Story Arc 1: "Byouki"
Part 4: Confrontations at the Nekohanten

Ranma burst into the Nekohanten, the door pushed so violently it came off its hinges.

The first person Ranma saw when he entered was Mousse. The Amazon failed to see him, of course. "Mousse! Where's Shampoo?!"

"Saotome." Mousse addressed a potted plant with a disgusted expression. "Aren't the free bowls of ramen Shampoo feeds you enough to satisfy your appetite? Must you plague me by coming here for more? Argh! Get off!"

"Cool it, duck-face," Ranma advised from his perch atop Mousse's head. "I got business with Shampoo and Cologne, not you."

"Curse you! Why won't you just marry Akane and get out of my life?!" Mousse produced a poleaxe from his sleeve and swiped half-heartedly at Ranma as he hopped off his head.

"You no make sense, Mousse. Airen no marry Akane. Airen marry Shampoo!" Shampoo came out of the kitchen carrying three steaming bowls. She set them before customers and turned to smile dazzlingly at Ranma.

Ranma returned Shampoo's smile with a deep scowl and blazing eyes. "I want the truth, Shampoo. Was it you, or that old hag, who poisoned Akane?"

Shampoo did her best to look innocent. "Shampoo not know what Airen talk about." Her voice was saccharine sweet.

Ranma stared Shampoo down. Eventually, the girl turned away in a huff, her arms crossed in front of her chest as she pouted. "Not know why Airen so upset. Should be happy violent obstacle girl not here. Now can be with Shampoo."

Ranma's face grew dark and his fists clenched so hard his knuckles turned white. He could tell from Shampoo's body language and her simple refusal to look him in the eye that his suspicions were right. It all made sense now. He felt like a trusting fool. It explained why Shampoo was so eager to make Akane soup, what Shampoo was doing in the kitchen during his meal that she didn't even make time to glomp him as usual, and how she, uncharacteristically, willingly sent him back on his way to his sick fiancée.

"I want you OUT of Japan. NOW," Ranma growled. There was a time when Ranma refused to hit women. By necessity that rule had slowly been bent over time. He still hated it when he was forced to fight them, but he would not stand for anyone threatening Akane's life. If Shampoo pushed him, that rule was soon to be shattered.

Shampoo actually looked fearful for a moment. Cologne stepped out of the kitchen upon hearing the commotion. "What is the matter, son-in-law?"

Ranma glared heatedly at the matriarch of the Amazons. "Don't call me that, old ghoul. I don't want your great-granddaughter -- now or ever! A viper would be more trustworthy and less deadly!"

Shampoo started to quaver in a combination of anger and fear that her gambit had cost her everything. This was not how her plan was supposed to work! She knew Ranma and Akane were becoming close – too close – since Jusenkyo. She had realized it the moment Ranma screamed Akane's name over the girl's nearly dead form. Shampoo had felt desperate. She knew the main obstacle in obtaining Ranma was Akane, and yet if she attacked and challenged Akane formally, by Amazon or even Japanese custom, Ranma would not come to her. He would see her as a creature no better than Saffron if she ever injured Akane. The only solution she saw was to make Akane's death seem natural. Her sickness presented the perfect opportunity. But how was he able to detect the poison? No Japanese doctor knew of it…

Mousse's aura was glowing in protective rage. "How dare you come here and insult my Shampoo!" he yelled as he stepped between Ranma and the two female Amazons. Mousse's hands were lightning fast as knives and other sharp projectiles were launched from his sleeves towards Ranma. With an eerily calm and intense concentration, Ranma dodged each attack.

"Stay out of this, Mousse." Ranma's voice was uncharacteristically low and warning. There were no taunts or jokes, no over-confident smile as Ranma fluidly avoided each blow. The exchange ended as quickly as it began with an uppercut to Mousse's jaw. The visually challenged fighter fell unconscious on the restaurant floor.

Cologne rapped her staff on the floor hard before she spoke. "What is it that you accuse us of?" Cologne purposely avoided using any title for Ranma, lest she push his temper any further. Ranma's fury was not easily aroused, unlike most of the Nerima fighters whose explosive tempers were worn on their sleeve. Today, it was clear that Ranma was boiling under a tightly contained lid. She would have to play this game carefully.

Ranma took a deep breath. Perhaps the old ghoul did not know what was going on for once, but he doubted it. "Akane was sick and one of you poisoned the soup I brought her. Akane could have died – may still die – because of you!"

Everyone in the restaurant, who had sat silently to enjoy the show, spat out their soup promptly.

"Love potions and mind games are one thing, boy -- they make the chase interesting -- but poisons are an entirely different matter." Her voice was carefully orchestrated to sound insulted while her face remained impassive. However, she failed to hide the gleam in her eyes upon hearing of the Tendo girl's misfortune. As much as she admired Akane's fire and determination, she was standing in the way of getting Ranma's seed for the tribe.

