Disclaimer: Nope, don't own 'em!

Kiyomisa: Thanks to those who reviewed! It means a lot. To answer your question, Angry Generalization, the Peachman was human, and besides, none of the Ranma gang are "normal" humans. So a Shikon shard could very well still work on Mousse. Still, you've given me food for thought and a possible plot device ^_~. Thanks so much for pointing that out to me and I hope you'll help me with little slip-ups like that again. Thanks to Demonblade who told me my x-over was unique. That makes so happy you have no idea ;^-^;. And special thanks to Anime-wannabe who pointed out my misspelling of Japanese terms. I'll keep using "Cutting Wind" though, 'cause the translation I've been reading online uses it. Less confusing for me, gomen nasai * bows *.

A/N: Jousuiko is one of Naraku's children in case anyone was wondering. Hence the fact she calls Kagura Onee-chan or "older-sister"

* * *

Kagome sat worrying at the rebuilt campsite, trying to think of what they could do to find Mousse. She watched the others talking among themselves, and noticed that only one of them didn't seem concerned in the least. Shampoo. The amazon was firmly attached to Ranma and was doing her best to steal a kiss or two. How dare she! Mousse had done nothing but been supportive and sweet to her, and now she didn't even care that he was gone!

Kagome stood up to give the amazon a piece of her mind, when a familiar presence made itself known.

"A shard!" she breathed.

"Is it the same one?" Inu-Yasha asked.

"I don't know. I don't think so. But whatever it is, it's coming closer!"

Inu-Yasha drew his sword and Ryoga and Miroku got into fighting positions while Ukyo and Sango drew their own weapons. Akane was paying too much attention to Shampoo and Ranma to notice anything else.

To their immense surprise, and relief, it was Mousse who stepped through the foliage.

"Mousse! You're all right!" Ukyo said with relief.

"Yes I am. Where's Saotome," he said coldly, making the others blink.

"Mousse, you have a Shikon shard," Kagome said worriedly. He turned to look at her, and it was then that everyone noticed that he wasn't wearing his glasses. His eyes, instead of a warm brown, shone a florescent green.

"So good of you to notice," he sneered dryly. He noticed Ranma, and he dodged the stunned group towards him.

"Saotome, prepare to die!" was accompanied by dozens of chains, blades and bombs. With a startled squawk, Ranma shoved Akane and Shampoo out of the way before just barely dodging them.

"What's the big idea, Mousse!?" he shouted irately. Shampoo was staring at Mousse open mouthed. That was not Mousse. There was a coldness in his eyes that froze her spine.

"You have had Xian Phu long enough. I will kill you once and for all," he replied evenly, only distant hate evident in his voice.

Inu-Yasha swore and raised his sword, only to be stopped by Kagome. "Inu-Yasha, don't! It's just the Shikon shard talking! We've got to get it out of him somehow!"

"And just how are we supposed to do that!?" Ukyo yelled back.

What happened next stopped everyone in their tracks. Mousse attacked, but his attacks were faster and much more accurate. Ranma had no time to dodge them. A sword cut his thigh, a chain broke his left arm, some claws latched onto his side painfully and an iron yo-yo crashed into his other leg, completely taking him down.

Ranma swore through clenched teeth, trying to ignore the intense pain. He looked up at Mousse with the same trepidation he'd felt in the fight with Saffron.

Mouse was half sneering, half-grinning. "And now, you die," he said and his eerily green eyes flashed.

"No!" Shampoo cried out through tears and threw herself at Mousse, stopping him.

"Mu Tsu don't kill him! Please! You've never killed anyone before! Don't do this!" she sobbed, slipping back into her native tongue.

"Xian Phu, do you really love Ranma that much?" Mousse demanded with a look of pain and fury on his face.

"I do care for Ranma, but Mu Tsu, I care for you too! Don't do this to yourself! This isn't who you are! You're gentle and sweet and kind. You're the boy who always brought me flowers when I was sick. You're the one who wouldn't let Great-Grandmother kill the smallest kitten in the litter, and you raised it all by yourself! You're the one who cried when a wild boar killed that kitten! Don't kill him Mu Tsu!"

