Son Turned Daughter, Chapter 24
An unusual disclaimer: Ranma 1/2 is the trademark of Rumiko Takahashi and VIZ Communications, and its characters have been borrowed without permission. And Son Turned Daughter was originally written back in 2002 by fanfiction author Tangent. Please see the first two chapters of this series under his pen name. This series has been written for noncommercial use only.
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Why Shampoo has suddenly decided not to kill Ranma is explained it differently at the bottom of this chapter. There are other explanations of things that happen in this chapter there, too.
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Chapter 24
There the purple amazon was in her floral pants and top, sitting drinking tea with Ranma's mom, and Kasumi.
"Mom! Shampoo did Yama-sen Ken! She broke into the house! She can break more than the house!" the redhead warned.
"Are you here to steal, Shampoo?" Nodoka asked.
"Shampoo no thief! Shampoo only here for face back!"
"Oh, dear. How did you lose face, child."
"Shampoo no child! Shampoo best warrior of age group!" Then she glared at the redhead. "Until Ranma best
Shampoo in front of all of village! Shampoo give Ranma Kiss of Death! Swear to find Ranma and kill! If take whole life, Shampoo can no return with honor to village until Ranma dead! Great shame and punishment if Shampoo return."
"Oh, dear. And, yet, you still wish to date my son?"
"No son. Ranma! Ranma take face of Shampoo!" Her tone softened. "Now Ranma give back face."
"I wish I understood," Ranma said.
"I think I understand," her mother said. "I was an outcast from my clan, too, for marrying your father, Genma. I was shown mercy only when he left me. And yet they have never entirely forgiven me. My face is incomplete."
"Is true! Ranma give part of Shampoo face back. Even if tribe no give face back, Shampoo maybe find new face. More happy face? Shampoo no know now."
And she looked directly at the redhead. "Ranma date Shampoo, now."
"Be careful, Ranma," Akane said. "It sounds like a trap. When you're not looking, she'll make her move."
"Then Shampoo lose face again. Was many time in hunt Shampoo could kill Ranma that way. No honor in sneak attack! No is trap!"
"And if this...date don't work out?" Ranma asked.
"Then Shampoo challenge Ranma again! Win back face." Her voice lowered and saddened. "Or no have face again."
"Aw, geez!"
"Go take a bath and prepare for your date, son," Nodoka said.
"Shampoo take bath, too!" she said, getting up.
"Shampoo! I can't let you take a bath with you. There's, there's something you don't know about me!"
"Ranma change to girl? Shampoo know that." And she pointed to Akane, "Shampoo hear loud, long-hair girl say name of Ranma! Shampoo then stay close and hear many thing. Then follow but lose until find stickboy with big picture of Ranma."
"And you say you don't sneak."
"Shampoo no sneak attack when goal is maim, kill! Shampoo give shampoo for what loud girl think of Shampoo! Okay Shampoo sneak attack, then!"
"Akane's my friend, Shampoo! If you wanna be my friend, you got to leave her alone!"
Nodoka intervened by changing the topic. "Shampoo, if I may ask, I am Ranma's mother, and I still find it difficult to believe my son can become a girl. How can you accept that he does so easily?"
"Village of Shampoo at way out of Valley of Cursed Springs. Shampoo see many thing and people come out different. Shampoo just no sure how curse work. Is big secret in village! All stay away from springs. Only one what is punish must go there!"
"The curse works by turning my son into a girl," Nodoka said with great dignity. "Ranma is a man, and he will go on this...date of yours as a man."
"No! Must be girl-type Ranma! Face different for boy and girl! Shampoo want face from face who take Shampoo face away!"
"I think she means what the Doc was tellin' me about, Mom. A guy brain and a girl brain are different. A girl with a girl can be more friendly, with less complications, than a girl with a guy."
"Is true! Village would demand Shampoo marry guy-type Ranma. Village no demand if Ranma girl-type."
"Mom didn't you say you found me because a guy called Chance told you where I lived? And he told you he was workin' for a guy who wanted me to be his wife? They even had a betrothal contract I was expected to honor!"
