Eloping
By JoPa-kun
I don't own Ranma, or any of its chast. They belong to someone else. Really. I swear.
This is a continuation of sorts. I will try not to let the characters get to much out of character, but then again I'm lazy. I tried more to bring the story on paper, then spending time developing characters.
chapter 7 Country Road
|| Mandarin ||
In Japan, two wandering martial artists part from their two animal-Kami friends. The two Kamis hand them each two bundles of clothes they could wear. The first set weighed about the same as the weights they were wearing now. The other weighed double as much. Akane gladly accepted eager to get out of the bulky weights, which hindered her movements.
The newlyweds had a week to enjoy, a month and half in their perception, before they had to return home.
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That boy was good maybe actually good enough to at least destroy all of his brothers, the demon snorted. Those fools of the countercircle could teach that human and his companion all they knew, let them defeat the brothers, but the boy would never defeat him, for he had killed the last piece to his defeat himself. Laughter rang through the dungeons that stank of sulphur. He sent another of his own brothers to kill the human. His brother would fail, he was sure of that, but that meant nothing to him. Every brother of his that fell was one less to share his power with.
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Ryoga was lost once again. Being lost did not bother him much, as long as he knew where he was and he knew where he was. He was standing in front of some portal a roman triumph wagon crowned it. The Brandenburger Gate. Okay he knew where he was now where did that thing usually stand around? B-Burg that sounded Italian or maybe it was in that other place of European Antic, Moskau. Yes he most probably was in Moskau. He dimly remembered Italy being of Mediterranean climate, warm and a little humid, even during fall and early winter. This place was chilly already, so it must have been Moskau. Ryoga smiled vainly, Japan would be east from here. He turned around to look at the next landmark. It was a statue of a catwoman lying down. Ryoga chuckled cat woman, cat that reminded him of Ranma and the revenge he had yet to extract. He sighed, but first he would have to find his way to Nerima, and fast at that, he had less then two months before Christmas, and he had sworn to himself that he would confess his love to Akane then, and maybe even ask her to marry him. His eyes glazed over shortly as he imagined a future of Akane Hibiki. 'And if she doesn't love me' he thought 'I can always drop back on Akari'. He shook his head and concentrated once again. A cat woman, the sphinx that was in Egypt was it not, but the sun was setting behind it that meant it was west of Moskau, and Egypt was south of that. He decided that European countries were too small to call themselves countries. He frowned slightly. Russia and Egypt were part of the European Union, right? He turned and made sure the sun was on his left side. Most people were idiots they would keep the sun in there back and hoped to head east but he knew better. The sun did not go over the horizon in a straight line it was more parabolic, curved and Japan was the Land of wa, of dawn, the rising sun, so he just had to follow the way of the sun backwards. He'd be there in no time at all. He shook his head at the Westerners one last time. The statue of Liberty was supposed to be west of Europe not east, did they know nothing. He walked into a nearby park, never seeing the sign that read "World-go-round Put'o'rama Minigolf'.
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Mousse slowly made his way back to their hotel. It took him all day to find a passage leaving Vladivostok towards Japan. It was a fisher boat, and they would only allow male passengers and had only place for one at that. It had taken some convincing to allow two pets to come along. In hope that Ucchan would not be upset to pose as a guy again. Shampoo would most likely not mind to stay in her cursed form for the passage.
His face darkened at the thought. She actually seemed to prefer her cursed form at times. She tried to avoid him and Ucchan at all times, and if she could not she ignored him and was angry with Ucchan. She was angry a lot lately, and if she was not angry, she was depressed, so depressed at times that she had once not bathed for two weeks straight.
They only had money to book two rooms for them, and both Jusenkyo victims wanted some time to remain in their human state. Therefore, they had booked two rooms one room for the two girls, and one room for him, well his room was a modified broom closet just big enough for a half of a mattress cut long ways to cover the entire floor. Nevertheless, the first night Shampoo had another anger fit and threw Ukyo out, refusing to let her back in, so Ukyo and him shared the little room, Shampoo steadily refused to change rooms with them, it was unworthy of a true Amazon to sleep in such a room, she had claimed. For three nights now Ukyo had slept in the small room avoided Shampoo and told him repeatedly, there was plenty of space for him to stay human.
Last night he had stayed human, the night was especially cold and she had frozen and shivered, and she needed his warmth. He had never felt so hot, intimidated and uncomfortable in his whole life, and yet he had a feeling of . it felt right. It was right for him; to share his warmth with a woman; to feel needed even for so little of reason to comfort one and to be comforted at the same time. He knew he would never be able to have that sort of relationship with Shampoo. The realization had hurt but it had hurt less then the countless rejections he had received from her before. He still had no clue what so ever what really fuelled that girl, why she did what she did. It surely was not her loyalty towards her clan or her honour, because she would have never gone against the elders orders, forsaking even more of her honour. It was not love he knew that. She had no time to fall in love with Ranma; she had just followed village laws in the beginning and was constantly rejected, as she rejected him, Mousse. Then there was what she had yelled when she threw Ucchan out of the room. He was not there at the time when she was yelling and screaming at Ukyo in Mandarin, and Ukyo did not understand a word of it, but Ukyo had remembered one word the Amazon had repeatedly screamed and Mousse translated it for her. Man Stealer. It made no sense to Mousse, but it seemed to for Ucchan, he mused. She was sporting a terrible blush, but she denied understanding it. Mousse groaned. Akane was the one who supposedly 'stole', married Ranma not Ucchan.
