<newranma@hotmail.com>
<Jonathan Lavallee>
<Who's child is this?>


I'm using a different type of style here.  It uses both the
third and first person perspectives.  Think of it as maybe
Shampoo talking in the third person.  Sorry about this, I'm
writing this in one go and it's now about 2:38 a.m.. So the
#n�� with grammar and spelling.  Please tell me what you
think send all C&C to me personally, thank again.
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Place typical disclaimer here.  Thank you for using Ranma
1/2 fanfic disclaimers.
The Management
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PROLOGUE

	Shampoo found herself this morning over the toiler, not
feeling very well.  This was nothing new to her, she hadn't
been feeling very well for about a week or two now.  The
curious thing was that she was never sick in the afternoon,
it was always in the morning.  Shampoo wondered why it was
like this, this was like no sickness she had ever heard of .
. . or had she.  Something that made you sick almost every
morning.  It could be . . .
	Shampoo shook her head.  She didn't like the tangent
that her mind was going on.  She couldn't be . . . no, that
impossible!  Her mind was racing, it had only been one
night.  She had been celebrating the New Year and had gotten
very much drunk.  Shampoo blushed at the thought.  Maybe she
was still feeling the after effects of the alcohol.  Yes,
that must be it because no matter how illogical that idea
was she could not admit the other alternative that sprung to
her mind.  There was no way, absolutely no way that could be
possible.
	She couldn't be pregnant?  Could she?
----------------------------------------------------------

	Shampoo was walking back towards her bedroom holding
her stomach when Mousse walked out of his room, blushed
furiously and walked over to her.  She could see that he was
going to try and help her.  She gave him a cold look that
made him stop and look ashamed.
	Did he know what had happened to her?  Shampoo hadn't
told anyone, not even great-grandmother.  She looked around
worriedly and wondered who she could tell.  Mousse . . . no
definitely not him.  Great-grandmother. . . she couldn't
tell her either, she would give her a speech about the
dishonor and the disgrace of having this happen to her.  She
didn't need to hear that from the person she admired the
most.
Wait a minute, Shampoo thought, I'm not even sure I'm
pregnant.  Even that thought didn't stop her from thinking.
Could I tell Ukyo. . . no, that spatula girl would tell on
me, using to her own advantage.  Would she?  Akane . . . no
that almost as bad as telling Ranma.  Dr. Tofu. . . yes,
that would be best, he could probably tell if I was
pregnant.  Which I'm not. . . I think.

***

It was still early when Shampoo made her way to Dr. Tofu's
clinic.  Mousse had asked if he wanted to come but Shampoo
said that she didn't want any company.  Besides it would
have been embarrassing to her to have to tell him the truth.
What that was, Shampoo didn't know, but hopefully the doctor
could tell her.
Shampoo took a breath to steady herself and walked inside
the clinic.

