"DESPERATION"
(A Ranma 1/2 Fanfic)
>From the desk of Megane 6.7
This is a work of Fiction. All Characters and Landmarks are the
property of Rumiko Takahashi, Shogakukan Video, Kitty Films,
Viz Video, Shonen Sunday, and anyone else who legally owns the
rights.
THE TENDO DOUJOU
8:20 A.M.
The sunlight shone through the windows to brighten the
sleeping form of Akane Tendo. Akane groaned and then rolled over
on her stomach in an attempt to escape even the faintest rays of
sunlight. For a brief moment she succeeded by turning away from
the window only to have the sunlight increases by a wide margin.
Akane growled in annoyance as she hears the overly cheerful
voice of her sister, Nabiki.
"Wake up time!"
Akane muttered something incoherent and pressed her head
further into her pillow.
"Come on sleepyhead. You'll be late for school."
Akane sighed in resignation as she rose to a sitting position.
"Okay! Okay! I'm up already!" Akane grumbled.
"See you at Breakfast."
Nabiki left Akane's room and walked down the wooden stairs
to the familiar living room. Genma and Ranma Saotome were already
chowing down along with her father, Soun and her older sister,
Kasumi, who ate in a much more dignified manner compared to
everyone else. Nabiki took her seat at the table and quickly joined
them in consuming Kasumi's delicious meal. After a moment, Soun
paused in his rapid consumption when he noticed Akane wasn't
present.
"Nabiki, hasn't Akane gotten up yet?" Soun inquired.
"Is she feeling all right?" A concerned Kasumi added.
"She'll be down in a moment." Nabiki replied.
And indeed, Akane chose that moment to walk down the
stairs. She lets out a long yawn at the bottom and then slightly off
balance, she walked over to the breakfast table.
"Akane?" Soun was surprised at Akane's appearance.
"You look tired." Genma noted.
"What clued you in?" Akane responded in a gravely voice.
Akane plopped herself down and started to eat. Ranma,
noticing her presence for the first time, stopped eating for a moment
and turned to look in her direction.
"Say, Akane?" Ranma began.
"Mph?" Akane mumbled with a mouth full of food.
"If you're trying to catch up on your beauty sleep, don't
bother, it isn't necessary."
Akane looked up at Ranma, pleasantly surprised, until....
"After all, no amount of beauty sleep could possibly
improve that tomboy exterior of yours." Ranma finished with the
sincerity of a priest taking confession.
There was a dead silence and a moment later Ranma went
flying through the roof while the familiar scream "RANMA NO
BAKA!!!" rang in his ears and continued to echo until Ranma
plunged facefirst into the pond. Water that was much too cold
splashed around him as he felt his body undergo the gender
metamorphosis into female form.
As Ranma-Chan came to the surface and spat out a stream
of water, she glanced at her new breasts for a moment, sighed
inwardly and then stood up and walked back inside the doujou.
Akane continued to eat her food without pause. Ranma-Chan
glared at her for a moment then stuck out her tongue and walked
towards the bathroom.
"That's my son. Always ready to admit when he's wrong."
Genma said sarcastically. "Or should I say my daughter now."
"He deserved it!" Akane muttered.
Genma groaned. "I know he did. I just wish he would just
accept his engagement to you and then everything......"
"I haven't accepted it yet!" Akane angrily retorted.
"Now now...." Soun admonished his youngest daughter. "All
couples have their little spats now and then. It's all a part of being
married...."
"WE ARE NOT MARRIED!!!" Akane screamed in frustration.
Soun instantly withered under the fury of Akane. "Don't
y..y...yell at me."
Soun soon burst into a virtual stormcloud of tears. Kasumi
stopped eating and went over to comfort him while Nabiki and Akane
both rolled their eyes, having seen this shameless display too many
times to show any real sympathy. Kasumi, on the other hand, hugged
her father close while talking in a soothing voice....
"There, there Father. Let it all out."
"You're pathetic, Daddy." Nabiki added.
Ranma soon returned to the table. He had changed back
into a male and without a word he resumed his seat at the table and
tore into the remains of Genma's breakfast since Genma had taken
the opportunity to eat Ranma's. Everyone sat in silence for a few
moments and then Kasumi exclaimed....
