Amazonian Switcheroo
Part 10
Ranma sat in the bath, attended by her old friends. No, they were new; she'd never met them before. Yet she had.
Oh god, it was getting worse.
There was the tomboyish Lotion, who constantly claimed that she was Shampoo's 'bestest friend ever', and was extremely strong. Aroma was very shy and reserved, but cared deeply for her friends, and was also a master healer. Towel was apathetic, uncaring and noncommittal; always allowing others to make her decisions for her, but was an accomplished fighter herself, and was a master of pressure points and hidden weapons, particularly iron needles. And finally, there Ling-Ling and Lung-Lung....actually, she already knew about those two.
"Shampoo!" Ling-Ling shouted. "Let us wash your back for you!"
"No!" Lotion proclaimed, a massive flame in the background. "I, as Shampoo's bestest and most loyal friend, shall dot he honour of washing her back!"
Aroma stared in concern. "Sh-should we intervene?"
"Nah." Towel said. "It's too much trouble. Besides, they wouldn't listen. They're just too wrapped up in their own little worlds."
Shampoo sweat dropped. "Uh...I can take of myself, guys..."
"No you can't!" The twins and the tomboy shouted. "Only one of us can reach your back!"
Ranma backed away, as the fires of competition and pride burned in the eyes of the three girls. She really, really wished she was with Akane and Ucchan right now. She didn't want to deal with naymore craziness, not so soon after that mess with Ryoga and Shampoo.
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Akane was with Ukyo, who were both being tended to by Cologne. Aroma had already addressed the (minor) wounds sustained in the course of the fight. Now, they were being debriefed by Cologne.
"You may remember Ling-Ling and Lung-Lung." Cologne began. "They were close friends of hers, and were quite protective of her. When they heard that she was going to marry a young man...well, you know the rest. Anyway, those other three girls are other childhood friends of hers, ones she is very close to. I had sent them each a letter, asking them to come here and help 'Shampoo'."
"Wh...why!?" Akane asked, irritated. She didn't like Cologne making plans, especially if they involved her girlfriend.
"Regardless of whether or not you want to accept it, the fact of the matter is that Ranma will become Shampoo, It is simply a matter of when." Cologne informed the tomboy. "I summoned those five here to allow Ranma a chance at accepting this fate, if not entirely embrace it. She needs to see that there are good aspects to Shampoo's life, as well as to being an Amazon. Can you understand that?"
Ukyo nodded. "I understand. Ranma thinks that only something negative will happen,t hat she will become a horrible, hateful, friendless person. She need sto understand that there's more to Shampoo's life than that. At least, I hope so."
"Fine, I see the sense in it too." Akane admitted, grumpily. "But those girls better not try anything with my Ranma."
Cologne chuckled. "Akane, just what do you think goes on between Amazon women. Trust me, those girls only see your lover as a friend, nothing more."
Suddenly, there was a cruel giggling, and they heard Ranma yell out in alarm. Akane and Ukyo stood, and followed Cologne up to the Nekohanten's bathroom. When they got there, Akane kicked the door down, and they all gaped at the sight awaiting them.
Ranma, in her 'Shampoo' form, was blushing deeply, as three girls (Lotion, Ling-Ling and Lung-Lung) all furiously scrubbed her back with heavily lathered sponges. Ranma looked up at them, face paling, eyes wide in terror.
Akane sighed. "Ranma...As if I'd hurt you now." She glared at the girls. "Hey, would you kindly GET OFF my girlfriend!?"
The three Amazons stared up at her, and sheepishly backed away from the lavender-haired girl they were using as a seat. Lotion grinned nervously.
"We were just helping clean up Shampoo-sama." The tomboy said with a nervous chuckle.
Lung-Lung looked confused. "I thought Shampoo was engaged to Ranma-san, not the Pervert Girl?"
The others looked between the former-boy and the youngest Tendo in curiosity. They were now very intrigued by these new facts.
"And didn't we fight Ranma-san earlier?" Ling-Ling added, putting her finger to her lips in thought.
Ranma and Akane sweated buckets, now being the ones who were nervous.
"A lot has happened recently, and son-in-law has lost his mind." Cologne stated calmly. "He is now of no worth to the tribe, but Akane Tendo is. Shampoo has accepted Akane as her new Airen, and loves her deeply. I ask that you show them both the proper courtesy, and that you don't cause any problems for either of them."
The five Amazons nodded. "Yes, Honoured Elder."
Akane and Ranma sighed in relief. That went smoother than they had thought.
"Hey," Towel said unconcernedly, "who's the guy there? Cause, he looks kinda nice, in a way effeminate way."
Ukyo gulped, face pale, as all eyes turned to her.
Shampoo awoke, staring up at the ceiling. He also looked up into Kasumi's smiling face.
"Good morning, Ranma-kun." The eldest Tendo said pleasantly. "How are you feeling?"