***

It hadn't been hard.  Dr. Tofu had run some tests and asked
her some personal questions that had made Shampoo blush.
She had been spending too much time in Japan, Amazon
warriors don't blush.
Dr. Tofu had told her to wait outside as he looked over the
test results.  She sat in the waiting room nervously tapping
her feet when the door opened.  In walked Ranma and Akane
and Ranma as always was soaking wet.  They were probably
fighting again.
"Dr. Tofu," Akane called out, "are you here?"
Shampoo saw Ranma looked around the clinic and stop when he
saw her.  For some reason there was a look of, for some
strange reason, suffering.  It was as if he (well she right
now) was saying "Oh! No! not her."  She had never seen that
when she looked at him and it hurt her deeply.
"Yo Shampoo." Ranma acknowledged her with a monotone.
"Nihao, Ranma."  Shampoo replied back in the same tone of
voice.  She looked at Ranma and realized that he was
surprised.  Well of course he would be surprised.  Shampoo
usually greeted him with such enthusiasm.
"What's wrong Shampoo?"  Ranma asked her.  What was wrong.
Shampoo didn't know.  She looked at Ranma and Akane who were
both looking at her with concern.  She liked that, no matter
how mean or cruel she was to the both of them they both
cared.  It felt really good.
"Nothing, yet . . . so no worry, OK."  Shampoo forced a
smile on her lips.  She hadn't really felt like it but it
seemed to calm them down.  This was the first time she had
studied Ranma and Akane together.  Akane was probably still
mad and Ranma still nursing bruises from what ever argument
they got in before they arrived here.  Yet they didn't act
like people who were mad.  Most of the time when Shampoo was
mad at someone she wouldn't speak to them and go as far away
as she could.  They seemed to be actually standing closer to
each other as if in silent apology.
Shampoo smiled.  She knew that both would get angry with her
if she had said that.  Looking at them again she saw Akane
run her finger along one of the antique swords that lined
the walls of the clinic and cut herself.  It probably wasn't
much but in rushed Ranma.  She smiled slightly at him and
then when he asked if she was okay she pushed him out of her
way and went for the first aid kit.  Shampoo could have
sworn that she saw a little look of pain on Ranma's face.
She could almost see the desire he had to go over to her,
comfort her.  Then she saw his face harden and he walked
away . . . not far . . . but away.  He had probably
remembered some past argument.
Shampoo paused. . . why hadn't she seen this before?  Why
hadn't she seen Ranma always going to Akane's side when she
was in trouble.  Shampoo knew that he would help her, and he
had, but she wondered if it was for the same reasons.
She had no more time to muse because Dr. Tofu came out of
his office with two things.  A bucket of hot water for
Ranma, which he gave with a small smile.  The second thing
he came out with was a somber expression whenever he looked
at Shampoo.  A sudden thought chilled her, what if she
wasn't pregnant but dying instead.  Could that be the reason
he was so somber unlike his normal attitude.
Dr. Tofu beckoned her into the office, she followed him with
many thoughts of disaster filling her head.  What would
happen if she died, would there be many people at the
funeral.  Would the other Ranma hopefuls be smirking, glad
that she was gone.  That thought scared her, that people
would be glad that she was gone.
"Shampoo. . .", began Dr. Tofu, "I've known you for quite a
while now."  It was apparent he was stalling.  Shampoo
wanted so desperately to tell him to spit it out, but that
would have been disrespectful.
"Yes, Doctor for long time now."  Shampoo looked inside
herself to find some courage.  Only finding that it was
sliding out a hole somewhere.  She kept repeating that she
wasn't afraid to die, no warrior was, then why was she
trembling.  Dr. Tofu had seen the tremble in her limbs and
waited for her to regain her composure.  "Is bad, Dr. Tofu",
she broke off, a sob raking her body, "will Shampoo die?"
She saw that the doctor had changed his expression a bit.
It was more relaxed.
"No Shampoo", explained Dr. Tofu, "you are not going to die.
What you are is pregnant."  The shock had galvanized
Shampoo.  She was pregnant, her first thought had been
right.  What was she going to do, to tell her great-
grandmother would mean dishonor.  She couldn't tell anyone
else.  Dr. Tofu touched her shoulder.
"Shampoo, tell me do you know who the father is?"  She could
see the unspoken question.  Was it Ranma.  She smiled, no
she could remember that much from that night.  This could be
a great opportunity to get Ranma.  A simple yes and Tofu
would confront Ranma with it.  Akane would eventually get
wind of it and would be conveniently out of the way.  Ranma
would be all hers.
Yet . . .  She remembered what had transpired in the room.
Ranma going to Akane's side when she got hurt.  The cut was
insignificant but he went to her anyway.  The way they
stayed together even thought they fought constantly.  And
perhaps the reason why Shampoo could never understand why he
would always help her.  He loved her pure and simple.  She
had captured his heart, mind, body and soul.  That's why he
withstood all the abuse, that's why it almost pained him
whenever she was in danger.  Shampoo realized then that
Ranma would only love her as a friend . . . nothing more.
He would help her . . . as a friend, and if she was hurt it
would hurt him . . . as her friend.  She realized then and
there that none of the other girls stood a chance.  Yet
there was someone who cared for her.  Would wait on her hand
and foot whenever she was sick, feel pain whenever she was
in pain herself.  She had been so deluded with dreams of
Ranma that she had overlooked the one person that love her
for being her.  Not for her body, or her skill, just her
plain and simple.
She looked up at Dr. Tofu, he probably misunderstood her
pause as hesitance to say who it was.  "Was it Ranma?" He
breathed in a whisper.  Shampoo saw the even the doctor knew
about how much Ranma and Akane cared for each other.
A small smile crept on her lips.  "Is not Ranma," she saw
the doctor sigh in relief.  "Is . . ." and she began to tell
the doctor her story.

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<flashback>

It was the New Year's eve and she was finally old enough to
partake in the festivities.  Mousse was there beside her
help her with the ceremony.  For some reason boys were
allowed to do this before girls were.  Shampoo thought that
this was sexist, but being an Amazon she thought a lot of
things were sexist.
Mousse was helping her fill the glass with sake, a glass
that would end up being emptied and refilled throughout the
night.  Mousse had his own glass that was refilled almost as
much as Shampoo's.
------------------------------------------------------------
-----------

Shampoo wondered, upon reflection, what drives teenagers to
always drink to excess.  Maybe it's the thrill of being
intoxicated.  She really didn't know.  But know looking down
at her abdomen she realized what consequences that excess
could have.

