After the last unfortunate incident with Ukyo, the sumo pig was sent off to ride in the sunset, searching for the next destination it was sent to.

"Did you really need to do that?" Akari asked.

"She attacked Akane, twice. There's no telling what that bully would do if I wasn't there to watch over her."

Akari sighed in frustration. Is this Akane girl still that important to him? He said he's gotten over her, but she's all he ever talks about. "That girl seemed pretty nice to me. She just seemed really sad."

Ukyo could be nice, Ryoga admitted to himself. At least not when trying to get her precious 'Ranchan' in her grasp. It hurt to make her look bad in front of Ranma, but then again she did wreck the wedding. She needed to be punished for that. "She did have her good points, but the other girl I know is a lot worse. That homicidal witch Shampoo tried to kill Akane just because she was in the way, of course after she served my pig form to Ranma just to make her mad."

The sumo-pig raiser could definitely see how he'd be upset about that. "That wasn't a nice thing for her to do, but don't you think you're taking this a little too far? I think this is Ranma's responsibility."

Some hint of anger cracked from his face. "That jerk Ranma won't do his job! He just flirts with them for free food and giggles!" Bitterly remembering the incident with the Reversal Jewel, "One time he almost got rid of Shampoo for good but with his ego he just had to have her back just to stroke his ego! I can't believe him."

Seeing the Nekohanten in sight, Ryoga pointed to it and commanded the pig to stop in front of it. "She works at this restaurant. If I remember right, they just closed."

As the Lost Boy assumed, when he slammed the door open he was greeted by a rather surprised Cologne counting her register. "Are you looking for the Tendo Dojo?"

"I'm looking for Shampoo so I can give her a piece of my mind!" Ryoga answered spitefully. "No one attacks Akane right in front of me and gets away with it!"

"I'm assuming you're talking about her actions during the son in law and Akane's wedding," the granny answered in a disappointed tone. "I'll have you know I had no part in that outburst of hers. Actually, I scolded her rather harshly once I found out about it." Looking behind the bandana-wearing boy, she noticed a rather interesting discovery. "That girl behind you wouldn't happen to be your 'special' friend, would she?"

Knowing full well what the old crone was implying, Ryoga gave a cocky laugh. "Got it, and if you or Shampoo ever lay a finger on her I'll come back here really depressed. I don't think I need to remind you of what happens when I'm depressed! Even if I beat Shampoo, I have no intention of complying with your stupid Amazon laws! I'll fight you if I have to right after!"

The matriarch chuckled in a good-natured laughter. "Well, that attitude of yours has always been a strong point, albeit possibly your undoing at times too. Oh well. Let me go get her." Remembering another unfortunate drawback of this particular youth, she stopped laughing and pointed to the back door with a stern look. "I want you to go through that door, and stay in the back. I'm assuming this girl of yours has a better sense of direction than you, doesn't she?"

"Um, I guess," Akari answered shyly. "I draw him maps, and they seem to help him pretty well."

"Very well then. Ryoga will follow you outside. I'll come out with Shampoo." As she walked up the stairs, seemingly unable to see them, the granny watched Ryoga following the girl. She noticed the Lost Boy smashing fists together in fury, frothing at the mouth as the girl timidly shivered uncontrollably like she was walking in below-zero weather. There's no way that a girl that easily intimidated could have a functional relationship with such an angry and powerful martial artist, she thought to herself with pity. Doing this may seem incredibly cruel to both her and maybe even Shampoo, but it's for the best. Ryoga has a good heart, but it would take a girl of more strength to deal with him. "Shampoo!" the ghoul called as she walked down to her great-granddaughter's bedroom. Knocking on the door with her pogo stick, she began talking in a more demanding tone. "Shampoo, you have a male challenger! I order you as your matron to come out now!"

With that, the door was forcefully opened as the ever-haughty Amazon appeared. "Shampoo not in mood right now! She have busy day today with deliveries, but she crush any stupid boy who try to marry her."

"Actually, I don't think he's wanting to marry you per say," the Amazon shrugged. "You see he actually came here with a death threat towards you. By the way, he's an extremely skilled fighter, almost as good as the son-in-law. Bringing your bombori and other weapons you could think of is highly recommended."

Giving an evil and arrogant smirk, the girl turned back. "If challenger that strong and angry, be very interesting fight!"

"Don't get too overconfident, Shampoo," Cologne warned sternly. "He's a tough one. In all honesty I think you'll need all the luck you can get. If he intends to murder you, I'll stop him."

Meanwhile in the back lot, Ryoga stood stoically, waiting for the enemy to come. This is so wrong, he thought. I'm going to fight with a girl! Then, as a determined stare formed at the door, he reminded himself of why he was doing this. She was trying to kill Akane! Here he was angry with Ukyo for accidentally seeming like it, when this bitch here was the one that was really wanting to! Looking over to his girlfriend, he once again pitied the poor girl for having to go through with this. "Akari, I…"

Watching her hug her knees and stare aimlessly at the opposite wall, Akari perked her head up towards him, giving a happy but scared smile. "Yes?"

"I'm… I'm sorry you have to go through with this!" Ryoga screamed as he fell on his knees. "You shouldn't have to deal with this girl! She's a monster! Why didn't you just leave me alone so you didn't have to see all this ugly stuff?!"

"Hmmm?" Akari pointed her index finger to her cheek. "I don't know what you mean."

"Oh, you'll see! You'll see soon enough!" He cried in a paranoid fit. "Akari, this world is full of so many things, so many terrible things that a sheltered damsel such as you should never have to see, and this girl, this BITCH, she's so bad! WHY?! Why did you have to come?! You could have just stayed back at the ranch and not see just how ugly this world really is! WHY DID YOU HAVE TO COME WITH ME?!" His frantic rage stopped as he heard the door open and close, and he saw two very angry Amazons as he looked towards it.

"Aiya! Shampoo expect challenge!" the younger one ranted. "All I get is stupid crybaby Lost Boy who never beat Airen!"

"Ryoga, I understand that your last few meetings with Shampoo may have been less than pleasant," the matriarch scolded him. "But even so don't you find it a little dishonorable to refer to your opponent with such vulgarity?"

"I'm sorry," Ryoga whispered, not paying attention to what the two women said. "I'm so sorry."

"It happens to everyone in the heat of battle," Cologne shrugged as she walked towards the curious pig farmer. "I'm sorry dear, but he's absolutely right! Things could get ugly here."

"AKARI!!! I'M SORRY THAT YOU HAD TO SEE THIS!!!" Ryoga exploded as he stood back and glared at Shampoo with murderous eyes and tears running through his eyes! "And YOU!!! How DARE you attempt to kill Akane on her own wedding day! For that, I WILL NEVER FORGIVE YOU!!!"

"Silly pig boy," Shampoo laughed sadistically. "You already have girlfriend to worry about, you not? Maybe you mad you only get second best!"

"Shut up!" Ryoga snapped as he watched Akari wince back from the insult. "Leave her out of this!"

"You!" the blue-haired girl called, looking over to the other young woman. "Who you?!"