The only man the woman had grown a little closer to be was Mousse. Could that girl, Shampoo think that he and Ukyo.? Did Ucchan? Was Shampoo jealous? His heart would have soared at the thought few weeks ago, but now even if she was a jealous and held a little love for him, he doubted he could return it. To much had happened and his heart had done the unbelievable, it grew weary of the constant struggle, the false one-sided love, and grew apart from her. He did not know this Shampoo, and might never really have. Ucchan was his friend; could he give her more than that, would she return it? He remembered her patching him up after fights, most of them with Shampoo. Sometimes she would feed him, if he were not able to himself. He remembered how she would gently blow on his soup to cool it a little, so he would not burn his lips. His heart leapt; yes, maybe she did love him. He ran towards the hotel, he had to proclaim his love for her so she could proclaim hers. He stopped after a hundred yards. Whom was he kidding? He had had this internal battle ever since Tsadaima. This was Ucchan, she treated him the same way she treated Ranma, Ryoga and even Konatsu. She was no Amazon she was brought up differently. He remembered Akane treating him well, better then any girl had before her actually, and he knew she was only being friendly. It was Japanese hospitality. He should not mistake it with love, and ruin one of the few friendships he had.
He walked back to the hotel and stopped when he rounded the last corner. Shampoo and Ukyo were going at it again, Shampoo on the onset swinging wildly at the cook yelling in Mandarin. Ukyo did not move from where she stood blocking each blow. Although Ukyo and Mousse had gotten better at the art, and Shampoo had slacked off, the Amazon was still a little better then Ukyo and would have beaten her easily, but she was angry telegraphing her moves no tactic behind her attacks, and she wasted to much air yelling.
||.know you slept with Mousse last night. I was in front of the door listening. He did not stay cursed. You asked him to come to bed with you. Have you given up on making Ranma your husband? You can't steal Ranma, so the Man Stealer takes Mousse. Was he any good, you slut? Are all of you Japanese bitches out to destroy my happiness? ...|| She ranted in Mandarin. Mousse could not believe it. What was Shampoo talking, about? He ran to stop them.
Ukyo was defending herself yet again, from Shampoo. This happened excessively often, lately. If she would just talk to her instead of yelling in Chinese, they would be able to sort out things. All Ukyo understood from the mad girls gibberish were ".Mousse.Ranma Husband.Ranma.Man Stealer.Mousse." Then Mousse had dropped in between them. He blocked the bonborris and her Spatula, with his Swan blades.
"Stop this. Both of you." The boy turned from one girl to another giving each a hard glare, which they both returned. Ukyo then sheathed her Spatula. Mousse tried to look Shampoo straight in the eye, but she steadily avoided his gaze. "Drop them Shampoo. This is no way to treat friends."
Although she tried to hide her face from him, he could clearly see how her expression tuned from sad to a frown then to anger once again. || I will not do anything like that. I am Shampoo of the Joketzuku. And will not drop my weapons because a male orders me too.||
It was Mousses turn to turn his visage into a snarl. "You have defied the elder's wishes and orders, by leaving, following the Saotome boy. And yet you claim to be an Amazon, would any Amazon, any warrior for that refuse orders, like a little brat."
||How dare you? I am no brat. What kind of Amazon male gives lip to a superior of his? You have changed Mousse. You were caught up in her web, Mousse. Were trapped just like my Ranma, by one of those Japanese sluts. I intend to rescue him from the violent pervert and you from the chef.||
"I did not stumble into any trap, Shampoo. There is no need to rescue me from Ukyo."
||I saw Mousse, I heard you last night. You crawled in to her bed. Did she make you feel manly, Mousse? Did she let you take lead? Was she better then I? Did she give you what I haven't? Don't deny it Mousse, I saw how sleepy you were this morning. I won't let the Japanese sluts take all my men, I will fight for them.||
"Shampoo. Nothing happened. You threw her out of the room with central heating and last night was especially cold, we both needed the warmth, or we would suffer hypothermia now. She almost immediately fell asleep too, I just stayed awake because I did not want to fall asleep and do something stupid while sleeping and ruin yet another friendship that is why I was so tired this morning." It was close enough to the truth anyway. "Besides what I and Ukyo do or not do, is none of your concern."
Ukyo knew what Shampoo was talking about, although she did not understand a word. That did not matter others could perfectly well understand her and it made her blush. Why would Shampoo think something like that, anyway? 'Because you had the exact same thought in your dreams the last three nights.' Her mind answered promptly. Mousse was her friend he had just said so. He does not want to destroy that. 'Great another man who only sees you as his buddy, just peachy. Is something wrong with me, or what is it?' Her thoughts were.
||See, you would have never said that before. She has changed you Mousse. Brainwashed you. Can't you see it? You even speak in her tongue so she understands it.|| her voice was little more then a hiss.
"She has nothing to do with that. She has given me friendship Shampoo, nothing more. She had nothing to do with what happened at Tadaima. That was you, Shampoo and it has made me face reality. I may have loved you once Shampoo, but I do not anymore, and maybe never again. I do not know you Shampoo, you are not what I thought you were. I idealized you overlooking your mistakes, I writhed in front of you endured every hardship just to be close to you and you have never acknowledged it, you just kept pushing me away. With or without Ukyo I would have grown up eventually, and I have I have grown up Shampoo, too bad you have not. Ukyo just made it easier for me she was there when I needed her, acknowledged what I did for the two of you to bring you back to Japan safely; you just care about yourself Shampoo, that is why I do not love you anymore."
Shampoo was crying now. She slowly turned to look him in the eye, and cried even more when she saw the repulsion and anger in his eyes. She turned to look at Ukyo and she saw pity and compassion. She finally dropped her bonbori and fell to the ground boneless. She was an Amazon. No man should lecture her, no woman should pity her, no warrior should cry. She cried until her body to felt the tiredness she felt in her heart.
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Mousse had carried her to her room, and now he was sitting there with Ukyo watching the purple haired girl sleep. They were sitting next to each other on the floor watching her in her bed. "She thinks I stole you from her, didn't she?"
"Yes. I think she is starting to hate all Japanese women; she thinks they are all out to destroy her happiness." He answered.
