Chapter 2: "Strained Relations"

Disclaimer! Again, I do not own the anime/manga, Ranma 1/2. Probably never will.

So! It's already time for Chapter 2 is it? I must say, I wrote this one a lot faster than Chapter 1. This chapter has a lot going on with many different characters, so bear with it as the story skips from plot-line to plot-line. I still have so many ideas for this story so expect updates in quick succession to each other. Also, thanks for the many reviews! I can't tell you how much pride I get out of knowing that other people enjoy reading my work. :)

Thoughts are in Italics
Chinese is Bolded

(also, I have corrected the spelling for Moose's name to the correct form, "Mousse", at the recommendation of others.)

Shampoo ran as fast as she could towards the Tendo dojo. Her mind was a mesh of emotions and skewed logic. From building to building she leaped, never so much as looking behind her. If she had, she would have seen Ranma trying to keep up with her, only to fall to Moose's blade. Finally coming to the familiar wall of the dojo, Shampoo hoped onto the top of the main gate, silently surveying the scene. From her point of vantage, she could see Genma sitting in the living room, and through the second story window she saw Akane sleeping on her bed.

"Good, violent girl is occupied. I should be able to deal with Ranma's mother without interruption. I don't see mother though, I'll get panda man to tell me." Resigning herself for the battle to come, Shampoo leapt down from the gate and casually strolled up to the door. All hesitation was pushed out of her mind by a single desire: Protecting her Airen. One instant door later, Shampoo found herself in the living room of the Tendo home facing down a very nervous Genma.

"Sha...Shampoo! What are you doing here? I...I thought you had a date with Ranma?" Genma was well-aware that the Amazon was almost as strong as his son was, so he was eager to stay on her good side. Darn you Ranma! I had hoped you'd deal with her...she has those bonbori things with her too... Genma did an audible gulp as he looked at the double maces that were in Shampoo's hands. He mentally ran up how much more it would hurt getting pounded to death by those things than a swift cut from his wife's katana.

"Shampoo no here to see dumb panda, is here to see mother, where is she?" Shampoo was noticeably ticked-off as she absent-mindedly tapped her bonbori against her him in agitation.

"Your mother? Why would she be...here..." It then donned on Genma that Shampoo thought of herself as Ranma's wife. "YOU WANT TO SEE NODOKA!" Images ran through Genma's mind as various scenarios played themselves out, most of them ending up with his wife lopping off his head. "N...now...Shampoo, dear, why would you want to see Nodoka for? I mean, Ranma must have explained all this too you, so why..." He was cut off mid-sentence.

"Ranma tell Airen that mother find out about curse, come strait here after hearing it. Now, where is she? I know she here, Shampoo see her through window," Shampoo was getting more upset by the minuet. The look in her eye told Genma that if she didn't get her way he would suffer for it. Why is she so stubborn? Hold on...if she came straight here after Ranma spit out that Nodoka knew about his curse, maybe she doesn't know he's planning on breaking off their engagement...this could get significantly worse if Nodoka is the one to tell her...Ok, calm down Genma! You can deal with this, you spent 10 years in the wilderness with the boy, if you weren't scared of him, why by scared of someone weaker than him? Shampoo doesn't even know Nodoka's here, if I can get her to leave, the boy can set her straight whenever he gets back from whatever he's doing... In his mind Genma was already declaring victory and gloating over brilliant plan, too bad he forgot he was a Saotome and that nothing ever worked out for him the way he would like...

"Genma honey, where are the extra blankets?" There was silence in the Tendo home, something that was almost alien. Maybe Shampoo didn't hear that...please, oh please...

"GENMA! I asked where the extra blankets are!" Reduced to sobbing now, Genma slowly looked up at a grinning Shampoo. He watched as the Amazon moved past him. It wasn't until he felt the cold mace crash into the back of his head did his sobbing stop.

