The Twilight Zone

"The Twilight Zone"

"You know what Akane, that's it! I'm sick and tired of you always accusing me of being with Shampoo, Ukyo, or Kodachi. I've never once kissed them on purpose but you always make it seem like I'm this huge pervert chasing around girls! You always hit me and call me names, true I call you names too, but I only do that after you start. I can't take it anymore, Akane. Ukyo, Shampoo, and Kodachi are always so nice and loving towards me and you're always so cold and bitter. Maybe I'm wasting my time with the wrong fiancee."

Ranma picked up his book bag and headed for school, leaving Akane behind. Akane stood there, clutching the handle of her book bag. She could feel the tears about to start rolling. It had been building up, for some reason Ukyo, Kodachi, and Shampoo had been pursuing Ranma a little harder than usual. There was Shampoo in Ranma's bed every morning, holding him close to her. And there was Akane ready with the bucket of icy, cold water. No one raised an eyebrow when Ranma would run screaming through the house yelling,
"GET IT OFF ME!! GET IT OFF ME!!!!"

At school it would always be a battle between Ukyo and Kodachi. Kodachi would pop out of nowhere and start professing her love for Ranma. And Ukyo would get her spatula and challenge Kodachi. While all this was going on Akane was raging with jealousy. Everyday from school she would let Ranma have it. She would call him a pervert, jerk, anything she could possibly think of to let out some of the rage she was feeling. It had finally pushed Ranma over the edge, and he let her have some of the rage he'd been feeling.

Ranma walked quickly to school, he still had plenty of anger inside and didn't want to let it all out on Akane, even though it was all her fault. So, he walked fast, hoping she wouldn't catch up to him.

   "Nihao, Ranma!", Shampoo yelled as she jumped into Ranma's arms.
   "Shampoo sorry she could not be there in morning, but Shampoo with Ranma now!"
   "Shampoo, come on." Ranma layed there, with Shampoo on top.
   I should take Shampoo up on her offer, Ranma thought, that'll show Akane.
   "Shampoo how would you like to go out on a date tonight?"
   Shampoo looked up at Ranma, "What you say Ranma?"
   "Do you want to go out on a date tonight?"
   Shampoo had heard the question, but she couldn't believe it, after years of chasing and plotting after Ranma, he'd finally asked her out on a date. She didn't use any tricks or potions or anything. The feeling of joy was over whelming.
"Oh, Ranma!! You make Shampoo so happy! Of course Shampoo go on date with you!"
   "Great, then I'll pick you up at about seven-thrity. See you later." Ranma continued on his way to school.

   Kasumi walked into the Tendo Dojo carring a large watermelon Dr.Tofu had given her, she'd bring him home made dishes and he'd give her enormous fruit. But she still excepted happily. After struggling to get the door open she saw Akane standing near the stairs holding her backpack.
   "Akane, the tardy bell will ring any minute, why haven't you started for school?" Kasumi placed the watermelon on the table and walked over to her sister. She saw the tears on Akane's face.
   "Akane, what's wrong?"
   "Oh, Kasumi.", Akane said as she cried on her sister's shoulder.
   "It can't be that bad Akane, why don't you tell me what happened?"

   "Have you seen Akane, Ranma?"
   "No, we didn't walk to school together, you haven't seen her all day?"
   "No, I assumed she was sick or something."
   "Yeah, that's it, she's sick."
   "Well I'll call her later to see how she's feeling. Bye Ranma."
   "Yeah, bye.", Ranma said. Akane didn't come to school today, I guess she's really , really mad. Boy, is she going to rip my head off when I get home, Ranma thought. Oh, well I don't care, she deserves it.

   "How does this taste, Kasumi ?", Akane asked. Kasumi looked at the spoonful of rice her sister was holding out for her to taste. Well, Kasumi thought, I have been spending all day helping her cook, she had to have improved. So Kasumi took the spoonful and ate it. She waited a little to see if she would start to get the dizzy feeling she got after eating Akane's cooking. But the rice didn't have that effect, except for the fact that it needed a pinch of salt, it was fine.
   "It's good Akane.", Kasumi answered. Akane smiled proudly and sampled some of the rice. It is okay, she said to herself. Akane had done a lot that day. After telling her sister everything that had happened between Ranma and her she realized that the incident had been her fault. She had finally admitted to herself that it wasn't Ranma's fault he was chased around by Ukyo, Kodachi, and Shampoo. They loved him, obsessively nonetheless, but they really loved him. That's what drove her insane with jealousy and so she let it out on Ranma. Akane certainly had done a lot that day, she was almost a completely different person on the inside. And all with the help of Kasumi.
   "Would you like to start chopping the vegetables, Akane?", Kasumi asked.
   "Are you sure you want to let me do that?"
   "Sure, just do it the way I showed you and you'll be fine."

