Shampoo was awakened by a soft pair of lips caressing hers. She opened her eyes and saw Ranma Saotome. She smiled mid-kiss. His hands traveled to her hair, and he tousled it playfully. Shampoo's hands went to the nape of his neck, to finger his dark ponytail. They both laughed in pure ecstasy, and both silently consented to call in sick at the job today...
Shampoo smiled in her sleep. The sun rose and shone through her window, the bright rays seeming to attack her eyes behind their lids.
"Just when I have a good dream, it's time to wake up." She sighed, and rolled out of bed. The old woman, who she'd learned was called KoKo by everyone she knew, invited her to stay in the little apartment in the basement of the restaurant. The woman and her husband lived in the upper apartment. Shampoo walked to the bathroom and turned on the shower, a hot shower, mind you, to get ready for the day. She stepped out after a half hour of washing her many cares away, to look in the mirror.
"Well, Shammie," She said, as Greg used to call her fondly, "Time to face the world." She blew a raspberry at herself. She walked out of the bathroom and changed, this time into a short white halter top sundress, and white tennis shoes. She slipped on a white visor, and pulled her long purple locks into a ponytail at the nape of her neck. She walked upstairs nonchalantly and strolled out of the unopened cafe into the cold morning air.She passed all the familiar homes and lanes. All the memories came flooding back in waves. She smiled a bit as her eyes started to tear up.
"C'mon, Shampoo, don't cry. Amazons don't cry-" That made the tears come down worse.
"Shampoo, why cry? What's done is done. What happened to the Chinese-American vixen?" as the interns fondly called her. She smiled to herself.
"This vixen gets what she wants. Ranma will be chasing me, instead of the way it was." She smiled.
The sound of arguing knocked her out of her daze. She stopped walking and took in her surroundings. She was in front of a familiar property. She chuckled. She'd memorized the path. Shampoo stepped on the stoop and knocked on the door.
"Can I- Shampoo!" Kasumi answered the door with an astonished look on her face.
"Long time no see. Nine years too long." Shampoo said shyly.
"Yes, it certainly has. My,your Japanese has improved greatly, come on in!" Kasumi said and led Shampoo in the house, Shampoo sat herself on the couch and Kasumi left to finish breakfast. Ryogawas the first to come in. He walked from the bath. He looked pretty much the same, except his hair was longer.
"Stupid Ranma..." he mumbled.
"Nihao" Shampoo said and smiled.
"Whoa." Ryoga looked up, surprised. "You're not here to mees with Akane are you?" Ryoga looked at her warily.
"After, nine years? Really, Ryoga, come now. Why would you think like that?" Shampoo stood and smoothed out her dress.
"Actually. I don't know what to think. Your Japanese is better than mine.
Wow, you look good for nine years." Ranma wasn't fooling around. Shampoo did look good. If Ryoga had never known her, he would have gone crazy. Her dress covered her, but the thin, airy material let every curve show. Ryoga was positive she had a thong on.
"I'm happy you noticed." She said and stepped closer to him. Ryoga looked down at her. She wasn't wearing a bra either. He mentally slapped himself for noticing. There was only one girl, maybe two if you counted Akari, for him.
"Where'd you go?"
"America. Got married."
Ryoga's jaw dropped at this revelation.
"Was annulled."
Ryoga sighed audibly. "Too bad. Maybe if you had married you would leave Akane alone."
"Probably."
A moment or two passed of intense stares. Kasumi peeked in from the kitchen and decided to take decisive action.
"Breakfast!" She called. Everyone bounded into the kitchen, not noticing Shampoo in their haste.
Kasumi motioned for Shampoo to join them. She walked in, ignored by the residents cramming food in their mouthes. Everyone looked older. Akane's hair was growing back. Genma had more wrinkles than the last time she had seen him. Soun had more wrinkles too. Nabiki was no where to be seen. And Ranma, well he was there, looking very good, if Shampoo said so herself. He looked the same pretty much. Shampoo smiled. The family was basically the same. Her eyes roamed the kitchen from her post at the doorway. Ryoga stepped behind her.
"Why'd you come?"
"Ranma. Just like you come for Akane. I've got a proposition for you. Something that can benifit both of us." Shamppo said and turned to Ryoga. She pointed to the living room and motioned for him to follow her.
"What was that for?" Ryoga asked.
"Shhhhh. Let's go outside." Shampoo took his hand and led him out the door. She stopped at the porch. Ryoga closed the door behind them and stood across from her.
"Okay. Ryoga, it's obvious you like Akane. It's obvious that you can't gather up the gall to say it. Wait, lemme finish." Shampoo said as Ryoga tried to interrupt and defend himself.
"It's also obvoius that I like, no love Ranma. He knows and I know that he wants me, he just isn't ready to admit it yet. So... I propose that we work together and form a coalition of sorts. Let's get together."
Ryoga processed this info. His stomach growled.
"I'm not letting you leave until you agree."
Ryoga's stomach groaned in pain from lack of food.
"I'm in."
