{Awwww, I'm so proud of y'all for R&Ring so quickly. Almost brings a tear to my eye...;)

Just a reminder: responses to reviews on my profile. ::points:: Go there, children. o_O I'm leaving the replies to Chapter 2 reviews up for awhile, too, since I'm sorta kinda posting this the same day I posted Chapter 3...::sheepish grin::

So. Enjoy. XD And remember, I OWN NONE OF THE STUFF EVEN REMOTELY RELATED TO RANMA 1/2.

AND BEWARE. This chapter might seem somewhat-to-quite OOC (Out Of Character). This is because I'm experimenting with my writing style. So. In advance, I'm sorry. :)

Have fun now.}

Ranma slowed his pace as he walked along. He looked down at his Chinese-style shoes, beneath which was the top of a chain-link fence (he wasn't sure why he always walked on top of them, but, well, he did). Then he looked back up and took in his surroundings. The bland buildings stood back and the brighter, flashier ones seemed to jump out at him.The sky was a bright, happy blue, clouds splashed here and there as if only to give it a little contrast. The sun was just beginning to set, and Ranma knew that later, when he was walking back from the Cat Cafe, he'd be able to see a plethora* of amazing colors ranging through the sky.

A half-smile was pasted on his face, and his eyes were almost glazed. There was a slight wind blowing, making Ranma's clothes flutter around him slightly as he strolled down the fence.

He had to admit, now that he was going to see someone he knew could help him, he felt...well...free. And it was really quite a nice feeling.

After all, of course the Chinese ghoul would be able to help him. She always had (as he was, as she tended to put it, her ).

Then Ranma paused, thinking about the statement he had just made in his mind. He tilted his head slightly, and realized, with a shock, that Cologne may be a three-thousand-year-old ghoul, but she was also...

...a GIRL.

Well. That certainly put a damper on his plans.

He smacked a hand into his forehead. How could he have forgotten? No, really...how COULD he have forgotten?

However, an even more pressing question was this: Did he want the ghoul's help so much that he was willing to risk hearing her thoughts? The very obvious answer: Noooo he most certainly did NOT. What kind of sick individual would?

He sighed, and stared quite stonily at the ground. Now what was he supposed to do?

As he was debating his new problem, a feminine voice called, Hi, Ranma!

Ranma glanced up, dread written all over his face.

A girl with dark brown hair that had grown just past shoulder length waved at him from across the road. She had a giant spatula strapped to her back which gleamed in the sun, and was wearing her usual ensemble of a purple almost-kimono and black tights. Unlike Ranma, she was on the sidewalk rather than the fence.

Ranma could've hit himself. It was his third fiancee, Ukyo, and he really did not want to hear her thoughts at the moment.

Okay, so he would rather hear her thoughts than Cologne's, but that wasn't the point.

He waved back. he called hesitantly. He decided if he wanted to look normal, he should probably keep walking. So that's exactly what he did: started walking again, albeit with a great reluctance.

Ukyo, however, obviously didn't share Ranma's reluctance. In fact, she bounded across the road, then fell into step beside him (not to mention five or six feet below him).

Oh, that was just what he needed.

Wow, he looks nice.

Here it came.

How's it going, Ranma-Honey? But he also looks depressed...

Uh, fine. How about with, uh, you? It was easy to be distracted when you were trying to figure out what was a thought and what wasn't, and made it rather hard for Ranma to have a conversation with a girl. Well. Harder than usual.

Hoo boy. He doesn't sound like himself. Can't be good. I wonder if it has anything to do with Akane...? Oh, I'm doing all right, she replied casually.

Ranma continued to stare straight ahead. That's good. So...where ya goin'? He normally would've been content walking along silently, but that would only give Ukyo more time to think. And that was something he really, really, really didn't want.

Oh, just out for a walk. How about you? A walk. Ooo, good excuse. Jeez.

I'm on my way to the Cat Cafe. Ack. That had been a stupid thing to say, considering that now Ranma couldn't exactly back out of his earlier plan. Especially since it looked like Ukyo had no intention of leaving him alone any time soon.

