The bell rang. Ranma felt a feeling of relief wash over him, as he knew he
could now at least try and put himself back in Akane's good books for being
so senselessly rude to her earlier. However, it was unfortunate that he was
totally oblivious to the impending danger that awaited him outside the
school entrance. Through the crowds, Ranma managed to catch sight of Akane.
'Akane!' he shouted in anticipation. She looked over her shoulder, and her
eyes met his. She frowned, and turned away, continuing to walk as she did.
Ranma wasn't as easily deterred as that though. Within seconds, he was by
her side. 'It's not nice to ignore people like that Akane, no wonder you're
such a loner.' he said in an intentionally aggravating way. 'I AM NOT A
LONER!' she screamed! 'Angry again right? Wow, what a surprise.' he
muttered sarcastically.
As they proceeded to walk round the corner, two students ran by carrying a stretcher, with Kuno occupying it, moaning in pain. Akane pondered on what had happened, usually it was either her or Ranma inflicting any damage upon Kuno, and she knew that it was unlikely that any other student in the school could put Kuno down. She tried to remember, that even though he was no real threat to herself or Ranma, the normal students wouldn't stand a chance. She smiled to herself. She just realised that she had called every other student 'normal'. Did she think so little of herself, that she thought she was less normal than any of them? She reassured herself that everyone has their own individual tastes, skills, and aspects. Ranma didn't seem to care what had happened to Kuno, he just assumed that he'd done his usual trick: picked a pointless fight with someone, tried to dazzle them with his fancy talk, then got pummelled anyway.
They both remained silent as they approached the door to exit. Not because they sensed the danger that would follow, but because they were both wrapped up in their own thoughts and dilemmas. Ranma put his hand out to push the door open.
As he opened the door, he looked upwards to discover an enthusiastic figure jumping up and down shouting 'Ranma!'. Shampoo looked as eager as ever, her presence almost immediately made Akane feel uncomfortable. She knew how Shampoo wanted Ranma, and she couldn't help feeling insecure about the whole thing. What if Ranma actually decided that he preferred Shampoo to her? No one could stop him from breaking off his engagement if he felt that determined anyhow. However she decided to be pleasant with the cheerful young warrior, it would probably make Shampoo feel even more confident if she let on that she felt even slightly threatened by her.
Shampoo grabbed Ranma by the arm, and linked hers with his. Ranma was obviously uncomfortable with this, but slightly flattered. He didn't want to throw her off of him, but yet he couldn't let this carry on in front of Akane.
Mousse glared down from the school roof, upon his unsuspecting target. Mousse felt enraged by the affection that Shampoo seemed to be showing Ranma, and clenched his fist trying to resist the temptation to attack at that very second. With a thought of the day's importance however, his anger quickly subsided. He shifted his glare, now to the vision of Akane, who stood near Ranma's side. Even he could see that she was feeling on edge about Shampoo being the way she was towards Ranma, so why didn't the fool tell Shampoo he wasn't interested in her at all, if he had any real feeling for Akane? Mousse's anger suddenly flared up again. He couldn't stand the thought of someone as perfect and flawless as Shampoo, being besotted with such a womaniser. If there was one thing that truly enraged Mousse, it was a man that strung women along. He had told himself earlier that day that he would not strike until the time was right, but his anger could not be held down any longer. With one swift movement, he rapidly began to descend downwards, towards what he saw the biggest obstacle of his life. But right now Ranma was not just an obstacle and threat to him. He was an enemy.
'Ranma go with Shampoo. Shampoo make future husband big dinner' Shampoo said gleefully. 'No, no, I don't want to give you any unnecessary work' Ranma responded hesitantly. Akane had heard enough. She opened her mouth to speak, but before she had chance to get the words out, the sight of a swiftly moving figure, heading for the ground from the roof above. Ranma and Shampoo both realised that Akane had noticed something, so they both turned their views upwards. Shampoo recognised Mousse immediately. 'Mousse..?' she said curiously. She wondered what stupidity he was trying to attempt to impress her now. About ten seconds from hitting the ground, Mousse flung his arm out, and a wire shot out, hitting a nearby tree branch as it did, breaking Mousse's fall. Instead of letting himself hit the ground, Mousse used the momentum of the fall, to swing himself in Ranma's direction. As he got nearer to Ranma, he put himself more and more into a position where he could suddenly attack at the last second. Ranma could see what Mousse was doing, he had practised manoeuvres like this with his Father daily in his earlier years. Instinctively, he pushed Shampoo from him, much to her confusion, and then leaped backwards to avoid Mousse's kick just in time. After both martial artists hit the floor, silence quickly fell. Akane stared in a concerned way at both warriors. She felt concerned for Ranma's welfare, and probably even more concerned for Mousse. This was not the usual behaviour she expected from him. If he was going to challenge Ranma, he would have at least said something by now. It was an eerie silence, unusual silence that came from Mousse. It frightened her. Shampoo ironically, gazed only at Mousse. She worked with Mousse every day, saw him every day. By now she knew his character, and this was just not it. She didn't know if she felt very confused, or just plain shocked. Ranma was concentrating, he had momentarily pondered on the reason for this cold, unprovoked attack, but quickly adjusted himself to think only of what may happen next.
