"Danger is like Jello,
There’s always room for more.”

- Tex Murphy P.I.

PROLOGUE

THE NEKOHANTEN	
9:30 P.M.


	Shampoo leaned back against the wall as she took a moment
to gather herself.  This was by far the toughest decision she had ever
had to make in her entire life.  She had gone over and over it again in
her mind until she was certain there was no other course of action, 
logical or otherwise.

	It would soon be one full year to the day when Ranma 
Saotome defeated her in combat as a boy.  By her amazon laws, she 
should have been married that day and gone home to her village 
along with her new husband.  She soon discovered however that 
this was more easily said than done....

	Cologne had been putting more and more pressure on 
her lately to finally capture Ranma and go home to China.
Shampoo had been wracking her brain for a possible solution.  
Killing the other fiancees wasn't the answer.  She knew Ranma 
wouldn't forgive her and she herself had trouble taking a life so 
easily.  She had nearly done it with Akane and tried to do it to 
Ranma as a girl before she knew about his curse and had been 
unable to go through with either murder.  For that was what it was 
considered to be here.  Murder. 

	Likewise, kidnapping or trying to drug him would prove 
equally fruitless.  She knew from past attempts that even if she 
managed to accomplish this, the other fiancees would track her to
the ends of the earth.  Not that she wouldn't mind a good fight but 
even she was tired of fighting constantly with Ranma's would-be 
fiancees.  She wanted to settle down with Ranma and raise a family.

	Finally it occurred to Shampoo that just because Ranma was
staying with the Tendos, didn't mean he wanted to marry Akane.  
She had heard him yelling and complain enough that his father and 
Akane's father were forcing him into it.  If Shampoo could convince
Soun or Genma to give up their claim on the engagement then 
Ranma would be free at last to marry Shampoo as she was sure deep 
down that's what Ranma wanted.

	This brought about a different problem, how to convince 
either father to give up.  She knew reason wouldn't work, likewise
attacking them wouldn't accomplish anything except possibly 
hastening their wedding plans for Ranma and Akane.

	It was then Shampoo started considering blackmail.  She had
recently acquired some very interesting secrets from Nabiki Tendo for
a substantial fee and she could easily use this information to try and 
change their minds.  

	Soun might be willing to listen to reason if she threatened 
to tell the police that the panty thief terrorizing Nerima was being 
housed in his own home.  Then again, there was a good chance that 
Soun would still be willing to go to jail if it meant Ranma and 
Akane would still be married.  

	Likewise, Genma had made a promise to his wife to raise 
Ranma to be a man among men or commit seppuku.  Shampoo had 
acquired this information from Nabiki for a substantial fee and now 
she could easily use this information against Genma to change his 
mind....

	It was still a risky venture to be sure.  Ranma would be
hurt as well if Shampoo blew his secret to his mother.  Not to mention
Genma would most likely take off with his son if Shampoo threatened
to tell the truth.

	She was just about at her wit's end when another possibility
occurred to her.  At first she couldn't believe it had entered her mind
and she had gone over the other possibilities over and over again 
while continuing to work in the Nekohanten....

	But as the days passed, she found herself returning to the one
possibility that she would have avoided at all costs if it had been her 
choice.  It was a plan without honor, without the joy of combat or love
developed naturally.  Yet if it worked, it would gain her everything 
she desired in one fell swoop and no one would be able to do anything
to stop it....  

	Shampoo took a deep breath and knew what she had to do.  
She walked back into the kitchen where Cologne was busy preparing
orders of ramen for the few customers left in the Nekohanten.

	"Great-grandmother?"  Shampoo spoke in Chinese.

	"Yes, Shampoo?"  Cologne answered back in kind, a puzzled
look on her face as she kept one eye on the pot of ramen.

	"I have another plan to get Ranma."

	Cologne's eyes narrowed.   "Is that why you've been 
moping around here for the past few days?  What is this plan of 
yours."

	Shampoo told her.  After a few moments of startled silence,
Cologne spoke again.  

	"That is a most....unusual plan."  

	"Will you help me?"  Shampoo asked.

	"That depends....This seems a bit extreme....Are you sure 
this will have the effect you desire?"

	"It may be the only way."

	"You would be taking a huge risk with your current relationship with
Ranma.  If he were to find out the truth...."  Cologne warned. 

	"He won't.  I'll cover my tracks well.  But we have to get rid 
of that idiot Mousse for a while...."

	Cologne hesitated.  "Is there no other way?"

	"Other than killing them outright, I don't think so."  
Shampoo replied.

	"Very well, granddaughter.  I will help you as best I can but 
if you should fail once again...." 

	"I won't."  Shampoo replied with determination.
	
	"Then I wish you the best of luck."

	Shampoo bowed and then returned her attention to the 
resturant patrons while Cologne quietly muttered to herself so 
Shampoo couldn't hear.     	

	"You'll need it...."


(Fade to Black)	


Coming Soon....

My first attempt at a fanfic centered around Shampoo, as yet untitled.

Coming to a computer near you....or several days after that, depending
on the condition of the FFML.  ;p