All characters belong to Rumiko Takahashi.
6
"I didn't ask for this you know," Akane turned away from him. "It was our father's decision. Now, I have to fight. I'm not doing it for you, you know." Akane crumpled up the challenge letter from Shampoo. It would be her last, now that Ranma had made his decision.
"You shouldn't accept, Shampoo is strong, and she doesn't have anything to lose now."
"Don't you dare interfere, Ranma. I will never forgive you if you do."
The day of the challenge arrived. Shampoo showed up, she had been crying. She couldn't face Ranma, but she looked to Akane with determination.
"Last battle. Ranma made choice, but Shampoo can no return home, unless defeat Akane."
Akane took her battle stance.
Ranma knew he would have to interfere. Akane didn't stand a chance against Shampoo, he just hoped that she would trip and hurt herself before the battle went on too long.
Unfortunately, that wasn't the case. Shampoo, knowing she didn't need any weapons to beat her, attacked and Akane was on the defensive, but was taking a lot of hits. With a last round house, Akane slid across the floor. Shampoo rushed forward, but Ranma stepped in.
"Enough, she's done."
Shampoo looked at him then. Tears streaming down from her red eyes. "Wo ai ni, Airen. Goodbye." He could finally see her affection when she turned to leave, headed back to China in disgrace, because of him, yet again.
"I'm sorry Shampoo." he whispered to her receding back. He hurried over to Akane.
"I told you not to interfere. I could have handled her."
"No, you couldn't. Shampoo has always been much stronger than you. Let me treat those cuts."
"Leave me alone."
"Don't be stubborn."
"You're such a jerk!" She slapped him and limped away.
"The future doesn't change all that much, the fracture between you two doesn't ever get addressed and so it never heals. It just seems that even after you choose her, each time she accuses you it just hurts more.
"And if I choose Shampoo?"
"Are you sure you want to see? I can see your readings, and you are pretty upset."
Ranma ducked his head. Tears were stinging his eyes. "Please show me."
The screen went dark again.
"Cologne, how do I do this?"
"You're sure about this, son-in-law?"
"Yes, I am."
"What finally made you decide?"
"I had some help, but I want to do this right."
Cologne nodded her head and arranged the meeting to take place in the forest a week from the day. Shampoo arrived early. Ranma saw her as soon as he arrived. It was early in the morning. Just after sun up.
"Airen! What Ranma doing here? Thought we training, great-grandmother?"
"I asked Cologne to bring you here. There was something I wanted to do, and we needed space and privacy."
"What Airen need?"
"Shampoo, I want to challenge you. If I win then you marry me."
Shampoo smiled so broadly. "Airen already Shampoo's chosen husband, no need challenge."
"I want to do it right."
Shampoo ran to him and hugged him. "Oh, Ranma!"
Red invaded his face, but he held firm. "Do you accept my challenge?"
She reluctantly let go and stepped back. "Shampoo accept."
The two stood across from each other, Shampoo with her chúi. The two fighters circling one another, waiting to see who would make the first move. Finally, Ranma stepped forward, Shampoo attacked, but Ranma was able to match her speed.
"You're fast Shampoo, but I'm faster."
Shampoo increased her speed. Taking Ranma aback, she was able to land a hit.
"When did you learn the Kachū Tenshin Amaguriken?"
"Ranma really no think great-grandmother teach Ranma technique and not Shampoo?"
"So you're telling me you know the Hiryū Shōten Ha and Mōko Takabisha as well?"
"Yes, Shampoo's iteration is called Doragon no Sukēru."
"Scale of the Dragon? Show me."
"Already started."
Ranma shot out his Mōko Takabisha, but she plowed straight through it unfazed, and was able to strike him again in his surprise. He sailed upward, but she jumped after him.
"Air techniques are my speciality." Ranma struck out, but Shampoo matched him. "Shampoo, I never realized you got so good. I'll have to stop playing."
"Ranma no notice. Shampoo happy to surprise."
