Cologne sat in the back room of her café. It was time to get the plan into
action. She picked up the phone and dialed a number carefully. "Hello? Yes,
this is Ms. Sanderson with the International Student Exchange Program. I'm
calling regretfully that you will no longer be hosting a one Tendo Kari.
Circumstances have arisen and we thank you for time and we will look into
placing another student with you in the future."
Cologne hung up the phone. "That went better than expected. It's amazing how these people will just except anything told to them."
With that done Cologne waited for the phone to ring to begin the next stage of her plan.
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Kari's alarm clock went off. "Stupid flight having to leave at 4am." She crawled out of bed and looked around her room. She might not be here for a while so she should really take a good look at the place. She managed to pack her bags only leaving a few things behind she could not fit.
Lilly came to her door and knocked. "Kari, you awake?"
"Yeah, I'm up. You can come in if you want." She stood in the middle of her room with her bags by the door. She had already slipped into the clothes she would be wearing for the long flight.
Lilly looked at Kari, she worried that this would be the last time she would ever see the girl. Sixteen years she had played Mother to Kari and now she was leaving. She tried to hold back her tears in vain. "Aww come on Mom, I said I forgave you and that I'm only going to be there for one school year."
Kari hugged her Mom, she didn't care if it wasn't her real Mom because she loved her and that's all that mattered. "Help me lug these heavy things downstairs?" Lilly nodded.
Kari took one last look around her room. She noticed the picture of her and her Mom pinned to her notice board. She walked over to it and carefully pulled out the pushpin that held it in place. "I miss you already Mom." She slipped the picture into the travel journal she bought to document her journey.
She grabbed her last bag and headed downstairs. Lilly was in the kitchen packing up some snacks for Kari's flight. She wrote a little note. (Kari, I know I'm a terrible cook so I bought you some snacks. Please do your best to be careful; I will come visit when I can get some time off from work. I love you Kari, my sweet daughter. Signed Love Mom.)
Lilly put the snacks into Kari's carry on backpack. They did a last minute at the house check for everything. "You have your ticket right?"
"For the millionth time, yes."
"You have enough clean underwear?" "MOM!"
"Well, you can never have too many pairs of clean underwear." Lilly smiled at Kari.
"Thanks, Mom." Kari looked at her Mom trying hard not to get all mushy.
"What are you thanking me for?" Lilly looked a little confused.
"Well for not fighting me on this, I mean you could have just not signed the paper and I would have had no choice. Thanks for understanding I have to do this." A tear fell down Kari's cheek.
"Don't you get me crying already we aren't even out of the driveway yet."
Lilly put the last bag in the trunk of the car. "Kari, you can't go." Lilly said flatly.
"What? Why can't I go?" Kari started to look a little more annoyed than sad.
"Because I was supposed to teach you how to drive this year." Lilly's eyes met Kari's she smiled at her.
"Mom, I AM coming back." Kari hugged her Mom again. She could tell this was going to be a very emotional day.
"Well you have your ticket, right? You have the papers for school, doctors records, and the name of the family coming to pick you up?"
Kari pulled the folder out. "Everything is right here. I checked it 200 times last night."
"Well check it 201 just to make sure. For me ok?" Lilly worried. She wanted to stretch out time as long as possible.
Kari pulled out all the papers and showed her Mother. "See?"
"Ok. Ok. We can leave now." They both got into the car and fastened their seatbelts. The airport was only thirty minutes away. Lilly handed Kari an envelope.
"What's this Mom?"
"Open it, because I don't want you to open it on the plane." Inside was a card. The picture on the front was the Japanese character for Luck. Inside the card there was some money and a necklace with a charm on it.
"Oh Mom, you didn't have to do this." Kari looked at the necklace. It shimmered metallic silver.
"Kari I want you to put on that necklace and never take it off ok?" Kari looked at her Mom strangely. She put on the necklace with a small square charm on it. "What does this character mean?" Kari held the charm up to her face.
