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-- Attached file included as plaintext by Ecartis --
-- File: shamp4.txt

Shampoo's Chance:  Spirit of the Law
Disclaimer:  See prologue

Chapter 4


       Halting her chopping at the red head of arugula, Kasumi eyed the 
dark clouds gathering overhead.  Looked like a storm was coming.  
Outside, the wind picked up and began tossing the stray leaves in the 
yard about with its capricious currents.  

       Oblivious to all of this, Akane continued pummeling her pigtailed 
straw man mercilessly.  As she stepped back to deliver the final side 
kick, a scream broke out.  It was a scream of pure terror, as if someone 
were confronting their darkest nightmare in the flesh.  The scream 
suddenly cut off as Akane's foot tore through the straw man's chest, 
and for one chilling moment Kasumi could have sworn he... it, she 
meant it... had been the one screaming.  But that couldn't be.  The wind 
must have carried that dreadful sound from elsewhere.

       Shivering slightly, Kasumi leaned out the window and called to her 
younger sister.  "I think that's enough, Akane.  There's a storm coming, 
so you'd best come in."

       "Hai, Onesan.  Let me put this dummy away first.  I wouldn't want 
the rain to ruin him," replied Akane, pulling her foot from the hole in 
`his' chest.

       I'd better get things out of the rain too, thought Kasumi as she 
brought in her potted herbs from the window sill and closed the 
window.  Strange, it'd seemed like it was going to be nice and bright 
today.  But life was like that sometimes, light one moment, dark and 
foreboding the next.  You just had to take it as it came and batten down 
the hatches, thought Kasumi as she moved from room to room, closing 
all the windows.

       In the dining room, Kasumi found her other sister lying in front of 
the TV.  "Seen Shampoo recently?" asked Kasumi as she wheeled the 
amazon's bike into the dining room proper and then slid shut the door 
to the porch.  

       "Yeah, how'd you know?" mumbled Nabiki between mouthfuls of 
sweetbun.  "Looks like she and Auntie Saotome are waiting around in 
the laundry room.  Something strange is going on though.  Shampoo's 
her usual cheerful self, but Ranma's Mom certainly isn't.  Bet she's 
_just_ found out about her son's multiple engagements, considering 
how those two jerks keep her in the dark.  The shit's really going to hit 
the fan though if she ever finds out the details about Ukyo's 
engagement.  It'll be fun watching Genma try and worm his way out of 
that."

       "Now Nabiki, it's not nice to take pleasure in the misfortune of 
others, even if they do deserve it.  I doubt it'll be a problem," said 
Kasumi with a smile, "but would you mind keeping an eye on Mr. Bike 
for me and making sure Akane doesn't hurt him while I'm closing the 
windows upstairs?"

       "Since when are we running a free parking garage?"

       "Nabiki..."

       "All right.  All right.  I'll consider the sweetbun as payment.  
Wouldn't want word getting out that I did a freebie.  I've got a 
reputation to maintain, you know."

       Sighing over her sister's mercenaryism, Kasumi headed for the 
stairs.  But before she could ascend she was stopped short by a sight 
that made her eyes widen in shock.  Happosai... was down on all fours 
and scrubbing the steps.  Either this was a sign that the End was nigh... 
or the old pervert expected Shampoo to be passing this way shortly.  
She really should have a talk with that girl about wearing pants.  

          "Hello Oji-san.  It's so nice of you to be helping out."

       "Oh, thanks Kasumi-chan," said Happosai self consciously as he 
scratched the back of his neck.  Then, to Kasumi's surprise, he became 
serious.  "Say, is that lazy good-for-nothing disciple of mine around?"

      "Mr. Saotome?  I think he's in his room.  Why?"

       "Oh, I just need him to make himself useful and get me some 
supplies.  That's all.  Here," said Happosai as he thrust a folded up 
piece of paper toward Kasumi.  "Please give this to him right away.  I'd 
do it myself if I weren't so busy.  Well, what are you waiting for?!" 
Happosai snapped impatiently as Kasumi fixed him with her innocent 
gaze.  A slight cough was her only reply.  "Oh."  Blushing, Happosai 
stood up (not that it made much difference) and looked the other way as 
Kasumi took the list and headed up the stairs unmolested.  