Oh, really? Any particular reason? If Ranma had been watching Ukyo's face, he would've noticed a spark of malice in her eyes. To see Shampoo maybe? Akane I can almost handle, but Shampoo...DANG, she makes me aggravated.

I need some advice from Cologne. She didn't mind Akane, but was easily aggravated by Shampoo? That was interesting. Then again, he could see why: Akane pounded on him, making him supposedly hate her, whereas Shampoo...well, she could be all over him sometimes.

Oh? About what? Well, that's a relief. Though it might also be an excuse.

Trying to come up with something realistic in a matter of seconds, Ranma said (and not without a certain amount of hesitation),Er. Just. Uh. Some problems I've been having. You know. Physically.

Ukyo gave him an incredulous look. If it's physical, why aren't you seeing Dr. Tofu about it? Really, what does he need to see Cologne for?

Ranma almost fell off the fence. How could he have forgotten? Dr. Tofu! He was a MAN! And a doctor. It's, uh, something special, he muttered, remembering to reply just before the momentary silence became awkward.

Ukyo's eyebrows shot up, and she couldn't help but smirk. Oh really? You wanna tell me about it? Oooo...special? Now he's got me curious.

Ranma was silent for a moment. He had almost spilled the beans to Ryoga (in fact, he had)...he wasn't about to spill to Ukyo. Not particularly.

Figuratively, Ukyo backed off. If you say so. She shrugged. Hmmm...I wonder what it is? Maybe it's...no.

Ranma risked giving her an odd look, but almost immediately peered forward again. When he did this, he noticed with a small shock that he was almost to the end of the fence, and right across the street was the Cat Cafe.

Oh, I bet it's...naw, couldn't be that. Oo! I know! It's...no. Not that. OH MY GOD. It couldn't be. NO WAY. Not--

But Ranma didn't feel like finding out what Ukyo thought his problem was, and he said, quite loudly, Well, there's the Cat Cafe. I'd better go. It's been really nice talking to you. Without giving Ukyo a chance to reply, Ranma hopped down off of the fence and sprinted across the street.

He heard Ukyo's voice call a dismayed, after him, followed by a Well...that was rude.

Ranma felt a pang of guilt, and made a mental note to apologize to her later about his abrupt departure. Yeah, that's what he'd call it: an abrupt departure. Not a rude and uncalled for exit.

He threw the door open, ran inside, and quickly shut it behind him. He turned slowly, and his eyes searched the cafe. As it was dinner time, the restaurant was filled with people idly chatting (or loudly arguing, depending on where you looked). In fact, there wasn't a single table open. And there was only one waitress: Shampoo.

Now, normally, Ranma would've found some cold water, splashed himself with it, and helped Shampoo (actually, he probably wouldn't really, but he liked telling himself he would), but he felt that the matter at hand (the one about hearing girls' thoughts) was more pressing.

Especially considering the fact that, at the moment, he felt like his head was going to explode.

He is SO HOT. Oh my god, I wish he would just come over and--

This food is nasty. How anyone can stand Chinese I'll never--

THAT JERK! I'LL NEVER FORGIVE HIM! FRICKIN' B--

Okay, so the formula is negative divided by two plus or minus the square root of squared minus--

I'll be damned if I can ever get this stupid stain out--

WHY? I DON'T UNDERSTAND THIS BLASTED F--

Hey, this stuff's not bad. Maybe I should bring Tai here some--

On instinct, Ranma slammed his hands over ears and shut his eyes. However, this didn't help, as Ranma could hear these thoughts in his mind rather than through his ears.

What had ever possessed him to come in here? Seeing Cologne in the first place was a dumb idea, but coming here at dinner time on a Tuesday night? How stupid could he get?

HOW COULD THEY DO THIS TO ME?? IT'S NOT--

He had to get out of here. He had to get out NOW, before these girls blew his head up. He had never realized how many people got angry when they were in the Cat Cafe.

