Ranma paced his room uneasily. It had been a week since the 'incident' and Akane still hadn't spoken to him. Ranma thought she'd be more grown up than that... but hey, that'd be hypocritical. Here he was at 25, and had punched out Ryoga, for no good reason. Well, he did have A reason, not saying that it was a good one. Jealousy. The darned thing. The one emotion that baffled him. Ranma seemed to understand most of the rest. Happiness was when you get ice cream, saddness is like when your puppy gets ran over, but still, as an adult, jealousy was confusing. It was uncontrollable. He was jealous of Ryoga that day...
Flashback-
Ranma ran into the kitchen, dropping Shampoo's letter from Colonge, to see Akane and Ryoga laughing and eating... something. Kasumi had just stepped out. Ranma's battle aura flickered on, like a neon light. Ranma walked over to Ryoga, tapped on his shoulder. Ryoga looked up.
"What the-" Ranma punched him. Ryoga fell to the floor, but immediately sprang up, in a fighting stance. Akane jumped up, furious.
"Ranma, what's wrong with you? Ryoga didn't evn touch you and you come from nowhere and punch him out?" Akane asked angrily. Ranma was about to answer, but Akane interruppted.
"Don't even say anything. I don't even want to talk to you. So immature. Ryoga, c'mon." Akane and Ryoga went upstairs, likely to Akane's room. Ranma's battle aura flickered out and Ranma turned, dejectedly to do some katas in the dojo...
End Flashback-
"How could I have been so stupid?"
"You're not stupid, most times." came a familiar voice from the doorway. Ranma sighed and turned to see Shampoo, leaning againt the doorpost, looking down at the floor.
"What do you want?" Ranma asked, exasperatedly.He had, by now, stopped pacing and had turned to face Shampoo. She was dressed, once again, in western clothes, this time, in a short, powder blue skirt and a powder pink, short sleeved polo shirt.
"You seemed troubled. Tell a kindred spirit about it."
"Kindred spirit? Heh." Ranma laughed bitterly. "You don't know what it's like to be rejected..."
"Actually..." Shampoo began.
"Oh. Sorry." Ranma apologized emotionlessly. He stuffed one hand into his pocket and began rummaging around. "Here." He handed Shampoo a crumpled and water stained piece of paper.
"What's this?" She asked. Shampoo unfolded the page. "Oh, I see." she said, tears filling her eyes once more.
"Shampoo, don't cry, now just... Don't cry." Ranma said. "If you don't want it, throw it away, maybe it'd be best. You don't really need to be reminded that you're not an Amazon do you?"
"I don't know..." Shampoo looked up into Ranma's face, who had by now moved next to her and was examining the page with her.
"It's pretty water stained and limp too, prob'bly wouldn't last." Ranma said. Shampoo nodded and handed it back to him. Ranma stuffed the letter back in his pocket.
"Ranma..." Shampoo began.
"Yeah?" He asked, starting to venture down stairs. It was mid morning, near afternoon, and the sun shone brightly through every window in the Tendo household. Various birds chirped happily outside, enjoying themselves.
"I've realized that now, we hardly know each other." Shampoo sniffed.
"True. And?" Ranma said, jingling his car keys in his hand.
"Maybe we could get to know each other. Things have gone pretty much downhill, since... you know."
"Yeah, I know. That's true. Well, I do have to go to work, grades and all, but maybe... we can get lunch or something."
"Sounds good." Shampoo smiled, sweetly, if mischieveiously.
"Know this, though, this is a friendly... lunch."
"Yeah." Shampoo nodded. "I have nothing up my sleeve."
"Ok. Let's go. Remember, I have only an hour." Ranma said, and Shampoo followed him, downstairs.
Ryoga smiled to himself. Yes, he was lost, but this had been a good week. He had gotten closer to Akane. Maybe this alliance with Shampoo was working. She used to be so... different. But, after nine years, it's impossible for people to not change. Shampoo never cried before.. But just the other day, Ryoga had caught her, teary eyed, in a park...
Flashback-
Out of all the places to cry. Shampoo had chosen the park. She was sitting on a park bench, just watching the little kids play. The mothers looked at her strangely every once in a while, but she didn't look phased. Ryoga was walking, lost, yet walking, through the park on his absentminded way, and he caught sight of her, sobbing quietly. Ryoga didn't stop walking, yet wondered what could possibly be wrong...
End Flashback-
Ryoga's smile faded, he felt so stupid for not talking to her. But, hey, they were business associates, not friends. Ryoga frowned to himself. He was becoming like Nabiki, or what Nabiki let people see her as, cold and heartless. But, still, everyone can change. Nabiki was living proof, she was now in her third year at medical school. He needed to keep whatever friends he could find, he had no right to pick and choose. Ryoga had to find out what was wrong. He knew she had had a failed marriage, but it had to be something else. It just had to be.
"If only I could find my way back..." Ryoga thought out loud. Ryoga halted and looked heavenward. He was now in a forest. The tall trees almost blocked out the sun, but light shone through various cracks in the 'ceiling'. The light made shadows on the forest floor, that danced back and forth with every breeze. Ryoga inhaled deeply.
"Only if Akane was here... It's so beautiful..." He sighed. Akari had left him a long time ago. She said that they would never work. She loved pigs but... Akari often said that Ryoga couldn't make up his mind. He thought of her often, but it was true. It was impossible for him to make up his mind. Ryoga sighed once more. He wiped his brow, then started walking once more. It seemed he had so many things to think about.