"Oh! I almost forgot. The mailman delivered this for you,
Ranma." Kasumi handed Ranma a letter.
"A letter?" Ranma glanced at it.
"Yes, it's from Cologne."
There was a dead silence. Ranma looking at the letter with
confusion while Akane glared at him.
"Sending a letter isn't usually Cologne's style." Nabiki
remarked.
"Yeah...." Ranma was carefully checking the letter for signs
of a trap, all too aware of how tricky the old ghoul could be. Finding
none, he ripped the top of the envelope open and found a handwritten
letter inside.
"So what is it Ranma? An invitation to a date with
Shampoo?" Akane inquired sarcastically.
"You had best steer clear of that chinese girl, boy." Genma
said in a warning tone of voice.
Ranma tried to ignore them as he began to read the letter. As
he did, everyone tried to look over his shoulder only to have him turn
away. Ranma's face grew pale as he continued to read the letter all the
way to the end. Then Ranma looked up, an expression of anger and
shock etched on his face, the letter firmly clenched in his hand.
"I....I can't believe it...."
"What?" Everyone asked at the same time, dying of curiosity.
Ranma rose to his feet. "I....I have to go to the Nekohanten.
There's something important that I have to take care of."
Before anyone else could say a word, Ranma quickly ran out
of the Tendo home through the backyard. Akane quickly recovered
and rushed to the backyard. "Ranma, you idiot! Where do you think
you're....going?"
Akane found she was talking to thin air as Ranma was out of
sight. She frowned, briefly considered going after him, and then,
feeling the eyes of her family on her, she turned around and returned to
her seat at the table, where she quickly dug into her breakfast with a
vengeance.
"Akane, you aren't going to let him get away with that, are
you?" Nabiki asked in an amused tone, marveling at the new-found
energy that her sister was now displaying with the remains of her
breakfast.
"....(gulp)....I....(chew)....could care....(swallow)....what
that pervert....(slurp)....does with that....(chew)....bimbo....(SNAP!)"
Akane paused as she looked down at the remains of her
splintered chopsticks, crushed by her fist. She uncurled her fingers,
allowing the color of her knuckles to fade from white to pink.
"I guess she cares after all...." Kasumi remarked in a
cheerful voice.
"I'm....going to school now." Akane replied in a strangled
voice as she got up, retrieved her schoolbag and took a moment to
slip on her shoes before leaving.
"Have a nice day, Akane." Kasumi's voice echoed in her ears
as Akane walked through the gate. On the way, Akane made a vow that
she would keep her temper under control, and that she would patiently
wait for Ranma to return from the Nekohanten....
THEN she would kill him.
* * *
THE NEKOHANTEN
8:35 A.M.
As Ranma approached the restaurant, he noticed the lights
were out and there was no sign of any customers. Ranma tried to open
the door, but found it locked so he started to bang his fist against it.
“Open up you old ghoul! Don’t make me break the door
down!!” Ranma threatened as he urgently pounded the door with his
fist. He was about to carry out his threat when the door suddenly
swung open revealing the withered form of Cologne resting on her
staff and looking non-plussed.
“I had a feeling you would come, son-in-law.”
“What’s the meaning of THIS?!” Ranma demanded as he
threw the crumbled letter to the floor.
“Exactly what it says.” Cologne replied in a calm voice.
“What gives you the right....!” Ranma began.
“I am an elder of the Joketsuzoku village and Shampoo’s
great grandmother. She is an amazon of that village and she must
obey my commands without question. She must commit seppuku.”
Cologne replied simply.
“WHY?!?” Ranma nearly screamed.
Cologne smiled at his reaction. “Tell me son-in-law, why is
the idea of Shampoo committing seppuku so wrong when you, yourself,
would have to do the same thing should your mother find out about your
curse?”
Ranma’s eyes widened in surprise and then narrowed
dangerously. “How the hell do you know about that?” he spat.
“Nabiki was quite helpful in informing us about your family
troubles for a reasonable price. But that is besides the point,
Shampoo’s honor is no less important than your own and she has
disgraced the amazon line by her repeated failures.”