"Sounds a little like Ryoga-kun, if you ask me." She fell silent again trying to word her next question. "Is it true? Have I stolen you from her?"
Mousse turned a little surprised by the question; he blushed a little and stared back at Shampoo. "You were not the cause of my alienation from Shampoo, that she did on her own," He never noticed her face droop at that statement. "You were a good friend when I needed one, Ucchan, and well . I admit that sometimes my thoughts strayed that way. Especially since Shampoo said that she thought we were . together, I really thought about it, and well.Ucchan you are my friend, one of the few I have, and I cherish each one of them. Down there on the street when I was on my way home, for a second I thought about running here declaring my love for you, but I won't do that to you. I have already ruined one girl that way and . maybe I do not really know what love is. I will not pursue someone who is only trying to be friendly to me and destroy something precious. I will not pursue someone, who is in love with someone else. I will not degrade myself for anyone again. I have grown and I know what I want for life.
She does not; all she wants is become a leader because of prestige. She does not even want to change a thing at home, even though the village is dying, the people train and go to work, they are withering, Ukyo, right after they are born the decay starts, and slowly do they die. There is nothing to do for recreation. They train plough their fields and that is it. We have a lot of stories and legends, we tell each other, but after a year you have heard them all, and you grow tired of hearing them. Shampoo is a Star in the village. Her letters are a new marvelling story with romance and adventure, villains and heroes. Her letter is copied and passed around underhand, her life is like a Soap Opera to them. They have nothing and will not go anywhere. Ranma's happence at that tournament 2 years ago was the most exciting thing that happened ever since I was born. It is a wasted existence to live in the village.
You I know want to be the best chef of whole Japan, and maybe even outside of it. You want to open restaurants all over the world. You told me about the plans you and Nabiki worked out. You know what you want in life, and so do I, I will never return to that village and waste my life.
I want to find a girl that knows what she wants that can be my equal, that can best me, and whom I can best. Somebody that returns what I give. I want to continue my training and pass it on to a new generation. Maybe open a Dojo like Ranma will, or have a job that just pays enough to live, so I can spent most time at home where I am needed and have time to train. My future surely does not lie in my Home-Village."
"Mousse. First of you are not responsible for how Shampoo behaves, she is not the victim here if anything you are the victim. Secondly I will always be your friend, if you think something has changed with that relationship tell me. Or do think you it is flattering that every guy wants to be my pal? Damnit Mousse do not do that to me. Never. No matter what I will be there for you. And as for me wanting Ranma." She dropped her gaze from Mousse and stared down at her hands, fumbling. She then clenched them tightly, and inhaled deeply. She turned to give Mousse a quick peck on the check.
Mousse turned to Ukyo worried. He saw her fumbling with her hands then she made fists. She turned her head fast her eyes were closed. She kissed him right on the mouth. Mousse' eyes shot open as did Ukyo's but neither broke the kiss. Slowly Ukyo half closed her eyes again enjoying the intimacy. Her arms on their own command snaked around the boy's neck, in response his wrapped around her waste. Ukyo slightly opened her mouth leaning deeper in to the kiss urging for more, in response she lost her balance and toppled right onto him.
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Hours later Shampoo awoke, her head hurt. Her eyes felt swollen, and she felt drained. She swung her legs over the side of her bed, and grabbed a class of water that stood there and drained it in one gulp. She stood up and stretched then stalked around the room her hands pushing into her back her head in her neck. She rounded the bed and her toe touched something. She looked down to what it was..
Mousse awoke when somebody kicked his head. He wearily opened his eyes to see a blurry purple headed Amazon standing over him, yelling. He squinted, he needed to find his glasses and find out what the girl wanted from him now. He padded the floor next to him on one side then the other, he found them, and put them on. He yawned lazily and rubbed his chest. He rubbed his chest again. His chest was not that hairy, was it? A small moan came from his chest. He looked down and saw a brunette resting her head there. She slowly woke up and Ukyo greeted her pillow with a smile. "Mornin'." She said.
"Er .Good Morning to you too, Ucchan." He did not know how to behave. It was his first time for him that he woke up next to a girl, other then his sister. Then they had been both dressed, and she did not nearly look as good as Ukyo did, not even close. Now he was naked next to a beautiful woman who did not mind even enjoyed his present state of clothing.
"What you two do now. Two perverts do next where Shampoo sleep, too. Hope you two enjoyed too too much. Because Shampoo now kill, over." Ukyo and Mousse looked at each other. Crap, they had forgotten about her. They rolled out of the way of her first strike. Ukyo scrambled over to her belongings, reaching for her weapon. Mousse rolled to his feet and faced his attacker. He was naked, true, but he was also a master of the hidden weapons technique. Chains flew at an unexpecting Shampoo engulfing her and immobilizing her effectively.
|| Let me go, you bastard. Male. Outsider. You again dishonour your ancestors, by attacking your betters. Now release me at once.||
"I will not. First I want some answers, Shampoo." He said slipping on his boxers.
"Yeah and you owe us an apology to." Ukyo already had her Shirt on and was now slipping on her leggings. "If Mousse wouldn't've pushed me, I'd be dead now."
"Not worry. When Shampoo free again she will end what she start." She stated with a bat of her eyelashes and a forced innocent smile. Ukyo opened her mouth to respond, but was cut of.
"Try that and I'll kill you before you even touch her." Mousse said in a calm voice his eyes locked with Shampoo's, underlining his point.
"Ha. Stupid Mousse, never beat me." ||You try and you die with her, not that I'm letting you live, mind you, but I will kill you and her just that much more slowly. Maybe even tape some of it and send your families.|| She met his gaze with a cold grin of her own. Neither of them moved, not wanting to be the first one to brake the staring.