"I…" Akari paused, giving a warm but shy smile to the girl. "I'm Akari. Akari Unryuu. I farm sumo pigs!"

"Sumo pigs…" Shampoo repeated to herself thoughtfully. Finally, she emitted a horrible, sarcastic laugh. "Perfect for stupid Ryoga! Lost Boy always be little piggy for girl he loves! He sit and watch Akane get naked, and pretend to have sexy time! Perfect punishment for Akane! You perfect girlfriend for Ryoga! You love pigs! He have sexy time with you as boy or pig!"

"Shampoo, stop it!" her great-grandmother ordered her. "You've gone too far!"

Watching Akari begin to cry from the insults, Ryoga grimaced towards his opponent. "Shut up, Shampoo! You have no honor bringing such a poor defenseless girl into this!" As he firmly placed a hand onto the Amazon's shoulder, "Leave her out of this!"

Obviously the "pat" on the shoulder was too much, as popping was heard in her shoulder, causing her to fall onto her knees and writhe in pain. "Ahhh!" Shampoo wailed in honest pain. "Pig boy break Shampoo's shoulder!"

"Eahhh! This is so bad! I hurt a girl! I'm a MONSTER!!" Looking down with concern, the frantic boy collapsed mentally as a stream of apologies was about to be strung by him. "Shampoo! I'm so sorry!"

"No, this not so bad!" Shampoo smiled warmly. "No big deal! It get better."

"Are… are you sure?! It sounded so bad!" the over-sympathetic boy screamed in terror.

"Not really! Shampoo still can move right!" she guaranteed, moving the bonbori of the broken arm into his face. "But hurt! And Shampoo MAD!" the Amazon fumed as she launched multiple attacks towards him, weapons and kicks hitting all over his body. "Die! Shampoo hate stupid Lost Boy!" Noticing that her opponent was practically unfazed by the furious attacks after a half minute, Shampoo backed away and heavily panted. "Why Lost Boy not DIE?!"

"Don't be stupid, Shampoo!" Cologne lectured her. "I taught him the Breaking Point! You saw what it can do someone's stamina!"

"Shampoo arm not too too bad!" Shampoo scowled murderously. "But know what else too too bad!" Smiling playfully, the Amazon raised her hand in a clawing form and began scratching. "Oink, oink! Oh, Akane so sexy! Akane too good though! She no love me, stupid lost boy! She only love Ranma! Me only second best and loose to Ranma because Ranma awesome and I not! Me find stupid pig girl who crazy and really REALLY love pigs! She do me piggy style, but she still no Akane!"

"Maybe my great granddaughter really is a bimbo!" Cologne shook her head while looking down. "She doesn't seem to be aware of how dangerous Ryoga can be when you press the wrong buttons!"

"SHAMPOO!!!" Ryoga howled as a horrible fire flared around him and all of his emotional rationality disappeared. "Now you've gone too far! I'M GOING TO RIP YOUR STUPID HEAD OFF!!!" With that, he punched the offensive girl into the brick wall, causing a crater where she was sent to. "THAT'S for trying to kill Akane, and just making her life a living hell!"

Shampoo looked back towards the lost boy, blood being coughed from her mouth, defenseless as Ryoga walked towards her again, this time throwing her to the ground, causing a small earthquake as she hit it. "THIS is for pretending to make me sweet and sour pork and give me to Ranma for lunch!" After that, he kicked the helpless Amazon in the ribs, causing a faint snap. "THAT is for having a crush on Ranma in the first place!"

"Ryoga, stop it!" Akari screeched in fear. "You're going to kill her! Stop it! Stop it! STOP IT!!!"

"Hibiki, I think you made your point!" Cologne informed him as she stood up. "Go any further and you will be a killer and a hypocrite!"

Hearing the pleas from the two females, Ryoga's common sense reflowed through his mind. He stood in place, a fist ready to aim for the laying girl's skull. After a minute of standing in place, the Lost Boy fell to his knees again, staring in terror at the results of his rage. "Shampoo! I'm… I'm so… sorry!" His hands bowed onto the ground as he wailed in misery. "Oh, god! What have I done?! I almost killed a GIRL!!!"

Feeling a poke on top of his head, he looked over to the unconscious girl's great grandmother looking at him in compassion. "Come now! I stopped you before you caused any serious damage. She may look frail, but she's stronger than you think. I think she will gain some respect in you after this day is done!"

"Respect?!" Ryoga snarled in a hateful tone. "I knocked her into a fucking concussion, and almost killed her, and she's going to gain some RESPECT in me?!"

"I said she's stronger than you think! Weren't you listening?!" Cologne barked. "I don't see you worrying yourself when you attack Ranma like that, even in his girl form."

"Shampoo's not as strong as Ranma! No girl could possibly be! Girls are for cherishing and hugging, not for fighting!"

"We're Amazons, you buffoon!" Cologne retorted as she slapped him with her stick. "We're ready for battle whenever our tribe wants us to, ready for killing when our tribe wants us to, and we are even willing to die if need be! Besides…" the ghoul added as she pointed to Akari hugging her knees, crying in fear. "Do you honestly think this girl will feel safe around you after watching such a brutal attack?! You should know by now that someone as dangerous as yourself has no reason to be around such a sheltered, innocent person! Why don't you admit you are more appropriate for a powerful martial artist such as yourself, like my Shampoo?"

"NO WAY!!! First off, Mousse loves her, and I'm sure he could beat her if she…"

Stopping his speech short as he watched the fallen girl regain consciousness, he began to back away in apprehension. Her face looked like crap, with a huge scar across her bottom lip and chin. As her face looked up, Shampoo gave Ryoga the saddest, neediest frown. "Airen! Please! No hate Shampoo! Shampoo know Ryoga good man! Mousse not really care what I want. Of course Shampoo be mean to Akane. Violent girl mean to Airen." Beginning to cling onto Ryoga's shoulders, she looked up at him with a sad puppy face. "Shampoo show you she can be nice!"

"Don't give me that crap!" Ryoga hissed as he tore her away. "You tried to kill someone precious to me! How can I consider you a decent person after that?!"

"You try to kill Ranma many times before!" Shampoo reminded him. "Shampoo still forgive Airen!"

"I'VE HAD IT!!!" Ryoga yelped as he pushed her away, running towards and scooping up his traumatized girl and giving a death glare at the Amazons. "I would NEVER marry an evil person like you! I DON'T like you and I never will! If you want a husband maybe you should consider treating them like human beings! I'm going home! If I ever see you again, or hear that you attacked Akane or this girl in my arms, I'll make you really sorry! Goodbye!" With that, he jumped away leaving a very upset girl.

"Ryoga! Airen!" the Chinese girl cried in anger. "You come back! Me track you down!"

As she was about to leap to them to follow, she was stopped as a stick was put in front of her. "No!" Cologne ordered. "Don't you see, Shampoo? A man with the temper and strength that boy has cannot possibly stay with such a demure figure. Don't you DARE try to hurt her! After what that poor girl has just been through there is no way she would want to stay with him! I feel sorry for the poor girl."