“We’re not in the Joketsuzoku village now! You can’t order
Shampoo to kill herself here!”
“I can and have. Shampoo is an amazon no matter where she
goes. She was born an amazon and she will die a amazon.”
“Shampoo doesn’t want to die! I won’t let you kill her!”
Ranma replied coldly, his eyes dead serious.
“You’re correct. Shampoo doesn’t want to die. But she will
kill herself regardless, because she is a amazon and she will not turn
her back on everything....” Cologne seemed to hesitate for a moment.
“....on everything she has been taught since her birth.”
“I won’t let you do it....” Ranma replied firmly.
“I won’t have to. Shampoo will perform the ceremony herself
tomorrow. I will not allow you to interfere.” Cologne’s voice grew
hard.
Ranma felt his body start to tremble with rage, every single
fiber of his being wanting to throttle this cold hearted ghoul for being
so cruel.
“However....” Cologne added.
Ranma waited, still seething with fury.
“If you should decide to marry Shampoo tomorrow and come
with us to China, Shampoo would not have to die....”
Ranma was quiet for a long time before he replied. “That’s
what this is all about isn’t it? You’re trying to force me to marry
Shampoo so you can satisfy your own honor.”
“No, Ranma. I’m doing this for my granddaughter. She
loves you very much and doesn’t want to go back to China without
you. I fear if I hadn’t gone to these lengths, she would have remained
here indefinitely and I cannot allow that to happen. She has already
allowed her fighting skills to deteriorate over the past year....”
Ranma was silent as Cologne continued. “I do not want to
force you to marry Shampoo but it seems clear that you will not be
making any definite decision any time soon and I have no desire to
spend my remaining years waiting for you to make up your mind.”
“Where’s Shampoo now?” Ranma suddenly asked.
“In her room. But if you're thinking of changing her....”
Cologne’s voice trailed off as Ranma ran towards Shampoo’s room.
* * *
As Ranma approached Shampoo’s room he noticed her door
was open just a crack. Ranma gently pushed the door open while
knocking to make her aware of his presence.
Her eyes were red from crying, her face streaked with tears.
Shampoo seemed to be a shadow of her former self. Without a word,
Ranma suddenly found himself hugging her, she sobbed into his red
shirt, soaking it with her tears. Ranma just held her for a long
moment, at a lost for words. Then Shampoo released him and walked
over to her window, staring outside at the morning sky.
“Shampoo, I got your letter and....”
Shampoo wiped her eyes with the back of her hand and turned
around to face him. She tried her best to smile. “Shampoo....glad
Ranma come. Shampoo never thought it come to this....”
“N....Neither did I.” Ranma replied. "How could the old
ghoul do this to you?! Her own granddaughter!" Ranma exclaimed
with growing anger.
Shampoo nodded miserably. "In amazon village, honor
come before family. If Ranma no marry Shampoo, Shampoo must
die. Great-Grandmother see to it personally."
"She....She can't do that! It's not fair to you. Bad enough
you have to live by those stupid amazon laws but to disown you just
like that....It's not fair!"
"It not your fault Ranma. Shampoo fail to win Ranma's
heart. Shampoo must bear the disgrace of failure."
This isn't China! You don't have to obey her rules here!
You can live your own life and do whatever you want to do. We can
find a way to...."
The words faded from his lips as Shampoo gently placed a
hand over Ranma's mouth. She smiled faintly.
"Shampoo happy Ranma care for her......even if only a little.
But Shampoo live as amazon, fight as amazon, and die as amazon.
Shampoo can't reject 300 years tradition. Besides....” Shampoo looked
down at the floor for a moment as she whispered....
“Shampoo no want to live without Ranma....”
Ranma swallowed hard as the full impact of that statement hit
him. “So then....if I don’t marry you, you’ll end your life, just like
that?”
“Just like that....” Shampoo replied softly, her eyes brimming
with tears.
“And you’re absolutely sure the only way I can save your life
is to marry you?” Ranma asked.
Shampoo nodded again.
