Both of them left the campsite and went looking for their friend. 
Fortunately, Ryouga wasn't *too* lost. It only took them half an hour 
to find him. Once they all returned to the campsite, Akane began to 
serve lunch. 

This, was undoubtedly the hardest part of the training as much as for 
Ryouga as for Terry. Both of them tried hard in hiding their disgusted 
expressions, they did care for Akane and didn't want to hurt her feelings. 

After lunch was over, Akane left for home, leaving her friends behind 
since they still wanted to train.

"Can you move?" Terry asked Ryouga.

"My stomach is killing me." Ryouga responded "But I'll manage. How 
are you feeling?"

"I'm not sure..." Terry stated "Just give me some time."

A couple of minutes later, both of them were almost walking again. 
Ryouga seamed less affected by Akane's food. This was due either by 
his exceptional endurance or by the fact that he got a little more 
used to Akane's cooking than Terry.

"Ryouga, can I ask you something?" Terry began.

"What is it?"

"How long do you plan to keep this up?" he asked "Your secret with 
Akane that is."

"Until I find a cure." Ryouga answered "Then I'll finally be able to 
tell her how I feel."

"I've been asking myself some questions about all of this..." Terry 
continued "I mean, don't take this the wrong way, but Akane is 
already engaged isn't she?"

"Against her will!" Ryouga added "Ranma doesn't deserve her! He 
always  makes fun of her, he insults her and on top of all that, he 
always hangs around other women!"

"I don't know Ryouga." he said "Have you ever thought about your 
options?"

"My options?"

"Yes, your options." he repeated "What if things didn't go as you 
planned them? What if Akane actually did liked Ranma? What would you 
do then?"

"Why are you asking?" Ryouga asked "Did Akane tell you something 
while I was out for wood?" there was tone of worry in his voice.

"Don't start to panic, Ryouga." Terry told him "She didn't tell me a 
thing. What I'm trying to say here is that everyone in Nerima is 
after someone. I think you know the plot a whole lot better than me. 
What I'm asking you is quite simple. Let's say Ranma finally decided 
to pick a fiancee. If it was Ukyou or Shampoo, there wouldn't be any 
trouble for you. You'd get a free route towards Akane. But what if 
Akane loved Ranma and vice versa? What would you be doing then?"

"I... I don't know." he admitted "I never actually thought about 
that. Do you think that Akane could fall for Ranma?"

"I wouldn't know for sure." Terry declared "But you've got a lot of 
competition in this fight. I think you should consider the 
possibilities. I'm not saying you should give up. But if things turn 
out to your disadvantage you should know how to confront them. 
There's no point in staying shattered over this if you lost. I don't 
know, there might be other women for you."

"Why are you telling me all of this?"

"I don't know..." he confessed "Maybe it's because I don't want you 
to end up like me."

"What are you talking about? You don't have the same problem with 
girls that I do!" Ryouga pointed out "From what I've heard, you're 
quite a popular in Nerima."

"<humph> Yeah, right! What good is it going to do me if all my 
girlfriends end up dead." Terry stated "You see, that's the problem 
with me. I can't get over it. I never knew how to deal with the 
loss."

"Sorry for bringing that out." he declared "I didn't meant to..."

"Hey, don't feel sorry for me." Terry interrupted "The point of this 
is you don't end up like me if you can't get Akane. Maybe that's why 
I'm turning this into a psychoanalytic analysis... I don't know, 
maybe I'm the one who needs a head shrinker. Let's change subject."

"Whatever you say." Ryouga accepted "So, are you ready to learn the 
Bakusai Tenketsu?"

"I'm not sure if I can move." Terry answered "Not after what Akane 
fed us with."

"Don't worry." Ryouga pointed out "You'd hardly have to move to learn 
the technique."

Moments later, we see Terry hanging from a rope while being 
completely tied up in a sitting position a couple of yards above the 
ground. His right arm is the only thing he has free. His hand however 
is also tied up leaving only his index finger out. 

In front of him, about ten yards away, Ryouga is standing on a branch 
while holding a huge bolder which is tied up as if it was a pendulum. 