"Hey! I was trying to take your place, you know!" Akane reminded. "My dad signed the same contract!"
"Oh, dear! After they healed, Genma and Mr. Tendō ran off, but I shall certainly discuss that with them they return!" Her frown deepened, "That and…other matters."
"I don't wanna risk gettin' engaged again. You don't know what Shampoo's like when she wants somethin'.
"Shampoo, I'll go on this "date" with you. As a girl."
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While Akane and Kasumi filled his mom in on Picolet Chardin III and the Battle of Fine Dining Schools, Ranma went to clean up for the date.
But, first, they had to try and reassure the woman it was alright for Ranma to see a nude girl. "As long as Ranma's a girl!"
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Shampoo was already nude and in the hot furo tub when the redhead entered, nude herself. Ranma hesitated. Not so much because the girl was nude (at the moment, the side of the tub was hiding her boobs and the rest), but because the amazon still intimidated her. She hated it, but there it was. She had become like cats to her, only a little less frightening.
"Body of Ranma no like face of Ranma. Ranma have cute face. Ranma have no cute body."
"What(!)?! You sayin' this body isn't cute?" That was the first time anybody had said that to her!
Shampoo moved in the tub to where more of her could be seen. "Chest of Shampoo more big," she said proudly.
Ranma stood there looking.
Then she took her eyes away, frowning. "It's not like these are mine." She sat on the shower stool. " I didn't choose to have this body. I didn't choose to be cursed to be a girl."
"Shampoo no choose be girl. No choose be born in Joketsuzoku. Shampoo no choose be warrior." Then her fist came down on the tub. "Shampoo choose be best!"
"Aw, man!" Ranma said, picking up the shower wand. She had been using the curse as an excuse. And, now,...
Ranma turned on the cold water.
"Ranma choose be best, too, no?"
"Of course, I'm the best –Cold! This is too cold!" And she adjusted the taps.
"Then why Ranma run from Shampoo?!"
"Pop started it! I never ran from nothin' before in my life! But that's when the Old Man started treatin' me like a girl. His idea of a girl!"
She lathered the body she was in. "It wasn't until we were out of China and back in Japan before I could try and beat enough sense in him and treatin' me like he did before."
She stopped, and hung her hands from her thighs. "But he can't! I'm "contaminated" or something. To him, bein' a girl is more than just a curse. It's a punishment. And he wants to punish me until I don't wanna be a girl. So, what does he do? He registers me at school as a girl!"
Ranma straightened up and continued soaping her body again. "I've showed him! I stuck it out as a girl at school!" She smiled, "It's driving him crazy! And the best part is, maybe, it isn't drivin' me crazy. I'm learnin' about a girl's, and a guy's, brain and body more and faster than if I tried to stay a guy. It's trainin'!"
"Then Ranma no run from being girl? Ranma be girl?" Shampoo said, still ogling the redhead.
"That's what the Doc said. There're times when I bein' a girl is the best choice. –Cold!" The little redhead was glad she was little then. She was able to spray off the soap faster.
"Ranma give Shampoo soap, now."
"What?" she looked at the girl reaching out for it. "Shampoo, a furo is not a bathtub. You're supposed to wash before you get in."
"Aiya! Then Shampoo get out!" And she rose, the hot water cascading down her amazon curves.
It wasn't until Ranma realized she had naturally purple hair that she looked away. "Here! Take the soap!" When she did, Ranma headed for the door. "I'm gettin' dried and dressed!"
"No need for hot bath after shower?" Shampoo received no answer.
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Back in her Chinese outfit, Ranma found his mom, in her kimono, waiting for her in the common room. "I am glad to see that didn't take long."
"Me, too," Akane frowned.
"I told you Little Sister was a good girl," Kasumi said.
" "Little Sister"?" Nodoka raised an eyebrow.
"And when Ranma is a boy, Little Brother is a good boy, Auntie Saotome," Kasumi continued smiling, unchanged.
