This is a partly-old/partly-new story... outline that I was going over
recently. DO people think it is worth continuing?
C&C would be greatly appreciated.
An Unlikely Romance.
====================
Scene .1 - Of pests, nuisances and disasters.
--------
At the Nekohanten Shampoo stares at a ruined mess and turns to glare at
Mousse, accusing him of deliberately ruining the special meal she had
been preparing for Ranma. Mousse is then seen flying out of the
Nekohanten, only to impact into the fence across the road. Shampoo is
shown cooking again, she says: "Still time to make plain Ramen for
Husband".
Shampoo arrives at the Tendo Dojo carrying a Ramen pack. She is greeted
at the door by Kasumi. Shampoo holds up her Ramen for kasumi to see and
says that she has brought a meal for Ranma, and the rest of the
household. Kasumi smiles and invites Shampoo in.
Shampoo starts to step in, but spins around to deflect gymnastics batons
that come from behind her, but while Shampoo is distracted by the
batons, a ribbon snakes out and encircles Shampoo's Ramen pack. Kasumi
gasps and Shampoo yells in anger as a now visible Kodachi uses her
ribbon to pull the Ramen from SHampoo's hands and fling it against the
wall of the dojo, scattering the food everywhere.
Ranma, Akane, Genma, Soun and Nabiki run up behind Kasumi to see what is
going on. Genma see's the ruined meal and dives down and attempts to
salvage something from the mess; Ranma see's Shampoo, and catches a
glimpse of Kodachi beyond her, causing him to groan in dismay; Soun
grabs Kasumi and crys loudly, asking her whats wrong and if she's
alright; Shampoo faces Kodachi and pulls out her weapons intending to
*hurt* this impudent gymnast; Akane see's the ruins of meal and Shampoo
drawing her weapons and decides that Shampoo is threatening her sister,
she then leaps at Shampoo with a yell: "How dare you attack Kasumi!"
while behind everyone else Nabiki tries to see what is going on.
Akanes attack catches Shampoo just as the young Amazon had finished
taking her first step towards Kodachi and sends her crashing to the
ground with Akane on top and driving her strongest blows into Shampoo.
In the dojo almost everyone else pauses in what they are doing to look
at the battle, the exception being Ranma who calls on both Akane and
Shampoo to stop - needless to say neither girl pays any attention to
him. Shampoo rolls with Akanes blows and manages to regain her feet at
the price of sacrificing her weapons, then she dodges Akanes continuing
attack and launches a counter-attack, slipping telling blows past Akanes
guard and sending the black-haired girl reeling backwards and opening a
gap between them. Before Shampoo can followup her advantage Ranma is
between the girls and blocking first SHampoo's attacks, then Akane's,
and telling them both to calm down. Kodachi says that she will visit
her Ranma-sama later, when fewer peasants are around and bounds off
leaving a cloud of blackrose petals behind her.
Kasumi steps forward and manages to tell Akane what actually happened,
eventually wringing an unconvincing apology from Akane. Ranma makes a
comment about tomboys jumping to conclusions and is pounded flat, to
avoid watching this Shampoo turns towards the remains of her Ramen and
finds that all that was salvageable has been eaten by Genma, so she
pounds him flat.
Shampoo returns to the Nekohanten in a foul temper in which she swears
that Kodachi, Mousse and Akane will pay for ruining her gift to Ranma.
Scene .2 - Of plots, schemes and revenge.
--------
The next day Shampoo spends a lot of time sitting around, thinking and
making notes, however she does not seem very pleased until late in the
afternoon when she notices Mousse talking to a potted plant, thinking it
is a customer. A slow smile spreads over her face and she runs out of
the Nekohanten, pausing only to clout Mousse and point him at the real
customer.
Shampoo runs to the Tendo Dojo goes into see Ranma, once she finds him
she sets out to borrow some of his school notes, claiming she wants to
know what her husband is learning. Ranma is more than a little
suspicious of this, as is Akane when she walks in to see what Shampoo is
doing at the dojo. Akane and Shampoo are soon glaring at one another
after a brief and unfriendly "discussion".
At the end of the discussion Shampoo challenges Akane to a martial arts
match. Ranma steps and and loudly states that he won't let them make
him the prize for one of their fights, Akane says she wouldn't fight for
him and isn't interested in the match. Unfortuneately Ranma then says
it is good that Akane is learning to recognise her limits, which leads
to Akane pounding Ranma for saying she would lose and accepting
Shampoo's challenge - with the prize set at Akane being a waitress at
the Nekohanten for a month if Shampoo won and SHampoo promising to stay
away from the dojo for a month if Akane won. The duel was set for two
weeks from now at the Tendo Dojo.
