"You sure this really 'Spring of Drowned Girl' water from Jusenkyo spring in China?" Shampoo asked the merchant quizzically.
"It's been tested and it has my personal guarantee," he replied, flashing a fake smile.
"You do know Shampoo will hunt down merchant if this backfire," she stared at him with a determined look on her face.
"Y-yeah, s-sure," he replied nervously before composing himself. "I'll even make you a special deal, buy two vials of Jusenkyo spring water for the price of one!" Shampoo's eyes lit up as she considered Ranma.
"You have 'Spring of Drowned Man' water?!" She asked, full of excitement.
"So sorry, I sold the last ones in the town before this one." Shampoo sighed and thought for a moment.
"You have, maybe, 'Spring of Drowned Cat'?" He dug through the glass containers in his bag. The merchant looked up.
"What a lucky young woman you are, I have one left," he held out the vial marked 'cat'.
"Shampoo take!" She slapped the yen in his hand.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Shampoo raced out of café and hopped onto her bike. She put the vials into the basket on the front and sped off down the sidewalk. This so great! Shampoo become normal girl, Akane have cat curse, and Ranma love Shampoo! Shampoo thought to herself as she road her bicycle toward the Tendo Dojo.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Videl and Akane sat in the living room, reading magazines. Videl put her legs on a table and leaned back into the sofa. Akane put her magazine down and got up.
"I'm gonna go get a soda, do you want anything?" She stretched.
"A soda sounds nice," Videl said, and peeked her smiling eyes above the top of her magazine. Akane spun on her heel and went into the kitchen.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
With the Tendo dojo in sight, Shampoo suppressed her ki and grabbed the two vials, leaping from her bike. It careened into a telephone pole and fell onto its side. Using the techniques she learned being a cat, she cleared the fence with a flip and prowled toward the door. Peering into a window, she saw a girl sitting with her back to Shampoo in the living room.
"This just too perfect," she murmured to herself. With absolute silence she slowly pried open the door, tiptoeing inside. Now is time to strike, she thought. As the girl turned a page, Shampoo lunged forward.
"Aiya!" She emptied the contents of the cat vial onto her victim. Akane heard Shampoo and came running into the living room. She dropped both her sodas upon noticing a pile of clothes where Videl sat moments before.
"Shampoo!"
"Akane!?" She gasped in confusion. "What you doing in kitchen!?!"
"I was getting sodas for me and Videl," she replied angrily and crossed her arms over her chest.
"Videl?" She said in the same shocked tone. Shampoo put her hand over her gaping mouth and looked down at the pile of clothes shifting in the chair. A tan paw poked through. Videl strained and her head went through the opening of her shirt. She exhaled sharply. However, Videl was now a small female cougar. The feline clawed its way out of the clothes and kicked off the panties caught on its leg. She looked at Shampoo and growled menacingly.
"What did you do to her!?" Akane thundered. She walked over to Videl and picked her up. Shampoo laughed nervously and held the empty vial behind her back, the other was stashed in a pouch hanging from her shoulder. Videl purred in a deep tone and nuzzled into Akane's stomach.
"Shampoo going to go bye-bye now," she made an about-face and dashed outside. She hopped onto her bike and sped back toward the Cat Café. A light bulb went off in Akane's head.
"Jusenkyo water!" She thought aloud. Akane cradled Videl like a baby and carried her into the kitchen.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"I hope this works," Akane took the kettle from the stove and glanced at Videl. "Here goes nothing," she put Videl on the floor and poured the hot water onto the cougar. Videl stood up on her own two feet again, completely naked. She shivered and Akane gave her a towel to cover herself. Videl wrapped it around her shoulders.
"What did she do to me?" She inquired.
"It seems she's doused you with some water from a cursed spring of Jusenkyo."
"Like Ranma and Genma?"
"Right," Akane put the kettle onto the counter. "Maybe you'd better go get dressed."