"Stupid panda." That was the last thing Genma heard Shampoo mutter before he gave way to a bonbori-induced nap. Visions of easy life were shattering all at once and only nightmares of a giant katana greeted him in his slumber.

Several moments passed before a loud crash woke him up. He was about to chalk all of his past encounter with Shampoo up to a horrible, horrible dream when the sound of shattering glass pierced the air and brought him to complete awareness.

"Nodoka!" Genma broke out into a cold sweat at the thought of what the angry Amazon might do to his wife. Running up the stairs to the Satome bedroom he skids past the door but quickly backtracks, the carnage that was his room would be enough to bring a lesser man to his knees...the blood, the unconscious Nodoka, the stunned Akane, the damage to the Tendo home...

"W...what the hell happened here...?" That was the only thing Genma managed to get out before collapsing onto his knees.

Several Minutes Earlier: Tendo Household

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"Stupid panda." Shampoo had gotten tired of the idiot that was ignoring her. After a quick dispatching of the meddlesome in-law, Shampoo headed up the stairs towards the Saotome bedroom. Like a panther on the hunt, Shampoo moved through the house quietly and calmly, stalking her pray. She knew where Ranma's bedroom was and was running down the possible escape routs that Nodoka could employ to escape her. All of this grinded to a halt as she stepped in front of Ranma's door. Tightening her grip on her bonbori, she slowly opened it and slid in. She saw an average-looking woman picking up various bits of trash and just straitening up the room in general, apparently not noticing her presence. She noticed that Nodoka was unarmed, but then saw her katana laying on a table closer to the window, she wasn't warrior in the least, so there was no need to worry even if she got to her weapon, but there was still something about Nodoka that put Shampoo off. Maybe it was the fact she wanted to kill her Airen? That thought really set Shampoo off. She quietly closed the door to the bedroom, walked a distance inside the room, and coughed to get Nodoka's attention.

"Oh, there you are Gen...ma?" She turned around expecting to see her loving husband but instead met a fierce-looking purple-haired girl. She didn't seem too happy nor friendly. The way she was clenching her fist around her odd-looking weapons was certainly disconcerting.

"...Hello, who might you be dear? If you're one of Akane's friends, she's up in her room I think." Nodoka watched as the girl winced at the words 'Akane' and 'friend' were used in suck quick procession.

"Shampoo no here to see violent girl, is here to see you." Shampoo said in a forceful, yet calm, manner. "I will not let you hurt my Airen over some old vow. What worth is honor if Ranma dead? If you want to kill him..." Shampoo lifted one of her bonbori and pointed it at Nodoka. "...you have to kill Shampoo first."

"Kill him? I wasn't planning on killing him dear, at least not now. He's proven that he's a man among men by his actions over the last week. It is nice to see that you're still so devoted to him, a good quality in a woman! I'm sure you'll make someone a wonderful wife someday." Nodoka actually thought well of herself for giving the Amazon a compliment like that. It's the least I can do after what Ranma must have said to her. Oh dear, Ranma must have been rather harsh to her, it must have not fully set-in yet, poor thing.

Shampoo was both confused and relieved at the same time. Confusion reigned as Nodoka mentioned that she was no longer holding Ranma to the deal, and that she considered him a real man, however she was happy that Ranma wasn't directly in danger anymore. Well that's good. It looks like this will be easier that I thought. What did she mean about 'his actions over the last week'? I knowspatula girl left earlier, could that be it?

Getting a little nervous at her lack of information, Shampoo cocked an eyebrow at Nodoka. "What you mean by 'He's proven that he's a man among men by his actions over the last week.'? You mean how Ukyo and ribbon girl have stopped chasing Airen?" Shampoo was utterly confused, but part of her screamed out that she should not have asked that question.

Nodoka gave her a questioning glance. "I mean that he's broken off all other engagements other than the one with Akane Tendo. Didn't he tell you today?"