The battle continued for a long time. Ranma seemed to be tiring faster than Shampoo, it was then that he noticed the faint purple hue surrounding her.
"Is that your Chi?"
Shampoo smiled at him. "Yes, the Doragon no Sukēru work like armor and reserve energy. It feeds on my determination, and Shampoo very determined."
Ranma smiled at her. "Very interesting. I guess, I don't have to hold back anymore."
"Airen, should probably not hold back, if want win."
Ranma felt more invigorated and came back with his renewed energy. The battle raged past sunset and both fighters were physically exhausted. Ranma blasted out with his Mōko Takabisha, but it missed Shampoo. It did end up blasting both of them into the air. They exchanged blows, and when Shampoo tried to siphon her Chi, that was when Ranma struck. He launched his Mōko Takabisha, and this time it blasted her remaining shield and struck her directly. She was still conscious though, and the two exchanged blows as gravity pulled them back down. Finally exhausted, Shampoo threw everything into one last punch. Ranma blended with it and held onto her as they fell back to the ground. They landed hard, but were unhurt. Cologne approached, the two lay side-by-side. Ranma grasping Shampoo's hand.
"That was quite the fight you put up." Ranma was smiling over at her.
"Airen too."
"Are you too finished yet?"
"Shampoo done. Airen win." Shampoo let her exhaustion take over and fell asleep.
"Great, so now it's official." Ranma too, caved into his body's demands and slept.
Cologne chuckled, as she took the two back to camp, cleaned up their wounds, and laid them in their sleeping bag. "What a future you two will have in store for you. You two very well may become the strongest couple we ever had in the Joketsuzoku."
Ranma awoke to find Shampoo's body pressed against him. Years of conditioning with Akane had him tensing immediately.
"Shh, Airen, it okay. Ranma choose Shampoo, no angry girl to punish Airen no more."
Her words had a soothing effect, and he was able to relax into her embrace, until it was no longer relaxing.
She giggled as she felt his hardness by her legs. "Airen," she whispered into his ear. "Ranma did choose Shampoo." She snuggled closer to him. "Wo ai ni, Ranma."
"Okay, I get it! You think I should choose Shampoo." Ranma tried to stop the filming. He was reacting too strongly to it.
"Again, it isn't about what I think. You said you wanted to see. This is the future prediction based on where you all are developmentally right now.
"Are you saying that I could never have a happy future with Akane?"
"No, I'm saying as you two are right now, it would be difficult. I'm sure therapy would help, for both of you. She does seem to have some anger issues to deal with."
"What am I supposed to do?"
"Make your decision."
"Just like that?"
"What else do you need to see? You've seen your past with each girl, your desire, your possible futures with each girl. That was quite the battle. What else do you need to see?"
"I…"
"It's just not what you want. You want Akane to be affectionate like Shampoo. Again, you can choose Akane, no one is stopping you. I am just recommending therapy to go along with that choice. That could help get you to where you want to be."
"But you said yourself that choosing her won't get me any stronger."
"True, she doesn't have a teacher to offer you, but that doesn't mean you can't travel and find one. Choosing her will cut you off from any other techniques from the Amazon tribe. They only taught you what you know, because they still hoped you'd choose Shampoo. But if you watched that last clip. There was love and respect between the two of you. Is she really that bad of a choice?"
"She's just so…"
"Forceful? She knows what she wants and unlike you, tries to take steps to get what she wants. Look again…"
He showed footage of Shampoo cuddling, looking longingly, and kissing Ranma.
"She has great affection for you, regardless of how much you have rebuked her. Even now, she's fighting to be with you, but I don't know how much longer she'll last."
Ranma stood up shocked. He had forgotten all about Shampoo, the real Shampoo. "What have you been doing to her all this time?"
"Testing her resolve. She's very strong, but I think you are both her strength and weakness."
"Shampoo!"
"Ranma it is time, make your choice."
"What is going to happen to Shampoo?"
"I'll let her go once you choose, even if she is not your choice."
"You'll just let us go?"
"Yes, the whole point of this was for you to decide."
"Alright."