So very sorry this took so long to get out. I got carried away reading Shampoo 1/2 and it ate up all my writing time, though I got over the writer's block I had before. There is nothing like reading an excellent fiction by someone else to get you motivated to work on your own.

Nodoka's house wasn't anything like Ukyo or Shampoo had imagined. It was a fairly simple structure, consisting of a few rooms and a space out back barely large enough to be called a yard. The teens would have expected Ranma's house to be like the Tendo's; large, with a sufficient space for training in the back. How had Genma ever become the martial artist he was today in a place like this?

"Please, excuse the mess," Nodoka said as they entered, though there was no mess at all. The place was practically spotless. "If you'll wait in the dining room, I will fix us a wonderful dinner and we can talk all about Ranma." Before either of the girls could argue, Ranma's mother had ducked into the kitchen.

Once they were away from prying eyes, Shampoo sighed. She hadn't expected all of this to happen. Though, looking around, the Amazon realized that she could finally experience first-hand something Akane never had; Ranma's childhood. Even Ukyo sharing that didn't sour the mood.

As she moved through the small home, a more complete picture of Nodoka was being painted. Little things, trinkets, were scattered all over the place from various cities in Japan. Apparently, Nodoka traveled almost as much as Ryoga; there were pictures from Tokyo proper, Osaka, Kyushu, and a host of other places Shampoo couldn't even recognize. In none of the pictures, though, was a smiling Nodoka. Most of them were simple shots of the woman standing in the foreground against a specific landmark or cityscape.

"She doesn't look very happy, does she?" Ukyo commented and Shampoo had to agree.

Moving on, Shampoo walked down the main hallway in the house. Behind her, Nodoka had called out something and Ukyo was going to the kitchen to answer. It was probably because the poor woman couldn't contain her excitement at finally hearing about her son. It worked in Shampoo's favor, though, allowing her unfettered range through the home.

Idly, the purple-haired girl wondered which room had been Ranma's. She doubted it would be recognizable, though. Nodoka had probably used it for space or for a study. In fact-

Shampoo pushed open the last door in the hall and stopped in her tracks. It was a child's room, that much was certain. The tiny bed in the corner and toys littered about confirmed it. However, it was in a state of disarray; things weren't put away, clothes were still laying on the bed and the drawers were half-open. All of that aside, however, everything was dust-free. Obviously someone had went to great lengths to preserve this room.

'This is where Ranma lived,' Shampoo suddenly realized. The place did look like a young boy's room. Most of the toys were strange-looking figures with colorful armor or plastic swords. The posters on the wall were from Bruce Lee and Jackie Chan movies. The Amazon didn't know how much a three year-old could enjoy martial arts, but she guessed that if anyone could it was her husband.

A soft smile came to her lips as she walked inside. Shampoo could imagine Ranma living in a place like this, idly spending his time playing pretend with his toys while waiting on his mother to call him to lunch. Though horribly boring for her, the girl could picture it.

"Shana, where are you?" That was Nodoka, calling out from the kitchen. Quickly, Shampoo ducked out of Ranma's room before she was discovered and went to see what was up.

Ukyo and Nodoka were in the living room and the former looked fairly upset at being left holding the bag. "There she is. She has a bad habit of wandering off," Ukyo said.

"Looking for restroom," Shampoo replied. She hoped that her Japanese wasn't too bad. "Food is ready, yes? Thank you."

Seemingly accepting the explanation, Nodoka smiled. "It's no trouble. I don't usually get company to cook for so this is a treat. Come on, come with me to the dining room."

As Shampoo followed, Ukyo grabbed her arm and held her back. "Where were you really, Shampoo?" she hissed. "I could have used your help coming up with excuses. I had to practically invent our life stories on the spot." The chef calmed down, though, and released her partner's arm. "You gotta call me Ukito. Nodoka wanted my name."

Ukito? How original. Still, it was better than Shana. "What you say?" Shampoo asked. "Tell Shampoo before she get asked questions."

The basic rundown that Ukyo provided was that they were old childhood friends from Nerima, but going to a different school than Ranma. It was simple enough that additional details could be created on the fly if the need arose yet plausible enough that their information wouldn't be questioned until they were sure Nodoka could be trusted.

Ukyo was going to say more, but as the two finally walked into the kitchen the words died on the chef's lips. There, practically covering the table, was a full spread of food; there was practically enough to feed several families.

"I hope this is enough," Nodoka said. "I'm only used to cooking for myself, so I prepared what I used to when Ranma and Genma were home."

'Even Genma couldn't eat all this,' Ukyo and Shampoo thought together. Still, they didn't want to be rude. "Is just enough." Shampoo smiled graciously and sat beside Ukyo, across from Nodoka.

