Chapter 4

Shampoo couldn't help but giggle at Inuyasha's fierce denial. She found it endearing how he tried to maintain his tough demeanor but still blushed at being called cute.

"Okay, no more calling you cute," Shampoo said, still smiling. "But you can't blame me for thinking it. You're just so..." She trailed off, her eyes moving down to eye his body.

Inuyasha narrowed his eyes at Shampoo, sensing the change in her tone.

"So what?" InuYasha asked, arching an eyebrow. "Don't finish that sentence."

Shampoo smirked, her eyes never leaving Inuyasha's body as she spoke.

"You're just so...muscular," Shampoo said, her voice dropping a few octaves. "And strong. And handsome."

Inuyasha's face reddened at Shampoo's words, his ears twitching wildly. He wasn't used to this sort of direct attention, and he didn't know how to respond.

"S-Shut up," InuYasha muttered, trying to keep his voice steady. "You're just saying that to get a rise out of me."

Ranma, observing the interaction, chuckled at Inuyasha's flustered reaction.

"Looks like you've got another admirer, Inuyasha," Ranma teased, enjoying the hanyo's discomfort.

Shampoo shot Ranma a coy smile, her eyes flicking back to Inuyasha.

"Can you blame me, cutie?" Shampoo said, her eyes roaming over his body again. "He's quite a catch, isn't he?"

Ranma chuckled again, enjoying the banter.

"Oh, he's something, all right," Ranma agreed, shooting a smirk at Inuyasha. "A bit grumpy and a lot stubborn, but that's part of his...charm."

Inuyasha shot Ranma a glare, clearly not amused by his sarcastic remarks. He knew Ranma was just egging him on, enjoying his discomfort.

"Hmph," InuYasha grumbled, crossing his arms defensively. "And what's it to you, Saotome? Jealous that I've got two pretty ladies fawning over me?"

"Excuse me? What do you mean by two pretty ladies, InuYasha?!" Kagome questions InuYasha.

"Oh, come on Kagome, I didn't mean it like that!" InuYasha responded quickly.

"Hmph, okay, I will take your word for it," Kagome said.

InuYasha sighed in relief, hoping Kagome would take his word for it.

Ranma raised an eyebrow at Inuyasha's comment, saying that he might be jealous, his smirk widening.

"Jealous? Me? Hardly," Ranma replied, shaking his head. "I just find it amusing to see the oh-so-grumpy hanyo get flustered by a few compliments."

Inuyasha bristled at Ranma's words, his cheeks reddening further. He hated how Ranma could get under his skin so easily.

"I'm not flustered," InuYasha protested, trying to sound nonchalant. "I just don't appreciate being treated like a piece of meat."

Ranma chuckled again, thoroughly amused by Inuyasha's denial.

"Right, right," Ranma said, feigning agreement. "You're just immune to all forms of flattery, even when two beautiful women are practically swooning over you."

"What did you just say, and did you call Kagome beautiful!?" InuYasha asks furrowing his eyebrows.

"InuYasha! Don't!" Kagome tried holding InuYasha back, knowing how jealous he gets.

"Um, I-I, uh," Ranma stammers not realizing what he had just said.

Akane's eyes flashed with irritation as she heard Ranma's words. She didn't like how he seemed to be flirting with Shampoo and complimenting other girls right in front of her.

"Yeah, What'd you just say, Ranma?" Akane asked, her voice a bit sharper than usual.

Ranma blinked, realizing his mistake. He had completely forgotten that Akane was right there.

"Uh...W-well, I-I... I just meant that Shampoo is a pretty girl, you know," he said lamely, trying to backpedal.

Ranma blinked, realizing his mistake. He had completely forgotten that Akane was right there.

"Uh...I just meant that Shampoo and Kagome are pretty girls, you know," Ranma said lamely, trying to backpedal.

Akane's and InuYasha's irritation only grew at Ranma's poor attempt at excusing his words.

Kagome blushed at Ranma's compliment, Kagome not knowing what to say, and Akane got angry that Ranma called Kagome beautiful.

"Hmph! Yeah, okay, Just keep your eyes on your own woman over there instead, got it!" InuYasha said.

"Y-yeah, I got it!" Ranma said.

Kagome smiled softly at InuYasha knowing how much he cared about her.

"Oh, so you just go around casually complimenting other girls while your fiance is in front of you, huh?" Akane said, crossing her arms and giving Ranma a stern look.

Ranma winced at Akane's sharp tone, realizing he was in hot water. He had definitely put his foot in it this time.

"No, no, it's not like that," Ranma protested, trying to explain himself. "I didn't mean anything by it, I swear. I was just making a dumb joke. I didn't mean to actually compliment Shampoo or Kagome, you're obviously way more beautiful-"

Inuyasha watched the exchange with a mix of amusement and annoyance. He had been enjoying Ranma's teasing earlier, but now he was just annoyed that their bickering was cutting into his own situation.