"Er... Ryouga are you sure about this??" Terry asked him rather 
nervous "You're not doing this to get back at me for making you fight 
in front of Akane while using the sponges... are you?"

"Don't worry Terry." Ryouga told him "I'm not holding that against 
you. This is the proper way to learn the technique. Ready or not, 
here it comes!!" as he released the rock.

"Oh boy." 


Later, we see Terry applying several bandages all over his body. 
Ryouga is sitting next to him with the first aid kit. 

"Not bad." Ryouga declared "You're learning fast. Faster than I did 
though."

"Ryouga, what kind of lunatic taught you this technique by throwing 
rocks at your face??" Terry asked. 

"Shampoo's great-grandmother." 

"No kidding." he said "Anyway, I think that's enough training for 
today." as he got up "I'll see you next week okay?"

"Sure!" Ryouga stated as he stood up also "And thanks for helping me 
out. I really appreciated that."

"Hey, no problem." Terry declared "I'm learning too. Just be sure to 
improve your defense next week or I'll have to call Akane again."

"Trust me, I won't lose my focus." Ryouga told him "I think I learned 
a lot today."

"I'm glad to hear that."

"And one more thing, Terry..." Ryouga added "Thanks for talking to me 
earlier. I don't get to talk much with someone while I'm wandering on 
the road alone."

"Believe me, I know how that feels." Terry pointed out "I travel a 
lot by myself too."



Hours later, after another hard labor day, Terry steeped inside the 
Nekohanten to grab some dinner. Today had been a long day, especially 
after training with Ryouga. The last wall he had to fix took him a 
lot of time also. But now he could finally rest while enjoying some 
ramen. 

Right now there weren't many customers. Most people ask for take out 
at this hour. That's why probably Mousse and Cologne weren't here 
now. The only one present was Shampoo (This is a technique to enhance 
sales: You keep the good looking employee in the shop while the rest 
take care of the take out. That way, you still get customers even in 
the slow part of the day). Terry took a seat and was attended to 
quickly by Shampoo, she wasn't looking very happy though. 

"Nihao." she said handing over the menu.

"Good evening, Shampoo." Terry said back "I think I'll take the 
usual."

Shampoo left back inside the kitchen without saying a word. Her mood 
was quite noticeable by her customer. If he didn't knew better, he'd 
thought she was upset at him. 

Moments later, Shampoo stepped out side the kitchen with Terry's order 
and put it on his table without the usual spark she had while doing her 
job.

"Shampoo... " Terry began "Is there something wrong? You look upset?"

"Terry should know why!" she declared.

"I should?" he asked "Why?"

"Terry has been in Nerima for one month now." she told him "Terry has 
fought Airen, Pig boy, Old pervert, Stupid spatula girl, Violent 
tomboy and even Stupid Mousse!! But you no fight Shampoo!! You think 
Shampoo no good fighter??"

"Wait a minute..." Terry stated "You think the reason I haven't 
challenged you is because I think you're not worthy??" Shampoo 
nodded at him in response "Well that's not it. I think you're a great 
martial artist for what I've seen and been told about."

"Then why you no challenge Shampoo?" she asked.

"Don't take this the wrong way Shampoo." he explained "But if I fight 
you, I might win. And if that happens, I'll have too marry you. I'm 
not saying you're not worth marrying, but I don't feel like getting 
engaged like that. If I fought you with the intention of loosing, it 
wouldn't be an honorable fight, now would it?"

"That is only thing stopping you?"

"Well, marriage isn't something I take lightly." Terry responded.

"Then problem is solved." she stated "You can't marry Shampoo even if 
you win."

"Really? How come?" he asked

"Shampoo already engaged to Ranma!" she declared "Chinese Amazon laws 
say no one can have more than one husband. Amazons no like polygamy. 
Since Shampoo engaged to Ranma, it no matter if you win fight. It no 
counts."

"Is that so? Well in that case," Terry began "I'm whiling to fight 
you whenever you feel like it."

"We fight after Nekohanten close! Is okay?"

