Echoes in Time (v1.02, 5/02/03)
Chapter 5: Shootout at the Cat Café
By AllWhacked
Send C&C to allwhacked@hotmail.com
http://www.geocities.com/allwhacked/
--- Disclaimer ---
Ranma 1/2 and its characters are the property of Takahashi Rumiko,
Shonen Sunday Comics, Shogakukan, Kitty TV (Japan) and Viz
Communications (USA). The characters of Tenchi Muyo belong to Kajishima
Masaki. The characters of Highlander belong to Davis/Panzer Inc. All
other characters and trademarks to appear are owned by their respective
owners. Note that this work of fiction is for free entertainment
purposes only. No compensation has been or will be received.
Please do not archive this work without the author's permission. Thank
You.
--- Note to Reader ---
This is an alternate universe/divergence fic with the bulk of the story
occurring after the Nanban Mirror episode (anime only). Now Ranma finds
himself stuck 400 plus years in the past with no means of returning
home.
"..." = spoken speech
'...' = thoughts
--- End Note to Reader, Start of Chapter ---
The school day was over for the day as students exited out of their
respected classrooms in a rush to go home or meet up with friends for
the afternoon. As waves of bodies flowed out the gates of Furinkan,
Ukyo met with Ranma and Ryoko as they neared the school ground's exit.
"Hi Uncle, hi Auntie" called Ukyo. "Where are you guys heading off to?"
Ukyo proceeded to weave in and out of slow moving bodies as she made her
way towards Ranma and Ryoko. When the couple heard Ukyo's voice, they
turned back to wave for her to come nearer.
"Hey Ukyo-chan. Your Auntie Ryoko and I are planning on walking on over
to the Cat Café to talk to Cologne. If you'd like you can come along or
would you rather go off and hang out with some friends?" Ukyo put on a
contemplative face as she stood there thinking. In a brief instant she
had an answer.
"I think I'll just head back to my apartment if that's alright with you-
-I got quite a few things that need to be specially handled before I
pack them away." Pausing for a second Ukyo added. "Um Uncle? I was
wondering if you'll be taking me back or should I call Uncle and Auntie
Masaki for a ride."
Ranma shook his head. "Don't worry about it sweetie" he began. "After
we have a talk with Cologne and get something to eat, we'll head over to
the apartment and get the rest of your things packed. When you're ready
we'll head back home. Okay?"
Ukyo smiled at that. "I'd like that" she said. "But don't worry, by
the time you get back I should have all my belongings packed--I didn't
pack that much anyway." Ranma merely nodded as both he and Ryoko wished
Ukyo goodbye, promising that their visit with Cologne wouldn't take too
long either.
++++++++++
"What a sweet child," remarked Ryoko once Ukyo was out of earshot.
Ranma merely nodded as he looked on at Ukyo's shrinking form, her image
growing smaller as the distance between them grew. Sighing, Ranma
turned to Ryoko, who in turn looked at him, conveying through her eyes
that she knew that something was bothering him.
"Is it that obvious?" he said. Ryoko simply nodded.
"Ranma, what's the matter?" she began. "I thought you'd be excited.
We've been talking about this day for years; we're finally going to
realize our dream. The engagements and rivals have almost all been
settled and once we get the consent of your father and most importantly
your mother, we can get married."
Ryoko looked on as Ranma continued to ignore her query. Seeing that she
wasn't getting much of reaction, her eyes narrowed as she leaned in
forward in a slightly threatening way. "You're not getting cold feet
now are you?" Ranma immediately balked at that. She knew very well
that Ranma had no problem with commitment; in fact it was he who felt
that they didn't need his mother's permission to get married.
Looking at Ryoko and seeing her smile at his disheveled reaction, he too
smirked as he realized his fiancée's ploy. "No I'm not getting cold
feet. I'm just thinking about Ukyo. When I saw her leave it made me
realize that ten years have already passed. It just seemed like
yesterday that she was still that tomboyish little girl that we found on
the side of the road."
"I know what you mean," remarked Ryoko with an aloof expression on her
face. "She's been like a daughter to us. Oh!" Ryoko suddenly made the
connection between Ukyo and Ranma's slightly depressed state. "You
still think about your children don't you?" she asked.
Ranma nodded as he answered. "Yeah," he said in a solemn tone. "That
among other things..."
There was a momentary pause after he said that. It looked like he was
about to elaborate further but at the last instant he shut his mouth and
continued walking forward. To Ryoko, it looked as if that would be the
end of the conversation, she was hesitant to pry for more information,
knowing very well how one's past memories could come back to haunt them.
Yet, despite this she felt that Ranma both needed and wanted to talk
about his past to someone, he just needed a nudge to get him going.
"What other things?" inquired Ryoko once a few uncomfortable seconds had
passed between them. "You don't have to say if you don't want to," she
quickly amended. 'Though I wouldn't mind if you'd open up to me more,'
she silently hoped.
As another moment passed and Ryoko thought nothing more would be said of
this, Ranma finally spoke. "I think about what could have been," he
said out of the blue. "What should have been..." he continued in an
emotionless tone.
"Often I wonder what my life would have been like. You know? -- If I
hadn't died and become an immortal. If I hadn't left the village."
Ryoko looked worried as he said this. 'Is he trying to say what I think
he's saying' she thought.
Finally, after waiting what she believed was hours but in reality was
merely four seconds, she blurted out a single word. She immediately
regretted having said it--the fear of having over stepped her bounds was
causing a painful tightening knot of nervousness to grow deep within the
pit of her stomach.
Ranma reacted to Ryoko's one word query with a raised eyebrow. "And?"
he said. "And I believe that if life hadn't turned out the way it did I
wouldn't have been as blessed as I am right now. I have nearly
everything a man could ever hope to ask for: loyal friends, devoted
family, and most importantly of all... I have you." Ranma smirked
inwardly as he felt the slight rise of elation in Ryoko's demeanor.
In an instant, he found himself pushed up against the wall of a nearby
shop as he felt Ryoko's hands pin his arms to the side of his body. He
instinctively tried to struggle but stopped when a pair of pert breast
pressed up against his chest. Looking down, he gazed deeply into
Ryoko's soft yellow eyes as he searched for an answer for why she had
done this. All he felt however was the heat of her hot breath on his
lips just before she leaned in and kissed him.
Ranma had initially prepared to protest being man handled in such a way,
but with the touch of Ryoko's lips and the following probing by her
tongue he soon relented against her efforts. Hearing her moan as she
began to rub up against him, the passing pedestrian either smirked or
shook their head at the sight of the young couple. Older women tended
to mumble to themselves about the depravity of today's youth, while the
men just grinned at how lucky a man Ranma was.
As the seconds passed and then passed some more into minutes, Ranma
finally felt Ryoko's intruding tongue leave, giving him enough room to
break free and take a long needed deep breath. "That.." he gasped.
"That was--" He didn't get a chance to complete his sentence before
Ryoko cut him off.
"The best kiss that you've ever had," she said with a feral grin. Ranma
went over the words for a second as he decided to play around with her
game. Feigning confusion and ignorance--something he was quite well
adapted at--he proceeded to answer.
"Kiss? Oh that was a fabulous kiss," he admitted. "But the best?" He
then leaned in forward and capitalized on Ryoko's slightly angry,
slightly shocked state by giving her a light peck on the lips. "Now,
that" he said "Was the best kiss I've ever had" he finally said with a
grin and a sly wink. Ryoko just stood there in shock.
