Disclaimer: I don't own Ranma, I just rent him.
Chapter 15 Storybook endings?
Akari looked into the resteraunt again and watched the girl who had beaten her prized sumo pig. Akari was still amazed. She had been watching this Konatsu for over a week now.When Akari had told her grandfather about her pig being beaten by a girl, her grandfather had said to watch this girl and see if she might have a brother.
Akari had been worried at first. Her grandfather hadn't seemed to care about Ryouga leaving her. Akari herself was still feeling hurt, but watching Konatsu had another side effect. It allowed Akari to watch Ryouga and his new girlfriend. Akari still cared about Ryouga deeply and always would, but she was starting to understand why Ryouga was with this Ukyo. He was relaxed around her.
No matter how often Ryouga and Akari had written each other and seen each other, there had always been something there. Akari could now understand that while they did have a connection, it was nothing like the naturalness of Ukyo and Ryouga's relationship. The two of them were less like timid high schoolers dating and more like a real couple, including their fights.
The first time Akari watched Ryouga and Ukyo start to fight, she had wanted to run in there and rescue her Ryouga. Akari had been stopped by a hand on her shoulder, belonging to Konatsu, and then watched as the two lovebirds eventually made up. That was after they had torn up the resturant a little. They must have stayed up all night fixing it because Uttchan's was open again the next day.
Akari had actually watched Ryouga hit Ukyo and her hit back. She was finally begining to understand what him being a martial artist meant. The art was his life, and while Akari could have stood by him in it, Ukyo could share it with him.
Akari shook her thoughts out of her head when she realised that Konatsu had disappeared again. She was back after a moment like she had never left, but Akari looked behind herself to see the food that she knew was there. Everyday for over a week Akari had come and tried to watch Konatsu without being seen, and everyday there would magically be food at her side when she got hungery, and never a bill. Akari was getting embarassed, should couldn't keep accepting this food, but to offer to pay would mean admitting what she was doing.
Ukyo looked at the window and saw Akari duck her head again. It was probably to go eat what Konatsu had taken her today. Ukyo had figured out what Konatsu was doing when the food first started to dissapear. Ukyo thought it was ridiculous that everyone pretended that no one noticed Akari. Ukyo had wanted to confront the girl but Ryouga had begged her not to, at least not yet. It was a couple days before she realised that Akari was actually watching Konatsu and not Ryouga, at least not much. Ukyo wasn't sure why Akari didn't interupt her and Ryouga's fight the other day, but figured that Konatsu had done something.
It seemed that if things continued to improve she wouldn't need to worry. It was a good day. Ukyo was happy and Konatsu had someone interested in him. Ryouga had explained about the pig thing with Akari. Ukyo had thought it was crazy but if it could lead to Konatsu being happy so be it. It was deffinately a good day.
"Ukyosama!"
I guess that's what the kami decided to ruin it. Ukyo turned to Tsubasa and stared the crossdressing freak down. "I thought I told you to leave me alone Tsubasa. I've got a boyfriend, now leave me alone!" Ukyo made a grab for her battle spatula.
Akari was confused. Was this and exlover of Ukyo's? Did this girl who had stolen Ryouga's heart prefer women? Akari glanced at Konatsu again and wondered if there was anything between Konatsu and Ukyo as well.
Ryouga was confused. He had just delivered an order to table 5 , actually table 8, and suddenly some girl appears and calls out to Ukyo. Then the name Ukyo calls out registers in his memory. This was the crossdressing freak that was constantly hounding his girlfriend. Well Ryouga wouldn't stand for this, he knew that Tsubasa was a guy.
Akari watched, wide eyed, as Ryouga violently grabbed this new girl by her neck and brings her eye level to his own.
"Hello, I'm Ryouga, Ukyo's new boyfriend. Ukyo told me all about you, you crossdressing freak. Now I'm going to be nice and ask once that you leave my GIRLFRIEND alone. Consider it a favor between men."
