Good Day, beautiful people!
The usual dissclaimer, I do not own the characters nor I am making money.
Also an apology for taking so long, I really have no excuse that could justify such a long wait.
I hope you enjoy your readl! I´ll meet you at the end for more notes
Unexpected Pt2
By CrackerTales
The very next day, she listen to great grandmother instructions, wished her a good trip, and braced for whatever the day had planned for her, after all they were left alone on the Café for two days.
The situation had, of course, a silver lining: with Cologne away, there would be no one who would suspect a thing. That stupid boy would be able keep a straight face after that kiss. And yet, as Shampoo watched him work walking among the tables so calmed and focus she wondered if he remember anything at all. Maybe he was too drunk…. maybe it had been all a dream. She bit her lower lip in the middle of her internal discussion, she was having problems deciding if it was a good or a bad thing.
During the day, they kept a god team work coming: she cooked, he served. He would smile sincerely to the customers, she would observed him from behind the bar. At one point, when the clients granted him a brief break, he came to the kitchen to help her with the cooking
"So, we better hurry" he said tiding an apron around his waist "We have lot of people and there´s more coming"
The girl sighed
"Shampoo wanted to see Ranma"
And she saw Mousse become stiff at the sound of that name. He took a deep breath before cutting the onion
"What?" she asked in pretend surprise
"Nothing" he replied drily "I forgot for a moment we agree to keep things normal during work hours"
She put down her knife and vegetables were set aside, then, she walked to stand next to him
"Mousse" she said "Shampoo is marrying Ranma"
The sound of his knife stabbing the wooden cutting board was unimpressive to her but it was a surprise anyways: she expected cries and promises, she expected him to beg and humiliate himself as he would usually do; but none of that came.
"Then why?" he asked quietly
"I…"
"What do you want me to do?"
"It was not…"
He ignored her. His face went hiding on his large sleeves and he was in silence that only a heavy sigh broke… and she twisted her mouth in disapproval
"Don´t ignore me!" she demanded annoyed. He turned himself away from her
"Be quiet, Xian Pu"
"Stupid Duck!" she scolded "Get to work, already!"
And yet, he only moved to sit on the floor, right next to the fridge. Despise every try to ignore it, he could hear the insistent tap of her little feet
"Is no big deal!" she said tired of the whole scene "Get over it, you…"
"GET OVER IT?" he yelled in hurtful surprise and immediately regretted this action. His head found his place back into his own arms
"DON´T YELL AT ME!"
He looked up again. His features reflected pain and heartbreak and, though she felt bad for it, she wondered what he had expected; nothing had change between them... at all.
"Miss" said a client who, at the hearing of yelling, run to the kitchen in worry "Is everything ok?"
Mousse stood up.
"Shampoo is fine" she explained not taking her eyes away from the Chinese boy
"You were the one who came to me last night" he told her before leaving her alone.
::::
When the sun was setting, he felt remorse of his action of leaving her alone just like that with all the work. But he needed some time alone with his own thoughts, and inside of him he know she did too.
When he came back to the Café he found it closed, even though it was too early for that. He walked to the kitchen and found his beloved girl cleaning it all
"it´s closed"
She stopped her task at the sound of his voice
"Yes" she said as naturally as possible "And Shampoo not opening tomorrow, Shampoo and Mousse need rest"
He quietly watched her as she moved around the place. Always facing away, never looking him at the eyes. He wondered how she managed to stay sane after being left alone with a restaurant flowing with clients. He wondered if he had overreacted, if he really was making a storm where it was barely raining. After all, she seemed to be unmoved by it all.
"About before" he began "I am sorr…"
"Is ok" she interrupted and turned around to face him "Shampoo is fine.."
He said nothing. It made her feel odd
"Mu Tsu?"
"I´ll be fine"
And they cleaned on silence
::::
The next morning was surrounded with a slightly relaxing feeling for the lack of certain old woman. Mousse woke up as early as always. He put on clothes and he fixed his hair. It was until he reached the bottom of the stairs when he remembered they were not working that day at all.