"You know actually me thinks he can beat you. He beat you what twice already?" Ukyo said matter of factly. Shampoo looked from Ukyo back to Mousse, and turned her face up and away, a deep frown on her face. She was angry. He had beaten her twice true that didn't mean the chef should put salt to the wound, though. He easily beat her twice, without even exerting himself. Worry crept into her visage. Had her skills deteriorated that much since she came to that barbaric land, Japan, those many months ago? She leaned deeper in to the wall she was propped up against. Mousse had never been able to do that. It was an impossible feat for him, but he had done it twice in short success. Had he always hold back against her? Then why not hold back this time? She knew the answer before even finishing the thought. Ukyo. He had always thought he loved her, and had lost this love. Ukyo had replaced her in his heart, she had attacked Ukyo, and he had responded. Responded like Ranma always responded when Akane was threatened. Responded like she had always wished for somebody doing for her.
"Does this mean you two have to marry now?" Ukyo asked she did not even try to hide the worry her voice transmitted.
Shampoo stared at her. Maybe if Shampoo laid out her cards right.
"No, I'm still part of the tribe, although I voiced my wish to leave it, I'm still officially part of it. And other rules apply for villagers, then for outsiders." Ukyo stepped forward and hugged the boy, pulling him to her.
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Akane pushed Ranma onto the bed, starting to undress him so they were both naked. Ranma enjoyed the ministrations; she had not said a word, but kissing him ferociously like a wild animal. He lifted her head and stared in to her . Jade - green eyes. Ranma pushed whomever it was off him, flipping off the bed himself, landing in a ready stance. A wall crumbled as somebody flew through it. Ranma looked at the person who impacted with yet another wall, and looked at himself. Akane, the real one landed next to Ranma. And the two impersonators touched and pulled in embracing the other, and the two forms melted to one.
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Ranma stowed the bracelet and the golden statue resembling a monkey away in his backpack. UkogNos had dearly paid for underestimating him and his wife.
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Ryoga stumbled in a restaurant. He had not eaten in days and nothing seemed familiar to him. Considering how long he had walked for and that he had headed east all the time he had to be in Osaka, but it sure did not look like it. He breathed in deeply, and sat down at an empty table. He ordered and soon he was eating Rice with Wok-Vegetables and chicken. He stopped. The waiter she had understood him, although he ordered in Japanese, which meant. He shot up and yelled at the server. "How do I get to Nerima?" She looked at the bearer of the unlimited tiger bandanas. Everybody in the restaurant stared at the boy and the waitress. "Sir? This is London. Nerima is in Japan." She shook her head and mumbled something about tourists, before she returned to her work.
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Ranma held on to Akane for dear life as she manoeuvred the motorcycle through the narrow streets of the city. He half turned around and saw the gang of possessed Bikers still in hot pursuit, their machines howling. He threw a small Ki blast at a set of garbage cans; it did not stop their pursuers for long. Akane turned right, and ended up in a pedestrian zone, that surrounded a park. Akane rolled over into the park, as the gang came in to sight she hit the accelerator, her and Ranma's auras flared up emanating hot chi.
Followed by the gang the two of them started driving in a huge circle slowly spiralling to the centre. At the centre Akane stuck out her foot and pulled the cycle in one last narrow turn and in to a halt. As one, the couple threw their fist upwards. The resulting whirlwind picked up the whole gang lifted them several hundred feet and then dropped them. The pile of broke human bodies and bent machines seemed to gain a sharper edge for a moment, then blurred before a black mist seeped out of them. It formed into a hare its left eye bolted closed, its lower body was a one-wheeled motorcycle, and it wore a leatherjacket. Esah. Akane and Ranma looked at each other and attacked.
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Akane put away yet another golden animal statue, a cow, Snamina, and slid the tiara on her head. She opened a side compartment of her pack and pulled out a make up mirror, to look at her reflection. She enjoyed it for a minute, but then frowned as she saw something in the mirror she was not sure if it was good or not. She turned around to see a camera team filming her and her female husband. The camera team then inched closer the reporter already blurting out question. Both Saotome's did not want to stick around for an interview. They hopped on the next rooftop and ran.
Ranma had noticed them at their first fight against a demon after leaving the animal Kamis behind. It could have been coincidence, but they made sure to wear the same clothing as they did the first time and masks, because if it was no coincidence then someone had ordered the news there and whoever it was had a reason to do so and maybe the unknown was not on their side it was better to tread carefully.
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The Camera team put away the equipment. The duo had effectively destroyed another demon that had threatened to destroy a whole city. Ying-Yang- Soldiers. That is what the two were dubbed, well those two and the red head that sometimes appeared, since nobody seemed to know anything about them, well except that they were incredibly strong that is.
The camera operator looked around the empty lot, which used to be a school. He shivered. The demon, AwOts had only been a small Chihuahua, he had already eaten two schoolgirls, before the Soldiers had arrived, and... He shivered yet again. No he couldn'tbring himself to remember what it had done, and he still had to cut the film. He wasn't even sure if he could even send most of the film.
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Tomorrow they would return home. Yesterday they had fought against two of the demons at once. Taurousu the bull and Ardyh the lizard. That made six in the last six days, including today. Today they surprisingly had had a breather. No demons, no attackers, no news teams, nothing. Just Akane and Ranma, some light sparring a lot of training, and bliss.
In their tent Akane stretched. If there were an animal demon for every animal Kami then they would have to fight two more. An exasperated sigh escaped her lips. She recounted the eleven beast Kami. They sounded oddly familiar, but something was amiss, or maybe missing. She shook her head she did not know. It was their first day off, so to say, and Akane had other things planned. Fighting the demons usually left the two fighters totally drained and exhausted, but today they could . It had been almost a week since they had . Akane smiled, that had been wonderful, though that perverted monkey would get it when she saw him next time. She unzipped their sleeping bags and folded them out turning them into a futon then she undid her belt, slid the gi of her shoulders. "Ranma? Raanmaa? Can you lend me a hand here?"
"I'll come in a sec."
"I hope not."
""Hun?"