Crossdresser? This was a guy? Akari was stunned. This guy was a cuter girl than she was. This did leave more evidence to the exrelationship theory, but it was a moot point now. Akari watched the soap opera unfold and started to munch on the popcorn in her hands.
"I will never allow you to date my darling Ukyosama. You are not man enough for her."
Ryouga facefaulted at this, as well did everyone watching. Tsubasa continued to rant. Akari sipped on the soda she was passed.
"I have been watching and I now know your secret. You, Ryouga Hibiki, have a Jusenkyo curse that turns you into a little black piglet."
Akari accepted the popcorn again and became even more curious about what would happen next.
"Tsubasa you jackass. I already knew about his curse. How else do you think I let him sleep in my bed."
Everyone, especially Ukyo herself, froze at hearing what was just said. Ukyo started to stutter instead of explaining what she meant. Ryouga developed a massive nose bleed at both, what was implied and memories of what Ukyo looked like with out her clothes. Memeries he had acuired accidentally in his pursuit of Ranma.
"This is getting pretty good."
Akari turned and nodded to her companion who had provided the snacks when the show started. She saw Konatsu pass back the soda they had been sharing and Akari froze. Akari jumped up and ran away.
Konatsu watched as the girl that had been watching him the last few days ran off. He sighed and decided to walk in and get ready to clean up the mess the soon to be fight would create.
Akari only got a about a block when she realised that she had forgotten to thank Konatsu for the food. It was pointless to pretend she hadn't been seen and that was the only think causing Akari to be so rude as to not be thankful of her host. Akari walked back quickly to give her thanks and appologise for her behavior.
She got back to the window she had just left and watched the last scene of the drama. This time everyone's attention was elsewhere and for once no one noticed Akari was there.
Ryouga and Ukyo had just done a combined strike that Ryouga figured would land Tsubasa in Korea, Ukyo figured Okinawa.
"Tell me something Ukyochan. Am I the only guy you know who's not a crossdresser?"
"Hey, it's not like I pick these people?"
"It was you who gave Konatsu a job, and Ranma's always wearing women's clothes."
"Look, Ranma turns into a girl and Konatsu was raised to think he's a girl. I mean kunoichi are suppose to be women and Konatsu's some genius kunoichi who comes around once in a century. It's not his fault he's a guy. Besides, we're being rude talking about him while he's staning right behind you cleaning."
Ukyo and Ryouga were suddenly treated to the sight of Akari running into the resturaunt and ripping open Konatsu's shirt. Akari went wide eyed and ran off.
Konatsu had been taken by surprise. "Huh?"
Ukyo was about to comment when Akari ran back inside and gave Konatsu a letter before running off again. It appeared that Akari was blushing. Ryouga was the first to recover. His first reaction was to start laughing.
"What's so funny? What just happened?"
Konatsu was speachless as he opened and then began to read the letter he was given. He had been so shocked that he accidentally read the letter out loud.
"To my Dearest Konatsu. I am in love with you. I have been watching you from afar for a while now and I have realised that you are the most perfect man in the world. I hope that you don't think me too forward giving you this letter and expressing my feelings. I hope that you could feel the same thing about me. Yours forever, Your dear Akari."
Konatsu fainted. Ukyo turned to her boyfriend and prepared to beat the snot out of him if he didn't explain what was going on.
"What's going on Ryouga?"
Ryouga caught his breath and decided to explain.
"Akari's grandfather demands that Akari marry whoever could beat her prised sumo pig. When Konatsu knocked him out, Akari should have done this right there. Akari must have thought that Konatsu was a girl and none of us thought to tell us otherwise. She's been spying on him all week wishing he was a guy."
When Ryouga finished he watched his girlfriend try to hold back her gigles as she glanced over to Konatsu who still seemed out. Their amusement was ended when they heard a woman's scream outside.
Konatsu was up and with the two martial artists in a moment. Confusing relationships could wait. After half a block they could see Akari on the ground hiding behind her pet pig, who had a couple shuriken sticking in his leg.
