Chapter Two-Ranma's Challenge

So, the battle began. Ranma was doing a nice job of beating Ryoga again when they were interrupted by a most unexpected event. Ryoga was about to retaliate from a kick in the jaw with his umbrella when,from out of nowhere came a young girl,followed by Mousse. Ryoga just barely missed the child, instead clobbering Mousse when he passed. "Uh...whoops!"

Mousse stopped,glaring at a nearby tree. "Watch where you're going,Ryoga!"

Ryoga yawned, and poked him on the shoulder. "I'm over here." He glanced behind them, at Ranma. "This isn't over, Ranma!"

"Hold still, will you?!" Ranma was holding on to the girl that had knocked him over. "What's your name?"

"None your business!" The girl kicked him hard, trying to escape. But still,Ranma held on to her.

"Calm down! I don't want to hurt you....." Ranma tried to sooth her. "I'm trying to help you." He glanced over at Mousse suspiciously. "Why in heaven's name were you chasing her?!"

"She stole from my sweet Shampoo!" Mousse replied to a rock. "Ranma, you're short!"

"I'm over here, you near-sighted bafoon!" Ranma dragged the girl over to Ryoga and Mousse. "Man! She's got a set of lungs.....ow! And powerful kicks too!"

"Well,I'd be screaming too if you were the one trying to comfort me." Ryoga quipped.

"Think you can do better, do you?" Ranma growled,shoving the screaming child at Ryoga. "Let's see you do it."

Ryoga scowled, picking the girl up gently, noting her injuries. "It's alright now...." He studied her injuries gingerly. "This girl has been hurt pretty badly.." He said softly.

"I did the best I could to patch them up, but of course, they're probably very uncomfortable still." Mousse said.

"Who did this to you?" Ryoga demanded of the young child.

"Bad peoples....." The girl replied.

"Evidently." Ryoga replied,gritting his teeth. "But who?!" His eyes widened when she began to cry. "No no.....I'm sorry. I didn't mean to yell.....!" He looked over at Ranma helplessly.

Ranma was smirking, with his arms crossed. "I propose a new challenge."

"What kind of challenge...?" Ryoga asked suspiciously.

"I challenge you to take her in for a week. If you win, you get to keep her.If you don't win, I'll take her in as mine and Akane's child ."

"Fine,I accept." Ryoga replied, blinking, as he looked down at the girl. She was nestled up against him, sucking her thumb. "Oh....how cute...."

"This could be interesting...." Mousse commented, as he watched. "She still owes Shampoo for some bread that she stole."

"I'll take care of that...." Ryoga reached a hand into his back pocket, and gave Mousse the money for it.

"R-ranma.......??" Akane's voice brought all three boys to look towards the school.

"Akane!" Ranma's eyes widened,as he saw how weak she looked. "What did she do to you?!"

"I do nothing." Shampoo said, following her out. "I simply give her pill for sleepy time. Now you date with Shampoo!"

Mousse hugged Ryoga. "Oh dear Shampoo! Why must you settle for this boy, who has no love for you?!"

"Hmph!" Ryoga reached up,and slid Mousse's glasses on for him.

"Ehh.....Oh!" Mousse turned,and ran to Shampoo. "Oh Shampoo! Will today be the day you finally understand my love for you?!" He was answered with a bucket of cold water.

"Not now,Duck boy." Ranma said,kicking the Mousse-duck out of the way, as he marched up to Shampoo. "Let's get one thing straight, Shampoo! I have no interest in dating you. I never have,and I never will!"

"Quack!" Mousse-duck exclaimed indignantly.

"But you no can date Akane now. She sleeps for long time." Shampoo explained.

"You better have an antidote, because I'm not going to date you." Ranma flared, picking Akane up, and carrying her in his arms back to the school entrance. "Good luck with that little one, Ryoga. May the best parent win! Cause I intend to."

"Oink!" Poor Ryoga was in a jam now. The little girl was sleeping by a tree,while he was stuck as a pig,thanks to the cold water that had been splashed on him when Ranma turned Mousse.

"Oh no. Ryoga no can care for child like that!" Shampoo exclaimed. She reached for her hot water kettle. Then she stopped. "This perfect opportunity to get Ranma attention off of Akane......" She picked the young girl up, and carried her to her delivery bicycle. "You come stay Shampoo for a time." She set the sleeping child inside her basket, before riding off. She ignored the indignant squealing of Ryoga's pig form, and the squawking of Mousse.

"Shampoo! Why did you bring girl here? We're very very busy." Cologne wanted to know.

"I get Ranma back by taking her." Shampoo replied, covering the girl with a blanket. "Shampoo take care you. No worry."

" 'kay..." Siri replied, blinking in confusion. "Why you taked me? I 'possed to live with Wyoga...."

"No time talk now. Shampoo have delivery make." The older girl replied happily. "See later." Shampoo left the back room, closing the door. Ranma still like her, whether he admit or not. He come for her eventually.

Mousse watched her go, then walked into the room. "I'm sorry she did this..." Mousse told the broom.

"I here...." The girl scowled at Mousse. "You not nice eider."

Mousse hung his head, walking over to her. He picked her up gently. "I'm sorry. I only wished to get Shampoo's bread back for her. Stealing is no way to live." He checked her bandages. "You need to be re-bandaged. Come on. I'll help you." He carried her into the bathroom. "So, when will you tell me your name?"

"Siwi." The girl said,as if she suddenly had decided she liked Mousse,and trusted him. "What name you called?"

"Ahh. I'm Mousse,expert in the secret technique of hidden weapons." He smiled to himself. "Perhaps I will make Shampoo love me if I agree to watch over you. What do you think?"

"I think Wanma and Wyoga come afer me." Siri replied. Though, she thought, they were treating her like a competition,much like her masters had.

"And so they might....." Mousse sighed, changing the dressings on the girl's arm, and lower back. "How did these injuries occur? You don't have to tell me if you don't want to..."

Siri was silent for a long time, remembering the warning from her master. "I don't amember...." She lied, looking at her feet.

Mousse sighed, not believing her, but he didn't want to pressure her. "You fight very well for some of you size and age."

"Fank you..." She was studying him now, after he'd covered her back up. "You haves famwe?"

"Well......in China, I do. I stay in my own apartment here in Japan though." Mousse stroked her brunette hair thoughtfully. "Do you....want to stay with me?"

"Don't even think about it,Mousse!" Ryoga barged into the back with Calogne behind him. "She's mine." Ryoga picked Siri up. "I've been so worried...."

"You must have gotten lost then. She wasn't here that long." Mousse returned. "How can you be her parent when you keep getting lost?" This, he said to the oven on the wall.

"And how can you be one if you're as blind as a bat?!" Ryoga snapped. "I refuse to let Ranma win this bet!" He patted Siri's back gently. "Come on, Siri. I'll take you to my.......eh......." He looked over at Mousse. "Can you take me home?"

Mousse sighed. "Alright...." I have a feeling that I will end up caring for this child,no matter who winds this ridiculous bet!