Cat's Eye View: Where Spatula Girl and Cat go from here
By
triviatrap1982
I don't own Ranma ½. It's owned by Rumiko Takahashi
In Nerima...things never were dull. In fact some would say that it would be boring without the martial artists. At the Tendo Dojo, however, Ranma has had enough of the tomfoolery from everybody. Ranma and Akane both realized that they actually liked each other...though it was a love-hate relationship still. It was now to the point where Ranma knew to keep his mouth shut...and Akane would quickly figure out what was going on. Still, as time went on...they realized that though their fathers dropped this on them...and the whole Jusenkyo curse...it was going to be something they'll adapt to. Ranma also had the problem of breaking off all engagements. That would prove to be tough. Genma knew what was happening. He also knew he was at fault for most of the engagements that happened to Ranma when he was a kid. This also included Ukyo's father...which he screwed up badly. Genma also was being pressured by his wife, Nodoka, to do so. At this point, she did re-adjust her idea of manliness.
"Well...what are you going to do?" Genma asked Ranma.
"Hey...I'm only concerned about the local ones," Ranma spat. "You're responsible for everything else."
"That's cold," Genma said.
"While you're screwing around," Ranma said. "I decided to get everybody here for my decision."
"He's got a point," Soun said, taking a drag from his cigarette.
"I got some phone calls to make...I can't have no more than..." Genma started.
"I'll get you a pre-paid phone card," Soun said...with his aura warning Genma he'll get punished.
"Relax they're local calls!" Genma protested. "Besides, I have sent out letters to those outside of Japan...and outside of the local area."
"Good," Soun said, "I didn't want to get unfriendly."
Genma made the calls. Of course he had some very angry responses. Many of which asked him why he would sell his son's life for a fish, rice, and two pickles. After all that was done, he read some of the return mail. It was the same thing. Except for one where he had to burn. That one wasn't in his best interests to be read. The fiancée squad came by and they were surprised. Cologne she knew what was going to happen. She knew somebody was going to get hurt. She also knew that if Shampoo was the one who was going to get hurt...she would have to console her. She hopped in and she spoke up to Ranma. She knew the score before he even opened his mouth.
"You're aware of the consequences of your actions today, right?" Cologne asked ominously.
"I am," Ranma answered. He felt like a man about to go to the firing squad either way.
"Whatever happens," Cologne started, "I will support you 100%"
"What do you mean?" Kodachi asked.
"It's quite simple," Cologne said. "He's going to make his stand here and now."
"What he's going to make his choice?!" Ukyo cried in surprise.
"Yes...and you'd do well to abide by the decision," Cologne warned.
"I understand," Shampoo said softly.
"To be perfectly honest, I don't blame him for making his stand," Cologne spoke up.
That got all of the girls thinking if they made the right decisions concerning Ranma. They all started to second guess themselves. After all, they tried to be his only one. Kodachi with trying to blackmail him with embarrassing photos, if he didn't eat her home baked cookies. Ukyo...she has had some very twisted fantasies about Ranma leaving behind the arts to become he partner in life, and in business. Shampoo she was visibly cringing when she remembered the read threat of fate. Akane was thinking about her own misconduct. However, she's been trying to rectify the situation. That was something that Ranma was finding her trying to make right...something refreshing. He has been making right with everybody...if he could. Still, that was met with some very violent reactions. Kodachi's brother, Kuno came in and he was angry. Ryoga just happened to walk in going the wrong way. Mousse was just there. He sat quietly. Ranma looked over to see if he was alright.
"Mousse, do you need anything?" Ranma asked.
"No," Mousse answered quickly, "I'm good!"
"Mousse, don't be rude to your host," Cologne snapped.
"I just don't want to say anything out of line," Mousse said nervously.
"That's reasonable," the elder sighed.
"Let's get on with it," Shampoo demanded.
"Right, let's not waste time," Ukyo backed up.
"Alright," Ranma said with a sigh. "I've done actually a lot of thinking...and I do actually have to choose a girl."
"Oh...that's serious," Kodachi said freezing.
"It is," Ranma said. "In fact I was thinking about who I want to be with the most."
'Don't get too excited,' Mousse thought. 'You're going to get rejected, Shampoo.'
'Well...if he doesn't select Akane...' Ryoga and Kuno thought.
'Well here goes,' Ranma thought...then he spoke up aloud. "I pick Akane."
The room went silent. Ranma prepared for the shit storm that was going to happen. He looked over to a very stunned Akane. She didn't know what to do. Kodachi she hung her head in shame. She knew she had been beat. However, Shampoo ran out crying, as Ukyo ran after her. Cologne knew what was going on. She did, before she left hit Kuno and Ryoga upside the head with her staff. She knew what nasty thoughts they were thinking...and she was having none of it. Mousse spoke up and bowed.
"Ranma," Mousse said, "you are a better man than I am."
"Why do you say that?" Ranma asked.
"I wouldn't have had the balls to let down multiple women like that...and that wasn't even gentle either," Mousse answered.
"Trust me...this wasn't an easy choice at all," Ranma returned.
"Ranma...I'm going to be in my room to think," Akane said.
