I'm back finally. And it is all my fault because I had a MAJOR CRITICAL Writer's block and nothing got to my head. But after WEEKS of thinking, wasting brain-cells, I managed to get a new chapter. I have my head almost dry of trying to get something but nothing got to me. After all, I REALLY need some ideas. URGENTLY!

So, you know the stuff. Review when you feel like. And to all my devoted reviewers: Thank you so much for waiting for my chapters before sending flames for my lateness.

() Means Japanese.

This is Thinking.

Chapter 15: Mh…Back?

"What…what Shampoo mean?" Bambou was taken aback at the sudden revelation. Could she possibly try to say that she isn't an Amazon anymore? That thought crossed her mind

"Shampoo means that she is an Amazon no more." Ranma finished and Shampoo simply threw to his arms and cried on his shoulder. He patted her back with a bitter smile. "It's ok. Just…Let it go…" He soothed her. She did just that and cried a bit harder.

"But…But…Why did Shampoo do that?" Bambou managed to get out after several seconds of only hearing Shampoo's crying. Even Ranma was a bit shocked by the sudden action but now that he actually put some mind in it, it wasn't so shocking, it was almost normal.

"Because she wanted me to choose. And she wanted to be free from the commitment. It's not good to be obliged to marry someone and that someone has to choose over two other ones." He explained simply but his eyes were mid-shut and he had a bitter face.

"Bambou think is no good. Maybe what Shampoo did was right after all…" Shampoo looked at her with a questioning face, tears falling on her cheeks silently now. "Mean that Shampoo's problem is only pain-maker. That is why Bambou think you did well." Bambou replied assuredly

"Bambou…don't know how…how much this mean to Shampoo." Shampoo blurted out in short gasps. An action followed. And that startled Ranma to a really visible point. Shampoo had her arms around Bambou. Bambou's face looked surprised for a moment before realization struck her.

"I…I…want you to forgive me…" She said a bit hardly. Saying that phrase was incredibly difficult but not because of the language, it was because of the meaning. It meant that she was giving up her hunt, letting Shampoo win it. But it isn't a total loss. She thought. Still, she still considers me someone close…Why? Just why did I have to follow that stupid rule? She is considerate to me and that is how I repay? Betraying her friendship?

"Bambou…Shampoo have nothing to forgive. Shampoo feel that now Bambou understand everything. Well, most of everything. One time I said this to Bambou. You are my sister. Maybe not by blood, maybe not by clan anymore, but by heart, all life." She said and Bambou's eyes only widened before she crossed her arms around Shampoo.

"Sh-Shampoo…" She whispered too impacted to talk normally.

Ranma just kept watching the two with a short smile. But nonetheless keeping an eye for Shampoo's wellbeing. He was starting to get a bit too worried lately about her. Maybe a bit too much. He thought and his lips got a bit higher to deepen the smile. Just as I started to think that I could be with her a bit more peacefully this girl appears and starts to make Chaos with this place… His mind was starting to relive the few good moments that he and Shampoo shared. He shuddered. Well, that was something I DIDN'T wanted to relive… He added when he remembered Shampoo's return from China.

A whisper retook Ranma's attention to the pair "Sister…" It wasn't Shampoo. The hug between the two only tightened a bit more. "Forgive me…"

Shampoo got back a bit. She had a frown and looked severe. "Shampoo said there was nothing to forgive. Why you still ask for pardon?"

"(I still don't feel quite well just like that. You forgiving me out of the blue when I clearly don't deserve it.)" She switched to Chinese because of an expressing trouble. A small tear crossed her cheek but no one could notice it because of her fallen head.

"(Why did you reject our friendship from when we were children?)" Shampoo kept pressing on but smoothly and slowly.

"(I…I didn't. Is just that I just took sides with the law…)" Bambou replied. She supported her face on her hands.

"(Then there is nothing wrong. You just followed what you thought was right. I don't have a grudge against you for that. In fact, it makes me proud to have a friend so devoted to the Amazons.)" Shampoo smiled a bit for the first time in a good while. Bambou lifted her head from her hands and looked at her for a second before launching to her and enveloping her in a hug that would make a bear look childish.

"Thank you…Thank you, thank you…" She kept repeating that mantra for almost a minute, obviously touched. "(How can I repay you for my lack of trust?)" She asked whispering. Shampoo slapped her arm softly

"There is nothing to repay, Sister." She replied with a short frown and smiling. They kept the hug going on for some minutes in silence. Just looking at their faces made anyone with intentions of molesting go away. It was like the re-meeting of a ten-year long split of sisters.

"So, the two of you have patched up." The only one that could break the moment was there. Cologne came back from her shopping for the restaurant. Strangely, her always-unreadable expression was gone just to leave a big, honest smile. Atop of her, a bag of stuff resided. It was a strange sight. A smiling midget mummy on top of a staff and on top of her a white plastic-bag. "I'm happy for you two." She added before disappearing into the kitchen. The two girls split up and smiled to each other.

"So, you are friends back again?" Ranma asked and both almost jumped in surprise. They had forgotten that he was there, as a spectator. He was beaming like no one else. The girls nodded "Good for you." He replied and Shampoo acted immediately after by glomping to his arm. An old-Shampoo action. He lifted a brow in question but kept smiling. She didn't even try to let him go. "Say, what was that thing you said that you had left your old ways?" He asked teasingly. She looked at him with a "?" mark on her face before going beet-red and sitting back on her place like a normal person.

