I don't own Ranma ½. Never did, never will.

"You mind if Shampoo sit down for break? If you don't want, Shampoo will just go back to work…"

Part of his mind put a huge warning sign up, saying that if he said yes, he'd go into the same way he always was around her. He couldn't show any form of weakness, and she- as much as he hated to admit it- was still a major one. If he was correct and was being watched, as he thought, having Shampoo sit down would be a very bad choice. Hells, even if he wasn't, it would still be a bad choice on his part.

Another part clung to the thought of how distressed she'd sounded when he said he would only be here a short while, screaming for joy that maybe there was some chance that he still had a place somewhere in her heart. And maybe, just maybe, it wasn't for just someone to beat up, when too close.

"Mousse? Do you mind if Shampoo sit down?"

He snapped out of his reverie, gesturing towards the seat across from him. She gracefully slid into the seat, reminding him much of a cat slinking into its sitting position. He almost laughed aloud at the thought, but stopped himself just short- he reminded himself how much it hurt to be compared to what you change to, after being dunked into one of Jusenkyo's springs.

She was somewhat quieter, he realized. She didn't fiddle with her hands as much, nor did she talk as badly as she had. She must have started taking lessons, or just listening more to conversations so she could learn from that. He didn't mind the difference, he just wasn't used to her speaking as she was.

Her hair was somewhat shorter, but in the same style as she always used. She was dressed in her everyday clothing, plus an apron.

"So, how is Mousse doing? Are you still traveling?"

"I am still traveling, I'm still looking for answers- but with the job I have, I have to look for people and things as well as all the traveling. I don't mind it much, though, like I said."

The answer was short, but all he could manage at the moment- he felt that if he said more, he would just say the whole truth. Shampoo always managed to make him feel that way, like he couldn't hide a thing from her. He was surprised she couldn't just read his face like his boss could, daily- he always said how he could read him like a book.

"How are you doing, Shampoo? You look well, more calm as well- or, steady, should I say."

"Ranma married to Akane. Shampoo has two nieces, or so they say. Shampoo doesn't bother correcting them," she smiled slightly, "because Shampoo doesn't mind they say she's their aunt."

She sighed, looking downwards for a moment, but seemed to collect whatever she was thinking up, and instead smiled gleefully.

"Shampoo think they have more energy then she's ever had in her whole life."

He laughed, and her smile broadened.

So, Ranma and Akane had married then. He'd thought they would soon, he'd always known they would eventually, no matter how many suitors they had, combined. This had never ceased to amuse him, especially after their first attempt at a wedding had gone into disaster.

"So, they got married and had two children? What are their names?"

"Megumi is six, and Umi is four. Like Shampoo said, they act more like hurricane than child."

She smiled somewhat, a shadow crossing her face briefly.

"Akane and Ranma happy, in fact Akane is pregnant again. Shampoo should start resting up ahead of time, for third one. Nabiki making bets on what the gender will be this time. It seems even, between boy and girl. Shampoo thinks that Akane would rather have boy, though- she gets a longing look each time it's mentioned."

"Well, Ranma is probably thinking the same thing, considering he's living with three ladies, now- even if two are too young to cause many troubles. Imagine how many boys he'll have to beat off, when they get older."

He almost laughed aloud, again, imagining the whole scenario. Poor man. Three women, just imagine it- and if another girl was on the way, he was seriously in for it. Although, he probably deserved it, though. Or, at least in Mousse's mind, he did.

He looked around the restaurant, yet again, to make sure no one seemed to be watching- no one seemed to be.

"Mousse seems very alert. Why?"

"Like I said, there is someone very important that I'm looking for. I was just making sure I wasn't being studied by him, that's all."

Shampoo looked at him, eyes narrowing, trying to read him like she always could. He hoped he had hidden the thoughts on his mind far enough away.

"Mousse lying, but Shampoo trust enough that she not ask more. Shampoo know this is more than a simple important person. Shampoo know that this dangerous person with how Mousse act while here, how much caution he takes."

He sighed, and almost thought of telling the whole truth- the killer that his boss had him tracking down, that he was probably being watched even now, that he may be endangering anyone he spoke or looked at- but thought better of it. The less she knew, the better.

"I can't tell you about it, except I like my job. The traveling is good, the pay is good, and I like all the risks."

Especially right after he'd left, which he didn't mention.