"A light peck on the lips is the best kiss you've ever had?" she asked
incredulously. 'You've got to be kidding me, how can you even call that
a kiss' she thought as she proceeded to think of some more naughty
images of their passed endeavors. Ranma just nodded his head to her
question while Ryoko continued to puzzle over what had made that kiss so
special.
Feeling frustrated she looked him in the eye. "Now, what made that kiss
so special hmm?" 'I just need to know' she thought. She was very
surprised when she heard his answer.
"A kiss from your lips taste just as sweet whether it's a long or short
one, but the look of surprise on your face was priceless." Ryoko
blushed at Ranma's attempt to act suave. He noted that it sounded
rather corny coming from him, but for Ryoko, having never had any form
of romantic reference outside of her relationship with Ranma and the
occasional soap opera or shoujo manga, she gleefully gobbled up the
sincerity of his words.
"Thank you" she chimed. "You say the sweetest things." Getting up on
the tips of her toes, she then released her hold on Ranma's arms and
brought them up and over his neck. "So, I'm the best kisser you've ever
had" she began. "Does that mean I'm also your best lover as well?" She
was grinning in anticipation for his obvious answer, however to her
surprise that answer never came.
"You're a great lover Ryoko" he began in an exaggerated tone. "But the
best lover... I don't know--" Ryoko merely swatted him lightly on the
back of his head as she caught on to his ruse.
"You're a jerk," she said flatly. "And a pervert."
Ranma looked unperturbed by her accusations, he just continued to grin
widely like an idiot. "True on both accounts" he said. "But are you
going to answer the challenge or should I be looking for someone else
who'd vie for the crown?"
Ryoko just bit down on his lower lip as he started to laugh at his own
joke. "Ow!" he cried. "What did you do that for?" he questioned though
he knew perfectly well why. Ryoko just smirked at his look of feigned
puzzlement.
"Ranma Saotome! Don't you even dare try to bring another woman to your
bed" she warned in mock anger. "Or else you'll learn first hand that
I'm more woman than even you can ever handle." Ranma just grinned at
the challenge.
With his hands now free, he proceeded to grab Ryoko's firm rear drawing
her closer. Having Ryoko suddenly gasp at the contact, Ranma whispered
in a low voice. "I would dare... I wouldn't mind a lesson from you."
Ryoko suddenly shivered in delight as Ranma brought his hands across her
back, hitting sensitive nerve endings along the way up to her shoulders.
As Ryoko stood gasping for breath, Ranma proceeded to whisper further
into her ear. "I'd ask you to honor that challenge right here, right
now but we have a meeting to make. However later tonight..." He left
the word hang there just as he disengaged his hands, leaving Ryoko to
slump backwards as her knees went weak from the euphoria caused by his
ministrations. Ranma in turn reacted by lunging out and catching her
falling body, leaving him leaning precariously over her limp form, their
faces inches apart.
Huffing for breath. "I'll be happy to teach you the error of your ways,
but I do expect you to be UP and READY for the challenge" she said
between gasps. "I don't plan to go easy on you, especially after you've
left me like this" she exasperated.
Ranma merely feigned fear. "Please be lenient, Sensei" he begged in a
soft voice. Ryoko grinned as she righted herself up again.
"Perhaps... or perhaps not" she said simply. "You have been naughty and
I'm not feeling particularly nice, but we'll see." The pair proceeded
to walk down the sidewalk, acting as if nothing had happened between the
two. Across the street and along the avenue, witnesses were left gaping
at the casual scene of carnal display shown by the two lovers. Seeing
them leave the scene, the gawking crowd eventually broke out of their
glazed states and continued on with their daily business.
However, hidden in the shadows of one of the buildings a pair of eyes
narrowed in furled anger at what it had just witnessed. 'Damn you
Ranma. How dare you betray Akane like this! I'll make you pay, I'll
make you pay for everything' it swore. 'Just as soon as I find my way
out of this alley... hey, wait a second, when did Japan have camels?
Damnit! Ranma this is all your fault!'
--- Cat Café --
"Nihao, welcome to Cat Café, Shampoo be with you in moment" announced
the bubbly Chinese waitress as she busied herself with clearing a set of
formerly occupied tables; she had her back turned to the pair of
incoming customers while she was doing this.
"Shampoo done now, will you please follow--Aiyah, Airen!" she cried.
Shampoo had a surprised look on her face as she faced her Great-
Grandfather. Although it had been only a day since she had learned of
her true relation to Ranma, for the moment she had temporarily forgotten
this and some deeply ingrained habits then kicked in.
She was preparing to rush up and leap into his arms when she was halted
by the sound of broken dishes as they clanged or shattered against the
kitchen floor. The entire restaurant stopped what they were doing as
they all turned to face whatever trouble might have caused this
disturbance. Then, right on cue out came an irate Mousse as he entered
the dinning area.
"Saotome you fiend!" yelled a slightly wet Mousse, his hands and shirt
wet from working as a dishwasher. "How dare you come in here and try to
steal my Shampoo," he declared. He proceeded to march his way towards
Ranma to attack him, but was promptly splashed by a cup of cold water.
*Quack* *Quack* *Thump*
"My apologies Ranma" remarked Cologne as she removed the end of her cane
from Mousse's duck-sized brain. "I was distracted in the kitchen and
forgot about dealing with Mr. Part-time here. I hope you and Ryoko
weren't too inconvenienced."
"Nah, not at all" he replied off handedly; Ryoko too nodded her head in
agreement. "I've gotten used to it by now. Even after all these years,
there's always some punk around the corner who thinks they can do me in.
Now isn't that right, Sweetie?"
Ryoko nodded but added. "Yeah, but every time that happens you act as
if it's a game. I'd appreciate it if you'd take these things more
seriously. I worry about you."
Ranma waved her off her feelings of distress. "Oh you worry about me
too much. Don't you trust me?" Both Ryoko and Cologne laughed.
"What's so funny?" he said. The two women continued to laugh and
cackle, finally stopping when Ranma's stomach started to growl, but
starting up once again afterwards.
"I see that your appetite is just as ferocious as I remember" commented
Cologne as she seated the two in a secluded booth. "So tell me, what
would you two like to have today?"
Ranma and Ryoko looked over the menus that Shampoo handed them. "Hmm, I
think I'll go for a bowl of beef ramen with a side dish of egg rolls"
replied Ranma as he handed the menu back to Shampoo. Ryoko ordered the
same but added "could you please get us a bottle of sake?" Shampoo
nodded as she accepted Ryoko's menu. Ranma turned and looked at his
fiancée with a dubious smile.
"Isn't it a bit early to be drinking?" he queried. He knew that Ryoko
had a taste for liquor and he liked to joke about her 'slight' drinking
problem. Often teasing her about getting a spare tire around her waist
or a sagging butt. Ryoko in turn took it in stride. The comments at
first had hurt, but after learning that Ranma was only teasing, the two
had made a game of it.
"It isn't too early" she replied casually. "I'm just in a festive mood.
After all, I heard that alcohol increases a woman's libido and I do
intend to be putting you through your paces tonight." She gave him a
feral grin which he returned. The two continued to flirt despite the
angry looks Shampoo was giving them. Cologne on the other hand had
learned to keep a cool head no matter the circumstances.
However, after catching a peak of Ryoko slipping her hand under the
table and towards Ranma's crotch, she decided to intervene. After all,
the Cat Café was a family restaurant and it wouldn't do to have a sex
act being played out in front of paying customers--this was after all a
restaurant and not a brothel.
"Ahem!" she coughed. "Could you two stop that. This is a family
restaurant." The two guilty parties turned red in embarrassment.
"Sorry" Ranma said. "But she started it."