Hearing of the terms and the timing of the duel Ranma stands up and says
that he will help Akane train, Akane looks delighted and Shampoo is just
a little upset, however Ranma then goes on to say that with his help
Akane will improve enough to actually have a chance. Akane then throws
Ranma into the pond for implying that she isn't as good as Shampoo.
Shampoo sighs, then grabs some of Ranma's school notes and heads back to
the Nekohanten.
The next day Shampoo spends a lot of time visiting "Love Motels" in
Nerima and the surrounding suburbs. The visits involve Shampoo asking
the management a few questions, then having to use "Amazon Reasoning" to
get them to take her seriously. Eventually Shampoo is able to find a
Motel that suits her purpose and returns to the Nekohanten. Mousses
questions as to where she has been are dealt with by a quick slap and an
injunction for Mousse to get back to work. As Shampoo goes into the
rear of the Nekohanten, Cologne comes up to her and says that she has
heard of the duel with Akane and would like to know if Shampoo is
training for it? Shampoo makes sure that Mousse is unable to listen in
and proceeds to explain her plan to her great-grandmother. Cologne
looks thoughtful at SHampoo's explanation and tells Shampoo not to let
her other scheme get in the way of her training.
That night and over the next 2 days Shampoo does training under Colognes
direction and in-between sessions practices writing with Ranma's school
notes in front of her, eventually producing a note in a writing style
that bears a superficial resemblence to Ranma's almost illegible scrawl.
Shampoo seals her note in an envelope addressed to Kodachi and goes off
and delivers it to the Kunou Mansions letter box.
Scene .3 - Of deceptions and strange deeds
--------
The following morning Tatewaki Kunou soon notices that Kodachi is in a
very good mood (for her) and that she is staying home from school to
prepare "for a special date". Futher efforts to find out what his
sister is up to result in Tatewaki exiting the mansion with the aid of a
gymnastic ribbon, and recieving a stern warning to: "...do nothing to
upset Ranma-Sama!".
Arriving at school Tatewaki intercepts Ranma and Akane and accuses Ranma
of being unfaithful to Akane by dating his sister. On hearing that
Kodachi is preparing for a "special date" Akane pounds Ranma, then
pounds Tatewaki when he tries to "comfort" her after Ranma's
unfaithfulness. Ranma and AKane spend the morning in a bad mood, but
come lunch time Akane allows Ranma to convince that *he* knows nothing
about a special date. Akane states that she will protect Ranma from
whatever Kodachi is planning, a near-by Ukyou comes up and states that
she will also help protect Ranma. This rapidly backfires and Ranma and
Akane are soon at odds over Ukyou helping them.
While this is happening at Furinkan High school, Shampoo makes a quick
trip to her chosen motel to make sure of some last minute details and
then returns to the Nekohanten feeling satisfied with herself.
The day draws to a close and as evening begins to arrive SHampoo takes
Mousse aside and whispers careful instructions to him. Mousses cry of
delight is muted by the thud of a bon-bori and Shampoo instructs Mousse
to keep what she is saying a secret, after all Ranma wouldn't let this
happen if he found out. After hearing this Mousse jumps up and looks
around, failing to see Ranma he leans back to Shampoo and promises her
that he will carry out her instructions and keep them a secret, he then
turns to run off, only to be knocked flat again by SHampoo who hisses
angrily that she has not finished giving him his instructions. After a
short delay Mousse leaves the Nekohanten, taking exagerated precautions
against being followed.
At the Kunou Mansion Kodachi slips out the back gate, her voice quiet
and her form hidden by a billowing cloak. She gazes at the note in her
hand and whispers to herself: "soon Ranma-Sama".
Shampoo makes a quick trip to the Tendo Dojo and is delighted to
discover that Ukyou and Akane are guarding Ranma against some plot of
Kodachi's. In the dojo grounds Ryouga (with a spatula over his head)
and Tatewaki (with a fist imprint on his jaw) lie unconscious, having
made the mistake of trying to persuade Akane and Ukyou to let Ranma run
off with Kodachi. Onna-Ranma sits between Akane and Ukyou with one
hand hand-cuffed to a wall and looking more than a little upset at the
whole situation. Shampoo manages to keep a more-or-less straight face
and promises to come back and help guard Ranma as soon as she has
finished some urgent business. Ukyou and Akane tell Shampoo not to
hurry, and that they don't really need her help.
Having satisfied herself that the most likely sources of interference
are busy elsewhere, SHampoo heads off to see her own scheme through.
