Subject: [Ranma][Fanfic]Ranma and Shampoo pt. 1
From: Donny Cheng
Date: 4/7/1997, 7:50 PM
To: fanfic@fanfic.com


Disclaimer:  All characters portrayed in this story is owned be Rumiko
Takahashi and co.  Please don't sue me.

Ranma and Shampoo

by

Donny Cheng

Part 1

	Cologne was tired.  Perched, atop her staff, she began to meditate
and reflect on the events that were now happening beyond her control.
This is all son-in-law's fault.  If only he would make a decision and let
everyone get on with their lives.  She laughed at herself for still
considering him to be her son-in-law.  If Ranma were to make a decision on
who to marry, she highly doubted he would choose shampoo after the wedding
fiasco.  Yes, it was time to admit defeat and return to the village in
disgrace.  Sighing, she goes to tell Shampoo of her decision.

			* * * * *

	<No!>, cries Shampoo.  <I will not leave Nerima.  I won't leave
without Ranma.  Great-grand-mother please don't make us return.  I have
confidance that I can win Ranma's heart.>
	<Do you, Shampoo?>  Seeing Shampoo's confidance start to break and
openly weep answers her question.  <There is no shame in admiting defeat,
Shampoo.  You are still the best warrior of your generation.  No one will
dispute your honor if you go back without killing or marrying Ranma.>
	<I don't care what the other's will think.  I don't care if Ranma
doesn't marry me.  I just want to be with him.>  She gasps and quickly
holds her mouth shut, staring wildly and Cologne.  Her secret was out.
	<So, Shampoo, you truly have fallen for him.  The hunter has
become the prey.  I understand.  I will not make you leave.>  Cologne
leaves Shampoo to cry.
	Damn that Ranma, she thought to herself.  The object of many
girl's desires.  Hunted by many, yet never to lose his heart to another.
He leaves all who chase him, victims of their own passions.  How many more
hearts must he break before he finally makes a decision.
	Well, no more.  I will find out if holds any feelings for my
great-grand-daughter at all.  For the first time today, Cologne feels
optimistic of the the future.

			* * * * *

	<Shampoo, come over here.  No, don't start crying again.  I said I
would not make you leave.  This is another matter entirely.  You see, ever
since we came to Nerima, I've noticed that you have not practiced the art
enough.  So, for the next two weeks, you and I are going on a training
trip.>
	<But, what about the restaurant and what about groom?>, Shampoo
asked as she calmed down now that her fear of being taken away from Ranma
was placated.
	<I've asked Ranma to help Mouse out at the restaurant for the time
we will be away.  It seems that boy is in debt up to his neck with Nabiki.
So, you don't have to worry about Ranma not being watched while you're
gone.>
	<Okay, I could use the practice.  Ukyo and Akane are catching up
with me faster than I would like.>

			* * * * *

	Ranma grumbled as she waited on the tables at the Neko-haten.
He'd just found out that his entire pay check would go to Nabiki.  He
wouldn't be in this mess if his mother didn't find out what he owed to
Nabiki.  He shuddered as he thought of his mother fingering her sword,
saying that it was not manly to be always indebted to someone and not make
any effort to lessen that debt.  Well, at least today was the day Cologne
and Shampoo come back from their trip.  Idly, he thought that Shampoo
would come back better than him.  His ego quickly squashed down that
notion.  He broke out of his reverie as Cologne followed by Shampoo
entered the restaurant.
	Shampoo immediated glomped onto Ranma upon seeing him.  "Did groom
miss Shampoo, while Shampoo away?"
	"No, uh.. ah yes.", he said as he saw Shampoo go sad on him.
Damn it.  Why am I such a soft heart fool.  The plant beside him was
suddenly hit with a barrage of chains, as Mousse descended upon it.
	"Saotome, you wretch.  How dare you try and molest my beloved
Shampoo when she gets back?"
	"Stupid Mousse, Shampoo right here.  Groom can do anything he want
with Shampoo."  Soon their year long argument begins anew.
	Ranma steels himself away from the bickering and is soon
confronted by Cologne.
	"Son-in-law, er.. I mean Ranma.  I have found out how you defeated
Shampoo in your male form.  Knocking her out while she was engaged in a
fight with another is not honorable combat.  Therefore, it is within my
rights as her legal guardian that your marriage to her be anulled.
However, if you would like your marriage to resume unhindered you will
have to defeat her in combat.  I am going to hold a martial arts
tournament starting tomorrow for Shampoo's hand in marriage.  Attend it,
if you think you can beat her in fair combat."  This last sentence she
says with a smirk.
	Mousse immediately breaks his argument with Shampoo when he hears
this.  "Is this true you old ghoul?  Can even previous losers
participate?"
	Cologne bops him on the head for that remark and answers again
with a smirk, "Any can enter if they think they can beat her."
	Shampoo also bops him on the head as she glomps onto Ranma, "Groom
will try and win back Shampoo, right?"  She looks at him earnestly as she
goes in for the kiss.  "Wo da airen."
	Ranma has recovered from his wits at hearing that he was now rid
of Shampoo.  "Er, gee look at the time.  It's quiting time already.  I
guess I better be going."  He escapes from Shampoo's clutches as whistles
all the way home, in a generally good mood.
	Shampoo absently licks her hand as she sees the man she
loves leap away.
	Whoohoo! I broke up with Shampoo without hurting her.  Though,
part of his mind nagged at him for something Cologne said.  She had
insinuated that he could not beat Shampoo in a fair fight.  No, the other
part of his mind said.  She's just goading you into another scheme.  His
mood was went downhill as went home thinking.

