.  Knotting off temporarily, she 
looked up, only to be surprised at who it turned out to be.
	"Nihao, Liang Ju Yue," the black-haired girl greeted
cordially, with a suitable bow.
	She couldn't stop herself from blinking.  The difference in
the girl's comportment was akin to night from day.
	"<Greetings, Tendou Akane,>" she smiled back, dipping her
head.
	"<May I...  Sit with you?>" the girl asked, choosing her
words carefully.  Yue was impressed.
	"<Please.  I welcome the company,>" she replied, gesturing
toward a chair adjacent.
	"<Thank you,>" the girl smiled, again bowing.  As she
seated herself, Yue set aside her task, intrigued by her guest.  It
was apparent that the girl had invested considerable effort in
refining herself, which was something she could respect.
	"<Please forgive the clutter.  I was entertaining myself,>"
she opened, gesturing toward the pile.
	"<I do not mind,>" the girl replied, folding her hands in
her lap -- in a very Kasumi-like manner.  "<I see you are...
Fixing...  A...  Uhm...>" she attempted, but apparently couldn't
find the word.
	Yue smiled at her.  Her face was too sore to try laughing
off the girl's difficulty politely, so she opted for diplomacy.
"<A lanyard...  For my sword,>" she supplied, holding up the
completed section.  "<Have you ever made them?>" she continued,
thinking that if she offered a topic, the girl might relax.
	"<Yes...  For my sack,>" the girl nodded, happily.  A
moment later, she drew a long breath, apparently building up to
something.  Yue looked back at her encouragingly, not wanting to
intimidate her by seeming impatient.  
	The girl glanced up briefly, then her face seemed to calm
slightly.  "<Please...  Forgive errors mine...  I...  Only speak 
Mandarin...  For short time,>" she stated, sheepishly.  "<I 
wanted...  Ap-ol-o-gise...  My face in morning.  I rude,>" 
she stammered, wrinkling her nose at her mangling of the language.
	"<You need not worry.  In truth, I felt strange as well.
This is all very much a new experience for me,>" she smiled back,
speaking slowly.  Her guest seemed to appreciate it, looking as
if she hung upon each word.
	"<I still...  Had to say.  Uhm...  I...>" the girl
stammered, then, likely without meaning to, looked back at her
searchingly.
	She couldn't stop herself from chuckling, but forced
herself to when she saw the mortified look on her guest's face.
"<Forgive me.  That was rude.  I was simply recalling my attempts
to learn your language,>" she retracted, fighting to school her
features.  "Is easy to do thing not, yes?" she followed, flashing
Lin's famous grin.
	The girl immediately brightened, then chuckled herself.
"Iya...  It really isn't.  I've been trying for two days and
nights," she puffed, shaking her head.  "I'm sorry I'm still not
very good."
	"You okay, Tendou-san.  No self worry.  Lin teach me try,
but still I long way have to go, too," she confessed, shrugging.
She was, however, pleased to note that the girl seemed much more
at ease, now that the conversation had shifted to her language.
	"You're doing a lot better than me.  I just can't seem to
make it work," the girl noted, frowning slightly.  "But I'll keep
trying.  I really want to learn it," she stated, her face
determined.
	"Why?  City Chinese others have?" she asked, wondering
genuinely.
	"Hai.  And I'd like to make you feel more comfortable
than I did this morning.  Oh -- that reminds me!  The reason I 
came to see you is that my family has a training room.  I wanted
to invite you to come over and try it out," the girl responded,
looking back expectantly.
	She smiled.  "Hai!  Like too much I would.  You
fighter?"
	The girl smiled proudly.  "Hai.  I am a Martial Artist -- 
the only one in the family other than my Dad.  He taught me," she
indicated, which brought a certain soft smile to Yue's face.  She
was starting to like her new friend just a little more.
	"Father teach me, too.  Say girls no different boys.  Need
know.  When come you want me?" she asked, looking forward
to the opportunity.
	"How about tomorrow morning?" the girl proposed, happily.
"About ten o'clock?"
	Yue shook her head.  "Good is not.  Lin want show me town
more," she stated, with a slight frown.
	"That's okay.  You can come whenever you have the chance.
Just let me know," the girl replied, smiling.
	This time, she nodded.  "Good!  Sword I bring?"