Ranma watched the old ghoul closely for any sign that would betray her otherwise convincing words. The flash in her eyes and the miniscule raising of her right eyebrow were not missed to Ranma. More often than not, Saotome Ranma was completely oblivious to reading people's emotions -- but this was not a social visit. This was analyzing an opponent in battle. Cologne had taught him well and he could see she was pleased at his news.

Ranma's fists tightened.

Cologne noticed his chalk white knuckles and tried to speak reasonably. "How do you know it was us? You and she have many enemies."

Ranma's eyes blazed with impatience. "Cut the bull, Cologne. Tofu-sensei knows it was fa-shao tong-ku root."

Cologne's face instantly changed to sharp recognition. Fa-shao tong-ku was one of the scared poisons of the Amazon tribe. The root only grew in a remote region on the Amazon lands. Odorless and tasteless, a few grains would incapacitate the victim with fever and agonizing pain before the end came. Its purpose was specific and tightly regulated: execution only for the worst criminals -- an honorless death as the victim, regardless of strength and battle skill, would be unable to challenge the ones who did it to her.

Cologne stole a quick glance at her great-granddaughter. Shampoo was trying her best to keep her head high and posture straight. Only her eyes betrayed her. They were filled with a panic-ridden guilt. If Shampoo had broken their tribal laws in this way … Cologne sighed. So much potential her great-granddaughter had. She was clever and strong, but too impetuous and driven by passion! It would prove to be her undoing.

Cologne, as crafty as any attorney, tired to find a loophole. "I don't know how you and that doctor learned of the fa-shao tong-ku , but the diagnosis must be incorrect. The root is an untraceable poison. He is jumping to conclusions."

Ranma shook his head. "Enough games, Cologne! Tofu-sensei studied in China."

"So?" Cologne challenged, her voice sounding bored.

Ranma continued, unfazed. "He managed to save an Amazon's life and was shown the secret poisons they use in gratitude. Tofu recognized the extract in Akane's blood."

Shampoo spoke up, her voice defiant. "Shampoo no leave. Will not. Amazon Law and honor say I make you husband!"

Ranma's eyes blazed again. "What honor, Shampoo? Instead of calling out Akane in a fair fight, you poison her when she's already ill?!"

Shampoo bowed her head. Put so bluntly, she knew it was dishonorable, but part of her didn't care as long as she got Ranma as her husband.

"Shampoo, is this true?" her great-grandmother demanded. Her voice was even and cold.

"Is true, grandmother."

In a flash Cologne smacked her staff upon Shampoo's head. "You disgrace me and yourself."

She looked at Shampoo with a mixture of pity and anger. "The Laws are not to be flaunted at your whim, least of all over the conquest of a male. Tricks with potions are perfectly acceptable, our sacred poisons: never."

Cologne sighed deeply. She was starting to feel her age. It was all over. After more than a year of struggles and mad adventures, the war was lost. In retrospect, she knew they had lost months before today. It was clear that Ranma would never fit in as an Amazon husband. A male as stubborn, independent and as egotistical as he would disturb the entire wa, the harmony, of the matriarchic society. The closest she could hope for was using Shampoo's body to bring his bloodline to strengthen the tribe. But it was clear his feelings were too strongly tied to the Tendo girl. At least now there was a legal excuse to give up this pointless chase and return to her seat on the Council.

Cologne glared at her great-granddaughter. "You knew the strict Laws on their use, and you knew the Laws on obtaining a husband. You have broken both."

"But great-grandmother -- Aiya!"

Shampoo's protests were silenced by a sharp rap on the head with Cologne's staff. "Be silent or leave."

Shampoo nodded humbly, staring at the floor with great fervor.

Cologne turned to Ranma and bowed. "By our Law, Shampoo has forfeited all rights to you as husband. She must return to China in shame."

Ranma stood with his mouth half open in shock. He never expected things to go this smoothly, and he had been looking forward to (and partially dreading) an all out fight with the Amazon matriarch. Suddenly, his entire Chinese mess was solved.

"Does Tofu-sensei have an antidote?" Cologne asked.

Ranma nodded, still feeling a bit shocked. "Yeah, uh, he was fixing one up. He said it'd be finished by tonight."

Cologne gave Ranma a weary smile. At least she wouldn't have to spend time and effort using her precious supplies to cure her great-granddaughter's conquering rival. Pride would only bend so far.

"Then she should be fine. Although not the fighter of my Shampoo, she has always behaved with the heart of an Amazon."

Ranma wasn't sure if that was an insult or a compliment, considering the behavior of the Amazons he knew, but he could tell Cologne meant it as praise. Ranma nodded in acknowledgement.

"Farewell, Saotome Ranma."

Ranma returned the bow and left the café. It was only then that he realized Cologne had ceased calling him 'son-in-law'.

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A/N:Please REVIEW. This is my 1st Ranma fanfic! I'll even take negative comments! :-)