"It is to protect you. I know how you talk about how superstitious I can be but please; Japan is a very different place. Just promise me you won't take it off."
"I promise." Kari was still very sleepy. She had gotten no sleep the night before or last night and now she was traveling in a plane for fourteen hours with who knows how many crazy people.
"Don't forget to speak in Japanese, I know I've been very lax about it around the house but you want people to understand you all the time. Oh and no slang either." Kari glared at her Mother.
"Mom, I won't forget to speak in Japanese. Geez how stupid do you think I am?" Kari grumbled.
Lilly pulled the car into short-term parking. Kari got out of the car and grabbed a luggage trolley to put her bags on. She was going to have to go through customs. When all of a sudden she panicked. "MOM my passport! I forgot it!" Kari's face grew white.
Lilly looked at Kari. "You see? Do you see why I nag?" Lilly opened her purse and pulled out Kari's passport that she put in there while packing Kari's snacks. Kari sighed.
"Oh man, I can't believe I almost forgot that." She hugged her Mom tightly. "You are a life saver Mom."
Kari pushed the trolley up to the check in counter. She handed the woman her tickets and other papers. The woman clicked away at the keyboard and a printer started to buzz. Kari grabbed her backpack off the trolley and a man came to take her bags to the plane. The woman handed Kari back her papers and told her the directions to follow.
Kari and Lilly walked up to the gate Kari would be leaving from. They still had fifteen minutes before she would get to board the plane. Kari spent that time hugging her Mom and quietly crying into her shirt. Lilly just held Kari and tried to keep it together.
An announcement was heard. Kari's plane was now boarding. "I guess this is good-bye." Lilly said looking so sad.
"It's more like see ya later Mom. I'll be back after the school year is over." Kari gave her Mom one last squeeze before she walked down the ramp to the plane. The Flight Attendant smiled as she passed. She turned around to see her Mom standing there waving at her. She waved back and walked the rest of the way to the plane.
Kari sat down in her seat; the flight was not overly crowded. She might actually get to sit somewhat by herself. She put her backpack under the seat in front of her and put on her seatbelt. The flight attendants closed up the door and Kari sighed in relief that she would be able to sit alone for the trip.
The flight attendants announced the in-flight movie and Kari put on her headphones and fell asleep. Some time later. "Miss, excuse me Miss. Would you like to have lunch?"
Kari opened her eyes and quickly nodded her head yes. "Thank you very much, I guess I was really tired. Do you know how long we have been in flight for?"
"I think it has been about eight hours now." With that she placed a tray of neatly wrapped food in front of Kari.
Kari ate slowly still waking up from her dream. "I wonder where all that martial arts stuff came from. It looked just like a movie."
The sleep was leaving her quickly along with the last of her dream. Kari noticed her headphones had fallen to the floor; she picked them up and placed them back in her backpack.
The flight attendant came back around to take the trays from the passengers. Kari had eaten most of her lunch and drank a little too much soda. She unfastened her seat belt and walked down the isle to the restroom. A few minutes later she emerged and headed back to her seat. When she got there a small boy was sitting in her place. "Umm hello there."
"Hi, my name is Lee, and yours is Kari." He smiled a big grin, two of his front teeth missing.
"How, how do you know my name?" Kari grew pale.
"You were talking in your sleep. Were you having a bad dream?" Inquired the little boy.
"Not really." Kari unclenched her hand. She couldn't understand why she suddenly got so jumpy. He was just a little boy.
A voice came from behind Kari; it was the little boy's Mother. "Lee, you get back over here and leave that girl alone."
Lee got up and started to leave. "Hey lady, I hope you find your sister."
Kari's mouth dropped. Then she thought it must have just been her talking out loud in her dream. She eyed the little boy as he walked back to his Mother. "I really miss my Mom already."
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Cologne called for Shampoo and Mousse; she needed to get them occupied until she could safely bring Kari back to the café. "What you need Great Grandmother?"
