Bonbori and Spatulas

by The Altered Destinies

Ranma has married Akane, forcing Ukyo and Shampoo to pick up the pieces of their lives and move on. It written by Dreiser and began online publication on January 22nd, 2002.

2. Chapter 2

Bonbori and Spatulas: Two

-Two-

By the time we set up camp the sun has set and we're

all wiped out from the trip. Well, at least I'm wiped

out. I'm not sure about Shampoo, she seems to have

enough energy for an army of people inside that curvy

frame of hers. Cologne settles down in front of the

fire we've built and I watch Shampoo sit across from

her, wondering what's going on.

"Kuonji-san," says Cologne in quiet regard, arching an

eyebrow at me. "Won't you sit?"

I frown at her, I'm sure of it. I really wish I knew

what was up with her lately but I don't want to think

about it, honestly. Cologne tends to have plans that

go way over my head. I know my limits and I'm pretty

settled with them. I'm not the type to scheme. Okay,

I'm not the type to scheme well. I'm a fairly simple

gal when you get right down to it.

That's probably why I do what Cologne asks and sit

next to Shampoo. The old lady seems to smirk at this

and I sigh inwardly. She is really annoying, you know.

Shampoo smiles at me though and bumps our legs lightly

and it makes me smile in return. I'll give Shampoo one

thing, she knows how to cheer people up when she feels

like it. There's just something undeniably soothing

and happy about her that I like.

Probably because I've never experienced it before. I

loved Ranma but he never made me feel like this. He

tied me up in knots and made me a jumble of nerves. I

know that's not his fault or anything, don't get me

wrong, but it's the plain truth. I was never totally

relaxed, completely myself, with him. But I am with

Shampoo and it's nice.

Really nice.

"It's late," Cologne begins with stating the obvious,

"so we won't be starting training today. Instead we'll

wake early." Her eyes fixate on Shampoo who

immediately sits up straighter and looks more

attentive. I want to roll my eyes at this but stop

myself because I'm damn sure the old woman wouldn't

like it. "At daybreak."

"Daybreak?" I let out a groan.

"Is that a problem, Kuonji-san?" asks Cologne in

supremely dry tones.

"No, not if you want me fumbling around, fallin' all

over myself," I grumble under my breath, looking far

from Cologne's penetrating gaze that was focused on me

way too often for my liking lately.

"Mm," Cologne continues to study me for a moment but

then decides to let it slide. I'm not sure why but

I'll count it as a blessing from the Kami. "Ranma's

strength relies in his speed and confidence in battle.

To defeat him you must overcome both, Shampoo."

"Yes," says Shampoo, narrowing her eyes decisively, "I

think as much. Will Great Grandmother teach me how to

be faster? To have speed quicker than Ranma's?"

"Precisely that, child," murmurs Cologne, looking

quite pleased with Shampoo and for once the old lady

doesn't irritate me because it causes Shampoo to blush

happily. I can't blame her for holding Cologne in high

regard, I guess. She practically raised her and she's

always watching Shampoo's back, which is nice. I wish

I had someone like that since my own family doesn't

much hold up to the deal. "I will teach you a very old

and difficult technique handed down through our

ancestors. The last person who was able to master it

was very special indeed and I know you'll be his equal

someday."

"Great Grandmother," says Shampoo slowly, her eyes

going wide. "You no mean..."

"The Blink of Light, yes," Cologne nods. "Rogaine did

well with it and I'm sure that you will as well,

child." She studies Shampoo for a moment then

continues, "I trust you with it and I would not trust

many." Cologne draws her gaze over to me and it holds

a hint of definite warning. "I do not trust many."

Yeah, she's got it in for me. I just wish I knew why.

Cologne is already up and hopping away though, talking

about getting some food for our dinner. This leaves me

alone with Shampoo who's still in shock about this

blinky technique she's learning.

"Shampoo?" I begin hesitantly. "What's this about?"

"Blink of Light is very powerful technique," Shampoo

answers me finally. Scarlet eyes are still full of

shock and she closes them, shaking her head before she

goes on, "It only have one true master... Rogaine. He

dead brother of Great Grandmother, very powerful

warrior, very skilled. Blink of Light is called so

because of how fast person who know it seem to be.

They move, is like a blink of light, they here, then

there, no can track." She shakes her head again, then

murmurs, "If technique learned by wrong person, it can

be used to do many terrible things. Great

Grandmother..." Shampoo trails off in wonder.

"She trusts you, sugar," I say quietly, reaching out

to touch Shampoo's knee. She looks up at me and I

smile at her, shaking her leg gently. "That's a good

thing."

"I not know how much," Shampoo says, sounding lost. "I

hope..."

"You hope what?" I pursue, wanting to know what was on

her mind, making her features scrunch up in a frown,

lines marring her beautiful face.

Shampoo faces me, her expression utterly serious, her

scarlet eyes dark on my own. "I hope I not disappoint

Great Grandmother, that I live up to trust she place

in me."

"You will," I reassure as best I can. She looks

doubtful and I squeeze her knee before giving it

another little shake. "Hey, c'mon now," I give her my

best grin, "don't look start looking like that. We

haven't even started up training yet. Just work hard,

give it your all, and I'm sure everything will work

out."

Sighing loudly, Shampoo looks away from me, only to

look back, a smile tugging on her lips as she regards

me fondly. I can't help but wonder about that though.

About that and the way it makes my heart beat

faster... reminding of that almost kiss we had before.

A kiss... was it a kiss? I don't know, I'm not sure if

I want to know. I do want to know why she's looking at

me like that though.

"What?" I ask rather suspiciously, frowning at her.

"Nothing," Shampoo says easily, still looking at me

with that affectionate expression which is starting to

drive me to distraction. "It just... you be so

innocent sometimes. It charming and frustrating at

same time, that all."

"Innocent?" I echo with disbelief. I immediately scowl

once I get over my shock and I growl at her, "I'm not

innocent! You don't know half the stuff I've seen and

done, sugar!"

Shampoo arches an eyebrow at me and looks skeptical. I

want to huff and puff and blow her smug attitude down

but before I can she's got her hand pressed against my

cheek. It stuns me somehow... its softness, its warmth

on my skin. She smiles softly at me and says quietly,

"You no be like that. It not insult, simply is truth."

Shampoo then tilts her head to one side, studying me

with a burning scarlet gaze. "I like you this way... I

like how you is yourself. So many people in Shampoo's

life not what they seem. They false, pretend to be

this and that but you... you no like that." In a

smooth movement, she leans forward, her breath hot on

my skin as her hand drops down to rest on my waist,

lightly pulling me closer to her. I let her, I'm not

sure why, because I want to or because I'm too

surprised to protest, or maybe just because, hell,

Shampoo is a ton stronger than me. "I think this make

you innocent to many bad things in this world and that

good, very good."

I move my head slightly and can't help but notice our

noses are almost touching, we're that close. Her

breath is sweet and she smells like wild flowers. That

can't be a perfume, can it? They couldn't make perfume

that smells so good... it has to be her.

"If you say so," I respond in what I hope is a

sardonic tone but I inwardly scowl at the slight waver

I can detect in my own voice. "I'm not sure that's

right though. I got plenty of secrets and nobody is

totally honest, as much as people might wanna be."

"This is true," she murmurs, pulling away from me and

I immediately miss her presence because of the warmth

it gave me, the safety I felt from her touch on me.

"But I think you is at least one who tries to be

honest. That make Shampoo happy."

"I'm glad, sugar," I tell her, speaking the truth of

my heart and realizing that maybe, just maybe,

Shampoo's right about me being innocent. The more I

talk with her the more it's evident her life back in

China wasn't all peaches and cream. In fact, it seems

like it was anything but. That makes me wonder why she

wants to go back, if she even does in the first place.

I hadn't really thought about that. If... no, once she

defeats Ranma in battle, what will she do next?

"Shampoo?"

"Yes?" Shampoo asks, looking at me with a continued

fondness. It almost makes me not ask the question I'm

about to but still... I press on.

"Do you wanna go back?" I ask softly, memorizing her

features, her reaction to my question. "To your

village, I mean. It doesn't sound like you were too

happy back there." She stares at me, a stunned

expression on her face and I hastily continue, "I was

just wondering because you never really said what

you're gonna do... once you beat him."

"I... I not think on it," says Shampoo slowly, turning

away from me, a lost look on her fine features. "I

focused on training, on battle coming, not on what

come after. Shampoo will go home, that is true." She

draws her gaze back on me and smiles hesitantly. "Is

true no all good things in Joketsuzoku but is where my

family is. Be good to be with them again, to see them

again. At least I can trust them and their love for

me."

"You can trust me," the words are past my lips, spoken

with a vehemence and strength I didn't even know I

had. She looks at me with surprise and I laugh

nervously. I scoot back from her only to be stopped by

her hand grasping mine. "Sorry," I sputter, "I

just..."

"I do... I do trust you," Shampoo murmurs and once

again her hands are flat on my cheeks, pressing into

my skin, soothing me with their touch. Scarlet eyes

burn into me, searching long and hard before a small

smile graces her features. I can't help but wonder

what she saw, looking at me like that. "Spatula girl,"

she breathes out, moving forward in a fluid motion to

brush her lips against my forehead.

Shampoo moves backwards and walks away, disappearing

into the tent that she and I set up only a half an

hour ago. Leaving me alone and stunned with what just

happened. My hands raise up, lightly tracing the skin

on my forehead that was still warm from her caress. As

I do, I hear the snap of branches and turn to look

back at Cologne.

"Kuonji-san," says Cologne gravely, holding two

rabbits in her grasp. There's a long moment of silence

and I freeze, knowing with everything in me that the

old woman had seen what just happened. Who knew what

that meant for me. I didn't get what was going on with

me and Shampoo but I'm not the type to want forced

marriages. Especially with everything that's gone on

with Ranma. Cologne lifts one of the rabbits and

rewards me with a wry grin. "Help me to skin these,

won't you?"

The sigh of relief I give is loud enough to fill the

entire mountain, I'm sure. But somehow not being

grilled and sautéed by Cologne isn't enough to calm me

down. Because I still don't have one clue of what the

hell is going on with me and Shampoo.

She is innocent, she truly is, and that's why I trust

her. Someone like her can't deceive people, not

really. The most she can do is tell a white lie or

two, nothing that can do much harm in the long run.

That's what I think about as I lie in the tent,

staring up at the red cloth above my head. As I do I

absently note that we only have two of them. I'm sure

one of them is for Great Grandmother alone and this

one?

It's mine... mine and Ukyo's.