	"Sure!  I'd love to watch you do your workout, and I'm
sure Kasumi would like to see you again," the girl stated, then
rose from her chair and bowed.  "Arigato...  And I'll see you as
soon as you can come," she smiled, then turned and headed out
the door.
	Yue smiled back as she watched the girl leave, shaking her
head slightly.  It was apparent that this Tendou Akane was trying
very hard to be nice, and in a way she considered it flattering.
However, she could not understand why, particularly in view of
how determined and serious the girl seemed.
	Sighing, she moved her twines back into place and resumed
her task, thinking that she would likely find out soon enough.





	Lin seemed shocked.  "<She invited you to their Dojo?>"
the girl repeated, setting down her sticks.
        "<If you mean their training room, yes.  I am looking
forward to it.  I have never trained in one -- only in my 
courtyard.  Our Palace did not have one, as it was first built
by some pompous, overstuffed Emperor that knew not how to even 
hold a sword,>" she smiled back, rolling her eyes.
	"<I see.  So then Akane must have learned more Mandarin
to be able to ask you that,>" Lin noted, tapping her chin
thoughtfully.
	"<She did, but not much.  I took pity on her and used the
Japanese you have been imparting to me.  She fared better in her
own tongue.  She was trying so hard that I could not let her
suffer any longer,>" she explained, only to blink at the look Lin
was giving her.
	"<And you don't call having to listen to your Japanese
'suffering'?>" the girl abruptly quipped, snickering.
	"<She did not find it so,>" she smirked back, flicking a
fish cake at the still-sniggering Amazon.  "<In truth, she said I
was doing well.>"
	"<She was trying to butter you up, trust me,>" Lin
countered, still snickering.
	Yue narrowed her eyes.  "<You realize, do you not, that
the proficiency of the student reflects the ability of the
teacher.>"
	Lin stopped laughing and smirked.  "<And you realize that
there are some people that just can't be taught,>" she shot back,
leaning across the table.
	For a long heartbeat, they simply glared at each
other -- until Lin broke out laughing, and Yue joined her.
	In the kitchen, meantime, Mousse leaned on the prep 
counter and frowned, his attention riveted on a certain oblivious
redhead.
	When she'd first introduced herself, he'd had no interest 
in talking to her, much less getting to know her.  Every time he
saw that head of hair, it reminded him yet again of his situation,
and the reason he was in it.
	Now, he'd been told that he had to form a relationship with
her, and eventually marry her.
	The thought still gave him a shudder, even though he knew 
going along with it would restore his tarnished prestige, and let 
him return home with his head held high.  He had to wonder, however, 
if it would ever be worth losing out on marrying Lin.  Even disgraced,
he'd still had a slim chance - very slim, to be sure, but still a 
chance.
	A sad smirk of resignation crossed his face.
	Rising from the counter, he puffed a sigh and returned to 
his duties, brightening as he realized that if it all worked, he'd at 
least have no problem finding willing concubines.




	Yue gathered her twines and partially completed strands
together, too tired to concentrate on the intricate work.  As
Lin was still away assisting the Elder, she decided to submit to 
her body's insistent demand for sleep.
	Rubbing her eyes, she picked up her bags and started for
the passage to the stairs, already envisioning herself snuggled
into her bedding.  As she rounded the corner at the base of the 
stairs, however, her eye caught a movement in the shadows of the 
yard, visible through the open door nearby.
	Hanging the bag on the stair post, she stepped to the door
to determine what she had seen, only to gasp at the sight of Tsu
working on a collection of weapons.
	Licking her drying lips, she checked herself quickly and
started into the yard, not wanting to waste the chance.
	She saw Tsu look up from his work as she approached, then
immediately lower his gaze again.  After a heartbeat's
consideration, she decided the act constituted being 'addressed', 
and moved to a spot about a yard distant, there to simply stand, 
hands enmeshed.
	"<Good evening, Mu Tsu,>" she bowed politely, watching
his face intently -- and crossing her fingers inwardly.
	"<Good evening,>" he responded, tightly.  Not what she had
hoped for, but at least he had spoken.  Drawing a breath softly,
she threw caution to the wind.
	"<I see you have a variety of weapons...  And they seem of
the type used by 'Hidden Weapon' practitioners.  Would that
perchance be your chosen style?>" she ventured, hoping that by
speaking to his interest, she could at least open a conversation.
