Final Chapter. Enjoy guys.

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Chapter 8 - Tying up loose ends

Mousse sat silently on the end of his bed looking out the window at the rising sun through his fake glasses, he wanted to take Ranma by surprise by letting him think he still needed his glasses. So on the way home he bought some plain glass ones. He felt Shampoo stir behind him as the sun shined onto her face. She didn't want to sleep in her own bed anymore but he didn't mind. They'd decided he would move into Colognes room after she left so he didn't have to sleep in the attic anymore but till then Shampoo declared she would 'keep him warm' till he moved to the second level where it wasn't so drafty.

He sighed. He would meet Ranma at noon in the lot behind Furnikan for there fight. He clenched his fists and his face twisted into a snarl. 'I will win this time!'

Mousse unclenched his fists as he felt Shampoo lean against his back, putting her hands on his shoulders.

'Why are you wearing your glasses?' she asked drowsily.

'There fake, just plain glass to take Ranma by surprise…'

'Your going to go fight Ranma today then aren't you?'

'yes'

'You don't have to do that Mousse. You don't have to beat Ranma to prove yourself to me.'

Mousse turned so he could look at her face.

'This isn't about you Shampoo, this is about my pride and honor.'

'You trained hard in China?' He nodded wondering where he was going with this. She leaned her head against his shoulder and looked into his eyes.

'Then I believe in you..' she paused. 'Even if you don't win it doesn't matter to me.'

Mousse wrapped his arm around her shoulders.'

'It does to me, are you going to come watch?'

She nodded, 'I will.' She said reaching up and running her fingers through his hair.

Mousse smiled and kissed her forehead before standing up. She frowned at the loss of his warmth.

'Cologne is coming so we better get up and open up the restaurant.'

Shampoo huffed but stood up and headed for the door. Mousse could feel the heat rising in his face and quickly turned his head. Shampoo was wearing one her very short Chinese night gowns that barely came mid thigh.

Shampoo stopped next to him smiling devilishly. 'What's the matter Mousse?'

'Hmm…no-nothing he stammered looking anywhere but her.

She giggled quietly as his shyness.

'Whatever you say Mousse' she said seductively and walked out of the room purposley6 swinging her hips as she left.

Mousse rubbed the bridge of his nose, doing his best not to watch her go. Once he herd her bedroom door close he went down to the restaurant where Cologne was waiting for him in the kitchen.

'Mousse' she said regarding him from the stove where she never looked up from the vegetables she was chopping.

'yes Cologne?' He asked warily picking up a knife and chopping up some peppers.

'I hear from Shampoo that you have challenged Ranma…again.'

Mousse tightened his grip on the knife at the hidden meaning of her words. She was practically saying he had never won and probably wouldn't this time either.

'Yes I have.'

'An what makes you think that this time will be any different?'

Mousse squeezed the knife hard in his hand. 'I've been training…hard. I won't let him beat me this time.'

Cologne looked over t him suspiciously.

'Since It's obvious that you aren't using hidden weapons anymore so I am interested to see what you have learned as well.'

'you will' he said loosening his vice-like grip on the kitchen blade.

Cologne merely continued to look at him till Shampoo bounced happily into the kitchen.

'Hello great grandma' Cologne nodded and watched them from the corner of her eye.

Shampoo wrapped her arms around Mousses waist hugging him from behind. He found it hard to force down the goofy grin that rose to his face.

The bell over the door jingled lightly. Shampoo looked in the direction of the door before looking up at him briefly and smiling and then walking into the dining room.

Mousse stared after her longingly. Too long for Colognes tastes apparently.

Cologne swung her staff at Mousse, who spun around catching it in the palm of his hand.

She narrowed her eyes ay him. 'He's gotten faster'

She pulled back and started chopping again now that she had gotten his attention.

Shampoo walked out into the dining room with her order pad and saw Nabiki standing there with a bored look on her face.

'Mercenary girl come to eat or get information?'

Nabiki smirked at her.

'I came to talk to Mousse.'

Shampoo crossed her arms indignantly. 'Mousse busy'

The smirk fell from her face. 'Could you see if he could spare me a moment?' She asked coolly.

Shampoo narrowed her eyes at Nabiki about to show her the door when Mousse stepped out of the kitchen his arms crossed. Nabiki immediately took notice of his sleeveless shirt.

'Can I help you Mrs. Tendo?' Mousse regarded her icily.

Shampoo had to suppress a shiver at the tone in Mousses voice. She felt glad that icy voice wasn't aimed at her.

Nabiki didn't seem rattled in the least but straightened up a little.

'I came to ask you about how you plan to defeat Ranma this afternoon…'

Mousse glared heatedly at her. 'Why? So you can sell the information to Ranma?'

Nabiki didn't say anything. Mousse grinned and turned an walked back into the kitchen. Shampoo smirked at Nabiki who frowned and walked out of the restaurant.

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Mousse leaned against the fence behind Furnikan his eyes closed in concentration. Shampoo stood beside him looking over at him occasionally and biting her lower lip nervously as she watched the group of spectators grow. It seemed every martial artist in Nerima was there even Ryoga had managed had make it back and quite a few of the students from the high school.

'Hey Mousse!'

They both looked up and saw Ranma jumping over the fence and landing in front of them. Ranma saw him and seemed surprised he wasn't wearing his normal robes.

'You ready for this Mousse?'

'Very Ranma' he said smiling. Shampoo touched his arm and smiled uneasily at him before jumping over the fence to watch with the others.

Ranma took up his stance and was surprised when Mousse took up one. Mousse was different now, that much he could tell.