Moving at her top speed Shampoo makes a lightning raid on Kodachi's
private greenhouse. As she leaves Shampoo makes a mental note to make
sure that Kodachi is never introduced to Pink and Link... the greenhouse
is bad enough as is.
Moving at her best speed Shampoo manages to arrive at her destination
before any other players in the drama she had planned. Greeting the motel's
managers and telling them to be ready for Shampoo's "special guests",
Shampoo and an attendant moved off to the carefully prepared spy room.
Kodachi arrived next and was shown to the room Shampoo had booked.
Following the instructions in the note she had received, Kodachi made
herself ready and then slipped into the waiting bed and turned off the
lights. At the suggestion of the attendant a small amount of "smoke"
was added to the rooms temperature control system and pumped in, the
attendant assuring Shampoo that it was harmless in itself and would only
"add to the enjoyment".
After some tense moments waiting for Mousse to arrive, the boy in
question arrived a few minutes late. The staff at the desk gave him a
quick drink of sake for his nerves then showed him to the room where
Kodachi waited. Entering the darkened room, Mousse made out the
location of the bed and the arm that beckoned him over. Mousse divested
himself of his weapons, robe and glasses and headed over for the bliss
that Shampoo had promised him, his desire for her blinding him the
peculiar circumstances of the tryst. In the bed Kodachi watched the dim
shape move around and shivered in pleasure at the thought that she would
soon be joined with her beloved Ranma-sama. As the figure moved towards
her she held out her arms in welcome and focussed on the visions of
future happiness she was imagining rather than the indistinct outline
that came into her arms.
Mousse took his beloved into his arms, visions of how he would lord his
triumph over the old troll and the despicable Ranma when he told them
that Shampoo was his. Mousse pressed himself into the eager arms of the
one he loved as his mind sang with pleasure.
In the spy room Shampoo blinked in surprise at the scene before her, she
carefully put down the bunch of black roses she had picked up to gas the
"couple" with once they realised the deception. SHe had intended to
lure them together and "compromise" them after they were unconscious,
she had not imagined that they would fail to realise the deception.
Shampoo then shrugged, and told the attendant to use the special camera
for dark-rooms and to save the other cameras for when they fell asleep.
Stifling a yawn Shampoo told the attendant to wake her when Mousse and
Kodachi finish and proceeded to take a quick nap.
Scene .4 - Of events and consequences
--------
Kodachi and Mousse wake up in bed together and stare at one-another.
Mousse begins demanding to know where Shampoo is, while Kodachi wants to
know where Ranma-sama has got to. After much virulent argument over
what is going on, the truth begins to dawn on Kodachi and Mousse,
causing them both to (loudly) agree that nothing happened and that it's
time they left the motel. Kodachi stuffs a bloodstained towel under the
bed as they leave the room.
At the desk the two are intercepted by one of the motel staff who gives
them a packet of pictures, but no negatives, and tells them that their
patronage is welcome at anytime. After a glance at the pictures,
Kodachi drags Mousse off to the Kunou mansion stating that: "...there
are matters we must discuss!"
Reaching the Kunou Mansion at high speed and with a guilty eye out for
people who might recognise them, they decide to have breakfast and
settle their nerves before discussing matters. At breakfast Kodachi
makes something for Mousse and they both try to pretend everything is
normal as they eat. Both are rather hesitant and nervous, preferring
not to think about last night and the packet of photo's that now sits on
the table between them.
When Tatewaki bursts in Kodachi and Mousse both jump. Then Tatewaki
accuses Mousse of dis-honoring his sister, Kodachi clobbers Kunou for
suggesting such a thing. Tatewaki holds up a card and says "This just
arrived."
Mousse and Kodachi examine the card - it is an invitation to an
engagement party for Mousse and Kodachi at the Nekohanten, inside the
card is a picture of Mousse and Kodachi in bed together, asleep. Nothing
"naughty" shows but their arms are around each other and their shoulders
are bare, as are their legs from the knee down (everything else is under the
Futon). A note, in Shampoo's handwriting, says that copies of the
invitation and photo have been sent to everyone that might want to come
to the party. Kodachi and Mousse both go *VERY* red.
Sasuke comes in and tells everyone that Mousses "stuff" has arrived from
the Nekohanten and he needs to know where to put it. Tatewaki says to
put it in the guest room for now, as Mousse needs to actually get
engaged before moving in with Kodachi. Kodachi and Mousse get even redder.
Tatewaki stands up and says that since they're getting engaged he
doesn't feel that he needs to take any action, but they should be more
discreet. Mousse wonders where the photo came from, Kunou looks at it and
says Nabiki provides photo's like this, only usually she does a better
job. Kodachi swears revenge on Nabiki for the photo. Mousse looks
uncertainly at the photo on the invitation.