Suddenly it dawned on Shampoo. How nervous he had been, how nice he had been, not complaining about spending time with her, the "important thing" he had to talk to her about. She could only stand there with her mouth slightly hanging open. She let her bonbori fall to the floor, at the moment she didn't care, the only thing on her mind now was denial and pain.

"That...that not true! Ranma would never do that, he doesn't even like Akane!" Shampoo was fighting with the image of the Ranma she knew and the Ranma she saw today. All the things he said, they all came to the surface.

"Why is it that hard to believe Shampoo? I mean, you didn't have a chance to begin with anyway. I mean, Ranma's nice and all, but some things have to be done...with less concern for the consequences to others." Shampoo whipped around to look at the figure standing in the door frame.

"Akane...", Shampoo hissed, "I have no time for you now, go back under rock you crawl out from." Shampoo was livid, not only had Ranma hidden the truth from her, he stringed her along for the day. She tensed up and clenched her fists until her hand was starting to bleed from where her fingernails were digging into her palm.

"I can't believe this! He led me on for the whole week! He could have told me when he told Ukyo, but he didn't. I...actually thought..." She stopped long enough to fight back the tears that were welling up.

"What? You thought he was going to tell you he loved you or that he wanted to be with you? How stupid could you be Shampoo?" Akane was enjoying this, for once she had Shampoo at a disadvantage and she wasn't going to back down. "Really Shampoo, even you should have seen this coming."

"Quite true Akane dear." Nodoka said moving closer to the window. She smiled and looked at the waning sun of afternoon. "Ranma is honor-bound to marry a Tendo and join our two families, there really is nothing that could be done about it. He understands this, that's why he agreed to do it."

"R...Ranma agreed to...end all other engagements?" Shampoo's last shred of faith in Ranma was beginning to snap. He couldn't have agreed to this...he wouldn't!

"Of course dear, Ranma already set Ukyo straight and Kodachi hasn't been around for days. You were the last one he was supposed to talk to, that's what your date was about." It was at that moment that Shampoo's world came crashing down.

"No...I...I can't believe it. Ranma wouldn't do this to me. Shampoo won't believe it!" She was beginning to retreat into herself, but still held firm. Shear determination was the only thing keeping her from breaking down and sobbing.

"If it's not true, then where is Ranma?" This question from the youngest Tendo caught Shampoo off-guard. Where was Ranma? Didn't he care? He knew that I would come here, he KNEW that I would find out...why would he...?

Shampoo's inner dialog was cut short by a sigh from Nodoka. "A mothers duty is never done it seems. Ranma must have not had the nerve to tell you himself and so left it to me and his fiancée. Really, I thought Ranma had grown up some after this, he's still the little boy that left with Genma. At least now he's finally taking some good advice and bringing honor to his family like I wanted him too, I guess that would make up for this."

Shampoo had taken enough. Something inside of her snapped as her mental picture of her beloved Airen, the man whom she'd devoted over a year of her life to, the man whom she'd defy her very tribe for, the man that she loved more than her own existence, shattered. First he allowed me to believe I had a chance with him, he took me out on a date, he even let me hold onto him for once...I thought it was all going to change between us. Well, things...are done, Ranma...you...I can't forgive you for this...I WILL NOT forgive you for this!

As these mental declarations were being made, the worst thing Nodoka could have possibly done happened, she opened her mouth."Now dear, I think it would be best for you to move on and forget Ranma. He will soon forget you once he and Akane are married, so I would not like you to fight that. Now, if you will please leave our home. I have things that need to be done around the house and I don't have time for one of Ranma's old flames." Nodoka casually picked up the bed linens that she had been gathering before Shampoo's interruption. She walked past the motionless Amazon and was almost out the door when a cold, rage-infused voice broke the silence.

"What make you think you just...walk away?" Shampoo turned her glare toward the Saotome matriarch. "You are just as guilty as Ranma! You force him to make decision, you willing to kill him for stupid family honor!" She was now in a feral rage. Her eyes were almost blood-shot and a definite battle aura had built up around her. Sensing that the Amazon might try something, Akane grabbed the Saotome katana. The blade flashed out of it's sheath, shining in the dim light coming through the bedroom window.