Konatsu caught something out of the corner of his eye and intercepted the next three shuriken and threw them back. Konatsu was confused when three overweight ninj fell over wounded from the counterattack.
"So you have friends Akari Unryuu. Fine, then I make a formal challenge against your families dojo."
Akari was confused, but she couldn't turn down a real challenge. Her family's honor was at stake. "Fine, but our dojo trains sumo pigs. We only deal with pigs fighting."
"But of course." A shadowy figure emerged from an alley. "I am Choji Kura. In the name of my families dojo I challenge your champion Sumo pig against our chamion Ninja Pig!"
Everyone just stared wide eyed. "Ninja pigs?" Everyone turned to the downed ninja and realised that they had hooves instead of hands.
Akari straightened up. "Fine, we accept. As challenged we will send your dojo the details of the match and it's location later today." With that all the ninja pigs and Choji Kura were gone.
Ryouga turned to Akari. "Akari are you crazy? Katsunishiki is injured and can't possibly fight ninja! Even ninja pigs."
Konatsu turned to Akari and saw the fear in her eyes she was trying to hide. Konatsu didn't know what was going on between the two of them, but he knew what he had to do.
"Ukyosam- Ukyosan, I need to take about a week off. I'm going to need to train Akari's pig how to fight against a ninja. I'm sorry for not giving you more notice."
Everyone turned to Konatsu. He barely heard Akari whisper. "Konatsu-sama, thank you."
Ukyo nodded her head and grabbed Ryouga's arm. The two of them walked back to Uttchan's while Akari and Konatsu began work on Katsuishiki's injuries.
ooooo
Outside the walls of the Tendo compound
Shampoo was annoyed. She was also confused. She was currently a lot of things. One of them was worried. Mousse hadn't returned since the night she had learned that Happosai was her Great grandfather, that over a week ago. Shampoo snuck into the Tendo yard and made her way to the back of the dojo.
Her great grandmother, Cologne, had actually forbidden her to come here again without an invitation from the Tendos. It had taken a week for Shampoo to get Cologne to reveal that the Tendos were actually Amazon sisters and that Shampoo's engagement to Ranma was nullified. So was the kiss of death. since Ranma had been promised to a fellow Amazon he wasn't considered an outsider in either form.
In her anger and ranting she had made the off handed coment about Mousse now being happy, and Shampoo realised that Mousse had to already know. Shampoo had then asked why the duck boy hadn't been underfoot proclaiming his love. Cologne had simply said that he wanted some space and that Shampoo was ordered to give it to him. Shampoo realised that there was something she wasn't being told.
There was some secret going on that was behind Ranma'a new increase in family and the other weird events going on. For one of the few times in Shampoo's life she ignored her Great grandmother's orders and came here. What set this time apart from other visits was that she was sneaking in, and she had come here to see Mousse.
Shampoo looked in the window and watched as Mousse and his brother Wing practised against each other. They were using unarmed combat and seemed to be wearing some strange training outfits. Shampoo thought about how it seemed that Mousse had gotten a little slower in the passed week, but figured he might be just holding back for his brother. Shampoo was also impressed by Wings progress. He seemed to be just at Shampoo's skill level when she had first been beaten by the female Ranma. It was a shame Ling Pi would have been continueing her training. or else Wing could have beaten her now.
Shampoo watched for a few minutes more to make sure no one else would be walking in, then she entered the window. The two boys stopped what they were doing and turned to their new audience. Mousse turned around and walked out of the dojo.
"Mousse!"
Shampoo was about to follow him when Wing raised his hand to motion for her to stop.
"I wouldn't do that Shampoo. Please give him his space. He has a reason for it. If you talk to him now you may forever regret it."
Shampoo turned to Wing and decided to reply in Manderin as Wing had spoken in their native tounge. "Then you tell me what is going on. The elder won't even tell me my you're alive when we were told by your own grandmother that you appeared dead. And who is that guy hanging around Ranma that looks like you?"
