Chapter 10: Shampoo Defeated
"Hey, I thought Lum's coming home with us this time?" Ranma asked Akane. The school bell rang a few minutes ago and most of their classmates have already gathered their things and gone home.
"She said she needed to take care of some things, so I let her go on her own," replied Akane who was bent down under her desk, looking for her pencil case.
"I see," Ranma said quietly. He walked over to the front of the room and started cleaning the chalkboard, waiting for the rest of the students to leave the room. "Have you talked to her, yet?" he later asked.
"What do you mean?" replied Akane. She was now re-arranging the seats in the classroom. Everything was in total disarray. Lum's suitors had been there to walk her home, wrestling each other, but then found her already gone.
"I mean, about her drifting off lately." Ranma moved to the other side of the room, helping Akane with the seats.
"Yeah. I think she's going to be alright," Akane said silently. "She just needs space."
Ranma heard her sigh audibly that he stopped and looked at her for a couple of seconds. "Do you?" he finally asked, not really wanting to, not really expecting himself to even voice it out.
"Do I, what?" asked Akane, facing Ranma and a little confused.
"-need space," Ranma finished. He didn't want to make himself clear. He wanted to take it back but he already asked it. All he could do was make it a little more confusing.
"I don't understand." Akane rounded on Ranma with her hand on her hip, waiting.
"I-uh…" mumbled Ranma, fixing the last seat in the room before finally facing her again. "Never mind. Let's go. I think I'm just tired."
o – o – o – o – o – o – o – o – o
Lum parted the overhead curtain in Ukyo's Okonomiyaki and peered inside. The Oni princess decided that morning that she at least needed to apologize for her sudden absence, knowing that Ukyo and Shampoo must have worried about her, not to mention that she was the reason why both girls' businesses have skyrocketed somewhat.
Inside, Lum noticed at once that it wasn't as busy as when she had been there, although there were still the loyal customers eating about. Behind the counter was Ukyo, her back to Lum, apparently busy preparing one of her customers' orders. Not wanting to disturb Ukyo, Lum floated to a bar seat around the counter and waited for the spatula girl to finish. As she sat, she felt the man to her right gazing at her but when she turned to face him; he wasn't looking at her anymore but was concentrated instead on his drink.
Ukyo turned around and face the man, smiling and handing him his order, which smelled strongly of cinnamon. Probably a new recipe, Lum thought to herself, still quiet and waiting for Ukyo to notice her sitting there. And as if Ukyo hear her train of thought, the girl turned to her with mild surprise and smiled.
"Hi Lum," she smiled brightly. "I was wondering when you'd come visit me again."
A little embarrassed, Lum managed a smile that almost looked like some had pinched her and she was determined not to show. "Hi," she replied. "I'm sorry I haven't been around to help you, Ukyo. I was— uhm, well…" Lum flustered, but before she could continue, Ukyo leaned towards her and patted her green hair.
"It's alright," was Ukyo's reply. "You don't have to worry about it. I should be grateful even for the days you helped me out in business. But really, you don't have to apologize about it." And Ukyo squeezed Lum's shoulder to reassure the princess. In return, Lum smiled.
"So then," Ukyo continued, re-folding her shirt sleeve a little higher and then placing her hands on her hips. "Ready to give this place another boost?"
o – o – o – o – o – o – o – o – o
An hour and a half later, Lum felt a lot better. Ukyo didn't let her work as much, only had her stand outside and give out some flyers and inviting people to try out the new flavors the Okonomiyaki has recently added to its menu. There was cinnamon—which the man had ordered earlier—, apple cider, vanilla, orange, and even sunflower. The last flavor Lum thought to be a bit strange, but she guessed that Ukyo really wanted to hike her sales back up.
Well, thanks to Lum again, for the short time she stood outside the restaurant, customers filed in. Her usual fans saw her and without as much as looking at the flyer, simply went inside and ordered any one of the flavors Lum had been shouting. Ukyo was happy and even gave Lum a bonus for the day, plus a slice of sunflower-flavored pie Lum was only too happy to accept—also not wanting to hurt the other's feelings. But as the Oni princess took a bite at the pie, it turned out to be delicious. She had been hesitant about tasting it at first but really, she finished her slice faster than it took her to get to Cat Café, which was saying something considering that she was a slow eater.