------------------------------------------------------------
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<flashback>

Well it was getting late and the festivities had pretty much
cleared up.  Well except for Shampoo and Mousse who were
still enjoying one last glass of sake before bed.

------------------------------------------------------------
-----------

Shampoo thought some more on this.  How come she couldn't
remember all this before she found out she was pregnant.  It
was all a blur, it still was but she could see it clearer.

------------------------------------------------------------
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<flashback>

As they were walking up Shampoo had suddenly grabbed Mousse
and kissed him quite passionately.  He body had gone tense
with fear and shock.  Then it loosened as he enjoyed it.
She then led him towards her room and shut the door behind
them.

<end of flashback>
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"As you can guess," Shampoo blushed, "what we did in room
that night."  She couldn't remember anything but for some
reason she wished that she did.  It was a pleasant feeling
she was experiencing right now.  Is this love she wondered,
could I have finally found it?  She had hoped so.
"Shampoo," Dr. Tofu began quietly, "what are you going to do
about this."  What indeed.  She hadn't really thought about
it.  There were some options open to her.  She could have an
abortion. . . no, she wanted to have this child.  She could
give it up for adoption . . . no matter how much a warrior
she was Shampoo couldn't think of giving up something she
had given birth to.  She could keep it . . . she paused. . .
yes, this is what she would do.  I could probably stay with
Mousse and see how this ends up.  Knowing him they would be
married very soon.  She didn't seem to mind the idea.
"Dr. I keep the child," there was another sigh of relief
coming from the doctor, "and maybe Ranma not for Shampoo."
This got a major reaction out of Dr. Tofu.  He stood up and
smiled.
"Shampoo, I am pleased for two things.  First is that you
will keep the child, and the second is that your not going
after Ranma anymore.  Your very emotional right now and
perhaps this is giving you insights you never had before.
What ever the reason, congratulations."  The doctor got up
and hugged Shampoo.  Shampoo gave herself over to tears now.
She had decided what she would do with her life and found it
to her liking.

Shampoo was sitting on the swing in the park.  She was firm
in her belief that this was the better way for her to go yet
she was still sad.  Sad and a little afraid.  She was afraid
of what might happen with her great-grandmother and sad of
what would never be between her and Ranma.  She was trying
to purge the last bit of pinning for him and doing
surprisingly well.  She thought about the day when he had
defeated her as a woman.  It had taken her less time to
defeat Shampoo then Shampoo took with her last opponent.
She had felt so ashamed and humiliated about loosing to an
outsider that she almost cried.  But she had to give the
kiss of death and she gave it.  Shampoo had chased Ranma all
around China and finally in Japan.  Then Ranma had defeated
her easily again, as a man.  The laws said that she must
marry this man and she had tried.  The laws were to be
obeyed without question.  She had obeyed so quickly that she
didn't think, did I love this man.  No, he is simply a
better fighter than Shampoo.  But Shampoo is an Amazon the
best fighters around.
Shampoo laughed at this statement.  They were certainly not
the best fighters around and it was arrogant pride that made
them believe this.  Ranma had proven it time and time again,
he had even defeated Cologne who was one of the best.
Ryoga, Ukyo and even that old lecherous Happosai were just
as good, if not better than most Amazons.
Shampoo sighed, the more she thought about it, the less
proud she was to be an Amazon.  Now how was Shampoo going to
tell great-grandmother.  If Shampoo told the truth Cologne
would be likely to get angry and lash out at either her or
Mousse.  She didn't like that at all.  She needed someone
that could help her with great-grandmother, she needed . . .
Ranma.

