Amazonian Switcheroo
Part 9
Everyone was gathered together at Uccan's for a big celebratory party. No-one was quite sure what it was exactly they were celebrating, though many assumed it had something to do with Ranma and Akane getting closer together.
Genma patted his (currently female) son on the back. "Well done, boy! Soon the schools will be joined! Just keep at it!"
Ranma growled in annoyance. "Pop, just leave me alone."
Genma flinched back from the look in his son's eyes. It was very dark, and deep, like you could drown in the emotion reflected in those orbs. He turned away, deciding it would be best if he just sampled the many snacks on offer, for the time being.
Akane walked over to the red-head, concerned, placing a hand on her girlfriend's shoulder. "Ranma, I told you, now is not the time to be moping. You have to at least pretend to be enjoying yourself, or else everyone'll be suspicious."
"How can I pretend!?" Ranma said in exasperation, tears falling. "I'm gonna be as good as dead in two months, and all we're doing is having a stupid party!"
Akane embraced the red-head tightly, buring her face into Ranma's shoulder. "Ranma, please remember why we're doing this. We're having this party so you can enjoy yourself, and forget all the bad things. Please, just try to have a good time. For me."
Ranma sighed. "Alright, Akane, I'll try. But only because you asked."
"Thank you, Ranma." The tomboy said, smiling. "Now, why don't you go and have a talk with some of your friends?"
She pushed the red-head in the direction where Hiroshi and Daisuke were sitting down, talking to Ukyo. They looked up as Ranma approached, and they beckoned her closer.
Akane sighed. Ranma was just getting worse and worse. She hoped that this party could ease her suffering, even if only a little.
That was why she came up with the idea, after all.
Ryoga wandered the streets of Nerima, searching for Ucchan's, for that was where he heard the party was being held. Of course, due to his 'unique problem', he was having a little difficulty finding it.
He bumped into someone while he wasn't paying attention. He turned to the person, ready to apologise. He then recognised the man's face, and grabbed him by the scruff. Ryoga's face contorted in rage.
"Ranma!" The lost boy yelled into the other man's face. "I finally found you! Now, it's time for you to pay!"
Shampoo punched Ryoga in the face, knocking him back. "Stupid pig boy. I look like Ranma to you?"
Ryoga looked up at the young man before him, confused. "Ranma, what are you talking about?"
"I not Ranma!" Shampoo yelled in rage. "I Shampoo! I find Ranma, make him pay, he ruin Shampoo life!"
Ryoga was completely lost. "What?"
Shampoo growled, and walked off, dragging the lost boy behind. "Shampoo show you. You help find Ranma, help kill Ranma, then leave Shampoo alone."
Mousse was wandering around, trying to find Shampoo. She had just....disappeared, and now the old ghoul was forcing him to do some of her work along with his own. Not that he minded if it meant helping out his darling Shampoo, but still he was worried. He hoped nothing had happened to his darling.
And it better not be because of that cur Saotome, or else there would be hell to pay.
Ranma sat morosely. She tried just going along with the party, but it wasn't working. Hiroshi and Daisuke were starting to irritate her, and she just knew trouble was brewing. Sure, they got on her nerves, but not quite like this before. She knew it had something to do with the transformation; what else could it be?
Ukyo walked over to her side. Thankfully, Ukyo hadn't done anything to annoy her, but Ranma knew it was only a matter of time before she started hating her old friend. After all, Shampoo never got along with the young chef.
"What's wrong sugar?" Ukyo asked the red-head.
"I....I can't take this!" She held her head in her hands, as if it might explode and holding it together would stop it. "All these people......everyone....they're all acting cheerfully, and I can't take it! I'm gonna die, I'm gonna disappear, and in my place will be this....this.....this bitch who hates everyone except for her grandmother! I don't want that! I don't want to BE that person; I don't want to experience LIFE as that person! I'd rather DIE than go through that, to live HER life!"
Ukyo laid a comforting hand on the red-head's knee, but Ranma pushed it away.
"Don't you dare try and cheer me up, Spatula Girl!" Ranma was growing angrier and more depressed. "You know I'm right! I'll change, body and soul, and that means that'll I'll lose all my friends, including you!" She bowed her head, tears falling. "Just....just leave me alone. It'll be better that way, so I don't hurt you."
"Ranma." Ukyo said with an exasperated sigh. "Nothing you do will ever make me hate you, no matter how much you become like that bimbo."
"That's bull and you know it."
Ukyo nodded sadly. "You're right. I mean, I did hold a grudge against you for so long, so it's possible I may end up resenting you again. But it's not your fault! Right now, you're still you, so you spend whatever time you have left living your life to the fullest, while you still can! That's why we started this whole thing, to give you the chance to celebrate and remember your life, to be the person you are right now, while you still can! So please, don't squander this moment wallowing in despair; enjoy yourself, fight the sadness, and live."
Ranma nodded. "You're right. But, I'm so scared; I'm scared that any minute I'll do something and I'll end up as her, forever, and there'd be nothing I could do to go back."
"All the more reason why you should try and remain as you right now, while you are still able to. Now, come over with me and apologise to your friends. I think you may have offended them."
"Okay." The red-head replied, smiling nervously. She got up to go over and talk to her friends....