And he saw her, sitting on a chair, already dressed and her hair perfectly done. In her hands, she hold a cup of tea she slip from time to time
"Good morning" he said catching her attention. She said nothing, but kept looking into the distance
"Do you think we could talk" he asked standing behind her. His voice trembled
"Shampoo is still marrying Ranma" she said coldly.
He felt like being stabbed.
After the life he had lead, always running behind her, always being rejected on his advances, he was surprised how much it still hurt to had his heart, once again, broken by the beautiful amazon he loved with all his being
"I… I suspect as much" he said trying not to break down. His answer made her uncomfortable
"I better get going" she said standing up all of sudden "Got many things to do before seeing Airen this afternoon"
And he watched her walk carelessly to the door.
He wanted to stop her, to beg for a chance to be her. But words failed him, they all seem pretty stupid or demining.
…And he was getting tired of all that.
::::
If you were to ask Shampoo how her day had been, she would said 'as the usual' except for the fact the nearly blind boy was lacking. That didn´t necessarily meant she missed him, it just meant it was odd not having him around like a freaking parasite.
Even so, she actually enjoyed their neutral time together. He was considerably less annoying when not dragging himself desperately on the floor for her sake.
He was still on her mind when she reached the Neko Hanten. She could hear him on the kitchen, moving around and complaining about misplaced pots. She meant to ignore him but curiosity took the best of her. Leaving the hot bath she was longing for aside, she turned on her heels and walked to where he was and found him putting away a pan
"cooked something?"
He jumped slightly at the sound of her voice; He was so immersed on his own thoughts he didn't even heard her coming
"Well, I got hungry" he explained "If you want some, I just put it away on the fridge" but she shook her head in silence. She could see his distress as he returned to his task. She never saw anyone clean a kitchen with such emotion. It was almost comical
"You still want to talk?"
"I thought you had set the record straight…"
"Yes" she cut him off "But…" and she stopped herself to think her words and reasoning better
"I suppose I own this to you" she said shrugging and he turned around to see her
She said nothing. She couldn´t find the right words to justify her actions. She felt like smiling while looking at his face trying so hard to be stern even when it was pointless. She knew him since they were toddlers, she knew he always wore his emotions at his sleeve.
"So…" she began feeling incredibly awkward
"I have love you since forever" he said a little irritated
"yes… I kno…"
"I´d always been true to you…" he was being serious. He was looking her directly in the eyes as he said this words, not crying, not begging, not even yelling them as the whinny child she often perceived him as. This was the moment when she realized how serious it was starting get.
"That was your own decision!" she exclaimed crossing her arms above the chest in an attempt of changing the mood "You could have challenge another girl and live your life"
"I don´t want a life away from you…"
"Stop this!" she said raising her voice "I cannot love you!"
And then she interpreted his silence as defeat. He hung down his head and fought the urge of cleaning off his sprouting tears with his sleeve. The girl turn around to leave him alone on the kitchen
"Then why?" she stopped at this question
"You should forget that"
"No"
She walked back to where he was. Standing in front of him, she looked up to see his eyes.
"You are way too emotional!" she said pouting tiredly. He took her by the sleeve, afraid, she tried to leave again without giving the answer he needed and that most likely would broke his heart even further
"Why?" he asked again not daring to rise his gaze. She stood still and in silence for about a minute
"I don´t know"
"Don´t…"
"Is true!" she defend herself "I don´t know! You were drunk and… there…"
"You thought I won´t remember…"
"I hoped you wouldn´t" she said blatantly as she noticed the grab on her sleeve becoming stronger. He sighed painfully
"Xian Pu, you can´t just kiss me and expect I would not make a big deal of it!" he exclaimed and his voice was deep and sad "This is me we´re talking about…"
He chuckled. She did showed emotion
"Mousse is expecting too much" she changed to Japanese "Shampoo can only love Ranma! He is better warrior and better husband for Sham…"
"STOP IT!" he yelled breaking down "JUST STOP WITH ALL THE RANMA TALKING! I AM SICK OF SEEING YOU DEMINING YOURSELF TRYING TO WIN HIS HEART!" she was looking at him with cold eyes, but at the moment he couldn´t care less
"I love you" he said gasping to repress a sob "I will go to hell and back just for your sake…Damn it, Things were working up great!"