"Stay back Shampoo! Just because Ranma chose someone else over you, there is no way you have the right to take it out on Mrs. Saotome. More importantly, I won't let you." To emphasize her point, Akane brought the katana into a standard offensive stance. Maybe all those duels with Kuno helped me out after all...

Being reminded of her pain, her suffering over the result of Ranma's decision did not help the purple-haired Amazons state of mind. The pain, the suffering, the rejection... all these things took tangible form as she charged at Nodoka. Akane had little time to act as Shampoo surprised her with a burst of speed that Akane had never seen from the Amazon. Shampoo's fist found it's mark and Nodoka fell in a heap. There was a cost of Shampoo's all-out assault on Nodoka, Akane had a clear shot at a defenseless Shampoo. In a moment, there was a flash of silver followed by red as the katana found it's mark. A deep cut was now adoring the Amazon's face, running from Shampoo's chin all the way up to her hairline on her left side. Akane quickly brought the katana to Shampoo's neck. It was covered with blood, some from the initial cut, most from the blood falling from Shampoo's face.

"Shampoo, leave. If you come back, I'll..." Akane was cut off by Shampoo grabbing her katana. Gripping it tightly, apparently too far gone to care about the additional wounds to her hands, Shampoo pushed the blade away from her throat, bringing her eyes level with Akane's.

"Tell Ranma that if Shampoo meet him again..." Shampoo tensed up with these words, her aura flared to the point where the katana cracked under her grip. "...I WILL kill him." With that last bit, Akane could see the cold conviction in her soul. Only the sound of steel snapping brought Akane out of her daze and she promptly fell to her knees. Shampoo calmly walked to the window of the bedroom and blew out the glass with chi spike and left, leaving behind an unconscious Nodoka, a shocked Akane, and a very confused Genma who had just arrived.

"Wha...what happened here Akane!" Genma rushed over to his wife and looked over her injuries. It wasn't too bad, although Nodoka might not be waking up for awhile. "Akane, when Ranma gets back tell him me and his mother will be at Doctor Tofu's." Picking her up, Genma rushed out to the street, heading for Dr. Tofu's clinic.

Akane, still in shock, held up the broken katana. "I've never seen Shampoo like that. She...could have killed us both..." Looking over to where Nodoka was, Akane remembered that while she was in shock, Genma had taken her to the clinic. She managed to get up with shaky legs to go after Genma.

20 Minuets Later On a Distant Roof-Top...

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"Ugh..." Ranma slowly wills his eyes open. "What...the hell happened to me?" He could only prop himself up with his right arm, his left was in too much pain. Night had already fallen in Nerima. He rose slowly to his feet, and stumbled through the dark grasping his left shoulder.

"Damn, I've lost a lot of blood, I'll get you for this Mousse, I...swear it..." Ranma continued to stumble forward, barely aware of his surroundings. "Whatever it was that Mousse got me with, I still haven't recovered yet. I've got to find Shampoo though..." He continued though the dark until he ran out of roof. With a short cry, he plummeted over the side of the one-story building. Still suffering from the effects of the sedative, he is unable to land on his feet and instead smashes into the street below, instantly knocked senseless. The crash catches the attention of several passers-by and they call emergency services. The last thing Ranma hears are the sounds of sirens in the distance and the slowly-fading whispers from the crowd that has gathered.

Meanwhile on the other side of Nerima...

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"Not good enough Mousse, you at least need to be able to hit me if you ever want to beat Son-in-Law." Cologne was just finishing a short sparing match with the blind China-boy. She had decided to keep the Cafe' closed today, as she had a strange feeling that something was going to happen with Shampoo. It was getting late, and she was starting to worry about her great-granddaughter's lateness.

