A number of people have been asking for the first two parts. Here they
are.
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 went to tell Shampoo of her decision.
* * * * *
<No!>, cries Shampoo. <I will not leave Nerima. I won't leave
without Ranma. Great-grandmother please don't make us return. I have
confidence that I can win Ranma's heart.>
<Do you, Shampoo?> Seeing Shampoo's confidence start to break and
openly weep answers her question. <There is no shame in admitting 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 others will think. I don't care if Ranma
doesn't marry me. I just want to be with him.> She gasped and quickly
held her mouth shut, staring wildly at 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
shook her head sadly as she leaves Shampoo to cry.
Damn that Ranma, she thought to herself. The object of many
girl's desires. Hunted by many, yet never losing 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 he holds any feelings for my
great-granddaughter at all. She smiled grimly as she thinks up a plan.
For the first time today, Cologne felt optimistic of 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 few 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 Mousse 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 belted another customer that made a pass at him as he
waited on the tables at the Neko-haten. Man, there sure are a lot of
perverts who come here. Idly, he thought of the training Shampoo was
going through and that she might 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 immediately glomped onto Ranma upon seeing him. "Did
groom miss Shampoo, while Shampoo away?"
"No, uh.. ah yes.", he said half-heartedly as he saw Shampoo
getting angry. Damn it. Why am I such a soft hearted 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 now that she is back?"
"Stupid Mousse, Shampoo right here. Groom can do anything
groom want with Shampoo." Soon their year long argument began anew.
Ranma steeled himself away from the bickering and is 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 annulled.
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
said with a smirk.
Mousse immediately broke his argument with Shampoo when he heard
this. "Is this true you old ghoul? Can even previous losers
participate?"
Cologne bopped him on the head for that remark and answered again
with a smirk, "Any can enter if they think they can beat her."
Shampoo also bopped him on the head as she glomped onto Ranma,
"Groom will try and win back Shampoo. Is right?" She looked at him
earnestly as she went in for the kiss. "Wo de airen."
Ranma recovered his wits, which he lost upon hearing that he was
now rid of Shampoo. "Er, gee look at the time. It's quitting time
already. I guess I better be going." He escaped from Shampoo's clutches
and vaulted atop various buildings home.
Shampoo absently licked her hand as she saw the man she
loves leap away. Ooh! That Ranma. He got away again.
Whoohoo! I broke up with Shampoo without hurting her. Though,
part of his mind nagged at him for something Cologne had 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 went downhill as went home thinking.
* * * * *
"Ranma-kun, I heard you were dumped by Shampoo.", Nabiki smirked
in that infuriating way of hers as she counted her money in front of him.
Ranma twitched slightly, "She did not dump me. Our marriage was
annulled. Arrgh! No I didn't mean it like we were ever married or --"
Ranma was now lying in pain as Akane withdrew her hammer.
Nodoka smiled as she heard 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, could beat Shampoo. Akane took his lack of response
badly and punted him into LEO.
"Fine, if you want her so much, go to her you pervert."
"As if I'd want you, you uncute tomboooyyy!"
* * * * *
Ranma sat atop a roof, nursing the his sore head, thinking. He
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 should not
have trouble beating Shampoo. He then caught sight of a familiar lost
boy.
* * * * *
"Shampoo happy to see Ryoga.", the purple haired girl gushed at
him. "Shampoo wanted to tell Ryoga, Shampoo have been always in love
with Ryoga."
Ryoga stuttered and nosebled at the close proximity of a girl in
skin tight clothing. He put a hand at the back of his head and started
to shake nervously. "But I love another girl and what about Ranma?"
"What about him?" asks Ranma as he took off his wig and gave him
an inane grin.
Ryoga immediately went 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 put on his wig and ran
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 wanted 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 immediately 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 behind Ranma.
* * * * *
The moment he and Ryoga neared the arena, Ranma hid in the crowd
watching the tournament. He smiled and stood back to watch the fight
unfold. True to form, Ryoga thought the person on the log arena was Ranma
and jumped in to fight Shampoo. Ranma's joy turned sour as he saw Ryoga
get pummeled. Fear gripped his stomach as he watched Shampoo use the
nekoken.
Though he had never seen the art itself, there could be no other
way to describe the way Shampoo was mauling Ryoga. After she was done,
she started to lick her hands clean.
"So Ranma, you recognize the technique Shampoo is using," croaked
Cologne as she appeared out of nowhere.
Startled, Ranma began to shake with rage. "You mean to tell me
you dumped your own great-granddaughter into a pit of hungry cats," he
shuddered.