Ryoko baulked at that. "Don't you be pitting the blame on me. You're
just as guilty."
Ranma relented under his fiancée's accusation. "Yeah, you're right.
I'm sorry." Although he didn't believe a word he was saying, he had
learned long ago that when dealing with women, it was far easier to make
them think that they've won by just agreeing. 'Besides, I'm right and
she knows it,' he thought back.
As the three waited for the food to arrive, the three went into casual
conversation about their day and how life had been treating them.
"So you say that you two met over twenty years ago" interrupted Cologne,
as Ranma proceeded to wolf down his ramen. Ranma and Ryoko nodded as
Cologne gaze shifted solely onto Ryoko.
"So I assume you're a fellow immortal. Like Ranma?" Ryoko and Ranma
paused in their eating. How was she to answer that?
Slurping her noodles, Ryoko looked at Ranma for some unsaid advice. He
merely shrugged and continued eating as if nothing was the matter.
Inwardly groaning, she replied with a tentative "Yes... though I'm not
quite like Ranma."
Cologne nodded sagely as she sipped her tea. She leaned back in her
chair and watched in amusement as Ryoko looked on nervously. "I thought
as much" she finally said, she paused in her elaboration.
"What do you mean?" Ryoko inquired. She was uncertain whether Cologne
was saying so in a disapproving tone or not, it was hard for her to
gauge what was lurking behind that old crone's mind.
"I was merely reaffirming my earlier perception of you, nothing more"
she said simply, while blowing softly over a newly poured cup of tea.
"You know, after getting a good look at you, I'm not quite sure what to
make of you."
The hair on Ryoko's neck bristled in anger. "What are you getting at
you old bat!? Are you trying to say that I'm not good enough for him!"
Cologne looked un-phased as she was being yelled at, though Customer's
in the restaurant paused and stared as the scene. Shampoo too as she
tried to work her way over to their table to listen in on their
conversation.
Acting unperturbed, Cologne cackled at Ryoko's angered outcry. "Oh,
don't take my comment the wrong way. I'm sure you're a lovely person.
I know first hand that Ranma was always a good judge of character though
a bit naïve at times. But what I was getting at was your chi. Its flow
is much too strong for a person of your age in appearance--even Ranma
isn't as strong as yours. So that suggests to me that you're either
much older than Ranma and I combined or that perhaps you're not of this
world."
Ranma continued eating his noodles as he listened. 'Be careful,
Cologne' he thought. 'If you push the wrong buttons she might just blow
your head off.'
"So tell me" Cologne began again, oblivious to Ranma's mental warnings.
"What is it? Are you like Ranma and I or are you perhaps a kami in
disguise. Or maybe you are like us, just much much older. How old are
you anyway? If you don't mind indulging an old woman's curiosity."
Ryoko looked abashed. This was a sore spot for her as she mumbled the
answer out. "What was that?" Cologne asked. "I didn't quite hear you.
You've got to speak up, I'm not as young as I used to be."
Cologne proceeded to lean up and over the table as she cupped her ear as
if playing deaf. Ryoko groaned to herself. "I'm an alien and I'm two
thousand years old," she finally said in a hushed voice. It wasn't too
loud but it was loud enough to bring a grin to Cologne's lips.
"My my my," she said to herself though loud enough for everyone at the
table to hear. "An alien? Two thousand years old? Really Ranma, I'm
not sure which makes me more surprised. That you've decided to bed down
with an extraterrestrial or a two thousand year old one on top of that.
My my, the lengths you go to sate that 'older woman' fetish of yours."
Ryoko looked at her and then Ranma with curious eyes.
"What does she mean, 'older women' fetish?" she queried. Ranma rolled
his eyes as he finished drinking the broth of his ramen.
"Don't be such a sicko, Cologne. It's not like I'm into Grandmas or
anything. Look Sweetie, what Cologne is getting at is sort of a private
joke between us. When we were married, she once got me to admit that
before I met her I had had a crush on Akane's older sister, Kasumi and
later on a few other women in the village who so happened to be older
than I. Added, the fact that Cologne is two years older than me also
gave her more reason to claim that I had an attraction for older women."
Ryoko calmed down after hearing this. It sounded reasonable she
thought. "Anyway," he began again. "I guess it is true in a way. I
mean there's your mom, Washuu. Man, I still get the willies when I
think about those small little hands of hers--Brrr. Oh, and then
there's her two sisters, Tsunami and Tokimi. Oh, and lets not forget
about Ayeka, although she was a prude at times she was a lot less frigid
than those Aes Sedai... Oh, and then there was that Dark Elf, what was
her name? Oh I forget, but whatever. Man, whenever I think about her I
can't help but also think about that..." Ranma proceeded to thumb off a
list of women's names, some of whom Ryoko had never even heard of
before. She began to boil in anger as she sat there listening.
She was about to zap him when he uttered, "Oh and I shouldn't forget the
most important old lady I know." He turned and looked at her. "And
that's you" he said as he gave her a sly wink. Ryoko's features
immediately softened at his proclamation, the old lady remark was also
quickly forgotten. When he looked at her that way, to Ryoko it was hard
for her to stay mad at him when he did that. As he grabbed her hand in
a reassuring grip, she turned and saw Cologne give a silent nod. Ryoko
wasn't sure what for, but regardless the sign of approval seemed to
assuage Ryoko's earlier fears.
"Don't fret child" spoke Cologne, as Ryoko started to lean up against
Ranma with her earlier feelings of anger towards him all but forgotten.
"You might be two thousand years old but you've got a long ways to go
before you fully understand men, especially that one... He might be an
insensitive dolt at times but he's also a loyal and loving man with a
good heart. Though our marriage was brief, I have always cherished
those memories and I'm sure you'll cherish the memories the two of you
will make together."
Ryoko nodded in understanding, while Ranma too listened in but didn't
get past the two thousand year remark. "Hey" he interrupted. "You said
you're two thousand years old, but I remember Washuu saying that you're
five." Ryoko looked mortified.
She hissed at him. "Shut up! I'm two thousand years old by GP calendar
so technically I'm only two thousand years old. Got it!" Ranma rolled
his eyes.
"Yeah, but here on Earth you're five thousand. Gee, don't be taking it
the wrong way. There's nothing wrong with being old and I figure if
you're willing to admit you're two thousand, you might as well admit to
the other three. Three thousand measly years isn't going to change a
person's mind about you."
Cologne nodded. "That is true... though knowing that you're older than
Amazon civilization, it makes me wonder how someone so ancient can still
be so unwise to the ways of love."
Ranma replied before Ryoko could. "Yeah, I've always thought the same
thing. I assume it was because she spent seven hundred years locked up
in a cave but her mom told me she was always immature." Ryoko pinched
him.
"I am not immature," she said to him. Turning to Cologne. "And I'm not
ancient." Ranma turned back to Cologne as he rubbed his sore spot.
"See what I mean." He was rewarded with a harder pinch which he tried
to ignore. "Anyway," he continued. "I'm sure you probably want to know
something about that heir of mine."
Cologne nodded. "Yes I do, but I felt it was your place to make
introductions and not mine to demand." By now Ryoko had stopped
pinching him as he pinned her hands together from under the table.
"Okay," he said. "Well now that I'm full lets talk business. What
would you like to know about him?"
"Oh, I don't need to know everything about the boy, just a few things.
Merely, how old he is, his skill in the art, perhaps a little detail on
his personality--his likes, dislikes. Oh, and how he's related to you
and..."