"Yeah," she turned to go into the living room. The door leading outside from the kitchen opened. Videl leaped behind the counter.
"Hi, Nabiki," Akane greeted her sister. Videl let out a sigh of relief and stood up.
"Hey Akane," she looked at the other girl. "Videl… why are you naked?"
"I'll explain later, I'm gonna go get dressed," she went into the living room to fetch her clothes. As she neared the chair where they were located, the front door was thrown open. Gohan and Ranma entered, chattering to one another. "Gyaaaah!" Videl shrieked and flew back to the kitchen as her towel floated to the ground. "Cold water, NOW!" Akane filled up a cup and tossed it on her. Videl transformed into the cougar and hopped onto the dinner table. Ranma and Gohan passed by the clothes and went into the kitchen.
"Yo, Akane, what's with the clothes on that chair?" Ranma jerked a thumb toward the living room.
"And who screamed?" Gohan asked.
"It's a long story…" She began.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"So this is Videl?" Gohan gestured toward the small cougar in his lap.
"Yeah," Akane bit her lower lip.
"Well, let's change her back already," Ranma got up to go boil some water. Akane hopped to her feet and smacked him over the back of the head.
"Hello!?"
"What?" He rubbed his head.
"She'll be naked, you dummy!"
"Oh yeah," he replied. Gohan blushed at the thought. Nabiki smirked upon noticing Gohan's expression.
"I'm gonna take her upstairs and get her back to normal," Akane scooped up Videl.
"Gohan wants to know if he can come and watch," Nabiki smiled wryly.
"Nabiki!" Gohan shouted, then turned to Akane, laughing nervously. Akane took Videl upstairs, snagging her clothes along the way. They went into the bathroom and Akane closed the door. She cut on the shower and felt its temperature. It wasn't hot yet. She put the clothes on a nearby stool and sat Videl down on the fuzzy bathmat. Videl stretched and lay on her stomach. Akane tested the water with a hand again.
"Just about ready," she announced. Videl sat up and focused intently upon the shower. "It should be hot now," Akane said a short while later. Videl scrunched up her back legs and sprang into the bathtub. The water wasn't quite hot enough yet so she sat there for a few seconds as her fur became soaked. The liquid raining upon her became hot and she reverted to human form. Videl stood up from her crouching position and cut off the flow of water.
"Thanks," Videl said over her shoulder and began drying her hair with a towel.
"No problem. But the question is, how are we going to fix this?"
"I dunno, but I'm gonna go have a little chat with this Shampoo," she curled the towel around her hair like a turban and got a second towel to dry off her body. She finished drying herself and began dressing. "I have a feeling she has the 'antidote' to this," she stepped into her panties.
"How do you figure that?"
"She has to have a backup if it got on her somehow," she fastened her bra and reached for her shirt.
"Um, Videl," Akane said.
"What?" Videl replied after pulling her head through her shirt.
"Shampoo already has a Jusenkyo curse."
"And what is it?"
"Cat."
"Cat!?" Videl pulled up her sweatpants and turned to Akane.
"Yeah, she got it while training with her grandmother in China."
"This is beginning to make sense now."
"What do you mean?"
"Shampoo likes Ranma right?"
"Right…" Akane didn't see where this was going. Videl held her hands out.
"She likes Ranma, but you're in the way, so-to-speak," she shook one hand. "So is this curse of hers," she shook the other. "By using the cat-water on you, then making herself whole, she kills two birds with one stone, and has Ranma to herself," she clapped her hands together.
"So that's why-"
"Yeah, she thought I was you. But, I have an idea how to get the girl-water, fair and square…"
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Later…
Shampoo sat at a table in the Cat Café, staring at the glass container of 'Spring of Drowned Girl' water. What if no work, or worse, what if not girl-water? She thought to herself.
"Shampoo," Videl walked into the café.
"What you want!?" She clutched the vial to her chest.
"That," she pointed at it.
