All right! Once again, I´m back! And with Rebellious, nonetheless! I, somehow, killed my laziness for a while and decided to continue this. I´m not disappointed that you gave me 4 reviews in a month because I failed you in the updating time. I got blocked and couldn´t continue. Even if I had the idea for the chapter, when I started writing, I blocked and couldn´t go on. Still, with some little aid (Unconditional and unknowing) form my dad, I managed to continue this.

Enough with filthy excuses for my failure. I´ll reply the reviews you sent. (The least I could do besides update!)

L337 N1nj4 B0r15: Yes. Interesting, but still...Uh, You´ll see at the end of this chapter. 5741 L337!

Hiryo:Wow! That´s what I call a review! Still, it´s a STRANGE idea you have there. It would have been useful when they started school though. Now it´s almost useless. Sorry.

Vgdc7: First of all. Do you know Video Game Director Cuts? That said, thanks for the data in the game. I found in in another fic before, though. Thanks anyway.

Tatsu55: It´s always nice to have a new reader every now and then. And sorry for the late welcome, but please feel free to send ideas, comments or whatever. Now, enjoy!

Phew. That´s ended. I´ll stop you no more and leave you to read (Finally).

This is thinking.

(This) is Chinese.

Chapter 25: Trying

Ranma crossed the Nerima streets thinking about what he was going to say so he could get off the hook about the other marriage. Mh…Another marriage? His eyes grew to this little apocalypse. Just when did I agree to marry Shampoo? He scratched his head and continued walking.

The dusk was beginning to set when he turned the last corner before the Nekohanten. Still no idea of what he was going to do. Damn it! I have to think of something! It was useless. Even crushing his mind with all his willpower was fruitless. He sighed and entered the Nekohanten.

It was in a rush-hour seeing that the whole restaurant was full. "Whoa." He commented and ran to the kitchen. "What do I help in?" He asked Shampoo, who was at full-speed cooking with Cologne at her side.

"Take these to table four." She said pointing a tray with two bowls that was at his side. He nodded and carried it. Looking around when he came back to the kitchen, he found Bambou working with a smile while she ran around the tables serving and taking orders of the people that just came.

At least she enjoys something other than fighting… He thought and went back to the kitchen. Shampoo gave him no mercy as she ordered him to take another order to a different table. He sighed and applied. After all, he agreed to do this some weeks ago. And also it gave him some more time to think about something that he could say after the work was done.

An hour later, there were still customers inside the Nekohanten but they were considerably less. And the incoming flow was also lower. Ranma sighed and went to the kitchen. It was time to fix this, or at least point an hour when Shampoo and he could talk alone. And obviously decide a place where they'd that.

"Um…Shampoo?" He called a bit nervously. It wasn't that he was going to propose, but it was something equally important! He was going to walk out of a wedding! That doesn't go on everyday.

"Yes?" She replied impassibly and turned to him. At seeing him struggle with the words, she raised a brow. "What's wrong?"

"It's…uh…It's that I need to talk to you."

"Sure. Now is ok?" He shook his head.

"Not now. Later. And of course, not in here." He leaned closer so he could whisper and she would listen. "We must repair this trouble I'm in. I can't do this alone, that's why I need to talk to you."

"All right. We'll go out later." She exclaimed and smirked at his gaping face. "Had to do a cover." She explained rushing and a second later Bambou entered expecting an order.

"So, you two are going out today?" She asked and left when she saw Shampoo nod. Ranma turned to Shampoo and her knowing side-smirk.

"All right. I give. We'll go after work." He finished and picked a tray with an order to deliver.

Two hours later, they finally called it a day and they closed the restaurant. Shampoo skipped through the stairs humming happily towards the room she shared with Ranma. Her mind wasn't in taking a bath.

"So. What are we going to do…?" She said to the silent room. Of course, it didn't possess a vocal organ, so it couldn't reply in any way. She sighed and entered the bathroom. Why did that had to happen? It's like someone's out there wanting for all this to happen and prove us… Again she sighed and stripped down.

Ranma's shocked face made the other teen laugh. It was really strange to see Shampoo skipping. And add the humming and it was something…weird. Somehow, it was familiar, but he just couldn't put his finger on.

"Ranma should prepare for your date." Bambou pointed raising a finger. His only response was to drop his head and climb the stairs slowly. Ouch. Even I'm hurt by his attitude… she thought when he left the room.

And I'm not even a bit interested in him. Possibly as a sparing opponent and far friend. But I do not want him to suffer because of me and the rules Shampoo and I are under. And now he's lost his normal spirit. I need to help them…somehow.

At long last, the two left in their "date" half an hour later after Ranma took a bath too and got dressed. He offered an arm as they exited the restaurant. She gladly and smiling took it.

Some blocks later, they looked around not wanting to be surprised in this moment. "So. Do you have any ideas?" She asked placing her head on his shoulder, lovingly. He looked at her for a second before sighing.

"No. That's why I'm asking for your help." He admitted once again. She shook her head and grabbed his head before leaning in and kissing him.

"We'll reach something." She added and he side-smiled. At least that was a change from his downed looks. The pair reached the park where they had arrived from Rae's fortress and they sat down on a bench so they could talk.

"Is there some breach in your laws we could take advantage of?" He asked gazing at the stars and full moon that covered them. It was beautiful out there. The light was dim. And the source of it was fully the stars because the lazy electric public workers hadn't fixed the lights of that park. Not that it was important as it was a small park. But it made it more calmed.

She followed his point of view and her eyes twinkled at the beauty of the show. "Wow…It's…Gorgeous…" She sighed touched. She moved and leaned on Ranma, who, in a reflex move, rounded her shoulders with his arm. Making her smile even more and snuggle even more close. It was a vicious circle after all. "No." She said responding to his question. "But…" She trailed off. It wasn't an option seeing Ranma's attitude against that.