She got to the café a few minutes later and almost bumped into Shampoo emerging from the doors atop her bicycle; carrying three noodle containers, one hanging at each side of her bike handle and the third tied at the seat behind her. Shampoo skidded to a halt and blinked several times at Lum.
"Hi-ya, Lum!" Shampoo greeted, also making a saluting motion. "I am busy right now but Grandma is at the back if you want to talk to her."
"Actually," Lum started; a little surprised that Shampoo wasn't at all wondering why she suddenly turned up after days of not showing. "I was wondering if I can talk to you."
"Oh," Shampoo replied, standing straight again for she was already poised to pedal away. "You don't need to say sorry. I understand. You are missing your fiancé. It's alright."
"Uhm…" Lum could only so much as reply. She didn't really think that Shampoo can get straight to the point without batting an eyelash. Then again, Shampoo had been brought up as an Amazon and they don't really develop women to be bashful or to even beat around the bush. She was thankful though, not really wanting to make another speech. And knowing Shampoo, as she had found the Chinese Amazon to be extremely likeable with her deceiving innocence, the girl did mean it and Lum need no longer to apologize. So instead, Lum smiled and said, "Let me help you with your delivery then. I'll just say hi to Cologne."
Minutes later, Lum was flying beside Shampoo's high speed pedaling, delivering the noodles. They delivered several more orders after that, both chattering while still making their way around Nerima at top speed. It was only after they delivered the last of the orders and that the once red-orange sky turned bluish violet that both girls slowed down. Both decided to walk, Lum no longer floating and Shampoo guiding her bicycle with both hands.
Their conversation steered towards medicine as both girls turned right at the corner, now only a few minutes away from Cat Café.
"…and then you mix two small mint leaves to the brew, wait for five minutes, add a pinch of ground cherry, and then you wait until the potion turns yellow," Shampoo explained animatedly to Lum as again they turned towards another avenue. "If it does, then you can put in a vial already. But if it turns a nasty green, looking like mold, you have to throw it away or else the fumes will be poisonous to plants and the tribe. I bury the potion whenever I fail making it."
Lum was listening intently. She had heard a lot of instructions on how to make a love potion but had never encountered this version. She was always doubtful about such things. At one point in Oni history, she remembered, love potions had been so popular and no less as destructive that they banned it for decades. Apparently, although popular on earth, it seemed that "love potions" made in this planet were not as dangerous.
"But ours is real," Shampoo replied after Lum told her about her doubts. "And it's not dangerous. The Joketsuzoku clan does not make potions and things that are not effective, unless of course we want them to fail a certain way in order to increase our sales. Anyway, you should ask Grandma. I think she has a sample of the potion somewhere."
Shampoo steered her bicycle at the last corner and they both walked silently back to Cat Café, the roof top of which can now be seen at the far end of the street. Lum concentrated on this bit of information about the love potion. She was still doubtful but perhaps she could talk to Cologne about it. Ask for some proof that it works. And maybe even ask for a free sample of it, she thought further.
They were only a couple of yards away from the restaurant when something heavy hit Lum at her side, sweeping her from off the ground and then squeezing her at a tight grip. Without seeing what was doing it, she charged her body with electricity to force the thing to let her go but before she could do so, she was presented with a bouquet of assorted flowers.
"This if for you, my darling Shampoo." It was Mousse, holding up the bouquet up to Lum while kneeling down. He was once again, not wearing his glasses, which was propped on his head. Before Lum could correct him, Mousse thrust the bundle towards the princess and quite daringly, kissed her on the lips.
Lum, who was too surprised to even shock Mousse, saw Shampoo over his shoulder. Shampoo, Lum noticed, seeing the whole thing, was apparently in mid-giggle. She perhaps thought it was amusing that Mousse would confuse someone else for her but, as in this case, she never thought that Mousse would kiss someone else.
The transformation was amazing. Lum actually felt the hair at the back of her neck stand on end at Shampoo's visage. She was quite sure that no one has ever seen the Amazon look this way, much less live to tell about it.
"MOUSSE!!!" shouted Shampoo, her bike clattered on the pavement. Out of thin air, she brandished her weapon and charged at the man who was now hugging Lum.