"I need for you and Mousse to complete all the tasks on this list." Cologne handed them to Shampoo. The list seemed to go on forever. Shampoo did not question her great grandmother and set out with Mousse in tow to complete the tasks.
As soon as the two were out of site the phone rang. "Hello? I see, I will be there shortly." Cologne hung up the phone and looked for the number for a cab company. She gave the person on the other end her address and was told a cab would be there shortly.
Cologne waited for the cab out front of the closed restaurant. "I'll have to remember to charge Tendo for a day of lost business." The cab pulled up and Cologne got in. Without word the driver headed towards the airport.
Cologne handed the driver the details on the gate number and where she wanted to be dropped off. The car came to a stop; Cologne paid the driver and headed inside. She hoped Kari would not have landed but the time was being cut very close.
Cologne reached the gate and pulled out a sign with Kari's name on it from somewhere behind her back. People were starting to exit the plane lugging small children with them and bags clattering around. Cologne instantly recognized her when she emerged from the door. She could not believe she was indeed seeing Akane's twin.
Kari saw the old woman with the sign and walked over to her with an odd look on her face. "Hello. Are you my host parent?" Trying so hard to be rude but she expected someone much closer to the age of her own Mother.
"I'm Cologne, I'll be your host parent while you are in Japan. The first family was not able to perform the duties and I was put in place last minute. I hope this does not upset you too much." Cologne tried very hard not to draw suspicion.
"Oh, no that's fine. I have to get my bags and then we can leave." Kari smiled; she couldn't believe she was in Japan already. She adjusted her backpack and they headed to pick up her other luggage. Three suitcases later the two of them were at the curb hailing a cab to bring them home.
There wasn't much talk on the ride to her new home, which was fine by Kari, she felt very tired from the plane ride and just wanted to crash. They pulled up in front of the café and Kari was a little confused. "Are we stopping to eat?"
"No dear, this is where you will be staying. See I own this café and run it with the help of my great grand daughter." Cologne hopped out of the car and lead the driver inside with the bags. She handed him a tip and he disappeared out the door.
"Why don't you come inside dear, I'll make you something to eat." Cologne trying to get Kari inside as soon as possible. She couldn't let her be seen by anyone just yet.
Kari entered the café; she followed the path Cologne walked through a door and into the back room. She sat down on a stool and waited for Cologne to fix her something to eat.
"I hope you like Ramen." Cologne placed a large bowl in front of Kari. Kari nodded and started eating. On her third bite the back door flew open and in crashed Mousse in duck form.
Mousse took one look at Kari and then back at Cologne who sighed deeply. "Oh Mousse, I suppose Shampoo will be here shortly." Kari was not prepared for what she saw next, Cologne took a large metal teapot full of hot water and poured it over the duck's head.
"WHAT THE?" Kari jumped off her stool and bumped into the wall behind her.
"Kari, no need to be afraid dear." Kari turned bright red as she slowly stopped being scared and noticed the boy before her was completely naked. A flash of bright red came over her face and she turned her eyes to the floor.
Before Mousse could speak Cologne yelled at him to put some clothes on. Mousse ran up the stairs and a door slammed shut. "What was that? He was just a duck wasn't he? I don't understand what is going on."
"Mousse has a Jusenkyo curse." Cologne kept cooking whole she was talking.
"A Jusenkyo curse? What is that?" Kari started to worry, would she catch a Jusenkyo curse.
"Jusenkyo is a place in China, there are cursed springs there. Each spring has a tragic legend of something drowning in it. If you fall into a spring you turn into the thing that died in the legend. Mousse fell into the Spring of the Drowned Duck. When he is hit with cold water he turns into a duck, when he is hit with hot water he turns back into a boy." Cologne turned to Kari who seemed a little less scared.
"It's not contagious is it?" Kari looked at the stairs where the once naked boy stood looking back at her.
"No, it's not contagious Kari. Catching a Jusenkyo curse is the least of your worries. You should finish your ramen before it gets cold."