The atmosphere was disturbing. The wind blew strangely over them all, and the sky was turning from a pale blue, to a dark orange rapidly. Only the four of them were in Vicinity of the area, and the tension was growing rapidly. Finally, one of them spoke. 'So, what's it this time Mousse?' shouted Ranma. 'Have I dishonoured Shampoo, or done her wrong in some way again, or is this just another go at defeating me so you can marry her?'. Ranma waited patiently for a response, but he did not receive one. Ranma spoke to Shampoo but did not take his eyes off Mousse. 'Do you know what this is about Shampoo?'. Shampoo took her gaze from Mousse, and turned to Ranma. 'Shampoo not know why Mousse attack Ranma' she responded. The confusion could be heard in the tone of her voice. She decided she would ask him herself . 'Why Mousse silent and try kick Ranma?' she inquired. Mousse remained silent. His eyes had been fixed on Ranma from the moment he hit the ground. Shampoo also started to feel as Akane did, uneasy. The unusual silence that came from him was so out of character, it was making them all want to shudder. Ranma felt a degree of this, but tried to keep his calm. He knew that whatever Mousse was here for, he was deadly serious about it. That much was clear.
Mousse himself, was letting his anger build up. He was still enraged by what he had seen, but letting it slowly build up, and when he was ready, he would let his anger explode, and unleash it's fury upon Ranma. At the back of his mind, he knew that the real reason for his anger was because of this day. If he had witnessed this any other day, he would have just cursed at Ranma, and possibly more if he felt it was necessary. But he had never been so enraged, so set alight by Shampoo's obvious disregard for his feelings. Still, he blamed Ranma, and he had reasons to fight Ranma anyway, so why not take out his frustration on him? Now, he decided it was time to stop thinking. He decided, that now was the time to act.
Suddenly, both opponents took to the air, as if some unsaid command had been given. Akane and Shampoo watched on in horror, as the two martial artists rapidly shot towards each other, for a deadly head on collision. At that moment, it became clear to both girls, that within the next few seconds, this confrontation would be over for one of these determined fighters.
As they proceeded to walk round the corner, two students ran by carrying a stretcher, with Kuno occupying it, moaning in pain. Akane pondered on what had happened, usually it was either her or Ranma inflicting any damage upon Kuno, and she knew that it was unlikely that any other student in the school could put Kuno down. She tried to remember, that even though he was no real threat to herself or Ranma, the normal students wouldn't stand a chance. She smiled to herself. She just realised that she had called every other student 'normal'. Did she think so little of herself, that she thought she was less normal than any of them? She reassured herself that everyone has their own individual tastes, skills, and aspects. Ranma didn't seem to care what had happened to Kuno, he just assumed that he'd done his usual trick: picked a pointless fight with someone, tried to dazzle them with his fancy talk, then got pummelled anyway.
They both remained silent as they approached the door to exit. Not because they sensed the danger that would follow, but because they were both wrapped up in their own thoughts and dilemmas. Ranma put his hand out to push the door open.
As he opened the door, he looked upwards to discover an enthusiastic figure jumping up and down shouting 'Ranma!'. Shampoo looked as eager as ever, her presence almost immediately made Akane feel uncomfortable. She knew how Shampoo wanted Ranma, and she couldn't help feeling insecure about the whole thing. What if Ranma actually decided that he preferred Shampoo to her? No one could stop him from breaking off his engagement if he felt that determined anyhow. However she decided to be pleasant with the cheerful young warrior, it would probably make Shampoo feel even more confident if she let on that she felt even slightly threatened by her.
Shampoo grabbed Ranma by the arm, and linked hers with his. Ranma was obviously uncomfortable with this, but slightly flattered. He didn't want to throw her off of him, but yet he couldn't let this carry on in front of Akane.
