Shinju: New fic! WOOT::sets off fireworks:
Sango: We decided that it was time for us to test the love of Ranma and Akane, to see if we could imagine it lasting and lasting.
Mister Kat: ShinjuJaganshi owns nothing but her popcorn, her beanbag chair, her Green Day poster, and her kick ass laptop, Bob the Squirrel.
Bob::singing: So all you nasty lawyers go awwwwwwwwaaaaaaaayyyyyyy….just go away.
"Arien eat Shampoo's ramen, yes?"
Ranma sighed from within the amorous Amazon's deathlike grip. Shampoo was always attaching herself to his chest. From his current position, he could see Mt. Akane ready to blow her top.
And any minute now…
Sure enough, Mallet-sama appeared within her clenched fists. She was screaming her trademark, "RANMA NO BAKA!" before he could even start to tell Shampoo that he had no intention whatsoever of eating her food because he wasn't hungry right then. (Authors Note: Yeah, we all know that Ranma is a bottomless pit, but Akane had been experimenting all day long, and he lost his appetite after the teriyaki tried to bite him and the stir-fry began to chant evil prayers.) He found himself flying over Nerima, head falling toward the ground first. Or falling towards the ground headfirst. Either way, he was going to hit the ground with his head, an unattractive prospect no matter how one looks at it.
But for once, Shampoo didn't go run off to check on him, or make him fall in love with her or something even worse.
Instead she turned on Akane.
"Aiya! Violent Girl hurt Arien again! Why Violent Girl do that? Ranma no do anything wrong!" yelled Shampoo, her hands on her hips, leaning forward with an angry gleam in her pretty eyes that Akane didn't like. She also didn't like how Shampoo was acting like Akane had done something wrong.
Shampoo has such nice blue eyes though…like Ranma's only bluer.
"What do you care? All Ranma is to you is a 'beloved husband' anyways. It isn't like you care deep down. You just want to marry him and make him the father of your children." she snorted, folding her arms and looking away from the furious Amazon.
"Violent Girl thinks…oh too too funny! If that what Violent Girl think Shampoo saying, then Violent Girl need better Chinese!" laughed Shampoo, sounding almost bitter. Before Akane could ask what she meant, Shampoo was off on her bicycle, headed towards the Nekohaten. Akane just stared at the retreating figure, trying to figure something out.
If…if…if 'Arien' doesn't mean 'beloved husband' like Nabiki thought it did…then…what does it mean?
"Nihao great-grandmother." said Shampoo softly. Cologne looked up from her shaved ice. Shampoo's usually cheerful face was tearful and unusually morose. There was an accent of guilt to her features too. Cologne sighed.
What is wrong Xian Pu? she asked in Chinese. Shampoo sighed as she eased back into her natural language, where she could fully express herself.
I almost told Akane. she admitted, shame overwhelming her senses.
About?
What we really came here for. What Arien truly means. And what my Arien means to me. she whispered, her voice growing softer and softer with each passing second.
Cologne sighed. The child was overeager when it came to their task. Of all the people to almost tell…Akane was definitely the worst choice.
At least it is still intact. Our deception shall continue for one more day Xian Pu. Don't worry. Someday, your Arien will come home. she said, reassuring the child in front of her. Mousse came out of no where, patting Shampoo on the back and holding her close. Shampoo leaned in Mousse's chest, choking on her own tears that she could not cry. Mousse whispered in her ear as he held her tightly.
Don't worry Xian Pu. We'll find a way.
The Amazons all nodded.
They would find a way.
Nabiki Tendou was leafing through every book of the Chinese language that existed on the face on the earth. Some were fun, some stupid, some boring, some easy, some impossible. But they all said the same damn thing. In fact, she could almost hear the damn books whispering the same thing, louder and louder and louder.
She was going mad in her room.
Every single book she read said that Arien meant beloved husband. Some said it in a different way, but the basic thought was the same. The woman wanted to refer to her husband or even future husband in a loving way, so she called him Arien.
SO WHAT HAD SHAMPOO MEANT?
Then, out of the blue, her fingers skimmed the cover of a very thin, pale book. It was very old, and had been under three of the thicker books that she had :ahem: moved. (Read; tossed about the room as she threw a fit after the three hundredth book) Picking it up, she gave an almost feral smile at the cover title.
Mandarin Chinese in 10 Easy Lessons.