And she agreed with him. She had messed it up and own him something. Putting her arms around his waist she rested her head on his chest and allowed him to take her small figure on his arms, though, he was hesitant at first
"I am sorry, I don´t know what happened to me" she wasn´t lying, she recalled the thrill she felt, but never the reasoning behind her actions "I suppose I was curious… I just… I wanted to know…"
"Know what?" he asked with his head buried on her hair. She took a step back and look up to see him. The disappointment of losing her embrace was more than evident. Losing her better judgement again, she grab him by the front fabric of his robe and in tip toes she tries to reach for him… he dragged himself down. When their noses were touching and their lips brushing against one another. He talked quietly
"I do love you, but please…"
And she threw away all she knew about themselves and closed the distance between them.
::::
The old ghoul was to come back the very next morning shortly after the sunrise. By that time, the restaurant must have been ready to be opened. Both teens agreed they would not tell her about staying close the previous day. They also agreed they would not tell a soul about that kiss, but, he was allowed to bring it up when they were alone with no witnesses around.
This part of the deal was hard to accept for poor love-strucked Mousse. He was so excited and surprised by his beloved´s actions the night before, he could barely sleep after she called the night. God! how confusing were the thoughts on his head and how delicious the pain he felt on his chest! He could not read clearly into her! Did this meant she was becoming attached for him? Or maybe he had become a toy for her to play with. He knew the latter was the most plausible answer, and yet he didn´t care that much.
That night, she had come to him and he was allowed to express her how he felt through a kiss for he was sober this time. His body trembled at the separation (when it came) and he smiled when he notice her fast pacing breath. And so they go on separate ways, to their rooms, to sleep till the next day.
When morning finally came, he walked down the stairs and went to meet her at the kitchen. The tables were to be set and the food to be prepared, but she lied against the bar, holding a hot cup of tea in her delicate hands.
"Good morning" she greet in Japanese with a smirk. He smiled and waved at her
"Hello, Shampoo"
"Did Mousse sleep well?"
He could not find the right words to express all the emotion that kept him awake so he just nodded scratching the back of his head
"Good" said the girl. She look up to see the clock that announced the time in the wall in front of her. She left the cup alone and went to the prepare the pots and pans, to set then all ready for the new day that was to start soon. she was setting the cutting boards when she felt his arms around her waist bringing her back closer to his chest. His head was resting on hers
"Mousse?"
"Hmm" hummed the boy
"Wha..what is Mousse doing?"
He didn´t answer, he hugged tighter and said nothing at all.
"Great Grandmother may come in any minute" she remind him on Chinese
"I´ll take the risk"
She rolled her eyes and hit him lightly with her elbow. He let a light gasp out and stepped back. She turned around to meet his eyes
"Stupid Mousse!" she was slightly angry "If great grandmother catches us…"
She didn´t finish the sentence for, in a moment of self-confidence and bravery his lips met hers. It was a quick kiss, he stepped back before she could react violently and smiled in victory when she did not attempt to hurt him. And so, she dared to take the risk again and stepping forward he hesitant took her face on his hand
"stupid du…"
The sound of a person entering by the front door startled them and suddenly they broke apart running each to the opposite side of the room.
"Good morning, Great granddaughter" greeted old Cologne entering the kitchen "Good Morning, Mousse"
A 'welcome back' form the girl and a nod from the boy were the answers she got, and she noticed a slight disconformity on her great granddaughter
"Is he bothering you again, Shampoo?"
The girl look him above her shoulder, her mouth twisted in a thinking fashion
"yes" she said dead pan serious
"WHAT DO YOU MEAN BY THAT? I WASN´T BOTHERING HER!" the duck boy was fast to defend himself in his loud, obnoxious ways. The girl rolled her eyes before sending him a cold glance to which he responded accordingly
"Mousse is being annoying" she said and before he could defend his case, he got a hit with a walking stick on the head
"Stop that, boy!" scolded the old woman "will you ever change"
He did not replied directly, he only muttered not so pleasant things under his breath.
"And Hush with that!" scolded the old mummy as he called her.