It was almost sad the way Nodoka just watched her guests eat. She did so with a longing look, as if she were trying to will the two girls to become Ranma and Genma. "How long has it been since you've seen Ranma?" Ukyo asked.

"Oh, it's been thirteen years now. Ranma would be about your age, I'd say." Nodoka sighed and demurely ate some of her rice. As good as it was, she seemed to not enjoy it very much. "Can you tell me what my son looks like now?" she asked, more focused on the conversation than the food. "Every time I go to see him, Genma has dragged him off on some training trip. I don't mind that he's training, not at all, but it's just that after so long I'd want to see him at least once."

Shampoo almost gagged. "You...you been to Tendo Dojo? She asked, clearly surprised. Ranma hadn't mentioned that before.

"Quite a few times, actually. The family is very nice and their youngest daughter, that's Akane, is engaged to my son." She seemed to brighten up a bit at that, not noticing the shadows that loomed over her guests' faces. "She's a perfect match for him...at least, I think she is. A bit spirited, but I'm sure she'll settle down eventually." Her smile died, instead becoming a look of confusing. "But how do you know the Tendos? I thought Soun didn't see students since his wife died?"

Fortunately for both girls, Shampoo fielded the question with relative ease. "We practice martial arts on weekends with the daughters," she replied. "We getting pretty good." Of course, this blatantly contradicted what they had told Nodoka earlier. Maybe she wouldn't notice...

"Oh? But I thought that you didn't know Ranma personally?"

Then again, maybe she would. "We don't. He's never around and we practice with the girls." Then, remembering that she was playing a boy, Ukyo corrected, "I'm not a martial artist myself. I just go to watch Shana."

Nodoka nodded, happy to have cleared up her logic. "Yes, Shana does look awfully fit! You should join her so you'll fill out some and get some muscles." Ukyo tried to grit her teeth and nod, but Shampoo's quiet snickers and smug look weren't helping. "But, really, I don't think girls should carry on with martial arts. It's not our place, you know."

"Maybe for weak Japanese girls," Shampoo grumbled before she could stop herself. Evidently, she realized how that sounded and tried to come up with an excuse, but Nodoka's laughing cut her off.

Curiously, the woman took the comment in-stride. "It must seem that way to you young people, what with all these new age thoughts flying around." Nodoka seemed to wax nostalgic for a moment, closing her eyes in sweet remembrance. "When I was forced to marry my husband, I thought the same thing. It wasn't until the birth of my son that I realized what I would have given up. If not for that marriage I never would have had Ranma." Looking up at Shampoo, she said, "You remind me of Ranko, though. I'm sure she would agree with you; she's quite the tomboy."

Ranko? Shampoo looked at Ukyo for some idea, but the chef shrugged. "Who is...Ranko?"

"Why, she's the nice redheaded girl staying with the Tendos," Nodoka answered. "Akane's cousin. You've never seen her there?"

Ukyo hastily cut in. "O-Of course! I remember her now. Let me guess, the girl with the giant panda?" Fortunately, Shampoo caught on before Nodoka could doubt them again and nodded. With that over, Ukyo went back to getting background information from Nodoka that they could use later, but her partner's attention slowly drifted away. Instead, the Amazon just focused on Nodoka and tried to understand the woman.

Shampoo knew about the contract and the gist of what it was about, but deep down she couldn't see Ranma's mother actually going through with it. After all, if she went so far out of her way to be nice to company, despite not having very much to offer in the first place, Nodoka couldn't be a bad person. It was probably Genma's fault. Fathers would always try and get between a mother and their child, no matter what either thought of it. It seemed that Japan was no different in this regard...

A sharp nudge broke the Amazon out of her thoughts. "Hey, are you alright? You spaced out," Ukyo asked.

Shampoo noticed that Nodoka had gotten up and was gathering dishes to wash, making the teen wonder just how long had she been out of it. Going with the flow, Shampoo responded, "Is fine. We clean dishes, yes? Shampoo get dishes, you go on." Although that sounded like a dismissal, it wasn't said with a very commanding voice and Ukyo's eyes narrowed in a mix of annoyance and, dare Shampoo even think it, concern. That was something she didn't like that. Not one bit. They weren't friends so why should Ukyo care?

Telling herself that it was just concern for the mission, the Amazon shrugged it off. She made up some excuse about being lost in thought and that things were alright. To fully divert attention away from herself, Shampoo told Ukyo about Ranma's room and suggested that it should be checked-out while Nodoka was busy. Though Ukyo looked like she was going to say more, the bait was too sweet and she left her partner to her own devices.