"Can we focus on something else besides your stupid relationship drama for a minute?" Inuyasha grumbled, cutting into Akane and Ranma's argument.

Akane and Ranma both turned their attention to Inuyasha, a bit surprised by his interruption.

"Oh, and what would you like to focus on instead?" Ranma asked a hint of sarcasm in his tone.

Inuyasha bristled at Ranma's snark, his irritation growing.

"I don't know, maybe the fact that one, maybe two girls are trying to flirt with me?" InuYasha said, gesturing to himself. "Since that's a bit more important than your stupid little fight!"

Inuyasha crossed his arms and continued speaking, clearly still annoyed at Ranma's attitude.

"And while we're at it, we've got more new people popping up in our world all the time," InuYasha said, casting a sidelong glance at Shampoo. "Like her. Where did she even come from, anyway?"

Shampoo, sensing the slight tension in Inuyasha's tone, decided to answer his question.

"I from China," Shampoo chirped, her cheerful demeanor unperturbed by the previous argument. "I come to Japan to find husband."

Ranma shot Shampoo a withering glare, his irritation evident.

"Yeah, I know all about your little quest for a husband," Ranma said, his voice dripping with sarcasm. "And I want no part in it, got it?"

Shampoo pouted at Ranma's rejection, her lower lip sticking out in a faux-sad expression.

"But why?" Shampoo cooed, batting her eyelashes at him. "You no want pretty wife like me?"

Ranma rolled his eyes at Shampoo's attempt at cuteness, completely undeterred.

"No, I don't," Ranma said firmly. "I already have a partner, and I'm not interested in becoming your husband or anyone else's."

Akane felt a wave of relief wash over her at Ranma's firm rejection of Shampoo's advances. She trusted Ranma, but Shampoo's persistent flirting was still irritating.

Shampoo's pout deepened at Ranma's firm refusal, but she quickly perked back up.

"Fine, then I find other husband," Shampoo declared, her eyes flickering over to Inuyasha. "Maybe I find strong, handsome hanyo instead."

Inuyasha's ears flattened against his head as Shampoo turned her attention to him.

"Oh, no! Don't even think about it," InuYasha growled, glaring at Shampoo. "I'm not interested in being your husband either."

Kagome smiled slightly, feeling a bit smug at Inuyasha's rejection of Shampoo's advances. She knew he wasn't interested in other women, and she felt a sense of reassurance at his loyalty to her.

Shampoo feigned disappointment at Inuyasha's rejection, putting on a sad facade.

"Aww, you both such party poopers," Shampoo said, pouting exaggeratedly. "No fun at all."

Sango, who had been quietly observing the exchange, couldn't help but chime in.

"Maybe it's because you're being a bit...forward," Sango said, a hint of a warning in her voice. "You can't just force someone to be your husband, you know."

Ranma and Akane both turned to follow Shampoo's gaze, their expressions puzzled. Then, they saw the newcomer standing some distance away, watching the group intently.

Sango offered a polite smile and extended her hand in greeting.

"Hello, I'm Sango. It's nice to meet you all." Sango said.

Shampoo regarded Sango curiously, her usual flirty demeanor temporarily put on hold in the face of a new acquaintance.

"Hello, Sango," Shampoo said, shaking Sango's hand. "I am Shampoo."

Ranma eyed Sango warily, his suspicion piqued by the newcomer. He didn't trust strangers easily, especially in their current situation.

After a moment of silent scrutiny, Ranma extended his own hand, reluctantly shaking Sango's.

"I'm Ranma," Ranma said gruffly. "Just so you know, we've had a lot of uninvited guests lately, so I don't trust easily."

Sango nodded understandingly at Ranma's words, her expression sincere.

"I completely understand your caution," Sango said. "I'm on a quest to vanquish an evil demon myself and accidentally stumbled upon your group. I have no ill intentions, I assure you."

Inuyasha, Kagome, and Shippo all perked up at the sight of Sango, recognizing her immediately.

"Sango!" Inuyasha called out, a flicker of relief in his eyes. "It's good to see you!"

Kagome smiled warmly at Sango, happy to see a familiar face. "Hey, Sango," Kagome said. "How have you been?"

Shippo, equally pleased to see Sango, wagged his tail excitedly.

"Sango, good to see you!" Shippo exclaimed, running up to her. "We missed you!"

Sango smiled at their warm greetings, a sense of comfort settling over her at the sight of their familiar faces. She crouched down to pet Shippo on the head, her expression fond.

"It's good to see all of you too," Sango replied. "I've missed you as well, Shippo!"