"Today?? [Aww, man!!]" he asked. It's been a long day. A long and 
tiring day. But Terry owed Shampoo a decent match, or at least he 
felt like he did. He still had enough strength to fight before 
going to sleep, but he was really hoping for a peaceful evening. 
"<sigh> Okay..."

It was almost eight o'clock, since there weren't any customers left, 
Shampoo closed up early to start the match she was so eager with. She 
was after all, the strongest teenage member of her tribe. She was 
beginning to think that Terry was underestimating her so far because 
he never challenged her. But now, she was finally going to fight him 
and show him what great warrior she was. 

Both of them stepped into the store's garden to go on with the match. 
They took each a fighting stance and began...

About an hour later, Cologne is seen walking (or hopping) towards the 
Nekohanten. The last delivery of the day was done and there was 
nothing left for her to do but going back home for a good night's 
rest. She lost Mousse on the way back which didn't actually surprised 
her much. Mousse sight was as bad as Ryouga's sense of direction. As 
a matter of fact, Mousse got lost as often as Ryouga because of his 
pseudo-blindness (only he always found his way faster than Ryouga!). 

Once she reached the restaurant, she couldn't help noticing that the 
place had closed earlier. Usually, Shampoo waited for her and Mousse 
to come back before closing. As she stepped inside the door she saw 
Shampoo and Terry sitting on a chair each one putting on... bandages. 

Right now, Shampoo was looking more wounded. Terry tried to do this 
as fast and swift as possible, but it wasn't an easy fight. Shampoo 
was no pushover and certainly didn't gave him an easy victory.

"What happen here?" Cologne asked, although she already knew the 
answer.

"Not much." Terry responded "We just had a match. Sorry if we had you 
worried."

"A match is it?" she asked again "And who won that match?"

"Terry won." Shampoo declared a little annoyed for accepting her 
defeat.

"I didn't won easily though." Terry pointed out, then he addressed to 
Cologne "You sure trained her well. Congratulations."

"Yes, I'd like to think so." she stated "But that is not the main 
issue here. You defeated Shampoo, that means you must now marry her 
according to our Amazon laws."

"But, great-grandmother!" Shampoo interrupted "According to chapter 4 
entry G, no amazon can have two husbands. Terry no exception."

"Yes child, you're right," Cologne affirmed "but you're forgetting 
about Chapter 5 entry B. It clearly specifies that when two outsiders 
defeat the same amazon, both of them must fight each other to 
determine who may the rightful husband be."

"Excuse me..." Terry interrupted a little nervous "What exactly are 
you getting at??"

"It's quite simple." Cologne explained "Ranma defeated Shampoo, 
which made him Shampoo's future husband. But you, Terry Bogard, have 
defeated Shampoo *and* Ranma as well. Therefore, by defeating your 
opponent you became the undisputed NEW future husband for Shampoo."

"WWWHHHHAAAAAAAAAAATTTTTTTTT??????????" shouted both. 

"This is truly a happy day." Cologne added "The Hakkyokuseiken and 
the tribe of Jusenkyou have finally merged in one, after all this 
years."

"W... w... w... wait a minute!!!" Terry spoke "This is exactly the 
reason I didn't want to fight Shampoo in the first place! I thought 
I couldn't be affected by these rules!!"

"Terry, right!!" Shampoo completed "Terry no beat Ranma officially, 
Ranma still conscious at end of fight!"

"Anyone will tell you Ranma lost the match that day!" Cologne pointed 
out "That's enough proof for the Amazon laws to take action on 
Terry."

"Hold it just one minute!" Terry declared disturbed "I'm NOT getting 
married! Amazon laws or not, I won't be a part of this!! I'm staying 
single for the time being and that's how it's going to be!!"

"The problem is you have no choice." Cologne told him "The Amazon 
laws are very specific about this. You don't need to be so troubled 
about the matter. This is going to be fantastic. The children you'll 
have with Shampoo will be strong and will strengthen the Amazon 
bloodline even more. I'm sure that Shampoo will be the perfect wife 
for you."

"THAT'S NOT THE POINT!!!" Terry shouted, he then tried to gain back 
his cool "Can I see that book? I have to see this with my own eyes."