	To her great relief, he turned and looked up at her.
"<Ah - yeah.  I'm...  Kinda surprised you noticed,>" he responded, 
the edge noticeably absent from his voice.
	She had to smile -- for a number of reasons.  "<I am
familiar with the style -- at least to know the weapons.  It has
always been a fascination of mine,>" she followed pleasantly,
fighting the weakness in her knees.  "<My father employed an
Amazon as a personal guard, and it was his chosen means,>" she
added, tearing her gaze away from his face to glance at the array
of chains, axes, maces, grapples, shuriken et al displayed before
her.  "<It amazes me that one can conceal so much, and yet still 
have them all at the ready.>"
	Tsu actually smiled at her comments, then cast her a look
she couldn't be sure of.  Just as she was beginning to worry,
however, he lit an almost childlike smile.  "<Wanna see some?>"
	She felt like cheering out loud at the unexpected success
of her gamble, but instead only smiled brightly.  "<I would like
that very much,>" she nodded, happily.
	He smiled back -- she felt her heart race.
	"<Gimme a sec -- gotta fix everything.  I was 
cleaning and sharpening stuff...>" he indicated, taking one of 
the weapons and placing it within his voluminous sleeve.  As she 
watched in fascination, it occurred to her how his arms -- and 
chest -- had become so muscular.
	After a few moments, he had them all reset, and stood 
smiling with his cuffs together.  "<Okay -- all ready,>" he 
grinned, excitedly.  "<Check this out,>" he continued, 
extending his arm smoothly, and in the same motion launching a 
chain-tethered mace at a distant target.
	Her jaw dropped ungraciously as she watched the weapon
impact the target dead-center, even though the light was fast
dimming around them.  A barely-perceptible twitch of his arm
later, the chain retracted, once again to disappear into his
sleeve.
	"<Incredible!  You did that with such ease -- I can but just
lift a mace that size!>"
	"<Of course,>" he bowed, smiling proudly.  "<But that was
just beginner stuff.  Watch this...!>"
	She smiled enthusiastically, then stepped closer to be
clear of the firing line.
	He, meanwhile, nodded and readied himself.  She could
see subtle shifts in his shoulders and arms, even though his
hands did not appear to move under his large cuffs.  
	A moment later, he became a whirlwind of motion, 
launching, retracting and re-launching what seemed like more 
weaponry than had been contained in her Palace armoury.
	Each and every volley found its target, with a great
degree of accuracy and surprising power.  She watched in
appreciative awe, hypnotized as she observed the almost 
unnoticeable changes his face underwent.
	She felt her cheeks heat as she imagined the workings of
his sculptured chest and powerful arms, and moved her hands to
mesh behind her back.  She was finding it ever more difficult to
keep them from confirming what her mind was seeing.
	Finally, he retracted his weapons for the final time, then
moved his cuffs together and smiled, despite breathing slightly
more heavily.  His smile widened as he looked back toward her, 
which in turn sent a pleasant shiver down her back.
	Suddenly, she was glad the dusk was fading.
	"<Most impressive.  I would think you to be a Master,>"
she commented, bowing slightly to him.  
	She immediately noticed the manner of his belated 
response, as it did not seem to fit with what she had just 
witnessed.
	"<Nahh - just...  Just like the style, that's all,>" he 
stammered, unconvincingly.
	"<But you have all of the strengh, speed and skill of a
Master,"> she blinked, wondering why he would lie -- especially 
about something most men would boast of.
	He only shook his head.  "<No way.  I'm not...  Good 
enough to be a Master,>" he replied with lowered eyes, the 
timbre of his voice only reinforcing her sense -- and twisting
her heart.
	"<Mu Tsu...?  What troubles you so?>" she heard herself 
ask, her hand settling on his arm.
	He shuddered at the contact, then she felt his arm twitch
as if he were going to pull it away -- but he did not.  His eyes
instead met hers, at which he seemed to struggle with his thoughts.
	A moment later, anger crossed his strong features, and 
he turned away amid a sigh of disgust.
	"<If I was a real Master, you think I'd still be here?>" 
he blurted, bitterly.
	She started at the remark.  For a moment, her mind reeled,
then abruptly, it came to her.
	"<You speak of your disgrace,>" she breathed aloud, a hand
rising to her face.