"He is kind of the reason I'm here."
Shampoo stared into her old friends eyes with a pleading look. "Please. My life seems to be falling apart. I just want to know what's going on."
Wing took a deep breath. He let out a sigh. "Fine, I'll take you to him. If he won't explain, then I'll take you to someone that will. But Shampoo, I want you to remember this. He was a reason why, and it is the most important reason he has ever had. It is a purpose he would die for, and would kill for."
Shampoo was now even more confused but followed Wing towards the house. Mousse was in the family room. "Mousse?"
Mousse turned to the voice, then started to leave. He was stopped by his brother. "Tell her what ever you want, but talk to her. That's all she asks."
Mousse looked at his brother and gave in. He gathered his strength and courage for what he was about to say.
"Shampoo, I know that you are wondering what's going on and no one will tell you. It's because I asked them not to. Even Cologne agreed when I explained my reasons. I still can not bring myself to say the words, so instead I'll just remove the need to."
Mousse looked straight into Shampoo's eyes and she realised that he was actually looking at her without his glasses. She was starting to get lost in his eyes slightly until Mousses next words were heard.
"I have abaondoned the Amazon nation and their rules. I futher more declare that I will never more be a part of your life. I ask that you walk away now. If you ever approach me again, then we will be enemeies. I remove you from my heart Shampoo."
Shampoo couldn't believe it. Mousse had just declared Shampoo a mortal enemy. Her oldest friend in the world, a person who had been there for her all her life had just turned their back on her. Shampoo felt as if she had been stabbed in the heart. She tried to open her mouth to speak, but couldn't find the words. She ran. She ran away from him as fast as she could.
It wasn't even a moment before Wing started pursuit. She didn't even notice him quickly removing his strange training clothes while he ran, or the cracks they left in the pavement when they fell. Wing didn't care, he only wanted to catch Shampoo.
Shampoo ran as fast as she had ever run in her life. She ran away from the Tendo's and the one person she had always felt that she could always trust. He had always been the one constant in her universe. He was always there. Now he never would be again.
Shampoo almost didn't notice someone catching up to her until they almost grab her. Shampoo turned and attacked. If Shampoo had been even remotely capable of thinking straight now she would have felt sorry for whoever she was now about to kill, but she had too much pain building up to stop herself and she needed to lash out. She didn't even register the duck or the other person starting to fight back.
They traded blows and blocks for minutes. Shampoo started to regain control of her senses and she was begining to realise that she wasn't winning. In fact she was barely holding her own. Her opponent was matching her perfectly. Shampoo started to trade off furious power for controlled skill. She would not lose this fight.
Finally she realised that she was fighting Wing Tsu, and HE WAS HOLDING HIS OWN! Shampoo's momentary loss in concentration was all Wing needed to place her in a submission hold. He let go when she stopped strugling before she could declare him the winner. He jumped back and waited.
Shampoo looked at Wing and the lunged at him with tears in her eyes. Wing tried to confort the girl as best he could. When she calmed down enough he spoke to her. "It's about time you met my son."
Shampoo pulled herself back and looked at him confused. "Your son?"
Wing just nodded his head and began walking. He didn't respond to any of Shampoo's questions and she eventually quieted down as they walked. They finally stopped at a house that looked strangely familiar to Shampoo when she finally realised that it belonged to Ranma's family.
Wing walked up and rang the bell. Shampoo walked up as the door was answered by Wing's look alike stranger. "Hello Wing." The young man seemed slightly nervous. He then turned to Shampoo. "And Shampoo. Please, come in."
Wing entered first followed by Shampoo and they wlaked to the living room. It was currently occupied my Ranma's mother, His new younger sister, and Akane.
"Mom, we have guests."