Perhaps I should have packed three. Perhaps I should

have told Ukyo to bring a tent of her own. Perhaps I

should have done all this and more but I didn't want

to. I miss it, the feeling of sleeping next to

someone. When I was younger, there was Perfume.

We were inseparable back then, she and I. Training

together, playing always, at each others sides and it

was happiness, I realize that now. I wonder sometimes

if I wasn't in a little bit in love with her in those

days. Perfume is so strong, so fierce, in her

feelings. She never wavers once she's made up her mind

and when she loves you, she protects you until the

end. I know this because she's done it for me time and

time again.

Before and after she went away.

A training journey, she told me during the sunset. We

were sitting on our favorite place, a high cliff,

grassy and filled with wildflowers. It was our escape,

our special hide away, a location that only she and I

visited when we wanted to get away, to be alone. I

stopped kicking my legs absently to stare at her in

shock and she smiled sadly at me.

"I need to be by myself for awhile, Xian-pu," she said

to me in her throaty, sensual, tones that would wash

over me like a warm breeze, "to sort things out."

"What things?" I asked her, trying to hold back the

tears, to restrain my anger caused from the idea of

losing her, not having her at my side.

She didn't answer and instead gave me that lopsided

enigmatic smile of hers. Then she did as I just did

with Ukyo... kissing me softly on my forehead before

she left. I never found out why she went away, she

wouldn't tell me but I think perhaps she knew how I

felt, how I was beginning to feel for her, and she

left to spare me the torment.

Amazons give leeway in many things, but not when it

comes to the Matriarch and her family. Particularly

her heir, which I was then and am now. Any romance

between Perfume and I would've been looked down upon

and eventually destroyed by scheming.

I wonder sometimes if she felt the same way but

stopped herself from returning those feelings, from

allowing herself to fall weak to love's grasp, by

leaving my presence. Once she returned I was with

Lotion and so deeply in love I barely remembered that

I had felt similar emotions towards my dark and

dangerous cousin.

The more I reminiscence on my past the more I realize

that it's quite checkered. Does anyone have a simple

one though? Even Ukyo with her innocence has skeletons

in her closet in the form of her old girlfriend... the

one who slapped her.

Strange that I focus on that one bit of information.

The slap Ukyo received from Megumi when the girl

realized the truth about her. I think it has to do

with the fact that I don't think she deserved it...

deserved any form of punishment. Ukyo did deceive her,

this is true, but why couldn't she see the torment in

her eyes? The same torment I'm sure was shining as

bright as the moon when Ukyo confessed her actual

nature.

I saw it and I'm not in love with her so why couldn't

Megumi? She loved Ukyo, did she not? If you love

someone you would notice such a thing, you would have

to. That dark sheen in her eyes, that grasping sadness

locked deep inside them, making her look old beyond

her time, tainting that innocence I know very well

still remains with her.

The innocence that makes me trust her. The innocence

that makes her so very beautiful in my eyes and I'm

sure the eyes of others. The innocence that is

beginning to tempt me.

After Lotion died I was inconsolable. I didn't want

flowery words and pity, not from the strangers in the

tribe who didn't know me, but only the image I

produced, and not from my family who truly did know

who I was. I was on the cliff, sitting there, staring

down at the jagged rocks below, contemplating just

leaning forward, falling effortlessly to my doom so I

might embrace death and see my beloved again.

It was then that Perfume came to me, speaking words

that enraged me but I know I'll never forget because

they did ring true. "You fall in love far too quickly,

Xian-pu," she told me sadly. "Your heart isn't

something to be given lightly. Lo-xion deserved it,

this is true, but she's gone and now your heart is

hurting. Guard it more closely next time."

A pity I never truly heard those words until now. I

gave my heart freely to Ranma and lost him to Akane,

not heeding Perfume's advice in the least. And now...

I look at Ukyo and I'm struck by how she reminds me of

Lotion.

That same innocence, that same open caring, that same

unwavering honesty. It's all there and I hear

Perfume's words, ringing in my ears, as clear as

daybreak. Telling me to guard my heart... to not allow

this to happen as quickly as it did with the others.

To see the line of heartbreak that's gone on in my

short life. Starting with her, continuing with Lotion,

and ending with Ranma. Did I really want to add Ukyo

to my list?

The tent flap pulls back and I see Ukyo's face,

hesitant but wearing a smile, smudges of soot lightly

covering her features, making her look adorable to my

eyes. "Time for dinner, sugar," she informs me. "Your

Great Granny and I cooked up a storm."

"Yes?" I ask, tilting my head and sitting up to look

at her. "What you make?"

"That," Ukyo drawls as she grins impishly at me before

her hand reaches out to tap me on the nose lightly,

"is a surprise. So you better just get your butt up

and out of this tent if you wanna see what I've made

for you, huh?"

I watch the tent flaps close, causing her lean form to

disappear from my sight and I can hear the words

echoing still. That I fall too fast, that it will

cause me harm, that it will end up being my undoing

someday. I hear them and I know that hearing them will

do me no good, not now and not ever, because I hear

the words but I'm not listening.

And I'm not sure that I ever will be.

I can't sleep and I'm not really sure why. Shampoo

doesn't snore, that much is for sure. In fact, she's

so quiet I'm wondering if she's really asleep at all.

I chance a quick look her way and am immediately met

with twinkling scarlet eyes.

"Shampoo!" I cry out, jumping back in my sleeping bag,

bumping into the cloth wall of the tent while she

chuckles and sits up to regard me with amused eyes.

"What in the hell are you tryin' to do? Scare me to

death?"

"Why I want to do that?" she asks rather coyly. "Is no

fun for me if you're dead."

"Yeah, I bet," I respond sourly, regarding her with a

lidded gaze. "So what's up? Why're you awake? Couldn't

sleep with all the ways you have to scare me in your

head?"

She draws her eyes away from me, her expression

slightly hurt and I bite my tongue, fuming inwardly at

myself for my words. "Shampoo," I say slowly, scooting

towards her, sitting back on my knees to slide my

sleeping bag closer to her. It's cold after all and I

have a feeling we might be up talking for awhile. "I'm

sorry, I didn't mean that."

"I know," Shampoo says very quietly, looking up at the

roof to the tent.

The silence continues on and it's pretty damn obvious

Shampoo's not about to offer up why she's not asleep

so I ask, "What's goin' on, sugar?"

"Can't sleep, is all," she shrugs, turning away from

me, her back facing me now. My eyes narrow at this

rejection and before I know it, I'm grabbing her,

turning her around so we're face to face once again.

Her eyes are wide with surprise, I bet she figured I

was too polite to do something like that. Well, screw

polite. I want some answers. "What you want, spatula

girl?" she asks in a haughty sort of demand.

"I want you to talk to me like a person," I say in my

softest, most serious tones, the ones I reserve for

special occasions when I really mean business. "Like a

friend." I lightly hold her wrists, my thumb caressing

her right one, seeming to have a will of its own.

"Tell me what this is all about? Please?"

Silence returns, dragging on and part of me thinks

it's never going to stop. Then Shampoo tilts her head,

turning it one side, away from me and I feel her silky

strands of hair lying against my hand. I want to pull

my hand away to run my fingers through it. I want to

but I keep still as I watch her, waiting for her to

finally speak.

"I... I scared," Shampoo admits after a long moments

pause. "What if I lose? What if I no can beat Ranma in

battle? What will become of Shampoo then? Or her

family?"

"You won't lose," I say strongly.

"Can't know that," replies Shampoo, sounding very

tired as she looks up at me, and her expression is one

of a person trying to explain something to a small

child. It hits me then that yeah, Shampoo is a harder

person than I am in a lot of ways. She's gone through

more than I have and it's strange to think that before

now I never noticed... never cared. "You want me to

win, I want me to win, but no can know I will. Just

hope, is all."

"No," I say in firm tones, with everything in me. I

lean over her, clutching her hand in mine, squeezing

it lightly as I go on, "You will win, Shampoo. Believe

in that."

She looks up at me, a slow smile spreading on her

features as she does so. I smile back at her, watching

as her hands rise up, holding my face gently in their

grasp. The tips of her fingers trace the barest of

paths on my skin, causing me to shiver from the touch

as they move, delicately memorizing the planes of my

face.

"I believe in you," she says in a quiet voice, so

quiet that I wonder if she really even said it at all.

Her hands still, becoming frozen as scarlet eyes fill

with torment, self doubt, then she tilts her head,

turning away from me. Finishing quieter yet, "Even

though shouldn't."

Before I can respond, Shampoo pulls the sleeping bag

closer to her, covering her body as her back is to me.

Taking this as to be the end of our conversation, I

slide back into my own sleeping bag, burying myself

deep inside as I stare blankly up at the roof to our

tent, counting the tiny cross stitching in the red

cloth.

There isn't much for me to say about Shampoo's words,

really there isn't. Mostly because I figure she's

probably right. We were enemies just two days ago and

now I'm here and we're... I don't know what we are.

She believes in me though and I... hell, I guess I

believe in her too. Despite the fact that she's right,

we really shouldn't.

Just as Great Grandmother said, we wake at daybreak,

the rising sun greets us and I shade my eyes from it,

smiling and welcoming the warmth it will bring.

Standing at my side, Ukyo shivers and rubs wearily at

her eyes, mumbling under her breath.

She isn't a morning person, apparently. I can't find

it in me to blame her though. A lot has gone on in the

past few days and I for one would love a rest if time

permitted. But it is not the time for such things, I

must train so I may challenge Ranma and defeat him.

Ukyo though... she could rest if she wanted. There is

no reason for her to be here, doing this to herself

and yet, here she is.

Another part of her charm I would think.

Great Grandmother begins outlining the plans for

training, saying that today we will be alone,

unaccompanied by Ukyo as she's not to learn the Blink

of Light technique. There will be other days for Ukyo

to learn from her, she says then turns swiftly,

telling me to follow her. I can't help but look to

Ukyo, who's stopped rubbing her eyes and meets my

gaze. She wears a crooked smile and says in those

husky tones of hers, "Good luck, sugar. Not that

you're gonna need it, huh?"

"Spatula girl," I say slowly, looking deep into her

brown eyes that shine at me. I suddenly have so much

to tell her, about how she makes me feel, how she's

helped me these past few days, but I know I can't.

Partially because Great Grandmother is watching us

with her hawk's eyes and also because I'm not ready...

I'm frightened of it. "Thank you."

"No problem," she replies, still smiling at me and I

nod at her, turning around and walking with Great

Grandmother into the forest, feeling those warm eyes

on me as I go.