Inside the Nekohanten, a definite shattering noise was audible as Mousse, devastated by the ruckus he had overheard, clenched his hands into a hot, white ball, allowing blood to flow from them. He waited for so long, and worked so hard to finally see Ranma become out of the picture, giving him hope that Shampoo would finally pay attention to him. And look what happened! That despicable mummy found another random suitor for her to make sure he wouldn't have her.

As his anger quickly accumulated inside of him, Mousse began to clench his teeth together, numb to the pain that caused him as well. "Shampoo… is not… yours, Ryoga… I… will never… let you have her…" Explosively, the blind half-duck kicked the dishwasher as hard as he possibly could, the hawk's talon spikes from his shoes causing the machine to shatter and cause each of the innocent dishes to fall to the ground, becoming casualties of the outburst as the broke into multiple pieces. "Why does everyone always try to keep me from my precious Shampoo?! WHY?!!"

Suddenly feeling a small point being pressed on the back of his neck, the blind man found himself flying face first into the wall, writhing in pain as hot water from the pipes scalded his entire body. "Mousse, you birdbrain! You have any idea how much that outburst of yours is going to cost to repair!"

After he pushed himself away from the from the wall and hot water, his skin lobster red from the hot water he touched, he fell onto his knees, seething in hatred. "Why…" Mousse hissed. "Why do you always have to get in my way?"

Cologne pointed her stick towards the blind boy, painfully pressing the end onto his nose. "Mousse, you idiot. You've been nothing but a bother to me and my Shampoo since the day you met her. Do you really think that having Ranma out of the picture would magically make her fall in love with you? Getting Ryoga to marry to her as a second choice has always been a consideration of mine. Perhaps it was good that she angered the Lost Boy that much, even if she did the right thing for all the wrong reasons." Pointing towards the door, she continued to shun him. "You have thirty minutes to pack up everything you have, and get out of my restaurant! I'm closing the store for a few weeks, and I have absolutely no use for you."

Back at the Tendo Dojo, Akane hopelessly tried to hit Ranma as he easily dodged each clumsy blow while obtaining his daily source of manga.

"C'mon, Ranma!" the fiery and flustered student angrily scowled. "Just exactly how is this supposed to help me defend myself against Ukyo or Shampoo?! This is a life or death situation here!"

"Look," the teacher pointed out in a 'matter of fact' tone, still jumping away from every punch. "I told you! If you get fast enough to hit me we'll talk about loosin' the book."

"Rrrrrr… when will you and Ryoga take me seriously?!"

"When you can survive being hugged by him," Ranma smirked. Watching for any mistakes she made through his peripheral vision, he mentioned that she needed to push her elbows forward to increase the punches' speed.

Suddenly, they were forced to stop as they heard a crashing noise, and saw a vase that dropped off of the porch. "Ranma…" Akane shivered. "I really think something bad is about to happen!"

During dinner that night, Mr. Tendo used the time to present a challenge letter he had received from the mail the other day. "A dojo destroyer has demanded a match with Ranma tomorrow morning. As you are all aware, there seems to be many evil omens that have occurred today." Looming over to his son in law, he gave the most serious face he could. "Ranma! Do NOT loose!"

"Whoa, whoa!" Ranma reassured. "Look! What makes you think I'm going to loose?"

"Because of the evil omens, Ranma!" Soun huffed angrily. "If they are referring to the match, it must mean that this is a very dangerous opponent you will be facing. If you loose the match, we'll all be out of house and home! That cannot happen under any circumstances!"

"Okay? So, no hints as to what sort of art they practice?" Ranma shrugged.

Exhaling cigarette smoke from his nose, Soun introspectively as he looked over the challenge letter again. "I don't see any specifics on the tribe, but it seems to be from around the Ginghai region." A suspicious face appeared on the Tendo father. "Come to think of it, this is from around the same area that that Shampoo girl came from."

Ranma knew he was better off to get information from the ghoul, but he still wanted to specifically avoid that place as much as possible after Shampoo's involvement in the foiled wedding. "If this is going to be that big of a deal, then I don't think I have a choice but to see the old ghoul."

"Do you really think that is such a wise thing to do in such a short time after Shampoo's attempt at my daughter's life?!" Soun grumbled in an angry tone.

"The ghoul had no part in it!" Ranma stated defensively. "She supposedly tore those two a new one when she found out! Besides, it's like I said. If it's that serious we don't have a choice!" If she tried to set him up on another blackmail date with Shampoo then for once he'd just have to refuse. "I don't got a choice! I'm goin'!" Grabbing the card from the father's hand, he ran out in a search for the Nekohanten.

"But son!" the man screamed as a cry was about to go over him. "Please!"

"I don't want to admit it," Akane interrupted as she stood up, "but he has a point. If Shampoo's great grandmother can tell us anything about this, we might have a chance against this challenger! I'm going too!"

"NOOO!!! Akane, I won't allow you too," Soun ordered as he stood in her way. "What makes you think I would EVER consider letting you near that cold blooded KILLER?!"

"Gee, dad! Ranma's not going to let her touch me if that's what you're worried about!"

Tendo pushed his daughter towards her as a way to emphasize his point. "I don't care! Even if it is for the purpose of saving our dojo, as a father I cannot allow you around Shampoo! This is for your own good!"

"But…" Akane interjected.

"No buts! I will not risk sacrificing my daughter! Besides, Ranma will be perfectly able to do this himself. He is the one that is being challenged."

Sitting back down in defeat, Akane obeyed. "You better be right!"

"And YOU!!!" Soun barked at Genma, who immediately drenched himself with a bucket. Dropping onto the floor, he broke out into tears. "This is ALL YOUR FAULT!!! Why did you have to get your son involved with such dangerous girls?!"

"A challenger from around our home village you say?" Cologne asked with surprise. "Well Ranma, you must be very proud of yourself. You've become quite a celebrity it seems!"

"Yeah," Ranma answered. "We've been getting all these evil omens like before the freak came back to life, and now we finally get this letter!" He explained as he took the note from his pocket. "I came here cause I was wondering if you'd have any idea who it could be," throwing the old woman the paper.

She took a short look at the paper, looking specifically at the decoration. Soon, she looked back at him. "Follow me," the ghoul commanded. Putting her face closer to Ranma's ear, she warned in a whisper that she couldn't let Mousse know about this.

"What's he," Ranma yelled in frustration.

"You'll find out once we go upstairs!" Cologne answered as she ran out of the kitchen. With that, the granny was no longer inside, forcing Ranma to run upstairs. Just what does Mousse have to do with any of this, he wondered. As he reached the upstairs hallway, he watched as the old ghoul sorting through her chest.

"So then, granny," Ranma snapped, "What's that about?"

Looking back up at the older son-in-law, she gave him an angry face. "Ranma Saotome, do you want this information or not? If so, show me the gratitude I am worthy of. You are not asking for information from me as a son-in-law, but as a well-meaning elder that is willing to help you keep your dojo, understand?