Mousse looked at Cologne, then back at the look who sort of resembled someone he knew but could not tell being his glasses were a little scratched.
Kari sat back on her stool. Cologne figured she might as well introduce the two being Mousse knows she is here. "Kari, that boy there is Mousse. He lives here also and helps with the café. Mousse, this is Kari from The United States of America. She will be staying with us through the exchange student program."
Mousse bowed to Kari. "It is nice to meet you Kari."
The door slammed open again and stormed Shampoo. "Stupid Mousse." She trailed off seeing an Akane Tendo with longer hair sitting in the room.
"What too too." Cologne interrupted Shampoo before she could get out another word.
"Shampoo I thought I asked you and Mousse to complete a list of tasks this morning?" Cologne looked quite annoyed and Shampoo did not want to anger her. She might be old but she could take Shampoo down with as little as a look. "Stupid Mousse take off while trying to complete tasks." Shampoo stated.
Mousse just sat there knowing the truth but his love for Shampoo kept him from saying anything. Shampoo started to acknowledge Kari again when Cologne figured she had better introduce her also before something is said.
"Shampoo, this is Kari. She will be staying with us for the school year. I want to you be nice to her and not cause any trouble." Cologne looked at Shampoo her eyes telling her she meant business.
Kari had finished her ramen and yawned. "You must be exhausted. Shampoo help Kari bring her things upstairs into the guest room."
Shampoo complied. She grabbed all of Kari's bags and ran up the stairs. Kari was dumbfounded but followed her up. She walked into a small room with a bed and a dresser in it. Shampoo put her bags down. "Make yourself comfortable."
Shampoo exited the room. She couldn't figure out how this girl who looked exactly like Akane Tendo ended up her but she was going to find out soon.
"Great grandmother. Who is that girl?" Shampoo stood next to Cologne and started to prepare vegetables.
"Shampoo, I don't want you going anywhere near Ranma until I say it is ok. There is much going on that I can't tell you right now. Do not treat Kari as if you know her." Cologne looked at Shampoo.
Shampoo looked sad. "Does Shampoo have to give up on Ranma?"
"For right now yes." Cologne kept working on that night's menu.
"So who is she?" Asked Mousse.
Cologne motioned for them to come closer. "She is Akane Tendo's twin sister."
"What?" Both of them said at the same time.
"It's a long story, one I can not tell you right now. All you need to know is her life is in grave danger and I agreed to protect her."
"In danger? What kind of danger?" Shampoo's voice sounded a little concerned.
"I can not say. Just agree that you will not mention her to anyone. I need to do more research before anyone can find out she is here. Cologne motioned to a large stack of books on the counter.
Shampoo looked at them, they all dealt with death spirits. "Great grandmother?" She pointed to the words on the cover of the book and Cologne just nodded. Shampoo knew this was very serious. "I promise I will not say anything."
"Go open up the doors in front, we need to make up for lost profit this afternoon." Shampoo left the kitchen.
"Mousse you too have to promise not to say anything to anyone." She handed him a bag of garbage.
"I promise." He walked out the back door to put the trash in the can.
Mousse thought to himself. What are we in for now? His thoughts quickly moving on to the fact Shampoo was forbidden to see Ranma. "I could get her to love me now." He said to himself.
Kari lay on her bed asleep. Her dreams rushing in and jolting her to a false reality. "Where am I?" She looked around. Everything was pitch black.
A voice started talking to her. "Kari, you are in danger. You have to leave." She thought she recognized the voice. It sounded like a woman she knew.
"Hello? Who's there?" She called out into the darkness.
A woman appeared before her. Her face was blank but the voice started to sound like her Mother's. The woman dressed in a Kimono started to walk away. "Mom?"
The figure kept walking. Further and further away. "Wait! Come back."