***

Shampoo walked inside Fuurinkan high school.  She waved to
the staff and students she knew.  She was a popular figure
around here even though she didn't go to school.  She was
around enough though that it didn't really matter.
Shampoo made her way up to Ranma's class and knocked softly
at the door.  Nothing happened.  She knocked a little harder
and this time the small figure of Miss Hinako opened the
door.  Her face darkened a little as she saw who was at the
door.  Did I bring everyone this much pain.  Shampoo flushed
a bit.
"Well Shampoo," Miss Hinako started, "what do you want?"
"Need talk to Ranma." Shampoo quietly murmured.  Shampoo had
never been this quiet and she knew it.  She saw Miss
Hinako's face soften a bit.
"Shampoo," she began, "it's almost time for lunch and if you
would wait outside the door for a little while longer I'll
send him out."  Miss Hinako had pointed to the bench on the
opposite side of the hall.  Shampoo sat down brooding over
what might happen.  Would Ranma accept?  Would he refuse her
completely?  How would Akane react?  She didn't know what to
do and before she could decide the lunch bell rang.
Shampoo looked up and saw Miss Hinako talking to Ranma,
Akane and Ukyo.  She pointed to the bench and Shampoo saw
three different expressions on each face.  On Ranma's she
saw compassion, he was a good man and friend.  On Akane's
was one of confusion, she knew that she was at the clinic
earlier today.  On Ukyo's she saw the disgusted look of a
rival, yet she saw that expression change the closer she got
to Shampoo.
Shampoo saw Ranma walk up to her and was about to ask her
what was up when she felt a sudden urge.  She leaped up in
his arms crying.  This had apparently shocked them all
because no one yelled or hit Ranma over the head.  Ranma
pulled her away and looked in her eyes and for some reason
understood what was going on.
"Maybe you should start from the beginning Shampoo." Ranma
said.

***

"YOU'RE WHAT!!!" All three of them cried out in unison.
Shampoo smiled at their surprise.  She saw by the
expressions on their faces that they were expecting anything
but that.
Ranma's face was one of sheer shock.  "You're sayin' that
your . . .", Shampoo found his inability to say the final
word a bit funny, "pregnant?"
Ukyo was smiling and shaking her hand, "CONGRATULATIONS!!!"
Shampoo looked at Ukyo waiting to see if their was any
gloating or exultation on her face.  She was glad to see
that there was none, she actually meant what she was saying.
Shampoo turned to Akane, she could almost see the gears
turning in her head.  She really didn't know what to make of
it until Akane asked her a question.
"Shampoo. . . who's the father."  Shampoo didn't miss the
look that Akane gave Ranma.  She thinks it's Ranma, Shampoo
had to cut that off quickly.  She had given up Ranma to
Akane and Shampoo wanted to make sure they weren't going to
break up by her hand.  Shampoo took Akane's hand glancing at
Ukyo and Ranma telling them with her eyes that she needed to
talk to Akane alone.  Shampoo guess that Akane was rather
shocked by this . . . which means she didn't put up any
resistance.  Not wanting to scream this aloud she bent over
and whispered into Akane's ear four words that by the look
on her face made Akane real happy.
"Is Mousse.  Not Ranma."
Akane was walking towards Ranma and Ukyo when Shampoo
realized what she had . . . no wanted to do.  She grabbed
Akane's arm and dragged her back.  She saw the look on
Akane's face and smiled.
"Akane, tell Ranma how you feel."  The surprised look on
Akane's face had suddenly turned to anger.  Shampoo knew the
response that was coming.
"How could I ever love a JERK like him."  But Shampoo saw
that there was no force behind her words.  More like a
reaction.  She really wanted to say this to one of them and
she was certain that Ranma would be the wrong one.
"Akane stop playing now, even Shampoo see how much love you
have.  Do not let pride stand in way."  She really meant
those words and suddenly she thought of Mousse.  Trying to
defeat her in combat.  Then the reason why he had lost
became clear to her.
He hadn't wanted to hit her, not even with a feather, he
loved her too much for that.  She cursed herself under her
breath, she had let her pride get in her way.  She eyed
Akane gravely "Akane, no be stupid like Shampoo."  and then
Shampoo walked back towards the two lone figures, and the
wind brought Akane's words to her.  "But what if he doesn't
love me."

***

Shampoo walked back to the Neko Hanten not alone but in the
company of three of her friends.  There was Ranma, the
strong fighter.  There was Ukyo, a life long friend.  And
there was Akane, the woman Ranma loved.  Shampoo had finally
come to grips with that and she felt better about herself.
The walked side by side towards the Neko Hanten and Shampoo
wouldn't have wanted any other group of people there with
her.

