Just barely catching itself from a faltering step, the cloaked figure braced itself against the trunk of a tree, and only gave a briefest of pause to survey

the environment. Even this momentary stop ran against the figure's instincts; the nagging, incessant, and insistent voice in the back of the mind that demanded flight

from the danger it had been running from for a fortnight. But for the moment, prudence won over the panic was all encompassing. It seemed clear, but the figure knew

better after such an arduous run from China to Japan, that appearances were best used to deceive.

Taking a few more steps, the lack sleep, constant movement, and nary time to find proper sustenance took its toll, forcing the weary woman to collapse to

her hands and knees. Never had it allowed itself to be so low on energy to the point of feebleness. The figure knew it could never show weakness before, at any time.

"Heh, even after all that running, you're still where we want you!"

The cloaked figure found the energy in its shock to turn and look at the two figures that stood over, "No..."

"Prone with that yaun bouncing ass in the air," the larger of the two figures finished for the first smaller one, while its tongue flicked out, wetting the

owner's lips in savored anticipation.

"Just... no more, please," the fallen refugee gasped, wincing at the feebleness from her own mouth .

"Well if you hadn't forced such a vigorous pursuit, you wouldn't me as tired as you are now, hmm?" The shorter, lithe woman stated; her voice losing its

humor, and replacing it with her impatience.

"Yeah, throat's feeling pretty dry after that last run," the taller, buxom figure stated, grinning ferally, " How about you spread those hot, thick thighs of

yours so I can quench my thirst?"

"Didn't you hear?"

Both figures looked up, just as a foot met with the chest of the larger the two women, sending her careening back through the forest floor beyond sight; a

trail of fallen trees in the body's wake the sign of its passing.

"Who dares?" The shorter one demanded, quickly turning to meet the new threat, only to find the front of her tight fitting shirt gathered in a strong grip.

"You're both girls..." The young man wearing a tiger striped bandanna commented with narrow eyes.

"This is none of your business, pig!" The woman growled, ducking out of her shirt to escape his grasp and avoiding the haymaker punch leveled at her face,

"And be gentle!" After performing several somersaults, stopping several yards away, and waiting for her unbound breasts to stop bouncing (boy were those things a

pain when not pinned down behind a tit wedgie). "Such a barbarian, attempting to pummel a woman!"

"Lady, I'm all for women's equality!" Ryoga shouted, charging after the spry woman with his fist cocked back, "I'm for treating women just like women who

prowl on others like I would a man!" His kicked was ducked under, "While I'm at it, I say women can wear pants, too!" his foot sweep was hopped, "Hell, I even

support intimacy among women! Is it any different from intimacy between men? And what the hell is wrong with two guys kissing each other in public?" The woman used

his outstretched fist to vault over his head and behind him.

"It's disgusting, unnatural, and wrong!" A stoic Japanese businessman stated adamantly, while adjusting his tie.

"Shut up, you," Ryoga insisted, as the rock he threw collided with the outspoken wage slave's temple. "Damn conservatives..."

"I feel for you, sir, I really do," the shorter one of the women that were terrorizing the third quipped, punching Ryoga in the stomach, "It's like a punch

in the STOMACH!"

The fanged boy slid a couple of yards, before smirking, "That felt like foreplay! You don't have the equipment to make me feel it in the gut!" The cursed boy

retaliated with a flying kick, only to have his opponent fade to the side of it, use it as a pole to swing around, and deliver both of her feet into his face. It

wasn't so much the combined momentum of his own velocity and hers meeting at his jaw that shocked him, but the instance it took to pull off such a maneuver, "So...

fast, faster than Ranma... Mint even!" He thought, kicking himself back into stance.

Not sure how much time he would have before the larger one regained consciousness and rejoined the fray, Ryoga removed several bandannas from his forehead,

and began twirling them quickly, "Time to settle this!"

He lobbed them, just as the woman began to rush him. Her eyes went wide, as she began to frantically twist and turn to dodge the obviously sharp projectiles.

Retaliating, she launched several projectiles of her own, intercepting each of the flying bandannas, including the ones boomeranging back at her. "Intriguing

technique," The young woman commented, inspecting one that was pinned to a nearby tree, "I think I'll tie you down and beat the knowledge of that technique out of...

oh bother, he ran off..."

Ryoga ran as fast as he could while carrying the unconscious, pink haired girl in his arms. His brow furrowed, as he tried to recall where he had seen those

women before, and why they were after the woman in his arms. I figured he would get his answers, once he was sure of their escape. If he had bothered to look towards

the Pyramid of Ginza on his left, he may have realized he had enough time to rest.