"Just be sure you remain a good girl or boy," Akane told Ranma.
"And you be sure you and "Burin-chan"... Where is Ryōga? He get lost from just goin' from the front door(?)" As soon as he asked, Ranma knew that was the answer.
"Is that what you're going to wear on a date?" her mom asked. "Don't you have anything nicer? More appropriate for a date?"
"Oh, my, yes, Auntie Saotome. We have a living room full of new outfits for Ranma," Kasumi said.
"And me, let's not forget!" Akane reminded.
"Kasumi, I don't think this is the time for Mom to see them!" Ranma warned.
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"That's my dress, Mrs. Saotome," Akane told the woman holding up the bright yellow dress with the accordion pleats.
"And which of these dresses are my son's?"
"None of them are! I don't wear dresses!" Ranma insisted.
"The more subdued colors are Ranma's things, Auntie Saotome."
The mother held up a black skirt. "This is yours, Son? And it isn't a dress?"
"It's a cu-lotta, or something, and it's pants! Shorts with wide legs!" Ranma looked, and found, "See!? Pants!"
"A little unmanly, aren't they?" Nodoka said, eyeing their stretchy and tapered they were.
"Auntie Saotome, because of Ranma's condition, he must have a more unisex look," Kasumi explained. "And because he is known to those he goes to school with as a girl, the clothes they see his girl body in should seem acceptable for a girl."
"There has already been trouble at school when Ranma wore unacceptable clothes, Mrs. Saotome!" Akane told her.
"But now I'm fittin' in better, Mom! I ain't gonna be a girl, but I got friends who're girls! Friends! I don't wanna give them up! I'd hafta if they knew I was a guy!"
"A boy and a girl can be friends." But as soon as she said it, Nodoka questioned her own words.
"Just friends? No complications? No one thinkin' they gotta be somethin' else? I ain't ready for somethin' else! I barely know what a friend is, or how to be a friend, what with Pop jerkin' me all around on his trainin' trips every time he got into trouble! I need it simple. For now. And even simple is complicated!"
Nodoka thought. Then said, "Instead of having friends who are girls, why not be a boy with friends who are boys?"
That certainly seemed the more sensible solution.
"Boys are perverts," Akane told her. "The boys are our school are! I can just see them finding out about the curse.
They'll want to be friends, alright, "friends" with Ranma's girl body."
"But if the girls at your school found out about the curse – Oh, Dear!"
"We don't have time for that, Mom. I gotta get ready. I don't know why Shampoo hasn't come outta the bath room, yet," Ranma said.
"She was on the road for how long, Ranma? She must be appreciating a relaxing hot soak," Kasumi said.
Nodoka's back stiffened when she saw what Ranma was wearing underneath her Chinese clothes. It was a silk chemise top and tap panties. Not underwear, but lingerie! "Not manly!"
"All the women at the women's apparel shop thought he, Romeo was very manly!" Akane came to her Ranma's aid.
"My son wore that in a shop that sells lingerie(!)?"
"Ranma! I'll get the hot water, and you can show her!" Akane said. "Do whatever it was you did that got all the women gaga for you!"
"Are you saying women are actually attracted to my son even when he's–"
"Nihao! Shampoo ready!" The tall and quite curvy amazon girl bounced into the living room in just her floral, Chinese blouse that barely reached her thighs.
Nodoka's hand went out to Akane's arm, saying, "Don't bring the hot water."
Then, she addressed Shampoo, "I hope you are wearing panties, young woman."
"Why Shampoo wear panties? No is panties day for Shampoo."
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Ranma had been banished from the living room. It was Akane who brought out the green blouse and black pants for her to wear on the "date". And, then, Akane, too, was not allowed back inside while the two gentler woman battled to get the warrior girl more "decent".
"Your second date, and I won't be on it," Akane frowned. "And, like you said after our first date, that wasn't even our first date. We were dating other people."