It isn't until we're well into the forest that their

presence leaves me and when it does, I sigh, missing

the feeling of them caressing my form. Great

Grandmother, of course, notices this and looks my way,

her gaze piercing into me with much less warmth than

Ukyo's had done only moments before.

"Xian-pu," Great Grandmother begins the conversation

as she does many, in Mandarin and with my name.

Usually when she does this I know I'm in for some form

of lecture. I very much doubt now is any different.

"You know the reason why I did not invite Kuonji-san

to train with us, do you not?"

"Yes," I reply, looking to her, "you do not trust

her."

Great Grandmother eyes me for a moment, her gaze

analytical, and I can tell she's trying to decide if

I'm simply stating the obvious or I'm mocking her

somehow. To tell the truth, I would admit that it's a

bit of both. "There is that," Great Grandmother

says. "I cannot help but be surprised myself... at

how quickly you've come to trust her. I thought I had

taught you to be more cautious in such areas, Xian-pu.

People are rarely what they seem. I know Kuonji-san

has a certain charm to her as it were but we don't

know why she's doing all of this. There could be other

motivations behind it."

"What motivations?" I ask more sharply than I

should. I know this because Great Grandmother narrows

her gaze at me. "Ranma is with Akane now, there is

nothing she can gain by being false with us. She just

wants as I do, to stop hurting, to try and forget

about him and the pain he's caused us. Ukyo wants to

move on!"

"Perhaps," allows Great Grandmother. "But I still

think it best to be wary, Xian-pu. Keep an eye on

her... do not trust so fast and easy as you tend to

do." She is quiet for a long moment, then she adds,

"Pur-fum would say as much if she was here."

I freeze in my steps and stare at Great Grandmother's

back. It seems that she will always know how to get to

me. Just hearing of my cousin, my ever present

protector in Joketsuzoku, makes me take pause to

consider my own actions. No, Perfume would not approve

my manner regarding Ukyo in the least, I know that. I

don't care though. I think, as much I would loathe to

admit it, I'm coming to need the relationship Ukyo and

I share. There's an understanding there... about Ranma

and all we went through because of him that none, save

each other, can understand.

Perhaps that is why I'm beginning to need her so.

"Xian-pu," Great Grandmother says again. "I do not

want to press you on this issue but I still feel the

situation with Kuonji-san... it isn't good for you.

What if she-"

"Ukyo isn't like the others, Great Grandmother," I

interrupt harshly. "She knows very little of our ways

and I think it hardly matters to her that I'm your

heir." A flash of Ukyo's smiling face enters my mind

and I murmur, "That is why I like her."

"It's also why you liked Ranma, even loved him,"

observes Great Grandmother shrewdly. "You enjoyed how

he didn't treat you as either a pampered princess or

the devil incarnate. To Ranma you were simply a girl,

another martial artist, not the future Matriarch of

Joketsuzoku. I think that made you a bit drunk with

happiness."

"At first," I admit, clenching my jaw as I

remembered how happy it made me at first to be treated

differently by Ranma only to get hurt again and again

by him. "But his faults came to the surface, didn't

they? He acted the way that he did because he doesn't

have one modicum of respect for me or my culture. If

he did, then he would have respected the bond we had

because of his defeat of me. He WAS my Airen, he was

and everyone knew it. Ranma..." I spit his name out,

hating it touching my lips, the anger is welling up in

me and I wish Ukyo was here, to comfort me with her

touch. Those graceful hands reaching out to hold my

own, squeezing them with reassurance, telling me in

every way possible it would be fine, it would work

out. Only she isn't here, so I rage on. "Ranma didn't

want to see me that way. He ignored me and our laws,

thinking he was above them, that they were silly rules

from some backwards Chinese village. Well," I growl

more than say the word, "he will think differently

once we meet in battle."

I look to Great Grandmother and she's regarding me

with certain surprise. I think she hardly expected

that level of zeal from me. Or that much bitterness. I

can't hold it back anymore though. Part of me truly

hates Ranma for what he did to me... what he did to

Ukyo with his ignorance, his inability to see things

for how they truly were. His horrible selfishness that

time and time again, hurt the people who loved him

most.

"You are dedicated to this, I see," Great

Grandmother says with admiration. "I'm glad. I had

worried you might lose heart in our training because

of your feelings-"

"I do not love Ranma," I cut Great Grandmother off

in cool tones, "not anymore. He lost my love when he

chose Akane despite knowing of our laws. There are no

feelings to stop me from defeating him in the upcoming

battle, Great Grandmother. I swear it."

Great Grandmother studies me for a long moment and I

meet her gaze, unwavering in my strength because I

truly do mean my words. I don't love Ranma. He is lost

forever to me and I promise, to myself and those who

love me, that after I defeat him he will never be more

than a speck on my mind after that moment. He will no

longer matter.

"Head towards the falls, Xian-pu," Great Grandmother

says finally, gesturing towards the huge waterfall

that's below us. "That is where we will be

training."

I nod my head and walk towards the edge of the forest,

losing myself in the lushness of the nature

surrounding me. As I go, I know full well what Great

Grandmother is thinking. She is wondering that if I no

longer love Ranma... if I no longer care, then what

exactly do I feel towards Ukyo then? If she asked me

this, I wouldn't know how to reply.

All I could say is that she makes me happy. That's

something that no one has done for me in a very long

time. Ranma included.

I watch Shampoo and her Granny walk off into the

forest for a good while before the urge to yawn takes

hold of me and I give myself a good stretching.

Scratching the back of my head, I wander back into the

tent I share with Shampoo and search through my

knapsack for a clean pair of clothes, soap, shampoo,

and a towel.

Once I'm set I start towards the small stream I

noticed on our walk here. I'm not exactly a morning

person so I'm fairly addicted to my early showers,

using them to help wake me up. But in this case, it

looks like I'll have to settle for an odd bath of

sorts.

Stopping at the stream, I can't help but glance

around, eyes narrowing before I close them completely,

listening totally to my surroundings. The last thing I

want is to find out there's some perverted peeping tom

around, waiting to spy on me as I bathe. Finding

nothing but the usual sounds of the forest, I sigh and

place my things on a nearby boulder before stripping

out of my pajamas and shoes.

Knowing that the water is going to be damn cold, I

shiver in apprehension. Maybe as much from my own

nakedness as the breeze that hits my skin. Scowling at

my hesitation I shake my head and decide to just take

the plunge. With a hoot and a shout, I jump into the

stream, landing with a splash in the water which is

deep, but not horribly so.

Standing on my tip toes, the water reaches my chin,

and I duck my head a bit, so it rests under my nose

and I blow bubbles in the surface as I shiver from the

cold. The water is as chilly as I thought it would be

but already I can feel it waking me up. With a splash,

I wade through it, towards the shore and reach for my

bottle of shampoo.

Hurriedly, I wash my hair and body, now feeling

totally awake and completely frost bitten in the

water. In a few minutes, my task is finished and I

eagerly run out of the water and dry myself off,

unable to help delighting in the warmth of the towel

against my skin. It's almost as good as the feeling of

clean clothes on my body, warming me with their touch.

Sighing as I tuck in my black button up shirt, I wipe

my hands on my jeans. Picking up my things, I head

back into camp, hanging my wet towel on a nearby tree

branch before I wander back into the tent to put my

soap and shampoo away. Once there, I sit on my

sleeping bag, unable to help my eyes from focusing on

Shampoo's side of the tent.

I wonder how she's doing out there, with her Great

Granny? I'm sure Cologne's training her well... I

mean, she has to be. I just hope she's feeling

alright. The other night, I can't get over how scared

she was. About the idea of losing. She really does

have so much on the line with this battle against

Ranma.

She has to win, she just has to.

It wouldn't be fair otherwise. Shampoo's had such a

hard life... just as hard as mine, probably even

harder and it's not right. Someone like her, who's as

nice as she is, as open as she is, deserves better

than to be shot down over and over again.

Makes me wonder though. Why is it crappy things happen

to good people? Or how come the dense are the ones who

get rewarded in life? Sometimes I want to swipe

Akane's mallet and bash Ranma over the head with it to

try and get him to see some form of reason. Or maybe

to see if I hit him like she does, will he love me

too?

Bah.

Stupid thoughts, all of them. I flop back on my

sleeping bag, staring up at the red stitching of the

tent, thinking about Shampoo. She really is beautiful.

What every man would want in a woman. She's the ideal,

perfection of sorts.

Why doesn't he want her? Almost every man who sees her

wants her. Mousse is damn obsessed with her, that much

is for sure. So obsessed it almost borders on madness,

she gets to him that much. A person like that... how

can you ignore them? Even I can't.

She's a lot more than looks though. There's a sharp

mind in her, just as dangerous as Nabiki's. Makes me

wonder why she never used it against her rivals in the

old days. To try and ruin us, take us away from Ranma

as options. Most likely her sense of honor felt to go

that far simply wouldn't be honorable of her. Hence

the small tricks instead.

Something I must admit I'm grateful for. I already

know that I'm not the trickster type. My line of

thinking is way to simplistic for stuff like that.

It's all I can do to tell a few white lies with some

hopeful level of accuracy. I doubt I'm convincing when

I do.

I know I care about her now. I care about her more

than I have anyone in awhile and it shocks me mostly

because it's so fast. Also because it's so new...

unexpected. I've been alone for some time now. I've

had people around me, sure. First Ranma and then

Konatsu, they seemed to care about me but they didn't

know me, not really. They knew an idea of me, some

image they have placed in their minds.

But it's different with Shampoo. She never had any

ideas about me other than the fact that I was a rival

for Ranma's heart and when we both lost him to

Akane... she saw the truth of who I was because that

idea was gone now. I think she really is the first to

see who I am. The first person ever...

It scares the hell out of me, you know?

What if she doesn't like what she sees? What if she

sends me away? What I end up disgusting her or

disappointing her? I don't know, I really don't know

how it works, to be close to someone, to really let

them see who you are. It's never happened before.

Not to me and especially not with someone like her. A

person I think is genuinely nice, appealing, and...

Kami, I wish it wasn't true because it will only

complicate things, very attractive to me. It's a world

of trouble, I know that, and I figure she does too.

Still, we're not exactly stopping it from happening

either. Maybe sometimes we need a world of trouble in

our lives. Stuff to shake us up and turn us upside

down. That way we really know that we're alive and

life is worth living.

At least, that's what I figure.

Heaving a sigh, I turn on my side and look at

Shampoo's side of the tent again. As I do, I can feel

my eyes turn heavy and I yawn softly. I really do hate

waking up early and who knows when Shampoo and her

Granny'll be back. What's the harm in a little nap?