Now by herself, Shampoo let out a deep breath to clear her head. Picking up what dishes she could, the girl headed into the kitchen. Nodoka was already hovering over the sink and had a small stack of clean dishes next to her. Shampoo put down hers and grabbed a dry dish rag to dry the clean pile with.

"Are you alright?" the older woman asked. "I noticed that something seemed to be bothering you during dinner, but I thought it best that your boyfriend talk to you first."

There was a cracking sound as the dish Shampoo was drying snapped in half. "Boyfriend? Ukito?" Oh god. All the looks, the whispering, the sitting next to each other; no wonder Nodoka had figured that. "No, no, no! Sham-Shana not-"

Nodoka giggled, taking the broken dish out of Shampoo's hands as she did. "Now, now. There is no reason to be embarrassed. He's a very handsome young man, even if he's not a martial artist. Very polite, as well. You're lucky."

Defeated, Shampoo sighed. "Yes, Shana very lucky." Ukyo would probably get a good laugh out of this situation. Thinking about the other girl, though, reminded Shampoo of why they had came here in the first place; to get to know Nodoka better and to eventually let her know about Ranma's curse. Though, with the woman carrying around that katana Shampoo wasn't certain Ranma would escape harm.

"Miss Saotome, you love Ranma, yes?"

The question obviously came as a suprise as the woman lost whatever lingering amusement she had left. "Yes, I love my son very much." Nodoka's eyes were downcast as she stared into the wash water, letting it settle. "Why do you ask?"

"...why you make Ranma sign contract, then?"

Nodoka flinched at being reminded of the contract. "I don't know how you know about that, but it was the only way I could make sure Genma would take care of my son." She looked quite convinced of that fact.

Shampoo frowned; she hadn't expected that kind of reasoning. "Why you say that? What happen if Ranma no live up to your idea of man? You kill him?"

The hurt was evident on Nodoka's face. "Heavens no! I would never harm my son. Genma, however, doesn't know that." A crafty smile replaced the former hurt as she thought about her husband. "Though he's a martial artist, I think I frighten him enough that he wouldn't neglect his deal with me."

Scary woman. Shampoo nodded, thinking of how Genma had done his level best to keep Ranma safe in China back when Shampoo was still chasing them. Of course, Genma's own training more than outweighed anything she could have done to Ranma.

"You give Shana word you not hurt Ranma no matter what?" Shampoo pressed.

Nodoka nodded, though she was confused. "I promise, but why would you want to know? How do you even know about the contract?"

"That no important," Shampoo hastily replied. She couldn't let Nodoka know who they really were, but otherwise the plan could go forward. "Shana know Ranma personally." She held up her hand to forestall Nodoka's surprised reaction. "Sorry for lie, but had to know if mother could be trusted."

"I-I forgive you, but please tell what is this all about!" Nodoka was suddenly very worried about her son.

How best to go about this, Shampoo wondered. "Aiya, hard to explain. Shana...know Akane Tendo very well." If there was some kind of limit to how big a lie could be, Shampoo was about to try and find it. "We friends. Know Ranma too too well. Know he have...problem." Seeing how Nodoka was taking that, Shampoo quickly amended, "Not life-threatening! Ranma physically fine!"

"Oh, that's good," Nodoka said as she worked on getting her breathing under control. "Perhaps you should, as they say, tell it to me straight to avoid me worrying myself to death?"

Shampoo agreed. "Ranma have...condition. Curse." She let that sink in before continuing. "Ranma embarrassed by curse and can no see mother. Worried that mother would kill him because of contract."

Suddenly, everything fell into place for Nodoka. Ranma was never around when she was and the Tendos were always very agitated when she stayed every long. "My son is avoiding me," she realized. "I-I would never hurt him. Maybe scare him a little if he didn't act manly."

"I sorry to be one to tell you." And the Amazon honestly was. To see that look of realization on Nodoka's face was almost painful.

Ukyo chose that moment to enter. She had been lingering outside, listening to Shampoo break the news, but decided not to interrupt until it was all out in the open. Even though this was ultimately being done for Ranma's own good, the chef couldn't help but feel a little dirty for her role in all this. "If it helps any, I know Ranma really wants to meet you. He's just..."

"Scared. Of me." Nodoka held up a hand to forestall any denials. "You've made it clear that he is." For the first time in a long time, the woman could see what path to take. Sitting around and waiting on Genma clearly was not the solution here as he was also afraid. "Can you tell me where my son really is? I must see him at once."