"And yours was with a girl," Ranma smiled. But Akane didn't think it was funny. "And, now, I'm havin' my date with a girl as a girl. So, we still haven't done a real, proper date. You know, where you get to date a guy, and I get to date a girl as a guy."
She'd finished buttoning the blouse, and had been standing there in front of her while they had been talking. Akane finally had to straighten the redhead's collar.
Akane was very close to her as she said, "Did I tell you I kissed Burin-chan?"
"What!?"
Ranma took her arm as she tried to back away. "I was afraid my first kiss would be with a guy I didn't want to kiss. Later I kissed a guy I hadda kiss. My choice, and to save girls from him.
"Aw, this isn't comin' out like the way I wanna say. What I want to say is, we're gonna go on a date soon as we can! Just you and me, girl and guy, with me the guy."
Akane smiled, a tear in her eye. "You did say it right. You dating Shampoo because you have to. But you want to date me."
"Right! And we gotta do it before somethin' happens that makes it not our First, Real Date."
"Oh, Ranma," Akane lowered her head towards the little redhead's face, her lips ready. She closed her eyes, and whispered, "My Romeo."
"Shampoo ready now! Shampoo guess," she announced. Bouncing into the common room. She was wearing a light blue blouse and darker blue pants. They were part of Ranma's ensemble.
Akane pulled away from the redhead.
Feeling awkward she searched for something to say. "The clothes, they fit."
"Yeah. The clothes in there fit me even if I'm a guy."
Shampoo frowned. "Ranma say clothes for guy?"
"No! The clothes also fit me when I'm a girl. Let's just say they're, uh, special."
Shampoo smiled. "Ranma give Shampoo own special clothes! Haiyah!"
"Okay, let's get this date over with."
Shampoo was frowning again. "Date no over when date over. Take more than one date give back face of Shampoo."
"Remember what I said about the dance you're going to have to do, Ranma?" Akane said. "Be careful!" It was her turn to frown. "You don't want her to want to be too intimate with you."
Ranma sighed. "But intimate enough for her to want to be friends." Whether she wanted the amazon to be her friend or not, it was either that or having a blood-thirsty enemy, again.
"Okay. What do we do on this "date"? The only date I been on was two days ago, and Kunō was footin' the bill. I don't even have much of the money I got buskin' today left."
"Oh, my, I am sure, what Shampoo wants is not bought with money, Ranma," Kasumi said.
"Oh, dear, yes. Though you will do well to think of treating your future dates to the best dates you can afford, Son," Nodoka said.
Kasumi looked at the woman. "Uh, yes."
She turned back to the others, "The purpose of a true date is for the two to become better acquainted. Then you can move on to become a true couple. Each date is a step towards establishing a greater intimacy with one another."
"See, Ranma!" Akane said.
"Aiya! Is true! The more intimacy Ranma give Shampoo, the more face Shampoo have!"
"Oh, Dear!" , "Oh, My!"
"Don't even think about having Ranma give you a complete face, Shampoo!" Akane yelled.
"People have dirty mind!" But it Shampoo had the look of somebody with a dirty mind.
"Okay. I still don't know what we're supposed to do."
"Sharing a common interest is a good start," Kasumi advised.
"Ranma and Shampoo go place where people battle!"
"I don't think there are any scheduled for today," Akane said. "Will you settle for sumo pigs?"
"Shampoo no want see pig!" Her frown was replaced with a more dreamy look, "Maybe there place where Ranma and Shampoo can spar?"
"Oh, my!" Kasumi smiled. "We do have our own dōjō!"
"No!" Akane screamed! "That's skipping ahead! That kind of intimacy has to come later! Later! No touching!"
"Then what do we do?" Ranma asked.
"Talk! Just talk! Get to know each other! By talking!" Akane told them.
"Shampoo can barely speak Japanese," Ranma told her.
"There's always body language," Kasumi grinned.
"Aiya! Body language!"
"May I make a suggestion?" Nodoka asked. "I understand there's a flower show at the Nerima Arena. Flowers are always good on a date."