"How trip went?" asked the girl with her cutest smile
"Good, my girl, How is Son-in-law?" replied her getting a little box out of her traveling bag
"Airen is fine" said Shampoo dubious "Did people asked?"
"No" was the simple answer, and then she was mixing the box content with other thing she brought back with her
"What is that, great grandmother?"
"Shampoo, go upstairs and wear the finest dress you have, if everything goes according to plan, Ranma will be yours by tomorrow morning"
"What?" exclaimed Mousse surprised and Shampoo turn around to make him quiet, but as soon as her eyes met his frame, she couldn't find the right words, for she knew there was nothing valid she could said to mingle his pain, and besides, she felt a little guilty inside. But Great Grandmother could have never known that. And later she smiled, childishly and wide: she jumped and clapped and thanked the old woman before running up to her room. She ignore the best she could the voice of her ever faithful duck calling
"A fine bride she´ll make" commented Cologne with a little smile. Mousse sat sadly on the kitchen´s floor, head down
"And You!" called him the woman "You better stay out of this! It should work this time"
::::
Better say it didn´t work.
But it wasn´t Mousse fault at all. At the end the one who stopped Cologne´s new plan was Ryoga… by accident… while he tried to get Ranma into a fight.
Ranma never knew why Shampoo was so upset. He told her it was fine, she could bring him another dinner plate later. He didn´t knew that one had been adulterated, he didn´t knew both Chinese women had use in it all of that golden dust Cologne brought back from China.
Stomping and cursing Ryoga all the way home, she entered the Neko Hanten abruptly, her face alone scared the last client out and after he left she slammed the door closed and the restaurant
"I get we failed…" said the old woman as Shampoo walked towards her
"Is not fair!" she cried stomping in tantrum as her knuckles turned white "It´s always something! Why can airen love Shampoo?" fat tears fell down her cheeks and she great grandmother offered her the most caring comfort she could offer. After a moment, the girl dried out her tears and rose up her head.
"Where is dumb duck?" she asked looking around
"Same as always" said Cologne hanging her a cage´s key
::::
"So it didn´t work" stated Mousse trying to hide his relief, for her sake
"Stupid Pig ruined it!"
"Ryoga? Why? You will think he´d wanted Ranma to…"
"It was an stupid accident" said the girl with shaking shoulders "Shampoo told nothing, acted normally, he suspected nothing…"
Mousse kneel to be at her eye level. Stroking her hair and putting it behind her ear, he offer some well-intentioned comfort, despite he was celebrating on the inside
"maybe it never works because is not real…"
"Stupid Mousse!" she said pushing his hand away "Airen…"
"Why do you even keep going after him?" sadness written all over his face. Her own features softened
"I am still marrying Ranma" she said in Chinese looking him straight on the eye
"I love you" he declared once again, like he did every day. Her answer was to simple lower her head. He took her in his arms, again unsure, the whole affair seemed too surreal for him to fully understand it was real, when she relaxed and buried her face on his chest as she sobbed, he understood it was all real, the hug, this morning´s kiss and the previous, they all have been real. He felt happy for a minute, but this didn´t last long. He start wondering what did that meant, how will it affect his life… their life, and most importantly, how does she felt about him?
"You should leave" said the girl weeping out the tears "Great Grandmother may come in soon".
Going against his own desires, he walk away and exited her room.
::::
Things came back to normal after the fiasco, they never spoke of the whole kiss affair after that, they return to their mindless movie talks, to their teasing and their strange agreement…except for little subtle details that were driving Mousse berserk. During the late movie nights, she seemed to search for him, to bring him closer to her body. Many times she fell asleep on his shoulder. She would be less cruel and more compassionate, even with the old woman around.
He blame it on guilt and try not to read too much into it. Yet, he wanted it to mean something more, but was too afraid to ask, he was afraid of the answer. So he search or an alternative way.
He choose a day when Shampoo would have to deliver food to the Tendo house, he needed Ranma there and the old woman away.
Before she left, he came with a small box on his hands
"You forgot the sauce" he offer casually and as she took it, he stuck something on her clothes without her noticing. Her gaze became dark and she looked at him with ice cold eyes, full of hate, and she was off. He smiled in hope and followed her.