Cologne handed him the book. Fortunately, there was a Japanese 
translation inside which made things easier for him to understand. 

Meanwhile, inside the kitchen, Shampoo was discussing the situation 
with her great-grandmother. She wasn't too happy about the situation 
either. How could she? She was Ranma's bride, not Terry's! She had to 
find a way out of this mess.

"Great-grandmother!" she began "Shampoo no want to marry Terry! 
Shampoo marry Ranma! Shampoo wants to be Ranma's bride!"

"Calm down child." Cologne ordered "There's nothing you can do about 
this. We must obey the rules. The only thing you can do about this is 
taking the best out of it. Terry is a formidable warrior, and I'm 
sure he'll make a wonderful husband. You even told me once you thought 
he was very handsome. Don't tell me you've changed your mind about 
that."

"No... er... That not the point... Shampoo no..." she said, although 
she couldn't keep herself from blushing. Cologne obviously noticed 
this.

"Now, now child..." she continued "Having Terry as your husband will 
benefit us all. He's not in so many troubles as Ranma, and he's a 
great martial arts master. I'm sure you'll be happy with him, I 
wouldn't let thing go this way if I knew he wasn't worth it."

Shampoo sighed, there wasn't much she could do to avoid this now, the 
amazon rules were very specific and she had no choice but to follow 
them. It was about now that she began to feel a certain hatred 
towards her rules. But she couldn't put them aside. Those rules had 
ensured the amazon way of life for centuries. Who was she to go 
against them?

She loomed up in the dinning room and took a look at Terry who was 
frenetically turning the book's pages. She had to admit Terry was far 
from unattractive, she couldn't help staring at him from time to time 
ever since he got here. But how could she just forget about Ranma? 
Ranma was the man she had fallen for. She couldn't just give up on 
him. It would be like admitting her loss in front of Ukyou, Kodachi 
and Akane.

Terry checked the laws a second time. So far, he didn't find anything 
that could help balling him out of this mess. He took off his cap and 
passed the palm of his hand over his forehead. 

This was a nightmare. 

The problem wasn't Shampoo. She was after all a very attractive girl 
and very sweet in her own way. But Terry couldn't just marry her like 
that. This wasn't right. It was even stupid to get hitched to someone 
this way. He still didn't get over losing Sulia, and marriage 
certainly wasn't going to make things easier on him.

[Why me? Why me?] he asked himself while putting his hands over his 
face [Of all the places for something like this to happen... What are 
actually the odds of something like this happening to someone? I bet 
this kind of stuff only happens in China... Wait!]

"That's it!!!" Terry stated triumphant. He then began to search 
something at the front page of the book. Not finding it, he then 
looked at the end of the book. Cologne and Shampoo came out of the 
kitchen after hearing Terry's statement.

"You find something?" Shampoo asked with new hope.

"Yes, I have!" he responded "I'm off the hook! And so are you!"

"That's impossible!" Cologne declared "Our laws have been written 
with great precession. There can't be a way for you to avoid them."

"Yes, there is!" Terry explained very sure of himself "You see, it's 
quite simple. These laws haven't been approved by the United Nations. 
Therefore, your laws have effect *only* on amazon territory. Since 
we're in Japan, the amazon laws have no effect on me!"

"Haiya! Is true!" Shampoo added. 

Cologne narrowed her eyes. How could something so simple had slipped 
her mind. Terry was definitively off the hook. But what worried her 
the most were the consequences that this discovery was going to cost 
her.
Terry took his cap in one hand and prepared to leave. He was standing 
in front of Shampoo now.

"Well, it looks like our wedding is off." he spoke "I hope we can 
still be friends without being engaged."

"Sure!" said Shampoo "Shampoo no mind. We still friends, okay?"

Just as Terry was about to put his cap on, Cologne jumped over him 
with a bottle of shampoo number 411 in one hand and a bucket of water 
in the other.

"Xi Fa Xiang Gao Shiatsu technique!" she shouted.

