I do not own Ranma 1/2 or any of its characters
-16-
Ranma and Shampoo enjoyed the rest of their weekend to the fullest. Then headed back to Nerima and the Nekohanten.
"Welcome home you two. I have been called home; there's a matter that requires my attention. Since school is out for a while, do you two want to come along? We can stop by Jusenkyo at some point and see about reversing your curses."
Both Ranma and Shampoo looked excited at the prospect.
Never gonna be a girl again! "Let's go to China!"
"When do we leave, great-grandmother?" I can get rid of the cat form that scares Ranma and keeps attracting that ghost cat!
"I need to be there at the beginning of next week, but if we leave early we can go to Jusenkyo first. So I was thinking of going in the next couple of days."
"Alright!" Ranma couldn't care about the details, the only thought he had was of being a real man again.
Two days later, Ranma and Shampoo headed out to pick up some necessary items for their trip. The forecast predicted clear skies and sunshine, but the dark clouds on the horizon told a different story. "If we hurry, we should be able to beat the storm." Shampoo encouraged.
"With our luck, it's more likely we're going to get caught in some kind of confrontation just as the storm hits."
"Don't jinx us before we start!"
The two tried to hurry, but as if encouraged by their conversation the storm hurried along too.
Thunder sounded and rain soon followed. They were by Furinkan High School when they heard the sound and dashed toward the front entrance to escape the rain.
"Shouldn't it be kept locked?"
"A normal school would have its doors locked, but Furinkan isn't normal." Ranma opened the door and they went inside.
"Soon we won't have to worry about the rain anymore! I can't wait. This trip can't come soon enough."
Ranma and Shampoo cried out in surprise, as a voice shouted out to them and someone charged forward. "What do you mean you don't have to worry about it anymore?"
After the initial shock of their surprise companion wore off, Ranma posed his own question. "What are you doing here, Ryoga?"
Another person stepped out from behind the lockers. "We were out getting some supplies hoping to beat the rain." Ukyo commented.
Shampoo's eyes lit up. "You two are together?" She lifted up her pinky finger.
Both Ukyo and Ryoga floundered for an answer, while the red in their cheeks grew darker and darker.
They're answers were simultaneous, and not very believable.
"It's not like that, he's just working at the restaurant. "
"We're just friends."
They exchanged a nervous glance.
I'm glad my days of that kind of awkwardness is over. He glanced over at Shampoo, who was simply smiling at their bashfulness.
"Either way, I'm happy for you two."
The door swung open behind them and two more people hurried in seeking shelter.
"Akane and...Mousse?!" Ranma, Shampoo, and Ryoga said inside.
The two looked at the rest of the occupants in bewilderment. Before the red crept into their cheeks.
What a reunion... The thought seemed to echo in everyone's mind. It was the first time since Ranma made his choice that everyone was in the same room together, and the atmosphere was tense with uncertainty.
"You all came here to escape the rain?" Akane asked.
The other four nodded.
"Are you two...dating?" Ukyo asked the question, more for the other interested parties in the room than for herself. Though I am curious too.
"No… I mean we hang out but…" Mousse trailed off.
Akane supplied, "It's more like a support group after the way things ended…"
Assuming that they didn't want to explain, Ukyo repeated Ryoga's initial question.
"Uh…" Ranma suddenly felt guilty discussing this with others afflicted with the Jusenkyo curse. "We are going to China"
"Permanently?"
"No," Ranma quickly amended, "just tagging along while Cologne takes care of something at the village. I'll be back long before school starts."
Ryoga chimed in, "But you said you weren't going to have to worry about the rain anymore. What did you mean by that?"
"Well since we're going to be in China, we thought we'd take a small detour."
"You are going back to Jusenkyo." This time it was Akane who spoke.
Ranma nodded. "I can try and bring some back for you guys."
Both Ryoga and Mousse looked eagerly to their once rival.
"Really?" They asked in unison.
"Sure thing. What about Ukyo and Akane, you want me to bring back some spring of cursed pony or something?" He chuckled.
"I'm good as is, thanks though Ran-chan." Ukyo smiled.
"Same."
The rain kept the six of them trapped for some time, giving them all an opportunity to mend fences and receive closure. When the rain lightened they all left not as rivals indifferent acquaintances, or spurned lovers, but something more akin to friends.