When he reached the Akane´s house, he waited a moment before getting her attention, he wanted to know how will she act around Ranma.
I was predictable, she was cold and unchatty. Even after her so called fiancé asked her if everything was all right
"Nothing wrong with Shampoo" she replied uninterested "Have a lot of work to do!"
Ranma blinked twice
"Are you sure? you seem…"
This was Mousses cue
"Shampoo!" he called her in his very known desperate way "Stay away from Ranma! I Love Y…" he was cut by her with fist on his face… he whine on pain and surprised
"What is Mousse doing here?" she said coldy "Why did he followed Shampoo"
"Well, I…"
"Can´t Mousse understand Shampoo HATES HIM!" and she punch him, kick him and pound him full of range and hate. At some point he was left on the floor painting for air and in pain. At some point his gasps became chuckles and then, they turned into a full meaningful laugh.
"Why is duck boy laughing?" asked the furious amazon as she prepared to strike again but he was quick to act and removed a little green jewel from back her blouse. She stood there confused, remembering her actions and looking around for answers. Smiling, he showed her the "reversal jewel" and her face became as red as the setting sun.
The next thing they all heard was the sound made by her hand slapping him hard across the face.
::::
He waited patiently for the old ghoul to go to bed. Five minutes after her bed time passed, his beautiful girl entered his room, red with rage.
"Shampoo is not marrying Mousse!" she had trouble keeping her voice down. He just looked at her but said nothing "Ranma defeated Shampoo! He is airen!"
"That can be arranged…"
"You fight Shampoo?"
"I will never hurt you…"
She smirked, ironically and buffed in mockery
"Mousse´s weak" she spit her words "That´s why Shampoo doesn´t love him"
Differently to every other occasion she said that, this time he didn´t felt sad, nor he cried or beg her to acknowledge him. He just stood still looking at her
"The jewel beg to differ" and she slapped him hard
"You idiot!" she switched to her mother language "You stupid, idiotic duck! You weren´t supposed to know!"
Her eyes were wide, full with anger and frustration. Her teeth tight and her face got a slight red coloring. He had seen her angry many times before, but he would never guess she would someday get so mad for a reason that made him so happy.
"Why are you so mad?" he asked "Am I that bad? I am really ruining your life?"
"YES!" she yelled and immediately after she covered her mouth and hope her great grandmother haven´t heard her. She saw him as he sat on the floor, back and head slammed against the wall, and she sat on his bed, fixing her hair, not knowing what to say
"Why?" he asked grimly
"I can´t love you… I am not allowed"
"That´s stupid"
Part of she agreed with him, but she didn´t say a thing on the subject.
"I must marry Ramna" she said after a minute, avoiding his gaze
"But you don´t love him…"
"But I do!" she explained finally meeting his eyes "I do love him"
"You can´t love us both…"
"I know how I feel, Mu Tsu!" she snapped at him "Before this past months I didn´t even knew it was possible and it´s driving me crazy!"
Tears were forming on her eyes. She felt divided, she enjoy every minute they had spent together since that cursed deal of theirs, she loved how he was when he was not chasing her like a desperate weirdo. Though she enjoyed a little every time he was crazy jealous, it made her feel desirable, especially when Ranma seemed so immune to her charms. Even before Japan and this whole mess, Mousse had always been a bust to her self-esteem.
And yet, every moment spent with him made her feel like a traitor. Every time they discussed a movie, every shared thought… every hug he gave her and every kiss they stole from each other in the shadows put a weight on her heart, no matter how much she enjoyed them or how much she loved him.
"Me too" he exclaimed suddenly
"Huh?"
"Is driving me crazy too"
"You had always been crazy" she crossed her arms childishly pretending to be annoyed. He stood up and went to sit on his bed with her
"We are a mess" she said lowly caressing her hair
"This is all your fault" she whispered relaxing, he dragged her into his arms
"You love me" he stated and she saw no reason to deny it any longer, he already knew. Then, he reached down to kiss her, she welcomed the gesture gladly. After a while, she decided he didn´t want to let go of him, after all, she was strong, she could deal with a little extra weight on her heart.