Terry didn't get a chance to do much after hearing Cologne's words. 
He suddenly felt as if his brain was turned off after feeling some 
sort of strange substance on his hair. He fell into unconsciousness 
in a matter of seconds.

Moments later, Terry began to open his eyes. He was sitting on a 
chair, he tried to situate himself, he was still in the Nekohanten. 
Cologne and Shampoo were standing in front of him. He felt strange, 
with no unpleasant sensation however. Somehow, he felt strangely... 
refreshed.

"Wh... what happened?" he asked confused.

"You fell unconscious after your fight with Shampoo." Cologne told 
him "Even though you won, I think you were already very tiered. You 
must have been working very hard today. I think it would be best if 
you went home for some rest now."

"I fell unconscious?" he asked. This was strange, he didn't remember 
anything after the match he had with Shampoo. He must have fallen 
unconscious as he was told "Wow! I really must be tiered. I think 
I'll go get some rest. By the way Shampoo, it was a great match. 
It's a good thing you're already engaged to Ranma or you'd be stuck 
with me, hun?"

"Er... yes, good match." she approved a little tipped off "Good thing 
Ranma is groom."

"Well, I'll be going now, Bye."

"Take care now." Cologne declared as she waved good-bye. After Terry 
dropped out of sight, Shampoo turned her attention towards her 
great-grandmother.

"You want to know why I did it?" Cologne asked her, Shampoo nodded 
in response "It's quite simple. Terry was definitively off the hook. 
But by figuring out that our laws had no effect in Japan, he might 
have told Ranma about it. And we can't let that happen, can we? 
That's why I erased everything he remembered about this unfortunate 
incident with our laws."

"But I no understand, great-grandmother." Shampoo stated "Why release 
him from amazon rules. You could erase Terry's memory about what he 
found out and force him into marriage after."

"Why do you ask?" Cologne questioned her "Are you felling 
disappointed?"

"N... no!" she responded while blushing "Shampoo not disappointed... 
maybe a little curious of how things might have turned. But not 
disappointed."

"Terry found out about our laws fare and square." she explained "I 
figured that forcing him into marriage wouldn't make him a loving 
relative. And I really don't need such hatred in the family. I prefer 
having Terry as a friend instead of an enemy, although I was really 
hoping that the Hakkyokuseiken and the tribe of Jusenkyou could 
finally be together. Still, I think things are better this way. The 
important thing is that you're still engage to Ranma, and Terry won't 
remember anything about our laws to let Ranma know."

"So no harm done." Shampoo said "We win nothing, we lose nothing."

"Precisely." Cologne confirmed "Although there is one big loss."

"What loss?" she asked.

"We ran out off shampoo formula 411." she explained "Terry sure has 
a lot of hair. I had to use the entire bottle to do the Xi Fa Xiang 
Gao Shiatsu technique on him."

Meanwhile, on the streets of Nerima:

[Gee, My hair is really soft and silky today.] Terry thought as he 
ran his fingers through his pony tail [I don't remember my hair 
being this well earlier, especially after all the sweating I've been 
through this day.]


Around midnight, everyone was sleeping. Everyone except Ranma 
Saotome. He was standing in the middle of the dojo as he usually does 
while there's something going through his mind. A lot of things 
happened today. The events he went trough today repeated themselves 
in his head again and again.

It all started around lunch time, Akane received a phone call from 
Terry. He was ASKING her to fix him lunch. That was strange enough 
to catch his attention. 

Why on earth would Terry do such a stupid thing as asking Akane to 
cook him some of her toxic stew? 

It didn't made any sense! 
It only helped in increasing Ranma's curiosity; not that he was worried 
for Akane or anything like that (or so he says.). But he just had to 
find out what was Terry really after. That's why he followed Akane to 
the woods. He was very cautious in not letting her know he was 
following her. 

Once he reached the woods, another big question appeared. 
What on earth was Terry doing with Ryouga? 
They were training. It was quite obvious. How could Terry do this to him? 
Training someone like Ryouga to get better! Training HIM!!! As if he 
didn't have enough things to worry about already! 

Words couldn't describe how offended not to mention betrayed he felt at 
that moment. 