"Hmph! Shampoo no like flowers!" the amazon said, crossing her arms. "Remind Shampoo of childhood enemy!"
"Yeah, flowers don't cut it for me, too," Ranma said.
"There! You have a common interest already," Kasumi said.
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But there was nothing else to do in Nerima this Monday. And Nodoka Saotome was a member of the Kita Women's Art & Culture Group and had coupons that she was sure could get them in to see the show at a price she could afford. The only problem with that was that to use them she had to attend with them.
At least it was only her that went with the two on their date. They left with Kasumi promising she would keep Akane home.
As was the way of Nerima, they walked. But Ranma and Shampoo added rooftop jumping, looking for the fastest way to the center for a middle-aged woman who merely walked.
During their times on the ground together, Nodoka tried to sustain a conversation. "I had not thought of it, but it is well that your date be chaperoned, Ranma – Oh! And yours, as well, Shampoo."
"Shampoo understand being guarded. Is always guards on duty at village of Shampoo." She understood but didn't seem happy about it.
Ranma, for her part, was glad she was glad she wasn't going to be left alone with the amazon who still intimidated her too much to feel much intimacy with. She just wished that somebody wasn't her mom. If Shampoo did a 180 and became the warrior girl again, then her mom could be in danger!
Still, "I wasn't expectin' to be able to spend more time with you while datin', Mom. You bein' this chaperon-whatever is okay in that way."
"Chaperons have become terribly old-fashioned. I was only allowed to date if I had one. My first and only unchaperoned dates were with your father, Ranma." And she winked at her.
Ranma wondered about his mom's definition of "date". Did pop have to burgle her house every time he wanted to see her?
"But enough about me. This date is about you young people. Shampoo has told me something about how you two met."
"No talk of dishonor of Shampoo! Shampoo here for face back!"
"Yeah, Mom. And we have never talked before today. Only words she ever said to me were in Chinese."
"No is true! Shampoo always say, "Ranma, no run! Fight Shampoo!"
"I told you, Shampoo! It was Pop's idea! I ain't runnin' no more! I didn't run when you challenged me today, did I?!"
"Aiya! That when Shampoo know you is, indeed, warrior of honor! Kiss you give Shampoo have no meaning until Ranma prove Ranma has honor!"
"Ranma kissed you, Shampoo?"
"On the nose, Mom! On the nose! It was a friendly kiss only!"
"First two enemy. Then truce. Then maybe two friend. Then maybe two...Hai~ya!"
"There isn't gonna be no "Haiya"!"
"Then truce over?"
" "Then maybe two friends"," Ranma suggested.
Ranma didn't think she was really listening to her. She was singing a little ditty to herself, "Tell me what's in your heart. That's a good place to start…"
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"Oh, dear. The center seems further away than I thought. Let me rest here."
"I'll carry you, Mom!" Ranma said, and did that before she could say anything!
Not having to walk at a civilian's pace, Ranma was able to race down the streets. She was proud of being able to show her mom just how strong and athletic she was, despite the handicap this body gave her compared to her male body.
Ranma had picked her up so surprisingly sudden Nodoka hadn't really had time to react. She watched the world go by in a blur, preferring to disbelieve her own senses rather than risk accepting what they told her was her reality.
"Ranma! Look-see!" Shampoo cried.
Ranma immediately halted, alert for the danger. "Where?! What do you see, Shampoo?!"
"Shampoo see Shampoo get in race, too! *Giggle*" she said, snatching the woman from the redhead's arms.
"Shampoo! That's My Mom you're runnin' off with!" she cried, racing after her.
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"Cash only," the man behind the arena's ticket booth said. "Those coupons may get you in the Nerima Cultural Center, but not here. Next!"
"Oh, dear," Nodoka sighed. "Here I have my credit cards and coupons in my sachet and they're not accepted. We came all this way for no reason."
Then a shrill girl spoke, "You, there! The red-haired dyke that dared to kiss me in public!"
"Romeo's Mother, you have already met Mistress Kodachi," Sasuke the ninja said.