       Once she was out of site, Kasumi peeked at the list.  Looked like 
Happosai wanted sake, tobacco, fireworks, and the latest Victoria's 
Secret catalog.  Not that she could actually read the Master's 
handwriting, but some things were just a given.  What she couldn't 
deduce, using the number and rough shape of the kanji, was the note in 
big bold red that took up all the space below the list.  Oh well, 
hopefully Mr. Saotome could decipher the message.  It looked 
important.

*     *     *

       Wiping the sweat from her brow, Akane slid open the dojo door 
and tossed her straw man roughly inside.

       "I can't believe I let myself get concerned over a stupid uncute 
tomboy like you!"

       Well, he head been concerned, admitted Akane as she gently 
repositioned the pigtailed straw man more comfortably in the corner.  
He just didn't have to be such an overprotective jerk about it, thought 
Akane as she started patching the dummy's chest up with spare straw.  
Maybe she should've just tossed him into the koi pond instead of 
knocking him head first into one of the bordering rocks.     

       Hurrying back into the house, Akane headed for the laundry room. 
Much to her chagrin, she could hear Shampoo's annoying sing song 
tone issuing forth from it.  She'd hoped that the amazon would have 
finished her business with Ranma's mother by now.  But apparently 
they were still at it, as Akane could hear Nodoka laughing along with 
Shampoo at whatever had just been said.    

       Great.  Those two seemed to be hitting it off.  What if that little 
vixen was trying to convince Ranma's mom that she'd make a better 
wife?!  After all, she was prettier, more graceful, and a better cook.  
Akane wouldn't put it past Shampoo to be badmouthing her behind her 
back.  Maybe they were even laughing at _her_.  Akane put her ear to 
the laundry room door, but the noise from the dryer frustrated her 
attempt to eavesdrop.  Thinking she heard her name, Akane leaned in 
even closer...  

       And suddenly fell forward, landing at the feet of the amazon who'd 
thrown open the door.  "*tsk* Akane no ever make good spy with anger 
aura big enough sense all way over in China."  Akane looked up in 
embarrassment, which increased at her view up Shampoo's pantyless 
miniskirt.  

       Miniskirt?!  What the hell was that bimbo doing in Ranma's 
miniskirt?  Akane's embarrassment turned into fury.  That... that... slut!  
Changing out of her bra and panties and into such a shameless outfit as 
soon as Ranma got back!  Even for Shampoo, this was a new low.  Each 
step the amazon took back toward Nodoka caused the peek a boo skirt 
to sway revealing in concert with her hips and breasts.  

       "Hello, Akane-chan," greeted Auntie Saotome, in an 
uncharacteristically somber tone that seemed to confirm her suspicion 
that Shampoo was spreading malicious gossip behind her back.  There 
also was a hard edge to her green eyes which complemented her 
emerald earrings...??!  So that bitch was stooping to bribery now?!  But 
surely Mrs. Saotome wouldn't be bought off like that husband of hers.  

       Still, they did look pretty expensive, worried Akane as she started 
changing out of her dirty uniform.  Then she noticed what should have 
jumped out at her when she first entered the room; Mrs. Saotome was 
carrying her katana around again.  And it wasn't even wrapped up in 
it's ceremonial cloth.  Uh oh. That couldn't be a good sign.  She'd 
better warn Ranma.  It was unforgivable that Shampoo was stirring 
things up with his mother!  Ranma had gone through so much to get 
past the seppuku contract and reunite with her.      

       "Shampoo, I was wondering..."

       "Yes, _Auntie_ Saotome?" said Shampoo, loudly enough for 
Akane, who was loading up the washer, to hear.  

       "Well, since you got your curse, have you... well... felt as if you've  
become a bit more... um... cat like?"  Shampoo noted with 
disappointment that her attempts to cheer Auntie Saotome up had worn 
off and she was back to her pensive mood she'd been in ever since 
Ranma had walked in on them.  