Drifting off into sleep, the only thing I'm aware of

is the light scent of wild flowers enveloping my

senses. I smile with contentment and then, I sleep.

Somehow knowing that I'll end up dreaming about a

certain purple haired Amazon.

Training was difficult to say the least. I'm sure I

turned into a cat more times than many people can

count but still... Great Grandmother praised me,

saying I did very well, that I had grasped the basic

concept of the technique. Which, all in all, isn't bad

for the first day. I suppose I understand her thoughts

behind the training.

To put me around cold water and attempt to avoid it

when it is splashing up and towards me at every turn

will take a great deal of speed and precision.

Something that is the core necessity for learning the

Blink of Light. I only wish it didn't make me so very

wet and not the kind of wet that I would enjoy.

Ehh... I'm sure my face is making a silly expression

of sorts from the way Great Grandmother has just

raised an eyebrow at me. No doubt she thinks I'm

having thoughts of seducing Ukyo. Although, that isn't

too far from my mind, I have to say.

It has been quite some time since I've lain with

someone, after all. I can think of less attractive and

kindly people than Ukyo to sleep with. The way she is,

that gentleness she has about her makes me think that

she would be a magnificent lover. Tender, attentive...

But I also know that she is very much a virgin. Ukyo

would never have to tell me such a thing for me to

know it. I can simply tell, it's part of that

innocence she carries with her. It would not be right,

not with her value system being the way it is, to

seduce her, use her for my own ends, when I do not

even love her. I couldn't do that to my worst enemy

let alone someone that I am now proud to call a

friend.

So it seems I will be lying alone for a little bit

more. At least until I return to Joketsuzoku, where

sex is thought of with less seriousness and a fling or

two is hardly important. The wind hits my damp form

and I shiver from it. All the same, I cannot help but

smile as we approach the camp and the smell of

homemade stew hits my nostrils.

Ukyo being a good chef is something that everyone

knows her takes for granted, I think. It's just part

of being in the Nerima crowd that Ranma attracted. A

fact of it, I would suppose. Ranma is stubborn, Akane

is a violent tomboy, Ryoga is always lost, and Ukyo is

a wonderful cook. I didn't grasp how wonderful until I

was near starving and she handed me a huge bowl of the

stew she made with a soft smile on her features.

The smile made it taste all the better.

"How'd your training go, sugar?" asks Ukyo, the smile

still on her features as I hungrily gobble down the

stew. I take a few seconds to clean out the bowl and

she chuckles as she takes it away from me, refilling

it with the ladle. Handing it back to me, sandalwood

eyes are warm on me and I shiver again when her

fingers touch mine. "So? You gonna tell me how you did

or not?"

Resting the bowl on my knees, I roll my eyes at her.

"I do good," looking over at Great Grandmother, I beam

at her, "Great Grandmother say so herself."

"Oh yeah?" Ukyo says dryly, looking over at Great

Grandmother with veiled interest. It's a look I

haven't seen on her often and it's... rather

disarming. It makes me recall that she does come from

a family of ninjas. Odd ninjas who are also chefs, but

ninjas all the same. I wonder if the fact that she is

one escapes many other people as well. I would do well

to remember it from now on. "She did really well

then?"

"Shampoo always excels in her training and mastery of

new techniques," Great Grandmother answers smoothly,

her gaze narrowing at Ukyo. "If she did not then she

wouldn't be my heir and the future Matriarch of

Joketsuzoku."

Harsh words, I know, but they are the truth. Ukyo

knows this as well, I think, from the way she is

looking at Great Grandmother now. There's a quiet

respect between the two of them, as it were. I'm not

sure I exactly understand it but it's nice...

certainly it's far better than the constant chiding

Great Grandmother gives Mousse. Then again, she hardly

lectures him for anything that he does not deserve

lecturing for.

"Right," Ukyo drawls in her Kansai accent, giving

Great Grandmother an insufferably charming smile which

I'm sure is meant to annoy her. It works fairly well,

as I can feel Great Grandmother bristle next to me.

"What're you teachin' me then? Never said."

"I think, we'll start with the basics," says Great

Grandmother, looking amused. "The Chestnuts Roasting

Over An Open Fire technique at first, then we'll move

on from there. I should hope you would be able to

master that though... even ten year olds in our tribe

are able to grasp it as our most simple technique."

"I'll do fine," says Ukyo, steadily meeting Great

Grandmother eyes as hers flash dangerously. She takes

my bowl from me, causing me to notice that it's once

again empty, and refills it. As she hands it back, she

continues, "I'm not Ranma, after all."

"No," Great Grandmother murmurs slowly, her gaze hard

on Ukyo, "you aren't."

Taking a spoonful of the stew into my mouth, I study

Great Grandmother closely, and notice that Ukyo is

doing so as well. I'm sure, because of the expression

she wears, her thoughts are very much the same as

mine. Wondering if what Great Grandmother just uttered

meant something good or something very bad indeed.

I probably shouldn't have acted like such a smart ass

with Cologne. I mean, the last person you want to piss

off is Shampoo's Granny. That lady can be more

dangerous than Happosai. Mostly because she has four

times the wits that he does. He just focuses on

getting a good grope or stealing lingerie. Cologne...

well, I don't have much clue on what she focuses on

but I'm sure it's some heavy stuff.

Sighing at myself, I finish my carving and step

backwards to look at my home made target. Blowing some

dust from the wood off my throwing spatula, I grin.

"Not too bad," I comment before I fling the spatula

forward and in seconds it's sticking out from the

center circle in the target. "Not bad at all."

"You is good at that," a melodic voice murmurs in my

ear, ruffling the hairs on the back on my neck and I

whirl around to face Shampoo who smiles at me.

"Hey, sugar," I say slowly, shaking my finger at her,

"I thought you weren't gonna keep trying to scare me

half to death anymore. Friends don't do that sort of

thing, you know."

"That so?" asks Shampoo sweetly, tilting her head to

one side. She strides past me and smoothly pulls my

throwing spatula out of the target I carved into the

large tree then is at my side once again. Offering it

up to me, she says, "You do this often?"

"What? Target practice?" I question her, focusing back

on the target and flinging not one but three throwing

spatulas at it. Each of them landing directly in the

center in a line. Out of the corner of my eye I can

see her eyeing me with admiration. I have to say it

makes me feel pretty damn good about myself, her

looking at me that way. It's been a long time since

someone has. Straightening up, I grin at her. "Pretty

much every day."

"Is impressive," Shampoo murmurs, her eyes still on me

as I retrieve the spatulas from the tree. "You learn

such things because you come from clan of ninjas?"

I freeze in mid motion and turn back at Shampoo.

"How...?" I whisper, frowning at her. I was sure that

no one in Nerima had the brains to figure that out. "I

never said..."

"We did research, on rivals back then," Shampoo admits

with embarrassment. Her eyes are apologetic and she

says, "I sorry, spatula girl, I not mean to spy on

you. Those days we thought it necessary, doing things

like that. It not right, but..."

"No, it's okay," I wave my hand at Shampoo, dismissing

it. Pulling the spatulas from the tree, I walk back to

her and grin, hoping to lighten her mood. "I guess I

should get used to y'all knowing more than me about

pretty much everything, huh? Seems like you got a

world of more connections than I do. Of course," my

grin widens and I lean closer and before I know it,

I'm tapping Shampoo on the nose, making her eyes widen

as she looks at me with surprise. "My Dad is a pretty

well set up guy, back in the Kyoto area."

"That so?" asks Shampoo curiously.

She pauses for a moment to look at me and I know she's

got a question to ask but is worried about asking it.

I might as help her along. "What's up, sugar?"

"If father is powerful man, Shampoo wonder why he do

what he do," she says slowly, looking at me with

careful scarlet eyes. "Why he engage Ukyo to Ranma and

in turn, he insist she stay engaged. Could he not pick

better man for Ukyo? One who wealthy or who has

business connection he would need?"

I'm quiet for a long while and then, out of nowhere,

I'm laughing. Laughing long and hard, thinking that

hell, Shampoo is right. Why did he pick Ranma of all

people? Dad was a small fry in the restaurant business

back then but still... there must have been millions

of better prospects for me. Then I stop laughing as

the answer hits me.

He did it for me.

It's funny, the memories you have as a kid. They're

always fuzzy, you know? You try and focus on them and

it takes awhile for them to clear but once they do

it's like glass, things are that apparent to you. I

know why he did it... I remember his conversation with

Genma as he spoke of how I got along better with Ranma

than anyone. How I liked Ranma far more than my other

playmates and he thought I would be happy with him.

Dad engaged us because he thought it would make me

happy, that would make him happy as well, seeing me

that way. Then it all blew up in his face, it didn't

make anyone happy, it made us miserable. Him, me, and

Ranma, all alike. We were all the furthest thing from

happy because of that damn engagement and the honor we

placed in it.

Shampoo's looking at me still, her eyes dark with

concern and worry. I shake my head and look at her

then give an empty laugh. "Sorry," I say to her, "I

was just remembering some things, that's all. Struck

me as funny at first, then not so funny in the end."

"Spatula girl?" she asks softly, wanting to know

what's on my mind.

"He engaged us because we were friends," I begin

slowly, looking back at the target and smoothly

throwing a spatula at it, staring as it landed in the

center. "Dad saw how I had a hard time making

friends." I look at Shampoo rather sheepishly. "I

wasn't too social back then. Too different from the

other kids, always on the road, and more a boy than a

girl with how I looked and dressed. Got teased about

it sometimes and every time I did, I'd just beat up

whoever teased me. Doesn't lead to many friendships.

It was different with Ranma," I sigh and look back at

the target, throwing another spatula. "I never got

teased by him and I thought at the time that he was

the first person to accept me for who I am. Then I

find out later he just thought I was a boy all along,"

I growl this out and throw another spatula that lands

in the center. "I guess the reason we were engaged was

because Dad figured that I'd be happy with Ranma. He

was my first real friend and he's pretty observant, my

Dad, so I bet he also saw I had a crush on Ranma as

well. It was more about making me happy than getting

him connections. Only it didn't quite work out the way

he planned." I snort and throw another spatula, one

that lands directly in the center, causing the other

two that remain there to fall to the ground. "You know

the rest of the story. I end up dressing as a boy

because I figure after getting dumped by Ranma I make

a better boy than a girl, also to go along with my

Dad, saving his pride from having a daughter who got

jilted by her fiancée. I find Ranma, follow him to

Nerima, get dumb and fall for him again, lose him to

Akane," I say, about to throw another spatula.