I wish I was back at home. I wanna chat with Sarah online again--

Taking one hand from the side of his head, he reached behind him and fumbled for the doorknob.

Hey, is he okay? He looks like he's getting his hearing blasted out or--

GAH...where was it?

Son-in-law? Are you all right? came a concerned, grating-yet-soft voice.

Ranma opened his eyes, and stared down at Shampoo's grandmother. As usual, she was clutching her staff, and her white hair fell down around her and on the floor.

Get...me...out of here, he stated rather loudly. He glanced around and noticed that he had gained the attention of about half of the cafe.

Well, it only made sense. After all, he had sort of been clutching his head and fumbling for the doorknob for no apparent reason.

Follow me, Sonny-boy. Ranma could hardly hear her because of the rest of the thoughts streaming through his head, not to mention the rest of the babble going on in the restaurant, but he got the message anyway and followed the old ghoul when she turned and started hopping through the room on her staff.

He tried to look normal as he passed through the tables, but it was fairly hard. Especially considering the fact that the thoughts got a lot louder when he got closer to the source of them.

Finally, unseeingly, Ranma was lead into one of the back rooms, where he slammed the door behind him and slumped against it, sliding down to the floor and staring down. He could still hear the thoughts, but, like normal speaking, it was strangely muffled through the door. Even--thankfully--the yelling.

However. This left enough quiet for one woman's thoughts to continue penetrating his mind.

He doesn't look so good. I wonder what happened? Maybe he finally got dumped by that Akane girl and he's ready to marry Shampoo...

Ranma snapped his head up to glare at Cologne. I am not, he said flatly.

Cologne gave him a surprised look. Not -what-, Dear? she asked. Odd boy.

Oh, that was good. Ranma thought fast. I am not...going crazy.

I never said you were going crazy. Even if it seems like you might be.

I know. Even when he wasn't disoriented Ranma wasn't usually good with comebacks, and this was no exception.

Cologne's eyebrows creased. She cut to the chase. Is there something you need, Son-in-Law? Like maybe my permission to marry Shampoo?

Ranma shook his head in sort of a jerky manner. he said flatly. He tried to concentrate on Cologne rather than the loud thoughts going on in the next room.

Then...why are you here? Maybe he's sick.

Ranma began to feel resigned. He was trapped. Really, seriously trapped. And he needed help.

And now that he thought about it? Well, how would Dr. Tofu know how to cure him of hearing women's thoughts? Cologne would probably have a much better idea than Dr. Tofu.

Yet he wasn't sure if he could bring himself to do it. Tell Cologne, that is. Because, undoubtedly, she would figure out some way to help him that would also loop him into marrying Shampoo, which was something he -really- didn't want to do.

So he stared at the older woman, unsure of what to say.

--doesn't really seem like it's that, though. Ear dragons** aren't really common this time of year, especially here in Japan. I wonder if maybe it's just stress. Son-in-Law does have a lot of stress in his life. He can usually handle it, though. I suppose it could also be--



Cologne snapped out of her thoughts.



At that moment, the door was shoved open. Ranma's eyes widened, and he sprawled to the side, shocked and feeling very muddled. A barrage of thoughts started pounding through his head again. Loudly. Nevertheless, he sat up slowly and peered around the door.

Aw, nuts.

It was -her-.

{The hardest thing about this chapter was ending it. o_O;

Who's you ask? You'll have to read the next chapter to find out. :P

So. How was that? I tried sort of a different style. You know, a bit more description and stuff. Not sure how it turned out. I kind of like it. But...yeah. Well, anywho, tell me what you think when you REVIEW!! ^_^

And--did you notice?--I actually made this chapter a little longer than normal. Hey, I'm trying for ya, guys: I really am. :)}

*Somebody PLEASE tell me if this was a good context in which to use this word. I mean, I know what it means and all (meaning in this case: overfullness...ish...), I'm just not sure if it was a good time to use it. o_O;

**Uh, yeah. Made those up. ::sheepish grin::