At the Tendo Dojo breakfast Table a surprised Nabiki sneezes and looks
around her.
At the Nekohanten a tired looking Shampoo tells Cologne that she had a
busy night and needs to sleep. Shampoo puts a pile of photo's and negatives
down on her dresser before flopping onto the bed.
Scene .5 - Of dealing with matters.
--------
Mousse and Kodachi are walking towards Kodachi's school, discussing how
to best make the invitation out as a phoney. When they reach the school
gate a bunch of Kodachi's schoolmates surround them and start asking some
awkward questions about the invitation, a lot of them offer
congratulations and tell Kodachi that Mousse is nicer than that Ranma-guy
she used to chase.
Mousse stutters out a number of denials, but folds up under close
questioning, accidentally admitting to being in bed with Kodachi.
Kodachi then clobbers Mousse and gives all the girls a nasty stare and
orders them back into school, as the girls flee them Kodachi slaps
Mousse around and says that for the sake of Kodachi's reputation they
now have to go through with the engagement, and that Mousse is an idiot
for admitting they slept together.
Mousse trys to protest and gets told it's a bit late. He should have
protested before he crept into Kodachi's bed. Mousse does manage to
gasp out that it was Kodachi who waved at him to come on in, and that he
did think that she was Shampoo. Kodachi flattens Mousse for comparing
her to Shampoo.
Kodachi then stands on Mousse and takes up a dramatic pose: She swears
that while she may have lost Ranma-Sama, she'll see to it that Shampoo
(referred to as: "That Chinese Bimbo") never gets him. A large number of
Kodachi's fellow students can be seen peering over the school wall and
watching from a distance.
Cut to Nekohanten, show Shampoo sleeping soundly.
Scene .6 - Of the end of an era.
--------
Mousse, looking depressed and tired, arrives at the Nekohanten around
lunch time. As he walks in Cologne offers him her congratulations and tells
him that she's already sent the good news (and a copy of the invitation
photo) off to Mousse's parents back in China.
Mousse collapses and begs for mercy. Cologne shakes her head and tells
Mousse that he had his chances, but he wasted them all and he should
just settle down and work out how to survive around Kodachi.
Shampoo walks in yawning and stretching, only to have Mousse dive at her
feet and beg forgiveness. Shampoo pulls out a number of photos and shows
them to Mousse, asking how he can face Shampoo after doing what he did with
another girl.
Mousse looks through the photos, ooing and ahing every so often, saying
that Nabiki took a lot of snaps. Shampoo looks confused and asks what Nabiki
has to do with anything. Mousse says that Kodachi blames Nabiki for the
photo in the invitation and he assumes that Nabiki will be blamed for
these as well. Shampoo shrugs and says Kodachi is really crazy sometimes.
Mousse gives the photos back to Shampoo with his face very red and hands
shaking, muttering quietly to himself: "I look like I enjoyed myself."
Shampoo stares at him for a second, then kicks him out of the
Nekohanten.
As Mousse struggles up Shampoo comes out and throws the photos at his
feet, saying that she has the negatives, and if Mousse or Kodachi trys to
back out of the engagement she'll make sure that everyone gets to look at
them.
Mousse grabs the photos and runs off, tears in his eyes.
Scene .7 - Of resolutions and new beginnings.
--------
At the Kunou Mansion, Kodachi is ranting about revenge on Shampoo,
Mousse is sitting around alternating between looking depressed and covertly
admiring Kodachi's figure.
Kodachi says that Ranma has to be forced to marry someone who isn't
Shampoo. Mousse says Akane will probably be the easiest to match him
with.
Tatewaki jumps into the room and puts a bokken at Mousses throat, saying
that Akane and Ranma get matched up over his dead body. Mousse says no
problem as he pulls out some weapons. Kodachi hits Mousse and tells him
not to fight his brother-to-be until the real enemies have been dealt with.
Eventually Kodachi proposes that they work towards matching up Akane
with Tatewaki and getting Ranma into Ukyou's bed. Tatewaki says that this is
a noble cause to which he will be happy to contribute, Mousse grumbles
that he still thinks Akane would be less effort. Tatewaki says that Mousse
should show more loyalty now that he is almost one of the family,
particularly since Tatewaki is the *head* of the family.
After a minor brawl everyone at the Kunou Mansion settles down to
dinner, Kodachi and Mousse exchange meaningful glances every so often without
appearing to realize it, until Tatewaki comments on how much they
obviously like one another and how good it was of Mousse to rescue
Kodachi from the callous grip of the evil sorceror Saotome.