"Oh, hello!" Kasumi greeted, smiling hospitably towards the short, athletically slender woman, and her muscular, buxom companion, "How may I help you?"

"Oh, we apologize for disturbing you this fine day," the shorter one returned, but we were hoping you may tell us the whereabouts of a young lady, pink hair,

wearing a white cloak, possibly with a fanged young man wearing a bandanna?"

"Oh my, that second one sounds like Ryoga, but neither he nor your friend have been here, I'm afraid."

"Oh, well sorry to bother you again, and thank you for your assistance!" With that, the two turned away.

"My manners! I've kept you here, I could have at least invited you in for a quickie!"

The two, turned, and blinked, before grinning, "I guess a few minutes to sample your hospitality would not hurt...

Kasumi and Doctor Tofu waved good bye to their brief guests, the latter clutching the taller one's panties in his pocket, while the former clutched the pair

she had gotten from the smaller one in her apron pocket, "Well, what a refreshing change of pace," the good doctor commented.

"Oh my, yes it was," Kasumi replied, wiping her mouth with the undergarment she was fondling, "Don't you agree, Wiggly-chan?"

The potted plant rapidly nodded, causing the straps of the large bra entangled in its branches to flop about.

"Ono, dear, you better head back upstairs and put back on the skirt and tube top," Kasumi commanded, "The tofu man should be here for the delivery soon. I'll

be up to tie you down in a sec."

"Okie dokie!" the doctor responded with a salute, before sprinting back upstairs.

"Oh, hello Ryoga!" Kasumi greeted as she answered the door, "I see you have a friend!" She smiled at the rather irate looking young woman standing next to

the chagrinned fanged boy. "Two ladies had come by last week looking for you."

Ryoga's 'friend' ceased glaring at her guide to address the home maker, "Two women? did they say who they were?"

"I'm afraid they didn't," Kasumi stated apologetically, "We were so busy bathing in each others body fluids, we didn't have the opportunity for small talk."

The pink haired young woman stared at Kasumi for a moment, before turning to Ryoga, "They've already been here it seems. Hopefully they will not be back for

some time."

"I'm sorry you missed them," Kasumi blinked before remembering her manners, "Oh, I apologize would you like to come in for some tea?"

The woman nodded, "and if you could, I need to speak to Ranma of a most urgent situation..."

Akane, Ryoga, an even Shampoo fumed, as they glared heatedly at the pink haired woman sitting so familiarly close to Ranma. It wasn't as if none of them know

who she was; in fact, their animosity would be validated on the basis of their last encounter. The truth was, they weren't so much angry with that..."

"Ah, it ain't much a problem, Herb," Ranma boasted, more than happy to help a fellow martial artist and friend.

"I was so scared, I didn't know who to turn to," Princess Herb cooed, as she gently placed her hand on Ranma's forearm. "Then I remember how strong you were,

and that I could count on you!"

"Aw, well, I am pretty strong, and reliable," Ranma gushed, favoring the other cursed female with a confident and roguish smirk that caused the pink haired

girl to swoon.

"I knew you wouldn't let me down! You are the type of hero anyone would fall for!"

"Such," Akane began.

"Shamelessness," Ryoga finished.

"Musk always shameless," Shampoo stated, as her fingers dug tighter into the tearoom table.

"Herb-san, perhaps you could explain your problem?" Dr. Tofu interjected, finding the gushing praise and swelling ego becoming a bit too obnoxious for even

himself. Akane silently mouthed 'thank you' to her family doctor.

"Oh, yes," Herb sat up, almost as if remembering other people were there. The transition from googly eyed, love smitten princess to regal and reserved ruler

of an unheard of nation was instantaneous, "The males of our kingdom are brought up as great warriors, but in order to do so we are long separated from our mothers,

and kept from making contact with any females until it is time for our arranged courtship. Mine had come, yet I knew nothing of the workings of a woman. I felt, if I

were to prove as confident in my capacity to contend with women, I needed to gain some experience. To make contact with the Neichizuu tribe was forbidden, and the

Phoenix Tribe remained elusive, so I had to resort to means more... classical to our people. I had visited the pools of sorrow, specifically the Spring of a drowned

girl. My intention was to bathe a monkey there, and study her habits. Unfortunately, a mishap left me cursed, and locked in this form."

"That is when we met, when I came to Japan to find means of unlocking my curse. The events that followed proved to be enlightening, and I owe it all to you."

The googly eyes were back, and Ranma puffed his chest a bit, "after our... confrontation... whichIamveryveryverysorryfor..." the Prince of the Musk blushed slightly,

"I decided that I needed more research. I... I wanted to understand you, Saotome-san..."