"Uh, yeah…"

"Didn't I tell you to speak to me with respect? The correct answer was not 'uh, yeah'. The correct answer was 'yes, ma'am' or 'I understand, respected elder'. Now, I will ask you again, do you want me to give you the information or not?!"

What was with her sudden change in attitude? Usually she would allow him to talk however he wanted to before, and now she was talking to him like some sort of servant. Ranma had to admit that this could be difficult to accomplish, considering that it was part of the reason Akane was always beating him. "Yes ma'am," he asked with a polite tone. "Could you tell me who this challenger is?"

"That's getting warmer, boy," Cologne shrugged with a laugh. "But can you say the magic word?"

"Magic word?"

"Just add please to that question," Cologne demanded angrily. "C'mon! I don't have all day! You want this information or not?!"

Pausing to make sure he had the question right, he attempted to ask the question again. "Elder Cologne, please tell me who challenged me."

"That's better, child," Cologne laughed in good nature. "You might want to consider working on your manners, boy. It may make your life a little easier." Sighing with apprehension, she handed the young boy a thick book with an elaborate Chinese decoration on it similar to that on his letter. "I'm going to be honest with you right now. Even you are going to need all the good luck you can get."

"What do you mean?" Ranma asked. Noticing an uncomfortable look on the old woman, he added "Please, Elder?"

"Very well, since you asked politely," the elder answered with a friendly tone. "I could see that decoration from your challenge letter a mile away. That's the official symbol of the Xingu an village."

"What is the Xingu an village?" Ranma asked in a confused tone. "Please explain, Elder?"

He's getting good at this, Cologne thought to herself. Considering who raised him, she could easily understand his trouble. "This is the reason that we cannot speak around that birdbrain Mu Mu the duck. The Xingu an village is the home of the tribe of Dark Magic and Hidden Weapons Martial Arts, one of our most respected and feared rival tribes. Whoever's coming from this village, I am sure you will find to be a lot tougher than my Shampoo."

"But Shampoo is the strongest in your village, Elder!" Ranma explained in surprise. "Are they really that strong?"

"Indeed, Saotome! Actually, we were at war with them some odd ten years ago. In an attempted raid of their village we were forced back, severely overpowered. Needless to say, we signed a peace treaty with them a few days after that. They have been very bitter towards us since that time. Personally, I was against the war at the time. They have a powerful military, but they in general are very peaceful and will only attack when they feel threatened. Sadly, most of the older elders did not feel that way."

I'm sure this kid could care less about this history, Cologne told herself. However, it was an important for the last statement. "Mousse was taken hostage in that war, at about the age of six. He has not improved in his martial arts since then. In fact, he may have even lost some edge in his skill. I hate to admit it, but as you know he is perhaps even more skilled than my Shampoo nevertheless. Most of their skill involves concentrating their chi for battle purposes, or summoning elements from other dimensions. While they focus mostly on this capability, they are able to do so far more effectively than us Amazons are. For example, someone from this village about your age would probably have about the same level of chi manipulation skill of myself.

Scowling in frustration, Ranma began to forget his manners. "You're one of the best martial artists in your village and you're about as good as a fricken' sixteen year old there?! That's ridiculous!"

"Manner's child! I told you to mind your manners!" The Amazon barked. Calming herself, the Amazon stared him down. "Anyways, your best bet against this opponent is to concentrate on building up your 'mental' muscle by means of meditation. Personally I don't see you doing that too effectively, especially in one night. All I can do for you now is wish you the best of luck, both for this challenge and your marriage to Akane Tendo."

"So, you and Shampoo are giving up on me?" Ranma asked. "No offence, but I can't say I'm going to miss it."

"I've become increasingly aware of your true feelings towards Akane. I'm incredibly sorry for the way those two kids of mine wrecked it. Actually, after a little skirmish with him just a few minutes ago she's become interested in that Lost Boy friend of yours." Chuckling heartily, "He came in quite angry about Shampoo's actions and hurt her pretty bad. I must admit he's not too far from you in potential, although I may want to consider discussing how to control his emotions a little better, and teaching him of the danger of using that Lion Roar Shot of his a little better."

Ranma winced back in shock, an angry and scared look on his face. "Don't tell me… Ryoga… No! Don't even think of it! There's no way I'm going to let you put him through what you did to me! It's not like before! He already has a girlfriend and you will NOT break them up!"

"Yes, I have noticed he had a girl around, although I don't see how the relation will work out too well," the old woman informed him. "It seems to me during that fight of his with my Shampoo that she found some things out about his lifestyle she didn't particularly care for."

"What about his lifestyle?" Ranma asked, quite confused. "In case you forgot, she's practically made for him!"

"To that boy, I'm sure any girl that thinks of him as a human being is 'practically made for him'. That doesn't mean the relationship will be functional, though. That poor Akari was none too impressed to hear about his actions around Akane in his pig form, not to mention scared out of her wits from watching Ryoga in his berserker mode, just as I'm sure your Akane was scared out of her mind when he tried to give her a hug able to destroy an oak tree," she ended with the last sentence having some sarcasm. "Trust me. I think the moment Shampoo gives him the attention she used to give you back in the days, he'll melt into her arms."

"He's not going to be too happy if Akari gets hurt," Ranma responded quite sternly. "Anyone hurts her, I'll help Ryoga make you sorry!"

"Don't worry about that sonny boy. Shampoo won't lay a finger on Akari," Cologne guaranteed. "After your wedding I made it quite clear to both her and Mousse that we are foreigners here. I just received a government warning that we will be deported if we attack Japanese citizens again. Not even an idiot like Mousse will want to touch this girl of Ryoga's."

"Personally, I can't see him breaking up with Akari, and I certainly can't see him falling for Shampoo in any voluntary way!" Ranma scowled. "Where's is Shampoo?! I'm having a talk with her!"

"Shampoo's sleeping. She had a very rough day. Why don't you talk to her later after your challenge?" the elder informed as she hopped downstairs. "Speaking of which, why don't you get your rest for tomorrow? I'm sure you'll need it."

Ranma, flustered from the entire event, followed the matriarch's path downstairs. "Feh! Well, this has been the example of a wonderful day! Ryoga, you better be able to take care of your girlfriend and yourself, 'cause I ain't got the time to baby-sit you!"

The plains around Mount Fuji presented a clear and unpolluted view of the night sky, giving any astronomy fanatic or hopeless romantic a great view of all the constellations. Crickets chirped in the grass, causing the two wonderers on their larger than average pig to begin to relax their stressed minds.

Watching over the resting girl laying in his lap, Ryoga lightly pushed her bangs out of her eyes. Just minutes after he left the Nekohanten, it came across to him just exactly how much of a mistake he had made. It was Ranma's job to deal with the two girls, not his. Before then, he had no worry of Shampoo, Mousse or Ukyo hurting Akari. Now, they were as serious of a threat to her as any other. That wasn't the only thing that he did to her, the Lost Boy reminded himself as he watched his girlfriend turn her head to the side. He also forced her to watch him almost kill another person, and on top of that someone weaker than him. She watched him bully the weak! That was something he always preached to both her and the world around them that he would never do.