Ranma took a moment to collect his thoughts. 'Just a few things she
said. Feh, I'm surprised she didn't ask me what side his wipes his ass
with. If she thought I knew, I'm sure she'd probably ask me that too.'
Coughing into his hand, he began to spin a yarn of a tale. Thinking to
himself about Tenchi, Ranma had to stifle a prideful smile. Tenchi--his
grandson or perhaps it was great-grandson depending on how you saw it-
-was something to be proud of he admitted. Good looking, smart, and
kind hearted. 'He'll make a great emperor one day' he thought.
Looking at Cologne as she waited, he took a sip of tea and decided that
perhaps Shampoo should be here as well. Looking at the time, it was
nearly 4PM and the last of the lunch hour customers had left. With
another hour before preparing for the dinnertime rush, he asked Cologne
to lock the restaurant and bring his Great-Granddaughter over for some
tea.
Meanwhile, in the kitchen, a pair of coke-bottled eyes opened and looked
up and out at its surroundings. Seeing that he was caged once again,
Mousse lay still as he listened carefully to the conversation ensuing in
the main dinner area.
'Another suitor for MY Shampoo's hand,' Mousse thought bitterly. 'Blast
you Saotome... not you nor anybody else will take Shampoo away from me.'
The duck started laughing maniacally to itself as it contemplated the
demise of his hated foe. As it made sporadic quacking sounds, this in
turn alerted Shampoo and caused her to return back to the kitchen.
Seeing the duck-Mousse and figuring he was up to no good, instead of
smashing him like she normally would have she decided to pick up his
cage and put him in the freezer. Hopefully she wouldn't forget about
him before he froze to death she thought in amusement.
*** Half an hour later ***
"Quite impressive" remarked Cologne as she took a long drag from her
pipe. She had a contemplative look on her face as she pondered over
Ranma's description of Tenchi.
The boy was everything she could hope for. He was a far cry from Ranma
she admitted, but given the fact that Ranma was Shampoo's Great-
Grandfather and that his genes had already been added to the tribe, plus
the minor detail of him being now sterile, Cologne could hope for no one
better than this Tenchi to fill in Ranma's shoes.
Looking at her Great-Granddaughter and gauging her response to hearing
about Ranma's heir, she was uncertain whether Shampoo would take to this
new boy with the same fervor she had for Ranma.
'I guess it is my own fault,' she remarked to herself. 'But the poor
girl did ask me what my idea of the perfect husband would be and it was
no coincidence that Ranma fit the bill to a tee.' She laughed to
herself at that thought. 'Ranma, Ranma. First me and now my Great-
Granddaughter... if only there were more like you. But hopefully this
heir of yours will be half as charming.'
Turning to her Great-granddaughter she asked a question. "So what do
you think, Great-Granddaughter. Does your Great-Grandfather's heir
sound appealing or should we pack our belongings now and return back to
China?"
Shampoo looked at her Great-Grandmother strangely. This was one of the
few times that she was ever given the right to decide on her own, it was
a somewhat new sensation and she was unsure how to act. She knew this
was some sort of test of some sort. 'Everything with Great-Grandmother
is a test' she thought dryly. However, despite knowing this she was
unsure of how to answer. To see this Tenchi Masaki or not? He was
still not her Airen but Shampoo knew that to pine away for Ranma now was
futile; he was already in love with somebody else and he was no longer
considered an outsider of the tribe. 'He's lost to me now.'
With a little apprehension and a reassuring look from Ranma and Ryoko,
Shampoo nodded. "I go see this Tenchi, we no have to pack now."
Cologne grinned. "Very good Great-Granddaughter. I was hoping you
would say that, however before we meet this heir of Ranma's we'll need
to work on your skills of tact and diplomacy. From what your Great-
Grandfather has said, Tenchi already has a few suitors. You're already
used to competition, but I feel that the direct approach won't work on
him... after all from your experience trying to seduce your Great-
Grandfather, you must realize that it takes a more subtle touch to win
over the Saotome men."
"Here here" remarked Ryoko to Cologne's comment. The two women laughed
at that while Ranma looked annoyed. Shampoo was annoyed too, but for
different reasons.
'If she knew that already then why did she let me chase after him like
that,' Shampoo thought bitterly. Looking at the two laughing women and
seeing they were too caught up in themselves to notice her any longer,
Shampoo turned to the only other person at the table. 'Airen' she
thought painfully. 'Not airen, just Great-Grandfather now. God, how
can I call him that? He looks not much older than I do.'
She was broken out of her thoughts as Ranma noticed her staring. "I
know what you're thinking" he said. "If you'd prefer, you can just call
me Ranma. Great-Grandfather is a more affectionate term. I was never
there for you like family so I'm more a stranger than anything. Just
call me Ranma and I'll just call you Shampoo. When you're ready and
when we get to know each other better, we can change that if you'd
like."
He smiled at her and the sight of his perfect teeth and his handsome
features still melted her heart. 'This sucks' she thought. Despite
feeling sour at all this, she wasn't an ingrate. Nodding her head, she
agreed with Ranma's proposal. "I would like that" she said slowly. She
wanted to make sure her Japanese was perfect when she said that.
Ranma grinned, he knew that it took some effort on her part to make that
four word sentence. "You know Shampoo, I think you'll like Tenchi. You
might not want to marry him and he you, but I think you'll like him.
He's a nice boy, and I think you'll have a lot to learn from him. He
has knowledge of the art outside of the tribe; give him half a chance
and he might surprise you."
Shampoo beamed at that. It was an admission that she didn't have to go
on and marry some other person and be passed on like some piece of
breeding stock. Her great-grandmother was somewhat insensitive in these
matters, but Shampoo couldn't fault her. 'She is after all four hundred
years old, perhaps she's gone a little senile' she thought in amusement.
Looking back up to Ranma's grinning face, she smiled too. "I would like
that" she said again in the same deliberately slow manner.
Ranma nodded. "I thought you would." Turning to Cologne he addressed
her. "Well, thanks for the meal, but I think it's about time that Ryoko
and I return back to pick up Ukyo. We got to head back to the shrine.
I'll contact you later to arrange a meeting. If you need me you've got
my cell phone number." Cologne nodded.
"Oh and here is the money for the meal." He left a rather large sum of
yen on the table, which Cologne picked up and handed back to him.
"Don't be silly Ranma. You're a guest here, the meal is on the house."
Ranma laughed as both he and Ryoko got up. "Thanks Cologne, but you
keep it. Give it to Shampoo and let her spend it if you can't accept
it. Just think of it as a gift for all those birthdays and holidays
I've missed."
Cologne shrugged and handed the offered yen to Shampoo. As the party
gave their farewells, Cologne broke Shampoo out of her sad state by
reminding her to prepare for the dinnertime rush. Realizing this,
Shampoo rushed off to put on her apron and clean up the front. In the
back of her mind, there was a nagging feeling that she had forgotten
something. 'Oh well,' she thought. It'll come to her when it does.
++++++++++
Meanwhile, inside the kitchen's freezer, an ice blue duck thought
angrily to itself. 'Damn you Saotome, when I get out of here I'll get
you for this.' The duck shivered as its feathers did little to fight
back the cold of his confines. Feeling a little sleepy, Mousse decided
to let his eyes rest a while as he ran through a series of naughty
thoughts of himself and Shampoo to help keep himself warm. Despite
this, blackness soon overcame his senses.
--- End of Chapter ---
Please send C&C to allwhacked@hotmail.com and if you're going to
criticize, please give reasons why. Thanks.
End Note:
1. If you don't remember, in Ch. 2, Ranma and Cologne named their child,
Shampoo. Coincidentally the same person that the current Shampoo was
named after.