Nodoka got up and walked over to Shampoo with a worried look on her face. She spared a quick glance at Wing. "Chi dear, have Natsume bring the first aid kit. Kurumi, could you set up the DVD player? Akane, please go get your husband."
Shampoo was shocked, when? "Husband? When they married?"
Nodoka looked at the girl with sympathy in her eyes. "They haven't had a formal ceremony yet, but Akane seemed satisfied with an Amazon ceremony before they cosumated their relationship." Akane left with a deep blush on her face.
"Wing dear, if you would?"
Wing nodded his head at Nodoka's request and started to make introductions. "Shampoo, I would like you to meet my birth son, Chi Tsu Saotome. Ling Pi is his biological mother."
Shampoo turned to the young man indicated and looked at him closer. As she stared she could see the differences between Wing Tsu and Chi Tsu turn into similarities between Chi Tsu and Ling Pi. She knew it was the truth. "How?"
"Mrs Soutome, Shampoo just talked with Mousse. It was as bad as you thought it would be. He also still didn't tell her. You're right, she deserves to know."
Shampoo was getting even more confused. She was lead to the couch and placed in the middle. Wing walked over to Ranma's older sister and was being patched up from there fight, and Akane returned with Ranma. He looked at her and when he saw her face he simply mought an apology. Nodokaheld Shampoo's hands to regain her attention.
"Shampoo, I have something to show you. It was delivered to me by Master Happosai almost two weeks ago. Since then almost everyone else around has seen it. Because of something on it, Mousse asked us not to show it to you. Please believe me when I tell you that he was trying to protect you. He still is. No, don't talk. This will explain a lot of what's going on, then we'll try to answer your questions as best as we can."
Nodoka got up and went to her seat. Before she could start the dvd Kurumi sat down on Shampoo's left and put her arm around Shampoo. This was confusing enough but Shampoo was really startled when Akane sat on Shampoo's right and did the same thing. They were trying to comfort Shampoo and brace her for what she was about to see. Shampoo was now terrified of what ever was on this dvd.
ooooo
... even I'm not sure
Hikaru Gosunkugi looked around himself.
"Daddy..."
He had been hearing this voice for what felt like days, maybe years.
"Daddy..."
Lately the voice had been growing loader, slowly.
"Daddy, please..."
Hikaru felt a someone there, it felt like Miyo.
"Daddy, please..."
Hikaru felt a pressure on his hand. He held the hand to himself and felt... something.
"Daddy, please. Help me..."
Hikaru felt... love.
"Daddy, please. Help me..."
Hikaru didn't want to die. He wanted to feel this love.
"Hikaru-chan, please come back to me..."
Hikaru opened his eyes.
ooooo
Nerima Medical Center
Hikaru opened his eyes. He looked down to his hand and saw another hand holding it. He followed the hand and saw Miyo asleep. She was talking in her sleep.
"Hikaru-chan, please come back to me..."
Hikaru could see that she had been crying. With a soft scratchy voice, quieter than normal, Hikaru spoke.
"Miyo?"
That was all the response Miyo needed to wake up. She turned to Hikaru and saw that his eyes were open and looking at her.
"HIKARU!"
Miyo was not an Amazon, but Shampoo would have been proad none the less.
"Can't breathe..."
Miyo quickly let go and ran to the door. She stuck her head out.
"He's awake! Mom! Mrs Gosunkugi! He's awake."
Hikaru was surprised when Miyo ran back and grabbed his hand again. She held it as if letting go would cause her to lose him again.
Finally Hikaru's Mother entered with the doctor. They were followed be some woman Hikaru never met before, but from her looks she appeared to be Miyo's mother. She was georgous. Hikaru averted his eyes to Miyo when he realised that he was staring. A part of him idlely realised that he had just looked at Miyo 20 years from now...
Then it all came back to him. The visions, the attempted suicide that obviously failed, and the dreams.
He turned to the doctor when he realised he had been asked a question, repeatedly. "What?"
"I said, how do you feel son."
"I feel alright I guess, just a little tired. I guess I don't need to ask what happened."
