Most Unlikely of Friends

by Derekloffin

Is it possible for two heated rivals to become the closest of friends? When Akane and Shampoo receive a pair of strange bracelets they find themselves living new lives in an altered world where they are indeed just that. However, with only one Akane and one Shampoo for two worlds, they now find themselves caught between them.

10. Chapter 9

%Chapter 9

A gentle wind blew through the numerous trees of the mountain side. The same wind rustled Akane's hair as she stood in front of a large set of horizontally mounted logs surrounded with rope. She took up a fighting stance and took a strike at the log at chest level. She punched again, harder this time, causing the structure to shutter. She continued, roundhouse kicking the log just above it and a slight crack could be heard. Finally, looking angrily at the practice obstacle, Akane let another fist fly into the log. The log broke but she quickly grabbed her hand in pain.

"Ow, damn it! Stupid log!" she mumbled.

Soun rushed over to her side. "Akane! Are you hurt?!" he asked in concern as he examined her hand.

"It's fine, Dad," Akane denied.

"Are you sure? It's not broken or anything?" Soun asked in uncertainty.

Akane shook her head and put on a smile. "Nono, it's fine, just a bruise, that's all."

Soun examined her hand once more but finally conceded. "Alright. Be more careful. There's no need to break it."

"I know, I know," Akane said before her attention shifted due to a crash of thunder.

Soun too looked off into the distance. "Ah, seems like Ranma is doing well," he said with a smile.

Mention of the name stole Akane's smile. "Yeah," she said quietly, her mood shift not going unnoticed.

"Akane, if you need to talk about-"

"I'm fine, Dad. I'll go get a bandage for this," she said and walked off before her father could argue the matter.

Soun watched her leave in concern, finally sighing after a moment.

XXXXX

Off in the distance where the thunder came from, Ranma examined the cracked rock in front of him with satisfaction. He turned to Shampoo who was standing behind him and smugly asked, "So?"

Shampoo looked at his handy work. "Not bad," she replied.

"Not bad?! You said it would take me another week to learn it. Told you I could do it faster," he said smugly.

Shampoo eyed Ranma, seeming annoyed, but the look soon cracked into a smile. "Guess you right," she conceded. "You learn Thunderclap Punch very fast."

Ranma nodded in agreement, although the words hardly conveyed the effort to reach this point. The Thunder Clap Punch, at the most simple level, was really just a Grand Lightning Punch with almost all the safeties removed. So, really, the punch itself was the easy part. Surviving the strike yourself was where the difficulty was.

Ranma had to train to shield his ears to withstand the sound, learning to control the tiny bones within to regulate the volume, while also strengthening the eardrum. Then it was a matter of changing the nature of his punch, removing the instinctive aids that he had unknowingly added to speed himself up safely. The result was a single strike initiating a super heated pressure front in the air. In truth, the flesh of the fist didn't even make contact with the opponent. Instead the pressure itself is what delivered the blow. You knew you did it right when thunder tore the air.

"Maybe pretty soon I'll beat you," Ranma said confidently.

Shampoo let out a laugh. "In dreams, Ranma."

"We'll see about that. So, you going to teach me that wave technique now?" he asked.

Shampoo looked at the rock in consideration, but shook her head. "No, first learn something else."

"Yeah, what?" he asked.

Shampoo walked over to a bag by a tree and searched through it for a moment. She pulled out a small black object and returned to Ranma. She handed the object to Ranma, who looked at it curiously.

"What's this?" he asked.

"Taser," Shampoo replied.

Not initially recognizing the name, Ranma pressed the button on the device to see an electric arc cross between two metal prongs at the end. Ranma tensed and, trying not to betray any nervousness, asked, "And this is for?"

"If can harness electricity of Taser without get hurt, then can learn wave technique," Shampoo replied with a smile.

After taking another look at the electrical arc, Ranma exclaimed, "You got to be kidding!"

Shampoo smiled and shook her head. "If want, Shampoo could teach you other way?"

"Anything..." Ranma started, but seeing Shampoo's continued smile stopped himself short. "The other way is even worse, isn't it?"

"Oh yes," Shampoo replied. "Taser much less likely kill."

"Right," Ranma said, looking down at the Taser with a sigh.

Just then Akane walked into view from the trees. Immediately, she diverted her eyes from the pair, and headed straight to the bag. She removed some bandaging and began wrapping it around her hand as she walked back the way she came.

"Is you okay Akane?" Shampoo asked in concern.

Akane turned back with a forced smile, but had her eyes closed. "I'm fine, just a bruise," she said.

Shampoo watched helplessly as Akane disappeared into the woods once more. She sadly cast her eyes to the ground and sighed. "Akane still very sad," she said quietly.

Ranma, whose mood had likewise shifted, nodded. "Yeah but she'll get over it eventually, won't she?"

"No know. This happen before but she better much quicker," Shampoo replied, turning to Ranma.

"Before?" Ranma asked in surprise.

Shampoo was momentarily confused by Ranma's question, but quickly realized he was not present for such. "Oh, Akane have feeling for Dr. Tofu but he..."

"He's in love with Kasumi," Ranma completed and Shampoo nodded.

"Yes, but this different though. She take much worse," Shampoo said, looking back at the trees.

"Maybe I should have waited a little longer before choosing," Ranma thought aloud, but Shampoo shook her head.

"No, that would only have made more bad," she said.

'Then I should have made it sooner,' Ranma thought but decided such was a useless consideration now.

"Wish could think of way to cheer up. Soon Li thought come train here would help. Maybe Shampoo and Ranma should have stayed home," Shampoo said, but this time Ranma shook his head.

"She insisted we come, remember?" Ranma pointed out.

Shampoo looked up, and was forced to agree. The trip had first been suggested purely for Akane, but she would not have Shampoo excluded. Unfortunately, as soon as Shampoo was included, Akane quickly added Ranma in as he was still in the middle of his Thunderclap Punch training at the time. Of course, the others could see that such was probably going to defeat the whole purpose the trip in the first place, but Akane was insistent. She simply could not accept that her own feelings were as they were, and was still denying them, even if it was plainly obvious to everyone else.

And this was just the latest. Several days earlier, in an effort to snap Akane out of it, all her friends from school had got together to have what they termed as the wildest night on the town ever. Even then Akane had insisted Shampoo come along, and would buy into none of the excuses Shampoo attempted to make to escape. In the end, while it had indeed been an interesting night, it had failed in achieving its goal. The whole evening Akane had put on a good act, but invariably talk led to the taboo subject and derailed.

'I know she's trying desperately to not let it hurt our friendship, but this is too much. She's overcompensating and it is just making things worse,' Shampoo thought. Even more worrisome, although Akane would insist on bringing Shampoo along to these events, in the end she ended up avoiding Shampoo the whole time, and it was starting to hurt, even if Shampoo understood why. It had gotten to the point that Shampoo had even briefly considered asking Ranma to change his mind, but as if anticipating this, Akane cut her off. Akane said she would never take Ranma now, and that they had to respect his choice. It was noble, but also took away the only option Shampoo had left but to endure.

After a moment more of those thoughts, Soun came from the trees, followed by Akane. "That's enough for today. Shall we be off?"

XXXXX

Back home, Soun sat at the common room table, hanging his head sadly, Soon Li across from him. "It didn't work at all."

"I was afraid of that," Soon Li replied. "But, it was worth a try anyway. I knew she had feelings for him, but that they ran this deep... I now regret even suggesting that Ranma be allowed to delay the choice."

"Nonsense," Soun said. "We could not have predicted this. Besides, who is to say he would have made the right choice at the time, or we'd be really any better off now if he had? I doubt he even would have made a choice, to be honest. We would probably have ended up imposing one and then there is no telling if the pair would have worked out."

Soon Li smiled weakly, looking up at the ceiling in the general direction of the girls' room to think.

Nabiki walked by at that point, briefly pausing to look at the two. A quick analysis of the situation made it obvious what they were discussing. She quickly moved onto the bathroom, her destination of the moment, but as she did, she too looked up in thought, frowning.

XXXXX

That night, Nabiki lay awake in bed. She had caught a distinct set of sounds in the hallway not long ago. First the opening of a door, very quiet. Then footsteps down the hall, and down the stairs. If pattern held, the series would be repeated in reverse in about an hour. It had been the same thing for over a week, almost like clockwork.

Nabiki sighed. It was normally against her personal code to get involved in much of anything unless there was a buck to be made. However, she had come to learn there was another time when action was demanded, and now qualified. She had been planning since supposedly going to bed, and having witnessed all the others' failures, there seemed only one avenue of attack left on this particular problem.

After waiting another minute to ensure that tonight was like the other nights, Nabiki rose from her bed, and headed out. She found the door to Shampoo and Akane's shared room open just slightly, obviously left that way to allow quieter entry later. She knocked, experimentally saying, "Akane?" just to ensure said party was not in fact the one remaining in the room.

As expected, Shampoo responded. "She out on walk," she said, prompting Nabiki to enter.

"Again huh," Nabiki commented and walked over to Akane's vacant bed to sit.

"She's avoiding me," Shampoo said as she stared at the roof sadly.

"Don't single yourself out, she's been avoiding nearly everyone. You just notice it the most," Nabiki replied. Examining Shampoo's melancholy mood, she temporarily switched gears. "So, have you and him..."

Shampoo shook her head. "No. He wants to wait till we're married."

"You didn't say you liked that."

Shampoo looked over at Nabiki. "Yes, and I didn't mean to say that either, but I will respect it."

"I see, so when is the marriage going to be?" Nabiki asked.

"He wants his mother to be there."

"So, why not just call her up or something?" Nabiki suggested.

Shampoo once more shook her head. "I suggested that, but his Dad said it was out of the question. He said something about a promise he made to her that was very serious, and that she would be very upset if she found out about Ranma's curse."

Nabiki raised an eyebrow at this. "What is it, some weird family pact or something?"

Shampoo shrugged. "Don't know, but he said it was vital that we shouldn't contact her right now."

Nabiki nodded. Shampoo suitably distracted, Nabiki decided to get to the main topic. "You know, I was thinking, if you really want to cheer her up..." Shampoo looked over at Nabiki with intense interest. "I figure you guys have been going about this all wrong. I know of a certain party that is pretty interested in her."

Shampoo frowned. "You mean Ryoga."

Nabiki smiled. "Nothing slips by you."

"Yes, so what?"

"What do you say we fix them up on a date?"

"A date?" Shampoo repeated in confusion. "She just-"

"Ranma made that choice nearly a month ago now. She's past the, I'll take any guy just to be with someone, phase. Besides, if she was going to do that, Kuno was available the whole time," Nabiki argued, causing Shampoo to cringe at even the thought of Kuno and Akane together. "The way I figure it, more than anything right now, Akane is smarting because she thinks there is nothing else out there for her. We have to remind her there is."

Shampoo thought on this a moment in uncertainty before going suspicious. "What's the catch?"

"Can't I help cheer up my little sister without gaining some sort of monetary benefit?" Nabiki asked in a mock hurt tone.

Shampoo frowned in continued skepticism but after Nabiki grew more serious, Shampoo reconsidered. "I guess so, but if I find out-"

"Yeah, yeah, yeah! Now the first thing we need to do..." Nabiki said, leaning in to explain her plot. Shampoo likewise got up and began listening intently.

Nabiki would depart for her room, and Shampoo return to bed, before Akane returned.

XXXXX

The next day, Ranma was walking the streets of Tokyo, brooding and hunting. Shampoo had approached him that morning, careful to be clear of Akane, and explained Nabiki's little scheme. Frankly, Ranma did not trust Nabiki in the slightest, but Shampoo looked desperate. So, now they were on the hunt, each taking a different area in hopes that the lost boy could be found.

