The Characters of Ranma 1/2 are Rumiko Takahashi's. Hopefully, she'll
forgive us for what we're doing.


As always comments are welcome! Feel like turning up the flames? Knock
yourself out! (We just upgraded our fire insurance.)

Ranma vs. Ranma! 
The Battle For Akane's Soul!
By She-Hulk and Kahm (brobinso@neocomm.net)
----------------------------

Part 5

	Mousse walked back to the Cat Cafe rather dejectedly. He had put his
glasses on and had realized that he'd been following the wrong bicycle. The
sun had set and he knew the old crone would start in on him for being late.
Shampoo was long gone and he... The sight of a wrecked bicycle and an
abandoned delivery box caught his attention. <That's Shampoo's. Why would
she leave it lying there?> A quick check inside the box revealed that it's
contents had never been delivered. Mousse felt a sense of unease and began
to search the area. "Shampoo!" He continued to call as he searched, finally
reaching a dark alley. "Shampoo?"

	Shampoo heard the faint cries as if from a great distance. The trash can
she was behind blocked her view, but she knew he was near. She called out
weakly. "Mroeww." 

	When Ranma had thrown her at the back wall she had fell into the shadows
at it's base. The puddle of water had changed her into her cat form.
Shampoo had hoped that if Ranma didn't know where he lived then maybe he
wouldn't know about her curse. She had managed to drag herself behind an
overturned trash can. He had searched for her but the small white cat had
gone unnoticed. For the first time she was glad that she'd fallen into that
spring.

	Mousse heard the faint sound and rushed into the alley. There was hardly
any light. "Where are you, Shampoo?" The faint cry came again from the
back. The dark shape of a garbage can was visible. Mousse reached out and
carefully moved the can away from the corner. He gasped at the sight of her
cringing against the wall. "Oh my Shampoo!" 

	Mousse's hands were gentle as her carefully lifted her into his arms. From
nowhere he produced a large fluffy towel and carefully wrapped her in it.
All the time crooning softly to her. "It's going to be all right Shampoo.
You're safe now. I won't let anybody hurt you again. Oh darling, your leg's
broken! Who would do this? Oh Shampoo. I'll hurt them Shampoo, I'll make
them pay for hurting you, my Heart." He continued his litany as he carried
her out of the dark and to safety.

	Shampoo let his words wash over her. He was holding her so carefully and
his voice washed away some of the terror that had consumed her. Mousse's
words began to penetrate and she listened to his heart for the first time.
"I love you Shampoo. I'll never let anyone hurt you again. Please hang on
Shampoo! I love you.  Oh Shampoo, please be all right!" He was leaping from
rooftop to rooftop, she realized, but she didn't feel any movement. The
sound of his voice was still flowing over her when she lost consciousness.



Tendo Dojo......



	Ranma pounded another nail into the board to finish securing it over the
hole. He moved on to the next hole. "Hey, Pop! Toss me another board."  The
board made a whistling sound as it was hurled toward his head with great
force. Ranma caught it inches from his face. "You'll have to do better than
that old man!"

	Genma took him at his word and soon a dozen boards were in the air. Nabiki
watched with an almost fascinated horror as the boards were deflected away
and into the walls. Ranma charged his father, but had to move quickly to
avoid hitting Nabiki who had suddenly appeared in his path. <Where'd she
come from?> 

	"Ranma! Mr. Saotome! You are here to repair the damage, not make more!" As
Nabiki whipped out a notebook, Ranma had an unpleasant thought. <That was a
pretty fast move, and she came out of no where. Could Nabiki...Nah. That's
crazy> He tuned back in on the conversation. "-and finally, 40,000 yen for
a new front door! Am I making my point gentlemen? You are guests in our
home, but if the home is destroyed then we're all in trouble. Now, sparring
practice is over. Home repair 101 is in session."

	They reluctantly began repairs again. Nabiki closed her notebook. Ranma
had her worried there for a second. <I shouldn't have jumped in front of
him like that, but if he'd hit his father they would have both gone through
the wall. We can't afford a repair that costly right now.> What's done is
done. It's not that she was hiding it or any- okay she was hiding it. But
it was her right. Nobody's business but her own.
 


Dr. Tofu's.......


	Dr. Tofu had finished straightening the examining room and had gathered
his things to leave when the front door burst open. Mousse stood in the
doorway, a white bundle was cradled in his arms. "Dr. Tofu!" He rushed
forward. "It's Shampoo! She's been hurt! You have to help her!" Dr. Tofu
pulled back a corner of the towel, then took her into his arms. "Get some
warm water."

	He carefully placed her on the table as Mousse brought him the water.

	"Cologne wasn't at the cafe and I didn't know where else to bring her!" He
went on to explain where and how he'd found her. Dr. Tofu poured the warm
water over his tiny patent and watched as she changed back into her human
form. He dried her off with Mousse's towel then covered her naked form with
a sheet. Dr. Tofu looked at Mousse. "You might want to wait outsi-" Mousse
was shaking his head emphatically.