       "Shampoo no think curses work like..."  Suddenly Shampoo's ears 
perked up.  Before Ranma could even close the door behind him 
Shampoo had pounced and was nuzzling up to her surprised prey with 
felicitous purrs.  Nodoka sighed.  Ranma started to open his mouth in 
protest.  And Akane sent the most at hand object at her fiance's face.

       Shampoo backed off from the pile of dirty laundry.  Bleah!  No 
way she was nuzzling up to that!  Lowering the soiled gi from his face, 
Ranma glared in annoyance toward the direction from which it'd came.  
"Thanks Akane!  So much for that bath I just took.  How about ya try 
wearing some deodorant before ya work out?  This tomboy sweat of 
yours stinks worse than the boys locker room!"  

      Covering her chest in embarrassment, Akane wished that she'd 
thrown the washer instead.  "Whatcha so mad about anyway?  It's not 
like I care about seeing your chest.  Besides, if I wanted to check out a 
girl, I'd ignore you for Shampoo.  She's got a lot sexier sense of style.  
Speaking of which Shampoo, why are ya wearing m..." fortunately for 
Ranma, he never got to finish asking Shampoo his question.  
Unfortunately, this was due to Akane grabbing the sleeves of her gi and 
choking him from behind.           

       "Well excuuuse me that unlike you and Shampoo, I don't dress like 
a slut, you pervert!"  With a burst of strength, Akane hoisted her 
gasping victim into the air and slammed him head first into the washer's 
raised lid behind her.  Momentarily stunned, he was unable to stop 
Akane from using her uniform to tie him up against the agitator.  

       "What the hell do ya think your doing, ya idiot!" yelled Ranma as 
he regained his bearings and struggled against his bonds.  

       "Sounded from all your bitching like you needed another bath," 
replied Akane as she slammed the washer lid on Ranma's face with a 
loud *thunk*.  "So let me help you get all that `stinking tomboy sweat' 
out, MWHAHAHAHA!"  laughing maniacally, Akane started up the 
washer.

       "Aiya.  Violent girl go off deep end again," murmured Shampoo as 
she watched the washer lurch desperately from side to side.  

       "Aw, is the water to cold for poor little Ranma-chan?  Here, maybe 
_this_ will help you take it like a man," taunted Akane as she set the 
water temperature to the max.  Satisfied with the scream of pain her 
action caused, Akane headed off to take her own bath.  Shampoo 
wasted no time in shutting off the washer and fishing a half drowned 
and very dizzy Ranma out.  

       "Ranma should be more careful what say round Akane, neh?"

       "Shut up.  This is all your fault for glomping onto me anyway.  
Why can't ya cut that crap out?"

       Shampoo looked hurt for a moment, but that quickly changed as 
she grabbed Ranma by the scruff of his collar.  "Shampoo hug cause 
missed you and was happy see you, but now wonder why.  Ranma jerk 
obviously no miss Shampoo!"

       "Shampoo..." Ranma could tell her shimmering eyes were holding 
back tears.  Coarse as he was, even Ranma knew it was a sin to make a 
girl cry.  The only problem was he, as usual, didn't know what to say.  
He _hadn't_ missed her.  But saying so would be suicide.  

       "Know what Shampoo think?  Akane on right track.  Now Ranma 
is all wet, so needs get dry!"

       "Ack!  Cut it out Shampoo!  Leggo!"  yelped Ranma as he resisted 
the angry amazons attempts to stuff him in the dryer.  

       *ahem*  The two instantly stopped their fighting as Mrs. Saotome 
stepped partially out of the shadows from which she'd quietly been 
observing Ranma.  No matter what angle she replayed his conduct from, 
she couldn't get it to come out looking very manly.  "I believe Shampoo 
came here with a proposition for you, son.  Perhaps you should do her 
the honor of hearing her out."

