So, here it is. For everyone, the reply to their pleas, Rebellious chapter 19. I´m still a bit disappointed with the people that reviewed a while ago and now they don´t...Even so, here is where we find out who the voice is in truth. Remember, it's almost too simple and can be foretold who can be. You'll agree with me after the seventh paragraph. So, without any more preambles, The Chapter!

Chapter 19: An Ancient Story

"Who…" He started asking as he turned around just to remain there floor-struck and eyes as wide as plates. "Is it…" He ended subconsciously. In that moment, Shampoo caught up with him.

"Ranma! What a crazy crowd, eh?" She joked with a smile and catching her breath. Her smile slowly dimmed to nothing at the face of Ranma "Ranma? You ok?" She asked passing her hand in front of him.

"I believe I placed him under that state." A female voice explained and Shampoo turned with a frown

"What you mean "in that state"?" Shampoo asked outraged. Clearly she was about to hurt that woman if she wasn't bringing Ranma back to himself. She was in her late forties with dark brown hair, she was wearing a formal blue and green kimono but another thing really stuck out, a long package under her arm. (You had it coming…)

"That state of shock. I haven't done him anything, though. I think he entered by himself. Poor boy, after all these years and he just stays there at seeing me…" The hurt look that the woman had made Shampoo's act melt away and she started to feel bad for bursting at her.

"You know Ranma?" She asked worried about him. She slowly grabbed him and lied him down on the floor. Still, the look of surprise was there. "Ranma…" She sighed.

"Of course I know him! He's my son!" The woman exclaimed and Shampoo immediately looked at her bedazzled

"What? You mean...youRanma's mom?" She had heard some ramblings about her from Ranma, but never expected to find her like that, out of the blue.

"I am, young lady." The woman smiled "I fall under the name of Nodoka Saotome. What's yours?" She asked merrily

"Unh…" Ranma's voice stopped Shampoo from talking. "Just had the strangest dream…mom was finally back and I found her in the streets…" He had his eyes closed and he sat up. He placed a hand on his head.

"Ranma!" Shampoo exclaimed turning her attention to him and grabbing his free hand. "Don't do that again, please. I was worried!" She admitted a bit red-coloured.

"I'm fine. Just don't fuss that much over me." He replied now retreating his hand and smiling.

"It's good to find that my son is so manly…" Nodoka pointed and Ranma clamped his mouth shut but kept staring at Shampoo.

"It's true…right? Mom's behind me…right?" He asked and Shampoo nodded blissfully. A huge beam covered her face.

"Turn around, Ranma. Face your mother." She ordered and Ranma complied with half his conscious power.

"Ranma…It is so good to have you near me…" Nodoka said crying of happiness. Her package fell as she kneeled down and hugged her son. Ranma didn't act immediately but he hugged back with a smile.

"It is, mom, it is good." Ranma parroted and smiled. Finally he met his mother. Obviously there was going to be serious trouble about his curse and the leaving of the Tendos, but now, he didn't cared. He just wanted to share the moment with his mother. Minutes passed without any of the two moving.

Shampoo was feeling that she shouldn't be there. Like she was someone added up. She made a couple of steps back to fall into the "shadows" but couldn't when she was suddenly Nodoka's centre of attention.

"Ranma, who is she?" Nodoka asked as the hugging pair stood back up. Ranma was so touched by the moment that he answered something a bit different from what he would say in a normal state.

"Her name is Shampoo, she's my fiancée." He said motioning with one hand to her. Shampoo looked impacted at him.

"But I thought that your fiancée was a Tendo…" Nodoka's head bent to a side in confusion.

"Well…I'll just say that things weren't…working out between Akane and me…" Ranma explained with the truth. His mother was sad, it was clear.

"Son…" She mumbled. She lowered her head for some seconds before lifting it with a smile "I knew this was going to happen." She commented and both teenagers lifted their brows in surprise. "I told Genma this was due to occur. Meddling with your life like that…how reckless. I agreed to do it, true, but I wasn't completely all right with it." Nodoka explained with a motion of hand.

"Mom…Thanks…" Ranma replied before hugging her again. Ranma made a step back so they could continue talking. "Care for a walk? We can talk while we are at it." Ranma offered to both women and Nodoka smiled.

"A wonderful idea. I want to get closer to my future daughter-in-law." Nodoka pointed and Shampoo went beet-red. That sounded a lot like the old ghoul… Ranma thought a bit scared.

"So, dear, where are you from?" Nodoka asked. Shampoo just kept silent. "Are you ok?"

"Y-Yes, ma'am." Shampoo stuttered "I-I am from China." She replied wanting to have a low profile with her.

"A Chinese girl? How interesting!" Nodoka smiled again with pure excite. Ranma started to slow up his walking very slowly so the women could speak quietly without him bothering around.

Mom…why did I have to find you now…things aren't all right, I still haven't fixed my curse, Shampoo isn't totally my fiancée now. Not that I would fight that much now… yes, I kind of like her company. It's weird sometimes but it's nice nonetheless. He shook his head trying to focus in the real matter. What I'm going to do with you, mom? I can't negate that I want to be with you, but how much time would it take for you to find my secret? The little Ranko is in truth your son…

And soon it was. When he finished that thought, they passed the ladle lady and she splashed Ranma, who in the middle of his thinking couldn't avoid it. Just great, now what is missing is that mom turns back and I'm dead man…er, woman. She decided to slow her pace even more and when the still talking women turned on a corner, she ran to the opposite side of the road they were going. Immediately after, she jumped over a fence. Fence that was there to protect people from falling into the river.