	"I won't leave her. I can't. I promised." Dr. Tofu nodded and began his
examination.

	Two hours later she was sleeping in the small room he kept ready for
overnight patients. The amount of damage was rather shocking. He filled out
the chart with deliberate calm. Patient has multiple contusions and
lacerations. Mild trauma to the left side of head, resulting in slight
concussion. Three broken ribs; right side. One broken rib; left side.
Possible bruised right lung; breathing shallow but clear. Hairline fracture
of the left femur. Right wrist broken; clean brake across the...He stopped.

	Mousse had installed himself in a chair beside her bed and had refused to
budge. Dr. Tofu watched him as he held her uninjured hand. He was singing
to her. Very softly and in Chinese. A lullaby.
  
	Dr. Tofu left them alone and returned to his small office. It was
unmistakable, even though he hoped somehow that he was wrong. The aura
traces that he felt from Shampoo were very familiar. He had once guessed
that a softball that had connected with Ranma's face at school had been hit
by Akane. When Akane had seemed upset, he'd laughed and said that he had
been kidding. He hadn't. 

	The traces, coupled with the style and systematic rhythm of the blows were
damning evidence.  Dr. Tofu picked up the phone and dialed.
 
	Kasumi answered the telephone on the second ring. "Hello?" To Dr. Tofu's
credit, his glasses only fogged a little and his voice only cracked once.
"K-Kasumi? It's Dr. Tofu."

	"Oh, hello Doctor! How are you today?" Kasumi's smile was slightly
mischievous. Tofu could be so silly sometimes. But he was also very sweet.
And she was very patient.

	"I, uh, that is, uh, I'm fine Kasumi. You're doing well?" His face was
fast turning scarlet. Damn. <Remember why you're calling.> "Uh, Kasumi, has
Ranma been gone a lot today?"

	"Actually he hasn't, he said something about taking a vacation from all of
the girls that are chasing him. He and Akane have been arguing almost all
day. Why?" Kasumi wondered what Ranma had done now. Not that that was fair
to Ranma, but strange things did seem to happen to him all the time.

	"Oh! Well, that's good. Uh, where is he now?"

	"I believe he and his father are in the Dojo. Nabiki is making them repair
some of the damage. Would you like me to get him?" Kasumi frowned a little.
Tofu was still making sense and they had been talking for several minutes.
Thirty seconds was generally the longest he could last without losing
control, even over the phone. <This must be more serious than I thought.> 

	Tofu thought for a moment. "No, that's all right. I'll see him tomorrow.
If you could tell him to come to my office in the morning?" Kasumi agreed
and he quickly ended the conversation. Whew! His breathing began to slow
and he could feel his blood pressure drop. Kasumi was just so...so...Kasumi. 

	Tofu shook himself out of his wandering and considered the decision he had
just made. Ranma had been home all day. The traces of aura were Ranma's, he
was sure of it. So how did Ranma's aura wind up around Shampoo? He began to
search the bookshelves that lined his office. Maybe...


Ye Olde Cursed Antique Shoppe...


	Cologne sipped her tea and (for her an impatient gesture) raised an
eyebrow. "Yes, yes. I understand that. But you say the boy stood in front
of the mirror?" The shopkeeper nodded quickly several times. 

	"Yes! Verrryy Bad I told him, but he no listen! Then he gone! Out through
window! And then It left too! He did not listen! I tried-" Cologne's
upraised hand stopped him cold. This was the most revered and the most
feared woman within the Chinese community here. She was the undisputed
elder and her word was law. And the shopkeeper knew that he had been
breaking quite a few "laws" in selling these cursed items. He started to
sweat.

	"It is done now. The evil is loose and it will not stop until it has
accomplished it's goal. You know what you have done is wrong and the
council will decide on a suitable punishment. I must now go and try to save
those that I can. I am very much afraid that my granddaughter may be the
demon's main target. If she is, then you had best prepare yourself to cross
the Jade Bridge and meet your ancestors." She left the shopkeeper sobbing
on the floor.

	Fool! If the demon finds Shampoo he may sense that she cares for Ranma and
kill her. Cologne hurried back to the cafe. No one was there. Shampoo and
Mousse were gone. <Am I too late? Has the demon-.>

	A dark figure was coming down the street toward her. Cologne frowned, then
called out, "Who are you?" 

	Dr. Tofu moved into the light of a street lamp. "Good evening Cologne.
I've been looking for you."

	Cologne joined him in the circle of light and looked closer at his face.
"Something's happened to Shampoo hasn't it?"

	"She was attacked earlier this evening. She's going to be all right, but
there's something..." He trailed off as Cologne went past him.

	"Let me guess. You sensed the battle aura of someone you know. I'll
explain on the way to your clinic."