"Are you sure it's prudent to return after our last mishap?" Mint enquired, taking extra care to avoid the pools, even going so far as to slow down to Lime's

speed.

"I don't know if being here is worth seeing fathers," Lime voiced his concern, as his massive frame attempted to tip toe on the narrow pathways between the

small ponds.

"Nonsense," Herb stated, as he calmly strode through the valley of the springs, "We will simply be extra careful, knowing the dangers these waters possess."

He stopped, and pointed ahead of him, "There, that is the one we're looking for."

Both Lime and Mint recognized it at the location of the spring of drowned girl, and walked over to the pool carefully, and stopped far enough to keep

comfortable distance from its cursed water.

"Well?" Herb growled, impatiently.

"My liege, it's just that I, well you see...," Mint began

"What if we fall in?" Lime stated, apprehensive of getting any closer.

"Then you would have your own pair of breasts to play with, and not have to ogle mine at every convenient moment," Herb sighed, "Our task is simple, all you

need to do is gather some samples of the spring in those jars, so that we can begin our experiments outside the valley where it is much safer. Now if you would

please?"

"I would never challenge your decisions, my liege," Mint interjected, "but, considering as you are already cursed, perhaps it would be better if you were to

gather the samples?"

The Prince of the Musk's eyes narrowed, as a corona of pink energy gathered around him, and lifted him off the ground, "Yet, you are challenging my decision.

You think it is for the last descendant of the Dragon line to do such paltry work as gathering water samples?"

"Ah, your point of view is duly noted." With a sigh, Mint and Lime tepidly approached the pool, and began unpacking the glass jars in their backpacks. Herb

moved behind them, unconcerned about the spring of drowned girl at his back. "Good, good, now, be careful, as you said, we wouldn't want one of you to fall in, now

would we?" He stated, while putting his hands on each of their backs.

Mint blinked, and looked over his shoulder at the man he was assigned to bodyguard, "Um, what are you doin-"

The Tendou household shook from the seismic vibrations that were just enough to startle any of the wildlife in the immediate area.

"Perhaps I deserved that..." Princess Herb stated, before pulling her head out of the hole it made in the wood floor.

"YOU. IDIOT!" Ryoga shouted.

"Aiyaa," Shampoo whispered, "Now there three girl type Ranma?"

Ranma calmly sipped his tea and ignored Herb, feeling quite comfortable with his sudden act of violence.

"Oh my," Kasumi stated, "They were quite insatiable."

"I... I could not keep up with them," the Princess began again, "Oh, sure, it was great at first, I mean the sex... boy was it ever-"

"Stupid boygirl stop fantasizing and finish story."

"Know your place, Neichizuu," Herb countered, "Where was I... oh yes, boy, was it ever-! Soon, our love making sessions became soulless, empty sex marathons.

It became too much; they wouldn't even let me pee without participating in water sports... Mint explained that term to me... I needed the rest! I told them I had a

headache, that I had cramps, that I had syphilis, but they didn't care! I had to escape, but they were relentless in their pursuit, and they will not stop until

they find me again!"

Herb's face came intimately close to Ranma's, her eyes glistening with unshed tears, "I'm sorry for betraying you like this, Ranma-kun. If I could, I would

take back it all for your forgiveness; could you ever forgive me?" Ranma was taken back by her large, expressionate eyes. Perhaps the two generous mounds on her

chest that were firmly and strategically pressed against his arms played more a part, but Ranma was speechless.

"Forget it," Ryoga stated, "Ranma isn't going to clean up your mess for you!"

"Pigboy's right!" Akane agreed, though Ryoga glared at her heatedly, nonetheless, "Ranma has his own problems with you bringing yours here!"

"Hey," Ranma interjected, focusing everyone's attention on him, "Herb screwed up, but it's a martial artist's duty to help those in trouble!" Ranma stood up,

clenching his right hand into a fist, "Mint and Lime are out of control, so we best put a stop to them."

Akane and Ryoga favored each other with withering glances, before Ryoga stood up, "Ranma's right, even for the lowliest trollop, a martial artist must lend

their strength!"

Akane quickly stood up, not wanting to be out done by the fanged boy, "It's our duty! Just like Ranma said!"

Shampoo gave her beloved and the bandanna clad boy each a hooded gaze, before pumping her fist at the front of her mouth, and pushing her tongue against her

cheek with the same timing as her fist. She then stood up as Tofu and Kasumi began to snicker, "Fine, Shampoo too help stupid Musk. Because he stupid, and make Ranma

deal with his stupid."

"OOOooh! I knew you wouldn't let me down, Ranma-kun!" Herb squealed, before favoring Ranma with a full fledged hug, and avidly ignored the two growls from

behind her.