Miyo's mother smiled and tapped the doctor on the shoulder. "Thank you, It's my turn now. Family business."
The doctor began to protest, but was stopped by Hikaru's mother. "It's alright. We've already talked about this for when my son woke up. Please give us a few minutes."
The doctor was about to protest again, but figure that considering 'why' the boy was here, maybe these to women could drive this notion out of his head. He left telling them to call if there were any problems.
Hikaru looked at his mother, who was smileing, to Miyo's mother, who was pulling a bottle out of a bag, to Miyo herself, who hadn't let go of his hand yet.
"I know that my daughter is a very lovely young woman so I'll only take a moment of your time, that way you can get back to watching her." Hikaru blushed. So did Miyo. "I want you to drink this, all of it."
Hikaru took the bottle with the hand Miyo wasn't holding and smelled it. It had no smell. He started to drink it and almost choked. The stuff was awful. Miyo looked at him with concern in her eyes. "Please drink it? For me?"
Hikaru made the mistake of looking into her eyes. He was a lost cause and quickly drank the vile stuff. When he finished he handed the bottle back to Miyo's mother. She asked "How do you feel now?"
"I feel..." Something was wrong. The pain was gone. "Fine? How did that happen?"
Miyo laughed a little. "We're in the same class as Ranma 'Jusenkyo' Saotome, and you have to ask about magic?"
"If that stuff was magic, why didn't you give it to me while I was out?"
Miyo's mother chose to begin Hikaru's instruction. "Two reasons, both choice. One, You have to choose to drink it willingly for it to work. Two... You had to choose to come back to us alive. Welcome back, son."
"SON?" Hikaru looked towards his mother. She was smiling at him.
"Yes son.I've been talking a lot with your fiancee and her mother a lot while you were healing. I have a couple things to tell you. First off, Your father and I have arranged a marrige between you and Miyo. Secondly, you are to start taking lessons after school with your Mother in law."
Hikaru fainted. He was awakened by the a gentle pressure on his lips. He opened his eyes and realised that he had just shared his first real kiss with Miyo. He fainted. Miyo giggled at the smile on his face. Miyo leaned in and nibbled on Hikaru's ear until he woke up again, embarresed.
Mrs Gosunkugi walked to the door blushing. Her son was such a shy boy. yet now seemed to have a truely outgoing fiancee. She silently wished him well and left the room. She went to make arrangements for Hikaru's release.
ooooo
Uttchan's
Ukyo and Ryouga started climbing the stairs to their bedroom. As they entered Ryouga reached for the glass kept there for bedtime. He began to lift the glass when Ukyo took it and drank it.
"I was thirsty."
"Oh..."
After a minute, Ryouga turned around and started for the door.
"Where are you going?"
"To get some more water."
"Um... Ryouga?"
Ryouga turned around and then Ukyo sat on the bed. She reached under it and pulled out a package. "I kinda forgot when your birthday was."
Ryouga open the gift and found a beautiful set of silk men's PJs. They were pure black. They must have cost a small fortune. "These are beautiful, but I can't -"
"Yes you will. Besides, they match mine." So saying, Ukyo reached under her bed again and pulled out a pair of yellow silk PJs. She held them together and Ryouga realised that they matched the colors on his trademark bandana.
"I guess they do, but where am I going to sleep if I'm not a pig."
Ukyo started turning several shades of red. "They're suppose to go together. It's only to sleep, sleep and nothing more. Besides, I trust you." By the time Ukyo was finished Ryouga's face matched hers.
"I guess it's alright. Only if it's really ok with you though.." Ukyo nodded. "Alright then."
Ryouga turned back to leave again. Onece again Ukyo's hand stopped him. "Ryouga, just turn around and change in here. I'll turn around as well. I trust you."
Ryouga was a little surprised at Ukyo's forwardness. He turned around when she did and started to change. When he finished he listened to Ukyo finishing, but he never turned around. "Ok Ryouga, I'm finished."