'Ryoga! Ryoga! Man, I can't believe I helping to set up Akane with Ryoga! Where is that jerk anyway?! Why is it he's only around when it causes trouble?!' Ranma thought in mild anger before stopping himself and sighing. 'Okay, I'm not engaged to Akane anymore. There's no reason why I should be jealous,' he thought. 'Hello, brain, I said there's no reason to be jealous!' Once more, Ranma sighed. 'Akane's not the only one who's still stinging from my choice. No, I can't start questioning myself now. Shampoo was the right choice,' he thought firmly as he looked down an alley. 'Ryoga's not that bad. So he's directionally challenged, he'd never do anything to hurt Akane.'

Ranma turned a corner, then another on his search before pausing to take in a tired breath. 'He's probably off in Hawaii or something,' he thought with a shake of his head before hearing an unexpected crash behind him. Looking back, he found Ryoga, on the ground, looking like he had just dropped in from the middle of a desert.

Weakly the boy reach out, "Ranma... water..." Ryoga said through a groan.

"Ryoga! What the heck... Never mind," Ranma said before rushing forward and helping the lost boy to his feet.

"Are you real or just another mirage?" Ryoga asked weakly before getting slugged in the face and collapsing once more to the ground "Ow! Alright, if you want a fight, Ranma-," he started to say as he weakly made his way back to his feet.

"Not now, Ryoga," Ranma said dismissively. Ryoga seemed to lose strength at that moment and fell forward, but Ranma caught him. "Actually I was looking for you."

"What? Me? Why?" Ryoga asked in confusion.

"I guess you haven't heard yet?" Ranma asked.

From the slightly saddened edge of Ranma's question, Ryoga seemed to regain his strength and shot up straight. "Heard what?!" he asked anxiously.

"I made my choice," Ranma answered and immediately found Ryoga grabbing him by the collar, pulling him in close.

"Whhhhooooo?" Ryoga asked intensely.

"Shampoo," Ranma answered simply.

Ryoga suddenly hugged Ranma and began sobbing. "Thank you, thank you, thank you..." he repeated through tears of joy.

Looking about, Ranma grew nervous as Ryoga continued the display. "Ryoga! Hey! People may be watching you know!"

Finally, Ryoga removed himself from Ranma, dabbing the tears from his eyes. "It's just that I'm sooo happy," he explained with a smile to the heavens, before refocusing on Ranma. "What ever I said in the past about you Ranma, I'm sorry. You're a nice guy after all."

Ranma took the praise with a confused look. "Uhhuh, whatever. Now look Ryoga, Akane's really depressed-"

"WHAT?!" Ryoga exclaimed in sudden anger and once more grabbed Ranma by the collar, this time in threat. "What did you do to her, you-"

Ranma batted away Ryoga's hands. "Give it a rest, would you! Don't you realize that... that..." Ranma started to say, then fell to a whisper. "That she was in love with me."

"Huh? Nonono, no way," Ryoga said, looking on in a mix of fear and denial.

"Believe what you like, it doesn't change the way she's feeling," Ranma said quickly. "Now like I was saying, I need your help."

Ryoga looked at Ranma in confusion, noting a slightly desperate look in the other boys eyes. "I'll do anything for Akane," Ryoga replied.

"Good, this should be easy then. You'll ask her on a date and-"

"D... d... d... d... date?!" Ryoga stammered nervously

Ranma tensed in anger. "Come on, are you a man, or a pig?!"

"HEY!"

"Then you're going to ask her?" Ranma asked forcefully.

"Ah, well, umm..." Ryoga responded, now fidgeting nervously with his fingers.

"Ryoga!" Ranma nearly shouted in anger, finally snapping him out of it.

"Okay, okay, I'll ask her," Ryoga replied meekly. "You think she'll say yes?" he asked anxiously.

"I hope so," Ranma answered solemnly.

"You hope so?!"

Ranma moved behind Ryoga and began pushing him along. "Don't worry about it. Now, come on."

XXXXX

Soon Li stood observing Akane readying herself in the dojo. Akane set her breathing then she threw a twisting punch out at a group of bricks placed at the other end of the dojo with a battle cry. However, instead of a forward moving wind, the mini tornado that resulted quickly enveloped Akane herself. The unexpected result caught her totally off guard, and surprised even Soon Li, knocking both to the ground before dissipating.

"Sorry," Akane said as she got back to her feet.

"No harm done," Soon Li said as she too returned to her feet. "Your control is a little lacking today. The Cyclone Assault needs precise control. You have to concentrate."

Akane nodded. "I know, I know, it's just that..." she started to say but stopped herself.

Soon Li frowned. "Hmm, okay then, that's enough for today. Why don't you go somewhere, have some fun. Get your mind off it," she suggested.

"Maybe I will," Akane replied, but did not seem very enthusiastic about the idea. Despite this, Soon Li gave her a soothing smile before leaving.

'Damn it,' Akane cursed mentally, before sighing and sitting down against the dojo wall. After a second, she set herself, determined, and closed her eyes to enter a breathing exercise. It was a simple enough one, and usually calming, but as with everything else she had tried, it did nothing. After several more seconds of trying to banish the thoughts weighing her down, only to have them became even stronger, Akane let a puff of air out in defeat, and shook her head. She brought her knees up, and propped her head on her hands.

'I got to get my head straight. This is not fair to Shampoo or Ranma,' she thought. The tears were long dried up and for a day or two there it seemed like it was just something that would quickly blow over. Unfortunately, a variety of independent factors seemed to be conspiring against her to make it so she just could not leave it behind.

The first and most obvious was the mere presence of Ranma. She could not avoid him. They went to the same school, were in the same class, and lived together. This had lead to a number of awkward moments since the decision. More than a few times Akane found herself wishing for a good argument just to break the tension between them, but he was treating her with supreme care.

That same issue was cause of frustration with Shampoo. Akane knew Shampoo was just trying to help, but she would avoid any talk of Ranma or the engagement. Unfortunately, since that was almost always connected in some way to the day's events, it ended up that the two just could not talk anymore. Try as she might to fill the silence between them, there just was not enough there to fill it without brushing against the issue of Ranma. The awkwardness of that was easily apparent to both and was leading them apart.

For the rest of her friends and family it was much the same. It was getting to the point that Akane wanted to yell at them to stop treating her like some fragile vase. Unfortunately, while that might crack the situation open, every time Akane played out the scenario in her mind, she could feel her own emotional barriers falling apart. Rather than show them that she was fine, she was sure it would show quite the opposite.

"Get in there!" Ranma suddenly said from just outside, and with that Ryoga stumbled into the dojo.

Akane looked at the boy in confusion. "Ryoga?" Akane said in surprise.

Ryoga tensed, and turned to her, nervously smiling. "Ahhhh, Ak.. Aka... Akane, how nice to see you," he stuttered out, trying to maintain a smile all the while.

Akane forced herself to smile in return. "Uh... you too. Where you been?"

"Oh... ah... uh... umm... places," Ryoga feebly offered.

"Oh," Akane replied, already sensing that Ryoga was yet another in a long line of distractions sent her way. As this thought hit her, she reflexively bowed her head.

Taking a quick peek in, Ranma quickly prompted in a whisper, "Would you just do it already!"

"Okay, okay," Ryoga said over his shoulder before steeling himself and nervously approaching Akane.

Akane noticed this and looked up. "Do you want something Ryoga?"

Ryoga swallowed nervously. "Ahh, Akane, I... I wanted... Would you... I mean... Could you, maybe, possibly, ahhh... go on a d... d... d... d..." As Ryoga stammered, his eyes glossed over and he suddenly fell forward. Akane snapped immediately into action, catching him just short of the floor.

"Ryoga? Ryoga, are you okay? Ryoga!" Akane said in concern as she shook him, but he remained unresponsive.

Ranma once more peeked in, unnoticed by Akane and sighed at seeing the situation. Withdrawing, he looked over to the walkway where Nabiki and Shampoo were waiting in anticipation. A shake of his head was all the answer they needed for them to hang their heads in defeat.

"This is never going to work!" Ranma said quietly as he came over to them. "The dope fainted. He's too chicken to ask!"

Nabiki went into thought. "This is not a problem. I've anticipated this very thing."

"Oh?" Shampoo asked skeptically.

"Yes, just need a slight change in plans," Nabiki said when a thought hit her. "Keep Ryoga here. I'll be back in a while," she said before rushing off.

Shampoo frowned. "Shampoo think she just making this up as goes along."

"Yeah, maybe, but I'm willing to try anything at this point," Ranma said to which Shampoo could only nod in agreement.

XXXXX

In truth, Nabiki had anticipated some trepidation from Ryoga, but was convinced that the boy, with the proper motivation, could at least get through the question before succumbing. Shampoo, Ranma and herself had done just that, give him a load of motivation before hand and it had looked to be working, but of course it did not.

'Nope, I'm not letting this one fail, even if Ryoga is a coward!' she thought as she arrived at her destination, the Nekohanten. Today was Soun's turn as cook and Perfume's on waitress duty. The latter was Nabiki's target, and she approached the Amazon just as she finished with a customer. "Hey Perfume, I need to talk to you."

Perfume paused and looked at Nabiki suspiciously. "What you want?"

Nabiki smiled in her usual sly way. "Just a little deal. Come on, let's talk outside." Perfume considered then nodded. "Dad, I'm borrowing Perfume for a minute. We'll be right back," she called out as the pair walked into the street.

"Alright, what deal?" Perfume asked curiously.

Nabiki looked about, thinking aloud, "I recall that Shampoo had some training in the use of special herbal shampoos in her youth. So, that got me to thinking, there is actually a line of similar perfumes. You wouldn't happen to be so equipped with such, would you?"

Perfume frowned but nodded. "Yes, of course."

"Mix 612?" Nabiki asked, betraying a bit of hope.

"Yes," Perfume replied simply.

"Would you be willing to part with it?"

"No," Perfume answered flatly.

'Damn, oh well,' Nabiki thought before asking, "How about for a little compensation?"

"There's nothing I want from you, Nabiki Tendo," Perfume replied turning away to return to the restaurant, but Nabiki pressed on.

"Really? So, how's your hunt for Mikado going?" Nabiki asked suggestively.

Perfume growled. "He tricky, he move and cover trail well. Can no find him now."

"What would you say if I told you I knew where you could find him?"

Perfume turned back to Nabiki in surprise. "What?! You lie!" she said in disbelief.

"I don't lie. I'll tell you where you can find Mikado if you give me mix 612," Nabiki offered.

"Why you want 612? It just last few minute anyway. Hardly worth it," Perfume asked.

Nabiki considered then replied, "It's something to do with Akane." Perfume frowned at Nabiki's evasive reply. "I only need a little of it, actually. I can give it right back when I'm done."

Perfume considered this for a minute then grabbed a small vial of liquid from inside her hair with the number 612 on it. "Here," she said as she handed over the bottle.

Nabiki took possession with a smile and pulled out a small notebook and pen. A moment later she handed a piece of paper from the notebook to Perfume. "That's his new address."

Perfume looked at the paper with an evil smile on her face, before growing curious. "How you know where he at?"

"It is valuable information, I make it a point to know such," Nabiki replied simply. "Now Perfume, you do realize that homicide is illegal in Japan?"

Perfume looked disappointed. "Okay, I just make his life living hell."

Nabiki shrugged and smiled. "Okay then, have fun. Oh, you might want to wait a couple days, I heard that Mikado's out of town," she advised before heading back the way she came. Behind her, Perfume pulled out her ax and checked the blade's sharpness with a smile.

