SIXTEEN OZ. OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE
DISCLAIMER: Me no own the Ranma 1/2. I own Ranma 3/4, but I haven't quite gotten that by yet. For now enjoy this story based on Rumiko Takahashi's infamous Ranma 1/2.
A/N: To start, thank to those who review. I'd list your names, but I don't have them with me as I write this. Without anything else to say, lets move on to the story.
"Shampoo where is Mousse?" Cologne wonders as she came into the kitchen.
"Mousse say on break and leave."
"He knows how busy we are for dinner. Where could that boy get off to?"
"Shampoo hear Mousse say Saotome."
"Oh dear, not another fight."
"Shampoo no think is so."
"What do you think?"
"Shampoo not know all. Mousse get letter in mail. Shampoo think too, too rude to read without Mousse."
"Where is it?"
"Shampoo think letter is Mousse and great-grandmother should not see."
"Oh, well, I suppose you're right Shampoo." Cologne then begins the hunt for the letter.
"Ranma!" Mousse bursts into the family room of the Tendo home.
"Oh, hello Mousse." Kasumi smiles brightly as she leads him in.
"Uh," He looks around the empty room embarrassed, "Is Ranma home?"
"No, everyone left so I could clean the kitchen after another Akane incident."
"She still can't cook?"
"I'm afraid not."
Mousse snaps back to the situation at hand, "Where did they go?"
"There's a festival today,"
"Was there?"
"Yes, and that's where they all headed for the evening."
"A festival is far too crowded. Tell Ranma that I wanted to talk to him."
"Okay."
"Can help?" Shampoo wonders as she watches a mysterious girl outside the Cat Café.
"Hmm, is there a boy here?"
"No."
"Maybe I have bad directions then." The girl looks over a parchment.
"Let Shampoo see." Shampoo takes the map from the reluctant girl. "Is right place."
"Well, are you sure there is no boy here?"
"Ah, wait, Shampoo thought wrong. Must mean Mousse. He no here right now."
"Oh, then I can wait for him?"
"Come inside. Ramen is good."
"Saotome!" Ryoga bursts through one more unfortunate wall in Nerima with his Breaking Point.
"Idiot." Mousse grumbles.
"Oh, I thought you were fighting with him."
"Follow me Ryoga. I'll at least feed you now that you're here." Mousse drones as he continues walking with the reluctant Ryoga trailing.
"Listen, can you help me get to Akane?"
"She's at a festival. If you get lost in a yard you won't find her there in a million years."
"Jeez, what's up your butt."
"If I'm not careful soon I may end up like Ranma. Engaged by Amazon law."
"Engaged to who? Shampoo?"
"I wish."
"Still the cold shoulder eh?"
"Like you're getting anywhere with Akane."
"I've been thinking that maybe I should concentrate on that pig-girl that I met."
"Pig-girl?"
"I don't think you've met her so it's of no matter."
"What if this girl that I might have to marry looks horrible or is annoying? Besides that, I love Shampoo."
"And she loves Ranma."
Mousse grabs the lost boy by the collar. He sees his action and drops Ryoga. "Pheh. Whatever."
"You have to face facts Mousse. I don't think Shampoo will ever love you."
"No matter what, I will always love her."
"You're just a sadistic masochist."
"Take that back!"
"Well, you are."
"Like you're any better."
"I am. You don't see me hopelessly chasing after someone."
"Uh-huh, and the name Akane doesn't come to mind?"
"Well, I mean, I do a bit of chasing after her, but I never have outright told her that I loved her, which you have done to Shampoo, and also, at least Akane has said of me being her good friend."
"Whatever."
"So, is this ramen free?"
"Why should it be? You've been arguing with me hypocrite."
"Right, but I've spoken to you, and sort of helped. Payment is due."
"What are you? Some male incarnation of the middle Tendo daughter?"
"No, but I am hungry."
"Whatever. You speak too freely when no one wants you to."
"Do I?"
"And I call you an ally."
"Listen, as much as I hate Ranma, I'm sort of getting tired of fighting him so much. I may be his rival, but the reason I always fight him are tiresome." Ryoga admits half-heartily. "Maybe I should only fight him for the fact that we're rivals from now on and not because I love Akane."
"What?"
"Heh. Just kidding."
"I should never have started talking to you." Mousse moans.
"Well, now we've learned we have no connection besides Ranma though." Ryoga mentions lightly.
Mousse sighs, "I guess he's good for something."
"There you are Mousse!" Cologne shouts. "Get in there and get to work!"
"Right ma'am." Mousse droops. "Let Ryoga have some ramen."
"He paying?"
"No."
"No ramen."
"Look, you just give it to him and I'll work it off."
"If you want the extra hours be my guest." Cologne replies as she leads the two in through the back entrance and into the kitchen. "Man the counter. I'm going to see son-in-law about some business." Mousse cringes.
Cologne leaves the place behind as Mousse lazily prepares to work. "Tough break." Ryoga replies as he places his pack aside.
"Guess who gets to help?"
"Hey, I have no idea how to work a ramen shop." Ryoga protested.
"But you want ramen. All you do is stand here and take the order. I'll cook and serve. After an hour you get your ramen." Mousse explains in a robot manner. Dry in tone and wit.
"Hey, who's that girl with Shampoo?"
"Shampoo?" Mousse looks to Shampoo.
"I SAID," Ryoga directs Mousse's head for the girl across the table from Shampoo. "The girl there."
Mousse looks at the girl with her greenish-brown hair that went to the arch of the back. Her face like an angels' and her body like that of a demon temptress (sans the tail and wings of course). Her skin a pale one, but looking healthy. She was obviously a martial artist and that was the fact that scares Mousse.
"That, I, well I just hope, it isn't who I think it to be." Mousse croaks.
"Aiyah! Mousse is back. Mousse come here and meet guest." Shampoo waves.
"Ryoga, go."
"Er, what?"
"That girl doesn't know who I am. I'm sure she is the one I have to fight, and I have no clue if I can actually win against her."
"So you want me to find out?" Ryoga scoffs.
"Look, just fight her. You have no shame if you lose. If I lose I have to marry her."
"I guess I can fight her. Still, you mean to say you wouldn't like to have her as your wife? Look at her. She sure is too good for you."
"If you like her marry her then."
"I'm spoken for." Ryoga earnestly replies.
"Just go."
"Fine." Ryoga jumps the counter. "But you owe me something."
"Whatever." He looks to Shampoo. "Uh, Shampoo come here."
Shampoo blinks. "What want?"
"Just come here so I can tell you something important that the old mummy told me."
Shampoo joins Mousse as Ryoga actually makes it to the table with the girl. Of course, the table was only right there. "Are you Mousse?" The girl wonders.
"Uh, yeah, I guess."
"You don't look like an Amazon."
"I suppose I don't, but remember that the guys are different than the girls. I bet you hadn't seen one in the village."
"Only a few old ones."
"Well, what do you want?"
"I wish to challenge you." The girl stands with force.
"I, reluctantly accept." Ryoga manages a sigh before the girl grabs him and pulls him from the restaurant.
"What she want with Pig-boy?" Shampoo wonders.
"Uh, I'll go find out Shampoo." He takes off his apron. "Watch the shop." Mousse darts off behind the other two.
"Mousse acting funny." Shampoo comments as she takes the letter from her apron pocket. "Maybe is letter?" Ironically the phrase 'curiosity killed the cat' comes up.