"Oh…just great…" Ranma sighed as she swam to the shore and began walking stealthily in order to NOT encounter Nodoka nor Shampoo in her girl form.

"You seem to like my son…" Nodoka pointed and Shampoo blushed. She had a smile planted on her lips almost since the chat started

"Yes…I like him…very much…" Shampoo whispered. It was true that words. She still had to tell him, now that she had changed. But, she wouldn't do it. She had to be certain that Ranma was the same about her. Talking about him… She twisted her head a bit just to find…nothing. Thin air. Where is he? She thought a bit angry of being left over. He better have a good reason… She fumed and narrowed her eyes.

"Something wrong, dear?" Nodoka asked concerned. She had a worried face and that smile was sincere and pure.

"No. Let's continue talking…" Shampoo offered. Nodoka's smile grew.

"That would be great. So, tell me, what are your plans with Ranma?"

Back at the Nekohanten, Ranma changed clothes after going back to his male-forma and darted out of the place in look for Shampoo and his mother. Grr…Hope they haven't noticed my leaving yet…But knowing my luck, they have already realized.

Looking around, he found them not four blocks in front of him, walking with their backs to him. If mom hasn't found out by now, I'm going to kiss Shampoo… He mentally vowed as he approached them quickly and quietly. He managed to reach them and only Shampoo turned. She had a severe look, thing that made Ranma fidget visibly. Not liking the turn of this… He thought desperately. Maybe I will have to… He shivered but almost unnoticeable. Better finish with this fast.

"Mom, can I take Shampoo from you for a second?" He asked really politely. Nodoka looked at him.

"Oh, sorry I didn't talk to you. It was just that I was so intrigued with the talking with Shampoo that I forgot about you, Ranma. I'm sorry." She said lowering her head a bit

"Mom, it's fine. It'll be a minute." He said and grabbed Shampoo's hand before carrying her around the nearest corner.

"Why did you left?" She asked immediately. Oh, great. Now I'll have to do it. He thought.

"Forgive me for this." He said before planting a kiss on her lips. Just as she was starting to savour it, hemade a stepback "Self-promise." He explained and her face darkened in a sad mood.

"Why you left?" Shampoo asked again. This time frowning.

"The ladle lady splashed me. Couldn't let mom see me like a girl." Ranma rushed in the reply. Shampoo's face softened to that.

"I understand. Is fine, Ranma. Just…you'll owe me big time for this." Shampoo pointed and smirked

"Actually, I don't owe you anything. Remember when you almost drown in your own back-pack in girl form?" Shampoo stared at him "Well, there you have it." He smiled and left towards his mother. "So, mom. Did you have fun talking with Shampoo?" He asked smiling.

"Oh, yes. She is a very interesting individual. Very passionate in her stuff. Mostly the Art. She told me that you taught her your father's style, is it true?" She asked bending her head a bit

"Yes. It is true. But mostly it was an exchange of styles. She taught me hers back." Ranma replied with a move of hand.

"Oh, I see. So, what are your plans with her?" He looked down.

"I never really thought much of that…" He said with a thinking frown. "That's a new topic to think at night…" He added and smiled. Shampoo came back and looked between mother and son. A sad face flashed through her but it was gone just to cover appearances. Even so, It was not enough fast.

"What's wrong?" Ranma asked looking serious and decided to find out.

"Nothing…" She replied shortly, maybe too shorty.

"Oh, come on. You are sad. Just tell me why." He pressed on. She didn't reply, just kept staring the floor. "Shampoo, tell me please." Ranma said

"Son, that's enough. If she doesn't want to tell you, just leave it." Nodoka said placing a hand on his son's shoulder. He sighed

"It's just that…I don't like seeing her sad…" He whispered but everyone heard it. Nodoka smiled profusely and Shampoo lifted her sight just a bit. His mother pressed her hand a bit on his shoulder as a little support for him.

It's obvious that he likes her. She thought trying to suppress the smile. She retreated her hand. "Ranma. What do you think if you and your…good friend accompany me for dinner?" She offered.

"That would be…great." He said planting an almost fake smile. "Do you want to go, Shampoo?" He asked politely. Shampoo looked at him for a second.

"Yes, Ranma. I'll go, too." She replied with a swift and short smile.

"This way, then!" Nodoka added cheerfully. Even her spirit couldn't bring the teenager's mood up. Shampoo kept looking down all the way and Ranma staring at her, concerned face all over his factions.

Not much later, they had arrived the awfully common-like Japanese house. Its white color with red tiles was much alike the other ones at its sides.

"What do you think?" Nodoka said as she opened the door to the house. It was rather comfortable inside. The living had a sofa for three people, a low table was in front of it. There was no TV but there was a small bookcase. A soft rug was covering the floor to make the feet feel even more comfortable. And, everything was shining-clean.

Ranma and Shampoo almost fell bad of getting dirt on the couch. Both just sat there with their hands on their laps. Like two obedient teenagers.

"You just sit there, I'll prepare dinner." Nodoka advised but both got up right away.

"No way, ma'am." "Absolutely No, mom." Both said and she smiled to their good ways.

"Then let's prepare it in a team." She proposed and the three marched to the kitchen.

Well, that's all for now. Couldn't find a place to end it that would be near. Even so, I think it was a good chapter. Kinda slow but the stuff I wanted to happen, is there. Next Chapter will be around Friday (I don't know if you noticed, but I try to beat the time I promised) You know the stuff. Review! And Comment! And give Ideas!