For a long moment, Mousse's unearthly green eyes stared into Shampoo's teary ones as the others watched in utter silence. Although none of them could speak a word of mandarin, they understood the importance of the conversation.

Mousse seemed to be battling an inner struggle and he closed his eyes with an intense frown as he clenched his teeth and fisted his hands. Shampoo still clung tightly to him. Then there was a rush of energy, sweeping the two warrior's hair upward in a flash of green light. As the energy disappeared into the night, Mousse collapsed into Shampoo's arms, his shard glowing a bright white, apparent even to those who could not normally see the shard's power.

Shampoo began her sobbing anew and clutched Mousse to her.

Quietly, Ukyo and Miroku headed over to Akane to help her bandage Ranma's wounds.

"Wh-what happened?" Ryoga asked no one in particular.

"Mousse purified the shard," Kagome answered in wonder.

"Nani!?" Sango cried. "But Kagome-chan! Only you can-"

Kagome shook her head. "No, it's just a lot easier for me to do it, but Mousse did it, using most of his will and energy. It'll probably be a while before he wakes up," that said, she ventured over to the doctoring group.

Inu-Yasha and Ryoga exchanged glances with Shippo, who blinked in as much confusion as the other two did.

"Bah, I'll never understand it," Inu-Yasha finally growled.

* * *

Shampoo did not leave Mousse's side and did not sleep either. Kagome decided it was time to talk to her.

"Shampoo's he's going to be fine. Get some rest."

The amazon did not answer for a while, but when she did, her words surprised Kagome. "Mousse is Shampoo's airen. Shampoo no leave him."

"But-but I thought you could only marry a man who beat you in combat," Kagome objected.

Shampoo looked at her with haunted eyes. "Mousse defeated Ranma, who defeated Shampoo. Mousse earned right to be airen." The amazon brushed Mousse's long dark bangs out of his eyes.

"Does it really count? Mousse was getting a boost from the Shikon shard," Kagome pointed out gently.

Shampoo shook her head. "That Mousse's true power. Shampoo only see it once before. When Mousse and Shampoo little, Mousse had small kitten. Kitten was attacked by wild boar. Mousse tried to protect it. He looked just like he looked when he fought Ranma. Only thing shard did for Mousse was make him angry enough to attack Ranma. Was still his own skill."

"It also cured his eyesight," Kagome observed, gently brushing her hand across the spot where the shard glowed faintly to her eyes.

Shampoo smiled slightly at that. "That good. No more trees called Shampoo."

Kagome laughed softly and hugged the older girl, who gave her a powerful squeeze back. "He'll be fine, I promise," she said again before leaving the two alone.

* * *

When Shampoo announced to the group in the morning that Mousse was now her fiancée, everyone was slightly surprised. Akane hesitantly walked up to her.

"Shampoo, are you sure about this? I…mean, I know how much you care for Ranma…" she said quietly. Everyone blinked. Akane was trying to be nice to Shampoo!?

Shampoo smiled softly. "Is true Shampoo care for Ranma very much, but Shampoo want Ranma to be happy. Shampoo know for long time that Ranma no love her in that way."

Ranma gaped at her. "Y-you have!? Then why did you keep glomping me!?"

Shampoo shot him a look that clearly said she thought it was obvious. "Great Grandmother ordered Shampoo do. Shampoo no argue with high council elder!"

Akane looked relieved. Ranma was still studying the amazon suspiciously. "So, our engagement is off, right?"

Shampoo nodded. "Ranma still get free ramen though," she replied with a smile. Ranma laughed.

With a slight groan, Mousse woke up and sat up groggily. "Nani? What happened?" he asked through a small yawn. Shampoo strode over to him and knelt beside him.

"Mousse no remember attacking Ranma?" she inquired with a small frown.

Mousse blinked, then frowned. After a moment he nodded, his face reddening with shame. "Hai."

Shampoo nodded too. Then she hugged Mousse almost hesitantly. "Mousse Shampoo's airen now," she murmured quietly.

Everyone watched as Mousse's chocolate brown eyes widened impossibly as his mouth just kind of kept opening and closing without saying anything. Then, his mind seemed to click into place enough for him to hug her back. He let her go when she pulled away; he was still blinking in disbelief.