Soft hands clasp mine, stopping them in motion and I

look at Shampoo with wide eyes as she smiles sadly at

me. "I'm sorry," she murmurs, bringing our hands down

and in a smooth movement, entwining them as my

throwing spatula drops to the ground. "That no should

have happened to you."

"Yeah," I agree quietly, my hands trembling in hers. I

pull one loose and it's shaking even as I raise it up,

drawn to her, wanting to touch that soft skin again.

My fingertips are light on her cheek, tracing against

it as I murmur, "Same goes for you, sugar."

Funny how dark it is but somehow, I can still see

Shampoo clearly. Makes me think of this saying of

Dad's. How a person only sees what they want to most

of the time and a ninja? Well, a ninja always sees

only what they want to. I guess what I want now is to

see her, leaning into my touch, closing her eyes and

looking sweet like an angel.

Kami, how did we end up this way?

"Great Grandmother say I shouldn't trust you," Shampoo

breaks the silence, opening her eyes and looking up at

me. "That you will hurt me like Ranma."

"Yeah?" I say quietly as I watch her with careful

eyes. My hand on her cheek drifts down to clasp her

shoulder as my other raises up to join it. "What do

you say?"

"I say I no care if that's true, I feel I can trust

you, I..." trailing off, Shampoo ducks her head and

finishes quietly, "I want to trust you." Shuddering as

she released a deep and gasping breath, seeming to

come from her very soul itself, Shampoo murmurs, "It

been long time since I trust someone. It feel good to

do so again. Even if I be hurt in the end."

It hits me then that what I say next, it does matter,

you know? I don't want to tell her lies, to say

something that might wind up being wrong in the long

run. The last thing I want to do is betray her so I

have to watch what I say... think before I speak. With

how my brain usually works this isn't the easiest

thing in the world to do.

"I don't wanna hurt you," I tell her honestly and she

lifts her gaze, looking into my eyes. "I don't wanna

but I can't promise you that I won't. Friends

sometimes hurt each other and I gotta say, getting

hurt is a part of living. We can't really escape it,

Shampoo. But," again my hand raises up, resting on her

cheek and she closes her eyes, "I can promise you I'll

do everything in my power to not hurt you and if I do,

it won't be on purpose. Plus," I give a silly smile

now, hoping to somehow lighten the mood, "if I ever

do, I'll let you whap me with my own battle spatula

for it. How's that sound?"

"That sound good to me, very good," Shampoo whispers,

smiling at me.

"I'm glad," I reply, my hand leaves her cheek, resting

on her shoulder and she covers it with her own as she

continues to smile at me. Tilting my head to one side,

I look into the darkness, where I know the old woman

has been watching us. "Enjoy the show?"

"Vaguely," Cologne responds in sardonic tones before

she focuses her hard gaze on Shampoo who freezes under

it. "You should be going to bed soon, Shampoo. We'll

be waking earlier so I might have time to train

Kuonji-san as well."

"Yes, Great Grandmother," says Shampoo faintly,

watching as Cologne left. Soon as she's gone, she

looks up at me and scowls slightly. "Why you no say

she there?"

"What?" I raise an eyebrow and grin at her. "And ruin

the free show for her? Besides," I lean in closer, our

faces inches apart. I can sense her surprise and it

delights me. With a tap to her nose, I drawl, "It

would've ruined the mood, don't you think?"

"What mood?" asks Shampoo doubtfully as I pick up my

throwing spatula on the ground before I go about

retrieving the others while I whistle a happy tune.

"Spatula girl?"

Chuckling quietly to myself, I ignore Shampoo's

curious questions and walk past her, heading back

towards our camp. She's not the only one who can be

flirty, you know. And I have to say, I think I'm

pretty damn good at it myself. When I'm in the mood,

that is.

I never noticed how focused Ukyo can be when she is

really paying attention. Perhaps it always escaped me

because we were 'enemies' of sorts but now that we

aren't and I can fully appreciate her qualities I must

admit, it is an admirable one.

As soon as Great Grandmother told her it was time to

learn the Chestnut First, the sleep flew from her eyes

and she was concentrating totally on everything being

said. Her eyes haven't averted from Great Grandmother

once since then and even now, she remains focused,

staring at Great Grandmother's hands, analyzing the

technique as she sees it.

"Your turn, Kuonji-san," says Great Grandmother with a

hint of humor. Ukyo scowls at her and pushes up the

sleeves to her shirt before narrowing her eyes and

darting both of her hands into the fire to snatch the

chestnuts out of it.

Seconds later, she has one chestnut in her hold and

two slightly burnt arms and hands. "Damn," Ukyo hisses

under her breath, dropping the chestnut to the ground

and looking up at my Great Grandmother. "That's gotta

be some speed you use."

"Yes," says Great Grandmother. She smiles slowly and

goes on, "That is the speed that Ranma possesses. He

is perhaps a bit quicker but it is comparable. Shampoo

on the other hand," she smiles at me and I smile back,

"once she's mastered the Blink of Light there will be

few on this Earth who will be able to contend with

her."

"Good," says Ukyo evenly, matching Great

Grandmother's. Rising to her feet, she grabs a few

more chestnuts and tosses them into the fire and says,

"I want her to beat the pants off of him." She stares

into the fire, concentrating on how to decipher the

secret of the Chestnut First, I'm sure. "Thanks for

showing me this, Granny," she says, "but think I got

it covered now."

"Really?" asked Great Grandmother rather sardonically.

"Really," replies Ukyo, equally as sardonic.

Great Grandmother studies Ukyo for a moment more then

shakes her head, hopping away on her staff as she

says, "Lets go, Shampoo. It seems Kuonji-san will be

busy with her own training for the remainder of the

afternoon."

"Yes, Great Grandmother," I say to her but I can't

help it, I look back at Ukyo. "Spatula girl," I say

softly and she gazes at me, giving me a smile that

lifts my heart, "don't go too hard on self. Chestnut

Fist can be difficult learning on first try."

"Don't worry about me, sugar," Ukyo reassures, still

smiling. "I'll be fine. You just keep focused on your

own training, you hear? I wasn't lying when I said I

wanna see you beat the pants off of Ranma. In fact,

I'm counting on you doing that so you better not

disappoint me and train your hardest, all right?"

"All right," I say, returning her smile and feeling

happier yet.

"Shampoo!" Great Grandmother shouts for me, sounding

irritated.

Blushing and looking a bit sheepish I glance towards

the forest then back at Ukyo who looks entirely amused

at me being yelled at. "What you smile about?" I

accuse her. "You get me into trouble."

"Me?" asks Ukyo skeptically, raising an eyebrow. "How

do you figure that?"

"Because," I say as I move closer, our faces close

together while I smile at her once again. "You is so

tempting." With that, I smile wider then bounce

forward to deposit a light kiss on her lips, knowing

that I really shouldn't but doing it anyway. "You

train hard as well, spatula girl. I'm sure Great

Grandmother expect you to know Chestnut Fist by time

we is returning for dinner."

When I look back and over my shoulder, Ukyo is frozen

in surprise, but she falls out of it as I run away,

slowly lifting a hand to touch her lips. Her eyes meet

mine and as they do I know by the gleam in them that

she's going to get me for surprising her like that. I

also know that I'm sure I'll enjoy whatever her

revenge is going to be.

Enjoy it very much.

By the time it's time for me to start cooking dinner,

I've managed to snag four out of six chestnuts out of

the fire without getting burned. I figure that means I

almost have the technique mastered. Never mind the

fact that before I start making dinner I had to get

out the medical kit and wrap up my hands to ease the

hurt of the burns.

Despite that, I can't help feel a little proud. I

mean, it's not easy, mastering these Amazon techniques

of theirs. It probably isn't meant to be... they're a

society of warriors, after all. It is natural that

they would know their stuff. I'm just glad Cologne's

agreed to teach me a bit of what they know. I want to

get stronger, so I can stand on my own. That way I'll

be able to rely solely on myself. I don't ever want to

ask for Ranma's help.

I'll die before I ask for his help again.

Maybe that's the stubborn part of me. The 'guy' part

as Konatsu would call it. I sigh, thinking of him as I

chop up the carrots. I wonder how he's doing? I'm sure

that he's running the restaurant like I'd want him

too. He's come a long way since the time I first took

him in and I doubt very much that he went and put yen

in the okonomiyaki again.

At least, I hope he hasn't. No, I shake my head,

pulling out some broccoli. He wouldn't do something

like that. He's learned his lesson. I've even managed

to make him less stingy, spending some money on

himself. Of course, it's always on a kimono or

something equally as feminine.

I wonder about what I thought before, not wanting

anyone's help. Wanting to be strong so I can be able

to rely on myself and no one else. That's not really

true. I do want to be strong for that reason but I

would ask for help, would want help from certain

people. For instance, Konatsu, I asked for his help

when I requested he run the restaurant for me while

I'm on this trip with Shampoo.

And Shampoo herself, we've only been friends a short

while but I... I would ask for her help before anyone

else now, I think. Perhaps because we've been through

so much in such a short time and because we understand

one another. I think, no, I know she would never make

me feel bad, like a weak person, for asking for help.

Just as I would never do something like that to her.

Placing the pan over the fire, I pour in the cooking

oil, watching it simmer as I think. When this is over,

what will I do? I don't want to stay here, in Nerima.

Not with Ranma and Akane here. I could go home, back

to Kyoto and Dad. The last time I wrote him, he was

more angry at Genma than at me. Then again, that's how

he always is when it comes to the situation regarding

the engagement.

He really sees me as blameless in the engagement

situation. I think he takes most of the guilt onto

himself for arranging it and then Genma for skipping

out on it. I'm not sure who I do blame, if I do blame

anyone at all. I rather just forget it. Be done with

it, try and move on. Try... try and become a real

woman. One of my own making.

Not the woman my father would want me to be or the

woman society would want me to be or even the woman

Ranma would want me to be, if he ever did want such a

thing, but one of my choosing. The woman I really am.

I do want to meet her some day and I think I might

have a chance if I get away from all of this. From all

that I've known.

Which again leaves the question: where do I go?

I have no clue. None at all. Maybe by the time I'm

done training with Shampoo and her Granny I might just

have some idea of where my life is headed next. Hell,

I could just pull a Ryoga and wander aimlessly for

awhile. I'm not sure why, but it does have appeal.

"Food smell good, spatula girl."

On hearing Shampoo's voice, I jump up, whirling around

to face her smiling features which are laced with

amusement. Sometimes I think the girl should be a

ninja, she's just as good at sneaking up on people as

we are. Then again, I wasn't exactly keeping my mind

sharp, so I sort of brought it onto myself, I suppose.