Chapter 5: Shootout at the Cat Café
By AllWhacked
Send C&C to allwhacked@hotmail.com
http://www.geocities.com/allwhacked/
--- Disclaimer ---
Ranma 1/2 and its characters are the property of Takahashi Rumiko,
Shonen Sunday Comics, Shogakukan, Kitty TV (Japan) and Viz
Communications (USA). The characters of Tenchi Muyo belong to Kajishima
Masaki. The characters of Highlander belong to Davis/Panzer Inc. All
other characters and trademarks to appear are owned by their respective
owners. Note that this work of fiction is for free entertainment
purposes only. No compensation has been or will be received.
Please do not archive this work without the author's permission. Thank
You.
--- Note to Reader ---
This is an alternate universe/divergence fic with the bulk of the story
occurring after the Nanban Mirror episode (anime only). Now Ranma finds
himself stuck 400 plus years in the past with no means of returning
home.
"..." = spoken speech
'...' = thoughts
--- End Note to Reader, Start of Chapter ---
The school day was over for the day as students exited out of their
respected classrooms in a rush to go home or meet up with friends for
the afternoon. As waves of bodies flowed out the gates of Furinkan,
Ukyo met with Ranma and Ryoko as they neared the school ground's exit.
"Hi Uncle, hi Auntie" called Ukyo. "Where are you guys heading off to?"
Ukyo proceeded to weave in and out of slow moving bodies as she made her
way towards Ranma and Ryoko. When the couple heard Ukyo's voice, they
turned back to wave for her to come nearer.
"Hey Ukyo-chan. Your Auntie Ryoko and I are planning on walking on over
to the Cat Café to talk to Cologne. If you'd like you can come along or
would you rather go off and hang out with some friends?" Ukyo put on a
contemplative face as she stood there thinking. In a brief instant she
had an answer.
"I think I'll just head back to my apartment if that's alright with you-
-I got quite a few things that need to be specially handled before I
pack them away." Pausing for a second Ukyo added. "Um Uncle? I was
wondering if you'll be taking me back or should I call Uncle and Auntie
Masaki for a ride."
Ranma shook his head. "Don't worry about it sweetie" he began. "After
we have a talk with Cologne and get something to eat, we'll head over to
the apartment and get the rest of your things packed. When you're ready
we'll head back home. Okay?"
Ukyo smiled at that. "I'd like that" she said. "But don't worry, by
the time you get back I should have all my belongings packed--I didn't
pack that much anyway." Ranma merely nodded as both he and Ryoko wished
Ukyo goodbye, promising that their visit with Cologne wouldn't take too
long either.
++++++++++
"What a sweet child," remarked Ryoko once Ukyo was out of earshot.
Ranma merely nodded as he looked on at Ukyo's shrinking form, her image
growing smaller as the distance between them grew. Sighing, Ranma
turned to Ryoko, who in turn looked at him, conveying through her eyes
that she knew that something was bothering him.
"Is it that obvious?" he said. Ryoko simply nodded.
"Ranma, what's the matter?" she began. "I thought you'd be excited.
We've been talking about this day for years; we're finally going to
realize our dream. The engagements and rivals have almost all been
settled and once we get the consent of your father and most importantly
your mother, we can get married."
Ryoko looked on as Ranma continued to ignore her query. Seeing that she
wasn't getting much of reaction, her eyes narrowed as she leaned in
forward in a slightly threatening way. "You're not getting cold feet
now are you?" Ranma immediately balked at that. She knew very well
that Ranma had no problem with commitment; in fact it was he who felt
that they didn't need his mother's permission to get married.
Looking at Ryoko and seeing her smile at his disheveled reaction, he too
smirked as he realized his fiancée's ploy. "No I'm not getting cold
feet. I'm just thinking about Ukyo. When I saw her leave it made me
realize that ten years have already passed. It just seemed like
yesterday that she was still that tomboyish little girl that we found on
the side of the road."
"I know what you mean," remarked Ryoko with an aloof expression on her
face. "She's been like a daughter to us. Oh!" Ryoko suddenly made the
connection between Ukyo and Ranma's slightly depressed state. "You
still think about your children don't you?" she asked.
Ranma nodded as he answered. "Yeah," he said in a solemn tone. "That
among other things..."
There was a momentary pause after he said that. It looked like he was
about to elaborate further but at the last instant he shut his mouth and
continued walking forward. To Ryoko, it looked as if that would be the
end of the conversation, she was hesitant to pry for more information,
knowing very well how one's past memories could come back to haunt them.
Yet, despite this she felt that Ranma both needed and wanted to talk
about his past to someone, he just needed a nudge to get him going.
"What other things?" inquired Ryoko once a few uncomfortable seconds had
passed between them. "You don't have to say if you don't want to," she
quickly amended. 'Though I wouldn't mind if you'd open up to me more,'
she silently hoped.
As another moment passed and Ryoko thought nothing more would be said of
this, Ranma finally spoke. "I think about what could have been," he
said out of the blue. "What should have been..." he continued in an
emotionless tone.
"Often I wonder what my life would have been like. You know? -- If I
hadn't died and become an immortal. If I hadn't left the village."
Ryoko looked worried as he said this. 'Is he trying to say what I think
he's saying' she thought.
Finally, after waiting what she believed was hours but in reality was
merely four seconds, she blurted out a single word. She immediately
regretted having said it--the fear of having over stepped her bounds was
causing a painful tightening knot of nervousness to grow deep within the
pit of her stomach.
Ranma reacted to Ryoko's one word query with a raised eyebrow. "And?"
he said. "And I believe that if life hadn't turned out the way it did I
wouldn't have been as blessed as I am right now. I have nearly
everything a man could ever hope to ask for: loyal friends, devoted
family, and most importantly of all... I have you." Ranma smirked
inwardly as he felt the slight rise of elation in Ryoko's demeanor.
In an instant, he found himself pushed up against the wall of a nearby
shop as he felt Ryoko's hands pin his arms to the side of his body. He
instinctively tried to struggle but stopped when a pair of pert breast
pressed up against his chest. Looking down, he gazed deeply into
Ryoko's soft yellow eyes as he searched for an answer for why she had
done this. All he felt however was the heat of her hot breath on his
lips just before she leaned in and kissed him.
Ranma had initially prepared to protest being man handled in such a way,
but with the touch of Ryoko's lips and the following probing by her
tongue he soon relented against her efforts. Hearing her moan as she
began to rub up against him, the passing pedestrian either smirked or
shook their head at the sight of the young couple. Older women tended
to mumble to themselves about the depravity of today's youth, while the
men just grinned at how lucky a man Ranma was.
As the seconds passed and then passed some more into minutes, Ranma
finally felt Ryoko's intruding tongue leave, giving him enough room to
break free and take a long needed deep breath. "That.." he gasped.
"That was--" He didn't get a chance to complete his sentence before
Ryoko cut him off.
"The best kiss that you've ever had," she said with a feral grin. Ranma
went over the words for a second as he decided to play around with her
game. Feigning confusion and ignorance--something he was quite well
adapted at--he proceeded to answer.
"Kiss? Oh that was a fabulous kiss," he admitted. "But the best?" He
then leaned in forward and capitalized on Ryoko's slightly angry,
slightly shocked state by giving her a light peck on the lips. "Now,
that" he said "Was the best kiss I've ever had" he finally said with a
grin and a sly wink. Ryoko just stood there in shock.
