Ranma's Cured

Chapter 10: Ranma's Issues

"Breathe." Akane instructed.

Ranma did so, exhaling and inhaling slowly, lingeringly.

They were in the apartment they shared, and it was starting to get a BIT crowded. Ukyo sat on one corner next Shampoo, Mousse and Cologne sat on another side of the room. Hiroshi and Daisuke stood between the two groups, trying to keep the peace, having come to support Ranma after hearing about her less than friendly fight.

"Why did you attack Ranchan?" Ukyo asked Cologne, eyes narrowed in suspicion.

"Simply to preserve Shampoo's honour. The consequences will be most dire if Shampoo retruns home to the village without either her husband or the head of the girl who bested her. And since Ranma couldn't fulfil his role as a husband, the he had to die."

"She." Akane corrected. "Ranma is a woman now. That's the best way for her, to think of herself as a woman. Otherwise, she'll go nuts."

Cologne grumbled, but nodded in agreement.

"if you're so stuck up on honour," Ukyo continued, "Then why not make him marry Mousse? Ranma's beaten him plenty of times."

"It wouldn't have solved our problems at all. Shampoo would still retrun in disgrace. Besides, Mousse continues to refuse to acknowledge his defeats. We cannot force him to marry you, it has to be of his own will."

Ranma glared. "You forced me plenty of times."

Cologne smirked. "You're an outsider, not one of the tribe. Plus, you're male, and males don't have very much power in our village."

"I was a male." Ranma corrected. "Now, I am a girl, well, woman."

"Be that as it may," Cologne said exaspertedly, "It doesn't change the fact that you were officially male all those other times."

Ranma glared. "You're laws are very arbirtary."

Cologne chuckled. "Lots of outsiders say soemthing along those lines." She sighed. "Doesn't matter now; we can't beat you, even if we team up. And we won't ally ourselves with outsiders, it won't count the eyes of our law. Besides, It wasn't in us to kill y to begin with, except for Mousse, and he doesn't really count now, does it?"

"Shut up, Old Ghoul!" Mousse said indignantly.

Cologne whacked him with her staff.

"So now," Cologne continued, " We can't return home until we regain Shampoo's honour, which we cannot accomplish, and we don't wish to in the first place."

"But yous till tried." Ukyo pointed out.

Shampoo nodded. "Yes, but is half-hearted. If we serious, we be too too vicious. We only use blunt intrument, except stupide Mousse." her eyes were hollow and unseeing, as if she was only margnally reacting to the world around her.

Ranma nodded. "I can vouch for that. She used to use swords and crap when she was chasing me in China. She even used bombs, and even poisons once." She scratched her nervously. "Glad she's on my side now."

Akane glowered. "We are supposed to be training so you don't go on a murderous rampage."

Ranma blushed. "Oh, right."

"Now, again: Breathe."

Ranma exhaled and inhaled, slowly, lingeringly.

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Ukyo took Shampoo outside the door to speak privately.

"What's going on?" She asked.

"W-what you mean?" Shampoo replied nervously.

"Why are you acting like your half dead? I recognise that look in your eyes: I've had that look my yes, as did Ranma. You feel a great shame, like you're scum. What gives?"

Shampoo backed. "Nothing. Nothing give."

"Stop lying." Ukyo growled.

Shampoo sighed, looking at the ground.

"Shampoo....Shampoo realise after fight..... She no hate Ranma..."

Ukyo nodded. "Do you love her?"

Shampoo nodded. "Not just Ranma."

"Who else?"

Shampoo was silent for a long time.

"......Akane."

Ukyo blinked. She was expecting the amazon to say Mousse, or something. But not that. Then she burst out laughing.

"That's priceless!"

Shampoo frowned grumpily. "Shampoo no see joke."

"It's too funny! You and Akane always got on the worst! And now, it turns out, you like her! You want to be with AKANE!" She couldn't speak now, since she was too busy laughing hysterically.

"Ha ha." Shampoo dryly replied, annoyed.

"Sorry." The chef wheezed out, wiping her eyes. "So, you gonna tell them?"

Shampoo stared at the ground. "Shampoo no sure."

Ukyo sighed. "alright, then. let's go back in."

They started to wlak back to the door, but Shampoo stopped.

"You think....Shampoo should tell?"

Ukyo turned to the lavender haired girl. "I think you should. But, be warned, Ranma's not looking for a relationship right now. She doesn't even know if she likes girls or guys yet."

Shampoo nodded. "Is okay. Shampoo think should tell anyway."

Ukyo smiled at her. "That's the spirit. Honesty is the best policy."

They walked back inside.

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Everytime Ranma breathed, she thought of all the things in her life that made her angry.

She thought about the fiancees chasing her, not caring how she felt. She breathed, imagining the scene melting away.

She thought of her father, and all he had done.

She thought of her mother, and the stupid seppuku pledge.

She thought of Happosai, always molesting her or trying force into something....skimpy.

She thought of the amazons, and all their bullshit.

She thought of Soun Tendo, who did nothing but force Ranma and Akane together, but would do nothing about Happosai or any of the other crap, just sit there and cry.

She thought of Akane, always hitting her for the stupidest of reasons.

She thought of Herb, who had taken away her manhood that one time in a fit of pride and arrogance.

She thought of Ryoga, Mousse, Kuno and all the other bastards who came and fought her for some stupid reason.

She thought of the students of Furinkan, and all their gossip, all their rumours, and always suspecting her of being a pervert.

She thought of Principal Kuno.....need it be said.

She thought of Nabiki, who had sed her, treated her as a commodity, like her father.

She thought of Kasumi, who acted all sweet and kind, but never lifted a finger to help, even when it came to Akane and her cooking.

She thought of......herself, or rather himself, and his stupid, arrogant, stubborn ways. That took a lot of breathing.

She thought of.......Taro.

She opened her eyes and fell to the ground. She was shaking uncontrollably.

"What was the last image you thought of?" Akane asked, sounding like a wise sage.

"H-HIM! The one who...." She couldn't say anything, it was too hard.

Akane nodded, understanding. "I see. More likely than not, that is the source of your pain. You have to confront it, dominate it, and then you can move past it."

"Why should I?" Ranma said stubbornly.

"Because if you don't, you'll end up hurting someone."

Ranma nodded, reluctantly.

Ukyo sighed. "That's cheery. Well, on that note, I feel that Shampoo should say something."

Ranma, Akane and, well, everyone turned to look at the amazon.

Shampoo looked at the ground, getting nervous.

"Uh....See.....Sh-Shampoo...."

When she finally said her piece, words could not express the shock evryone was showing.

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Herb opened the door to the torture chamber, and gasped.

There was no one there.

Panythose Taro had escaped.

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Finally! ahve done the next chapter. Sorry about the wait, folks, writer's block had me in its thrall.

Well, writer's block for THIS story at least.

We're nearing the end, I can feel it.

I forget who, but one of my reviewers suggested that Shampoo end up like Ukyo, and reveal that se's still in love with Ranma too. I just added to it, and made it so that she like Akane too (Hey, I LIKE that pairing, okay?)

Another reviewer broutght to my attention the matter of Mousse. I decided to answer that one, hopefully in a way that is satisfying. If not, well....too bad.

I hope ya enjoyed it, and please comment!