Ranma turned his back to Shampoo, as if considering
something for a moment. Then he turned back and slowly walked up to
Shampoo and placed her hands in his own.
“Shampoo....”
Shampoo looked deeply into his eyes.
“Ranma....”
Ranma took a deep breath.
“I’m sorry but I can’t marry you....”
Shampoo blinked. “W....What?”
Ranma’s face was filled with regret and remorse. “I’m sorry
Shampoo, but....” he hesitated and then finished his sentence. “I
can’t marry someone that I don’t love....”
“B....B....But....?!?” Shampoo was in shock, her eyes were
filled with disbelief. “But Shampoo die unless....”
Ranma lowered his head in sorrow. “I know....but that’s the
way I feel....I’m sorry we couldn’t be better friends....” Ranma
started to leave....
“W....WAIT!” Shampoo’s voice was on the edge of
desperation. “Ranma....Ranma no leave Shampoo like this!? Ranma
have honor....?!”
Ranma paused at the doorway. “If I married you with love
Shampoo, that would be the greatest dishonor of all. I can’t do that to
you. You mean too much to me as a friend....”
Shampoo’s jaw dropped as Ranma walked out of Shampoo’s
room and turned around with his hand on the doorknob. “I’ll always
treasure our friendship together and think of you with fond memories.”
Ranma whispered as he gently closed the door.
Shampoo could only stare after him, too shocked to do otherwise.
* * *
Ranma walked back out into the dining area where Cologne
was waiting for him. “So, son-in-law, how did it go?”
Ranma was clearly upset as he replied. “She went through
with it! I can’t believe she went through with it! She was ready to
make me believe that she was going to die. I can’t believe she was
willing to hurt me like that....”
Cologne gave him a sympathetic look. “She is getting
desperate to win your affections. I realize you have every right to be
upset with her over this latest charade....
“Upset is not the word! As far as I’m concerned she can go jump
in the....”
Cologne interrupted him. “That would not be wise,
son-in-law. By pretending not to love her enough to save her life,
you taught her a valuable lesson about hurting people. But if you walk
away forever, there is a good chance she will never recover.”
“I don’t know if I can forgive her. How can I ever trust her
again after pulling something like this....” Ranma replied angrily.
“I don’t expect you to for a time. Still, our own charade
should have the desired effect on Shampoo.”
"I still don't know why I had to pretend to be mad at you when
you were
the one that told me the truth in the first place...."
"Quiet!" Cologne hissed, taking a quick glance back. "Shampoo
was hiding behind the curtain until you went to her room. If our plan
was to have worked, We couldn't let her think that something was amiss,
now could we?"
Ranma glanced at the curtain and then remembered that the door
had been ajar when he arrived.
“Are you going to tell her the truth now?”
“Only if it seems she is on the verge of losing control again.”
Cologne replied. “Right now, it might be best to leave things as they
are. You made it clear that you still consider Shampoo to be a friend
and she won’t risk that losing that again.”
“Okay. I guess I better go to school now....” Ranma replied
as he turned to leave.
“Thank you for showing Shampoo the error of her ways.”
Cologne replied. “Though it still saddens me that you will not be
joining our family.”
Ranma smiled faintly. “I appreciate the compliment but I
can’t just run away to China and leave behind everyone I care about.”
Cologne returned his smile as Ranma left. Then she calmly
picked up the crumbled letter that had warned Ranma of Shampoo's plot
from the floor and placed in her robe just in case it was needed.
THE END
And so ends my first attempt at a fanfic focusing somewhat on
Shampoo. Please don’t be too brutal as I’m used to writing stories
about Ukyou and Kasumi. I wrote this in one sitting, primarily
because of all the recent debate about Shampoo as a fiancee for
Ranma and decided to jump on the bandwagon so to speak.
After finishing “Legend of Ranko” Part 6, I just wanted to do
something a little different. I figure this could’t be any worse than
“Three Pages Long”, something I wrote while suffering the flu and was
meant to be deliberately twisted....
I have another Shampoo story, “A Cat Out of Hell” in the works
but it’ll be a little while before I get that done.
As always, C&C is welcome. :)