"A light peck on the lips is the best kiss you've ever had?" she asked
incredulously. 'You've got to be kidding me, how can you even call that
a kiss' she thought as she proceeded to think of some more naughty
images of their passed endeavors. Ranma just nodded his head to her
question while Ryoko continued to puzzle over what had made that kiss so
special.
Feeling frustrated she looked him in the eye. "Now, what made that kiss
so special hmm?" 'I just need to know' she thought. She was very
surprised when she heard his answer.
"A kiss from your lips taste just as sweet whether it's a long or short
one, but the look of surprise on your face was priceless." Ryoko
blushed at Ranma's attempt to act suave. He noted that it sounded
rather corny coming from him, but for Ryoko, having never had any form
of romantic reference outside of her relationship with Ranma and the
occasional soap opera or shoujo manga, she gleefully gobbled up the
sincerity of his words.
"Thank you" she chimed. "You say the sweetest things." Getting up on
the tips of her toes, she then released her hold on Ranma's arms and
brought them up and over his neck. "So, I'm the best kisser you've ever
had" she began. "Does that mean I'm also your best lover as well?" She
was grinning in anticipation for his obvious answer, however to her
surprise that answer never came.
"You're a great lover Ryoko" he began in an exaggerated tone. "But the
best lover... I don't know--" Ryoko merely swatted him lightly on the
back of his head as she caught on to his ruse.
"You're a jerk," she said flatly. "And a pervert."
Ranma looked unperturbed by her accusations, he just continued to grin
widely like an idiot. "True on both accounts" he said. "But are you
going to answer the challenge or should I be looking for someone else
who'd vie for the crown?"
Ryoko just bit down on his lower lip as he started to laugh at his own
joke. "Ow!" he cried. "What did you do that for?" he questioned though
he knew perfectly well why. Ryoko just smirked at his look of feigned
puzzlement.
"Ranma Saotome! Don't you even dare try to bring another woman to your
bed" she warned in mock anger. "Or else you'll learn first hand that
I'm more woman than even you can ever handle." Ranma just grinned at
the challenge.
With his hands now free, he proceeded to grab Ryoko's firm rear drawing
her closer. Having Ryoko suddenly gasp at the contact, Ranma whispered
in a low voice. "I would dare... I wouldn't mind a lesson from you."
Ryoko suddenly shivered in delight as Ranma brought his hands across her
back, hitting sensitive nerve endings along the way up to her shoulders.
As Ryoko stood gasping for breath, Ranma proceeded to whisper further
into her ear. "I'd ask you to honor that challenge right here, right
now but we have a meeting to make. However later tonight..." He left
the word hang there just as he disengaged his hands, leaving Ryoko to
slump backwards as her knees went weak from the euphoria caused by his
ministrations. Ranma in turn reacted by lunging out and catching her
falling body, leaving him leaning precariously over her limp form, their
faces inches apart.
Huffing for breath. "I'll be happy to teach you the error of your ways,
but I do expect you to be UP and READY for the challenge" she said
between gasps. "I don't plan to go easy on you, especially after you've
left me like this" she exasperated.
Ranma merely feigned fear. "Please be lenient, Sensei" he begged in a
soft voice. Ryoko grinned as she righted herself up again.
"Perhaps... or perhaps not" she said simply. "You have been naughty and
I'm not feeling particularly nice, but we'll see." The pair proceeded
to walk down the sidewalk, acting as if nothing had happened between the
two. Across the street and along the avenue, witnesses were left gaping
at the casual scene of carnal display shown by the two lovers. Seeing
them leave the scene, the gawking crowd eventually broke out of their
glazed states and continued on with their daily business.
However, hidden in the shadows of one of the buildings a pair of eyes
narrowed in furled anger at what it had just witnessed. 'Damn you
Ranma. How dare you betray Akane like this! I'll make you pay, I'll
make you pay for everything' it swore. 'Just as soon as I find my way
out of this alley... hey, wait a second, when did Japan have camels?
Damnit! Ranma this is all your fault!'
--- Cat Café --
"Nihao, welcome to Cat Café, Shampoo be with you in moment" announced
the bubbly Chinese waitress as she busied herself with clearing a set of
formerly occupied tables; she had her back turned to the pair of
incoming customers while she was doing this.
"Shampoo done now, will you please follow--Aiyah, Airen!" she cried.
Shampoo had a surprised look on her face as she faced her Great-
Grandfather. Although it had been only a day since she had learned of
her true relation to Ranma, for the moment she had temporarily forgotten
this and some deeply ingrained habits then kicked in.
She was preparing to rush up and leap into his arms when she was halted
by the sound of broken dishes as they clanged or shattered against the
kitchen floor. The entire restaurant stopped what they were doing as
they all turned to face whatever trouble might have caused this
disturbance. Then, right on cue out came an irate Mousse as he entered
the dinning area.
"Saotome you fiend!" yelled a slightly wet Mousse, his hands and shirt
wet from working as a dishwasher. "How dare you come in here and try to
steal my Shampoo," he declared. He proceeded to march his way towards
Ranma to attack him, but was promptly splashed by a cup of cold water.
*Quack* *Quack* *Thump*
"My apologies Ranma" remarked Cologne as she removed the end of her cane
from Mousse's duck-sized brain. "I was distracted in the kitchen and
forgot about dealing with Mr. Part-time here. I hope you and Ryoko
weren't too inconvenienced."
"Nah, not at all" he replied off handedly; Ryoko too nodded her head in
agreement. "I've gotten used to it by now. Even after all these years,
there's always some punk around the corner who thinks they can do me in.
Now isn't that right, Sweetie?"
Ryoko nodded but added. "Yeah, but every time that happens you act as
if it's a game. I'd appreciate it if you'd take these things more
seriously. I worry about you."
Ranma waved her off her feelings of distress. "Oh you worry about me
too much. Don't you trust me?" Both Ryoko and Cologne laughed.
"What's so funny?" he said. The two women continued to laugh and
cackle, finally stopping when Ranma's stomach started to growl, but
starting up once again afterwards.
"I see that your appetite is just as ferocious as I remember" commented
Cologne as she seated the two in a secluded booth. "So tell me, what
would you two like to have today?"
Ranma and Ryoko looked over the menus that Shampoo handed them. "Hmm, I
think I'll go for a bowl of beef ramen with a side dish of egg rolls"
replied Ranma as he handed the menu back to Shampoo. Ryoko ordered the
same but added "could you please get us a bottle of sake?" Shampoo
nodded as she accepted Ryoko's menu. Ranma turned and looked at his
fiancée with a dubious smile.
"Isn't it a bit early to be drinking?" he queried. He knew that Ryoko
had a taste for liquor and he liked to joke about her 'slight' drinking
problem. Often teasing her about getting a spare tire around her waist
or a sagging butt. Ryoko in turn took it in stride. The comments at
first had hurt, but after learning that Ranma was only teasing, the two
had made a game of it.
"It isn't too early" she replied casually. "I'm just in a festive mood.
After all, I heard that alcohol increases a woman's libido and I do
intend to be putting you through your paces tonight." She gave him a
feral grin which he returned. The two continued to flirt despite the
angry looks Shampoo was giving them. Cologne on the other hand had
learned to keep a cool head no matter the circumstances.
However, after catching a peak of Ryoko slipping her hand under the
table and towards Ranma's crotch, she decided to intervene. After all,
the Cat Café was a family restaurant and it wouldn't do to have a sex
act being played out in front of paying customers--this was after all a
restaurant and not a brothel.
"Ahem!" she coughed. "Could you two stop that. This is a family
restaurant." The two guilty parties turned red in embarrassment.
"Sorry" Ranma said. "But she started it."