"I'll give you some time to think," Ranma said. "I don't think..."
"Thank you," Akane said kissing Ranma on his forehead, "I'm stunned but I'm proud of you."
"Hey...I'll see about consoling Ukyo and Shampoo," Mousse said.
"Actually...you better leave that to me," Ranma said grimly. "Trust me...it's for the best."
"Be careful, man," Mousse warned. "Shampoo is quite vengeful...and Ukyo may well finish the job she started when she first met you."
That warning gave Ranma a chill up his spine, as he went to make right with Ukyo and Shampoo. They have in fact become his friends. However, he's considered Ukyo more of a friend than a fiancée. He really didn't have any romantic feelings towards her at all. Shampoo, it was the same feeling. He really prepared himself for certain death for sure. It was something he was used to by now. Then again, he was used to being chased by damn near the entire town...so this wasn't exactly new for him. He arrived at Ukyo's place. She closed it down to go comfort Shampoo. He knew exactly where to go. When he got there, Cologne was there. She decided not to mess with him. However, even at her advanced age of 300 years old...she could tell what he was up to. He wanted to make right.
"You probably should go home," Cologne said.
"I came to make right," Ranma said.
"I know...however...this is a lesson Shampoo needs to learn on her own," she warned.
"You're telling me I'm going to have an angry Amazon and spatula girl trying to kill me...and there's not a damned thing I can do?"
"There is," Cologne said. "You need to give them space."
"I'm supposed I won't be welcomed for the next however long," Ranma said realizing how hard it was going to be.
"I wouldn't say it would be forever, just for a day or two."
"I hope so..." Ranma said. "Mousse was the one who suggest I do this."
"He did, did he?" Cologne asked seriously.
"I did," Mousse answered. He knew he had to be honest. "It was the best thing I could do without pissing people off."
"Mousse, what's the matter with you child?" Cologne asked. "You've been acting down all day today!"
"I know...I just feel like Ranma had put everything on the line today," Mousse said. "Honestly...I'm not exactly sure what's going to happen next."
"I understand," Cologne said. "Ranma, go home...Mousse, you get ready for work...you'll be doing Shampoo's deliveries today."
The two did what they were told. Ranma walked home quite slowly. He really didn't know how things were going to turn out. In fact, he jumped to the conclusion that he was going to have hell to pay from Ukyo, Shampoo, Kodachi, or all three. He arrived home after about fifteen minutes. Akane was waiting for him. She knew what was on his mind. She actually first thought things through. Ranma's biggest complaint against her was that she acted before she got all of the facts. She was going to strive to change.
"Well...how did it go?" Akane asked concerned.
"I didn't even get past the door...Cologne warned me it would be a bad idea," Ranma said.
"Well...that's probably for the best," Akane said. "Still...I don't want this hanging over you."
"I will at least have to face Ukyo tomorrow at school," Ranma reminded.
Akane nodded, and she knew what Ranma wanted to do. She couldn't blame him for wanting to not have to deal with this now. She still wished there was more they could do. She realized that this was actually very emotional. Meanwhile, at the apartment above the Cat Café...Shampoo's eyes were red from the crying she's done. Ukyo tried her best to calm her down. She too was hurt, but she realized that she would have been anyway had the result been different. She also realized one other thing...she had been beyond selfish when it came to Ranma's wants and needs. She spoke up. She looked down at the very sad, purple-haired amazon.
"Shampoo...we'll be okay," Ukyo reassured.
"Are you sure...or am I going to get hurt again?" Shampoo asked bluntly.
"I don't know," Ukyo answered honestly. "I realized that Ranma was put in a very difficult position."
Shampoo bit her tongue. She wanted to say something very rude, but she kept it to herself. She knew that despite the thick floor and ceiling...Cologne had decent hearing for a woman her age.
"Is there anything on your mind?" Ukyo asked.
"Ranma is a jerk!" Shampoo hissed.
"Listen...we can't hurt him physically," Ukyo said. "Think about it...had he chose any others but you...you'd still be hurt."
"Wait...what does that mean?" Shampoo asked confused.
"He was going to hurt at least three of us," Ukyo answered. "If he chose me or Kodachi...the result would have been the same."
"What if he chose you, or Kodachi?" Shampoo asked.
"I'd still be hurt...but I got to accept...I've been pretty damned selfish."
"I was selfish too, then?"
"The red thread of fate didn't help your case at all," Ukyo answered bluntly.
Shampoo sighed, and she held Ukyo close. Shampoo wanted security, she also wanted intimacy. Ukyo wanted the same thing. They were quite for a while. Cologne couldn't come up and see what they were up too, since they were busy. Shampoo cleaned her face and decided she had to go to work. It was the only thing that would make her sane. Ukyo knew that much. She left Shampoo, and went back to her own place. She really hated to have to close down. She was very much ready for the dinner rush. She was thinking of one thing...where would she and Shampoo go from here? She had actually had to really think that through. Ukyo did sigh when she was in the back. She really had liked to hold Shampoo. She probably would invite her over to talk, and see where things go from here. It was a long shot, but it was for the sake of moving on, and letting Ranma know he wasn't at fault this time.