'Let's go!' Ranma yelled lunging in a high kick at Mousses head. Mousse ducked under suddenly remembering his fight with Razin. He grabbed Ranma's ankle and spun with the force of the kick sending him flying. Ranma pushed his palms against the ground getting back to his feet.

As soon as he looked up Mousse was on him. Ranma could barely his punches. Everyone brought a sharp stinging sensation. It felt as though his arms were cracking under the force of Mousses blows. He jumped back to get out of Mousses punching range, but not his kicking range.

Mousses heel crashed into Ranma's jaw causing his head to whip to the side. Mousse grinned. Here was one of the crippling blows. Mousse concentrated his ki into his fist before letting it fly as hard as he could into Ranma's gut.

Ranma landed flat on his back unmoving. Everyone in the stands was silent. Mousse didn't relax. This was far from over.

Ranma slowly pulled himself to his feet. He was clearly pissed. He ran at Mousse letting go his Amaguriken. Mousse dodged most the punches before grabbing Ranma's fists in the palms of hands. Mousse pulled him in close before he could react slamming his head into Ranma's.

Ranma quickly recovered pulling up his legs and slamming them into Mousses chest sending him back while Ranma regained his footing. Mousse hopped back onto his feet.

Shampoo chewed on her lower lip and squeezed her necklace in her hand as she watched them go at each other. The students were cheering loudly and Nabiki was taking bets from them. The rest of the Nerima wrecking crew looked on in silence.

Ranma growled Mousse had gotten stronger that much was obvious but he still had a trick or two up his sleeve.

'aren't you going to come get me ya stupid blind duck!?' he taunted.

Mousse growled. 'Ill show him!' He lunged at Ranma who only dodged and started running backwards. Taunting him.

'Is that the best you got?' he snickered. Mousse could feel himself getting angrier with every step. Then it hit him.

He slid to a halt. Ranma stopped and glared at him. 'Come get me!' he yelled.

Mousse smiled. 'I'm not so stupid as to let you use the hiryu shoten ha on me Ranma'

Ranma snarled and launched himself at Mousse who side stepped what he thought was a punch but Ranmas hand whipped out yanking the glasses off his face.

He smiled and looked up to see Mousses fist in front of his face the split second before it impacted sending Ranma flying again. Ranma hit the ground hard and slid to a halt. Mousse walked up to him to stand a few feet from him.

'Surprised Ranma? I trained hard while I was away'

Ranma struggled to his feet. 'I didn't want to do this Mousse but I won't let you beat me.' He pulled a flask out of his pants pocket and flung it's contents at Mousse a grin his face.

The water hit Mousse and Ranmas grin was replaced by shock.

The crowed grasped. Mousse didn't turn into a duck anymore?

'How…?' before he could finish Mousses ki enhanced fist crashed into Ranma jaw quickly followed by a kick to the gut.

Ranma hit the ground and was still. Mousse tensed when he pulled himself to his knees but he quickly dropped and didn't get back up.

The crowd was in an uproar. Shampoo bounced over the fence and latched onto Mousse her arms around his neck.

'You beat Ranma Mousse' she said happily. He grinned holding her close.

The rest of the Nerima wrecking crew were gathered around Ranma who was beginning to come around.

Cologne hopped over to Mousse who was still being glomped by Shampoo.

'It seems I was wrong Mousse, you defeated Ranma, despite everyone else's predictions.'

Mousse wasn't sure how he felt about Colognes statement but it didn't really matter.

'I'm going back to the café, ill see the two of you there.' she hopped off over the fence.

Mousse looked over at Ranma who was slowly trying to get to his feet Shampoo followed his gaze and saw.

'We should be going to before Ranma is fully conscious or he'll want to challenge you again' Mousse nodded and followed her as they jumped over the fence and walked towards the café.

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The dinner rush had just ended and the café was empty save for the staff. Shampoo and Mousse sat talking. She was asking him about his mystery master back in China. Mousse had learned surprisingly little about the old mans actual life. He knew he had been a soldier of some sort, but he never spoke of the war he fought in of whose side he fought for.

Shampoo seemed equally puzzled about Razin.

'You'll have to go back an ask him someday.' Mousse nodded as the front doors bell rang.

To Mousse and Shampoos surprise it was Ranma, Akane, Ukyo and Ryoga. Ranma looked around till his eyes fell on Mousse.

He walked calmly over till he was standing in front of Mousse.

'Yes Ranma?'

Ranma slammed his palms on the table and glared at Mousse.

'How the hell did you do it?'

'What?'

'See without your glasses and not turn into a duck.!'

Mousse looked up at Ranma's angry face.

'I got contacts, and I while I was in China I went back to Jusenkyo and got cured.' Mousse suddenly had a thought.

'I got the last bit of spring water..'

'What?' Ranma asked mouth hanging open slightly.

'The springs are all dried up he only had a single bottle of the spring water left and I used it. Mousse waited patiently for his reaction glancing over at Ryoga who wisely kept his mouth shut, a small smile on his face.

Ranma fell to his knees a look of utter defeat on his face. Mousse stood up and walked into the kitchen Shampoo falling into step behind him. As soon as they were out of sight and hearing range he started laughing. Shampoo stood in the doorway her fists on her hips.

'That's not very nice Mousse she said chastising him, he looked over at her as a smile spread out on her face.

'But it was funny' she giggled. Mousse grinned looking out the little kitchen window into the dining room where everyone was seated laughing and yelling at each other. Mousse smiled as Shampoo came up beside him looking out the window then smiled up at him.

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Well that's it guys the End ^^ I've been thinking of an idea for a sequel. Depending on the reviews. Thanks - Malthazar LOS