Ryoko baulked at that. "Don't you be pitting the blame on me. You're
just as guilty."
Ranma relented under his fiancée's accusation. "Yeah, you're right.
I'm sorry." Although he didn't believe a word he was saying, he had
learned long ago that when dealing with women, it was far easier to make
them think that they've won by just agreeing. 'Besides, I'm right and
she knows it,' he thought back.
As the three waited for the food to arrive, the three went into casual
conversation about their day and how life had been treating them.
"So you say that you two met over twenty years ago" interrupted Cologne,
as Ranma proceeded to wolf down his ramen. Ranma and Ryoko nodded as
Cologne gaze shifted solely onto Ryoko.
"So I assume you're a fellow immortal. Like Ranma?" Ryoko and Ranma
paused in their eating. How was she to answer that?
Slurping her noodles, Ryoko looked at Ranma for some unsaid advice. He
merely shrugged and continued eating as if nothing was the matter.
Inwardly groaning, she replied with a tentative "Yes... though I'm not
quite like Ranma."
Cologne nodded sagely as she sipped her tea. She leaned back in her
chair and watched in amusement as Ryoko looked on nervously. "I thought
as much" she finally said, she paused in her elaboration.
"What do you mean?" Ryoko inquired. She was uncertain whether Cologne
was saying so in a disapproving tone or not, it was hard for her to
gauge what was lurking behind that old crone's mind.
"I was merely reaffirming my earlier perception of you, nothing more"
she said simply, while blowing softly over a newly poured cup of tea.
"You know, after getting a good look at you, I'm not quite sure what to
make of you."
The hair on Ryoko's neck bristled in anger. "What are you getting at
you old bat!? Are you trying to say that I'm not good enough for him!"
Cologne looked un-phased as she was being yelled at, though Customer's
in the restaurant paused and stared as the scene. Shampoo too as she
tried to work her way over to their table to listen in on their
conversation.
Acting unperturbed, Cologne cackled at Ryoko's angered outcry. "Oh,
don't take my comment the wrong way. I'm sure you're a lovely person.
I know first hand that Ranma was always a good judge of character though
a bit naïve at times. But what I was getting at was your chi. Its flow
is much too strong for a person of your age in appearance--even Ranma
isn't as strong as yours. So that suggests to me that you're either
much older than Ranma and I combined or that perhaps you're not of this
world."
Ranma continued eating his noodles as he listened. 'Be careful,
Cologne' he thought. 'If you push the wrong buttons she might just blow
your head off.'
"So tell me" Cologne began again, oblivious to Ranma's mental warnings.
"What is it? Are you like Ranma and I or are you perhaps a kami in
disguise. Or maybe you are like us, just much much older. How old are
you anyway? If you don't mind indulging an old woman's curiosity."
Ryoko looked abashed. This was a sore spot for her as she mumbled the
answer out. "What was that?" Cologne asked. "I didn't quite hear you.
You've got to speak up, I'm not as young as I used to be."
Cologne proceeded to lean up and over the table as she cupped her ear as
if playing deaf. Ryoko groaned to herself. "I'm an alien and I'm two
thousand years old," she finally said in a hushed voice. It wasn't too
loud but it was loud enough to bring a grin to Cologne's lips.
"My my my," she said to herself though loud enough for everyone at the
table to hear. "An alien? Two thousand years old? Really Ranma, I'm
not sure which makes me more surprised. That you've decided to bed down
with an extraterrestrial or a two thousand year old one on top of that.
My my, the lengths you go to sate that 'older woman' fetish of yours."
Ryoko looked at her and then Ranma with curious eyes.
"What does she mean, 'older women' fetish?" she queried. Ranma rolled
his eyes as he finished drinking the broth of his ramen.
"Don't be such a sicko, Cologne. It's not like I'm into Grandmas or
anything. Look Sweetie, what Cologne is getting at is sort of a private
joke between us. When we were married, she once got me to admit that
before I met her I had had a crush on Akane's older sister, Kasumi and
later on a few other women in the village who so happened to be older
than I. Added, the fact that Cologne is two years older than me also
gave her more reason to claim that I had an attraction for older women."
Ryoko calmed down after hearing this. It sounded reasonable she
thought. "Anyway," he began again. "I guess it is true in a way. I
mean there's your mom, Washuu. Man, I still get the willies when I
think about those small little hands of hers--Brrr. Oh, and then
there's her two sisters, Tsunami and Tokimi. Oh, and lets not forget
about Ayeka, although she was a prude at times she was a lot less frigid
than those Aes Sedai... Oh, and then there was that Dark Elf, what was
her name? Oh I forget, but whatever. Man, whenever I think about her I
can't help but also think about that..." Ranma proceeded to thumb off a
list of women's names, some of whom Ryoko had never even heard of
before. She began to boil in anger as she sat there listening.
She was about to zap him when he uttered, "Oh and I shouldn't forget the
most important old lady I know." He turned and looked at her. "And
that's you" he said as he gave her a sly wink. Ryoko's features
immediately softened at his proclamation, the old lady remark was also
quickly forgotten. When he looked at her that way, to Ryoko it was hard
for her to stay mad at him when he did that. As he grabbed her hand in
a reassuring grip, she turned and saw Cologne give a silent nod. Ryoko
wasn't sure what for, but regardless the sign of approval seemed to
assuage Ryoko's earlier fears.
"Don't fret child" spoke Cologne, as Ryoko started to lean up against
Ranma with her earlier feelings of anger towards him all but forgotten.
"You might be two thousand years old but you've got a long ways to go
before you fully understand men, especially that one... He might be an
insensitive dolt at times but he's also a loyal and loving man with a
good heart. Though our marriage was brief, I have always cherished
those memories and I'm sure you'll cherish the memories the two of you
will make together."
Ryoko nodded in understanding, while Ranma too listened in but didn't
get past the two thousand year remark. "Hey" he interrupted. "You said
you're two thousand years old, but I remember Washuu saying that you're
five." Ryoko looked mortified.
She hissed at him. "Shut up! I'm two thousand years old by GP calendar
so technically I'm only two thousand years old. Got it!" Ranma rolled
his eyes.
"Yeah, but here on Earth you're five thousand. Gee, don't be taking it
the wrong way. There's nothing wrong with being old and I figure if
you're willing to admit you're two thousand, you might as well admit to
the other three. Three thousand measly years isn't going to change a
person's mind about you."
Cologne nodded. "That is true... though knowing that you're older than
Amazon civilization, it makes me wonder how someone so ancient can still
be so unwise to the ways of love."
Ranma replied before Ryoko could. "Yeah, I've always thought the same
thing. I assume it was because she spent seven hundred years locked up
in a cave but her mom told me she was always immature." Ryoko pinched
him.
"I am not immature," she said to him. Turning to Cologne. "And I'm not
ancient." Ranma turned back to Cologne as he rubbed his sore spot.
"See what I mean." He was rewarded with a harder pinch which he tried
to ignore. "Anyway," he continued. "I'm sure you probably want to know
something about that heir of mine."
Cologne nodded. "Yes I do, but I felt it was your place to make
introductions and not mine to demand." By now Ryoko had stopped
pinching him as he pinned her hands together from under the table.
"Okay," he said. "Well now that I'm full lets talk business. What
would you like to know about him?"
"Oh, I don't need to know everything about the boy, just a few things.
Merely, how old he is, his skill in the art, perhaps a little detail on
his personality--his likes, dislikes. Oh, and how he's related to you
and..."
Ranma took a moment to collect his thoughts. 'Just a few things she
said. Feh, I'm surprised she didn't ask me what side his wipes his ass
with. If she thought I knew, I'm sure she'd probably ask me that too.'