"But, what?" He asked turning immediately to her.

The gleam in his eyes made her drop-sweat and doubt about telling him or not. A fight was in her for half a second, but it felt like eternity. The feeling that didn't want to break his spirit even more and help their relationship in the short and long run, and the feeling of actually loving him enough to protect him from the probable only way out of that unwanted marriage.

"Er…" She said as the fight was over. "N-Nothing." She turned around and looked down. She knew that if he pressed, she would give in and tell him that information.

"Shampoo." He warned seriously and grabbed her shoulder. Applying some strength, he tried to make her look at him, but she shrugged his grip off.

"P-please. Don't." she almost begged. "I-I know y-you won't like this…" She said and mentally kicked herself. She had said too much.

"What am I not going to like? Shampoo, please tell me what you know." He asked politely. Seeing that she was not going to relent, he switched tactics. "Please?" He begged.

Shampoo looked even lower but changed her mind about telling about him or not. "A-All right…" She looked at him, directly in the eye. "T-There is one w-way to get out."

"What! Tell me! I must know!" He interrupted grabbing her by her shoulders.

"Y-You are n-not going to like this…" She whispered but nodded to herself. "You have to lose to your suitor. In this case, Bambou." She blurted bluntly and directly. It was for the best. His eyes almost bulged out of its places.

"W-What?" He exclaimed shocked. Now that was a turn of the table. He began considering the options, but neither of them was perfect in any way. On one side, he had a marriage with two amazons, but he had his martial artist honour intact. There would be some bickering and he clearly knew that Shampoo didn't like to share. Specially himself.

But on the other side. He saw himself with Shampoo, alone. But peaceful and more than probably in a lovingly marriage. There was a but, of course. His pride in haven't lost a single fight would be lost forever. It was a tough decision. The thing he wanted the most, his honour, versus the thing he loved the most, Shampoo.

"Oh, great! Just…great!" He shouted to the heavens.

"Told you wouldn't like this…" Shampoo reminded and he sighed.

"Yes. You're right. Sorry for bursting at you…" He apologized shaking his head. He would have to decide this in another time. After all, they had left in a date, so it was time for them to actually have it. "Let's forget about that for tonight and have fun. We're in a date, or not?" He said changing his attitude.

She looked at him quizzically for a second and smiled nodding once. "Of course. Let's forget our worries for tonight." She agreed happy to his sudden change.

"Do we leave this place, or we stay here?"

"Let's stay. It's perfect here. Not even a noise except the crickets…Very dim light…" A sudden and scary gleam caught her eyes. It did scare him like hell. A tint of blue covered his forehead.

"W-Why are you looking at me that way…?" He said backing away an inch. Her devishly smirk scared even more the hell out of him. He tried to leave the bench, but he tripped with her foot and fell on the floor. She didn't lose a second and launched on him immediately after.

"Now nothing will save you…" She hissed making them roll and hide between the thick bushes…

"(Wonder where Ranma took her in their date…)" Bambou said to her elder. A sudden smirk rose to the ancient lady. Bambou raised a brow. "(Do you have any idea?)"

"(Not at all. But possibly they will be discussing how to make a way out of your actions, young lady. I know that you were following our rules perfectly, but you strictly knew that Ranma was Shampoo's.)" Cologne ended her speech by frowning at the blue-haired Amazon. The teen glared back.

"(All right! I know I did wrong, but you don't have to rub it in my face every time you talk!)" She replied furious. She did understand that it was her elder, but that attitude was going to make her go nuts unless it was stopped soon. And craziness in an Amazon wasn't a good thing.

"(I think Shampoo may tell him how to get out.)" Cologne pointed going back to the matter in hand. Or, the matter she made the discussion topic. "(But, knowing that boy, he will fight that with all his might. Unless my great-granddaughter's recent presence may help him in change a bit his one-tracked mind.)" Cologne pointed to her subjugate.

"(What do you mean? And what is the way out?)" Bambou blinked multiple times, clearly confused. Cologne bopped her head with her staff.

"(How dare you forget our laws! You studied them under one of the elders for a full year!)" Cologne exclaimed as an explanation of her hit. "(Now, the way out is losing in a fight against you. And why he won't like it?)" Bambou nodded. She did want to know why. It was best to know her opponent the best she could. "(Because he sees defeat as something alike to what we see it. A great shame. Losing to him, is losing all honour unless he beats the one he lost to in a re-match. And we would know what happens if he beats you again.) Cologne finished her explanation to a very surprised Bambou.

"(So Ranma believes in our customs?)" She asked trying to clear that doubt. Of course he didn't. If not, he would have married Shampoo long ago.

"(No, child. He just sees defeat as if you would lose to an outsider.)" She explained and the teen nodded understanding.

"(I see. I will go to sleep now. I'm tired and we have to get up early for school.)" Bambou informed and bowed slightly before leaving to their room.

Mh…Now I REALLY want to know what's happening in those two's date… Cologne thought and followed the young one's train of thought in going to sleep.

One thing I did NOT change form my writing style, is leaving cliffies in the best moment possible. I hope that gets your spirits up after the long wait.

L337, sorry to tell you this. But there will not be a triangle. It WILL keep Shampoo/Ranma to the end. I already have a pairing in my head for Bambou. One that may be...funny. I think I talked too much already, and I won´t mention anymore regarding that topic.

Anyway, Chapter review! Ranma finally found a way to get out of the marriage Bambou made him enter! But will he let his honor beat him and he´ll have to marry two girls, or will the love he feels for Shampoo be stronger? Now that is the quid of the question, isn´t it?

Later!