"Is mine!"
"So was the cougar-water you poured on me. You took something of mine," she narrowed her gaze. "I want it back," she said coolly.
"Videl can't have girl-water, Shampoo is going to use to make Ranma love her."
"I'll let you in on a little secret," she sat on the table where Shampoo was. "It's not gonna work."
"What you know?" Shampoo turned away.
"Fine," Videl stood up. "I challenge you, Shampoo, for the girl-water, winner gets it and changes back permanently," This better work, she added mentally.
"Shampoo accept, when is duel?"
"Tomorrow afternoon, 2 o'clock, the empty lot across from the Tendo's. Be ready," she turned to leave. "And you better bring that water," she nodded toward the glass and left the café. Shampoo burst out laughing.
"This gonna be too easy," she chuckled.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"Come on Akane, spar with me," Videl pleaded.
"Wouldn't you rather train with Gohan or Ranma?" Akane asked.
"Nah," she stretched her left leg by crouching on her right foot and leaning right.
"You sure?"
"Yup," she leaned to the other side.
"Okay…" They went into yard and moved apart. They rushed toward one another and began trading blows. Videl easily blocked Akane's attacks then pressed forward with a flurry of punches and kicks. What is going on!? She's incredible fast, Videl swung at Akane's head and she ducked to avoid the blow. Videl's fist met the side of the house and punched a hole through. And Strong! Akane rolled out of the way, breathing hard. "Gosh," she murmured. Gohan noticed the hole as he came into the kitchen and stuck his head through. Videl charged Akane again. His eyes widened and he rushed outside to get between the two.
"This is not a good idea Videl," he winked rapidly.
"But we were training-"
"It doesn't matter, someone could get, uh, hurt."
"Outta my way," Videl grabbed his shoulder and tried to push him to the side. He didn't budge. She tried again, harder, and again he didn't move an inch.
"Maybe you should go inside, Akane," he said over his shoulder.
"Right…" she scrambled toward the kitchen. With all possible eavesdroppers out of the way, Gohan was free to speak openly.
"Videl, you know you could've injured her!"
"So what?" She got on her toes and leaned her face closer to his.
"Why didn't you ask me to spar?"
"I'm not fighting a guy tomorrow, Gohan," she put her hands on her hips.
"Doesn't matter, with all I've taught you, you probably could blow up this block with a ki attack. Not to mention the increased strength, speed, stamina, and the flying ability…"
"Okay, okay, I've heard enough," she smiled playfully. "Wanna spar?"
"Uh, sure."
"Good, let's go," she quickly powered up and punched him hard in the gut. He sailed backward several feet due to him not being ready for the attack. Videl grinned and dashed toward Gohan. He stopped himself and hovered to the ground. Blocking her blows, he barely got in a punch or two of his. Her tenacity startled him. Gohan managed to hit her abdomen with an open-palmed strike, he summoned his ki and used the Ki Ai Hou attack, shoving her backward in a flash of energy. She spread her arms wide and stopped in her tracks. With sudden renewed strength, she charged again.
Videl overcame Gohan's defenses and roundhoused him on the side of the head. She flipped forward and dropkicked him in the chest then quickly got up to backhand him. Videl leaned on one foot and kicked him several times with the other. She paused for a moment then resumed the onslaught. Gohan decided it was time to get serious. His ki flared suddenly and he blocked each attack with ease. She tried to elbow him and he caught her elbow, twisting it behind her. She tried to reach back with her other hand and he stopped it by grabbing her wrist. They were unexpectedly engaged in a weird kind of embrace. Gohan realized the compromising position they were in and quickly let go. Videl turned around and stared into his eyes. She sighed and kissed him hard.
"Thanks, I needed that," she whispered into his ear. Videl released him and sauntered into the kitchen. Gohan just stood there, a glazed look on his face.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Shampoo rode her bike to the vacant lot. She got off the bicycle and put a small box on the ground. Videl narrowed her eyes on it and Shampoo nodded in silent agreement. She slowly made her way to the center of the lot, where Videl was. They stood about five feet apart, glaring at one another.
