Well. I´m Back! Another chapter comes! And i wanted to say that my beta trial is up. Whenever of you that want to be my beta EMAIL me, ok? Thank you. Now, here´s next chapter were things started to change...

Chapter 7: Partners?

The day started normally as ever. Two days passed since Mousse's last and final attack. Rarely peaceful days were what the pair felt and lived by. Everyday the same routine, waking up, going to school, lunch under the tree, chat during lunch. They were getting even closer than ever since those lunches started. And after school, sparing in the back yard of the Dojo with either of the two styles. Both of them were not too far from mastering the style of the other and they were already fusing some moves into others of their own made. Of course that they taught it to the other when it worked correctly.

That day was the beginning (I Spelled it right!) of the end.

Ranma woke up lazily, there was no need today to wake up early because of being Saturday. He yawned after he sat up on the futon and checked his surroundings. Shampoo was sleeping with her mouth open and snoring a bit. He smiled to that face, he had it so many times with his father. However, this was the change, this time it was a pretty girl who did it and made it even funnier.

"Today, training all day." He whispered to self and nodded assuring himself of that fact. He grabbed some clothes and went to the bath. Inside the bath, he submerged in the furo and let his body and mind relax as far as he could. Upstairs, Shampoo was starting to wake up.

She checked her surroundings too but her face fell a bit, Ranma's futon was used but there was no one in it. She sighed and grabbed some clothes before walking to the bath. "Long day, today." She whispered while she got downstairs. She opened the door to the antechamber of the bath and stripped down there. She yawned and crossed the next door. She froze.

Ranma heard the second door open and opened his mouth to advice that it was used when he saw her. Both stared at each other frozen completely. Ranma was the first to act going under water in less than a second.

"Sorry." Shampoo said before coming back to the antechamber and dressing up with the used clothes. She just sat and waited there for close to two minutes. The door opened and Ranma looked at her

"It's free, now." He said and left. She got up and finally undressed again and took that promised bath. When she was out, she went to the living to get some breakfast before Ranma ate it all. Weirdly, Ranma was sitting besides the table with food but staring at the outside. She looked where he was staring but the only thing that could be possibly seen was the blue and calming sky.

"What Ranma looking at?" She wondered interested

"Nothing. Just relaxing." He replied with a dreaming face. He turned and faced the table and her. Eating went fast as both were anxious to continue with their training. When Kasumi appeared to pick up the dishes, Shampoo spoke.

"Thank you, Kasumi. Nice food." Kasumi smiled her smile before replying

"It's nothing." The younger pair went out and continued their training for some time. The sun was out for a while when they started and when it was almost at its top, they were interrupted by something both loved.

"LUNCH!" Kasumi's exclamation broke their concentration. Ranma was doing a single-handed hand plant and Shampoo was trying to make equilibrium on her sword. Both fell at that instant but disappeared in a blink of an eye. No one that hadn't special eye training could saw what really happened. Both got up and set up a race towards the table in the living.

"Ranma, could you please eat slower?" Akane growled. His strange noises were somehow revolting.

"Swryy." He swallowed and looked at his side "But Shampoo is doing the same and you didn't tell her anything." He frowned

"That's my business, Ranma." She replied frowning too.

"Stupid tomboy." He mumbled under his breath

"What was that?" Akane asked with her anger surfacing

"Nothing." He replied backing away. Somehow, she listened to his comment and managed to grab him by his shirt before punching him into LEO.

"Here you go." Ukyo said to her customer, which was eagerly awaiting his okonomiyaki. Today was a busy day, almost full. Ukyo sighed before coming back in front of her grill and continue to work when a whistle was heard to everyone.

"What's that?" One asked. The whistle was louder

"It looks like a bomb sound." Another commented. Even more noise…

"I don't think so, we're not in any kind of war. But what the hell is it?" Louder! CRASH! A black and red bullet crossed the front sunshade with a ripping sound. Almost everyone went out to check on the UFO. Finally, the identity of it was discovered, the teenage martial artist known as Ranma Saotome lied unconscious.

"Ran-chan!" Ukyo exclaimed before grabbing him and moving him all the way to her bedroom. There, she placed Ranma on her bed and left him to rest.

"You know him?" One asked as the people started to calm down and continue with their food.

"He's a friend of mine." She replied before standing in front of the grill once again.

"Is he okay?" A girl asked

"He's gonna be fine, like always. Now, who's next?" She smiled to everyone as they rushed to be the first in attention of the required chef.

"Stupid violent girl. Had to hit Ranma so far." Shampoo grumbled as she stomped around Nerima looking for her partner in crime. "If Shampoo not wrong with direction and power in punch" She started with her eyes closed in concentration "Ranma is there!" She pointed in one place and when she opened her eyes, she gasped.

The door scrammed open as Shampoo entered Ucchan's. She looked around swiftly in one move. Nope, no sign of him.

