Disclaimer: I don't own Ranma and Co.
4am
By: Chrissy H.
Oh, Life is waiting for you
It's all messed up, but we're alive
Oh, Life is waiting for you
It's all messed up, but we'll survive
Life – Our Lady Peace
The day before…
"Shampoo! Come out here!" Cologne called from outside the Nekohaten.
"Yes, Great-grandmother?" Shampoo said as she walked outside to her great-grandmother's side. Her purple Chinese dress fit tight against her skin and her lavender hair bounced with every step.
Cologne had a solemn look on her face. "Look to the east, child. Something very bad is heading this way."
Shampoo looked over to the direction she was pointing. Over the mountains, dark clouds loomed with lightning bolts shattering the sky. She felt a shiver run down her spine with the sight. "That no look good."
Mousse had then come back from a delivery. "Shampoo, my love!" Mousse ran to the purple potted plant next to the door.
"Mousse! I'm over here!" Shampoo yelled a bit angrily. "Put on your glasses."
Mousse pulled his glasses off the top of his head and put them in the correct place. He smoothed out his white robes as he walked over to her.
Shampoo pointed over to the mountains. "Look Mousse. Is no good. Danger is coming."
Mousse looked at the mountains and a frown immediately came upon his face. "How much time do we have?"
"A day…maybe two." Cologne sighed. "We need to get the others together. We need to prepare for what is coming."
"Great-grandmother know what is coming?" Shampoo asked hopefully. "Then we beat for sure!"
"Yes, I know what is coming, child." Cologne looked back at Shampoo. "But, it's not going to be easy. Quick, get everyone together."
"I'll go get airen!" Shampoo shouted gleefully and then took off towards the Tendo Dojo.
"I'm coming too, Shampoo!" Mousse yelled after her.
Cologne sighed. "This is not good, not good at all." With that, she went back into the café to call the Okonomiyaki chef.
---
It has been two years and nothing has changed. Akane sighed while sitting on her porch. In front of her, Ranma and his father were sparring.
"I'll get you for that, old man!" Ranma-chan yelled as she got out of the Koi pond.
"You're getting slow, my boy!" Genma yelled as he dodged a kick from his right.
"And you're getting old!" Ranma-chan grunted as he flung his father into the pond.
That was no fair! A sign said which was attached to a fat soggy panda.
Akane sighed again as she handed Ranma a tea kettle.
"Thanks Akane." Ranma said as he changed back to a boy. "Stupid panda. He never learns." Ranma smirked at started doing katas in the middle of the yard.
Neither do we, Ranma. Neither do we. Akane watched Ranma flow from position to position in his kata. His ponytail slightly swinging with each move. Akane thought back to when she first met Ranma. Well, he's a little taller now. He's definitely more built. And somehow, he still wears the same clothing. Ranma was in his normal black pants and a white silk Chinese shirt. He performed his kata with ease and grace, something that she didn't know he could gain more of with time. Well, we don't fight as much anymore. Maybe he cares for me after all? Akane was snapped out of her reverie when she saw Ranma turn around and look at her. She turned a deep red having been caught staring. She could have sworn she saw him smile before he turned back around.
"Airen! Airen!" Shampoo called as she jumped over the wall. "Shampoo need you!" She yelled as she glomped on to him.
"Ack! Get offa me!" Ranma yelled trying to push her off but not being able to see past the purple hair in his face.
Akane stood up starting to see red. Why that little hussy! And Ranma! Letting her grope him like that! She was about to stalk her way over to them when Shampoo suddenly let go.
"Shampoo come to see violent girl, too." Shampoo said, crossing her arms in front of her chest.
"What do you want?" Akane bit off.
"Shampoo! My love! Wait for me!" Mousse yelled as he jumped over the wall. Quickly he glomped onto Akane.
"Mousse. Do I look like Shampoo?" Akane said through clenched teeth.
Mousse put on his glasses and guickly let go of Akane. "Akane Tendo, what did you do with my Shampoo?" Akane merely pointed.
Mousse too too stupid." Shampoo said shaking her head.
"Well, what do you two want?" Ranma asked as he went to stand next to Akane.