By JoPa-kun
I don't own Ranma, or any of its chast. They belong to someone else. Really. I swear.
This is a continuation of sorts. I will try not to let the characters get to much out of character, but then again I'm lazy. I tried more to bring the story on paper, then spending time developing characters.
chapter 7 Country Road
|| Mandarin ||
In Japan, two wandering martial artists part from their two animal-Kami friends. The two Kamis hand them each two bundles of clothes they could wear. The first set weighed about the same as the weights they were wearing now. The other weighed double as much. Akane gladly accepted eager to get out of the bulky weights, which hindered her movements.
The newlyweds had a week to enjoy, a month and half in their perception, before they had to return home.
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That boy was good maybe actually good enough to at least destroy all of his brothers, the demon snorted. Those fools of the countercircle could teach that human and his companion all they knew, let them defeat the brothers, but the boy would never defeat him, for he had killed the last piece to his defeat himself. Laughter rang through the dungeons that stank of sulphur. He sent another of his own brothers to kill the human. His brother would fail, he was sure of that, but that meant nothing to him. Every brother of his that fell was one less to share his power with.
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Ryoga was lost once again. Being lost did not bother him much, as long as he knew where he was and he knew where he was. He was standing in front of some portal a roman triumph wagon crowned it. The Brandenburger Gate. Okay he knew where he was now where did that thing usually stand around? B-Burg that sounded Italian or maybe it was in that other place of European Antic, Moskau. Yes he most probably was in Moskau. He dimly remembered Italy being of Mediterranean climate, warm and a little humid, even during fall and early winter. This place was chilly already, so it must have been Moskau. Ryoga smiled vainly, Japan would be east from here. He turned around to look at the next landmark. It was a statue of a catwoman lying down. Ryoga chuckled cat woman, cat that reminded him of Ranma and the revenge he had yet to extract. He sighed, but first he would have to find his way to Nerima, and fast at that, he had less then two months before Christmas, and he had sworn to himself that he would confess his love to Akane then, and maybe even ask her to marry him. His eyes glazed over shortly as he imagined a future of Akane Hibiki. 'And if she doesn't love me' he thought 'I can always drop back on Akari'. He shook his head and concentrated once again. A cat woman, the sphinx that was in Egypt was it not, but the sun was setting behind it that meant it was west of Moskau, and Egypt was south of that. He decided that European countries were too small to call themselves countries. He frowned slightly. Russia and Egypt were part of the European Union, right? He turned and made sure the sun was on his left side. Most people were idiots they would keep the sun in there back and hoped to head east but he knew better. The sun did not go over the horizon in a straight line it was more parabolic, curved and Japan was the Land of wa, of dawn, the rising sun, so he just had to follow the way of the sun backwards. He'd be there in no time at all. He shook his head at the Westerners one last time. The statue of Liberty was supposed to be west of Europe not east, did they know nothing. He walked into a nearby park, never seeing the sign that read "World-go-round Put'o'rama Minigolf'.
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Mousse slowly made his way back to their hotel. It took him all day to find a passage leaving Vladivostok towards Japan. It was a fisher boat, and they would only allow male passengers and had only place for one at that. It had taken some convincing to allow two pets to come along. In hope that Ucchan would not be upset to pose as a guy again. Shampoo would most likely not mind to stay in her cursed form for the passage.
His face darkened at the thought. She actually seemed to prefer her cursed form at times. She tried to avoid him and Ucchan at all times, and if she could not she ignored him and was angry with Ucchan. She was angry a lot lately, and if she was not angry, she was depressed, so depressed at times that she had once not bathed for two weeks straight.
They only had money to book two rooms for them, and both Jusenkyo victims wanted some time to remain in their human state. Therefore, they had booked two rooms one room for the two girls, and one room for him, well his room was a modified broom closet just big enough for a half of a mattress cut long ways to cover the entire floor. Nevertheless, the first night Shampoo had another anger fit and threw Ukyo out, refusing to let her back in, so Ukyo and him shared the little room, Shampoo steadily refused to change rooms with them, it was unworthy of a true Amazon to sleep in such a room, she had claimed. For three nights now Ukyo had slept in the small room avoided Shampoo and told him repeatedly, there was plenty of space for him to stay human.
Last night he had stayed human, the night was especially cold and she had frozen and shivered, and she needed his warmth. He had never felt so hot, intimidated and uncomfortable in his whole life, and yet he had a feeling of . it felt right. It was right for him; to share his warmth with a woman; to feel needed even for so little of reason to comfort one and to be comforted at the same time. He knew he would never be able to have that sort of relationship with Shampoo. The realization had hurt but it had hurt less then the countless rejections he had received from her before. He still had no clue what so ever what really fuelled that girl, why she did what she did. It surely was not her loyalty towards her clan or her honour, because she would have never gone against the elders orders, forsaking even more of her honour. It was not love he knew that. She had no time to fall in love with Ranma; she had just followed village laws in the beginning and was constantly rejected, as she rejected him, Mousse. Then there was what she had yelled when she threw Ucchan out of the room. He was not there at the time when she was yelling and screaming at Ukyo in Mandarin, and Ukyo did not understand a word of it, but Ukyo had remembered one word the Amazon had repeatedly screamed and Mousse translated it for her. Man Stealer. It made no sense to Mousse, but it seemed to for Ucchan, he mused. She was sporting a terrible blush, but she denied understanding it. Mousse groaned. Akane was the one who supposedly 'stole', married Ranma not Ucchan.