He looked at her for some seconds until it took over him and he passed his arm around her shoulders "C'mon, it isn't that it's so horrible from time to time." He smiled and she looked at him before swatting his free arm playfully.

"Then why Ranma complain?" She asked still teasing.

"Who said I was complaining?" He retorted "Was I complaining?" He asked Bambou

"Not at all, from my point of view." She conspired showing an amazing quick-thinking ability. Shampoo stared at her for a second before turning back to Ranma.

"Is that so?" She asked mischievously. He looked a bit afraid. When Shampoo looked mysterious, it was a sure sign of something to happen. And sure thing, she grabbed the hand of his arm that was still around her and grabbed it not letting it go easily. Ranma looked like nothing was out of place, strangely…

"So, Bambou, you have a place to stay?" Ranma asked now totally social with the Amazon. Bambou was a bit taken aback for the question.

"Urm…No." She replied. "But I was looking for a place to…" She let the topic hang out in an obvious request.

"I see…" He replied catching the line of the conversation for once. "So, what are you looking for?" He kept going.

"Anything would do… The thing is that I have to get a job too because I can't afford anything. I mean, I'm almost out of money." She explained and he nodded understanding.

"If that is your status, what do you think of staying here?" Cologne's voice made the trio jump again. After a second, Cologne's proposal entered the younger Amazon's head. "One thing, you'd stay in my room." I'm not going to let the girl ruin what Shampoo has done all this short time by letting her sleep with them in the same room. "And you'd have to work here, of course." She added shortly with a serious business-like face.

"Sure! Anything!" Bambou's face lit up right away with the possibility of having fellow Amazon near her after two years of being on the road. And as a bonus, her childhood friend was one of them.

"Then, it is settled." Cologne announced with a short nod. "Come with me, child. I will show you your place." She ordered.

"Certainly." Bambou replied and followed Cologne to her room.

Back in the restaurant, the two youths kept silent.

"Sooo…what do you think of her?" Ranma asked with his arm still being held by Shampoo. She looked at him blankly.

"Ranma, Bambou is Shampoo's childhood friend. It's Ranma's opinion that counts here." She replied "I know Bambou a lot." She added as a short explanation.

"Yes. I see your point. I think she's ok. I mean, I never really got to know the Amazons before I met you and when I did, I thought they were all a bunch of crazy women." She frowned. "But, when I finally could understand a bit of your stuff, my opinion changed." He added shortly, seeing her murderous expression.

"And that is…?" She requested for him to go on. A sweat-drop was visible on his fore-head.

"Instead of being a bunch of crazy women, now I think that you have some order in all the stuff I saw. Maybe a bit too much order and laws for my liking. And also it is very demanding." Ranma replied cautiously

"Yes." She said lowering her head a bit. "You are right." Ranma raised a brow.

"How so?" He asked surprised. Now this was something new to him. Shampoo admitting that the Amazons were demanding? After all, didn't she turn them down for a stupid law? That thought made him realize that it wasn't that strange to see Shampoo saying that. "Yes, I understand." He added before she could even open her mouth to say what was in her mind.

"Good. Shampoo need a walk." She said standing up and letting his arm go finally. She didn't make two steps away when a hand was placed on her shoulder. She turned to Ranma "Yes?"

"You mind if I make you company?" He asked concerned. Something told him that she would need it. Her lips twitched to something almost alike a smile.

"Not at all. Let's go." She said and both left the place talking about whatever they wanted to. Mostly what they were going to do with Bambou.

"(This is the wardrobe. I don't have too many clothes, so you'll have plenty of space.)" Cologne explained to the young Amazon. Two minutes had passed since they had left the restaurant and Cologne was explaining her everything she would need to stay there.

"(Say, elder.)" Bambou said suddenly as Cologne was showing her the place where she would put the sleeping bag. "(What are those two on?)" She asked

"(So you noticed it.)" The Ghoul's eyes twinkled once. This girl is smarter than I thought. But even so, those two are so obvious that anyone with vision could notice it. Anyone except themselves… She thought bitterly.

"(Yes…It is somehow infuriating…)" Bambou said and crossed her arms on her chest.

"(A bit. But you might get used to it after a while.)" She replied and something occurred to her "(What are you planning to do in the mornings?)"

"(What do you mean?)" Bambou asked bending her head to a side a bit.

"(I mean that those two aren't going to be here because they are attending to school. So you would be completely alone for some hours.)" Cologne explained but the hint of the phrase wasn't lost to Bambou.

"(You are proposing that I go with them so I wouldn't be bored?)" She decoded immediately.

"(You are smart, indeed, young one.)" Cologne admitted. "(Yes. That is my exact meaning. What do you say?)" She ended.

"(I say that we should ask Ranma and Shampoo. I don't have a problem but I neither want to be a burden to them.)"

So, what do you think of this chapter? It isn't so good, isn't it? Whatever, now the analysis.

Bambou is going to stay with our cute little pair of idiots. Next chapter, Bambou's idea. Nothing more, nothing less. That is the main treat of next chapter and its title too. Maybe if I start writing it now I will get it done for tomorrow. I just don't trust my writing capabilities anymore.