"Yes, we'd like to know the same thing." Nabiki said. They turned around to see Nabiki leaning against the door frame and Kasumi standing in the doorway. Nabiki smiled coolly looking at her fingernails. "And we haven't all day." She wore the normal t-shirt and shorts with her brown hair cut to her chin.
"Great-grandmother say we in trouble. Something very bad is coming to Nerima. Look!" Shampoo said while pointing to the mountains.
"Oh my!" Kasumi gasped. Her hand flew to her mouth and her forehead creased with worry. "That doesn't look good at all!" She quickly smoothed out her already wrinkleless apron and her long brown hair moved gently with the breeze.
"What is that?" Akane asked not being able to take her eyes off the dark grey clouds that seemed to engulf the mountains.
"Great-grandmother say we no have much time. We need to go back to the Nekohaten and make plan." Shampoo said looking back at the group in front of her.
"Okay, lets go see the Old Ghoul." Ranma said looking over at Akane.
"RANMA PREPARE TO DIE!"
Everyone turned around just in time to see the wall explode in front of them. There in the middle of the explosion stood Ryouga, his backpack on his back and a red yellow umbrella in his left hand. His hair was a little frayed and a look of confusion was upon his face.
"Oh, hello Ryouga!" Akane said as she saw the eternally lost boy enter her yard.
"Oh, he-hello Akane-san! What are you doing in Osaka? Hehe." Ryouga said as he rubbed the back of his head.
"You're not in Osaka, Pig boy. You're in Nerima." Ranma said glaring at the boy.
"Do NOT call me that, Ranma! How dare you make fun of me!" Ryouga said while raising his umbrella to prepare to fight.
"Lost boy no fight now! We need go to Nekohaten!" Shampoo yelled getting in between them.
"Shampoo is right, there is something heading for Nerima and we need to stop it." Mousse said standing next to Shampoo.
"What are you two talking about?" Ryouga asked suspiciously.
"Yeah, P-chan. We were just heading to the Nekohaten to find out what that is." Ranma said as he pointed to the East.
"Don't call me…" Ryouga's words died as he looked towards where Ranma was pointing. "What is that?"
"I just said we're about to find out. Come on, follow us so you don't get lost." Ranma said as he started to walk out the newly created hole.
Akane walked closely behind Ranma as Shampoo, Mousse, and Ryogua followed them.
"What do you think that is, Ranma?" Akane asked softly as they were walking towards the café.
"I don't know, Akane. But I don't like the look of it." Ranma looked at Akane with concern. "I won't let anything hurt you, though."
Akane's temper started rising. "Are you saying I can't take care of myself, Ranma?" Akane ground out.
Ranma saw the tell-tale signs of his fiancée's temper. "Uh, no no Akane, I just mean what I said. I won't let anything hurt you." Ranma said waving his hands in front of him hoping not to be sent on a trip via her mallet.
"Oh." Akane's temper quickly receding to a blush. "Uh, thanks."
Ranma, relieved that he avoided another argument, just nodded. Whew. That was close. I'm just glad I didn't get into another fight with her. We haven't fought in a week. That's like a record for us.
Quickly they reached the Nekohaten and walked inside. Ukyo and Cologne were sitting at the counter talking.
"Ran-chan!" Ukyo exclaimed as she jumped up from her chair. Her battle spatula was strapped to her back and her hair was up in a pony tail. She was wearing a loose shirt and black pants with mini spatulas around her waist in a belt.
"Hi Ucchan." Ranma said as she grasped onto his arm. He could feel Akane's temper rising next to him.
Cologne cleared her throat. "Come now, we have much to discuss. Have a seat, son-in-law." She motioned towards a table and Ranma sat down. Next to him was Akane and Ukyo. Next to Ukyo was Ryouga then Cologne, then Shampoo and Mousse with Akane sitting next to him.
"Okay, Old Ghoul. Spill it. What is in those mountains and what does it have to do with us?" Ranma said impatiently.
"Well, I'll tell you what I know and it doesn't seem like we have much time. We are going to have to prepare and the battle is going to be like none you have ever seen." Cologne explained.
"BATTLE!" They all yelled out.
Cologne sighed. "Yes, battle. Let me explain…"
AN: Sorry to leave it like that, but I hope you all are enjoying the story so far. Let me know if you have any comments or suggestions!