"Shampoo!" Ukyo called and Shampoo approached. "Ranma's upstairs. What happened? He ruined my sunshade in that falling." She claimed and Shampoo sighed in relief

"Violent Girl punch Ranma for doing comment." She explained quickly

"Yeah, nothing new." Ukyo smirked. Shampoo smiled a bit

"Can Shampoo go upstairs?" Ukyo nodded and she started walking. Instants later, she found him over the bed. She sighed in relief at that. A second later his eyes opened slowly

"Mhh…where am I?" He asked dumbly

"Ranma in Spatula Girl's house." Shampoo replied with a smile

"Did I…did I land here?" Ranma said with a surprised face. She nodded. "Wow. That's accuracy." He laughed a bit of that. "Let's thank Ucchan and leave, ok?" She nodded again and he got up. He fell to the floor immediately after. Before he fell completely Shampoo grabbed him

"Ouch. Too much damage." He added

"No way Ranma walk alone like this. Let Shampoo help you." She offered and he sighed.

"Ok." He gave in. That was some progress. To make Ranma let someone help him was some kind of a miracle or the sign of a close Apocalypse. She passed her arm around his neck and aided him down the stairs.

"Ran-Chan!" Ukyo exclaimed rushing to her best friend.

"I'm ok, Ucchan. Just…I fell hard." He added with a smile. "Let's go to Tofu's." He added to Shampoo and she agreed.

"Get well." Ukyo exclaimed before they left

"Thanks."

"Phew." Shampoo sighed as she left Ranma on a bed in Tofu's. He was busy with Kasumi and both begged to not let him attend Ranma until she left. Finally, minutes later Kasumi left with a book from him.

"So…Ranma." He commented with a dreaming smile when he appeared. "What happened?" Shampoo sat next to Ranma and waited.

"Um…Akane hit me. She corrected me to not eat too fast. Then I said that Shampoo was doing the same and why she didn't tell her to not do it. She replied that it was her business and I made a comment. Then she hit me and I landed in Ucchan's. From there Shampoo picked me up and we came here." He related quite well.

"And what was that comment?" He replied as he was checking Ranma's neck. Ranma mumbled something but Tofu didn't got it. Shampoo knew what it was so she didn't move. "I'm sorry?" He asked

"I said…Stupid Tomboy." He replied and made a sour face. "You know, doc, for some time I thought that I would like to live there. But now, I'm not that sure about it. Things happened and I really would like to make some changes." He added immediately to try and change the subject.

"That's your decision, Ranma. If you want to make changes first you have to see who would move into them and how would them affect those people. But about your comment…" Ranma sighed, he knew that there was no way out of it "You shouldn't talk of your fiancée like that." Tofu pointed as he stretched Ranma's arm

"I know. But I prefer even Ucchan as my fiancée before her. I don't know why, it's just that I don't like her to be with me my entire life. I feel like I'd suicide or something like that first." Ranma furrowed his brows in reality "That's why I want to make some changes." He explained finally his point

"Mh. Well, I guess is that is the way you think…but what would Akane do if you left her? Have you thought about that?" Ranma looked to the roof in a thinking way for about two seconds

"Yes. I know that she is going to suffer at first but then she'll understand why I did what I did." Ranma nodded assuring himself of that. Tofu sighed

"I tried. But I guess that you really thought all about this." He smiled finally "Do what you have to do…here, here's your pain." Tofu pushed something on Ranma's leg

"YAHHH!" He shouted in pain. "Doc! That hurts!" Tofu's hands were up already "Uh? I…the pain's gone…" Tofu smiled again. "Thanks, doc."

"Come anytime." Tofu replied and Ranma got up right away. Shampoo stood up in a rush in an obvious worry that he would fall again

"I'm ok." He re-assured her and she nodded. Both left after saying goodbye to the doctor.

"So, what changes Ranma talking about?" She asked bending her head to a side a bit

"I don't know…yet." He sighed again.

"How's your life, young one?" A voice asked on their backs.

"Bad as always, old ghoul." Ranma replied without thinking. In that moment he realized what he said "Old ghoul?" He asked turning around to receive a smack on the face with a staff. "Ow!"

"Watch your manners. I can still beat you." Cologne pointed seriously

"What Great-Grandmother doing here?" Shampoo asked

"The question is what are YOU doing here, don't you know where you are?" Both looked around. It didn't took them more than a second to know where. In front of the Nekohanten "You reached in time. I was about to finally close down the place. Shampoo, would you aid me?" Shampoo made a step front

"Wait…" Ranma said slowly in a contemplative way. Shampoo froze and looked at him. "I know…" He looked at Cologne "You want to shut this place down?"

"Not really, but my main workers left and only me remains of the original staff." Cologne explained and Shampoo was starting to get Ranma's idea

"What do you think if we keep this place open?" Ranma offered

"We? What are you thinking of, young one?" Cologne now was smirking

"I say that Shampoo and me move here and work too." Ranma finally explained

"Great idea, Airen! What Great-Grandmother say?" Shampoo had hope in her eyes. She was excited of the idea of going back to work in the Neko.

"If you two want to do so…I won't interfere with your personal life anymore. Just a boss-worker relationship between work hours. Outside those, we'll see. All right?" Ranma nodded "Then we have a deal here. Partners?" She finished

"Partners." Both young ones replied.

I can´t remember the name of who asked if this was going to happen, well there you have it, happy? no? Well, i am. :) Anyway, just to remember you guys, beta trials needs an EMAIL not pm in And in chapter eight things start to get even further between the pair and the rest of the Tendos...