Akane woke up the next morning to a strange sound. Well, scratch that, Akane woke up to a strange and painful new day, which began with this one very strange sound.
It was the sound of Ranma and Shampoo laughing together.
Jumping out of bed, she hurled herself down the stairs, flying towards the sound. She could hear it getting louder, and now she could almost make out what the voices were saying.
I've got to hurry…got to help them save him…got to find him…hurry…I'm coming Ranma! Got to…
She entered the main room to find Genma tied up by the door, gagged and unconscious. Her father was bowing and apologizing to Cologne, calling her respected Elder Kuh Lon. Nabiki was translating for Shampoo's benefit, just in case Shampoo didn't understand a word or two. Kasumi was checking on some rather large suitcases, gently placing some folded clothes in them. Shampoo and Mousse looked extremely pleased, and were actually jumping and hugging each other for joy.
And Ranma…
Ranma was in the middle of it all, looking confused as hell, and not just a bit nervous. He was dressed in his usual outfit, and he was glancing sideways at Shampoo, as though there was something wrong with her. Every now and then, Shampoo would reach up and hug him closely, causing him to grin in his own silly way and hug her back.
"What's going on in here?"
Everyone turned toward the soft voice, and everyone promptly did a double take because Akane was on the other end of it. Akane, seeing Ranma within a hundred feet of Shampoo, and not throwing a fit? Hell must've frozen over.
(Authors Note; Coincidentally, the city of Hell, Michigan in the United States of America, froze over with five feet of snow that moment.)
Nabiki was first to speak.
"Sit down little sister. This is gonna be a shocker."
When Akane was settled down, Cologne started.
"You may wonder what is happening right now. It all starts with the story of one of the greatest female Amazons in all our history."
"Xian was one of the most talented women that I knew. She was a fierce warrior, yet skilled in healing arts. Her battle cry alone terrified opponents, yet children loved her like their own mother for no reason. She was even more powerful than all the elders put together, yet she had a gentle smile. Xian was extremely beautiful, and watching her fight was like watching a dance. She married a strong male outsider named Tzu. Somehow, he managed to defeat her, and she loved him from that moment on. For five years, they lived childless. And every day, there was an unfulfilled ache in Xian's heart. Her husband tried to comfort her, but she wanted, needed a child to call her mother. This went on for five long and painful years, until Xian announced that she was expecting."
"There was a huge celebration held, and everyone was very pleased and excited to see her child. Her husband treated her even more like a queen, doting on her and making sure she had everything she could ever want. Her mother and grandmother came over and checked on her, bringing small presents each time. But then, she decided to visit Japan so that she could get away for a week or so. Kyoto, to be specific. She had never been there, and she wanted to have an adventure."
Cologne took a deep breath, then continued.
"Xian, my granddaughter, the greatest of us who probably ever lived, died in childbirth. She had twins in fact. Where she had always wanted a child, she now had two for our village to love and cherish. Her husband was informed as fast as possible, but he was not in time to see his beloved's dying moments. However, it was told to her husband that one child died. We were never told why, just that it was dead."
"So the baby girl who wasn't dead was taken home, and groomed to be a great warrior. Her father loved her, but still he mourned the loss of her twin and his wife. She trained hard, was well liked and respected, and her childhood friend had offered his hand in marriage. She was happy, or would have been, if only her twin could be there."
"And then, one day, the hospital sent up a letter. It seems that there was another woman who was giving birth that day. But the baby was born dead, a stillborn. The other woman couldn't bear it, and so refused to have any more. Her husband was heartbroken. He had a promise to fulfill you see, and without this child, he couldn't do it. He would destroy his family's honor."
"When he saw Xian's twins, he made a choice."
"Xian's child was exchanged for the dead one, and we did not realize it for ten long years. The child was grown by then, and though we wanted to raise such a child, we did not dare to steal the child yet."
Shampoo interrupted.
"Shampoo was angry at first, want revenge on stupid man. Now, she no want revenge. Only want twin back."
Akane looked around the room. A twin…it could be any of us…who could Shampoo's twin be? Kasumi and Nabiki are out…too old…So it's either me or…no…no!
"Wait…so…"
Ranma cleared his throat.
"Uh…I'm Xiang Pu, Xian Pu's twin. Sorry about all this…"
Shinju: I always did want to put Shampoo and Mousse in a good light.
Sango: More facts next time!
Moriko: See you then!