"Romeo? Oh, yes! My son." And, yes, she remembered the girl with the black roses. How could she!? As she understood it, she was the reason the girl with the white lilies had almost killed Ranma!
"And, Mistress, the "red-haired dyke" has the name Ranma Saotome. I do not know the name of this other girl."
"Name is Shampoo of Joketsuzoku, Women Heroes and tribe of great warrior womens!"
"Warrior woman, are you? Then you are perfect for a dyke like her! She made the base assumption that I kissed women for my enjoyment!"
"Oh, dear!" Nodoka frowned at her Ranma, remembering the promiscuous reputation both her son and this version of her son had been getting.
"I see you two are dressed as dykes, as well."
"Shampoo no like annoying girl!"
"You and me both, Shampoo. Kodachi! What are you doin' here(!)? Do you want to fight?!" And Ranma slipped into the starting pose.
"You really are an imbecile, aren't you? I am the Black Rose. Of course, I would be interested in a flower show. Especially a Trade Show of Dangerous and Cursed Plants. Ohohohoho!"
It wasn't the shrill laugh that sent a shudder through Shampoo. "Ranma! Mother of Ranma! Leave! Go! Shampoo no go inside!"
"No way! I gotta see why Kodachi wants those plants!"
"I'll show you which ones I have after I purchase them. Expect to see them when you do not expect to see them! Ohohohoho!" And she walked away from them and into the arena.
"I just gotta get in there! I just gotta! Kodachi is like all the Kunōs: Bad News!"
"May be way in on roof!"
"That'd be dishonest! And," Ranma put a protective arm around Nodoka's shoulder, "I can't leave my mom out here."
The amazon found her bravery. "Then Shampoo have no choice." Shampoo undid the top buttons of the blouse and reached into her bosom. She pulled out wad of yen bills.
Nodoka was surprised. "I know you're not wearing a bra!"
"Is Secret of Dark Magic. Is how Shampoo able follow Ranma all this time."
"Man! I wish I knew that technique! Then I wouldn't have to be doin' no Saotome City Survival Techniques!"
"Shampoo only have until elders take away. Come from treasury of tribe. No like Shampoo use too much. Bookkeeper of elders very much feared."
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Nodoka found herself being carried again, as Ranma wanted to find Kodachi as soon as she could.
Shampoo agreed to split off and form a separate search. And she welcomed the thrill of the chase, again. Despite the plants.
Of course, they ended up on the field area of the arena. But from different directions.
Most noticeable was the potted black cherry tree. There was spring weather in this part of Japan and it was still in bloom. It was the very symbol of love. And of the Hanami, the Cherry Blossom Festival.
In fact, there were people on blankets crowded around it, eating and drinking sake or beer! Those drunk enough, got up and recited poetry or sang songs.
Or haikus,
"Initials carved deep,
Tree remembers whispered vows,
Love in wood's embrace."
"Very good, Soun!" Genma clapped.
"Yes, it was, was it not(?) I still have it," the man blushed modestly.
"This is where you two went!" yelled Ranma.
"What?" they tried to focus.
"Husband!"
"Nodoka!" , "Mrs. Saotome!" Both were now on their feet and sobering up.
"You take care of them, Mom, I gotta find Kodachi!"
"Genma, Tendō, you're staying with me and help me find a certain girl!"
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Shampoo overheard two mushroom farmers talking.
"Toshi no kazu dake? That seems a strange thing to call your crop."
"Only a number of years is what I call it 'cuz that's what it gives!"
"Why not call them something like, uh, Mushrooms of Time!"
"Because people'd think it'd give 'em more time, not less! You get the number of years as the mushroom you ate is long in centimeters!"
"Then, how about Aging Mushrooms?"
"Because, you idiot, people'd think they'd age you! You'd hafta eat a mushroom of mine that's longer in centimeters, than you are in years to get older! You know how difficult it is to even get one that'd make you, say, 16-years old!? Over 6 inches!"