The two conspirators glanced at each other. Could Nodoka really be trusted not to hold Ranma to that contract? "You promise again not to hurt Ranma?" Ukyo asked. "If you don't swear it, we won't tell you. He's...he's a friend of ours and we don't want to see him hurt." Shampoo snorted at the understatement, but Ukyo hoped that she was conveying how serious she was despite the wording.

"I swear," Nodoka at once replied. "Please, please...just tell me where my son is."

She certainly looked sincere enough. The look in Nodoka's eyes was one that only a desperate mother could have, and it was a look Shampoo knew well. "You convince Shana. You go to Tendo Dojo, tell Ranko that you no hold contract over Ranma's head. She take care of rest." It was what Ukyo and Shampoo had agreed on; they wouldn't come right out and tell Nodoka about the nature of the curse, but they would make sure that Ranma got to hear about it first-hand.

"Ranko? What does she have to do with this?"

"You trust Ukito and Shana?" A nod. "Then you believe what we say. Talk to Ranko about seeing Ranma and tell her you no care about curse. She know what to do. You probably see Ranma same day."

"And maybe leave the katana at home," Ukyo supplied.

Nodoka's face lit up like a thousand watt bulb. She grabbed both girls around the neck and hugged them so tight even Shampoo was impressed. "Oh, thank you! Thank you so much! I'm so happy I ran into you two!"

"It-It no problem," Shampoo choaked. She was finally released and instantly got out of glomp range. For an older lady, Nodoka sure could move quick. "Just make sure you remember instructions. Talk to Ranko. Try to do it when panda not around."

Of course, Nodoka had no idea why the panda would be a problem, but these two people had given her far too much hope to start doubting them now. "I'll go first thing tomorrow. You can be absolutely sure of it."

A small chime clock went off in the living room, announcing that it was now six o' clock. If they left now, the girls would get back to Nerima before seven. For Ukyo, being out so late wasn't a big deal but Shampoo had warned her that Mousse could get suspicious and that it would be best to get home fairly early.

Remembering this, Ukyo nudged Shampoo in the midsection. "Shana, we've got to get going, right?"

"Oh, you have to leave already? I was hoping you could stay the night and come to the Dojo with me tomorrow," Nodoka said.

"You get cold feet? Shana and Ukito be around, but I not think Ranma should know we talked." In fact, it would be best if Nodoka just forgot about them altogether. If, by some horrible twist of fate, things did not work out Shampoo and Ukyo wanted plausible deniability. "Please?"

Nodoka gave in and promised not to say anything. Before the duo eventually left, Nodoka managed to keep them around for a few more minutes, they had been ladened with leftovers as thanks and some money for the train fair. Ukyo had tried to refuse it on the basis that they had enough, and that Nodoka didn't look like she could spare it, but the Saotome matriarch would have none of that.

The street lights were already flickering on when they finally walked out into the cool summer night. Some people were milling about, but for the most part Ukyo and Shampoo had the street to themselves. The train station wasn't too far so they walked at a sedate pace, reflecting on all they had done.

"You think we did the right thing, Shampoo?" Ukyo suddenly asked.

The Amazon nodded her head almost immediately. "Plan worked perfect. Airen meet mother, mother want to spend more time with Airen, Airen move out. Perfect." That was, of course, the absolute best outcome, but Shampoo was certain things would work out.

Ukyo wasn't so sure. "You forget where we live, sugar. This is Nerima; nothing ever goes according to plan. If it did, I'd already be married to Ranchan and you'd be back in China."

"Or Shampoo be married to Ranma and Ukyo be back in boy's school."

Neither girl really meant the insults, but both were thinking things were too comfortable between them. Shampoo had reminded herself earlier that Ukyo was just a temporary ally and that they weren't friends. In fact, if the plan really did work they'd go right back to trying to kill and maim one another.

"So, what did you think of Ranchan's room?" the chef asked, trying to cut through some of the tension. It seemed like she didn't want to think about what would happen later just yet. "I didn't think he'd be a mecha fan."

Shampoo's nose scrunched up as it usually did when the girl didn't understand something Japanese. "Little toy armor very strange. Why so popular with Japanese boys? No could fight in strange armor, people hear you sneaking up on them."

For a moment, Ukyo just stopped in the street and laughed, causing several people to look at her as they walked by. Shampoo blushed a tiny bit in embarrassment and she stomped her foot.

"What Spatula Girl laughing at?! No laugh at Shampoo!" She was about to cuff the annoying girl, truce or no truce, but Ukyo held out her hand.

"It's not armor, Shampoo, it's a robot," the chef managed to get out through the giggles. Once she got it out of her system, as well as calmed Shampoo down, she began to explain the nuances of little boys, giant robots, and the fictional lives that they led, living nothing but the moment.

Because tomorrow...it could all be over.