Normally, he would've reveled himself in front of everyone ready to 
punch Terry into another life time. But he didn't do it. Instead, he 
watched them from the shadows awaiting for the proper time to show 
up. Since he had to conceal himself not to be spotted, he couldn't 
hear what did Terry talked about with Akane and then with Ryouga. 
Although it didn't seam like they were talking about training or even 
martial arts. 

Time went on, and Ranma kept unseen, Terry and Ryouga were saying 
good-bye after trying out the Bakusai Tenketsu. Ryouga left towards 
*Only God knows where*, but Terry remained inside the forest until 
his friend dropped out of sight. He then turned to where Ranma was 
hiding.

"You can come out now, Ranma." he said.

He steeped out of the bushes, he really wasn't looking happy. Terry 
kept his cool though.

"You really have some nerve!" he told him "And here I thought you 
were my friend!"

"I'd really like to think I still am." Terry declared.

"You sure have one strange way to show it!" he pointed out still 
angry "Training Ryouga is not the best way to prove it!"

"I'm training *with* Ryouga." Terry rephrased "We're just exchanging 
techniques."

"Don't play dumb with me!" Ranma stated "You told us both you weren't 
going to tell us how to do the Sen Puu Ken. But now you're training 
Ryouga behind my back! You're nothing but a liar!"

"I'm not telling him how to do the Sen Puu Ken." Terry pointed out 
"And I never lied to you about anything."

"Shut up!"

Ranma threw himself towards Terry charging a punch. Terry dodged it 
and grabbed his fist. He then sent Ranma's hand back at him as a sign 
of not wanting to use violence.

"For once try to listen at me first instead of jumping to conclusions, 
Ranma!" Terry ordered "I don't want to fight over something this 
silly."

"Okay, Speak up!" Ranma spat.

"The reason I'm training Ryouga is for your own good." he explain.

"<humph>... I'd really like to know what is your definition of 
*good*!"

"I won't be staying in Nerima forever, Ranma." Terry began "But that 
doesn't mean you have to stop training just because you won't be able 
to fight me anymore. Being a martial artist is not a part time job. 
I couldn't agree more with your dad about that and I think you know 
that better than anyone."

"So what's your point!" 

"The reason I'm training Ryouga," he continued "beyond the fact that 
I'm interested in some of his techniques, is to leave you with a 
worthy adversary while I'm gone. Call this a sort of gift. A reminder 
that you have to train constantly."

"What?" Ranma asked being more confused than angry at the moment.

"If Ryouga gets any stronger, you'll have to do the same thing." 
Terry added "So don't disappoint me. I'm still going to train while 
I travel around the world. And the day I come back to Nerima I'll be 
expecting to fight you again. I don't want to find out you became 
careless during a fight. That's why I'm giving Ryouga some pointers 
to keep *you* in shape while I'm gone."

"But why Ryouga?" he asked "Of all people, why him?"

"Hey, let's face it!" Terry explained "He's the one who cost you more 
problems ever since you got here. I'm sure he's a perfect adversary 
for you. Kuno is pathetic and Mousse spends more time after Shampoo 
than fighting you. Besides, I kinda like Ryouga. He reminds me of 
myself when I was younger."

"You were like Ryouga??"

"More or less." he said "Anyway, what I'm trying to say here is that 
you still have to train. So if you don't want to lose, I'd start 
taking things more seriously if I were you."

Those were his final words before he left the woods. 

Ever since that moment, Ranma has been thinking of what Terry told 
him. He was really looking for a rematch against Terry since their 
last fight, in which he so ridiculously lost. 
But now he wasn't so sure. What was the point in challenging him if he 
didn't train first to make sure he was going to win? 

Ryouga was certainly going to challenge him after training with Terry. 
The only difference was that Ryouga *was* training. And he certainly 
wasn't going to be so easy to deal with as before. That's why Ranma 
was up till now. He had to find something that could overtake Ryouga. 

The Sen Puu Ken. 

Even if Terry refused to let out the secret, he had to learn how he 
did it. He tried to remember the pose Terry used...


End of chapter 5
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

See you in chapter 6...