Kari couldn't move, the darkness started to close in. She heard a knock. It kept growing louder and louder. She placed her hands over her ears. She looked into the distance for her Mother but she was already gone. Kari kept yelling out to her though. Soon all she could hear was the knock and her voice was drowned out.
"MOM!!!"
Cologne hung up the phone. "That went better than expected. It's amazing how these people will just except anything told to them."
With that done Cologne waited for the phone to ring to begin the next stage of her plan.
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Kari's alarm clock went off. "Stupid flight having to leave at 4am." She crawled out of bed and looked around her room. She might not be here for a while so she should really take a good look at the place. She managed to pack her bags only leaving a few things behind she could not fit.
Lilly came to her door and knocked. "Kari, you awake?"
"Yeah, I'm up. You can come in if you want." She stood in the middle of her room with her bags by the door. She had already slipped into the clothes she would be wearing for the long flight.
Lilly looked at Kari, she worried that this would be the last time she would ever see the girl. Sixteen years she had played Mother to Kari and now she was leaving. She tried to hold back her tears in vain. "Aww come on Mom, I said I forgave you and that I'm only going to be there for one school year."
Kari hugged her Mom, she didn't care if it wasn't her real Mom because she loved her and that's all that mattered. "Help me lug these heavy things downstairs?" Lilly nodded.
Kari took one last look around her room. She noticed the picture of her and her Mom pinned to her notice board. She walked over to it and carefully pulled out the pushpin that held it in place. "I miss you already Mom." She slipped the picture into the travel journal she bought to document her journey.
She grabbed her last bag and headed downstairs. Lilly was in the kitchen packing up some snacks for Kari's flight. She wrote a little note. (Kari, I know I'm a terrible cook so I bought you some snacks. Please do your best to be careful; I will come visit when I can get some time off from work. I love you Kari, my sweet daughter. Signed Love Mom.)
Lilly put the snacks into Kari's carry on backpack. They did a last minute at the house check for everything. "You have your ticket right?"
"For the millionth time, yes."
"You have enough clean underwear?" "MOM!"
"Well, you can never have too many pairs of clean underwear." Lilly smiled at Kari.
"Thanks, Mom." Kari looked at her Mom trying hard not to get all mushy.
"What are you thanking me for?" Lilly looked a little confused.
"Well for not fighting me on this, I mean you could have just not signed the paper and I would have had no choice. Thanks for understanding I have to do this." A tear fell down Kari's cheek.
"Don't you get me crying already we aren't even out of the driveway yet."
Lilly put the last bag in the trunk of the car. "Kari, you can't go." Lilly said flatly.
"What? Why can't I go?" Kari started to look a little more annoyed than sad.
"Because I was supposed to teach you how to drive this year." Lilly's eyes met Kari's she smiled at her.
"Mom, I AM coming back." Kari hugged her Mom again. She could tell this was going to be a very emotional day.
"Well you have your ticket, right? You have the papers for school, doctors records, and the name of the family coming to pick you up?"
Kari pulled the folder out. "Everything is right here. I checked it 200 times last night."
"Well check it 201 just to make sure. For me ok?" Lilly worried. She wanted to stretch out time as long as possible.
Kari pulled out all the papers and showed her Mother. "See?"
"Ok. Ok. We can leave now." They both got into the car and fastened their seatbelts. The airport was only thirty minutes away. Lilly handed Kari an envelope.
"What's this Mom?"
"Open it, because I don't want you to open it on the plane." Inside was a card. The picture on the front was the Japanese character for Luck. Inside the card there was some money and a necklace with a charm on it.
"Oh Mom, you didn't have to do this." Kari looked at the necklace. It shimmered metallic silver.
"Kari I want you to put on that necklace and never take it off ok?" Kari looked at her Mom strangely. She put on the necklace with a small square charm on it. "What does this character mean?" Kari held the charm up to her face.
"It is to protect you. I know how you talk about how superstitious I can be but please; Japan is a very different place. Just promise me you won't take it off."