"When is the old ghoul leaving again?" he asked when they separate for air
"Not anytime soon" replied her still brushing her lips against his.
::::
As the morning passed, Shampoo noticed how much she enjoyed they little façade; how well they could pretend the same old dynamics they been having since she came to japan to chase Ranma. And how they would both relax when alone. They have learn to switch between mood and behavior so well and they were both enjoying the whole game.
In other manner, he was still incredibly clingy even when they were alone, but in a different way. especially when he had a chance to hug her: his moments were quick and rare for they were almost never alone, but he treasure them gladly… even if technically nothing had change in the relationship
::::
"Treasure hunt race?" asked the amazon with big confused eyes
"I read about it on this pamphlet" answered the ever sweet Kasumi Tendo. Her ever present smile rested gracefully on her lips. The rest of her family watched her explain inside the Chinese restaurant
"Sounds boring" commented Ranma waiting for his food.
"The first place is a travel to wherever the winner wants" said Nabiki reading the pamphlet and, as it had been a buzzing alarm that woke them all up, all the cursed ones start making plans: How would they win? Which strategy should be better? How to get rid of competition?
It was all set and won in each and every head
"oh" exclaimed unemotionally the middle Tendo girl "It has to be on pairs"
And silence fell before the next argument
"Airen is taking Shampoo, yes?" said she as she threw herself into the young piggy-tailed boy´s arms. He complained and tried without effort to keep her off him. When his struggles result in nothing, he turned his head to see a very upset Akane watching them with murderous eyes, and yet, she didn´t brought the mallet out of punch his face out of town.
"Well, if that´s so" said the short haired girl turning her head from them "I´ll take Mousse"
The boy jumped on surprised and his eyes opened in surprised as Akane reached for his arm. She found nothing to hold on: a whole bucket of ice cold water splashed the unsuspected boy. A white noisy complaining duck was the only thing she could find.
"Sorry, violent girl" said Shampoo with an innocent smile "Mousse can´t go… he grounded"
::::
Shampoo and her Great Grandmother chopped fast and perfectly. Saturday was coming and it was a busy day. They should had as much as they could ready ahead of time. Knives sliced vegetables and mushrooms in a fast pace and meat had been put under defrosting for them to use on tomorrows noodles.
They worked on silence. Only the tapping sound of the knives against the boards was heard on the place. The night was calmed outside and it´s characteristically sounds surround the place with a relaxing feeling. They were both tired, but worked eagerly for they knew a job well done was more than satisfactory.
Shampoo sliced and chopped as her mind wandered. The situation she was in made her feel like a traitor. She knew Ranma was the man of her life, she knew he was the best one for her, he was strong and fast. He was handsome and healthy too. But he was disloyal.
Since the moment he knew he was to marry her, he´s been avoiding his imminent fate. And he surrounded himself with other women, all merely nuisance for him, Shampoo conclude, but that didn´t erased them from his life and it made her feel sad and disappointed, she grew up thinking anyone would like to have her as bride. How many times she slid into his bathtub… into his bed, and it worked for nothing?
Stupid Ranma, Shall he be cursed! Of all men in Asia she had to get the one immune to her! She hated his guts, she hated the way he walked around with that Tendo girl, how he was always listening to her, how he got angry when someone flirted with her… how she looked at her when he thought no one was paying attention…
Ranma was disloyal and for that had no honor.
She continued chopping in anger and jealousy, and as she did, she recalled her last getaway. She recalled dragging Mousse into a dark corner and letting him kiss her and hold her like his life depended on it. She remember last night, and many others before, when they stayed up late talking about stupidities or watching a movie, or playing a harmless game. She recalled the green brooch he got her last week when he returned from the market place. She remember she is been wearing it since.
All these memories and the feelings they evoked on her made her extremely frustrated. This was never supposed to happen.
"Great-Grandmother?" she asked hiding the tremor of her voice
"What is it?"
"What if…" she started and cut herself off to thing better her words "What if Shampoo can get Airen?"
The old woman left the knife forgotten and turned to see the pretty girl with tender, compassionate eyes
"Do not fear, my child. Ranma will come around! Just wait and see, he´ll be yours" and so she returned to work. The girl stayed on her place; that wasn´t exactly the answered she was looking for
"What does…" she asked again after taking a deep breath "What does law say about polygamy?"