He was no less of a murderer than Shampoo, not to mention the fact that Akari had found out about how he abused his curse around Akane. She probably hated him, didn't she? She hated him, just like everyone else.

Do I really even deserve you?

The same question repeated itself throughout his mind the entire trip. It bugged him, eating away in his mind for hours now. It repeated through his mind like some annoying sink that kept dripping, telling anyone around it to turn it off if they did not want to deal with irritation. Do I really even deserve you, the dripping faucet echoed in his mind. Do I really even deserve you? Finally, as the voice became too intolerable, he was forced to ask the question out loud.

"Do I really even deserve you?" he asked while looking towards Akari with the most needy, desperate face.

Looking back up from the view, the sumo-pig trainer gave him a sad, nevertheless warm smile. "Of course you do," she shyly laughed. "You're my fiancée, and I don't want to live without you. If I ever had to, I don't know what I'd do!"

"You mean," Ryoga cried with a smile developing on me, "You mean, you still love me? Even after all the terrible things I dragged you into and after you found out about me being Akane's pet?!"

"Yes, about that," Akari mentioned as her face became sterner. "I don't like to be bossy, but I don't want you around that place anymore. I don't want to sound mean, but it just seems to bring the worst out in you. When you attacked that Shampoo girl, you seemed like a completely different person, a very bad and dangerous man that I could never marry!" Her face started to soften, almost looking like she was about to cry. "I know that it's not you, though. It's that Nerinma place! I could always feel it around there. Everyone's always so angry or sad! That's why I want you to stay around me all the time from now on."

"So then, you mean…"

Sitting up, Akari gave him her stern look again. "For right now, let's just stay together. You don't mind staying at your house tonight, do you?"

"Oh, no!" Ryoga answered politely. "There's just about no way that my parents will be there." For her, she's pretty mad right now, Ryoga thought. I really must have put her through hell!

"We're sleeping there tonight," Akari commanded. "I want us to stick together for now. When we go to bed, I want you to sleep next to me and not leave unless I follow you. If you have to go to the bathroom, all you have to do is wake me up, and I will be more than willing lead you there. When you wake up and I'm still asleep, find something you can do until I wake up or wake me up. We might stay there a little tomorrow, but most likely I want to get back home tomorrow night, and I want you to come with me. If you want to take Checkers and her puppies with us, I'll be more than happy to take them along." Finally, she reverted back to her shy stare. "You don't mind spending that much time around me, do you?"

"Of COURSE not!" Ryoga laughed giddily. Glaring at her with his usual comical face saying 'do not worry as I will not let you down', the lost boy guaranteed his word. "I swear! Akari, you make me feel warmth in a world where I constantly yearn for it! I would be HONORED to stay with you!"

"I'm so HAPPY!" the sumo pig trainer cheered as she hugged her boyfriend. "Let's start a new life together, and be more than just pen-pals! Forget about Tokyo and stay with me."

Tears of joy flowed freely from the Lost Boy as he laughed in an almost unconscious form, not hugging back only in fear of hurting her. "Kill me now and I'll die a happy man!"

"Why would I want to kill you?!" Akari asked in shock. "That would be horrible!"

"Uh, nothing!" Ryoga responded in pure bliss. "That's just an expression I use." He then decided that this girl, who was willing to take so much time out of her life for his well-being, and be so nice to him all the time, was more than worth fighting off the most dangerous enemies Ranma faced to save. If Shampoo tries to kill her, he swore she would not leave his presence alive!

What the hell is this place?

Akane asked herself that question as she stood on a flat rock that seemed to have no end in the horizon. The only light above was the red sky above her with an orange typhoon shaped swirl revealing itself. The only thing that seemed relatively comfortable around this place was the mild air around her.

"Hello!" the Tendo daughter yelled in a shivering tone while frantically looking around. "Is anybody here?! If anybody can, please say so!" Hearing nothing but the mere echo of her voice, Akane began to walk in one specific direction, hoping that at least she would eventually find a new landscape. "Please!" she continued pleading as she increased her pace to a run. "Somebody, please answer me! Where in the world am I?!"

It was futile. There was no one around who would answer. Not in a place like this! Kneeling down and hugging her knees, Akane began to lost hope that she would ever leave this weird place. "Where am I? Is this hell? Am I DEAD?!"

"You are not dead," a bizarre voice called from behind her. "Believe me, you are very much alive. You're just here to view a test." What was that insane voice she was hearing? It sounded like a regular person except that it was covered up by static like from a radio.

"Who's there?" the teenage martial artist asked curiously as she looked behind her. She saw an over-looming image of a black-cloak floating near her. "What test are you talking about?!" Her eyes widened in surprise as Ranma appeared next to the form.

"This is a test to see whether this man here wants to leave or not. If he accepts my help, I will be able to lead you both out of here," the cloaked figure explained while not moving at all. "However, if he refuses I will leave and you two will be on your own to leave this place. I warn you that this place is impossible to leave without someone of my abilities."

"Yo!" Ranma spoke as he looked towards the figure. "Who're you talkin' too?! Some imaginary friend?!"

"Hey! Ranma!" Akane explained happily, ignoring the rude comment. "It's me! Akane!"

"He cannot see or here you," the figure explained. "You are like a ghost."

"Huh?" Akane backed away some at that implication. "This isn't fair!"

"Saotome," the black cloak explained as it looked over to Ranma. "I believe I am able to find a way out of here."

"Oh, really?" the pigtailed boy asked suspiciously. "Just exactly how do you plan on doing that?"

"It's difficult to explain, but I have my methods. Now, do you want my help or not?" The final question was asked in an impatient tone.

"Ha! No way!" Ranma refused. "I'm Ranma Saotome! I don't need help from some random weirdo!"

Akane couldn't bear to hear the arrogant refusal, causing both of them to be stuck there forever! "You IDIOT!!!" she barked furiously as she stomped her fist on the rocky ground. "You egotistical DUMMY!! You really think there's any other way to get out of here?! Take his help so we can go home!"

"It's useless, Akane Tendo. He has already made his decision," the cloak claimed as it began to disappear. "Goodbye."

"No! Come back! At least let ME go back!" Akane commanded.

"I cannot do that," the voice told her as it faded. "You both must agree."

Standing alone, except for some boy who was responsible for making her stay here and couldn't see, hear, or maybe even feel her? This was how she was going to live the rest of her life?! It wasn't fair! Why did I have to suffer because of Ranma's ego again?! "Ranma!" Akane screamed at the top of her lungs, "You JERK!!! THIS IS ALL YOUR FAULT!!! I DON'T WANT TO STAY WITH YOU HERE!!!" Akane ran towards the unknowing boy and gave him a frightening punch, which flew right through his body and not harming him. "It's not fair," she cried to herself as she dropped back down in shock. "It's NOT FAIR!!!"

Awaking from the terrible dream, Akane sat up from her bed with sweat building from her face. "Just a dream!" she panted in between her heavy breaths. "That place, that stupid Ranma screwing us both over like that! It was just a bad dream!"

