I do not own Ranma 1/2 or any of its characters
-9-
After dinner, Ranma left the Nekohanten, but he had one last stop to make before heading home. We walked a little ways and headed for Ucchan's. Knocking on the door, he hoped that she would hear it. After a short interlude, he could hear the footsteps approaching the door. It slid partly open and Ukyo peered out at him. After seeing who it was, she further opened the door.
"Ranma honey, what brings you by?"
"I just wanted to apologize for the date earlier, I didn't mean for it to go that way. I also wanted to see if you could use a little help here."
"Help?"
"Yeah, like a waiter or something. It would give us time to hang out where no one could protest against it."
"She considered the idea. We can try it out."
"Great."
They worked out a few more of the details, then Ranma headed home.
Instead of walking into the house, he made his way to the back and headed inside the dojo. He had excess energy and didn't really want to see anyone at the moment. Working through some of his kata's he heard the door open behind him. Glancing over his shoulder he found Akane standing there.
"Ukyo told me that your date was interrupted by Ryoga and Mousse. Was that why you were with Shampoo when I found you?"
"Yeah it was. I was trying to get away from the idiot pair, as I was not in the mood to listen to their griping. When I left, Ukyo, Ryoga, and Mousse were all standing around yelling at one another. As I was making my way out of the park, I saw Shampoo, and asked if I could use her bike for a get away."
Akane nodded as the dots seemed to line up. "I guess I didn't realize that."
"It's apparent you didn't, though after all this time together and the antics that seem to plague me, I would think you would come to realize that I am usually innocent."
Akane was taken aback by his reply, before responding in kind. "You are not always innocent. Just the other day I saw you with Kodachi!"
"Thank you for bringing that up. That is another example of when I was innocent. She had thrown a bouquet at me that exploded in a dust of paralysis powder. I couldn't move an inch."
She was about to argue, but considered who they were talking about. Kodachi is known to use underhanded tactics like that. Maybe he is telling the truth.
"You always do that. You don't…" he paused as the realization hit him, "you don't trust me."
Again, she was going to protest, but he cut her off.
"You trust me to come and save the day sure, but you don't trust in me," he concluded, replaying their interactions in the past, in his mind. The realization hurt. Without another word, he walked past her and out of the dojo, leaving her standing there in confusion.
Needing to be alone after his confrontation, Ranma went for a walk, not even an hour after his encounter, he heard running footsteps toward him. Gee, I wonder if P-chan heard about our conversation. Ranma thought to himself, moments before he heard, "Ranma," they finished the line together, "prepare to die!"
"I'm not in the mood to deal with you right now, P-chan. Why don't you go home?" Ranma dodged Ryoga's attack.
"How can you be so cavalier after you made Akane cry? Why are you always making her cry?"
"Why am I always the bad guy?" Ranma countered. "You weren't there when we had our conversation, and even if you were you're too dense to see anything past your own warped reality."
"You don't deserve he-"
Ranma had had enough, and let loose his verbal and physical assault. "And you do! You, the guy who pretends to be her pet pig, who cuddles up to her, peeps on her, and sleeps with her under false pretenses. How do you have the gull to accost me in how I handle my situation with my fiance when you are constantly deceiving and lying to her? Do you really think you're not going to hurt her when she finally learns the truth? That you're not going to have made her feel and look the fool? Why don't you man up and tell her the truth before you come accusing me of any mishandling?"
With his last statement, he threw Ryoga down toward the ground, the impact making a small crater. Ryoga didn't move.
I guess I went a little overboard, I was in more of a foul mood than I had thought. Ranma made his way toward the house, but not wanting to deal with anyone, snuck inside via his window and went to sleep.
The next morning, Ranma snuck out of the house again, not wanting to see Akane just yet, and went straight to Ukyo's. He told her about his confrontation with Akane over breakfast. After they ate, she went over a few things he would need to know, as he was starting his first day with her. The day went smoothly, and after work he went over to the Nekohanten so he could continue his training with Shampoo and Cologne.
As soon as Cologne saw him, she shook her head. "We cannot train today?"