"I promise." Kari was still very sleepy. She had gotten no sleep the night before or last night and now she was traveling in a plane for fourteen hours with who knows how many crazy people.
"Don't forget to speak in Japanese, I know I've been very lax about it around the house but you want people to understand you all the time. Oh and no slang either." Kari glared at her Mother.
"Mom, I won't forget to speak in Japanese. Geez how stupid do you think I am?" Kari grumbled.
Lilly pulled the car into short-term parking. Kari got out of the car and grabbed a luggage trolley to put her bags on. She was going to have to go through customs. When all of a sudden she panicked. "MOM my passport! I forgot it!" Kari's face grew white.
Lilly looked at Kari. "You see? Do you see why I nag?" Lilly opened her purse and pulled out Kari's passport that she put in there while packing Kari's snacks. Kari sighed.
"Oh man, I can't believe I almost forgot that." She hugged her Mom tightly. "You are a life saver Mom."
Kari pushed the trolley up to the check in counter. She handed the woman her tickets and other papers. The woman clicked away at the keyboard and a printer started to buzz. Kari grabbed her backpack off the trolley and a man came to take her bags to the plane. The woman handed Kari back her papers and told her the directions to follow.
Kari and Lilly walked up to the gate Kari would be leaving from. They still had fifteen minutes before she would get to board the plane. Kari spent that time hugging her Mom and quietly crying into her shirt. Lilly just held Kari and tried to keep it together.
An announcement was heard. Kari's plane was now boarding. "I guess this is good-bye." Lilly said looking so sad.
"It's more like see ya later Mom. I'll be back after the school year is over." Kari gave her Mom one last squeeze before she walked down the ramp to the plane. The Flight Attendant smiled as she passed. She turned around to see her Mom standing there waving at her. She waved back and walked the rest of the way to the plane.
Kari sat down in her seat; the flight was not overly crowded. She might actually get to sit somewhat by herself. She put her backpack under the seat in front of her and put on her seatbelt. The flight attendants closed up the door and Kari sighed in relief that she would be able to sit alone for the trip.
The flight attendants announced the in-flight movie and Kari put on her headphones and fell asleep. Some time later. "Miss, excuse me Miss. Would you like to have lunch?"
Kari opened her eyes and quickly nodded her head yes. "Thank you very much, I guess I was really tired. Do you know how long we have been in flight for?"
"I think it has been about eight hours now." With that she placed a tray of neatly wrapped food in front of Kari.
Kari ate slowly still waking up from her dream. "I wonder where all that martial arts stuff came from. It looked just like a movie."
The sleep was leaving her quickly along with the last of her dream. Kari noticed her headphones had fallen to the floor; she picked them up and placed them back in her backpack.
The flight attendant came back around to take the trays from the passengers. Kari had eaten most of her lunch and drank a little too much soda. She unfastened her seat belt and walked down the isle to the restroom. A few minutes later she emerged and headed back to her seat. When she got there a small boy was sitting in her place. "Umm hello there."
"Hi, my name is Lee, and yours is Kari." He smiled a big grin, two of his front teeth missing.
"How, how do you know my name?" Kari grew pale.
"You were talking in your sleep. Were you having a bad dream?" Inquired the little boy.
"Not really." Kari unclenched her hand. She couldn't understand why she suddenly got so jumpy. He was just a little boy.
A voice came from behind Kari; it was the little boy's Mother. "Lee, you get back over here and leave that girl alone."
Lee got up and started to leave. "Hey lady, I hope you find your sister."
Kari's mouth dropped. Then she thought it must have just been her talking out loud in her dream. She eyed the little boy as he walked back to his Mother. "I really miss my Mom already."
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Cologne called for Shampoo and Mousse; she needed to get them occupied until she could safely bring Kari back to the café. "What you need Great Grandmother?"
"I need for you and Mousse to complete all the tasks on this list." Cologne handed them to Shampoo. The list seemed to go on forever. Shampoo did not question her great grandmother and set out with Mousse in tow to complete the tasks.