"Congrats Mousse," Ranma was the first to say, giving the other boy a victory sign, then wincing as it stretched the temporary sling on his other arm.

Mousse's eyes widened. "Ranma, did I…?"

Ranma looked away. "Yeah, but it only happened 'cause ya caught me off guard. I can still beat the pants offa you anytime," he replied gruffly.

Mousse shook his head. "Whatever you say, Saotome."

"Hey! I really can!"

"Speaking of you," Kagome interrupted. "That arm needs to be properly set. C'mon, I'll take you home so you can get a cast on it."

* * *

Ryoga, Ranma and Akane sat by the well, waiting, while a little ways off Kagome and Inu-Yasha were having what looked to be a heated discussion. Inu-Yasha had a snarl on his face and his hands were fisted. Kagome was gesturing wildly and was fairly red in the face.

Ranma and Akane watched with interest as a resigned look came upon Inu-Yasha's face, then a pout. He said something, much quieter than before, and Kagome's expression softened. With an amused smile she leaned forward and kissed him quickly before heading towards the well.

Ranma made a surprised, choking sound and Akane looked at him from the corner of her eye. "What's the matter Ranma?"

"Kagome just kissed Inu-Yasha!"

"And?" Ryoga looked back at the stunned demon, who was very red in the face, and who had a slightly silly grin beginning to show. He grinned at his friend.

Ranma stared at them. "Y'mean they're together?"

"Obviously," Akane replied with a grin as Kagome joined them. "What was that about?" she asked her cousin.

Kagome smiled. "I convinced Inu-Yasha to stay here. Shall we go?"

Ryoga stood and went to pick up Ranma who began protesting.

"I can't be seen being carried! It'd be embarrassing. No guy needs to be carried."

Kagome quirked an eyebrow at her cousin over his head. With a blank look on her face, she promptly upended her water bottle on him.

"Hey! What's the big idea!?" the redhead shrieked.

"You can't walk with a broken knee-cap or with that gash in your side. And now you have no reason to be embarrassed," she replied evenly.

Ranma glared at her as Ryoga, who was not bothering to hide an amused grin, scooped her up. "You are definitely related to Akane," she mumbled.

"Arigatou," Kagome replied with a smile and began climbing into the well. Ryoga merely jumped down, landing lightly so as not to jostle his burden, and waited for the two girls. When Kagome touched the ground, there was a burst of energy, felt acutely by the martial artists, and then the well suddenly seemed darker.

"We're back," Kagome announced and proceeded to climb the ladder into the well house.

They blinked as they stepped into the sunlight.

"I've got to get some supplies together. Why don't you take him to that doctor you told me about."

"Dr. Tofu, hai. We'll be back soon. Ranma heals surprisingly fast," Akane added.

"Even so, he probably won't be fit for fighting for a week or so," Ryoga added.

"Hey! Stop talkin' about me like I ain't here!" Ranma said loudly, glaring at Ryoga since he was the easiest to look at.

Ryoga laughed and Akane joined in shortly after. Kagome merely rolled her eyes and headed inside to pick up all of the assignments she'd been missing.

As the Nerima trio descended the stairs, a happy looking young man passed them on the way up. He did a double take and looked at Ranma again, his blue eyes widening with shock.

"Training accident," Akane explained easily. The boy nodded, then did another double take when he looked at Akane.

"Umm, excuse me Miss, but are you related to Kagome-san?"

"Hai, she's my cousin."

"Is she feeling better? I'm not sure what exactly she has this time, but her grandpa assured the school it was too painful for her to go to school."

The three blinked uncomprehendingly at him. Then Akane slowly nodded. "Hai…she's feeling much better now. In fact, she seems perfectly healthy to me. "

The boy sighed in relief and relaxed. He held up a small bundle with a smile. "Well, I hope she likes these herbal remedies!" And with that, he headed up the stairway again.

"Who was that?" Ryoga asked.

Akane shook her head. "I have no idea. C'mon, Ranma needs to get to the doctor."

"Oh, hai."

