Amazonian Switcheroo

Part 6

After running around Furinkan with a cats tck to her face, Ranma had managed to finally find some hot water. After booting away an irate Shampoo, Ranma returned home to the Nekohanten.

It was closed now, and so she set to work helping put everything away and clean everything. Cologne pogoed up to the former-boy.

"Shampoo, I wish to speak to you in private about a very important manner." The old woman turned. "Follow me."

Ranma did as she was told, and followed the matriarch to an old storage room. Akane was also there. Ranma stared at her in shock.

"What Pervert Girl do here?" Ranma exclaimed, trying to do an impression of Shampoos accent. It had been getting more natural to speak like this than in her usual manner as of late.

"Ranma, it's okay." Akane said, not liking to hear that old nickname from her lover's lips.

Cologne nodded. "Indeed. I have known it was you for quite a while Son-in-law. I have been alive for a long time, and I am not easily fooled. Did you really think you could trick me into beliveing you were my granddaughter."

Ranma sighed, slumping. "Sorry, great-grandmother. It's just that I had believed that I had nowhere left to go. I doubted anyone would have believed me, or Akane for that manner. How long have you known?"

"I didn't figure it out right away. However, I have known the moment I found you on the street and brought you here." The old woman explained. "Now, there is something I must tell you. And, seeing as yo and Akane are an item now, I belive that she has just as much privelege to this information as you do."

"What information?" Akane asked nervously. She was sure it wasn't good news.

"It's about the...switching, isn't it?"

Cologne nodded. "Indeed. What had affected you was 'Switch perfume', which I had acquired from a friend in Shinjuku some time ago. She didn't want to have it any longer, its side effects too much of a hazard to make it tactically viable for her occupation." She sighed, and looked seriosuly into Ranma's eyes. "There is more to the Perfume than just a physical transformation. If we do not find a cure soon, you will become Shampoo, totally and completely."

"What do ya mean?"

"The Perfume will, after a a couple of months, turn an affected individual into another. Not just in body, but in mind as well. Their personality, even their memories, will be changed into that of another's. Soon, Ranma Saotome shall cease to be, and in his place will be Shampoo." She turned to Akane. "It has already started to happen, I'm sure. In time, there won't even be the love you have for each other."

Akane was pale, and she was staring what Ranma. Ranma stared at back, her face paler. She legs went weak, and she collapsed, but Akane grabbed her before she fell, and held her tightly.

"I am sorry." Cologne continued. "I will try and look for a way to undo this. But, I am doubtful. I fear nothing shall stop Ranma from tranforming completely into Shampoo."

She left, and the two girls were left alone to their pain and their anguish.

-----------------

Ranma walked Akane home, the two of them still holding on to each other. It felt to them like, if they didn't hold onto each other, the world would sweep them both away, and they would drown in thei own suffering.

"Dammit." Ranma growled. "Dammit all to hell. Just when things are lookin' up for me, just when I get it all together, this happens." She started sobbing. "I...I don't ant to disappear."

Akane held the lavender-haired girl reassuringly. "It's okay. I'm sure Cologne will find something, and besides, it's not like you'll actually disappear."

"Yeah." Ranma replied sullenly. "Shampoo will be there to take my place. You'll have him to take care of ya."

"That's not what I meant!" Akane said angrily. "I don't wat Shampoo, I don't want a man! I want YOU Ranma, only you!"

"And what good am I? In a couple of months, I'll be gone, I won't even remember this at all! I'll cease to be ME, and I'll be someone else entirlely, someone who doesn't love you!"

"I don't believe that for a second! I'm sure we'll still love each other, regardless of everything! And, even if you do forget me, I'll never forget! I'll always love you, I'll never abandon you! And while everyone else has given up, I won't! I'll find a cure, and get you back!"

Ranma stared at her girlfriend in astonishment. "Do ya....really mean that?"

"Of course." AKane looked away, a determined look in her eys. "And, even if there's no cure, and Cologne doesn't find anything, I'll still be there for you! And, right now, I think it's time we lived the best two months of our lives!"

Ranma smiled, teary eyed. "So, whaddy wanna do?"

Akane turned to her fiancee, and smiled. "We'll go and say hello to an old friend, for starters."

------------------

Ukyo had just closed her restaurant, and Konatsu had left to do some cleaning up. Suddenly, the door opened, and the bell jingled.

"We're closed." Ukyo said tiredly, turning around. She gasped, her body going limp at seeing Akane, and what looked to be Shampoo, together in each other's arms.

"Ra...Ranchan.." Ukyo whispered.

"So, ya believe us, huh?" Akane replied, smirking.

"Well, of course!" Ukyo said. "With all the stuff we've dealt with, with all the crazy crap to hapen to ya, and with all that's been going on, it was the only thing that made sense! I know people were saying that Ranchan was trying to trick Shampoo by pretending to be her, but that's just stupid! And... And.." She fell to the floor, gasping.

Akane let go of Ranma and lent down beside the chef. "Okay, Ukyo, breathe. Just calm down. Now, there's something we have to tell you, now that you're ready to belive us and all."

"What? What is it? Ukyo asked, and she noticed that both Ranma nd AKane had been crying, Ranma more so. "What happened? How bad is it?"

Ranma fell, sobbing. Akane rushed over, and held the miserable girl.

Ukyo stared at this. "Is it really that bad?"

Ranma looked down at the chef. "How...how dbad do ya.... do ya think....it is when ya....when ya find out you're about ta die?"

---------------

Cologne had just sent a letter to some of Shampoo's tribal sisters. She hoped that doing this would ease Ranma's pain.

Ranma needed to get used to the idea of living life as an amazon woman. Regardless of how much it may hurt her.

----------------

Shampoo glared, sharpening his weapon.

Soon, he shall have his revenge.

----------------

DUN DUN DUUUUUUN!

And I'm back, with a new installment of this fic.

Now, some have complained that I really haven't been using the body-switch thing to the fullest, or something. Well, I shall try and remedy that in future chapters.

Oh, and the person who gave the Perfume to Cologne? It was Himiko Kudou, from GetBackers. I couldn't find a good way of mentioning it in the story, but tha's who it was. I did HINT at it, by mentioning the location (I THINK that's where all the GetBackers cast live, I think).

And another thing I have had planned all along has come to fruition. Poor Ranma (and poor Shampoo, I guess). What do ya think of this little twist?

Oh, and Ukyo comes back, after aving been almost forgotten since chapter 3. Wonder how she'll take these new developments?

Hope ya enjoyed it, and please comment!