"Well, why not use what's being sold over there. Demon's Own Fertilizer! It's guaranteed to speed up the growth of any plant and make them giant sized!"
"Beg pardon! Shampoo hear and want know if Demon's Own Fertilizer is added, get 300-cm mushroom? Then Shampoo eat and change into 300-year-old elder?! Aiya!"
"A beautiful girl like you doesn't want to turn into a shriveled up old crone! Buy one of my kairaishi mushrooms! They let you give a post–hypnotic command over anybody that eats one!"
"Shampoo more interested in being 300-year-old elder for 300 year!"
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Ranma's trained senses picked up the sound of muffled bullets being rattled by other bullets!
But louder was the attempt at laughing of the man near it. "Ha, ha, he, ha! I have a Demon Attacker Bean! Once common, now rare! Ha, ha, he, ha! They did such a fantastic job getting rid of demons people forgot about demons and no longer needed the bean! Ha, ha, He, Ha, Ha!" This last laugh was nearing hysteria.
On his display table was a case of bullet-proof glass held together by a riveted, metal frame. And the glass was cracking and the rivets threatening to pop. it jumped and rattled on the table as the green "peas" inside were violently jostled after the sound of yet another "bullet" striking them from beneath the pile that was filling up the case.
"This thing looks dangerous!" Ranma said.
"Of course it's dangerous! Demons are dangerous! This bean fights fire with firepower!"
The vendor next to it said, "But is it dangerous enough!? What will happen when my Demon's Own Fertilizer is added to it?"
The laughing man threw himself against the case to protect it from the man with the bottle! "Are you Crazy! Ha, ha, he, Ha! It'll destroy all those bottles and then," he stopped laughing as great quivers of fear went through him, "Then the fertilizer will get on its seeds!"
He wailed in terror, "We'll have Giant, Demon, Demon Attacking Beans!"
And the case jumped more and more cracks appeared in it! And the cracking was getting louder!
Ranma saw the large, metal, luggage trunk with labels warning, Do Not Open! Shotgun Bean Plant! She picked up the bullet-proof glass case and opened the trunk! She had to open two more before she could drop the case in and close all of the trunks around it.
"Why'd'you bring this dangerous thing here(!)?!" she yelled.
"Because this is where dangerous plants are shown! I paid too much money for this rare plant! I want it back! Plus what it'll take to pay for all the damage it's caused me!"
Ranma growled. But turned her anger on the other guy. "Why're you sellin' stuff that turns plants into demon plants?!"
"I have my business license! And as long as I follow Truth in Advertising Rules, I can!"
Ranma growled again. A greatly frustrated one. The Something wouldn't let her close this creep down.
She at least knew why Kodachi was here! It'd be just like her to want to turn her black roses into monster plants!
But why wasn't she here yet?! She didn't think Kodachi had had enough time to have bought her bottles of evil and left already. So, Ranma crossed her arms over her boobs and waited.
"Man what sell Demon's Own Fertilizer?! Shampoo like buy!"
"Shampoo!" Ranma screamed at her.
"Ranma here? Buy, too? Be elders together?"
"I don't want nobody buyin' none of this stuff! But at least, I can see that Kodachi doesn't!"
"Hmph! Is true! Outsider culture is youth-centered! Better be elder."
"Shampoo, I got no idea what you're talkin' about!"
"Me talk about mushrooms!"
"Yes, Miss Shampoo! Buy my Demon's Own Fertilizer and your mushrooms will be as tall as trees! Redwoods! And will spread their spores of destruction far and wide!"
"Hmph! All change to elders? Where honor in that!? Elders should be rare! Like–" Shampoo was startled by the sound of muffled bullets behind her. She turned and stared a large, metal trunk rattling around on the floor.
"Ranma! Shampoo!" Nodoka called out to them. "We've found the girl you're after!"
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They found Genma and Soun down on another part of the arena floor. On each of them were dozens of ginger-like things that sort of looked like little people.
The vendor was telling an interested passerby, "See? You do not need Demon's Own Fertilizer with these mandrake roots! Their seeds have been carefully treated so they do not become any taller!"
