Disclaimer: Ranma 1/2 is a trademark of Rumiko Takahashi and Viz Video. I have no ownership to these characters, or names.

Ranma 1/2

Changes: Chapter IX. Tender Moments.

Ranma woke on his own. No water buckets, no panda attacks, no screaming Akane. Yep, living at his accual home was much better. They had a nice house not to far from the dojo. Sure it was a few miles, but that didn't take long to cross. Ranma walked downstairs to see if his mother was making breakfast. His stomach rejoyced when he smelled food. Ranma grinned and ran into the kitchen.

Ryouga had been wandering for nearly a month, he was exausted, for the first time in his life, he didn't know where he wanted to go. He gave in to his tiredness and collapsed on the ground. About that time, a young woman in a pink dress walked out her from door and saw the young man on the ground. She ran over to him and struggled, but managed to turn him over. She gasped when she saw his face. "Ryouga! Ryouga are you okay?" She cried. Ryouga managed to barley open his eyes. "Uh, Akari?" He studdered and then passed out.

Ukyo was openeing her shop when someone fell off her roof and landed badly, right next to her. She jumped and blinked at the person a few times.

"Oww, Damnit." Drake said as he stood up.

"Drake? Wha, what were yoiu doing up there?"

"I fell asleep on your roof. I guess I rolled off."

Ukyo laughed at him. "You silly. Come on in, I'll make you breakfast, I want to talk to you anyways."

"Yeah, sure." Drake followed her in and sat on a stool at the grill. "So what's on your mind?" He asked.

"Well, Shampoo was here last night."

"I know, I heard her."

"You were awake?"

"Kind of."

"Oh."

"Are you worried?"

"Um, about what?"

"That I'll start chasing you around."

Ukyo sighed. "I'm used to it really. Besides if you get too annoying, I'll just hit you with my spatula again."

Drake rubbed the back of his head. "Yeah, uh ,why did you hit me in the first place?"

"I don't really know. I am sorry though, does it still hurt?"

"No, not really."

Ukyo finished making Drake an okonumyaki and went to work making another. "Can I ask you something?"

"Sure, what's up?"

"Um, you remember when we went out to eat the other week?"

"Yeah, why?"

"I don't know if I told you, but I really enjoyed myself. How about you?"

"Yeah, I had a good time too. Are you saying you'd like to do that again?" Uyko bit her lip and nodded. "Okay then, how about this weekend?"

"Really? I'd love to Drake." She smiled at him. 'Wow, that was easy. I don't get it, could I already like him as much as Ranma? No, it couldn't be. I've loved Ranma for years.' She thought.

Shampoo was in a bad mood. Mousse knew it, as he had several new bruises. Ranma had broken his promise. He'd been back over a whole day now, and he still hadn't come to see Shampoo. As angry as she was she still wanted to just break down and cry. Ranma made that promise to her before he left, and she knew he had found the letter that even reminded him of it. But he still broke his promise. She knew Ranma, he never, not it all the time she knew him, broke his word. And now he had, Shampoo was hurt, deeply. She sat down at a table and stared off into space. She was so caught up in her thoughts that she didn't notice someone walk up right behind her. She jumped as she felt a hand on her shoulder. Shampoo spun around to see Ranma's smiling face.

"Airen?" She asked.

"Hi Shampoo, I hope your not too mad at me that I didn't make it yesterday."

Shampoo swated his hand away. "Shampoo is mad! You break promise!"

Ranma frowned. "I know, I'm sorry Shampoo. I didn't mean ta hurt your feelings."

Shampoo could hold back the tears she'd been fighting since last night. "You lie! You no care about Shampoo! You no care that she hurt!" She turned away from him.

Ranma was in shock, Shampoo had never acted like this. He spun her around and looked her straight in the eyes. "I do care, Shampoo, please believe me."

"Why should she? You had all day to see Shampoo. So you tell her why you no show."

"I was exausted after that fight. And, I, I just didn't make it."

Shampoo pushed him away. "See? You no care." She turned again and walked a few steps away. "Shampoo done with you Ranma, no can take this anymore. She love you so much, but no can take this pain. Shampoo tired of." She was cut off as Ranma wrapped himself around her in a tight embrace. "Ranma."

"Please Shampoo, I really am sorry. Please, just tell me how I can fix this." Ranma said. 'You really do love me. And I've been hurting you all this time, Akane's right, I am a jerk.' He thought.

Shampoo returned his hug. Feeling Ranma's arms around her was a dream come true. She let herself completly relax into his hug.

Cologne had been watching the whole excange. Shampoo had changed so drasticly in the last month, more than likely due to Drakus. She was about to intervien so they could set a date for their wedding, when her staff dissapeared out from under her and impacted her head. She turned angrily to see Drakus standing there with her staff in hand. "Why you!" Cologne barked.