Kodachi sends Tatewaki through the roof, but catches Mousses eye as she
sits down. Mousse and Kodachi both blush, Kodachi sighs and says that maybe
they overdid last night's action a little bit, Mousse agrees. Kodachi goes
over to Mousse and they stand close, staring into each others eyes.
Mousse and Kodachi jump apart as Tatewaki crashes back into the kitchen.
Scene .8 - Of misguided anger and new alliances
--------
Early Next day: Nabiki is running madly down a street, dodging an
occasional thrown baton as a leotard clad Kodachi chases after her while
laughing. Passer-by's hear Kodachi remark that its been such a long time
since she got to pick on someone helpless, she'd forgotten how much fun
it was.
Nabiki reaches the Nekohanten and dives through the door. The room is
mostly empty, there are a few customers for breakfast though and Shampoo
is taking some Ramen over to one. Shampoo looks up at Nabiki's entrance
and is surprised at how flustered the usually composed girl is.
Nabiki staggers a couple of steps further in to the room and starts to
say something, but is cut short when Kodachi steps in the doorway and
sends her ribbon around Nabiki's throat. Kodachi starts to drag Nabiki out
when Shampoo delivers the ramen to the customer and sends a knife slicing
thru Kodachi's ribbon to quiver in the doorway beside Kodachi herself.
Kodachi and Shampoo exchange glares, the customers near Shampoo pick up
their food and move to the other side of the room. Nabiki takes the
opportunity to crawl under a table. Shampoo asks Kodachi to stop
bothering the customers and leave peaceably... or else.
Kodachi tells Shampoo that they'll finish this later, that the Black
Rose will have vengeance for what Shampoo has done, and that Shampoo
won't always be able to protect her accomplice. Kodachi leaves with her
usual flourish, Shampoo mutters about having to clean up all the black rose
petals. Shampoo then goes over to Nabiki and asks if she would like to
make an order.
Nabiki peeks out from under the table and checks that Kodachi has left
before coming out and taking a seat. Shampoo asks what was going on.
Nabiki says she doesn't know and asks if she can stay for a bit. Shampoo
says that customers are always welcome. Nabiki makes a small order.
Shampoo brings a couple of bowls over to Nabiki's table and sits down to
eat with her. Shampoo and Nabiki discuss Kodachi's behaviour as they eat,
Nabiki brings out an invitation to Mousse and Kodachi's engagement party
and asks Shampoo what she knows about this. Shampoo says that she is
organising the party and is looking forward to getting rid of Mousse,
Nabiki asks further questions about why Kodachi would be after her, but
Shampoo is unable to come up with a good reason. Eventually Nabiki
offers to hire Shampoo as a bodyguard until Kodachi can be made to see
reason - after some haggling, Nabiki agrees to owe Shampoo 1 (small)
favour for each day of bodyguarding.
Shampoo tells Cologne what has happened and then escorts Nabiki to
School.
Scene .9 - Of innocents in the crossfire.
--------
Ukyou, Akane, Ranma and Tatewaki meet at School. Tatewaki praises the
virtues of Ukyou and asks when Ranma will fulfill his engagement to her.
Ukyou blushes, Ranma stares and Akane mallets Kunou-sempai out the window.
Akane complains about Kunou-sempai being a jerk, Ranma wonders what got
into Kunou. Ukyou suggests that maybe it's finally dawned on
Kunou-sempai that Ranma marrying Ukyou means that Akane will be free,
and then cuddles Ranma. Ranma protests, suggests that Ukyou hasn't been
around long enough, that 1 year isn't enough time for an idea to seep
into Kunou's head.
Akane drags Ranma away from Ukyou and suggests that Ukyou chase after
Kunou-sempai to keep him happy, Ukyou says Akane can do a much better
job of chasing Kunou-sempai. Ukyou seizes one of Ranma's arms and has a
tug of war with Akane over Ranma, until Akane lets go and hits Ranma for
not helping her.
The 3 students eventually stop bickering and go into class, where they
find that the main topic of gossip is how one of Ranma's iinazuke has
dumped him for another guy. Ukyou proclaims that Ranma still has her
and sits next to him to prove it, causing Ranma to try and hide under
his desk as an angry Akane stomps over to confront Ukyou. The
confrontation is defused by the teacher sending all 3 out to hold
buckets in the hall. Back in the classroom it is generally agreed that
Ranma "still has it", and that Kodachi's behaviour is not caused by
anything Ranma did.
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"The Major" | "Funny Games, Strange Cartoons, Confusing
David Bateson | Computers and too many Books! No
| wonder you're weird."
major@yoyo.cc.monash.edu.au | - My Sister.
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