Mousse's Return

Mousse spent almost the whole month training. Sometimes Mei and Loh helped. By the time
he was about to return to Japan, he able to defeat everyone in the village, except the
elders.

"Mei I will leaving tomorrow for Japan, I-I'm not sure if I will be able to come back to
the village. Please do not go looking for me if I don't return." Mousse told his sister.
"Oh that's no problem 'cause I'm going with you to Japan. You know I don't think this is
a good idea to start with, and i think you're not telling something. Besides I do want to
give that b*:@h Xian Pu what she deserves." Mei said.

"Ok Mei, but I think you'd better stay here." Mousse said. "No, I'm going and that's final"
Mei insisted. Mousse didn't say anything. His sister's stubborn manner reminded him so much
of Shampoo, he knew there was nothing he could do about it.

The next day Mousse and Mei were on their way to Japan.

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Meanwhile in Japan, Shampoo was getting more and more depressed since Mousse left her. She
had come to realize that deep inside she cared a lot for him and his departure had left her
alone and empty. She did her daily chores in an automatic way, but she lacked the cheerfulness
she had before.

Cologne had noticed Shampoo's change when Mousse left. She had thought that her great-grand-
daugther would be happy once he left. She thought she had one less obstacle between her and
Ranma. She hadn't counted on Shampoo getting depressed and unhappy.

Even Ranma and Akane had noticed Shampoo's sadness. She didn't even glomp on Ranma whenever
she saw him. Ranma and Akane had tried to cheer Shampoo up, but she refused their help,
thinking it was weakness to show any sadness or concern over Mousse. "Ohayou Shampoo!" Ranma
greeted cheerfully. "Konnichiwa Shampoo." Akane followed. "Nihao." Shampoo replied sadly.

"Shampoo how can you miss Mousse that much? It's not even passed that much time and besides
you were always complaining how bothersome he was to you and... iie! Akane you tomboy!" Ranma
said with his usual insensivity. "Ranma you jerk! Now you made her feel a whole lot better!"
Akane yelled as she hit his head with a mallet she took from hammerspace. "It's ok, I don't
miss him that much." Shampoo said. "Shampoo, we know you and we know you miss him, after all
he was your friend. Please if you want to talk we'll be there for you." Akane offered.

They were about to leave when Shampoo stopped them. "Wait, maybe you're right, I guess I do
need to tell someone." "Ok, we'll be glad to help." Akane said. "Well, the truth is that I
really miss Mousse. I thought I'd be happy when he left and that I would have Ranma more
easily (a frown from Akane) but when he was gone I realized that he was the only true friend
I had..." she stopped as tears began rolling down her cheeks. "And what about us? And
you must have some other friends at the village." Ranma said. "Well I didn't know you consi-
dered me a friend and back at the village, most of the girls admired me or respected me. As
for the guys, the were afraid of me, except for Mousse. He was my only friend and anyways I
was only interested in getting stronger..." she interrupted herself as more tears came.
Akane let Shampoo rest her head on her shoulder as she cried. When no more tears came she
let go and went back to her work.

She came back bringing Ranma and Akane two plates of Chinese noodles to them, when she saw
them and dropped the tray she was carrying. It was Mousse and Mei. Only she didn't recognize
Mei and her head jumped into conclusions. She ran up to her room, with fresh tears in her
eyes.