(A/N: I was told in two reviews, that I spelled Shampoo's chinese name incorrectly. Instead of Xin Pu as I used, it is Xian Pu. However, instead of going back and making the changes to the previous chapter, I will be just using the correct name in this chapter.)

Chapter Eleven

Having made his way downstairs as the elders requested of him, Ranma paused at the bottom of the stairs and looked around at the empty cafe. He lets out a sigh as his eyes landed upon Mousse coming towards him.

"Saotome, what is going on? The old monkey comes back down here after leading you upstairs, and practicaly drags Shampoo upstairs."

"I'm not sure I can tell you anything, Mousse."

"Has something happened to Shampoo?"

Before Ranma could answer, another voice interrupts. "You should be working, Mr Part-Time."

Turning to face the stairs, Ranma and Mousse finds Khu Lon making her way down, with an item in her hands. Soon as she reaches the bottom of the stairs, Khu Lon turns an angry glare upon Ranma, and forces the item she is holding up to his face. "I hope you are happy with what you have done Ranma!" Looking inside the item shoved into his face, Ranma sees a purple and white cat, and immediately jumps away. "If it wasn't for the fact that the other elders wish to see you once again, I would..." Being overcome by her anger, Khu Lon turns away from him and makes her way towards the kitchen, going inside it a few moments later.

Ranma watched her go, with a slight feeling of guilt. Deciding that he shouldn't keep the other elders waiting, he made his way back over to the stairs and headed up them. A few minutes later he stood before the door to the elders room, and raising his arm he knocked upon the door.

Hearing one of the elders call come in, he opened the door and made his way into the room. "Ah Mr Saotome, I see Khu Lon gave you our message." Ranma slightly nodded but didn't say anything. "If you would please have a seat, we can continue with our meeting."

Leaving the doorway, Ranma closed the door behind himself then made his way over to the chair he had sat in previously. Once there he sat down, and looked towards the three elders. "What was done to Xian Pu?" he asked.

"Xian Pu has been punished for deceiving us, as well as attacking us, Mr Saotome." said Lo Shin.

"How severe is her punishment?"

"That is not something that concerns you, Mr Saotome." said Lo Shin. "What you need to focus on, is the offer we have for you, as an apology for this embarrassing situation caused by not only Xian Pu, but her great grandmother Khu Lon."

"And what are you offering me, exactly?"

"As a form of apology from the village of Joketsuoku and us three elders, we have decided to grant you anything that you want, as long as it is in our ability to give."

"Anything I want?" asked Ranma.

"Anything, Mr Saotome." said Lo Shin. "Wither it be a cure for your curse, or elder status to our village. As long as we three elders are able to give it, it shall be yours."

Ranma was silent for several minutes, as he thought of the things that he could ask for. The three elders watched him without speaking, so as to not rush him. After about thirty minutes, Ranma raised his head and looked directly at Lo Shin. "I want you to..."
-

A few moments after having left Meeka, Azul appeared before the Tendo Dojo with a loud crack and another puff of smoke. Making his way out of the smoke, Azul thought 'They really need to fix how us demons arrive and stuff. That was a little to loud for comfort.' Once the smoke had cleared away, he looked around the room he was in, and found it to be pretty bare, except for a dresser and a couple of futons. 'Guess this is the place, but sheesh does it reek of magic.'

Seeing a door before himself, Azul headed towards it. On reaching it, he waved his hand before the door, and it slid open on it's own accord. Making his way out of the room, he found himself at the end of a fairly long hallway. Making his way down the hall, he soon reached another door. Pausing before the door, he looked over it and saw a name plate upon it, bearing the name Akane. 'Guess I should start here. Would be a lot better though, if Mistress had given more information on what I should look for.'

Sighing to himself, Azul made his way closer to the door. Once there he waved his hand, and just as before the door opened on it's own. Making his way into the room, he began to look around.
-

Close to an hour after leaving her father's office, Meeka looked out of the window next to her and saw that the limo was turning into the hospital's front parking area. A minute or two later, the limo came to a stop, and Meeka reached out her arm so she could open her door. However, before she could place her hand upon the door handle, a soft noise was heard indicating that the doors had been locked. Looking over towards her father, she saw him lowering his hand from the button. "Is something wrong Father?"

"Nothings wrong Meeka."said her father. "I just wanted to talk to you, before we talked to the Tendo's and Nodoka." Lowering her arm back to her side, Meeka sat back in her seat, and waited. "Meeka, why do you have such animosity for the youngest Tendo?"