"Glad you think so," I say as smoothly as I can, not

wanting to give her anymore amusement by dwelling on

the fact that she caught me off guard. "I made it for

you."

"Just for me?" asks Shampoo playfully, coyly moving

closer to me and I shove the pan between us, keeping

our bodies apart. She pouts at this and I can't help

but snort.

"Yeah," I smirk at her now, "just for you, sugar."

Turning around, I set the pan down and go about

getting out the bowls, filling one to the top for her

and handing her the stir fry. "I think it's well past

time you got some meat on your bones."

Scarlet eyes narrow ever so slightly before they rake

up and down my figure, making me wish that my clothes

were baggier. I'm wearing my casual clothes, a pair of

black slacks and a blue dress shirt, which I had once

used to hide what few feminine curves that I have but

somehow, under Shampoo's gaze I can't hide at all.

"You one to talk," Shampoo says, smiling sensually at

me. "I no see anything wrong with your body but you is

far skinnier than me. You is knowing that, aren't

you?"

I scowl at this and I start to reply when I spot

Shampoo's Granny watching us with that suspicious gaze

she always has. "Hey Granny," I smile easily at her

and she gives me a sharp look. Walking to her, I hand

her a bowl of the food I've prepared. "I can pull four

out of six chestnuts from the fire without burning

myself. Not too bad, huh?"

"No," says Cologne quietly and I swear, for a moment

there I think I saw a look of surprise on her

features. Maybe I'm learning faster than I thought I

was? The look is gone as fast as I thought I saw it

though and she's got that mysterious vibe again. "That

isn't bad at all, Kuonji-san. Perhaps before the week

is over we'll move onto the next technique for you to

master."

"Yeah?" I ask curiously. "Which one?"

"The Breaking Point, of course," says Cologne,

chuckling at me. She turns and hops away, heading for

her tent as she says, "I'll finish this then retire

for the evening. We'll be waking at the same hour to

see how many chestnuts you can pluck then,

Kuonji-san."

Scowling again, I mutter, "She's always gotta have the

last word, doesn't she?"

"Of course she do," a soft and playful voice murmurs

in my ear and I whirl around to come face to face with

a smiling Shampoo. "She is an elder."

"You wanna give me a heart attack, don't you?" I

accuse Shampoo. Not waiting for her answer, I walk

back to the camp fire and fix my own bowl of food.

She sits next to me and rests her food on her knees,

smiling sweetly at me. "Why I do that? I want spatula

girl to live a very long time," she says in rather

breathy tones.

Either I'm going insane or she's flirting with me. I

suppose this is my payback for flirting with her

earlier. But you know, it's sort of fun, a weird game

that we play and I can't help but enjoy it. Besides,

she feels so nice, leaning on me, her breasts pressed

close...

Wait... her breasts pressed close? I blink and turn to

look at Shampoo who's looking winsomely at me as she

leans against me, her body pressed into mine and her

chin on my shoulder as she peers up at me. Dammit. She

really is getting me back.

"Shampoo," I say in my best throaty tones. The ones I

know have made girls swoon over me. Girls and Konatsu.

Looking her in the eyes, I can see a flicker of

surprise there and I grin inwardly. Hah. She thought

she'd get me, huh? Well, think again. Moving forward a

bit, our lips hover apart, kept that way by just will

maybe. Slinking my hand down, I rest it inside my bowl

of food and flick a piece of carrot up at her. It

slaps her on the cheek and she blinks at me dimly, not

prepared for that at all. "Gotcha," I drawl.

"Spatula girl," growls Shampoo threateningly, her eyes

sparking fire at me.

"What?" I ask innocently. "Did I do something wrong? I

thought you might want a taste of my carrot, that's

all." With a smirk, I pull the carrot off her face and

hold it up, presenting it as a peace offering of

sorts. She eyes me warily before leaning forward,

taking it into her mouth and suddenly I realize I'm

the one who's been had. Her lips are warm on my skin,

warm and soft, and I think I'm melting as she slowly

pulls away, sucking on my fingers as she moves

backwards to smile smugly. "That was mean," I say

hoarsely.

"That my revenge," replies Shampoo, arching an eyebrow

at me.

I watch her for a moment as she eats her food then I

sigh, shaking my head. "I suppose I deserved that," I

admit wryly. "Still," I continue, bumping my leg

against hers and forming a grin, "you gotta admit that

you started it."

"I admit nothing," says Shampoo in lofty tones. She

looks at me out of the corner of her eye then gives in

and smiles back at me as she says, "Except that you is

cute."

"Bingo," I say, pointing my chopsticks at her. "There

you go again."

She's quiet and looks down at her food, making me

realize that I had screwed up and said something

wrong. "It bother you?" she asks softly. "If so, I

won't..."

"Shampoo, no!" I say quickly, interrupting her and she

looks up at me, eyes skeptical. I did do something

wrong. She's got that cynical look of hers again. The

one that always makes me remember she's gone through a

lot in her life. "I was just teasing you, joking

around, that's all. I'm sorry," I put my food down and

reach for her, clasping her arm to squeeze it gently

in reassurance, "I didn't mean to sound like that."

"It okay," Shampoo says, smiling at me, resting her

food on her knee, she reaches out to entwine her

fingers with mine. "I just worried that it not that. I

not want to make you feel uncomfortable. Would make me

sad... now that we is friends."

"Yeah," I reply as I return her smile, "it would make

me sad too." Her hands, they're soft, just like her

lips and I wonder, how soft would those hands feel on

my body? Just like I wonder how soft her lips would

feel on my own? My cheeks are hot and I pull my hand

away from hers, hoping that she doesn't notice how

flustered I am right now. "Besides," I say, forming my

best grin, "it's sorta fun, flirting with you. Keeps

me on my toes."

"Yes," says Shampoo carefully, eyeing me curiously. "I

think it fun too."

Luckily for me, she doesn't comment and just turns

away to eat her food. I sigh in relief and start my

meal, happy that it turned out as well as I wanted it

to. A few moments pass and I notice she's done

already. I used to think Ranma was a pig about eating

but I have to say Shampoo's a lot worse. The thing is,

Ranma downs food like he was a dying man while

Shampoo, well, I don't know. One minute I see her

eating, I look away from her and she's done. It's

weird and a bit disturbing. Maybe she has a second

stomach.

I take her bowl from her hands and refill it, handing

it to her with a smile. She looks at me for a long

while and I wonder what she sees there, her gaze is

that intense. "Thank you," she murmurs before she

returns to her eating.

Her Japanese has gotten a lot better and it makes me

wonder why it was so bad before. I don't know, she did

say she didn't have a lot of motivation to speak

better before. I can't help but wonder if it's for my

sake partially though. I'm the only one around the

camp that only speaks Japanese, after all, and she is

going back to China after the fight...

Sometimes I hear her and Cologne talking, you know.

For some reason I find it relaxing to hear Shampoo

speak in her native language. She has a nice voice, a

lot nicer than I do. It's so feminine and lilting,

reminding me of the sound of melodic bells. And it's

nice sound, really nice. Me? I don't sound like that.

My voice is lower, low enough for me to pass as a boy

and I couldn't sound like bells if I wanted to. I

don't know what I sound like but I doubt it's really

anything feminine. Not like Shampoo, at least.

I'm not sure why, but before I know it I'm looking her

way and she's meeting my gaze, wanting to know what

I'm about to ask. "Shampoo?" I begin slowly, still

unsure why I'm doing this. "Do you think you could

teach me how to speak Mandarin?"

She blinks at me and stares for a several passing

moments. Then she tilts her head, studying me as she

asks, "Why you want me to do that?"

"Because... I... I don't know," I say lamely, my

cheeks hot as I blush. "I just thought it would be

nice to be able to speak your language, that's all. I

like how you sound when you're speaking it and I

thought... I don't know," I repeat more lamely now.

Shampoo continues to stare at me and I swear, I wish I

knew what she was thinking. I know I made a real ass

out of myself, asking her that. I don't even know why

I asked her that. For just a minute, I thought it

would be a good idea. Something fun to do, I know some

English, because of school, but I'm no good at it.

Besides, it would be nice, to be able to talk with

Shampoo in her native language but now I just feel

stupid for asking.

"I love to teach you," she says softly, her face

lighting up so completely that my shoulders

immediately loose the tense feeling they had and I

smile back at her. "But can I ask something?"

"Sure," I reply, feeling a little better as I take a

bite of food.

"Why you really want speak Mandarin? Tell truth now,"

Shampoo murmurs.

I don't look at her. I don't think I can if I want to

answer this as honestly as I know I should. "I thought

it would be nice," I say as I look down at my food,

"to be able to speak with you in Mandarin. Mostly

because I like how it sounds when you talk in it. I

just thought it would be nice, to be able to talk with

you like that some day."

I'm not sure why or how but I get the courage and lift

my head to look at Shampoo. I know I'll never regret

doing it because the look on her face, the happiness I

saw there, it's something I don't want to forget.

Especially because I'm the cause of it.

"We start lessons tonight, okay?" asks Shampoo and her

voice, that voice I just now have admitted to always

admiring, lilting and melodic, is rough with tears.

"Okay," I reply, giving a nod of my head.

The both of us return to eating after that. Our meal

is quiet but happy and I somehow know that the both of

us can't wait for it to be over and for my first

lesson to begin. Just to make it sooner rather than

later when I'm finally able to talk with Shampoo.

Ukyo is a fast learner when it comes to training

techniques but not nearly so fast in regard to

languages. Then again, I shouldn't talk, I've been in

Japan for several years now and I'm just now starting

to speak the language somewhat well. But it was

impressive of her to learn the Chestnut Fist so fast.

While I taught her, or attempted to anyway, the basics

of Mandarin last night she continued to practice the

technique. By the time we went to bed, she could

introduce herself in Mandarin and she had the Chestnut

Fist mastered. When Great Grandmother woke us up this

morning and asked Ukyo to show her skill, I couldn't

stop myself from smirking when a half asleep Ukyo

walked over to the fire, casually tossed in some

chestnuts and even more casually retrieved them before

wandering off to the nearest stream to wash her face

in order to wake herself up.

I found it terribly humorous and I'm sure so did Ukyo,

once she was fully awake. Maybe that's why Ukyo ended

up tied by a rope, hanging from a tree with boulders

being flung at her for most of the morning. Learning

the Breaking Point is a form of torture in itself but

for some reason I think Ukyo has it worse than most

people.

Great Grandmother left me to myself, letting me run

through my training as she threw boulders at poor

Ukyo. Hearing yet another crash, I wince and wonder if

she's going to be able to survive all of this. I

shouldn't think things like that. Just because Great

Grandmother doesn't like her doesn't mean she would...