Suddenly, something crashed through the wall. Everyone turned, to stare at a most unusual sight.
Ryoga standing side by side with long-haired, Chinese garbed Ranma; both looking extremely angry. Shampoo waved his sword at Ranma.
"Ranma! Shampoo kill, as should have long ago!"
"Ranma, I don't know what's going on, but I won't forgive you anyway!"
The two young men charged towards the red-head. Akane and Ukyo ran to Ranma's side, ready to fight the two opponents.
Suddenly, Cologne hopped inside. "Well, looks like quite a mess, as usual. Good thing I came just in time." She snapped her fingers, and clouds of green dust fell onto the faces of most of the buildings occupants, save for the Old Ghoul herself and the five young people getting ready to brawl.
Immediately, those hit with the powder fell unconscious. In the next instant, Cologne threw a kettle of water onto Ranma, changing her into her lavender-haired form. Ryoga paused in his charge, startled by the change.
"Wh-what the hell!?"
Shampoo scowled. "Ranma steal Shampoo body, steal everything Shampoo hold dear. Kill Ranma, get revenge, maybe get back what rightfully Shampoo."
Ryoga frowned angrily, turning back to Ranma. "You bastard! Stealing a girl's very BODY!? You won't get away with this!"
"Ryoga!" Akane yelled. "Will you just stop and listen!"
"Don't worry Akane; I'll take care of this pervert for you!"
Ukyo sighed. It seemed that Ryoga had become like Kuno; too deluded to see the truth. Or maybe he had always been like that and they hadn't noticed.
Cologne shook her head. "I won't allow you to do that, pig boy, Shampoo. I invited some very special guests to ensure that Ranma becomes comfortable with her newfound heritage. Girls, get over here! Shampoo is in danger!"
Suddenly, five girls jumped inside the building. Ranma recognised the twins Ling-Ling and Lung-Lung, but the other three were new to her. One seemed to be an even bigger tomboy than Akane; another seemed very gloomy and....'goth-like'; the last one looked very concerned, and probably wasn't much of a fighter.
Shampoo stared at the newcomers. "What you doing here....?"
"You leave Shampoo alone, you jerk!" Lo Xion exclaimed, her reddish-blonde hair blown forward by some unknown winds. "We will never allow some lousy male harm our bestest friend in the whole wide world!"
Ah Roma nodded. "Yes, she is our dear friend, and we shall do all we can to help her!" She away a bit, frightened by the appearance of their opponents. "That is, if we are allowed to do so."
To Wel merely sighed in resignation. "I don't really care. But, if Cologne says we have to do it, then I suppose I'll do it."
"We help too!" The twins said together. "We help save Shampoo from evil husband and strange boy!"
"Are they talking about me!?" Ryoga cried in bewilderment.
Shampoo's expression softened. "I no want hurt you...."
"Too late for that, bucko!" Lo Xion cried, charging forward, her fist outstretched. She was knocked back as Shampoo kneed her in the stomach, and then did a spinning kick to the side. The tomboyish amazon was knocked down, winded.
To Wel calmly walked over to Ryoga, who tried to fight back (while holding back of course), but her arms became a blur for a second. When they were still again, the young collapsed to ground, his body paralysed.
Ranma charged forward, punching Shampoo to the face. The former amzon glared at the former boy, wiping blood from his lips. He grinned.
"You make Shampoo hurt friends. Shampoo never forgive. Shampoo kill."
He was stopped as a giant boxing glove hit him, sending him flying into the wall. Ling-Ling and Lung-Lung gave each other high fives, and Lo Xion got up and flew at the dazed Shampoo, leg outstretched. Her foot connected with the young man's stomach, and spun around, striking the underside of his chin. Shampoo growled, blood streaming down his lips.
"You hurt Shampoo. Shampoo eliminate obstacle, even if former friend of childhood." He swung his sword, which the Amazonian tomboy barely dodged.
"I won't hurt my friends!"
Shampoo gasped as a purple cyclone came chargin g at him, smashed apart his ceremonial sword and hit him in the ribs, legs and arms. Finally, he was kneed in the head, bringing upon a concusion and unconsciousness.
Ranma turned to Lo Xion, helping her. "You okay?"
Lo Xion grabbed her saviours hands in a vice grip, beaming happily, eyes shining. "Oh, Shampoo, you came to my rescue! You truly are my bestest friend ever!"
Ranma looked away, smiling nervously. "Yeah, well....."
"Lo Xion." Cologne said firmly. "Shampoo and her two companions have been through a rather rought spot. I suggest we take them back to my residence, away from prying eyes, so Ah Roma can treat them in private. Understood?"
"Yes, Lady Elder, ma'am!"
"Good."
I'm on a roll! Yet another chapter for a story I haven't touched in a while. Hope you haven't waited too long.
I hope you guys enjoyed this chapter. And I'm sorry the party didn't last very long, but what can ya do? Besides, I think it'd be pretty boring if it was just the party.
I hope the characters are behaving believably and not acting to OOC (Ryoga, I'm looking at you).
And now we get to see a little bit of our OC's in action. Don't worry, there's more to them just that. We'll learn more about them next time.
Hope ya enjoyed it, and please comment!