XXXXX

Back at the Tendos', Akane, with the help of Ranma and Shampoo, had moved Ryoga to the common room and onto some blankets. He was still unconscious and unresponsive to anything they tried. Akane placed a damp cloth on his forehead, still looking concerned.

"I hope he's okay," she said.

"He just fainted, that's all," Ranma said dismissive from the nearby table.

"Maybe I should get Dr. Tofu," Akane thought aloud.

"Nah, he'll be-" Ranma started to say before Shampoo cut him off.

"No, we go get him, okay?" Shampoo said eagerly, giving Ranma a particular look.

Ranma puzzled for a second before cluing in and quickly got to his feet. "Ah, sure, yeah, let's go. Better safe than sorry," he said quickly.

Akane looked at them curiously as Shampoo and Ranma left. 'What are they up to?' she wondered but dismissed the matter with a sigh and returned to tending to Ryoga. After several more minutes Nabiki returned.

"Still out, is he?" She commented as she came into the room.

"Uhhuh," Akane responded before blinking in realization. "Wait a sec, how did you know?"

"Ranma told me," Nabiki said, pointing behind her.

Akane looked at Nabiki skeptically for a second, but a slight moan from Ryoga redirected her attention. "Oh. I hope he's okay."

"I'm sure he is, just too much excitement for him," Nabiki said as she walked over and took a look.

Akane looked up at her sister in confusion. "Excitement?"

"As if you don't know," Nabiki said with a sly grin.

"Know what?" Akane said in confusion.

"Oh, don't act so naive sis, you're not fooling me," Nabiki pressed on, waving her finger at Akane in mock disapproval.

Akane rose to her feet, tense. "Nabiki! What are you talking about?!"

"You mean you really don't know?" Nabiki said with seeming surprise.

"Know what?!" Akane nearly yelled in frustration.

Nabiki looked at Akane in seeming skepticism. "No fooling?"

"No!" Akane once more nearly yelled. "I haven't a clue what you're talking about!"

"Oh, that would explain it," Nabiki said as if realizing something.

"Would you mind telling me what this is all about?!" Akane demanded, her frustration near its peak.

"Well, I don't know-" Nabiki replied in mock uncertainty.

"Nabiki!" Akane now threatened, causing her sister to raise her hands defensively.

"Okay, okay, you convinced me. But, not here. Come on," Nabiki directed and lead Akane into the hall and out of sight of Ryoga. "Seeing as how you don't know, I really shouldn't be telling you this, but... alright. You see, Ryoga had something really important to ask you."

"What? What was he going to ask me?" Akane asked, suddenly tense.

Nabiki held her chin in consideration. "Well, that I can't tell you."

"Nabiki!"

Nabiki shook her head. "Sorry Akane, Its not like I don't want to. I don't want to tell you one thing and be wrong. I mean, honestly I'm not positive, just taking an educated guess. He was really excited... but, if I'm wrong it could be really embarrassing..."

"How much?" Akane asked tiredly.

Nabiki cringed, but shook her head. "Nonono, this is a matter of principle."

Akane growled. "A lot of help you are!" she complained.

Nabiki smiled inwardly. 'This is working better than I thought. She's all worked up now.' "Have patience sis, he'll ask you when he's ready," Nabiki said then once more put on the act of uncertainty. "Of course, maybe he's too afraid to ask."

"WHAT?! Why would he be afraid of me?!" Akane exclaimed.

"Gee, I don't know," Nabiki replied.

Just then, Ranma and Shampoo returned, followed by Dr. Tofu. "So, where's the young man?" the doctor asked as they entered.

Akane calmed herself and pointed to the common room. "In there, Dr. Tofu."

Dr. Tofu nodded in acknowledgment and headed into the room. With Akane distracted for the second, Ranma and Shampoo gave Nabiki a questioning look. She responded with a smile and a nod, prompting them to follow the doctor in.

Nabiki thought for a moment then gestured for Akane to come in closer. "Actually, if you really want to know, I may just have the trick right here," she said in a whisper, pulling the vial of 612 perfume from her pocket.

Akane looked at the bottle in puzzlement. "What's that?"

"It's a special perfume formulation I got off of Perfume. It causes anyone who smells it to become super confident for a minute. Figured I could find a good use for it, and now just might be such a time."

"Then he'd be able to ask me," Akane realized aloud.

Nabiki nodded. "Should be able to."

"Well, give it to me then," Akane demanded and Nabiki handed over the vial. After briefly examining the bottle, she opened it and applied a few drops to her neck. "I don't feel any different. Sure this stuff works?" she asked in uncertainty as she took a smell of the liquid inside before closing it.

"Oh, it only works on men, not women," Nabiki amended.

Akane nodded in understanding before looking back at the common room. "Okay then," she said with resolve and entered the room. Behind her, Nabiki smiled in triumph before following.

Inside, Dr. Tofu had managed to awaken Ryoga who was now sitting up. While the others watched, he finished his examination. "He'll be fine. Just fainted, that's all," he concluded.

"That's what I said," Ranma said before getting an elbow jab from Shampoo.

"Thank you, Dr. Tofu," Akane said with a smile.

"No problem at all," Tofu said and started to head out. He passed by Akane and, as he did so, paused. "Hmm, what a pleasant..." he said dreamily before suddenly growing serious. "Does Kasumi happen to be home?"

"Yeah, I think she's in the kitchen," Ranma answered, both he and Shampoo looked surprised by the ease at which the doctor brought said topic up. Tofu gave Ranma a quick nod of thanks before rushing from the room. "What's with him?" he asked.

Nabiki peaked into the hall to see Tofu enter the kitchen where he announced himself to Kasumi. "Oops," she whispered before returning her attention to the others. "Oh well. Ah, Ranma, you might want to..." she began to warn, but it was already too late as he too was now smelling the air and looking a bit different.

"Hey, that smells..." Ranma commented with a pleasant smile. Like Tofu before him, his expression quickly grew more serious and he turned his attention on a still confused Shampoo. He quickly considered and grabbed her by the wrist. "Shampoo, let's go talk somewhere."

Shampoo, by this point totally confused about what exactly was going on, could only follow as Ranma pulled her from the room and into the yard. "Ranma, you okay?"

"I'm great!" he replied as he and Shampoo left sight.

'It is definitely working,' Nabiki thought before leaning into Akane and whispering, "I think you better take that stuff off after."

"Ahh, yeah," Akane replied, looking after Shampoo and Ranma in uncertainty.

"Here, I'll leave you two alone," Nabiki said, quickly leaving before Akane could protest.

Akane had been about to do just that, feeling suddenly nervous. 'What am I nervous about?' she asked herself and shook her head to dismiss the unwanted feeling and returned her attention to Ryoga.

The lost boy was no less puzzled by the strange behavior of Ranma and Tofu than Shampoo was, but did not get any longer to ponder it as Akane approached him and sat down, trying to smile comfortingly.

"Ryoga, Nabiki said you had something important to ask me," Akane prompted, causing Ryoga to once more be gripped by nervousness.

"Well, I... well... I... kinda..." he started to stammer just as a light breeze went through the room. Like Ranma and Tofu before him, Ryoga caught the sent. For a second it was simply calming, then Ryoga blinked, wondering just what was the trouble. All his worries about rejection were quickly deemed unimportant and Ryoga looked at Akane seriously. "Akane, will you go out with me?"

Akane was caught completely off guard by this. "Ahhh, go out with you?" she repeated in shock.

Ryoga took Akane's hands into his own and gazed into her eyes. "Akane, you are the sweetest, kindest, most wonderful person I know. I am hardly worthy of even being next to you, but please say yes."

Akane was dumbstruck. As the seconds ticked away she finally reassembled some sense and finally managed to respond, "sure, why not." A small, honest smile, formed on her face.

Out in the hall, peeking in, Nabiki grinned to her self and nodded before heading off to the kitchen. The sight within pulled her to a stop as Tofu apparently had gone even further than Ryoga, and currently had Kasumi embraced and in a kiss.

"Hmm, powerful stuff," Nabiki quietly remarked before noticing Shampoo walk by, a huge grin on her face. "Very powerful," Nabiki amended.

XXXXX

The next morning the residents of the Tendo home were all gathered for breakfast, including Ryoga. Ryoga was tense after his encounter with Akane the previous day, and more so now because Akane was sitting right next to him. For Akane's part, although not nearly as nervous as Ryoga, Shampoo could tell she was far from relaxed.

Shampoo had to give Nabiki credit. If nothing else, this little scheme had certainly distracted Akane. For the first time in weeks she had not gone on one of her nightly walks, instead spending much of the night fussing over having been blind sided by Ryoga's feelings. Even now, with Shampoo and Ranma sitting next to each other across from her, Akane had paid them little mind, more preoccupied with her new situation.

As Akane neared the end of her meal, she finally spoke up. "Ah, I'll met you here, after school, okay Ryoga?" she asked.

Ryoga started and nervously began playing with his fingers. "Ahh, yeah, s... sure."

Soun suddenly looked up at this. "Is my little girl going on a date?" he asked.

"Well..." Akane started, blushing just slightly in embarrassment. This feeling was quickly compounded when, displaying speed that seemed to rival Soon Li's, he popped up behind Akane and Ryoga. Seizing each by the shoulder in such a way that forced them to lean towards each other, Soun beamed.

"Wonderful! Ryoga, I expect you to show Akane a good time," Soun said happily.

"Dadddd!" Akane complained as her minor embarrassment turned major.

Ryoga, who by this point was likewise blushing, managed to respond. "I'll be sure to do that, Mr. Tendo."

Soon Li looked at the couple in curiosity and amusement, then cast a glance over at Nabiki, Shampoo and Ranma. All three quickly found things to divert their attention. Dismissing that for the moment, Soon Li returned her attention to Akane and Ryoga. "I hope you have a nice night, but no later than ten you two."

"Uh... Alright," Akane replied, relieved as this prompted her father to finally release them and return to his place.

Suddenly a knock at the front door was heard. "International Delivery!" A man's voice called out.

"I'll get it," Kasumi said with her usual smile, and headed out. A moment later she returned carrying a letter.

"A letter? Who's it for, Kasumi?" Nabiki asked.

"It's for Shampoo," Kasumi replied as she handed the letter over.

Everybody took notice of this, looking curiously over. "Who's it from?" Ranma asked what everyone was interested in.

"No know. Shampoo no know anyone in USA," Shampoo said as she looked over the return address before opening it up. "It in Chinese," she said in surprise and began reading, her mood shifting as she did, first to puzzlement, then finally to tension.

"Well?" Ranma asked cautiously.

Shampoo did not reply, instead handing the letter back to Kasumi. Kasumi took that as a prompt and began reading it aloud. "Hmm, it says: Dear Shampoo, I have at last found the great treasure I have been searching for all these years. It took me quite a while to track you down but finally I am coming. I should arrive on the night you receive this letter. It is very important that I speak to you. It's signed Mousse."

"Mousse! I heard that name before," Ranma thought aloud.

"Yes, he one that get Shampoo cursed!" Shampoo replied, betraying a bit of anger.

Soon Li took the letter from Kasumi as Kasumi returned to her meal. "Hmm, he gave it specific delivery instructions so I'd say he is probably coming tonight. It seems important, whatever it is. I wonder what this treasure is?"

"A little dramatic, don't you think?" Nabiki commented

Shampoo huffed.

"Are you going to talk to him?" Soon Li asked.

Shampoo looked off at the yard, giving only a, "Hmm," in reply.