   Ranma slammed the door and threw his book bag on the floor as he entered the house. He had been in a rotten mood all day thanks to Akane, and now he would have to hear her yell at him again. Kasumi saw Ranma walking up the stairs.
   "I think you should go apologize to Ranma, Akane."
   Akane put the kitchen knife down and walked up to Ranma's room.

   KNOCK!
   KNOCK!

   Ranma knew who was knocking at his door, so he decided to be brief.
   "Hi, Ran..."
   "Listen before you start ranting and raving, I have to tell you that I don't have time, okay. I have a date with Shampoo, yes Shampoo. So go ahead and start yelling and whining but don't expect me to listen.", after he had said what he needed to he shut the door in Akane's face. Akane's first inital reaction was to take Ranma's door off from the hinges and break it over his head. But no, she said to herself, I'm not going to handle my problems with Ranma like that anymore, if he has other engagements he needs to take care of fine let him. She walked back downstairs to help Kasumi with the rest of dinner.
   Ranma waited for Akane to come crashing in, but nothing. He opened his door and was surprised she was not out there. He closed the door and started to get ready for his date with Shampoo.

Shampoo tried on outfit after outfit, but it seemed everything she put on wasn't perfect enough for her first offical date with Ranma. It was their first offical date because she didn't have to cox or blackmail Ranma, he had asked her out on his own. She hadn't told anyone not even her great-grandmother about it. She would of course afterwards, but she didn't want take any chances on any of Ranma's other fiancees finding out and ruining this night. She'd finally found the perfect outfit. She put on a little lipstick and blush and was all set. As she walked to the front of the Cat Cafe she ran into Mousse.

   "Where you going Shampoo?", he asked.
   "Uh, going, why you think Shampoo going anywhere?"
   "You're all dressed up and leaving the restaurant."
   "Oh, Shampoo just going out for walk. Be back in few hours."
   "Do you want me to go with you darling?"
   "No, and don't call Shampoo darling."
   "Oh but it'll be so romantic, walking arm in arm in the moonlight."
   "Shampoo don't want company.", she headed for the door.
   "But darling", Mousse said. Shampoo picked up a glass of water and threw it on Mousse.
   "Don't follow Shampoo!", she said as she walked out of the cafe leaving a quacking Mousse behind.

   "Well, I'm off.", Ranma told the Tendos.
   "Where you off to Ranma?", Mr. Tendo asked.
   "I'm just going out."
   "He's got a date with Shampoo.", Akane answered for him.
   "You've what?!", Kasumi, Soun, and Nabiki asked in unison.
   "You're going out on a date with Shampoo and you haven't bashed his head in Akane?", Nabiki asked.
   "Nope, surprising isn't it?", Akane got up and headed for the kitchen.
   "Son I will not allow this! You will not go out with that girl!"
   "Aw let him dad, we've been accusing him of dating them for years why not let him do it for real?", Akane said from the kitchen.
   "Has she hit her head today?", Soun asked Kasumi.
   "No father, Akane's just maturing."
   Akane walked back from the kitchen carring a bowl of rice.
   "Want some?" she asked Ranma.
   "No thanks, I don't want to spend my night in the hospital.", he told her.
   "Suit yourself.", she told him as she headed upstairs.
   This is too weird, okay so she hasn't yelled at me all day, but whenever I insult her cooking she clobbers me, he told himself.
   "Well Ranma go on your date. But I better not hear of any wedding plans with Shampoo."
   "Sure Mr.Tendo", Ranma said as he left.

   Shampoo waited by the big oak tree in the park, the sun was about to set and she was about to go on the date of her dreams. She had been planning and wishing and hoping for this day for so long. So, why wasn't she as excited as she thought she would be.
   "Yo Shampoo."
   "Nihao, Ranma!", Shampoo called out as she ran towards him.
   "So, you ready Shampoo?"
   "Oh Ranma, this night Shampoo know will never forget.", she said as she grabbed Ranma's hand.

   Akane tapped her fingers on the desk. Even though she had seemed fine with Ranma going out with Shampoo, it was eating her up inside. I think I'll go for a walk, she told herself. She needed something to distract her.