"You will NOT hurt my darling," cried Mousse and, pushing Lum aside, acted so swiftly that he didn't seem to have left his position.
To Lum's surprise, Shampoo was no longer holding her bonbori as she once again was standing upright. For a split second, she thought that time had stopped for some reason but realized that it can't have been because the onlookers, who were surrounding them from the start of the commotion, were now avidly whispering to each other. She even saw a boy to her right try to pick up one of Shampoo's bonbori but was prevent by his mother.
There was a slight thud in front of her and to Lum's fear, she saw Shampoo fall on her knees, both the latter's arms clutching at her stomach. Lum didn't waste any time coming to the Amazon's aid. She flew past Mousse, who was still standing there a bit arrogantly, and attended Shampoo.
Lum saw her friend's eyes extremely dilated, probably a mix of shock and pain, she didn't know. Rummaging in her bag, frantically searching for on of the pills she brought to earth with her, which was supposed to cure any pain or illness, she whispered comforting words to Shampoo. Lum mumbled incoherently, switching from defending Mousse and apologizing, until she finally found the pill. After slipping it in Shampoo's lips and making sure the latter had swallowed, Lum turned around, a little flushed in the face, and walked determinedly towards Mousse, who was still standing there.
Mousse made a gesture towards her, still believing that Lum was Shampoo, until Lum slapped him so hard in the face that the alien girl withdrew it quickly, afraid that she also hurt herself in the process. Mousse recoiled several steps back and drew his hand up to where a harsh red tinge, the shape of a hand was already forming.
"But, darling," he started and tentatively walked forwards once more. Just then, his glasses fell to the bridge of his nose, and no second later, he realized what he just did. In front of him, he saw Lum holding her wrist to herself and a couple of steps behind her was Shampoo steadily rising to her feet. "Oh no," he uttered a shocking moment later before continuing, "Shampoo… I…" But Lum made to strike at him again using her other hand that he took a step back.
"Wait," Shampoo said behind Lum. Lum stopped to turn to Shampoo, still afraid that the pill might not have worked. She wasn't quite sure what kind of blow Mousse inflicted on Shampoo and in what specific area. The effects of the medicine might work a bit slower. Still, she was relieved that Shampoo was able to stand back up.
"Shampoo," both Mousse and Lum said together. Lum turned a disdainful look towards Mousse who was again ready to go near them. "Are you okay?" Lum asked Shampoo.
"Yes," Shampoo grunted but repeated it again with more conviction. "Yes, I'm alright." She was standing straight now, looking at Mousse.
"Mousse," she began and Lum noticed Mousse anxiously put his hands together in front of him and hung his head low. "Mousse, you defeated me today… in battle." Lum wasn't quite sure she understood what her friend was saying but as she looked at Shampoo, she discovered a hint of smile appear on the Amazon's lips for a second.
Mousse, Lum also notice, was now looking at Shampoo with a look of quiet understanding and slight shock. "Do you mean," he started. There was something hopeful behind his voice.
Lum was still holding Shampoo by the arm when her friend replied, "By custom, if a man defeats a Joketsuzoku Amazon, she shall become his wife."
Once again, Mousse hung his head. "But Ranma defeated you first and at his first try. I only defeated you after several million tries and the only time I did defeat, I didn't know it was you."
"It doesn't matter," Shampoo replied, now able to stand on her own. Lum stood beside her, clutching her tiger-print bag, looking alternately at Mousse and her friend. The onlookers seemed to have diminished by a margin, perhaps, Lum wondered, there was nothing more interesting to see.
"We have to Grandma about this," Shampoo then said and turning to Lum, "I'm okay now, Lum. Thanks for that medicine you gave me. I think I'll have to ask you for a recipe of that one of these days, alright?" But as Lum hesitant to leave Shampoo, the latter reassured her, "It'll be okay. Mousse will take me home. We're only a few steps away from the café. I'll see you tomorrow. Be sure to stop by."
Nodding, Lum stepped aside to let Mousse take Shampoo in his arms. She saw him hug Shampoo gently before picking up the bike with his other hand. Both then proceeded towards the Cat Café and Lum, walked her way back home to the Tendo Residence, wondering what Cologne's decision will be upon discovering that another man, aside from Ranma, defeated Shampoo.