"We would understand if you don't-" Soun began to say, but Shampoo cut him off.

"No, Shampoo speak with Mousse," she said, looking back at the others.

Nabiki grinned. "Is this guy the real sympathetic sort?"

"No even think about it, Nabiki!" Shampoo warned.

Nabiki waved this off. "Just a joke," she said, but Shampoo continued to frown at her.

"Maybe I should stay home," Akane said suddenly.

Just as suddenly, Nabiki, Shampoo, Ranma and even Soun replied, "No!" The effect of this was enough to cause Akane to pull back in shock.

"No need to ruin Akane's evening too. You go, Shampoo be fine," Shampoo quickly added with a forced smile.

Ranma joined her. "Yeah. Besides, I'll be here."

"And so will we," Soun added, pulling Genma in close by the shoulder. Genma was initially surprised, but quickly nodded.

"Yeah sis, nothing's going to happen. You just go out and have a good time," Nabiki said at last.

"Ahh, okay," Akane said as she reset her positioning. She nearly opened her mouth to add something, but seeing everyone watching her intensely caused her to drop the idea.

XXXXX

A short time later, Nabiki, Ranma, Shampoo and Akane were on their way to school. Akane had drifted to the front of the group, allowing the others to gather a short distance behind.

"You two didn't..." Nabiki began to ask in whisper.

Ranma paled and quickly shook his head. "No!" he replied, also in whisper. "What happened anyway? I mean, everything felt so easy all of a sudden."

"Oh, just some stuff that makes you hyper confident," Nabiki explained with a sly smile.

"Oh," Ranma replied in some confusion. "But didn't last long... That's really what I wanted to do?"

"Come on, Saotome. You are a man now, aren't you?" Nabiki teased, causing Ranma to blush and look away.

Shampoo slowed down a bit to walk next to Ranma, smiling seductively at him. "Maybe we continue where left off later, hmm?" she said.

"Ahh, well..." he replied before desperately changing topics. "Are you sure Ryoga won't wander off?"

"Don't worry about it. Kasumi promised to keep an eye on him. I made sure to emphasize how important this date was to her, so he won't be going anywhere. Nothing can go wro-"

"Akane Tendo!" Kuno called out up ahead.

"I shouldn't have even opened my mouth," Nabiki said tiredly as she and the other looked ahead to see Kuno standing before Akane with a huge bouquet of red roses..

"It has come to my attention that you have lost the protection that the pig-tailed one afforded you, but fear not. I, Tatewaki Kuno, the Blue Thunder of Furinkan High, shall protect you from those unworthy masses that would seek your company," Kuno declared.

"Oh, great!" Ranma said in a sigh.

"Ahh, that's nice of you Kuno, but I'll be fine," Akane said.

Kuno covered his eyes with his hands, weeping. "Ah, I am moved by your bravery but I cannot allow you to face such a challenge alone."

"Maybe Shampoo should knock him-" Shampoo began to say, already taking a step forward.

"No, I'll handle this," Nabiki quickly intervened. Walking forward, she grabbed Kuno by the wrist. "Kuno babe, ah, we need to talk." Confused, Kuno allowed himself to be pulled away, out of earshot of the others. "You're going about this all wrong, Kuno."

"How do you mean?" Kuno asked suspiciously.

Leaning in close, prompting him to do likewise, Nabiki whispered into his ear, "You can't go openly spreading around that Akane's no longer spoken for. Every guy in school will go after her as soon as they find that out."

"Of course! Such knowledge should be kept confidential," Kuno said in sudden realization.

"Precisely, and that means you can't go chasing after Akane in public, right?" Nabiki added.

Kuno went into thought. "Yes, I see your point. Others may have spies all around, waiting for their moment to strike."

Nabiki hesitated. "Y...yeah."

"I shall take your words to heart, Nabiki Tendo," Kuno said and began walking off in thought.

"Good, see you around," Nabiki said as he departed then returned to the others. "All taken care of."

The others sighed in relief. After Nabiki rejoined the group, they continued on their way, Akane looking at Nabiki is a mixture of suspicion and surprise. "You're being unusually... charitable in the last few days," she noted.

"Yes, well, don't get used to it," Nabiki cautioned.

Akane shook her head, dismissing that matter and turning to another. "Why didn't anyone tell me Ryoga liked me?"

"Shampoo thought was obvious," Shampoo replied.

"Yeah, it was pretty obvious," Ranma agreed.

Akane tensed in frustration. "It was not!" she protested. "You guys didn't put him up to this, did you?"

"Up to asking you out, yes," Nabiki admitted. "But," she quickly added, "he definitely likes you. That part was all him. Besides, it was really you who got him to ask."

"I... you tricked me to do that," Akane protested once more. "Poor Ryoga nearly fainted again after the perfume wore off."

"Well, at least he didn't propose," Nabiki replied.

"Like anyone would do that," Ranma said.

XXXXX

Later, Kuno was siting in the empty kendo club hall, contemplating. 'I've have come to a quandary. I must protect my love Akane from those that would unrightfully seek her company yet I cannot be seen with her for fear of revealing that she is now available. Hmmmm.'

After pondering this for a long moment, a small man in a black ninja outfit came in from the shadows in a rush, tripped, recovered and knelt before Kuno. "Master," he said in greeting.

"Ahh, Sasuke, what have you to report?" Kuno asked.

"Ahh, well, actually nothing, Master. Things seems to be as normal as ever," Sasuke replied.

"Hmm, yes but they will not be for long. I must find a way to protect Akane without being seen with her," Kuno said.

"Perhaps I-"

Kuno let out a laugh. "You! You couldn't fight your way out of a wet paper bag! No, there must be another way."

Sasuke took the insult without complaint, "Of course, Master," he said meekly before offering, "Perhaps a disguise?"

"A disguise?! I, Tatewaki Kuno, could never stoop to the level of deception," Kuno said in disgust.

"Of course-" Sasuke began to say, before Kuno cut him off.

"But, I could travel in concealment," Kuno said.

"In concealment, Master?" Sasuke repeated in confusion.

"All I need do is wear attire that no one would suspect the great Tatewaki Kuno to wear. Yes, that's it, no one will suspect that it is actually the Blue Thunder that watches over the lovely Akane," Kuno analyzed, already impressed with his own plan.

"I see, Master, a disguise without an actual disguise. How ingenious of you," Sasuke praised.

Kuno nodded and smiled confidently. "Of course. Come Sasuke, there's not a moment to lose. To the clothing stores!"

Soon Kuno left the club room with Sasuke following closely behind. Neither noticed Shampoo on the roof, watching and shaking her head in annoyance. After a second more, she got up and jumped off the roof, vaulted off several other nearby buildings and landed behind the equipment locker where Ranma and Nabiki were waiting.

"It no work. He use disguise to stay near Akane," Shampoo said.

Nabiki sighed tiredly. "Got to give him credit. He's persistent," she said and thought for a moment, but nothing was coming to her. "Well, I'm fresh out of ideas."

"Maybe I could just knock him cold for the night," Ranma said, emphasizing the idea with a fist.

"No, Kuno quick recovery. You need knock out several times. Attract attention, that bad," Shampoo replied.

"And even Kuno's thick skull has limits. Don't want to do any lasting damage," Nabiki added.

"Yeah, guess so. Besides, I don't like the idea of hitting someone while they're down, even him," Ranma conceded.

All three entered thought for a moment before Nabiki got the start of an idea. "All we need to do is keep him distracted all night. Hmmm," she said then turned smiling deviously to Ranma. "Ranma, Kuno really likes your girl half, right?"

"Oooohhhh no!" Ranma said, quickly withdrawing and waving his hands in warding. "No way! Uh uh! Not a chance!"

"Oh come on. You don't need to do anything serious with him. Just get him to take you somewhere, a movie or dinner or something, just long enough for Akane and Ryoga to get through their date," Nabiki argued.

"Hey, you don't know what it's like! It's sickening having another guy in love with you!" Ranma protested.

Shampoo considered, but finally turned to Ranma. "Please Ranma. For Shampoo? For Akane?" she pleaded, putting on her most convincing look. "Shampoo would do self, but..."

"Yeah, I know, Mousse..." Ranma said, trying to resist the girls combined pleading looks. Nabiki's he found easy to ignore, but Shampoo's finally cracked through. "Err, okay, okay, okay! I'll do it! I'll do it! Just stop looking at me that way!"

Shampoo suddenly hugged him. "Oh, much thanks, Ranma."

"Yeah, yeah, yeah, but I'm not going to like this," Ranma said sadly. "And only this once. After this, Ryoga is on his own. I'm just doing this for Akane's sake."

XXXXX

After school, back at the Tendo home in Ranma's room, Ryoga was just finishing dressing in a borrowed black tuxedo. Nervously he fiddled with the tie in front of a mirror before Ranma came up behind him and swatted him on the back of the head lightly.

"Stop messing with it! It's fine," Ranma said.

"You sure?" Ryoga asked in uncertainty.

"Yes! Now just relax would you!" Ranma replied with a frown.

Ryoga nodded, and stared at himself in the mirror, forcing himself to breath deeply. "Relax. Yeah, that's it, relax. I can do this. I mean, after all, it's only a... d... d... d... d..." he said, succumbing suddenly to nervousness at the end.

"A date. A date! Man Ryoga, if you get through this alive it'll be a miracle!" Ranma exclaimed in frustration.

"You're not helping!"

"Well, if you would relax..."

XXXXX

Down the hall and in Akane and Shampoo's bedroom, Akane also stood in front of a mirror wearing a yellow and white flowery dress with gem-stud earrings. Nabiki and Shampoo stood behind her, nodding approvingly.

"Isn't this a little much?" Akane asked nervously.

Nabiki shook her head. "No way. It's perfect."

"He said we're just going out. It is not that big of deal," Akane denied nervously.

"Going out with a boy is just another way of saying going out on a date," Nabiki argued.

"Date?!" Akane repeated.

"Yes, date. You're not nervous are you?" Nabiki asked.

Akane shook her head. "No! Of course not!"

"Then there shouldn't be any problem."

Akane bite her lower lips for a second. "Are you sure you're going to be okay, Shampoo?" she asked.

Shampoo frowned. "Shampoo be fine, and stop look for excuse to no go."

"You know, this isn't exactly what I was expecting to be asked," Akane said.

"Yeah, well, you said yes, didn't you?" Nabiki pointed out.

"Well... ah... yes, I guess I did," Akane admitted.

"Then stop worrying and go out and have a good time already!" Nabiki ordered.

Akane looked back at them, then once more at the mirror in uncertainty before firming herself. "Yeah, you're right. I guess I'm ready then," she said and turned away, before regressing and asking, "You sure this isn't too much?"

Nabiki, having reached the end of her patience, grabbed onto Akane's arm and pulled her out the door. "Sure I'm sure. Now come on."

Akane managed to pull herself free of the grasp just as they entered the hall. However, there she caught sight of Ryoga, who was now waiting with a bouquet of mixed flowers which if Akane were to guess were in fact hand picked. That and the tuxedo pulled her up short.

Likewise, the still nervous Ryoga took notice of Akane. Immediately he went into a wide eyed stunned state at seeing her.

After a moment of mutual silence, Akane finally broke her own shock to step forward. "Oh, Ryoga, those are for me?" she asked.

"Ahhh... Ahhhh... Ahhhh... Yeah," Ryoga managed to reply. He looked down at the flowers stupidly for a second as if unable to figure out what exactly to do with them, before finally his mind kicked in and he offered them to Akane.

"Thanks Ryoga, that's really sweet of you," Akane said. "Did you pick them yourself?"