Relieved, Akane laid back down and threw her blanket back onto her. There's no way he'd loose this fight, she thought to herself. She's seen him before. Even if he was completely overpowered, he'd never allow himself to. "Stupid jerk," she mumbled to herself. "You better not loose."

Ten more minutes of trying to fall asleep, the tomboy got out of bed to get a glass of water. There was too much on her mind now. Her mind was drifting from everything that had happened before. Obviously it would, considering just exactly everything she had been through. Life before the Jusendo experience was certainly bizarre, but it was no where close to what she had been experiencing during and after that.

Ranma had finally admitted that he loved her! Finally, that egotistical creep who constantly made fun of her for any little flaw, he said that! When we got back, just when everything seemed like it would be normal again the wedding we had was ruined!

Akane could still remember the massive chaos, people she knew, some who she even considered friends, coming by simply for the sake of ruining the best day of her life! Why? Because they couldn't stand someone else having Ranma or herself. She knew she could never forgive Shampoo for trying to kill her, and she certainly would be hard-pressed to ever see Ukyo the same way.

Of course, then she had the nerve to bring Ryoga into one of her stupid attempts to win Ranma over. He was among the few people she knew over the last year that she was happy to have met. It was so great to watch him finally meet a girlfriend, someone who was a free passport out of the insanity that was Nerinma and most of all a release from the constant bullying he had to put up with from Ranma. Then, Ukyo had the nerve to ruin it by getting him involved in one of her stupid schemes to set him up with Akane! Was she really so insensitive that she'd be willing to cause him to break up with a sweetheart like Akari and be with herself? How could she be cold hearted-enough to manipulate him into dating such uncute tomboy when he already had HER?

Taking a glass from the cupboard, Akane put her hand under the faucet to make sure the water was cold. Noticing it was, she put her glass under it and allowed the liquid to fill it.

Ukyo! How dare you attack Akane like that?! That's like kicking a puppy!

It wasn't that she didn't mind him and Ranma defending her. After all, Akane met plenty of freakishly powerful fighters who could literally kill her with one hit. But it was a completely different story when he defended her against another girl. So Ukyo had more skill than her. It couldn't be that much! If she ever came near her again, Akane would make sure that only she would come out of the fight alive! Smiling with a maniacal grin as she looked at the glass, she wondered just how Ryoga would react watching the "defenseless" Akane defeat such a feared foe.

"U-chan, you're dead meat!" she murmured in an evil threat.

"So, still pissed at Ukyo, are ya?" a familiar voice called behind her.

"Damn right, I am!" Akane hissed as she looked at Ranma coming in through the back door. "Let's get one thing strait! The only reason that bitch came out of that alive was because Ryoga butted in! She didn't challenge me, I challenged her! It was MY fight!"

Rolling his eyes from hearing this, Ranma walked closer to her. "Look, Akane. Don't go gettin' mad at him for it or anything. He's just really overprotective. Oh, by the way, speaking of Porky you might want to thank him later for dealing with Shampoo for you."

Akane's face winced in shock, returning back to fury within fifteen seconds. "Shampoo? What about her! Don't tell me he…"

"The ghoul told me he brought Akari over and challenged Shampoo to a duel," the Saotome son explained as he looked down in a thoughtful, gloomy expression that was quite rare for him. "He was pissed about what she did in our wedding, and he almost killed her. I guess now those Amazons have their minds on Ryoga." Laughing sarcastically, "It almost makes me kind of wonder who he cares for more, you or Akari."

Akane slammed the glass onto the sink cupboard table, shaking her head in belief. "Not that I appreciate his concern, but that was the stupidest thing he could have done! He saw what that bimbo put us through! He knows Akari couldn't defend herself if she tried to kill her!"

"So, after this challenge why don't you say I go have a talk with Ukyo and you have a talk with Ryoga?" Ranma suggested in an amused but uncomfortable tone. "They need a good talking to. Both of them."

"Yeah, that they do!" Akane hummed. Looking at Ranma with concern, she gave him a harsh warning. "Speaking of which, we're all really worried about this match. For all you know, this challenger could be really strong! Please don't underestimate him!"

"I talked about the challenge with the old ghoul, and she freaked out from the sight of the letter," Ranma mentioned as he leaned next to Akane. "Let me put it this way? You know how Mousse always claims he's a master of Black Magic whatchamacalit Marital Arts?"

"Yeah," Akane mentioned as she calmed down. "He's pretty good, but not that good."

"Well, apparently it's a real school practiced in a real village," Ranma claimed with a grimace. "Even the Amazons are scared spitless of them. Mousse was held hostage from there when he was six, and he hasn't improved his skill since then. Accordin' to the challenge letter this challenger is from the same village, and probably about Nabiki's age. He's been practicing all his life, I bet."

"If he's that good," Akane whispered with a shiver, "Don't you dare underestimate him!" She grinned to her fiancée with a determined stare. "Ranma, I swear, if you like proving the best this is your chance! Don't you dare loose! You go out there tomorrow and pretend you're fighting Saffron all over again!"

"Don't worry, Akane!" he smirked haughtily. "Whoever this bastard is, who threatened to take over the Tendo Dojo is a dead man." Feeling his head fall over from being tired, he loosened his form. "Although, right now a nice nap would be good," he claimed as he turned around towards the stairs.

Yawning as she discovered her own tire, Akane followed foot. "I'm going to try that again myself."

Everyone in the Nerinma commercial plaza became quite confused as they watched an odd man with multitudes of overstuffed suitcases falling from his sleeves, sitting down and opening one of them and taking a tent out. Dropping the folded fabric to the floor, the weird man looked down and sobbed pitifully, blurring his vision as tears dropped onto his glasses.

"Sh… Sh… Shampoo!" Mousse blubbered in a cracked voice. "Why? Why does she hate me so much?!"

As he gained attention from the crowd, everyone paused to watch in wonder of what was going on, mentioning to each other their own thoughts. "Did his girlfriend kick him out?" one of the people thought out loud. "Poor guy! Love doesn't come easy. That's what they always say," another informed. "Yeah, but does he have to do this in the middle of the town? I don't need to be seeing this."

Tired of everyone watching him, Mousse stood up and threw multiple knives and chains towards the people, all of them barely running away before they found themselves hurt. "THEN STOP STARING AT ME!!! You think I like to do this?! Huh?! Huh?! DO YOU?!!!" As all the people ran away, another voice, angrier than the others, became gradually louder as its source came closer.

"Hey, what's going on?!" the familiar tongue asked.

"Some crazy guy's camping out there! Stay away!" one of the runaways informed the other.

"Mousse?!" he heard the voice ask. "Just exactly what are you doing here?" The blind boy looked over to her, unable to see who it was because of his fogged glasses.

"Ukyo?" Mousse guessed from the pitch. "Is it you?"

He felt the person he was talking to grab onto his shoulders and violently shake him. "Just who did you think it was, jackass?! What are you doing out in the middle of the streets?!"

Mousse itched his head, confused. "But Ukyo, I'm not in front of your store, am I? I didn't see it."