"Shut it, I don't want you interfearing anymore. You let them choose each other on their own." Drake said.

"What makes you think I'd listen to you?"

"Are you really so old you can't see anymore?"

Cologne just glared.

Shampoo's anger was gone. She felt so content in Ranma's arms. He leaned in and wispered in her ear. "Do you feel better now?" He asked. She responded by pushing her lips against his. Ranma tried his best not to freak, he'd already hurt Shampoo enough for a whole lifetime. Shampoo ended the kiss and stared deep into his eyes. 'Man, she really does love me, I'm such an idiot.' He thought.

"Ranma want ramen now?"

"Yeah, that'd be great Shampoo."

Ryouga woke up on something soft, and confortable. A bed. It'd been a long time since he'd slept in a bed as a human, well, not so long, he'd stayed with Akane a little over a month ago. "Akane." he said.

"No, it's me, Akari."

Ryouga bolted up. "Akari, is it really you?"

"Yeah, it's been awhile Ryouga." She said while looking as sad as she could.

"Sorry, Akari. I've had alot on my mind."

"Akane, apparently." She said with an icy voice.

Ryouga laughed. "Nah, she and I are finished." Akari looked at him puzzled. She knew better than anyone how he felt about her. "You know, Akari, this curse of mine is probably permenant. Akane couldn't accept that. You accually like my curse."

"Yeah, I do Ryouga."

"I'm so stupid, Akari. You're the one I should've been with all along. I'm so sorry Akari."

Akari put her hand on his chest and gently pushed him back down. "Rest Ryouga, I'll take care of everything."

"Thanks, Akari."

Ranma had a hard time leaving the cat-cafe. And not just because Shampoo clung to him tightly. He didn't want to leave. He didn't mind that she clung to him. 'Man if I were smart I'd gone for Shampoo in the first place, but I never knew. She's so cute. Not to mention that Ramen was the best I've ever had. But, what about the Tendo's? Man, it don't matter what I do, someone's honor along with mine is gonna get messed up.' He thought while walking along the fence. He slowed down a bit. 'Someone's following me.' he thought. Ranma spun around. "Alright, come on out." he said. Shampoo meekly walked out into view. "Shampoo, what's up?"

"Shampoo sorry. She want see where you live."

"Oh, okay. C'mon then."

Shampoo ran up to Ranma and grabbed on to his arm. "You miss Shampoo already?"

"Hey, I just left your place a few minutes ago."

Shampoo tried to pout, but ended up smiling and laughing with him all the way back. They jumped up to his window and walked inside. Shampoo looked around, trying to completly take in Ranma's room. "Aiya, is bare." She said.

"Yeah, since I grew up on the road, I had to make sure everything fit in my back pack."

Shampoo threw her arms around Ranma's neck and kissed him again. Ranma felt he's knees start to buckle. 'Man, I can kill a god, but I can barley take a kiss.' He thought.

"You let Shampoo stay, yes?" She asked with her cutest face.

"I uh, I dunno Shampoo."

Shampoo stood on her toes and wispered in Ranma's ear. "Shampoo promise she be good, if that what airen is wanting."

Outside Ranma's door stood Nodoka, who had gone to Ranma's room to tell him that there was still some left overs. 'My son is so manly.' She thought.

Shampoo curled up next to Ranma as they layed down for the night.

"Airen?" She said.

"Yeah Shampoo?"

"Shampoo just want you know, she no care about laws, even if law say she have to kill you, she no would. She no can, she love you too too much." She felt him put an arm around her and pull her closer to him.

"That is good to know Shampoo. I also wanted to say that I'm sorry."

"Why you sorry, airen?"

"All of this time that you've loved me, I just thought it was all about your laws. I felt like I was just some prize to be won, not the person I am."

"Is Shampoo's fault, she no know that her actions make you feel that way, had she, she would've acted different. But, though you is person, you still like good prize, Shampoo no know any woman who no want such good man."

"So your saying you started chasing me cuz I'm such a good catch?"

Shampoo giggled. "Is true. Shampoo liked what she see when she first see you as man. Shampoo fall for you like ton of bricks."

"I do like you Shampoo, but I don't think I'm ready for a serious comitment just yet."

"Shampoo know, she try her best to be patient for you."

"Thanks, Shampoo." he kissed her on her forehead, and let himself drift off to sleep.

Shampoo clung to him tightly with a few tears forming in her eyes. 'No is like shampoo not used to waiting for you.'

End Chapter 9

innortal: Yeah, the potential freak out over Nabiki is soon coming. Don't you love peace in nerima? Too bad it never lasts.

Wonderbee31: I believe that when it comes down to it, Ukyo and Shampoo really do love Ranma. I think he feels like a possesion because of all the sneaky tactics the girls use.