"What do you mean, Father?"

"Going back to everything that you told me about Miss Tendo hitting Ranma, I have come to a small conclusion that you have a strong dislike for the youngest Tendo. I want to know why?"

"No one deserves to be hit, Father. It's the simple fact that Akane hits Ranma, for the simplest things."

"Correct me if I am wrong Meeka, but didn't you do the exact same thing to Takato-kun?"(1)

Meeka sighed to this. "Once again Father, you bring up something that doesn't involve the current problem. We are talking about Akane and Ranma here, not me."

"You may not wish to see it Meeka, but you and Miss Tendo are pretty alike when it comes to boys."

"I am nothing like her!" Realizing that she had shouted at him, Meeka lowered her head and looked down at the floor. "I'm sorry Father."

Letting out a long sigh, Meeka's father decided to try a different approach. "Meeka, going back to the talk we had at the house, I noticed that everything you told me was one sided, and put Miss Tendo in the bad light per say. Have you took into account, that Ranma might have deserved some of the things that Miss Tendo, did to him?" Meeka shifted a bit in her seat, but didn't say anything. Her father let out another sigh. "I figured as much. Same as it has been before, you have seen only one side of the situation and once again rushed to a conclusion based upon those facts."

Meeka expected him to say more, but instead she heard the sound of the locks being undone, and when she turned to face her father, she found him making his way out of the car. With what her father had said running through her head, Meeka raised her arm and placed her hand upon the door handle. Making her way out of the car a few moments later, she made her way over to stand next to her father. "Father, are you angry with me?"

Turning to face her, he placed his hands upon her shoulders. "No Meeka, I am not angry with you. While I am a bit disappointed that you continue to see only the bad side of people, I can't fault you for it, since you are still pretty young. Now come on, we need to get this taken care of, so you can continue your search for Ranma." Turning away from her, Meeka felt her father place one of his arms across her shoulders, and then began to lead her towards the hospital entrance.
-

Back at the Neko-Hanten, the three elders were in discussion with themselves concerning what it was Ranma had asked of them. After several more minutes of whispering amongst themselves, the three elders turned to face Ranma. "Mr Saotome, I know we promised to give you anything you wanted, but are you absolutely sure that this is what you want? After all, think of everything that she has done to you, over the whole kiss of marriage incident."

"Elder Lo Shin, I don't mean any disrespect towards your decision on how to punish Xian Pu, for her actions. But in your own words, you told me that I could have anything that I wanted as long as you three we're able to give it to me, well this is what I want. And I know that, you are able to give it to me."

Lo Shin sighed and nodded. "Very well Mr Saotome, we will abide by your request and return Xian Pu to her human form."

Ranma got to his feet, and bowed to three of them. "Thank you Elder."

"You're very welcome Mr Saotome." said Lo Shin. "I am still a bit curious though, as to why you are letting Xian Pu off so easily. After all, she has more or less hurt you more then anyone, and is pretty deserving of her punishment."

"Elder Lo Shin, do you know what it is like to be cursed to change into something else?"

"I don't know what it is like myself Mr Saotome, but I have seen enough curses to know, what they are like. Where are you going with this?"

"Elder, it is hard to explain without really having the curse happen to yourself. But since you said you do know what they are like, can you imagine what it would be like, to spend the rest of your life as something totally different then what you was born as?"

"I think I am beginning to see your point Mr Saotome. And as I said, we will abide by your decision and return Xian Pu to her human form. However, because of her actions a punishment is still needed."

Ranma became worried at this. "You won't kill her either."

"Calm down Mr Saotome." Once Ranma seemed to calm down some what, Lo Shin continued. " Since you have voided the original punishment, and killing Xian Pu would most likely bring your wrath upon us, since you voided the first punishment, we have decided that Xian Pu and Khu Lon will be banished from the village. Is this acceptable to you Mr Saotome?" Ranma nodded. "Very well then. Our business with you is concluded and you may leave. We will take care of Xian Pu, and soon return to our village."

Ranma nodded and turning away from the three elders, made his way over to the door that would allow him to leave. On reaching the door, he pulled it open and making his way out of the room, pulled the door closed behind himself.

Once Ranma had left them, the elders partook in a conversation of there own. "It is a real shame that a young man such as Mr Saotome, managed to slip away from us." said Bra Zir.

The other two nodded, but said nothing about the lose.

End of Chapter Eleven