Mousse glared down from the school roof, upon his unsuspecting target. Mousse felt enraged by the affection that Shampoo seemed to be showing Ranma, and clenched his fist trying to resist the temptation to attack at that very second. With a thought of the day's importance however, his anger quickly subsided. He shifted his glare, now to the vision of Akane, who stood near Ranma's side. Even he could see that she was feeling on edge about Shampoo being the way she was towards Ranma, so why didn't the fool tell Shampoo he wasn't interested in her at all, if he had any real feeling for Akane? Mousse's anger suddenly flared up again. He couldn't stand the thought of someone as perfect and flawless as Shampoo, being besotted with such a womaniser. If there was one thing that truly enraged Mousse, it was a man that strung women along. He had told himself earlier that day that he would not strike until the time was right, but his anger could not be held down any longer. With one swift movement, he rapidly began to descend downwards, towards what he saw the biggest obstacle of his life. But right now Ranma was not just an obstacle and threat to him. He was an enemy.
'Ranma go with Shampoo. Shampoo make future husband big dinner' Shampoo said gleefully. 'No, no, I don't want to give you any unnecessary work' Ranma responded hesitantly. Akane had heard enough. She opened her mouth to speak, but before she had chance to get the words out, the sight of a swiftly moving figure, heading for the ground from the roof above. Ranma and Shampoo both realised that Akane had noticed something, so they both turned their views upwards. Shampoo recognised Mousse immediately. 'Mousse..?' she said curiously. She wondered what stupidity he was trying to attempt to impress her now. About ten seconds from hitting the ground, Mousse flung his arm out, and a wire shot out, hitting a nearby tree branch as it did, breaking Mousse's fall. Instead of letting himself hit the ground, Mousse used the momentum of the fall, to swing himself in Ranma's direction. As he got nearer to Ranma, he put himself more and more into a position where he could suddenly attack at the last second. Ranma could see what Mousse was doing, he had practised manoeuvres like this with his Father daily in his earlier years. Instinctively, he pushed Shampoo from him, much to her confusion, and then leaped backwards to avoid Mousse's kick just in time. After both martial artists hit the floor, silence quickly fell. Akane stared in a concerned way at both warriors. She felt concerned for Ranma's welfare, and probably even more concerned for Mousse. This was not the usual behaviour she expected from him. If he was going to challenge Ranma, he would have at least said something by now. It was an eerie silence, unusual silence that came from Mousse. It frightened her. Shampoo ironically, gazed only at Mousse. She worked with Mousse every day, saw him every day. By now she knew his character, and this was just not it. She didn't know if she felt very confused, or just plain shocked. Ranma was concentrating, he had momentarily pondered on the reason for this cold, unprovoked attack, but quickly adjusted himself to think only of what may happen next.
The atmosphere was disturbing. The wind blew strangely over them all, and the sky was turning from a pale blue, to a dark orange rapidly. Only the four of them were in Vicinity of the area, and the tension was growing rapidly. Finally, one of them spoke. 'So, what's it this time Mousse?' shouted Ranma. 'Have I dishonoured Shampoo, or done her wrong in some way again, or is this just another go at defeating me so you can marry her?'. Ranma waited patiently for a response, but he did not receive one. Ranma spoke to Shampoo but did not take his eyes off Mousse. 'Do you know what this is about Shampoo?'. Shampoo took her gaze from Mousse, and turned to Ranma. 'Shampoo not know why Mousse attack Ranma' she responded. The confusion could be heard in the tone of her voice. She decided she would ask him herself . 'Why Mousse silent and try kick Ranma?' she inquired. Mousse remained silent. His eyes had been fixed on Ranma from the moment he hit the ground. Shampoo also started to feel as Akane did, uneasy. The unusual silence that came from him was so out of character, it was making them all want to shudder. Ranma felt a degree of this, but tried to keep his calm. He knew that whatever Mousse was here for, he was deadly serious about it. That much was clear.
Mousse himself, was letting his anger build up. He was still enraged by what he had seen, but letting it slowly build up, and when he was ready, he would let his anger explode, and unleash it's fury upon Ranma. At the back of his mind, he knew that the real reason for his anger was because of this day. If he had witnessed this any other day, he would have just cursed at Ranma, and possibly more if he felt it was necessary. But he had never been so enraged, so set alight by Shampoo's obvious disregard for his feelings. Still, he blamed Ranma, and he had reasons to fight Ranma anyway, so why not take out his frustration on him? Now, he decided it was time to stop thinking. He decided, that now was the time to act.
Suddenly, both opponents took to the air, as if some unsaid command had been given. Akane and Shampoo watched on in horror, as the two martial artists rapidly shot towards each other, for a deadly head on collision. At that moment, it became clear to both girls, that within the next few seconds, this confrontation would be over for one of these determined fighters.