Ryoga smiled nervously. "Well... ah, yeah. Kasumi helped me."

As another silent moment began to take hold, Nabiki forestalled such but giving Akane a push. "Okay, you two, the evening is a wasting here. I'll put these in some water for you."

"Ah, right," Akane said, and building up her courage took Ryoga by the hand. Ryoga immediately went into a silly grin and nearly zoned out before Ranma gave him another swat to the head.

"Concentrate," Ranma whispered before Ryoga could protest.

"Right," Ryoga said and looked to Akane.

"Shall we go?" Akane asked with a smile.

"Ahh, yeah... YEAH! Let's go," Ryoga said and lead the way down the stairs.

After exchanging their goodbyes, everyone within let out a collective sigh of relief.

However, for Ranma, that relief was short live. "Ahhh, man, I guess that means I got to get going."

"Yep," Nabiki said. "Just keep Kuno away from Akane and Ryoga, that's all. And if you do happen to get close, don't let Akane see you. Who knows how she'd react."

"Right," Ranma acknowledged before turning to Shampoo. "Shampoo, you sure this Mousse guy won't be any trouble?"

"No trouble," Shampo answered.

Ranma nodded, sighed, and walked to the stairs. "Okay then, guess I'll be off."

After Ranma departed, Shampoo and Nabiki noticed Kasumi was likewise readying to leave. "Where you off to, Kasumi?" Nabiki asked curiously.

"I promised to meet Dr. Tofu for dinner tonight. We were going to discuss the wedding plans."

"Oh, alright, have a good... wait... WHAT?!" Nabiki said, her surprise shared by Shampoo

"Oh, didn't I mention. Dr. Tofu proposed to me yesterday," Kasumi said with a wide smile. Clutching her hands in front of her in delight, she added, "It was so romantic, I just couldn't refuse."

"Uh... I know he likes you and all, sis, but don't you think this is a little sudden?" Nabiki said, still a bit in shock.

"Sudden? Oh, I suppose it is a bit sudden, but we do see each other a great deal," Kasumi replied.

"See each other?" Shampoo stepped up to ask. "When?"

"Now and then. You're usually at school at the time," Kasumi replied. "Anyway, I should be going."

"Right," Nabiki replied weakly, giving her sister a goodbye wave as she departed, taking note that Kasumi even had a new ring on. "Geez, he even got her a ring," Nabiki commented as Kasumi left. "Has he been carrying that thing around the whole time?"

"Guess so," Shampoo concluded with a confused shrug.

Before either could further dwell on this, Soun came into view, fighting back tears.

"Ah, Daddy, you okay?" Nabiki asked.

Soun sniffled, and answered, "I'm just so... so... happy! Kasumi and Shampoo are getting married, and my little Akane is out on her first date."

Nabiki let out a sigh of mild disgust. "Right daddy."

After a few more seconds, Soun turned suddenly serious and looked hard at Nabiki. "So, what about my other little girl?"

"Ahh, me?" Nabiki asked in sudden nervousness.

"Of course," Soun said.

"Well, I got... plans," Nabiki offered feebly, for the first time in a long time feeling truly nervous.

Fortunately, this seemed to be enough for Soun as he broke into a joyful smile. "Wonderful! Bring him over the first chance you get." With that, Soun returned to the common room, allowing Nabiki to release a heavy sigh of relief.

"I got myself into this predicament, didn't I?" Nabiki commented, looking to Shampoo who only smiled and nodded.

XXXXX

A short time later, a now female Ranma stood at the gate to a very large home, that owned by the Kuno family. Sighing one last time, she steeled herself and knocked on the gate a few times then waited impatiently. Finally, Sasuke opened the gate.

"Welcome to the great and noble house of Kuno madame. What can I..." The Kuno family ninja began to say before recognizing their guest. "You're Ranma aren't you?"

"Uhhuh," Ranma replied. "Could you get Kuno for me?"

"Of course," Sasuke said and rushed off to the main house.

Ranma watched him enter, and leaned against the gateway to wait. 'I can't believe I'm doing this,' she thought before suddenly finding Kuno in front of her with a bouquet of red roses. 'Geez, he's pretty fast,' Ranma thought in wonder.

"Ahh, my pig-tailed goddess, what brings you to my humble abode this night?" he asked.

"Well actually, I was kinda wondering... what you're doing tonight?" Ranma asked. 'Maybe he's just staying in and I can get out of here.'

Looking off to the street dramatically, Kuno replied. "Tonight I must set out to protect the fair Akane Tendo."

'Rats!'

"It is so unfortunate that you were forced to make a choice to avert suspicions as to your nature," Kuno continued causing Ranma to become angry.

"I'm a gu..." Ranma started to exclaim, but caught herself. 'Not tonight, got to keep him busy. Just drop it,' she thought, took a breath, then said, "Yeah, right, very unfortunate."

Kuno offered the roses to Ranma. "Please accept these with my sincere apologies, but I must now prepare for the night ahead. I hope that we will not be parted for long, my love. Good day."

Ranma reluctantly accepted the bouquet but as Kuno turned to leave spoke. "And I was so hoping that you'd be able to take me out tonight," she said in a halfhearted disappointed voice that most would see through easily. Kuno was not most though.

Instantly, the kendoist was back at Ranma's side, holding her hand. "I would not think of dashing your hopes, my pig-tailed one. Of course I will allow you to date with me this night."

With a forced smile, Ranma replied, "Great!"

XXXXX

At roughly about that moment, across town a way, within a western style restaurant, Akane and Ryoga were sitting at a table together looking over the menu. A waiter stood nearby, patiently smiling and waiting for their orders.

Ryoga puzzled over the menu, sweating nervously, before pointing to one particularly menu item. "ah, what's this?"

"That's prime rib sir. It's considered quite a delicacy," the waiter politely replied.

"Okay then, that sounds good. I'll have that," Ryoga said with a bit of relief.

"And how would you want that?" the waiter asked as he took down the order.

"Ahh, cooked?" Ryoga suggested in uncertainty.

The waiter paused, smiled, and continued writing on his pad. "Yes, of course. And you madame?"

"Umm," Akane said as she too was having trouble with the menu. "I'll try that too," she said after a few seconds.

"Certainly," the waiter replied and headed off after retrieving the menus.

With nothing else to distract, the two were now forced to give their attention to the other. Ryoga gave Akane a nervous glance but quickly stared down at his drink.

"We could have gone somewhere else," Akane suggested.

"Nono, this is fine," Ryoga said quickly.

"Okay."

Ryoga reasserted a measure of courage and looked up, giving Akane a nervous smile, but could not hold it and quickly returned to his examination of his drink. Although Akane too was feeling nervous, she was considerably more controlled than Ryoga. She shook her head in mild amusement at her partner's plight, and reached across the table to gently touch Ryoga's hand.

"Come on Ryoga, relax a little," she said in a calming tone.

Unfortunately, this seem to do anything but calm Ryoga. He did look up, but the cup he was holding began to shake. "Oh, I'm not nervous. I'm fine, really!" Ryoga said, almost squeaking. Before Akane could reply, the cup shattered.

"Yeah, right," Akane said with a smile, but could not help but laugh inwardly.

XXXXX

Back at the Tendo home, Shampoo laid on her bed, thinking. She too now had nothing to distract her, and was thinking about the coming encounter. For a minute her eyes were fixed on the ceiling, before she grew tired of that, and rolled over, adjusted to lay on her pillow and stare out the window. Unfortunately, after only a minute of that, she once more rolled over, this time putting her pillow over her face. This lasted only a few seconds before she tossed it aside and continued staring at the ceiling, her thoughts going far back.

XXXXX

It was nearly ten years ago, and a young Shampoo who looked like she had been having a rough time of things was staring out over the valley of springs before her. Each was a small pool, with tall bamboo sticks stuck vertically in them, sometimes several poles to the pool. This, of course, was Jusenkyo. It was at the time, for Shampoo, a place of myth, and many rumors. However, one thing was for sure, she did not want to be here.

Unfortunately, such was not her choice. Behind her, her great grandmother Cologne, a withered tiny old woman, barely two feet in height if even that, was balanced on her cane. The old woman, who up to a few weeks ago had been a stern but fair teacher of Shampoo as far back as she could remember, right now seemed on the verge of exploding in anger and Shampoo was not about to push her.

"I care not for your excuses," Cologne said sternly.

"But-" Shampoo tried to say, but was cut off.

"No! You will train here until I am satisfied that you are worthy to return to the village. Is that understood?" Cologne commanded.

Shampoo meekly nodded. "Yes Great-grandmother."

Cologne seemed to relent some at this. "Good. Go about your basic exercises for now. I will return shortly and we will begin more intensive training. If I catch you slacking..."

"You won't," Shampoo quickly interjected, gaining a scolding look for interrupting, but was let off with that.

"I best not," Cologne cautioned. "Now, where is that silly guide?" she wondered aloud and hopped off on her cane.

Despite the warning, Shampoo sighed and collapsed to the ground to rub her eyes, already beginning to sting. Things could get little worse, she had convinced herself. Just as she was considering getting up, a motion caught her attention. Turning in fright, fully expecting Cologne, she instead found a young boy in glasses she knew very well. However, his presence was little better than Cologne's.

The boy adjusted his glasses, and now sure of what he was seeing, called out in concern, "Shampoo!"

"Mousse, you scared me. What do you want?" Shampoo asked in a mixture of relief and annoyance.

"I just wanted to see if you were okay," Mousse said with a concerned look.

"I'm fine, now go away!" Shampoo ordered.

Mousse approached another couple steps. "You don't look fine."

"Like you would know," she bitterly commented. "I said I'm fine!"

Mousse stopped his approach, searching for words. "I... I heard you were being teased by everyone."

Shampoo angrily turned away. "Yeah, so what?!"

"I just wanted to know if you wanted any help?" Mousse asked meekly.

"I don't need any of your help, Mousse."

Mousse hesitated, but finally hung his head and nodded. "Ahh, okay then," he said sadly and started to turn away. After only a second though, he stopped, pushed his glasses up onto his forehead and turned back to Shampoo. "I don't care what the others say, I still love you, Shampoo."

It normally was a declaration that Shampoo found irritating. Today, though, it felt comforting. "You do?"

"Of course, I would love you no matters what!" Mousse declared with more confidence.

"You really don't mind that I'm weak?" Shampoo asked, casting her eyes to the ground.

"No!" he said easily. "Just makes you easier to beat," he added after a second in jest, but Shampoo took it quite differently.

Shampoo spun around to face Mousse, scared, backing off several steps, ending up unknowingly just short of a nearby pool. "Don't you even dare Mousse! I'm not ready!" she said in a fix of fear and pleading.

"No! No! I did mean it. I was just joking," Mousse quickly explained.

Examining him for a second, Shampoo let herself ease, but nonetheless, tears started to once more form in her eyes. "I don't know what I'm going to do anymore. Great-grandmother is so mad at me. I don't know what's wrong with me," she said, choking back at the end. Unable to control the emotion, she hid her face in her hands.

Mousse watched this in concern, and on impulse once more approached. "Oh please Shampoo, don't cry. I-" he started to say, but just then snagged his foot on a protruding rock. It was enough to upset his balance and he stumbled forward.

Shampoo, her face still covered by her hands, could not see the threat in time. Mousse took two shaky steps forward in his attempt to recover, but unfortunately, the second step was right into Shampoo. Unprepared, she tumbled backwards and directly into the pool behind her, while Mousse fell to the ground, coming just short of the pool's edge. He pushed himself up to his hands and knees, but could see no signs of Shampoo.