***

As Shampoo opened the door to the restaurant she felt
increasingly sad.  She knew what she had to do but she
didn't like it.  But what is life but a series of things we
do that we don't always particularly like?
What she saw was Mousse busing the tables as usual.  Great-
grandmother was no where to be seen.  Shampoo walked in with
Ranma and the others behind her.  There was the sound of
another screen door being opened as Cologne walked out.
"Hello Shampoo, I see you've brought son-in-law with you.
What has the boy finally decided to marry you?"  Shampoo
felt her anger rising at these words.  How could she have
ever helped this woman plot against those two.
"Great-grandmother . . .", Shampoo was worried now . . . she
knew what her response would be, "Shampoo have important
talking.  Listen, do not speak."
"What's wrong child."  Shampoo took two things.  I breath to
steady herself and a look around at her friends for support.
She saw Ranma nod her on.
"Great-grandmother . . .", Damn this is hard, "Shampoo is .
. . is . . . with child."  There was a stunned silence in
the room.  To the people in front of her this was all new
information while the people in the back were waiting to see
what would happen.
"What's that?!"  Shampoo could almost see the anger in her
face.  "Shampoo tell me . . . who is the child's father?"
Did everyone want to know this.  Was it that important!? She
didn't want to put Mousse in danger, which would happen as
soon as she told the truth, because she had finally admitted
it to herself.  She loved him.  The scary thing was it took
two bottles of sake and a mishap to prove it to her.  Life's
funny that way isn't it.
"It's Ranma, isn't it grand-daughter."  Shampoo was taken by
surprise, what was she trying to do?  "Now he must marry
you."
"You is wrong Great-grandmother, is not Ranma", she looked
at the room, to the man she had finally loved.  She walked
over to Mousse and kissed him soundly.  She could feel his
shock, that and he was as stiff as a board.  When she broke
the kiss he still had a shocked expression on his face.  "Is
Mousse."  She giggled a little, forgetting momentarily her
danger, as Mousse expression grew even more shocked.
Shampoo's happy moment was broken by the screeching coming
from behind her.  She turned and saw a wild expression on
the face of Cologne.
"Why . . . never in 3000 years of Chinese Amazon history has
there ever been such a thing."  Cologne's voice was now
reaching notes and a volume that Shampoo didn't even know
existed.  "With this one act you have broken more laws than
anyone ever has."
Wasn't it the laws that kept her chasing Ranma trying to
break him apart from Akane.  Wasn't it the laws that
instilled a pride in her to make her believe that she loved
Ranma.  Wasn't it the laws that prevented her from admitting
that she loved Mousse just because he was a weaker fighter.
No!  That's not right.  Mousse is a better fighter than
Shampoo, he just didn't want to hurt her.
"Maybe Amazon laws is wrong." Shampoo said in quiet
monotone.  That sent Cologne in even more fits of anger.
"You wicked, wicked child!"  Cologne was now moving towards
Shampoo at an incredible speed.  "Shampoo, it is by my
decree that you are to be punished for your transgressions."
Shampoo was now afraid.  She didn't expect such a quick and
violent reaction to her statement, neither did anyone else .
. . except Ranma.
He reacted . . . and Cologne so intent upon her pray didn't
notice.  He kicked her quite firmly sending her across the
room.  Cologne got up.  Shampoo saw this but she still
couldn't act.  That was the Amazon way, kill what ever was
wrong, destroy anything in your path.  Cologne was about to
make another attempt on Shampoo when she was brought up
short.
"Great-grandmother STOP!!!"  Cologne skidded to a halt.
Shampoo could tell by the look that she was still intent on
killing her, well until she was finished what she was
saying.  "What if Shampoo say she no want to be Amazon."
She heard startled gasps behind her, they thought that to
her being an Amazon was everything.  Yesterday they
would have been correct.  Today however was a different
story.
"That would be acceptable."  Cologne walked over and spat at
the floor in front of her.  She then turned her back, and
walked away.  Shampoo felt crushed.  It was over but yet she
still idolized her great-grandmother and that rejection
hurt.  She couldn't help herself. . . she started to cry.
She could feel four people rushing towards her but only one
came and held her close.  She needed that right now, needed
that more than anything else in the world.  She was tired,
it had been a long day and she promptly fell asleep in her
comforters arms . . . that person being Mousse.


***

The next day dawned bright and early and Shampoo found
herself in the same position that she was in yesterday.
Doesn't this damn sickness go away.  She walked, feeling
very queasy, towards her room. Mousse had come out the and
walked towards her intent on helping her.  This time Shampoo
didn't turn him away.  She even smiled and kiss his lips
ever so lightly.
Cologne had gone and left the restaurant to Shampoo saying
that Shampoo wasn't allowed back into the village.  Shampoo
didn't really care.  That way of life wasn't really for her
anymore.  Upon leaving Japan and had transfered all of the
ownership papers to Shampoo.
As they were walking back towards the bedroom there was a
flash coming from Shampoo's hand.  Something was reflecting
the light.  Upon closer inspection one could see it was a
ring. . . an engagement ring.



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That's the end.  Hope you enjoyed it <:)




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