The only man the woman had grown a little closer to be was Mousse. Could that girl, Shampoo think that he and Ukyo.? Did Ucchan? Was Shampoo jealous? His heart would have soared at the thought few weeks ago, but now even if she was a jealous and held a little love for him, he doubted he could return it. To much had happened and his heart had done the unbelievable, it grew weary of the constant struggle, the false one-sided love, and grew apart from her. He did not know this Shampoo, and might never really have. Ucchan was his friend; could he give her more than that, would she return it? He remembered her patching him up after fights, most of them with Shampoo. Sometimes she would feed him, if he were not able to himself. He remembered how she would gently blow on his soup to cool it a little, so he would not burn his lips. His heart leapt; yes, maybe she did love him. He ran towards the hotel, he had to proclaim his love for her so she could proclaim hers. He stopped after a hundred yards. Whom was he kidding? He had had this internal battle ever since Tsadaima. This was Ucchan, she treated him the same way she treated Ranma, Ryoga and even Konatsu. She was no Amazon she was brought up differently. He remembered Akane treating him well, better then any girl had before her actually, and he knew she was only being friendly. It was Japanese hospitality. He should not mistake it with love, and ruin one of the few friendships he had.
He walked back to the hotel and stopped when he rounded the last corner. Shampoo and Ukyo were going at it again, Shampoo on the onset swinging wildly at the cook yelling in Mandarin. Ukyo did not move from where she stood blocking each blow. Although Ukyo and Mousse had gotten better at the art, and Shampoo had slacked off, the Amazon was still a little better then Ukyo and would have beaten her easily, but she was angry telegraphing her moves no tactic behind her attacks, and she wasted to much air yelling.
||.know you slept with Mousse last night. I was in front of the door listening. He did not stay cursed. You asked him to come to bed with you. Have you given up on making Ranma your husband? You can't steal Ranma, so the Man Stealer takes Mousse. Was he any good, you slut? Are all of you Japanese bitches out to destroy my happiness? ...|| She ranted in Mandarin. Mousse could not believe it. What was Shampoo talking, about? He ran to stop them.
Ukyo was defending herself yet again, from Shampoo. This happened excessively often, lately. If she would just talk to her instead of yelling in Chinese, they would be able to sort out things. All Ukyo understood from the mad girls gibberish were ".Mousse.Ranma Husband.Ranma.Man Stealer.Mousse." Then Mousse had dropped in between them. He blocked the bonborris and her Spatula, with his Swan blades.
"Stop this. Both of you." The boy turned from one girl to another giving each a hard glare, which they both returned. Ukyo then sheathed her Spatula. Mousse tried to look Shampoo straight in the eye, but she steadily avoided his gaze. "Drop them Shampoo. This is no way to treat friends."
Although she tried to hide her face from him, he could clearly see how her expression tuned from sad to a frown then to anger once again. || I will not do anything like that. I am Shampoo of the Joketzuku. And will not drop my weapons because a male orders me too.||
It was Mousses turn to turn his visage into a snarl. "You have defied the elder's wishes and orders, by leaving, following the Saotome boy. And yet you claim to be an Amazon, would any Amazon, any warrior for that refuse orders, like a little brat."
||How dare you? I am no brat. What kind of Amazon male gives lip to a superior of his? You have changed Mousse. You were caught up in her web, Mousse. Were trapped just like my Ranma, by one of those Japanese sluts. I intend to rescue him from the violent pervert and you from the chef.||
"I did not stumble into any trap, Shampoo. There is no need to rescue me from Ukyo."
||I saw Mousse, I heard you last night. You crawled in to her bed. Did she make you feel manly, Mousse? Did she let you take lead? Was she better then I? Did she give you what I haven't? Don't deny it Mousse, I saw how sleepy you were this morning. I won't let the Japanese sluts take all my men, I will fight for them.||
"Shampoo. Nothing happened. You threw her out of the room with central heating and last night was especially cold, we both needed the warmth, or we would suffer hypothermia now. She almost immediately fell asleep too, I just stayed awake because I did not want to fall asleep and do something stupid while sleeping and ruin yet another friendship that is why I was so tired this morning." It was close enough to the truth anyway. "Besides what I and Ukyo do or not do, is none of your concern."
Ukyo knew what Shampoo was talking about, although she did not understand a word. That did not matter others could perfectly well understand her and it made her blush. Why would Shampoo think something like that, anyway? 'Because you had the exact same thought in your dreams the last three nights.' Her mind answered promptly. Mousse was her friend he had just said so. He does not want to destroy that. 'Great another man who only sees you as his buddy, just peachy. Is something wrong with me, or what is it?' Her thoughts were.
||See, you would have never said that before. She has changed you Mousse. Brainwashed you. Can't you see it? You even speak in her tongue so she understands it.|| her voice was little more then a hiss.
"She has nothing to do with that. She has given me friendship Shampoo, nothing more. She had nothing to do with what happened at Tadaima. That was you, Shampoo and it has made me face reality. I may have loved you once Shampoo, but I do not anymore, and maybe never again. I do not know you Shampoo, you are not what I thought you were. I idealized you overlooking your mistakes, I writhed in front of you endured every hardship just to be close to you and you have never acknowledged it, you just kept pushing me away. With or without Ukyo I would have grown up eventually, and I have I have grown up Shampoo, too bad you have not. Ukyo just made it easier for me she was there when I needed her, acknowledged what I did for the two of you to bring you back to Japan safely; you just care about yourself Shampoo, that is why I do not love you anymore."
Shampoo was crying now. She slowly turned to look him in the eye, and cried even more when she saw the repulsion and anger in his eyes. She turned to look at Ukyo and she saw pity and compassion. She finally dropped her bonbori and fell to the ground boneless. She was an Amazon. No man should lecture her, no woman should pity her, no warrior should cry. She cried until her body to felt the tiredness she felt in her heart.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Mousse had carried her to her room, and now he was sitting there with Ukyo watching the purple haired girl sleep. They were sitting next to each other on the floor watching her in her bed. "She thinks I stole you from her, didn't she?"
"Yes. I think she is starting to hate all Japanese women; she thinks they are all out to destroy her happiness." He answered.
"Sounds a little like Ryoga-kun, if you ask me." She fell silent again trying to word her next question. "Is it true? Have I stolen you from her?"