   Akane always like Nerima at night, it was quiet and peaceful. She felt it get colder so she buttoned up her jacket. Maybe I'll go to the playground, I haven't been there in ages. She saw someone on the swings. When she got closer she realized it was Mousse.
   "Hey Mousse, what are you doing out here?", she asked.
   "Oh, Ukyo.", Mousse said.
   "I'm Akane, put your glasses on.", she told him.
   "Sorry about that."
   "Why are you so sad?", she asked.
   "When are you and Ranma going to get married?"
   "Well, um, I don't even know if we are the way things are going."
   "You both love each other, why not get over that stupid stubborness and do it?"
   "Mousse, the only reason you want us to get married is so Shampoo won't be able to chase Ranma."
   "Well what's so wrong with that? I love her, I love her more and more everyday."
   "Mousse, you may have thick glasses, but you're not blind. Shampoo has time after time told you she doesn't love you. If Ranma's out of the picture I'm sure another will come along."
   "I know Shampoo loves me, I just know it."
   Akane stood there in silence.
   "Maybe if you didn't try so hard, I mean you practically smother her.", she told him.
   "You're saying I should try the jealousy approach and yell at her everytime she goes after Ranma?"
   "No, that approach doesn't work either. Eventually people get fed up with it. I guess that's why Ranma's on a date with Shampoo."
   Mousse turned to Akane, "Shampoo is on a date with Ranma?"
   "You didn't know?"
   "I'm going to kill him!"
   "Mousse, no! Come on you said it yourself, you know Shampoo loves you. Well if she does she'll realize it tonight. If not, then Shampoo doesn't love you and you need to move on."
   "Oh yeah, well what if Ranma realizes he loves Shampoo?"
   "Well then I guess both of our romantic futures are decided tonight, huh?"
   Mousse stood there contemplating whether he should go look for Shampoo and Ranma, but he decided to sat back down on the swing and continue talking with Akane.

   Shampoo all alone in dark theater with Ranma, she told herself. Maybe now can get Ranma's attention seeing as he not give her any all night.
   Ranma had been distant all night, he had barely said two words during dinner. This was not the date she had been dreaming about. But it wasn't all Ranma's fault, she too wasn't making much of an effort. She and Ranma were on a date and she wasn't thinking about their wedding. She had him now what? Things were definatly not going right. Ranma wasn't completely there, he was probably thinking about Akane, as usual. But it wasn't just that, Shampoo had never heard Ranma say he wanted to go on moonlit strolls in the park or be the father of her children or anything like that. He'd never confessed his love her for her, yet she'd be willing to do it time and time again. The only person that did those things for her, was Mousse.
   This 'ill show Akane. I have feelings and pride and limits. She insulted me and accussed me of things I've never done for years and I'm not going to take it anymore. Akane is not going to get to me anymore. I don't care what she does or how mature she thinks she is, she'll always be built like a stick and uncute. I mean really, did she think I'd take her abuse forever? Forget it, Akane is not going to ruin this evening for me. I'm not going to give her a second thought. Even though I've given her about five hundred already, he said to himself, as he sipped his soda.
   The movie had ended, Ranma and Shampoo walked home in silence. It seemed weird to Ranma that Shampoo hadn't tried anything in the movie theater. Maybe she did and I just wasn't paying attention, he said to himself.
   "Shampoo, you wanna go get some ice cream or something?"
   "Shampoo don't know, it getting late." What Shampoo doing? Finally first time ever Shampoo alone with Ranma and she can not stop thinking of Mousse?
   "Ranma, Shampoo love to go to get ice cream."
   They walked into an ice cream parlor on the corner, it was empty except for another couple in a booth in the back.
   They ordered and sat down at a table. Again they sat there in silence.
   "Shampoo, can I ask you a question?"
   "Yes Ranma."
   "Why haven't you tried anything tonight?"
   "Well, Shampoo don't know? Shampoo guess she only in love with..."
   "HA, HA!"
   Shampoo and Ranma turned around to the couple in the booth. Since plants and other things were around the booth it was impossible to see who was in it. But they sure were having fun, something Shampoo and Ranma hadn't had all night.
   "Would you please shut up!", Ranma yelled.
   Akane poked her head out from the booth.
   "I'm sorry Ranma were we interrupting your date?"
   Ranma turned around and with a surprised look on his face.
   "Come on Mousse, we'd better leave before they start thinking we're here to sabotage their date."
   Shampoo almost spit out the spoonful of ice cream she had just put in her mouth when she saw Mousse emerge from the booth.
   "Hey Shampoo, Ranma."
   "Mousse know Shampoo on date with Ranma and don't come looking for Shampoo?"
   "You said you didn't want company."
   "Never stop Mousse before."
   "You're on a date with Mousse, Akane?", Ranma asked.
   "No, we just ran into each other in the park and decided to get ice cream. Well, we'll see you guys later. Bye."
   Ranma and Shampoo watched as Mousse and Akane left. Ranma was well over the angry he had for Akane, he was now consumed with jealousy. Not really at the fact that Akane and Mousse were together, but the fact that they weren't fighting or insulting each other. They were having a good time.
   Shampoo never had feelings of jealousy towards Mousse when he was with another girl, maybe it's because Mousse never really had been with other girls. He'd always devoted his time towards her. But seeing him with Akane made her angry. He didn't even try to attack Ranma because he was on a date with Shampoo. Maybe Mousse in love with Akane, Shampoo thought to herself.
   "Ranma, Shampoo ready to go."