	"<Yeah.  I can't beat a woman...>" he nodded, voice still 
bitter. 
	She had to shake her head breifly.  "<But...  Why would 
that be?  I have seen how she fights, and while skilled, she
has vulerabilities...>" she began, only to suddenly gasp aloud at
the thought that crashed through her mind.
	"<She...  Is your friend...>" she breathed, the truth of
it ringing strong.
	He gasped aloud at the assertion, face dropping and eyes 
opening wide.  "<Ahh... Yeah.  We grew up together.  How'd...  
How'd you guess?>"
	"<It is too obvious...  You care for her -- would even 
wish to marry her -- but only to be assured she is always safe,>" 
she opened, a smile growing as she put it together.  "<That is why
you conceal your true skills.  You do not wish to harm her.>"
	He gaped back at her for a long moment, his face taking a 
surprised, then throughly pleased expression.  "<Yeah...  That's it. 
That's what I do all right...  I kinda throw the fights so she 
always wins,>" he began, then his expression soured.  "<Kinda makes
me look stupid when I keep losin', though.>"
	She shook her head.  "<You are no fool, Mu Tsu...  In fact,
I suspect that impression is one you have crafted well.  It would
only support your charade,>" she asserted, pleased to see him 
brighten at her words.
	"<Yeah, yeah -- you got it -- I really am a Master of 
Hidden Weapons, but I act like I'm not.  I got everybody fooled 
good, too,>" he confirmed, puffing pridefully.
	She smiled, her heart warming.  "<I am glad.  Your skill
exceeds that of the man my Father retained, yet you remain here
and endure this disgrace.  I knew there was something amiss,>" she 
smiled, sliding him a knowing look.  "<But I do not understand
why you continue...  Does there remain some danger?>" 
	His face fell at her remark, then he quickly turned away.
	She gasped, a hand rising to her coloring face.  "<Forgive 
me...  I meant not to be so bold,>" she apologized, fearing she 
had overstepped herself.
	When he didn't respond after a long few moments, however,
she immediately knew why.  She had been host to enough reluctant 
suitors to know the signs.  
	"<You...  Need not reply, Mu Tsu...  I understand,>" she
began, drawing a breath.  "<You...  Really do...  Love her,>" she 
acquiesced, not raising her gaze.  "<Given it all...  I should
have guessed sooner.  Please, forgive my intrusion,>" she stated, 
her heart sinking as she turned to take her leave.
	"<Liang Yue, wait!>" he suddenly exclaimed, stopping
her in her tracks.  "<I don't...  I don't... 'Love' her.  I just...
I mean...>" he began, but words seemed to fail him.
	She turned back to see his face a mix of anguish and 
panic, a circumstance she found pulled at her heart.  "<No, Mu 
Tsu, you need not fear.  I do not think ill of you,>" she assured
anxiously, stepping up to him.  "<In truth, I think you perhaps the
truest, most selfless friend one could ever want.>"
	The smile that lit his face sped her heart.
	"<Yeah.  I guess,>" he stammered, averting his eyes.
"<It's just...  Well, nobody else believes me.  They all think I'm 
an idiot, cause she beats me all the time.  And I can't prove it
cause she'd find out -- and then she'd really get mad,>" he 
added darkly, moving to lean back against the table.  "<So now, 
she don't even try to take me serious,>"
	Yue's heart ached.  The thought of such dedication 
touched her deeply, but at the same time angered her slightly.  
In doing what he was doing, he was losing out on any chance of
claiming his own future.
	She decided it was high time that situation changed.
	Without a thought to propriety, she reached out and took
his hand.  "<You have been a wonderful friend and protector, Mu 
Tsu.  But do you not think the time has come...  For you to
live your life...  For you?>" she asked, meeting his widened eyes.
"<I love Lin more than I would a sister...  I also want nothing but 
the best for her.  But, I cannot endure the thought that even to this
date, you endure a disgrace solely for her benefit,>" she stated, 
looking up at him beseechingly.
	He looked back at her for a long moment, his mouth opening
as if to respond.  Instead, his face softened and his mouth closed,
followed by a long sigh.  His eyes then closed, and he lowered
his face.
	"<Yeah...  Maybe you're right,>" he stated, smiling back 
as his hand settled over hers.




====================================================================
END - Yue - Part Five   		A Ranma1/2 Fanfic by Coutuva

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