Shampoo's Heart
Chapter 2: Judgement
Shampoo sat as the coucil of elders eyed her critically. She ahd come to them, having failed in her task to kill the girl who had defeated her, who had shamed her.
Shampoo sat with head bowed, looking only at the ground. She awaited her punishment.
"We have come to a decision." One of the elders stated. "You shall go to the Jusenkyo springs and train with your great-grandmother. Perhaps there, you'll learn to better yourself and not fail a third time. But this is your last chance. Anymore failures, and you will be punished to the full extent of the Law."
Shampoo nodded her head. She didn't understand why she was being let off so easily, but she counted her blessings. It could've been much worse, especially if she had told them the whole story.
She did not realise the full extent of her punishment.
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Shampoo leapt from pole to pole, dodging her great-grandmother's attacks. Out of everyone in the village, Elder Cologne was the most formidable of opponent of all. That's what over 300 years of martial arts study does to a person. Shampoo's father sat with the Jusenkyo Guide, discussing things.
Shampoo had heard in passing the horrors of Jusenkyo, but only that it was a bad pace and one should not venture near it. She didn't understand what the big deal was. It was just a bunch of cold springs with bamboo poles in them. The worst that could happen was if you drowned, but that could only be possible if you were unconcious. They were not that deep.
She dodged yet another of her grandmother's attacks, and found nothing but empty air beneath her. She fell, splashing into a spring.
A few minutes later, she got out of the spring, but she was having trouble swimming. And din't everything seem...bigger.
"Oh no, you fall in spring of drowned cat." The Guide explained. "Whoever fall in spring turn into cat. You see?"
"My poor Shampoo!" Shampoo's father wailed.
Cologne hopped over on her cane, as she usually did. She looked down regrettably at the little cat, and then picked it out of the spring.
"I'm sorry Shampoo. If you had known, you would have tried to escape, I'm sure. THIS is your real punishment, to be cursed. Do not blame me, the word of the council is law."
Shampoo stared at her great-grandmother in horror.
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That night, after getting some hot water and going to bed, Shampoo dreamed.
She stood before the Council of elders, holding the hand of her beloved red-head.
"Shampoo," a demon resembling Cologne growled, "you are not worthy of being a member of our tribe! You have brought shame to me and your family! Accept your punishment!"
Suddenly, water came down on the lavender-haired amazon, and she was transformed into a cat.
Ranma turned away, walking away from Shampoo. The little cat tried to follow her, but the red-head just got farther and farther away.
"I can never love a freak like you. Stay away from me, Shampoo."
Shampoo sobbed, as darkness surrounded and consumed her.
Shampoo awoke with a start, and started sobbing.
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Shampoo stayed in her room, only venturing out for food. She had been left traumatised by her dream.
There was no way Ranma would want her now. She was a freak, a creature who lost her humanity when splashed with cold water.
With cold water....
Shampoo's tears stopped. She had suddenly remembered that the red-head that so made her heart sing had changed from a man to a woman by being splashed with cold water. Somehow, that girl had the same kind of curse as herself.
Surely the red-head would understand, then. She wouldn't be turned away, not when they shared a common ailment.
One thing was clear, she no longer felt at home in the village. A village run by people who would do THIS to her.
Shampoo brought out a cardboard box. She explained her plan to her father (well, she told him that she was going to try and complete her mission, at least) and he agreed. He wanted to see his daughter happy again, no matter what.
And so, Shampoo turned herself into a cat, and her father put her in a cardboard box, ensuring she had plenty of food and water.
Shampoo thought of the beautiful red-head who would no doubt be very happy with the package she got.
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Ranma hid in a corner trying to ignore the confused cat.
Shampoo stared sadly at her beloved. How could she hate the amazon so? Why was she trying to run away?
All Shampoo knew was that it hurt to see that look of fear in her eyes. She had to get to the bottom of things, and find a way to make the girl smile again.
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This one is a little (okay, a lot) shorter than the previous chapter. I apologise for that.
And, lo behold, thou shalt asketh and thou shalt recieve...eth. Since you guys (yes, all three of you) supported it, I have decided to turn my little oneshot into a series. For starters, I felt I should focus on Shampoo's return to the village. Of course, I now realise I could've gone into more detail about what was going on in the village, but all that really mattered was that Shampoo got her curse and decided to return. I am, of course, following anime canon. At least for a little bit here.
Plus, I did say last time that she had no real friends. So, there's that to consider too.
So, did ya like? I will continue to endeavor to make this into a good series.
And please comment!