   "Wow Mousse, I didn't think you would've been able to face them without attacking Ranma."
   "I know, I just told myself that she loves me, but the more and more I think about it she never really has shown it."
   "If it's any consolation, it didn't look like they were having such a great time."
   "I'm amazed you didn't drag Ranma out by his pony-tail."
   "Me too.", Akane told him.
   "Mousse?"
   Mousse and Akane turned around and saw Shampoo standing there.
   "Shampoo.", they both said in unison.
   "Well, look at the time, it's getting late. I better head on home. Goodnight you two.", Akane said as she left the park.
   "Yes, Shampoo?", Mousse said, trying to hide the excitment in his voice.
   "What Mousse doing on date with Akane?"
   "We weren't on a date. Shampoo were you jealous?"
   Shampoo stood there silent, not sure if she really was. She was angry to see the two of them together and it would make her sad to see them as a couple, so yes, she was jealous.
   "You and Akane couple?"
   "No, are you and Ranma?"
   "Shampoo realize tonight, that she only in love with idea of being Ranma's wife. Shampoo have to marry Ranma because of Amazon law, but Shampoo not really in love with Ranma. Shampoo also realize other thing tonight. She realize that she in love with great and wonderful man who do anything for her and love her very much."
   "Who are you in love with now!?", Mousse asked.
   Shampoo smiled at Mousse's question.
   "Shampoo in love with Mousse.", she said as she reached for Mousse face.
   "Really? You're not just playing with my feelings, are you?", he asked her.
   Shampoo pulled Mousse's face closer to hers and kissed him.
   "You think still Shampoo playing with Mousse's feelings?", she asked him.
   Mousse still had his eyes closed, oblivious to anything around him.
   "Mousse, Mousse?"
   "You don't know how long I've been waiting for you to do that.", he said with a smile.

   When Akane got home all the lights were off in the house except the one in the training hall. I wonder who's in there, she asked herself. When she walked in she saw Ranma sitting there with his head on his knees.
   "So, how'd the date go?", Akane asked.
   "What's happened to you Akane?", Ranma asked her.
   "What do you mean?"
   "You haven't yelled or insulted me all day and you didn't go into an insane fit of jealousy when I told you I was going on a date with Shampoo."
   "Do you want me to do those things?"
   "Well no, but are you not doing them because you don't care anymore?"
   "Not care about what?", she asked him as she sat down next to him.
   "About me?"
   Akane sat there and looked at him.
   "Are you and Mousse going out?", Ranma asked.
   "No, we're just friends. Are you and Shampoo a couple?"
   "No, she figured out tonight that she loves Mousse, can you belive it?"
   "Mousse must be doing cartwheels by now."
   "Yeah."
   "I still do, Ranma, I mean I always have."
   "Huh?"
   "You asked me if I cared about you anymore and the answer is that I still do. And I'm really sorry about the way I show it, I mean used to show it."
   "I was really jealous seeing you and Mousse together. Not really because you we're together, but because you were having a good time."
   Akane placed her hand on Ranma's shoulder.
   "I should get to bed.", she said.
   They both stood up and headed up stairs.
   "Goodnight Ranma.", Akane told him before she went into her room.
   Ranma walked over to her and kissed her on the cheek.
   "Goodnight Akane.", he whispered in her ear.

   "Hey Ukyo!"
   "Ryoga. I ..."
   "You'll never believe what I just saw."
   "What?"
   "Mousse and Shampoo walking arm in arm in the park."
   "If you think that's something, Ranchan and Akane were in here earlier, laughing and never once did they get into a fight."
   "Really?"
   "You think we're in the twilight zone or something?", Ukyo asked him.
   "Who knows? We'd better hurry or we'll miss the coming attractions."
   "Alright, Ryoga-honey, just let me get my coat.", Ukyo said.
   She grabbed her coat and walked over towards Ryoga.
   "You look beautiful tonight.", Ryoga told her.
   "Thank you Ryoga-honey."
   Ukyo closed her shop and took a hold of Ryoga's hand.
   "Ryoga, let me choose the theater.", she told him.
   "You lead the way.", he told her.
Y chapulin colorado, este cuento se a terminado, or in other words the end.

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