"Mousse, that's all for today. Go get a shower then get the kitchen ready for tomorrow." After a quick nod, Mousse walked upstairs to the second floor of the cafe'. Cologne took the opportunity to fix herself a cup of tea and relax a bit in the dinning area, her thoughts were still on her great-granddaughter however. Shampoo's been gone most of the day and it's way past her curfew, even if she's with son-in-law. Trying to think of a good explanation as to her great-granddaughters absence, Cologne recounts the sparring session with Mousse. Then there's that fool. He hasn't even tried once to go after Ranma and Shampoo, he even asked if I would train with him today. Maybe that fool's finally gave up on Shampoo now that Ranma's taken a liking to her? It seems to be too sudden of a change to be legitimate though... A loud crash coming from the kitchen brought her out of her thoughts. She hopped off to go and check.

"Put your glasses back on Mousse! How many times do I have to tell you that?" Cologne could only rub her forehead staving off a headache as she watched the male Amazon stutter out an apology to a house plat. She was about to cane the boy over the head when the front door of the cafe' slid open.

"I'm sorry but where...Shampoo!" Cologne hopped over to the bleeding form of Shampoo that had collapsed in the doorway of the Cat Cafe'. There was a large gash on the side of her face and she was pale, clearly a sign of losing too much blood.

"Mousse, get in here now!" Cologne shouts in the general direction of the kitchen, drops her cane, and picks up the now unconscious Shampoo. With her chi-infused strength, Cologne easily caries Shampoo further into the restaurant and uses a table rag to try and stop the bleeding.

"SHAMPOO!" Almost in tears, Mousse rushes over to Shampoo and Cologne. Gazing at the unconscious Amazon.

"Be quiet you fool and get the fist-aid kit! We have to get this wound to stop bleeding." Cologne was uncharacteristically shook-up. Her focus was off as she eyed the gash in her grand-daughters head. Some of the blood had dried, showing that the wound wasn't fresh. The dried blood on her face showed that Shampoo had tried to stop the bleeding with her hand on the way back to the cafe'. Her right hand was also cut deeply as if by a sword. As Cologne was looking her young charge over, Mousse returned with the first aid kit.

"Good, now go get me some cold water. I'll clean off some of this blood." Mousse could only stare at Shampoo as she laid there, barely audible curses of revenge against Ranma. "Don't you even think about it Mousse! If you care about Shampoo as much as you claim, help her now and get your revenge later. We don't even know who did this too her." Mousse glared for one last moment before he ran to get the water. With it, Cologne quickly cleaned the wounds on the young Amazon before binding her hand and putting a large cold compress on the largest wound on the side of Shampoo's face. Gently picking her up, Cologne took her to her room to rest while Mousse cleaned up. Slowly, Shampoo came too and looked at her surroundings.

"Grandmother? Wh...where am I?" Shampoo noted the concerned look on her great-grandmothers face and the bandages on her hand and face.

"Quiet child, you're in your room. Now, lets start at the beginning, what on earth happened to you?" Cologne kept an eye on Mousse who was waiting just inside the door of Shampoo's room to make sure he didn't bother her great-granddaughter too much.

"Ranma...he...he..." Shampoo recounted the events of her date with Ranma though sobs. She explained how she and Ranma went to the cafe' to talk about something important, how he told her his mother new about her curse, and how she had left to try and save his life. The utter pain she felt as she confronted Nodoka and the injuries she sustained at Akane's hand. After the explanations, Cologne sighed and changed Shampoo's bandages.

"Don't worry dear, no one does this to family. She'll..." Cologne was cut short by Shampoo shaking her head.

Grandmother...no. Ranma made his decision, he wasn't even there to tell me himself. I can't do this anymore, we've been here for a whole year chasing him, I want to go home and get on with my life, Ranma...wants to get on with his. Cologne was about to disagree, when she looked into her great-granddaughters eyes. She could see the utter defeat and underlying rage in her soul. With a sigh, Cologne solemnly nodded.