"Why not, you old ghoul?"
"That's exactly why. You're so worked up, your chi is in chaos right now. Why don't you go out with Shampoo for a while, see if you can calm down. If so, we can continue with your training."
Ranma realized he had taken his anger out on Cologne. I actually hadn't called her old ghoul since our weekend together. Ranma was surprised with this new understanding. "I'm sorry," he mumbled.
"Ranma want to go for walk?" Shampoo offered, "Can tell Shampoo what is wrong?"
He considered it for a moment, before agreeing. They left the Nekohanten, without a clear destination, and wandered the streets.
"What happened?" Shampoo inquired.
"Akane…" he started, before going into the entire conversation he had the previous night. "To top it off, Ryoga found me and attacked me because of it too." He concluded.
Shampoo listened attentively, unsure what she could say. "Maybe the problem is more to do with Akane than Ranma." Shampoo wondered out loud.
"Maybe, but it still sucks to always be doubted like that. I am always considered guilty and have to prove my innocence at every turn."
"Shampoo sorry Airen feels like that. If it helps, Shampoo trusts and believes in Airen."
Ranma stopped walking as that curious sensation washed over him again, and he finally understood what it was...appreciation.
Shampoo turned to look at him and he looked up at her. Slowly he approached her, wrapping her into his arms. "It does help." He bent down and took her lips. The kiss was gentle and sweet.
"Thank you, I needed to hear that."
He kissed her again and Shampoo melded her body against his. This kiss had more desire and heat behind it. Shampoo moaned against him and Ranma had to end the kiss as it was becoming too enticing.
Shampoo looked at him curiously, but he just shook his head.
"Come on, let's get you home." He held his hand out to her, which she gladly took.
When they returned, Cologne noticed the change in Ranma. "Do you feel up to training today?"
Ranma considered it for a moment, and as he didn't want to go back home and spoil his mood again, he nodded in agreement.
The three moved to the yard at the back of the restaurant and resumed their training. Shampoo and Ranma were even more aligned and were able to hold their connection for a full minute before it faltered.
Cologne stood back in awe at their connection. As they were reaching their ending point, the two were able to steady the connection for a full five minutes.
"If you two can stay this connected, next session we will try the next step."
Ranma felt even more invigorated after that news.
Cologne excused herself, to give the two some alone time, before Ranma left for the evening.
"It is good, we progress so quickly."
"Yeah, we'll have this technique mastered in no time. I'll stop by after work tomorrow and we can continue."
"Work?"
Ranma seemed puzzled by her surprise at first. "I'm sorry, I didn't tell you. I decided to work at Ukyo's place a couple times during the week."
"If Airen needed a job, could have come here."
"That's not the only reason. I decided that it would be easier to spend time with Ukyo if I worked with her, then trying to go on dates, after how successful our last one was…" he trailed off at the memory.
Shampoo looked away again. I should have realized that was the real reason why. He's still trying to figure out who he wants to be with. I wonder if he behaves with the others the same way he does with me. The thought saddened her immensely.
Ranma grew immediately concerned at her behavior. Is she crying? "Shampoo what's wrong?"
She shook her head, afraid that if she spoke her reserve would falter, causing her voice break, which would lead to her crying in front of him.
"Please tell me. I didn't mean to make you cry. Shampoo, please."
Shampoo didn't know what to do. One part of her wanted to walk away from him and the other wanted to fall into his arms for comfort, but she was unable to speak.
Ranma took the initiative and pulled her into his arms. When she didn't fight him, he relaxed a bit. "What did I say wrong?"
She didn't answer right away, she had to first get her feelings controlled. When she thought she had a good handle on them she finally responded. "Airen no say anything wrong. Shampoo just wondered, if Ranma behaves with others the same way you do when you're with…" She couldn't finish the sentence.
Ranma understood what she meant, and considered her feelings. "No, Shampoo, I don't behave the same with them as I do with you." He didn't know how else to put into words, his feelings, but he hoped that would be enough to reassure her.
She held onto him, tighter than before. "Thank you."
