Title: Shampoo Wants What! The Opportunity of a Lifetime
Summary: Shampoo's return in series 2 happens somewhat differently, and events conspire to persuade her that Ranma is an unworthy husband. What will she decide to do about it, and how will Ranma react?
Spoilers: Through series 1 and into series 2 of the anime, or the first couple of issues of the manga. I need to acquire more of both.
Pairings: Light Ranma/Akane, but mostly… should I say or shouldn't I?
Feedback: I crave feedback like Happosai craves panties.
Disclaimer: It should go without saying that I don't own Ranma ½. However, in this litigation-happy age, nothing goes without saying anymore. So consider it said. Not that I wouldn't like to own a few of the characters, but we can't always get what we want, now can we?
Author's Note: Shampoo's unique speech pattern is a result of her imperfect grasp of Japanese. However, her private thoughts occur in Chinese, which she speaks fluently, and therefore do not exhibit her characteristic speech pattern.
Further Author's Note: I'm a Ranma/Akane 'shipper, but that isn't the focus of this story. I've read up through issue 5 of the manga, and seen up through series 2 of the anime. I've been told by friends who've read farther in the manga than I have that later on in the series, a potential love interest for a certain character is introduced. But I haven't read that far, and I don't want to wait that long to write a story. So I have a different idea. Anyway, it amuses me.
Additional Author's Note: According to one of my betas, Ryoga is supposed to have green eyes. I've double-checked my copy of the anime, and I swear they're brown. At this point, his actual eye color is up for debate, and readers may feel free to cast their votes on the subject, but for now I'm letting it stand as brown.
Thanks: Many much thanks to my friend Josey, whom I waylaid into beta'ing for me. I'd also like to thank my friend Mabry, who also beta'ed, and who got me addicted to Ranma in the first place. Without her, this story could not have existed, so if you don't like it, blame her. - (Of course I kid.)
o o o o o
Shampoo sat perched on a chimney-stack across the street from the Tendo dojo. She was, as ever, waiting for Ranma.
Her thoughts flashed back to her last confrontation with Ranma, when he had revealed to her his secret. He had tried to make her believe that he'd been a girl all along, and that boy-type Ranma was only a disguise. At the time, Shampoo had believed him, but now… well, did she not now know of a force that could work such transformations on people?
Of course, her great-grandmother had dragged her back to Japan to retrieve her husband. It wasn't that she didn't want Ranma – he was hers by the law of her people – but it was rather infuriating to have to chase after a fiancé who was so determinedly unwilling. She was a bit insulted, actually. She certainly wasn't unattractive – not if that half-blind idiot Mousse was any indication. So why was Ranma so adamant about rejecting her? It simply wasn't proper, his making her go to such lengths for his sake.
As if summoned by her thoughts, Ranma emerged from the dojo and stalked out into the courtyard. In one hand he carried a small black piglet.
What does he plan to do with that piglet? Shampoo wondered. It's much too late at night to start cooking dinner. Curious, she cocked her head to one side and watched. As the animal squirmed and tried to bite Ranma's hand, the young man produced a kettle from behind his back and poured steaming water from it over the angry pig.
Shampoo raised an eyebrow. Another victim of Jusenkyo? She hopped down from the chimney and crept to the edge of the roof for a closer look at what would happen next. As she watched, the writhing piglet transformed into a young man. He was standing with his back to her, but the moonlight glistening off his wet skin revealed the well-honed body of a warrior. Shampoo blinked. As an Amazon warrior, she didn't often have the opportunity to look at naked men, so her basis for comparison was limited. Still, she thought, He's not bad.
In the courtyard below, the two boys were arguing heatedly. They spoke in hushed tones, so Shampoo couldn't hear their words, but Ranma seemed to be quite angry at the other boy about something. As Shampoo watched, the argument seemed to escalate. Finally Ranma lost his temper.
"If you think you can just come in here and crawl into bed with my– " He stopped short as lights came on in the windows of the Tendo residence in response to his shouting. While Ranma was distracted, the other boy made a dash for the pond in the middle of the courtyard – but was abruptly halted by Ranma's fist as it connected with his face.
The door of the dojo was just opening as Ranma grabbed the other boy by the scruff of the neck and punted him out of the yard. Shampoo looked up as the boy sailed over her head, getting a good look at him from the front. I've seen him before. Her brow furrowed in concentration as she tried to remember. Oh yes! He was there when I first met boy-type Ranma in the dojo. He must be a friend of Ranma's.
Shampoo sat on the edge of the roof, deep in thought. She did not even hear Ranma's explanation to the Tendo family about finding some pervert prowling around outside and getting rid of him. After they all had gone back indoors, Shampoo rose and headed for home, leaping from one rooftop to the next.