"But what if I do want them bigger?"
"Look, see how well they work this way! Body heat makes them grow at fantastic speed! They become so dense and heavy they keep the body down to absorb more of the heat…"
"Husband! You let the girl and her ninja escape with her purchase!" Nodoka scolded.
"Mrs. Saotome, didn't you hear from this vendor how these plants work? We just heard it now!"
"We had no idea how anything-goes plants can be, Nodoka, Sweatheart, Dearest!"
"Kodachi got away!" Ranma cried in frustration. She turned to the vendors along this row of tables. "What did she buy(!)?! What?! Tell me!"
"The girl with the ninja? She bought from me! I sold her the Male Flower of Weakness!"
"Oh, dear! Am I to understand that this blossom makes a man weak? What happens if a female is affected by one?"
"The makes the woman as weak as a woman!"
"Sold!"
"Nodoka!" , "Mrs. Saotome!" , "Mom!"
"Shampoo want know what Female Flower of Weakness do."
"It makes her as big of an idiot as her husband?" Nodoka joked.
"Yes, Ma'am."
"Don't forget me! That girl also bought from me! I sell the Female Flower of Love!"
"Shampoo buy!"
"Well, Genma, husband will you be buying me a flower?"
"No. I'm going to be getting too much love from you as it is," he grumbled.
"Some help here?" pleaded Soun, like Genma, he still had the mandrakes on him.
"I also sell the antidote!" the mandrake vendor said.
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Getting up in the roof beams high above the arena floor, Ranma's trained senses could find no trace of Kodachi or Sasuke anywhere inside.
After several minutes of this, she gave up and joined everybody else.
Both her mom and Shampoo were carrying their potted plants, neither of the flowers was open, yet. They were reading their plant tags.
Or trying to. "Shampoo no can read Japanese when Japanese no use Chinese writing. No can read Japanese Chinese writing good, too."
"Let me, Dear. Hmm… Oh, Dear! Uh, maybe I had better not!"
"What!? Why no want to tell amazon woman truth?! Tell or Shampoo–"
"I'll tell you!" Ranma said, taking the pot away from her mom to protect her. "It says here.
"Aw, geez! Man! It says here that, that the seeds make whoever they take root in *Gulp* love bein' female."
"Or want to be female if they can not physically be a female, I suppose," Nodoka said.
"Now, Nodoka, Dearest, don't get any ideas!" Genma chuckled nervously.
"Stupid flowerman! Shampoo want flower for making another love Shampoo!
"Here! Shampoo trade!" And she switched plants with Nodoka before anybody could react. "Shampoo now want Male Flower of Weakness!"
"Gimme that!" Ranma snatched it away from her! "Let's see what the instructions say on this one!"
Her frown continued as she read. Then she yelled! "Geez! This is like Pop's idea of women bein' weak! Stupid plant! I oughta tear it up by the roots and rip it apart!"
"Don't, Ranma!" her mother cried. "Read where it says it reacts to male aggression!"
"I ain't a male! Not in this body! Not in this brain!"
The petals began to open.
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In the original Ranma ½, Shampoo did a complete 180-degree turn in personality. My interpretation is that she welcomed her chance to be free of her Warrior Woman role, for a while, and to enjoy just being a young woman. In this story, she knows all at her village will be expected, by their tradition, to shun her and treat her as an outcast if she fails to kill Ranma. She has no face until then. By thinking Ranma has recognized her as somebody who will not shun and not treat as an enemy, Shampoo has taken her chance to, in effect, take a vacation away from her role. And, by Woman Hero logic, Ranma the Enemy would be dead, replaced by Ranma the Friend.
These Dangerous and Cursed Plants ARE a part of the original Ranma ½ manga world. (Google and find out more.) I have added some of my own interpretations.
Note: The Demon's Own Fertilizer is my own creation. I think it's the best way to explain the plants that Pink and Link use to attack Shampoo and Ranma in their manga story arc.