At that moment, the Jusenkyo guide, who had been coming into the area from the opposite side and had taken notice of the two children finished his run to their position. "Oh, I'm too late," he said with a sad shake of his head.

Mousse quickly put his glasses back on, and found a small pink and white cat now breaking the surface of the water and struggling in a panic. This momentarily confused the boy as he scanned the pool in a panic of his own for Shampoo. ""What happened?! Where's Shampoo?!" He asked desperately as he searched.

The guide reached into the pool and pulled the cat out. "This is her right here," he answered, shocking Mousse.

"WHAT?!" Mousse exclaimed in confusion.

"These are the Cursed Springs of Jusenkyo. This one here is the Maoniichuan, spring of drown cat. A cat drown here 1800 years ago. Now whatever falls in this spring takes the body of a cat. Such a waste," the guide explained, the transformed Shampoo now in his arms ceasing her struggle to instead go into a numb shock.

Mousse, in denial shook his head, but as he continued to examine the cat in the guide's arms, the truth began to take hold. "NO! Shampoo, I'm so, so sorry! I didn't mean to. I..." he started to say, but unable to face her any longer he bolted from the area.

XXXXX

By the time evening had arrived, Shampoo was dearly wishing for a situation as good as the morning. After finding Shampoo now cursed, Cologne had learned from the guide what had happened. As soon as she was transformed back, Shampoo had no time to feel relief at having her human body back. Instead she was instantly called to explain herself, and she could offer little in her defense.

They had returned to the village in silence, Shampoo not daring to say even a word. Whatever little patience she had from Cologne was now gone.

Arriving home, things went from bad to worse. Shampoo's parents were called over to Cologne's house where Shampoo was staying during her training. Cologne had explained the curse very tersely to both, and it was not long before an argument broke out. Shampoo soon found herself withdrawing into a corner of the home and trying to shield her ears.

As bad as that was, it just kept spiraling out of control. Shampoo risked looking into the other room where her mother was arguing with Cologne, and saw something truly disheartening: her mother was scared. Her mother and Cologne did not get along at the best of times. Shampoo knew little of the reasons behind this, but she had seen them argue on occasion. While those could be bitter arguments, they were never frightful. This was clearly far beyond any argument they had ever had before.

"She has consistently brought shame and disgrace to this family and now she has this curse! I could possibly forgive this if it was not for the fact that she could have easily avoided it!" Cologne yelled.

"Grandmother-" Shampoo's mother pleaded but was angrily cut off.

"Would you defend this?" Cologne asked harshly.

"She said she wasn't prepared-"

"That is no excuse!" Cologne shot back. "She should have been prepared, especially in the presence of Mousse! Our family may never live down this shame! Already we have lost much respect with the other elder families!"

"I'm sure she can recover," her father offered, but Cologne silenced him with a glare.

"She's had time to recover but if anything she has only showed signs of further degeneration! She even mocks my instruction by disobeying simple commands," Cologne said angrily.

"I'm sure-" Shampoo mother tried to say, but Cologne swung her cane threatening in her direction.

"Don't question my judgment!" Cologne ordered harshly, causing Shampoo's mother to withdraw a step in shock.

"Why do I have to be a warrior anyway?!" Shampoo suddenly blurt out, tears in her eyes. While she had intended the statement to defuse the situation, instead Cologne glared at her with even more intense anger.

Shampoo found her mother moving in front of her. "She didn't-" she began to say.

"She did," Cologne said in a sudden quiet voice.

"Grandmother!" Shampoo's mother pleaded.

"I don't wish to hear another word!" Cologne snapped, silencing everyone. Cologne eyed Shampoo's parents, and seeing both meekly withdraw from such, continued. "I see no other choice, Shampoo must be punished for this and there is only one suitable punishment," she said evenly and refocused on Shampoo. This time the parents held their positions as Cologne spoke. "Child, look at me!" she ordered.

Shampoo, who had been looking to her parents only to find them looking away, now did as bidden. Cologne looked at her for a long moment, her expression unreadable, then finally spoke. "You will leave this house by the end of the night and never return. You will not be recognized as a member of this family any longer."

It took a moment for Shampoo to comprehend what she was just told. Her parents, however, were shaken out of their silence. "No, you cannot do-" Shampoo's mother tried to say, but Cologne would not have it.

"I have spoken! Do you wish to challenge me on this matter?" Cologne asked, making clear to all that such a challenge was one that would be made not with words. Shampoo's mother and father both took this in shock.

Breaking into tears, Shampoo rushed forward. "Please Great grandmother, I can get better."

Cologne coldly turned away. "Do not expect to get any sympathy from me child. You are no longer my great granddaughter, so never speak to me as such again," she said dangerously before moving to the door. "I suggest you gather your belongings. I expect you to be gone by the time I return. And do not think to find shelter in any of my family's company." Saying no more, Cologne left.

Shampoo's mother looked about, not sure what to do. After a moment, she looked to Shampoo, "Shampoo, don't worry. We'll talk to her," she said, but the words felt hallow.

"Do you really think she'll change her mind?" her father asked, to which her mother could only beckon for him to follow. The two quickly left in pursuit of Cologne.

Shampoo could do little more than collapse to the floor in tears.

XXXXX

Her father would return an hour later. He would say many things: "Be strong," "You can get through this," "Remember what you have been taught..." However, in the end all he could seem to do was help her gather her things. His last instruction to her was to go to a small training area in the woods that offered at least some shelter for the night. Then she found herself alone.

She had not even made it to the training area when emotions once more overwhelmed her. Finding a nearby tree, she sat at its base, leaving a bag and her battered old training sword sheathed at her side. With her legs pulled up close, and her head sheltered on her crossed arms, she let herself succumb to her feelings.

How long passed she could not guess, but her solitude was broken by a voice.

"Shampoo, I..." Mousse started to say as he approached her, but fell silent when Shampoo looked up at him.

Unfettered fury was clear on Shampoo's face. "You! How could you?! Because of you and that stupid Akane I'll never be able to go home again!" Shampoo yelled, her position already shifting, and her hand subconsciously reaching for her blade.

"Shampoo, I'm sorry. It was an accident," Mousse tried to explain, but it was useless.

Shampoo snatched up the sword, quickly tossed aside the sheath and faced Mousse. "SORRY?!" she yelled even louder. "MY LIFE IS OVER!" Before Mousse could respond, she rushed forward in a blind rage.

Mousse's own training thankfully took hold, and he dodged and retreated a safe distance. "Please Shampoo, I-"

Shampoo roared, cutting him off as she charged recklessly. Mousse once more dodged, and this time Shampoo caught her foot on a root. She crashed forward and slid on the ground before coming to a halt. Hesitantly, Mousse tried to approach, but stopped when Shampoo return to her feet to face him. However, this time the rage was mixed with something else, tears streaming down her cheeks. After taking in a several breaths, Shampoo suddenly dashed away. She quickly snatched up the sheath and bag and ran into the woods.

Mousse called after her, but soon she left those sounds behind.

XXXXX

In the present day, Shampoo sat up in her bed. The memories still hurt, but not as much as they once did. For the first time of the night, though, she wished she could talk with Akane.

This thought was shelved as she caught the sound of knocking at the front door. 'It's probably him,' she thought, and got up and made her way to the front door. Reaching the door, and hesitating a moment, she finally opened it to find a teenage boy.

He had long black hair, and a thin white jacket with loose fitting black pants. Shampoo was momentarily puzzled as this boy, while similar in appearance to Mousse, had no glasses, either over his eyes or on his forehead as he too often had the bad habit of placing them there.

The boy seemed momentarily to be surprised himself, and after nervously smiling asked in uncertainty, "Shampoo?"

"Mousse?" Shampoo asked in kind.

The boy nervously nodded. "Ahh, yeah."

XXXXX

Off in the common room, Genma and Soun were deep into a game of Shogi, while Nabiki sat at the table looking through various ledgers and occasionally calculating something on an abacus. Suddenly a clap of thunder tore the air, toppling over the game board and sending papers flying.

"Hmm, I guess that's Mousse," Nabiki said with a sigh.

XXXXX

Elsewhere, Ranma was still enduring Kuno's company. The pair had gone to one of the local restaurants. Ranma sat at her seat, picking lethargically at her food.

'Usually I love eating but I just don't have an appetite right now,' she thought.

"Something troubles you my pig-tailed one?" Kuno asked, but immediately hit on an answer. "Of course, you worry about the lovely Akane."

"Well, actually-" Ranma started.

"I shall send for Sasuke and-"

"Nononono! No need for that. She's fine, I know," Ranma quickly interjected.

Kuno looked at Ranma in puzzlement. "You seem to be aware of something that I am not."

"Really?" Ranma asked innocently.

"Yes. Is it that someone has already made advances on my love?" Kuno asked, already tensing as if readying for combat.

"Nonono! Not a guy within 50 meters of her!" Ranma lied.

Kuno took this at face value, but switched tracks. "I see, then perhaps it is Shampoo that you fear for?"

"Nonono! She's fine, just meeting an old acquaintance of hers tonight," Ranma said.

"Old acquaintance?"

Ranma nodded vigorously. "Ah, yeah, old friend from China, yeah. Nothing to be concerned about there."

Kuno nodded in acceptance of this. "I see."

Ranma let out a sigh of relief. 'I'll just omit that said acquaintance is a guy,' she thought before noticing Kuno still deep in thought. 'Just great! Now he's thinking about Akane and Shampoo again. Better distract him.' "Say, Kuno, why don't we go to, say maybe, a movie after this? Yeah."

Kuno refocused on Ranma. "Ahh, yes, the theater, the fine art of the cinema, of course, I will gladly take you to a movie, my pig-tailed goddess."

Ranma looked disgusted for second but managed to quickly hide such with a forced smile. "Great." 'Please let this night be over soon!'

XXXXX

Back at the western restaurant where Akane and Ryoga were, they were both now into their meals.

"So, what do you think?" Akane asked.

"Ahh, great, best Prime Rib I've ever had," Ryoga said on nervous impulse.

"I thought you never had it before?" Akane said, giving Ryoga pause.

Ryoga hesitated, but finally admitted, "Ahh, well, yes, I haven't."

Akane let out a chuckle which Ryoga nervously shared.

Ryoga, still distracted, dug into a small side dish of whitish paste and put it into his mouth. He managed to maintain a straight face for about five seconds before his eyes went wide and started to water. After considerable effort, he managed to swallow.

"Be right back," Ryoga said in a raspy voice before getting up and rushing off.

Akane looked at her own identical meal at the side curiously. Experimentally she took a small amount and placed it on her tongue and immediately regretted it. Quickly she grabbed her drink to subdue the taste. "Horse radish I think, and a pretty nasty blend too," she thought aloud.

Recovered, Akane looked off at the way Ryoga left and went into thought. 'They set me up and I fell for it. Hmm, Ryoga is a nice guy though. He's trying so hard to impress me. I should have guessed that was why he stuck around so long. I guess I was just too caught up with Ranma,.' Frowning at herself, Akane shook her head. 'I got to stop this, I'm just torturing myself. He choose Shampoo, not me. I got to move on.' She took a moment to scan the room and seeing the several couples chatting and having a good time. 'Ryoga may be no Ranma but I do kinda like him.'

As another minute passed, a realization hit Akane and she looked around urgently. "Oh no," she said, but was relieved to see the waiter escorting Ryoga back from the kitchen, a large glass of water in hand which he was drinking.

"Now, sir, just remember the side is to add flavor, not for direct consumption," the waiter said as he returned the boy to the table.

"Right, right," Ryoga replied as he sat down.