Mousse turned a little surprised by the question; he blushed a little and stared back at Shampoo. "You were not the cause of my alienation from Shampoo, that she did on her own," He never noticed her face droop at that statement. "You were a good friend when I needed one, Ucchan, and well . I admit that sometimes my thoughts strayed that way. Especially since Shampoo said that she thought we were . together, I really thought about it, and well.Ucchan you are my friend, one of the few I have, and I cherish each one of them. Down there on the street when I was on my way home, for a second I thought about running here declaring my love for you, but I won't do that to you. I have already ruined one girl that way and . maybe I do not really know what love is. I will not pursue someone who is only trying to be friendly to me and destroy something precious. I will not pursue someone, who is in love with someone else. I will not degrade myself for anyone again. I have grown and I know what I want for life.
She does not; all she wants is become a leader because of prestige. She does not even want to change a thing at home, even though the village is dying, the people train and go to work, they are withering, Ukyo, right after they are born the decay starts, and slowly do they die. There is nothing to do for recreation. They train plough their fields and that is it. We have a lot of stories and legends, we tell each other, but after a year you have heard them all, and you grow tired of hearing them. Shampoo is a Star in the village. Her letters are a new marvelling story with romance and adventure, villains and heroes. Her letter is copied and passed around underhand, her life is like a Soap Opera to them. They have nothing and will not go anywhere. Ranma's happence at that tournament 2 years ago was the most exciting thing that happened ever since I was born. It is a wasted existence to live in the village.
You I know want to be the best chef of whole Japan, and maybe even outside of it. You want to open restaurants all over the world. You told me about the plans you and Nabiki worked out. You know what you want in life, and so do I, I will never return to that village and waste my life.
I want to find a girl that knows what she wants that can be my equal, that can best me, and whom I can best. Somebody that returns what I give. I want to continue my training and pass it on to a new generation. Maybe open a Dojo like Ranma will, or have a job that just pays enough to live, so I can spent most time at home where I am needed and have time to train. My future surely does not lie in my Home-Village."
"Mousse. First of you are not responsible for how Shampoo behaves, she is not the victim here if anything you are the victim. Secondly I will always be your friend, if you think something has changed with that relationship tell me. Or do think you it is flattering that every guy wants to be my pal? Damnit Mousse do not do that to me. Never. No matter what I will be there for you. And as for me wanting Ranma." She dropped her gaze from Mousse and stared down at her hands, fumbling. She then clenched them tightly, and inhaled deeply. She turned to give Mousse a quick peck on the check.
Mousse turned to Ukyo worried. He saw her fumbling with her hands then she made fists. She turned her head fast her eyes were closed. She kissed him right on the mouth. Mousse' eyes shot open as did Ukyo's but neither broke the kiss. Slowly Ukyo half closed her eyes again enjoying the intimacy. Her arms on their own command snaked around the boy's neck, in response his wrapped around her waste. Ukyo slightly opened her mouth leaning deeper in to the kiss urging for more, in response she lost her balance and toppled right onto him.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Hours later Shampoo awoke, her head hurt. Her eyes felt swollen, and she felt drained. She swung her legs over the side of her bed, and grabbed a class of water that stood there and drained it in one gulp. She stood up and stretched then stalked around the room her hands pushing into her back her head in her neck. She rounded the bed and her toe touched something. She looked down to what it was..
Mousse awoke when somebody kicked his head. He wearily opened his eyes to see a blurry purple headed Amazon standing over him, yelling. He squinted, he needed to find his glasses and find out what the girl wanted from him now. He padded the floor next to him on one side then the other, he found them, and put them on. He yawned lazily and rubbed his chest. He rubbed his chest again. His chest was not that hairy, was it? A small moan came from his chest. He looked down and saw a brunette resting her head there. She slowly woke up and Ukyo greeted her pillow with a smile. "Mornin'." She said.
"Er .Good Morning to you too, Ucchan." He did not know how to behave. It was his first time for him that he woke up next to a girl, other then his sister. Then they had been both dressed, and she did not nearly look as good as Ukyo did, not even close. Now he was naked next to a beautiful woman who did not mind even enjoyed his present state of clothing.
"What you two do now. Two perverts do next where Shampoo sleep, too. Hope you two enjoyed too too much. Because Shampoo now kill, over." Ukyo and Mousse looked at each other. Crap, they had forgotten about her. They rolled out of the way of her first strike. Ukyo scrambled over to her belongings, reaching for her weapon. Mousse rolled to his feet and faced his attacker. He was naked, true, but he was also a master of the hidden weapons technique. Chains flew at an unexpecting Shampoo engulfing her and immobilizing her effectively.
|| Let me go, you bastard. Male. Outsider. You again dishonour your ancestors, by attacking your betters. Now release me at once.||
"I will not. First I want some answers, Shampoo." He said slipping on his boxers.
"Yeah and you owe us an apology to." Ukyo already had her Shirt on and was now slipping on her leggings. "If Mousse wouldn't've pushed me, I'd be dead now."
"Not worry. When Shampoo free again she will end what she start." She stated with a bat of her eyelashes and a forced innocent smile. Ukyo opened her mouth to respond, but was cut of.
"Try that and I'll kill you before you even touch her." Mousse said in a calm voice his eyes locked with Shampoo's, underlining his point.
"Ha. Stupid Mousse, never beat me." ||You try and you die with her, not that I'm letting you live, mind you, but I will kill you and her just that much more slowly. Maybe even tape some of it and send your families.|| She met his gaze with a cold grin of her own. Neither of them moved, not wanting to be the first one to brake the staring.
