Shampoo looked over her shoulder at the coming bus. The bus whizzed past. She took off after it. Running in a sleek black pinstripe business suit, purple hair flailing behind her, she pumped her arms, briefcase in hand. Shampoo adjusted her glasses and leaped suddenly. She reached with her free arm to grab the bus. She caught ahold and hung on, inching her way to the door. She pried it open, holding her briefcase in her teeth. She fell into the bus, yet almost immediately regained her composure, stood up, and dusted herself off.
"How'd I do Bernie?" She called out to the bus driver in perfect English. The whole bus was used to the whole procedure by now. The old women never faltered in their gossip, and the homeless guy in the back never woke up.
"Better than yesterday Shampoo. Only 30 seconds. Getting better everyday." The old scruffy man called from the front of the bus.
"Good, good." Shampoo murmured to herself.
"Here's your stop." the man called to Shampoo, "Have a good one."
"Everyday's a good one!" Shampoo called to her old friend as she stepped off the bus in a carefree manner. She whipped out her keys and pressed a little black button.
"Whoop whoop." she disabled the alarm on her car and stepped in. She stuck the key in the ignition, threw her briefcase in the back seat and drove to work.
"Enough speed training, time for work."
"You can't fire me! I'm the backbone of this company! How dare you! I'm more experienced than you! I should have your job! I should be the one firing YOU!" Shampoo yelled at her boss, or rather, the boss's 20 year-old son, Greg, who had been left in charge.
"Ooooh, Shampoo! You're so sexy when you're mad! And I'm not that young! Only five years between us! And, it wasn't my choice, if it was my choice... Shampoo, oh... I'd cover you in chocolate and eat you like a bon-bon! But, baby, it's either this or be relocated to the company's Japanese branch. And I, oh, I could keep you here in America, babe, just do what I want. And I know you know what I want." Greg stood up and walked over to Shampoo who was standing. He put his hands around her waist and began feeling up and down her thighs.
"Japanese branch, Greg? Oooooh, tell me where..." Shampoo asked in mock enjoyment.
"Somewhere called Nerima... But, that doesn't matter..." Greg said and put his hand under Shampoo's skirt.
"Thanks that's exactly the assignment I'll be doing." Shampoo said and flipped Greg by his arm over her shoulder, onto his back. Shampoo stood over his face and looked down.
"What we had was enjoyable while it lasted. But you know our marriage was annulled. Now take one last good look cause I'm going to Japan."
"Shampoo, I miss you." Greg said, dazed.
"You'll get over it." Shampoo said uncaringly and kicked Greg in the face, knocking him out. She walked confidently out of the office. She had to stop herself from skipping. She was going to Nerima!
With the plane ride over, Shampoo got her luggage, despite many offers from young guys, by herself and began to make her way out of the airport. She had gotten out of the building as quick as possible to avoid Greg when he came to. She had driven home and asked the landlord to let her move out that day. At first he had refused, but with Shampoo's feminine 'charm' he let her do what she wanted.
It was unusually hot in Nerima by the time Shampoo got there. She had decided to walk instead of taking one of the many rides offered to her. She wanted to do things on her own. No man would cloud her vision. Everyday since the day she had left Nerima nine years ago, she had thought of her Airen, Ranma. But, thinking she had moved on, she found Greg, who obviously only married her for what she could do to him. Soon after, Shampoo realized that she'd never be happy until she had him, her Airen, Ranma Saotome. Yet another car slowed down when it neared Shampoo. In the driver's side sat a man who honked when he passed Shampoo. She smiled and waved him away, used to the attention. And really, it was no wonder. Shampoo obviously had a great figure: curvy hips, ample bosom, long purple hair, which seemed to make American men go crazy. When in the states, she had bought all new clothes, instead of the old threads she used to wear. Today, she wore a midriff lilac shirt, and over it a cropped Jean jacket. She wore extremely short jeans shorts. She had on a pair of lilac tennis shoes matching her top and dangling earrings with a purple cat on them, symbolic of her curse.
She neared the familiar lane. She was sure someone at the Cat Cafe would be pleased to see her.
Shampoo entered the door. The old restaurant seemed... different. Bells on the inside jangled as she and her luggage walked inside.
"NIHAO!" Shampoo called out in her usual greeting. A woman entered the room from the kitchen.
"Oh! A customer! What can I do for you today?" The woman asked kindly.
"I'm looking for someone. Is Cologne here? You know an old woman, about yea high?" Shampoo said motioning with her hands at Cologne's height.
"Oh... her. Cologne." The woman smiled. "Your just the one we've been waiting for."