Ukyo pointed to him, causing him to feel her finger on his chest. "No, but I DID notice some weirdo sitting in the ally attacking a whole bunch of people while I was buying some groceries."

"Well then," Mousse responded, beginning to look at her with a vicious anger. "If you don't mind Ukyo, I would appreciate it if you would GO AWAY AND MIND YOUR OWN BUSINESS!!!" Rubbing his neck on his shirt the wrong way, the half duck grimaced as a hot pain ran through his body. "Ahhh! It still hurts!"

"Of course it still hurts, Sugar! You have blisters all over your face!" He did indeed, Ukyo mentioned in her head. Mousse looked like he played soccer with a beehive with his face and hands almost entirely covered in callous-like blisters, and lobster red skin. "Did you pick a fight with Ranma honey again?"

Offended by the comment, the blind boy shoved her off, causing her to lightly fall onto the ally wall. "If you don't like it then STOP LOOKING AT IT!!! I was about to sleep right now anyways before you all started bothering me!"

"Geez! Someone's being an ungrateful jackass!" the offended girl gritted her teeth, twisting her body away while folding her hands on her chest. "If that's the way you're going to thank me, then I guess I won't offer to take you over to my place, heal your wounds, and give you a nice comfy bed."

Upon hearing that, Mousse's glasses drooped almost to the bottom of his nose as an 'o' formed on his mouth. Embarrassed, the blind duck raised his hands in his defense. "I'm sorry. Please, I just thought you were here to make fun of me like all the others!"

"Hmph!" The Okonomyaki chef pursed her lips as she looked back to the other. "Glad you were thinking so highly of me!"

Looking down in pity, Mousse's defenses weakened in such a vulnerable state. "I'm sorry," his voice cracked. "If you don't want me to go with you, then please leave."

Suddenly, Mousse felt himself being gripped by his coat, a frustrated spatula girl vibrating him again. "Hey stupid! I WANT you to come with me! So pick up your stupid luggage and let's go!" Letting go as the duck sat down pitifully and began to cry, Ukyo softened up as she calmed down. "I'll heal those burns when we get there," she promised in a friendly tone. Watching him continue to bawl even more intensely, Ukyo rolled her eyes. "No offence, but you're pathetic! Mousse, if I have to see you crying like a baby in the middle of an alley, can you at least tell me why?"

"Shampoo!" Mousse howled to the moon like a wolf. "She hates me! No matter what I do to show how much I love her, that old hag does everything she can to keep me away from my true love!"

Deal with it, Ukyo thought to herself. "My 'true love' isn't exactly jumping into my arms either, but you don't see me sobbing about it in the middle of the street!" she calmly sighed in empathy. "Besides, I don't think Shampoo ever really ever liked you. No offence."

"But I thought she was starting to," the Chinese boy wailed. "I seriously thought after she was willing to go on a date with me, and after she was so nice to me after she accidentally broke my glasses, that maybe she was starting to like me." His hands shook on the pavement, beginning to bleed as blisters began to pop on them. However, Mousse paid no attention to this. "I thought that just for once, just for once that maybe my love was getting across to her, and I kept going on thinking that she would like me more if I just kept working harder, but after what happened today I'm NOT so sure!" Feeling a hand fall onto his shoulder, the blind boy looked from the slit above his glasses, barely seeing a blurry image of someone looking towards him at eye level.

Ukyo placed her hand on the boy's hand, humming thoughtfully as she gave an understanding, sad frown. She couldn't help but empathize with him some. He had a situation very much like her own, except even worse. Ranma honey may not have loved her back, but at least he thought of her as a human being. Heck, she was one of his best friends! Mousse couldn't talk with Shampoo without a cold look or insult. He was madly in love with and would do anything for a girl. And how did she thank him? She snubbed him away, insulting him and sometimes even hitting him. Did Ranma gape in annoyance when she simply approached him? Not likely.

I understand what you're going through. That's why I' m being nice you. I don't know why you're in love with that Chinese bimbo, but it must be hell!

"Can I just ask you a question?" Hearing the cries from him, Ukyo simply continued. "Have you ever thought that maybe Shampoo just isn't the right girl for you?"

"What?" Mousse looked back to her, quite offended. "Just exactly what do you mean by that Ukyo? Of course she's the right woman for me!"

"Well, no offence, but I don't think so. I saw the way she treats you and I can already tell you it's not going to get much better when you two get married!" Grabbing the pitiful boys hand and putting lifting him, Ukyo lifted both of them. "C'mon. Pick up your bags and let's go. We're going to catch attention out here."

"You don't have to pick me up!" Mousse scowled as he pushed her away and stood up. "I can walk by myself.

As the Hidden Weapons 'expert' began to pick up some of the luggage, Ukyo watched and noticed how he grimaced in pain simply touching anything. "You know sugar, I'd offer to help you with that but I just don't think I'd be able to carry it all like you do." Noticing him attempt to pick up an iron rod but dropping it due to the extreme pain, she walked towards him. "I have an idea. Just hold your hands out and let me put all your stuff in for you." Watching him hold his arms out towards her and the baggy sleeves of his coat drop down, she began picking up some suitcases and tossed them towards his sleeves. She became quite perturbed when she noticed the bag seemed to vanish into thin air as it went in. Raising an eyebrow from the odd appearance, Ukyo picked up an iron staff on the floor and began to push it inward a little, watching only the part inside his coat disappear. "What the… hey honey, you mind telling me exactly what's with this coat of yours anyways?" she asked curiously. "I'm not trying to insult it or anything, it just looks really cool."

"It's a long story," Mousse answered casually as he stood still. "I myself don't know everything about it, but from what I read about it it's basically able to be used as an alternate dimension. Think of it like a storage device, except with almost infinite capacity."

Giving the staff one final thrust, the tomboy chef watched in amazement. "Think of the possibilities!" she merrily pointed out to the magician. "And here all this time I thought you just stuffed all those weapons in there."

"It's not that I don't do that sometimes," questioned magician noted. "It's actually more convenient to do for smaller objects."

As Ukyo continued to load all of Mousse's things into his sleeves, she continued to have small talk with him. "So then, what did happen tonight? If you don't mind me asking that is."

Watching Mousse bob his head down in despair, Ukyo began to regret bringing it up. "There was a challenger right after we closed today. He came in and beat up Shampoo, and on top of that right in front of his own girlfriend that he already had. I thought Ryoga was better than that, to string girls around like that I mean. So now that old mummy's going to be hell-bent on forcing Shampoo to marry that gigolo."

Noticing she finished with the rest of the luggage, Ukyo began searching for all the weapons. However, she let out an angry grumble as she heard the last part. "Don't kid yourself. I don't think Ryoga wants to marry Shampoo anymore than you want him to. He was just pissed off at her, that's all." After she threw some strange mace into the sleeves, she rolled her eyes in disdain. "But yeah, I had suspicions he was going to go off and do something stupid like that."

Mousse looked back up and onto his side, still upset by what she said. "Cologne told me that it was the opportunity of a lifetime what Ryoga did, and how great it was that he was willing to do something like that." As his tone became more low-spirited, "She told me it was better that she married him than me."