"You know actually me thinks he can beat you. He beat you what twice already?" Ukyo said matter of factly. Shampoo looked from Ukyo back to Mousse, and turned her face up and away, a deep frown on her face. She was angry. He had beaten her twice true that didn't mean the chef should put salt to the wound, though. He easily beat her twice, without even exerting himself. Worry crept into her visage. Had her skills deteriorated that much since she came to that barbaric land, Japan, those many months ago? She leaned deeper in to the wall she was propped up against. Mousse had never been able to do that. It was an impossible feat for him, but he had done it twice in short success. Had he always hold back against her? Then why not hold back this time? She knew the answer before even finishing the thought. Ukyo. He had always thought he loved her, and had lost this love. Ukyo had replaced her in his heart, she had attacked Ukyo, and he had responded. Responded like Ranma always responded when Akane was threatened. Responded like she had always wished for somebody doing for her.
"Does this mean you two have to marry now?" Ukyo asked she did not even try to hide the worry her voice transmitted.
Shampoo stared at her. Maybe if Shampoo laid out her cards right.
"No, I'm still part of the tribe, although I voiced my wish to leave it, I'm still officially part of it. And other rules apply for villagers, then for outsiders." Ukyo stepped forward and hugged the boy, pulling him to her.
************************
Akane pushed Ranma onto the bed, starting to undress him so they were both naked. Ranma enjoyed the ministrations; she had not said a word, but kissing him ferociously like a wild animal. He lifted her head and stared in to her . Jade - green eyes. Ranma pushed whomever it was off him, flipping off the bed himself, landing in a ready stance. A wall crumbled as somebody flew through it. Ranma looked at the person who impacted with yet another wall, and looked at himself. Akane, the real one landed next to Ranma. And the two impersonators touched and pulled in embracing the other, and the two forms melted to one.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Ranma stowed the bracelet and the golden statue resembling a monkey away in his backpack. UkogNos had dearly paid for underestimating him and his wife.
***********
Ryoga stumbled in a restaurant. He had not eaten in days and nothing seemed familiar to him. Considering how long he had walked for and that he had headed east all the time he had to be in Osaka, but it sure did not look like it. He breathed in deeply, and sat down at an empty table. He ordered and soon he was eating Rice with Wok-Vegetables and chicken. He stopped. The waiter she had understood him, although he ordered in Japanese, which meant. He shot up and yelled at the server. "How do I get to Nerima?" She looked at the bearer of the unlimited tiger bandanas. Everybody in the restaurant stared at the boy and the waitress. "Sir? This is London. Nerima is in Japan." She shook her head and mumbled something about tourists, before she returned to her work.
***********
Ranma held on to Akane for dear life as she manoeuvred the motorcycle through the narrow streets of the city. He half turned around and saw the gang of possessed Bikers still in hot pursuit, their machines howling. He threw a small Ki blast at a set of garbage cans; it did not stop their pursuers for long. Akane turned right, and ended up in a pedestrian zone, that surrounded a park. Akane rolled over into the park, as the gang came in to sight she hit the accelerator, her and Ranma's auras flared up emanating hot chi.
Followed by the gang the two of them started driving in a huge circle slowly spiralling to the centre. At the centre Akane stuck out her foot and pulled the cycle in one last narrow turn and in to a halt. As one, the couple threw their fist upwards. The resulting whirlwind picked up the whole gang lifted them several hundred feet and then dropped them. The pile of broke human bodies and bent machines seemed to gain a sharper edge for a moment, then blurred before a black mist seeped out of them. It formed into a hare its left eye bolted closed, its lower body was a one-wheeled motorcycle, and it wore a leatherjacket. Esah. Akane and Ranma looked at each other and attacked.
************
Akane put away yet another golden animal statue, a cow, Snamina, and slid the tiara on her head. She opened a side compartment of her pack and pulled out a make up mirror, to look at her reflection. She enjoyed it for a minute, but then frowned as she saw something in the mirror she was not sure if it was good or not. She turned around to see a camera team filming her and her female husband. The camera team then inched closer the reporter already blurting out question. Both Saotome's did not want to stick around for an interview. They hopped on the next rooftop and ran.
Ranma had noticed them at their first fight against a demon after leaving the animal Kamis behind. It could have been coincidence, but they made sure to wear the same clothing as they did the first time and masks, because if it was no coincidence then someone had ordered the news there and whoever it was had a reason to do so and maybe the unknown was not on their side it was better to tread carefully.
************
The Camera team put away the equipment. The duo had effectively destroyed another demon that had threatened to destroy a whole city. Ying-Yang- Soldiers. That is what the two were dubbed, well those two and the red head that sometimes appeared, since nobody seemed to know anything about them, well except that they were incredibly strong that is.
The camera operator looked around the empty lot, which used to be a school. He shivered. The demon, AwOts had only been a small Chihuahua, he had already eaten two schoolgirls, before the Soldiers had arrived, and... He shivered yet again. No he couldn'tbring himself to remember what it had done, and he still had to cut the film. He wasn't even sure if he could even send most of the film.
*************
Tomorrow they would return home. Yesterday they had fought against two of the demons at once. Taurousu the bull and Ardyh the lizard. That made six in the last six days, including today. Today they surprisingly had had a breather. No demons, no attackers, no news teams, nothing. Just Akane and Ranma, some light sparring a lot of training, and bliss.
In their tent Akane stretched. If there were an animal demon for every animal Kami then they would have to fight two more. An exasperated sigh escaped her lips. She recounted the eleven beast Kami. They sounded oddly familiar, but something was amiss, or maybe missing. She shook her head she did not know. It was their first day off, so to say, and Akane had other things planned. Fighting the demons usually left the two fighters totally drained and exhausted, but today they could . It had been almost a week since they had . Akane smiled, that had been wonderful, though that perverted monkey would get it when she saw him next time. She unzipped their sleeping bags and folded them out turning them into a futon then she undid her belt, slid the gi of her shoulders. "Ranma? Raanmaa? Can you lend me a hand here?"
"I'll come in a sec."
"I hope not."
""Hun?"