"This is gonna be great!" Ranma exclaimed, interrupting the seriousness of the moment. Gohan remained solemn, silently watching the two combatants. Akane stood next to Ranma, ready to cheer Videl on. She quickly smacked Ranma on the head to quiet him. Rubbing his head, he made a face at her. Akane paid him no attention and focused on the two girls.
"Winner gets the girl-water," Videl said flatly.
"Yeah," Shampoo responded in the same tone. They both got into battle positions and went at it. Neither immediately overtook the other, not a blow was landed. Videl became impatient and raised her ki drastically. Shampoo felt the change and did her best to adjust her ki level to match. Videl leaped at her opponent, kicking forward. Shampoo blocked the attack but was driven backward from the force of the blow. Videl saw her opportunity and raised her open hand at Shampoo. She smiled and shot a blue ki blast at her. The other girl's eyes widened and she flipped backward into a crouch. The blast sailed over her head. Videl charged forward to land the winning blow. Unbeknownst to them, the blast kept going and hit a nearby fire hydrant. It glanced the metal object, tearing a hole on the side facing them. A spout of water exploded sideways at them. Videl saw it first and began backing away.
"Oh boy," she managed to say before the flow of water slammed into Shampoo's back. A very wet cat flew toward Videl on a stream of water. Before she could react, she too was hit and became a cougar. The two felines rolled out of the flow of water. Dripping wet, they once again stared at one another. Akane ran across the street to get some hot water. The two cats quickly pounced on one another, clawing and scratching.
A few minutes later, Akane exited the courtyard and hurried across the street, trying not to spill the kettle in her hand. Both felines saw the hot water and leaped at her in unison. They crashed into her, spilling the water over the three of them. They were engulfed in a cloud of steam. Akane quickly hopped out of the steam and clamped her hands over the Ranma's and Gohan's eyes.
"Aw, come on! It doesn't bother me!" Ranma protested.
"Yeah, you'd have no interest in what's to see, so you won't!" Gohan blushed at the remark. The steam cleared, and the two naked warriors crouched near the ground.
"Shampoo no can fight like this," the Amazon looked down at her uncovered form. She turned to look at the fence at the end of the lot where their clothing was pressed against the wall by the continuous water stream. She sprang to her feet and began to bound toward their clothes. Videl stood and aimed for Shampoo's bare rear. She fired a small ki blast at a high velocity. It made contact with Shampoo's butt and she jumped into the air. "OW! Videl, you going to die-" She crashed into the fence next to the water blast and slid to the ground. Videl raised her arms in victory.
"Yay, Videl!" Akane accidentally let go of the guys. Gohan took one look at the nude Videl and quickly passed out. Ranma smirked.
"She's got nothing compared to me," he commented, noticing Videl. He crossed his arms over his chest and walked over to Shampoo who lie on her back. "This just isn't your day, is it Shampoo?"
"Oh, Ranma!" She cried, jumping into his arms. He turned his head and splayed his arms out wide, not wanting to touch her bare body.
"Ranma…." Akane growled as her hands balled into fists. Ranma took off toward their house with Akane in tow. Shampoo squirmed around, then wrapped her legs around Ranma's waist. She made a face over his shoulder and blew a raspberry at Akane. Videl opened the box and poured the water over herself. Just to be certain, she stepped into the stream of water flowing across the lot. Videl remained herself.
"Yes!" She shouted in excitement. She saw Gohan out the corner of her eye and ran over to him, dripping water. Videl got onto one knee and shook his shoulder. "Gohan! Gohan! I won, I won!" His eyes slowly opened. They got an clear view of parts of Videl that need to stay covered and lost their focus again. "Oops…" She laughed nervously and went to get her clothes.