A crashing sound was heard outside the kitchen. The duck boy was standing at the door, teapots and bowls reduced to pieces on the floor. He was static and absent, like he had been hit by a lighting
"Put your glasses on!" scolded the old woman hitting him on the head with her staff before returning to her vegetables. The young warrior seek for his beloved gaze still stunned for what he just heard.
::::
"Polygamy?"
"It´s the only way!"
"No"
"But Mu Tsu"
"No, I won´t share with Saotome!"
"Argg, you are so selfish!"
The boy took his glasses of and passed his hands over his face and hair on frustration as the girl turned her back at him
"It´s the only way we can be together" she tried to defend her case "Think about it! You can´t defeat Ranma, you won´t fight me…"
"And that´s the solution you offer?" he asked irritated. She should have known he will never agree to this
"I doesn´t matter anyway" she said crossing her arms above the chest "the law wouldn´t allow it"
And he laughed. Nervously and for the sake of irony, but he did laughed. Would she ever change? Would they ever be allowed to be just a couple of teenagers living normal lives?
At this point he had figure out the life back on the tribe was out of question if he… if they, ever wanted to stay together: He would not do what the law require him to do, she would never let go of Ranma completely, perhaps. But that didn't mean that could not aspire to a happy life far away from them all. The problem there was, she had her customs and traditions scared into her soul and mind, and even when he was sometimes against them, so did he.
"What did Cologne said when you told her?"
"Told her what?"
"I guessed she asked why you wanted more than one husband…"
"she didn´t asked" said the girl "she was emotionless when she explain why she wouldn't do it, but, she never asked"
He nodded softly as he hold tight the cup on his hands and he stared at the tea as it had the answer to an old riddle
"Did you really considered…?"
"She did know, though" interrupted Shampoo sipping on her tea. This made him forget whatever he wanted to say before and only could look at her in a comical mix of fright and confusion
"What?"
"After she was sure she had explained it all she whispered your name under her breath"
"My name?"
" ´That idiotic duck´ she said" explained her unceremoniously
"That´s not my name, Xian Pu" he stated smiling. Her answer was a gesture with her hand telling him not to mind it.
"So now what?" he asked looking at her directly in a low, soft voice
She had already thought about it, every night after expending time together, every morning when he dropped hot noodles bowls because he was too stubborn to wear his glasses. She wondered a lot about the future, actually. She wondered about it when Ranma came to pick up food, or when they, all together as a gang, had to deal with some strange and dreadful foe; then she wondered about the days to come and if she would even be alive to see them. She wondered about her stupid duck and how things much things had changed between them after some time.
Part of her wanted it to work! She wanted them and whatever this thing they had was to work and live without worries. He would make a good husband after all! He would be forever loyal, there was no doubt of that! But, how about her?
"I don´t know" she answered his question and then, they remained silent.
::::
::::
The ambiguous End
::::
I tried (I always do) to keep it all flowelry and sunshine but I realize I couldn´t do it. I didn´t felt right for them or for the story. So I guess it ended up being bittersweet.
Now that I mention that, I should said I had about 85% of the chapter written when I post the previous one an eternity ago, but whenever I was to write the ending nothing felt quite right. I figured that if a situation like this were to happen, they couldn´t go from 0 to 100 in a day: it had to be slow because these things take time.
I unwillingly end up focusing a lot on Shampoo´s inner confusion, and in the end it worked for what I wanted to say: she would not leave Ranma just like that, she would struggle because feeling something for someone new, doesn´t necessarily cancel what you felt before for someone else, and to add to her confusion and uncertanity, I tried to show that Mousse was maturing: I wanted him to put a stop to his own denigrating ways but I didn´t want him to be rude to her or hurt her because that´s not him.
So here they are still changing, that´s why the ending is so uncertain. I leave it up to you to decide whatever their relationship works or not (personally, I would love it to work).
I hope I had express my ideas clearly (in both story and notes) and I hope you had enjoyed it. I know is not exactly a proper ending, but then again, they are just at the start.
Thank you