Characters belong to Rumiko Takahashi, with the exception of The Decisions Master.
13
Ranma found his clothes cleaned and changed into them.
Shampoo had gone back to her room and came out wearing her pink dress.
As soon as they were ready, Ranma and Shampoo left bright and early and made their way back to the campsite. They tried to retrace their steps, but it was difficult to find the way they had previously gone.
"How is it possible that there isn't a trace of where that gorilla rampaged from?"
They spent hours trying to find the trail the gorilla left behind, but they couldn't find anything.
"Airen look!" Shampoo cried out.
Ranma turned to look in the direction she pointed, and saw smoke rising into the air. They followed the smoke and could see a log cabin in the distance. As they were jumping through the trees getting closer to their destination, Shampoo was knocked down by something large and black. She cried out as she fell down the hill.
Ranma jumped after her. He managed to catch her and they both landed in a pool of water at the bottom. Panic rose at first, thinking Shampoo had changed into that…creature, but then he realized the water was warm.
"Shampoo, is this the hot spring we landed in before?"
Shampoo squirmed out of his hold. "Airen, something in water." She dived under the water and found a gold box.
Ranma stared at it. It can't be this easy.
Shampoo tried to open the box, but it would not open.
"Of course it's not that easy. Can I try?"
Shampoo handed the box over.
Ranma tried to force the box open, but the lid remained tightly shut. "How do you open this thing?"
"Look Airen, box has key. Maybe key here too?"
Ranma looked at the box again. In the front hidden among the decoration, was a tiny hole where a key could fit in. "You're right, Shampoo, let's look for it. By the size it has to be pretty small."
They both climbed out of the water and searched all around the grounds, as the cabin itself was locked up tight. The box was set down by the water. Ranma's attention kept getting pulled in Shampoo's direction, as her wet pink dress clung to her body. Dark clouds began forming in the sky and rain would soon be on its way.
"Airen, we need stop. Rain coming soon."
"But we're so close. We can't give up yet."
"Airen keep looking." Shampoo hurried into the hot spring, just as the rain began to trickle. Staying inside the warm water would keep her from transforming. "Shampoo check inside hot spring."
Ranma heaved a sigh of relief. We already checked the hot spring, but she's waiting there so she won't transform. The water quickly triggered his transformation, but he continued looking for the key. Ranma looked over at Shampoo as she stayed hidden in the hot spring. He played back her experience here. She didn't go through the same thing I did. She didn't have a choice to make… but maybe she does now.
Ranma slowly walked toward the hot spring. "Shampoo, when we were here the last time, you told me you saw me repeatedly betray your trust. I'm sorry you saw that, but even more, I'm sorry for the way I treated you in the past."
Shampoo lowered her head, tears streaming down her cheeks.
As Ranma stepped into the water, her body reverted back to the male form. "I hope you know that that's over. I chose you as my fiance, there are no more tricks, no more lies between us." He lifted Shampoo's face to his. "I choose you." He leaned down and kissed her. The moment their lips met, the box sprang open and the purple light flew toward Shampoo.
Shampoo's arms encircled Ranma, and she immediately deepened the kiss.