"Ryoga's not exactly the type to think, Mousse," Ukyo pointed out while she tossed his throwing knives in. "I know that from past experience. I'm sure he's thinking to himself right now, 'Oh, what on Earth have I done!'" Imitating the Lost Boy's melodramatic voice and tone with the quote, the Kuonji girl afterwards emitted a light chuckle afterwards.

"That's not funny, Ukyo!" Mousse objected, as his eyebrows disappeared under his glasses. "For your information I happen to have a lot of respect for Ryoga and I always thought of him as a true friend! Just like I would die for my precious Shampoo, I know as a fact that he would do anything for Akane! That's NOT stupid, it's true love! I thought you girls were supposed to be the sensitive ones!" However, he calmed down as he remembered he was saying this to someone willing to offer him a roof over his head. "Sorry, but just… don't make fun of him."

Strange, she never remembered Mousse having any respect for the dumb Lost Boy. Besides, that probably didn't come out very well. "Yeah, maybe I shouldn't," Ukyo sighed as she looked all around the street for any other spare weapons. "I think I got everything. Let's go home."

"Yeah." Sulking in depression, Mousse followed the footsteps of the other; he stopped once he suddenly heard the girl stop.

"There's no way you can see too well when your glasses are that dirty, sugar," the leader mentioned as she took them off of him. "You don't mind if I clean them off for you, do you?"

"I guess not," Mousse murmured as he handed her his specks. "You're right. If you didn't do that I probably wouldn't have been able to see well at all. Thank you." Feeling the object taken from his hand, the Chinese boy simply listened to her breathing out heavily. "Ukyo, if you don't mind I'd just like to know. Why are you being so nice to me? I don't even really know you, and on top of that I did a lot of really bad things to someone you love."

"Well I wasn't about to leave you on the street to rot!" the blurry image answered. "You looked really pitiful. For whatever reason, I just never grew up liking to watch people be like that," she continued, calmly explaining herself without any honest anger. "Is that a good enough answer for you?"

"I suppose," Mousse hummed. "I guess I am a little pitiful."

"I think we all are," Ukyo joked humorlessly. "We're all going crazy over one stupid wedding. I may not look like it, but I was devastated when I heard of it. I couldn't believe that Ranma didn't at least tell me!" She was also planning on possibly moving to Osaka and maybe taking Kontasu, but she didn't want to state that as a definite. After all, once she admitted failure to marry Ranma, she would have to reinstate her oath of vengeance against him, loose her femininity and right to make Okonomyaki. She couldn't allow that when she still wasn't really sure what he really thought of Akane.

After using her chef's shirt to wipe off the rest of the grime, Ukyo lifted the heavy spectacles and stared through them. As soon as she did, she noticed a few things about them. First, they were incredibly heavy! She could practically feel her nose about to break off. Second, the lenses were wide, reaching out far beyond the end of her face. Last but not least, she could barely see out of them. Well, she could see, but everything was completely distorted like at a mirror house in a carnival. "I guess they're clean," she commented. "I myself can't see out of them too well." Taking them off and handing them back to the blind duck, she watched him grab them and put them back on.

"Thank you," Mousse complimented her with a thankful smile. "That makes things a lot easier." However, he made a big mistake as he pulled them to the top of his head, causing the cleaner some anguish.

Frustrated, Ukyo grabbed the glasses from her new friend's head and dragged them down to their head "Mousse, put your glasses in front of your EYES! I cleaned them for a reason!"

"Sorry… I'm just not used to doing that," the blind boy mentioned. "Although, I have to admit that putting them back on seems to make my vision a lot better."

"You THINK?!" Ukyo hissed in frustration.

The duo stayed silent as they walked back to Uchan's, already preoccupied with their own thoughts. It was sunset by the time they met, and it was pitch-black night as they returned. Mousse had to admit that he was feeling slightly creeped out, walking so late to the home of someone he hardly knew. Finally, as they reached the doorway, he let his concerns known. "I'm sorry about this," he claimed. "I really hope I'm not inconveniencing you by being here."

"You're not inconveniencing me," Ukyo assured him in a patient tone. "Actually, I was about to ask you if you how long you want to stay here."

Frowning slightly as the helpful peer reminded of the old mummy's disowning him for now, he paused, trying to think of how to tell this. "I don't know. Both Shampoo and her great grandmother are really mad at me. They might not let me go back for a really long time. I don't want to make any more of a nuisance of myself than I need to, though. I'll leave once I healed."

"You're staying with me until those two let you back," Ukyo ordered him, more level headed. "You have worked at a restaurant, right?"

"Yes," Mousse answered, knowing what Ukyo was implying. "I'll warn you though that I don't particularly know how to make Okonomiyaki. I know how to cook Ramen, but I didn't do much at the Nekohanten other than wash dishes and be a waiter when Shampoo was making deliveries."

"Whoa whoa there," Ukyo stopped him with a well natured laugh. "I'm not asking you to take over the restaurant, I'm asking you to help out a little. Some dishwashing and occasional waitering is good for me. Some magic shows would be nice, occasionally."

"Okay," Mousse complied. "I'll do that."

"But not until you get better," the restaurant owner nagged him. "Until every burn and blister on your body is healed, you have to stay upstairs and get better. That's the first condition."

Vibrating his head up and down, the myopic guest agreed. "Yes. Yes. I understand, Ukyo." Stopping as her last sentence came across to his head, "Okay, so that's the first condition. What's the second?"

"Rule number two," Ukyo chirpily continued. "I have another person working for me named Kontasu. Don't hit on him."

"I don't hit on men," Mousse scowled. "Of course I'm not going to hit on this Kontasu!"

"Well, let's just say that he's very… feminine," the chef informed him. "A lot of my customers really think he's a girl, and he's my newest attraction. I'm just telling you this so he doesn't break your heart."

"Yeah…" Mousse noted. "Don't fall in love with the pretty waitress. I'll keep that in mind."

"Please do," Ukyo asked of him. "Rule number three, I want your glasses on, right, all the time."

Drooping pitifully, Mousse objected. "But… I look so stupid with them on."

"Not really. You look stupider confusing monkeys, statues and other people for Shampoo," Ukyo joked.

"Okay."

Even though she kept her playful attitude, Ukyo gave him a stare that meant she wanted to be taken very seriously. "Rule number four, last but certainly not least, be nice to my Ranma honey when he comes here! He's a paying customer!"

"No need to fear," Mousse assured her in his own cheerier manner. "As long as Ranma is not in the process of trying to steal away my Shampoo, he is okay by me."

Hearing the new roommate and soon to be employee agree, the owner of Uchan's unlocked the door and brought him into his new home. "Welcome home!"

Seems like Ryoga did a big mistake, messing with those Amazons. So is Akari safe from Shampoo? Is this going to end up being a Ryoga/Shampoo and Ukyo/Mousse story? I honestly am not sure myself right now, but the point is he just made it a lot harder for him to stay with his pig-loving girlfriend.

So what's so great about this new challenger that Ranma faces? Well, the next chapter is all about him.