Author's notes- I've decided to do anther Mousse fic. I find myself really liking this poor myopic martial artist. For this story to make the best sense, you may want to read my story "Painful Moments", the first chapter, which deals with Mousse and Akane. Read the second chapter too, it's short. Oh and Rumiko Takahashi owns it all of course.

"Ranma you idiot!"

"So what happened this time Akane-san?"

"You know Mousse, you're not helping!"

Akane was getting rather worked up and although Mousse had never seen her hit anyone besides Ranma he was smart enough not to push her. He had been a bit sarcastic after all…

"Actually Akane-san, I have an idea."

Now he could see that she was paying attention, even if it wasn't a necessarily a respectable attention…

"Oh, about what?"

"About how we can both get what we want."

"Oh and so you think you know what I want do you?"

This wasn't going at all the way he thought it would. This was Akane right? He quickly slipped his glasses onto his nose. Yep, that was her- with her cute hair cut it was hard to mistake her. Wait… where'd that come from? 'Shampoo' he thought to himself and an image sprang to his mind. Odd though, it wasn't as sharp a picture as he usually got.

To compensate for his poor eyesight he had the ability to store pictures in his mind. That was part of the reason he mistook objects for things that could obviously not be people. But the picture was so strong in his mind that he just figured the person was were he was looking.

"Well… you want Ranma don't you?"

"That pervert? Not likely!"

He smirked slightly. So she was still in the denial phase. Just like Shampoo. (Yeah I know, blind faith can get old after awhile, but the poor guy needs something to believe in right?)

"Still, you'd prefer to have Shampoo leave him alone right?"

"Of course! I mean… she's always trying to kill me isn't she?"

"Certainly."

He decided not to pick holes in her story at the moment. He waited now, he knew what was coming…

"So, okay what's your plan?"

"We'll need to work together."

"Fine."

"You needn't sound so pained about it Akane-san."

"Mousse, one thing."

"Yes Akane-san."

"Why are you calling me that?"

"I thought that if we were going to be working together we should have a respectful attitude towards each other."

"Stop it would you? It's creeping me out."

"Very well Akane."

"Thanks."

They were almost at the Tendo residence, as they had been walking while they'd been talking.

"Is there somewhere we can go to discuss these plans Akane?"

Akane looked around.

"Yeah, we can't have Ranma overhearing can we?"

"It would kind of defeat the purpose yes."

"Well… I suppose we could work in my room."

Mousse wasn't sure about this, but he just shrugged. He wasn't Japanese, if it wasn't proper, Akane would never have brought it up he was sure.

Once they were in Akane's room, Mousse told her his grand idea. It was his best yet. He'd spent weeks perfecting it, he was certain Akane would see its brilliance.

"We just going to try and make them jealous?"

She sounded, not awed by the astounding intelligence, but shocked.

"Perfect isn't it?"

"It'll never work."

"Sure it will."

"No it won't and I thought you were actually going to help me win Ran-" She stopped suddenly.

Mousse growled in frustration and grabbed her hands.

"Look, this will work! Don't you remember the reversal jewel?"

'I sure do' he thought.

"What about it…?"

He gripped her hands a little tighter, reminding himself that he was only doing this to help make his point easier to understand.

"Do you remember how hard Ranma worked to get Shampoo to notice him? If he thinks he's losing you, he'll work just as hard to win you back!"

"You think so?"

"He's done it before hasn't he?"

"Well… there was the time he thought I was going to stay with Shinnosuke, but he acted more depressed than anxious."

"And there are all the times he beat up Kuno for you."

"He just does that because Kuno's annoying."

"Akane."

His voice was soft. He let go of one of her hands and brought his fingertips to her chin, which he slowly tipped up until she was looking at him. 'Gods she is pretty.' His glasses were in place too which gave him a very adequate view of her tense face. He wanted suddenly to make all those little lines around her mouth smooth out, those rich brown eyes sparkle, and those soft lips curve up in a smile.

"This will work, I promise you."

But he wondered, deep down, whether he truly wanted it to work after all. If it did, Ranma would have Akane. He would have Shampoo of course, the girl of his dreams. But… part of him, that little treacherous part, asked if maybe Ranma wasn't getting the better part of the deal.



~ The Next Day ~

"Oh Akane-chan, the day is so beautiful isn't it?"

"Not as beautiful as your eyes Mu-chan."

"Akane, you are too kind, as ever. The only that could ever match your kindness is your loveliness."

The two actors were walking down the busiest street in Nerima, where they were certain to create a stir. They must've passed half the school by now, all the while giving each other such grandiose compliments that they had to work hard not to start giggling madly.

"Mu-chan, sweetheart, do you think we could get some ice cream? It's such a hot day."

"Of course beloved."

He took her by the hand, the move that was fast becoming all too easy to do. He wondered how much of this he was acting. He would have to be careful not to let it get… out of hand.

They entered the ice cream parlor and Mousse ordered them an ice cream sundae to share.

"Thank you darling."

"Nothing's too good for my sweet Akane-chan."

There was a slight noise next to them. Like knuckles being cracked.

"Am I… interrupting anything?"

It was of course Ranma. He was glowing slightly, a very good sign.

"Actually Ranma… you are. Mu-chan and I were just about to start on our ice cream."

"I hope you don't mind Saotome, but this really sort of a… private meeting. If you wouldn't mind leaving us now?"

It was almost a threat and yet not. Ranma had no choice but to stalk off in a huff.

"That went well Mousse didn't it?"

"Oh yes, I think he's quite jealous at this point."

"Ah good, our ice cream's here. Want a bite?"

Without thinking he opened his mouth and Akane popped in the spoonful she was offering to him. Their eyes met and although hers were a bit fuzzy to Mousse, he still thought he felt sparks. 'This is what I'd call getting out of hand,' he thought. 'Still, I might as well enjoy it right? It is very good ice cream.'

Later that evening they were heading back to the Tendo residence, hand still very much in hand. That's when they met Shampoo.

"What duck-boy doing with kitchen-destroyer?"

"We were enjoying the end of a pleasant date until you came by Shampoo."

Mousse was shocked by the venom in Akane's voice until he told himself for the thirtieth time that day- she was an actress.

"Yes Shampoo, and if you don't mind I need to get Akane-chan home before her father starts to worry."

"Shampoo no care about stupid duck-boy. He is just taking care of competition for Shampoo and her husband-to-be."

"Whatever."

Mousse was about to just walk off when Akane stopped him.

"Isn't the moon romantic Mu-chan?"

"What? Oh, yes."

He couldn't make it out very clearly, as his glasses were once again on top of his head. Akane giggled softly and carefully reached up and brought them down to his eyes. The moon really was beautiful, but not quite as beautiful as the moonlight playing on her hair, and he told her so.

"You're so sweet Mu-chan."

Then she kissed him.

Shampoo started to splutter in shocked outrage. A camera flash came from somewhere. Then Akane pulled back and gave him a dazzling smile. That pushed him right off the edge of the cliff he's been teetering on ever since she laid her lips on his in a very chaste kiss.

"Shampoo deal with duck-boy later."

She turned, but before she could bounce off…

"His name is Mousse Shampoo."

She turned back slowly, a glare of hate in her eyes.

"Shampoo know duck-boy name."

"And he's not a boy. He's a very handsome young man. And an excellent martial artist."

She smirked.

"And a damn good kisser."

She pronounced that and spun around to kiss him again. His arms came up automatically to hold her. The kiss went on longer this time and her arms went around his neck.

At some point Shampoo stalked off angrily. Akane pulled back and whispered into his ear,

"That went well, didn't it?"

Mousse didn't trust himself to speak just yet.