"Hot?" Akane asked with an amused smile as the waiter headed off.

"Very," Ryoga replied.

'I don't know if this will work out, but I'm going to give it a try,' Akane concluded. "Say, Ryoga, do you want to go to a movie after this?"

Ryoga blinked in surprise but quickly nodded. "Ahh, sure."

"Great!"

XXXXX

Meanwhile, at the Tendos', Mousse was slowly recovering in the common room, an ice pack on his bruised cheek. Soun, Genma, Nabiki and Shampoo all sat around the room waiting for him to regain consciousness.

"You really walloped him good, didn't you!" Nabiki said with a bit of a laugh.

Shampoo frowned. She remembered a conversation with Perfume where she had said she would do just this, but honestly she really had not truly intended it at the time. However, on seeing him face to face, the emotion of the moment just seemed to overwhelm her.

"Looks like he's coming to," Genma said as Mousse stirred.

Weakly the boy sat up, holding his cheek painfully. "I guess I deserved that," he commented before looking around and noticing those around him.

"So, you're Mousse, huh?" Nabiki asked.

Mousse nodded. "Yes," he answered as he took stock of his situation. He quickly noticed Shampoo, who responded by looking away.

"Shampoo?" he asked nervously.

"Yes?" she asked in return.

"If you want to hit me again, go right ahead, I don't mind," he said quickly, and braced, but no such hit came.

"No, one time will do," Shampoo replied to Mousse's surprise.

"You're not mad at me anymore?" Mousse asked in uncertainty.

Shampoo considers her reply for a long moment before finally shaking her head. "No."

Mousse was momentarily shocked, then suddenly overwhelmed with joy. "Oh Shampoo, you don't know how much that means to me!" he said as he got up and started to approach her, but in a flash she was gone, moved to the outer walkway.

"Do no start that again!" she said harshly, stealing some of his energy. "What you here for? What treasure you talk about in letter?" she asked.

Mousse hesitated, but quickly shook it off and searched through his jacket. "Oh, that, ahhh, it's here somewhere, ahha!" he said at last, pulling a golden bracelet out. It was ornate, decorated with falcons together in flight, and for just an instant Shampoo thought she had seen it before.

The whole family took an interest in the object, particularly Nabiki. A second later, Mousse produced another item, a scroll which he handed off, Nabiki taking it.

"This is a magical artifact I found in North America just last year," Mousse explained.

"Magical? What's it do?" Genma asked curiously.

"I can use it to cure Shampoo," Mousse declared to every one's shock.

XXXXX

At that moment, Akane and Ryoga were sitting down together in the back of a theater. After looking around the theater curiously and seeing various people with snacks and drinks, Akane stood back up.

"I'm going to get us some popcorn or something, okay?" she said.

Ryoga impulsively stood up. "I'll come with you."

Akane pushed him back into the seat gently. "No, no, you stay here. Don't want you getting lost. Nearly made that mistake in the restaurant," she said with a grin.

"Ahh, yeah," Ryoga reluctantly agreed.

Akane gave him a comforting smile. "I'll be right back."

As Akane headed off down the aisle and out the theater door, Ryoga watched her go. Alone, Ryoga let himself relax some and smiled. 'I'm finally on a date with Akane. This is wonderful, but I need to relax. Nothing is going to go wrong. Yeah, everything will be just fine,' he thought with growing confidence until something caught his eye. Several rows ahead and off to the side a bit was a young woman with red hair and a pigtail. 'No, no, couldn't be,' Ryoga thought dismissively.

Unfortunately, Ryoga's assumption proved to be false as the girl turned, looking around as if mildly annoyed, but quickly stopped at seeing Ryoga, revealing she was indeed Ranma. Both went wide eyed at confirming the identity of the other, and Ranma jumped over the seats to reach Ryoga.

"What are you doing here? Where's Akane?" Ranma demanded.

"Me?! What are you doing here?" Ryoga asked in return.

"Where's Akane?!" Ranma repeated more urgently.

"Ahh, she went to get some popcorn," Ryoga said, looking to the theater door.

"NO!" Ranma said in a fluster. "Stay here, don't move, and don't tell Akane I'm here!" she instructed as she began dashing for the aisle.

"But-" is all Ryoga could get out before Ranma headed out the door. Left behind, he could only smile nervously as several other spectators looked at him questioningly.

XXXXX

Ranma reached the lobby and quickly spotted Akane in line at the concession stand, fortunately looking through her purse. A bit more looking and she spotted Kuno ahead of Akane in another line, just finishing his own purchase. "Oh no!" Ranma moaned, realizing the second Kuno turned he would spot Akane for sure.

Rushing into action, Ranma dashed through the crowd, crashing into several people, dodging by others, while simultaneously hiding herself from Akane. Kuno was just in the process of turning when Ranma arrived and distracted him by blocking his field of vision and hugging him around the neck.

"Kuno, darling, you can't leave me alone that long. I was getting lonely," Ranma said in a cutesy voice. 'I can't believe I just said that!'

"Oh, I am dearly sorry if I frightened you. I shall endeavor to never leave you unprotected again," Kuno replied.

"Right," Ranma replied and nervously looked over her shoulder at Akane. Thankfully the gathered crowd had jumbled sufficiently to block her view. "Come on, let's get going, we might miss something," she quickly said as she released the hug and grabbed him by the arm to drag him along.

Akane tried to peak over the crowd to see the commotion but missed both Kuno and Ranma. "I wonder what that was all about?" she wondered aloud, a couple others around her shrugging in response.

XXXXX

Back at the Tendo home, Mousse's words finally sunk in all the way.

"A cure?" Shampoo repeated.

"Yes," Mousse confirmed with an eager nod.

"You'll forgive us young man, but we've heard that many times before. Exactly how does this work?" Soun asked skeptically.

"Well, ever since Shampoo was cursed, I've been looking for a way to cure her. I wasn't that successful at first, until I found that scroll," Mousse explained as Nabiki looked said scroll over.

Nabiki frowned. "Looks like a pretty old dialect. I can't make anything out of it," she said.

"I've had it translated," Mousse continued. "It describes the Bracelets of Friendship, or at least that is one name for them. They are a pair of bracelets with several magical powers. One of those powers is the ability to transfer a curse, any curse, from one person to another person who is willing to make the sacrifice of taking the other's curse. It was the one thing I ever found that has confirmation of not only existing but also working on Jusenkyo curses. I searched for many years trying to find them and as I said I finally found this one in the US."

"Don't you need both?" Nabiki asked as she set aside the scroll.

"No, the power to transfer can be performed with just one," Mousse explained before looking to Shampoo. "Shampoo, I'm the one responsible for your curse so I'll transfer it to me."

Shampoo blinked, still in shock. "You no can be sure it work," she said in uncertainty.

"Like I said, I did a lot of research and confirmed everything. I wouldn't have come here if I wasn't sure. It will definitely work, and this is definitely a genuine bracelet," Mousse replied.

"Shampoo need think about this," she replied, suddenly turning away.

"What's to think about? There's no risk to you," Mousse said in confusion.

"Yes, but you would then have curse," Shampoo responded.

Mousse shook his head in dismissal of this. "I don't mind. I'm the one that got you cursed in the first place. I should be the one with the curse, not you."

"Shampoo need think about it," Shampoo reiterated and walked out of the room.

"But..." Mousse said as she left. He hesitated a moment, looking around the room to see uncertain looks from the others. Finally he decided to head after her.

XXXXX

Back at the theater, Ranma was taking her own break to think. In the bathroom, she splashed some cold water on her face and looked at herself in the mirror before groaning.

'I don't think I can take much more of this,' she thought before sighing. "Only an hour more," she said to herself before heading out the door. "Only an hour more," she repeated just before running into Kuno.

"Fair one, I was becoming worried," Kuno said, causing Ranma to hang her shoulders.

"I'm fine Kuno, just-" she started to say with an annoyed shake of her head before spotting Ryoga coming out of the theater.

"Nono, it's no trouble really, Ak-" Ryoga was saying to someone behind him before Ranma raced into action. Quickly she dashed forward, covered Ryoga's mouth while simultaneously barring the door. Her action was just in time as a thud against the door could be heard.

"What do you think you're doing?!" Ryoga said after batting away Ranma's hand.

Said question was quickly answered as Kuno suddenly interposed himself between Ryoga and Ranma, looking at Ryoga in challenge. "I will allow not such a vulgar tone to be used in the presence of my date!" Kuno declared dangerously, before growing curious and examining Ryoga more closely. "Wait, haven't we met before?"

Ryoga frowned. "Actually, I was-" he started to respond.

"Nonono, you've never seen him before. He's new in town," Rnama quickly said before looking to Ryoga. "Right?" she stressed.

The door thudded again but Ranma managed to keep it closed.

Ryoga considered, but finally clued in. "Ah, yeah, right, just came in yesterday."

"No, I could swear that we have faced each other before," Kuno said with a growing frown.

"Probably someone else. Come on, why don't you buy me a drink. I'm really thirsty. Parched actually!" Ranma said, and quickly dragged Kuno down the hall to the concession stand.

Behind them, Akane smashed into the door a third time, but with no resistance now, tumbled into the hall to be fortunately was caught by Ryoga. Thinking on his feet, Ryoga quickly turned her so she was facing away from the direction Kuno and Ranma had gone.

"What's going on?" Akane asked in a mix of concern and annoyance.

"Ohh, nothing important. Door got stuck, that's all," Ryoga quickly replied.

"Oh, let's get those drinks then," Akane said and started to turn, but Ryoga stopped her.

"Ahhh, actually, I'll wait," Ryoga said.

Akane frowned. "Well, you can wait, I can't. Come on," she said and once more turned. This time Ryoga let her, seeing no other options. Desperately he moved to shield her view from Ranma and Kuno who had arrived and were just being served.

Up ahead, Ranma peeked over her shoulder to see the approaching pair, Ryoga giving her a desperate look. She quickly looked away to at least hide her face. 'THINK MAN! THINK!' Ranma mental yelled.

Ryoga and Akane reached the counter just as Kuno was finishing pulling his money out. Side by side, and with only the limited blocking of Ryoga, Ranma knew it was inevitable that Kuno would take notice if she did nothing. Just as a clerk came to ask Akane for her order, Ranma knocked the money from Kuno's hand and to the floor.

"Clumsy me," Ranma said in a whisper.

Kuno waved this off and together they leaned down to retrieve the money. "Not a problem," he replied in a whisper before asking, "By the way, why are we whispering?"

"No reason," Ranma replied, still in whisper.

"I'll-" Akane started to say, but fortunately Ryoga cut in.

"We'll have two medium Cokes please," the lost boy said loudly, before giving Akane a brief nervous smile.

"Coming right up," the clerk replied.

As Ryoga and Akane waited, Kuno finished the recovery of the money and was standing up. Ranma tensed, and in a lightning quick undetectable motion knocked the money from Akane's hand and to the ground.

Akane looked down in surprise, sighed and leaned over to retrieve it, barely going unnoticed by Kuno as he stood and finished his payment. As soon as such was finished and before Akane had recovered her own money, Ranma snagged Kuno by the arm and urgently began dragging him back to the theater.

"Why the haste my love?" Kuno asked.

"Don't want to miss too much of the movie," Ranma answer with a nervous laugh. 'Much more of this and I'm going to have a nervous breakdown!'

The pair entered the theater just as Akane finished and looked back their way curiously. "That almost sounded like..." she started to say, looking to Ryoga who merely smiled. With a shake of her head, she said, "Nah, just my imagination."