It was at that moment that Shampoo ran through his options. He COULD go in a mad rage and go after Ranma, but that would cause too many problems he'd have to deal with, and he didn't want any distractions. So, he came up with a secondary plan.
"Uh...good...morning..." He said carefully, aware that his accent would give him away.
"I just want you to know that breakfast is ready." The elder girl said with an ever present smile. "We'd appreciate it if you would kindly come down and join us."
Shampoo nodded. "In....a...minute... Still...sleepy."
Kasumi nodded in understanding and left. After she left, Shampoo grinned. He would pretend to be Ranma, waiting for the right chance to get the young man. After all, if he lived Ranma's life in his place, than sooner or later, they would cross paths, and revenge would be his.
But, before that, if he really wanted to get away with this, he would first need to learn to speak properly. He had always put it off, but now he really needed to learn the language. And then, everything would fall into place.
If he could laugh maniacally right now, he would.
Ukyo glared at the Amazon healer shyly following her home. "Would ya please leave me alone!?"
Aroma looked away. "I...I am bothering, aren't I, Ukyo-san?"
"Hell yes!"
Aroma saddened, tearing up. "I am sorry. I...I am not like the others. I do not enjoy fighting, and I hate having to fight someone in order to marry them. But...there is nothing I can do, nothing to allow me to fight fate. I am far too timid for that. But, you....there's something about you that made me....well, maybe not brave, but....willing to try...something. But, I'll...I'll leave, if I cause any...distress." She was visibly sobbing now.
Ukyo felt guilty now. Sure, she was annoyed, but she shouldn't have snapped like that, especially since Aroma didn't seem that abd a person. "I'm sorry, okay? You can....you can do whatever you want."
Aroma smiled, and Ukyo blushed. She looked very cute.
'W-what the hell am I thinking?'
Aroma strode up beside Ukyo, and walked with her back to Ucchan's, smiling. Ukyo sighed, wondering why on earth she's allowing this girl to follow her. But, it was too late now.
Towel sighed. Of course Aroma would go after the hunk. Oh, well, it wasn't like she cared.
Elsewhere, Ranma studied some scrolls given to her by Cologne, who had said that if Ranma was going to be her new heir, then she'd have to learn some new techniques.
Ranma didn't mind. She always loved learning new techniques, and didn't care what her great-grandmother had planned for her, as long as she could learn new skills, and be with Akane, then she'd be happy.
She turned as Lotion entered."What's up, Lotion?"
The tomboy smirked. "Cologne said that once you mastered you read through the scrolls, that you can come spar with me an' the twins! Come on, it'll be fun!"
Something was nagging at Ranma's mind. "Why did you guys come here, anyway? Why would you come all the way here, just to see me?"
Lotion looked confused. "That's a silly question, Shampoo. We're your friends; we wouldn't just let you face any problems alone. Cologne said you were in trouble, and so we came. Why is that strange, Shampoo?"
Ranma stared. She...she enevr had friends like that. Everyone always wanted something from her, not caring how she felt about anything. Even Hiroshi and Daisuke just hung around her so they could perv on her, or to find out if she had sex with Akane and what it was like. Even her own father just relied on her as a tool he could use.
She....she never knew that friends could act like that.
She nodded. "I understand. I...I appreciate it. Thank you, all of you."
"It was nothing." Lotion grinned. "We're your friends; you'd do the same for us in a heartbeat."
Once more, Ranma was shaken. She...she never knew..
She never knew how lucky Shampoo had been. She now understood why Shampoo was so angry; and why she should pity her all the more.
Still, this made her happy. To have people who cared about her so much...it was an incredibly happy feeling.
"I'll be done soon." Ranma replied with a smile. "Just wait for me, okay?"
"Right!" Lotion gave a thumbs-up and ran outside, where the others waited.
Ranma turned back to her studies, fuelled by renewed vigour.
She had friends now, and that made her so happy. She couldn't wait to tell Akane.
Akane was not happy. Shampoo had been brought to her home in the debacle, and now had taken over Ranma's life.
This wasn't fair. Ranma had suffered enough, and didn't need this damn bitch making things worse.
She had taken Shampoo aside to speak to him privately.
"I know what you're up to, and I don't like it." The tomboy said. "I will not allow you to get away with this."
Shampoo smirked. "And what are ya gonna do, tomboy? I've managed to get all that bastard's mannerisms down pat, and all I need do now is wait for the right moment. Besides, how're you gonna stop me?"
She punched his arrogant, smug face, slamming him against the wall.
"That's how." Akane growled. "You want Ranma's life? Fine, you can have it, along with all the crap he has to deal with every day. Enjoy it, you bitch."
She turned away, vowing to make that bitch pay for what she did to Ranma.
Yeah, so I just wanted to set up how the two switched people are going to try and adjust, as well as explore the effects Ranma's new friends will have on his life.
I hope you enjoyed it, and please comment.