Cologne bopped him on the head. "No, you idiot. Do I look
stupid? I merely let her play with a litter of kittens for a few weeks in
both her cat and human form. During the time she was playing with them, I
would use a few memory techniques on her. I was therefore able to
ingrain cat characteristics into her subconscious. Shampoo is now
faster and stronger than ever before. She also knows the nekoken to a
limited degree. I'm afraid even you can not defeat her now." Cologne
cackled at the sight of Ryoga being dragged off the log."
Ranma just stares at Shampoo. His mind was in a whirl. The only
thing he could think of was that he could not allow an implied challenge
to be ignored. With a determined face he jumped on to the log, thankful
that he was already in his female form.
* * * * *
Shampoo's hope turned again to despair as she saw Ranma battered
and bruised looking at her grimly. At first she couldn't understand why
Ranma was so slow and weak in his attacks against her, even with his
tendency to hold back. It slowly dawned on her that maybe it was she
that was different. She was now faster and stronger than everyone at the
arena with the exception of her great-grandmother. Ranma again came at
her with a flurry of punches and kicks. She felt hopeless as she easily
dodged his slow attacks and again sent him back with a kick to the
midsection. She couldn't stand it anymore. When Ranma attacked again,
she will let a hit get past her defenses and knock her off the log. No!
The amazon within her yelled. Where is your pride?! Where is your amazon
honor? I don't care, she told herself. Without Ranma, I have nothing to
live for anyway.
* * * * *
Ranma was breathing hard. His attacks seemed to be useless
against Shampoo. He had various bruises all over his body. Shampoo was
not even hurt in the slightest. What could he do to win? His conscience
wouldn't allow him to use his special techniques against her. However,
his training in the Anything-Goes style also would not allow him to lose
to anyone. Pounding the ground in frustration, Ranma made a decision. He
would try not to hurt Shampoo to much. Leaping at Shampoo, Ranma launched
his katchu tenshin amaguriken technique, making sure to pull his punches.
He saw Shampoo prepare to block and then suddenly lower her defenses.
Flipping through the air to avoid her, Ranma landed on the ground with a
thud. He had lost.
"Shampoo, if you do that again, I will never speak to you again."
He ran before anyone could see the tears in his eyes.
Shampoo allowed the tears on her face to flow freely as she
watched Ranma flee. She secretly hoped that tomorrow Ranma would win.
Though, in her heart she knew that Ranma would never try his hardest
against a girl that was not his enemy. Combined with the nekoken she now
knew she was using, Ranma would most probably never win. Her tears never
stopped flowing that night.
* * * * *
Akane was angry. She had heard about Ranma's fight with Shampoo.
So, he did go and fight for her hand. Him and his egotistical, macho
attitude. She then heard the dojo doors open. Well, he's finally back.
He's probably going to gloat now. Fuming, she went to pound the hell out
of Ranma. However, all thoughts vanished as she saw the state Ranma was
in. His clothes were ripped in some places. There were cuts and bruises
all over his body. What scared her the most, was his face. His face was
gaunt and his eyes had a haunted look about them. "What happened Ranma?"
Her voice was worried.
"I.. I lost to Shampoo," he stammered. He could still not quite
believe it.
That got Akane fuming. That was his big problem?! "I thought you
didn't want Shampoo as your fiancee. You should be happy she's out of
your hair without you even having to hurt her."
"I lost." Seeing Akane's uncomprehending face, Ranma let out a
sigh. "I'm not the best fighter anymore."
"So you're still second best. I don't see what's wrong with
that."
"You just don't understand. I don't think you've ever understood
me." With that, Ranma turns and goes to his room.
Akane looked at him leave, with a frown on her face. I'd better
get Auntie Saotome to look in on him.
* * * * *
Ranma was lying on his back staring at the ceiling, when his
mother came in. "Ranma, there is something troubling you. Would you like
to tell me what it is?"
Ranma turned towards his mother. "I lost a fight today. I don't
have confidence in ever winning this one without going all out and hurting
a friend in the process."
"Ranma, you can't always go through life expecting to never lose.
Is it so very bad that Shampoo defeated you and you are now not the best?"
"Yes! Yes it is very bad. I've trained my whole life in the
Anything Goes style. Everything I know and believe in was taught to me by
the art. I cannot ever back down, give up, or lose. The only thing I
have in the world are my martial arts. My training has cost me my
childhood, my friends, and my time with my mother." This last part had
him almost in tears, but he continued on. "To break any of my principles,
is for me to admit my whole life has been a waste of time."
Nodoka stared at her son for a moment. She too broke down and
started to hug her son. "Do what you will. I will not stop you. I just
want to ask you one question. You now have everything you said you had
lost. Will you give it all up in the pursuit to be the best?"
Ranma was silent as he hugged his mother closer to him.
to be continued...
C&C welcomed. Flames not.