Ryouga turned around and saw Ukyo in bed. He walked over slowly and she pulled back the covers for him. Ryouga nervously got into the bed. He was tossing around trying to give Ukyo enough room whenshe curled up against him.
"What?"
"Thank you for proving I could trust you Ryouga."
"I told you I wouldn't peek."
Ukyo put her arms around him and soon they were spooning each other.
"I did."
Ukyo held him tighter. "I turned back around and watched you undress and dress again. I couldn't help it. You never peaked once. I love you."
Ryouga was a little embarassed by the fact Ukyo had peaked, but he didn't really mind. But Ryouga's mind was sent down a path of dreams usually reseved for Happosai, and lately Ranma and Akane, as he was going to sleep. The reason were Ukyo's final words before she herself passed out.
"Next time you can peak if you want."
ooooo
The Saotome household
Shampoo cried into Akane's embrace. Akane and Kurumi both were trying to give her words of encouragment and sympathy.
"It'll be alright Shampoo. It'll be ok I swear it."
Nodoka felt her heart go out to this dear girl. Shampoo had just learned that she was the cause of so much suffering. She had even learned that she herself would recieve unimaginable torture and suffering and then would be left alive. The last living amazon. Chi lived his life with his heritage abandoned, he didn't count.
Shampoo finally understood everything. She now knew why Mousse had been acting the way he had. If fact she wasn't surprised anymore. Wing may know a lot of things about how people are, but Shampoo knew Mousse. And Mousse knew her. Mousse knew what path Shampoo would chose to take if she ever knew about Chi's home time, but he didn't tell anyone.
Mousse still respected her enough to leave her the choice. Mousse would die for Shampoo and would kill for Shampoo. But most of all, he loved her enough to let her chose death.
Shampoo raised her head and looked at Akane, Akane was also crying for Shampoo. She cared about Shampoo's pain. Shampoo finally realised what Ranma saw in Akane. It was what Shampoo, and appearenty Akane herself, had seen in Ranma. Their compassion.
Shampoo made to stand up and waved off all offers to help.
"Shampoo need to use restroom please."
Akane offered to lead Shampoo and wait at the door. Shampoo nodded and followed Akane. Shampoo looked into Wing's eyes as she walked past. He knew. Wing also knew that this choice was Mousse's wish as well. He said nothing.
Shampoo arrived at the bathroom door and thanked Akane. Then she did something no one ever expected. She hugged Akane, and in near perfect japanese spoke. "Thank you, sister. Please take care of your beloved."
Akane was stunned and didn't catch on until the door was locked. She was about to call for help when she saw both Chi and Wing standing there. Wing spoke first.
"Mousse respected and loved her too much to take this choice away from her. Shampoo is a warrior and understands that some lives must be lost to save the lives of others sometimes. Mousse didn't want her to know so that she would have more time, but not stop her."
Chi spoke up, looking Akane in the eye as she started crying.
"Just before I came back to this time, I met my world's Shampoo in my time. In the war she had been blinded, she had an arm and leg cut off, she had the man she loved die in her arms, and then she had been left to live with it after the Amazons were destroyed. She told me simply that if there was no other way to kill her, here. This leaves here with her honor, and should spare the lives of hundreds."
Akane could see the tears flowing from the eyes of both men. She looked passed them and saw Ranma walking up. He was crying as well. Before Akane could reach for him for strength, he collapsed into her arms and let go of all the pain he had been holding in.
Finally Akane understood. He had wanted to save eveyone. He had been hoping and praying for a fairy tale ending. But this wasn't a story. There were lives on the line, and lives would be lost.
Everyone waited. They didn't know what they were waiting for, but they were waiting.
ooooo
Shampoo looked at herself in the bathroom mirror. She pulled out the dagger she kept on herself in case of emergencies. It was razon sharp. It was well treated. It was a gift from Mousse. Mousse had even taought her how to take care of her weapons better. Cologne had even praised Shampoo when Shampoo's weapons started lasting more than one fight.