       "Uh, yeah.  I could do that..." said Ranma nervously.  His mother's 
face was still obscured in shadows, making her hard to read.  But there 
was something about her tone that was raising red flags.  Whatever was 
going on, he'd better take it seriously, even though he'd rather brush 
Shampoo off as quickly as possible if it were entirely up to him.

       "Good.  You two can go on ahead to our room.  I'll be up shortly 
with some tea."  As she passed by her son, she whispered in an almost 
pleading tone, "Don't disappoint me Ranma."  

       Staring after his mother in bewilderment, Ranma wished he had a 
clue what the hell she was talking about.  It almost sounded like one 
wrong move could result in seppuku.  "All right Shampoo, let us retire 
to my families quarters where we may more leisurely discuss this 
proposition of yours.  Ladies first," said Ranma loudly, gagging 
inwardly on what he hoped were manly lines.

       Sure, it was corny, _and_ insincere, but Shampoo couldn't help  
relishing Ranma's chivalry just a bit.  "Teehee.  Ranma _so_ suave," 
giggled Shampoo as she headed out of the laundry room.

       "I am?  Really?!  Yatta!  Um... suave's a good thing, right?" asked 
Ranma, completely ruining the effect.  In the hallway Nodoka put her 
hand to her face in shame.  

       "Sshh idiot!  Mother right down hallway."

       Sweatdropping, Ranma followed Shampoo out of the laundry room 
and peeked behind him.  There was his Mom, looking hopefully over 
her shoulder as she slowly headed toward the kitchen.  He couldn't let 
his Mother down.  There had to be something manly he could do to 
redeem himself!
             
       Remembering how his Mother had considered peeping manly, 
Ranma resigned himself to checking out Shampoo's rear.   To his 
surprise, and embarrassment, he found the view more captivating than 
he would have thought.  Having had the distasteful experience himself 
of being ogled, Ranma had made it a point of honor to try and not look 
at girls in that perverted kind of way.  

       So this was the first time he realized how hypnotizing the back and 
forth sway of feminine hips could be.  Or how seductive was that wink 
when delectable derriere met tempting thigh.  Especially when said 
derriere and hips belonged to a girl graced with such sensual curves as 
Shampoo, whom, unlike Ranma, enjoyed being ogled, at least, that is, if 
it was by Ranma.  

       Savoring the feel of Ranma's eyes upon her butt (it took no special 
amazon honed senses to detect this; most women have developed a 
defensive intuition that warns them when a guy is staring), Shampoo 
slowed down and began to strut her stuff.  As long as her ass had an 
audience, it might as well put on a show.  "Something wrong Ranma?" 
giggled Shampoo as her former fiance gulped.  
 
       "N-no," replied a furiously blushing Ranma as he thought the 
opposite;  there must be something wrong with him that this was having 
such an effect on him.  He wanted to look away, but dared not in case 
his mother was still watching, or at least that's what he tried to tell 
himself.  In his haste to get out of the hallway, Ranma nearly ran over 
Shampoo.  Damn it, couldn't that stupid bimbo move her ass?! (could 
she ever!  But he meant forward, not pivoting, up and down, or side to 
side)  

       Now he was even closer to that annoyingly absorbing ass of hers.  
So close... and so absorbing that he forgot to be annoyed, in fact, forgot 
near everything else save those two perfectly round glutes before him.  
So close... that he could reach out and touch them if he wanted...

       Ranma stopped his trembling hand halfway.  "Cmon Ranma," he 
thought, "If your going to do this... do it like a MAN!"

       "AIYA!  Ooh, Ranma cut that out," protested Shampoo 
unconvincingly as she wiggled around weakly enough to not quite get 
away.  "No should do this here.  What if someone see?"  

       "Duh.  Why the hell do you think I'm doing this?!"

       "Because your a pervert?"  Ranma turned toward Nabiki's voice 
just in time to be blinded by the flash from her camera...

      

Thank God, I've reached a point where I can end this chapter!  Now to 
go take a cold shower.  To be continued as soon as I get out...
Please send C&C to caleb_david@angelfire.com


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