I can't even think of it.

Then again, why doesn't Great Grandmother like Ukyo? I

know she doesn't trust her. That she thinks she's up

to something but she thinks that about nearly everyone

and it isn't like she treats everyone as harshly as

she does Ukyo. It's almost as if she's testing her for

some reason. Well, it's beyond me. Understanding Great

Grandmother's logic is something I gave up years ago.

Only Perfume comes close to deciphering her motives.

Jumping through the water traps we set up a few days

ago, I concentrate on my training, not allowing one

bit of water to touch my skin as I leap. It's hardly

the easiest thing in the world to do. In fact, I'd

wager it's one of the most difficult. Especially since

I possess a Jusenkyo curse, making me an automatic

cold water magnet.

Still, I run through the routine, leaping between the

erratically falling water, dashing in and out,

challenging myself to get closer yet to the stream of

water that falls towards me. Daring it to just try and

hit me because I won't allow it... I will not be

defeated. Not by it, not by my training, and certainly

not by Ranma.

For once in my life I will win at something and I will

win well. It won't be a fluke and it won't be because

I have no one equal to my strength. I will win against

Ranma, against someone far stronger than myself, and

prove I am worth something.

Even if I have no value to him.

The hairs on the back of my neck prick up and I whirl

around just in time to trap the knife thrown at me in

flat palms of my hand. I look at Great Grandmother and

she rewards me with that enigmatic smile she often

favors.

"You're improving," Great Grandmother notes with

pride, hopping closer to stand on one of the boulders

and I leap forward to meet her.

"I'm glad you think so," I murmur. Handing the knife

back to her handle first, I arch an eyebrow. "Was

that the purpose of this? To test how much I've

improved?"

"And to test your reflexes," replies Great

Grandmother easily. She looks at me for a long moment

then says, "You're distracted at heart, Xian-pu. I

had feared that it might distract you in mind and body

as well. I'm glad to see that it hasn't."

"Distracted at heart?" I echo with a frown. What did

she mean by that?

"Kuonji-san lasted longer than I thought she would,"

Great Grandmother continues, watching me closely.

"She's made of sterner stuff than one would

imagine."

"She's passed out then?" I question, well aware of

the effect learning a technique such as the Breaking

Point can have on a person.

"Yes," Great Grandmother allows, giving a dip of her

head. "Which means we can begin your training for the

day, Xian-pu. Are you ready to learn the true meaning

of the Blink of Light and what it can do for you as a

warrior?"

"I'm ready," I reply fearlessly, resolved to learn

this technique. I must master it, I simply have to if

I am to defeat Ranma and regain my honor. "I swear

it."

Great Grandmother watches me closely, a look of doubt

hovering in her eyes that's hardened into stone as she

murmurs, "We're about to find out, aren't we now?"

The training went much like the name of the technique

itself. Like a Blink of Light it was here and gone in

what appeared to be seconds. Only I know very well it

wasn't seconds because when we returned to camp the

sun had long set into the sky and a badly bandaged

Ukyo was preparing to make our dinner.

"Spatula girl!" I cry out in shock. I expected her to

look worse for the wear because after all, the

Breaking Point isn't the easiest thing to master but I

didn't expect her to look this bad. Rushing to her

side, I make her put down that stupid iron pot and

push her into a sitting position. "Are you okay? You

no have to cook like this!"

"Ah, it's nothing," Ukyo assures me as I clasp her

shoulders. "I'm just a little bruised from training,

that's all. I feel a lot better than before."

"You not even bandage self right," I say, frowning as

I inspect Ukyo's hastily wrapped bandages on her arm

and ribs. She wasn't wearing a shirt but instead

merely had her midsection completely wrapped in loose

bandages.

"Yeah, well," Ukyo blushes, looking away from me. I

wonder exactly why she is blushing. Because I'm

touching her or because she was injured? "I sorta,

y'know..."

With a frown, I try to make out what Ukyo has just

mumbled. "I not understand one word of that, spatula

girl. What you say?"

"I sorta passed out again," says Ukyo in a combination

of irritation and shame. Looking away from me, she

declares, "There! You happy? I'm just a wuss."

"Kuonji-san," Great Grandmother says gravely and we

both turn to her. "Injuring yourself is nothing to be

ashamed of. It happens too often to ever keep track of

in life. It would be a far greater shame if you did

not tend to your wounds and faced permanent injury."

"That right!" I exclaim, backing up Great Grandmother,

feeling for once very pleased with her treatment of

Ukyo. I give her my best stern look and carefully help

her to stand. "I fix those bandages now and you get

rest. We run restaurant too, we can cook on own."

"But I wanted to help," Ukyo protests, hobbling and

leaning against me as I lead her into the tent. I want

to sigh at this, to yell at her for this, to tell her

she helps by simply being here, by supporting me and

just being who she is. I would do this but I doubt

that she would ever truly believe me if I spoke these

words to her. "I feel fine, really."

"You will get some rest or I won't continue your

training tomorrow, Kuonji-san," says Great Grandmother

sharply. Immediately, I feel Ukyo stiffen against me

and mutter a complaint, and I can't help but smile.

Great Grandmother is a wonderful person at times. I

almost have Ukyo inside our tent when I hear her call

out my name. Looking back at her as I support Ukyo

against my side, she once again looks at me closely,

almost as if she's trying to analyze me. "I'll

prepare dinner, Xian-pu. Take care of Kuonji-san."

She pauses for a moment then gives that enigmatic

smile again. "As you would like."

"Yes," I say quietly, in shock as I watch her begin

to make our meal. Snapping out of this, I lead Ukyo

into our tent and tenderly help her to her sleeping

bag, sitting her on it as she keeps her gaze far from

my own. Frowning at this, I reach out to touch her

cheek and she jerks away from me. "Spatula girl?"

I can't keep the hurt out of my voice. I want to,

truly I do, but I cannot. She doesn't want me to touch

her... she doesn't care as I thought she did. She has

seen who I am and unlike Lotion, she does not like

what she sees. I suppose now will come her rejection

of me. I should be used to it by now, my life seems

filled with only rejection.

"I'm sorry," she says in hoarse tones and I watch

those lithe hands of hers clench the sleeping bag,

wrinkling it in her grasp. Is she really that

uncomfortable with me? Is it truly that bad being

here? I hadn't thought it was. "I really wanted to

learn it..."

Learn it? Learn what? I blink as I stare at her. Is

this about the Breaking Point? No one learns that

horrible technique on their first try no matter how

talented. It's simply far too difficult to master on

the first attempt. Besides, the trick to mastering it

is building up a tough skin, an immunity to injuries

as it were, and that can only be achieved over time.

Is this what she's upset about? Not me or my touch

towards her?

"What you sorry for?" I ask softly, heart beating out

of control, hoping the reply is what I now think it to

be. Because if it is then I still have hope left, I

still have her at my side.

"For not learnin' it," Ukyo spits out, voice full of

loathing. "I figured... I mean, I know the fight is

with you and Ranma, that I can't help, but I don't

know, things happen. What if there's some

interference? Like from Akane or Mousse? I just

thought if I learned some of your best techniques, got

better, then I could help you with that. Make sure you

got yourself a fair and square battle with Ranma so

everything works out." She scowls deeply and her hands

clench further, bunching up the sleeping bag terribly.

"But I can't even master the Breaking Point. How am I

supposed to get the harder stuff then?"

"Spatula girl," I whisper, blinking back my tears. I

reach out for her again and this time she doesn't move

away, and her skin... it's so soft as I cup her face

drawing her eyes up to look into my own. Smiling at

her as I push back loose strands of her hair, I say,

"Don't be silly. No can master Breaking Point in first

try. Is impossible. Not even Great Grandmother could

do something like that. You fail at nothing."

"Really?" asks Ukyo, her tones hopeful as she looks at

me.

"Really," I say with a nod of my head. "Now," I pull

away slightly and reach for the first aid kit, already

a mess from her earlier dealings with it I imagine,

"lets fix the bandages."

She glances down at her wrapped midsection, the

bandages loose and falling apart and blushes then

mutters, "Yeah. I guess I didn't do the best job at

it, huh?" My hands lightly grasp at her waist, pulling

back one of the looser layers then starting to rewrap

it. Ukyo laughs nervously and her voice is a little

high pitched as she says, "Sorta funny because I've

been doing this since I was thirteen. I thought I'd

gotten good at it."

"Use wrap so no one know you're a girl," I murmur

thoughtfully, not looking up from my work. I still my

hands when I feel her tremble as I touch her. I've

finally gotten a first look at her body and it's

bruised bluish purple, just below her breasts. My

touch is gentle but I know it hurts as I probe her

skin softly. No, the ribs aren't broken. Great

Grandmother is harsh in her training but she always

knows peoples limits. "It's a shame," I continue as I

peek at her from under my lashes, smiling

mischievously, "you have a nice chest."

Ukyo blushes even more at this comment and I chuckle

softly. This causes her brow to furrow and she drawls,

"Not funny, sugar. Teasing me while I'm injured."

"Easiest time to tease you," I reply, feeling

naughtier with every passing moment. There's just

something about Ukyo and her earnest personality, her

honest approach to life that makes me happy to be with

her. Plus it does make her open for the most easy

forms of harmless verbal torment. "You no can fight

back."

"Tch," Ukyo shakes her head and feigns a look of

disappointment, watching me with dark eyes that burn

into me with their caress. Oh yes, I can feel those

eyes on me, they study my every move and it's

comforting somehow... to know they're there. "And here

I thought Amazons had more a sense of honor than to

feel up a wounded lady."

"Who you call a lady?" I arch an eyebrow at her and

grin widely. For this, I'm rewarded with a light slap

to my stomach. One that feels nothing more than the

wings of a butterfly to my battle hardened body but I

also realize it wasn't meant to be more than that.

With my best pout, I tie off the bandage around her

ribs firmly but gently and say, "Spatula girl didn't

have to hit me. I just saying the truth."

"Right," says Ukyo skeptically. She adjusts her

sitting position and releases a hiss of air, her face

contracting in pain. Instantly, I'm at her side,

steadying her and soon her back is against me, resting

against my chest as her body goes slightly limp, tired

from the day's excursions. "Sorry," she murmurs

breathlessly a moment later and I can tell from how

her voice sounds that she's angry with herself again,

"had a twinge, that's all."

"Is fine," I assure her and I reach behind us to

arrange my sleeping bag in a pile. Soon we're both

leaning back against it, using it as a makeshift chair

of sorts. She sighs and I can see her eyelids flutter.