It was beautiful. Mousse had said it matched her eyes. Shampoo looked into her reflection's eyes and thought back to everything she had learned tonight. She thought of all that it meant and all that was riding on her choice. She thought of Mousse and how far he was willing to go for his love for her. And she had never said it. She had never told him the truth.
She had been embarassed. She had wanted a traditional proposal. She had wanted to prove that he was worthy of anyone. She wanted to be the best so that her defeat by Mousse meant he chose her. That he could have any young warrior in the village, willing or not, and yet chose her.
With Mousse either too blind to fight properly or to lovestruck to fight all out, Shampoo had grown angry. Yet with Shampoo's refusal to ban his challenges after he was beaten time and again, Shampoo had become prideful. Shampoo trained like a woman possesed so that Mousse would train equally as hard. She would have him become a warrior of legend before he defeated her. And Shampoo had become the best. And Mousse had trained harder.
Then Ranma entered her life. Shampoo's pride wouldn't let her admit defeat. Shapoo's anger wouldn't let her give up. In the end, a legendary husband would truely write the stuff of legends as it snuffed the life of the Amazon Nation. And it was all her fault. Because she couldn't accept Mousse for who he already was.
Shampoo stared into her own eyes and remembered staring into Mousse's. The man who loved her unconditionally. The man she herself could never admit she loved. She remembered Mousses eyes, and made her choice. One life to save the lives of hundreds.
ooooo
Ranma had finally stopped crying and was starting to reach for the door. They had waited about an hour and had to stop the others in the house from interfering when they found out what was going on.
Ranma reached for the door and stopped when he heard shouting coming from the direction of the front door. He turned in time to see both Happosai and Cologne staring at him with looks of fear in their eyes that Ranma had never seen before. Cologne could barely speak.
"What have you done."
"I let her have her choice. I will stand by it, no matter what happens now."
"As will I." Everyone turned to see Mousse standing in the hall. Ryu was next to him. "Ryu and I have been teaching each other our personal styles. I see that no one noticed my Umisenken."
Cologne turned on him. "You talk about Styles now? Do you not care at all? Shampoo is Dead!"
Mousse lifted up his glasses and looked at Cologne. The look was nothing like anything Cologne had ever seen before. For the first time in years Cologne felt like backing down.
"I love her more than you could ever imagine. Or maybe you can, Heiress of the Anything Goes style of Martial Arts." Mouse walked almost proadly to the bathroom door. No one tried to stop him. Ranma stepped back.
Mousse reached down with one hand to open the door. Yet with the other he opened his white robe. Ranma realised what was wrong, Mousse and Wing had been wearing special training clothes for over a week. Ranma hadn't seen Mousse dressed like this in a while.
Mousse opened the door and opened his robe. He stepped forward and wrapped a naked and bald Shampoo into his robe. She was alive. When she realised who was holding her, she knew that he had known her choice all along. She cried as she wrapped her arms around him.She started to repeat quicly and quietly that she loved him.
Mousse held her for a moment and kissed her head softly. Finally he turned to Chi slowly. There was an apology in his eyes. Mousse spoke softly but it was heard by everyone there.
"We fight."
ooooo
Author's notes:
Whoa...
I was begining to think that I'd never get to this point.
First Off I'd like to address a comment made by pspinler: I know that I have got with the cliche pairings, but what I'm trying to do with this story is show that it's not just the NWC that are affected by the choices they make. Even following the cliches leaves the question 'What about the other people they meet?'
Honestly though, I hope everyone likes where I've been so far and where I'm going. I think I've made it obvious that theres going to be a fight, but I hope that I've still got a couple surprises under my hat.
To all that have read this, I'm proad that I slipped one thing be you about Chi's future. I'll give "mad props" to the one who figures it out. Hint : There was someone important Chi didn't know to involve.
good luck...