Coughing into his hand, he began to spin a yarn of a tale. Thinking to
himself about Tenchi, Ranma had to stifle a prideful smile. Tenchi--his
grandson or perhaps it was great-grandson depending on how you saw it-
-was something to be proud of he admitted. Good looking, smart, and
kind hearted. 'He'll make a great emperor one day' he thought.
Looking at Cologne as she waited, he took a sip of tea and decided that
perhaps Shampoo should be here as well. Looking at the time, it was
nearly 4PM and the last of the lunch hour customers had left. With
another hour before preparing for the dinnertime rush, he asked Cologne
to lock the restaurant and bring his Great-Granddaughter over for some
tea.
Meanwhile, in the kitchen, a pair of coke-bottled eyes opened and looked
up and out at its surroundings. Seeing that he was caged once again,
Mousse lay still as he listened carefully to the conversation ensuing in
the main dinner area.
'Another suitor for MY Shampoo's hand,' Mousse thought bitterly. 'Blast
you Saotome... not you nor anybody else will take Shampoo away from me.'
The duck started laughing maniacally to itself as it contemplated the
demise of his hated foe. As it made sporadic quacking sounds, this in
turn alerted Shampoo and caused her to return back to the kitchen.
Seeing the duck-Mousse and figuring he was up to no good, instead of
smashing him like she normally would have she decided to pick up his
cage and put him in the freezer. Hopefully she wouldn't forget about
him before he froze to death she thought in amusement.
*** Half an hour later ***
"Quite impressive" remarked Cologne as she took a long drag from her
pipe. She had a contemplative look on her face as she pondered over
Ranma's description of Tenchi.
The boy was everything she could hope for. He was a far cry from Ranma
she admitted, but given the fact that Ranma was Shampoo's Great-
Grandfather and that his genes had already been added to the tribe, plus
the minor detail of him being now sterile, Cologne could hope for no one
better than this Tenchi to fill in Ranma's shoes.
Looking at her Great-Granddaughter and gauging her response to hearing
about Ranma's heir, she was uncertain whether Shampoo would take to this
new boy with the same fervor she had for Ranma.
'I guess it is my own fault,' she remarked to herself. 'But the poor
girl did ask me what my idea of the perfect husband would be and it was
no coincidence that Ranma fit the bill to a tee.' She laughed to
herself at that thought. 'Ranma, Ranma. First me and now my Great-
Granddaughter... if only there were more like you. But hopefully this
heir of yours will be half as charming.'
Turning to her Great-granddaughter she asked a question. "So what do
you think, Great-Granddaughter. Does your Great-Grandfather's heir
sound appealing or should we pack our belongings now and return back to
China?"
Shampoo looked at her Great-Grandmother strangely. This was one of the
few times that she was ever given the right to decide on her own, it was
a somewhat new sensation and she was unsure how to act. She knew this
was some sort of test of some sort. 'Everything with Great-Grandmother
is a test' she thought dryly. However, despite knowing this she was
unsure of how to answer. To see this Tenchi Masaki or not? He was
still not her Airen but Shampoo knew that to pine away for Ranma now was
futile; he was already in love with somebody else and he was no longer
considered an outsider of the tribe. 'He's lost to me now.'
With a little apprehension and a reassuring look from Ranma and Ryoko,
Shampoo nodded. "I go see this Tenchi, we no have to pack now."
Cologne grinned. "Very good Great-Granddaughter. I was hoping you
would say that, however before we meet this heir of Ranma's we'll need
to work on your skills of tact and diplomacy. From what your Great-
Grandfather has said, Tenchi already has a few suitors. You're already
used to competition, but I feel that the direct approach won't work on
him... after all from your experience trying to seduce your Great-
Grandfather, you must realize that it takes a more subtle touch to win
over the Saotome men."
"Here here" remarked Ryoko to Cologne's comment. The two women laughed
at that while Ranma looked annoyed. Shampoo was annoyed too, but for
different reasons.
'If she knew that already then why did she let me chase after him like
that,' Shampoo thought bitterly. Looking at the two laughing women and
seeing they were too caught up in themselves to notice her any longer,
Shampoo turned to the only other person at the table. 'Airen' she
thought painfully. 'Not airen, just Great-Grandfather now. God, how
can I call him that? He looks not much older than I do.'
She was broken out of her thoughts as Ranma noticed her staring. "I
know what you're thinking" he said. "If you'd prefer, you can just call
me Ranma. Great-Grandfather is a more affectionate term. I was never
there for you like family so I'm more a stranger than anything. Just
call me Ranma and I'll just call you Shampoo. When you're ready and
when we get to know each other better, we can change that if you'd
like."
He smiled at her and the sight of his perfect teeth and his handsome
features still melted her heart. 'This sucks' she thought. Despite
feeling sour at all this, she wasn't an ingrate. Nodding her head, she
agreed with Ranma's proposal. "I would like that" she said slowly. She
wanted to make sure her Japanese was perfect when she said that.
Ranma grinned, he knew that it took some effort on her part to make that
four word sentence. "You know Shampoo, I think you'll like Tenchi. You
might not want to marry him and he you, but I think you'll like him.
He's a nice boy, and I think you'll have a lot to learn from him. He
has knowledge of the art outside of the tribe; give him half a chance
and he might surprise you."
Shampoo beamed at that. It was an admission that she didn't have to go
on and marry some other person and be passed on like some piece of
breeding stock. Her great-grandmother was somewhat insensitive in these
matters, but Shampoo couldn't fault her. 'She is after all four hundred
years old, perhaps she's gone a little senile' she thought in amusement.
Looking back up to Ranma's grinning face, she smiled too. "I would like
that" she said again in the same deliberately slow manner.
Ranma nodded. "I thought you would." Turning to Cologne he addressed
her. "Well, thanks for the meal, but I think it's about time that Ryoko
and I return back to pick up Ukyo. We got to head back to the shrine.
I'll contact you later to arrange a meeting. If you need me you've got
my cell phone number." Cologne nodded.
"Oh and here is the money for the meal." He left a rather large sum of
yen on the table, which Cologne picked up and handed back to him.
"Don't be silly Ranma. You're a guest here, the meal is on the house."
Ranma laughed as both he and Ryoko got up. "Thanks Cologne, but you
keep it. Give it to Shampoo and let her spend it if you can't accept
it. Just think of it as a gift for all those birthdays and holidays
I've missed."
Cologne shrugged and handed the offered yen to Shampoo. As the party
gave their farewells, Cologne broke Shampoo out of her sad state by
reminding her to prepare for the dinnertime rush. Realizing this,
Shampoo rushed off to put on her apron and clean up the front. In the
back of her mind, there was a nagging feeling that she had forgotten
something. 'Oh well,' she thought. It'll come to her when it does.
++++++++++
Meanwhile, inside the kitchen's freezer, an ice blue duck thought
angrily to itself. 'Damn you Saotome, when I get out of here I'll get
you for this.' The duck shivered as its feathers did little to fight
back the cold of his confines. Feeling a little sleepy, Mousse decided
to let his eyes rest a while as he ran through a series of naughty
thoughts of himself and Shampoo to help keep himself warm. Despite
this, blackness soon overcame his senses.
--- End of Chapter ---
Please send C&C to allwhacked@hotmail.com and if you're going to
criticize, please give reasons why. Thanks.
End Note:
1. If you don't remember, in Ch. 2, Ranma and Cologne named their child,
Shampoo. Coincidentally the same person that the current Shampoo was
named after.