It's been a long day for her I'd wager and from all

signs she was being stubborn with her injuries,

walking around as if she didn't have them. I don't

find it at all unusual that she's half asleep as I

hold her now. "You rest."

Her head moves slightly, causing brown hair to brush

up against my cheek, allowing me to take in the clean

smell of light spices that she carries with her. It's

a scent that is uniquely her, not quite feminine, not

quite masculine, but entirely sensual in its nature.

I'm looking into her eyes and she's staring at me,

gaze lidded but somehow alert in its study. "I'll do

it, you know," she tells me quietly in husky tones.

"I'll master the Breaking Point and then after that

I'll master whatever other technique your Granny has

in store for me. I'm gonna do it because I want to

help you, Shampoo. Honest I do."

I don't understand it, really I don't. How can she be

this way? So honest with her emotions? I know she

hasn't led the life I had... with people attempting to

use and manipulate her in order to gain power but

still, doesn't she feel afraid? I know that using

outward appearances I would seem to be the most open

of the two of us but I could never do what she's just

done. Open myself up completely to someone whom I've

only just grown close to. I grew up with Perfume and I

hold back from her. I was in love with Lotion and I

held back from her as well. I don't want to do that

with Ukyo but it's so hard to fight the habits I've

grown up with thanks to my status in the tribe. What

do I feel for her? I'm not sure I can say right now,

things are so confused but she...

She makes me happy, more than anyone I've ever known.

Happy with the way she takes risks with me, is always

honest with me, and cares genuinely for my welfare.

That's why I find myself blinking back tears and

lightly kissing the back of her head before I trace my

lips to her jaw, tasting her delicate skin. Whispering

into her ear, I say, "Thank you."

"Welcome," she replies after a lull of silence, her

Kansai accent thick with sleep. I kiss her cheek and

push a lock of hair from her eyes and she murmurs with

contentment and moves back, making me deepen my hold

on her. "Feels nice..."

Leaning against the sleeping bag, her body pressing

into mine, head nestled in the crook of my shoulder,

breath hot and sweet on my skin, I can't help but

agree. It does feel nice. Far nicer than anything I've

experienced in a long time.

"Sleep well," I whisper to her softly, unable to help

myself from nuzzling her, breathing in that spicy

scent she carries with her like the breeze. "I be here

to protect you."

And I swear I will. Just like I swear I'll defeat

Ranma. For once things in my life will go in the right

direction. If only because this time above all others

I'll be working my hardest to make it turn out that

way.

I've never woken up in someone's arms. Never. I

suppose that's because I've never slept with anyone

either. When I was dating Megumi I never let her get

too close, well, physically at least. I was always

afraid if I did and she touched the wrong and or right

places my secret would be out and that would be that.

Hence my never being held.

But today that's ended. Because today I woke up,

bruised and sore, being held in Shampoo's arms. It was

strange... the feeling of it. Even now, I'm just lying

here, her breath hitting my skin, the rise and fall of

her chest gently moving my body as it rests against

her own, I can't quite discern the feeling that I

have.

Part it is safety, just a sense of utter safety and

calm as I woke up. With those strong arms around me,

holding me close in a firm but tender grasp, I knew

that nothing would happen to me, not with them there.

That Shampoo would keep me safe until the end. Of

course, as a martial artist and a woman of pride, I

could hardly just stand back and idly let someone

fight for me but it's an enjoyable sensation

nonetheless.

Another part of it is contentment. Lying here, in her

arms, there's no other place I would rather be. In

fact, I'd be quite happy to just stay here forever.

There's no chance in hell that's possible but still,

it's a nice fantasy. One that I find a bit unusual to

be experiencing since I'm usually like a hyperactive

little kid. I don't much like to stay in one place for

too long. I rather be up and about, doing anything and

everything than be quiet and still.

But as I lie here, held by her, I really don't want

that. I want to stay here, with her, for as long as

it's possible. That isn't too long because a few

moments later, she shifts against me and murmurs in

that melodic voice of hers, "Good sleep, spatula

girl?"

"Yeah, I slept real good," I reply, moving my head to

look into her eyes. "You?"

"I sleep well," Shampoo says with a yawn before she

rests her chin on my shoulder and peers at me. Her

eyes are concerned and she continues, "How you feel?

Hurt much?"

I look away from her and scowl. She had to bring that

up. It's not like I don't get what she was telling me

yesterday. Yeah, the Breaking Point takes awhile to

master but I bet that she wasn't in as bad as shape as

I am when she learned it. Hell, I bet Ryoga wasn't.

I'm not dense like Akane, I know my weaknesses. I

don't have the strength of either of them but I do

have speed. My dependence on weapons is something I

have to fight against if I'm ever to improve in the

art. That's why I want her Granny to teach me.

The goal I have now... to be better than I once was.

To improve myself as much as I can and wipe away the

weakness I once had. The one that allowed my life to

fall apart when he left me. I'll never be like that

again. Never. No matter who I love.

"Spatula girl?" Shampoo says softly.

Looking at her, I arch an eyebrow and give her my best

easy smile. The one that I know puts most everyone who

sees it at ease. Shampoo, however, merely looks more

worried as she matches my gaze. "It's fine, sugar," I

murmur. "I'm feelin' a lot better."

"You say that yesterday and you no was better," says

Shampoo in level tones. Her hands lightly trace up my

sides and at first I shiver from their touch then I

wince and give a gasp of air as her fingers prod my

ribs. "You still hurt so please... don't lie."

"I'm not," I mutter defiantly, wrenching out of her

grasp no matter how much I like it. Who is she to tell

me what to do? If I say I'm fine then I'm fine. Even

if it is a damn lie. "I'm not at top condition, yeah,

but I'm good enough to train today and take care of

the chores."

"Don't lie," Shampoo repeats, her eyes boring into me

with an intense gaze. She scoots forward and reaches

out to me. I want to move away, to stop that touch but

I'm frozen as I look into those scarlet depths. Gentle

fingertips trace my cheek, leading down to my lips,

outlining the curves before parting them. "Is not like

you to lie."

"How do you figure?" I retort once her fingers fall

from my lips and I'm getting more nervous by the

minute. When I was going to sleep last night I had

this dream, you know? A dream of Shampoo and her

kissing me. Her lips were as soft as clouds on my

skin. Yet, they burned into me, searing me with a

passion I've never imagined. I'm starting to think

that maybe it wasn't a dream at all. "I've lied

before. What about Megumi, huh? You can't say that

wasn't a lie. It was a lie all right, one of the worst

sort."

"You do that to protect self," she murmurs wisely and

I can feel myself shrinking back internally. Dammit,

how does she know this about me? How can she know me

this well? I never expected this, really I didn't and

now Shampoo's holding my face and I can't move. All I

can do is stare into her eyes, lost to what I see

there. Real and true caring for me. "Spatula girl,"

Shampoo whispers, moving closer yet and suddenly I'm

in her arms again. Cradled gently against her chest,

my face resting on the softness of it, breathing in

the scent of wildflowers. Her hands are running

through my hair and my skin is hot from her breath as

she speaks. "I not want you to hide from me. Just like

I not want to hide from you. I would like it if we two

always be honest with each other."

Always be honest with each other.

Always... what does she mean by that? Will we even be

together always? Or just for as long as we know each

other and keep in touch always? I don't know, I don't,

but I would like that. To know for once someone isn't

after something else with me. That what I see is what

I get. No strings attached and no games being played.

"Yeah," I reply hoarsely, burying my face in the crook

of her neck and smiling slightly as I feel her shiver

against me. I guess she likes holding me as much as I

like being held. "I'd like that too, Shampoo."

"Good," Shampoo says with some relief, giving a sigh.

"Then it a deal. No lies between us. We always be

telling the truth, no matter what the matter is at

hand."

"Yup," I nod my head against her, grinning as a

mischievous thought enters my mind. I pull back

slightly to peer up at her and she smiles at me,

looking so beautiful that a small part of me wants to

stop from saying this. But that's only a small part so

I say, "I promise to always tell you the truth. Even

how you look bad in certain outfits."

Shampoo blinks at me, dimly taking this in then her

eyes narrow, glinting dangerously as she growls

playfully, "That not a funny joke, spatula girl."

"Who says it was a joke?" I tell her, using my usual

witty banter. She doesn't seem to appreciate this

though and her eyes narrow more and I can feel her

fingertips tickle me ever so slightly, causing me to

squirm from the feeling. "Hey, I'm an injured lady!"

"Lady? I thought we go through this. You is no lady,"

says Shampoo, smirking big at me as she stops the

tickling. Her hands trace up to my neck, winding

through my hair and I sigh at this, it feels so nice.

"You too interesting to be a lady."

"Interesting, huh?" I ask dryly.

That sounds like a vague insult. Sort of like if

someone is fat and you call them big boned.

Interesting is just another word for someone could

never pull off a sexy dress I'm thinking. Then again,

I did manage to wear one of those on Toma's island. Of

course, I felt damned uncomfortable in it and couldn't

wait to get back to normal.

"Spatula girl," Shampoo says again.

I wonder if she's ever going to call me by my real

name. Not that I mind her little nickname for me. It's

cute and even a bit sweet. My mind is wandering though

and I make myself focus on her with those serious eyes

gazing into my own. Searching for something I just

can't define. She pushes me back gently and traces her

hands up from my shoulders to my face, tenderly

holding it once again as she looks at me.

"Shampoo?" I ask hesitantly, lost as to what's

happening.

Lost until she leans forward and I feel those lips,

soft as clouds, on mine. They're warmer than Megumi's,

warmer than anything I've ever experienced. And oh,

they're sweet as they caress me, opening me up and

tasting deep, and I don't know anything other than the

feel of those lips on mine. There's nothing but that

softness on my skin, making me yield to a fierce

hunger that's now rising in us both. One kiss leads to

another and I moan low in my throat before we're

finally forced to part.

Our breathing is ragged and I'm resting my head

against her shoulder as I feel her hands, gentle on my

back, tracing circles there. "That was nice," I

whisper.

"Yes," she replies quietly.

I tilt my head, looking at her, and she smiles at me

but her eyes, they don't match her smile. They aren't

light like it is. No, they're dark with desire and I'm

damn sure mine look the exact same way. I rise to meet

her, kissing her deeply, opening her up as she opened

me, lost in the heat and taste of her, wanting nothing

more than this to last forever.

Because right now, nothing else matters. Not my

injuries, not our training, not her upcoming battle

against Ranma, not the uncertain future. None of it

matters.

Not while I'm in her arms.

To be continued...