			* * * * *

	"Ranma-kun, I heard you were dumped by Shampoo.", Nabiki smirks in
that maniacal way of hers as she counts her money in front of him.
	Ranma twitches slightly, "She did not dump me.  Our marriage was
anulled.  Arrgh!  No I didn't mean that we were ever married or --"  Ranma
is now lying in pain as Akane withdraws her hammer.
	Nodoka smiles as she hears this, "That is good my son.  I know
you did not want to hurt Shampoo in any way."
	"So, Ranma are you going to go and try to win Shampoo's hand in
the tournament.  I heard that everyone who has participated today has lost
to her.  Mousse has lost about ten times already."
	This caught Ranma off guard.  He thought that Mousse, if given
another chance, would beat Shampoo.  Akane takes his lack of response
badly and punts him into LEO.
	"If you want her so much, goto her you pervert."
	"As if I'd want you, you uncute tomboooyyy!"

			* * * * *

	Ranma had to know for sure if Shampoo was now much stronger.  He
couldn't trust Mousse to actually hit anyone he couldn't see half the
time, much less, loved.  He had to find someone close to his own abilities
that would not have trouble beating Shampoo.  He then caught sight of a
familiar lost boy.

			* * * * *

	"Shampoo happy to see Ryoga.", the purple haired girl gushes at
him.  "Shampoo wanted to tell Ryoga, Shampoo have been always in love
with you."
	Ryoga stutters and nosebleeds at the close proximity of a girl in
skin tight clothing.  He puts a hand at the back of his head and figits.
"But I love another girl and what about Ranma."
	"What about him?" asks Ranma as he takes off his wig and gives him
an inane grin.
	Ryoga immediatedly goes into a blind rage.  "Ranma, again you toy
with my feelings.  Because of you, I've seen hell.  I swear, today you
die."
	"Nyaa, nyaa.  You can't catch me."  Ranma puts on his wig and runs
towards the place where the tournament was being held.

			* * * * *

	Shampoo was panicking.  She hadn't seen Ranma all day.  The day
was also coming to a close.  Nobody had even come close to beating her. 
Hundreds of people were in the lines waiting to fight her, except the
man she most wanteds to see.  She was shocked at the ease at which she
bested all. The training she had gone under couldn't have helped her this
much.  All she did while training was eat, sleep, and play.  Her hopes
lifted immediated the moment she saw Ranma running towards her.
	In her happiness, she did not notice Ranma was dressed like her in
female form nor did she notice an enraged Ryoga behined Ranma.

			* * * * *

	Ranma immediately leapt into the crowd waiting their turn for a
shot a marrying Shampoo the moment he and Ryoga neared the arena.  He
smiled and stood back to watch the fight unfold.  True to form, Ryoga
thought the person atop the log arena was Ranma and ran in to fight
Shampoo.  Ranma's joy turned sour as he say Ryoga get pummeled.  Fear
gripped his stomach as he watched Shampoo use the Nekoken.

to be continued...

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