"We'll leave once you're healed up. You should know, that cut will leave a scar for the rest of your life. As to us leaving, I'll make the arrangements in the morning. Now get some sleep child." Cologne hopped back from Shampoo's bed and shooed Mousse out the door. Neither female Amazon noticed the smile he wore as he headed out the door.

The Next Morning: Nerima Medical Center

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Doctors and nurses hover around a hospital bed. In the bed, is a familiar pig-tailed martial artist. A tall doctor checks out the boys eyes with a light, occasionally writing something on a clipboard.

"I'm gonna...kill Mousse..." Rubbing his head, Ranma tries to sit up on.

"I wouldn't advise that sir, you had a concussion when our medical team brought you here." The doctor said all the while checking various screens around Ranma's bed.

"And just where is 'here'? How long have I been out?" Still rubbing his eyes, Ranma relaxed and stretched his legs under the linens.

"Oh, all night. We found you in the middle of a street, it seems you fell off the top of a building. You also had a rare sedative in your system and you were suffering from blood loss from a wound on your left shoulder. It's amazing that you're alive. Do you have any family we should call? You didn't have any identification on you."

Thinking of his family and how they'll react to him being gone all night, Ranma sighs. If my parents or the Tendo's come down here, it'll get ugly. Akane will accuse me of spending the night with Shampoo or something like that, mom and dad will probably blame me too. I'm worried about things back home too, Shampoo ran off to the dojo. I'm sure she went off the deep end... "Nah doc, I'll just head home myself." Ranma sat up and pulled the IV's out of his arms and hopped out of the bed. After a few stretches, he walked past a stunned doctor and headed out of the door.

Taking a strait, yet slow, path to the Dojo, Ranma arrived soon at the Tendo Dojo. Walking in, he couldn't find his parents or the Tendo's. Where the heck is everyone? I would at least think Akane would be pounding me with her hammer... As Ranma walked into the kitchen, he was nearly run over by a flustered Kasumi.

"Hey Kasumi, where is everyone?" Ranma said as he helped her back up off the floor.

"Oh Ranma! Mr. Saotome and the rest of the family is at Doctor Tofu's. They asked me home so he could work." Kasumi stood back up and headed up to Ranma's room.

"Hey Kasumi! Wait up! Why is everyone at Doctor Tofu's?" Ranma followed her up to his room. What he saw shocked him. His room was in total disarray. The window was blown out, there was blood everywhere, and the Saotome katana was still laying on the floor in two places.

"Kasumi, what the hell happened here? Where's...mom...?" Thoughts shot through his head as to what happened. "Did Shampoo do this to my mother! Did she...hurt mom? Is all this blood the reason everyone's at the clinic?" He was visibly shaking and his muscles tensed up.

"Oh no. From what I can gather from Akane, most of this blood is Shampoo's. I do hope she's alright..." Ranma winced. S...Shampoo? How did she... He looked down at the broken sword Kasumi was picking up. No...I don't believe it! There is no way mom could have hurt Shampoo this much! Further over by the wall, Ranma spotted Shampoo's trademark bonbori. He walked over to them and picked them up, studying them. They were heavy, but not too heavy to him and they had no defensive marks on them. She didn't even try to defend herself. Shampoo... Staring at them for a few moments, Kasumi walked over and put a hand on his shoulder.

"I'm sure she's fine Ranma, she did leave under her own power." Kasumi could feel his stress, even from where she was.

"Yeah...I'm sure mom's ok..." Ranma sighed as he headed towards the door.

"Ranma...I wasn't talking about your mother. I'm meant that I'm sure Shampoo is fine." Ranma stopped for a moment, but then continued walking out the door. "She better be Kasumi...she better be." The words were barely audible as he headed towards the clinic...and the family that has been controlling his life.

Yay! I finally got the new chapter up! So, what do you guys think? I hople Shampoo fans don't mind me giving her that scar. It hurt me writing it. I really think I can flush-out her personality in this series, so I hope you guys won't hold it against me.