XXXXX

Sometime later, Shampoo was found standing in the doorway of the dojo, looking out at the night sky in contemplation. Mousse walked into her field of vision and looked at her questioningly. Reluctantly, Shampoo looked back at him.

"I hope your Mandarin hasn't gotten rusty."

"It's just fine," Shampoo replied, turning slightly into the dojo to shift her perspective.

"That's good, then I can ask you why you are so reluctant to let me do this for you?" Mousse asked. "You don't actually like this curse, do you?"

Shampoo frowned. "No, I've grown used to it but I definitely don't like it."

"Then why?"

Shampoo huffed. "There are several reasons."

"Like?" Mousse pressed.

On the spot, Shampoo scrambled. "Well...Can you use this bracelet more than once?"

Mousse frowned slightly, and answered, "Sort of, once every 50 years as I understand it, at least the curse transfer magic that is."

"Then, who's to say there isn't someone else out there who needs it more," Shampoo analyzed.

"By that argument no one would ever use it," Mousse pointed out.

Shampoo looked away. "Well, I know someone right now who could use it more. He is cursed to change to a girl. If a woman took his curse then neither would-"

Mousse shook his head. "That won't work. The person taking the curse must make a sacrifice in taking the curse. A woman would be unaffected by taking a curse to change to a woman so there is no sacrifice."

Shampoo turned fully away from Mousse and walked into the dojo. Mousse followed behind her. "There's other reasons too," Shampoo said.

"And they are?" Mousse pressed once more. Shampoo struggled for a response which was all the answer Mousse needed. "You're really worried about me, aren't you?" he asked, but got no response. His hopes rose at this. "Oh, I knew it! You really do care for me!"

"Mousse, it's not what you think," Shampoo tried to caution, but he continued on.

"Even after all this time apart, you still-" he started to say with a beaming smile but Shampoo cut him off.

"MOUSSE!" she nearly yelled, causing him to fall silent. Finally, she turned back to face him. "I don't love you, damn it! Haven't you got it through that thick skull of yours that I never loved you and I never will!" she said forcefully.

"But-" Mousse tried to say.

"No! I dealt with your stupid obsession with me when we were kids but I'm not about to let you just start this up again! I have a life now!" Shampoo continued on.

Mousse was struck by the words and grew anxious. "What do you mean?"

Shampoo considered, but finally answered, "I'm engaged."

The words sent Mousse into shock and anger. Reflexively he said, "Who? How? I'll-"

"Mousse!" Shampoo said sternly, but he continued on.

"I'll show you that I'm the stronger man! I can beat him, who ever he is!" Mousse declared confidently but was shaken out of his anger by Shampoo suddenly raising her hand. A blow did not come, however, as she instead pointed at him in warning.

"If you so much as touch a hair on his head I'll personally hand you your heart!" Shampoo said coldly.

Mousse withdrew. "But Shampoo-"

Shampoo shook her head. "No! I mean it! I'm not going to let you do anything to him!" she said. "Even if you did beat him, I wouldn't care anyway. I've long since abandoned those ways."

"But-"

"There is nothing you can say or do to change my mind Mousse," Shampoo said. Mousse fell back a full step, nearly losing his balance as he did so, his head swimming. Despite this, Shampoo continued on. "You never understood that all I wanted from you was to be my friend. I didn't have many at the time, if any. It wasn't anything more."

Finally, Mousse collapsed to the dojo floor, totally stunned beyond words. Shampoo's expression broke as she looked at him in concern but she held her position.

After a minute of silence, Mousse came back to reality. "I prefer being hit," he said sadly.

"I'm sorry," Shampoo said, bowing her head slightly.

"I... I... All that time, I hoped that this would make you forgive me."

Shampoo shook her head. "I forgave you a long time ago, Mousse."

Mousse looked up in uncertainty. "You did? Why? Didn't I ruin your life?"

"You're sounding like Akane," Shampoo said with a sad shake of her head. "No one thing caused what happened, and my life isn't ruined. It may have seemed that way, but here I am. I'm not going to keep blaming you for something that happened when we were kids that you didn't even intend."

Mousse looked at Shampoo for a moment before nodding in acceptance. "I guess I shouldn't have expected much more than that," he said before getting back to his feet. "I'll still do it, if you want."

Shampoo turned away, but shook her head. "No, like I said, I'm used to it. I don't want to mess up your life."

Mousse opened his mouth to argue, but stopped and nodded before turning to leave.

"Mousse, if you need a place to stay..." Shampoo said suddenly, turning back to him.

He paused, considering. "Maybe, for a while."

Shampoo walked past him and gestured for him to follow. "Come on. Follow me." Hesitantly, Mousse did as bidden.

XXXXX

Ranma was feeling totally drained by the end of the movie. Nothing further had actually happened, but worrying about it was enough. After delaying Kuno sufficiently to see Ryoga and Akane had left, the final obstacle seemed to be out of the way. Nearing ten o'clock, Ryoga and Akane would be heading home, and Ranma could finally ditch Kuno and try to forget this night ever happened.

Her mind already looking ahead to whatever situation would greet her when she finally reached home, Ranma was little paying attention as she and Kuno exited the theater.

"Ah, a most entertaining experience," Kuno said.

"Uhhuh," Ranma absently agreed, although she had paid little heed to the movie.

"My love, you seem downhearted," Kuno noted, looking briefly her way.

Ranma cringed and quickly perked up. "Nonono, I had a great time!" she lied.

"Of course, you were in the company of the great Tatewaki Kuno," Kuno said proudly as he returned his attention ahead.

"Uhhuh, great," Ranma said, once more returning to her exhausted look.

Unfortunately, fate was not with Ranma this night. Suddenly Kuno tensed next to her, causing her to look up. He was wide eyed and beginning to shake while looking off into the crowd. Ranma followed his gaze, already fearing the worst and had said fears confirmed as she spotted Ryoga and Akane. The two were taking a leisurely pace, arm in arm.

'Oh no!' Ranma moaned inwardly.

"The fiend!" Kuno fumed. "I shall smite him!"

"Say, Kuno, I could really use a drink," Ranma said in a desperate attempt to distract him, but it was useless.

The kendoist produced a bokken from seemingly no where and started to stalk forward. "This foul knave shall curse the day he crossed paths with the Blue Thunder!"

Ranma quickly followed him. 'Not now! Not now! He'll ruin everything! Got to distract him! But how?' Ranma thought looking around. 'If I knock him out I'll cause a commotion and Akane will see me,' she thought before an idea hit her. 'No. No! I don't want to! There got to be some other way!' she thought desperately, calculating her possibilities as Kuno neared his target. 'Damn! It's the only way! Oh man!'

Kuno raised his blade to strike but Ranma suddenly jumped in the way, ringing her arms around Kuno's neck, and exercising profound control of her revulsion, kissed him full on the lips. Kuno quickly slackened and calmed, giving into the kiss. As the seconds ticked by, a few people passed, looking on curiously, but Akane and Ryoga walked off without noticing.

Finally, figuring enough time had passed, Ranma maneuvered her hand around Kuno's neck, then clamped down sharply causing Kuno to go limp and fall to the ground unconscious. Ranma stood, panting angrily before giving in and showing her complete disgust, spitting in all directions and wiping off her lips.

"Yuck! Gross! Ewwwww! AHHHH!" she exclaimed as she did everything she could to rid herself of anything remaining from the contact. However, this was enough to gather some attention from the crowd. She quickly shifted to an innocent smile. "He must of fainted," she assured them, and with various murmurs and shrugs the people continued on their way.

Looking once more down at Kuno, Ranma considered just leaving him, but had a different idea. 'If I take him home, and toss him in his bed, maybe he'll think it was all a dream... It is all I can hope.' Sighing, she grabbed one of Kuno's loose arms and began dragging him away.

XXXXX

A short time later, Shampoo sat outside the front door of the Tendo home, her chin resting in her hands, a look of sadness on her face. She watched the gate for several minutes until it finally opened. The first to return was Kasumi, waving presumably at Dr. Tofu outside in the street. She giggled at something, then turned inside.

"Why hello Shampoo. How did it go with Mousse?" Kasumi asked as she closed the gate behind her and approached.

Shampoo looked sadly up at Kasumi for a second then resumed looking at the gate. "Shampoo feel like step on his heart."

Kasumi paused at this, before replying. "I'm sure everything will be just fine soon enough," she assured Shampoo.

"Hope so," Shampoo replied simply.

A new set of voices outside caught both girls' interest. A few seconds later, Akane opened the gate, followed immediately by Ryoga, the former laughing.

"I see you had a nice evening, Akane," Kasumi said in greeting.

"Yeah," Akane agreed as she approached before turning to Ryoga. "Thanks Ryoga."

"Ah, my pleasure," he responded with a blush. "You really had a nice time?"

Akane nodded. "Yes, I did. Maybe we should do this more often," she suggested.

"Really?!" Ryoga said excitedly.

"Sure," Akane said with a smile before looking back to see Shampoo. Shampoo forced a smile onto her face. Akane frowned in concern, not fooled. "What's wrong Shampoo? Did something happen with Mousse?"

Shampoo considered for a second, but shook her head. "Nothing serious," she said but sighed. "Shampoo tell you later."

Akane nodded. "Alright. Come on, Ryoga, we better get inside or my Dad may have a panic attack."

Akane and Ryoga walked into the house. Shampoo watched them go then resumed watching the gate. Kasumi remained a moment longer, giving Shampoo a reassuring pat on the shoulder before following the others inside.

After another few minutes Ranma, restored to his male form, finally arrived at the gate, face hidden in his hand. Shampoo got up and she met him at the gate.

"Is you okay?" she asked in concern before noticing a strong odor in the air. "What that smell?"

Ranma uncovered his face and looked at Shampoo. "Mouth wash. Lots of mouth wash," he answered to Shampoo's confusion. "You don't want to know. Trust me. You don't want to know." Pausing a second to dismiss his own troubles, he then asked, "Did the date go okay?"

"Yes," Shampoo responded, looking back at the house. "Akane seem... much happier."

"That's good. And that Mousse guy didn't cause any trouble, did he?" Ranma asked.

Shampoo turned back, but with her eyes to the ground. "No."

"I take it things didn't go that well," Ranma observed, and Shampoo shook her head sadly. "I know this guy got you cursed-"

"Is not that," Shampoo interjected. "That... accident. He no bad person, just..."

"Has he changed somehow?" Ranma asked in puzzlement.

"Wish had," Shampoo tried to explain, but noticed Ranma's even more confusion expression. "He once... friend of sort, but he think we more than friends."

Ranma frowned. "Oh, I take it he didn't like hearing about the engagement," he concluded.

"No," Shampoo replied. "Shampoo feel terrible."

"I know that feeling all too well," he replied with a weak smile. After a second though, he added, "But I know something that just might cure it." Shampoo looked up at Ranma curiously. "You said something about continuing from where we left off..." Before Shampoo could process this statement, Ranma grabbed Shampoo by the shoulders and drew her in close.

Initially surprised, Shampoo finally clued in and ringed her arms around his neck, smiled and leaned in as Ranma did likewise. The two were soon in a kiss that continued on for sometime.

Unnoticed by either, hidden on the roof and in darkness, Mousse watched the pair. He tensed in anger, but looked away and slowly calmed. Not looking back, he silently headed off, hanging his head in sadness. 'If that's really what makes you happy Shampoo, I... I won't get in the way,' he thought as he departed.

A minute or so later, Shampoo and Ranma finally broke for breath, both continuing to smile. 'Yes, much better,' Ranma thought as Shampoo rested her head against Ranma's chest and they walked into the house together.

%End Chapter 9