As soon as the two were out of site the phone rang. "Hello? I see, I will be there shortly." Cologne hung up the phone and looked for the number for a cab company. She gave the person on the other end her address and was told a cab would be there shortly.
Cologne waited for the cab out front of the closed restaurant. "I'll have to remember to charge Tendo for a day of lost business." The cab pulled up and Cologne got in. Without word the driver headed towards the airport.
Cologne handed the driver the details on the gate number and where she wanted to be dropped off. The car came to a stop; Cologne paid the driver and headed inside. She hoped Kari would not have landed but the time was being cut very close.
Cologne reached the gate and pulled out a sign with Kari's name on it from somewhere behind her back. People were starting to exit the plane lugging small children with them and bags clattering around. Cologne instantly recognized her when she emerged from the door. She could not believe she was indeed seeing Akane's twin.
Kari saw the old woman with the sign and walked over to her with an odd look on her face. "Hello. Are you my host parent?" Trying so hard to be rude but she expected someone much closer to the age of her own Mother.
"I'm Cologne, I'll be your host parent while you are in Japan. The first family was not able to perform the duties and I was put in place last minute. I hope this does not upset you too much." Cologne tried very hard not to draw suspicion.
"Oh, no that's fine. I have to get my bags and then we can leave." Kari smiled; she couldn't believe she was in Japan already. She adjusted her backpack and they headed to pick up her other luggage. Three suitcases later the two of them were at the curb hailing a cab to bring them home.
There wasn't much talk on the ride to her new home, which was fine by Kari, she felt very tired from the plane ride and just wanted to crash. They pulled up in front of the café and Kari was a little confused. "Are we stopping to eat?"
"No dear, this is where you will be staying. See I own this café and run it with the help of my great grand daughter." Cologne hopped out of the car and lead the driver inside with the bags. She handed him a tip and he disappeared out the door.
"Why don't you come inside dear, I'll make you something to eat." Cologne trying to get Kari inside as soon as possible. She couldn't let her be seen by anyone just yet.
Kari entered the café; she followed the path Cologne walked through a door and into the back room. She sat down on a stool and waited for Cologne to fix her something to eat.
"I hope you like Ramen." Cologne placed a large bowl in front of Kari. Kari nodded and started eating. On her third bite the back door flew open and in crashed Mousse in duck form.
Mousse took one look at Kari and then back at Cologne who sighed deeply. "Oh Mousse, I suppose Shampoo will be here shortly." Kari was not prepared for what she saw next, Cologne took a large metal teapot full of hot water and poured it over the duck's head.
"WHAT THE?" Kari jumped off her stool and bumped into the wall behind her.
"Kari, no need to be afraid dear." Kari turned bright red as she slowly stopped being scared and noticed the boy before her was completely naked. A flash of bright red came over her face and she turned her eyes to the floor.
Before Mousse could speak Cologne yelled at him to put some clothes on. Mousse ran up the stairs and a door slammed shut. "What was that? He was just a duck wasn't he? I don't understand what is going on."
"Mousse has a Jusenkyo curse." Cologne kept cooking whole she was talking.
"A Jusenkyo curse? What is that?" Kari started to worry, would she catch a Jusenkyo curse.
"Jusenkyo is a place in China, there are cursed springs there. Each spring has a tragic legend of something drowning in it. If you fall into a spring you turn into the thing that died in the legend. Mousse fell into the Spring of the Drowned Duck. When he is hit with cold water he turns into a duck, when he is hit with hot water he turns back into a boy." Cologne turned to Kari who seemed a little less scared.
"It's not contagious is it?" Kari looked at the stairs where the once naked boy stood looking back at her.
"No, it's not contagious Kari. Catching a Jusenkyo curse is the least of your worries. You should finish your ramen before it gets cold."
Mousse looked at Cologne, then back at the look who sort of resembled someone he knew but could not tell being his glasses were a little scratched.