"Oh thanks Ryoga, it's nice to see that some people care about me."

"Since when have I ever cared about you Ranma?"

"Jackass."

"Ranma! Stop picking on Ryoga!"

"He's not picking on me, Akane-san. If anything, I'm picking on him," Ryoga replied coolly, surprising both of his companions. He got the street and waited patiently for Akane to get there so he wouldn't get lost.

Fortunately for all of them, Akane's father had given her a credit card for emergency uses, and she hailed a taxi to take them to Dr. Tofu's.

Ranma and Ryoga kept up their usual insulting banter. However, Ryoga never actually got angry and the tone was kept light instead of hostile.

Meanwhile Akane thought quietly to herself. That had been the first time Ryoga had ever rebuked her for anything. It was subtle and polite, but a rebuke, none the less. And as Akane thought more on it, she realized that she'd always jumped to Ryoga's defense against Ranma, just like Ranma did for her. Wait…Ranma jump to her defense? It was true. Most of the time, she found it annoying, because she could take care of herself, but when she thought more about it, it was sweet, in an aggravating kind of way.

"Tofu Clinic," the taxi driver announced, shaking her out of her thoughts. Akane got out and opened the door for Ryoga so he could get out holding Ranma.

Inside, Dr. Tofu was just reminding and elderly lady to keep up on her exercises, when he caught sight of the group.

"Goodness! What happened?"

"It's kind of hard to explain," Akane began. Tofu raised an eyebrow skeptically as he began to work on Ranma. After treating the Nerima group's various wounds so often, nothing they could tell him could surprise him anymore. So when Akane and Ryoga explained about the well, he just nodded and accepted it.

"I see. Ranma probably shouldn't go back for a bout a week or so, and he shouldn't change back into a guy until his bones are properly set. I'm still not sure what effect changing shape has on broken bones."

Ryoga and Akane blinked. They glanced at each other, then looked back at the doctor, who was finishing the bandage on Ranma's side.

"You, you mean you believe us?" Akane ventured.

"Of course. Why shouldn't I?" Tofu replied sensibly, fetching a crutch Ranma could use to get around. Ranma scowled at the implement, but Tofu just smiled inanely until she took it.

"You'll need to use that until I take the cast off. Akane, make sure he does. What about you, Ryoga? Do you need anything?"

The lost boy shook his head from the doorway, were he was relaxed, arms crossed over his chest.

"All right then. See you later."

* * *

"Ranma!!" Akane yelled, crutch clutched in her hands as she stormed through the Tendo household.

Nabiki poked her head out of her room and informed her sister, "I think I saw him heading for the dojo." Then, with a bored expression, she closed the door and went back to developing pictures of Kuno for Mariko.

With death glinting in her eyes, Akane headed for the dojo. Although she wasn't stepping very hard, the aura of her anger still made the floor collapse with each step.

She threw the dojo door open and it flew open with a loud slam.

"RANMA~AAAA!!"

The redhead gulped and stared at the visage of fury before her. "Uh…hey Akane."

"Dr. Tofu said you weren't supposed to go anywhere without your crutch!" She yelled, flinging the said item at her.

Ranma ducked down and it stuck, quivering in the dojo wall. "Geeze Akane! Watch it when you throw things, you almost hit me!"

"That's the point, baka!" she snarled.

"Then you have to work on your speed. If you weren't so slo-ow you wouldda hit me."

"BAKA!" Akane screamed. She stormed over to the other girl. "Did it ever occur to you that you'll heal faster if you use the damn thing!?"

Ranma blinked. Then she looked away uncomfortably. "But I move better without it," she replied in a low voice.

Akane stood there, hands on hips, studying her face. Then Akane sighed and turned away from Ranma. "All right. But…don't walk on it too much. I…I worry about you sometimes."

And before Ranma could say anything to that, Akane left the dojo, leaving a very surprised martial artist behind.

* * *

Kiyomisa: Okay, I know it's not much in the Ranma/Akane department, but those two are gonna take some work! Anyways, I'm still not sure how I want Mousse and Shampoo to act now that they are together. I've got an idea, but I'd like to hear yours too ^-^ The little Review button is right there! *points down*