Kari sat back on her stool. Cologne figured she might as well introduce the two being Mousse knows she is here. "Kari, that boy there is Mousse. He lives here also and helps with the café. Mousse, this is Kari from The United States of America. She will be staying with us through the exchange student program."
Mousse bowed to Kari. "It is nice to meet you Kari."
The door slammed open again and stormed Shampoo. "Stupid Mousse." She trailed off seeing an Akane Tendo with longer hair sitting in the room.
"What too too." Cologne interrupted Shampoo before she could get out another word.
"Shampoo I thought I asked you and Mousse to complete a list of tasks this morning?" Cologne looked quite annoyed and Shampoo did not want to anger her. She might be old but she could take Shampoo down with as little as a look. "Stupid Mousse take off while trying to complete tasks." Shampoo stated.
Mousse just sat there knowing the truth but his love for Shampoo kept him from saying anything. Shampoo started to acknowledge Kari again when Cologne figured she had better introduce her also before something is said.
"Shampoo, this is Kari. She will be staying with us for the school year. I want to you be nice to her and not cause any trouble." Cologne looked at Shampoo her eyes telling her she meant business.
Kari had finished her ramen and yawned. "You must be exhausted. Shampoo help Kari bring her things upstairs into the guest room."
Shampoo complied. She grabbed all of Kari's bags and ran up the stairs. Kari was dumbfounded but followed her up. She walked into a small room with a bed and a dresser in it. Shampoo put her bags down. "Make yourself comfortable."
Shampoo exited the room. She couldn't figure out how this girl who looked exactly like Akane Tendo ended up her but she was going to find out soon.
"Great grandmother. Who is that girl?" Shampoo stood next to Cologne and started to prepare vegetables.
"Shampoo, I don't want you going anywhere near Ranma until I say it is ok. There is much going on that I can't tell you right now. Do not treat Kari as if you know her." Cologne looked at Shampoo.
Shampoo looked sad. "Does Shampoo have to give up on Ranma?"
"For right now yes." Cologne kept working on that night's menu.
"So who is she?" Asked Mousse.
Cologne motioned for them to come closer. "She is Akane Tendo's twin sister."
"What?" Both of them said at the same time.
"It's a long story, one I can not tell you right now. All you need to know is her life is in grave danger and I agreed to protect her."
"In danger? What kind of danger?" Shampoo's voice sounded a little concerned.
"I can not say. Just agree that you will not mention her to anyone. I need to do more research before anyone can find out she is here. Cologne motioned to a large stack of books on the counter.
Shampoo looked at them, they all dealt with death spirits. "Great grandmother?" She pointed to the words on the cover of the book and Cologne just nodded. Shampoo knew this was very serious. "I promise I will not say anything."
"Go open up the doors in front, we need to make up for lost profit this afternoon." Shampoo left the kitchen.
"Mousse you too have to promise not to say anything to anyone." She handed him a bag of garbage.
"I promise." He walked out the back door to put the trash in the can.
Mousse thought to himself. What are we in for now? His thoughts quickly moving on to the fact Shampoo was forbidden to see Ranma. "I could get her to love me now." He said to himself.
Kari lay on her bed asleep. Her dreams rushing in and jolting her to a false reality. "Where am I?" She looked around. Everything was pitch black.
A voice started talking to her. "Kari, you are in danger. You have to leave." She thought she recognized the voice. It sounded like a woman she knew.
"Hello? Who's there?" She called out into the darkness.
A woman appeared before her. Her face was blank but the voice started to sound like her Mother's. The woman dressed in a Kimono started to walk away. "Mom?"
The figure kept walking. Further and further away. "Wait! Come back."
Kari couldn't move, the darkness started to close in. She heard a knock. It kept growing louder and louder. She placed her hands over her ears. She looked into the distance for her Mother but she was already gone. Kari kept yelling out to her though. Soon all she could hear was the knock and her voice was drowned out.
"MOM!!!"